Exercise, type 1 diabetes mellitus and blood glucose: The implications of exercise timing

The scientific literature shows that exercise has many benefits for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Yet, several barriers to exercise in this population exist, such as post-exercise hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. Several studies suggest that the timing of exercise may be an important factor in preventing exercise-induced hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. However, there is a paucity of evidence solely focused on summarising findings regarding exercise timing and the impact it has on glucose metabolism in type 1 diabetes. This report suggests that resistance or high-intensity interval exercise/training (often known as HIIT) may be best commenced at the time of day when an individual is most likely to experience a hypoglycaemic event (i.e., afternoon/evening) due to the superior blood glucose stability resistance and HIIT exercise provides. Continuous aerobic-based exercise is advised to be performed in the morning due to circadian elevations in blood glucose at this time, thereby providing added protection against a hypoglycaemic episode. Ultimately, the evidence concerning exercise timing and glycaemic control remains at an embryonic stage. Carefully designed investigations of this nexus are required, which could be harnessed to determine the most effective, and possibly safest, time to exercise for those with type 1 diabetes

Affective and perceptual responses during reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT)

We have previously demonstrated that reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) is a genuinely time-efficient exercise strategy for improving cardiometabolic health. Here, we examined the affective and perceptual responses to REHIT. Eight young men and women (age 21 ± 1 y, BMI 24.9 ± 2.1 m/kg2, V̇O2max 39 ± 10 ml/kg/min) and 11 men with type 2 diabetes (T2D; age 52 ± 6 y, BMI 29.7 ± 3.1 m/kg2, V̇O2max 29 ± 5 ml/kg/min) took part in three-arm crossover trials with RPE and affective valence measured during, and enjoyment and exercise preferences measured following either: 1) REHIT (2 × 20-s sprints in a 10-min exercise session), 2) HIIT (10 × 1-min efforts) and 3) 30 min MICT. Furthermore, 19 young men and women (age 25 ± 6 y, BMI 24 ± 4 m/kg2, V̇O2max 34 ± 8 ml/kg/min) completed a 6-week REHIT intervention with affective valence during an acute REHIT session measured before and after training. Affect decreases (briefly) during REHIT, but recovers rapidly, and the decline is not significantly different when compared to MICT or HIIT in either healthy participants or T2D patients. Young sedentary participants reported similar levels of enjoyment for REHIT, MICT and HIIT, but 7 out of 8 had a preference for REHIT. Conversely, T2D patients tended to report lower levels of enjoyment with REHIT compared with MICT. The decrease in affective valence observed during an acute REHIT session was significantly attenuated following training. We conclude that affective and perceptual responses to REHIT are no more negative compared to those associated with MICT or HIIT, refuting claims that supramaximal sprint interval training protocols are associated with inherent negative responses

Young people living in the YMCA

This article presents interim findings and reflections from a case study of multiply excluded homeless people in Stoke-on-Trent. The article focuses on the experiences reported by a group of twelve such people living in the YMCA hostel. From the interviews, a large number of thematic structures were identified, of which only a few are outlined here, due to restrictions on the article length. The article concludes that the YMCA has had an important impact on their lives, mostly for the better, but the nature of this impact is complex and far from being fully understood

Genome wide association mapping of grain arsenic, copper, molybdenum and zinc in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown at four international field sites

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

In-process non-destructive evaluation of wire + arc additive manufacture components using ultrasound high-temperature dry-coupled roller-probe

In 2019, the global metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) market size was valued at € 2.02 billion and was predicted to grow by up to 27.9% annually until 2024. Additive Manufacturing plays a significant role in Industry 4.0, where the demand for smart factories capable of fabricating high-quality customized products cost-efficiently exists. Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is one such technique that WAAM utilizes industrial robotics and arc-based welding processes to produce components on a layer-by-layer basis. is enables automated, time and material-efficient production of high-value and geometrically complex metal parts. To strengthen the benefits, the demand for robotically deployed in-process Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) has risen, aiming to replace manually deployed inspection techniques deployed after the full part completion. The research presents a new synchronized multi-robot WAAM deposition & ultrasound NDE cell aiming to achieve defect detection in-process, enable possible in-process repair, and prevent costly scrappage or rework. Within the cell, the plasma-arc WAAM process, controlled by deposition software, is employed to build components. The full external control NDE approach is achieved by the real-time force/torque sensor-enabled adaptive kinematics control package. A high-temperature dry-coupled ultrasound roller-probe device is employed to assess the structural integrity of freshly deposited layers of WAAM components. The WAAM roller-probe is tailored to facilitate the in-process inspection by dry-coupling coupling with the hot (< 350 °C) non-flat surface of WAAM using a flexible outer silicone tyre and solid core delay-line at speed and at coupling high force[1-3]. The demonstration of the in-process inspection approach is performed on hot as-built titanium (Ti-6Al-4V) WAAM samples. The defect detection capabilities are assessed on artificial tungsten reflectors embedded in WAAM builds. In this work the defect detection is accomplished and analyzed using two separate approaches 1) layer-specific beamforming focusing imaging and 2) volumetric inspection using post-processing algorithms applied on collected Full Matric Capture data. The ultrasound in-process inspection using the dry-coupled roller-probe is driven by live Ultrasound Testing (UT) data acquisition, initiated within a minute from layer deposition completion. The collected UT B-scan frames are based on electronically focused beamforming through the roller-probe media into the depth of targeted layers. Subsequently, the results are presented on a plotted C-scan image, showing a top view over the interior of the targeted built volume. The results in this work are analyzed and compared to the X-ray computed tomography scan, conducted after the full-built completion and sample processing. The processed UT images show positionally accurate detection of embedded tungsten reflectors, with a minimum of 15 dB of signal-to-noise ratio. An accurate size estimation is also achieved for the tungsten defect extended along the sample’s length. The outcome of this research shows a successful defect detection and hence directly supports the industrial benefits of the WAAM process intending to achieve the automated production of first-time-right parts

Automated multi-modal in-process non-destructive evaluation of wire + arc additive manufacturing

The scale of the global market size for metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) in recent years, at €2.02 billion in 2019, and predictions for the continuous growth up to 27.9% annually until 2024 highlight the key role that these processes will play in the future of high-value manufacturing. AM technology leverages the concepts of the latest industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, where the manufacturing is made more flexible and smarter capable of fabricating cost-effective high-quality customized products. Among the various AM technologies, only a few such as the Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) process can meet some industries’ demands for producing large components in a short time. The process typically involves industrial robots and arc-based welding performing layer-by-layer deposition on substrates and building up components to their final desired shape. The process is majorly used to manufacture low volume, high mix, critical components for applications in aerospace and nuclear industries. Therefore, the imposed inspection requirements demand very high detection sensitivities. Robotically-deployed Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) during the manufacturing process might just be the inspection process needed to ensure the component’s integrity as it is being built, paving the way for an easier part certification process which is normally of concern to many end-users of the technology. In-process automated inspection of WAAM, deployed after deposition of every few layers, adds to the process cost-effectiveness as the early defect detection capability provides the opportunity for the process intervention and taking remedial rework actions reducing the time/material waste. This work presents a demonstration of the concept of in-process NDE of WAAM using two different modalities: a) a high temperature phased array Ultrasound Testing (UT) roller-probe, and b) a high-temperature flexible Eddy Currents (EC) testing array. The automation cell is composed of two robots, where one is dedicated to the WAAM deposition process and the other to NDE sensor delivery on the WAAM. A titanium WAAM component with a straight geometry was deposited using the plasma-arc process and oscillation strategy, where the deposition path and process parameters were controlled by software. Intentionally-embedded tungsten tube and ball reflectors of varying sizes/orientations were inserted in between different WAAM layers to assess the in-process detectability of each of the employed NDE modalities. Full external control of the sensor-enabled adaptive motion control for the NDE robot and the integrated UT and EC array controllers and array probes were achieved through a central program developed in the LabVIEW platform. Moreover, real-time robot motion corrections, driven by the Force-Torque sensor feedback, were established to adjust the contact force and orientation of the sensors to the component surface during the scan. The high-temperature (up to 350 °C), dry-coupled UT roller-probe inspection of WAAM was conducted in-process at the dwelling time between the layers while the surface was at a maximum temp of 130C. Subsequently, EC scan was also carried out in the dwell time at high temperature. The C-scans were produced live from both UT and EC arrays demonstrating the successful detection of embedded tungsten defects with high SNRs. The WAAM component was X-ray CT scanned after production to confirm the exact location if the defects and compare it against the other NDE findings

Collaborative robotic Wire + Arc Additive Manufacture and sensor-enabled in-process ultrasonic Non-Destructive Evaluation

The demand for cost-efficient manufacturing of complex metal components has driven research for metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) such as Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). WAAM enables automated, time and material-efficient manufacturing of metal parts. To strengthen these benefits, the demand for robotically deployed in-process Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) has risen, aiming to replace current manually deployed inspection techniques after completion of the part. This work presents a synchronized multi-robot WAAM & NDE cell aiming to achieve 1) defect detection in-process, 2) enable possible in-process repair and 3) prevent costly scrappage or rework of completed defective builds. The deployment of the NDE during a deposition process is achieved through real-time position control of the robots based on sensor input. A novel high-temperature capable, dry-coupled phased array ultrasound transducer (PAUT) roller-probe device is used for the NDE inspection. The dry-coupled sensor is tailored for coupling with an as-built high-temperature WAAM surface at an applied force and speed. The demonstration of the novel ultrasound in-process defect detection approach, presented in this paper, is performed on a titanium WAAM straight sample containing intentionally embedded tungsten tube reflectors with an internal diameter of 1.0 mm. The ultrasound data is acquired after a pre-specified layer, in-process, employing the Full Matrix Capture (FMC) technique for subsequent post-processing using the adaptive Total Focusing Method (TFM) imaging algorithm assisted by a surface reconstruction algorithm based on the Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT). The presented results show a sufficient Signal to Noise Ratio. Therefore, a potential for early defect detection is achieved, directly strengthening the benefits of the AM process by enabling a possible in-process repair

The collective impact of rare diseases in Western Australia: an estimate using a population-based cohort.

PURPOSE: It has been argued that rare diseases should be recognized as a public health priority. However, there is a shortage of epidemiological data describing the true burden of rare diseases. This study investigated hospital service use to provide a better understanding of the collective health and economic impacts of rare diseases. METHODS: Novel methodology was developed using a carefully constructed set of diagnostic codes, a selection of rare disease cohorts from hospital administrative data, and advanced data-linkage technologies. Outcomes included health-service use and hospital admission costs. RESULTS: In 2010, cohort members who were alive represented approximately 2.0% of the Western Australian population. The cohort accounted for 4.6% of people discharged from hospital and 9.9% of hospital discharges, and it had a greater average length of stay than the general population. The total cost of hospital discharges for the cohort represented 10.5% of 2010 state inpatient hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based cohort study provides strong new evidence of a marked disparity between the proportion of the population with rare diseases and their combined health-system costs. The methodology will inform future rare-disease studies, and the evidence will guide government strategies for managing the service needs of people living with rare diseases.Genet Med advance online publication 22 September 2016Genetics in Medicine (2016); doi:10.1038/gim.2016.143

Automated multi-modal in-process non-destructive evaluation of wire + arc additive manufacturing

High deposition rates for manufacturing of large components through Wire + Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) has given the technology a distinct edge over other AM techniques. Given their target markets in defense, aerospace and nuclear industries, high Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) reliability is critical for the components. Therefore, in this work, two NDE modalities were robotically deployed during the manufacturing process at high temperatures to ensure the component’s integrity as it is being built. This approach for In-process automated inspection of WAAM, deployed after deposition of every few layers, provides the opportunity for the process intervention as the defects can be detected early in the process reducing the time/cost associated to part scrappage. This work presents a proof of the concept of in-process NDE of WAAM using two different sensor modalities: a) a high temperature phased array Ultrasound Testing (UT) roller-probe, and b) a high-temperature flexible Eddy Currents (EC) testing array. The automation cell is composed of two robots dedicated to the WAAM deposition process and the NDE sensor delivery on the WAAM. A titanium WAAM component with a straight geometry was deposited using the plasma-arc process and tungsten tube and ball reflectors of varying sizes/orientations were intentionally embedded in between different WAAM layers to assess the performance of each of the NDE modalities in-process. Full external control of the sensor-enabled adaptive motion control for the NDE robot and the integrated UT and EC array controllers and probes were achieved through a central program developed in the LabVIEW platform. Moreover, real-time robot motion corrections, driven by the Force-Torque sensor feedback, were established to adjust the contact force and orientation of the sensors to the component surface during the scan. The C-scans were produced live from both UT and EC arrays demonstrating the successful detection of embedded tungsten defects with high SNRs

In-process non-destructive evaluation of metal additive manufactured components at build using ultrasound and eddy-current approaches

Metal additive manufacturing is rapidly gaining popularity and interest from sectors aiming to produce larger-scale high-value components cost-effectively. To ensure each component is leaving the fabrication cell defect-free, it is highly desirable to inspect each layer or selected volume of the build. This is a significant challenge, given that conventional non-destructive evaluation (NDE) is a post-manufacturing operation. The opportunity exists in the development of novel flexible automated manufacturing systems aiming to merge deposition and inspection. Hence, enabling defect detection at the point of the creation allows subsequent rapid repair or reduction in scrappage. In this work, the authors present research from one such multi-robot cell, where a directed energy deposition process called wire + arc additive manufacture is used to build components while novel in-process ultrasound and eddy-current approaches are deployed to inspect a component with artificially embedded reflectors. The outcome of this work demonstrates a promising ability to merge manufacturing and NDE into a single process and hence, strengthen the overall benefits of metal additive manufacturing fields