Hierarchical Arrangement Research Articles

K-mean cluster analysis of the use of prepositional phrases for location, writing, reading, and understanding words presented in a three-dimensional, puzzled, and distorted form

The primary objective of this study is to examine the statistically homogeneous clustering in the hierarchical arrangement of the use of adverbial clauses for location, recognition, and comprehension of words presented in three-dimensional, rebus, and distorted forms. The study was conducted on a sample of 140 participants. The first subset of participants constituted the experimental group, consisting of 70 deaf students, while the second subset formed the control group, comprising 70 hearing students of the same chronological age. A battery of tests was utilized as a measurement instrument, including the “Test of Writing and Comprehending Adverbial Clauses for Location,” “Test of Reading, Writing, and Comprehending Words Presented in Three-Dimensional Form,” “Test of Reading, Writing, and Comprehending Words Presented in Rebus Form,” and “Test of Reading, Writing, and Comprehending Words Presented in Distorted Form.” In the descriptive analysis, frequencies of the total words achieved by both deaf and hearing participants were computed for the different types of measurement instruments employed. To identify the most robust homogeneity of participants concerning the applied variables, non-hierarchical and hierarchical Cluster Analyses were employed. The research results indicate a significant lag in the use of adverbial clauses for location, writing, reading, and understanding words presented in three-dimensional, rebus, and distorted forms among deaf children in comparison to their hearing peers. The Cluster Analysis revealed the most significant linkage between the variable “Number of used adverbial clauses for location” and the variable “Number of recognized words presented in three-dimensional form.” This link was clustered with the variable “Number of written words presented in rebus form” and the variable “Number of written words presented in three-dimensional form.” An analysis of variance for isolated clusters identified a statistically significant difference in the entire measurement space of adverbial clauses for location, three-dimensional, rebus, and distorted forms of words, with a level of statistical significance at p=0.00.

Versatility of the Templated Surface Assembly of Nanoparticles from Water-in-Oil Microemulsions in Equivalent Hybrid Nanostructured Films.

Water-in-oil microemulsions, as stable colloidal dispersions from quasi-ternary mixtures, have been used in diverse applications, including nanoreactors for confined chemical processes. Their use as soft templates not only includes nanomaterial synthesis but also the interfacial assembly of nanoparticles in hybrid nanostructures. Especially the hierarchical arrangement of different types of nanoparticles over a surface in filament networks constitutes an interesting bottom-up strategy for facile and tunable film coating. Herein, we demonstrate the versatility of this surface assembly from microemulsion dispersions. Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy, in addition to UV-Vis Transmittance Spectroscopy, proved the assembly tunability after solvent evaporation under different conditions: the nanostructured films can be formed over different surfaces, using different compositions of liquid phases, as well as with the incorporation of different nanoparticle materials while keeping equivalent surface functionalization. This offers the possibility of adapting different components and conditions for coating tuning on a larger scale with simple procedures.

Hierarchy as a signal of culture and belonging: Exploring why egalitarian ideology predicts aversion to hierarchical organizations

Variation in people's ideological preference for the maintenance of inequality between social groups (i.e., social dominance orientation; SDO) predicts important sociopolitical outcomes, such as endorsement of different social policies, institutions, and belief systems. We argue that SDO may also inform people's engagement with work organizations. Specifically, we propose that SDO may impact attraction to different organizational structures. Across 6 experiments (N = 3034), we find that people with relatively egalitarian values are less attracted to organizations with much (vs. little) managerial hierarchy; this gap in attraction is attenuated for relative anti-egalitarians (Studies 1a-b). These effects are not moderated by whether dominant vs. subordinate group members occupy positions of power in hierarchical arrangements (Study 2a-b) and are driven by signals concerning likelihood of organizational belonging that egalitarians (vs. anti-egalitarians) derive from managerial hierarchy (Studies 3a-b). We discuss implications for social dominance theory and research connecting ideology to organizational attraction.

Performance support team effectiveness in elite sport: a narrative review

ABSTRACT In pursuit of competitive advantage, elite sport organizations are increasingly relying on the support of diverse sport medicine and sport science staff, who are collectively referred to as the performance support team. Whilst it has been suggested that the accumulative input from diverse multiteam systems has the potential to contribute to a resultant whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, team effectiveness is reliant on more than the mere aggregate of diverse experts. The aim of this narrative review was to appraise, summarize, and apply pertinent performance support team literature to a conceptual framework for teamwork and team effectiveness in sport. It specifically explores team effectiveness, with reference to its inputs (i.e. characteristics of individual, team, and environment) and mediators (i.e. team processes and emergent states). This review provides an insight into the individual (i.e. disciplinary knowledge, technical competency, and interpersonal qualities), team (i.e. team composition and leadership), and external (i.e. hierarchical arrangement and environmental factors) inputs that are necessary for team effectiveness, as well as the mediators (i.e. behavioral processes and emergent states) that translate such inputs into desired outcomes.

Hierarchical exsolution in vertically aligned heterostructures

Metal nanoparticle exsolution from metal oxide hosts has recently garnered great attention to improve the performance of energy conversion and storage devices. In this study, the nickel exsolution mechanisms in a vertically aligned nanostructure (VAN) thin film of heteroepitaxial (Sr0.9Pr0.1)0.9Ti0.9Ni0.1O3−δ-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 with a columnar architecture was investigated for the first time. Experimental results and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the multiple vertical interphases in a VAN with a hierarchical arrangement provide faster and more selective Ni diffusion pathways to the surface than traditional bulk diffusion in epitaxial films. Kinetic studies conducted at different temperatures and times indicate that the nucleation process of the exsolved metal nanoparticles primarily takes place at the surface through the phase boundaries of the columns. The vertical strain is crucial in preserving the film’s microstructure, yielding a robust heteroepitaxial architecture after reduction. This innovative heteromaterial opens up new possibilities for designing efficient devices through advanced structural engineering to achieve controlled nanoparticle formation.

Regularity through randomness: Bioinspired quasi-amorphous photonic structures for multilevel information encryption

The biological world has produced a wealth of complex photonic materials offering abundant design inspirations. However, creating these intricate photonic structures intertwining order, disorder, and hierarchical arrangements remains challenging. Achieving this necessitates nano-fabrication technologies capable of integrating intended macroscopic properties while accommodating microscopic variability or randomness, akin to the operational principles observed in biological organisms. Here, we present quasi-amorphous photonic structure (QAPS) patterns with regulated sophisticated visual effects through hierarchically distributions of photonic elements with engineered randomness. Enabled by an infiltration-assisted (IFAST) inkjet printing method, the visual appearances of QAPS patterns are precisely controlled by collective harnessing of nanoscale resonant scattering of colloids, mesoscale interferences, and macroscale light transporting. The QAPS patterns exhibit isotropic diffuse colors, unprecedented iridescence and enable multichannel encrypted information that can be selectively identified using specific filters at particular specular illumination angles. Additionally, the intricate infiltration fields confer high adjustability in colloidal assembly, offering sophisticated packing geometries and color distributions at the microscale, which can serve as physical unclonable security features. The exceptional structural complexity and optical versatility of QAPSs enable the integration of multilevel security features within a single system, providing a promising roadmap to achieve larger information capacity, multichannel cryptography, and enhanced encryption levels.

Design of Intelligent Firefighting and Smart Escape Route Planning System Based on Improved Ant Colony Algorithm.

Due to the lack of real-time planning for fire escape routes in large buildings, the current route planning methods fail to adequately consider factors related to the fire situation. This study introduces a real-time fire monitoring and dynamic path planning system based on an improved ant colony algorithm, comprising a hierarchical arrangement of upper and lower computing units. The lower unit employs an array of sensors to collect environmental data in real time, which is subsequently transmitted to an upper-level computer equipped with LabVIEW. Following a comprehensive data analysis, pertinent visualizations are presented. Capitalizing on the acquired fire situational awareness, a propagation model for fire spreading is developed. An enhanced ant colony algorithm is then deployed to calculate and plan escape routes by introducing a fire spread model to enhance the accuracy of escape route planning and incorporating the A* algorithm to improve the convergence speed of the ant colony algorithm. In response to potential anomalies in sensor data under elevated temperature conditions, a correction model for data integrity is proposed. The real-time depiction of escape routes is facilitated through the integration of LabVIEW2018 and MATLAB2023a, ensuring the dependability and safety of the path planning process. Empirical results demonstrate the system's capability to perform real-time fire surveillance coupled with efficient escape route planning. When benchmarked against the traditional ant colony algorithm, the refined version exhibits expedited convergence, augmented real-time performance, and effectuates an average reduction of 17.1% in the length of the escape trajectory. Such advancements contribute significantly to enhancing evacuation efficiency and minimizing potential casualties.

The role of processing on phenolic bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity of apple derivatives

Fruit derivatives are commonly obtained by applying processing operations deemed responsible for the loss of phenol compounds, but very little information is available on the fate of phenols upon digestion of these products. The present study evaluated the effect of thermal and mechanical treatments, commonly applied to turn apple pulp into puree and homogenate, on phenolic bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity.Despite a 20 % decrease in polyphenols due to processing, their bioaccessibility was higher in apple derivatives (>20 %) compared to pulp (∼2 %). Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), inactivated by thermal treatments in apple derivatives but not in the pulp, was hypothesized to be responsible for this difference. Results acquired on an unprocessed PPO-free apple model, only featuring quercetin-3-glucoside and pectin, actually exhibited similar bioaccessibility as processed derivatives.The radical scavenging capacity was unaffected by the structural integrity of apples, indicating independence from the plant tissue's hierarchical arrangement. After digestion, radical scavenging capacity decreased in the real apple matrices, correlating with phenolic content, while it was retained in the apple model, further suggesting the pivotal food matrix role in modulating polyphenols bioaccessibility and subsequent biological activity.Translating these results to an industrial scale, processing conditions can be optimized not only to guarantee that the quality requirements are met, but also to achieve desired nutritional benefits.

Enhanced Supercapacitor and Cycle-Life Performance: Self-Supported Nanohybrid Electrodes of Hydrothermally Grown MnO2 Nanorods on Carbon Nanotubes in Neutral Electrolyte.

Efficient and sustainable energy storage remains a critical challenge in the advancement of energy technologies. This study presents the fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of a self-supporting electrode material composed of MnO2 nanorods grown directly on a carbon paper and carbon nanotube (CNT) substrate using a hydrothermal method. The resulting CNT/MnO2 electrodes exhibit a unique structural architecture with a high surface area and a three-dimensional hierarchical arrangement, contributing to a substantial electrochemical surface area. Electrochemical testing reveals remarkable performance characteristics, including a specific capacitance of up to 316.5 F/g, which is 11 times greater than that of conventional CP/MnO2 electrodes. Moreover, the CNT/MnO2 electrodes demonstrate outstanding retention capacity, exhibiting a remarkable 165% increase over 10,000 cycles. Symmetric supercapacitor devices utilizing CNT/MnO2 electrodes maintain a large voltage window of 3 V and a specific capacitance as high as 200 F/g. These results underscore the potential of free-standing CNT/MnO2 electrodes to advance the development of high-performance supercapacitors, which can be crucial for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions in various industrial and manufacturing applications.

Cytoarchitectonic gradients of laminar degeneration in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia.

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a clinical syndrome primarily caused by either tau (bvFTD-tau) or TDP-43 (bvFTD-TDP) proteinopathies. We previously found lower cortical layers and dorsolateral regions accumulate greater tau than TDP-43 pathology; however, patterns of laminar neurodegeneration across diverse cytoarchitecture in bvFTD is understudied. We hypothesized that bvFTD-tau and bvFTD-TDP have distinct laminar distributions of pyramidal neurodegeneration along cortical gradients, a topologic order of cytoarchitectonic subregions based on increasing pyramidal density and laminar differentiation. Here, we tested this hypothesis in a frontal cortical gradient consisting of five cytoarchitectonic types (i.e., periallocortex, agranular mesocortex, dysgranular mesocortex, eulaminate-I isocortex, eulaminate-II isocortex) spanning anterior cingulate, paracingulate, orbitofrontal, and mid-frontal gyri in bvFTD-tau (n=27), bvFTD-TDP (n=47), and healthy controls (HC; n=32). We immunostained all tissue for total neurons (NeuN; neuronal-nuclear protein) and pyramidal neurons (SMI32; non-phosphorylated neurofilament) and digitally quantified NeuN-immunoreactivity (ir) and SMI32-ir in supragranular II-III, infragranular V-VI, and all I-VI layers in each cytoarchitectonic type. We used linear mixed-effects models adjusted for demographic and biologic variables to compare SMI32-ir between groups and examine relationships with the cortical gradient, long-range pathways, and clinical symptoms. We found regional and laminar distributions of SMI32-ir expected for HC, validating our measures within the cortical gradient framework. While SMI32-ir loss was relatively uniform along the cortical gradient in bvFTD-TDP, SMI32-ir progressively decreased along the cortical gradient of bvFTD-tau and included greater SMI32-ir loss in supragranular eulaminate-II isocortex in bvFTD-tau versus bvFTD-TDP (p=0.039). Using a ratio of SMI32-ir to model known long-range connectivity between infragranular mesocortex and supragranular isocortex, we found a larger laminar ratio in bvFTD-tau versus bvFTD-TDP (p=0.019), suggesting select long-projecting pathways may contribute to isocortical-predominant degeneration in bvFTD-tau. In cytoarchitectonic types with the highest NeuN-ir, we found lower SMI32-ir in bvFTD-tau versus bvFTD-TDP (p=0.047), suggesting pyramidal neurodegeneration may occur earlier in bvFTD-tau. Lastly, we found that reduced SMI32-ir related to behavioral severity and frontal-mediated letter fluency, not temporal-mediated confrontation naming, demonstrating the clinical relevance and specificity of frontal pyramidal neurodegeneration to bvFTD-related symptoms. Our data suggest loss of neurofilament-rich pyramidal neurons is a clinically relevant feature of bvFTD that selectively worsens along a frontal cortical gradient in bvFTD-tau, not bvFTD-TDP. Therefore, tau-mediated degeneration may preferentially involve pyramidal-rich layers that connect more distant cytoarchitectonic types. Moreover, the hierarchical arrangement of cytoarchitecture along cortical gradients may be an important neuroanatomical framework for identifying which types of cells and pathways are differentially involved between proteinopathies.

SISTEM PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN PEMILIHAN GURU TERBAIK PADA SMK NEGERI 1 MAJA MENGGUNAKAN METODE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

A decision support system is a system using a model that is built to help solve semi-structured problems. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is a method for solving a complex, unstructured situation into several components in a hierarchical arrangement, by giving a subjective value about the relative importance of each variable, and determining which variable has the highest priority in order to influence the outcome. this situation. The results of accuracy testing can be concluded that testing data on civil servant teachers which was carried out by comparing the data of civil servant teachers selected by the principal and using the system obtained an accuracy of 83.3%. In previous research, the Teacher Performance Assessment Team (PKG) was carried out by assuming the importance of each criterion without being given a weight, while the results obtained from system calculations, there was a weight given to each criterion. Testing was carried out on 47 civil servant teacher data with six planned civil servant teachers by the Principal in order to obtain the title of best teacher. Based on the test results, there were two civil servant teachers who were different from the data planned by the Principal, so the level of accuracy of the decision support system for selecting the best teacher using the AHP method was 83.3%.

The Origin of RNA and the Formose-Ribose-RNA Pathway.

Prebiotic pre-Darwinian reactions continued throughout biochemical or Darwinian evolution. Early chemical processes could have occurred on Earth between 4.5 and 3.6 billion years ago when cellular life was about to come into being. Pre-Darwinian evolution assumes the development of hereditary elements but does not regard them as self-organizing processes. The presence of biochemical self-organization after the pre-Darwinian evolution did not justify distinguishing between different types of evolution. From the many possible solutions, evolution selected from among those stable reactions that led to catalytic networks, and under gradually changing external conditions produced a reproducible, yet constantly evolving and adaptable, living system. Major abiotic factors included sunlight, precipitation, air, minerals, soil and the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Abiotic sources of chemicals contributed to the formation of prebiotic RNA, the development of genetic RNA, the RNA World and the initial life forms on Earth and the transition of genRNA to the DNA Empire, and eventually to the multitude of life forms today. The transition from the RNA World to the DNA Empire generated new processes such as oxygenic photosynthesis and the hierarchical arrangement of processes involved in the transfer of genetic information. The objective of this work is to unite earlier work dealing with the formose, the origin and synthesis of ribose and RNA reactions that were published as a series of independent reactions. These reactions are now regarded as the first metabolic pathway.

Aluminum-distribution-dependent microstructural evolution of NCA cathodes: Is aluminum homogeneity really favorable?

Despite extensive research, the optimal synthesis method and Al concentration for fabricating high-performance Li[NixCoyAl1−x−y]O2 (NCA) cathodes remain to be established. This study provides an in-depth analysis of NCA cathodes prepared using different synthesis methods and Al fractions. Al overdoping (3 mol%) during coprecipitation generates a homogeneous Al distribution in the cathode active material, whereas supplying excess Al during calcination induces a hierarchical spatial arrangement. Interestingly, different Al distributions and concentrations produce strikingly different cathode microstructures, which greatly affect the electrochemical performance of the cathode. Contrary to the common belief that homogeneous Al doping is critical for optimal cycling performance, the electrochemical performance of the cathode is maximized by grain-boundary-segregated Al ions. The proposed Li[Ni0.925Co0.042Al0.033]O2 cathode demonstrates superior cycling performance, retaining 74.1 % of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles in a full cell despite cycling under severe operating conditions (3 C and 45 °C). These findings redefine the fundamental contribution of the elemental distribution to the engineering of cathode microstructures, thereby providing a viable approach for developing high-performance Ni-rich NCA cathodes for advanced Li-ion batteries.

Design of a pebbles-like erbium stannate integrated with graphene nanoribbons for the anti-cancer drug nilutamide detection in water and biological samples

The invention of antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine, yet their unchecked usage poses risks to the environment and human health. Nilutamide (NLT), an anti-androgen drug for prostate cancer, undergoes hepatic metabolism, producing harmful by-products. Recent studies have detected elevated NLT levels in ecosystems, demanding comprehensive monitoring. Electrochemical sensors have evolved, offering compact, sensitive, and selective detection. Integration of nanotechnology has further enhanced these sensors, particularly graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and pyrochlore oxides like erbium stannate (Er2Sn2O7). This study focuses on fabricating a GNR/Er2Sn2O7 nanocomposite-modified electrode and proposing its application for NLT detection in water and human samples. The nanocomposite's hierarchical arrangement, facilitated by synergistic effects and quantum confinement within the hybrid heterojunction, enhances the electrode modifier's activation, enabling the detection of NLT with an outstanding limit of detection (LOD) as well as a wide linear range and appreciable recoveries in real samples.

VIIRS Night-Time Light Image in the Spatial Structure Identification of Banyuwangi Regency

A spatial structure is a hierarchical arrangement of settlement centers and a network system of infrastructure and facilities that support the community’s socio-economic activities. Spatial structure is important because the city’s rapid growth requires regional service center planning. In general, the method for determining the spatial structure uses the Centrality Index (IS) with a variable number of facilities, infrastructure, and people to obtain a hierarchical arrangement of regional service centers. However, this method is often constrained by data limitations, so in this study remote sensing technology was used through night light imagery in identifying potential centers. This study used the Visible and Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor, one of the sensors carried by the Suomi-NPP (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project) satellite. Identification is done by overlaying the night light image with the existing spatial structure to produce potential centers. Based on the analysis results, eight classifications are based on the light emission interval class, where the higher the class, the higher the light emission value, which indicates the potential for a new center. The Pesanggaran sub-district is in class eight, the Tegaldimo sub-district is in class six, and the Banyuwangi sub-district is in class one.

Effects of Metrical Context on the P1 Component.

The temporal structure of sound, characterized by regular patterns, plays a crucial role in optimizing the processing of auditory information. The meter, representing a well-organized sequence of evenly spaced beats in music, exhibits a hierarchical arrangement, with stronger beats occupying higher metrical positions. Moreover, the meter has been shown to influence behavioral and neural processing, particularly the N1, P2, and mismatch negativity components. However, the role of the P1 component in the context of metrical hierarchy remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of metrical hierarchy on the P1 component and compare the responses between musicians and non-musicians. Thirty participants (15 musicians and 15 non-musicians) were enrolled in the study. Auditory stimuli consisted of a synthesized speech syllable presented together with a repeating series of four tones, establishing a quadruple meter. Electrophysiological recordings were performed to measure the P1 component. The results revealed that metrical position had a significant effect on P1 amplitude, with the strongest beat showing the lowest amplitude. This contrasts with previous findings, in which enhanced P1 responses were typically observed at on-the-beat positions. The reduced P1 response on the strong beat can be interpreted within the framework of predictive coding and temporal prediction, where a higher predictability of pitch changes at the strong beat leads to a reduction in the P1 response. Furthermore, higher P1 amplitudes were observed in musicians compared to non-musicians, suggesting that musicians have enhanced sensory processing. This study demonstrates the effects of metrical hierarchy on the P1 component, thereby enriching our understanding of auditory processing. The results suggest that predictive coding and temporal prediction play important roles in shaping sensory processing. Further, they suggest that musical training may enhance P1 responses.

Statistical pathways to low-carbon cities: Analyzing renewable integration, energy-efficient design, and job creation

To address the existing gap in understanding the intricate dynamics of resource management in Cloud Fog Computing (CFC)-driven Smart Grids (SG), this study introduces an innovative adaptive framework integrating Genetic Optimization Algorithm (GOA) and Cuckoo Search Optimization Algorithm (CSOA), aiming to optimize response times and enhance overall efficiency. In the domain of contemporary energy grids, the implementation of intelligent grids (IG) has ushered in a new era of dependable, streamlined, eco-friendly, and economically viable electric services. These grids constitute a fundamental facet of present-day energy resources. Moreover, the advent of cloud and mist computing (CMC) provides on-demand access to computational resources. Overcoming associated challenges, CMC not only delivers advantages like cost-effectiveness, energy conservation, scalability, flexibility, and adaptability but also presents an innovative model for resource management in IG. This study introduces a CMC-driven strategy for managing resources in IG by digitally replicating key grid components. The proposed framework aims to furnish diverse computational services for resource management within IG through a hierarchical arrangement of CMCs. Additionally, this investigation scrutinizes and simulates two optimization approaches: the cuckoo search and grasshopper optimization algorithms. These algorithms operate on an adaptive machine learning mechanism designed to balance the load, and the study meticulously compares their efficacy. These algorithms operate on an adaptive machine learning mechanism designed to balance the load, and the study meticulously compares their efficacy in the context of Renewable Integration, Energy-Efficient Design, and Job Creation.

An Anarchist Archaeology of Equality: Pasts and Futures Against Hierarchy

Scholars of the past frame the ‘origins’ or evolution of inequality, usually using archaeological or anthropological evidence as a basis for their arguments, as an intentional, inevitable, important step towards the development of states, implicitly framed as the pinnacle of human political and economic achievement. Anarchist archaeologies reject the idea of hierarchy as a positive or inevitable evolutionary outcome underlying the path to civilization. We argue instead for a radical reorientation towards archaeologies of equality. We propose a prefigurative archaeology that celebrates the myriad ways that human beings have actively undermined and resisted hierarchical social arrangements. We aim to reorient archaeology's focus towards societies that purposefully prevented or constrained the emergence of inequality. To demonstrate the potential of archaeologies of equality we present case examples from Oceania, Britain, West Asia and the American Southwest. Highlighting the accomplishments of societies of equals in the past demonstrates the contingency and problematic nature of present forms of inequality. It allows us to explore a different set of pasts and thus enact different presents as we imagine different futures.

Shear wave propagation in a fiber-laden viscoelastic waveguide under prestress: Inverse modeling challenges

The functional role of skeletal muscle and the hierarchal microstructure and arrangement of fibers within it results in anisotropy and inhomogeneity in both material properties and imposed stresses. Dynamic elastography reconstruction methods for estimating muscle tissue viscoelastic properties that are based on assumptions of homogeneity, isotropy and only bulk wave motion may produce inaccurate estimates. Biases may be introduced in reconstruction by homogenizing muscle with axially aligned fibers and approximating it as transversely isotropic. The significance of these biases, and their interplay with imposed stresses and confounding waveguide effects due to small cross-sectional dimensions, is quantified with a series of numerical finite element and experimental elastography studies on cylindrically-shaped fiber-laden muscle phantoms, with varying fiber dimensions. Specifically, numerical simulations of elastography are conducted on 4-, 60- and 113-fiber models with the aligned fiber cross-sectional area fixed (reduced fiber diameter as fiber count increases) and comprising approximately 40% of the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical phantom that is also undergoing tensile axial pre-loading. Fiber elastic moduli twice that of connective tissue are considered. Experimental studies of the 4-fiber model are used to validate the numerical model. [Funding support: NSF 1852691 and NIH AR071162]

Axial crushing and energy absorption of graded hierarchical hexagonal tubes

The concept of both hierarchy and gradient are incorporated into thin-walled hexagonal tubes for a configuration with optimum crashworthiness and energy absorption. Graded hierarchical hexagonal (GHH) tubes are developed by replacing the corners of an original hexagonal tube with a series of micro hexagonal cells. The total net cross-sectional area as well as the mass are kept the same for all the GHH tubes. The axial crushing behavior of the GHH tubes is investigated in terms of deformation modes, crushing forces and energy absorption. Theoretical solutions are also derived to predict the mean crushing forces (MCFs) of the GHH tubes. Two deformation modes have been identified, a locally layer-by-layer folding deformation (Mode-L) and a globally buckling-like deformation (Mode-G). The hierarchical and graded parameters have significant but quite different influences on the crushing behavior of GHH tubes. The MCF and the specific energy absorption (SEA) can be significantly improved with reasonably hierarchical and graded arrangements, while the initial peak force (PF) remains almost constant.