Internal View Research Articles

Worm-Inspired, Untethered, Soft Crawling Robots for Pipe Inspections.

The increasing demand for inspection, upkeep, and repair of pipeline and tunnel infrastructures has catalyzed research into the creation of robots with superior flexibility, adaptability, and load-bearing capacities. This study introduces an autonomous soft robot designed for navigating both straight and curved pipelines of 90 mm diameter. The soft robot is enabled by an elongation pneumatic actuator (EPA) as its body and multiple radial expansion pneumatic actuators (REPAs) as its feet to provide adhesion and support on the pipe walls. It achieves a horizontal movement speed of 1.27 mm/s and ascends vertically at 0.39 mm/s. An integrated control mechanism, merging both pneumatic and electrical systems is employed to facilitate unrestrained movement. A novel control tactic has been formulated to ensure synchronized coordination between the robot's body deformation and leg anchoring, ensuring stable movement. This soft robot demonstrates remarkable mobility metrics, boasting an anchoring strength of over 100 N, a propelling force of 43.8 N when moving vertically, and a pulling strength of 31.4 N during navigation in curved pipelines. It can carry a camera to capture the internal view of the pipe and remove obstacles autonomously. The unconstrained and autonomous movement of the untethered soft robot presents new opportunities for various applications at different scales.

Description of new sign of integral (∫) for rotational deformity of distal femur.

Femur shaft fractures commonly occur due to high velocity trauma and most of them are fixed with nailing. Malrotation is common after fixation. A rotational malalignmentmore than 30° is a deformity which requires correction. Various techniques described for rotational deformities are: the 'cable techniques' for the determination of varus-valgus malalignment; the 'hyperextension test', 'radiographic recurvatum sign', 'tibial plateau sign', and 'meterstick technique' for length analysis; and the 'hip rotation test', 'lesser trochanter shape sign', 'cortical step sign', and 'diameter difference sign' for rotational analysis. We describe integration sign at the medial or lateral aspect of notch of femur in fixed internal or external rotation due to condensation of trabeculae. This is a prospective observational study. Informed consent was taken, and this study was approved by institutional review board. C arm imaging study of 50 knees was done at our institution in which rotational profile of distal femur was analyzed In 3 different views -AP , Internal and external rotation views. The rotation views were taken sequentially and each observer was asked to identify the sign at its appearance and at rotation when it was best seen. All the observers were asked to draw the sign on linear line diagram of distal femur. The data was analysed statistically. Sign of integral (∫) for rotational deformity was seen at Mean external rotation of 22±1.71 with a range of 19 degree to 25 degree and Mean internal rotation of 15.78±1.21 with a range of 14 degree to 18 degree. The integration sign can be used as intraoperative C arm sign to understand the rotational deformity of distal fragment of femur. This helps the surgeon to understand the alignment and revise if needed intraoperatively. If combined with position of lesser trochanter, this will give alignment for both proximal as well as distal fragment of femur.

Manufacturing process of liposomal Formation: A coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation

A method of producing liposomes has been previously developed using a continuous manufacturing technology that involves a co-axial turbulent jet in co-flow. In this study, coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations were used to gain a deeper understanding of how the self-assembly process of liposomes is affected by the material attributes (such as the concentration of ethanol) and the process parameters (such as temperature), while also providing detailed information on a nano-scale molecular level. Specifically, the CG-MD simulations yield a comprehensive internal view of the structure and formation mechanisms of liposomes containing DPPC, DPPG, and cholesterol molecules. The importance of this work is that structural details on the molecular level are proposed, and such detail is not possible to obtain through experimental studies alone. The assessment of structural properties, including the area per lipid, diffusion coefficient, and order parameters, indicated that a thicker bilayer was observed at higher ethanol concentrations, while a thinner bilayer was present at higher temperatures. These conditions led to more water penetrating the interior of the bilayer and an unstable structure, as indicated by a larger contact area between lipids and water, and a higher coefficient of lipid lateral diffusion. However, stable liposomes were found through these evaluations at lower ethanol concentrations and/or lower process temperatures. Furthermore, the CG-MD model was further compared and validated with experimental and computational data including liposomal bilayer thickness and area per lipid measurements.

Practical use of drawing in research on the historical space of the city

Various research methods and techniques are popularised in the literature on the theory of research on the historical space of cities. However, less attention is paid to their tools. The aim of the article is to use drawing as a tool showing the historical space of the city, which is the subject of further research. There are many drawing motives and they depend on research needs. These may be objects, streets, squares and city panoramas. By analysing historical iconographic and cartographic sources, it is possible to create an image of an unpreserved object or place using a drawing, by reconstructing their form, and present them in a wider frame by adding the surroundings. In the case of streets, these may be drawings of frontages or their perspectives seen from two directions, while for squares, they may be in the form of internal and external views. Depending on how you look at it, you can draw from a human level or from above. The article presents a documentary drawing drawn with a pen as a drawing tool to be used in the graphic method of researching the historical space of cities. Especially places that have not survived to the present day. Drawing can be an alternative to digital visualisation, which requires computer equipment and specialised software

Illusion, delusion, and neural sense data: comments on Adam Pautz’s Perception

ABSTRACT This commentary on Adam Pautz's excellent book, Perception, explores the consequences of “spatial illusionism,” the view that the spatial properties presented in experience aren't instantiated in the extra-mental world. First, I consider whether spatial illusionism entails that our ordinary beliefs about the physical world are mostly false. I then argue that spatial illusionism threatens to undermine two arguments Pautz's defends in Perception: his argument that sense data theory is incompatible with physicalism, and his central argument against the internal physical state view of perception.

Comparative survival study of Bacillus coagulans and Enterococcus faecium microencapsulated in chitosan-alginate nanoparticles in simulated gastrointestinal condition

Probiotics have poor gastrointestinal delivery because they lose their viability during intestinal passage. Microencapsulation has a significant effect on the survival of probiotic bacteria. This study aimed to synthesize chitosan-alginate nanoparticles and encapsulate Bacillus coagulans NBRC-12583 and Enterococcus faecium MGFR1 in alginate (Alg), chitosan (Cht) and inulin (Inu) by micro- and nano-encapsulation to investigate the viability of encapsulated strains in simulated gastrointestinal condition. The survival of free and encapsulated bacteria was studied for 120 min. The population of B. coagulans encapsulated in Cht-Alg only decreased by 0.86 log CFU, while that of E. faecium encapsulated in Cht-Alg nanoparticles only decreased by 0.27 log CFU. Treated with simulated intestinal fluid, B. coagulans and E. faecium populations decreased by 1.03 and 0.17 log CFU, respectively. E. faecium microencapsulated in Cht-Alg and Inu had a maximum encapsulation efficiency of 96.78%. E. faecium encapsulated in Cht-Alg nanoparticles and Inu was more viable than other encapsulated bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy was done to investigate the microcapsules' surface morphology, structure, internal cross-sectional view, and the zeta potential for the surface charge of Cht-Alg nanoparticles. The viability of the probiotic bacteria was enhanced significantly by microencapsulation and nanomaterial-based encapsulation within the chitosan-alginate and inulin matrix.

Electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of silver‐coated hollow glass microsphere‐graded short carbon fiber epoxy composite

AbstractThe present study is investigating the use of short carbon fiber (SCF) and silver‐coated hollow glass microsphere (Ag@HGM) reinforced epoxy light‐weight composites for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications in the X‐band frequency range (i.e., 8–12 GHz). The study found that Ag@HGM along with SCF significantly improved the dielectric properties of the composites and enhanced the EMI shielding effectiveness of 34.6 dB. Thermal analysis indicates that the sample shows a high rate of heat dissipation and good thermal conductivity. The dynamic mechanical analysis has indicated that the composite has improved storage modulus, glass transition temperature, and activation energy.Highlights SCF and Ag@HGM epoxy composite is fabricated for EMI shielding application. Two steps: etching and electroless coating of HGM are used for silver coating. The addition of Ag@HGM has enhanced total SE from 27.4 to 34.6 dB. EM wave gets scattered, experiences internal reflections view SCF and Ag@HGM. Additionally, enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties is observed.

Reliability of the sonographic evaluation for cervical length and elastography with pelvic parameters in term pregnancy by experienced operators with varying levels of experience.

To assess the reliability of sonographic measurements of six cervical and pelvic parameters by three sonographers with varying levels of experience. A cross-sectional study was conducted in pregnant women with a gestational age of ≥39 weeks. Each pregnant woman was examined by two sonographers with different levels of experience. Six parameters were measured: cervical length (CL), cervical strain elastography (extrinsic type), posterior cervical angle (PCA), fetal head-to-perineum distance (FHPD), fetal head-to-pubic symphysis distance (FHSD), and angle of progression (AOP). Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient with a 95% confidence interval. Pearson pairwise correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlation between the parameter values. In all, 66 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. We found excellent intraobserver reliability for measurements of CL, PCA, FHPD, FHSD, and AOP and good-to-excellent intraobserver reliability for cervical strain values in the cross-sectional view of the endocervix in the internal os area and cross-sectional view of the entire cervix in the internal os area. Interobserver reliability was excellent for all pelvic parameters, except for the FHPD. Strain values were moderate to excellent in the area of the internal os. A significant negative correlation between CL and strain values at the internal os was observed. Pelvic parameters, except for FHPD, have excellent intra- and interobserver reliabilities. The high reproducibility of CL and cervical strain elastography at the internal os level, with a negative correlation between these two parameters, may play an important role in predicting successful induction of labor.

Maintaining Community Resilience through Urban Renewal Processes Using Architectural and Planning Guidelines

The article deals with community resilience-oriented urban renewal in a geographical periphery, and the characteristic patterns of public housing built in the 1950s and 1960s. When the existing fabric is well-established and effectively serves the residents, demolition and redevelopment may not be the most strategic approach if they undermine the internal resilience of public housing based on functionality. The article addresses the question of how to add new construction and a new population to these patterns of public housing in the periphery without affecting the community resilience of longtime residents and the sense of urban vitality and innovation of the new population. In order to address this question, we examined the built environment’s qualities in relation to the population’s resilience. Specifically, we conducted a quality analysis of the built environment focusing primarily on walkability and connectivity, diversity and land uses, open public spaces, and visibility to internal and external views. The findings of the analysis recommend developing a multiple urban spatial network relying on the longtime community’s resilience and a new spatial network for the newcomers. This is a potentially win–win solution. The old neighborhoods remain, while at the same time an additional layer of housing and other land uses will be developed along the edges of existing neighborhoods. The proposed analysis will be demonstrated on the peripherical city of Kiryat Yam.

The microfoundations of international commitment decisions: Creating joint opportunity meanings

AbstractResearch SummaryDespite a vast body of theory on internationalization processes, little is known about the microfoundations of how firms deal with internal groups' diverse views when trying to make international commitment decisions. Drawing on the concept of opportunity formation and a detailed case study, we develop a model that shows how, under the condition of diverse internal meanings, firms can make an international commitment decision by creating “joint opportunity meanings.” We show how imagination plays an essential role in achieving this decision. Our study contributes to global strategy in multiple ways, including detailing some microfoundations of internationalization process theory, assessing group‐level dynamics in global strategy decision‐making, and advancing insights into the relationship between opportunity formation and imagination.Managerial SummaryThis paper explains how global organizations can reach a decision to commit to an opportunity in a foreign market in a situation characterized by disagreement among internal groups. We found how it was critical to move from diverse views on an opportunity to joint opportunity meanings, whereby the groups mutually accomplish a description of the opportunity with an agreed and common terminology that is ambiguous enough to accommodate remaining diversity in views. In this process, managers' forward‐looking imaginations, in combination with socialization and symbolic actions, were crucial. Our paper highlights how local ideas in complex multinationals can be spread with the intent to reach key decision‐makers and how firms can reach sufficiently overlapping meanings that enable them to strategically move forward while allowing for the plurality of views that multinationals often exhibit.

Heritage of the “Cast Iron Grandmother”: Narrative Versions of Kasli History

This article focuses on the production of Kasli castings in the 1930s–1940s (essays by N. Dobychin, M. Zuev-Ordynets, and P. Bazhov). The authors carry out a historical contextualisation of the sources referring to the travel notes of D. Mamin-Sibiryak (1887) and interviews with the inhabitants of Kasli obtained during an expedition to study the narrative landscapes of Ural cities (2021). The authors aim to comprehend the situation of alternative history with reference to the city of Kasli, which is set by options for describing the present, focused on the desired future. In the history of Kasli castings, the 1930s is considered both as a relevant present with the nearest future, and as a turn in the past favourable for local production, preserved in the memory of the Kasli people. Methodologically, the research is based on multiscalar analysis with an emphasis on the interaction of different time and space scales. The article introduces materials of the State Archive of Administrations of Sverdlovsk Region related to the biography of N. Dobychin which has never been done previously, since it is his essay Living Cast Iron that is said to have played a decisive role in the revival of the production of artistic iron casting. The authors analyse texts about Kasli castings in terms of their possible influence, due to the scale of the placement platform (central or regional press, circulation, etc.) and the accuracy of compliance with the moment of cultural politics, reflected in the composition and motif structure of the text and the communication of an external or internal view of events. The essay, which influenced the local narrative about the fate of either dying or rising production, may have become a resource for mythologising the “long-lived” Ural craftsmanship in the words of the famous “cast-iron grandmother” of Bazhov. The judgments of today’s Kasli residents about the past and present of the city testify to a complex combination of pride and resentment towards their historical past and present.

Centric graph regularized log-norm sparse non-negative matrix factorization for multi-view clustering

Multi-view non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) provides a reliable method to analyze multiple views of data for low-dimensional representation. A variety of multi-view learning methods have been developed in recent years, demonstrating successful applications in clustering. However, existing methods in multi-view learning often tend to overlook the non-linear relationships among data and the significance of the similarity of internal views, both of which are essential in multi-view tasks. Meanwhile, the mapping between the obtained representation and the original data typically contains complex hidden information that deserves to be thoroughly explored. In this paper, a novel multi-view NMF is proposed that explores the local geometric structure among multi-dimensional data and learns the hidden representation of different attributes through centric graph regularization and pairwise co-regularization of the coefficient matrix. In addition, the proposed model is further sparsified with l2,log-(pseudo) norm to efficiently generate sparse solutions. As a result, the model obtains a better part-based representation, enhancing its robustness and applicability in complex noisy scenarios. An effective iterative update algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model, and the convergence of the algorithm is proven to be theoretically guaranteed. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with nine state-of-the-art methods in clustering tasks of eight public datasets.

The multiple meanings of silence in social psychology

Drawing on research-based discourse, this article provides an updated overview of what silence means in social psychology. Such meanings can be viewed from an interpersonal dimension and an intrapersonal dimension. That is, silence can be externally or internally generated. The external process sees silence as a response to the social environment, while the internal process views silence as an individual choice. The article argues that silence has a sociological nature. When a silent person sends out a silent message to the public (such as showing resistance or alienation), this person not only expresses their personal view but also acts on behalf of others. The article rests on the ideal of sociological imagination to argue that an individual’s issue of concern or trouble, seemingly a limited social experience, may not be a single case but can represent the concern of a group or a society. This means that the lives of individuals can signify the status and reaction of their community. By presenting silence from various individual perspectives, the article showcases the richness of what silence means and what it does in social contexts.

Ethics for Philosophers: An Introduction

Abstract This paper addresses the responsibilities of philosophers. It distinguishes philosophers by profession, philosophers as a type of person playing a social role by doing philosophy, and philosophers without any professional or social role as a philosopher. It criticizes and rejects the internal goods view of philosophers’ responsibilities, according to which a philosopher’s only responsibility as a philosopher is to do ‘good’ philosophy. It examines the responsibilities of philosophy professors and the role of philosophy teaching in liberal education, criticizing the implications of the internal goods view for university missions and commenting on related deficiencies of the Code of Conduct of the American Philosophical Association. The central conclusions are that philosophers should accept responsibilities to do philosophy in the public interest and to adopt a cross-disciplinary and collaborative stance toward their role in educating students in the forms of understanding and judgment that will best equip them for life and citizenship.

A historical and integrative taxonomic account of mangrove oyster species native to the Atlantic American coast: A re-evaluation of Brazilian Crassostrea species

The identification of native mangrove oyster species of the genus Crassostrea in Brazil is a recurring issue for specialists. Studies have recognized the presence of two species in the littoral zone: C. rhizophorae and C. gasar. However, other names may be used, such as C. mangle for C. rhizophorae and C. brasiliana or C. tulipa for C.gasar. As in most oyster taxonomic studies, their identification requires genetic evaluation for the precise determination of taxa. Moreover, previous revisions have proposed some morphological traits by which each species could be precisely identified, leading to a series of debates about the best model for species identity. The aim of this study was to apply an integrative taxonomic approach to native Crassostrea mangrove oyster species on the Brazilian coast to assert the correct species names, delimitations, and concise descriptions. Molecular tracing of cultivated specimens, along with wild specimens of Crassostrea collected from the Brazilian coast, was used to confirm the morphological identity of the taxa. The wild specimens were tentatively identified as either C. gasar or C. rhizophorae based on previous morphological revisions. PCR-RFLP and DNA analyses of the mitochondrial 16S gene mitochondrial rDNA from wild specimens were used to confirm taxa and re-evaluate morphological boundaries and descriptions of the species. We confirmed two patterns in the RFLP and sequence analyses: C. gasar and C. rhizophorae. Conchological and anatomical evaluations of 1006 identified Crassostrea specimens confirmed the inherent polymorphism between the native species, preventing reliable identification of the species by morphology alone. A clear exception, however, is found for specimens whose shell height is greater than 110 mm with internal view of white-colored valves and without an umbonal cavity, fitting the description of C. paraibanensis, which belongs to C. gasar. C. brasiliana and C. mangle are synonyms of C. gasar and C. rhizophorae, respectively. C. tulipa represents a species disconnected from any described mangrove oyster species from Atlantic seas. Conchological and anatomical descriptions of both species were improved to include the variability encountered.

Intraspecific allometric shift in an endemic and endangered marine mollusc: A new minimally intrusive tool to capture shell shape in the field

AbstractPatella ferruginea (Gastropoda, Patellidae) is an endemic and endangered marine invertebrate species from the Western Mediterranean that presents two ecomorphotypes. Currently, there is no objective and nonmanipulative method to determine these ecomorphotypes in the field. The present study uses the geometric morphometrics approach to investigate variation in the shell‐shape allometric trajectories of both ecomorphotypes. In addition, we propose a new manipulation‐free tool to assign ecomorphotype in the field. A total of 190 shells, 123 from the lamarcki (20.0 to 86.7 mm) and 67 from the rouxi (25.3 to 95.9 mm) ecomorphotypes, were analyzed using three different 2D landmark and semilandmark configurations capturing the lateral, internal, and dorsal shell views. We provide compelling graphical and analytical evidence that these ecomorphotypes differ in allometric growth patterns. However, the findings of the current study do not support that lamarcki and rouxi correspond to different ontogenetic states of P. ferruginea. We hypothesize that the difference in the allometric trajectories between the rouxi and the lamarcki ecomorphotypes could be due to environmental constraints, but it might also be due to currently undetected genetic factors. Since the allometry‐free shape lateral view presented the most significant reliability in assigning ecomorphotypes, we evaluate an easy and inexpensive tool to assign individuals in the field to each ecomorphotype using a contour gauge and a simple landmark configuration (only three landmarks). Cross‐validated classification indicated that ecomorphotype assignations for lateral contour present total reliability calculated at 93.15%. Therefore, we encourage it to be implemented in future research to avoid sacrificing or manipulating specimens of this endangered species.

Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov. and A. enigmaticum sp. nov., novel diatoms (Bacillariophyta, Achnanthidiaceae) from Texas, U.S.A.

Two new species, Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov., belonging to the A. minutissimum complex (species with straight terminal raphe ends), and A. enigmaticum sp. nov., within the A. pyrenaicum complex (species with hooked terminal raphe fissures), are described from Texas, U.S.A. utilizing light and scanning electron microscopy. Achnanthidium lucectorii sp. nov. has a raphe valve with striae located toward the apices composed of polygonal areolae, a marked stauros, a non-expanded raphe fissure, with straight (non-dilated) proximal ends, and distal ends extending onto the valve mantle. Internally, its raphe valve is flat, the proximal ends of the raphe end in small capitate expansions, and the distal ends terminate in low helictoglossae that fuse with the apices by a low apical siliceous thickening. In turn, its sternum valve is unique in that it is mostly flat in inner view, except at the central nodule, which is slightly raised. In turn, A. enigmaticum sp. nov. externally has a raphe valve with raphe distal ends shaped like a closed hook, at these ends the raphe slit surfaces at the valve face/mantle junction; its axial area is raised in external and internal views, with the virgae and striae in a lower position. These and other traditionally considered features are compared in detail with taxa morphologically similar to each of the new species. The significance of these features is discussed based on a literature survey, and the implications of considering the valve surface topography and the external and internal details of the raphe and central area are assessed. The latter, in favor of a continued morphological exploration of Achnanthidium until molecular studies are appropriately integrated into current morphological approaches used in the taxonomy of the genus.

Remote Audit Compared to Onsite Audit and the Capabilities Required in the View of Internal Auditor Practices

<em>The COVID-19 pandemic has made the business model change even faster. One of the things that must be adjusted is the organization that is engaged in auditing, especially internal audit. If in the past, the audit process was carried out with on-site visits, now it can be done with a new process called remotes audits. therefore, this requires new competence in conducting audits, especially how to conduct remote audits, but can still produce audit reports of the same quality as the previous reports. In practice, there are some similarities and differences in conducting remote audits compared to onsite audits. This paper will discuss the internal auditor's views regarding the similarities and differences between the remote audits and onsite audits processes from the view of auditors practitioners and what capabilities the auditor needs to deepen so that the remote audits process can run well. this study uses an explorative descriptive method involving 20 internal auditors as respondents, who were asked for their opinion in October 2022. The results of the study indicates that there is no difference in the planning process and reporting process. The only difference is in fieldwork, where remote auditing is technically more difficult. In addition, auditors are expected to deepen their knowledge in the field of digital and communication technology.</em>

Measurement Of Visitors' Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Business Location, Product Quality, And Promotion

Measurement Of Visitors' Perceptions And Attitudes Towards Business Location, Product Quality, And Promotion

Is labor law internal or external to private law? The view from Cedar point

Abstract This Article contrasts two views of the relationship between the fields of work law and private law. The “internal” view, propounded by Hanoch Dagan, would bring work law into the domain of private law by recentering the latter, including property law, around liberal values of reciprocal respect for autonomy. The “external” view locates the law of work in an overlapping but distinct domain that we might call “social law,” where it operates as a set of externally imposed conditions on the activity of employing others. When workers’ rights and interests come into conflict with those of owner-employers, the two views face off on the constitutional terrain of takings. In principle, the internal view might afford a better defense against takings challenges to laws that constrain property owners’ entitlements in the interest of those who work there, for it would redefine the former to reflect the latter. The external view relies more on takings law than property law to accommodate others’ interests when they conflict with traditional property rights. Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Cedar Point Nurseries v. Hassid deals a heavy blow to both views. Its neo-Blackstonian conception of property rights rejects the notion that property law itself recognizes workers’ interests and entrenches that conception of property rights within the constitutional law of takings, sharpening the takings sword against social law’s regulation of property rights in the interest of others, including workers. Cedar Point thus underscores and magnifies the challenges that modern U.S. takings law, with its constitutional definition of property rights, poses to the advancement of workers’ rights, whether those are understood as internal or external to property law.