Interconnected Components Research Articles

Equivalent stiffness analysis of flexible lithium-ion batteries with repeated unit cell: A computational approach

Flexible batteries have recently developed significant advancements in structural design, diverging substantially from traditional battery architectures. However, conventional mechanical testing methods and metrics, tailored for standard battery structures, prove inadequate when evaluating the flexibility of these innovative designs. How to assess the mechanical performance of diverse structural configurations of flexible batteries poses a considerable challenge. In this study, a general computational approach is proposed to evaluate the equivalent stiffness of flexible lithium ion batteries (FLIBs) by analyzing the force–deformation response of a repeated unit cell (RUC), thereby enabling a comprehensive comparison of different FLIB designs. Moreover, to further enhance their deformability, the interconnected supple components of FLIBs have been optimized. This research lays a critical foundation for comparing the mechanical performance and optimizing the design of flexible batteries in the future.

Motivational determinants of athletes’ self-realisation depending on their professional qualification

BackgroundIn the contemporary era, there is a growing emphasis on understanding the self-realization of personality, encompassing individual-psychological traits, abilities, knowledge, skills, and motivation, extensively studied in psychology. Notably, limited attention has been given to exploring motivational determinants influencing athlete self-realization based on their professional qualifications. This gap is particularly pertinent in Kazakhstan, where significant efforts are directed towards athlete preparation.MethodsEmploying a systemic approach by Bagadirova and Kudinov, the study views athlete self-realization as a multi-level phenomenon with interconnected components. A total of 180 athletes participated, including 60 professionals (average age 23.9), 60 amateurs (average age 31.1), and 60 Paralympians (average age 24.4). The methodological toolkit comprises four diagnostic techniques: E.A. Kalinin’s “Motives of Sports Activities” (MSA) questionnaire, S. Maddi’s resilience test adapted by D.A. Leontiev and E.I. Rasskazova, and S.I. Kudinov’s multidimensional questionnaire on self-realization.ResultsSignificant differences in motivational determinants and self-realization attitudes emerge across athlete groups based on their sports qualifications. Noteworthy aspects include declining in motivation among professional athletes of masters of sports and masters of sports of international class, and rigidity in life resilience among Paralympic athletes. Overall, self-realization levels are not high, with extremely low levels of professional self-realization in all three athlete categories.ConclusionsThe study’s scientific novelty lies in systematically organizing knowledge on fundamental motivational determinants impacting athlete self-realization according to professional qualifications. This research addresses the acute shortage of psychological studies in sports psychology for Kazakhstan, which is still in its early stages. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions by coaches and sports psychologists to enhance motivation levels, especially among elite athletes, and foster resilience, particularly in Paralympic athletes, ultimately advancing the field in the country.

Critical Evaluation of the Effect of Outsourcing on Nigeria's Workforce Development: A Content Analysis

This study critically examines the effect of outsourcing on workforce development in Nigeria using a content analysis approach. The research is framed within systems theory, which views Nigeria's workforce development as a complex system influenced by various interconnected components, including outsourcing, economic conditions, education and training, government policies, labor market dynamics, and organizational strategies. The empirical review explores the effects of outsourcing on organizational performance, employee commitment, and competitive advantage in Nigeria. Key findings indicate that outsourcing can lead to cost savings, improved efficiency, and access to specialized expertise, contributing positively to organizational performance. However, significant negative impacts are also identified, including underpayment, job insecurity, violation of workers' rights, diminished employee commitment, and adverse effects on the local economy. Despite the potential benefits of outsourcing, such as cost reduction and technological advancements, the study underscores the need to balance these benefits against the negative impacts on workers. Recommendations include enforcing labor laws to ensure fair compensation, providing equal treatment for core and contract staff, empowering outsourced workers through unionization, enhancing anti-discrimination protections, fostering emotional attachment and commitment among workers, and promoting local job creation to mitigate the adverse effects of outsourcing on the local economy.

Architectonics of residential buildings in the Baikal region as part of its geosystem

Research into the development principles of residential areas in the natural and climatic conditions of the Baikal region, taking into account various interactions within the geosystem under seismic conditions, contributes to harmonizing the constituent and interconnected geosystem components. These include natural territorial, socio-economic, and natural-public spatial systems. Such research is aimed at improving the quality of architecture of residential buildings, ensuring their sustainability and comfort for different population groups. This article investigates the multi-stage structure of a materially organized and life-supporting spatial environment considering changes in socio-economic conditions. Natural, territorial, and urban planning components that determine the formation of sustainable residential buildings meeting the modern architectural requirements were investigated. This enabled the theoretical foundations of the geosystem structure to be revealed. The historical experience of forming residential environment, residential buildings, and their complexes both in Russia and abroad was studied. The main interrelated factors in the development of the architecture of residential buildings and their complexes in the geosystem were determined. These include the dynamics of spatial and temporal development of residential buildings and their complexes, the impact of such development on the processes of component interaction, and the interrelation of residential buildings and their complexes in the geosystem structure. Conceptual directions in the formation of residential buildings and their complexes under the existing and changing conditions of the Baikal region geosystem, including those regulated and self-regulated, are outlined.

A new integrated framework to fault detection and diagnosis of air handling unit: Emphasizing the impact of symptoms

This study proposes a comprehensive framework for Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) in Air Handling Units (AHU), emphasizing the impact of symptoms associated with various faults. The aim is to address an important limitation in FDD model development where detection is based simply on fault intensity without considering symptom impact or subjective severity criteria across faults. Instead, a new approach is introduced that factors in fault impact, utilizing impact analysis to enhance FDD accuracy and efficiency. The methodology involves three interconnected components: First, a fault impact analysis categorizes 18 fault types into stages per intensity and assesses resulting symptom impacts. Second, symptom-based intensity thresholds are established to categorize fault severity into three levels based on symptom severity. Finally, the goal is to integrate these findings into the FDD process for optimized fault detection and diagnosis. The study successfully categorized 18 faults into three severity levels, with thresholds identified for each. Furthermore, Tree-based models demonstrated effective performance when conducting FDD based on these levels. The approach provides a clear framework through three linked processes. This research combines comprehensive impact analysis with sophisticated classification methods, presenting a more defined, systematic, and efficient FDD approach. This novel methodology substantially advances fault detection and diagnosis, especially for building energy systems.

Dynamical Analysis and Sliding Mode Controller for the New 4D Chaotic Supply Chain Model Based on the Product Received by the Customer

Supply chains comprise various interconnected components like suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and customers, each with unique variables and interactions. Managing dynamic supply chains is highly challenging, particularly when considering various sources of risk factors. This paper extensively explores dynamical analysis and multistability analysis to understand nonlinear behaviors and pinpoint potential risks within supply chains. Different phase portraits are used to demonstrate the impact of various factors such as transportation risk, quality risk, distortion, contingency reserves, and safety stock on both customers and retailers. We introduced a sliding mode control method that computes the sliding surface and its derivative by considering the error and its derivative. The equivalent control law based on the sliding surface and its derivative is derived and validated for control purposes. Our results show that the controller SMC can significantly enhance supply chain stability and efficiency. This research provides a robust framework for understanding complex supply chain dynamics and offers practical solutions to enhance supply chain resilience and flexibility.

Mode selection for component mode synthesis with guaranteed assembly accuracy

In this work, a modular approach is introduced to select the most important eigenmodes for each component of a composed structural dynamics system to obtain the required accuracy of the reduced-order assembly model. To enable the use of models of complex (structural) dynamical systems in engineering practice, e.g., in a design, optimization and/or control context, the complexity of the models needs to be reduced. When the model consist of an assembly of multiple interconnected structural components, component mode synthesis is often the preferred model reduction method. The standard approach to component mode synthesis for such system is to select the eigenmodes of a component that are most important to accurately model the dynamic behaviour of this component in a certain frequency range of interest. However, often, a more relevant goal is to obtain, in this frequency range, an accurate model of the assembly. In the proposed approach, accuracy requirements on the level of the assembly are translated to accuracy requirements on component level, by employing techniques from the field of systems and control. With these component-level requirements, the eigenmodes that are most important to accurately model the dynamic behaviour of the assembly can be selected in a modular fashion. We demonstrate with two structural dynamics benchmark systems that this method based on assembly accuracy allows for a computationally efficient selection of eigenmodes that (1) guarantees satisfaction of the assembly accuracy requirements and (2) results in most cases in reduced-order models of significantly lower order with respect to the industrial standard approach in which component eigenmodes are selected using a frequency criterion.

Development of a 21st Century Based Mathematics Learning Model: A Validity Study on the Investigation-Construction Stages

<p style="text-align:justify">The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and theoretically sound 21st century skills-based mathematics learning model. Plomp's research and development theory and Nieveen's criteria were used to ensure the quality and reliability of the model. The model development process includes Initial Investigation, Design, and Realization/Construction. Data were collected from six schools through various instruments such as observation sheets, documents, 21st century skills tests, and interview guides. Model validation involved the participation of five experts. A blended data analysis approach was used to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the findings. The result of this study is a 21st century skills-based mathematics learning model named Model 21-BML. The model consists of five interconnected core components: Learning Syntax, Social System, Reaction Principles, Support System, and Instructional and Accompanying Impacts. The uniqueness of this model lies in the seven integrated learning trajectories: Object translation, decomposition, cognitive construction, cognitive development, communication, reflection, and extension. After going through a rigorous validation process, the five experts confirmed the high validity of the 21-BML Model. This model not only enhances innovative mathematics learning theory, but also provides practical alternatives for mathematics teachers to encourage the development of 21st century skills in students. The model is expected to make a significant contribution in bridging the gap between traditional mathematics education and the competency demands of the modern era, as well.</p>

Entrepreneurial leadership: key to sustainable innovation and competitiveness in Islamic insurance companies in Jordan

Purpose This study delves into the significant impact of entrepreneurial leadership (EL), organizational innovation (OI) and competitive advantage (CA) on the sustainability of organizations in the Jordanian Islamic insurance sector. This study aims to unravel the intricate dynamics among these pivotal factors, highlighting their collective role in the sustained success and resilience of Islamic insurance companies in Jordan. By examining the synergistic interplay between EL, OI and CA, the research seeks to offer invaluable insights into cultivating a sustainable future for these institutions. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a positivist, quantitative approach to investigate the relationships between EL, OI, CA and organizational sustainability (OS). Data collection was achieved through questionnaires in a cross-sectional analysis of these variables. Convenience sampling yielded 389 valid responses, an 81% response rate, ensuring a thorough understanding of the dynamics within this framework. Findings The findings from the study on Jordanian Islamic insurance companies highlight the critical role of EL in influencing organizational dynamics. The research establishes a positive relationship between EL and both OI and OS. Furthermore, it identifies a significant positive correlation between EL and CA, underscoring the importance of leadership in securing a competitive edge. This study also emphasizes the vital role of OI in bolstering OS and confirms that a strong CA enhances OS, reinforcing the interconnectivity of these essential organizational components. Practical implications This study provides important insights for professionals in the insurance sector, especially those within the Jordanian Islamic insurance industry. It emphasizes the crucial role of EL in fostering innovation, competitiveness and sustainability. By understanding the significance of EL, companies can adopt more dynamic and effective strategies in leadership, organizational development and strategic planning, thereby enhancing their overall performance and resilience. Originality/value By conceptualizing EL and OS as second-order constructs, this study seeks to provide a detailed understanding of how EL catalyzes OI, CA and sustainability in an organizational context. This approach contributes significantly to the broader discussion on EL and OS, particularly within the Arab region and specifically in Jordan, offering nuanced insights into their roles and interrelations in shaping organizational dynamics.

Parameter estimation of inverse Weibull distribution under competing risks based on the expectation–maximization algorithm

AbstractA system consisting of interconnected components in series is under consideration. This research focuses on estimating the parameters of this system for incomplete lifetime data within the framework of competing risks, employing an underlying inverse Weibull distribution. While one popular method for parameter estimation involves the Newton–Raphson (NR) technique, its sensitivity to initial value selection poses a significant drawback, often resulting in convergence failures. Therefore, this paper opts for the expectation–maximization (EM) algorithm. In competing risks scenarios, the precise cause of failure is frequently unidentified, and these issues can be further complicated by potential censoring. Thus, incompleteness may arise due to both censoring and masking. In this study, we present the EM‐type parameter estimation and demonstrate its superiority over parameter estimation based on the NR method. Two illustrative examples are provided. The proposed method is compared with the existing Weibull competing risks model, revealing the superiority of our approach. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we also examine the sensitivity of the initial value selection for both the NR‐type method and our proposed method.

A method of 2D and 3D display of radar terminal base on programmable pipeline

AbstractIn contrast to the ideal 3D display for meteorological radar, there is no 3D mode in the military engineering field. How to realise the 2D and 3D display for general radar terminal efficiently using the local graphics processing unit (GPU), which is impossible to realise with the traditional method of field programmable gate array now, has became an important research direction. In this paper, based on the radar echo equation, elevation was used to describe the three‐dimensional echo. After the three‐dimensional echo data model was built, the shader method with framebuffer objects was employed to display the data, while the data was capped by peripheral component interconnect express using direct memory access. It was designed to display the Plan Position Indicator and the attenuation of radar images with the 2D and 3D shaders. A series of numerical simulations were conducted to avoid image tear or lag. Compared to the methods of graphics device interface and the blend of images, the programmable pipeline of GPU performs well and is suitable for the display of radar terminal.

Binary system modes of matrix-coupled multidimensional oscillators

The standard Kuramoto model has been instrumental in explaining synchronization and desynchronization, two emergent phenomena often observed in biological, neuronal, and physical systems. While the Kuramoto model has turned out effective with one-dimensional oscillators, real-world systems often involve high-dimensional interacting units, such as biological swarms, necessitating a model of multidimensional oscillators. However, existing high-dimensional generalizations of the Kuramoto model commonly rely on a scalar-valued coupling strength, which limits their ability to capture the full complexity of high-dimensional interactions. This work introduces a matrix, A, to couple the interconnected components of the oscillators in a d-dimensional space, leading to a matrix-coupled multidimensional Kuramoto model that approximates a prototypical swarm dynamics by its first-order Fourier harmonics. Moreover, the matrix A introduces an inter-dimensional higher-order interaction that partly accounts for the emergence of 2 d system modes in a d-dimensional population, where each dimension can either be synchronized or desynchronized, represented by a set of almost binary order parameters. The binary system modes capture characteristic swarm behaviors such as fish milling or polarized schooling. Additionally, our findings provides a theoretical analogy to cerebral activity, where the resting state and the activated state coexist unihemispherically. It also suggests a new possibility for information storage in oscillatory neural networks.

A new organizational model of primary healthcare in Liguria, Italy. Insights and implications.

After years of cost-containment policies, the Italian National Health Service (NHS) has now the chance to change and improve, especially thanks to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The plan serves as a catalyst for reform, allocating substantial funds to reinforce proximity networks, facilities, and telemedicine for territorial healthcare. Mission 6, specifically dedicated to health, focuses on integrating primary healthcare, hospital, and specialty care networks, underscoring the importance of a robust primary healthcare system. In alignment with NRRP objectives, the Ligurian model introduces innovative structures, such as Community Houses (CdCs), Community Hospitals (OdCs), and Territorial Operation Centres (COTs). These interconnected components form a dynamic network designed to enhance healthcare accessibility, prevent inappropriate hospital admissions, and facilitate efficient patient transitions. The model prioritizes multidisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and the integration of socio-healthcare services. Despite substantial NRRP funding for infrastructure, challenges related to staffing and human resources persist. The social and epidemiological context highlights concern about the economic feasibility of the reform, potential workforce shortages, and the imperative for updated regulatory frameworks. The strategic reallocation of personnel from acute hospitals to new facilities is crucial, requiring meticulous workforce planning, role definitions, and trainingIn conclusion, the Ligurian model emerges as a proactive response to the structural vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic, aligning with international trends in emphasizing primary care, prevention, and community-based services.

Identifying critical components for railways rolling stock reliability: a case study for Iran.

Electrical railways constitute a vital component of transportation infrastructure worldwide, with rolling stock representing a key element of these systems. Given the extensive operational hours of such systems, effective maintenance scheduling and asset management are imperative to ensure reliability and safety while mitigating costs. This paper addresses the challenge of optimizing maintenance practices for railway rolling stock by introducing a novel implementation of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) grounded in the reliability block diagram (RBD) framework. This methodology meticulously incorporates reliability parameters into maintenance strategies, aiming to enhance the operational efficiency of railway systems. Leveraging the criticality index, the study identifies components crucial for train reliability, facilitating cost-effective maintenance management. The proposed approach is applied and validated on the Tabriz line 1 metro in Iran, a system with over six years of operational history. Analysis reveals the bogie subsystem's criticality due to its interconnected components, with parts exhibiting significant mean time to repair (MTTR). Conversely, the brake system emerges as the most reliable subsystem. Additionally, sensitivity analysis demonstrates an inverse relationship between repair rates and component sensitivity, highlighting the pivotal role of efficient repair processes in bolstering system reliability. This research contributes a comprehensive and validated methodology for RCM in railway rolling stock, emphasizing cost reduction, system reliability, and strategic prioritization of maintenance efforts. As the approached method in this research is not limited to the specific case study and can be applied in any system by generating the RBD and reliability parameters of the system we want to study The findings hold significant implications for the global planning and execution of railway maintenance operations, setting a new standard for reliability-centered maintenance practices in the field.

Principles of Building a Management System for Enterprise Development Strategy

The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that the transformation of the socio-economic conditions of the functioning of enterprises in modern conditions requires the construction of a management system for the strategy of their development. In turn, to build such a system, it is necessary to systematize the existing principles and rank them for further use in the process of its formation.The purpose of the study is to assess the experience accumulated to date in the formation of enterprise development strategy management systems, systematize and rank the principles of constructing such a system based on an assessment of their importance for its sustainable development of the enterprise.The objectives of the study are to analyze and clarify the definitions of “management system”, “strategic management”, “management system for enterprise development strategy”; classification of principles of strategic management; development of principles for constructing a management system for the enterprise development strategy; systematization and ranking of principles based on their importance for the sustainable development of an enterprise.Methodology. In the process of conducting the research, the following methods were used: comparative analysis of sources, classification, synthesis, ranking, method of analysis of T. Saaty's hierarchies.Results. As a result of the study, the authors clarified such definitions as: “management system”, “strategic management”, “management system for enterprise development strategy”, carried out a classification of the principles of strategic management, and proposed principles for constructing a management system for the enterprise development strategy.Conclusions. The authors conclude that the “enterprise development strategy management system” is a complex of interconnected components that allows you to develop and monitor the implementation of a development strategy based on certain principles and to achieve the established goals of the enterprise. The principles of constructing a management system for the development strategy of an enterprise are: the principle of “modularity” of construction, the principle of efficiency, the principle of economic resilience, the principle of flexibility. In conditions of unstable economic situation, the most important principle for building an effective system for managing an enterprise’s development strategy is the principle of resilience.

Comparative 3D genome analysis between neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium reveals differential cis-regulatory interactions at retinal disease loci

BackgroundVision depends on the interplay between photoreceptor cells of the neural retina and the underlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Most genes involved in inherited retinal diseases display specific spatiotemporal expression within these interconnected retinal components through the local recruitment of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in 3D nuclear space.ResultsTo understand the role of differential chromatin architecture in establishing tissue-specific expression at inherited retinal disease loci, we mapped genome-wide chromatin interactions using in situ Hi-C and H3K4me3 HiChIP on neural retina and RPE/choroid from human adult donor eyes. We observed chromatin looping between active promoters and 32,425 and 8060 candidate CREs in the neural retina and RPE/choroid, respectively. A comparative 3D genome analysis between these two retinal tissues revealed that 56% of 290 known inherited retinal disease genes were marked by differential chromatin interactions. One of these was ABCA4, which is implicated in the most common autosomal recessive inherited retinal disease. We zoomed in on retina- and RPE-specific cis-regulatory interactions at the ABCA4 locus using high-resolution UMI-4C. Integration with bulk and single-cell epigenomic datasets and in vivo enhancer assays in zebrafish revealed tissue-specific CREs interacting with ABCA4.ConclusionsThrough comparative 3D genome mapping, based on genome-wide, promoter-centric, and locus-specific assays of human neural retina and RPE, we have shown that gene regulation at key inherited retinal disease loci is likely mediated by tissue-specific chromatin interactions. These findings do not only provide insight into tissue-specific regulatory landscapes at retinal disease loci, but also delineate the search space for non-coding genomic variation underlying unsolved inherited retinal diseases.Graphical

Understanding Artificial Neural Networks and its formation

Abstract: A brain network is an information handling framework comprising of countless basic, exceptionally interconnected handling components in an engineering motivated by the construction of the cerebral cortex piece of the cerebrum. Thus, brain networks are frequently equipped for doing things which people or creatures get along nicely however which customary PCs frequently do inadequately. Brain networks have arisen in the beyond couple of years as an area of surprising an open door for research, improvement and application to various true issues. For sure, brain networks display attributes and abilities not given by some other innovation. Models incorporate perusing Japanese Kanji characters and human penmanship, perusing typewritten text, making up for arrangement mistakes in robots, deciphering extremely "uproarious" signals (e.g., electrocardiograms), demonstrating complex frameworks that can't be displayed numerically, and anticipating whether proposed advances will be great or fizzle. This report presents a short instructional exercise on brain organizations and momentarily depicts a few applications.

Learning Circuits and Coding with Arduino Board in Higher Education Using Tangible and Graphical User Interfaces

The integration of the Arduino board into educational settings has penetrated across various educational levels. The teaching of this subject can be accomplished by (a) using real components in breadboards, (b) prefabricated modular boards that snap together, and (c) utilizing computer simulations. Yet, it is unknown which interface offers a more effective learning experience. Therefore, this experimental study aims to compare the effectiveness of these interfaces in a series of three laboratory exercises involving 110 university students, who were divided into three groups: (a) the first group used a tangible user interface, implementing circuits on breadboards, (b) the second group also used a tangible interface but with modular boards, and (c) the third group used a graphical user interface to simulate circuits using Tinkercad. For each laboratory exercise, students completed both pretests and posttests. Also, they provided feedback through five Likert-type attitude questions regarding their experiences. In terms of data analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, and ANCOVA, along with bootstrapping, and principal component analysis were employed. The results suggest that among the participants, those who used a graphical user interface stated that their understanding of the interconnection of components in microcontroller circuits was enhanced, while students with previous experience in microcontroller labs found the circuit creation process easier than students without experience.

Teachers’ Roles on English Language Teaching for Promoting Learner-Centered Language Learning: A Theoretical Review

Both students' language learning and teachers' language teaching are interconnected components of the language-learning process, and they rely on each other to create an effective language-learning environment. This research article investigates the teachers’ roles in language teaching to promote the students’ learner-centered language learning. The method applied in this paper was a library research study where theories were summarized and synthesized from academic sources to provide the answers to the research problems. The instruments used in this study were journal articles, conference proceedings, books, and book sections in the field of language teaching and learning. The results indicated that English teachers, assuming diverse roles including controllers, assessors, managers, and facilitators, collectively contribute to shaping a dynamic and student-focused language learning environment, fostering autonomy, motivation, and self-directed learning throughout students' language acquisition journey. The findings can enhance the quality of teachers’ teaching process by prioritizing students’ needs, interests, and life-long learning.

The Value of Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, and Empathy as Key Components

This paper aims to review the concept of Emotional Intelligence systematically. In essence, Emotional Intelligence pertains to our capacity to identify, comprehend, and regulate our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, thereby fostering the cultivation of positive interpersonal connections. This study will examine the dimensions of Emotional Intelligence outlined by researchers, exploring its definitions, associations with age and gender, assessment methods, and overall advantages. Consequently, a comprehensive and methodical review of the existing literature was conducted using prominent academic databases such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and APA PsycNet. In summary, Emotional Intelligence is not a singular, homogeneous concept but a combination of various interconnected components. Integrating self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, and empathy enables individuals to navigate their social environment effectively, rendering emotional intelligence (EI) a precious asset in both personal and professional domains.