Exploring the Design of Pay-Per-Use Objects in the Construction Domain

Equipment used in the construction domain is often hired in order to reduce cost and maintenance overhead. The cost of hire is dependent on the time period involved and does not take into account the actual use equipment has received. This paper presents our initial investigation into how physical objects augmented with sensing and communication technologies can measure use in order to enable new pay-per-use payment models for equipment hire. We also explore user interaction with pay-per-use objects via mobile devices. The user interactions that take place within our prototype scenario range from simple information access to transactions involving multiple users. This paper presents the design, implementation and evaluation of a prototype pay-per-use system motivated by a real world equipment hire scenario. We also provide insights into the various challenges introduced by supporting a pay-per-use model, including data storage and data security in addition to user interaction issues

Investigation into high-temperature corrosion in a large-scale municipal waste-to-energy plant

High-temperature corrosion in the superheater of a large-scale waste-to-energy plant was investigated. A comparison of nickel-/iron-based alloys and austenitic stainless steel probes placed in the furnace demonstrated that temperature and particle deposition greatly influence corrosion. Nickel-based alloys performed better than the other metal alloys, though an aluminide coating further increased their corrosion resistance. Sacrificial baffles provided additional room for deposit accumulation, resulting in vigorous deposit-induced corrosion. Computational modelling (FLUENT code) was used to simulate flow characteristics and heat transfer. This study has shown that the use of aluminide coatings is a promising technique for minimising superheater corrosion in such facilities. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Regulating DC link voltage fluctuations on a grid connected wave power system using energy storage

The fluctuating nature of power generated from waves combined with the weak nature of the network, makes the connection of arrays of wave energy converters (WECs) to the network a challenge. This paper investigates the research questions raised by the proposed development of a wave farm using coastal WECs, where the spatial layout of the WECs is restricted and cannot be used to damp the fluctuations in generated power. The concept of using energy storage on a common DC link to compensate for the fluctuations in real power, and ensure that the power quality on a weak, rural distribution network is not compromised, will also be discussed

Constraint-Induced aphasia therapy: Three single case studies.

TITLE OF POSTER: CONSTRAINT INDUCED APHASIA THERAPY - THREE SINGLE CASE STUDIES INTRODUCTION This research project was inspired by the Specific Interest Group in Aphasia study day given by Professor Pulvermuller in January 2011. Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT) is sometimes referred to as Intensive Language Action Therapy (ILAT). This technique has an impressive research base to support its use for people with aphasia (PWA) and the evidence base includes both single case and randomised control trial evidence (Pulvermuller, Neininger, Elbert, Mohr, Rockstroh, Koebbl & Taub, 2001). Pulvermuller et al (2001) describe CIAT as a game of pairs. The game is normally played by four players: a therapist and three PWA. A 32 pack of cards consisting of 16 pairs is shuffled and divided equally between the four players. No one can see anyone else’s cards. The aim of the game is to win the most pairs of cards. Clients can win a pair by asking each of the other players in turn, for a matching card. All requests and responses should be verbal but participants may describe the target word or use a gesture in order to achieve saying the word. An essential part of the game is that each player should see and hear the name of the card in play. RESEARCH METHOD Three PWA were prioritised from a typical general hospital SLT caseload. All three clients were one to two years post onset of their aphasia and had already been provided with impairment focussed, functional and psychosocial SLT input. They had moderate to severe aphasia, had difficulties at several levels of single word processing and frequently failed to convey their message despite having a degree of linguistic competence and an ability to use alternative communication strategies. Accessible formal assessment measures (Kaplan, Goodglass & Weintraub 1983, Goodglass, Kaplan & Barresi 2000 & Swinburn, Porter & Howard 2004) were used to evaluate the success of therapy in a four step repeated measures research design: Baseline 1, 30 hours CIAT therapy, Baseline 2, Baseline 3. SUMMARY OF RESULTS For 2/3 clients, assessment results suggested that participation in the CIAT programme resulted in a positive measurable change in language behaviour. This positive change was not apparent in assessments of understanding. Selective improvement of language ability suggests that the therapy directed at language output had resulted in improved word and sentence level skills for 2/3 of our clients. There were also positive changes that were not captured by the assessment data: reduced use of written and therapist cues, improved repetition skills, improved self-monitoring and a reduced tendency to produce jargon type utterances. Relatives corroborated therapist perceptions. CONCLUSIONS In 2006 Beeson & Robey (2006, p162) proposed that rehabilitation outcome research should be conducted in five phases. Our study is one of the first to provide evidence to support the use of intensive CIAT therapy in the community (phase 4 – an effectiveness study). Other studies have assessed the usefulness of the therapeutic effect of ILAT (phase 1), optimised the ILAT procedure (phase 2) and tested its usefulness under ideal conditions (phase 3). The final phase outlined by Beeson & Robey (2006) is the cost-benefit analysis (phase 5) and we would welcome debate within the profession on improving this type of input and the role of Speech and Language Therapists in intensive aphasia therapy provision. REFERENCES Pulvermuller, F., Neininger, B., Elbert, T., Mohr, B., Rockstroh, B., Koebbl,P. & Taub, E. (2001) Constraint induced therapy for chronic aphasia after stroke. Stroke, 1621-1626. Beeson, P. M. & Robey, R.R. (2006) Evaluating single-subject treatment research: Lessons learnt from the aphasia literature. Neuropsychological Review, 16, 161-169. KAPLAN, E., GOODGLASS, H. and WEINTRAUB, S. (1983) The Boston Naming Test. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger. Goodglass, H., Kaplan, E. & Barresi, B. (2000) Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. 3rd Edition. San Antonio: Pearson. Swinburn, K., Porter, G., & Howard, D. (2004). The Comprehensive Aphasia Test. Hove: Psychology Press

Successful fault current interruption on DC circuit breaker

This study focus on the interruption capability of the DC circuit breaker employing a current commutation approach and evaluates the two main factors that determine the success rate for breaker current interruption, namely the current slope di/dt before current zero and the rate of rise of the transient recovery voltage dv/dt across the mechanical breaker contacts after current zero. A vacuum circuit breaker is used to evaluate DC breaker characteristics. Detailed mathematical and graphical analysis are presented for the proposed circuit operation used in analysing the circuit breaker properties, with simulation and experimental results at fault current levels up to 330 A

The Sensitivity of Auditory-Motor Representations to Subtle Changes in Auditory Feedback While Singing

Singing requires accurate control of the fundamental frequency (F0) of the voice. This study examined trained singers’ and untrained singers’ (nonsingers’) sensitivity to subtle manipulations in auditory feedback and the subsequent effect on the mapping between F0 feedback and vocal control. Participants produced the consonant-vowel /ta/ while receiving auditory feedback that was shifted up and down in frequency. Results showed that singers and nonsingers compensated to a similar degree when presented with frequency-altered feedback (FAF); however, singers’ F0 values were consistently closer to the intended pitch target. Moreover, singers initiated their compensatory responses when auditory feedback was shifted up or down 6 cents or more, compared to nonsingers who began compensating when feedback was shifted up 26 cents and down 22 cents. Additionally, examination of the first 50 ms of vocalization indicated that participants commenced subsequent vocal utterances, during FAF, near the F0 value on previous shift trials. Interestingly, nonsingers commenced F0 productions below the pitch target and increased their F0 until they matched the note. Thus, singers and nonsingers rely on an internal model to regulate voice F0, but singers’ models appear to be more sensitive in response to subtle discrepancies in auditory feedback

A PC parallel port button box provides millisecond response time accuracy under Linux

For psychologists, it is sometimes necessary to measure people's reaction times to the nearest millisecond. This article describes how to use the PC parallel port to receive signals from a button box to achieve millisecond response time accuracy. The workings of the parallel port, the corresponding port addresses, and a simple Linux program for controlling the port are described. A test of the speed and reliability of button box signal detection is reported. If the reader is moderately familiar with Linux, this article should provide sufficient instruction for him or her to build and test his or her own parallel port button box. This article also describes how the parallel port could be used to control an external apparatus

Are you feeling lucky?:lottery-based scheduling for public displays

Scheduling content onto pervasive displays is a complex problem. Researchers have identified an array of potential requirements that can influence scheduling decisions, but the relative importance of these different requirements varies across deployments, with context, and over time. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a lottery-based scheduling approach that allows for the combination of multiple scheduling policies and is easily extensible to accommodate new scheduling requirements