169 research outputs found
A quantification of the behaviourial dynamics of certain Lepidoptera in response to light
Many types of insect, in particular the nocturnal Lepidoptera,
will fly towards artificial sources of illumination. Such animals
are often described as being positively phototactic, but although
little progress has been made towards a fundamental understanding
of this phenomenon, its existence continues to be exploited with
the use of light-traps. This thesis attempts to explain, in part,
why certain British night-flying Lepidoptera are caught, or fly close
to, light-traps. The experimentation and analysis has been
structured into three separate but inter-related studies. The first
is an investigation into the effects that weather factors exert on
light-trap catch. Standard analytical procedures were extended to
reveal that sensitivity to these factors is related to insect size
and gross morphology. The second of these studies is an analysis
of the types of moth flight pattern produced when these insects are
exposed to various forms of illumination under field conditions.
Moth tracks were recorded on video with the help of image
intensification, and the frame-by-frame co-ordinates transferred to,
and processed by, a microcomputer, which produced matrix maps of
speeds, accelerations and time-surface densities around a light-trap.
Instantaneous windspeeds were recorded. The dynamical analysis
suggests that moth flight towards light arises primarily from a
misinterpretation of the stimulus, competing at short distances with
a strong escape response, thus evoking a profound state of disorientation.
Furthermore, the data indicated that the types of
pattern found were species linked. In the third study, a remotesensing
technique was used to quantify moth aerial density, which
was compared with simultaneous light-trap catches nearby, giving an
estimate of absolute trap catching efficiency under various
meteorological conditions. Because of their mode of operation,
and their increasing loss of effectiveness in higher windspeeds,
light-traps have only a limited capacity to reflect aerial density
Urinary incontinence: A vibration alert system for detecting pad overflow
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2011 RESNA.A sensor and electronics system is described that monitors the leakage of urine from continence pads into surrounding underwear. Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine and occurs when the bladder muscles contract without warning or the sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra are too weak to prevent leakage. The system comprises a wetness sensor and electronics unit. The sensor is stitched into the underwear and detects overspills of urine from the pad. The electronics unit is attached to the underwear and responds by vibrating, signaling to the wearer that pad has failed. This system has application for individuals who use continence pads in the community, but it could also be used in care homes
Automatic guided wave PPM communication system for potential SHM of flooding members in sub-sea oilrigs
An Inhaler Tracking System Based on Acoustic Analysis:Hardware and Software
In treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), acquisition of authentic and effective feedback from patients on regimen adherence is difficult. Face-to-face and oral reporting methods do not satisfy current intelligent medication best practices. This paper presents a system to track and analyze daily inhaler usage. A portable electronic device that attaches to the inhaler uses an accelerometer and capacitive sensors to detect usersâ motion and an embedded digital microphone to capture sounds while the inhaler is in use. In terms of analysis, sound features are extracted, and breath phases are identified by employing a hidden Markov model with a Gaussian mixture model. A feature template is also constructed and used to search for and identify âcanister pressedâ events. The system provides objective feedback, quantifying asthma, and COPD patientsâ adherence to medication regimens. Although interest in asthma adherence to medication regimens is growing, there is still a relative paucity of research and, indeed, compliance devices in this area; the tracking system can help doctors better understand the patientâs condition and choose an appropriated treatment plan. At the same time, patients can also improve their self-management by system feedback
Defect Visualization and Location of Reinforcing Bars and Cables in Concrete Using Active Electromagnetic Induction Imaging
Reinforced concrete is used to build many modern structures such as bridges and buildings. The strength of these structures is dependent upon the integrity of the steel reinforcing embedded in the concrete. Over a period of time the rebars may begin to corrode and crack. The loss of steel due to corrosion or the loss of strength due to cracking may lead to structural failure particularly for prestressed concrete. The work described in this paper is the development of active electromagnetic induction sensors capable of detecting reinforcing bars within concrete and the identification of surface breaking defects on the reinforcing bars
N-MTTL SI Model: Non-Intrusive Multi-Task Transfer Learning-Based Speech Intelligibility Prediction Model with Scenery Classification
Tackling ageing continence through theory, tools & technology (TACT3)
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2012 Common Ground.After dementia, nothing is more feared by older people than the loss of continence. It is often the reason many people enter care facilities and can contribute to the breakdown of caring relationships. This paper reports on a three-year research project funded by the UK New Dynamics of Aging programme, which has explored three key issues in the predicament of maintaining continence from the âuserâsâ perspective. Firstly, understanding how continence services operated by the UK National Health Service can be improved to offer cost effective benefits that encourage people to report this sometimes embarrassing condition with confidence. Secondly, working directly with the US Simon Foundation, the project has developed user-requested, assistive devices that target the most embarrassing aspects of the condition, namely issues of personal odor control and urine leakage from continence pads. Lastly, understanding the challenges of managing continence in daily living outside of the home, with particular reference to accessing publicly accessible toilet facilities. The paper will highlight the research that has provided the basis for innovative design solutions.ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and AHRC
Tackling Ageing Continence through Theory, Tools & Technology
Originally presented at âAging and Society: An Interdisciplinary Conferenceâ, University of California, Berkeley (2011), this article was double-blind peer reviewed, receiving scores of 96% and 73%. It outlines the interdisciplinary research of the cross-Research-Council-funded New Dynamics of Ageing Tackling Ageing Continence through Theory Tools & Technology (TACT3) project (2008â12), which brought together designers, social scientists, bio-engineers, chemists and care-management services to understand the challenges faced by an ageing population in the management of continence. Bichardâs Work Package, âChallenging Environmental Barriers to Continenceâ, explored the need for public toilet provision as essential for quality of life, health and well-being. It developed a life-course methodology that considered ageing from birth through to advanced age (0â101 years), and involved inclusive design research with members of the public and providers of facilities to assess public expectations and provider limitations in service provision.
As co-investigator on TACT3, this research built on Bichardâs previous work for the VivaCity2020 consortium (Bichard REF Output 2). Whereas the VivaCity2020 work focused on architectural barriers in toilet provision, the TACT3 project examined the problem in service provision, and how, through inclusive design research, service-design solutions might be explored and implemented.
Bichardâs contribution to the TACT3 project produced The Great British Public Toilet Map (http://greatbritishpublictoiletmap.rca.ac.uk/), a public participation website that provides information and locations of public toilets, encouraging members of the public to contact relevant local authorities that have not released information in the format of Open Data. Secondary analysis of TACT3 data for references to issues of personal safety and community initiative in toilet provision was used for the ESRC-funded Robust Accessible Toilets (RATs) project (2011) and produced Publicly Accessible Toilets: An Inclusive Design Guide (2011). Related published conference papers include those in âCumulus 2010â (China) and âInclude 2011â (UK)
An Intelligent Electrical Time Domain Reflectometry System for the Detection and Characterisation of Fault Conditions in Posttensioning Ducts of Smart Concrete Structures
In civil engineering structures involving prestressed concrete, the use of posttensioned systems is very common. Post-tensioning is achieved by passing steel cables into ducts previously cast into the concrete. When the concrete has set, the cables are tensioned with hydraulic jacks and then sealed into the duct by pumping in a slurry of cement and water, called grout. The grouting mixture, being alkaline in composition, protects the steel cable from corrosion
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