Digitalization in sparsely populated areas: between place-based practices and the smart region agenda

Based on evidence of a growing number of regions in Europe at risk of becoming sparsely populated, this article argues that further policy attention should be drawn to sparsely populated areas. We present experiences from case studies in the UK and Sweden asking how digitalization supported local actors in providing tools to promote collaborative planning for their communities. The article propounds the European added value of these experiences by raising the awareness of regional policymakers about future solutions for territorial planning and governance linked with the 'sparselization' of Europe, which we deem is the 'other side' of the continent's continuing urbanization

Sustainable agriculture and multifunctionality in South Australia's Mid North region

This paper discusses the pathways to agri-food sustainability in the context of the historical broadacre farming region of Mid North South Australia. Using notions of sustainable agriculture and multifunctional rural transitions to explore the geohistorical development trajectory of the region, it discusses the tensions and opportunities inherent to the future of farming in the Mid North and their impact on community development. We aim to contribute to a wider reflexion on the role of territoriality in the sustainable food transition debate, and its relevance in a traditionally productivist but marginal landscape. The paper proposes an extensive review of the historical, agricultural, socio-economic and institutional contexts of regional Australia before discussing the farming future(s) of the Mid North. We use a typology of 'modes of occupance' to reflect upon the compatibility between the emergence of differentiated multifunctional rural spaces in the Mid North and the realisation of agri-food sustainability transitions across its territory

Development and mechanical characterization of porous titanium bone substitutes

The authors wish to thank Dr J.-M. Hiver from Institut Jean Lamour, Ecole des Mines de Nancy for his participation in the computed tomography analysis of the porous samplesCommercially Pure Porous Titanium (CPPTi) can be used for surgical implants to avoid the stress shielding effect due to the mismatch between the mechanical properties of titanium and bone. Most researchers in this area deal with randomly distributed pores or simple architectures in titanium alloys. The control of porosity, pore size and distribution is necessary to obtain implants with mechanical properties close to those of bone and to ensure their osseointegration. The aim of the present work was therefore to develop and characterize such a specific porous structure. First of all, the properties of titanium made by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) were characterized through experimental testing on bulk specimens. An elementary pattern of the porous structure was then designed to mimic the orthotropic properties of the human bone following several mechanical and geometrical criteria. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to optimize the pattern. A porosity of 53% and pore sizes in the range of 860 to 1500 μm were finally adopted. Tensile tests on porous samples were then carried out to validate the properties obtained numerically and identif the failure modes of the samples. Finally, FE elastoplastic analyses were performed on the porous samples in order to propose a failure criterion for the design of porous substitutes

Development and mechanical characterization of porous titanium bone substitutes

The authors wish to thank Dr J.-M. Hiver from Institut Jean Lamour, Ecole des Mines de Nancy for his participation in the computed tomography analysis of the porous samplesCommercially Pure Porous Titanium (CPPTi) can be used for surgical implants to avoid the stress shielding effect due to the mismatch between the mechanical properties of titanium and bone. Most researchers in this area deal with randomly distributed pores or simple architectures in titanium alloys. The control of porosity, pore size and distribution is necessary to obtain implants with mechanical properties close to those of bone and to ensure their osseointegration. The aim of the present work was therefore to develop and characterize such a specific porous structure. First of all, the properties of titanium made by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) were characterized through experimental testing on bulk specimens. An elementary pattern of the porous structure was then designed to mimic the orthotropic properties of the human bone following several mechanical and geometrical criteria. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to optimize the pattern. A porosity of 53% and pore sizes in the range of 860 to 1500 μm were finally adopted. Tensile tests on porous samples were then carried out to validate the properties obtained numerically and identif the failure modes of the samples. Finally, FE elastoplastic analyses were performed on the porous samples in order to propose a failure criterion for the design of porous substitutes

Polyester layered silicate nanohybrids by controlled grafting polymerization

peer reviewedPoly( epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) layered silicate nanohybrids were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone according to a well-controlled coordination-insertion mechanism. Montmorillonites were surface-modified by non functional (trimethylhexadecylammonium) and hydroxy functional alkylammonium cations, i.e., (2-hydroxyethyl) dimethylhexadecylammonium. The hydroxy functions available at the clay surface were activated into tin( II or IV) or Al(III) alkoxide initiators for lactone polymerization, thus yielding surface-grafted PCL chains. The surface-grafted PCL chains were recovered by an ionic exchange reaction with lithium chloride and they were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography. The PCL molar mass was measured as a function of the hydroxy content of the clay that was modulated by exchanging the Na cations with mixtures of non-functional and hydroxy functional ammonium cations of different compositions. Nanohybrids were also characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The PCL molar mass and the nanocomposite morphology (i.e., exfoliation and/or intercalation) were readily tuned by the content of the hydroxy groups available at the clay surface. Surface-grafted aluminium trialkoxide species proved highly efficient in initiating polymerization that leads to PCL chains of controlled molar mass and narrow molecular weight distribution with polydispersity indices as low as 1.2

The Role of Footwear, Foot Orthosis and Training-Related Strategies in the Prevention of Bone Stress Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 721-743, 2023. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of footwear, foot orthoses and training-related strategies to prevent lower extremity bone stress injury (BSI). Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Four bibliographic databases (from inception until November 2021): Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the risk of developing a BSI when using particular footwear, foot orthoses or training-related strategies such as muscle strengthening, stretching, and mechanical loading exercises. Results: Eleven studies were included in this systematic review. When wearing foot orthoses, the risk ratio of developing a BSI on any lower extremity bone is 0.47 (95% CI 0.26 to 0.87; p = 0.02). When doing pre-exercise dynamic stretching, the risk ratio of suffering a tibial BSI is 1.06 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.68; p = 0.79). No meta-analyses could be performed for footwear or training-related strategies. The quality of evidence for all these results is low considering the high risk of bias in each study, the low number of studies and the low number of cases in each study. Conclusion: This systematic review reveals the lack of high-quality studies in BSI prevention. Based on studies at high risk of bias, foot orthoses could potentially help prevent BSIs in the military setting. It is still unknown whether footwear and training-related strategies have any benefits. It is crucial to further investigate potential BSI prevention strategies in women and athletes. Research is also needed to assess the influence of running shoes and loading management on BSI incidence

Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)/clay nanocomposites: Effect of clay nature and organic modifiers on morphology, mechanical and thermal properties

peer reviewedNanocomposites based on an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (27 wt% vinyl acetate) and various (organo-modified) clays have been prepared by melt blending and their morphology, tensile and thermal degradation properties have been evaluated. Special attention has been paid to the influence of the clay nature and origin (montmorillonite or fluoromica) as well as on the nature of the ammonium cation organic modifier. It has been shown that nanostructure and tensile properties mainly depend on the nature of the organic modifier while the delay in thermal volatilisation of EVA during thermo-oxidation is mainly driven by the nature of the clay (mainly its aspect ratio), with no significant influence of the nanostructure of the nature of the organic modifier

How can nanohybrids enhance polyester-sepiolite nanocomposites properties?

peer reviewedPCL/sepiolite (nano)composites are prepared by melt blending in a twin-screw mini-extruder, and PCL/sepiolite nanohybrids are synthesized by ROP of e-CL. The nanohybrids have been used as masterbatches and dispersed in a commercial PCL matrix. Composites with 3 wt.-% nanofiller were prepared and characterized thermally, mechanically, and morphologically. Sepiolite addition has a profound effect on the mechanical properties of the PCL/sepiolite nanocomposites. Sepiolite disperses well in PCL, which leads to a significant increase in Young's modulus. The use of a PCL nanohybrid as masterbatch further improves the stiffness but also the toughness of the material in the elastic range