Using Serious Games to Motivate Children with Cystic Fibrosis to Engage with Mucus Clearance Physiotherapy

Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) therapy is an effective method for removing mucus build-up in the lungs of sufferers of chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the compliance by young children and adolescents to undertake such physiotherapy can lead to confrontation and stressful situations within families, and can impact on the health of the individual. We have developed game software which is controlled through breathing into a PEP mask or mouthpiece using an air pressure sensor to interface with the PC. By combining games with mucus clearing devices, it could provide a powerful means of encouraging children, teenagers and adults to engage more frequently, and effectively, with vital mucus clearance physiotherapy. This paper presents promising initial results and describes further usability testing plans

Hydrodynamics of an oscillating articulated eel-like structure

This study examines the hydrodynamic performance of a highly simplified eel-like structure consisting of three articulated segments with the two aft segments oscillating. A physical model was built and tested to determine the forces developed with the model stationary, to find the self-propulsion speed, and to explore the effect on hydrodynamic performance of different swimming patterns. It was found that hydrodynamic performance increases with increasing oscillation frequency; the highest forces when stationary, and the highest self-propulsion speeds were produced by swimming patterns in which the amplitude in the aft segment is larger than that in the forward segment, and in which the motion of the aft segment lags the forward segment. A simple semi-empirical model based on Morison’s equation was implemented to predict the hydrodynamic forces. This was shown to predict mean thrust well in cases in which the aft segment oscillates in phase with the forward segment, but less reliably when the phase difference between the segments increases. Force time histories are generally not well-predicted using this approach. Nonetheless, self-propulsion speeds are predicted within 30% in all cases examined

An experimental study of unsteady hydrodynamics of a single scull

The effect of hull dynamics on the hydrodynamic performance of a single scull is investigated via a combination of field trials and tank tests. The location of laminar-turbulent transition in unsteady flow is explored via several series of hot-film measurements on the bow of a full-scale single scull in unsteady flow in both towing tank and field-trial conditions. Results demonstrate that the measured real-world viscous-flow behaviour can be successfully reproduced in the tank using an oscillating sub-carriage to reproduce the surging motion measured in the field trials. It can be seen that there is a strong link between turbulence and acceleration; results show that the link is relatively insensitive to mean velocity, but that small changes in acceleration time-histories can have a marked effect, as can the presence of small waves. The impact of the location of laminar turbulent transition is investigated by way of a series of resistance tests, both with free transition and with transition forced by turbulence stimulation at two different locations. Results indicate that an aft movement of 200mm of the location of transition can reduce resistance by almost 0.5 per cent. Unsteady tests using the oscillating sub-carriage indicate that unsteady effects add around 3 per cent to the total mean resistance with free transition

Resistance of a compartmented surface-effect ship

A series of carefully controlled experiments on the resistance of a model of a compartmented surface-effect ship has been conducted in a towing tank. Configurations of the model included cases encompassing one subcushion and two subcushions, as well as differing values of the pressures in the subcushions. It was shown that a reduced total resistance in the appropriate range of Froude number could be achieved in this manner. Furthermore, the previously developed theory for the resistance of a surface-effect ship was verified for the model for a Froude number greater than 0.40

Phase transitions in argon films

We present heat-capacity data detailing the evolution of the first six layers of argon adsorbed on graphite foam. The second and third layers have liquid-solid-gas triple points similar to the first layer. These layers exhibit a phase diagram consisting of two-dimensional solid, liquid, and gas phases on top of a solid film. Above the temperatures of the individual-layer triple points, the melting transition for each layer appears to be first order, and the first two layers show evidence of registry transitions prior to melting. For films of a total thickness of about four layers and up, the melting of each of the first three layers occurs at temperatures above the bulk triple point, as reported by Zhu and Dash [Phys. Rev. B 38, 11 673 (1988)]. Our results confirm those of an ellipsometry study [H. S. Youn and G. B. Hess, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 918 (1990)] that found layering transitions above what were believed to be the layering critical-point temperatures. We observe heat-capacity peaks identified with these transitions and with melting transitions that join them with the low-temperature layering transitions. A phase diagram based on these data may represent the signature of a preroughening transition and a disordered flat phase in the bulk-crystal interface

Should It Stay or Should It Go?: Exploring the potential for structural reform in Milwaukee County government

Milwaukee County government faces immediate and substantial fiscal and programmatic challenges. The county's structural deficit -- defined as the gap between expenditure needs and anticipated revenues -- is projected to grow from $48 million in 2011 to more than$106 million by 2014, despite several successive years of significant expenditure and staff reductions and anticipation of significant wage and benefit concessions in 2010. This projection is the clearest indication yet that the county's finances are crumbling and that valued services in areas like parks, transit, mental health and public safety face severe degradation without prompt and concerted action. This action could take any of several forms, including the complete elimination of Milwaukee County government. This report, commissioned by the Greater Milwaukee Committee, provides detailed analysis and perspective on the complex issues surrounding that option, as well as other potential structural changes