Production of components through microcellular processing

The manufacture of light weight plastic components is gaining relevance within thepolymer industry as component weight savings of up to 15% can be achieved. FoamInjection Moulding (FIM) is one technology solution that delivers weight savingthrough the introduction of microcellular structures within components. FIM differsfrom conventional injection moulding whereby blowing agents are added to thepolymer during processing to create a cellular structure.The first part of this research aims to benchmark Unfilled and Talc-filled CopolymerPolypropylene (PP) samples through low-pressure FIM. The research analyses theprocess response when utilising a chemical blowing agent, a physical blowing agentand a novel hybrid foaming (combination of said chemical and physical foamingagents). The experimental results concluded that Unfilled PP foams produced throughchemical blowing agent exhibited superior mechanical characteristics due to largerskin wall thicknesses. However, the hybrid foaming produced superior microcellularfoams for both PP variations due to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) enhancing thenucleation phase.The next section of research initially varied then subsequently optimised the mainprocessing parameters to determine their effect on Surface Roughness, Young’sModulus and Tensile Strength. The experimental results show that the mechanicalperformance can be improved when processing with higher Mould Temperatures andlonger Holding Times. Also, when utilising the CBA, surface roughness is comparableto conventionally processed components.The final stage of the research investigated the ability of an industry standardsimulation package to accurately predict the process response when processing with avariety of blowing agents. Initial simulations results failed to accurately replicatephysical mouldings which can be attributed to microcellular structure overestimationswithin the simulation. Through an iterative process, simulation settings have beenidentified that provide clear correlations to improve the simulation accuracy of FIM

Surely offal isn't that awful? An exploration of the mediating effect of expected product characteristics on the acceptance of offal-enriched foods

Offal is a nutritious food source that has been identified in having a role to play in improving the environmental sustainability of meat. However, current research has not identified how offal can be more acceptable to UK consumers. This study aimed to examine whether acceptance improved when offal was combined with more familiar meat cuts within an uncooked product (i.e., offal-enriched minced meat). Furthermore, acceptance of cooked offal-enriched meals (e.g., spaghetti bolognese with beef mince and liver) were explored in a path model that focused on the interaction between psychological characteristics and expected product characteristics. In an online survey with UK meat eaters (N = 390), expected product characteristics and acceptance were measured in response to images and descriptions of hypothetical uncooked meat products and cooked meals. As expected, offal-enriched minced meat was more acceptable than offal in its typical form. The mediation analysis showed that the relationship between health motives and acceptance of offal-enriched meals was partially mediated by expected taste and curiosity. Also, the relationship between food neophobia and acceptance was completely mediated by familiarity, expected taste and curiosity. Finally, the relationship between impression management and acceptance was completely mediated by curiosity and expected taste. The results highlight a potential pathway for the inclusion of offal into the UK diet, particularly for male consumers. To convert curiosity into regular consumption, it is essential that the initial experience with offal is enjoyable and not deemed abnormal

Assessing microbially influenced corrosion of titanium as novel canister material for geological disposal facilities

In response to the growing global inventory of nuclear waste and the urgent need for secure long-term disposal solutions, geological disposal facilities (GDFs), also known as deep geological repositories, are being pursued worldwide. Several national programmes, including those in the UK, Japan, and Canada, are evaluating corrosion-resistant alloys for waste canisters. Among these, novel materials such as titanium alloys have emerged as promising candidates due to their protective TiO₂ films. However, the threat of microbial corrosion under repository-relevant conditions remains highly unexplored. To address this, titanium discs (grade 2, ASTM B348) were incubated in bentonite slurries with synthetic pore-water at 30 °C and 60 °C under strictly anoxic, dark conditions, mimicking deep underground GDF environments. Electron donors (acetate, lactate) and an electron acceptor (sulphate) were added to stimulate microbial activity and assess long-term canister performance. All titanium samples retained an intact TiO₂ layer with no detectable pitting or localised damage. Microscopic (SEM) and spectroscopic (XPS) analyses showed slight thinning of titanium oxide films and microbial presence co-located with bentonite, but no evidence of corrosion products or metal loss. Micro-FTIR showed functional groups associated with microbial presence (proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides) in the bentonite, but not on titanium surfaces. The experimental design aimed to promote bacterial activity to simulate worst-case GDF biotic conditions.These findings demonstrate titanium’s exceptional stability against microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) in stimulated GDF-like environments. This study supports the structural viability of titanium canisters for nuclear waste disposal and underscores the importance of considering microbial factors in long-term corrosion assessments

What Does YouTube Advise Students About Bypassing AI-Text Detection Tools? A Pragmatic Analysis

This study investigates how YouTube videos are advising university students to use ChatGPT, focusing on two main aspects: bypassing detection tools for AI-generated text in written assignments and leveraging ChatGPT as a study tool, using thematic analysis of transcripts from 173 YouTube videos. Videos promoting the bypass of AI-generated text detection emphasize methods such as using AI detectors, “humanizing” text through rewriters, and blending AI-generated content with manual edits. Videos advocating for ChatGPT as a study tool highlight its potential for personalized learning, creating study materials, self-testing, goal setting, and language learning, but also suggest unethical use for assignment completion. Our findings underscore the unreliability of essays in unsupervised environments due to the ease of generating undetectable AI content, suggesting the need for a more diverse range of assessment methods. Furthermore, we recommend that educators guide students in ethical AI use and integrate positive AI applications into their teaching practices

Enhancing Cardiac Cell Networks Segmentation via Hybrid Supervised and Zero-Shot Strategies

Cardiac cell network segmentation is uniquely challenging because cardiomyocytes, unlike other cell types, form morphologically complex multicellular structures, causing generalist models like Cellpose to oversegment and perform inaccurately. We use our unique live cell imaging dataset of self-organised HL-1 networks to propose and assess various algorithmic configurations based on combinations of the Cellpose model and the Segment Anything Model, equipped with multiple pre- and post-processing routines. Our results demonstrate the advantages of integrating equalisation-based pre-processing with median filtering, fine-tuning Cellpose and incorporating our post-processing routine into the segmentation pipeline, achieving up to 85% accuracy, 96% recall, 91% DICE and 88% precision, while mitigating oversegmentation

Eat clen? The normalisation of harmful clenbuterol use within digital fitness cultures

Clenbuterol is a β2-adrenergic agonist that is not approved for human use in the United States but is widely used by bodybuilders and athletes for its fat-reducing effects. Within image- and performance-enhancing drug (IPED) communities, it is commonly referred to as “Clen” and is typically incorporated into a bodybuilder’s drug “cycle” during the “cutting” phase of competition preparation. While well-established within bodybuilding subcultures, clenbuterol use is associated with significant health risks, including tremors, hyperthermia, tachycardia, cardiac palpitations, and, in severe cases, death. Increasingly, concerns have been raised about the diffusion of clenbuterol use into broader fitness communities. This study employs digital ethnography to examine the role of social media in this diffusion process. Drawing on the normalisation perspective (Parker et al., 1998), it highlights how social media platforms shape perceptions and practices related to clenbuterol. Specifically, social media facilitates access and availability, reframes perceptions of risk, enables cultural and social accommodation, and contributes to identity formation among this population. Through the overt promotion, advertising, and discussion of clenbuterol, social media plays a critical role in fostering its acceptability within wider fitness communities. In light of these developments, this paper argues for stronger governmental engagement to mitigate health risks and protect individuals participating in increasingly diverse and evolving IPED communities