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Critical perspective on discourse in the representation of conflict in Ireland
No full textThis paper provides a critical analysis of the role of discourse in conflict situations, with a particular focus on dominant and competing discourses which have emerged in relation to conflict in Ireland historically. It begins with a general discussion about theoretical ideas around discourse, focusing in particular on the writings of critical theorists such as Gramsci, and Foucault. It engages with some of the key ideas about common-sense acceptance, reproduction and reinforcement of dominant hegemonic discourses, and how such hegemony emerges and is sustained. It also looks at how subordinate discourses often challenge and replace once dominant discourses. It then analyses how discourse plays a role in conflict in society and how discourse, like conflict itself, often changes in form and content depending on circumstance. Using examples of discourse, sourced from the print media and academic literature, about conflict in Ireland, the language and terminology used and how this has framed competing understandings and interpretations of the conflict, the article illustrates how conflict is reflected in competing discourses including dominant and subordinate variants. It argues that uncritical, unqualified acceptance of dominant discourse about conflict by academia and others potentially prevents the development of rigorous social scientific research, the unravelling of the underlying causes of conflict as well as potentially delaying the onset of real and meaningful peace building. It also potentially places academia firmly on the side of the status quo in conflict situations
Connecting the dots: understanding professional development needs of Istanbul’s makers for circular economy
No full textWith the dissemination and increased accessibility of makerspaces (e.g. fab labs, creative hubs, learning platforms), cities now present an opportunity for loosely managed, distributed fabrication opportunities to recapture embedded value in products and resources and re-distribute them for the benefit of the city. Istanbul Metropolitan City, with its rather large population and land, as well as 24 active makerspaces focusing on different industries and fabrication opportunities (e.g. education, entrepreneurship, sustainability), presents potential for initiating a robust network of makers (e.g. designers, engineers, craftsmen, investors, students, entrepreneurs) to explore and exploit novel ways of value recapture and to transition towards a local, Circular Economy. However, these stakeholders initially require an understanding of potential opportunities and barriers for collaboration, as well as equip themselves with skills and knowledge beyond the act of making (including alternative ways to conduct business, value recapture, Circular Design, collaboration, etc.) in order to sustain their operations from an economic perspective. This paper presents the initial results of (1) a survey revealing Istanbul’s maker communities’ goals, priorities, target groups, and skills related to the Circular Economy, and (2) their collaborative attempt of a future, circular economy vision for Istanbul developed as part of a generative workshop. The maker community representatives explored existing infrastructure, resources and stakeholders of Istanbul to connect the dots amongst them and reveal untapped, concealed local opportunities for collaboration and co-creation. This paper presents the analysis of these studies to reveal the professional development needs of these maker communities for transitioning towards a local, circular economy. As a result, the authors propose strategies for training, capacity building and skills development both relevant to the local context of Istanbul and in line with the global concerns around sustainability and the Circular Economy
In-situ sensing, process monitoring and machine control in Laser Powder Bed Fusion: a review
No full textProcess monitoring and sensing is widely used across many industries for quality assurance, and for increasing machine uptime and reliability. Though still in the emergent stages, process monitoring is beginning to see strong adoption in the additive manufacturing community through the use of process sensors recording a wide range of optical, acoustic and thermal signals. The ability to acquire these signals in a holistic manner, coupled with intelligence-based machine control has the potential to make additive manufacturing a robust and competitive alternative to conventional fabrication techniques. This paper presents an overview of the state-of the art of in-situ process monitoring in laser powder bed fusion processes and highlights some current limitations and areas for advancement. Also presented is an overview of real-time process control requirements, which when combined with the emergent process monitoring tools, will eventually allow for in-depth process control of the powder bed fusion process, which is essential for wide-scale industrial credibility and adoption of this technology
Thermomechanical modelling for the linear friction welding process of Ni-based superalloy and verification
No full textThis paper presents a fully coupled thermomechanical model for the linear friction welding process of Inconel-718 nickel-based superalloy by using the finite element method. Friction heat, plastic work, and contact formulation were taken into account for two deformable plastic bodies oscillating relative to each other under large compressive force. The modelling results of the thermal history at the weldline interface and thermal field at a distance away from the rubbing surfaces were compared to instrumented data sourced from related publications for model verification. Optimal linear friction welding process parameters were identified via comparison of weld temperature to the liquidus temperature of Inconel-718 alloy. Comparison of interface temperature showed a consistent range of values above the solidus melting temperature (1250 celcius) and below the liquidus melting temperature (1360 celcius) of Inconel-718 alloy. For the first time, a visible linear friction welding process window is identified using a thermomechanical computational modelling method. Through computational modelling, the influence of welding process parameters on the heat transfer and deformation of weld was systematically investigated.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This publication has emanated from research supported in part by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under [Grant Number 16/RC/3872] and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund. The authors gratefully acknowledge funding support by the National University of Ireland Galway doctoral scholarship
Enabling local circular economy practices through maker symbiosis: the case of Istanbul
No full textPop-Machina H2020 project aims to explore the potentials for local circular economies
through collaborative production in seven pilot cities. This endeavour requires initiating a sustainable
maker symbiosis, through activating links among various maker ecosystem actors. This paper provides
a snapshot of the initial steps of this, i.e. the deployment of a series of online participatory design tools
engaging citizens and other maker ecosystem actors to collaboratively design pilot activities through
the case of Istanbul, the largest pilot city of the project. Local Future Stories was developed for İstanbul
citizens to envision the future everyday life in a circular neighbourhood and revealed shared city and
neighbourhood values in terms of collaborative production and local circular economies. İstanbul
Microsite was developed to introduce overall project goals, İstanbul priorities and Local Future Stories
to maker ecosystem actors, and to invite them to share pilot activity ideas as part of the pilot. These
initial activity ideas were then further developed through online co-design workshops with various maker
ecosystem actors, identifying potentially interested stakeholders, drawing links among them and among
activity proposals, and developing the steps for each activity from conception to finalization. This paper
presents the major outcomes of the tools used and the process while discussing how they can activate
links among maker ecosystem actors to initiate maker symbiosis
Stepping out of planned obsolescence into the circular economy: the emergence, effects, and ethics in the smartphone industry
No full textA constructive debate on the circular economy entails rethinking planned obsolescence. The
increased production and use of consumer electronics, together with their high replacement rate
substantially increases electronic waste.
Planned obsolescence consist of multiple strategies for rendering a product obsolete. In recent years,
we have observed a shift from aesthetic obsolescence to technological obsolescence in for example,
smartphones. As regards hardware, the life span of a product is artificially reduced by designing
components that cannot be disassembled without damaging the product. Software obsolescence, on
the other hand, comprises updates that slow down devices, or create incompatibility between operating
systems and running applications.
This paper investigates these practices in the smartphone industry. Based on the analysis of the
literature we compare planned obsolescence strategies adopted by major companies against circular
economy strategies and policies recently implemented. We assess the embodiment of the strategies
by analysing product features and indexes of repairability in smartphones and characterise
technological obsolescence considering hardware, firmware and software.
Our conclusions suggest that tackling planned obsolescence requires policymaking that establishes
guidelines for reliability to strengthen indexes of repairability as information to consumer
Identifying useful modes of obsolescence in the development of life cycle analysis and the circular economy
No full textIn Chapter Two of ‘Longer Lasting Products’i
I identified four modes of obsolescence that had
proven useful in evaluating the life expectancy and the likely causes of obsolescence for any product;
these being - Aesthetic Obsolescence, Social Obsolescence, Technological Obsolescence, and
Economic Obsolescence. Further work to date has helped reinforce these four modes, especially in the
development of Life Cycle Analyses. More recently, with the growing apparent reduction in many product
life times, the predictability of likely modes of obsolescence appears to have become even more
identifiable, and as a consequence revealed the nature of two additional useful modes of obsolescence.
The first of these being: Use Obsolescence. This mode relates largely to the consequences of wear-and tear and often environmentally impactful aspects of a product’s Use phase; e.g. substances like worn tyre
particles, and even chewing gum. The second is termed: Convenience Obsolescence, which relates to
products developed to make an activity or task more convenient. We have recently become more aware
of the implications of the many ‘single-use’ plastic products, but this issue extends to many other products
that exist simply ‘to make our lives easier’, often epitomising the umbrella of the ‘Throwaway Society’.
This paper will explore the two new modes and discuss how planning for the six modes of obsolescence
can help in the development of data related to appropriate product life times in a truly Circular Economy
Sunburn, sun safety and indoor tanning among schoolchildren in Ireland
No full textObjectives: We present patterns of sunburn, sun safety behaviors and indoor tanning bed use in a nationally representative sample of schoolchildren aged 10–17. These behaviors were explored across gender, age, and social class groups.
Methods: Within the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland study, 10,271 young people (aged 13.54 ± 1.92, percentage girls 53.3%) reported frequency of sun safety behaviors, sunburn, and frequency and circumstances of indoor tanning bed use.
Results: Children frequently experienced sunburn (90% lifetime, 74% last year), and 3% reported never using any sun protection. Applying sunscreen and wearing sunglasses were the most commonly used sun safety measures; other ways of sun protection were less popular. Indoor tanning bed use was reported by around 5%, and a large proportion of users were not advised of any indoor tanning safety measures. Sun safety behaviors varied by age and gender, with some socio-economic differences in tanning bed use. An association was found between frequency of family holidays abroad and sunburn.
Conclusion: Targeted interventions are needed to increase sun safety behaviors and eliminate tanning bed use among children in Ireland.The survey was funded by the Department of Health, Republic of Ireland
Preparation, structure-property relationships and applications of different emulsion gels: Bulk emulsion gels, emulsion gel particles, and fluid emulsion gels
No full textBackground
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in emulsion gels, due to their better stability during storage and potential for prolonged intestinal drug release compared to emulsions. There are three kinds of emulsion gels, classified according to their morphological properties: bulk emulsion gels, emulsion gel particles and liquid emulsion gels.
Scope and approach
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms and procedures of different methods for preparing different emulsion gels and relationships between structures and properties of emulsion gels. The applications of emulsion gels in the food industry are finally discussed.
Key findings and conclusions
Different emulsion gels result from different preparation methods, and have various structure-property relationships and applications. Many methods can be used to prepare bulk emulsion gels, involving different matrix materials, processing techniques, and purposes. This can result in different structures of gel matrices and emulsion droplets, and interactions between them, which can influence the structures of bulk emulsion gels and then their mechanical and release properties. On the other hand, extrusion and impinging aerosol methods are two methods for preparing emulsion gel particles, while liquid emulsion gels can be prepared by Pickering emulsions and disrupted gel systems. Rheological, syneresis and swelling properties are critical for gel particle suspensions, while flow behavior and release properties are important to liquid emulsion gels. In addition, fat replacements and delivery systems are main applications of emulsion gels in the food industry. However, current research has mainly focused on bulk emulsion gels, so further studies on emulsion gel particles and liquid emulsion gels are required.China Scholarship Counci
Smartphones within a circular society - investigating potential modular smartphone users
No full textIt is widely acknowledged that transitions towards a circular economy (CE) are based on the
complementary development of circular business models and design strategies. One strategy to
enhance the lifetime of products is modular design. Concepts for modular product designs have been
around for a long time, but it was only with the rise of the CE debate that they have been linked to more
sustainable consumption patterns. Much research on modular designs has focused on smartphones,
as they are considered to be a suitable product to make use of the advantages derived from modular
designs. Still, there currently is little research that looks at how modular design strategies fit into
people’s existing daily practices and media ensembles let alone the competences and knowledge
needed to do so. This paper presents new empirical evidence gathered through in-depth interviews with
people about their daily practices with their smartphone and modular design strategies. We discuss
opportunities for modular smartphone designs and related product service systems. Our results show
that issues of convenience and optimisation play a key role when establishing domestic media
ensembles in people’s daily lives where the reliability and ease of use of people’s smartphones are
crucial. These meaning present challenges for an integration of modular smartphones into everyday
lives. Modular strategies as part of transitions towards CE cannot be enabled through products and
services alone but would need complimentary political regulation and standardisation to support these
developments