In-situ hybrid metal matrix composites were prepared by reinforcing AA6061 aluminium alloy with 10 wt.% of boron carbide (B₄C) and 0 wt.% to 6 wt.% of mica. Machinability of the hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite was assessed by conducting drilling with varying input parameters. Surface texture of the hybrid composites and morphology of drill holes were examined through scanning electron microscope images. The influence of rotational speed, feed rate and % of mica reinforcement on thrust force and torque were studied and analysed. Statistical analysis and regression analysis were conducted to understand the significance of each input parameter. Reinforcement of mica is the key performance indicator in reducing the thrust force and torque in drilling of the selected material, irrespective of other parameter settings. Thrust force is minimum at mid-speed (2000 rpm) with the lowest feed rate (25 mm/min), but torque is minimum at highest speed (3000 rpm) with lowest feed rate (25 mm/min). Multi-objective optimization through a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm has indicated that 1840 rpm of rotational speed, 25.3 mm/min of feed rate and 5.83% of mica reinforcement are the best parameters for obtaining the lowest thrust force of 339.68 N and torque of 68.98 N.m. Validation through experimental results confirms the predicted results with a negligible error (less than 0.1%). From the analysis and investigations, it is concluded that use of Al/10 wt.% B₄C/5.83 wt.% mica composite is a good choice of material that comply with European Environmental Protection Directives: 2000/53/CE-ELV for the automotive sector. The energy and production cost of the components can be very much reduced if the found optimum drill parameters are adopted in the production.

Fatigued driving threatens the safety of people’s lives and property. Scent countermeasures offer minimal disruption and high efficacy, making them a promising approach. The aim of this study was to explore the application of scent countermeasures in alleviating fatigued driving. This study explored changes in EEG frequency bands (alpha, beta, theta, and gamma) and the activity of EEG metrics (R_(α/β), R_θ/(α+β) and R_{(α+θ)/(α+β)}) in the temporal lobe during driving tasks, selected fatigued driving identifiers, and aided validation by investigating subjective fatigue with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). The EEG indicators all increased, with a significant increase in R_(α/β). R_(α/β) was combined with the KSS to explore the effects of three scents, peppermint, grapefruit, and lavender, on driving fatigue. The subjective questionnaire results indicated that all three scents significantly improved driving fatigue, with significantly lower levels of driving fatigue compared to the control group. The analysis of EEG signals revealed a significant decrease in R_(α/β) after the implementation of scent countermeasures. Moreover, R_(α/β) was found to be lower in all three odor intervention groups compared to the control group. All three scents were found to significantly alleviate driving fatigue. The grapefruit scent had a better timely effect in relieving driving fatigue and the lavender scent had a longer effectiveness. This study provides further exploration for the application of odor interventions to alleviate driving fatigue. This study provides a practical reference for drivers to use odors to avoid fatigue in order to improve road safety.

Background: Fatigue poses risks to occupational health and safety, affecting individuals' work efficiency, physical health, and social security, as well as human wellbeing and quality of life. Olfactory interventions, due to their low interference, are considered promising strategies for mitigating fatigue and reducing occupational health hazards.Objective: The objective of this review is to bridge the current gaps in the literature by conducting a scoping review of olfactory interventions on human alertness. It aims to explore their application in various occupational settings and to provide comprehensive and practical guidance for the practical application of olfactory interventions in mitigating fatigue and reducing occupational risks.Methods: The literature research was conducted in English using electronic databases such as Web of Science. Keywords related to scent and fatigue and the review followed PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews and PICO framework.Results: 28 studies were included in this work. Participant characteristics, fatigue measurement methods, and scent intervention methods, such as types of scents, intervention strategies, and scent presentation systems, are thoroughly investigated and discussed. Additionally, the study places a specific emphasis on the applications and research within the field of scent interventions for fatigue driving. Olfactory interventions have been applied to populations in various occupational fields, demonstrating beneficial effects on both physiological and psychological fatigue.Conclusions: Olfactory intervention is effective and promising for enhancing alertness and improving the occupational environment. To provide detailed and practical guidance for the actual application of olfactory intervention in fatigue relief and reducing occupational health and safety hazards, further research into the potential mechanisms, applications, and efficacy assessment systems of fatigue-related olfactory interventions is necessary.

Project success factors have become fundamental to project management practice in assuring successful projects. Yet, project failure has become common and a recurrent feature of infrastructure construction projects, not only in developing countries but also in most developed countries including Malaysia resulting in total abandonment of projects, prolonged project delay, cost overrun and client dissatisfaction. Researches on critical success factors impacting project results are important. Nevertheless, these researches are widely done in developed countries such as the USA and the UK under their culture orientation, while neglecting certain aspects, with limited evidence from developing countries such as Malaysia. This paper presents findings from a survey response from Malaysians who are project leaders, project management practitioners and project delivery team on their perception of project success factors. Selected literature review and survey questionnaire were used as data collection method for this study. Respondents’ national and organisational culture dimensions were analysed using Hofstede’s culture models and compared to the national and organisation culture dimensions of both the USA and the UK. The result of the analysis have suggested that that over and above age, and gender, individual perceptions of success factors varies with cultural differences. These findings have important implications for how companies can manage adaptation effectively to be able to achieve advantages in the various cultures where they operate while extending their main sources of advantage across borders, and in some cases even creating cultural diversity itself a supply of advantage.