Design Refinement Research Articles

Design of Ergonomic Adjustable Welding Work Facilities Using the DFMA Method

In this modern and sophisticated era, the manufacturing industry is developing both service industries and those that produce products with a variety of shapes and models to attract customers. For example, adjustable welding tables, motorbikes, cars, and others. Companies compete with each other in terms of price, product excellence, product innovation, and product convenience in order to find the right consumer market. DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) is a method of making products that aims to facilitate the manufacturing and assembly process where existing designs can be simplified and adapted to the capabilities of the manufacturing facility by considering technical aspects. The scope of design and ergonomics activities includes problems related to human needs, including interior design, furniture design, environmental equipment design, transportation equipment design, textile design, graphic design, etc. (Setiawan, M. S. 2022). At this stage, data collection is carried out, and the author needs to design an adjustable welding table. However, first recompose the table components and determine which are assembly parts and subassembly parts. Then identify each component. Product size and components, labor time, manufacturing data, and others to support research. 1. Analysis of Design Needs 2. Preliminary Design Sketching 3. Design Evaluation 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement 4. Final Design Refinement. 1) In the previous product development, design 3 was completed with a design that is certainly more ergonomic than design 1, because design 3 has been adjusted to body size using ergonomic standards. 2) Based on the results of the development of this adjustable welding table product, option 3 is the one with the lowest cost because it has a smaller number of components and total assembly steps compared to options 1 and 2. The cost of option 1 is around Rp. 1,780,000; option 2 is around Rp. 1,515,000; and option 3 is around Rp. 870,000. The total assembly steps for option 1 are 40; option 2 is 34; and option 3 is 25. The number of components in options 1 and 2 is 10, while option 3 is only 9.

Evaluation of CTRL: a web application for dynamic consent and engagement with individuals involved in a cardiovascular genetic disorders cohort

There has been keen interest in whether dynamic consent should be used in health research but few real-world studies have evaluated its use. Australian Genomics piloted and evaluated CTRL (‘control’), a digital consent tool incorporating granular, dynamic decision-making and communication for genomic research. Individuals from a Cardiovascular Genetic Disorders Flagship were invited in person (prospective cohort) or by email (retrospective cohort) to register for CTRL after initial study recruitment. Demographics, consent choices, experience surveys and website analytics were analysed using descriptive statistics. Ninety-one individuals registered to CTRL (15.5% of the prospective cohort and 11.8% of the retrospective cohort). Significantly more males than females registered when invited retrospectively, but there was no difference in age, gender, or education level between those who did and did not use CTRL. Variation in individual consent choices about secondary data use and return of results supports the desirability of providing granular consent options. Robust conclusions were not drawn from satisfaction, trust, decision regret and knowledge outcome measures: differences between CTRL and non-CTRL cohorts did not emerge. Analytics indicate CTRL is acceptable, although underutilised. This is one of the first studies evaluating uptake and decision making using online consent tools and will inform refinement of future designs.

A human‐centred learning analytics approach for developing contextually scalable K‐12 teacher dashboards

AbstractThis paper describes a Human‐Centred Learning Analytics (HCLA) design approach for developing learning analytics (LA) dashboards for K‐12 classrooms that maintain both contextual relevance and scalability—two goals that are often in competition. Using mixed methods, we collected observational and interview data from teacher partners and assessment data from their students' engagement with the lesson materials. This DBR‐based, human‐centred design process resulted in a dashboard that supported teachers in addressing their students' learning needs. To develop the dashboard features that could support teachers, we found that a design refinement process that drew on the insights of teachers with varying teaching experience, philosophies and teaching contexts strengthened the resulting outcome. The versatile nature of the approach, in terms of student learning outcomes, makes it useful for HCLA design efforts across diverse K‐12 educational contexts. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Learning analytics that are aligned to both a learning theory and learning design support student learning. LA dashboards that support users to understand the associated learning analytics data provide actionable insight. Design‐based research is a promising methodology for Human‐Centred Learning Analytics design, particularly in the K‐12 educational context. What this paper adds Leveraging a longstanding, yet fluid, research‐practice partnership is an effective design‐based research adaptation for addressing the high variation in instructional practices that characterize K‐12 education. Using both quantitative and qualitative data that reflects students' developing knowledge effectively supports teachers' inquiry into student learning. Teachers' use of learning analytics dashboards is heavily influenced by their perspectives on teaching and learning. Implications for practice and/or policy Impact on student learning outcomes, alongside usability and feasibility, should be included as a necessary metric for the effectiveness of LA design. LA dashboard developers should both leverage learning data that reflect students' developing knowledge and position teachers to take responsive pedagogical action to support student learning. LA researchers and developers should utilize a long‐term, yet fluid, research‐practice partnership to form a multi‐stakeholder, multidisciplinary design team for Human‐Centred Learning Analytics design.

A New Circular Section Control for Streamwise Profiles in Aeroengine Nacelle Cowl Design and Optimization

Nacelle cowl design is dedicated to generating a three-dimensional surface with optimal drag performance. Most previous approaches focused primarily on the design method driven by streamwise profiles, which introduced no additional aerodynamically significant variables into the geometric constraints. Therefore, to explore more design spaces for drag reduction of the nacelle cowl, this paper proposes a design refinement method by adding a circular curve that passes through the locations of maximum thickness of given streamwise profiles at various angles toward the nacelle axis, which are regarded as the design variables. A proof-of-concept study was modeled using a combination of computer aided design, Latin hypercube sampling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations closed by a k-ω shear stress transport model, and a kriging surrogate model, in order to search for the optimal solution in design space. The result of optimization shows that the aerodynamic performance of the nacelle cowl was optimized significantly, with a 28.50% drag coefficient reduction with only three angular variables taken to create the design space, illustrating the feasibility of the proposed approach.

Applying flow convergence routing to control sediment erosion and deposition locations in a dam's backwater zone

Despite studies showing that dams have significant effects on the sediment dynamics and evolution of a river upstream of a dam, the knowledge of relationships between river topography and sediment transport in a dam's backwater zone has hardly been applied in reservoir sedimentation management. This study investigated the potential of an alternating sequence of engineered topographic nozzles and oversized landforms, utilizing flow convergence routing theory, to redistribute sediment erosion foci in a dam's backwater zone for remote mountain reservoirs with a sediment storage capacity of ~105 m3. To test scientific ideas and engineering alternatives, the current topography of the backwater zone upstream from Our House Dam on the confined, mountainous Middle Yuba River, California, was virtually re-contoured into different scenarios for numerical experimentation. As most of the dam's backwater zone is filled with sediment (a common global problem) in a narrow, confined canyon, two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling was useful for evaluating erosion patterns resulting from different manipulations. The results found that high velocity concentrates through nozzles and dissipates through oversized landforms, resulting in the latter exhibiting hydraulics indicative of functioning as sediment settling basins. These basins can be located away from the dam where key infrastructure needs clearance from sedimentation. As flow increases through the sequence of nozzles and oversized landforms, each nozzle's hydraulic jet will persist farther into the oversized area. Moderate in-channel flow (daily recurrence of ~5–30 %) was best for creating conditions to force deposition of sediment in oversized landforms. At high enough discharge (recurrence of <1–5 %) significant sediment erosion can occur throughout the constructed terrain in the backwater zone, so the whole topographic scheme can become overwhelmed and ineffective. Thus, the performance of re-contouring as an aid in reservoir sedimentation management is location and flow-dependent, necessitating careful design refinement for local conditions and assessment of financial benefits and costs. Overall, this study opens a new realm of sediment management for dam operators and regulators hard-pressed to know what to do when a moderate-sized mountain reservoir with poor accessibility has a sediment storage capacity of ~105 m3.

GRADE guidance 23: considering cost-effectiveness evidence in moving from evidence to health-related recommendations

BackgroundThis is the 23rd in a series of articles describing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to grading the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations for systematic reviews, health technology assessments, and clinical guideline development. ObjectivesWe outline how resource utilization and cost-effectiveness analyses are integrated into health-related recommendations, using the GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks. Study Design and SettingThrough iterative discussions and refinement, in-person, and online meetings, and through e-mail communication, we developed draft guidance to incorporate economic evidence in the formulation of health-related recommendations. We developed scenarios to operationalize the guidance. We presented a summary of the results to members of the GRADE Economic Evaluation Project Group. ResultsWe describe how to estimate the cost of preventing (or achieving) an event to inform assessments of cost-effectiveness of alternative treatments, when there are no published economic evaluations. Evidence profiles and Summary of Findings tables based on systematic reviews of cost-effectiveness analyses can be created to provide top-level summaries of results and quality of multiple published economic evaluations. We also describe how this information could be integrated in GRADE’s EtD frameworks to inform health-related recommendations. Three scenarios representing various levels of available cost-effectiveness evidence were used to illustrate the integration process. ConclusionThis GRADE guidance provides practical information for presenting cost-effectiveness data and its integration in the development of health-related recommendations, using the EtD frameworks.

Findings from a pilot randomized trial of spinal decompression alone or spinal decompression plus instrumented fusion.

Symptomatic spinal stenosis is a very common problem, and decompression surgery has been shown to be superior to nonoperative treatment in selected patient groups. However, performing an instrumented fusion in addition to decompression may avoid revision and improve outcomes. The aim of the SpInOuT feasibility study was to establish whether a definitive randomized controlled trial (RCT) that accounted for the spectrum of pathology contributing to spinal stenosis, including pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) mismatch and mobile spondylolisthesis, could be conducted. As part of the SpInOuT-F study, a pilot randomized trial was carried out across five NHS hospitals. Patients were randomized to either spinal decompression alone or spinal decompression plus instrumented fusion. Patient-reported outcome measures were collected at baseline and three months. The intended sample size was 60 patients. Of the 90 patients screened, 77 passed the initial screening criteria. A total of 27 patients had a PI-LL mismatch and 23 had a dynamic spondylolisthesis. Following secondary inclusion and exclusion criteria, 31 patients were eligible for the study. Six patients were randomized and one underwent surgery during the study period. Given the low number of patients recruited and randomized, it was not possible to assess completion rates, quality of life, imaging, or health economic outcomes as intended. This study provides a unique insight into the prevalence of dynamic spondylolisthesis and PI-LL mismatch in patients with symptomatic spinal stenosis, and demonstrates that there is a need for a definitive RCT which stratifies for these groups in order to inform surgical decision-making. Nonetheless a definitive study would need further refinement in design and implementation in order to be feasible.

Manipulating near-wall flow instability and transport characteristics by the airfoil probe: Investigation on a transonic compressor cascade

The flow field exhibits complex features, such as shock waves, wakes, and end wall vortices in a transonic cascade. Installation of airfoil probes exacerbates the multi-scale and unsteady behavior of the internal passage flow. Apart from inducing measurement errors, it also generates extra flow loss inevitably and further affects the measuring accuracy. This paper investigates the impact of airfoil probes on a transonic compressor cascade's unsteady behavior and transport characteristics. Using high-fidelity numerical simulations, the influence of pipe layouts on the flow field of instrumented blades is visualized, revealing highly radial asymmetry. Loss analysis uncovers entropy transport induced by the streamwise vortices, primarily manifested by large-scale angular deformation at the outlet. The vortex structures in the wake region are dominated by momentum transport, displaying regional evolution and momentary equilibrium. The vortex expansion plays a leading role in the global vortex transport process, which is strengthened by the presence of the probes. Spatiotemporal analysis of the unsteady flow field can reveal some features overlooked by conventional fluid mechanics analysis. Using proper orthogonal decomposition, wake vortex pairs' high-frequency oscillations and shedding behaviors are captured in adjacent modes for the first time. The proposed approach can provide a theoretical basis for in-depth investigations of instrumented blade flow fields at the transonic regime. Furthermore, corresponding research can promote the refinement of instrument design by enabling experimentalists to understand the effects of intrusive instruments on transonic flow fields.

Experimental Study of the Prevention and Treatment of Lymphoedema in a Rat Hindlimb Model by Applying Cardioperitoneal Catheters and Lacrimal Intubation Tubes in the Inguinoperitoneal Region

Secondary lymphoedema (LE) is a chronic condition with limited surgical treatment options for restoring extremity form and function. This study aims to establish a reproducible model of secondary LE and evaluate the preventive and corrective effects of fenestrated catheters (FC) and capillary tubes (CT). A total of 35 rats underwent left hindlimb inguinal and popliteal node dissection, followed by radiotherapy after two weeks. The right hindlimb served as the control. Rats were divided into five groups: sham, two preventive (Group 2 - EFC, Group 3 - ECT), and two corrective (Group 4 - LFC, Group 5 - LCT). Measurements of ankle circumference (AC) and paw thickness (PT) were taken weekly, and imaging modalities were performed. After a 16 week follow up, rats were euthanised for histological examination. Data include paw thickness (PT) and ankle circumference (AC) ratios for hindlimbs. In the sham group, AC ratio was 1.08 (p = .002) and PT ratio was 1.11 (p = .020), confirming successful lymphoedema model establishment. Early catheter and tube placement in Groups 2 and 3 prevented AC and PT increase until the 16th week. Group 2: AC ratio was 0.98 (p = .93), PT ratio was 0.98 (p = .61). Group 3: AC ratio was 0.98 (p = .94) and PT ratio was 0.99 (p = .11). From the 10th to the 16th week, Groups 4 and 5 exhibited reduced measurements after insertion of catheters and tubes. Computed tomography imaging as an objective examination supported the results obtained from the measurements. The histological findings confirmed the benefits of both FC and CT. The insights gained from the present study provide a basis for further exploration and refinement of drainage system designs, ultimately leading to improved treatment approaches for individuals suffering from lymphoedema in the future.

Demo Alleviate: Demonstrating Artificial Intelligence Enabled Virtual Assistance for Telehealth: The Mental Health Case

After the pandemic, artificial intelligence (AI) powered support for mental health care has become increasingly important. The breadth and complexity of significant challenges required to provide adequate care involve: (a) Personalized patient understanding, (b) Safety-constrained and medically validated chatbot patient interactions, and (c) Support for continued feedback-based refinements in design using chatbot-patient interactions. We propose Alleviate, a chatbot designed to assist patients suffering from mental health challenges with personalized care and assist clinicians with understanding their patients better. Alleviate draws from an array of publicly available clinically valid mental-health texts and databases, allowing Alleviate to make medically sound and informed decisions. In addition, Alleviate's modular design and explainable decision-making lends itself to robust and continued feedback-based refinements to its design. In this paper, we explain the different modules of Alleviate and submit a short video demonstrating Alleviate's capabilities to help patients and clinicians understand each other better to facilitate optimal care strategies.

Design, Modeling, and Analysis of IEEE Std 80 Earth Grid Design Refinement Methods Using ETAP

The design of a compliant, safe, and reliable substation earth grid is not a straightforward process; in most cases, it requires some additional measures to be taken due to various constraints that differ from environment to environment, such as soil resistivity, a high fault level, a limited surface area, construction budget, etc. The IEEE Std 80-2013 proposes various refinement methods that can be applied to address different situations. For this study, the current limiting method, current diversion method, and touch and step voltage increment method were applied using the Electrical Transient Analysis Program (ETAP). A power system was designed, where a fault current generated by the supply transformers and back-fed by the power system’s motors was exported to the earth grid. Using this fault current, various simulations were conducted to assess the performance of the earth grid. The analysis results show that the application of the current limiting method using neutral earthing resistors has a great impact on the design of the earth grid as this method significantly reduces the fault current injected into the earth grid. Furthermore, by applying the current diversion method, the amount of fault current injected into the earth grid is reduced by a fair amount, which improves the performance of the earth grid. Lastly, increasing the tolerable limits of touch and step voltages by reducing the fault clearance times significantly improves the compliance of the earth grid as the clearance time is reduced. From this study, it is therefore concluded that, by implementing the refinement methods depending on the design requirements and feasibility of the application, one can improve the compliance state of an earth grid.

Impact of a robot and tangible object (R&T) integrated learning system on elementary EFL learners’ English pronunciation and willingness to communicate

Research on how the use of social robots helps improve English as Foreign Language (EFL) young learners’ pronunciation and willingness to communicate (WTC) is understudied. This study developed a robot and tangible objects (R&T) learning system and examined its impact on elementary EFL learner’s English pronunciation and WTC. The R&T system consists of a robot, a tablet, a cellphone, and sets of tangible objects that enable students to physically interact with the system. A total of 29 elementary students were engaged in location-specific tasks with the R&T system 40 min a day for five days. Data were collected through pronunciation tests, willingness to communicate questionnaires, and video recordings of students’ interaction with the R&T system. Paired-samples t test showed students improved in both pronunciation and willingness to communicate after interacting with the R&T system. Video recordings found active engagement in the form of multiple tries and active help-seeking. Finally, a missed learning opportunity captured in the video data provided directions for future refinement in robot and task design.

P-259 Intracytoplasmic sperm injection conducted within a micro 3D printed device that requires no holding pipette or vacuum reduces porcine oocyte invagination during microinjection

Abstract Study question Can the use of a custom-designed and 3D printed microICSI™ device reduce the degree of oocyte invagination during intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? Summary answer Invagination was significantly less in porcine oocytes when ICSI was performed in microICSI™ device compared to conventional ICSI. What is known already ICSI is a difficult procedure for embryologists to master, yet until recently, technically little had changed. In particular, the holding pipette (HP) with vacuum to hold the oocyte has not been surpassed. However, a source of shear-stress during ICSI of oocytes is the invagination of the zona pellucida and cytoplasm that occurs during microinjection, due to the pressure of the injection pipette against the small surface area of the HP. A recent study demonstrated microinjection within a two-piece 3D printed device. Here we evaluated a design refinement that displaced injection pressure more evenly across the oocyte to improve embryo quality. Study design, size, duration A control (conventional ICSI) and study group (microICSI™) were compared over three replicates investigating the level of invagination (3-point score, 1 is lowest and 3 is greatest) during ICSI. Incidence of cytoplasmic lysis was also recorded 24 h following ICSI. Participants/materials, setting, methods Porcine oocytes collected by follicle aspiration of abattoir-sourced ovaries were matured for 39-44 h in NCSU-17 medium supplemented with eCG, hCG, porcine follicular fluid, EGF and insulin. Mature oocytes, stripped of cumulus, were randomly allocated to either conventional ICSI or microICSI™. ICSI was performed, with treatment order randomised, and the injected oocytes were cultured in NCSU-17 culture medium at 39 C. Main results and the role of chance The microICSI™ device was modelled as a one-piece structure with contoured surfaces within a microwell array to support the oocyte during injection without the requirement for a holding pipette. Two-photon polymerisation 3D micro printing was used to print and assess multiple prototype geometries to optimise the support of the oocyte during ICSI. Over the three replicates (n = 10-20/treatment/replicate), the degree of invagination was consistently lower in the microICSI™ group compared with conventional ICSI (Mean ± SEM): Replicate 1: 1.40 ± 0.16 vs. 2.00 ± 0.19; Replicate 2: 1.20 ± 0.11 vs. 2.00 ± 0.13; Replicate 3: 1.42 ± 0.12 vs. 1.78 ± 0.15, with a paired t-test showing a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.035). The incidence of lysis was not significantly different between the two treatments (ranging from 15-20% across both groups and varied between replicates). Limitations, reasons for caution The use of a porcine ICSI model may not sufficiently replicate what occurs with human ICSI as human oocytes experience greater levels of invagination (typically scored out of 4 rather than 3). Wider implications of the findings Reducing the invagination due to the injection process may reflect a less stressful procedure, with improvement to fertilization rates and embryo quality. Trial registration number not applicable

Performance Zoning of Asphalt Pavement and Performance Grade (PG) of Asphalt Binder in Karamay: A Case Study of Xinjiang, China

Asphalt binder is a temperature-sensitive material with a performance that is greatly affected by changing climates. Improper selection of asphalt will cause a lot of damage and affect the durability of the road. The establishment of asphalt pavement performance zoning in Xinjiang, a vast area with great temperature differences, will provide a reference for the selection of asphalt suitability, the refinement of pavement design, and the sustainable development of road engineering. In this study, 11 years of temperature data in the Xinjiang region have been collected and analyzed, and 98% reliability of pavement design temperature has been used to draw a performance grading map of asphalt pavement in the Xinjiang region based on the ArcGIS platform. Finally, the Xinjiang region is divided into nine performance zones. At the same time, the performance grades (PG) of five kinds of asphalt binders in Karamay are explored. The result shows that there is little difference in continuous PG span between different matrix asphalt binders; the lower the penetration grade, the better the high-temperature performance, and the worse the low-temperature performance. After adding the SBS modifier, the continuous PG span can be about 20 °C higher than the matrix asphalt. The indoor test of asphalt mixture also shows that SBS-modified asphalt has better durability. All these provide the basis for a reasonable selection of asphalt binders in different areas of Xinjiang.

Jogja Smart Service as a Digital Public Services: Based on Agile Governance Perspective

Jogja Smart Service (JSS) is a digital-based public service innovation created by the Yogyakarta city government, the purpose of creating Jogja Smart Service (JSS) is to meet the needs of the public service sector to the citizens of Yogyakarta which was driven by the high number of Covid-19 cases in Yogyakarta at that time, this forced the city government to continue to provide services to the community even amid a pandemic. This research aims to test the theory of Agile Governance developed by Kruchten to innovate digital-based public services Jogja Smart Service (JSS). Researchers will test 3 indicators contained in the theory of Agile Governance against Jogja Smart Service (JSS), namely indicators: 1) Based on Quick Wins, which will assess Jogja Smart Service (JSS) in terms of speed and accuracy. 2) Systematic and Adaptive Approach, which will assess systematic and adaptive aspects. 3) Simple Design and Continuous Refinement which will assess the aspects of the ability of the Yogyakarta city government to develop Jogja Smart Service (JSS)

Adhesive contact of an inflated circular membrane with curved surfaces

Inflated elastomeric membranes have been utilized as compliant probes to achieve sensitive adhesion measurement or pneumatic control of adhesive forces. This paper presents an analytical model for the adhesive contact between a circular elastic membrane under inflation and a rigid curved substrate. By adopting an incompressible neo-Hookean model for the membrane and introducing an approximation under large stretch, we obtain analytical solutions describing the three stages of adhesive contact: making contact, contact pinning and delamination. Among these three stages, the making contact stage is assumed to be adhesionless and frictionless, while the other two stages are subjected to a given work of adhesion between the membrane and the substrate. Two limiting cases of tangential interface behaviors (i.e., no slip and frictionless) are considered for the stages of contact pinning and delamination. Our analytical model provides solutions to the deformed membrane profile as well as relationships between key parameters such as applied pressure, contact force, contact radius and displacement, and is verified against computational results from finite element analysis. This analytical model can enable faster solutions for the adhesive contact mechanics of inflated membranes and is applicable as a design, optimization, and system refinement tool for applications such as adhesion measurement, transfer printing and soft robotic gripping.

SA6 The Utility of “Single Exposure” Versus Causal Architecture Approaches in Real-World Research

Over recent decades, epidemiologic methodology has evolved substantially to encompass a gamut of techniques for focalizing on the most unbiased effect estimate of a single exposure (e.g., a treatment effect). By contrast, less attention has been paid to the refinement of study designs and analytic techniques intended to encompass the underlying milieu of co-occurring clinical, environmental, and social determinants that interactively influence disease risk or outcomes. Single exposure approaches (i.e., the “potential outcomes framework”) have been criticized as being reductionist and have long been debated in the broader epidemiologic community, despite the utility of this approach in optimizing internal validity. Further, the gap between clinical trial efficacy and real-world (RW) effectiveness remains a concern for both regulatory entities and payers, though this gap may be partly attributable to varying prevalences of important effect modifiers between trial and RW patient populations. This conceptual paper will expand upon the existing conceptual paradigms by applying them to RW research and delineating key considerations related to assessing whether a single exposure or causal architecture approach would be fit-for-purpose based on the overarching research question. Drawing upon examples from RW research types, such as use of external control groups, comparative effectiveness, and prediction of likely responders to treatment, the strengths and weaknesses of each approach will be demonstrated using case studies related to regulatory and/or payer decision-making. Methodologic recommendations will be provided. Ultimately, both single exposure and causal architecture approaches to study design and analysis have a place in pharmacoepidemiology and real-world research. A careful examination of when each approach is fit-for-purpose can lead to the application of innovative strategies to the design and conduct of RW studies.

Electronic Nose Development and Preliminary Human Breath Testing for Rapid, Non-Invasive COVID-19 Detection.

We adapted an existing, spaceflight-proven, robust "electronic nose" (E-Nose) that uses an array of electrical resistivity-based nanosensors mimicking aspects of mammalian olfaction to conduct on-site, rapid screening for COVID-19 infection by measuring the pattern of sensor responses to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled human breath. We built and tested multiple copies of a hand-held prototype E-Nose sensor system, composed of 64 chemically sensitive nanomaterial sensing elements tailored to COVID-19 VOC detection; data acquisition electronics; a smart tablet with software (App) for sensor control, data acquisition and display; and a sampling fixture to capture exhaled breath samples and deliver them to the sensor array inside the E-Nose. The sensing elements detect the combination of VOCs typical in breath at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels, with repeatability of 0.02% and reproducibility of 1.2%; the measurement electronics in the E-Nose provide measurement accuracy and signal-to-noise ratios comparable to benchtop instrumentation. Preliminary clinical testing at Stanford Medicine with 63 participants, their COVID-19-positive or COVID-19-negative status determined by concomitant RT-PCR, discriminated between these two categories of human breath with a 79% correct identification rate using "leave-one-out" training-and-analysis methods. Analyzing the E-Nose response in conjunction with body temperature and other non-invasive symptom screening using advanced machine learning methods, with a much larger database of responses from a wider swath of the population, is expected to provide more accurate on-the-spot answers. Additional clinical testing, design refinement, and a mass manufacturing approach are the main steps toward deploying this technology to rapidly screen for active infection in clinics and hospitals, public and commercial venues, or at home.

Online art therapy pilot in the Western Isles of Scotland: a feasibility and acceptability study of a novel service in a rural community.

Art therapy, despite being an evidence-based, safe and acceptable intervention, is not widely available to clients in Scotland. Online delivery has the potential to expand the reach and accessibility, but special considerations need to be given to designing successful online art therapy services, due to the unique emphasis on the role of an image and artmaking alongside the therapeutic relationship. A pilot online art therapy service was developed and delivered in the Western Isles of Scotland to individual adult clients wishing to increase their psychological wellbeing. This research aimed to assess feasibility and acceptability of the novel service, identify enablers and challenges in setting up and delivering the service, explore participants' expectations and experiences of art therapy and identify any impacts of the service. Mixed-method evaluation incorporated questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and Audio Image Recordings (AIRs). Findings were grouped into themes across several key areas: service setup, research procedures, intervention design and impacts and insights. Recommendations were developed for the first three areas and the last section presents indications of change and gives voice to client experience primarily. Online art therapy was described by clients as a judgement-free zone which allowed freedom to experiment, express, feel and immerse themselves in the creative flow. Other benefits included readiness to accept emotions, increased understanding of self and others and being able to see things from a new perspective. Clients recognised the unique nature of art therapy in relation to other psychological treatments and valued the freedom of expression it offered, including the non-verbal. This project demonstrated that online art therapy is not only a feasible an acceptable intervention, but potentially also a powerfully impactful one, capable of instilling a positive change in a surprisingly short period of time. Exploring ways to expand current and introduce new art therapy services is highly recommended. Refinement of an intervention design, tools and research procedures is recommended through further feasibility studies of a larger scale.

Measuring the impact of academic literacy interventions: Refining an evaluation design through self-reflection and feedback

Abstract This article, located in the discipline of academic literacy studies, draws upon the fields of critical realism, design research, and evaluation studies. It reports on the validation of a flexible evaluation design for assessing the impact of academic literacy interventions. The design was validated in two ways. Firstly, through a process of critical reflection, the researcher considers her own experience with applying the evaluation design to an academic literacy course; the weaknesses and limitations that emerged from this implementation are considered. Secondly, academic literacy specialists responsible for a wide variety of interventions in South Africa were consulted by means of a questionnaire containing both quantitative and qualitative questions. The purpose of this questionnaire was to determine to which extent the evaluation design could be applied to a variety of academic literacy interventions in various contexts. Recommendations regarding the refinement of the evaluation design are made, and a revised evaluation design is put forward.