Advanced 3D ultrasonic characterisation of 2D woven composites

The principal aim of this project was to generate an automated mapping programme that will identify and quantify deviations from design, due to either manufacturing processes or in-service defects. Focusing on woven carbon fibre composites, using data acquired from ultrasonic non-destructive testing, individual weave identities have been developed. Knowledge of the individual weave identity will enable two key pieces of information when analysing components; lay-up and the presence of defects in terms of shear and rotation. Knowledge of the lay-up and presence of defects results in better informed decisions regarding the manufacture and the longevity of components. In many cases the requirement for a twin component to be manufactured will be negated; subsequently saving both time and money.The development of individual weave identities, alongside automation of the classification procedure is the key contribution of this thesis. The literature review shows that this capability does not currently exist. The weave identity work began with the adaption of Miller Indices from crystallography. In order to automate the weave identification, a spatial frequency vs. angle plot was established using image transformation. It was the realisation that the weave characteristic lines (and their subsequent spots on the spatial frequency vs. angle plots) are different from the lines corresponding to the fibre’s warp and weft tows which allowed for the discrimination of weave type. The process of weave identification was automated and both the accuracy and precision of the measurement of in-plane were established. Consequently, the developed technique enables the identification of angular distortions in woven carbon fibre composites. Finally, the testing of real samples showed that the presented method of weave classification works well, providing the images of the weaves are good, and that the imaging of the weave gets worse with depth, surface roughness and when the probe frequency does not match the ply resonance

Discussing HPV with oropharyngeal cancer patients: A cross-sectional survey of attitudes in health professionals

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now known to cause a significant proportion of head and neck cancers (HNC). Qualitative research has shown that some health professionals find it difficult to discuss HPV with patients due to its sexually transmitted nature, and have concerns about their own knowledge of the virus. We used a survey to quantify attitudes towards discussing HPV among HNC health professionals. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional survey of HNC health professionals (n = 260) in the UK and Ireland, assessing participants’ knowledge of HPV, their experiences of and attitudes towards discussing HPV with patients, and their willingness to discuss HPV with their patients in the future. RESULTS: Overall, health professionals had good knowledge of HPV (mean score: 9.97 out of 12). Oncologists had significantly greater knowledge than specialist nurses, speech and language therapists and ‘other’ health professionals. Most were willing to discuss HPV with patients (mean = 4.3 out of 5). Willingness to discuss HPV in the future was associated with higher HPV knowledge (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), fewer negative and more positive attitudes towards discussing HPV (r = −0.23 and r = 0.20 respectively, both p < 0.001), fewer personal barriers (r = −0.49, p < 0.001) and greater confidence (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Knowledge, experiences and attitudes to discussing HPV varied across HNC health professionals. Addressing gaps in health professionals’ HPV knowledge and improving their confidence in discussing HPV with patients may increase their willingness to have such conversations. This may help minimise the negative psychosocial consequences of an HPV diagnosis in this patient group

Between family genealogies and political genealogies: young people in a mapuche communalisation process in Argentina

A partir de una perspectiva teórica que entiende que edad y etnicidad constituyen clivajes complejamente entramados, en este artículo se aborda su incidencia en el proceso de comunalización de la comunidad mapuche Newen Ñuke Mapu (Río Negro, Argentina) y, específicamente, en el caso del lof Mariano Epulef que la integra. En ese contexto se analizan los modos en que la articulación generacional de los "jóvenes mapuche" en el presente produce sentido sobre -y es definida por- tanto la genealogía política del movimiento de fines del siglo XX como la genealogía familiar y comunitaria. Esto implica analizar la reelaboración política generacional que los "jóvenes" realizan de los discursos organizacionales mapuche a partir de su puesta en práctica en el proceso de articulación comunitaria rural.A partir de uma perspectiva teórica que entende que a idade e a etnia são clivagens estreitamente interligadas, este artigo discute o seu impacto sobre o processo de comunalizaçao da comunidade mapuche Newen Ñuke Mapu (Rio Negro, Argentina) e, especificamente, o caso do lof Mariano Epulef incluído nessa comunidade. Nesse contexto, o objeto de análise é a maneira pela qual as articulações contemporâneas da geração de "jovens mapuche" produzem significações, por um lado, sobre a genealogia política do movimento mapuche que se desenvolveu nas últimas décadas do século XX e, por outro, sobre as genealogias das famílias e da comunidade. Ao mesmo tempo, o artigo aproxima-se do modo pelo qual essas genealogias definem as articulações das gerações. Esta tarefa inclui estudar a apropriação crítica dos discursos políticos mapuche por "jovens" nos processos das comunidades rurais.Drawing on a theoretical perspective that understands age and ethnicity as intertwined cleavages, this article discusses their effects on the communalisation process of the Mapuche community of Newen Ñuke Mapu (Rio Negro, Argentina). It focuses specifically on the case of lof Mariano Epulef in the context of this community. The analysis deals with how contemporary generational articulations of "young Mapuche" give meaning to the political genealogy of the movement that developed in the last decades of the twentieth century and also, at the same time, to family and community genealogies. The article likewise addresses the ways in which these genealogies define generational articulations. This task involves studying the critical generational appropriation of political Mapuche discourses by "young Mapuche" within rural communalisation processes.Fil: Kropff Causa, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio; Argentin