ON THE DESIGN OF COATING SYSTEM USING NANOMECHANICAL EXPERIMENTS

The aim of this paper is to identify performance indices for the design of coating systems, using results from nanomechanical tests. The use of nanoindentation, nanoscratch and pin-on-disk experiments applied to coatings for mechanical and tribological property estimation is presented. Then, multiple performance indices, based on experimental and numerical results found in the litterature, are listed in order to help the material selection and optimization of durability and performance of coatings

Developing engaging engineering education resources based on students learning and educators’ teaching styles

The learning styles of engineering students have evolved over the years with the advent of technology-enhanced education. Educators have also changed their teaching styles to incorporate student-centric pedagogy and educational technology. While the COVID-19 pandemic proliferated online teaching worldwide, often forcing educators to conceptualize and convert face-to-face teaching materials to online learning modules, Ansys academic endeavours have also pivoted to support educators and digital learning. This paper highlights the Ansys Education Resources, aimed at helping undergraduate materials and simulation-based design educators teach and inspire students. These are also perfect for students and self-learners who are looking to complement classroom content. Moreover, these help professors in assigning supplemental homework or capstone projects. The resources, of which 80% are openly accessed, are categorized as lectures, case studies, micro-projects, exercises, etc., and make the educators’ job easier in inspiring and engaging the students’ digital learning process throughout the undergraduate curricula. Solutions to exercises and projects are restricted to educators with current Granta EduPack product licenses. In developing these resources, the content developers consider different teaching and learning styles with special emphasis on project-based learning and incorporating questions that inspire students to consider societal impact and ethical choices. Some resources are purposely prepared for discussions and debates

Process Sustainability Evaluation for Manufacturing of a Component with the 6R Application

Sustainability in manufacturing can be evaluated at product, process and system levels. The 6R methodology for sustainability enhancement in manufacturing processes includes: reduced use of materials, energy, water and other resources; reusing of products/components; recovery and recycling of materials/components; remanufacturing of products; and redesigning of products to utilize recovered materials/resources. Although manufacturing processes can be evaluated by their productivity, quality and cost, process sustainability assessment makes it a complete evaluation. This paper presents a 6R-based evaluation method for sustainable manufacturing in terms of specific metrics within six major metrics clusters: environmental impact, energy consumption, waste management, cost, resource utilization and society/personnel health/operational safety. Manufacturing processes such as casting, welding, turning, milling, drilling, grinding, etc., can be evaluated using this methodology. A case study for machining processes is presented as an example based on the proposed metrics

The human PINK1 locus is regulated in vivo by a non-coding natural antisense RNA during modulation of mitochondrial function

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the PTEN induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) are implicated in early-onset Parkinson's disease. PINK1 is expressed abundantly in mitochondria rich tissues, such as skeletal muscle, where it plays a critical role determining mitochondrial structural integrity in Drosophila. RESULTS: Herein we characterize a novel splice variant of PINK1 (svPINK1) that is homologous to the C-terminus regulatory domain of the protein kinase. Naturally occurring non-coding antisense provides sophisticated mechanisms for diversifying genomes and we describe a human specific non-coding antisense expressed at the PINK1 locus (naPINK1). We further demonstrate that PINK1 varies in vivo when human skeletal muscle mitochondrial content is enhanced, supporting the idea that PINK1 has a physiological role in mitochondrion. The observation of concordant regulation of svPINK1 and naPINK1 during in vivo mitochondrial biogenesis was confirmed using RNAi, where selective targeting of naPINK1 results in loss of the PINK1 splice variant in neuronal cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our data presents the first direct observation that a mammalian non-coding antisense molecule can positively influence the abundance of a cis-transcribed mRNA under physiological abundance conditions. While our analysis implies a possible human specific and dsRNA-mediated mechanism for stabilizing the expression of svPINK1, it also points to a broader genomic strategy for regulating a human disease locus and increases the complexity through which alterations in the regulation of the PINK1 locus could occur

Collision Avoidance: A Literature Review on Threat-Assessment Techniques

For the last few decades, a lot of attention has been given to intelligent vehicle systems, and in particular to automated safety and collision avoidance solutions. In this paper, we present a literature review and analysis of threat-assessment methods used for collision avoidance. We will cover algorithms that are based on single-behavior threat metrics, optimization methods, formal methods, probabilistic frameworks, and data driven approaches, i.e., machine learning. The different theoretical algorithms are finally discussed in terms of computational complexity, robustness, and most suited applications

Mobile phone apps for university students with hazardous alcohol use : study protocol for two consecutive randomized controlled trials

Background: About 50% of university students overconsume alcohol, and drinking habits in later adulthood are to some extent established during higher educational studies. Several studies have demonstrated that Internet-based interventions have positive effects on drinking habits among university students. Our recent study evaluated two mobile phone apps targeting drinking choices at party occasions via personalized feedback on estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) for students with hazardous drinking. No changes in drinking parameters were found over a seven-week period apart from an increase in number of drinking occasions among men for one of the apps tested. Up to 30% of the study participants drank at potentially harmful levels: higher than the national recommended number of standard drinks per week (a maximum of 9 for women and 14 for men) in Sweden. Objective: (1) To evaluate improved versions of the two mobile phone apps tested in our prior trial, in a new, 3-armed randomized controlled trial among university students with at least hazardous drinking habits according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identifications Test (AUDIT; Study 1). (2) After 6 weeks, to target study participants showing alcohol consumption higher than the national recommended levels for standard drinks per week by offering them participation in a second, 2-armed randomized trial evaluating an additional mobile phone app with skill enhancement tasks (Study 2). (3) To follow participants at 6, 12 and 18 weeks after recruitment to Study 1 and at 6 and 12 weeks after recruitment to Study 2. Methods: Two randomized controlled trials are conducted. Study 1: Students are recruited at four Swedish universities, via direct e-mail and advertisements on Facebook and student union web sites. Those who provide informed consent, have a mobile phone, and show at least hazardous alcohol consumption according to the AUDIT (≥6 for women; ≥8 points for men) are randomized into three groups. Group 1 has access to the Swedish government alcohol monopoly’s app, Promillekoll, offering real-time estimated eBAC calculation; Group 2 has access to a Web-based app, PartyPlanner, developed by the research group, offering real-time eBAC calculation with planning and follow-up functions; and Group 3 participants are controls. Follow-up is conducted at 6, 12 and 18 weeks. Study 2. Participants who at the first 6-week follow-up show drinking levels higher than 9 (W) or 14 (M) standard drinks (12 g alcohol) per week, are offered participation in Study 2. Those who consent are randomized to either access to a skills training app, TeleCoach or to a wait-list control group. Results: Latent Markov models for Study 1 and mixed models analyses for Study 2 will be performed. Study 2 data will be analyzed for publication during the spring of 2016; Study 1 data will be analyzed for publication during the fall of 2016. Conclusions: If mobile phone interventions for reducing hazardous alcohol use are found to be effective, the prospects for positively influencing substance use-related health among university students can considerably improve

Skills Training via Smartphone App for University Students with Excessive Alcohol Consumption : a Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: University students in a study on estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) feedback apps were offered participation in a second study, if reporting continued excessive consumption at 6-week follow-up. This study evaluated the effects on excessive alcohol consumption of offering access to an additional skills training app. METHOD: A total of 186 students with excessive alcohol consumption were randomized to an intervention group or a wait list group. Both groups completed online follow-ups regarding alcohol consumption after 6 and 12 weeks. Wait list participants were given access to the intervention at 6-week follow-up. Assessment-only controls (n = 144) with excessive alcohol consumption from the ongoing study were used for comparison. RESULTS: The proportion of participants with excessive alcohol consumption declined in both intervention and wait list groups compared to controls at first (p < 0.001) and second follow-ups (p = 0.054). Secondary analyses showed reductions for the intervention group in quantity of drinking at first follow-up (-4.76, 95% CI [-6.67, -2.85], Z = -2.09, p = 0.037) and in frequency of drinking at both follow-ups (-0.83, 95% CI [-1.14, -0.52], Z = -2.04, p = 0.041; -0.89, 95% CI [-1.16, -0.62], Z = -2.12, p = 0.034). The odds ratio for not having excessive alcohol consumption among men in the intervention group compared to male controls was 2.68, 95% CI [1.37, 5.25] (Z = 2.88, p = 0.004); the figure for women was 1.71, 95% CI [1.11, 2.64] (Z = 2.41, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Skills training apps have potential for reducing excessive alcohol use among university students. Future research is still needed to disentangle effects of app use from emailed feedback on excessive alcohol consumption and study participation. TRIAL REGISTRATION:NCT02064998

Mobile phone brief intervention applications for risky alcohol use among university students : Three randomized controlled studies

Introduction: Most university students overconsume alcohol and have smartphones. Brief online interventions reduce students’ alcohol intake. Delivering brief interventions to students via smartphone apps should be investigated. Method: Students at several Swedish universities were invited to the 3 studies described via e-mails and online ads. Students with a smartphone and risky alcohol consumption according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were included, following informed consent. Three apps were tested, two targeting individual drinking choices on party occasions (Promillekoll and PartyPlanner), and one targeting high-risk users (TeleCoach™). Study 1 offered randomization into 3 groups: Promillekoll (1), offering real-time estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) calculation; PartyPlanner (2), a web-based app with real-time eBAC calculation and additional planning/follow-up functions; a control group (3). Follow-up occurred at 7 weeks. Study 2 replicated Study 1; changes included improved apps based on Study 1 results, and follow-up times extended from 7 to 14 and 21 weeks (T1, T2 & T3). Study 3 offered participants at T1 from Study 2, who drank over 9 (women) and 14 (men) standard drinks/week, randomization into an intervention group (TeleCoach™) and a wait-list control group (intervention offered at T2). Results: For Study 1, 1932 fulfilled eligibility criteria for randomization. Attrition was 22.7–39.3 percent, higher among heavier drinkers and highest in Group 2. Per-protocol analyses revealed one significant timeby- group interaction, where Group 1 participants increased the frequency of their drinking occasions compared to controls (p = 0.001). Among all participants, 29 percent showed high-risk drinking, over the recommended weekly drinking levels of 9 (women) and 14 (men) standard glasses. Preliminary results will be reported for Studies 2 and 3. Discussion: Mobile phone apps offer a huge potential for making brief interventions available to more university students than ever before. Research is needed to identify effective app content

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS FOR THE 2030 MOTOR VEHICLE

Vision Zero builds on the aspiration to keep kinetic energy below human tolerance to prevent fatalities and serious injuries. In this work, a Swedish expert group within the SAFER arena estimated the maximum safe speed limits for the 2030 motor vehicle based on the boundary conditions of vehicles, road infrastructure and human crash tolerance to achieve close to zero road fatalities and serious injuries.The present work was based on expert consensus, rather than a retrospective quantitative analysis of crash data. Different load cases were discussed separately, with the involvement of a passenger car being the common denominator. The passenger car and its collision partner were assumed to be of model year 2030, thus reflecting the base safety level of the Swedish car fleet by approximately 2050.The boundary conditions were set based on pre-crash autonomous braking ability and the maximum acceptable impact speeds that would result in a very low risk of death or serious injury among the car occupants and the car’s collision partner. In the case of car to pedestrian impacts, the acceptable impact speed was set to zero, as any impact with pedestrians can lead to serious injuries as a result of ground impacts. It was expected that the responsibility to comply with speed limits will move from the driver to the car itself, and that travel speeds will be autonomously reduced when low road friction, sight obstructions, and other challenges in the traffic environment are detected. This function was expected to be non-overridable. Lateral control was also expected to be further enhanced with lane support technologies, although it was assumed that it will be still possible to override such technologies.Over time, increased performance of vehicle safety technologies will likely be able to prevent an increasingly large proportion of crashes in all load cases. However, in line with Vision Zero design principles, human crash tolerance will always be the ultimate boundary condition to guarantee a safe outcome in a crash. As a result, the recommended maximum travel speeds in the road transport system containing motor vehicles only of model year 2030 and beyond are:Rizzi 1 \ua05-7 km/h in pedestrian priority areas, \ua040 km/h in mixed traffic urban areas, if there are no obstructed sensor sightlines, e.g. due to parked vehiclesalong the sidewalk, \ua050 to 80 km/h on roads without mid- and roadside barriers, \ua0100+ km/h on roads with continuous mid- and roadside barriers, \ua040 to 60 km/h in intersections, depending on vehicle mass differences.The results from this work can be used to inform the development and amendment of transport planning guidelines when moving away from the economical paradigm into Safe System boundary conditions in the setting of speed limits