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The problem we are attempting to solve is the situation that is created when the waiting staff does not know when a guest is in need of service. Our solution to this problem is to design a coaster that wirelessly communicates with a base unit. The base unit is used by the staff to track the liquid level in all of the guests’ glasses in real time. The result of the project is a prototype that is capable of demonstrating the most basic functionality of the specified system. Even though the system is technically working, there are many areas for improvement and further development in order for the prototype to be able to be released as a complete product. / Det problem som vi har uppmarksammat är den situation som skapas när serveringspersonal inte vet att kunder önskar påfyllning. Vår lösning på detta är ett dryckesunderlägg som trådlöst kommunicerar med en basenhet där personalen kan läsa av samtliga underläggs status. Projektet resulterade i en prototyp som kan demonstrera den mest grundläggande funktionaliteten hos det tänka systemet. Även om systemet fungerar finns det många utvecklingsomraden och fler problem som måste lösas innan det är redo att lanseras som en färdig produkt.

This investigation sought to identify anxiety responses to weight measurement, assessed by verbal report and cardiovascular reactivity CCR3 (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate), which might differentiate females with either high or low self-reported bulimic behavior. Secondar i ly,, the study attempted to examine specific autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal patterns of each group over time. The Bulimia Test (BULIT), Body Dissatisfaction Scale (BD), and a demographic questionnaire were administered to 105 undergraduate females at The University of North Texas. Based on BULIT scores, females were divided into high or low bulimic behavior groups. Of the 105 females screened, forty participated in the experiment which consisted of four phases: relaxation, anticipation of weight measurement, weight measurement, and recovery. Subjects had no prior knowledge of the weight stressor until presentation during the experiment. Results showed that subjects' notion of ideal weight was substantially lower than measured weight. During weight measurement, all subjects reported increased anxiety although the high group reported significantly more anxiety. Contrary to prediction, no significant group differences in CR were found when repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed. Orthogonal polynomial trend analysis was done with pooled groups, resulting in significant within-subject trends for all cardiovascular measures. There was also a significant group by time of measurement interaction for heart rate during the weight measurement phase. Correlational analyses failed to produce significant results between verbal report of anxiety and CR. There was, however, a significant correlation between BULIT and BD scores. It was concluded that heightened subjective anxiety during weight measurement could not be attributed to group differences in CR. Regarding ANS arousal patterns, mixed evidence of active and passive coping was seen. Nevertheless, both psychological and physiological measures supported an overvaluation of female thinness consistent with societal trends regardless of group membership. Implications of findings were discussed along with suggestions for future research.

The chemical binders used to make sand molds and cores thermally decompose and release gas when subjected to the high temperature conditions in sand casting processes. Computational models that predict the evolution of the binder gas are being introduced into casting simulations in order to better predict and eliminate gas defects in metal castings. These models require knowledge of the evolved binder gas mass and molecular weight as a function of temperature, but available gas evolution data are limited. In the present study, the mass and molecular weight of gas evolved from PUNB bonded sand are measured as a function of temperature for use with binder gas models. Thermogravimetric analysis of bonded sand is employed to measure the binder gas mass evolution as a function of temperature for heating rates experienced in molds and cores during casting. The volume and pressure of gas evolved from bonded sand are measured as a function of temperature in a specially designed quartz manometer during heating and cooling in a furnace. The results from these experiments are combined with the ideal gas law to determine the binder gas molecular weight as a function of temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the PUNB binder significantly decomposes when heated to elevated temperatures, and the PUNB binder gas mass evolution is not strongly influenced by heating rate. During heating of PUNB bonded sand at a rate of 2°C/min, the binder gas molecular weight rapidly decreases from 375 g/mol at 115°C to 99.8 g/mol at 200°C. The molecular weight is relatively constant until 270°C, after which it decreases to 47.7 g/mol at 550°C. The molecular weight then steeply decreases to 30.3 g/mol at 585°C and then steeply increases to 47.2 g/mol at 630°C, where it remains constant until 750°C. Above 750°C, the binder gas molecular weight gradually decreases to 33.3 g/mol at 898°C. The present measurements are consistent with the molecular weights calculated using the binder gas composition data from previous studies. The binder gas is composed of incondensable gases above 709°C, and the binder gas partially condenses during cooling at 165°C if the bonded sand is previously heated below 507°C.

This research examines the use of archived weigh-in-motion (WIM) data to estimate link-based heavy-vehicle emissions for Oregon highways. This research combined data on vehicle speed, highway grade, and gross vehicle weight and relationship between these elements in published research to estimate the carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from trucks. Sensitivity analysis was conducted on the impact of uphill grade and gross vehicle weight on truck speed and emissions. The results suggest that with the data available in the weigh-in-motion archive and with a reasonable set of assumptions, link-based emissions for heavy-duty vehicles can be estimated. The carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are found to increase when the speed, gross vehicle weight, or road grade increases. The relationship between nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and vehicle weight was estimated to be linear. The potential to estimate the link-based heavy-vehicle emissions for Oregon highways using the weigh-in-motion data archive, which was mainly designed to estimate truck counts, has a great value in setting new measures to mitigate the heavy-vehicle emissions.

This report presents a final degree project in mechanical engineering which was performed at Ball Beverage Packaging Fosie AB, Malmoe. The goal of the project was to create a system that could estimate the amount of paint available in a machine that colorizes aluminum cans. The environment that the system was mounted in is demanding and has high requirements on strength, stability and toughness against splashes of ethanol and water-based paint. Moreover, the company initially demanded that the project only used existing holes on the machine for adding equipment. In order to choose a measurement technology for the system, literature studies were performed on laser, ultrasonic devices and weight measurement. These studies were the foundation for a concept analysis using a Pugh’s matrix.Furthermore, with the help of the Pugh’s matrix, the project was directed towards estimating the amount of paint by measuring the weight using load cells. The collected data was supposed to be handled by an Arduino uno R3 board. Following the decision of a direction, seven concepts were designed in Autodesk Inventor with regards to mounting in existing positioning pin-holes.The last concept was manufactured with own hands – under supervision – by processing aluminum rods. Parallel to the manufacturing, the electronic system was programmed and tested by both step-wise removing identical weights, and a by measuring a continuous weight decrease caused by water escaping from a container with holes. The results of these tests showed that the system could perform the desired function.The result of the manufactured concept confirmed that the system could work with the machine but the position in the positioning pin-hole was not optimal as the forces were too low. By creating a provisional mount and testing the system beneath the paint container, it was concluded that the position accumulated more forces. This resulted in an approved modification of the container holder for a permanent mount of the load cell. Followed by this, a large amount of tests showed that the system had good potential of working with the machine but a mount beneath the container was not good as friction from mounting screws had great effect on the read values. / Rapporten behandlar ett kandidatarbete i maskinteknik som utfördes på Ball Beverage Packaging Fosie AB, Malmö. Syftet med arbetet var att skapa ett system för uppskattning av färgmängd i en maskin som färglägger aluminiumburkar. Miljön som systemet monterades i ställde höga krav på hållfasthet, tillförlitlighet och motståndskraft mot stänk från etanol och vattenbaserad färg. Initialt ställde företaget preliminära krav på att endast existerande hål på färgverket fick användas. För att välja givare till systemetutfördes litteraturstudier med avseende på laser, ultraljud och viktavläsning, vilket låg till grund för konceptvalsanalys med en Pughsmatris.Med hjälp av Pughsmatrisen riktades projektet in på att uppskatta färgmängden genom viktavläsning med lastceller, vars data skulle hanteras av ett Arduino uno R3 kort. Detta efterföljdes av att sju koncept skapades i Autodesk Inventor för infästning i existerande sprinthål på kisthållaren. Det sista konceptet tillverkades genom att på egen hand – under uppsikt –maskinbearbeta aluminiumstavar. Parallellt med tillverkningen programmerades och testades elektroniken med stegvis borttagning av vikt och kontinuerligt avrinnande vatten från hålig behållare, vars resultat visade på att systemet klarar den tänkta funktionen. Resultatet av det maskintillverkade konceptet visade att systemet även fungerade på färgverket men att positionen i sprinthålet inte var optimal då för lite krafter upptogs. Genom att tillverka en provisorisk monteringssats och testa systemet monterat under färgkistan påvisades att denna position tog upp avsevärt mer kraft. Detta medförde att kisthållaren maskinbearbetades för permanent montering av lastcell. Ett stort antal olika tester efter slutlig montering visade att systemet har goda möjligheter för att fungera med färgläggningsmaskinen men att montering under kisthållaren inte var lämplig eftersom friktion från bland annat inspänningsskruvar hade betydandeinverkan på de avlästa värdena.

Incidence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically within the last 30 years. Childhood obesity is of concern because of the associated health problems, and because childhood obesity often tracks into adulthood. There is a clear association between activity-level and obesity. Therefore, it is important to consider physical activity patterns in the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity. Childhood is a key time period to intervene in the formation of habits and patterns associated with physical activity that may reduce obesity. To date, few studies have focused on the level of examining obese children individually. This case study focused on the physical activity patterns of 4 obese 6-10 year olds (two boys, two girls). All of the participants were above the 99th percentile for weight and had a body fat percentage exceeding 45%. Lipid profiles of the participants revealed that three of the four had high total cholesterol, indicating an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. All of the participants were close to or exceeded the waist to hip ratio value that indicates very high risk for cardiovascular and related diseases (>0.82 for boys, >0.94 for girls). Use of the Caltrac accelerometer, KIHD 24-Hour Total Physical Activity Record and System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time revealed that the obese 6-10 year old participants averaged 1.85 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per lunch recess time. When extrapolated, the data revealed that the participants spend less than 20 minutes a day in MVP A. This is less than MVP A norms of children in the same age group. The obese participants were not meeting the current recommendations for 60 minutes or more a day for MVPA. Furthermore, the activity patterns of the participants differ from those of normal weight children. Although children in general and the participant's tend to choose low level activity over MVP A, the participants spent more than 16.5 hours per day in sedentary physical activity, which is more than their normal weight counterparts (10.4 +/- 0.8).