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Parametric evaluation of 3D-printed polylactic acid scaffolds : balancing mechanical and biological performance for bone tissue engineering
No full textThis study presents a novel approach to evaluating how individual design parameters affect the mechanical and biological performance of 3D-printed polylactic acid cylindrical bone tissue scaffolds. By systematically varying one parameter at a time (strand thickness, pore size, porosity, or orientation), their individual impacts are precisely assessed. Mechanical properties are incorporated into finite element analysis simulations that mimic femoral loading conditions. Results indicate that scaffolds with a 45∘ orientation and the smallest strand thickness exhibit the highest deformation, while those with a 60∘ orientation and the thickest strands show the lowest deformation. Moreover, the highest stress was observed in geometries with 45∘ orientation, and those with 90∘ had the lowest stress levels. These results suggest that geometries with 60∘ and 90∘ angle provide the sturdiest constructs for load bearing applications in bone tissue engineering. These findings are validated through experimental compression tests. Among the 36 proposed geometries, seven scaffolds display equivalent stress values within the acceptable range for cortical bone compressive strength. The optimized designs align mechanical properties with natural bone, potentially mitigating issues like osteopenia and stress shielding associated with stiffer implants. Contrary to prior recommendations for high porosity (>70%), proposed designs with 40-57% porosity can satisfy both mechanical and biological requirements, suggesting that lower-porosity scaffolds can achieve cellular proliferation rates comparable to those with higher porosity, as supported by existing studies. Future research will include biological tests to validate the biocompatibility of these optimized scaffolds
A mixed method evaluation of a novel targeted health messaging intervention to promote COVID-19 protective behaviours and vaccination among Black and South Asian communities living in the UK (the COBHAM study)
No full textTime-series machine learning for predictive optimisation of a highly efficient evaporative cooling system
No full textDevelopment and optimization of a pantograph-based robotic gripper for industrial applications
No full textThis paper presents the kinematic and force analysis of a pantograph-based industrial gripper designed for transportation cylindrical parts in automated systems. The gripping mechanism was modeled and validated using numerical simulations in Mathematica and SolidWorks Motion. The results show that the gripper provides stable and accurate operation within the design operating range, applying a maximum gripping force of 45 N. Compared to conventional gripping mechanisms, the proposed design provides improved force distribution and efficient energy utilization. The study confirms the effectiveness of the pantograph-based gripper for industrial automation applications that require stable and controllable gripping forces
Hygrothermal aging of a pultruded fiber-polymer composite with predictions for design service lives
Full text linkAgainst community : ambivalent identities in Actors Touring Company and David Greig’s The Events
No full textThis article explores the ambivalent presentations of identity in David Greig and Actors Touring Company’s 2013 staging of The Events at the Young Vic. I analyse the choice made by the company of casting a south Asian actor to play a white supremacist. I will also consider the lesbianism of Claire, the play’s other main character, in order to reflect on the racial and sexual tensions which underpin liberal conceptions of multiculturalism. I will also explore collective singing as I consider the role of the local community choirs invited each night to perform on stage. For this purpose I will turn to some of Wiles’ statements in Theatre and Citizenship, particularly his reflections on the Greek chorus and the making of community. I will consider critiques of liberal multiculturalism in Europe in order to analyse the contradictions between the way The Events was staged and director Ramin Gray’s statements about the production. Whilst Gray declares the play to be about the defence of multiculturalism and the communal space of the theatre, my own reading of the show points to a fundamental ambivalence towards both, especially through the casting choices
Grow through what you go through : a multiple-case study of competitive bodybuilders’ experiences of learning to manage the demands of their engagement in the sport
No full textTo date, most research amongst competitive bodybuilders has focused on highlighting the demands of competitive bodybuilding, competitors’ emotional and behavioural responses to these demands, and the subsequent psychosocial outcomes, with limited attention to the process of coping. The current study aims to address this gap in the literature by providing insight into how competitors learn to manage and cope with the demands of their sport. Using a multiple-case study design, five high-profile competitive bodybuilders (with over 211,000 Instagram followers and 82,000 YouTube subscribers combined) engaged in semi-structured interviews and provided Instagram and personal journal data. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three overarching themes were constructed: (a) learning by trial and error, (b) understanding the self, the substances and the process, and (c) flexible guiding priorities. These findings have implications for informing future harm reduction initiatives amongst competitive bodybuilders (e.g. accelerating the experiential learning process), as well as enhancing social support for competitors (e.g. encouraging communal coping). Furthermore, this study illustrates the value of combining traditional methods (e.g. semi-structured interviews, journals) and social media data (e.g. Instagram posts, vlog-style videos) when conducting qualitative case studies in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of interest
