Responsive Environments for Performance, Including Voice, Speech and Whole Body Interaction Techniques

For my Master of Arts in the Individualised Program, my practice-based research investigates a design and development framework within an artistic context of responsive environments for performance, including voice, speech and movement interaction techniques. To poetically address issues regarding the way people perform and experience a space, responsive environments, as ambient intelligence systems, should be able to coevolve and auto-adapt to its inhabitants and to the environment. Although relevant work and research has taken place in the fields of interactive art and installations, they primarily concern body tracking, while the potential for voice, spoken or written language, and sound has been left floundering. Positioned at the intersection of design, computation arts, performance and physical spaces, I introduce the role of natural language processing as a tool that aims to non-hierarchically co-construct, augment and mediate human experience, interaction and perception in live events. Furthermore, by adopting different interaction design paradigms and collaborating with artists and performers, I am afforded the opportunity to reproducibly and rigorously investigate the potentialities of such systems under the demands of live improvised situations. In addition, these collaborations with non-digital artists and practitioners allowed me to better reflect on the effectiveness of such systems and re-evaluate the way I am developing them. The understanding of interactivity as a quality that exists between different systems and their ability to converse with and respond to any sensorial input correspondingly impacts the aesthetic and affective experience of the participants (performers and spectators). This allows for redefining the role of the participant from a spectator to a co-creator, as well as the role of the space itself. My practical explorations emerged as two complementary trajectories: the development of a responsive audio-visual Storytelling Space, and a technologically augmented - sound and movement improvisation - performance, Orbital Resonance

Diesel from wood biomass : Screening LCA of a proposed KDV-plant in Jämtland, Sweden

The KDV-process uses catalytic depolymerisation to convert biomass into diesel oil. The environmental performance of KDV-diesel in a proposed KDV-plant located in the County of Jämtland, Sweden, was assessed using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The functional unit of the study was one litre of KDV-diesel and the environmental impact categories that were considered were Global Warming Potential (GWP), Eutrophication Potential (EP) and Acidification Potential (AP). The acquisition of wood biomass significantly affected the life cycle performance of KDV-diesel production in all three impact categories. When benchmarked against conventional diesel oil, KDV-diesel contributed significantly less to GWP, since there are no fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the use phase, but it contributed more to EP and AP due to slightly higher emissions in the production phases. This conclusion holds true for five investigated electricity-supply scenarios for the production of KDV-diesel. Each scenario utilised a different source for electricity production: wind power; hydro power; nuclear power; coal power; and using part of the produced KDV-diesel for on-site electricity production. Another scenario analysis compared an alternative use of the wood biomass and assumed that the same amount of wood biomass was used to generate bio-electricity, instead of being converted into KDV-diesel. The scenario analysis indicated that whether wood biomass should be used for KDV-diesel production or for bio-electricity production depends on the type of electricity that is used throughout the life cycle of KDV-diesel.KDV-processen använder katalytisk depolymerisering för att omvandla biomassa till dieselolja. Miljöprestanda för KDV-diesel från en föreslagen KDV-anläggning i Jämtland län, Sverige, har studerats med livscykelanalys (LCA) metodik. Studiens funktionella enhet var en liter av KDV-diesel och de studerade miljöpåverkanskategorierna var Klimatpåverkan (GWP), Övergödning (EP) och Försurning (AP). Skogsbruket påverkade signifikant livscykelprestanda för KDV-dieselproduktion från trädbiomassa i de tre studerade miljöpåverkanskategorierna. Kontrasterad mot konventionell dieselolja bidrog KDV-diesel betydligt mindre till GWP eftersom det inte finns några utsläpp av fossil koldioxid (CO2) under användningsfasen, men bidrog samtidigt mer till EP och AP på grund av något högre utsläpp i produktionsfasen. Denna slutsats gäller för fem olika elförsörjning scenarier för produktion av KDV-diesel som studerats. Varje scenario använde olika typ av elproduktion: vindkraft; vattenkraft; kärnkraft; kolkraft; samt att använda en del av den producerade KDV-diesel för egen elproduktion. En annan scenarioanalys studerade alternativ användning av trädbiomassan och antog att samma mängd träbiomassa användes för att generera bio-elektricitet istället för KDV-diesel. Scenarioanalysen visade att utfallet för ifall träbiomassan borde användas för produktion av KDV-diesel eller bio-electricitet beror på typen av elproduktion som används för KDV-diesels livscykel.Η διαδικασία KDV χρησιμοποιεί καταλυτικό αποπολυμερισμό για τη μετατροπή βιομάζας σε καύσιμο ντίζελ. Οι περιβαλλοντικές επιδόσεις του KDV-ντίζελ σε μια προτεινόμενη μονάδα KDV που βρίσκεται στην περιφέρεια Γιέμτλαντ της Σουηδίας, αξιολογήθηκαν με τη μέθοδο Αξιολόγησης του Κύκλου Ζωής (LCA). Η λειτουργική μονάδα της μελέτης ήταν ένα λίτρο KDV-ντίζελ και οι κατηγορίες περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων που εξετάστηκαν ήταν το Δυναμικό Θέρμανσης του Πλανήτη (GWP), το Δυναμικό Ευτροφισμού (EP) και το Δυναμικό Οξίνισης (AP). Η απόκτηση της βιομάζας ξύλου επηρέασε σημαντικά την απόδοση του κύκλου ζωής της παραγωγής KDV-ντίζελ και στις τρεις κατηγορίες περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων. Σε σύγκριση με το συμβατικό πετρέλαιο ντίζελ, το KDV-ντίζελ συνέβαλε σημαντικά λιγότερο στο GWP, δεδομένου ότι δεν υπάρχουν εκπομπές διοξειδίου του άνθρακα (CO2) ορυκτής προέλευσης κατά τη φάση της χρήσης, αλλά συνέβαλε περισσότερο στο EP και στο AP λόγω ελαφρώς υψηλότερων εκπομπών στις φάσεις της παραγωγής. Το συμπέρασμα αυτό ισχύει για πέντε σενάρια παροχής ηλεκτρισμού για την παραγωγή του KDV-ντίζελ που μελετήθηκαν. Σε κάθε σενάριο χρησιμοποιήθηκε μια διαφορετική πηγή ενέργειας για την παραγωγή ηλεκτρισμού: αιολική ενέργεια, υδροηλεκτρική ενέργεια, πυρηνική ενέργεια, ηλεκτροπαραγωγή με καύση άνθρακα και χρήση μέρους του παραγόμενου KDV-ντίζελ για επιτόπια παραγωγή ηλεκτρισμού. Μια διαφορετική ανάλυση σεναρίου συνέκρινε μια εναλλακτική χρήση της βιομάζας ξύλου, υποθέτοντας ότι η ίδια ποσότητα βιομάζας ξύλου χρησιμοποιήθηκε για την παραγωγή βιο-ηλεκτρισμού, αντί να μετατραπεί σε KDV-ντίζελ. Η ανάλυση σεναρίου κατέδειξε ότι η χρήση της βιομάζας ξύλου για την παραγωγή KDV-ντίζελ ή για την παραγωγή βιο-ηλεκτρισμού εξαρτάται από την πηγή ενέργειας που χρησιμοποιείται για την παραγωγή ηλεκτρισμού καθ’όλη τη διάρκεια του κύκλου ζωής του KDV-ντίζελ

Rapid Bio-methanation of Syngas by High Cell-density in Reverse Membrane Bioreactors

Syngas fermentation via gasification is a two-stage process, which contains gasification of feedstock into syngas and syngas bio-methanation by anaerobic microorganisms. This project is a study on syngas fermentation. The gasification feedstock can be difficult-to-degrade solid waste so; waste volumes are reduced while green energy is produced. The main target of this thesis was to study novel configurations of reverse membrane bioreactor (RMB) in order to retain microbial cells inside the digester and thereafter increase methane production. In the first experiment, microbial cells encased in PVDF sachets were proved to perform efficiently in batch mode in comparison to free cells at optimum temperature, 55 oC. Moreover, encased cells in co-digestion of syngas and organic waste exhibited higher methane amounts compared to pure syngas treatment. Encased cells were then tested in thermophilic semi-continuous process and showed better performance compared to the free cell reactor. The RMB containing encased cells retained successfully the cells during the 154 days of the experiment, while free cells were washed-out. The highest amounts of methane from RMB and the free cell reactor were produced during the 126th - 130th day (6 and 1.5 mmol/day, respectively). In the last experiment, a RMB containing 13 membrane layers of enclosed cells was studied and compared to a conventional reactor of free cells. The RMB performed successfully in syngas bio-methanation under semi-continuous conditions during 49 days. The highest methane amount produced was 10 mmol/day in both RMB and free cell reactor.Program: Industriell biotekni

The effectiveness of the Bobath neurodevelopmental treatment and Halliwick hydrotherapy in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Halliwick Hydrotherapy on the gross mobility, balance, speed and daily skills of children with cerebral palsy as well as the translation and weighting of specific water assessment trials in the Greek population. The study involved 85 children, including 80 with GMFCS. The duration of the intervention was 9 months. All children were evaluated through the GMFM, PEDI, TUG, PBS assessment trials, while the water intervention team was further evaluated through the WOTA 1 & 2, SWIM, HAAR special tests. A significant improvement was noted in the final evaluations at the end of nine months' intervention. In gross mobility, the water intervention group showed an improvement from an average of 56.64 (SD: 23.21) to 62.74 (SD: 24.54), while the land intervention group averaged 58.64 (SD: 22.76), at 61.42 (SD: 22.68). In the daily life skills, the water intervention team averaged 52.09 (SD: 20.14), at 59.17 (SD: 21.21), while the land intervention group averaged 52.43 (SD: 19.25) before intervention, at 55.20 (SD: 19.72) after intervention. In the balance, the water intervention team averaged 23.75 (SD: 16.30) before intervention, at 27.55 (SD: 17.18), while the land intervention group average 23.09 (SD: 15.00) before intervention, at 25.06 (SD: 15.19) At the speed, the water intervention team showed a decrease in TUG execution time in sec from an average of 16.25 (SD: 10.78) before intervention, at 14.96 (SD: 11.01), while the land intervention team averaged 17.85 (SD: 10.26), at 16.96 (SD: 10.69). In the adaptation to the aquatic environment, WOTA 1, 22.65 (SD: 6.68) to 32.10 (SD: 7.03), WOTA 2, 25.70 (SD: 10.68) to 44.60 (SD: 9.75), SWIM, 30.45 (SD: 7.86) to 41.12 (SD:5.94), and HAAR from 18.07 (SD: 3.34) to 23.40 (SD: 3.61). Water Assessment tools have been found to be highly reliable and appropriate to investigate changes over time. Inter-rater reliability (ICCs), WOTA 1: 0.997, WOTA 2: 0.999, SWIM: 0.989, HAAR: 0.948, while test-retest reliability (ICCs), WOTA 1: 0.989, WOTA 2: 0.997, SWIM: 0.981, HAAR: 0.951 and validity WOTA1, rP = 0.63, WOTA2, rP = 0.58, SWIM, rP = 0.59, GMFM and HAAR, rP = 0.54, (p <0.05).Σκοπός αυτής της μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης της υδροθεραπείας Halliwick στην αδρή κινητικότητα, την ισορροπία, την ταχύτητα και τις καθημερινές δεξιότητες των παιδιών με εγκεφαλική παράλυση, καθώς και η μετάφραση και η στάθμιση ειδικών δοκιμασιών αξιολόγησης στο νερό στον ελληνικό πληθυσμό. Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 85 παιδιά, εκ των οποίων 80 με εγκεφαλική παράλυση διαφόρων επιπέδων GMFCS. Η διάρκεια της παρέμβασης ήταν 9 μήνες. Όλα τα παιδιά αξιολογήθηκαν μέσω των δοκιμασιών αξιολόγησης GMFM, PEDI, TUG, PBS, ενώ η ομάδα παρέμβασης στο νερό αξιολογήθηκε περαιτέρω μέσω των ειδικών δοκιμασιών WOTA 1 & 2, SWIM, HAAR. Σημαντική βελτίωση παρατηρήθηκε στις τελικές αξιολογήσεις μετά το πέρας της παρέμβασης των εννιά μηνών. Στην αδρή κινητικότητα, η ομάδα παρέμβασης στο νερό έδειξε βελτίωση από μέσο όρο 56.64 (SD: 23.21) σε 62.74 (SD: 24.54), ενώ η ομάδα παρέμβασης στην ξηρά από μέσο όρο 58.64 (SD: 22.76), σε 61.42 (SD: 22.68). Στις δεξιότητες καθημερινής ζωής, η ομάδα παρέμβασης στο νερό από μέσο όρο 52.09 (SD: 20.14), σε 59.17 (SD: 21.21), ενώ η ομάδα παρέμβασης στην ξηρά από μέσο όρο 52.43 (SD: 19.25) πριν την παρέμβαση, σε 55.20 (SD: 19.72) μετά την παρέμβαση. Στην ισορροπία, η ομάδα παρέμβασης στο νερό από μέσο όρο 23,75 (SD: 16.30) πριν την παρέμβαση, σε 27,55 (SD: 17.18), ενώ η ομάδα παρέμβασης στην ξηρά από μέσο όρο 23.09 (SD: 15.00) πριν την παρέμβαση, σε 25.06 (SD: 15.19). Στην ταχύτητα η ομάδα παρέμβασης στο νερό έδειξε μείωση στο χρόνο εκτέλεσης του TUG σε sec από μέσο όρο 16.25 (SD: 10.78) πριν την παρέμβαση, σε 14.96 (SD: 11.01), ενώ η ομάδα της παρέμβασης στην ξηρά από μέσο όρο 17.85 (SD: 10.26), σε 16.96 (SD: 10.69). Στην προσαρμογή στο υδάτινο περιβάλλον, WOTA 1, 22.65 (SD: 6.68) σε 32.10 (SD: 7.03), WOTA 2, 25.70 (SD: 10.68) σε 44.60 (SD: 9.75), SWIM, 30.45 (SD: 7.86), σε 41.12 (SD:5.94) και HAAR από 18.07 (SD: 3.34) σε 23.40 (SD: 3.61). Οι δοκιμασίες αξιολόγησης του νερού έχουν βρεθεί ότι είναι ιδιαίτερα αξιόπιστες και κατάλληλες για να ερευνήσουν τις αλλαγές με την πάροδο του χρόνου. Inter-rater reliability (ICCs), WOTA 1: 0.997, WOTA 2: 0.999, SWIM: 0.989, HAAR: 0.948, ενώ test-retest reliability (ICCs), WOTA 1: 0.989, WOTA 2: 0.997, SWIM: 0.981, HAAR: 0.951 και validity WOTA1, rP = 0.63, WOTA2, rP = 0.58, SWIM, rP = 0.59, GMFM και HAAR, rP = 0.54, (p <0.05)

Effects of Heavy Metals and pH on the Conversion of Biomass to Hydrogen via Syngas Fermentation

The effects of three heavy metals on hydrogen production via syngas fermentation were investigated within a metal concentration range of 0-1.5 mg Cu/L, 0-9 mg Zn/L, 0-42 mg Mn/L, in media with initial pH of 5, 6 and 7, at 55 °C. The results showed that at lower metal concentration, pH 6 was optimum while at higher metal concentrations, pH 5 stimulated the process. More specifically, the highest hydrogen production activity recorded was 155.28% ± 12.02% at a metal concentration of 0.04 mg Cu/L, 0.25 mg Zn/L, and 1.06 mg Mn/L and an initial medium pH of 6. At higher metal concentration (0.625 mg Cu/L, 3.75 mg Zn/L, and 17.5 mg Mn/L), only pH 5 was stimulating for the cells. The results show that the addition of heavy metals, contained in gasification-derived ash, can improve the production rate and yield of fermentative hydrogen. This could lead in lower costs in gasification process and fermentative hydrogen production and less demand for syngas cleaning before syngas fermentation

Floating membrane bioreactors with high gas hold-up for syngas-to-biomethane conversion

The low gas-to-liquid mass transfer rate is one of the main challenges in syngas biomethanation. In this work, a new concept of the floating membrane system with high gas hold-up was introduced in order to enhance the mass transfer rate of the process. In addition, the effect of the inoculum-to-syngas ratio was investigated. The experiments were conducted at 55 °C with an anaerobic mixed culture in both batch and continuous modes. According to the results from the continuous experiments, the H2 and CO conversion rates in the floating membrane bioreactor were approximately 38% and 28% higher in comparison to the free (suspended) cell bioreactors. The doubling of the thickness of the membrane bed resulted in an increase of the conversion rates of H2 and CO by approximately 6% and 12%, respectively. The highest H2 and CO consumption rates and CH4 production rate recorded were approximately 22 mmol/(L·d), 50 mmol/(L·d), and 34.41 mmol/(L·d), respectively, obtained at the highest inoculum-to-syngas ratio of 0.2 g/mL. To conclude, the use of the floating membrane system enhanced the syngas biomethanation rates, while a thicker membrane bed resulted in even higher syngas conversion rates. Moreover, the increase of the inoculum-to-syngas ratio of up to 0.2 g/mL favored the syngas conversion

Учебная программа по учебной дисциплине "Гидро- и пневмопривод и гидропневмоавтоматика"

Учебная программа "Гидро- и пневмопривод и гидропневмоавтоматика" кафедры "Нефтегазоразработка и гидропневмоавтоматика" для дневной и заочной форм получения образования: общее количество часов-136, трудоемкость учебной дисциплины — 3 з.е., форма контроля знаний — экзамен

Cross-cultural adaptation of the spa therapy checklist (SPAC) in Greek

The importance of spa therapy is growing worldwide, with care practitioners paying more attention to how this intervention can alleviate various health issues. Multiple studies have been performed and reported on the efficiency of balneotherapy, creating a need to understand the quality of the information in the existing studies and how they can inform practitioners in promoting evidence-based practice. The SPAC assessment tool describes and assesses the quality of reports of interventional trials in balneotherapy. The present study had two goals. The first goal was the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SPAC assessment tool in Greek language following an internationally accepted methodology. The second goal was to assess the reliability of the tool employing test–retest and interrater reliability studies in a sample of 15 relative RCT papers and to assess the criterion validity of the Greek version by comparing its results with the original English version when assessing the same 15 papers. The results revealed that the SPAC checklist was translated and adapted in Greek without difficulties between the translators. Reliability of the SPAC was found excellent in both test–retest (ICC =.98) and interrater (ICC =.95) indexes. The criterion validity assessment for Greek version of SPAC checklist was also almost perfect (ICC =.98). In the present study, the Greek version of the SPAC checklist was found to be a comprehensible, reliable, and valid tool to assess the quality of interventional trial reports on the efficacy of spa therapy for cure and health enhancement. © 2022, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology

Innovative Pretreatment Strategies for Biogas Production

Biogas or biomethane is traditionally produced via anaerobic digestion, or recently bythermochemical or a combination of thermochemical and biological processes viasyngas (CO and H2) fermentation. However, many of the substrates feedstocks haverecalcitrant structure and difficult to digest (e.g., lignocelluloses or keratins), or theyhave toxic compounds (such as fruit flavors or high ammonia content), or not digestibleat all (e.g., plastics). To overcome these challenges, innovative strategies for enhancedand economically favorable biogas production were proposed in this review. Thestrategies considered are commonly known physical pretreatment, rapid decompression,autohydrolysis, acid- or alkali pretreatments, solvents (e.g. for lignin or cellulose)pretreatments or leaching, supercritical, oxidative or biological pretreatments, as well ascombined gasification and fermentation, integrated biogas production an