Quantifying the performance of a top-down natural ventilation Windcatcher™

Estimating the performance of a natural ventilation system is very important if one is to correctly size the system for a particular application. Estimating the performance of a Windcatcher™ is complicated by the complex flow patterns that occur during the top-down ventilation process. Methods for predicting Windcatcher™ performance can currently be separated into simplistic analytic methods such as the envelope flow model and the use of complex and time consuming numerical methods such as CFD. This article presents an alternative semi-empirical approach in which a detailed analytic model makes use of experimental data in the literature in order to provide a fast but accurate estimate of Windcatcher™ performance. Included in the model are buoyancy effects, the effect of changes in wind speed and direction, as well as the treatment of sealed and unsealed rooms. The semi-empirical predictions obtained are shown to compare well with measured data and air buoyancy is shown only to be significant at relatively low flow velocities. In addition, a very simple algorithm is proposed for quantifying the air flow rates from a room induced by a Windcatcher™ in the absence of buoyancy effects

An evaluation of the Wallasey Heart Centre

This project report discusses an evaluation of Wallasey Heart Centre, an intermediate cardiovascular clinic designed to provide accessible high-quality patient care to an area with a high prevalence of of coronary heart disease and poor access to existing secondary care services. The service began in October 2000 with funding for three years. The views of local GPs, local cardiologists, and Wallasey Heart Centre staff and patients were sought

Widespread Dissemination Of Diarrhea Due To Rotavirus Serotype G9p8 In The Solomon Islands After A Focal Flood-Related Outbreak

Background Extreme weather events can precipitate epidemic transmission of diarrhea. We describe a large nationwide epidemic in the Solomon Islands following a focal flash flood disaster on April 3-5, 2015 in the capital city of Honiara. Methods The Early Warning Alert and Response Network surveillance system (EWARN) detected an outbreak of diarrhea in Honiara. We identified cases from EWARN and retrospective review of outpatient registries in Honiara prior to and during the outbreak. We reviewed data from the public adverse event system to identify diarrhea-related deaths. Rapid diagnostic testing for rotavirus was performed on stool samples from cases. RT-PCR analysis was used to genotype rotavirus isolates. Results We identified 4,231 cases of diarrhea in the city of Honiara (pop. 64,609) during an epidemic which occurred following massive flooding. The mean weekly incidence of diarrhea increased from 21.6 to 43.7 cases per 10,000 population during the period before and after flooding. Although flooding was limited to Honiara and the province of Guadalcanal, hospital-based surveillance detected increase in weekly cases of diarrhea in 4 additional provinces situated on separate islands. Peak weekly incidences in these provinces occurred 4-10 weeks after the peak of the outbreak in Honiara. The highest attack rates for diarrhea in Honiara and nationwide were observed in children with age \u3c5 years. In total, 27 children died due to diarrhea related causes, which exceeded the 22 deaths directly attributed to the flash flood emergency. Rotavirus was identified in 26 of 61 (43%) of the outbreak cases for which testing was performed. All four isolates that were genotyped were found to be serotype G9P8. Conclusions Our findings indicate that a disaster sparked a large nationwide epidemic of diarrhea which spread rapidly across islands unaffected by the flood event. Although laboratory testing was limited, rotavirus appears to be an important pathogen in this outbreak. Outbreaks caused by extreme weather events carry a significant burden and should be given large consideration when describing the health impacts of climate change

The effectiveness of an oculometer training tape on pilot and copilot trainees in a commercial flight training program

A study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a video tape detailing the various aspects of instrument scanning by experienced pilots on performance by pilots and copilots undergoing flight training in a Boeing 737 flight simulator. The performance ratings by instructor pilots (IP's) and self-reported instrument scan behavior by trainees were compared with those of a control group. The results indicated that the training tape had little or no effect on performance by trainees in the experimental group. Feedback from the IP's and trainees suggested that a feedback strategy providing each trainee's individual instrument scan behavior might be more beneficial in flight training than the general instructional strategy of the oculometer training tape. Flight training personnel and trainees' reports of performance decrements on or around the third day of flight simulator training were investigated. The IP's performance ratings of 27 pilot and copilot trainees failed to reveal a systematic performance decrement; however, feedback from the trainees revealed that their own attribution of performance decrements was associated with the order in which their training occurred within a session. Further research was suggested

The effectiveness of incorporating a real-time oculometer system in a commercial flight training program

The effectiveness of incroporating a real-time oculometer system into a Boeing 737 commercial flight training program was studied. The study combined a specialized oculometer system with sophisticated video equipment that would allow instructor pilots (IPs) to monitor pilot and copilot trainees' instrument scan behavior in real-time, and provide each trainee with video tapes of his/her instrument scanning behavior for each training session. The IPs' performance ratings and trainees' self-ratings were compared to the performance ratings by IPs and trainees in a control group. The results indicate no difference in IP ratings or trainees' self-ratings for the control and experimental groups. The results indicated that the major beneficial role of a real-time oculometer system for pilots and copilots having a significant amount of flight experience would be for problem solving or refinement of instrument scanning behavior rather than a general instructional scheme. It is suggested that this line of research be continued with the incorporation of objective data (e.g., state of the aircraft data), measures of cost effectiveness and with trainees having less flight experience

The effectiveness of incorporating a real-time oculometer system in a commercial flight training program

The effectiveness on pilot and trainee performance and scanning behavior of incorporating a real time oculometer system in a commerical flight training program was assessed. Trainees received simulator training in pairs requiring the trainees to alternate the order of training within a session. The 'third day phenomenon' of performance decrement was investigated, including the role of order of training on performance

Deteriorative Influences Upon the Morale of the British 21st Army Group in the Shadow of Operation ‘Market Garden’.

Operation ‘Market Garden’ was initiated by Allied forces on the 17th September 1944, ending on the 25th of the same month. Up until that point of the Second World War, it was the largest airborne landing to have ever been undertaken. The main aim of Operation ‘Market Garden’ was to open up an invasion route for the Allied forces into the north of Germany from the Netherlands. In order to do this, the operation sought to capture and cross a number of bridges over a series of rivers and canals, including the Rhine and the Maas. The first part of this operation - ‘Market’ - involved the landing of paratroopers in proximity to these bridges in order to capture and secure, awaiting part two of the operation. ‘Garden’ involved the movement of heavier units from Belgium, up through the Netherlands, relieving the units holding these bridges (See Source 0.01, 0.02, 0.03)

Quantifying the performance of a top-down natural ventilation windcatcher

Measurements and smoke tests show that the quadrants of a Windcatcher with a positive pressure across them act as supply ducts, while those with a negative pressure across them act as exhaust ducts. However, analysis of the side and leeward Cp values shows that they do not necessarily balance mass flow in and out of the Windcatcher, indicating that either the pressure in the supplied room drops or there is an amount of infiltration through the building fabric initiated by the Windcatcher. In order to better understand Windcatcher performance, a simple analytic model is developed that utilises experimental data to estimate the losses in the system. Two different scenarios are considered for the room adjoining the Windcatcher: (i) this room is perfectly sealed; and (ii) air infiltration is allowed into the room so that the pressure in the room remains atmospheric. Here, it is observed that, for those values of Cp reported for a square Windcatcher in the literature, the overall volume flow rate of air out of the room always exceeds that coming into the room. Based on this data, the analytic model may be used to estimate the losses in the Windcatcher, from which it is then straightforward to derive a simple relationship between the overall area of the Windcatcher and the volume flow rates into and out of the Windcatcher in order to predict Windcatcher performance for a given application

The Desktop Muon Detector: A simple, physics-motivated machine- and electronics-shop project for university students

This paper describes an undergraduate-level physics project that incorporates various aspects of machine- and electronics-shop technical development. The desktop muon detector is a self-contained apparatus that employs plastic scintillator as a detection medium and a silicon photomultiplier for light collection. These detectors can be used in conjunction with the provided software to make interesting physics measurements. The total cost of each counter is approximately $100.Comment: 29 pages, 14 figure