The Use of Assistive Technology as a Tool for Family Support and Recovery Post Acquired Brain Injury

The recovery period post acquired brain injury (ABI) results in individuals becoming vastly dependent on family support and caregivers. Theoretical data and findings suggest that there is a lack of awareness and family support structures surrounding those affected by ABI. The empirical data indicated the need for further research and development aimed at improving conditions for recovery for individuals who are recovering from acquired brain injury. This chapter is aimed at creating awareness of assistive technology that can be used in conjunction with existing family support structures for people who are affected by ABI. The findings of this study have the potential to significantly contribute to practices and policies in society through research by providing a local country-contextual theoretical understanding of what needs to be done for persons with ABI and how AT can be used as a recovery tool within family support structures during the recovery process.

Ultimate Limit State Risk Assessment of Penta Pod Suction Bucket Support Structures for Offshore Wind Turbine due to Scour

The scour risk assessment was conducted for ultimate limit state of newly developed penta pod suction bucket support structures for a 5.5 MW offshore wind turbine. The hazard was found by using an empirical formula for scour depth suitable for considering marine environmental conditions such as significant wave height, significant wave period, and current velocity. The scour fragility curve was calculated by using allowable bearing capacity criteria of suction foundation. The scour risk was assessed by combining the scour hazard and the scour fragility.

Thionolactone as Resin Additive to Prepare (bio)degradable 3D Objects via VAT Photopolymerization

3D printing and especially VAT photopolymerization leads to cross-linked materials with high thermal, chemical and mechanical properties. Nevertheless, such stability is incompatible with degradability and re/upcyclability. We showed here that thionolactone and especially dibenzo[c,e]-oxepane-5-thione (DOT) could be used as an additive (2 wt%) to acrylate-based resins to introduce weak bonds into the network via a radical ring-opening polymerization process. The low amount of additive allows to only slightly modify the printability of the resin, keep intact its resolution and maintain the mechanical properties of the 3D object. The resin with additive was used in UV microfabrication and 2-photon stereolithography setup and commercial 3D printers. The fabricated objects were shown to degrade in basic solvent as well in a home-made compost. The rate of degradation is nonetheless dependent of the size of the object. This feature was used to prepare 3D objects with support structures that could be easily solubilized.