Sensor Sleeve: Sensing Affective Gestures

We describe the use of textile sensors mounted in a garment sleeve to detect affective gestures. The `Sensor Sleeve' is part of a larger project to explore the role of affect in communications. Pressure activated, capacitive and elasto-resistive sensors are investigated and their relative merits reported on. An implemented application is outlined in which a cellphone receives messages derived from the sleeve's sensors using a Bluetooth interface, and relays the signals as text messages to the user's nominated partner

Deriving specifications of control programs for cyber physical systems

Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) exist in a physical environment and comprise both physical components and a control program. Physical components are inherently liable to failure and yet an overall CPS is required to operate safely, reliably and cost effectively. This paper proposes a framework for deriving the specification of the software control component of a CPS from an understanding of the behaviour required of the overall system in its physical environment. The two key elements of this framework are (i) an extension to the use of rely/guarantee conditions to allow specifications to be obtained systematically from requirements (as expressed in terms of the required behaviour in the environment) and nested assumptions (about the physical components of the CPS); and (ii) the use of time bands to record the temporal properties required of the CPS at a number of different granularities. The key contribution is in combining these ideas; using time bands overcomes a significant drawback in earlier work. The paper also addresses the means by which the reliability of a CPS can be addressed by challenging each rely condition in the derived specification and, where appropriate, improve robustness and/or define weaker guarantees that can be delivered with respect to the corresponding weaker rely conditions

The Journal of Inflammation

Welcome to the Journal of Inflammation, the first open-access, peer-reviewed, online journal to focus on all aspects of the study of inflammation and inflammatory conditions. While research into inflammation has resulted in great progress in the latter half of the 20th century, the rate of progress is rapidly accelerating. Thus there is a need for a vehicle through which this very diverse research can be made readily available to the scientific community. The Journal of Inflammation, a peer reviewed journal, provides the ideal vehicle for such rapid dissemination of information. The Journal of Inflammation covers the full range of underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, not only in the production of the inflammatory responses but, more importantly in clinical terms, in the healing process as well. This includes molecular, cellular, animal and clinical studies related to the study of inflammatory conditions and responses, and all related aspects of pharmacology, such as anti-inflammatory drug development, trials and therapeutic developments, etc. All articles published in the Journal of Inflammation are immediately listed in PubMed, and access to published articles is universal and free through the internet

Can historical assumptions be used to assess fitness to fly for other respiratory compromised patients? An evaluation of physiological parameters to risk stratify patients planning air travel

Introduction: The risks associated with commercial flight for respiratory compromised patients is well known. Many of the assumptions are based on studies that have included patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and have often been extended to other respiratory and non-respiratory disorders. The primary aim of this thesis is to examine the differences in physiological parameters and Hypoxic Challenge Test (HCT) outcomes in patients with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) and COPD. The secondary outcome is to investigate whether physiological parameters can predict HCT pass or failure in ILD, MND and COPD patient groups. Methods: Respiratory patients who were referred into a 'fitness to fly' service (n=225) with COPD (n=51), MND (n=118) and ILD (n=56) completed baseline lung function and an HCT as part of risk stratification for planned air travel. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-Squared tests, as appropriate. Data from patients requiring in-flight oxygen was compared to patients who did not, per the British Thoracic Society recommendations 2011 (Ahmedzai et al., 2011). Univariate analysis and logistic regression were performed to evaluate independent physiological parameters for HCT failure. Results: Demographic data relating to age, smoking history and BMI were significantly different between the patient groups. Spirometric data showed significant differences in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) absolute, per cent predicted and standardised residuals, however, there was no significant difference in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) absolute or per cent predicted. Resting capillary blood gases (CBGs) (FiO2 21%) showed significant differences between patient groups in all parameters except for pH. Responses to the hypoxic mix during the HCT (FiO2 15%) showed differences in all CBG values except pH. This was also mirrored in the corrective values (FiO2 28%). The difference between the PaO2 at rest (21%) and during the HCT (15%) is higher in the MND and ILD groups (2.66 and 2.74 kPa respectively) versus the COPD group (2.2kPa). The HCT fail rate was greatest for the COPD group. In the MND group there was no significant difference between the pass (n=94) and fail (n=24) groups for age, gender, smoking history, or BMI. There was a significant difference for all spirometry data (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second - FEV1, FVC - Forced Vital Capacity and FEV1/FVC ratio – absolute, per cent predicted and standardised residuals). Moreover, the resting blood gases (FiO2 21%) data showed a significant difference for all parameters except pH (<0.001). The Regression analysis showed limited predictive value of spirometry and/or resting blood gas data except for PaCO2 and base excess (BE). In the ILD group, demographic data relating to age, gender, smoking history, and BMI were comparable. Spirometric data showed differences in per cent predicted for FEV1 and FVC. There was no difference in any of the parameters relating to static lung volumes, transfer factor or 6MWT. Furthermore, there was no difference between the group for resting blood gases (21%). The Regression analysis showed limited predictive value for spirometry. Conclusions: In this exploratory examination, the physiological data supports significant differences between the disorders for most data. The assumptions and algorithms based on the study of COPD patients cannot be assumed for MND or ILD, and these groups need to be specifically studied to better understand their response to the commercial cabin environment. The predictive value of spirometic paraments and resting blood gases are limited in assessing hypoxaemia during a commercial flight in MND and ILD patients, except for parameters relating to respiratory failure. Despite the significant difference between the two groups, routine physiological data was limited in the predictive regression equations. The recommended safest approach in managing these groups of patients is to perform an HCT in all patients intending to use air travel, until more evidence-based data is available

A model for uranium mobility in groundwater in the Grand Pré region, Nova Scotia, Canada

Elevated levels of uranium that surpass maximum allowable concentrations have been recognized in some well water samples throughout Nova Scotia. In this study we examine the influence of redox conditions and regional geology on the mobility of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Pré region, located in the eastern end of the Annapolis-Cornwallis Valley in southwestern Nova Scotia. The study site is underlain by carbon-rich shale and arkosic sandstone of the Late Mississippian Horton Bluff Formation and the arenaceous sandstone of the Triassic Wolfville Formation. Water samples from drilled wells were analyzed on site for various water quality parameters (pH, conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) and in the laboratory to determine alkalinity and cation (72) and major anion (9) concentrations. Several samples exceeded Health Canada (2011) limits for uranium (20 μg/L) with values up to 50.8 μg/L and aesthetic objectives (AO) for iron (up to 605 μg/L), manganese (up to 2.28 mg/L) and other cations. Data show that different redox conditions occur in the study area. The geospatial arrangement of the chemical data suggests that the lithology of the underlying aquifer strongly influences the availability of uranium in groundwater. Reduced groundwater in Horton Bluff sandstone typically contains elevated concentrations of Fe 2+ and Mn 2+ , whereas groundwater containing high concentrations of U is found primary in oxidizing environments in quartz arenite sandstone units in the Wolfville Formation. Consumption of groundwater in the Grand Pré region may pose a health risk; however, the level of risk remains unknown. This study emphasizes that in the area of Grand Pré, water that is considered aesthetically undesirable (containing high Fe and Mn) may pose less of a health risk (low U) than waters that are aesthetically pleasing.Des niveaux élevés d’uranium qui dépassent les concentrations maximales admises ont été détectés dans certains échantillons d’eau de puits en Nouvelle Écosse. Dans cette étude, nous examinons les effets de la réduction-oxydation et de la géologie régionale sur la mobilité de l’uranium dans l’eau souterraine de la région de Grand Pré, dans l’extrémité est de la vallée d’Annapolis-Cornwallis, dans le sud ouest de la Nouvelle Écosse. Le site étudié repose sur du schiste charbonneux et du grès arkosique de la Formation de Horton Bluff, du Mississippien tardif, et sur du grès arénacé de la Formation de Wolfville, du Trias. Les échantillons d’eau de puits creusés ont été analysés sur place pour ce qui est de divers paramètres de qualité de l’eau (pH, conductivité, température, oxygène dissous) et des analyses ont eu lieu en laboratoire pour établir l’alcalinité et les concentrations de cations (72) et de principaux anions (9). Plusieurs échantillons dépassaient les limites permises par Santé Canada (2011), en ce qui concerne la teneur en uranium (20 μg/L), certaines teneurs ayant atteint 50,8 μg/L. Il en allait de même en ce qui concerne les critères esthétiques pour le fer (des teneurs ayant atteint 605 μg/L), le manganèse (des teneurs ayant atteint 2,28 mg/L) et d’autres cations. Les données indiquent que divers phénomènes de réduction-oxydation surviennent dans le secteur étudié. Le contexte géospatial des données chimiques porte à croire que la lithologie de la couche aquifère sous jacente exerce une forte influence sur la disponibilité de l’uranium dans l’eau souterraine. L’eau souterraine qui a subi une réduction dans le grès de Horton Bluff contient généralement des concentrations élevées de Fe 2+ et de Mn 2+ , tandis que l’eau souterraine à forte concentration d’uranium est surtout observée dans les milieux oxydants de grès de quartz-arénite de la Formation de Wolfville. La consommation de l’eau souterraine dans la région de Grand Pré peut poser un risque pour la santé, mais le degré de risque demeure inconnu. Cette étude met en lumière le risque moindre pour la santé (faible teneur en U) de l’eau dans la région de Grand Pré, qui a une apparence pouvant laisse à désirer (elle a une forte teneur en Fe et en Mn), comparativement à d’autres sources d’eau d’apparence plus agréable. [Traduit par la redaction

Blurring the boundaries of the Mackintosh room

In this paper we describe a prototype interactive systemsupporting a shared synchronous experience for physical,World Wide Web and virtual reality visitors to anexhibition devoted to the designer and architect C.R.Mackintosh. The system provides awareness betweenvisitors that spans multiple media while also providinglocation- and device-sensitive content to each visitor

Large-scale Complex IT Systems

This paper explores the issues around the construction of large-scale complex systems which are built as 'systems of systems' and suggests that there are fundamental reasons, derived from the inherent complexity in these systems, why our current software engineering methods and techniques cannot be scaled up to cope with the engineering challenges of constructing such systems. It then goes on to propose a research and education agenda for software engineering that identifies the major challenges and issues in the development of large-scale complex, software-intensive systems. Central to this is the notion that we cannot separate software from the socio-technical environment in which it is used.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

"GET-UP" study rationale and protocol: A cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of reduced sitting on toddlers' cognitive development

Background: The educational and cognitive differences associated with low socioeconomic status begin early in life and tend to persist throughout life. Coupled with the finding that levels of sedentary time are negatively associated with cognitive development, and time spent active tends to be lower in disadvantaged circumstances, this highlights the need for interventions that reduce the amount of time children spend sitting and sedentary during childcare. The proposed study aims to assess the effects of reducing sitting time during Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services on cognitive development in toddlers from low socio-economic families. Methods/Design: We will implement a 12-months 2-arm parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with Australian toddlers, aged 12 to 26 months at baseline. Educators from the ECEC services allocated to the intervention group will receive professional development on how to reduce sitting time while children attend ECEC. Participants' cognitive development will be assessed as a primary outcome, at baseline and post-intervention, using the cognitive sub-test from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. Discussion: This trial has the potential to inform programs and policies designed to optimize developmental and health outcomes in toddlers, specifically in those from disadvantaged backgrounds