articles+ search results

printing, additive manufacturing (AM), ceramics, rectangular waveguides, rapid prototyping, Technology, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Physics, QC1-999, Chemistry, and QD1-999

Ceramic materials are chemical- and temperature-resistant and, therefore, enable novel application fields ranging from automotive to aerospace. With this in mind, this contribution focuses on developing an additive manufacturing approach for 3D-printed waveguides made of ceramic materials. In particular, a special design approach for ceramic waveguides, which introduces non-radiating slots into the waveguides sidewalls, and a customized metallization process, are presented. The developed process allows for using conventional stereolithographic desktop-grade 3D-printers. The proposed approach has, therefore, benefits such as low-cost fabrication, moderate handling effort and independence of the concrete waveguide geometry. The performance of a manufactured ceramic WR12 waveguide is compared to a commercial waveguide and a conventionally printed counterpart. For that reason, relevant properties, such as surface roughness and waveguide geometry, are characterized. Parsing the electrical measurements, the ceramic waveguide specimen features an attenuation coefficient of 30–60 dB/m within the E-Band. The measured attenuation coefficient is 200% and 300% higher compared to the epoxy resin and the commercial waveguide and is attributed to the increased surface roughness of the ceramic substrate.

overconstrained mechanisms, kinematical analysis, automotive application, virtual prototyping, Technology, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Physics, QC1-999, Chemistry, and QD1-999

The paper presents some possible applications started from a six revolute joints (6R) overconstrained mechanism. The spatial devices obtained are based on the 6R Wohlhart symmetric mechanism in a special spatial position, with three non-adjacent joints constrained to remain in a fixed plane. This special spatial disposition allows us to obtain some reconfigurable/foldable devices, with an estimated application in the automotive industry field.

integrated intelligent CAD system, springs, parametric 3D modelling, FEM analysis, prototyping, C#, Technology, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Physics, QC1-999, Chemistry, and QD1-999

This paper presents the development and implementation of integrated intelligent CAD (computer aided design) system for design, analysis and prototyping of the compression and torsion springs. The article shows a structure of the developed system named Springs IICAD (integrated intelligent computer aided design). The system bounds synthesis and analysis design phases by means of the utilization of parametric 3D (three-dimensional) modeling, FEM (finite element method) analysis and prototyping. The development of the module for spring calculation and system integration was performed in the C# (C Sharp) programming language. Three-dimensional geometric modeling and structural analysis were performed in the CATIA (computer aided three-dimensional interactive application) software, while prototyping is performed with the Ultimaker 3.0 3D printer with support of Cura software. The developed Springs IICAD system interlinks computation module with the basic parametric models in such a way that spring calculation, shaping, FEM analysis and prototype preparation are performed instantly.

design method, joint design, segmentation, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, fused deposition modeling (FDM), Technology, Engineering design, and TA174

Rapid prototyping has become increasingly popular over the past years. However, its application is heavily confined to a part size that fits the small build volume of additive machines. This paper presents a universal design method to overcome this limitation while preserving the economic advantages of rapid prototyping over conventional processes. It segments large, thin-walled parts and joins the segments. The method aims to produce an assembly with minimal loss to the performance and characteristics of a solid part. Based on a set of requirements, a universal segmentation approach and a novel hybrid joint design combining adhesive bonding and press fitting are developed. This design allows for the force transmission, positioning, and assembly of the segments adaptive to their individual geometry. The method is tailored to fused deposition modeling (FDM) by minimizing the need for support structures and actively compensating for manufacturing tolerances. While a universal application cannot be guaranteed, the adaptive design was proven for a variety of complex geometries. Using automotive trim parts as an example, the usability, benefits, and novelty of the design method is presented. The method itself shows a high potential to overcome the build volume limitation for thin-walled parts in an economic manner.

sculpture, arduino, marble, design, carving tool, prototyping, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

The art of sculpting is related to the processing of brittle materials, such as granite, marble, and stone, and is implemented using percussive hand tools or rotational roughing tools. The outcome of percussion carving is still directly related to the technique, experience, and capacity of the sculptor. Any attempt to automate the art of sculpturing is exhausted in the subtraction method of brittle materials using a rotating tool. In the process of percussion carving, there is no equivalent expertise. In this work, we present the design, manufacturing (3D printing and CNC machining), and use of a smart, percussion carving tool, either manually by the hand of a sculptor, adjusted in a percussive pneumatic hammer, or guided by a digitally driven machine. The scope is to measure and record the technological variables and sizes that describe and document the carving process through the sensors and electronic devices that the smart tool incorporates, the development and programming of which was implemented for the purposes of this work. The smart carving tool was meticulously tested in various carving stones and stressing scenarios to test the functionality and efficacy of the tool. All the tests were successfully implemented according to the specifications set.

neural network, variable step size, maximum power point tracking, incremental conductance method, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

In conventional adaptive variable step size (VSS) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms, a scaling factor is utilized to determine the required perturbation step. However, the performance of the adaptive VSS MPPT algorithm is essentially decided by the choice of scaling factor. In this paper, a neural network assisted variable step size (VSS) incremental conductance (IncCond) MPPT method is proposed. The proposed method utilizes a neural network to obtain an optimal scaling factor that should be used in current irradiance level for the VSS IncCond MPPT method. Only two operating points on the characteristic curve are needed to acquire the optimal scaling factor. Hence, expensive irradiance and temperature sensors are not required. By adopting a proper scaling factor, the performance of the conventional VSS IncCond method can be improved, especially under rapid varying irradiance conditions. To validate the studied algorithm, a 400 W prototyping circuit is built and experiments are carried out accordingly. Comparing with perturb and observe (P&O), α-P&O, golden section and conventional VSS IncCond MPPT methods, the proposed method can improve the tracking loss by 95.58%, 42.51%, 93.66%, and 66.14% under EN50530 testing condition, respectively.

polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS properties, PDMS applications, microfluidics, biomedical engineering, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65, Medicine (General), and R5-920

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an elastomer with excellent optical, electrical and mechanical properties, which makes it well-suited for several engineering applications. Due to its biocompatibility, PDMS is widely used for biomedical purposes. This widespread use has also led to the massification of the soft-lithography technique, introduced for facilitating the rapid prototyping of micro and nanostructures using elastomeric materials, most notably PDMS. This technique has allowed advances in microfluidic, electronic and biomedical fields. In this review, an overview of the properties of PDMS and some of its commonly used treatments, aiming at the suitability to those fields’ needs, are presented. Applications such as microchips in the biomedical field, replication of cardiovascular flow and medical implants are also reviewed.

additive manufacturing, 3D printing, tag, traceability, provenance, anti-counterfeiting, Technology, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, TK1-9971, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Microscopy, QH201-278.5, Descriptive and experimental mechanics, and QC120-168.85

Additive manufacturing (AM) is rapidly evolving from “rapid prototyping” to “industrial production”. AM enables the fabrication of bespoke components with complicated geometries in the high-performance areas of aerospace, defence and biomedicine. Providing AM parts with a tagging feature that allows them to be identified like a fingerprint can be crucial for logistics, certification and anti-counterfeiting purposes. Whereas the implementation of an overarching strategy for the complete traceability of AM components downstream from designer to end user is, by nature, a cross-disciplinary task that involves legal, digital and technological issues, materials engineers are on the front line of research to understand what kind of tag is preferred for each kind of object and how existing materials and 3D printing hardware should be synergistically modified to create such tag. This review provides a critical analysis of the main requirements and properties of tagging features for authentication and identification of AM parts, of the strategies that have been put in place so far, and of the future challenges that are emerging to make these systems efficient and suitable for digitalisation. It is envisaged that this literature survey will help scientists and developers answer the challenging question: “How can we embed a tagging feature in an AM part?”.

additive manufacturing, electronic skin, Low-Force Stereolithography, room-temperature-vulcanizing, RTV, single-walled carbon nanotubes, Technology, Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering, TK1-9971, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), TA1-2040, Microscopy, QH201-278.5, Descriptive and experimental mechanics, and QC120-168.85

The strategy of embedding conductive materials on polymeric matrices has produced functional and wearable artificial electronic skin prototypes capable of transduction signals, such as pressure, force, humidity, or temperature. However, these prototypes are expensive and cover small areas. This study proposes a more affordable manufacturing strategy for manufacturing conductive layers with 6 × 6 matrix micropatterns of RTV-2 silicone rubber and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT). A novel mold with two cavities and two different micropatterns was designed and tested as a proof-of-concept using Low-Force Stereolithography-based additive manufacturing (AM). The effect SWCNT concentrations (3 wt.%, 4 wt.%, and 5 wt.%) on the mechanical properties were characterized by quasi-static axial deformation tests, which allowed them to stretch up to ~160%. The elastomeric soft material’s hysteresis energy (Mullin’s effect) was fitted using the Ogden–Roxburgh model and the Nelder–Mead algorithm. The assessment showed that the resulting multilayer material exhibits high flexibility and high conductivity (surface resistivity ~7.97 × 104 Ω/sq) and that robust soft tooling can be used for other devices.

micromachining strategies, micro/mesoscale milling, 3D microfluidic structure, PMMA, PDMS, surface quality, Mechanical engineering and machinery, and TJ1-1570

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in exploring the potential of micro-and mesoscale milling technologies for developing cost-effective microfluidic systems with high design flexibility and a rapid microfabrication process that does not require a cleanroom. Nevertheless, the number of current studies aiming to fully understand and establish the benefits of this technique in developing high-quality microsystems with simple integrability is still limited. In the first part of this study, we define a systematic and adaptable strategy for developing high-quality poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based micromilled structures. A case study of the average surface roughness (Ra) minimization of a cuboid column is presented to better illustrate some of the developed strategies. In this example, the Ra of a cuboid column was reduced from 1.68 μm to 0.223 μm by implementing milling optimization and postprocessing steps. In the second part of this paper, new strategies for developing a 3D microsystem were introduced by using a specifically designed negative PMMA master mold for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) double-casting prototyping. The reported results in this study demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach for developing microfluidic structures with high surface quality and structural integrability in a reasonable amount of time.

SU-8, photoresist, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), maskless photolithography, grayscale photolithography, backside exposure, Mechanical engineering and machinery, and TJ1-1570

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) and microfluidic devices are conventionally produced using microfabrication procedures that require cleanrooms, silicon wafers, and photomasks. The prototyping stage often requires multiple iterations of design steps. A simplified prototyping process could therefore offer major advantages. Here, we describe a rapid and cleanroom-free microfabrication method using maskless photolithography. The approach utilizes a commercial digital micromirror device (DMD)-based setup using 375 nm UV light for backside exposure of an epoxy-based negative photoresist (SU-8) on glass coverslips. We show that microstructures of various geometries and dimensions, microgrooves, and microchannels of different heights can be fabricated. New SU-8 molds and soft lithography-based polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips can thus be produced within hours. We further show that backside UV exposure and grayscale photolithography allow structures of different heights or structures with height gradients to be developed using a single-step fabrication process. Using this approach: (1) digital photomasks can be designed, projected, and quickly adjusted if needed; and (2) SU-8 molds can be fabricated without cleanroom availability, which in turn (3) reduces microfabrication time and costs and (4) expedites prototyping of new OoC devices.

FDM, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, shear test, adhesion, Organic chemistry, and QD241-441

Additive Manufacturing (AM) became a popular engineering solution not only for Rapid Prototyping (RP) as a part of product development but as an effective solution for producing complex geometries as fully functional components. Even the modern engineering tools, such as the different simulation software, have a shape optimization solution especially for parts created by AM. To extend the application of these methods in this work, the failure properties of the 3D-printed parts have been investigated via shear test measurements. The layer adhesion can be calculated based on the results, which can be used later for further numerical modeling. In conclusion, it can be stated that the layer formation and the structure of the infill have a great influence on the mechanical properties. The layers formed following the conventional zig-zag infill style show a random failure, and the layers created via extruded concentric circles show more predictable load resistance.

Industry 4.0, Digital Twin, simulation modelling, Chemical technology, TP1-1185, Chemistry, and QD1-999

This article presents the most valuable and applicable open-source tools and communication technologies that may be employed to create models of production processes by applying the concept of Digital Twins. In recent years, many open-source technologies, including tools and protocols, have been developed to create virtual models of production systems. The authors present the evolution and role of the Digital Twin concept as one of the key technologies for implementing the Industry 4.0 paradigm in automation and control. Based on the presented structured review of valuable open-source software dedicated to various phases and tasks that should be realised while creating the whole Digital Twin system, it was demonstrated that the available solutions cover all aspects. However, the dispersion, specialisation, and lack of integration cause this software to usually not be the first choice to implement DT. Therefore, to successfully create full-fledged models of Digital Twins by proceeding with proposed open-source solutions, it is necessary to make additional efforts due to integration requirements.

additive manufacturing, 3d printing, china, Economics as a science, and HB71-74

Additive manufacturing - or three-dimensional (3D) printing - refers to a group of technologies characterised by an accelerating maturation trend, which allow the creation of three-dimensional objects based on digital models, by sequentially applying and integrating layers of various traditional and innovative materials, from metals, polymers and ceramics, to graphene and other nanomaterials and composites. The technologies have applications in a variety of industries, from consumer goods production, automotive and aircraft parts, architecture and construction, to medical services and devices, or research and defence. Globally, the additive manufacturing market, which includes equipment, materials and 3D printing as a service, as well as their applications for prototyping and rapid manufacturing, has been valued at USD 15.4billion in 2020, with existing projections reflecting a four-fold increase to USD 61.1 billion in 2027. By the same date, China – the current 'factory of the world' – is projected to have a significant but less than one-quarter share of the global market – USD14.5 billion – against the backdrop of existing gaps difficult to narrow down.

aphasia, assistive technology, storytelling, user-centered design, graphical user interface, usability tests, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

Aphasia is a partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken language, resulting from brain damage, in a person whose language skills were previously normal. Our goal was to find out how a storytelling app can help people with aphasia to communicate and share daily experiences. For this purpose, the Aphasia Create app was created for tablets, along with Aphastory for the Google Glass device. These applications facilitate social participation and enhance quality of life by using visual storytelling forms composed of photos, drawings, icons, etc., that can be saved and shared. We performed usability tests (supervised by a neuropsychologist) on six participants with aphasia who were able to communicate. Our work contributes (1) evidence that the functions implemented in the Aphasia Create tablet app suit the needs of target users, but older people are often not familiar with tactile devices, (2) reports that the Google Glass device may be problematic for persons with right-hand paresis, and (3) a characterization of the design guidelines for apps for aphasics. Both applications can be used to work with people with aphasia, and can be further developed. Aphasic centers, in which the apps were presented, expressed interest in using them to work with patients. The Aphasia Create app won the Enactus Poland National Competition in 2015.

port community system, terminal operating system, navigation safety, logistics, e-freight, IoT-based monitoring, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

Seaports are genuine, intermodal hubs connecting seaways to inland transport links, such as roads and railways. Seaports are located at the focal point of institutional, industrial, and control activities in a jungle of interconnected information systems. System integration is setting considerable challenges when a group of independent providers are asked to implement complementary software functionalities. For this reason, seaports are the ideal playground where software is highly composite and tailored to a large variety of final users (from the so-called port communities). Although the target would be that of shaping the Port Authorities to be providers of (digital) innovation services, the state-of-the-art is still that of considering them as final users, or proxies of them. For this reason, we show how a canonical cloud, virtualizing a distributed architecture, can be structured to host different, possibly overlapped, tenants, slicing the information system at the infrastructure, platform, and software layers. Resources at the infrastructure and platform layers are shared so that a variety of independent applications can make use of the local calculus and access the data stored in a Data Lake. Such a cloud is adopted by the Port of Livorno as a rapid prototyping framework for the development and deployment of ICT innovation services. In order to demonstrate the versatility of this framework, three case studies relating to as many prototype ICT services (Navigation Safety, e-Freight, and Logistics) released within three industrial tenants are here presented and discussed.

Shape memory polyurethane, Magnesium, 3D printing, Robust bone regeneration, Tight-contact, Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials, TA401-492, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Patients with bone defects suffer from a high rate of disability and deformity. Poor contact of grafts with defective bones and insufficient osteogenic activities lead to increased loose risks and unsatisfied repair efficacy. Although self-expanding scaffolds were developed to enhance bone integration, the limitations on the high transition temperature and the unsatisfied bioactivity hindered greatly their clinical application. Herein, we report a near-infrared-responsive and tight-contacting scaffold that comprises of shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) as the thermal-responsive matrix and magnesium (Mg) as the photothermal and bioactive component, which fabricated by the low temperature rapid prototyping (LT-RP) 3D printing technology. As designed, due to synergistic effects of the components and the fabrication approach, the composite scaffold possesses a homogeneously porous structure, significantly improved mechanical properties and stable photothermal effects. The programmed scaffold can be heated to recover under near infrared irradiation in 60s. With 4 wt% Mg, the scaffold has the balanced shape fixity ratio of 93.6% and shape recovery ratio of 95.4%. The compressed composite scaffold could lift a 100 g weight under NIR light, which was more than 1700 times of its own weight. The results of the push-out tests and the finite element analysis (FEA) confirmed the tight-contacting ability of the SMPU/4 wt%Mg scaffold, which had a signficant enhancement compared to the scaffold without shape memory effects. Furthermore, The osteopromotive function of the scaffold has been demonstrated through a series of in vitro and in vivo studies. We envision this scaffold can be a clinically effective strategy for robust bone regeneration.

Digital signal processor, Universal motor, Speed control, Hardware architecture, PI controller, dSPACE MicroAutoBox, Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General), and TA1-2040

Universal motors are widely used in household appliances. When traditionally powered by AC, current harmonics are created which cause overheating of the windings and electromagnetic compatibility problems affecting the lifespan of the motor. Considering the remarkable comeback of DC power and its prospects in the electrification of homes, this paper proposes a control strategy for universal motors powered by DC using the rapid control prototyping feature offered by the dSPACE MicroAutoBox. A PI controller is designed using dominant-pole compensation method. The control strategy is simulated in Matlab/Simulink, then implemented in the MicroAutoBox via the Real-Time Interface. The simulation results are compared with those acquired by implementation through a laboratory test bench built around the MicroAutoBox and a dual full-bridge driver. The experimental results show that the designed PI controller managed to eliminate the static error and increased significantly the system dynamic performance by 26.5% in simulation and by 23.5% in practice. The robustness of the proposed control strategy against randomized load disturbances is proved by experimental tests. Furthermore, a significant improvement in power quality is reported.

Traveling wave structures for lossless ion manipulation (TW-SLIM) has proven a valuable tool for the separation and study of gas-phase ions. Unfortunately, many of the traditional components of TW-SLIM experiments manifest practical and financial barriers to the technique's broad implementation. To this end, a series of technological innovations and methodologies are presented which enable for simplified SLIM experimentation and more rapid TW-SLIM prototyping. In addition to the use of multiple independent board sets that comprise the present SLIM system, we introduce a low-cost, multifunctional traveling wave generator to produce TW within the TW-SLIM. This square-wave producing unit proved effective in realizing TW-SLIM separations compared to traditional approaches. Maintaining a focus on lowering barriers to implementation, the present set of experiments explores the use of on-board injection (OBI) methods, which offer potential alternatives to ion funnel traps. These OBI techniques proved feasible and the ability of this simplified TW-SLIM platform to enhance ion accumulation was established. Further experimentation regarding ion accumulation revealed a complexity to ion accumulation within TW-SLIM that has yet to be expounded upon. Lastly, the ability of the presented TW-SLIM platform to store ions for extended periods (1 s) without significant loss (<10%) was demonstrated. The aforementioned experiments clearly establish the efficacy of a simplified TW-SLIM platform which promises to expand adoption and experimentation of the technique.
(Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Drones, CFD, MDO, Aircraft design, Open source, PSO, Computer engineering. Computer hardware, TK7885-7895, Electronic computers. Computer science, and QA75.5-76.95

Hybrid configurations in aircraft design are highly favorable as they can achieve the appropriate trade-offs required to develop a generalized unmanned aerial system (UAS). Rapid prototyping of such systems at the student level is challenging because commercial software is expensive and difficult to interlink with other tools for creating a multi-disciplinary design. We address this challenge by conceptualizing an aircraft design framework made entirely of open-source software, libraries, and in-house code. We then use this framework to design an all-electric unmanned aerial system with transitioning Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) and Fixed-Wing (FW) modes. The UAV is capable of long-range surveillance up to 100 Kilometers and carrying a maximum relief payload of 1 kg while operating in an ad-hoc wi-fi network with a swarm of similar UAVs. A low fidelity particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) and a comprehensive propulsion architecture is also incorporated and validated against commercial software. To validate the design, a prototype is fabricated from glass-fiber and XPS foam, integrated with appropriate sensors and tuned using ArduPilot software. The results show that low-fidelity design is a safe starting point for prototyping under constrained timelines. The study is concluded by discussing the technical challenges of using free software, and some practical considerations while flight testing a UAV with a hybrid configuration.

nanoparticles, self-assembly, printing technology, patterned structure, functional devices, Science (General), and Q1-390

Functional nanoparticles (NPs) with unique photoelectric, mechanical, magnetic, and chemical properties have attracted considerable attention. Aggregated NPs rather than individual NPs are generally required for sensing, electronics, and catalysis. However, the transformation of functional NP aggregates into scalable, controllable, and affordable functional devices remains challenging. Printing is a promising additive manufacturing technology for fabricating devices from NP building blocks because of its capabilities for rapid prototyping and versatile multifunctional manufacturing. This paper reviews recent advances in NP patterning based on the combination of self-assembly and printing technologies (including two-, three-, and four-dimensional printing), introduces the basic characteristics of these methods, and discusses various fields of NP patterning applications. Public summary: • Nanoparticles (NPs) printing assembly is a good solution for patterned devices • NPs assembly can be combined with 2D, 3D, and 4D printing technologies • A variety of ink-dispersed NPs are available for printing assembly • NPs printing assembly technology is applied for nanosensing, energy storage, photodetector

3d printing, Additive manufacturing, Rapid prototyping, Surgery, Craniofacial, Maxillofacial, Medical technology, and R855-855.5

This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the published literature for three-dimensional printing (3DP) in cranio- and maxillofacial surgery applications utilizing either external laboratories (outsourced) or point-of-care (POC) fabrication facilities. Four digital databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were systematically reviewed between January 2018 and December 2020. The review focused on the type of printed objects, the clinical indications, surgical outcome, time, cost, 3DP materials, and technologies used. Among the 2269 retrieved studies, 75 met the inclusion criteria. The studies that stated POC and outsourced production methods were 34.67% (n = 26) and 12% (n = 9). A large proportion of studies (54.67%, n = 41) did not specify the printing location. 3DP was used for surgeries of the entire craniomaxillofacial region, most specifically in mandibular reconstructions and orthognathic surgeries applications. Customized implants and osteosynthesis plates were exclusively printed in titanium using Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) 3DP technology. For surgical guides, models, and molds, Material Jetting, Material Extrusion, and Vat Photopolymerization, using either thermoplastic or photopolymeric resin materials were used. Medical 3DP is an assisting tool to plan, prepare, and even improve cranio- and maxillofacial surgery outcomes. With future technological advancement and research, 3DP has the potential to revolutionize cranio- and maxillofacial surgeries. With decreasing prices of three-dimensional (3D) printers and software packages, the disadvantage of the high acquisition and procurement costs for the hardware for in-house 3DP can be addressed and mitigated with time.

Physics, QC1-999, Biology (General), and QH301-705.5

Super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) is a highly democratizable technique that provides optical super-resolution without requirement of sophisticated imaging instruments. Easy-to-use open-source packages for SOFI are important to support the utilization and community adoption of the SOFI method, they also encourage the participation and further development of SOFI by new investigators. In this work, we developed PySOFI, an open-source Python package for SOFI analysis that offers the flexibility to inspect, test, modify, improve, and extend the algorithm. We provide complete documentation for the package and a collection of Jupyter Notebooks to demonstrate the usage of the package. We discuss the architecture of PySOFI and illustrate how to use each functional module. A demonstration on how to extend the PySOFI package with additional modules is also included in the PySOFI package. We expect PySOFI to facilitate efficient adoption, testing, modification, dissemination, and prototyping of new SOFI-relevant algorithms.

3D printing, Fused deposition modeling (FDM), Tensile strength, Thermoplastics, Polylactic acid (PLA), Design of experiments (DOE), and Technology

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), one of various additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, offers a useful and accessible tool for prototyping and manufacturing small volume functional parts. Polylactic acid (PLA) is among the commonly used materials for this process. This study explores the mechanical properties and print time of additively manufactured PLA with consideration to various process parameters. The objective of this study is to optimize the process parameters for the fastest print time possible while minimizing the loss in ultimate strength. Design of experiments (DOE) was employed using a split-plot design with five factors. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to verify the model significance or otherwise. Once the model was developed, confirmation points were run to validate the model. The model was confirmed since the observations at the optimum were within the prediction interval with a confidence value of 95%. Then, the model was used to assess the ultimate strength and print time of FDM parts with consideration to nozzle diameter, the number of outer shells, extrusion temperature, infill percentage, and infill pattern. Recommendations are discussed in detail in this study to reduce print time without sacrificing significant part strength.

Bone regeneration, Hydroxyapatite, Larnite, Scaffold, Selective laser melting, Wollastonite, Clay industries. Ceramics. Glass, and TP785-869

Additive manufacturing is a rapid prototyping technology to produce complex three-dimensional scaffolds suitable for personalized medicine. In the present study, the laser powder bed fusion through a selective laser melting (SLM) approach has been applied to optimized fabrication of bio-mimicking scaffolds by using hydroxyapatite (HAp, 50 and 70 wt%) and silicon powder mixture. In situ formation of pseudo-wollastonite (P–W, CaSiO3) has been detected along with silicon for 50 wt% of HAp powder mixture, while an increase in HAp content has resulted in P–W, silicon and larnite (Ca₂SiO₄) formation. The pore size of 400 μm, according to the CAD model, are observed at the scaffolds fabricated at the shortest exposure time (50 μs), lowest laser current (500 mA) and energy density (41.6 J/mm3), and simultaneously at the highest scanning speed. Compressive stress demonstrated by the fabricated scaffolds is shown to be acceptable for their use in metaphyseal region of long bones.

Contiki-NG, Internet of Things, Resource-Constrained Devices, Computer software, and QA76.75-76.765

Contiki-NG (Next Generation) is an open source, cross-platform operating system for severely constrained wireless embedded devices. It focuses on dependable (reliable and secure) low-power communications and standardised protocols, such as 6LoWPAN, IPv6, 6TiSCH, RPL, and CoAP. Its primary aims are to (i) facilitate rapid prototyping and evaluation of Internet of Things research ideas, (ii) reduce time-to-market for Internet of Things applications, and (iii) provide an easy-to-use platform for teaching embedded systems-related courses in higher education. Contiki-NG started as a fork of the Contiki OS and retains many of its original features. In this paper, we discuss the motivation behind the creation of Contiki-NG, present the most recent version (v4.7), and highlight the impact of Contiki-NG through specific examples.

Multiphase, Singlephase, Relative permeability, Permeability, Lattice-Boltzmann, Porous media, Computer software, and QA76.75-76.765

MPLBM-UT is a specialized lattice-Boltzmann library that makes running single- and two-phase flow simulations in porous media accessible to everyone. We provide a suite of tools to pre-process computational domains for simulation, to set up custom boundary conditions, to run simulations, to post-process simulation outputs, and to visualize simulation results and data. All of these tools are easily accessible to users through the mplbm_utils Python package included in and automatically installed with MPLBM-UT. The high-performance, highly parallel library Palabos is used as the solver backend. MPLBM-UT is easily deployed in a variety of systems, from laptops to supercomputer clusters. MPLBM-UT also features multiple examples and benchmark templates that allow for fast prototyping of different porous media problems. We also provide an interface for reading in different file types and downloading domains from the Digital Rocks Portal to perform simulations.

Combinatorial optimization, Hyper-heuristics, Job shop scheduling, Matlab, MatHH, Computer software, and QA76.75-76.765

Hyper-Heuristics (HHs) have proven to be a valuable tool for solving complex problems, such as Combinatorial Optimization Problems (COPs). These solvers have an assorted set of models arising through extensive research from the scientific community. Hence, it is customary that researchers develop their models from scratch, which increases development times. Drafting and testing new ideas become burdensome and time-consuming. In this work, we present MatHH, a Matlab-based framework to allow rapid prototyping of HHs. We summarize the architecture and some examples of their usage. We also discuss some research questions that upcoming research may explore through MatHH.

Cycling infrastructure, Distance to parking cars, Cycling simulator, Online survey, Rapid prototyping, Method comparison, Transportation and communications, and HE1-9990

Marked on-road infrastructure for bicycle riders is a fast and cost-efficient way to expand cycling infrastructure and thus promote cycling as a means of transport. Infrastructure layout has been shown to influence cyclists’ as well as car drivers’ behavior towards cyclists in traffic observations, with on-street markings for cyclists in some circumstances reducing overtaking distances by car drivers. Simulator and online studies promise to provide a fast and easy way of rapid prototyping infrastructure layouts. But, despite of good face validity, how trustworthy are the results of both these research tools? In a case-study to inform planning authorities, two studies, one in a cycling simulator and an online survey, evaluated the effects of different on-street markings from bicycle riders’ perspectives. Results showed that in mixed traffic stronger visual separation between parking cars and flowing traffic and a bicycle pictogram on the road induced greater lateral distance of bicycle riders from parking cars. This infrastructure layout was also rated as safe, comfortable, and comprehensible from bicycle riders’ perspectives. From a methods’ evaluation perspective, effects from the cycling simulator may be interpreted as behaviorally valid relatively between conditions only. Both methods offer a cost-effective approach to initially test infrastructure solutions by weeding out the less favorable ones in the early stages of the design.

Colorimetry methods, Humans, Microfluidics, Paper, Printing, Three-Dimensional, Reproducibility of Results, Drinking Water analysis, and Nitrites

To ensure safe drinking water, it is necessary to have a simple method by which the probable pollutants are detected at the point of distribution. Nitrite contamination in water near agricultural locations could be an environmental concern due to its deleterious effects on the human population. The development of a frugal paper-based microfluidic sensor could be desirable to achieve the societal objective of providing safe drinking water. This work describes the development of a facile and cost-effective microfluidic paper-based sensor for quantitative estimation of nitrite in aquatic environments. A simple punching machine was used for fabrication and rapid prototyping of paper-based sensors without the need of any specialized equipment or patterning techniques. A reusable 3D printed platform served as the support for simultaneous testing of multiple samples. The nitrite estimation was carried out with smartphone-assisted digital image acquisition and colorimetric analysis. Under optimized experimental conditions, the variation in average grayscale intensity with concentration of nitrite was linear in the range from 0.1 to 10 ppm. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.12 ppm and 0.35 ppm respectively. The reproducibility, expressed as relative standard deviation was 1.31%. The selectivity of nitrite detection method was determined by performing interference studies with commonly existing co-ions in water, such as bicarbonates, chloride and sulphate. The paper-based sensor was successfully applied for estimation of nitrite in actual water samples and showed high recoveries in the range of 83.5-109%. The results were in good agreement with those obtained using spectrophotometry. The developed paper-based sensor method, by virtue of its simplicity, ease of fabrication and use, could be readily extended for detection of multiple analytes in resource-limited settings.
(Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Engineering regulatory parts for improved performance in genetic programs has played a pivotal role in the development of the synthetic biology cell programming toolbox. Here, we report the development of a novel high-throughput platform for regulatory part prototyping and analysis that leverages the advantages of engineered DNA libraries, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS), high-throughput emulsion droplet microfluidics, standard flow sorting adapted to screen droplet reactions, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). With this integrated platform, we screened the activity of millions of genetic parts within hours, followed by NGS retrieval of the improved designs. This in vitro platform is particularly valuable for engineering regulatory parts of nonmodel organisms, where in vivo high-throughput screening methods are not readily available. The platform can be extended to multipart screening of complete genetic programs to optimize yield and stability.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) comprises a variety of techniques that enable fabrication of customised objects with specific attributes. The versatility of AM procedures and constant technological improvements allow for their application in the development of medicinal products and medical devices. This review provides an overview of AM applications related to respiratory sciences. For this purpose, both fields of research are briefly introduced and the potential benefits of integrating AM to respiratory sciences at different levels of pharmaceutical development are highlighted. Tailored manufacturing of microstructures as a particle design approach in respiratory drug delivery will be discussed. At the dosage form level, we exemplify AM as an important link in the iterative loop of data driven inhaler design, rapid prototyping and in vitro testing. This review also presents the application of bioprinting in the respiratory field for design of biorelevant in vitro cellular models, followed by an overview of AM-related processes in preventive and therapeutic care. Finally, this review discusses future prospects of AM as a component in a digital health environment.
(Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: An automated algorithm for generating realizable MR gradient and shim coil layouts based on the boundary element method is presented here. The overall goal is to reduce postprocessing effort and thus enable for rapid prototyping of new coil designs. For a given surface mesh and target field, the algorithm generates a connected, non-overlapping wire path.
Methods: The proposed algorithm consists of several steps: Stream function optimization, two-dimensional surface projection, potential discretization, topological contour sorting, opening and interconnecting contours, and finally adding non-overlapping return paths. Several technical parameters such as current strength, inductance and field accuracy are assessed for quality control.
Results: The proposed method is successfully demonstrated in four different examples. All exemplary results demonstrate high accuracy with regard to reaching the respective target field. The optimal discretization for a given stream function is found by generating multiple layouts while varying the input parameter values.
Conclusion: The presented algorithm allows for a rapid generation of interconnected coil layouts with high flexibility and low discretization error. This enables to reduce the overall post-processing effort. The source code of this work is publicly available ( https://github.com/Philipp-MR/CoilGen).
(© 2022 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

Background: Temporal hollowing is a common complication following the rotation of the temporalis muscle that leaves the patient with a cosmetic impairment. Several alloplastic materials have been used to reconstruct the donor site; however, these implants need meticulous adaptation to conform the periphery of the defect and restore the contour of the temporal area. The aim of this study was to assess the use of patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) temporal implants to prevent temporal hollowing following the use of full temporalis muscle flap for large maxillary defects reconstruction.
Methods: This was a prospective study conducted on eight patients with major maxillary defects indicating the need of reconstruction with full temporalis muscle flap or any lesion indicating major maxillary resection and immediate reconstruction with total temporalis muscle flap. For each patient, a patient-specific PEEK implant was fabricated using virtual planning and milled from PEEK blocks. In the surgical theater, the temporalis muscle was exposed, elevated, and transferred to the maxilla. After the temporalis muscle transfer, PEEK implants were fixed in place to prevent temporal hollowing.
Results: The surgical procedures were uneventful for all patients. The esthetic result was satisfactory with no post-operative complications except in one patient where seroma occurred after 2 weeks and resolved after serial aspiration.
Conclusion: Patient-specific PEEK implant appears to facilitate the surgical procedures eliminate several meticulous steps that are mainly based on the surgeon's experience.
Trial Registration: Clinical trials registration: NCT05240963 .
(© 2022. The Author(s).)

Purpose: This study compared the dimensional changes between computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) milled complete denture bases (CDBs) and three-dimensional (3D) printed CDBs.
Materials and Methods: One maxillary completely edentulous stone model was fabricated with three reference points at the incisive papilla, right molar, and left molar areas marked as X, Y, and Z, respectively. It was scanned to produce a standard tessellation language (STL) file, which was imported to a metal milling machine software to produce the metal model. This metal model was used to fabricate 30 CDBs for analysis. The CDBs were divided into three groups (n = 10 each) according to the fabrication method used as follows: Group 1, CAD-CAM milled CDBs; Group 2, 3D printed CDBs; and Group 3, conventional compression molded CDBs. The CDBs of all groups were scanned after fabrication, and the dimensional changes in each were evaluated by two methods. The first was the two-dimensional evaluation method that involved linear measurement of the distances between the reference points (X-Y, X-Z, and Y-Z) of the scanned reference cast and dentures. The second method was the 3D evaluation method that involved the superimposition of the STL files of the dentures on the STL file of the reference cast. Data were calculated and were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's pairwise post hoc tests.
Results: There was a significant difference in the dimensional accuracy between the CAD-CAM milled, 3D printed, and conventional compression molded CDBs (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The dimensional accuracy of the CAD-CAM milling system in complete denture fabrication is superior to that of the compression molding and 3D printing systems.
(© 2022 by the American College of Prosthodontists.)

An electrochemical multi-scale model framework for the simulation of arbitrarily three-dimensional structured electrodes for lithium-ion batteries is presented. For the parameterisation, the electrodes are structured via laser ablation, and the model is fit to four different, experimentally electrochemically tested cells. The parameterised model is used to optimise the parameters of three different pattern designs, namely linear, gridwise, and pinhole geometries. The simulations are performed via a finite element implementation in two and three dimensions. The presented model is well suited to depict the experimental cells, and the virtual optimisation delivers optimal geometrical parameters for different C-rates based on the respective discharge capacities. These virtually optimised cells will help in the reduction of prototyping cost and speed up production process parameterisation.

Background: The rise of digital methods and computational tools has opened up the possibility of collecting and analyzing data from novel sources, such as discussions on social media. At the same time, these methods and tools introduce a dependence on technology, often resulting in a need for technical skills and expertise. Researchers from various disciplines engage in empirical bioethics research, and software development and similar skills are not usually part of their background. Therefore, researchers often depend on technical experts to develop and apply digital methods, which can create a bottleneck and hinder the broad use of digital methods in empirical bioethics research.
Objective: This study aimed to develop a research platform that would offer researchers the means to better leverage implemented digital methods, and that would simplify the process of developing new methods.
Methods: This study used a mixed methods approach to design and develop a research platform prototype. I combined established methods from user-centered design, rapid prototyping, and agile software development to iteratively develop the platform prototype. In collaboration with two other researchers, I tested and extended the platform prototype in situ by carrying out a study using the prototype.
Results: The resulting research platform prototype provides three digital methods, which are composed of functional components. This modular concept allows researchers to use existing methods for their own experiments and combine implemented components into new methods.
Conclusions: The platform prototype illustrates the potential of the modular concept and empowers researchers without advanced technical skills to carry out experiments using digital methods and develop new methods. However, more work is needed to bring the prototype to a production-ready state.
(©Manuel Schneider. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 05.05.2022.)

Electrodes, Glucose, Gold chemistry, Hydrogen Peroxide, Silver, Electrochemical Techniques, and Microfluidics

We present a low-cost, accessible, and rapid fabrication process for electrochemical microfluidic sensors. This work leverages the accessibility of consumer-grade electronic craft cutters as the primary tool for patterning of sensor electrodes and microfluidic circuits, while commodity materials such as gold leaf, silver ink pen, double-sided tape, plastic transparency films, and fabric adhesives are used as its base structural materials. The device consists of three layers, the silver reference electrode layer at the top, the PET fluidic circuits in the middle and the gold sensing electrodes at the bottom. Separation of the silver reference electrode from the gold sensing electrodes reduces the possibility of cross-contamination during surface modification. A novel approach in mesoscale patterning of gold leaf electrodes can produce generic designs with dimensions as small as 250 μm. Silver electrodes with dimensions as small as 385 μm were drawn using a plotter and a silver ink pen, and fluid microchannels as small as 300 μm were fabricated using a sandwich of iron-on adhesives and PET. Device layers are then fused together using an office laminator. The integrated microfluidic electrochemical platform has electrode kinetics/performance of Δ Ep = 91.3 mV, Ipa / Ipc = 0.905, characterized by cyclic voltammetry using a standard ferrocyanide redox probe, and this was compared against a commercial screen-printed gold electrode (Δ Ep = 68.9 mV, Ipa / Ipc = 0.984). To validate the performance of the integrated microfluidic electrochemical platform, a catalytic hydrogen peroxide sensor and enzyme-coupled glucose biosensors were developed as demonstrators. Hydrogen peroxide quantitation achieves a limit of detection of 0.713 mM and sensitivity of 78.37 μA mM -1 cm -2 , while glucose has a limit of detection of 0.111 mM and sensitivity of 12.68 μA mM -1 cm -2 . This rapid process allows an iterative design-build-test cycle in under 2 hours. The upfront cost to set up the system is less than USD 520, with each device costing less than USD 0.12, making this manufacturing process suitable for low-resource laboratories or classroom settings.

Problem: Physicians are playing a growing role as clinician-innovators. Academic physicians are well-positioned to contribute to the medical device innovation process, and yet few medical school curricula provide students opportunities to learn the conceptual framework for clinical needs finding, needs screening, concept generation and iterative prototyping, and intellectual property management. This framework supports innovation and encourages the development valuable interdisciplinary communication skills and collaborative learning strategies.
Approach: Our university offers a novel 3-year-long medical student Longitudinal Interdisciplinary Elective in Biodesign (MSLIEB) that teaches medical device innovation in 4 stages: (1) seminars and small group work, (2) shared clinical experiences for needs finding, (3) concept generation and product development by serving as consultants for biomedical engineering capstone projects, and (4) reflection and mentorship. The MSLIEB objectives are to: create a longitudinal interdisciplinary peer mentorship relationship between undergraduate biomedical engineering students and medical students; and encourage codevelopment of professional identities in relation to medical device innovation.
Outcomes: The MSLIEB enrolled 5 entering cohorts from 2017-2021 with a total of 37 medical student participants. The first full entering cohort of 12 medical students produced 8 mentored biomedical engineering capstone projects, 7 of which were based on clinical needs statements derived from earlier in the elective. Medical student participants have coauthored poster and oral presentations, contributed to projects that won WolfieTank, a university-wide competition modeled after the television show Shark Tank, and participated in the filing of provisional patents. Students reflecting on the course reported a change in their attitude towards existing medical problems, felt better-equipped to collaboratively design solutions for clinical needs, and considered a potential career path in device design.
Next Steps: The MSLIEB will be scaled-up by recruiting additional faculty, broadening clinical opportunities to include the outpatient setting, and increasing medical student access to rapid prototyping equipment.

Humans, Oxides, Printing, Three-Dimensional, Radiography, Strontium, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The aim of this research was to assess a selection of radiopaque filler compounds for increasing radiopacity in a resin suitable for Polyjet multi-material 3D printing. A radiopaque resin has potential applications in medicine to produce patient-specific anatomical models with realistic radiological properties, training aids, and skin contacting components such as surgical or procedural guides that require visibility under fluoroscopy. The desirable filler would have a high level of radiopacity under ionising imaging modalities, such as X-ray, CT, fluoroscopy or angiography. Nine potential filler compounds were selected based on atomic number and handling risk: barium sulphate, bismuth oxide, zirconium oxide, strontium oxide, strontium fluoride, strontium carbonate, iodine, niobium oxide and tantalum oxide. The fillers were evaluated using selected criteria. A weighted material selection matrix was developed to prioritise and select a filler for future 3D printing on a multi-material 3D printer. Zirconium oxide was the highest scoring filler compound in the material selection matrix, scoring 4.4 out of a maximum of 5. MED610 TM resin doped with zirconium oxide was shown to be UV curable, and when cured is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and has the ability to display antimicrobial properties. In terms of radiopacity, a sample with thickness 1.5 mm of MED610™ resin doped with 20 wt.% zirconium oxide produced X-ray radiopacity equivalent to 3 mm of aluminium. Zirconium oxide was selected using the material selection matrix. This radiopaque resin can be used to produce anatomical models with accurate radiological properties, training aids or skin contacting devices that require visibility under ionising imaging modalities. The 3D printing validation run successfully demonstrated that the material selection matrix prioritised a filler suitable for radiopaque multi-material 3D printing.

Rehabilitation of a post-exenterated orbital defect is a necessity, to restore a patient's esthetic appearance and help overcome the associated psychosocial stigma. An implant supported prosthesis enjoys a better patient acceptance due to its superior retention and stability. This clinical report highlights the challenges faced in planning, designing and placement of maxillofacial implants in the supra-orbital rim of an exenterated socket post-radiotherapy along with the management of the unexpected complications which developed subsequently. Administration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, fabrication of a digitally designed surgical guide to ensure predictable implant placement, selection of surface treated implants for better biomechanical anchorage, and a gentler surgical technique for recovery of irradiated hard and soft tissues were measures undertaken during the treatment phase. An effort has been made to point-out the fact that despite the various approaches adopted in an irradiated patient, success of implant placement in such a situation remains a challenge.
(© 2022 Craniofacial Research Foundation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Internet of Things, remote prototyping, FPGA devices, undergraduate teaching, digital design and synthesis lab, COVID-19 lockdowns, Electronics, and TK7800-8360

This paper presents a system for the remote design and testing of electronic circuits and devices with FPGAs during COVID-19 and similar lockdown periods when physical access to laboratories is not permitted. The system is based on the application of the IoT concept, in which the final device is a test board with an FPGA chip. The system allows for remote visual inspection of the board and the devices linked to it in the laboratory. The system was developed for remote learning taking place during the lockdown periods at Poznan University of Technology (PUT) in Poland. The functionality of the system is confirmed by two demonstration tasks (the use of the temperature and humidity DHT11 sensor and the design of a generator of sinusoidal waveforms) for students in the fundamentals of digital design and synthesis courses. The proposed solution allows, in part, to bypass the time-consuming simulations, and accelerate the process of prototyping digital circuits by remotely accessing the infrastructure of the microelectronics laboratory.

battery safety, electrical vehicles, socio-technical system, rapid prototyping, stakeholders, policy, and Technology

Battery technology is crucial in the transition towards electric mobility. Lithium-ion batteries are conquering the market but are facing fire safety risks that might threaten further applications. In this study, we address the problem and potential solutions for traction batteries in the European Union area. We do so by taking a unique socio-technical system perspective. Therefore, a novel, mixed-method approach is applied, combining literature review; stakeholder interviews; Failure Mode, Mechanisms, and Event Analysis (FMMEA); and rapid prototyping. Our findings confirm that fire safety is an upcoming concern. Still, most stakeholders lack a full understanding of the problem. Improving safety is a shared responsibility among supply chain and societal stakeholders. For automotive applications, voluntary standard-setting on safety risks is an appropriate tool to improve fire safety, whereas for niche applications, a top-down approach setting regulations seems more suited. For both groups, the adaptation of battery pack designs to prevent thermal runaway propagation is shown to be promising from a technological, practical, and organizational perspective. The chosen mixed-method approach allowed for a holistic analysis of the problems and potential solutions. As such, it can serve as an empowerment strategy for stakeholders in the field, stimulating further discussion, agenda building, and action.

Maxillofacial reconstruction, Temporalis flap, Temporal hollowing, Computer-assisted surgery, Patient-specific implants, Rapid prototyping, Dentistry, RK1-715, Surgery, and RD1-811

Abstract Background Temporal hollowing is a common complication following the rotation of the temporalis muscle that leaves the patient with a cosmetic impairment. Several alloplastic materials have been used to reconstruct the donor site; however, these implants need meticulous adaptation to conform the periphery of the defect and restore the contour of the temporal area. The aim of this study was to assess the use of patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) temporal implants to prevent temporal hollowing following the use of full temporalis muscle flap for large maxillary defects reconstruction. Methods This was a prospective study conducted on eight patients with major maxillary defects indicating the need of reconstruction with full temporalis muscle flap or any lesion indicating major maxillary resection and immediate reconstruction with total temporalis muscle flap. For each patient, a patient-specific PEEK implant was fabricated using virtual planning and milled from PEEK blocks. In the surgical theater, the temporalis muscle was exposed, elevated, and transferred to the maxilla. After the temporalis muscle transfer, PEEK implants were fixed in place to prevent temporal hollowing. Results The surgical procedures were uneventful for all patients. The esthetic result was satisfactory with no post-operative complications except in one patient where seroma occurred after 2 weeks and resolved after serial aspiration. Conclusion Patient-specific PEEK implant appears to facilitate the surgical procedures eliminate several meticulous steps that are mainly based on the surgeon’s experience. Trial registration Clinical trials registration: NCT05240963 .

battery modelling, laser-structured electrodes, 3D battery concept, lithium-ion battery, multi-physics multi-domain modelling, virtual optimisation, Chemistry, and QD1-999

An electrochemical multi-scale model framework for the simulation of arbitrarily three-dimensional structured electrodes for lithium-ion batteries is presented. For the parameterisation, the electrodes are structured via laser ablation, and the model is fit to four different, experimentally electrochemically tested cells. The parameterised model is used to optimise the parameters of three different pattern designs, namely linear, gridwise, and pinhole geometries. The simulations are performed via a finite element implementation in two and three dimensions. The presented model is well suited to depict the experimental cells, and the virtual optimisation delivers optimal geometrical parameters for different C-rates based on the respective discharge capacities. These virtually optimised cells will help in the reduction of prototyping cost and speed up production process parameterisation.

design thinking, empathy, problem definition, product testing, prototyping, Business, and HF5001-6182

Entrepreneurial activities seek to fill the gaps created by the government’s inability to employ their citizens globally. However, design thinking, which is a human-centered and solution-based approach to problem-solving can enhance entrepreneurial success. This study investigates design thinking and business success in Nigeria. The purpose was to determine how design thinking influences business success using the five-stage model of design thinking as its framework. The study employed a quantitative methodology. The design was a cross-sectional survey of 224 out of 350 randomly selected online respondents that were invited. The respondents, who were either entrepreneurs or people with knowledge of entrepreneurial education at the undergraduate or postgraduate levels, were contacted through social media (Facebook and WhatsApp) and a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from them. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling technique. Empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and product testing were found to be positively related to business success. However, while the positive relationships between empathy, problem definition, prototyping, and product testing were found to be significant at a 1% level, that of ideation was not significant at all; thus, empathy, problem definition, prototyping, and product testing are predictors of business success. Consequently, at a 99% confidence level, it is concluded that empathy, problem definition, prototyping, and product testing, and by implication, entrepreneurial design thinking, are significant predictors of business success.

Fiber optics sensor, Soil water measurements, Distrubuite fiber optic sensors, Fiber Bragg Grating, Smart farming, Optics. Light, and QC350-467

Real time measurements of soil water content play a critical role in many fields of science as agronomy, geology, engineering, and hydrology. In the last years, agriculture has become one of the most important application fields of soil water sensors technology in order to optimize the irrigation process and to guarantee sustainable water resources management. This work provides a review on the latest emerging methodologies based on optical fiber sensing for soil moisture monitoring for agricultural and hydrological applications. In particular, the main studies referring to optical fiber sensors based on a variation of the refractive index of the external medium, sensors based on heated distributed temperature sensor (HDTS) and sensors based on Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) or Long Period Gratings (LPG) are here explored. Finally, some approaches based on the NIR absorbance spectroscopy are proposed for measuring the soil water content. Most of these approaches and technologies are still in a prototyping phase and only few of them are properly evaluated in situ real context.

multi-axis, magnetic tactile sensor, robotic surgery, force range, Hall sensor, elastomer, Chemical technology, and TP1-1185

This paper presents a multi-axis low-cost soft magnetic tactile sensor with a high force range for force feedback in robotic surgical systems. The proposed sensor is designed to fully decouple the output response for normal, shear and angular forces. The proposed sensor is fabricated using rapid prototyping techniques and utilizes Neodymium magnets embedded in an elastomer over Hall sensors such that their displacement produces a voltage change that can be used to calculate the applied force. The initial spacing between the magnets and the Hall sensors is optimized to achieve a large displacement range using finite element method (FEM) simulations. The experimental characterization of the proposed sensor is performed for applied force in normal, shear and 45° angular direction. The force sensitivity of the proposed sensor in normal, shear and angular directions is 16 mV/N, 30 mV/N and 81 mV/N, respectively, with minimum mechanical crosstalk. The force range for the normal, shear and angular direction is obtained as 0–20 N, 0–3.5 N and 0–1.5 N, respectively. The proposed sensor shows a perfectly linear behavior and a low hysteresis error of 8.3%, making it suitable for tactile sensing and biomedical applications. The effect of the material properties of the elastomer on force ranges and sensitivity values of the proposed sensor is also discussed.

Curriculum, Humans, Physical Education and Training, Schools, Educational Personnel, and Students

School-based programs may be more effective when an array of stakeholders, including users, are involved during the relevant stages of program co-creation-specifically during key development stages such as design, implementation and evaluation. How such programs can be operationally co-created and tested is less known and is therefore the purpose of this article. Two sequential co-design phases underpin this study. First, a co-design session with 20 health and physical education (HPE) teachers focussed on reviewing, testing and critically discussing initial prototype online modules for an alcohol education program. Teacher insights were assessed and incorporated, and the updated online modules were tested with secondary school students (n = 120) capturing their experience in a classroom setting. Insights from each group were analysed using thematic analysis. Teachers and students serve important roles in program co-creation. Teachers remain an underutilized stakeholder group whom are however critical in delivering important insights to enhance educational program design. Teachers demanded more relevance to the national curriculum, further alignment with curriculum assessment standards, and age appropriate content. Student feedback focussed largely on realistic content, personalization and gamification elements. This study represents an application of the seven-step co-design process and advances understanding of the 'fuzzy back-end' of the process, namely reflecting on feasibility of integrating teacher and student feedback and ideas. More specifically, how these key-yet distinct-stakeholder groups can be involved, and the merits of their involvement are discussed.
(© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The nanophotonic engineering of light-matter interactions has profoundly changed research behind the design and fabrication of optical materials and devices. Metasurfaces-arrays of subwavelength nanostructures that interact resonantly with electromagnetic radiation-have emerged as an integral nanophotonic platform for a new generation of ultrathin lenses, displays, polarizers and other devices. Their success hinges on advances in lithography and nanofabrication in recent decades. While existing nanolithography techniques are suitable for basic research and prototyping, issues of cost, throughput, scalability, and substrate compatibility may preclude their use for many metasurface applications. Patterning via spontaneous self-assembly of block copolymer thin films offers an enticing alternative for nanophotonic manufacturing that is rapid, inexpensive, and applicable to large areas and diverse substrates. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of block copolymer-based nanopatterning and highlights recent progress in their use for broadband antireflection, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and other nanophotonic applications. Recent advances in diversification of self-assembled block copolymer nanopatterns and improved processes for enhanced scalability of self-assembled nanopatterning using block copolymers are also discussed, with a spotlight on directions for future research that would enable a wider array of nanophotonic applications.
(© 2022 US Government.)