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Explaining translatorship: Selective appropriation and causal emplotment in literary translators' life-story narratives
No full textThis study examines literary translators' ontological narratives and how translatorship is embedded in their life-stories. Translatorship refers to how they portray themselves as literary translators and what translation as an activity means for them. The data constitute of four life-story narratives by contemporary Finnish literary translators collected as a part of a wider interview project in late 2018 and early 2019. Based on an earlier study (Heino, 2021) translators identify themselves either as mediator- or writer-translators. This study focuses on the narratives of two mediator- and two writer-translators who all have a Master's degree in Translation Studies and analyses how they utilize selective appropriation and causal emplotment to construct a coherent narrative that reflects their experiences of becoming and being a literary translator. The analysis demonstrated that to negotiate the challenging working conditions and low status of the profession, the mediator-translators emphasise the ethos of hard work and professional qualifications whereas the writer-translators aim to promote qualities such as innate talent, vocation, and a way of life.Peer reviewe
Sustainable PLA Innovations for Recyclable Piezoelectric Transducers and Harvesters
No full textPiezoelectric transducers play a crucial role in energy harvesting and sensing applications within the automotive industry. Vibrational Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters (VPEH) effectively harness dynamic mechanical inputs such as high-frequency vibrations in vehicles. Traditional transducers rely on lead-based ceramics, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which pose environmental and health risks. This study explores biosourced and recyclable alternatives, focusing on polylactic acid (PLA) due to its biobased nature, ease of processing, and comparable piezoelectric properties. A novel VPEH prototype, constructed primarily from PLA, was developed with enhanced piezoelectric properties (13 pC/N), direct ink-printed silver electrodes on PLA substrate, and 3D-printed PLA cantilever beams optimized for vibrational energy harvesting at ∼ 30 Hz resonance frequency. The VPEH prototype demonstrated thermal stability, cost-effective manufacturability, and shows a potential to generate power (higher than 10 μW) for automotive sensor applications.Peer reviewe
A randomized controlled trial utilizing an interactive accelerometer linked to a smartphone application for enhancing physical activity and health among military employees
No full textIntroduction: The primary objectives of the present individualized randomized controlled trial were to increase physical activity (PA) and improve physical fitness. Materials and methods: 260 military employees around Finland participated. Two-thirds, (158), were randomized in the intervention and one-third, (101), in the control group. The intervention group used Exsed Movesense accelerometers linked to smartphones measuring PA and sleep for six months. They received feedback via a smartphone application, were encouraged to exercise during worktime for 2 hours/week, and participated in telephone counseling. The control group continued PA routines without the accelerometer or feedback. Measurements were taken at the baseline, 6-mo and 12-mo after the intervention. They included two-week RM 42-accelerometer measurements of PA, cardiometabolic biomarkers, body composition, physical fitness tests, and a questionnaire about stress and work ability for the intervention group at every point and for the control group at baseline and 12-mo. At the 6-mo, only PA was measured in the control group. Primary outcomes were changes in PA from baseline to 6-mo and 12-mo as well as changes in maximal oxygen uptake and fitness index from baseline to 12-mo. Secondary outcomes were changes in other parameters from baseline to 12-mo. The effect of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes was analyzed using unadjusted generalised linear mixed model, accounting for a group-by-time interaction effect in all models. Results: There was no statistically significant group-by-time interaction regarding the measured parameters. However, amount the intervention group daily standing time (mean increase 18 min/day, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6–29 min/day) and maximal oxygen uptake (mean increase 2.15 ml/kg/min 95% CI 0.56–3.74 ml/kg/min) tended to increase during twelve months. Discussion: The intervention did not effectively change the primary outcomes, but showed encouraging trends and revealed the potential and challenges of the intervention developed to increase PA in a military workplace.Peer reviewe
System-level Design Method for High-strength Steel Hollow Section Structures : Eurocode-compliant approach
Get PDFIn advanced design methods, an entire structural system can be directly designed based on the response of a nonlinear finite element analysis by monitoring the so- called load proportionality factor. This factor expresses the ratio of the system resistance to the design loads. Sufficient resistance of the system is ensured simply by comparing the load proportionality factor to the safety factor of resistance. This design approach differs remarkably from the conventional method, where the design of a structural system is verified by checking each member separately after structural analysis.
In recent literature, a sophisticated advanced design method called as the “Direct Design Method” (DDM) has been developed for framed steel structures for American, Australian and New Zealand standards. The heart of DDM is the partial factor of resistance, denoted as the system safety factor, γADM, which is determined based on extensive system-level reliability analyses. The γADM ensures that sufficient system reliability is achieved in design by considering all the relevant uncertainties regarding the resistance of the structural system. Consequently, the γADM is a structural family-specific safety factor which is tailored for certain family of systems.
In this research, a “Eurocode-compliant Direct Design Method” is developed for Warren truss steel portal frames. The developed DDM adopts the Eurocode framework for load combinations and yields the same system reliability as systems designed by the conventional Eurocode 3 method. The same reliability level with the conventional method is achieved by determining system-level reliability index of conventionally designed systems, which is further used as a target reliability level for the developed DDM.
Investigated trussed frames are built from members with cold-formed rectangular hollow sections made of the high-strength steel grade S700. Accurate modelling of these sections in nonlinear analyses requires tools for considering the effects of residual stresses and strain-hardened material. This research develops a probabilistic residual stress model and the so-called Effective Material Model (EMM) through which these effects are incorporated into reliability studies and finite element analyses. A wide variety of system-level reliability analyses are carried out for various trussed systems and load combinations to derive the target reliability index and the corresponding γADM.
Finally, the determined γADM is applied to a practical comparison in which trussed systems are designed both by the conventional design method and by the DDM developed in this dissertation. This comparison reveals that the DDM has a significant potential for reducing material consumption in trussed portal frames compared to the member-based conventional design method. This reduction is achieved by the capability of DDM to harness the full computational power of modern computers for the design use through nonlinear finite element analysis. By the sophisticated nonlinear analysis, DDM accurately captures the buckling behavior of continuous members and considers redistribution of forces and material plasticity in an entire structural system. These powerful capabilities, combined with the tailored system safety factor, provide ingredients for the next- generation computer-aided design tool developed in this research
Suggestions for enhancing the utilization of empirical research methods: Facilitating university-industry collaboration in low- and middle-income countries
No full textPeer reviewe
Ensuring Compliance in the Installation of Residential Photovoltaic Systems: A Study of Standards and Practices in Finland
No full textThe increasing adoption of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in Finland has brought significant challenges in ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. This paper investigates the practices of PV system installers, assessing their adherence to the SFS 6000 standard series and SFS-EN 62446-1 standard, which are harmonized with European (CENELEC) and international (IEC) standards. A detailed survey of 27 certified solar installers highlights critical gaps in commissioning inspections, documentation, and interpretations of the standards, raising concerns about installation safety and reliability. The study proposes actionable recommendations, including enhanced training, clearer documentation, and updates to regulatory guidelines, to improve compliance and promote consistent practices. These measures are essential to support Finland's sustainable energy transition and ensure safe PV installations in a rapidly growing market.Peer reviewe
Designing SrCo<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>0.2</sub>O<sub>3−δ</sub>-Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanocomposite heterostructure enabling high proton conduction for low temperature fuel cell
No full textProton-conducting oxides and protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are pivotal in the modern electrochemical energy infrastructure. This study introduces an approach to construct a heterostructure nanocomposite of Fe3O4 grown on the semiconductor SrCo0.8Fe0.2O3 (SCF) to enhance proton conduction. While both SCF and Fe3O4 individually exhibit electronic conduction dominance, the designed heterostructure successfully adjusts the electronic-to-protonic conductivity, resulting in an ionic conductivity of 0.2 S cm−1. Consequently, semiconductor ionic fuel cells (SIFCs) based on the SCF-Fe3O4 nanocomposite as the electrolyte demonstrate excellent performance at 550 °C, exhibiting a power density of 906.875 cmW/cm2. The transition from electronic to protonic conduction in this nanocomposite SCF-Fe3O4 heterostructure is attributed to an energy band alignment mechanism. These results highlight the promising potential of the semiconductor SCF-Fe3O4 heterostructure nanocomposite approach for developing highly efficient proton conductors and enabling the advancement of SIFCs.Peer reviewe
Can laser shock effectively dismantle carbon fibers laminated composite while preserving material integrity for reuse?
No full textThis paper presents the development of a controlled process for dismantling laminated carbon fiber composite materials for reuse applications, specifically through laser shock technology. First, the conditions required for dismantling include pressure (GPa) and strain rate (106–107 s−1), which are applied. Second, the recovery rate is considered, defined as the ratio of the shocked surface to the total surface (68%). A symmetric laser configuration is used, which induces delaminations in the middle of the sample to weaken the material interply interface. After the recovery of composite plies (half-laminates), the residual properties of dismantled samples are characterized using various techniques to assess the effects of laser shock application on the dismantling of the composite. Surface integrity, chemical properties, thermal stability, and mechanical properties are evaluated. The findings demonstrate that, even under high Laser Power Density (LPD), laser-shock dismantling has minimal impact on the surface integrity, chemical, and mechanical properties of the material. Optimized laser shock parameters (laser power density, recovery rate) have been identified, leading to a decrease in interlaminar mechanical properties (strength and toughness). The Interlaminar Shear Strength (ILSS) tests reveal a favorable balance between parameters, achieving optimal interface weakening for dismantling with minimal damage to the material. Additionally, Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) tests were conducted on samples treated with optimized laser shock parameters to quantify the weakening of the interface induced by the laser shock through the evaluation of residual toughness (GIC) to delamination.Peer reviewe
What does a test say about the mind?: Personality tests as discursive objects in recruitment interviews
No full textIn this article, we examine how recruiters and applicants talk about personality tests, reflecting presuppositions about personality and its accessibility. Using video-recorded data from 21 Finnish job interviews, we show how the personality test functions as a discursive object for managing stakes in the recruitment process. When applicants referred to the test after receiving positive evaluations, they emphasized its ability to reveal their personality, thus reinforcing the evaluation. In these moments, both recruiters and applicants treated the test as structured and purposeful. When test talk occurred before receiving results, applicants highlighted the test’s limitations in accessing their personality, creating space to reinterpret outcomes. Recruiters, in contrast, treated the test as a reliable tool, emphasizing its role in identifying inconsistencies in applicants’ conduct. Our findings show that personality tests can both enable and constrain participants’ ability to manage stakes, contributing to the impression of objectivity and truth-finding during job interviews.Peer reviewe