Internal Structure Research Articles

Construction, evidence of validity and reliability of a Teacher Socioemotional Competencies Scale - ECSED

Social-emotional competencies are complex actions that include skills, knowledge and attitudes to maintain effective and satisfactory social interactions. As well as, managing one's own and other people's emotions in different environments. They are vital for healthy coexistence in higher education. The purpose of this research was to establish the evidence of validity and reliability for the scale of socioemotional competencies of university teachers. Scale constructed under the pentagonal model approach of Bizquerra and Pérez (2007). The study is cross-sectional and instrumental. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 237 teachers from public and private universities in Lima (Peru), from different professional careers, aged between 24 and 70 years, male and female, was used. Satisfactory evidence of content-based validity was found for the criteria of clarity, pertinence, and relevance for each of the items using Aiken's V technique. For validity based on the internal structure of the construct, a Penta dimensional model and a bi-factor model were contrasted by confirmatory factor analysis, with better fit values for the second model (CFI and TLI > 0.95, RMSEA and SRMR < 0.07, = ω h = 0.90, ECV and PUC > 0.95), and favorable evidence of convergent and discriminant validity was also found. For both the overall score and the scores for each factor, there were coefficients denoting high reliability (ordinal α and ω > 0.90).

Impact of internal lattice structures on the weight and natural frequencies of a low pressure turbine blade

Vibration characteristics play a crucial role in the overall performance of Low-pressure (LP) turbine blades and different techniques are developed to enhance vibrational response by increasing natural frequencies. The present analysis aims to develop a new technique based on the investigation of improvement in natural frequencies and mass reduction of a topology-optimized blade design through location-based integration of lattice structures inside the blades. FE models are developed for three different lattice locations based on mode shape behavior obtained through modal analysis of two different nickel-based alloys at stressed and unstressed conditions. The results show that the internal BCC lattice at specific locations showed better vibrational characteristics compared to other incorporated lattice structures, and validates the location-based integration scheme for enhancement of natural frequencies and reduced mass in applied conditions. By this method, 5.7% mass reduction was achieved from an already 35% mass-reduced blade along with enhancement in the first and second natural frequencies by 8.2% and 5.9% respectively when unstressed. At stressed condition, the natural frequencies increased by ≈7.7% and ≈6.6%.

Slow remagnetization of ferrofluids with internal structures

Slow remagnetization of ferrofluids with internal structures

MICP treated sand: insights into the impact of particle size on mechanical parameters and pore network after biocementation

Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is a technology for improving soil characteristics, especially strength, that has been gaining increasing interest in literature during the last few years. Although a lot of influencing factors on the result of MICP are known, particle size and shape of the particles remain poorly understood. While destructive measuring of compressive strength or calcium carbonate content are important for the characterization of samples these methods give no insight into the internal structures and pore networks of the samples. X-ray microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) is a technique that is used to characterize the internals of rocks and to a certain degree MICP-treated soils. However, the impact of filtering and image processing of micro-CT Data depending on the type of MICP sample is poorly described in the literature. In this study, single fractions of local quarry were treated with MICP through the ureolytic microorganism Sporosarcina pasteurii to investigate the influence of particle size distribution on calcium carbonate content, unconfined compressive strength and the reduction of water permeability. Additionally, micro-CT was conducted to obtain insights into the resulting pore system. The impact of the Gauss filter und Non-local means filter on the resulting images and data on the pore network are discussed. The results show that particle size has a significant impact on the result of all tested parameters of biosandstone with lower particle size leading to higher strength and generally higher calcium carbonate content. Micro-CT data showed that the technology is feasible to gain valuable insights into the internal structures of biosandstone but the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio remain challenging, especially for samples with particle sizes smaller than 125 µm.

Automatic geometric digital twin of box girder bridge using a laser-scanned point cloud

Geometric modeling is a pivotal step in creating a digital twin for existing bridge structures. Its deficiency of automation makes geometric modeling step time-consuming and laborious. This paper presents a solution for automatically modeling box girder bridges, including external and internal structures, based on laser-scanned point cloud. The solution includes three vital methods: component segmentation, key points extraction of cross-section, and internal structure reconstruction. The results indicate that the established segmentation model, BCR-Net, exhibited better performance than PointNet++ in component segmentation, as demonstrated by mIoU of 0.9751 on the test set. The mean absolute error on the dimension of the pier, bent cap and external and internal structure of the box girder is 0.27 %, 0.38 %, 0.47 %, and 0.48 %, respectively. It means the proposed methods possessed excellent modeling accuracy while ensuring high efficiency than manual modeling, providing a promising solution for digital twin modeling of bridge structures.

The Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire: Validity evidence from Portugal

AbstractBackgroundFamily resilience refers to a family's capacity to face and manage adversities, emerging as a stronger and more resourceful unit. A family system approach enlarges the lens to the broad relational network, identifying potential resources for resilience within the immediate and extended family. This approach emphasizes a family's innate ability to adapt in the face of adversities.ObjectiveThis study aims to test the psychometric properties of the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire (WFRQ) using a sample of Portuguese caregivers with children aged between 10 and 15 years.MethodA total of 267 caregivers of children aged 10 to 15 years completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the WFRQ. Analyses were performed to evaluate the WFRQ's validity evidence based on the internal structure (i.e., dimensionality and reliability) and on its relationship to other variables.ResultsThe findings supported a 31‐item version of the WFRQ with one third‐order latent factor, three second‐order factors, and nine first‐order factors for the Portuguese population. The WFRQ exhibited satisfactory validity evidence based on the internal structure and relation to other variables.ConclusionOverall, the results of this study demonstrate the suitability of the WFRQ as a holistic measure to gauge resilience at the family level, going beyond individual assessments.ImplicationsThis instrument holds significant utility in family resilience research and clinical interventions involving families.

Development and validation of a Disorganised Thoughts Scale: a new measure to assess thinking difficulties in the general population

BackgroundDisordered thinking is a condition that can manifest in not only clinical cases (e.g., psychotic disorders), but also the wider general population. However, there is no current method to measure the specific cognitive processes experienced during such a condition. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new self-report measure, the Disorganised Thoughts Scale (DTS), that can assess disorganised thinking in the general population.MethodsTo achieve this aim, a survey was developed and shared online with four independent samples, including a sample of Australians in the general population (N = 321) and three samples (N = 200 each) that were controlled for their substance use (i.e., frequent alcohol and cannabis use; non-frequent substance use). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and reliability analyses, were used to test the internal validity, whilst correlational analyses were implemented to examine the external validity.ResultsThe exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure (10 items each) measuring Positive thought disorder (i.e., accelerated, uncontrollable, and incongruent thinking) and Negative thought disorder (i.e., inhibited, disjointed, and disorientated thinking). This internal structure was confirmed with subsequent confirmatory factor and reliability analyses (α = 0.90 to 0.97) in the three substance-controlled groups. Concurrent validity was also supported, as the DTS exhibited strong correlations with established measures of general cognitive difficulties, specific self-regulatory dysfunctions, and psychopathological symptomology. Finally, the measure was also shown to be significantly higher in cohorts who exhibited a higher degree of psychological distress and who frequently used substances (i.e., alcohol and cannabis).ConclusionsOverall, this study provided preliminary evidence to suggest that the DTS is a sound measure of disorganised thought that is linked to psychopathology and substance use in non-clinical populations. The measure could be used in future research which seeks to better understand how thinking effects, and is affected by, various psychological conditions.

Giant gallbladder cyst with acute cholecystitis: a case report

BackgroundGallbladder cysts are rare diseases with very few reported cases, and no clinical or histological definition has been established. Furthermore, cases of giant cysts outside the gallbladder wall are extremely rare. We report a rare case of giant gallbladder cyst with acute cholecystitis.Case presentationAn 85-year-old woman with appetite loss and right lower abdominal pain lasting 2 days presented to our hospital. At first, the patient’s abdominal pain was mild to moderate with no fever. Blood tests revealed a white blood cell count of 10,950/mm3, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 14.35 mg/dl. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen revealed a grossly distended gallbladder (14.5 × 14.5 × 8.7 cm) with an incarcerated stone in the cystic duct. The patient was treated by percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) with 735 ml of drainage fluid. Oral contrast magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) revealed that gallbladder swelling remained (14.0 × 6.5 cm) 3 days after PTGBD. We performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy 6 days after PTGBD. Because of the severe adhesion around the junction of the cystic and common bile ducts, we performed open cholecystectomy.The resected specimen was 14 × 11 cm in size and consisted of a gallbladder (6 × 7 cm) with a stone (2.4 × 1.8 cm) in the gallbladder and a large cystic lesion (18 × 18 cm) outside the gallbladder wall. The cystic lesion had a wall thickness of 6 to 12 mm and internal septal structures and contained hemorrhagic and necrotic tissue.Histological examination revealed that the specimens showed a mildly swollen gallbladder and a cystic lesion on the outside of the gallbladder wall, adjacent to the gallbladder wall, with wall thickening and inflammation. The cystic lesion suggested gallbladder duplication, gallbladder diverticulum or extension of the Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus (RAS). There was no malignancy. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged 5 days after the operation.ConclusionWe present a very rare case of giant gallbladder cyst with acute cholecystitis revealed by cholecystectomy.

Suppression of Combustion Oscillations in Hydrogen-Enriched Can-Type Combustors Through Fuel Staging

Abstract To achieve decarbonization in power-generating gas turbines, the technology of mixing hydrogen with natural gas is garnering significant attention. However, when blending natural gas with hydrogen, the altered combustion characteristics can lead to combustion instability in gas turbine combustors. Although fuel staging can effectively suppress combustion instability for can-type combustors, further research on mitigation strategies for hydrogen cofiring and their predictive methods is required. This study involves hydrogen cofiring experiments using a full-scale can-type combustor. Moreover, the resulting suppression of combustion instability is analyzed through fuel staging by utilizing three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and one-dimensional (1D) thermo-acoustic analysis. The experiments used a full-scale industrial can-type combustor with a five-around-one nozzle configuration. Hydrogen was blended with natural gas up to a volume fraction of 30%, maintaining a constant thermal power. Fuel staging was applied by controlling two out of five outer nozzles (ONs) along with the remaining three. Before the 1D thermo-acoustic analysis, the internal flame structure of the combustor was examined through 3D CFD analysis. Based on the results, a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system was constructed for 1D thermo-acoustic analysis of the can-type combustor. The application of time delays derived from 3D CFD analysis to the 1D model revealed that differences in flame time delays across the nozzles cause combustion instability suppression observed in fuel staging.

Radial analysis and scaling of housing prices in French urban areas

Urban scaling laws summarize how attributes evolve with city size. However, one limitation concerns the aggregate view of this approach, which leads to neglecting the internal structure of cities. This is an important issue regarding housing prices, given their significant variations across space. Based on a dataset compiling millions of real estate transactions over the period 2017–2021, we investigate the regularities of the radial (center-periphery) profiles of housing prices across cities, with respect to their size. Results are threefold. First, they corroborate prior findings in the urban scaling literature stating that largest cities agglomerate higher housing prices. Second, we find that housing price radial profiles scale in three dimensions with the power 1/5 of city population. After rescaling, great regularities between radial profiles can be observed, although some locational amenities have a significant impact on prices. Third, it appears that our approach with rescaled profiles fails to explain housing price variations in the city center across cities. In fact, prices near the city center rise much faster with city size than in the periphery. This has strong implications for low-income households seeking homeownership because prohibitive prices in the center may contribute to pushing them out into peripheral locations, especially in large cities.

Multi-parametric Photoacoustic Imaging Combined with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging for Applications in Tissue Engineering.

Tissue engineering is a dynamic field focusing on the creation of advanced scaffolds for tissue and organ regeneration. These scaffolds are customized to their specific applications and are often designed to be complex, large structures to mimic tissues and organs. This study addresses the critical challenge of effectively characterizing these thick, optically opaque scaffolds that traditional imaging methods fail to fully image due to their optical limitations. We introduce a novel multi-modal imaging approach combining ultrasound, photoacoustic, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging. This combination leverages its acoustic-based detection to overcome the limitations posed by optical imaging techniques. Ultrasound imaging is employed to monitor the scaffold structure, photoacoustic imaging is employed to monitor cell proliferation, and acoustic radiation force impulse imaging is employed to evaluate the homogeneity of scaffold stiffness. We applied this integrated imaging system to analyze melanoma cell growth within silk fibroin protein scaffolds with varying pore sizes and therefore stiffness over different cell incubation periods. Among various materials, silk fibroin was chosen for its unique combination of features including biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and structural porosity which supports extensive cell proliferation. The results provide a detailed mesoscale view of the scaffolds' internal structure, including cell penetration depth and biomechanical properties. Our findings demonstrate that the developed multimodal imaging technique offers comprehensive insights into the physical and biological dynamics of tissue-engineered scaffolds. As the field of tissue engineering continues to advance, the importance of non-ionizing and non-invasive imaging systems becomes increasingly evident, and by facilitating a deeper understanding and better characterization of scaffold architectures, such imaging systems are pivotal in driving the success of future tissue-engineering solutions.

The Importance of Capacity-Building in Watershed Groups: Lessons from the Hudson River Watershed, USA.

Municipalities face challenges meeting environmental protection and conservation goals due to a lack of resources, capacity, and political will. As a result, grassroots environmental organizations often emerge to help meet these challenges by filling gaps in governmental operation and structure. At the watershed scale, environmental organizations and groups are critical for effective watershed governance, often helping with collaboration as well as providing municipalities with additional support and resources. Despite the vital role environmental organizations and groups can play, they continue to face challenges such as insufficient resources, inconsistent leadership, and lack of organizational structure, thus limiting the contributions they can deliver. In this manuscript, we present case study research on watershed groups exploring their capacity to meet their mission and goals. Drawing from a needs assessment study conducted in the Hudson River watershed in 2019-2021, we found that while watershed groups are generally in need of technical resources, participation, and funding, our research suggests capacity (such as internal structure, strategic planning, and leadership) is most important for successful and sustainable groups. Therefore, we argue that support for capacity is more likely to help sustain groups and their long-term beneficial impact. To make this argument we present qualitative interview and focus group data to articulate watershed group goals, challenges, and needs, with an emphasis on capacity-related themes that emerged around expertise, leadership, structure, and planning. We then conclude with recommendations that can be applied to other watershed groups in the United States, and likely beyond.

FGTN: Fragment-based graph transformer network for predicting reproductive toxicity.

Reproductive toxicity is one of the important issues in chemical safety. Traditional laboratory testing methods are costly and time-consuming with raised ethical issues. Only a few in silico models have been reported to predict human reproductive toxicity, but none of them make full use of the topological information of compounds. In addition, most existing atom-based graph neural network methods focus on attributing model predictions to individual nodes or edges rather than chemically meaningful fragments or substructures. In current studies, we develop a novel fragment-based graph transformer network (FGTN) approach to generate the QSAR model of human reproductive toxicity by considering internal topological structure information of compounds. In the FGTN model, the compound is represented by a graph architecture using fragments to be nodes and bonds linking two fragments to be edges. A super molecule-level node is further proposed to connect all fragment nodes by undirected edges, obtaining global molecular features from fragment embeddings. The FGTN model achieved an accuracy (ACC) of 0.861 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value of 0.914 on nonredundant blind tests, outperforming traditional fingerprint-based machine learning models and atom-based GCN model. The FGTN model can attribute toxic predictions to fragments, generating specific structural alerts for the positive compound. Moreover, FGTN may also have the capability to distinguish various chemical isomers. We believe that FGTN can be used as a reliable and effective tool for human reproductive toxicity prediction in contribution to the advancement of chemical safety assessment.

The Translated and Adapted Brazilian Version of the Behavioral Enabling Scale for Family Members of Psychoactive Substance Users: An Analysis of the Factorial Structure and Internal Consistency

Objective: The enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users can be crucial in maintaining addiction. There are no psychometrically evaluated instruments to measure the frequency of the enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the internal consistency and factor structure of the Behavioral Enabling Scale. Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out, with a secondary analysis of data collected from 400 family members of psychoactive substance users that used a hotline service in Brazil. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted with an initial sample of 200 protocols, and with the remaining 200 protocols, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results: The internal consistency estimate proved entirely satisfactory in both samples, where the first presented a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.76 and the second had a consistency estimate of 0.79. Factor analysis was conducted using a shortened version of the instrument, with 15 items, during which six factors that cover 65% of the scale’s explained variance were extracted. KMO = 0.68 and Bartlett’s test of sphericity = X2 (gl = 153) 497.201, p < 0.0001, were significant. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the Behavioral Enabling Scale is a valid tool that measures the frequency of the enabling behaviors of family members of psychoactive substance users. The measurement instrument enables further investigations into the behavior of family members regarding the use of psychoactive substances by their relatives.

Analyzing the impact of selective laser melting print speed on internal resonance structures of metallic phononic crystal artifacts for process monitoring

Analyzing the impact of selective laser melting print speed on internal resonance structures of metallic phononic crystal artifacts for process monitoring

Dodecagonal GaN Microrods: Chemical Stability of a‐, m‐, and c‐Plane Walls and Their Application to Water‐Splitting

AbstractPhotoelectrolysis of water is a sustainable option for the production of hydrogen fuel. GaN nano‐ or microstructures are considered for water‐splitting due to their general high chemical stability and high surface‐to‐volume ratio enhancing the process effectiveness. In this study GaN structures with dodecagonal microrods are used as a working electrode for the water‐splitting process. Microrods are grown using a plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy process allowing tailoring of microrod height and density. Their unique property is the of presence twelve sidewalls with alternating a‐ and m‐plane orientations. This enables a simultaneous study of the chemical stability of c‐, a‐, and m‐plane walls of GaN. The water‐splitting process is performed using a 1 mol l−1 NaOH electrolyte solution. Non‐zero current measured at zero bias under illumination indicates that the process takes place. A degradation of the GaN structure is observed after a prolonged process time. In short‐term exposures, etching of microrod sidewalls is observed. Roughening of the a‐plane walls studied by transmission electron microscopy indicates that this orientation is etched with a fastest rate. The internal crystalline structure is not influenced by the etching and remains stable as shown by the X‐ray absorption spectroscopy study.

Precision micro-particle removal from through-holes via laser-induced plasma shockwaves in additive manufacturing

This study introduces a novel Laser-Induced Plasma (LIP) technique for the non-contact, rapid removal of nano and microparticles from through-holes in Additive Manufacturing (AM) components. This method is crucial for high-value applications, such as medical devices, compact heat exchangers, and aerospace engineering, which require efficient cleaning of intricate parts with holes and channels to address high failure costs. The technique leverages shockwaves generated by LIP to target and clean these complex geometries. The research focuses on two main areas: (i) characterizing the effects of shockwaves in semi-cylindrical channels to understand interactions with complex geometries, and (ii) quantitatively analyzing the removal of Fe-271 microparticles from semi-cylindrical channels of silicon (Si) wafers, selected for their consistent surface properties compared to the rough textures of AM-produced surfaces. Utilizing the experimental set-up Laser-Induced Plasma LIP Cleaning for Additive Manufacturing (LIPCAM), the study demonstrates that complete microparticle removal is achievable up to 20 mm from the plasma source with variable laser pulses. The results indicate that particles larger than 27 μm are entirely removed after a single pulse, and particles larger than 21 μm are removed after 50 pulses. These findings highlight the method's effectiveness in achieving high particle removal efficiency across different distances and particle sizes, thus ensuring thorough decontamination of complex internal structures. The study underscores the potential of this method to enhance the reliability and safety of critical AM builds, making it a viable solution for industries where precision and cleanliness are paramount.

Considerations for developing a health-system 503B outsourcing strategy.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. To provide guidance for health systems on how to develop a strategy for utilizing 503B outsourcing facilities for sterile product preparation. Health-system pharmacies face an increasingly complex set of challenges related to providing sterile products to patients. New United States Pharmacopeia <797> regulations, increasing drug shortages, and an ongoing pharmacy technician workforce shortage have made sterile compounding more difficult than ever for health-system pharmacies. Outsourcing of production to 503B outsourcing facilities is one strategy pharmacy leaders can use to help navigate these challenges. However, there are many factors to consider when deciding whether to outsource a product and which 503B vendors are safe and reliable. The Cleveland Clinic Health System (CCHS) has developed a robust internal structure to appropriately vet 503B outsourcing facilities for safety and reliability, as well as standardized criteria used to determine which products will be outsourced. This article describes the tools CCHS has used to evaluate 503B outsourcing vendors and to evaluate individual products to determine the pros and cons of outsourcing vs insourcing. Additionally, general considerations regarding outsourcing are described. Outsourcing to 503B facilities can be an effective strategy for navigating sterile compounding challenges but is not without some risk. Pharmacy leaders must develop a standardized approach to thoroughly evaluate 503B vendors and products to ensure their outsourcing strategy is both safe and cost-effective.

Study on the effect of annealing temperature on the optical characteristics and microstructure of Sb2Se3 thin films

To achieve high conversion efficiency in Sb2Se3 thin films, the effects of different annealing temperatures on the optical properties and microstructure were investigated. The experiment shows that annealing improves Sb2Se3 films' refractive index, absorptivity, and reduces the optical band gap. The first-principle theoretical analysis reveals that defects in the films such as SbSe2, SbSe3, VSe2, and VSe3 significantly affect their optical band gap. Based on the XRD (X-ray diffraction) patterns, the half-height widths, average grain sizes, microstrains and dislocation densities of the diffraction peaks have been calculated. The results show that the optimal annealing temperature is 325 °C. Finally, EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer) and Raman spectroscopy were used to explain the reasons for the changes in the optical properties and internal structure of the film with the annealing temperature from the perspectives of the changes in the film components and the bonding properties between the atoms.

Revisiting block deordering in finite-domain state variable planning

Plan deordering removes unnecessary ordering constraints between actions in a plan, facilitating plan execution flexibility and several other tasks, such as plan reuse, modification, and decomposition. Block deordering is a variant of plan deordering that encapsulates coherent actions into blocks to eliminate further ordering constraints from a partial-order plan (POP) and is useful in many applications (e.g., generating macro-actions and improving the overall plan quality). The existing block deordering strategy is formulated in propositional encodings. Finite-domain state variable encodings (e.g., SAS+ representation), in contrast with propositional encodings, can capture the internal structure and the behavior of state variables of a planning instance through concise constructs such as causal graphs (CGs) and domain transition graphs (DTGs). This work redefines the semantics of block deordering terminologies and related plan deordering concepts in finite domain representation (FDR). Our proposed semantics also resolves some limitations of the existing block semantics and further enhance plan flexibility. In addition, this work exploits block deordering to eliminate redundant actions from a POP. A comparative analysis is also performed on block deordering with various deordering/reordering techniques using explanation-based order generalization (EOG) and MaxSAT. Our experiments on the benchmark problems from International Planning Competitions (IPC) show that our FDR formalism of block deordering significantly improves the plan execution flexibility while maintaining good coverage and execution time.