Gravity Charger

According to a 2014 World Health Organization research initiative based on data collected from 14 global developing countries, “Only 28% of health facilities and 34% of hospitals had what could be called “reliable” access to electricity (without prolonged interruptions in one week)” [1]. Healthcare quality suffers because of this lack of reliable electricity. We propose that a gravity powered generator would stand as a reliable power source for small medical devices under any conditions at any location at any time of day. Our research examines how a gravity powered electric generator could best empower medical facilities in developing countries to provide improved healthcare. Our research has shown that most often, the greatest needs at these facilities are dependent upon an inadequate power supply, including lighting for emergency night-time care, refrigeration for blood and vaccines, facilities for sterilization, and electricity for simple medical devices [1]. We have chosen to focus on providing power for small devices as well as lighting. A successful charger must be lightweight, durable, and reliably provides dc power congruent with USB charging specifications. Testing has revealed a proof of concept, in that we were able to produce USB power from a mockup of the intended design, and further iterations of the charger will improve charge time per use. Initially, those seeking medical attention will be the main beneficiaries of our device; however, we expect the gravity generator project to expand if visitors see that our device could replace fossil or other solid fuel consuming device, such as kerosene lanterns, in their homes

Walking in Air

Walking in Air is an interdisciplinary project that encompasses walking, writing, thinking, music, performance and discussion. Drawing on Tim Ingold’s suggestion that ‘knowledge is formed along paths of movement in the weather-world’, the project considers walking in air to be a model for speculative thinking, for creative activity and for reconsidering our place within the natural environment. The core walking events can be either collective or individual in nature. These give rise to performance, workshop discussion, texts and audio recordings, much of which will be documented online. A group of composers, poets and artists from the UK and Europe were invited to undertake some local ‘Walking in Air’ field work. They were sent 3 poetic quotes we had selected from preliminary research for their potential to inspire or guide their activities. This was followed by an online recollection gathering where stories, recordings, writings and images were shared and discussed. This local fieldwork was proposed instead of a 4 day residential event at the Centre Des Livres d’Artistes (CDLA, France), postponed to Summer 2022 due to the pandemic. We are planning more iterations of such local activities remotely shared as well as some in person collective ones in the UK and France. The co-organisers are Will Montgomery (Royal Holloway, University of London) and Emmanuelle Waeckerlé (University for the Creative Arts, Farnham). Participants are drawn from an international pool of composers, artists, and poets

The feasibility and acceptability of an early intervention in primary care to prevent chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in adults:randomised controlled trial

Background Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)) is defined as fatigue that is disabling, is accompanied by additional symptoms and persists for ≥ 4 months. Treatment of CFS/ME aims to help patients manage their symptoms and make lifestyle adjustments. We do not know whether intervening early in primary care (< 4 months after onset of fatigue) can prevent the development of CFS/ME. Methods This was a feasibility randomised controlled trial with adults (age ≥ 18 years) comparing usual care with usual care plus an early intervention (EI; a combination of psycho-education and cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT). This study took place in fourteen primary care practices in Bristol, England and aimed to identify issues around recruitment and retention for a full-scale trial. It was not powered to support statistical analysis of differences in outcomes. Integrated qualitative methodology was used to explore the feasibility and acceptability of recruitment and randomisation to the intervention. Results Forty-four patients were recruited (1 August 2012–November 28, 2013), falling short of our predicted recruitment rate of 100 patients in 8 months. Qualitative data from GPs showed recruitment was not feasible because it was difficult to identify potential participants within 4 months of symptom onset. Some referring GPs felt screening investigations recommended by NICE were unnecessary, and they had difficulty finding patients who met the eligibility criteria. Qualitative data from some participant interviews suggested that the intervention was not acceptable in its current format. Although the majority of participants found parts of the intervention acceptable, many reported one or more problems with acceptability. Participants who discontinued the intervention or found it problematic did not relate to the therapeutic model, disliked telephone consultations or found self-reflection challenging. Conclusions A randomised controlled trial to test an early intervention for fatigue in adults in primary care is not feasible using this intervention and recruitment strategy

The Iowa Homemaker vol.33, no.7

It’s an Old Custom, Betty Holder, page 5 She Emphasizes Good Fun, Doris Jirsa, page 6 Celebrate, Plan a Buffet, Dorothy Will, page 7 Candle-Making, Jane Hammerly, page 8 Blue Ribbon Designs, Gwen Olson, page 10 Here’s An Idea, page 12 Laugh at Yourself, Len Green, page 14 Recipe for Perfume, Mary Jean Stoddard, page 15 Small Talk, Ruth Anderson, page 16 Translate That Menu, Joanne Ryals, page 17 Trends, Jane Montgomery, page 1

The mechanical loading and muscle activation of four common exercises used in osteoporosis prevention for early postmenopausal women

High impact exercise can reduce postmenopausal bone loss, however stimulus frequency (loading cycles per second) can affect osteogenesis. We aimed to examine the effect of stimulus frequency on the mechanical loading of four common osteoporosis prevention exercises, measuring body acceleration and muscle activation with accelerometry and electromyography (EMG), respectively. Fourteen early postmenopausal women completed randomised countermovement jumps (CMJ), box-drops (BD), heel-drops (HD) and stamp (STP) exercises for continuous and intermittent stimulus frequencies. Sacrum accelerometry and surface electromyography (EMG) of four muscles were recorded. CMJ (mean ± SD: 10.7 ± 4.8 g & 10.0 ± 5.0 g), BD (9.6 ± 4.1 g & 9.5 ± 4.0 g) and HD (7.3 ± 3.8 g & 8.6 ± 4.4 g) conditions generated greater peak acceleration than STP (3.5 ± 1.4 g & 3.6 ± 1.7 g) across continuous and intermittent trials. CMJ and BD generated greater acceleration gradients than STP across continuous and intermittent trials. CMJ generated greater rectus femoris EMG than all other exercises, CMJ and BD generated greater semitendinosus and tibialis anterior EMG than HD across continuous and intermittent trials. CMJ and BD provide greater peak acceleration than STP and remain similar during different stimulus frequencies. CMJ, BD and HD may exceed STP in maintaining postmenopausal bone health.University of Hul

Trialling technologies to reduce hospital in‐patient falls: an agential realist analysis

This paper analyses the 'failure' of a patient safety intervention. Our study was part of an RCT of bed and bedside chair pressure sensors linked to radio pagers to prevent bedside falls in older people admitted to hospital. We use agential realism within science and technology studies to examine the fall and its prevention as a situated phenomenon of knowledge that is made and unmade through intra-actions between environment, culture, humans and technologies. We show that neither the intervention (the pressure sensor system), nor the outcome (fall prevention) could be disentangled from the broader sociomaterial context of the ward, the patients, the nurses and (especially) their work through the RCT. We argue that the RCT design, by virtue of its unacknowledged assumptions, played a part in creating the negative findings. The study also raises wider questions about the kind of subjectivities, agencies and power relations these entanglements might effect and (re)produce in the hospital ward

The Vehicle, Spring 1994

Table of Contents Thoughts in the IGASue Songerpage 6 The Cries of an Innocent Tea BagWojnarowski Yvonnepage 7 Proud HarpySusan Eisenhourpage 8 Bus Number TwoMindy Glazepage 9 My Home TownScott Langenpage 10 MemoriesMaggie Willpage 11 Vase (Artwork)Gail Valkerpage 12 The Last HuntMark Kannmacherpage 13 Corn DanceJulia A. Canhampage 14 Untitled (Photography)Rachel Corbettpage 14 Paradise (Artwork)Gail Valkerpage 15 Holding Back A ScreamElise Kirarpage 16 poetry isJonathan W. Iwanskipage 17 loveCatherine DeGraafpage 18 The OneTim Rileypage 18 Reading His Words on a Frosty EveningTom McGrathpage 19 UntitledBob Newellpage 19 The Ice StormMindy Glazepage 20 UntitledJonathan W. Iwanskipage 21 Untitled (Photography)Rachel Corbettpage 23 cityscapeChris Pomeroypage 24 Untitled (Photography)Rachel Corbettpage 25 Quarter Pound TemptationBryan Levekpage 26 Photograph (Artwork)Gail Valkerpage 29 Don\u27t Talk to StrangersJon Montgomerypage 30 Untitled (Photography)Rachel Corbettpage 33 Charleston, U.S.A. (Artwork)Gail Valkerpage 34 Fun With Nature (Artwork)Gail Valkerpage 34https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1064/thumbnail.jp

Long-Term Functionality of Rural Water Services in Developing Countries: A System Dynamics Approach to Understanding the Dynamic Interaction of Causal Factors

Research has shown that sustainability of rural water infrastructure in developing countries is largely affected by the dynamic and systemic interactions of technical, social, financial, institutional, and environmental factors that can lead to premature water system failure. This research employs systems dynamic modeling, which uses feedback mechanisms to understand how these factors interact dynamically to influence long-term rural water system functionality. To do this, the research first identified and aggregated key factors from literature, then asked water sector experts to indicate the polarity and strength between factors through Delphi and cross impact survey questionnaires, and finally used system dynamics modeling to identify and prioritize feedback mechanisms. The resulting model identified 101 feedback mechanisms that were dominated primarily by three and four-factor loops that contained some combination of the factors: Water System Functionality, Community, Financial, Government, Management, and Technology. These feedback mechanisms were then scored and prioritized, with the most dominant feedback mechanism identified as Water System Functionality – Community – Finance – Management. This research offers insight into the dynamic interaction of factors impacting sustainability of rural water infrastructure through the identification of these feedback mechanisms and makes a compelling case for future research to longitudinally investigate the interaction of these factors in various contexts