An Exploratory Study to Fill the Gap Between Co-Design Tools and Industrial Applications

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Peruzzini ◽  
Maura Mengoni ◽  
Michele Germani
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Design Environment ◽  
Design Review ◽  
Design Collaboration ◽  
Collaborative Processes ◽  
Collaboration Quality ◽  
Remote Design ◽  
The Impact

This paper deals with the application of remote collaborative environments in product design, in particular for design review activities. In this context, companies actually face some troubles: limited knowledge about available tools, difficulty in coming to know and using innovative systems, and complexity in evaluating the impact of the technology on design collaboration. The present research suggests a novel collaborative environment (the CoReD platform) that merges system simplicity, project-oriented approach and customizable functions. It defines a metric-based protocol considering both performances and cognitive aspects to assess collaboration quality and then monitors design review sessions within three industrial Consortia. Research contributions are to answer two main questions: how to arrange a low-cost co-design environment and how to effectively evaluate the human-system interaction and collaborative performance in industrial use. Experimental results highlight that the CoReD platform is able to efficiently improve collaborative processes by affecting both product-process performance and human-based collaboration, mainly thanks to: system architecture simplicity, low cost, high customizable functionalities and ease of use for remote design. However, results demonstrate also that significant advantages can be achieved only if industrial partners have a good level of technical expertise and high motivation to collaborate each other.

scholarly journals Towards bionic noses

Sensor Review ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Chandra Persaud
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Nose ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Recognition Elements ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review recent progress in electronic nose technologies, focusing on hybrid systems combining biological elements with physical transducers. Design/methodology/approach Electronic nose technologies are moving rapidly towards hybrid bioelectronic systems, where biological odour-recognition elements from the olfactory pathways of vertebrates and insects are being utilised to construct new “bionic noses” that can be used in industrial applications. Findings With the increased understanding of how chemical senses and the brain function in biology, an emerging field of “neuromorphic olfaction” has arisen. Research limitations/implications Important components are olfactory receptor proteins and soluble proteins found at the periphery of olfaction called odorant-binding proteins. The idea is that these proteins can be incorporated into transducers and function as biorecognition elements for volatile compounds of interest. Practical implications Major drivers are the security, environmental and medical applications, and the internet of things will be a major factor in implementing low-cost chemical sensing in networked applications for the future. Social implications Widespread take up of new technologies that are cheap will minimise the impact of environmental pollution, increase food safety and may potentially help in non-invasive screening for medical ailments. Originality/value This review brings together diverse threads of research leading to a common theme that will inform a non-expert of recent developments in the field.

Ultrasound-based speckle-tracking in tendons: a critical analysis for the technician and the clinician

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene B. Svensson ◽  
Laura C. Slane ◽  
S. Peter Magnusson ◽  
Stijn Bogaerts
Keyword(s):  
Speckle Tracking ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Local Deformation ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Summary Table ◽  
Tissue Properties ◽  
The Impact

Ultrasound has risen to the forefront as one of the primary tools in tendon research, with benefits including its relatively low cost, ease of use, and high safety. Moreover, it has been shown that cine ultrasound can be used to evaluate tendon deformation by tracking the motion of anatomical landmarks during physical movement. Estimates from landmark tracking, however, are typically limited to global tissue properties, such that clinically relevant regional non-uniformities may be missed. Fortunately, advancements in ultrasound scanning have led to the development of speckle-tracking algorithms, which enable the non-invasive measurement of in vivo local deformation patterns. Despite their successes in other fields, the adaptation of speckle-tracking to tendon research has presented some unique challenges as a result of tissue anisotropy and micro-structural changes under load. With no generally accepted standards for its use, current methodological approaches vary substantially between studies and research groups. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to provide a summative review of the technical complexities and variations of speckle-tracking approaches being used, and the impact these decisions may have on measured results and their interpretation. Variations in these approaches currently being used with relevant technical aspects are discussed first ("For the technician"), followed by a discussion of the more clinical considerations ("For the clinician"). Finally, a summary table of common challenges encountered when implementing speckle-tracking is provided, with suggested recommendations for minimizing the impact of such potential sources of error.

scholarly journals Solar Variability Datalogger

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Lave ◽  
Joshua Stein ◽  
Ryan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Accuracy ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Solar Variability ◽  
Energy Estimates ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Present Evaluation ◽  
The Impact

To address the lack of knowledge of local solar variability, we have developed and deployed a low-cost solar variability datalogger (SVD). While most currently used solar irradiance sensors are expensive pyranometers with high accuracy (relevant for annual energy estimates), low-cost sensors display similar precision (relevant for solar variability) as high-cost pyranometers, even if they are not as accurate. In this work, we present evaluation of various low-cost irradiance sensor types, describe the SVD, and present validation and comparison of the SVD collected data. The low cost and ease of use of the SVD will enable a greater understanding of local solar variability, which will reduce developer and utility uncertainty about the impact of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and thus will encourage greater penetrations of solar energy.

Maximizing Social Media Tools

2016 ◽  
pp. 166-179
Author(s):  
Maria Cecilia I. Ayson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The Impact

The emergence of social networking sites and platforms has paved the way for alternative marketing and information dissemination tools. Several institutions, including special libraries, take advantage of this new technology due to its low cost, ease of use, and wider reach. But since it is a relatively new technology, and its practice is usually not formalized, there is a lack of policies in implementing social media campaigns, especially in special libraries. While social media tools are very popular and easy to use, they still demand considerable time and effort. Thus, it is important to evaluate the impact of special libraries' use of social media among their clientele and target audience. This chapter will feature selected social media tools appropriate for special libraries and recommend guidelines in planning social media campaigns and evaluating their impact.

scholarly journals Electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for water treatment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika R. Snowdon ◽  
Robert L. Liang
Keyword(s):  
Water Treatment ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
High Porosity ◽  
Membrane Composition ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Nanofibrous Membranes

A necessity for water filtration technology, due to global pollution and population growth, has led to an increase in attention to advanced nanomaterials that can aid in the purification of air and water. This size-dependent filtration is possible via nanofibrous membranes as they contain high porosity and this pore size is tunable through the fabrication process. Because of this tunability in the nanofibril membrane composition and structure, they possess promising straining abilities, such as high permeability and selectivity, as well as low fouling. There are a variety of polymer blends or organic/inorganic nanofillers that can be used depending on filtration needs. The production of nanofibers consists of various avenues such as synthetic templates, separation by different phases, nanoparticle self-assembly, and most widespread, electrospinning. Electrospinning is prevalent owing to its ease of use and low cost compared to template and self- assembly processes. This chapter describes the multifaceted progression governing electrospinning and its working factors as well as the environmental settings that form nanofibers and their resultant membranes. Additionally, the various designs of electrospinning apparatuses' and review of the methods used to prepare multifunctional composite electrospun nanofibrous membranes will be discussed. Past achievements and current challenges will be provided. Conclusions and perspectives are specified fitting to studied progress so far as well as future needs with regards to water treatment, with a particular focus on industrial applications.

Computer simulation study about the dependence of amorphous silicon photonic waveguides efficiency on the material quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 30502
Author(s):  
Alessandro Fantoni ◽  
João Costa ◽  
Paulo Lourenço ◽  
Manuela Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Amorphous Silicon ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Deposition Process ◽  
Large Area ◽  
Sidewall Roughness ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Fabrication Defects ◽  
The Impact

Amorphous silicon PECVD photonic integrated devices are promising candidates for low cost sensing applications. This manuscript reports a simulation analysis about the impact on the overall efficiency caused by the lithography imperfections in the deposition process. The tolerance to the fabrication defects of a photonic sensor based on surface plasmonic resonance is analysed. The simulations are performed with FDTD and BPM algorithms. The device is a plasmonic interferometer composed by an a-Si:H waveguide covered by a thin gold layer. The sensing analysis is performed by equally splitting the input light into two arms, allowing the sensor to be calibrated by its reference arm. Two different 1 × 2 power splitter configurations are presented: a directional coupler and a multimode interference splitter. The waveguide sidewall roughness is considered as the major negative effect caused by deposition imperfections. The simulation results show that plasmonic effects can be excited in the interferometric waveguide structure, allowing a sensing device with enough sensitivity to support the functioning of a bio sensor for high throughput screening. In addition, the good tolerance to the waveguide wall roughness, points out the PECVD deposition technique as reliable method for the overall sensor system to be produced in a low-cost system. The large area deposition of photonics structures, allowed by the PECVD method, can be explored to design a multiplexed system for analysis of multiple biomarkers to further increase the tolerance to fabrication defects.

Advancing dairy farming profitability through research

2001 ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
J.R. Caradus ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Dairy Cow ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Grass Endophyte ◽  
Forage Species ◽  
Development Outcomes ◽  
Dairy Cow Nutrition ◽  
The Impact

The New Zealand dairy industry recognises that to remain competitive it must continue to invest in research and development. Outcomes from research have ensured year-round provision of low-cost feed from pasture while improving productivity. Some of these advances, discussed in this paper, include the use of white clover in pasture, understanding the impacts of grass endophyte, improved dairy cow nutrition, the use of alternative forage species and nitrogen fertiliser to improve productivity, demonstration of the impact of days-in-milk on profitability, and the use of feed budgeting and appropriate pasture management. Keywords: dairy, profitability, research and development

Motivating Compliance: Firm Response to Mandatory Disclosure Policies

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-119
Author(s):  
Colleen M. Boland ◽  
Chris E. Hogan ◽  
Marilyn F. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Of Interest ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Policy Adoption ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Regulated Firms ◽  
Firm Response ◽  
Disclosure Rules ◽  
The Impact

SYNOPSIS Mandatory existence disclosure rules require an organization to disclose a policy's existence, but not its content. We examine policy adoption frequencies in the year immediately after the IRS required mandatory existence disclosure by nonprofits of various governance policies. We also examine adoption frequencies in the year of the subsequent change from mandatory existence disclosure to a disclose-and-explain regime that required supplemental disclosures about the content and implementation of conflict of interest policies. Our results suggest that in areas where there is unclear regulatory authority, mandatory existence disclosure is an effective and low cost regulatory device for encouraging the adoption of policies desired by regulators, provided those policies are cost-effective for regulated firms to implement. In addition, we find that disclose-and-explain regulatory regimes provide stronger incentives for policy adoption than do mandatory existence disclosure regimes and also discourage “check the box” behavior. Future research should examine the impact of mandatory existence disclosure rules in the year that the regulation is implemented. Data Availability: Data are available from sources cited in the text.

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