Extension to UML-B Notation and Toolset

The UML-B notation has been created as an attempt to combine the success and ease of use of UML, with the verification and rigorous development capabilities of formal methods. However, the notation currently only supports a basic diagram set. To address this we have, in this project, designed and implemented a set of extensions to the UML-B notation that provide a much fuller software engineering experience, critically making UML-B more appealing to industry partners. These extensions comprise five new diagram types, which are aimed at supplying a broader range of design capabilities, such as conceptual Use-Case design and future integration with the ProB animator tool

The effect of previous wingate performance using one body region on subsequent wingate performance using a different body region

The 30 second Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) is the gold standard measure of anaerobic performance. The present investigation aimed to determine if a previous WAnT using one body region significantly affected a subsequent WAnT using a different body region. Twelve male university students (n = 12, 23 ± 2 years, 84 ± 16.1 kg, 178.5 ± 7.4 cm) volunteered to complete two repeated WAnT protocols (either lower body WAnT followed by an upper body WAnTor vice versa) on two separate testing occasions. The upper body WAnT was conducted on a modified electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer using a flywheel braking force corresponding to 5% bodyweight. The lower body WAnT was conducted on an electronically braked cycle ergometer using a flywheel braking force corresponding to 7.5% bodyweight. Participants had a 1 minute rest period for transition between WAnTs. Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation. No significant differences were identified in power indices for the lower body between 30 s WAnTs. When the upper body WAnT was performed 2nd, absolute peak power (p < 0.01), mean power (p < 0.001) and relative mean power (p < 0.001) were significantly lower compared to when the upper body WAnT was performed 1st. The value of maximum revolutions per minute was significantly lower (p < 0.001) when the upper body WAnT was performed after the lower body WAnT, compared to when it was performed 1st (193.3 ± 11.4 1st vs 179.8 ± 14.4 2nd). Previous upper body sprint exercise does not significantly affect lower body sprint exercise; however, previous lower body sprint exercise severely compromises subsequent upper body sprint performance

Multi-Action Recognition via Stochastic Modelling of Optical Flow and Gradients

In this paper we propose a novel approach to multi-action recognition that performs joint segmentation and classification. This approach models each action using a Gaussian mixture using robust low-dimensional action features. Segmentation is achieved by performing classification on overlapping temporal windows, which are then merged to produce the final result. This approach is considerably less complicated than previous methods which use dynamic programming or computationally expensive hidden Markov models (HMMs). Initial experiments on a stitched version of the KTH dataset show that the proposed approach achieves an accuracy of 78.3%, outperforming a recent HMM-based approach which obtained 71.2%

Development of collector well gardens

Communal areas of southern Zimbabwe illustrate the problems now facing people and the environment in many semi-arid parts of Africa. Prime constraints on sustainable development are the low and erratic rainfall and the limited availability of ground and surface water resources. Rainfed crop production provides the main source of staple foodstuffs. However, increasing population densities, all too frequent droughts and declining productivity of existing croplands have led to cultivation of more marginal terrain which is better suited to other, less intensive forms of land use. In areas where sufficient water resources are available, large irrigation schemes have been constructed. However, such schemes have been beset by a wide range of technical, institutional and social problems. It has also been difficult to reconcile such schemes with traditional farming practices. In contrast, experience in the region has shown that informal or garden irrigation can be economically viable and appropriate to households, especially for women farmers, for whom it is already a traditional component of the farming system. In 1988, a programme of research was started in southern Zimbabwe, the main objectives of which were to study the feasibility of using shallow crystalline basement aquifers as a source of water for small-scale irrigation and to compare and develop methods of low-cost, high efficiency irrigation which would be suitable for use on small irrigated gardens. This paper gives a brief description of some elements of this programme. More information can be found in Lovell et al (1996) and Murata et al (1995)

The realities of storing carbon dioxide - A response to CO2 storage capacity issues raised by Ehlig-Economides &#x26; Economides

In a recent publication, Ehlig-Economides &#x26; Economides (2010) have sought to demonstrate that carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is not technically or economically feasible, based on a supposed lack of underground storage capacity. We consider this to be a serious misrepresentation of the scientific, engineering and operational facts surrounding CCS. Ehlig-Economides &#x26; Economides raise a number of storage related issues: reservoir boundaries, capacity, pressure management, storage integrity, dissolution and storage in depleted reservoirs. We take each one in turn, highlighting specific errors in the paper but also drawing attention to more general background issues. Finally, we discuss in more detail some inconsistencies in the paper surrounding the reservoir engineering calculations

A process model for developing integrated product-service offerings

Manufacturers are increasingly seeing the benefits of adopting a servitization strategy, however, literature reports that they face challenges developing new product-service offerings. Although a number of approaches have been proposed, they fail to distinguish the characteristics of products and service, they are typically sequential and exhibit variations in the level of detail proposed. Overcoming these knowledge gaps, a new development process model is proposed, consisting of 19 distinct processes. The process model was tested and recommendations for improvements are reported

Depression predicts future emergency hospital admissions in primary care patients with chronic physical illness

PublishedObjective More than 15 million people currently suffer from a chronic physical illness in England. The objective of this study was to determine whether depression is independently associated with prospective emergency hospital admission in patients with chronic physical illness. Method 1860 primary care patients in socially deprived areas of Manchester with at least one of four exemplar chronic physical conditions completed a questionnaire about physical and mental health, including a measure of depression. Emergency hospital admissions were recorded using GP records for the year before and the year following completion of the questionnaire. Results The number of patients who had at least one emergency admission in the year before and the year after completion of the questionnaire were 221/1411 (15.7%) and 234/1398 (16.7%) respectively. The following factors were independently associated with an increased risk of prospective emergency admission to hospital; having no partner OR 1.49 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.15); having ischaemic heart disease OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.46); having a threatening experience OR 1.16 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.29) per experience; depression OR 1.58 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.40); emergency hospital admission in year prior to questionnaire completion OR 3.41 (95% CI (1.98 to 5.86). Conclusion To prevent potentially avoidable emergency hospital admissions, greater efforts should be made to detect and treat co-morbid depression in people with chronic physical illness in primary care, with a particular focus on patients who have no partner, have experienced threatening life events, and who have had a recent emergency hospital admission.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR

Fatigue Indices and Perceived Exertion Highlight Ergometer Specificity for Repeated Sprint Ability Testing

This study aimed to compare the time course of measures of performance, fatigue, and perceived exertion during repeated-sprint ability (RSA) testing performed on a non-motorized treadmill (NMT) and cycling ergometer (CE). Fourteen physically active participants performed two 10 ×6 s−1 RSA tests with a 1:4 work-to-rest ratio (24 s recovery) on NMT and CE. Measures of performance [peak and mean power output (PPO and MPO), cadence, and the time to reach PPO (TTP)] and of fatigue (fatigue index and decrement score) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected during each session. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Participants completed the RSA test at a MPO of 1,041 ± 141 W on CE and 431 ± 48 W on NMT, achieving PPO of 2,310 ± 339 W on CE and 1,763 ± 289 W on NMT. Participants' weight was significantly correlated with PPO and MPO on CE (p < 0.001) and with MPO on NMT (p < 0.001). PPO on CE and NMT was significantly correlated only for absolute measures of power (p < 0.01). Cadence was higher and decreased throughout the RSA on NMT compared to CE, where it decreased only at the seventh bout. TTP was significantly shorter and more affected by fatigue on NMT than on CE. Fatigue indices were significantly greater on NMT compared to CE, with significant correlations between the decrement score and absolute and relative PPO on CE and NMT, between the fatigue index and absolute and relative PPO only on NMT, and no significant correlations with MPO. During RSA, RPE increased more on NMT compared to CE from bouts 3 to 7. During recovery, RPE was consistently higher on NMT at 1, 3, and 5 min post exercise compared to CE. These findings indicate that RSA performed on NMT induces greater fatigue and physiological load than CE, which originated in the lower resistive torque typically used on NMT compared to CE, resulting in a front loaded power output profile from the greater acceleration and cadence. From these results, we discuss that despite providing highly correlated measures of power output, NMT and CE should not be used interchangeably to assess RSA as they elicit markedly different responses. We also discuss these results from the fundamental differences in active muscle mass and power application patterns between running and cycling, which could form the basis of future studies

Characteristics of effective collaborative care for treatment of depression: a systematic review and meta-regression of 74 randomised controlled trials

This is a freely-available open access publication. Please cite the published version which is available via the DOI link in this record.BACKGROUND: Collaborative care is a complex intervention based on chronic disease management models and is effective in the management of depression. However, there is still uncertainty about which components of collaborative care are effective. We used meta-regression to identify factors in collaborative care associated with improvement in patient outcomes (depressive symptoms) and the process of care (use of anti-depressant medication). METHODS AND FINDINGS: Systematic review with meta-regression. The Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group trials registers were searched from inception to 9th February 2012. An update was run in the CENTRAL trials database on 29th December 2013. Inclusion criteria were: randomised controlled trials of collaborative care for adults ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of depression or mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. Random effects meta-regression was used to estimate regression coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) between study level covariates and depressive symptoms and relative risk (95% CI) and anti-depressant use. The association between anti-depressant use and improvement in depression was also explored. Seventy four trials were identified (85 comparisons, across 21,345 participants). Collaborative care that included psychological interventions predicted improvement in depression (β coefficient -0.11, 95% CI -0.20 to -0.01, p = 0.03). Systematic identification of patients (relative risk 1.43, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.81, p = 0.004) and the presence of a chronic physical condition (relative risk 1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.65, p = 0.02) predicted use of anti-depressant medication. CONCLUSION: Trials of collaborative care that included psychological treatment, with or without anti-depressant medication, appeared to improve depression more than those without psychological treatment. Trials that used systematic methods to identify patients with depression and also trials that included patients with a chronic physical condition reported improved use of anti-depressant medication. However, these findings are limited by the observational nature of meta-regression, incomplete data reporting, and the use of study aggregates.NIH