Creation of a CIP Method for the Heat Exchangers at Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce produces various engines which must be tested prior to their distribution to ensure a high-quality product. The manufacturing plant contains four test cells where the engines can be subjected to high levels of torque and extreme temperatures. A heat exchanger is necessary in this testing system and over time, unwanted waste accumulates on the system’s plates. The team is tasked with developing and implementing a system mounted on a mobile cart which can provide data to determine whether the plates need to be cleaned. For this cleaning system to work, it must fully saturate the heat exchanger in cleaning solution, making the choice of pump important to the planning process. Additionally, the pump must be able to handle liquid containing silt and other debris and possess a maximum flow rate allowing the plates to be saturated. The pump must have four connection points to the heat exchanger system, and the fitting nozzle to control the flow rate of the cleaning solution into the heat exchanger. The cleaning solution for the system must be strong enough to clean the waste from the heat exchanger, yet weak enough to not corrode the plates. Additionally, some cleaning solutions have standards regarding storage and disposal, which have considerable influence on the selection of an acceptable solution. The final design incorporates a workable pump, a suitable solution, and the supporting materials needed to sustain the system. Implementation of the design will include pressure testing and a cleaning system that will improve the life span and efficiency of the heat exchanger in each test cell

NEUROMUSCULAR ADAPTATIONS TO BALANCE AND TECHNIQUE TRAINING DURING SIDESTEPPING: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACL INJURY RISK

This study investigated the influence of balance and technique training (BTT) on external knee joint loading and the activation of muscles crossing the knee during anticipated (AnSS) and unanticipated (UnSS) sidestepping. Twenty-eight males participated in a 28 week training intervention implemented adjunct to their regular season training. Twelve completed BTT and 16 completed a ‘sham’ training (ST) intervention. Knee moments and the activation of 8 muscles crossing the knee were collected during AnSS and UnSS prior to and following training. BTT did not influence the activation of the muscles crossing the knee during AnSS or UnSS. Increases in muscle activation were not proportional to increases in valgus knee moments during UnSS in both groups. Unanticipated sport tasks should be identified as distinct factors associated with ACL injury risk

Ionic liquids for enzymatic sensing

The key challenges currently faced in lab-on-a-chip biochemical sensor developments are device reliability and power consumption. The major issues faced in terms of device reliability are liquid handling over extended periods of time, as the micro-dimensioned fluidic channels are prone to blockage, and unreliable micro pumps/valves. The overall aim of this proposal is to develop a biocompatible molecular sensor that will address these key issues which are holding back biocompatible sensors technologies, and thus to develop an innovative class of sensing technology at the forefront of molecular sensing. [1] Over the past decade conducting polymer electrodes have played an important role in bio-sensing and actuation. [2] Recent developments in the field of organic electronics have made available a variety of devices that bring unique capabilities at the interface with biology. [3,4] One example is organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) that are being developed for a variety of bio-sensing applications, including the detection of ions, [5] and metabolites, such as glucose [6] and lactate [7]. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are organic salts, which are liquid at ambient temperature. Their non-volatile character and thermal stability makes them an attractive alternative to conventional organic solvents. [8] To this end, we propose to exploit enzymatic doped ionogels - new materials for inherently biocompatible molecular sensors. These particular sensors are hybrid materials that consist of monomeric components polymerised within biocompatible ionic liquids, thus allowing various platforms for modification. Further investigation shows that these sensing platforms can be incorporated into flexible materials such as carbon cloth and can be utilised for bio-sensing. Furthermore, we envisage that the proposed sensing devices can be incorporated into fabrics for “wearable” health care devices thus providing clear benefits the public health service. Long term ambitions are to build a research career with a focus on academia and industrial research collaborations. The proposed time in DCU would allow myself to demonstrate adaptability and diversity and to highlight the transferable nature of my skills through the publication of peer review articles and the securing of patents. It is hoped that the research and project management experience gained through collaborations and contacts will allow me to further my career through more senior positions and grants. Through current collaborations, engineering and chemistry support from members of the Adaptive Sensor Group has already been secured for the proposed project. Expanding my research profile through further publications and both domestic and international presentations of the research. Existing collaborations held by myself (Doug MacFarlane’s / Ekaterina Izgorodina’s group, Monash University, Gloria Elliott’s group, UNCC, North Carolina and George Malliaras & Róisín Owens at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint Etienne) will be of considerable benefit to the project

Changes in muscle activation following balance and technique training and a season of Australian football

Objectives: Determine if balance and technique training implemented adjunct to 1001 male Australian football players' training influenced the activation/strength of the muscles crossing the knee during pre-planned and unplanned sidestepping. Design: Randomized Control Trial. Methods: Each Australian football player participated in either 28 weeks of balance and technique training or 'sham' training. Twenty-eight Australian football players (balance and technique training, n = 12; 'sham' training, n = 16) completed biomechanical testing pre-to-post training. Peak knee moments and directed co-contraction ratios in three degrees of freedom, as well as total muscle activation were calculated during pre-planned and unplanned sidestepping. Results: No significant differences in muscle activation/strength were observed between the 'sham' training and balance and technique training groups. Following a season of Australian football, knee extensor (p = 0.023) and semimembranosus (p = 0.006) muscle activation increased during both pre-planned sidestepping and unplanned sidestepping. Following a season of Australian football, total muscle activation was 30% lower and peak valgus knee moments 80% greater (p = 0.022) during unplanned sidestepping when compared with pre-planned sidestepping. Conclusions: When implemented in a community level training environment, balance and technique training was not effective in changing the activation of the muscles crossing the knee during sidestepping. Following a season of Australian football, players are better able to support both frontal and sagittal plane knee moments. When compared to pre-planned sidestepping, Australian football players may be at increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury during unplanned sidestepping in the latter half of an Australian football season

Gestational diabetes prevention and treatment: a protocol for developing core outcome sets

Introduction: Selective reporting bias, inconsistency in the chosen outcomes between trials and irrelevance of the chosen outcomes for women, limit the efficiency and value of research for prevention and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). One way to address these challenges is to develop core outcome sets (COSs). Methods and analysis: The aim of this manuscript is to present a protocol for a study to develop COSs for GDM prevention and treatment. This is a three-phase project consisting of (1) a systematic review of the literature to create two lists of outcomes that have been reported in trials and systematic reviews of trials of interventions for the prevention and treatment of GDM, (2) a three-round, web-based e-Delphi survey with key stakeholders to prioritise these outcomes and (3) a consensus meeting to resolve any remaining disagreements and to agree on two COSs. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval to conduct this study was obtained from the ethics committee at Galway University Hospitals on 13 December 2018 (Reference: C.A.2078). We will disseminate our research findings through peer-reviewed, open access publications and present at international conferences to reach a wide range of knowledge users

A core outcome set for studies of gestational diabetes mellitus prevention and treatment

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this systematic review was to develop core outcome sets (COSs) for trials evaluating interventions for the prevention or treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: We identified previously reported outcomes through a systematic review of the literature. These outcomes were presented to key stakeholders (including patient representatives, researchers and clinicians) for prioritisation using a three-round, e-Delphi study. A priori consensus criteria informed which outcomes were brought forward for discussion at a face-to-face consensus meeting where the COS was finalised. RESULTS: Our review identified 74 GDM prevention and 116 GDM treatment outcomes, which were presented to stakeholders in round 1 of the e-Delphi study. Round 1 was completed by 173 stakeholders, 70% (121/173) of whom went on to complete round 2; 84% (102/121) of round 2 responders completed round 3. Twenty-two GDM prevention outcomes and 30 GDM treatment outcomes were discussed at the consensus meeting. Owing to significant overlap between included prevention and treatment outcomes, consensus meeting stakeholders agreed to develop a single prevention/treatment COS. Fourteen outcomes were included in the final COS. These consisted of six maternal outcomes (GDM diagnosis, adherence to the intervention, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, requirement and type of pharmacological therapy for hyperglycaemia, gestational weight gain and mode of birth) and eight neonatal outcomes (birthweight, large for gestational age, small for gestational age, gestational age at birth, preterm birth, neonatal hypoglycaemia, neonatal death and stillbirth). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This COS will enable future GDM prevention and treatment trials to measure similar outcomes that matter to stakeholders and facilitate comparison and combination of these studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered prospectively with the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) database: http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/686/

Implementation fidelity of a nurse-led falls prevention program in acute hospitals during the 6-PACK trial

Background: When tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 31,411 patients, the nurse-led 6-PACK falls prevention program did not reduce falls. Poor implementation fidelity (i.e., program not implemented as intended) may explain this result. Despite repeated calls for the examination of implementation fidelity as an essential component of evaluating interventions designed to improve the delivery of care, it has been neglected in prior falls prevention studies. This study examined implementation fidelity of the 6-PACK program during a large multi-site RCT. Methods: Based on the 6-PACK implementation framework and intervention description, implementation fidelity was examined by quantifying adherence to program components and organizational support. Adherence indicators were: 1) falls-risk tool completion; and for patients classified as high-risk, provision of 2) a ‘Falls alert’ sign; and 3) at least one additional 6-PACK intervention. Organizational support indicators were: 1) provision of resources (executive sponsorship, site clinical leaders and equipment); 2) implementation activities (modification of patient care plans; training; implementation tailoring; audits, reminders and feedback; and provision of data); and 3) program acceptability. Data were collected from daily bedside observation, medical records, resource utilization diaries and nurse surveys. Results: All seven intervention components were delivered on the 12 intervention wards. Program adherence data were collected from 103,398 observations and medical record audits. The falls-risk tool was completed each day for 75% of patients. Of the 38% of patients classified as high-risk, 79% had a ‘Falls alert’ sign and 63% were provided with at least one additional 6-PACK intervention, as recommended. All hospitals provided the recommended resources and undertook the nine outlined program implementation activities. Most of the nurses surveyed considered program components important for falls prevention. Conclusions: While implementation fidelity was variable across wards, overall it was found to be acceptable during the RCT. Implementation failure is unlikely to be a key factor for the observed lack of program effectiveness in the 6-PACK trial. Trial registration: The 6-PACK cluster RCT is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12611000332921 (29 March 2011)

Being Tamil, being Hindu:Tamil migrants’ negotiations of the absence of Tamil Hindu spaces in the West Midlands and South West of England

This paper considers the religious practices of Tamil Hindus who have settled in the West Midlands and South West of England in order to explore how devotees of a specific ethno-regional Hindu tradition with a well-established UK infrastructure in the site of its adherents’ population density adapt their religious practices in settlement areas which lack this infrastructure. Unlike the majority of the UK Tamil population who live in the London area, the participants in this study did not have ready access to an ethno-religious infrastructure of Tamil-orientated temples and public rituals. The paper examines two means by which this absence was addressed as well as the intersections and negotiations of religion and ethnicity these entailed: firstly, Tamil Hindus’ attendance of temples in their local area which are orientated towards a broadly imagined Hindu constituency or which cater to a non-Tamil ethno-linguistic or sectarian community; and, secondly, through the ‘DIY’ performance of ethnicised Hindu ritual in non-institutional settings