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Deep Learning and Image data-based surface cracks recognition of laser nitrided Titanium alloy
Full text linkLaser nitriding, a high-precision surface modification process, enhances the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the materials. However, laser nitriding process is prone to appearance of cracks when the process is performed at high laser energy levels. Traditional techniques to detect the cracks are time consuming, costly and lack standardization. Thus, this research aims to put forth deep learning-based crack recognition for the laser nitriding of Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The process of laser nitriding has been performed by varying duty cycles, and other process parameters. The laser nitrided sample has then been processed through optical 3D surface measurements (Alicona Infinite Focus G5), creating high resolution images. The images were then pre-processed which included 2D conversion, patchification, image augmentation and subsequent removal of anomalies. After preprocessing, the investigation focused on employing robust binary classification method based on CNN models and its variants, including ResNet-50, VGG-19, VGG-16, GoogLeNet (Inception V3), and DenseNet-121, to recognize surface cracks. The performance of these models has been optimized by fine tuning different hyper parameters and it is found that CNN base model along with models having less trainable parameters like VGG-19, VGG-16 exhibit better performance with accuracy of more than 98% to recognize cracks. Through the achieved results, it is found that VGG-19 is the most preferable model for this crack recognition problem to effectively recognize the surface cracks on laser nitrided Ti–6Al–4V material, owing to its best accuracy and lesser parameters compared to complex models like ResNet-50 and Inception-V3
Genetic Disenhancement and Xenotransplantation: Diminishing Pigs’ Capacity to Experience Suffering through Genetic Engineering
Full text linkOne objection to xenotransplantation is that it will
require the large-scale breeding, raising and killing
of genetically modified pigs. The pigs will need to
be raised in designated pathogen-free facilities and
undergo a range of medical tests before having their
organs removed and being euthanised. As a result,
they will have significantly shortened life expectancies,
will experience pain and suffering and be subject to
a degree of social and environmental deprivation. To
minimise the impact of these factors, we propose the
following option for consideration—ethically defensible
xenotransplantation should entail the use of genetic
disenhancement if it becomes possible to do so and if
that pain and suffering cannot be eliminated by other
means. Despite not being a morally ideal 'solution’, it is
morally better to prevent unavoidable pain until a viable
non-animal alternative becomes available
Transforming Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesis: Innovative Continuous Hydrothermal Flow Methods for Environmental Advancements and Beyond
Full text linkCarbon quantum dots (CQDs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials exhibiting unique sizedependent optical and electronic properties. Owing to their high photoluminescence, chemical stability, low toxicity, and surface functionalization capabilities, CQDs show tremendous potential for diverse applications in energy harvesting, sensing, optoelectronics, and biomedicine. However, conventional CQD synthesis methods involve toxic organic solvents, high energy consumption, long reaction times, and poor control over particle size distribution and properties. This PhD research focused on the continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS) of CQDs from renewable precursors as a rapid, sustainable, and scalable production route. A systematic investigation was undertaken to establish relationships between synthesis conditions (precursor composition, dopant concentrations) and final CQD characteristics. State-of-the-art spectroscopic and microscopic characterisation techniques provided fundamental insights into nucleation, growth mechanisms, and surface chemistry during CQD formation via CHFS. By tuning the CHFS parameters, photoluminescent CQDs with uniform size distribution, tailored surface chemistry, and reproducible optoelectronic properties were synthesised. This thesis demonstrates the first comprehensive study utilising CHFS for controlled and optimized synthesis of CQDs. The fundamental understanding of CQD formation mechanisms and structure-property correlations established here will aid the customised design of CQDs for diverse cutting-edge applications in sensing, catalysis and beyond
Involving Lived Experience in regional efforts to address gambling-related harms: going beyond ‘window dressing’ and ‘tick box exercises’
Full text linkBackground
Lived Experience (LE) involvement has been shown to improve interventions across diverse sectors. Yet LE contributions to public health approaches to address gambling-related harms remain underexplored, despite notable detrimental health and social outcomes linked to gambling. This paper analyses the potential of LE involvement in public health strategy to address gambling-related harms. It focuses on the example of a UK city-region gambling harms reduction intervention that presented multiple opportunities for LE input.
Methods
Three focus groups and 33 semi-structured interviews were conducted to hear from people with and without LE who were involved in the gambling harms reduction intervention, or who had previous experience of LE-informed efforts for addressing gambling-related harms. People without LE provided reflections on the value and contributions of others’ LE to their work. Data analysis combined the Framework Method with themes developed inductively (from people’s accounts) and deductively (from the literature, including grey literature).
Results
Four themes were identified: (1) personal journeys to LE involvement; (2) the value added by LE to interventions for addressing gambling-related harms; (3) emotional impacts on people with LE; and (4) collective LE and diverse lived experiences. Two figures outlining LE involvement specific to gambling harms reduction in the UK, where public health efforts aimed at addressing gambling-related harms coexist with industry-funded programmes, are proposed.
Conclusions
Integrating a range of LE perspectives in a public health approach to gambling harms reduction requires local access to involvement for people with LE via diverse routes that are free from stigma and present people with LE with options in how they can engage and be heard in decision-making, and how they operate in relation to industry influence. Involving LE in gambling harms reduction requires enabling people to develop the affective and critical skills necessary to navigate complex emotional journeys and a challenging commercial and policy environment
The Roles of Rule Type and Word Term in the Deductive Reasoning of Adults with and without Dyslexia
Full text linkDespite its importance to everyday functioning, reasoning is underexplored in developmental dyslexia. The current study investigated verbal deductive reasoning on the Wason selection task, not previously used in dyslexia research despite its well-established pedigree. Reasoning rule was manipulated, with the conditional rules varying in the logical values presented. The word frequency and imageability of the word terms was also manipulated. Twenty-six adults with dyslexia and 31 adults without dyslexia completed Wason selection task problems. No group difference in reasoning accuracy or completion time was found. However, the participants were most accurate when reasoning with the rule type “If p, then not q” and least accurate with the rule type “If p then q”. More trials were also answered correctly when the word terms were highly imageable but of average word frequency. These findings are in line with the general reasoning literature. Dyslexia status did not interact with either rule type or word term type. The study expands upon previous research by testing verbal deductive reasoning in dyslexia, highlighting the role of imageability in facilitating reasoning performance for all, regardless of the presence or absence of dyslexia. Implications for the design of educational materials are considered
Understanding the legal implications in prescribing for children and young people
Full text linkMany aspects are important to consider when focusing on legal implications in prescribing medications for all - and children and young people are no exception. Whilst issues such as accountability and responsibility remain pertinent, a focus on the law and non medical prescribing will be given, with reference, for example, on who can prescribe controlled drugs. Several relevant Acts of Law will be explained, which will tie into ethical principles and autonomy. One might question if – and when – a child or young person can be autonomous in their decision making, so consent in children and parental responsibility will also be considered here. Some case studies will be discussed in order to make the audience think about ethical decisions, and what lies in the child’s best interests. The presentation will conclude by considering duty of care and negligence, and what it means to be a responsible non medical prescriber
The makewaves tsunami tests and their relevance to tsunami engineering and risk management
Full text linkMAKEWAVES is an international multi-partner collaborative project bringing together nine academic institutions and two commercial consultancies. The objective of the collaboration is to develop experimental data and associated numerical modelling on tsunami inundation and interaction with boulders, buildings, natural and engineered barriers, towards the development of new internationally accepted guidance for
structural codes and standards. Using a pneumatic tsunami simulator (TS) developed jointly by HR Wallingford and UCL the team conducted experiments between November 2022 and April 2023 within a highly instrumented 100m long flume. The TS is capable of simulating realistic trough and crest-led tsunami waves at 1:50, including traces from the The TS is capable of generating very long trough and crest-led waves, and can reproduce at 1:50 scale waves from real life events such as the Mercator trace from the 2004 Indian Ocean event and the and 2011 Tohoku tsunamis. The TS capability has been further extended to include bore-waves. The characteristics of the waves are controlled by adjusting the flow rate and total volume of water drawn in and discharged by the TS. The experimental campaign is was subdivided into discrete research areas, each aimed at furthering knowledge on how different tsunami wave characteristics affect their interaction with manmade and natural structures environments. These include tests aimed at understanding: (1) how roughness representative of coastal forests and mangroves affects tsunami inundation characteristics, (2) how tsunami interact with boulders (3) the effectiveness of offshore breakwaters as tsunami barriers (4) how structural loads and foundation scour are affected by building permeability. This paper presents an overview of the tests conducted and some of the important early observations made that are relevant to future
engineering standards and to tsunami disaster management
Teaching Geotechnical Engineering at LSBU
Full text linkThis paper presents a case study based on the teaching for the module Geotechnical Engineering at level 6 for full-time, apprentices, and part-time students for the last five years. The teaching strategy for this subject is a non-attendance-proof hybrid/blended approach, and its effectiveness is demonstrated by outstanding figures on engagement, performance, and progression as well as on qualitative analysis of student feedback made anonymously. This work shows that several teaching approaches such as on-campus, online, hybrid, or blended show effectiveness if the module leader controls the classroom, the institutional limitations, and the teaching delivery
Huygens Principle based Microwave Imaging for Lung Lesion Detection using Realistic Phantom
No full textThis study investigates the validation of Huygens Principle (HP)-based microwave imaging (MWI) technology’s efficacy in detecting lung lesions. Employing a multi-layered, realistic phantom, we have investigated the feasibility of this novel approach. Our research encompasses the fabrication of a realistic chest phantom with dimensions and dielectric properties that mimic those of an average human lung. A cylindrically shaped inclusion, designed to replicate the dielectric attributes of lung lesions, further enriches the setup. Measurements are conducted within an anechoic chamber, spanning frequencies from 0.5 GHz to 3 GHz. The results are compelling: the inclusion is successfully detected in reconstructed images, achieving a signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) of 9.9 dB pre-image adjustment, which notably improves to 13.4 dB post-image adjustment along with artefact removal. Additionally, image masking has been employed to highlight the boundary of the phantom and the detected inclusion. This paper highlights a successful approach for lung lesion detection using HP-based MWI, yielding a detection accuracy with less than 6% error in dimensional analysis. The findings underscore the promise of this innovative method in advancing medical imaging capabilities
The ‘Silver Thread’: Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan (1890-1982), the Six Point Group, and new understandings of intergenerational female activism in England, 1960s to 1980.
No full textFocussing on the life-long activism of former suffragette and feminist Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan this article presents an innovative re-appraisal of histories of the women’s movement in England during the 1960s and 1970s. Adopting a micro-history approach the article uses Hunkins-Hallinan’s experience of feminist activism to make two connected arguments. The first is to challenge the suggestion that post-suffrage feminist societies such as the Six Point Group lost their ability to participate in and influence campaigns for gender equality into the second half of the twentieth century. The second is to ensure that the contributions made by older women to the women’s movement during the 1960s and 1970s are no longer obscured by the emergence of the Women’s Liberation Movement. Drawing on both arguments the article reveals the previously hidden co-operation and intersection between older and younger generations of women campaigning for women’s rights during these two pivotal decades.
Keywords: life-long activism; feminism; women’s liberation movement; intergenerational activism; Six Point Group