Real time data streaming from smart phones

AbstractThere are many aspects of the athlete's performance that can and need to be measured to improve performance or to fine-tune skills. This can be done visually by a coach or by using sensors attached to the athlete. This paper discusses the common sensor data capture methods and the main requirements for a data capturing system with special attention paid to the requirements for a real time data capturing system. An implementation of a real time data capture system consisting of an iPhone and a laptop is presented. The system was tested on a runner performing a slow jog. The acceleration signatures for the running was streamed from the iPhone to the laptop and displayed in real time thus validating the system

The sensory acceptance of fibre-enriched cereal foods:a meta-analysis

Improved understanding of the sensory responses to fibre fortification may assist manufacturers and health promotion efforts. The effects of fibre fortification (or modified ingredients) on sensory acceptability of baked cereal foods (bread, cookies, muffins) were estimated by linear random-effects meta-analysis of twenty eligible studies (869 panellists, 34% male). As little as 2 g per 100 g fortification caused moderate–large reductions in overall acceptability, flavour acceptability, and appearance acceptability in most items, with cookies most negatively affected. Fortification of base nonfortified foods with low initial acceptability improved acceptability; however, at higher basic levels, fortification lowered acceptability. Fortification improved texture acceptability of muffins and bread with low base acceptability, but lowered texture acceptability when base acceptability was high. Flavour improvement of muffins with fortification decreased with increasing base food acceptability. Fibre fortification of baked cereal foods lowers acceptability, but food format and base food acceptability affect the magnitude and direction of responses. Refining fibre fortification approaches could improve consumer uptake

The Somali Current response to the Southwest Monsoon: The relative importance of local and remote forcing

A simple model of the Somali current is formul ated which allows both local longshore forcing and remote east-west forcing. Asymptotic solutions for the pressure perturbation and velocity fields are obtained for both cases and the sensitivity of the boundary response to changes in the shape and position of the forcing is examined. The local forcing drives a flow whose north-south velocity increases linearly with time and the remote forcing , a flow in which the north-south velocity increases quadratically...

A Feedback System for the Motor Learning of Skills in Golf

AbstractThis paper presents a feedback GUI to improve the motor skills of a subject performing a golf putt. In this paper inertial sensors (gyroscopes) and video were used to capture the swing. Feedback was provided by a graphical user interface created in Matlab and displayed the video of the putt and quantitative values such as the putt tempo (ratio Backswing duration: Downswing duration) and score which gives an indication of how close the putt tempo is to the ideal rato of (2:1). A zero-crossing method was used to determine the swing phases and durations from the rotational velocity.The effectiveness of the feedback GUI was tested using 10 participants (4 experienced and 6 inexperienced). Each participant executed two sets of 15 putts over distances of 3m, 6m and 9m on an artificial turf putting surface with feedback provided by the GUI between the two sets of putts. The results indicated that overall tempo ratio of experienced and inexperienced participants became closer to 2:1 after the feedback. The standard deviation also decreased which meant that participants also improved their putting consistency. The results indicate that the participants were able to improve their skill in terms of putting performance indicators after using the feedback GUI

Techno-economic research analysis for effective power generation from aero-engines.

This research focuses on the techno-economic assessment of Brayton cycles and provides a platform through which the evaluation and optimization of gas turbine engine performance and economics may be achieved in an economical and cost effective way. In this study, a techno-economic analysis model has been developed which takes into account technical, environmental and economic variables during analysis in order to arrive at reasonable solutions for gas turbine system optimization from a technical and economic perspective, and in a viable and cost effective way. The model integrates elements of machine learning, regression analysis, economics, thermodynamic and optimization analysis into a cohesive whole to enable robust techno-economic investigation. In order to provide a baseline for the research analysis and investigation, a case study engine model similar to the Tumansky-R25-300 turbojet engine is created. This engine choice seeks to provide an alternative, profitable civil use for the grounded jet engines owned by the Nigerian Air force. A study is conducted using the developed techno-economic methodology to determine the feasibility, from a performance and economic perspective, of repurposing the selected case study engine into an aero-derivative engine for electrical power generation application. At ISA conditions, burning natural gas, the repurposed engine model (REM) delivers 18.52MW of power at 33.5% thermal efficiency. With respect to the case, study environment, Nigeria (Tropical region), at an average altitude of 700m, the repurposed engine model delivers 17.66MW of Power at 31.6% thermal efficiency. Repurposing the power plants of the considered grounded aircrafts has the potential to consolidate electrical generating capacity in Nigeria by about 8% in simple cycle and 10% in combined cycle applications. Techno-economic analysis conducted on the repurposed engine model reveals that investment in the REM over a 15years planning horizon would break even at 5years with 22% return on investment (ROI) in simple cycle and 19% ROI in combined cycle application. In simple cycle, the REM deliver a NPV of $24.21 million at a levelized cost of energy, LCOE, of 0.155$/MWh and investment base of $18.24 million. In combined cycle investigations, the REM delivers a NPV of$23.98 million at an LCOE of 0.121$/MWh and investment base of$20.85 million in combined cycle. Performance and economic optimization analysis conducted on the repurposed engine model achieved a 39% reduction in fuel flow, 39% reduction in NOᵪ emission generated and about 30% decrease in LCOE from baseline values while maintaining positive profitability. Based on the techno-economic analysis conducted, assumptions made and results obtained from this study, it is feasible, from a performance and economic perspective, to apply the repurposed engine model (REM) for electrical power generation, both within and outside the considered case study region with minimal loss in performance output and economic profitability. Further investigations reveal that the repurposed engine model (REM) can favourably compete, from a performance and economic perspective, with some of the competitor units considered in this study. A techno-economic cost modelling and analysis tool based on the developed technoeconomic analysis methodology has been developed and integrated with TURBOMATCH performance simulation software. The integration of the tool with TURBOMATCH has extended its potential application scope to cover numerous areas including preliminary design investigation, technology comparison, power cycling analysis, project selection from alternatives, capital budgeting problems, novel cycle investigations, life cycle cost analysis and sensitivity analysis.PhD in Aerospac

Recovering from Substance Misuse: The Role of Mastery and Unity Revealed through the ‘Life as a Film’

A growing body of research highlights the importance of identity changes to recovery from substance misuse. Current models emphasise communal or self-agentic factors in the process (e.g. Best et al., 2016; Dunlop & Tracy, 2013). This represents a limitation of focus, and there is a requirement for models that recognise the rich interplay of both personal and relational factors underpinning behaviour. Life story interviews of substance misusers indicate key underlying themes (Singer, 1997, 2001), alluding to the benefit of developing a narrative approach, and directs research towards examination of personal narratives in active and recovering substance misusers to uncover dynamic factors supporting either behaviour. The aim of this project was to develop a new narrative approach to substance misuse recovery, proposing that agency and communion themes, as well as broader narrative forms, are important to recovery outcomes. This objective was addressed by sampling from both active and recovering populations, a methodology lacking in the extant literature, and trialling the ‘Life as a Film’ (LAAF) approach to data collection and thematic analysis, since the model has proved useful in studies of life narrative with related populations (Canter & Youngs, 2015). Interviews were conducted with 32 participants (23 males, 9 females). All participants interviewed at baseline were retained at six-month follow up. Problems encountered with collection of life story material in marginalised populations were addressed using the LAAF technique, and a repertory grid was designed to compare narrative with personal construct data. A Recovery Inventory (RI) was used to compare this data with indicators of recovery. A fundamental contribution of this research is in highlighting a relationship between both agency and communion and recovery across several corroborative studies. Significantly, joint agency and communion themes in LAAF narratives were shown to correspond with the best recovery outcomes, either theme with moderate outcomes, and neither theme with poor outcomes, expanding ideas of current social and narrative identity theories. Illustration of a successive agentic path, advancing from effectiveness, empowerment to self-mastery is given, and a communal path, advancing from friendship/love, caring to unity, with improved recovery outcomes, suggesting a new two-dimensional framework of progressive identity transformation. Matching behavioural change with personal growth pathways represents a key theoretical advance, carrying important implications for interventions corresponding with individual narrative presentation. Further analysis expanded on these findings, revealing two contrasting life narratives, reflective of either recovery or non-recovery: a Victory narrative, showing themes of self-mastery, unity, redemption, healer identity, and happy ending, which corresponded with high scores on the RI, and a Defeat narrative, showing themes of compulsion, avoidance, contamination, escapist identity, and sad ending, which corresponded with low scores on the RI. The thesis advances the literature in four important ways: (1) introduction and validation of the LAAF model for understanding recovery (2) highlighting the centrality of both agency and communion themes to recovery (3) uncovering distinct agentic and communal growth scales (4) revealing overarching life narratives suggestive of recovery and non-recovery. These contributions follow from the decision to sample from both active and recovering substance misusers and introducing powerful multidimensional scaling methods to the field. In total, the findings lend considerable support to a life narrative interpretation of substance misuse and recovery, combining social identity and narrative identity concepts into a greater appreciation of the complex psychosocial processes important to substance misuse recovery

Exploring the effects of trunk acceleration on saddle position and the drag coefficient

Triathletes often use a time trial bicycle with an increased seat tube angle combined with aerodynamic handlebars that allow for a decreased upper body and trunk to improve aerodynamics. In this respect, the adjustment of the seat tube and saddle is an important feature of fitting bicycle to triathlete to positively impact performance. Limited published evidence concerning trunk acceleration, saddle position and aerodynamics by way of the drag coefficient (Cd) in triathlon cycling makes comparisons difficult. Therefore, an overground varied cycle cadence in a previously validated saddle position was conducted to detect differences in trunk acceleration magnitude whilst a multivariable linear regression was used to estimate Cd based on saddle position, trunk acceleration and cadence. Data was collected by a trunk-mounted triaxial accelerometer to estimate kinematic determinants of triathlete cycling performance in conjunction with trunk acceleration magnitude and cadence that contribute to Cd. Seven participants completed a 1 x 5 km overground cycling trial at varied cadence on a characteristic triathlon circuit. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate that cycling at higher cadences increased trunk acceleration magnitude with a projected Cd of 0.277. Longitudinal trunk acceleration represented 39% of the outcome variable explained by the model. To illustrate the practical relevance of the statistical models, mean total trunk acceleration and cadence were applied to predict Cd. Higher magnitudes of total trunk acceleration combined with cycling at a cadence of 95-100 rev/min¹ resulted in greater Cd (0.283)