Autonomous dynamic displacement estimation from data fusion of acceleration and intermittent displacement measurements

Addressing the importance of displacement measurement of structural responses in the field of structural health monitoring, this paper presents an autonomous algorithm for dynamic displacement estimation from acceleration integration fused with displacement data intermittently measured. The presented acceleration integration algorithm of multi-rate Kalman filtering distinguishes itself from the past study in the literature by explicitly considering acceleration measurement bias. Furthermore, the algorithm is formulated by unique state definition of integration errors and error dynamics system modeling. To showcase performance of the algorithm, a series of laboratory dynamic experiments for measuring structural responses of acceleration and displacement are conducted. Improved results are demonstrated through comparison between the proposed and past study.     

Effects of Online Comments on Smokers' Perception of Antismoking Public Service Announcements

On YouTube antismoking PSAs are widely viewed and uploaded; they also receive extensive commentary by viewers. This study examined whether such evaluative comments with or without uncivil expressions influence evaluations by subsequent viewers. Results showed PSAs with positive (i.e. antismoking) comments were perceived by smokers as more effective than PSAs with negative (prosmoking) comments. Smokers in the no‐comment condition gave the highest perceived effectiveness score to PSAs. Smokers' readiness to quit smoking moderated the effect of comments on PSA evaluation. Smokers reading negative uncivil comments reported more negative attitude toward quitting and a lower level of perceived risk of smoking than those reading negative civil comments but positive civil and positive uncivil comments did not elicit different responses.     

RT-ROS: A real-time ROS architecture on multi-core processors

ROS, an open-source robot operating system, is widely used and rapidly developed in the robotics community. However, running on Linux, ROS does not provide real-time guarantees, while real-time tasks are required in many robot applications such as robot motion control. This paper for the first time presents a real-time ROS architecture called RT-RTOS on multi-core processors. RT-ROS provides an integrated real-time/non-real-time task execution environment so real-time and non-real-time ROS nodes can be separately run on a real-time OS and Linux, respectively, with different processor cores. In such a way, real-time tasks can be supported by real-time ROS nodes on a real-time OS, while non-real-time ROS nodes on Linux can provide other functions of ROS. Furthermore, high performance is achieved by executing real-time ROS nodes and non-real-time ROS nodes on different processor cores. We have implemented RT-ROS on a dual-core processor and conducted various experiments with real robot applications. The experimental results show that RT-ROS can effectively provide real-time support for the ROS platform with high performance by exploring the multi-core architecture.     

A systems approach to understanding the effect of Facebook use on the quality of interpersonal communication

Social networking platforms such as Facebook have become integrated into the milieu of modern-day social interactions. Facebook, one of the most prominent social networking platforms globally, is widely used as a primary medium for communicating and networking for personal, professional and recreational purposes. To date, studies have focussed on developing an understanding of why people make use of Facebook. Limited studies have explored the effect of Facebook use on interpersonal communication. This paper then investigated the tension between the use of Facebook and the quality of interpersonal communication. From the literature, the need to belong, and the need for self-presentation, were identified as the two main set of complex relations that justifies why people use Facebook. Qualitative system dynamics modelling, specifically causal loop diagrams, was used to gain more insights on the tension between Facebook and the quality of interpersonal communication from the perspective of a potential Facebook user. This tension was represented by the trade-off arising when considering the amount of time spent on Facebook and interpersonal communication. It is argued in this paper that Facebook is not a sufficient substitute to interpersonal communication, as it tends to degrade the quality of interpersonal relationships. Future investigation will require developing a simulation model for a specific case to provide more insights on the extent of this trade-offs and potential intervention measures.     

A novel approach to improve the planning of adaptive and interactive sessions for the treatment of Major Depression

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is a research field which aims to improve the relationship between users and interactive computer systems. A main objective of this research area is to make the user experience more pleasant and efficient, minimizing the barrier between the users׳ cognition of what they want to accomplish and the computer׳s understanding of the user׳s tasks, by means of user-friendly, useful and usable designs. A bad HCI design is one of the main reasons behind user rejection of computer-based applications, which in turn produces loss of productivity and economy in industrial environments.In the eHealth domain, user rejection of computer-based systems is a major barrier to exploiting the maximum benefit from those applications developed to support the treatment of diseases, and in the worst cases a poor design in these systems may cause deterioration in the clinical condition of the patient. Thus, a high level of personalisation of the system according to users׳ needs is extremely important, making it easy to use and contributing to the system׳s efficacy, which in turn facilitates the empowerment of the target users. Ideally, the content offered through the interactive sessions in these applications should be continuously assessed and adapted to the changing condition of the patient. A good HCI design and development can improve the acceptance of these applications and contribute to promoting better adherence levels to the treatment, preventing the patient from further relapses.In this work, we present a mechanism to provide personalised and adaptive daily interactive sessions focused on the treatment of patients with Major Depression. These sessions are able to automatically adapt the content and length of the sessions to obtain personalised and varied sessions in order to encourage the continuous and long-term use of the system. The tailored adaptation of session content is supported by decision-making processes based on: (i) clinical requirements; (ii) the patient’s historical data; and (iii) current responses from the patient. We have evaluated our system through two different methodologies: the first one performing a set of simulations producing different sessions from changing input conditions, in order to assess different levels of adaptability and variability of the session content offered by the system. The second evaluation process involved a set of patients who used the system for 14–28 days and answered a questionnaire to provide feedback about the perceived level of adaptability and variability produced by the system. The obtained results in both evaluations indicated good levels of adaptability and variability in the content of the sessions according to the input conditions.     

Transient buoyancy-driven ventilation: Part 2. Modelling heat transfer

A new mathematical model for buoyancy-driven ventilation [Sandbach SD, Lane-Serff GF. Transient buoyancy-driven ventilation: Part 1. Modelling advection. Building and Environment, 2011] is modified to include heat transfer at the boundaries. Heat transfers at the ceiling and floor are included, using Newton’s law of cooling to model convective heat transfer between the air and the solid boundaries, Fourier’s law to model conductive heat transfer through the floor and ceiling, and a linear version of the Stefan–Boltzmann law to model radiative heat transfer from the ceiling to the floor. The effectiveness of the model was assessed using experimental results obtained in a full-scale test room. In these experiments, the vertical temperature stratification was measured using an array of T-type thermocouples. Speed measurements were obtained to estimate the ventilation flow rate (for displacement ventilation) and the velocity profile across the doorway (for doorway ventilation). Buoyancy was introduced using a twin-hob (∼2.35 kW) heat source, and in most cases a diffuse two-layer temperature stratification developed. The results from these experiments are compared with the model and existing adiabatic models. Our results indicate that the effect of heat transfer at the boundaries on the final stratification is significant and should not be ignored. Furthermore, direct comparisons between the measured and modelled results are in general very good.     

Designing energy efficient commercial buildings—A systems framework

This paper provides a means for improving the effectiveness of energy related decision-making during the design phase of a building. A review of the literature and discussions with experts revealed that several approaches for an Integrated Design Process for energy efficient buildings exist. However, most of these approaches are relatively abstract and philosophical in nature, and do not prescribe procedures that enable energy efficient design.This paper attempts to address this gap by proposing a comprehensive design process titled the ‘Integrated Energy-Efficient Building Design Process’ (IEBDP). This process provides a framework based on systems theory that facilitates the integration of various facets of the energy-efficient alternatives selection process. In addition, the proposed framework seeks to integrate state-of-the-art analysis tools and methods, to aid designers in performing holistic building design. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-attribute decision-making technique is used to resolve conflicts amongst diverging design goals.The proposed IEBDP framework was then used to design an office building, taken as a case study, in the composite climate of New Delhi, India. It was found that considerable energy savings could be achieved by following the IEBDP process. The benefits of this framework vis-a-vis traditional energy efficient design approaches were evaluated by comparing the design done through the IEBDP process with designs submitted by a group of practicing architects. The various designs were evaluated in terms of strategies adopted, the level of exploration as well as design integration, in order to validate the applicability and use of the IEBDP framework.