How to Conduct a Photovoice Systematic Review: Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Photovoice distinguishes itself from other qualitative research methods for its visual features and participant empowerment. As a powerful tool for community-based participatory research and health promotion programs, researchers and practitioners are paying more attention to this method in recent years. Accordingly, some photovoice systematic reviews have been published and more are underway to synthesize evidence in various research fields. However, due to the exploratory nature of the photovoice method, broad research questions for photo taking, flexible steps in photo discussion and analysis, and lack of standardized qualitative review guidelines, it could be challenging to conduct a photovoice systematic review. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the photovoice method, debrief the process of a previous review, summarize lessons learned, and provide suggestions to facilitate future photovoice systematic reviews. This paper may also be of benefit to researchers who intend to apply photovoice to their research topics, or plan to conduct other types of photovoice literature reviews (e.g., scoping reviews)

Definition and Categorization of Dew Computing

Dew computing is an emerging new research area and has great potentials in applications. In this paper, we propose a revised definition of dew computing. The new definition is: Dew computing is an on-premises computer software-hardware organization paradigm in the cloud computing environment where the on-premises computer provides functionality that is independent of cloud services and is also collaborative with cloud services. The goal of dew computing is to fully realize the potentials of on-premises computers and cloud services. This definition emphasizes two key features of dew computing: independence and collaboration. Furthermore, we propose a group of dew computing categories. These categories may inspire new applications

Structure-property relationship of additively manufactured (short carbon fibre-reinforced) polyamide

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, attracts increasing interests from industry due to its simplicity and low cost. However, 3D printing-induced interfaces which could influence the potential of AM in industrial applications which are required to exhibit high mechanical performance and durability in harsh environment. This thesis investigates the relationship of the manufacturing process-induced interfaces and the properties of printed (short fibre reinforced) polyamide. Partially bonded interfaces induced by the manufacturing process were found between the layers of printed polyamide and short fibre reinforced polyamide (SFRN). The printed SFRN exhibited inferior interfaces compared to polyamide and the resulting mechanical performance was more significantly influenced. The tensile modulus of 3 mm SFRN was decreased as a function of interface density (number of interfaces per unit sample thickness) from 4.57 GPa to 3.88 GPa. This thesis also investigates the moisture absorption of printed polyamide and SFRN. The measured diffusion coefficients of printed SFRN increased as a function of the number of interfaces which increased the moisture absorption kinetics. The influence of moisture absorption on the mechanical performance of printed samples was evaluated. Reduced shear properties indicated the bonding between layers and within layers degraded with absorbed moisture content. The tensile properties of printed samples exposed to moisture decreased more significantly compared to injection moulded samples due to the degraded interfacial property. Moreover, moisture absorption was found to have an irreversible impact on the partially bonded interfaces between adjacent filaments. The resulting tensile and shearing properties of printed samples were not fully recovered after the drying process due to the aggravated interfaces.Open Acces

Thermoplastic Insulation for High Voltage Cables

High voltage direct current (HVDC) cables that seamlessly integrate renewables have an important contribution to the modern world’s efforts towards a more sustainable future. Extruded HVDC cables that efficiently and reliably transport electricity require robust insulation materials with good thermomechanical and dielectric properties. Peroxide-crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) has been the conventional insulation material for extruded HVDC cables. However, peroxide crosslinking releases by-products that need to be removed, necessitating an expensive and time-consuming degassing procedure. Furthermore, XLPE is a thermoset material, which cannot be recycled by re-extrusion. Thermoplastic materials are therefore sought after as more sustainable material alternatives for HVDC cable insulation. Blends that contain isotactic polypropylene (iPP) are of great interest due to the thermomechanical reinforcement that its high melting crystals can offer. However, iPP alone is too brittle. Blends comprising iPP and softer components like polyethylene could give properties desired in cable insulation, but the incompatibility between iPP and LDPE must be considered. This thesis presents reactive compounding as a strategy to form PP–PE-type copolymers in-situ in a recyclable ternary blend comprising an ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer, a maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene and low density polyethylene (LDPE). The material demonstrated excellent thermomechanical and DC dielectric properties, reflecting this novel strategy as a promising one for the design of recyclable insulation materials for future HVDC cables