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In context of the universal presence of defects in additively manufactured (AM) metals, efficient computational tools are required to rapidly screen AM microstructures for mechanical integrity. To this end, a deep learning approach is used to predict the elastic stress fields in images of defect-containing metal microstructures. A large dataset consisting of the stress response of 100,000 random microstructure images is generated using high-resolution Fast Fourier Transform-based finite element (FFT-FE) calculations, which is then used to train a modified U-Net style convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The trained U-Net model more accurately predicted the stress response compared to alternative CNN architectures, exceeded the accuracy of low-resolution FFT-FE calculations, and was generalizable to microstructures with complex defect geometries. The model was applied to images of real AM microstructures with severe lack of fusion defects, and predicted an increase of maximum stress as a function of pore fraction, and higher stress compared to comparable microstructures with circular holes. Together, the proposed CNN offers an efficient and accurate way to predict the structural response of defect-containing AM microstructures. • U-Net CNN predicts the stress around defects in additively manufactured metals. • FFT finite element method generated a large training set of 100,000 images. • Systematic study reveals the importance of CNN architecture on model performance. • CNN evaluates ∼40 times faster than FFT finite element method. • The trained U-Net quantifies effects of defect morphology on stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vasovagal reactions (VVRs) are the most common acute complications of blood donation. Responsible for substantial morbidity, they also reduce the likelihood of repeated donations and are disruptive and costly for blood services. Although blood establishments worldwide have adopted different strategies to prevent VVRs (including water loading and applied muscle tension [AMT]), robust evidence is limited. The Strategies to Improve Donor Experiences (STRIDES) trial aims to reliably assess the impact of four different interventions to prevent VVRs among blood donors. Methods: STRIDES is a cluster-randomised cross-over/stepped-wedge factorial trial of four interventions to reduce VVRs involving about 1.4 million whole blood donors enrolled from all 73 blood donation sites (mobile teams and donor centres) of National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in England. Each site ("cluster") has been randomly allocated to receive one or more interventions during a 36-month period, using principles of cross-over, stepped-wedge and factorial trial design to assign the sequence of interventions. Each of the four interventions is compared to NHSBT's current practices: (i) 500-ml isotonic drink before donation (vs current 500-ml plain water); (ii) 3-min rest on donation chair after donation (vs current 2 min); (iii) new modified AMT (vs current practice of AMT); and (iv) psychosocial intervention using preparatory materials (vs current practice of nothing). The primary outcome is the number of in-session VVRs with loss of consciousness (i.e. episodes involving loss of consciousness of any duration, with or without additional complications). Secondary outcomes include all in-session VVRs (i.e. with and without loss of consciousness), all delayed VVRs (i.e. those occurring after leaving the venue) and any in-session non-VVR adverse events or reactions. Discussion: The STRIDES trial should yield novel information about interventions, singly and in combination, for the prevention of VVRs, with the aim of generating policy-shaping evidence to help inform blood services to improve donor health, donor experience, and service efficiency. Trial registration: ISRCTN: 10412338. Registration date: October 24, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vasovagal reactions (VVRs) are the most common acute complications of blood donation. Responsible for substantial morbidity, they also reduce the likelihood of repeated donations and are disruptive and costly for blood services. Although blood establishments worldwide have adopted different strategies to prevent VVRs (including water loading and applied muscle tension [AMT]), robust evidence is limited. The Strategies to Improve Donor Experiences (STRIDES) trial aims to reliably assess the impact of four different interventions to prevent VVRs among blood donors. Methods: STRIDES is a cluster-randomised cross-over/stepped-wedge factorial trial of four interventions to reduce VVRs involving about 1.4 million whole blood donors enrolled from all 73 blood donation sites (mobile teams and donor centres) of National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in England. Each site ("cluster") has been randomly allocated to receive one or more interventions during a 36-month period, using principles of cross-over, stepped-wedge and factorial trial design to assign the sequence of interventions. Each of the four interventions is compared to NHSBT's current practices: (i) 500-ml isotonic drink before donation (vs current 500-ml plain water); (ii) 3-min rest on donation chair after donation (vs current 2 min); (iii) new modified AMT (vs current practice of AMT); and (iv) psychosocial intervention using preparatory materials (vs current practice of nothing). The primary outcome is the number of in-session VVRs with loss of consciousness (i.e. episodes involving loss of consciousness of any duration, with or without additional complications). Secondary outcomes include all in-session VVRs (i.e. with and without loss of consciousness), all delayed VVRs (i.e. those occurring after leaving the venue) and any in-session non-VVR adverse events or reactions. Discussion: The STRIDES trial should yield novel information about interventions, singly and in combination, for the prevention of VVRs, with the aim of generating policy-shaping evidence to help inform blood services to improve donor health, donor experience, and service efficiency. Trial registration: ISRCTN: 10412338. Registration date: October 24, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) of a 100-nm-thick Al thin film was measured as a function of annealing time by transmission electron microscopy-based crystal orientation mapping and compared to a bulk material with a grain size of 23 μm. The most significant difference between the thin film and bulk GBCDs is the concentration of Σ3 boundaries (boundaries with a misorientation of 60° around [111]), which were mostly coherent twins. The length fraction of Σ3 boundaries in the as-deposited thin film is 0.245, more than ten times the length fraction in the bulk sample (0.016). Although the concentrations of Σ3 boundaries are very different in the two samples, the population distributions are strongly correlated for all misorientations except Σ3. The results indicate that the characteristic GBCD develops at grain sizes as small as 109 nm. Annealing the thin film samples at 400 °C for 30 min or more leads to a strong 〈111〉 grain orientation texture and a decrease in the concentration of Σ3 grain boundaries. Grain size distributions for the samples in the current study show good agreement with prior reports that used image-based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]