Ultrasonic Low-Friction Containment Plate for Thermal and Ultrasonic Stir Weld Processes

The thermal stir welding (TSW) process is finding applications in fabrication of space vehicles. In this process, workpieces to be joined by TSW are drawn, by heavy forces, between "containment plates," past the TSW tool that then causes joining of the separate plates. It is believed that the TSW process would be significantly improved by reducing the draw force, and that this could be achieved by reducing the friction forces between the workpieces and containment plates. Based on use of high-power ultrasonics in metal forming processes, where friction reduction in drawing dies has been achieved, it is believed that ultrasonic vibrations of the containment plates could achieve similar friction reduction in the TSW process. By applying ultrasonic vibrations to the containment plates in a longitudinal vibration mode, as well as by mounting and holding the containment plates in a specific manner such as to permit the plates to acoustically float, friction between the metal parts and the containment plates is greatly reduced, and so is the drawing force. The concept was to bring in the ultrasonics from the sides of the plates, permitting the ultrasonic hardware to be placed to the side, away from the equipment that contains the thermal stir tooling and that applies clamping forces to the plates. Tests demonstrated that one of the major objectives of applying ultrasonics to the thermal stir system, that of reducing draw force friction, should be achievable on a scaled-up system

Bond Characterization in Very High Power Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing

Solid parts were produced by Very High Power Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (VHP-UAM) at room temperature using 150 μm thick tapes of 6061 aluminum and 110 copper alloys. Processing was done at 20 kHz frequency over a range of parameters (26 –36 μm vibration amplitude, 5.6 – 6.7 kN normal force, and 30.5 - 35.5 mm/s travel speed). Softening of materials (up to about 14% in 6061 Al and 23% in 110 Cu) was noted facilitating enhanced plastic flow and a reduction in interfacial voids. Evolution of fine recrystallized grains (0.3-4 μm in 6061 Al and 0.3-10 μm in 110 Cu) from an initial coarser grain structure (up to 8 μm in 6061 Al and 25 μm in Cu) was observed at the build interface regions. Bonding between layers in both materials seems to have occurred by dynamic recrystallization and movement of grain boundaries across the interface. The energy required for the above physical processes is derived from interfacial adiabatic plastic deformation heating.Mechanical Engineerin

Ethical pinch-points: Effectively communicating ethical consideration in research design

This presentation aims to communicate the first two year’s work of the UK Statistic Authority’s Centre for Applied Data Ethics (CADE), present key ethical considerations to researchers working with population, administrative and other secondary data, and describe the innovative methods that have been used to review over 700 pieces of research in those two years. The CADE was established in February 2021 with the aim of enabling researchers and statisticians, both within government and outside of it, to effectively address potential ethical issues in their use of data for the public good. To assist researchers in practically applying data stewardship principles to their research, an ethics self-assessment tool has been developed. The ethics self-assessment process aims to offer researchers an easy-to-use framework to review the ethics of their own projects throughout the research cycle, whilst promoting a culture of “ethics by design”. In two years’ worth of use, the self-assessment tool has been widely adopted across government, academia and the commercial and charities sectors. Analysis of the work that has been supported by this tool has revealed several topics where researchers could further develop their own research. Well designed and communicated research that demonstrates consideration of these factors enables quicker and safer access to data. In response to these findings, CADE have developed specific guidance pieces to assist the analytical community in considering these ethical concerns in their research design and communicating them effectively to ethics bodies and the wider public to ensure effective and consistent data stewardship practices. This presentation will support delegates by going into detail in the defining and realising of public good in research, engaging public audiences with research, and considering (and demonstrating) the public view in research design. It will also aid delegates by providing them with a framework that they can use to demonstrate consideration of traditional ethical concerns and also ethical concerns in new, emerging and currently unknown fields

Is elastography type technology useful for quantifying the characteristics of fascia tissues, who uses diagnostic ultrasound in a musculoskeletal setting, and what are the beliefs of users and non-users?

Detection of stiffness in muscle and fascia tissues through the application of subjective palpation helps guide the musculoskeletal practitioner to a working diagnosis. Elastography represents a new technology that measures the stiffness of these tissues quantitatively. Interest in fascia tissues has grown over the last two decades and its role in body movement and other physiological functions has seen a rapid growth in research during this time. This paper aims to investigate the potential of utilising elastography to quantitatively measure fascia tissue stiffness in a musculoskeletal setting. A mixed method approach was followed using a systematic narrative review and survey. The target population of the survey involved rheumatologists, musculoskeletal/sports doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, and osteopaths. Most musculoskeletal practitioners are not aware of elastography, hence diagnostic ultrasound was considered an appropriate substitution to gain the beliefs and attitudes of both users and non-users. No studies were found in the literature that utilised elastography to measure stiffness in fascia tissues other than in tendons. However, studies of tendons identified in the review illustrated very good to excellent sensitivity and specificity to detect pathological from non-pathological tissues. Additionally, preferred protocols to enhance elastography scanning were identified. The most likely users of diagnostic ultrasound are currently rheumatologists and musculoskeletal/sports doctors with the most common reason given by non-users being a lack of training/education. All professions mostly agree (>70%) that diagnostic ultrasound is able to produce reliable images of pathologic and non-pathologic tissues, should only be taken by trained professionals, can aid a clinician with good palpation skills, and may be useful to quantify diagnostic findings. This paper concludes that elastography may be useful to quantify tissue stiffness, however more research is required for elastography to be reliably utilised in a musculoskeletal setting

Commons: Governance of Shared Assets [PDF Version]

Abstract & Contents The idea for this book came slowly following a gradual collection of blog posts on the CCRI website in recent years. The posts centred around the general theme of how we manage shared assets and what alternative approaches there might be, informed by research and practice in the governance of commons resources. The whole area of commons and management of common pool resources has become more topical over the last 6 years following the award of the Nobel Prize for Economics to Elinor Ostrom, for her work on commons. Commons has long been an element of research within CCRI, particularly in relation to Common Land and Town and village Greens in England and Wales. Chris Short organised annual conferences on common land management from 1999-2010 which attracted over 1,500 delegates and sponsorship from the Countryside Agency, Defra, Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales. This book is no more than a set of ‘musings’ or collected thoughts about a range of issues which we have addressed in our professional activities. It does not claim to address all aspects of an issue, or to present a balanced view of research findings. The aim is simply to present some of our ideas about management and governance of a range of resources that can be perceived in some way as ‘shared assets’. The resources addressed range from the local to the global, and encompass what have been termed traditional commons (such as fisheries, pasture, water) and ‘new’ commons such as the internet and urban areas. Our purpose in producing this book is to raise awareness of the principles of commons governance. Our aim is to encourage thinking about the ways in which application of these principles might open up alternative solutions to achieving long-term and sustainable management of the many assets that we share in common. Contents • COP21 - ‘Gentlemen’s Agreement’ or new approach? • Cities and the concept of ‘urban commons’ • Designing the urban commons • Urban commons - the view from beneath • What value street art? • Marine fisheries • What future for Lowland commons? • Peatlands • Climbing the wall • The Internet is not a commons? • Final thought

Organising Collective Action for Effective Environmental Management and Social Learning in Wales

The paper explored key factors that might lead to successful agri-environmental social learning and collective action in order to deliver landscape-scale resource management within agri-environment schemes. Using the theory of collective action as an analytical framework the paper examined findings from in-depth interviews with 20 members of two co-operative initiatives in Wales and two participatory workshops. Consideration of the theory helped in understanding how individuals come together to provide public goods, and the conditions that make this activity a success. Factors of importance for organising and delivering collective agri-environment schemes were: locally adaptable engagement strategies; working with group members previously known to each other; institutional arrangements that limited group size and which allowed groups to develop their own solutions and implementation rules; and external support offering the services of a local facilitator and funding for both planning and management stages. A clear finding from the research was the extent to which both business and social confidence can grow within such groups which opens up further development opportunities. The paper identifies key factors that could be used to encourage and enhance the success of co-operative groups in delivering landscape-scale agri-environment schemes. The research findings identify appropriate mechanisms for the design and delivery of collective agri-environment schemes and environment management in the UK, which can also be applied to other parts of Europe

Collective Action for Effective Environmental Management and Social Learning in Wales

Increasingly it is recognised that land management at a landscape‐scale can deliver greater public good benefits than at the individual farm scale. Collective agri‐environment schemes are one mechanism for achieving this land management, but such schemes are in the early stages of development in the UK and uncertainty exists as to their appropriate design and delivery. This paper is based on two research projects undertaken in Wales to identify key factors that might lead to successful agri‐environmental co‐operation. The research involved in‐depth analysis of three existing farmer co‐operatives in Wales, including face to face interviews and participatory workshops. Using the theory of collective action as an analytical framework, the paper identifies key factors that could be used to encourage and enhance the success of co‐operative groups in delivering landscape‐scale schemes. Of importance were: locally adaptable engagement strategies; working with group members previously known to each other; institutional arrangements that limited group size and which allowed groups to develop their own solutions and implementation rules; and external support offering the services of a local facilitator and funding for both planning and management stages. A clear finding from the research was the extent to which both business and social confidence can grow within such groups which opens up further development opportunities. Improving the farming community’s capacity to co‐operate will have far‐reaching benefits for all public good provision and diversification activities

Farmer attitudes and evaluation of outcomes to on-farm environmental management. Report to Defra

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI), the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) and the University of Exeter were commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in December 2010 to explicitly explore the link between arable farmers’ attitudes to environmental management, their subsequent behaviour, and the perceived and observed environmental benefits. The main aim of this research was to improve the understanding of the effectiveness of different intervention options for the delivery of environmental objectives, and identify those factors that govern success and deliver outcomes

The Grizzly, February 28, 2008

Tragedy Strikes at Northern Illinois University • Safety at Ursinus College in Light of the NIU Massacre • Anti-HIV Gel Fails Clinical Trial, Opens Doors • Investigating the Seven-Day Itch • Great Wall vs. China Jade: Local Chinese Dining • Third Annual CoSA Celebration Hits Ursinus in April • Review of SPINTfest at UC • Opinions: NME Scandal: An Outsider\u27s Take; Why Kosovo\u27s Independence Matters • Strong Champs for UC Swim • Gymnastics Prepares for Nationalshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1757/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 10, 2008

Baby Dies from Lack of Medical Attention, Parents Charged • Relay is Here! • Dancing at Lughnasa Opens at UC • Yes, It\u27s a Positions Article • Airband\u27s 25th Raises $3100 for the Laurel House • Senior\u27s Helpful Hints for Class Registration • Glancing at the Future of Collegeville • Men\u27s Golf Swings into Season • Track Teams Win Goucher Classichttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1761/thumbnail.jp