Design Requirements For Development Research Articles

Investigating the Effects of Modified Interlayer Spacing within Mixed Metal Oxide Cathode Materials for Next-Generation Aqueous Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are a promising addition to the current energy storage landscape, particularly supporting the decarbonization of the power sector as a low-cost, high safety alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, the relative infancy of ZIBs means that there are a limited number of reported cathode materials, and a divisive understanding of the operating principles for those which have been reported including Mn- and V-oxides. The large solvation shell of the working cation (Zn2+) imparts several design requirements for cathode material development, specifically the need for sufficient void space for Zn2+ intercalation, further limiting the materials which have been reported. Looking to other well-established battery chemistries, we considered the use of layered mixed metal oxides (MMOs) with Mn due to its known electrochemical activity within the operating voltage of aqueous ZIBs. We developed several MMO cathodes with tuned interlayer distance to achieve the larger void spacing capable of accommodating Zn2+. We investigated the impact of composition on the structural and electrochemical properties of 15+ different MMO materials. We determined that interlayer spacing plays critical role in electrochemical performance and that there is an optimal composition to provide enhanced specific capacity to the battery. Considering the narrow range of reported ZIBs cathodes, in this study we proposed several new materials that expand the scope of viable cathodes for next generation ZIBs and provides direction for future researchers to accelerate new material development for this technology.

Use and Acceptance of Digital Communication Technology by Older Adults for Social Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study.

Older adults are at higher risk for health issues, including mental health problems. This was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, where older adults were simultaneously more vulnerable to the disease and the mental health concerns created by social distancing. Subsequently, the use of digital communication technology (DCT) became a critical option for maintaining social connectedness in older adults. Prior to the pandemic, the low uptake and use of technology by older adults was an established problem, known as the digital divide. However, not much is known about how this may have changed as a result of the pandemic. This study aims to explore how older adults maintained social connectedness through DCT during the pandemic and to understand factors influencing the use and acceptance of DCT. A mixed methods explorative field study was set up, involving surveys and interviews of 25 community-dwelling older adults (65-88 years old) living in the United Kingdom. The surveys included the internet acceptance questionnaire (based on the Technology Acceptance Model [TAM]); COVID-19 dysfunctional anxiety was captured using the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS). Background information (demographics, use of technology) was gathered before conducting semistructured interviews. We hypothesized that CAS would affect constructs of TAM and that predictive constructs of TAM would have remained valid during the pandemic. We also posited that there would be unidentified themes outside TAM that impacted the acceptance and use of DCT. We used the quantitative data to guide the semistructured interviews, which were then analyzed through thematic analysis to identify additional themes. Correlational analysis showed that CAS influences all constructs of TAM. We also saw that the predictive constructs of TAM, especially the perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU), remained valid during the pandemic. Common acceptance-influencing themes were encountered in both quantitative and qualitative analyses, with 3 matching the known constructs of TAM (PU, PEU, and behavioral intention). We identified 2 additional themes affecting acceptance, namely influence of the pandemic (situational context) and privacy and security concerns. DCT use (especially email and videoconferencing use) increased during the pandemic, but the results related to social networking sites were mixed. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted technology acceptance and use by older adults, encouraging their use of certain DCT apps (email and videoconferencing apps, such as WhatsApp). These apps helped insulate them from adverse effects (social isolation and loneliness). Other social networking apps, however, exerted a negative influence, increasing anxiety and a general feeling of negativity. Future studies should maximize older adult agency related to design, privacy, security, and user requirements for development. We also recommend that when studying DCT acceptance for older adults, our additional identified themes should be considered alongside the existing TAM constructs.

Awareness of the LEED requirements for green housing development among built-environment professionals in Nigeria

PurposeThe study aims to assess the gap in the awareness of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements for green housing development among built-environment professionals in meeting the housing need in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe study is a cross-sectional survey of built-environment professionals in the Physical Planning Units (PPUs) of Federal Tertiary Educational Institutions in South-Western Nigeria. The LEED v4 scoring system for New Construction and Renovation was adopted for the survey questionnaire on five point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using the MIS and Kruskal–Wallis Rank sum Test.FindingsAwareness of the LEED requirements varies across the categories. Sustainable site is ranked first while innovation and regional priority ranked from the rear. There is variation in awareness among the professionals. The Land Surveyors are followed by the Architects while the Builders ranked last.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the study is limited to the professionals in the PPUs in the study area. However, the findings are indicative. The low level of awareness of some of the requirements and the extent of variation among the professionals will negatively impact the integrated design approach and collaborative effort needed for green housing to meet the housing deficit in Nigeria.Practical implicationsThe study is limited in scope. The low level of awareness of the requirements coupled with the extent of variation among the professionals will negatively impact the integrated design approach and collaborative effort needed for green housing to meet the huge housing deficit in Nigeria.Originality/valueThe study takes the lead to assess the awareness of the requirements for green housing development based on the LEED impact categories. Improving the awareness of these requirements will enhance their implementation and consequently impact the quality of housing provision. The professionals need to bridge the knowledge gap to enhance collaboration and productivity for green housing development.

A Proposal for a Process Model for Data Collection in Facilities Programming

The literature on programming is limited both in absolute terms and compared to the publication record of other fields, domains, and thematic areas. In a period of fifty years, there have been barely more than a dozen core books written on this topic and only a few more tangential ones. Compared to other fields and research domains, journal publications form a very small pool of information. Most papers and book chapters present programming cases and rarely deal with explicating the programming process. This presents a problem in sharing knowledge, developing new knowledge, explicating practice wisdom, and teaching new generations of programmers. In this article, we present a generic process model for data collection in facilities (or architectural) programming. Programming provides information about building (or facility) users. In effect, it is a social science research endeavor. In this paper, we present a process model for collecting facilities programming information. The model is intended to function as a road map for collecting building users’ information for developing design requirements. The process guidance is delimited to the sociocultural aspects of facilities planning and design. The model is created at a high level of abstraction so that it can be applied to many building types and programming situations. This is intended to guide professionals with good social science field research skills who need to be informed about the scope of sociocultural information necessary for programming and design decision making.

Research and Application of Underground Automatic Drilling Rig

Aiming at the current situation of low automation of underground drilling equipment, an automatic drilling rig which is suitable for underground coal mines has been developed. This paper introduces the layout, parameters, characteristic advantages and the application of the drilling rig. Through the industrial test, the design rationality of the structure of the drilling rig, the reliability of key components for automatic drilling, the reliability of electro-hydraulic control system, and the practicality of automatic drilling function were verified, which reached the expected research and development goals and design requirements, met the technological requirements of automatic drilling in coal mines, enhanced the safety of construction personnel, and reduced the labor intensity.

PVT analyses as an effective tool in the hands of the petroleum engineer. Downhole reservoir fluid sampling for PVT analysis

The most important aspect of laboratory analysis is undoubtedly to acquire data of the highest quality. The worldwide trend of drilling into deeper reservoirs characterised by the high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) conditions makes the newly discovered reservoirs challenging because of bearing fluids with an unprecedented diversity of phase behaviour and variability of phase parameters over time. Due to the high temperature of the deep horizons constituting the reservoir rock, many individual components of the reservoir fluids are located in a region close to their critical temperatures, i.e. gas condensate (retrograde condensation region) or volatile oil. In particular, gas condensate reservoirs are challenging to analyse. They are highly prone to the errors resulting from phase behaviour testing when using samples that are incompatible with the original reservoir in-situ fluid that saturates the reservoir rock pores. Taking the representative samples of reservoir fluid is an essential requirement to obtain reliable data that can characterise such phase-variable multicomponent reservoirs. The primary purpose of hydrocarbon fluid analysis in case of new discoveries is to determine the type of reservoir fluid system. It should also be borne in mind that without a sufficiently long production process from several intervals and/or several wells, it can be challenging to classify the fluid with confidence, especially at the initial analysis stage. The paper presents issues related to sampling of the reservoir fluid (such as crude oil and natural gas) for the physical property and phase behaviour analyses (PVT), usually accompanied by chemical analyses. The importance of representativeness of the samples in performing reliable tests that have a significant impact on the hydrocarbon production was discussed. The data obtained from the PVT laboratory are widely used in economic reports concerning local, regional or finally national hydrocarbon reserves. Other applications of the PVT data include coordination of reservoir exploitation methods related to a particular fluid composition, as well as input to design requirements for the surface facilities development, and selection of the suitable technology for hydrocarbon fluid treatment prior to introduction to the market. Various techniques of downhole sampling were mentioned and characterised with an explanation of their applicability. The criteria for selection of a proper method were also presented.

Development and Application of a New Type of X-ray Fluorescence Online Grade Analyzer Based on STM32

In order to achieve more accurate measurement of the pulp element grade in the beneficiation process, a new generation of nuclear-free X-ray fluorescence online grade analyzer was developed based on the previous generation of nuclear online grade analyzer. This new X-ray fluorescence grade analyzer is developed based on the STM32F407 control chip. It adopts a measurement structure that combines X high voltage light tube and semiconductor detector. Its technical structure and analysis principle are: X-ray tube and semiconductor detector constitute a measurement unit. The X-rays excited by the X-ray tube are irradiated to the surface of the slurry to be measured, and the semiconductor detector receives X-characteristic fluorescence excited by the element to be measured in the slurry. The main control unit receives and processes the data signals uploaded by the semiconductor detector. Send the measured element count rate to the upper computer of the industrial computer through serial communication. Finally, the higher-level software calls Matlab mathematical analysis tool while using BP neural network to perform data modeling analysis and obtain the grade value. According to a field industrial test conducted at a ore dressing plant in Shaoxing, compared with the previous generation nuclear grade analyzer, the measurement accuracy and operating stability of the new X-ray online grade analyzer have been significantly improved, and various parameters All met the design requirements for development.

State-of-the-Art Review of High-Throughput Statistical Spatial-Mapping Characterization Technology and Its Applications

Abstract Macroscopic materials are heterogeneous, multi-elementary, and complex. No material is homogeneous or isotropic at a certain small scale. Parts of the material that differ from one another can be termed “natural chips.” At different spots on the material, the composition, structure, and properties vary slightly, and the combination of these slight differences establishes the overall material performance. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of research and applications of high-throughput statistical spatial-mapping characterization technology based on the intrinsic heterogeneity within materials. High-throughput statistical spatial-mapping uses a series of rapid characterization techniques for analysis from the macroscopic to the microscopic scale. Datasets of composition, structure, and properties at each location are obtained rapidly for practical sample sizes. Accurate positional coordinate information and references to a point-to-point correspondence are used to set up a database that contains spatial-mapping lattices. Based on material research and development design requirements, dataset spatial-mapping within required target intervals is selected from the database. Statistical analysis can be used to select a suitable design that better meets the targeted requirements. After repeated verification, genetic units that reflect the material properties are determined. By optimizing process parameters, the assembly of these genetic unit(s) is verified at the mesoscale, and quantitative correlations are established between the microscale, mesoscale, macroscale, practical sample, across-the-scale span composition, structure, and properties. The high-throughput statistical spatial-mapping characterization technology has been applied to numerous material systems, such as steels, superalloys, galvanization, and ferrosilicon alloys. This approach has guided the composition and the process optimization of various materials.

Data Assessment Method to Support the Development of Creep-Resistant Alloys

This work introduces a methodology to assess data quality for the tensile, creep/stress relaxation, and fatigue properties of alloys (as well as metadata associated with manufacture) as a part of a project to develop new materials for extreme environments. The extreme environments in question deal with those found in the power generation sector. Data quality assessment is needed to ensure the reliability of data used in analytics to develop new materials for the power generation sector and to predict the performance of established materials in current use. As data quality metrics have not been standardized for material properties data, quality rating guidelines are developed here for the aspects of data completeness, accuracy, usability, and standardization. The specific design requirements for heat-resistant alloy development were considered in creating each metric. Establishing the quality of a dataset in these areas will enable robust analysis. High-quality data can be set aside to develop predictive models. Lower-quality data need not be discarded but can be used for experimental design. Determining the quality of a materials dataset will also provide additional metadata with the data resource and will promote data reusability. A sample high-quality dataset is presented to indicate the typical data attributes collected from relevant mechanical property testing results, which were considered when generating the data quality metrics. A data template of these attributes was created as a tool for data generators and collectors to promote uniformity and reusability of alloy data. The sparsity of the sample dataset was calculated in order to highlight the areas where data gaps pose a challenge for reliable prediction of creep rupture lifetime.

Utilizing a user-centered approach to develop and assess pharmacogenomic clinical decision support for thiopurine methyltransferase

BackgroundA pharmacogenomic clinical decision support tool (PGx-CDS) for thiopurine medications can help physicians incorporate pharmacogenomic results into prescribing decisions by providing up-to-date, real-time decision support. However, the PGx-CDS user interface may introduce errors and promote alert fatigue. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a prototype of a PGx-CDS user interface for thiopurine medications with user-centered design methods.MethodsThis study had two phases: In phase I, we conducted qualitative interviews to assess providers’ information needs. Interview transcripts were analyzed through a combination of inductive and deductive qualitative analysis to develop design requirements for a PGx-CDS user interface. Using these requirements, we developed a user interface prototype and evaluated its usability (phase II).ResultsIn total, 14 providers participated: 10 were interviewed in phase I, and seven providers completed usability testing in phase II (3 providers participated in both phases). Most (90%) participants were interested in PGx-CDS systems to help improve medication efficacy and patient safety. Interviews yielded 11 themes sorted into two main categories: 1) health care providers’ views on PGx-CDS and 2) important design features for PGx-CDS. We organized these findings into guidance for PGx-CDS content and display. Usability testing of the PGx-CDS prototype showed high provider satisfaction.ConclusionThis is one of the first studies to utilize a user-centered design approach to develop and assess a PGx-CDS interface prototype for Thiopurine Methyltransferase (TPMT). This study provides guidance for the development of a PGx-CDS, and particularly for biomarkers such as TPMT.

Involving end-users in the design of an audit and feedback intervention in the emergency department setting \u2013 a mixed methods study

BackgroundLong length of stays (LOS) in emergency departments (ED) negatively affect quality of care. Ordering of inappropriate diagnostic tests contributes to long LOS and reduces quality of care. One strategy to change practice patterns is to use performance feedback dashboards for physicians. While this strategy has proven to be successful in multiple settings, the most effective ways to deliver such interventions remain unknown. Involving end-users in the process is likely important for a successful design and implementation of a performance dashboard within a specific workplace culture. This mixed methods study aimed to develop design requirements for an ED performance dashboard and to understand the role of culture and social networks in the adoption process.MethodsWe performed 13 semi-structured interviews with attending physicians in different roles within a single public ED in the U.S. to get an in-depth understanding of physicians’ needs and concerns. Principles of human-centered design were used to translate these interviews into design requirements and to iteratively develop a front-end performance feedback dashboard. Pre- and post- surveys were used to evaluate the effect of the dashboard on physicians’ motivation and to measure their perception of the usefulness of the dashboard. Data on the ED culture and underlying social network were collected. Outcomes were compared between physicians involved in the human-centered design process, those with exposure to the design process through the ED social network, and those with limited exposure.ResultsKey design requirements obtained from the interviews were ease of access, drilldown functionality, customization, and a visual data display including monthly time-trends and blinded peer-comparisons. Identified barriers included concerns about unintended consequences and the veracity of underlying data. The surveys revealed that the ED culture and social network are associated with reported usefulness of the dashboard. Additionally, physicians’ motivation was differentially affected by the dashboard based on their position in the social network.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of designing a performance feedback dashboard using a human-centered design approach in the ED setting. Additionally, we show preliminary evidence that the culture and underlying social network are of key importance for successful adoption of a dashboard.

Main bearings in large offshore wind turbines: development trends, design and analysis requirements

This paper discusses analysis requirements for design and operation of main bearings in modern multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines, motivated by the industry’s search for reliable and cost effective main bearing solutions that limit the effects of non-torque loads, and the need for effective bearing health monitoring. Gearboxes historically received attention on the grounds of reliability, sparking significant interest in drivetrain dynamics. However, design trends in modern, large turbines, influencing choices for a future 10+ MW generation, indicate that more attention to main bearings or rotor support bearings is needed as part of a more holistic approach to flexural dynamics. Through a survey of existing research, offshore wind turbine design trends, design codes, industry practices and standards, we look at how main bearings are treated in a life cycle perspective, considered design features, modeling and simulation approaches, interaction and interfaces between industry stakeholders, as well as reuse of simulation models for predictive analytics in operation. We conclude that flexible main bearing representation is important in dynamic analyses and that industry practices are needed that enable sufficient model exchange or interfaces and thus effective exploitation of the benefits of a simulation model throughout the turbine life cycle.

Soap-Making Process Improvement: Including Social, Cultural and Resource Constraints in the Engineering Design Process


 
 
 The engineering profession is increasingly recognizing that engineers’ abilities to utilize a systems perspective and collaborate on multidisciplinary teams are critical professional competencies required to solve contemporary engineering challenges. Understanding context, including but not limited to social and cultural context, is one aspect of systems thinking that is important to effective problem-solving, yet such training is not yet standard in our engineering curricula. Humanitarian engineering-related capstone design projects offer both hands-on and field opportunities to integrate social and cultural appropriateness into a formal engineering design curriculum. Over the 2015-2016 academic year, Oregon State University offered a capstone project aimed at optimizing and implementing an improved soap-making process for TERREWODE, a non-governmental organization in Uganda. The ultimate goal of this soap-making project was to expand income-generating opportunities for victims and survivors of obstetric fistula. The project consisted of a six-month, on-campus design phase and a three-week field implementation and research trip in Soroti, Uganda. Six Social Justice (SJ) criteria were used in assessing project context and developing design requirements. Throughout the design phase, experimental testing drove the majority of design decisions. During field implementation and research, the three-student capstone design team worked closely with TERREWODE and their members to optimize the process, understand cultural conditions, and recommend options for potential local solar power systems.
 
 

Investigating physical solutions in the architectural design of distributed ship service systems

The design of distributed ship service systems, or distributed systems, integrates concepts of vessel layout, system functionality, and the distributed systems configuration. Understanding the design relationships between these concepts is a critical aspect of investigating and developing design requirements. Thus, in the design of complex naval vessels, the distributed systems configuration, called the physical solution, must be considered in early-stage design activities to ensure that emergent functional requirements are achievable and affordable. To address this, we propose a novel perspective for modeling and investigating physical solutions in the architectural design of distributed ship service systems. Our approach uses scalable network representations of vessel layout and functional relationships within systems to stochastically generate ensembles of distributed system solutions. Ensembles are then evaluated to determine system characteristics, bringing physical solution information into early-stage requirement elucidation. We demonstrate our approach using concept-level vessel knowledge to identify distributed system characteristics, and show the method's usefulness in understanding complex distributed systems design relationships.

Organizing a Collaborative Development of Technological Design Requirements Using a Constructive Dialogue on Value Profiles: A Case in Automated Vehicle Development

Following societal and policy pressures for responsible innovation, innovators are more and more expected to consider the broader socio-ethical context of their work, and more importantly, to integrate such considerations into their daily practices. This may require the involvement of ‘outsiders’ in innovation trajectories, including e.g. societal and governmental actors. However, methods on how to functionally organize such integration in light of responsible innovation have only recently started to emerge. We present an approach to do just that, in which we first develop value profiles of the involved actors, and second, design a workshop setting that allows innovators to develop design requirements in collaboration with representatives of parties that are not usually involved in such innovation design practices. Using a case study in automated vehicle development, we positively demonstrate the possibility and utility of our approach. We stress that in this study we wish to demonstrate the functionality of our developed method, and did not search for scientifically valid outcomes regarding this technical field.

Evaluation of Seismic Behavior in Non-Seismic Concentrically Braced Frames

SCBFs (Special Concentrically Braced Frames) have been praised for considerable strength, high lateral stiffness, economic feasibility and good performance of seismic loads, which make engineers widely use SCBF as lateral-load resisting systems in buildings and have researchers develop design requirements. Compared to the extensive research of SCBF, comparatively little information is currently available on the performance of SCBFs designed and constructed before the early 1990’s. Before the early 1990’s, CBFs (Concentrically Braced Frames) design requirements were substantially less restrictive. As a result, many existing structures designed to these requirements may not exhibit desirable behavior in a seismic event. Existing CBFs that do not meet modern SCBF criteria shall be referred to herein as NCBFs (Non-Seismic Concentrically Braced Frames). In this study, FE (Finite Element) analysis was carried out. The detailed inelastic FE models were verified, which are based on the preceding research. Finally, these models were compared to evaluate the seismic performance of NCBFs.

Experiences of leg bag users and emerging design priorities.

The purpose of the study was to explore participants' experiences of urinary incontinence and leg bag use in order to identify priorities for product redesign. Twenty-nine leg bag users and 5 carers and healthcare professionals participated in the study. They were recruited through a UK hospital Trust and a UK-wide charity for people with bladder and bowel control problems. The study employed a descriptive design with qualitative and quantitative elements to determine current experiences with urinary drainage leg bags and identify potential ways to improve their design. Data collection occurred during semistructured face-to-face and telephone semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed that leg bag design and performance influenced users' relationships, confidence, and ability to socialize. The most significant issues related to leg bag use were reliable functioning without leakage, secure positioning, and discretion when worn under clothing. All participants reported having experienced significant urine leakage due to usability issues with the leg bags. Respondents identified a number of design issues with current leg bags that need to be addressed to improve the ease of use and overall experience when using leg bags for containing urinary output. The findings have been used to define design requirements for further development of leg bags and their component parts.

Hospital Facilities Programming: An Opportunity for Vanguard Medical Practices

Background Facilities programming researches building users, including their organisation, activities, needs, and cultural patterns, with the purpose of developing design requirements and specifications. Programming is a tool for specifying building performance, quality, and user experience. The goal of this paper is to introduce best practice in hospital facilities programming Method The project is conceptualised as a benchmarking study. It employs a multiple case studies research design and utilises the principles of Grounded Theory. Trustworthiness and credibility of information are ensured with a number of techniques typical for qualitative research methodology. Results The programming process of advanced programming practices can be thought of as including four phases: planning and commencement, functional programming, space programming, and approval of the final document. Most of the innovation that occurs during the programming process happens at the phase of functional programming. Extensive strategic decision-making, organisational re-design and operations improvement are what set off best practices from ordinary providers. Conclusion

Updated Terrestrial Environment Guidelines for Aerospace Vehicle Development

NASA recently released extensively revised and updated guidelines and information on terrestrial environments (land, water, and atmosphere). The guidelines are applicable in developing design requirements and specifications for aerospace vehicles, payloads, and associated ground support equipment operating in specific geographic regions.The document, “Terrestrial Environment (Climatic) Criteria Guidelines for Use in Aerospace Vehicle Development, 2008 Revision” (NASA/TM‐2008‐215633), has been updated periodically since its initial publication in 1964. The latest version includes a broad scope of information about the terrestrial environment, though spaceflight systems development and test centers are the primary geographic areas encompassed in the document.

Network requirements for sensor accuracy and precision: a case study to assess atmospheric variability in simple terrain

AbstractThis simulation‐based study is an effort to develop design requirements for a hypothetical network of instruments to measure average atmospheric variability over a relatively simple terrain. A dataset of air and soil temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and soil moisture from the vicinity of Lincoln, Nebraska, was used to simulate atmospheric daily measurements (max and min temperature as well as infra‐red surface temperature (grass cover), relative humidity, wind speed and soil moisture) at various distances from the site. An analysis was performed to determine the instrumentation requirements needed to distinguish natural atmospheric variability from input instrumental error at the 0.05 significance level. Both accuracy and precision requirements were examined to determine the affect of systematic and random errors, respectively. It was found that sensor accuracy (small systematic bias relates to high accuracy) does not affect the ability to determine the atmospheric spatial variability. However, sensor precision (small random error equates to high precision) was found to affect the ability to determine the spatial variability of the atmospheric variable in question; commercial sensors are currently available that meet or exceed the precision requirements for all except one of the variables examined. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society