143174 research outputs found
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ROV teleoperation in the presence of cross-currents using soft haptics
No full textThe remote operation of underwater vehicles at depth is complicated by the presence of invisible and unpredictable environmental disturbances such as cross-currents. Communicating the presence of these disturbances to an operator on the surface is made more difficult by the nature of the disturbance and the lack of visible features to highlight in the visual display presented to the operator. Here we explore the use of a novel interactive soft haptic touchpad that utilizes vibration and particle jamming to provide information about the presence and direction of cross-currents to the operator of an ROV (remotely operated vehicle). An in water experiment using a thruster-based ROV and artificially generated cross-current was performed with non-expert ROV operators to evaluate the effectiveness of multimodal haptic feedback to communicate complex environmental information during high-risk operations. Advanced haptic displays can signal both the presence of external factors as well as their direction, information that can enhance operational performance as well as reduce operator cognitive load. Using haptic feedback resulted in a statistically significant reduction in cognitive load of 24.3% and increase in positioning accuracy of 28.3% for novice operators. Deviation from an ideal path was also reduced by 29.5% for experienced operators when using haptic feedback compared to without. While this experiment took place in controlled conditions with a fixed direction cross-current and haptic interface, this approach could be extended to communicate real-time environmental information in real-world unstructured environments
Augmented reality-enabled knowledge management in industrial maintenance: the DILEAF framework
No full textEffective maintenance in industrial operations relies on efficient management of task-critical knowledge, particularly in dynamic and unpredictable environments. Traditional knowledge management (KM) approaches face challenges in handling fragmented data, delivering procedural guidance, and adapting to evolving operational demands. To address these limitations, this study introduces the Data, Information, Learning, Engagement, Application, Feedback (DILEAF) framework, a structured KM model that integrates augmented reality (AR) as a digital enabler for improving knowledge capture, transfer, and application in industrial maintenance. By leveraging AR’s capabilities in real-time visualisation, interactive procedural guidance, and dynamic feedback, the DILEAF framework enhances user engagement and operational adaptability. The effectiveness of the framework is validated through a case study within a rolling stock organisation, where iterative experiments in both laboratory and field environments demonstrated improvements in task accuracy, real-time decision-making, and system adaptability. It was shown that AR overlays play a crucial role in enabling early error detection and correction, directly supporting the overall task success rate. Furthermore, 91 % of participants in the case study expressed satisfaction with the clarity and usefulness of the information presented via AR, underscoring the framework’s effectiveness in delivering task-relevant knowledge and supporting robust performance in maintenance scenarios. These findings illustrate that the DILEAF framework provides a system-informed and operationally structured approach to industrial KM, bridging theoretical KM principles with practical AR-driven implementations. This study establishes a scalable and adaptable foundation for integrating AR into industrial workflows, contributing to the advancement of digitalised maintenance strategies in industrial engineering
Three-dimensional analysis of the delta-ferrite to austenite phase transformation in an additively manufactured duplex stainless steel
No full textA fundamental understanding of the δ-ferrite to austenite phase transformation and characteristics of the interfaces formed is currently lacking due to challenges in achieving fully ferritic starting microstructure during conventional processing. Here, a 2205 duplex stainless steel manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is used as a model system to reveal the fundamentals of the δ-ferrite to austenite phase transformation with the aid of three-dimensional electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). A predominantly δ-ferritic non-equilibrium microstructure is obtained through the high cooling rate during LPBF. During a short thermal treatment of this starting microstructure, four distinct types of austenite (intergranular, instability-induced, sympathetic, and intragranular) are formed. The sympathetic and intragranular austenite present significantly higher area fractions of interfaces following the Kurdjumov-Sachs (Ksingle bondS) or Nishiyama-Wassermann (Nsingle bondW) orientation relationships (ORs) compared to intergranular austenite, owing to their different nucleation and growth mechanisms. The habit plane distributions of various interfaces reveal that ferrite and austenite terminate on (110) and (111) planes, respectively. Interestingly, the plane and curvature distributions do not always exhibit an inverse correlation in the sympathetic and intragranular transformation paths, while the non-K-S/N-W interfaces exhibit lower grain boundary curvatures compared to the K-S/N-W ones. This could be because the total energy minimization associated with phase transformation involves contributions from both the surface energy at grain boundaries and the elastic bulk energy. These new insights into the δ-ferrite to austenite transformation enable duplex microstructure design via additive manufacturing and subsequent post-processing to achieve superior properties
A novel structural fuse concept for controlling failure path in tapered composite laminates
No full textWe present a novel methodology for developing structural fuse concepts in tapered carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite laminates. We demonstrate that the structural fuse concept is successful in reducing the mass required for a CFRP specimen which represents a generic idealised blade, and in reducing the ejected portion of the mass of the specimen during damage inflicted by a foreign object (such as a bird strike). To this end, we designed and developed structural fuses in the form of engineered crack paths containing micro-cut patterns (MCPs, engraved using a laser micro-machining system) to tailor failure mechanisms and to control the load–displacement response at which failure occurs. We used ultra-thin-ply CFRP prepregs for the manufacture of tapered CFRP specimens with reduced resin pockets in the ply drop region. To assess the performance of this novel concept, we developed a test method which represents a simplified idealised bird strike on a blade in the form of an out-of-plane point load. This consists of (i) a non-tapered cantilever specimen that would fail (undesirably) at the root, (ii) a tapered baseline cantilever specimen where extra plies are added to avoid this undesired failure at the root at the cost of extra mass, and (iii) a tapered engineered cantilever specimen containing a structural fuse to achieve failure at the desired location with a reduced mass compared to the second specimen type. The test results show that by changing various parameters of MCPs, different engineered crack paths can be obtained, which can promote different failure mechanisms, such as delamination. Moreover, we achieved successful control of the crack position in the engineered tapered CFRP specimens without a meaningful reduction in the peak load or displacement, and with a reduction of the root thickness of 17%
What should clinicians know about how coding influences epidemiological research?
No full textCoded health care data from patients’ health records are used in epidemiological research, especially on incidence or prevalence of disease; for drug safety monitoring or long-term cohort tracking; and to inform policy making. This article briefly summarizes the evolution of internationally recognized coding ontologies and nomenclature and describes applications of coded electronic health record (EHR) data in day-to-day health care operations, research, auditing, and policy development. This article also illuminates how errors can occur when EHR information is coded, considers errors’ consequences, and suggests strategies for mitigating errors and improving overall use of coded EHR data
Carving the edges of the rocky planet population
No full textShort-period planets provide ideal laboratories for testing star–planet interaction. Planets that are smaller than ∼2 R⊕ are considered to be largely rocky, either having been stripped of or never having acquired the gaseous envelope. Zooming in on this short-period rocky planet population, clear edges appear in the mass–period and radius–period space. Over ∼0.2–20 days and 0.09–1.42 M⊙, the maximum mass of the rocky planets stays below ∼10 M⊕ with a hint of decrease toward ≲1 day, ≳4 days, and ≲0.45 M⊙. In radius–period space, there is a relative deficit of ≲2 R⊕ planets inside ∼1 day. We demonstrate how the edges in the mass–period space can be explained by a combination of tidal decay and photoevaporation, whereas the rocky planet desert in the radius–period space is a signature of magnetic drag on the planet as it orbits within the stellar magnetic field. Currently observed catastrophically evaporating planets may have started their death spiral from ∼1 day with planets of mass up to ∼0.3 M⊕ under the magnetic drag. More discoveries and characterization of small planets around mid- to late M and A stars would be welcome to better constrain the stellar parameters critical in shaping the edges of rocky planet population, including their UV radiation history, tidal effects, and magnetic properties
Mental health and personality functioning of people with probable personality disorder who have coexisting complex post traumatic stress disorder
No full textThis paper examines the prevalence and comorbidity of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD) among individuals with probable personality disorder, using baseline data from the Structured Psychological Support clinical trial. The clinical characteristics and personality functioning of participants are summarised and compared between those meeting criteria for BPD, CPTSD, both or neither condition. Among 292 participants, 97% reported significant trauma exposure, and over half met the criteria for CPTSD. Those with CPTSD exhibited higher levels of social dysfunction and depression compared with those with BPD, despite both groups showing elevated emotion dysregulation and anxiety. Comorbidity of CPTSD and BPD was high, with 50% of the sample meeting criteria for both conditions. Participants with comorbid CPTSD and BPD displayed poorer baseline scores across all measures of mental health and functioning than those who met criteria for BPD alone. No statistically significant differences were found in suicidal behaviour or treatment-seeking between groups. There were no significant differences in International Classification of Diseases-11 personality trait domains between participants with CPTSD and BPD, but people with comorbid CPTSD and BPD displayed higher levels of trait negative affectivity than those with BPD alone. The findings highlight the need for trauma-informed assessments in clinical settings and a better understanding of the impact of CPTSD on treatment outcomes for people with personality disorder, including how existing treatments may need to be modified to better meet the needs of people with these highly comorbid conditions.
Trial Registration
Current controlled trials ISRCTN13918289 (registered 11/11/2022
Grain boundary character evolution in stainless steel 316L upon laser powder-bed fusion and post-process heat treatment
No full textGrain boundary engineering (GBE) has emerged as a promising method for improving mechanical properties and diminishing the susceptibility to corrosion in polycrystalline materials, via engineering recrystallized microstructures with high fractions of low-energy grain boundaries (GBs). Conventional GBE utilizes complex cycles of deformation and annealing to provide the necessary driving forces for recrystallization. This is not applicable to near-net-shape manufacturing, such as metal additive manufacturing (AM). To overcome this limitation, an alternative approach involves adjusting the strain energy introduced during the AM process instead of mechanical deformation, to generate the required driving forces for recrystallization. This requires thorough understanding of the evolution of the solidification microstructure, dislocation structure and the GB character as functions of the AM processing parameters. In this study, we systematically demonstrate the impact of processing parameter variations during laser powder bed fusion and heat treatments on GB evolution in stainless steel 316L. We provide comprehensive analyses of the texture, grain structure, GB habit planes, cellular structure, and micro-segregation, and make a link to mechanical properties. The differences in recrystallization response as a function of AM processing parameters are attributed to variations in the densities of dislocations and the chemical heterogeneity in the as-solidified microstructures. We also introduce a novel concentric scanning technique to achieve site-specific control over the recrystallization response. This facilitates the design of microstructures with both superior thermal stability and GBE-related advantages, offering a pathway towards making high-performance alloy AM parts with engineered and possibly site-specific microstructures, superior mechanical properties, and complex shapes
Developing a Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension Core Outcome Set (NeoPH COS)—a study protocol
No full textPulmonary hypertension (PH) in newborn babies is a relatively rare, heterogeneous condition that has high associated mortality in the neonatal period and beyond. There are limited evidence-based strategies to treat or prevent this condition. Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in the number of studies assessing new therapies and treatment strategies in babies with PH. However, comparison of different treatments between studies is limited by inconsistency in outcome reporting. To address this issue, we aim to develop a core outcome set (COS) for neonates and infants less than 3 months of age, corrected for prematurity, diagnosed with PH, through international consensus with key stakeholders including parents and/or guardians, healthcare professionals and researchers. The development of the COS will be divided into two stages: (1) identification of potential outcomes through a mixed methods systematic literature review and qualitative interviews with parents and/or guardians of babies with pulmonary hypertension; (2) determining core outcomes through an online Delphi survey and consensus meeting. An advisory group with global membership including parents and/or guardians, healthcare professionals, and researchers recruited internationally was formed to guide the COS. The methodology utilized to develop a neonatal PH COS aims to ensure applicability and adoption in international settings and relevance across disciplines. The COS will help to improve trial design and homogeneity of outcomes reported in neonatal trials of PH. This will translate into higher-quality evidence for therapeutic strategies for PH in neonates
Associations of anthropogenic activity and tributaries with the physicochemical, nutrient and microbial composition of the Ganga (Ganges) River, India
No full textThe Ganga River (known internationally as the Ganges) is one of the world's most prominent rivers, running from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal and supporting the livelihoods of > 40 % of India's 1.4 billion population. The Ganga River is regionally and globally important, supporting agriculture and industry, yet faces potentially detrimental water quality challenges arising from runoff and discharge from increasing urbanization, industry and agriculture. A ∼ 2700 km longitudinal survey of the nutrient and microbial water quality, including phytoplankton composition, of the Ganga River was undertaken in November 2019. The aim was to investigate if and how anthropogenic activities (e.g. urbanisation, industry, and agriculture) and tributary convergence (potentially reflecting both human activity and flow influences) affect and shift physicochemical, nutrient, and microbial water quality parameters along the river continuum. Segmented regression identified four zones of distinct nutrient/microbial characteristics along the Ganga River, with breakpoints located near Kanpur, Varanasi and downstream of the Farakka Barage, at distances of ∼ 1020, ∼ 1500 and ∼ 2350 km downstream from the Himalayan Ganga source. Population density, land use and urban cover were associated with selected water quality parameters in parts of the catchment, with elevated nutrient, microbial and chemical concentrations likely associated with agriculture, industry, and sewage inputs. Some urban areas (e.g. Kanpur and Varanasi), converging tributaries (e.g. Yamuna and Varuna) and barrages (e.g. Farakka) were associated with changes in nutrient availability, microbial activity/abundance and modelled discharge, likely driving apparent water quality changes in the relevant locations. Downstream shifts in nutrient and microbial water quality parameters were observed throughout the ∼ 2700 km Ganga River continuum. This information can help prioritize locations for targeted monitoring and/or remediation interventions and has illustrated an approach to quantify impacts of anthropogenic inputs on major river systems, such as the Ganga River