Virtual Manufacturing of Composite Structures Applying Implicit and Explicit FE Techniques

Virtual manufacturing of composites can yield an initial early estimation of the induced residual thermal stresses that affect component fatigue life, and deformations that affect required tolerances for assembly. Based on these estimation, the designer can make early decisions, which can help in reducing cost, regarding changes in part design or material properties. In this paper, an approach is proposed to simulate the autoclave manufacturing technique for unidirectional composites. The proposed approach consists of three modules. The first module is a Thermochemical model to estimate temperature and the degree of cure distributions in the composite part during the cure cycle. The second and third modules are stress analysis using FE-Implicit and FE-Explicit respectively. User-material subroutine will be used to model the Viscoelastic properties of the material based on micromechanical theory. Estimated deformation of the composite part can be corrected during the autoclave process by modifying the process-tool design. The deformed composite surface is sent to CATIA for design modification of the process-tool.

Improving the Semantics of Conceptual-Modeling Grammars:A New Perspective on an Old Problem

A core activity in information systems development involves understanding the
conceptual model of the domain that the information system supports. Any conceptual model is ultimately created using a conceptual-modeling (CM) grammar. Accordingly, just as high quality conceptual models facilitate high quality systems development, high quality CM grammars facilitate high quality conceptual modeling. This paper seeks to provide a new perspective on improving the quality of CM grammar semantics. For the past twenty years, the leading approach to this topic has drawn on ontological theory. However, the ontological approach captures just half of the story. It needs to be coupled with a logical approach. We show how ontological quality and logical quality interrelate and we outline three contributions of a logical approach: the ability to see familiar conceptualmodeling problems in simpler ways, the illumination of new problems, and the ability to prove the benefit of modifying CM grammars.

TRAME - Strand Lamps

Strand Lamps were included Trame – Copper Crossing in contemporary art, design, technology and architecture at la Triennale di Milano - Curated by Antonella Soldaini and Elena Tettamanti

Healthcare professionals’ response to cachexia in advanced cancer

Background: Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterised by severe and progressive weight loss which is predominantly muscle mass. It is a devastating complication of advanced cancer with profound bio-psycho-social implications for patients and their families. At present, there is no curative treatment for cachexia in advanced cancer therefore, the most important healthcare response entails the minimisation of the psycho-social distress associated with it. However, the literature suggests healthcare professionals’ are missing opportunities to respond to the multi-dimensional needs of this population.

Aim: The objective of this study was to explore healthcare professionals’ experience, understanding and perception of need of patients with advanced cancer who have cachexia and their families.

Methods: An interpretative qualitative approach based on symbolic interactionism was adopted. A purposive sample of doctors, nurses, specialist nurses, and dieticians were recruited from a cancer centre in a large teaching hospital in Northern Ireland. Data collection consisted of two phases: focus group interviews followed by individual semi-structured interviews.

Results: Findings from the focus group interviews were used as a framework for the semi structured interview schedule. Results centred on the influence of a variable combination of knowledge, culture, and resources on the management of cachexia in advanced cancer. Data revealed that variation in healthcare professionals’ perceptions of cachexia in advanced cancer, along with their professional ethos, influenced their response to it in clinical practice.

Conclusions: This study has revealed that cancer cachexia is a complex and challenging syndrome which needs to be addressed from a holistic model of care to reflect the multidimensional needs of patients and their families. Effective management will require a combination of knowledge, a supportive culture, and adequate resources.

DESCRIBING SLEEP AND SEDATION PRACTICES IN THE ICU: A MULTINATIONAL SURVEY

Introduction Sleep disturbances are common in critically ill patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the potential for serious consequences and long-term effects on health outcomes and patient morbidity.
Objectives Our aim was to describe sleep management and sedation practices of adult ICUs in ten countries and to evaluate roles and responsibilities of the ICU staff in relation to key sleep and sedation decisions.
Methods A multicenter, self-administered survey sent to nurse managers of adult ICUs across 10 countries. The questionnaire comprised four domains: sleep characteristics of the critically ill; sleep and sedation practices; non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions used to improve sleep; and the autonomy and influence of nurses on sleeping practices in the ICU.
Results Overall response rate was 66% (range 32% UK to 100% Cyprus), providing data from 522 ICUs. In all countries, the most frequent patient characteristic perceived to identify sleep was lying quietly with closed eyes (N=409, 78%) (range 92% Denmark to 36% Italy). The most commonly used sedation scale was the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Score (RASS) (N=220, 42%) (range 81% UK to 0% Denmark, Cyprus where most ICUs used the Ramsay score). In most ICUs, selection of sleep medication (N=265, 51%) and assessment of effect (N=309, 59%) was performed by physicians and nurses based on collaborative discussion. In a minority of ICUs (N=161, 31%), decisions and assessments were made by physicians alone. The most commonly used (in all countries) non-pharmacological intervention to promote sleep was reducing ICU staff noise (N=473, 91%) (range 100% Denmark, Norway to 78% Canada). Only 95 ICUs (18%) used earplugs on a frequent basis (range 0% Greece, Cyprus, Denmark to 57% Sweden). Propofol was the drug used most commonly for sedation (N=359, 69%) (range 96% Sweden to 29% Canada). Chloral hydrate was used by only 63 (12%) ICUs (range 0% Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Italy to 56% Germany). Sedation scales were used on a routine basis by 77% of the 522 ICUs. Participants scored nursing autonomy for sleep and sedation management as moderate; median score of 5 (scale of 0 to 10), range 7 (Canada, Greece, Sweden) to 4 (Norway, Poland). Nursing influence on sleep and sedation decisions was perceived considerable; median score 8, range 9 (Denmark) to 5 (Poland).
Conclusions We found considerable across country variation in sleep promotion and sedation management practices though most have adopted a sedation scale as recommended in professional society guidelines. Most ICUs in all countries used a range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to promote sleep. Most units reported inter-professional decision-making with nurses perceived to have substantial influence on sleep/sedation decisions.

Topographical optimisation of single-storey non-domestic steel framed buildings using photovoltaic panels for zero carbon impact

The optimisation is based on a combination of neural networks and evolutionary algorithm. It has selected buildings with different midpoint configurations with zero carbon impacts. With operational energy included the structures could be offset with asymmetry.