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Product design is a creative and multidisciplinary activity that often necessitates the application of analytical and innovative support tools to enhance the concept research phase and solutions development. The TRIZ theory, a highly effective innovation method, has demonstrated its efficacy in supporting innovation across various fields. In this context, our focus has been on integrating TRIZ into the product design process involving engineering designers. This article provides a descriptive and critically assessed evaluation of the operational impact of TRIZ on the design activity, specifically in the development of a "Wastewater Screening and Filtration System" during the preliminary design phases. The objective of this research is to assess the influence of TRIZ utilization on the engineering designers' ability to address a design problem. The ultimate goal is to establish an innovative design support approach based on the use of TRIZ tools that is easily comprehensible and applicable to future designers. Within this article, we present both quantitative and qualitative results of the exploitation of TRIZ tools combined with an energy analysis of the requirement in the product design field.

The decisions made during the preliminary design phases considerably impact the development of a product's lifecycle, acting on its environmental performance, cost, and duration of its realization. However, the lack of relevant information during these phases does not allow for the accurate evaluation of design solutions. In addition, it generates schedule delays and overruns in the budget allocated to developing a given solution. In this perspective, the present work aims to assess the accuracy of the behavior models used for exploring solutions during the embodiment phase. This was based on two measures of different nature, namely objective accuracy, which is evaluated by referring to real prototyping of a given solution, and the subjective accuracy measure, which allows to the expression of the degradation of the first measure in relation to the reference point. This combination will lead to a measure that can be generalized on all the design space. In a second step, the current work suggests an estimation of the effect of these models' accuracy on the proposed solutions' environmental impact. To this end, a sensitivity study was carried out on the input data of the model (design parameters) in order to deduce the effect of the results obtained (performance parameters) on the mass and, consequently, the environmental impact of the solution. In order to highlight the approach adopted in the present study, it was applied to a real industrial case, ultimately leading to the most optimized solution in terms of accuracy and environmental impact.

This article focuses on assessing the environmental impact during the early stages of design, emphasizing the minimization of negative consequences on the environment. We explore methods for integrating environmental constraints into the design process and underscore the importance of preliminary choices. Considering the variability of design parameters plays a fundamental role in ensuring reliable and stable outcomes. In-depth analysis of behavior models allows quantifying the influence of assumptions on prediction accuracy. Classifying these assumptions based on their level of practical verification sheds light on the reliability of expected results. The introduction of objective and subjective accuracy indicators enhances our ability to evaluate models and identify potential sources of uncertainty. Through the study of a concrete case, that of a Fresnel mirror solar concentration system, we demonstrate the relevance of our approach. The optimal and robust design of the collector support is explored using simulation and optimization tools. The obtained results demonstrate a significant improvement in the environmental indicator, confirming the effectiveness of our approach.

We reviewed 192 patients (224 knees) to assess the results of HTO in medial gonarthrosis during the period 1982-2008. Median follow-up was about 15 years for 134 females and 58 males. Among the knees, 118 had an average opening wedge for varus angle of 13 degrees and 106 had closing wedges of 11 degrees. Knee Society scoring before osteotomies was 68/200 for opening wedge and 81/200 for closing wedge. Modified Ahlback classification showed preoperative grades I (n = 44), II (78), III (83) and IV (19). Healing delay was 55 days for closing and 70 for opening osteotomy. Twenty-nine knees were still painful. Twenty-eight patients were revised and 19 others had complications. After opening wedge osteotomy, scoring was 101/200 and valgus angle was 2 degrees. After closing wedge osteotomy, scoring was 94/200 and valgus angle was 4 degrees. Global results were as follows: very good, 12%; good, 30%; fair, 31%; and poor, 27%. HTO decreases stresses on medial compartments and widens joint space. The average of 5 degrees mechanical valgus at the time of osteotomy seems to be quite effective at the follow-up for at least ten years. Our indications are opening wedge for grades 1-3 and wide varus angle, until the age of between 65-70. Closing wedge is indicated for medium varus in younger patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic efficiency of the metal oxide-hydroxyapatite photocatalysts prepared by soft chemistry using phosphate rock as calcium and phosphorus precursors has been investigated on the degradation kinetic of ciprofloxacin residues in water under UV-light (HPK125 W Lamp). The nature of metal oxide (TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3), structure, surface area and pore-size distributions of the catalysts were analyzed by various techniques analyses. Association of nanoscale metal oxide with hydroxyapatite could enhance the sorption properties of the materials and confers them interesting photodegradation properties. The results of the kinetic study revealed that the activities of these photocatalysts were dependent on the oxide surface and the best activity was obtained with TiO2/hydroxyapatite catalyst, which had the largest surface area. The effects of various operational parameters were thoroughly considered in order to achieve highest photodegradation efficiency. A correlation between the nature of associated metal oxide, surface properties, the sorption behavior and the photodegradation capacity of these composites could be establishedd.

A natural phosphate rock and two synthetic mesoporous hydroxyapatites were evaluated for the removal of pyridine and phenol from aqueous solutions. Experiments performed by the batch method showed that the sorption process occurs by a first order reaction for both pyridine and phenol. In contrast, the Freundlich model was able to describe sorption isotherms for phenol but not for pyridine. In parallel, the three apatites exhibit similar pyridine sorption capacities whereas phenol loading was in agreement with their respective specific surface area. This was attributed to the strong interaction arising between pyridine and apatite surface that hinders further inter-particular diffusion. This study suggests that, despite its low specific surface area, natural phosphate rock may be used as an efficient sorbent material for specific organic pollutants, with comparable efficiency and lower processing costs than some activated carbons., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Elastofibroma dorsi is a slowly-growing benign tumor which usually occurs at the inferior angle of the scapula. It may be more of a degenerative process than a neoplasia. We seek, through our observations and a review of the literature, to clarify the characteristics of this tumor and its modes of management. We think that all doctors should be aware of this condition, in order to treat it correctly.