Service Conditions Research Articles

Non-peer professionals' understanding of recovery and attitudes towards peer support workers joining existing community mental health teams in the North Denmark Region: A qualitative study.

Peer support is a collaborative practice where people with lived experience of mental health conditions engage in supporting like-minded. Peer support impacts on personal recovery and empowerment and creates value at an organisational level. However, the implementation of peer support into existing mental health services is often impeded by barriers embedded in organisational culture and support in role expectations. Non-peer professionals' recovery orientation and attitudes towards peer support workers (PSWs) are essential factors in the implementation of peer support, and this study explored non-peer professionals' understanding of recovery and their attitudes towards PSWs joining existing community mental health teams in one region of Denmark. In total, 17 non-peer professionals participated in three focus groups. Thematic analysis led to three themes: (1) Recovery is a process of "getting better" and balancing personal and clinical perspectives; (2) Realising recovery-oriented practice: a challenging task with conflicting values; and (3) Expectations and concerns about peer support workers joining the team. Recovery-oriented practice faces challenging conditions in contemporary mental health services due to a dominant focus on biomedical aspects in care and treatment. Implementation facilitators and barriers in the employment of PSWs point towards fundamental aspects that must be present when employing PSWs in an organisation. The issues described leading up to the employment of PSWs reflected in this study underpin the importance of preparing an organisation for the employment of PSWs based on the available knowledge.

The influence of volleyball training classes on the psychological health of students of higher education institutions in the conditions of martial law in the country

This scientific article examines the impact of volleyball training sessions on the psychological state of students in collective teams of higher educational institutions during the martial law in Ukraine. The study focuses on the study of aspects of psychological well- being and stress resistance of the participants. The research methodology includes the analysis of psychological indicators of students before and after participation in volleyball training sessions in the collective teams of higher education institutions. The obtained monitoring results allow us to understand how sports activity affects the psychological health of student youth in the stressful conditions of military service, in particular. The results of the study also indicate possible practical applications in the field of psychological support of students during the military conflict through the implementation of volleyball training programs. This can become the basis for the development of physical education programs aimed at increasing psychological stability and balancing the psychological well- being of the student community during the period of crises in the country. In addition, the article analyzes the relationship between participation in volleyball training sessions and the level of social interaction among the student community under martial law. Evidence of the beneficial effect of such classes on the psychological state of students can serve as an increase in their level of self-esteem and general well-being, contributes to the formation of a positive psychological climate in the university environment during difficult historical periods. The study offers new opportunities for studying the impact of sports activities on the mental health and social adaptation of students in countries with a difficult political situation.

Enhancing thermal-mechanical performance of micron Ag/ZrW2O8 nanorod die-attach paste with low thermal expansion

Negative thermal expansion not only challenges the traditional lattice concept, but also provides new opportunities for regulating the thermal expansion coefficient and addressing the increasing reliability demands in power device packaging. In this study, ZrW2O8 nanorods were firstly introduced into the micron Ag paste via a facile low-temperature (≤300 ℃) low-pressure (<10 MPa) sintering. The pinning and negative thermal expansion mechanisms contributed by the homogeneously dispersed ZrW2O8 nanorods significantly mitigate the thermal expansion mismatch and suppress the microstructure deterioration in SiC power module, which was also verified by finite element (FE) simulation. The Ag@2%ZrW2O8 (2% of the total weight of Ag) specimen possessed outstanding long-term reliability with a die-shear strength of 29.63 MPa after 1000 thermal shock cycles from −50–250 ℃. The novel findings can be inspiring on interconnected material optimization and selection in electric packaging application as well as reliability evaluation in the service condition.

Critiquing Various Antecedents of Job Satisfaction and Job Performance of the Workforce in Schools

Many organizations are faced with lot of challenges that emanate from the state of their workforce. Education departments also encounter these challenges, especially when they have humongous personnel. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of educators’ job satisfaction and whether there is any relationship between job satisfaction and performance. The data were collected using questionnaires that were distributed to 500 respondents from primary and secondary schools, but the response rate stood at 371. A 5-point Likert scale was used to analyse data forming part of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire results indicated that educators job satisfaction has been triggered by several facets such as promotion, pay, and supervision. The other findings are that money is not the only satisfier, but other facets are important in making the teachers happy when at work. Out of the many facets, promotion, supervision, and general working conditions are the main causes of dissatisfaction of teachers. The study has shown that conditions of service for teachers must improve to enhance a conducive culture of teaching in schools.

Accurate wire rope defect MFL detection using improved Hilbert transform and LSTM neural network

ABSTRACT Wire rope is playing a significant role in various engineering fields. Although a great number of non-destructive testing methods are applied to wire rope defect detection, the results are greatly influenced by the signal noises and the quantitative defect detection of wire rope is consequently limited. Therefore, a new accurate and quantitative wire rope defect magnetic flux leakage (MFL) recognition method based on improved Hilbert transform and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is proposed. The theoretical background of the proposed signal processing models and preliminary results, as well as the influence of the main model parameters are analyzed first. Then, different wire rope defect classification principles through LSTM neural network and performance evaluation based on the improved signal processing and machine learning combined method are presented. Finally, the defect inspection and classification comparison results between the proposed method and other deep learning neural networks and pattern recognition strategies are given, which manifest that the proposed method has higher classification accuracy and shorter running time for five different wire rope defects under various servicing conditions, and is promising in accurate defect inspection for multi-scenario wire rope. Additionally, the main conclusions, disadvantages of the proposed method are summarized.

Corrosion effects of Na2CO3/NaCl molten salt eutectic on 316L stainless steel under isothermal and cycling conditions

Using phase-change materials in thermal energy storage systems for concentrating solar thermal plants can significantly reduce the volume of storage media and, therefore, the cost of the system. However, this approach introduces new material compatibility issues between the thermal energy storage material and the containment vessel in the form of corrosion and thermal transients, which are inherent in these systems. Rods and sheet coupons of stainless steel 316L were corroded for up to 768 h in 59.4/40.6 wt% Na2CO3/NaCl eutectic salt under isothermal (650 °C) and cycled conditions (between 600 and 650 °C). The testing methodologies correspond to actual service conditions, as isothermal degradation may not represent material loss under typical solar thermal cycling conditions. Mass losses were calculated via the Dynamic Gravimetric Analysis technique while Scanning Electron Microscopy utilizing Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was used to analyze the corrosion layers. Isothermal mass loss plateaued at 75 mg/cm2 at 96 h with no further measurable loss after this time, while cycled samples had a fast initial mass loss rate of 60 mg/cm2 in the first 96 h and lost 0.0331 mg/cm2 every hour thereafter. The results indicate that isothermal samples corrode more slowly than the predominant industry cases of thermal cycling. Spalling is responsible for the degradation in both sets; the continual temperature changes in the cycled samples lead to additional stresses, exacerbating the effect.

Fatigue characteristics of rubber isolation layers used in high speed railway ballastless tracks: A theoretical and experimental study

In order to enhance operational conditions for high-speed trains on long-span bridges, the utilization of rubber under-ballast mats were taken as a novel isolation layer in ballastless tracks. Due to the increased train axle load, it is imperative to conduct investigation into the fatigue properties of the rubber isolation layer, so as to ensure the smoothness of the railways. In this work, a series of fatigue tests were performed on the rubber isolation layer to obtain the influence of stress amplitude and loading cycles on its fatigue performance. The results demonstrate a pronounced non-linear load–displacement relationship of the rubber isolation layer with increasing load, while the fatigue endurance significantly decreases with escalating the stress amplitude. Moreover, considering the hyperelastic properties of rubber material, the Mooney-Rivlin constitutive model was employed in finite element simulations. Subsequently, the stress distributions of the rubber isolation layer were analyzed, and the fatigue life was evaluated based on Luo stress method. The rubber isolation layer exhibits localized damage that does not affect the overall performance after 32 years of normal service condition. Therefore, the fatigue performance of the rubber isolation layer remains reliability, providing assurance for the application in ballastless tracks on high-speed railway long-span bridges.

Investigation of hardness, tribological and adhesion properties of TiAlNiVN HEA films heat treated at different temperatures

TiAlNiVN high entropy alloy (HEA) films were firstly produced in the literature using the magnetron sputtering system. These films were subjected to heat treatments at different temperatures between 750 °C and 900 °C. Strong TiN and VN crystal structures were observed in all the annealed films. The composition of each element constituting TiAlNiVN HEA films was within a concentration range of 5–35 %. The presence of TiAlNiVN HEA films was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. D-850 film had the highest hardness of 25.7 GPa and exhibited the lowest wear rate at 2.45 × 10−5 mm3/(N.m), attributable to its lowest surface roughness (0.22) and friction coefficient (0.44). Subsequent to the heat treatment, there was a substantial enhancement in the adhesion performance of the films, culminating in a high critical load value of 80 N. This study revealed that nitride-based TiAlNiVN HEA films could be enhanced in terms of hardness, tribological, and adhesion properties after heat treatment. Considering the adhesion performance, it is anticipated that the films we have produced will be a promising alternative to traditional nitride-based coatings in challenging and complex service conditions.

Engineering Geological and Hydrotechnical Conditions of Primorsko Fishing Port, SE Bulgaria

The present study is related to the preparation of a project for the construction of a fishing port for small vessels in the area between the mouth of the Dyavolska River and Cape Kyupria (SE Bulgaria) with the aim of protecting the water area from dangerous wave loads, geological and meteorological impacts and creating conditions for safe docking, service and accommodation of the fishing vessels. The geological structure, geomorphology and physical-geological phenomena in the water area of Primorsko Fishing Port in the southern part of Cape Kyupria have been clarified. An engineering-geological project was prepared, the physico-mechanical indicators of the construction soils and the geotechnical characteristics of the ground base were determined. A complex package of scientific and engineering-geological methods was applied during the implementation of the project. Based on the obtained scientific and applied results, recommendations were made to the Municipality of Primorsko in connection with the construction of the port. The foundation conditions of the designed wharf with a walled pier are favorable for the construction of the wharf with gravity hydrotechnical facilities.

Fabrication and Analysis of the Wear Properties of High‐Vanadium High‐Speed Steel through Spark Plasma Sintering

High‐vanadium high‐speed steel (HVHSS), known for its exceptional wear resistance, is widely used in industries such as steel production, bearing manufacturing, and the manufacture of cutting tools and high‐end components. To address the need for improved performance under challenging service conditions, the fabrication of HVHSS is investigated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) as an alternative to traditional casting methods. The research focuses on analyzing the microstructural changes in HVHSS samples produced by SPS under various sintering temperatures. These samples are then compared with those of cast HVHSS in terms of their microstructures, mechanical properties, and wear resistance. The study found that at a sintering temperature of 900 °C, the SPS‐fabricated HVHSS achieved a relative density of 98.1%. The fine and evenly dispersed carbides (mainly M7C3 and VC) in the matrix increased the microscopic hardness to 654.1 HV, which is higher than that of the cast sample. Notably, the wear resistance is significantly enhanced, showing increases of 15.48 cm−3 and ≈18% in absolute and relative terms, respectively. These results show that SPS fabrication is a major technique for enhancing the wear resistance and optimizing the microstructure of HVHSS.

Effect of Force and Heat Coupling on Machined Surface Integrity and Fatigue Performance of Superalloy GH4169 Specimens

GH4169 is one of the key materials used to manufacture high-temperature load-bearing parts for aero-engines, and the surface integrity of these parts in service conditions significantly affects their high-temperature fatigue performance. Under a coupling effect of high temperature and alternating load, the evolution process of the machined surface integrity index of superalloy GH4169 specimens was studied, and fatigue performance tests at 20 °C, 450 °C, and 650 °C were carried out to analyze the primary factors affecting the high-temperature fatigue performance of specimens. The results indicated that the surface roughness of specimens remained essentially unchanged. However, the value of surface residual stress decreased significantly, with a release of more than 60% at the highest temperature. At 650 °C, the surface microhardness increased, while the degree of surface plastic deformation decreased under alternating loads. Simultaneously, when the surface roughness was less than Ra 0.4 μm, surface microhardness was the main factor affecting the high-temperature fatigue performance of specimens. The influence of surface microhardness on low-cycle fatigue performance was not consistent with that on high-cycle fatigue performance. The latter increased monotonically, whereas the former initially increased and then decreased with increasing surface microhardness.

Electrical measurement method of static friction force on rough surface

Friction plays a key role in the assessment of the safety and stability of mechanical systems (such as superconducting magnet quench explosion, aerospace vehicle bearing wear, etc.). Due to the closeness of the interfaces in engineering structures and the randomness of the contact surfaces, existing methods for measuring static friction force are unable to measure it at the contact interfaces of engineering structures under service conditions. In this paper, a new method for measuring the static friction force at the interface based on electrical signals is proposed. This method enables the measurement of the static friction force at interfaces of complex engineering structures under service conditions solely through electrical signals. The results indicate that the contact resistance gradually decreases with the increase in tangential load during the static friction stage until a monotonic behavior of macroscopic sliding occurs. The evolution of contact resistance is linked to the evolution of the real contact area, and this monotonic behavior can be explained as the deformation form of contact points. The accuracy of the proposed electrical measurement method is verified by comparison with experimental results (with an error of less than 9%). The indirect measurement method of friction force proposed in this paper can effectively measure the static friction force at the interfaces of engineering structures under service conditions, and it is expected to be applied to the detection of friction performance at engineering structure interfaces in extreme service environments.

Achieving highly variable mechanical behaviors in TiBw/TA15(Si) composite by microstructure manipulation

Discontinuously reinforced titanium matrix composites (DRTMCs) are competitive candidates for aero-space applications. However, the high processing temperature of DRTMCs often yields fully lamellar microstructures, making their properties hard to be tailored by heat treatment. In our previous work, a TiBw/TA15(Si) composite with fine microstructure was fabricated, showing a good potential for microstructure and mechanical properties manipulation. In the present work, heat treatments of different conditions were conducted to this TiBw/TA15(Si) composite. Controllable microstructures from bimodal to fully laminated, and varied mechanical properties, with the ultimate strength ranging from 1136 MPa to 1347 MPa and the elongation ranging from 6.7% to 12.9%, were obtained. The softening induced by microstructure coarsening was balanced by the strengthening of the lath microstructure, and the deformation behaviors of heat-treated composites were determined to be influenced by the strain softening and the constraint of Burgers orientation relationship in the lath microstructure. The present work provided an insight into the deformation and strengthening mechanism of TiBw/TA15(Si) composite, and revealed the possibility of DRTMCs to fulfill the requirements from different service conditions without changing the chemical composition and fabrication procedures.

Информационная среда для индустриального и научно-познавательного туризма с применением ГИС

The subject of the stated research is conditioned by the need to develop modern methods and technologies of information support of the tourism industry of the regional profile taking into account its specifics and features. Awareness and comfortable conditions of tourist service are the key factors of successful promotion and sustainable development of this sphere. In the near future, domestic tourism has great prospects, it concerns many territories of the country, and the Southern Urals is no exception. The article is a continuation of research work related to the collection and analysis of geodata, as well as the visualization of the information environment. This study shows how to graphically visualize information on the basis of the development of an interactive scheme project with the possibility of overlaying it on a scalable satellite map in the field of industrial, scientific-cognitive tourism and architectural tourism on the example of a separate layer "Country of Cities" for the objects located in the South Urals. In the research on the basis of the program utility "Grid cartogram of reference archaeological objects" the design concept of the interface functionality of utility "KROT-1.0" ("Cartogram of reference objects of tourism. Version 1.0") is developed and tested as an interactive cartogram on Internet platforms. Methodology wise, the research process consists of 2 stages: pre-project or data collection with the formation of a database catalog and design and research, with the implementation of results, consisting in the development of the design concept of the utility and its integration with a web resource developed on the platform of non-commercial CMS; analysis and comparison of the results obtained on different platforms, publication or placement of the developed interactive schemes on internal servers and Internet platforms with further prospects for the development of mobile applications for the provision of information environment in different spheres of regional tourism.

Influence of overlay strength degradation on bond stresses of bridge deck system

This research paper intends to numerically investigate the impact of selected factors on the strength of the concrete overlay-bridge deck bond, directly and indirectly, using the nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) method. Besides, the research introduces the guidelines necessary to attain adequate bond strength to eliminate the possibility of concrete detachment under the effect of different developed stresses. The NLFEA has been utilized in predicting and correlating the live applied loads and the induced shrinkage stresses at the interfacial region between the concrete overlay and the bridge deck. The developed stresses were related to the overlay's direct tensile bond strength. A total of 336 NLFEA models of overlay-bridge deck slab segments were designed and examined after being properly validated. The parameters of the study were as follows: the overlay degradation level (0 %, 19 %, 36 %, 51 %, 64 %, and 75 %); the ratio of the overlay's relative thickness-to-the bridge deck slab (toverlay/tslab); in addition to the age of the shrinkage induced stresses (early age (3 and 7 days) and moderate age (14 and 28 days)). The NLFEA live load and shrinkage stress values were validated using experimental results from the literature with difference percentages of less than 5 %. The numerical study results recommended that the thickness of the concrete's overlay should be within certain overlay thickness limits to be capable of handling the lower and higher stresses at the service and overloading conditions. The proposed guidelines enable the avoidance of unfavorable detachment between the interface parts under the effect of AASHTO HS-20 truck cyclic and impact loadings, as well as shrinkage loading.

On thermal and strain-rate dependences of polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam materials

Polymethacrylimide (PMI) foams exhibit great potentials in engineering applications thanks to its outstanding lightweight and superior mechanical properties. However, the temperature and loading rate can greatly affect its mechanical behaviors, which are the key factors in analysis and design of the PMI foam structures for practical applications. Unfortunately, there is lack of fundamental data and constitutive models available concerning the elastic-plastic properties of the PMI foam in various stress states at different ambient temperatures and different strain rates. Therefore, this study aims to fill this knowledge gap by generating basic experimental data and providing a generic modeling solution for PMI foam materials and structures. To better reflect the actual service conditions in practice, different stress states are considered under different temperatures and strain rates. The cyclic loads are applied to characterize the actual mechanical responses of the PMI foam where the initial and subsequent yield surfaces were calibrated and analyzed. Following the experimental results, the elasticity, plasticity, viscosity and damage of the PMI foam are investigated thoroughly, especially for the initial and subsequent yielding behaviors. Further, the thermal and strain rate dependent constitutive models are established and calibrated based on the in-house experimental data for finite element (FE) modeling. A novel damage model is proposed to replicate the phenomenon of the stiffness degradation in compression. It is found that accurate predictions on the mechanical responses of PMI foam can be achieved under different temperatures and strain rates. This study is anticipated to provide fundamental experimental data and effective constitutive models of PMI foam for real engineering applications, such as lightweight design of sandwich structures under some harsh conditions.

SiC whisker toughened WC-Al2O3-ZrO2 binderless cemented carbides via fast-hot-pressed sintering and DFT calculations

Binderless cemented carbide has garnered attention for its exceptional hardness and suitability in extreme service conditions. The absence of a metal binder, however, leads to inadequate fracture toughness, which limits its broader application. This study explores the influence of SiC whisker on the microstructure and mechanical properties of WC-Al2O3-ZrO2 binderless cemented carbide, utilizing a combination of experimental method and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The inclusion of 1 wt.% SiC whisker resulted in a notable increase in fracture toughness, reaching an impressive toughness of , while maintaining a high Vickers hardness of 19.4 GPa. DFT calculations provided insights into the interface energy, cohesive energy, and charge density differences at the WC/SiC interface. This work also presents two models depicting the behavior of whiskers during fracture, based on the observed microstructure and computational findings. Overall, the present work offers significant insights and practical guidance for advancing binderless cemented carbide technologies.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of (CrxTi1-x)2AlC 211 MAX phases as composites through spark plasma sintering

MAX phases are intriguing materials due to their unique properties. However, each of these materials possesses its own weaknesses when subjected to service conditions. For example, while one MAX phase exhibits self-lubricating feature, it may not perform well under high load conditions. This study investigates the impact of adding chromium to Ti2AlC on microstructure and mechanical properties. Samples are prepared through ball-milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS), then analyzed using various techniques. The presence of different phases, including MAX phases (Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC), carbides (TiC and Cr7C3), and low amounts of oxides, is identified. Hardness, fractography, and wear characteristics are assessed through indentation and sliding tests. The study correlates the wear rate of each sample with experimental (H/E) and theoretical indicators (B/G), showing the production of composites with improved properties suitable for diverse applications.

Insights into room- and elevated-temperature micro-mechanisms of laser shock peened M50 steel with superior tribological performance

M50 steel, commonly utilized in aircraft engine bearings, is susceptible to friction-induced failures, particularly in high-temperature service conditions. To address this issue, various strategies have been proposed, with laser shock peening (LSP) garnering significant attention due to its deeper residual stress penetration and excellent surface integrity, whereas the underlying strengthening mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we systematically investigate the impact of LSP treatment on the tribological properties of M50 steel at temperatures of 25 and 300 °C, alongside elucidating the relevant micro-mechanisms. Microstructural analysis reveals that laser impact strengthening primarily arises from dislocation proliferation, resulting in a surface hardness increase of approximately 14% and the formation of a substantial compressive stress layer reaching a maximum value of about 1200 MPa, with a depth of around 2 mm. Friction test results demonstrate reduced coefficients of friction and wear rates following LSP treatment at both temperatures. Notably, a more pronounced reduction is observed at 300 °C, with values decreasing by 41.4% and 55.8%, respectively. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay of compressive residual stresses, work-hardening layers, increased density of dislocations, and substantial microstructure refinement.

College of Education: Tutors’ Perceived Professional Practice and their Well-Being

The well-being of tutors is a multifaceted concept encompassing various dimensions of their physical, emotional, and social health. The study examines the tutor’s perceived professional practice and their well-being. A descriptive research design was used for the study. The accessible population was four out of the seven colleges of education with a sample size of 202 tutors’’. A standardized instrument was adapted with an alpha value of .869. From the findings, it was evident that some of the variables in the well-being factors predicted higher than others. The environmental well-being factors revealed that 7 out of 9 items of respondents believe that their College of Education environment was conducive to effective professional practice. However, 2 out of the 9 items, the respondents were in disagreement with because they were of the opinion that their college of education environment affects their effectiveness and efficiency in their professional practice in 21st-century tertiary education. To this, it was recommended that educational managers, administrators, quality assurance officers and other stakeholders of the colleges should formulate policies that will enable tutors’’ to continuously develop themselves professionally and also improve their professional practice. it is also recommended that tutors’’' personal well-being factors should be factored into their condition of service by stakeholders to enhance their self-esteem to perform their professional practice