Use of Interdisciplinary Education to Foster Familiarization among Health Professionals

This paper describes a pilot interdisciplinary experience between the dental hygiene and medical technology programs at Marquette University. It was designed, in part, to familiarize dental hygiene students with the medical technology profession. Comments solicited from students on the final evaluation form indicated that this pilot project was highly successful and met the objectives. Affective, multiple-choice questions on pretests and posttests showed a positive change in attitude, but this change was not statistically significant. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Benefits of this pilot project were an improved understanding of medical technology on the part of the dental hygiene students, enhanced interdepartmental communication, and plans to develop a reciprocal interdisciplinary experience for the medical technology students. It is hoped that this pilot project will serve as a stimulus for similar experiences among other health science programs

Qualification of a robotized Friction Stir Welding System

This paper presents an experimental methodology to determine a Friction Stir Welding (FSW) means of production based on the experimental study of the tool / material mechanical interactions generated during the welding operation. These two stages have been identified as being characteristic for the qualification of a FSW equipment. This paper presents the experimental results of the parametric study done on the plunging and welding phases. Ranges of forces and torques diagrams were established according to the processing parameters, in order to qualify a means of production and select the process parameters allowing the operation on the available FSW equipment

Methodology for qualifying a Friction Stir Welding equipment

The objective of this research work is the industrialization of the friction stir welding process in order to provide tools to industrials to select and qualify a machine for their FSW applications. This paper presents a methodology to determine the Friction Stir Welding equipment adequate to an application. The adequate equipment can be every machine that can perform friction stir welds. This paper presents a short review, based on literature survey, of the existing friction stir welding equipments. Then, the methodology developed is presented. It is based on the studying of the interactions between the tool and the workpiece

Determining the ability of a high payload robot to perform FSW applications

This paper presents an experimental methodology to determine a Friction Stir Welding (FSW) means of production based on the experimental study of the tool / material mechanical interactions generated during the welding operation. These two stages have been identified as being characteristic for the qualification of a FSW equipment. This paper presents the experimental results of the parametric study done on the plunging and welding phases. Ranges of forces and torques diagrams were established according to the processing parameters, in order to qualify a means of production and to select the processing parameters allowing the operation on the available FSW equipment

Mangelnde Kenntnis über den Anbau von Körnerleguminosen bei Luxemburger Landwirten

Grain legume production in Europe has decreased in recent years, while legume demand has rapidly increased. Various investigations have identified problems and benefits of grain legume cultivation. Studies investigating why farmers do not cultivate these crops are missing. Here we surveyed farmers about grain legume cultivation. We sent a questionnaire to 1373 farmers in Luxembourg, with a response rate of 29%. Results show that 12% of the conventional and 85% of the organic farmers cultivated grain legumes. We observed that farmers feel badly informed about grain legume cultivation. The main barriers to not cultivate these crops are not economic issues but a lack of knowledge about grain legumes. Even though grain legume producers mentioned several negative experiences with grain legume cultivation, they are not discouraged by the poor economic conditions and appreciate the benefits of grain legume cultivation. Overall our findings show that research results on grain legumes should be better disseminated to extension services and farmers

Behavioural Adjustment in Response to Increased Predation Risk: A Study in Three Duck Species

Predation directly triggers behavioural decisions designed to increase immediate survival. However, these behavioural modifications can have long term costs. There is therefore a trade-off between antipredator behaviours and other activities. This trade-off is generally considered between vigilance and only one other behaviour, thus neglecting potential compensations. In this study, we considered the effect of an increase in predation risk on the diurnal time-budget of three captive duck species during the wintering period. We artificially increased predation risk by disturbing two groups of 14 mallard and teals at different frequencies, and one group of 14 tufted ducks with a radio-controlled stressor. We recorded foraging, vigilance, preening and sleeping durations the week before, during and after disturbance sessions. Disturbed groups were compared to an undisturbed control group. We showed that in all three species, the increase in predation risk resulted in a decrease in foraging and preening and led to an increase in sleeping. It is worth noting that contrary to common observations, vigilance did not increase. However, ducks are known to be vigilant while sleeping. This complex behavioural adjustment therefore seems to be optimal as it may allow ducks to reduce their predation risk. Our results highlight the fact that it is necessary to encompass the whole individual time-budget when studying behavioural modifications under predation risk. Finally, we propose that studies of behavioural time-budget changes under predation risk should be included in the more general framework of the starvation-predation risk trade-off

Methodology for qualifying a Friction Stir Welding equipment

The objective of this research work is the industrialization of the friction stir welding process in order to provide tools to industrials to select and qualify a machine for their FSW applications. This paper presents a methodology to determine the Friction Stir Welding equipment adequate to an application. The adequate equipment can be every machine that can perform friction stir welds. This paper presents a short review, based on literature survey, of the existing friction stir welding equipments. Then, the methodology developed is presented. It is based on the studying of the interactions between the tool and the workpiece