Research@THEA (Technological Higher Education Association)
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Using Simulation Optimization to Improve the Performance of an Automated Manufacturing Line
No full textAs manufacturing capital equipment is expensive, it is necessary that the equipment once in operation is reliable and delivers to the business plan targets. Simulation along with an optimization system is an invaluable tool to confirm that an automated manufacturing line can produce to the required business objectives before and after it goes into operation. Simulation in manufacturing is often applied in situations where conducting experiments on a real system is very difficult often because of cost or the time to carry out the experiment is too long. Optimization is the organized search for such designs and operating modes to find the best available solution from a set of feasible solutions. It determines the set of actions or elements that must be implemented to achieve an optimized manufacturing line. As a result of being able to concurrently simulate and optimize equipment processes, the understanding of how the actual production system will perform under varying conditions is achieved. Implementing the actual changes to equipment to improve reliability can be both time consuming and expensive. Simulation in conjunction with optimization can be used to verify these improvements before the equipment is modified. This study has adopted an open-source simulation tool (JaamSim) to develop a digital model of an automated tray loader manufacturing system in the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (JJVC) manufacturing facility. This paper demonstrates how this digital model was integrated with SimWrapper optimization and how both tools can be used for the optimization and development of an automated manufacturing line in the medical devices industry.ye
D3.3. Accreditation Action Plan.
Get PDFD3.3 Accreditation Action Plan for the RUN-EU PLUS project presents a shared action plan for Professional Practice-based Research Degrees identifying the action plan for the accreditation of the new degrees and demonstrating a suitable collaborative platform for the co-creation of the programme documents.
The action plan will address the strengthening of international collaboration on research supervision through the development of digital platforms and an enhanced capacity to facilitate the interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers. The action plan will take cognisance of all necessary legal/ethical frameworks and will address strategies for the identification, attraction and recruitment of master’s/PhD researchers, alignment with gender and diversity challenges and the inclusion of ‘internationalisation at home’ (both within and beyond Europe).
RUN-EU PLUS deliverable 3.1 (D3.1 Strategic Research Priorities Report) presents the findings of an analysis of the regional strategic development plans for RUN-EU partner regions which identified Sustainability, Digitalisation and Social Innovation as common priority areas for development across RUN-EU regional partners. Human Capital Development was also identified as a key area necessary for strategic development of the regions. RUN-EU PLUS deliverable 3.2 (D3.2 Degree Development Roadmap) presents the framework and delivery mechanism for the practice-based master’s and doctoral programmes developed by the RUN-EU PLUS project
The response of human macrophages to 3D printed titanium antibacterial implants does not affect the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs
Get PDFMacrophage responses following the implantation of orthopaedic implants are essential for successful implant integration in the body, partly through intimate crosstalk with human marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) in the process of new bone formation. Additive manufacturing (AM) and plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in the presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are promising techniques to achieve multifunctional titanium implants. Their osteoimmunomodulatory properties are, however, not yet fully investigated. Here, we studied the effects of implants with AgNPs on human macrophages and the crosstalk between hMSCs and human macrophages when co-cultured in vitro with biofunctionalised AM Ti6Al4V implants. A concentration of 0.3 g/L AgNPs in the PEO electrolyte was found to be optimal for both macrophage viability and inhibition of bacteria growth. These specimens also caused a decrease of the macrophage tissue repair related factor C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 18 (CCL18). Nevertheless, co-cultured hMSCs could osteogenically differentiate without any adverse effects caused by the presence of macrophages that were previously exposed to the PEO (±AgNPs) surfaces. Further evaluation of these promising implants in a bony in vivo environment with and without infection is highly recommended to prove their potential for clinical use.ye
Co-designing with engineers for community engagement in rural Uganda
Get PDFCo-design is seen as crucial for designing solutions for resource-constrained people living in
developing countries. To best understand their needs, user engagement and co-design
strategies need to first be developed. In this Design Practice Brief, a process of co-design
was created and used to understand ways telecommunication engineers could engage with
rural communities in Uganda. It reports and reflects on (i) the experience of co-designing
with nondesigners and (ii) creating a co-design structure and developing co-design methods
of engaging with community members living in developing countries. In doing so, it offers a
format and case study for future practitioners facilitating and conducting co-design with
nondesigners and contributes to a knowledge gap in the reporting and reflection of
co-design practice. This case study is unique as the co-design practice was achieved remotely
(online), crossed disciplines (designers and telecommunication engineers) and cultural
boundaries (European and African). It finds that in co-designing with nondesigners,
preparation and structure are key, with acknowledgement and management of cultural
and discipline differencesye
An examination of Ireland’s sugar sweetened beverage tax (sugar tax) in practice
Get PDFBackground
In the face of rising obesity levels, Ireland introduced a sugar sweetened beverage tax (SSBT) in 2018, the scope of which was extended in 2019. To date, there is a dearth of research on the actual impact of the SSBT on the pricing.
Method
This study involved an examination of the relative cost of leading brand full-sugar and sugar-free carbonated soft drinks in a convenience sample of 14 different Irish supermarkets. In light of manufacturers’ reformulation of certain brands (7UP, Sprite and Fanta), information was collected on the relative in-store pricing of three brands (Coca Cola, Pepsi and Club).
Results
In-store comparisons of equivalent size and unit number indicate that, in ~60% of cases, the full-sugar and sugar-free versions of the same drink are being offered at the same price. Even when full-sugar versions of these brands were more expensive than the sugar-free alternatives, the price differential was sometimes less than the SSBT rate.
Conclusions
The pass-through rate of the SSBT to consumers is sub-optimal. Future policy and research suggestions are outlined.ye
A review of the impact of sporting role model-led interventions on physical activity and sport participation of female youth
No full textThere is a lack of evidence of on the impact of how sporting role models (SRM) influence adolescent physical activity (PA) and/or
sport participation (SP) levels. The main aim of this review was to identify SRM-led interventions and highlight the evidence of
impact of SRMs on female adolescents’ participation in PA and/or SP. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature using key
search terms was completed using electronic databases (APA PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, and PubMed). The inclusion criteria were
as follows: (a) Participants were ≤18 years old, (b) results were reported for female participants, (c) the study included an
intervention arm/element, (d) an SRM or equivalent terminology was used as part of the intervention, (e) PA levels and/or SP was
evaluated, and (f) peer-reviewed articles published in English. A total of 7,169 peer-reviewed articles were identified and
screened. A systematic review of grey literature to identify SRM programs was also carried out through Google search engine,
direct contact with relevant sporting organizations, and with authors who had written about role models, and 45 programs were
identified. Identified documents were screened using the same inclusion criteria as described above. The results identified one
peer-reviewed and 15 grey literature programs, all of which were deemed to be of poor quality. The programs revealed a lack of
theoretical base and rigor in methodology, no objective PA or SP assessment, poor demographic context of participants and role
models, and lack of evaluation.n
Experimental measurement and thermodynamic modeling of Chlorothiazide solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide
Get PDFChlorothiazide, with the brand name Diuril, is used as a diuretic as well as an antihypertensive
drug. This medicine with very slight solubility in water and low permeability is categorized in the
class IV of Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS) and possess low bioavailability.
Therefore, enhancement of the drug solubility would be of great importance to reduce its dosage
and consequently side effects. Decrement of Chlorothiazide particles size to micro/nano scale
using a supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)-based method can be an efficient approach to
enhance its bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency. To select and design a proper supercritical
micronization/nanonization method, solubility of Chlorothiazide in scCO2 should be determined
which is conducted in this work by gravimetric method. In this study, solubility of Chlorothiazide
in scCO2 was obtained at various operating conditions (308–338K and 130–290 bar). It was found
between 0.417 £ 10− 5 to 1.012 £ 10− 5 mol mol− 1 (mole fraction) for Chlorothiazide. Moreover,
the obtained values were correlated through five empirical models (Chrastil, Mendez-Santiago
and Teja (MST), Kumar- Johnston (K-J), Bartle, and Garlapati-Madras), as well as SRK and PR
equations of state. All of the mentioned models have shown satisfactory correlation accuracy for
the drug solubility. Meanwhile, the K-J model with the minimum AARD% value of 3.15 and the
PR-EoS with the mean AARD% value of 6.51 have the highest precision to fit the experimental
data. Also, the extrapolative ability of the mentioned empirical models to predict the Chlorothiazide solubility outside the considered range of operating conditions was investigated.ye
Special Care Baby Unit Little Library: promoting parental bonding, early literacy and family-centred care. [Presentation]
Get PDFThis innovation lies in curating age appropriate, durable,
wipeable books and audio books, that are now available to
parents on SCBU, creating an intimate and personalized
reading environment
Detached eddy simulation of unsteady flow over a frontal cavity
Get PDFFrontal cavity consists of complex unsteadiness which causes bow shock instabilities when the body is moving at supersonic or hypersonic speed through a fluid. These complex unsteady flow fields are an important practical concern in the aerospace applications. Understanding this flow field around the frontal cavity will help us to know more in depth about these instabilities to create effective control methods to avoid structural damages. The main objective of the present research is to analyze the bow shock instabilities at different Mach number around the frontal cavity at supersonic and hypersonic speeds by using the numerical concept of Detached Eddy Simulations (DES) in two dimensional axisymmetric domain. Three different freestream Mach numbers (2, 4 and 6) were considered in the present investigation in order to study the effect of Mach number on flow unsteadiness. It was observed that an increase in Mach number, the frequency of most dominant mode (bow shock pulsation) increases significantly. In addition to that, additional low amplitude sub-dominant modes were observed for all the cases of freestream Mach numbers studied in the present investigation.ye
Real-time processing of I-LOFAR data using signal and image-based artificial intelligence/machine learning methods
Get PDFSolar flares discharge up to 1025J of magnetic energy into the solar atmosphere and
are often linked with high-intensity radio emissions known as Solar Radio Bursts
(SRBs). SRBs are commonly found in dynamic spectra and are classified into five
major spectral classes, ranging from Type I to Type V, based on their form and
frequency, and time extent. The automatic detection and classification of such radio
bursts is a challenge in solar radio physics due to their heterogeneous form. Near
real-time detection and classification of SRBs has become a necessity in recent
years due to large data rates generated by advanced radio telescopes such as the
LOw-FRequency ARray (LOFAR).
This thesis proposes a strategy for developing a very fast image and signal classification system that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to process gigabyte/sec
data streams in real-time using the Irish-LOFAR array as its prime data source.
Currently, the state-of-the-art systems in this area are falling short of the required
performance to process such high-bandwidth data streams. Real-time study of SRBs
is crucial for effective solar monitoring because it provides timely information about
dynamic solar phenomena, such as flares and coronal mass ejections, allowing us
to predict space weather impacts on Earth’s technology and infrastructure. This
real-time data helps spacecraft operators, scientists, and public safety officials make
informed decisions, validates and refines models of solar behavior, and drives advancements in monitoring technologies, ensuring accurate and proactive responses
to solar disturbancesye