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Copyright © The Author(s) 2023. Aim:: The dental handpiece noise in a dental surgery is concerning to both patients and staff as a major cause of dental phobia in patients and potential hearing loss in clinical staff. High-frequency noise generated by dental handpieces is considered to be the worst of the many noises in a dental clinic. Methods to reduce this noise have been proposed and either passive or active noise reduction headphones are often suggested. However, in a dental surgery environment, the need for good verbal communication with the patient needs to be maintained. As a result, this paper aims to evaluate one proprietary anti-noise device considered suitable for this specific purpose. Methods: Lab-based experiments were set up and carried out to evaluate QuietOn, using GRAS 43AG-1 Ear and Cheek Simulator to mimic a section of the human head and ear to represent the acoustic characteristics of an actual ear. Two types of dental drill noise recordings, one for electric motor-driven and another one for air turbine-driven, were played back through high-definition speakers. Sound data captured by the simulator are then visualised and plotted using MATLAB for analysis. Main findings: QuietOn is effective at low frequencies (< 1kHz). However, when dealing with high-frequency noise such as dental handpieces it is ineffective yet subdues verbal communication. Conclusions: Further development of passive or active noise cancellation earplugs is still needed to target dental handpiece noise while maintaining verbal communication.

Background\ud \ud Early developmental impairment (EDI) is common and has many aetiologies and, therefore, potential investigations. There are several published guidelines recommending aetiological investigations, and paediatricians’ views of them varies. Little is known on the thought processes underlying clinical decisions in investigating EDI. This study aimed to describe the thought processes affecting clinical decisions on the investigation of EDI within a nationalised health care system.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud \ud A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured qualitative interviews performed in person or via video link with paediatricians who see children with EDI in England. As part of the interview, a case study of a fictional disease, Cavorite deficiency, modelled on biotinidase deficiency, was given to participants with the cost of testing, incidence and likelihood it would respond to treatment. This allowed exploration of cost without encumbrance from predisposing views and training on the condition. Thematic analysis was performed by iterative approach. Where participants stated they wanted to redirect money from investigations to treatment, were that even possible, we asked which services they would like to be better funded in their area.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud Interviews were conducted with 14 consultant paediatricians: 9 Community / Neurodisability, 2 General paediatricians, and 3 Paediatric Neurologists. Two themes were identified: the value of an aetiological diagnosis to families and managing risk and probability when investigating EDI. The latter contained 4 subthemes: ‘circumspection’ involved blanket investigations chosen irrespective of phenotype and high regard for guidelines; ‘accepting appropriate risk’ involved participants choosing investigations based on clinical phenotype, recognising some aetiologies would be missed; consultants found they ‘transitioned between practices’ during their career; and ‘improved practice’ was thought possible with better evidence on how to stratify investigations based on phenotype. Services that were most frequently reported to need additional funding were therapy services, early community developmental services, management of behaviour, sleep and mental health, and educational support.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud There are many factors that influence paediatricians’ choice of aetiological investigation in EDI, but clinical factors are the most important. Paediatricians want better evidence to allow them to select the right investigations for each child without a significant risk of missing an important diagnosis.

Recent results in the theory and application of Newton-Puiseux expansions, i.e. fractional power series solutions of equations, suggest further developments within a more abstract algebraic-geometric framework, involving in particular the theory of toric varieties and ideals. Here, we present a number of such developments, especially in relation to the equations of van der Pol, Riccati, and Schr\"{o}dinger. Some pure mathematical concepts we are led to are Graver, Gr\"{o}bner, lattice and circuit bases, combinatorial geometry and differential algebra, and algebraic-differential equations. Two techniques are coordinated: classical dimensional analysis (DA) in applied mathematics and science, and a polynomial and differential-polynomial formulation of asymptotic expansions, referred to here as Newton-Puiseux (NP) expansions. The latter leads to power series with rational exponents, which depend on the choice of the dominant part of the equations, often referred to as the method of "dominant balance". The paper shows, using a new approach to DA based on toric ideals, how dimensionally homogeneous equations may best be non-dimensionalised, and then, with examples involving differential equations, uses recent work on NP expansions to show how non-dimensional parameters affect the results. Our approach finds a natural home within computational algebraic geometry, i.e. at the interface of abstract and algorithmic mathematics.

The whole Proceedings of TMCE 2020 are available for open access at https://tmce.io.tudelft.nl/proceedings In order to improve train availability and workplace safety standards, the rail industry is keen to modernise maintenance of trains through increased use of Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS). Our research aims to address the mechanical challenges of automated fluid coupling in future applications of train-fluid servicing. Depending on the intricacy of the servicing RAS, a degree of misalignment will always exist between the robot end-effector and train fluid ports. Compliant end-effectors can generate flexing motions that facilitate misaligned insertions. Present work focuses on understanding the role of passive compliance within the end-effector of our demonstrator train-fluid servicing robot. Physical experiments were performed and using Design of Experiments we identify the effect of end-effector compliance parameters on misaligned insertions. Results show that maximum insertion force and work done increase exponentially with increasing misalignment. Certain arrangements of compliance parameters can significantly improve the coupling performance under misalignments. Nonetheless, forces observed are still too large and our research will continue to develop compliant end-effectors for better automated coupling that will reduce RAS force requirements. Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)

Poisson's contraction effect is utilised to generate squeeze film levitation and is investigated through a computer model and validated experimentally. A finite element model (ANSYS) is verified by the experimental testing of five different plate designs. Each plate is subjected to uniaxial plain stress by an arrangement of two hard piezoelectric actuators bounded to the bottom of the plate and driven with DC and AC voltages. It is observed that a pulsating dimple or crest shape along the longitudinal axis in the central area of the plate is created due to Poisson's contraction, generating a squeeze-film between the plate and a levitated object. The separation distance between the floating planar object and the plate is analysed using computational fluid dynamics (ANSYS) and experimentally measured by a laser sensor. A good agreement has been found between model predictions and experimental results.

This paper contributes to the burgeoning literature on the role of academic–practice relationships in contributing to sustainable urban development. We argue that co-production offers a potential pathway for academics to work with policy-makers in moving towards the realisation of more just cities. The paper starts from the position that there is an essential need for, but limit to, critique alone in contributing to the possibility of urban change. Moving towards a shared critique as a basis for future action is an important precondition for realising more just cities, adding weight to the voices arguing for alternative urban visions. These arguments are advanced through a study conducted by academic researchers and policy-makers in the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Hub. The paper outlines a process for working with existing urban institutions within institutional constraints to develop affirmative actions with the aim of longer term transformations. A key contribution is then the identification of eight markers for assessing progress towards the realisation of more just cities.\ud \ud

To meet increased capacity demands of passengers in the rail industry, a robotic and autonomous system that services the fluids on passenger rail vehicles was proposed. A hierarchical task analysis of fluid servicing processes was conducted and human and system errors were highlighted. This information, along with opinions of technical managers and staff were inputted into a quality function deployment matrix to make a design specification; from this specification two concepts were proposed. Both concepts are viable but modification to rail vehicles is required. A proof of concept will next be developed to begin a path to a commercial product. Brunel University London would like to acknowledge RSSB and RRUKA for funding this project and providing contact with key rail stakeholders.

Limited veterinary literature is available regarding prognostic markers for canine renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). We retrospectively evaluated COX-2 expression, histological and clinical features associated with prognosis of CRCC. Sixty-four cases post-nephrectomy were included, 54 had histopathological assessment and 30 had COX-2 immunostaining performed. Eight dogs (13%) had metastatic disease at initial diagnosis. Twenty-seven dogs (42%) received adjuvant therapy after nephrectomy. On univariate analysis, COX-2 expression, mitotic index (MI), histologic type, vascular invasion, neoplastic invasiveness and metastasis at diagnosis were significantly associated with overall median survival time (MST). COX-2 score (COX-2 score 3 MST 420 days versus 1176 days if COX-2 score3; P = 0.011) and MI (MI 30 MST 120 days versus 540 days for MI 30; P = 0.003) were the only variables associated with CRCC outcome on multivariate analysis. The addition of MI and COX-2 immunostaining to standard histopathological evaluation would help predicting outcome in CRCC patients.

Squeeze-Film Levitation of a small object placed on a vibrating plate is investigated for 14 plate designs using simulation. Each plate is excited by an arrangement of four piezoelectric actuators driven by an ac voltage with dc offset. Physical experiments show plate mode shapes and dynamic deformation, plus disk levitation for one of the designs.

The design of an aluminium or steel plate of various thicknesses for achieving levitation of a small aluminum disk is investigated by simulation using ANSYS. Each plate design is excited by an arrangement of four hard piezoelectric actuators driven with an AC voltage, which produces a centre displacement for generating a squeeze-film in the gap between the vibrating plate and the disk. Physical experiments show levitation conditions for one of the designs.

Developing a robust method to study characteristics of vascular flow using ultrasound may be useful to assess endothelial function and vasodilatation. There are four stages in this proposal. 1.The first stage is to standardise and validate the methodology to enable computational risk flow data and other flow characteristics to be used clinically. (Current Study). Further development of fluid modelling methods will enable particulate haemodynamics to be investigated, and incorporate detailed endothelial structure together with cellular pathways. 2. This should be followed up by studies in different patient groups investigating the association between the derived values and estimated risk (using other methods such as Framingham risk score). 3. Then, associated with underlying cardiovascular risk, prospective studies would be made to establish whether computational flow dynamic data can predict outcome. If successful it could prove to be a very useful marker of benefit following treatment in a clinical setting.