Implementing the use of operational data in buildings

This paper considers how Operational Data might address both legislative and operational requirements from the viewpoint of an operational estate. It is framed within the context of the IEE iSERVcmb project procedures for describing operational energy data against the building activities and assets. The observations and findings from the paper show that there appear no practical reasons why the same operational data should not be used to show compliance with legislative procedures, if these were to be framed appropriately, and to provide the detailed information needed to enable action to achieve efficiency improvements in an Estate. The paper shows the significant measured energy savings possible from the use of Operational Data, as well as the ability to understand the physical estate more accurately. The work is based on characterizing utility use in an Operational Estate by reference to performance achieved in other operational buildings, but the procedure could be used to characterize any efficiency measure with practical derived metrics

Exploring the feasibility of a community-based strength training program for older people with depressive symptoms and its impact on depressive symptoms

BACKGROUND: Depression is a disabling, prevalent condition. Physical activity programs may assist depression management in older people, ameliorate co-morbid conditions and reduce the need for antidepressants. The UPLIFT pilot study assessed the feasibility of older depressed people attending a community-based progressive resistance training (PRT) program. The study also aimed to determine whether PRT improves depressive status in older depressed patients. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted. People aged ≥ 65 years with depressive symptoms were recruited via general practices. Following baseline assessment, subjects were randomly allocated to attend a local PRT program three times per week for 10 weeks or a brief advice control group. Follow-up assessment of depressive status, physical and psychological health, functional and quality of life status occurred post intervention and at six months. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty six people responded to the study invitation, of whom 22% had depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS-30 score ≥ 11). Thirty two people entered the trial. There were no significant group differences on the GDS at follow-up. At six months there was a trend for the PRT intervention group to have lower GDS scores than the comparison group, but this finding did not reach significance (p = 0.08). More of the PRT group (57%) had a reduction in depressive symptoms post program, compared to 44% of the control group. It was not possible to discern which specific components of the program influenced its impact, but in post hoc analyses, improvement in depressive status appeared to be associated with the number of exercise sessions completed (r = -0.8, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The UPLIFT pilot study confirmed that older people with depression can be successfully recruited to a community based PRT program. The program can be offered by existing community-based facilities, enabling its ongoing implementation for the potential benefit of other older people

The effect of Duffing-type non-linearities and Coulomb damping on the response of an energy harvester to random excitations

Linear energy harvesters can only produce useful amounts of power when excited close to their natural frequency. Due to the uncertain nature of ambient vibrations, it has been hypothesised that such devices will perform poorly in real-world applications. To improve performance, it has been suggested that the introduction of non-linearities into such devices may extend the bandwidth over which they perform effectively. In this study, a magnetic levitation device with non-linearities similar to the Duffing oscillator is considered. The governing equations of the device are formed in which the effects of friction are considered. Analytical solutions are used to explore the effect that friction can have on the system when it is under harmonic excitations. Following this, a numerical model is formed. A differential evolution algorithm is used alongside experimental data to identify the relevant parameters of the device. The model is then validated using experimental data. Monte Carlo simulations are then used to analyse the effect of coulomb damping and Duffing-type non-linearities when the device is subjected to broadband white noise and coloured noise excitations. </jats:p

Virtual task analysis in 'design for all'

Design for All’ or ‘Inclusive Design’ is an approach to product, environment or service design that aims to maximise the applicability of a particular design. However, the concept is not to tailor designs in a bespoke fashion, but rather to provide a single solution that accommodates the needs of all users including those who are older or disabled. In order to educate and support the designer in their endeavours to ‘Design for All’ a computer aided design and analysis tool has been developed. The tool, known as HADRIAN, has been developed to meet two key areas of deficiency in existing approaches. HADRIAN provides improved data for the designer with a sample database of 100 individuals across a broad spectrum of ages and abilities. HADRIAN also provides a means of using this data for ergonomics evaluations through a task analysis tool. Working in combination with the existing human modelling system SAMMIE the system allows the designer to assess their designs against the population in the database to determine the percentage who are effectively ‘designed out’

Combined Spectroscopic and Photometric Analysis of Flares in the Dwarf M Star EV Lacertae

We report results of an observing campaign to study the dwarf M flare star EV Lacertae. Between October 2021 and January 2022 we obtained concurrent B band photometry and low resolution spectroscopy of EV Lac on 39 occasions during 10 of which we observed flares with amplitude greater than 0.1 magnitude. Spectra were calibrated in absolute flux using concurrent photometry and flare-only spectra obtained by subtracting mean quiescent spectra. We measured B band flare energies between Log E = 30.8 and 32.6 erg. In the brightest flares we measured temporal development of flare flux in H I and He I emission lines and in the adjacent continuum and found that flux in the continuum subsided more rapidly than in the emission lines. Although our time resolution was limited, in our brightest flare we saw flux in the continuum clearly peaking before flux in the emission lines. We observed a progressive decrease in flare energy from H\b{eta} to H{\delta}. On average we found 37% of B band flare energy appeared in the H\b{eta} to H{\epsilon} emission lines with the remainder contributing to a rise in continuum flux. We measured black-body temperatures for the brightest flares between 10,500 +- 700 K and 19,500 +- 500 K and found a linear relationship between flare temperature and continuum flux at 4170 {\AA}. Balmer lines in flare-only spectra were well fitted by Gaussian profiles with some evidence of additional short-lived blue-shifted emission at the flare peak.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in the Journal of the AAVS

Workforce ageing, the need for an inclusive design approach in manufacturing industry

Demographic trends clearly indicate that the number of people over 60 years of age is increasing in most developing countries, while the availability of a young workforce is decreasing due to falling birth rates. Successful global competition drives the need to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce which accommodates older workers, is a real challenge for industrial organizations. An Inclusive Design approach is considered helpful in the assessment of workstations, product or service design requirements and the establishment of realistic production standards during the design development phase in any manufacturing industry. The approach can be used for a variety of industrial applications especially in manufacturing tasks such as assembly, maintenance, lifting, loading, unloading, transporting and machine operating activities. This paper reveals the need for an Inclusive Design approach that can potentially increase the productive time of the older workforce which can then make a valuable contribution to the economy. The paper also describes initial research which involves the re-analysis of a very large UK survey on ageing and disability and new data on joint mobility and its significance to the ageing workforce

HADRIAN: fitting trials by digital human modelling

Anthropometric data are often described in terms of percentiles and too often digital human models are synthesised from such data using a single percentile value for all body dimensions. The poor correlation between body dimensions means that products may be evaluated against models of humans that do not exist. Alternative digital approaches try to minimise this difficulty using pre-defined families of manikins to represent human diversity, whereas in the real world carefully selected real people take part in ‘fitting trials’. HADRIAN is a digital human modeling system which uses discrete data sets for individuals rather than statistical populations. A task description language is used to execute the evaluative capabilities of the underlying SAMMIE human modelling system as though a ‘real’ fitting trial was being conducted. The approach is described with a focus on the elderly and disabled and their potential exclusion from public transport systems

Mixing genetically and morphologically distinct populations in translocations: Asymmetrical introgression in a newly established population of the boodie (Bettongia lesueur)

The use of multiple source populations provides a way to maximise genetic variation and reduce the impacts of inbreeding depression in newly established translocated populations. However, there is a risk that individuals from different source populations will not interbreed, leading to population structure and smaller effective population sizes than expected. Here, we investigate the genetic consequences of mixing two isolated, morphologically distinct island populations of boodies (Bettongia lesueur) in a translocation to mainland Australia over three generations. Using 18 microsatellite loci and the mitochondrial D-loop region, we monitored the released animals and their offspring between 2010 and 2013. Despite high levels of divergence between the two source populations (FST = 0.42 and ϕST = 0.72), there was clear evidence of interbreeding between animals from different populations. However, interbreeding was non-random, with a significant bias towards crosses between the genetically smaller-sized Barrow Island males and the larger-sized Dorre Island females. This pattern of introgression was opposite to the expectation that male–male competition or female mate choice would favour larger males. This study shows how mixing diverged populations can bolster genetic variation in newly established mammal populations, but the ultimate outcome can be difficult to predict, highlighting the need for continued genetic monitoring to assess the long-term impacts of admixture

HADRIAN: A human factors computer-aided inclusive design tool for transport planning

HADRIAN is a computer-based inclusive design tool developed initially to support the design of kitchen and shopping based tasks. The tool is currently being expanded to include data on an individual’s ability to undertake a variety of transport-related tasks, such as vehicle ingress/egress, coping with uneven surfaces, steps, street furniture and complex pedestrian environments. A feature of the enhanced HADRIAN tool will be a journey planner that compares an individual’s physical, cognitive and emotional abilities with the demands that will placed upon that individual depending on the mode(s) of transport available and the route options

Collection of transport-related data to promote inclusive design door-to-door

A computer-based inclusive design tool (HADRIAN), developed under the EPSRC ‘EQUAL’ initiative, is being expanded through the EPSRC Sustainable Urban Environments programme. This development will result in the tool including data on transport usage and related issues, providing a database of physical, emotional and cognitive information for 100 individuals, including those who are older and/or physically disabled. The collection of anthropometry by use of body scanning technology, as well as issues concerning the collection of physical capability data, whether by field observation, questionnaire response, or laboratory trials, are discussed. The work detailed is ongoing, and presented here are the methodological and ethical issues arising from consideration of the needs of those wishing to make journeys, and the collection of data to facilitate better design and policy to ease that process. This paper should be read in conjunction with Porter et al. (2006) also presented at the conference