Component Parts Research Articles

EXPRESS: Continued Use Trajectories: How Entropy Work Sustains Technology Assemblages

Why do some technology products enjoy enduring continued use while others are quickly discarded? Existing marketing research explains that continued use is motivated by cost-benefit decisions over how useful a tech-product is and how easy it is to use. Yet the interconnected nature of contemporary technologies means that continued use can depend on tech-products’ capacities to interact with other devices, objects, infrastructures, and people as parts of assemblages that generate useful properties. By theorizing interview and observational data of technology consumption through the lens of Assemblage Theory, the authors identify four continued use trajectories. These explain different paths from adoption to discontinued use by distinguishing component parts’ capacities to interact and hold assemblages together to sustain emergent properties. In each trajectory, continued use is sustained by entropy work to support a tech-product’s usefulness and ease-of-use. The implications of entropy work for theories of continued use and broader marketing scholarship are considered, and recommendations to help firms manage the opportunities and risks that accompany different continued use trajectories are offered.

Compensation for Establishing Transmission Line Easement: Parts of Land Affected and Persons Involved

Abstract The identification of the scope of the limited property law (that is transmission easement), as well as the taking of appropriate actions, has become difficult. The far from sufficient implementation of rules has led to numerous disputes, the resolution of which has been sought in court. Very generalized legal bases, interpretation of regulations and the acceptance of the rulings of common courts have made the development of operating procedures possible and have determined the persons participating in performing work related to transmission easement. The specifics and the multidimensionality of the subject requires cooperation from several experts. The methodological bases are limited, and the regulations unclear. The goal of the research is the standardization of designations of component parts and activities associated with transmission easement. The entire process is made easier by a set procedure proposed in the form of an outline. This study draws attention to individual activities and the order in which they are performed. This allows individual specialists to carry out the next stages of work, which in turn leads to sanctioning the rights of the grantee, while determining fair and satisfactory compensation for the grantor.

Neurobiological Causal Models of Language Processing.

The language faculty is physically realized in the neurobiological infrastructure of the human brain. Despite significant efforts, an integrated understanding of this system remains a formidable challenge. What is missing from most theoretical accounts is a specification of the neural mechanisms that implement language function. Computational models that have been put forward generally lack an explicit neurobiological foundation. We propose a neurobiologically informed causal modeling approach which offers a framework for how to bridge this gap. A neurobiological causal model is a mechanistic description of language processing that is grounded in, and constrained by, the characteristics of the neurobiological substrate. It intends to model the generators of language behavior at the level of implementational causality. We describe key features and neurobiological component parts from which causal models can be built and provide guidelines on how to implement them in model simulations. Then we outline how this approach can shed new light on the core computational machinery for language, the long-term storage of words in the mental lexicon and combinatorial processing in sentence comprehension. In contrast to cognitive theories of behavior, causal models are formulated in the "machine language" of neurobiology which is universal to human cognition. We argue that neurobiological causal modeling should be pursued in addition to existing approaches. Eventually, this approach will allow us to develop an explicit computational neurobiology of language.

Complex Systems in Interdisciplinary Interaction

Complex systems consist of many components that interact with each other, and nonlinearity is fundamental in the dynamics that arise as a result of the interaction of these components and cannot be studied by observing only a small part of the system. A large number of them make fluctuations an integral part of their dynamics. Through interdisciplinary research, we integrate different disciplines and methodological approaches. We study complexity from different angles through topics that include neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and quantum physics. We have sought to explore these topics that have gained progressive interest in scientific circles as well as outside academic circles, influencing many areas outside academic research. Two goals connect our research. First, theoretical insights from neuroscience, artificial intelligence and quantum physics of the financial stock market. “Financial stock markets are sophisticated machines intertwined with scientific networks” (Ana Negovanović, 2024). They are the core of a system of different blocks that interact on the financial market in an interdisciplinary interaction of the most complex structures, neural networks with interconnected nodes. Second, new technologies- convergence of technologies, new industries, space industry through chaos theory. Investigating the attributes of complex systems is structure. Systems are structured in such a way that some parts of the system are specialized, and systems can naturally be divided into different levels of organization, which should be modeled at different levels of detail. An important component of systems understanding is the ability to break down a system model into its component parts and levels to see how the parts behave and how to connect the parts and levels to understand the overall dynamics and structure of the system. Perhaps one of the most transparent examples of the importance of structure in thinking about complex systems is the space program, where one must equally consider the behavior of individual components and the dynamics of how those components interact with each other.

An accessible technique for molecular weight determination by cryoscopy applicable for coordination compounds

An improved computerized method is proposed for determination of molecular weights by cryoscopy. The use of a precision digital platinum resistance thermometer greatly simplifies the measurement process in comparison with the classic Beckmann apparatus. All component parts of the device are factory-made (interchangeable) details, which are widely used in laboratory practice. A test report is formed with the aid of a computer using Microsoft Excel software. The use of molecular sieves for drying dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), as well as experimental procedures specific to organolithium compounds, make it possible to obtain reproducible measurement results for coordination compounds that are prone to oligomerization in solutions. The molecular structure of the bis(acetylacetonato)di(dimethyl sulfoxide)nickel(II) obtained from dimethyl sulfoxide solutions was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. P21/c, a = 8.7916(2), b = 12.3061(3), c = 8.7421(2) (Å), β = 99.4460(10)°, Z = 2. The complex [Ni(C5H7O2)2(C2H6OS)2] is mononuclear with a square-bipyramidal environment of the central atom. The coordination polyhedron of the Ni ion is formed by four oxygen atoms of two chelating acetylacetonate anions in the equatorial position and two atoms of dimethyl sulfoxide molecules in axial positions.

Estimation of terminal ballistics parameters for several 7.62×51 mm projectiles using numerical simulations

Six widely used 7.62 ×51 mm projectile types (M80, M61, P80/1, M80A1, M1158, and M993) were subjected to the analysis in this paper. Numerical simulations (Ansys Autodyn) of projectile impacts on hard steel targets were performed as part of this analysis. Projectiles had the same impact velocity (800 m/s). This allowed evaluation of the projectile’s design and material’s effect on its performance against a hard steel target. Validation of the numerical model and used materials was first performed, using available experimental data. A short description and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model of projectiles is also given. Comparing the M1158 projectile to other AP projectiles taken into consideration, it was concluded that the former had a much deeper penetration depth into a hard steel target (Armox 500T). The projectile’s penetrating capability is greatly impacted by the material selection used for its component parts. Assuming all other factors remain constant, penetrators with higher density and harderness can achieve deeper penetration. Under the same conditions, an increase in penetrator length results in an increase in penetration depth. The absence of a gilding metal jacket in the projectile’s frontal ogive section can decrease energy required to remove the jacket during the penetration, hence increasing the projectile’s penetration capabilities.

Electric vehicles and the operation of multi-carrier energy systems in the smart grid: a review study

Smart grids have been connected to energy hubs (EHs) with a range of energy carriers and storage capacity to increase the efficiency, flexibility, and dependability of the energy system. One of the most challenging problems in smart grids nowadays is the scheduling of EHs. Although the interaction of several devices, such as EHs and electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), can help improve their performance, developing such intricately interwoven systems is difficult. In this paper, with the help of several papers, the impact of EVCSs on the optimal operation of EHs is investigated, despite the uncertainty surrounding electric vehicle charging behaviours. Additionally, the formulation concerning the energy hub's component parts, electric vehicles (EVs) in a single hub, and interconnected hubs is investigated. In addition, some simulation results from reviewed papers are presented and analyzed in this paper. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the effects of EVCS on the optimal management of EHs. Furthermore, some models of energy hubs integrated by EVCS are presented, and a numerical analysis is conducted to examine the function of EVCS in conjunction with electrical and thermal storage systems.

O84: A systematic review of pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer in randomised control trials to examine variations in operative technique

Abstract Background Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex surgical intervention comprising multiple components which, when delivered differently, can impact outcomes, introduce bias into randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and impair accurate interpretation of results. This study aimed to systematically explore and summarise variation in PD description and standardisation amongst contemporary RCTs in pancreas surgery. Methods Systematic literature searches for RCTs of PD were undertaken from 2020 to 2023. RCTs including robotic PD, or other types of pancreas resection (e.g. total, distal), were excluded. An established methodological framework was used to deconstruct the technical aspects of PD were deconstructed into constituent components (pre-operative considerations, before skin incision, incision, dissection, resection, haemostasis, reconstruction, insertion of adjuncts, closure and after closure). Trial reports and protocols were scrutinised to examine whether the components/steps were described, and whether (and how) adherence was assessed. Results Of 83 screened articles, 29 RCTs were included, reporting on 3440 patients across 16 countries (1 trial compared pre-operative interventions, 18 trials compared intra-operative interventions, and 10 trials compared post-operative interventions). Forty-one PD steps were identified. No studies described all steps and five did not describe any. Fifteen component parts were described in one RCT. Only three RCTs reported that delivery of PD was recorded and assessed, using intra-operative photographs in all cases. Conclusions In a contemporary series of RCTs evaluating PD, descriptions of the procedure were inadequate. Clear descriptions of PD using pre-existing methodological frameworks in future trials are warranted to improve outcomes, decrease bias and facilitate cross-RCT comparisons in systematic reviews.

Adults' learning of complex explanations violates their intuitions about optimal explanatory order

Should you first teach about the purpose of a microwave or about how it heats food? Adults strongly prefer explanations to present function before mechanism and information about a whole to precede information about its component parts. Here we replicate those preferences (Study 1). Using the same stimuli, we then ask whether those pedagogical preferences reflect ease of learning of labels, function, or mechanism. Surprisingly, explanations that accord with function-before-mechanism and whole-before-part structure show no learning benefits to participants compared to other participants who see lessons that violate one or both intuitions (Study 2). Even when potential scaffolds are removed (i.e., diagrams) the preferred pedagogical order does not predict better learning (Study 3). Finally, explanatory order has only modest effects on experiential outcomes (e.g., curiosity, frustration; Study 4). In all cases, all orders of presentation support learning in comparison to controls and are not constrained by either ceiling or floor effects. Reasons for the clash between intuitions about learning and actual outcomes are explored.

A multi-perspective view on visibility in EU design law

Abstract In EU design law, the parameter of visibility must multitask. This article aims to discuss its meaning and legal consequences against the current and amended legal provisions for designs. As the legal notion of a design is the ‘appearance of a product’, visibility has been woven into design features’ requirement of perceptibility to the eye. Visibility also aids in the identification of the object of protection for a registered design through the registration documentation and, analogically, the identification of an unregistered design through proofs of disclosure. By this token, design features visibly displayed by the representation/disclosure of a design determine the comparison between the overall impression of a design and another design/product for the purposes of invalidity or enforcement. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has also recently framed visibility in the perspective of evidentiary issues of technical functionality. Visibility represents a prerequisite for the assessment of novelty and/or individual character of a design of a component part of a complex product. This article looks into the CJEU’s guidance concerning the protection of parts of products, including the interpretation of the criterion of visibility during normal use that applies to component parts.

Consent as a compositional act – a framework that provides clarity for the retention and use of data

BackgroundInformed consent is one of the key principles of conducting research involving humans. When research participants give consent, they perform an act in which they utter, write or otherwise provide an authorisation to somebody to do something. This paper proposes a new understanding of the informed consent as a compositional act. This conceptualisation departs from a modular conceptualisation of informed consent procedures.MethodsThis paper is a conceptual analysis that explores what consent is and what it does or does not do. It presents a framework that explores the basic elements of consent and breaks it down into its component parts. It analyses the consent act by first identifying its basic elements, namely: a) data subjects or legal representative that provides the authorisation of consent; b) a specific thing that is being consented to; and c) specific agent(s) to whom the consent is given.ResultsThis paper presents a framework that explores the basic elements of consent and breaks it down into its component parts. It goes beyond only providing choices to potential research participants; it explains the rationale of those choices or consenting acts that are taking place when speaking or writing an authorisation to do something to somebody.ConclusionsWe argue that by clearly differentiating the goals, the procedures of implementation, and what is being done or undone when one consent, one can better face the challenges of contemporary data-intensive biomedical research, particularly regarding the retention and use of data. Conceptualising consent as a compositional act enhances more efficient communication and accountability and, therefore, could enable more trustworthy acts of consent in biomedical science.

Serial properties and heritage interpretation. Lessons from the Israeli Biblical Tels inscription

ABSTRACT World Heritage serial properties are groupings of several heritage component parts that share common themes and values. This paper examines how these serial properties, as well as their individual component parts, are influenced by serial interpretive dynamic, and how this dynamic affects on-site interpretation. We demonstrate these issues through the Israeli serial property inscription of the Biblical Tels – Megiddo, Hazor, Beer-Sheba (2005). We chart the revisions along the inscription process to point out the presence of an interpretive dynamic. We describe interpretive dynamic as the effect of the justifications of the nomination over heritage significance and interpretation, both within the realm of World Heritage and in each heritage property locally. This paper concludes that interpretive dynamic is an inevitable part of the serial process. We argue that the dynamic represents a gap between the frequent use of series as an inscription catalyst and their essence as value-oriented constructs. Considering this, we criticise the overuse of serial inscriptions and call for a revised definition that re-addresses the important place of interpretation in this process.

Models of Video Feedback for Youth Athletes Performing an American Football Tackle.

Video feedback is an expeditious method for improving athlete safety when performing activities with an inherent risk of injury. Providing appropriate and validated feedback during tackling training in American football may be a mechanism for athletes to learn safe tackling performance. To determine the effect of video feedback in the instruction of tackling form. Controlled laboratory study. Laboratory. A total of 32 youth football athletes (28 boys, 4 girls; age = 11.8 ± 0.8 years) participated in 1 day of training. Of those, 14 participants completed 2 additional days of training and a 48-hour retention and transfer test. Video feedback using self as model, expert as model, combined self and expert model, and oral feedback to promote safe tackling performance in a laboratory environment. Shoulder extension, cervical extension, trunk angle, pelvis height, and step length by training block and over time. For the 1-day training group, main effects for time were observed for shoulder extension (P < .01), cervical extension (P = .01), pelvis height (P < .01), and step length (P < .01), with better performance for pelvis height and step length after combined feedback. For the 3-day training group, main effects of time were identified in pelvis height (P < .01) and step length (P < .01), with combined feedback showing better performance than other methods in shoulder extension and pelvis height. Combined feedback resulted in better performance compared with its component parts and oral feedback alone. In the combined model, participants viewed both their performance and the expert model, enabling them to see the difference between current and required performance. Combined feedback may be superior to other forms of feedback in improving movement performance. This effect can be generalized across disciplines that provide instruction and feedback in movement.

Six decades of ecohydrological research connecting landscapes and riverscapes in the Girnock Burn, Scotland: Atlantic salmon population and habitat dynamics in a changing world

AbstractLong‐term data are crucial for understanding ecological responses to climate and land use change; they are also vital evidence for informing management. As a migratory fish, Atlantic salmon are sentinels of both global and local environmental change. This paper reviews the main insights from six decades of research in an upland Scottish stream (Girnock Burn) inhabited by a spring Atlantic salmon population dominated by multi‐sea‐winter fish. Research began in the 1960s providing a census of returning adults, juvenile emigrants and in‐stream production of Atlantic salmon. Early research pioneered new monitoring techniques providing new insights into salmon ecology and population dynamics. These studies underlined the need for interdisciplinary approaches for understanding salmon interactions with physical, chemical and biological components of in‐stream habitats at different life‐stages. This highlighted variations in catchment‐scale hydroclimate, hydrology, geomorphology and hydrochemistry as essential to understanding freshwater habitats in the wider landscape context. Evolution of research has resulted in a remarkable catalogue of novel findings underlining the value of long‐term data that increases with time as modelling tools advance to leverage more insights from “big data”. Data are available on fish numbers, sizes and ages across multiple life stages, extending over many decades and covering a wide range of stock levels. Combined with an unusually detailed characterization of the environment, these data have enabled a unique process‐based understanding of the controls and bottlenecks on salmon population dynamics across the entire lifecycle and the consequences of declining marine survival and ova deposition. Such powerful datasets, methodological enhancements and the resulting process understanding have informed and supported the development of fish population assessment tools which have been applied to aid management of threatened salmon stocks at large‐catchment, regional and national scales. Many pioneering monitoring and modelling approaches developed have been applied internationally. This history shows the importance of integrating discovery science with monitoring for informing policy development and assessing efficacy of management options. It also demonstrates the need to continue to resource long‐term sites, which act as a focus for inter‐disciplinary research and innovation, and where the overall value of the research greatly exceeds the costs of individual component parts.

Pursuing Language Through Critical Metalinguistic Engagement

In this article Renata Love Jones and Patrick Proctor introduce the notion of pursuing language to engage in critical dialogue about the nature and focus of language and literacy education in multilingual and multicultural contexts. A persistent threat in language and literacy education is standardization that constrains how language and literacy are operationalized, which further limits how children can bring their unique communicative practices into schools and classrooms. In response, the authors describe pursuing language as a state of being responsive in our language and literacy instruction, with the goal of developing literacy skills through culturally affirming and anti-oppressive practices. They operationalize this pursuit of language in classroom contexts by delineating a framework of critical metalinguistic engagement. The article begins with a theory of languaging and goes on to unpack critical metalinguistic engagement by each of its component parts—critical, metalinguistic, and engagement—and concludes with an argument for being intentional about pursing language through relationships and dispositions that affirm language diversity in educational practice and research.

Freedom and Totality: How Hegel Became Hegel

Hegel saw freedom not primarily as a property of the individual’s will, but of a totality (from which individual freedom is metaphysically derived). This aspect of Hegel’s political theory stemmed from his attempt to construct a state that could foster a renewal of Christian spirituality. This project had to confront the fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire, which Hegel attributed to the self-interestedness of its component parts. This historical case for the priority of the whole over its parts, however, was soon supplanted by a philosophical argument for a political totality whose freedom entailed its subordination of conflicting parts within itself.

3D-Printed Polymer Spare Parts for Various Applications

3D-printed polymer component parts and spare parts are now being widely used in various applications. In this paper, the 3D printing technologies and materials for spare part production in several applications are presented. Some opportunities and challenges faced when using 3d-printed spare parts are also discussed. The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) has mostly been used. And it was found out that the durability of the spare parts could vary depending on the application.

Learning within fiber-crafted algorithms: Posthumanist perspectives for capturing human-material collaboration

AbstractA key commitment of computer-supported collaborative learning research is to study how people learn in collaborative settings to guide development of methods for capture and design for learning. Computer-supported collaborative learning research has a tradition of studying how the physical world plays a part in collaborative learning. Within the field, a material turn is emerging that considers how digital and tangible technologies actively contribute to collaborative learning processes. Studying how tangible materials produce collaborative learning visibly and algorithmically is particularly important at a time when advanced algorithms are integrated into educational contexts in ways that are not always transparent. However, the needed methodologies for capturing how non-human agents take part in collaborative learning remains underdeveloped. The present study builds on current CSCL research that investigates materials in collaborative learning and introduces posthumanist perspectives with the aim to decenter humans methodologically and to probe empirically whether and how these perspectives contribute to empirical understanding of collaborative learning processes. Taking fiber crafts (e.g., weaving and fabric manipulation) as a context for computational learning, the present study conducted a posthumanist analysis of differences among human and non-human participants in collaboration using video data to investigate how middle school youths and fiber craft components performed algorithms over time. The findings show how both youths and craft materials actively contributed to the performance of algorithms. In weaving, algorithms became repeated youth-material movements one dimension at a time. In fabric manipulation, algorithms became a repeated confluence of component parts. Decentering humans through an analysis of differences among human and non-human introduced human-material collaboration as a productive unit of analysis for understanding how materials and people together contribute to producing what can be recognized as computational performance. The findings of this research contribute to ongoing conversations in CSCL research on how computational materials can be considered in collaborative learning and present a new approach to capture collaborative learning as physical expansion over time. The study has implications for future research on capturing collaborative computational learning and designing physical computational learning opportunities that show technology as evolving.

Determination of the reliability of cement mills

For any industrial entity put into operation, the problem is that it fulfils its specified function, under certain conditions of use and for a specified period of time, i.e. to have an appropriate reliability. In calculating the reliability of industrial entities in general and cement mills in particular, the main problem is to obtain the necessary information. They may be obtained from laboratory tests or tests under normal operating conditions, from maintenance teams, or from specialized control institutions. The general opinion is that only tests under normal operating conditions can provide real data on the behaviour of entities, subassemblies, and their component parts, which is why in general, reliability calculations are based on data obtained from so-called operation / failure reports. Therefore, considering this opinion, the reliability of cement mills was assessed following the operation of such a machine.

Multiple Genes Core to ERAD, Macroautophagy and Lysosomal Degradation Pathways Participate in the Proteostasis Response in α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

BackgroundIn the classical form of α1-antitrypsin deficiency (ATD), the misfolded α1-antitrypsin Z (ATZ) variant accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of liver cells. A gain-of-function proteotoxic mechanism is responsible for chronic liver disease in a sub-group of homozygotes. Proteostatic response pathways, including conventional ERAD and autophagy, have been proposed as the mechanisms that allow cellular adaptation and presumably protection from the liver disease phenotype. Recent studies have concluded that a distinct lysosomal pathway called ERLAD completely supplants the role of the conventional macro-autophagy pathway in degradation of ATZ. Here we used several state-of-the-art approaches to more fully characterize the proteostatic responses in cellular systems that model ATD. MethodsWe used CRISPR-mediated genome editing coupled to a cell selection step by FACS to carry out screening for proteostasis genes that regulate ATZ accumulation and combined that with selective genome editing in two other model systems. ResultsERAD genes are key early regulators and multiple autophagy genes, from classical as well as from ERLAD and other newly described ER-phagy pathways, participate in degradation of ATZ in a manner that is temporally regulated and evolves as ATZ accumulation persists. Time-dependent changes in gene expression are accompanied by specific ultrastructural changes including dilation of the ER, formation of globular inclusions, budding of autophagic vesicles and alterations in the overall shape and component parts of mitochondria. ConclusionsMacro-autophagy is a critical component of the proteostasis response to cellular ATZ accumulation and it becomes more important over time as ATZ synthesis continues unabated. Multiple sub-types of macro-autophagy and non-autophagic lysosomal degradative pathways are needed to respond to the high concentrations of misfolded protein that characterizes ATD and these pathways are attractive candidates for genetic variants that predispose to the hepatic phenotype.