Component Elements Research Articles

Deformation-induced grain boundary segregation in a powder-metallurgy ultrafine-grained MoNbTaTiV refractory high-entropy alloy

A powder-metallurgy MoNbTaTiV refractory high-entropy alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering was subjected to hot deformations at different temperatures and strain rates. The microstructural morphologies were characterized, and component element segregation was elucidated. With grain refinement and lattice strain increase, the large inhomogeneous milled powder became refined and homogeneous after the MA. Component element segregation was observed at relatively low deformation temperatures and high strain rates. As the deformation temperature increased and the strain rate decreased, the segregation gradually disappeared, which was attributed to dislocation movement.

A robust and fail-safe semi-active vertical damper to improve ride comfort

In recent years, the technical progress in railway engineering has led to the integration of electronic elements in suspension components that once were purely mechanical. Many studies have been carried out, developing active and semi-active suspensions. Among these, semi-active suspensions are particularly attractive due to their simpler design compared to fully active ones. In this context, this paper proposes a semi-active vertical damper to be implemented on the secondary suspension stage of rail vehicles. A prototype is developed by modifying a pre-existing passive damper through the addition of an external servo-valve which manages an additional by-pass channel between the compression and rebound chambers. The prototype is characterised on a dedicated test rig. A reduced vehicle model is then developed as the starting point in developing a sliding mode controller to manage the semi-active feature of the damper. A time-varying sliding surface containing the state of the system and car body accelerations is proposed. Finally, the damper prototype is tested on a hardware-in-the-loop test rig, focusing the experimental campaign on quantifying the damper performance, the evaluation of the controller robustness and a failure analysis to study the behaviour of the proposed solution even in the case of unexpected failures.

G-quadruplexes as pivotal components of cis-regulatory elements in the human genome

BackgroundCis-regulatory elements (CREs) are crucial for regulating gene expression, and G-quadruplexes (G4s), as prototypal non-canonical DNA structures, may play a role in this regulation. However, the relationship between G4s and CREs, especially with non-promoter-like functional elements, requires further systematic investigation. We aimed to investigate the associations between G4s and human cCREs (candidate CREs) inferred from the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) data.ResultsWe found that G4s are prominently enriched in most types of cCREs, especially those with promoter-like signatures (PLS). The co-occurrence of CTCF signals with H3K4me3 or H3K27ac signals strengthens the association between cCREs and G4s. Genetic variants in G4s, particularly within their G-runs, exhibit higher regulatory potential and deleterious effects compared to cCREs. The G-runs within G4s near transcriptional start sites (TSSs) are more evolutionarily constrained compared to G-runs in cCREs, while those far from the TSS are relatively less conserved. The presence of G4s is often linked to a more favorable local chromatin environment for the activation and execution of regulatory function of cCREs, potentially attributable to the formation of G4 secondary structures. Finally, we discovered that G4-associated cCREs exhibit widespread activation in a variety of cancers.ConclusionsOur study suggests that G4s are integral components of human cis-regulatory elements, extending beyond their potential role in promoters. The G4 primary sequences are associated with the localization of CREs, while the G4 structures are linked to the activation of these elements. Therefore, we propose defining G4s as pivotal regulatory elements in the human genome.

Harnessing robotics for environmental economics and energy strategy: Advancing global economic policies towards green growth

The composition of energy consumption is shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Determining if reducing energy use may increase green factor production (GFP) is thus crucial. This study, which examines data from 2013 to 2019, indicates that GFP is impacted by both the Robotics and natural resource markets. It conducts a comprehensive analysis of Robotics's impact on the development of green economies using China as a case study and a suitable mathematical model, namely a static panel model (SPM). By applying robotics analytical powers and predictive modelling, the research sheds light on how economic growth and environmental preservation might be balanced, or “green growth.” The magazine aims to find synergies that support the incorporation of AI-driven solutions into policy frameworks, promoting a shift toward more environmentally sustainable practices globally by carefully analyzing global economic policies. It has been observed that different industries and development phases have other impacts of AI on carbon intensity. Furthermore, this investigation dissects GFP into its component elements, green efficiency improvement effects, and technological advancement to elucidate how AI influences green economic growth.

Degradation prediction for mechanical components based on transfer learning and a multistage statistical model

Rolling bearings serve as vital elements in mechanical components; their degradation significantly influences equipment reliability and safety. Previous studies primarily focus on single-stage degradation methods, limiting their applicability for predicting degradation trends across varying conditions and hindering generalization. To address this challenge, we propose a multistage statistical model and a multistage transfer learning based on bidirectional gated recurrent unit with an attention mechanism (MSTL-BGRUA) to predict the multistage degradation trend of bearings under cross-working conditions. Given the nonlinear properties of bearing degradation, we present an online multistage division method to identify degradation characteristics. The degradation features of bearing’s vibration signal are extracted and classified into multiple degradation stages based on a mutation identification policy via the statistical model. Subsequently, a BGRUA model is proposed to balance forward and backward information and assign different weights, achieving accurate prediction for each identified degradation stage. Based on the presented BGRUA, we incorporate an MSTL method for degradation prediction to maintian accuracy under crossing working conditions. Finally, a prognosis framework using both the statistical model and the MSTL-BRGUA model is presented to predict bearing status under different degradation stages. A validation of the presented method is conducted using a vibration dataset, demonstrating its superior predictive performance compared to other advanced degradation prediction methods.

Association of long-term exposure to trace element components of fine particulate air pollution in older adults in the US

Association of long-term exposure to trace element components of fine particulate air pollution in older adults in the US

Design for the development of a comdyslexic model of inclusive education for dyslexic students

The aim of this study is to obtain expert agreement on the requirements of the main components, the elements within the main components, and the order of priority of the main components for each construct in the design and development of the Comdyslexic model of inclusive education for dyslexic students. In this study, the Fuzzy Delphi method, using seven Likert scales, was employed to gather 19 experts in the field of special education as respondents. The research questionnaire comprises 42 items related to the design and development of the Comdyslexic model, which is divided into three components: the level of teacher knowledge, the teacher's skills and experience, and the level of teacher understanding. Data were analyzed using fuzzy triangle numbering (Triangular Fuzzy Numbers), and the ranking of each variable was determined using the Defuzzification Process. The findings of the study indicate that expert feedback and consensus regarding the elements in the main components of the Comdyslexic model are at a good level. The overall results of the study, through expert consensus, are over 75%, with a threshold value (d) < 0.2 and α-cut over 0.5. Overall, this study is expected to provide benefits and guidance to special education teachers. The presence of the main elements and components in the model is anticipated to have a positive impact on special education teachers in terms of the level of mastery, knowledge, and awareness of the Inclusive Education Program (IEP). The IEP is considered a good long-term strategy to improve the education level of special needs students in our country.

Evaluating Intelligent CPTED Systems to Support Crime Prevention Decision-Making in Municipal Control Centers

To maximize its synergetic effect across the cycle from prevention to response to post-crime management, crime prevention requires a balanced combination of spatial urban design and advanced crime prevention technologies for crime prediction and real-time response. This study derived intelligent Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) services and suggested a decision model based on the fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to implement these services in municipal control centers. The analysis results are summarized as follows. First, this study established a fuzzy TOPSIS-based decision-making support model enabling local government control centers to effectively select intelligent CPTED service elements. Second, overall, operator-led Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and platform control technologies were identified as significant components of intelligent CPTED service elements. Third, a comparison by city size revealed that large cities in the Seoul metropolitan area rated system services for control based on advanced crime prevention infrastructure (e.g., the crime monitoring systems and real-time control drones/robots) relatively higher. In contrast, small and medium-sized cities in other provinces rated services that were perceptible to residents and improved crime-prone environments (e.g., artificial intelligence (AI) video analysis for living safety) relatively higher.

Management and Operator Control System based on Microservice Architecture and Application on the HIPr Accelerator

The paper describes the basic principles of developing a distributed control system (DCS) and a GARNET operator control system based on a microservice architecture as part of a high-availability cluster. The application of the operator’s control system as a DCS component is described. The main elements of software components of operator control and DCS are presented and described. The process of conveyor assembly and publication of software tools into a working product environment, which implements the principle of continuous integration, is described. The mechanism of interaction of key components among themselves is presented. The mechanism for hosting management services using the Docker containerization system and Kubernetes container orchestration is demonstrated. Examples of services for interaction with users in the environment of the GARNET operator control system being developed, separation of users by roles and access rights, integration of the data visualization service using Grafana are shown. The vector of further development of DCS and operator control tools is described, in particular, the possibility of using the practice of developing user web interfaces using the micro frontend approach. The components and results of the operation of a prototype system designed to interact with the measurement infrastructure of the linear heavy ion accelerator HIPR are presented.

Assessing LLIN distribution implementation using evidence-informed intervention core elements: a qualitative study in a resource-constrained setting

BackgroundThe National Malaria Elimination Programme implements the mass LLIN Distribution Campaigns in Ghana. Implementation science promotes the systematic study of social contexts, individual experiences, real-world environments, partnerships, and stakeholder consultations regarding the implementation of evidence-informed interventions. In this paper, we assess the core elements of the mass LLIN distribution campaign in a resource constrained setting to learn best implementation practices. Three core domains were assessed through the application of Galbraith’s taxonomy (i.e., implementation, content, and pedagogy) for evidence-informed intervention implementation.MethodsSix districts in two regions (Eastern and Volta) in Ghana participated in this study. Fourteen Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted across these communities. Eligible participants were purposively sampled considering age, occupation, gender, and care giving for children under 5 years and household head roles. All audio-recorded FGDs were transcribed verbatim, data was assessed and coded through deductive and inductive processes. NVivo software version 13 was used for the coding process. Themes were refined, legitimized, and the most compelling extracts selected to produce the results.ResultsSixty-nine (69) caregivers of children under 5 years and sixty (60) household heads participated in the FGDs. All caregivers were females (69), whilst household heads included more males (41). Core elements identified under implementation domain of the LLIN distribution campaign in Ghana include the registration and distribution processes, preceded by engagement with traditional authorities and continuous involvement of community health volunteers during implementation. For pedagogy domain, core elements include delivery of intervention through outreaches, illustrations, demonstrations, and the use of multiple communication channels. Core elements realized within the content domain include information on effective malaria prevention, and provision of information to enhance their self-efficacy. Yet, participants noted gaps (e.g., misuse) in the desired behavioural outcome of LLIN use and a heavy campaign focus on women.Conclusion and recommendationsAlthough the implementation of the mass LLIN distribution campaigns exhibit components of core elements of evidence informed interventions (implementation, content and pedagogy), it has not achieved its desired behavioural change intentions (i.e. continuous LLIN use). Future campaigns may consider use of continuous innovative pedagogical approaches at the community level and lessons learnt from this study to strengthen the implementation process of evidence-based health interventions. There is also the need for standardization of core elements to identify the number of core elements required within each domain to achieve efficacy.Ethical approvalEthical clearance was obtained from the Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee (GHS-ERC: 002/06/21) before the commencement of all data collection.

Determining the reliability of complex RES by through decomposition by lower and upper limit values

Formulation of the problem. Reliability modeling of complex systems can be greatly simplified by decomposition into its component elements. However, as the number of objects in complex systems increases, modeling and analyzing their reliability becomes more labor-intensive, even when using methods based on finite formulas. One reason for the complexity is the increasing number of possible states of the system. Target. To facilitate the process of calculating the reliability of complex radio-electronic systems, you can apply the method of calculating the lower and upper limit values of reliability indicators. Results. In the process of accurately calculating indicators for each possible state of the system, we can estimate the minimum and maximum values of these indicators. Practical significance. Estimation of the lower and upper values of reliability indicators allows present the range of values within which the real value of the reliability indicator lies. It helps to take into account a variety of factors, such as different operating conditions, variations in production process, statistical deviations and other variations in the system.

Theoretical and Practical Elements of the Educational Component “Management of Information, Library and Archival Studies” in Forming Future Managers’ Professional Competences

The aim of the article is to study theoretical and practical elements of the educational component “Management of Information, Library and Archival Studies” in grounding general and special competences of applicants for the Master’s degree in speciality 029 “Information, Library and Archival Studies.” Research methods: the article uses both general scientific and special research methods. The method of analysis and synthesis contributes to studying the theoretical foundation of the theme; systemic, structural and functional ones allow to determine the structure of the educational component and the peculiarities of its teaching. The prognostic method makes it possible to outline the ways of improving organisational foundations of the theoretical and practical training of the Master’s degree students. The scientific novelty consists in substantiating the interrelationship of the theoretical and practical elements of the educational component “Management of Information, Library and Archival Studies” in forming general and special competences of the Mmaster’s degree sudents as future managers of the sphere. Main conclusions. The theoretical and practical elements of the educational component presented in this article contribute to the formation of general and special competencies of future sphere managers, particularly, the ability to motivate people and move towards a common goal, promote the formation of an effective sphere management system; organise the work and manage information and analytical structural departments at enterprises, organisations and institutions. The programme results of mastering the educational component include the ability to form strategies for system organisation, modernisation, to increase the efficiency of management in the sphere, to use applied socio-communicative technologies in order to organise effective communication at the professional, scientific and social levels. Thus, the educational component is necessary in grounding the competencies of future professional managers. Nowadays, the work is underway to improve the content and technology of teaching the educational component, which will contribute to higher quality training of students for the Master’s degree in speciality 029 “Information, Library and Archival Studies.”

The Impact of Symptomatic Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) on Health-Related Quality of Life (HR Qol) in A Multi-Ethnics Society in a Developing Nation

INTRODUCTION: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a common condition especially among those of advance age that is often neglected. As the disease severity progresses, it increases the healthcare cost and resources required, while diminishing the quality of life of the persons. Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among CVI patients begins to decline once the symptom starts to appear, and reduces it further as the symptoms worsens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, multi-centred, cross-sectional study on consenting symptomatic CVI patients who presented to the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) teaching hospital in Pahang, Malaysia. The diagnosis of CVI was confirmed on duplex imaging. Clinical grading was performed using Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification. Patients completed generic validated Malay language Short Form 36 (SF36) HRQoL instrument. RESULTS: One hundred and ten patients (62% male) with a mean age of 57 years, Malays (60%), Chinese (25%) and Indian (15%) were recruited. The most frequent CVD symptoms reported were pain (42%). The clinical, aetiological, anatomical, and pathophysiological (CEAP) classification placed most patients in the C2 class (34%). Apart from partaking in social functions, all other elements of mental and physical health component of SF 36 showed a marked deterioration as the disease progressed. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant decline in the HRQoL among symptomatic CVI patients presenting to IIUM hospital in a multi-ethnic developing country.

Factors affecting the aesthetic experiences in educational games: A qualitative investigation

Aesthetics play a pivotal role in enriching the learning experience and are indispensable for fostering optimal educational environments. This study aims to identify the factors that shape aesthetic experiences within educational gaming contexts. Employing a qualitative methodology, data were scrutinized through inductive content analysis. A review of pertinent literature on aesthetic elements from 1994 to 2022 yielded 250 selected resources. Subsequently, based on purposive sampling, 108 sources were analyzed. These sources were systematically coded and recorded in a table as key phrases pertaining to the key components of elements of game aesthetics. In the final phase, eight faculty members with expertise in educational technology and art, specializing in educational games, evaluated the factors influencing aesthetic experiences. Their collective expertise affirmed the face and content validity of the identified factors. The findings revealed six key factors that significantly shape the aesthetic experience in educational games. These factors are instrumental in fostering player immersion, as they significantly influence attention, visualization, and emotional engagement. The findings also highlight the imperative for game designers and developers to incorporate these factors into future educational games to enhance the quality of game-based learning.

Effect of metastable precipitate phase transformation on reheat cracking in SS347H welding

Reheat cracking occurred in the welded heat affected zone (HAZ) of the SS347H tube during high temperature applications of approximately 600 °C. The reheat cracks occur when the inside of the grain is strengthened, causing grain boundary embrittlement. In this study, the intra-granular strengthening phase transformation of the HAZ causing the reheat crack was analyzed using TEM.The hardness of SS 347H HAZ with cracks is measured to be 221HV on average, which is about 25HV higher than 196HV of HAZ without cracks. This intra-granular strengthening is due to the formation of intra-granular precipitate phases. The precipitated phase is ultimately NbC, but undergoes an intermediate phase transformation due to diffusion of Nb and C components. The phase transformation consists of the following steps: “(i) SA (solution annealing), (ii) Zone A, (iii) Zone B, and (iv) NbC precipitation.”This is a process in which Nb/C components diffuse and segregate at the reheating temperature from a solid solution state of Nb/C components, and NbC with a size of several tens of nanometers is precipitated. As metastable phases, Zones A and B exist in the intermediate process of precipitation, which is the strengthening stage where intra-granular hardness is maximized. Zone A and B in the pre-precipitation stage means that a new lattice plane is formed as the segregation of component elements forms coherency with the matrix. The relationship between the base and new lattice planes is confirmed by Double Diffraction in the TEM diffraction diagram.The root cause of reheat cracking in SS 347H HAZ is believed to be the intra-granular strengthening phase caused by zone A and zone B as a metastable phase transformation in an intermediate stage before NbC precipitation. In order to suppress reheat cracking, it is desirable to precipitate stable NbC from the metastable phases of Zones A and Zone B through stabilization heat treatment.

Geochemical Characteristics of Mature to High-Maturity Shale Resources, Occurrence State of Shale Oil, and Sweet Spot Evaluation in the Qingshankou Formation, Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin

The exploration of continental shale oil in China has made a breakthrough in many basins, but the pure shale type has only been found in the Qingshankou Formation, Gulong Sag, Songliao Basin, and the evaluation of shale oil occurrence and sweet spot faces great challenges. Using information about the total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance (Ro), kerogen elemental composition, carbon isotopes, gas chromatography (GC), bitumen extraction, and component separation, this paper systematically studies the organic geochemical characteristics and shale oil occurrence at the Qingshankou Formation. The G1 well, which was cored through the entire section of the Qingshankou Formation in the Gulong Sag, was the object of this study. On this basis, the favorable sweet spots for shale oil exploration are predicted. It is concluded that the shale of the Qingshankou Formation has high organic heterogeneity in terms of organic matter features. The TOC content of the source rocks in the Qingshankou Formation is enhanced with the increase in the burial depth, and the corresponding organic matter types gradually changed from Ⅱ2 and Ⅱ1 types to the Ⅰ type. The distribution of Ro ranges from 1.09% to 1.67%, and it is the mature to high-mature evolution stage that generates a large amount of normal crude oil and gas condensate. The high-quality source rocks of good to excellent grade are mainly distributed in the Qing 1 member and the lower part of the Qing 2 member. After the recovery of light hydrocarbons and the correction of pyrolytic heavy soluble hydrocarbons, it is concluded that the occurrence state of shale oil in the Qingshankou Formation is mainly the free-state form, with an average value of 6.9 mg/g, and there is four times as much free oil as adsorbed oil. The oil saturation index (OSI), mobile hydrocarbon content, Ro, and TOC were selected to establish the geochemical evaluation criteria for shale oil sweet spots in the Qingshankou Formation. The evaluation results show that interval 3 and interval 5 of the Qingshankou Formation in the G1 well are the most favorable sections for shale oil exploration.

Comparative transcriptomics revealed the mechanism of Stenotrophomonas rhizophila JC1 response and biosorption to Pb2.

Nowadays, there is limited research focusing on the biosorption of Pb2+ through microbial process, particularly at the level of gene expression. To overcome this knowledge gap, we studied the adsorption capacity of Stenotrophomonas rhizophila JC1 to Pb2+, and investigated the physiological mechanism by means of SEM, EDS, FTIR, membrane permeability detection, and investigated the molecular mechanism through comparative transcriptomics. The results showed that after 16h of cultivation, the biosorption capacity of JC1 for 100mg/L of Pb2+ reached at 79.8%. The main mechanism of JC1 adsorb Pb2+ is via intracellular accumulation, accounting for more than 90% of the total adsorption. At the physiological level, Pb2+ can precipitate with anion functional groups (e.g., -OH, -NH) on the bacterial cell wall or undergo replacement reaction with cell component elements (e.g., Si, Ca) to adsorb Pb2+ outside of the cell wall, thus accomplishing extracellular adsorption of Pb2+ by strains. Furthermore, the cell membrane acts as a "switch" that inhibits the entry of metal ions into the cell from the plasma membrane. At the molecular level, the gene pbt specificity is responsible for the adsorption of Pb2+ by JC1. In addition, phosphate permease is a major member of the ABC transporter family involved in Pb2+, and czcA/cusA or Co2+/Mg2+ efflux protein plays an important role in the efflux of Pb2+ in JC1. Further, cellular macromolecule biosynthesis, inorganic cation transmembrane transport, citrate cycle (TCA) and carbon metabolism pathways all play crucial roles in the response of strain JC1 to Pb2+ stress.

The lithium battery state of charge estimation based on the fractional order unscented kalman filter algorithm

Abstract In the assessment of the state of charge (SOC) of lithium batteries, it has been observed that the conventional integer-order second-order resistance-capacitance (RC) network falls short in accurately replicating the non-linear attributes and the precision of SOC estimation influenced by the internal polarization reaction within the battery. Thus, we present the incorporation of constant-phase element (CPE) and Warburg components to achieve a model with superior recognition accuracy compared to the conventional second-order equivalent circuit model(ECM). The parameterization is carried out using the particle swarm optimization algorithm, resulting in enhanced robustness of parameter identification. Later on, when we mixed the regular Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) algorithm with the fractional-order model (FOM), we obtained an algorithm to estimate the SOC of lithium battery in real time, named FOUKF, and compared FOUKF with the integer-order Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and UKF algorithms. This confirms that the model is reliable and the algorithm’s estimation is accurate.

Evaluation of internship program Kampus Merdeka in the community-based total sanitation facilitator field at community health center Dr. Soetomo

The MSIB Kampus Merdeka program is a program that plays a role in bridging and securing the availability of quality talent for national industries that need alternative solutions to obtain talent that meets the qualifications and fits the culture of the organization so that they can make a real contribution over a long period. However, in the implementation of the internship program by the Surabaya City Health Office partners in the field of Community-Based Total Sanitation facilitators, there are still discrepancies in several components. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Merdeka Campus Internship program at the Surabaya City Health Office for the Community-Based Total Sanitation Facilitator field. This research is a type of evaluative research with a qualitative descriptive approach using the CIPP Model (Context, Input, Process, Product). Data was obtained through interviews and observations. Data analysis techniques by presenting data in the form of descriptions and verified by concluding. The results of the evaluation based on 4 components show that the content component is not yet appropriate in terms of background and program objectives, the input component is still lacking in human resources and the use of facilities and infrastructure, the process component is in accordance with the specified operating hours and the evaluation of activities carried out is not optimal, the product component is still largely developed due to the limited role of student interns. This study concludes that there are still elements in several components that are evaluated that are still not in accordance with the program plan.

N2 dissociation on AuCoFeMoRu high-entropy alloys: Circumventing scaling relations and step dependencies

Finding a better catalyst for the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia would be of considerable use to the chemical industry, allowing for cheaper and possibly decentralized ammonia production. One approach to find a better catalyst is to explore the element component space continuously via the use of high-entropy alloys, uncovering as of yet untested multi-element catalysts and reaction sites to optimize reaction activity. Utilizing DFT calculations and microkinetic modeling, we use the AuCoFeMoRu high-entropy alloy as a discovery platform for N2 reduction catalysts. Testing both terrace and step sites, we find that high-entropy alloy terraces can reach as high activities as steps for the N2 reduction reaction, due to their heterogeneous surface structure. We also find that high-entropy alloys are able to circumvent the scaling relations to an extent, due to the decoupling of the transition state and final state structure of the reaction. We discover several promising high-entropy alloy reaction sites, with a roughly twofold improvement in activity over the best monometallic surface. However, significantly larger gains in activity seem to still be fundamentally limited by the scaling relations.