Missing Knowledge Research Articles

Maximizing Flexibility for Complex Systems Design to Compensate Lack-of-Knowledge Uncertainty

Abstract The consideration of uncertainty is especially important for the design of complex systems. Because of high complexity, the total system is normally divided into subsystems, which are treated in a hierarchical and ideally independent manner. In recent publications, e.g., (Zimmermann, M., and von Hoessle, J. E., 2013, “Computing Solution Spaces for Robust Design,” Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng., 94(3), pp. 290–307; Fender, J., Duddeck, F., and Zimmermann, M., 2017, “Direct Computation of Solution Spaces,” Struct. Multidiscip. Optim., 55(5), pp. 1787–1796), a decoupling strategy is realized via first the identification of the complete solution space (solutions not violating any design constraints) and second via derivation of a subset, a so-called box-shaped solution space, which allows for decoupling and therefore independent development of subsystems. By analyzing types of uncertainties occurring in early design stages, it becomes clear that especially lack-of-knowledge uncertainty dominates. Often, there is missing knowledge about overall manufacturing tolerances like limitations in production or subsystems are not even completely defined. Furthermore, flexibility is required to handle new requirements and shifting preferences concerning single subsystems arising later in the development. Hence, a set-based approach using intervals for design variables (i.e., interaction quantities between subsystems and the total system) is useful. Because in the published approaches, no uncertainty consideration was taken into account for the computation of these intervals, they can possibly have inappropriate size, i.e., being too narrow. The work presented here proposes to include these uncertainties related to design variables. This allows now to consider lack-of-knowledge uncertainty specific for early phase developments in the framework of complex systems design. An example taken from a standard crash load case (frontal impact against a rigid wall) illustrates the proposed methodology.

Time Spent in Sedentary Activity Is Related to Gross Motor Ability During the Second Year of Life.

Sedentary activity occupies a substantial amount of time during early childhood, with these habits influenced by changing trends in screen time for very young children. Among school-aged children, motor ability is inversely related to sedentary activity. However, the concept of sedentary activity is rarely investigated in toddlers, and thus little is known concerning its relationship with motor development during this rapidly changing and early period of life. Among two groups of toddlers, aged 18 months (N = 26) and aged 24 months (N = 16), this study investigated cross-sectional correlations of motor development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III) with daily sedentary activity (accelerometers). In both groups, gross motor ability, but not fine motor ability, was inversely correlated with time spent in sedentary activity. At 18 months, gross motor raw scores inversely correlated significantly with time in sedentary activity (r = -.533, p < .001) but fine motor raw scores did not (r = .182, p = .441). Also, at 24 months, gross motor raw scores inversely correlated with time in sedentary activity (r = -.563, p = .029), while fine motor raw scores did not (r = -.112, p = .425). These findings add important missing knowledge to the empirical literature regarding sedentary activity in toddlers and its relationship to emerging motor development. Future work might investigate best practices for measuring sedentary activity in this age-group and mechanisms behind its relationship with gross motor skills.

Oral Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Safe Use and Safe Handle Among Cancer Patients in Radiation and Isotopes Center, Sudan

Background: Increasing use of oral cytotoxic chemotherapy among cancer patient in Sudan, rising important concern about safety practicing and using of these drugs. This study aimed to assess and demonstrate patient awareness regarding their oral cytotoxic drugs regimen in Radiation and Isotopes Center at Khartoum (RICK), as it considered one of the essential hospital cancer treatments in Sudan. Method: Across-sectional study was carried out at (RICK) hospital outpatient pharmacies. Data were collected by interviewing 100 patients and answering question about their drug regimen, side effects &amp; management, handling &amp; storage and drug/food/herb interactions. Result: The study showed that 46% of participants have missing knowledge about their drug using and taking. Complaints reported by patients, when using their drugs, vary. Myelosuppression is the most common (40.2%). In side effect management, the study showed that 26% of the patients are referred to the community pharmacy and 67% are using medication without a prescription. Regarding the awareness of using herbal treatments, 42% of patients are using or have used herbs with their drugs. 69% of patients using herbs said that they do not inform the caregiver. For the proper drug handling and storage in the home setting, 59.6% of patients said they did not receive instructions about handling and storage. The degree of patient knowledge about the proper handling and storage are variable. Finally, patient's knowledge about their drug regimen was significantly associated with drug education, an age of 13-45 years and regularity of clinic visits (p =0.018). Conclusion: The study concluded that awareness of patients is very low regarding the toxicity of these drugs and education of patients for oral cytotoxic chemotherapy vary substantially. The development of therapeutic educational programs is essential to ensure safe practice when using oral cytotoxic drugs.

Are Orchid Bees (Apidae: Euglossini) Good Indicators of the State of Conservation of Neotropical Forests?

This work discusses the criteria proposed to consider wild bees as bioindicators and specifically applied to orchid bees in neotropical forests. Some of the issues are: 1) the deficiencies of the sampling methods, which makes it difficult to accurately assess species inventories. 2) missing knowledge about the biology of many species. 3) spatial or temporal distribution of most species remains unknown, which may misslead the results of short-term studies. 4) It is not clear whether orchid bees are affected by climate change as seen in other bees, which weakens their predictive potential. 5) A measure of the economic benefits provided by orchid bees is needed to better appraise them and their conservation. Finally, future studies should develop predictive models for conservation, accounting for evolutionary aspects like phylogeny or distributions; together with studies of the effect of disturbance on the physiology of the bees.

Influence of soil characteristics on natural frequency-based bridge scour detection

The concept of detecting scour severity by analyzing the change in the Predominant Natural Frequency (PNF) of a bridge pier has been gaining increasing interest in recent years. Previous studies primarily focus on this topic using less cohesive soils such as highly erodible sands, whereas no discussions have been reported on the influence of soil characteristics, especially those of cohesive soils, on the PNF. This missing knowledge gap is critical for this application as cohesive soils are an essential part of the soil-pier interaction to determine PNFs. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating three issues that are related to soil characteristics: 1) the effect of soil types on the PNF variation; 2) the questionable issue regarding the pier diameter effect for soil-pier dynamic modeling using the Vesic analytical expression; and 3) contradictory statements in the existing studies regarding the influence of the soil’s elastic modulus on the PNF variation. For the purpose, a series of lab-scale tests is first conducted, and a Winkler-based numerical model is then developed and validated against the experimental results to investigate the effect of soil characteristics on the PNFs measured from systems with cohesive soils and those with less cohesive soils. We found that the soil characteristics affect the PNF by providing a different lateral stiffness to the soil-pier interaction. The strength of the soil-pier interaction mainly depends on the lateral stiffness of each type of soils. In-depth discussions are also made to clarify the pier diameter effect on the predicted PNFs from both less cohesive and cohesive soils. It was clarified that the distribution of the soil’s elastic modulus determines whether the pier diameter effect needs to be considered using the Vesic analytical expression. Further simulations are finally conducted with more complex and realistic field soil conditions to mediate the contradictory statements regarding the influence of the soil’s elastic modulus. The simulation results indicated that the soil’s elastic modulus significantly influences the PNFs. The PNF variations differ under different elastic moduli of soils and distributions of elastic moduli with soil depths.

Avoiding a dystopian future for children's play

ABSTRACTChildren’s play is increasingly controlled, costly and standardised. Risk aversion has resulted in attempts to eliminate all danger despite the limited health burden of play-related injuries and missing cost–benefit evidence. The current role and implementation of playground safety standards is a key inhibitor of stimulating play provision. Playground safety standards assume that play is about engineered structures. Standard creating bodies and playground inspectors tend to be missing key voices and knowledge. The proper domain of playground standards is engineering-related issues, such as structural integrity. However, they make judgments about children’s play behaviours, which are shaped by the children using the space and local circumstances: they are not standardised and should lay outside the scope of standards. We recommend that the value-based judgments currently included in standards and inspections should rest with play providers using Risk Benefit Assessment frameworks. We provide recommendations for play providers, standard setters, inspectors and public health.

“A context-model for adapting design processes and methods”

In practice, product developers often do not select the most suitable design process or method for their task; instead, they use the most common or known ones. The reason for this inappropriate selection is the missing knowledge on the relevant influence factors and boundary conditions. These influence factors characterise the context of a development project. Hence, these factors can significantly influence the initial selection and the adaptation of design processes and methods. Therefore, this contribution provides product developers a usable context-model that supports them with the context-dependent selection and adaption of design processes and methods within their development project.

Introducing a methodology for smartification of products in manufacturing industry

Smartification and digital refinement of products to enable the design of smart ones is a pivotal challenge in the manufacturing industry. Companies fail to design smart products due to missing knowledge of digital technologies and their integral part in product development processes. This paper presents a methodology that enables the derivation of digital functions for smart products through selected cases in manufacturing usage. We develop a morphology that consists of digital functions for smartification. In this context, we explained and derived characteristics by a set of examples regarding smart products in the manufacturing industry. Our methodology reduces the time spent initiating a development project with the focus on smartification.

Multivariate analysis of aperiodic surface topography within high precision grinding processes

High precision manufacturing processes of technical product surfaces have to fulfil demanding requirements regarding functional characteristics like roughness and gloss. Especially the reproducibility and control of aperiodic surface topographies based on grinding processes are influenced by many manufacturing process factors. This paper outlines a concept for multivariate analysis of measurement data regarding aperiodic surface topographies. The concept is based on non-parametric statistics, due to the particular challenge which is the missing knowledge of the distribution model of the parameters. The application of the worked out measurement strategy and the multivariate non-parametric statistical method is shown within a case study “Cutlery”.

Knowledge-Based Design of Artificial Neural Network Topology for Additive Manufacturing Process Modeling: A New Approach and Case Study for Fused Deposition Modeling

Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to rise in popularity due to its various advantages over traditional manufacturing processes. AM interests industry, but achieving repeatable production quality remains problematic for many AM technologies. Thus, modeling different process variables in AM using machine learning can be highly beneficial in creating useful knowledge of the process. Such developed artificial neural network (ANN) models would aid designers and manufacturers to make informed decisions about their products and processes. However, it is challenging to define an appropriate ANN topology that captures the AM system behavior. Toward that goal, an approach combining dimensional analysis conceptual modeling (DACM) and classical ANNs is proposed to create a new type of knowledge-based ANN (KB-ANN). This approach integrates existing literature and expert knowledge of the AM process to define a topology for the KB-ANN model. The proposed KB-ANN is a hybrid learning network that encompasses topological zones derived from knowledge of the process and other zones where missing knowledge is modeled using classical ANNs. The usefulness of the method is demonstrated using a case study to model wall thickness, part height, and total part mass in a fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. The KB-ANN-based model for FDM has the same performance with better generalization capabilities using fewer weights trained, when compared to a classical ANN.

Aspects of excess skin in obesity, after weight loss, after body contouring surgery and in a reference population

BackgroundExcess skin is well known after massive weight loss but, there is missing knowledge from various groups. ObjectivesTo describe and compare excess skin in a reference population during obesity, after obesity surgery, and after reconstructive abdominoplasty. SettingUniversity hospital, Sweden. MethodsThe following 6 groups were included: the reference population, obese adults before obesity surgery, obese adults after obesity surgery, adolescents after obesity surgery, super-obese adults after obesity surgery, and adults after abdominoplasty. All groups filled in the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ). Some groups also underwent measurements of ptosis/excess skin on 4 body parts. ResultsAll groups scored significantly higher experience of and discomfort from excess skin compared with the reference population. SESQ scores were significantly higher for obese adults (10.5 ± 8.5) and even higher for adults and adolescents (12.3 ± 8.1 versus 14.4 ± 7.7) after obesity surgery compared with the reference population (1.5 ± 3.5). Abdominoplasty resulted in significantly reduced scores (2.9 ± 5.2). Those undergoing obesity surgery and weight loss had significantly less excess skin measured on arms, breasts, and abdomen compared with before surgery, except for the upper arms on the adolescents. Excess skin increased on inner thighs in both age groups after weight loss. Correlations between objectively measured ptosis/excess skin and the patients’ experience of and discomfort were .16 to .71, and the highest correlations were found among adolescents. ConclusionExcess skin is not a problem for the vast majority of the normal population but is linked to obesity and massive weight loss. The SESQ score illustrates major problems related to excess skin both for obese adults and after obesity surgery for adults and for adolescents, who have problems similar to or worse than adults. Abdominoplasty markedly decreases symptoms.

I Know What I Do Not Know: Toward the Reflective Elementary Classroom

Mastering the ability for learning to learn is the most ambitious goal of modern educators. A distinction is made between two relatively independent components of this expertise: (a) the reflective component of the learning to learn ability that allows a person comprehend what knowledge and skills he or she lacks to act in the new situation; (b) the search component of the learning to learn ability that allows the learner to find the missing knowledge and appropriate it. The article deals with the reflective component of the ability to learn and the method to develop it within the El'konin–Davydov system of school education. This system has grown from the hypothesis that reflective thinking belongs to the zone of proximal development of children starting school. Within this system, psychological tools are developed for fostering those reflective potentials of the human mind that are left neglected or even suppressed under the school system prevailing today. Psychological and educational means of developing reflection in class are illustrated through the clinical analysis of dialogs on a math lesson in the first grade. The developmental outcomes of the El'konin–Davydov educational system are exemplified using the cases of tasks with missing data. By the diagnostical assessment of the forth graders, we have confirmed that when the content of education is radically changed, the reflective components of the ability to learn can be successfully developed as early as in the elementary school.

Анализ развития сетевых форм организации проектного обучения во взаимодействии организаций общего и профессионального образования

The authors consider one of the most important tasks of modernization, both general and secondary vocational education, namely the comprehensive development of project forms of education in the framework of network forms of interaction of organizations of General and vocational education. The purpose of the network project training is to create conditions for self-motivated acquisition of missing knowledge by students from different sources; training skills of using the acquired knowledge to solve real cognitive and practical problems; acquisition of communication skills, work in groups; development of project skills and system thinking. The authors show that the educational project makes it possible to organize educational activities, keeping a balance between theory and practice. It stimulates the true teachings of the students themselves, and easily fits into the learning process. Within the framework of network project activity, project competence is formed as the ability and readiness of students to productive educational, research and implementation work, focus on self-education and self-improvement, integration of research and practical training activities into an inseparable whole, the transition from exclusively performing to exclusively creative, creative activity. Project competence is an interconnected complex of several components (a combination of knowledge, ability, skills, actions, experience in the field of educational research and solution of practical issues and problems of implementation).

Medical Drone Delivery in Developing Countries

Developing countries often have difficulties in the field of medicine, and many of these problems do not relate to missing knowledge but on the transportation possibilities to bring patient, doctor and the necessary medical supplies together. In a research study for the country of Mongolia the advantages of a drone delivery system are shown and the unique challenges such as temperature, elevation and range are discussed to choose a suitable system design for countries with enormous size and low population. Airplane like drones with their wider distances seem to be the most promising solution to connect rural areas to the medical logistics network.

Constructionist Grounded Theory - GT. Conceptual and Methodological Clarifications

In this article we aim to bring a series of epistemological and conceptual clarifications on a particular method of qualitative research entitled Grounded Theory (GT) in its social-constructive approach. The peculiarity of this research method is the exploratory character, the theoretical explanatory construction based on data gathered from the field and not from a series of assumptions taken from the literature, or built from the missing knowledge areas within it. The socio-constructivist dimension emphasizes the context dependence of the obtained results and the generated interpretative model.

Modelling gas‐liquid mass transfer in a two‐phase jet flow

ABSTRACTThe efficiency and selectivity of chemical reactions are influenced by the mixing characteristic of the reactor. Existing models for reactor precalculation are often based on mean values, e.g. for the energy dissipation rate or the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, and assume a homogeneous mass transfer behaviour. As a result, process optimization by avoiding mass transfer limitations is not efficient, due to the missing knowledge of local limitations.Jet reactors typically provide inhomogeneous mixing and mass transfer behaviour, where the highest rates occur in the jet vicinity. Hence, the mass transfer processes in the jet flow, which cannot be properly characterized in gas‐liquid two‐phase flow, dominate the reactor performance. Experimental results concerning the volumetric mass transfer coefficient in the jet vicinity of the Jetzone‐Loopreactor are discussed, and a model approach for describing the phenomenon is presented. It is shown that the mass transfer rates strongly depend on the hydrodynamics of the loop flow. The model is adapted to the loop flow determining mechanisms, the drag coefficient, and the density difference between the circulation and the jet flow.

Constructionist Grounded Theory -GT. Conceptual and Methodological Clarifications

In this article we aim to bring a series of epistemological and conceptual clarifications on a particular method of qualitative research entitled Grounded Theory (GT) in its social-constructive approach. The peculiarity of this research method is the exploratory character, the theoretical explanatory construction based on data gathered from the field and not from a series of assumptions taken from the literature, or built from the missing knowledge areas within it. The socio-constructivist dimension emphasizes the context dependence of the obtained results and the generated interpretative model. How to cite: Sandu, A. (2018). New Rights of the People, Deriving from the Content of the Right to Peace. Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty, Section: Economy and Administrative Sciences, 3 (1), 73-100. https://doi.org/10.18662/lumeneas/06

Development of an In Situ Thoracic Surgery Crisis Simulation Focused on Nontechnical Skill Training

Our vision was to develop an inexpensive training simulation in a functional operating room (in situ) that included surgical trainees and nursing and anesthesia staff to focus on effective interprofessional communication and teamwork skills. The simulation scenario revolved around an airway obstruction by residual tumor after pneumonectomy. This model included our thoracic operating room with patient status displayed by an open access vital sign simulator and a reversibly modified Laerdal airway mannequin (Shavanger, Norway). The simulation scenario was run seven times. Simulations were video recorded and scored with the use of Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) and TeamSTEPPS2. Latent safety threats (LSTs) and feedback were obtained during the debriefing after the simulation. Feedback was captured with the Method Material Member Overall (MMMO) questionnaire. Several LSTs were identified, which included missing and redundant equipment and knowledge gaps in participants' roles. Consultant surgeons received a higher overall score than thoracic surgery fellows on both NOTSS (3.8 versus 3.3) and TeamSTEPPS2 (4.1 versus 3.2) evaluations, suggesting that the scenario effectively differentiated learners from experts with regards to nontechnical skills. The MMMO overall simulation experience score was 4.7 of 5, confirming a high-fidelity model and useful experiential learning model. At the Canadian Thoracic Bootcamp, the MMMO overall experience score was 4.8 of 5, further supporting this simulation as a robust model. An inexpensive in situ intraoperative crisis simulation model for thoracic surgical emergencies was created, implemented, and demonstrated to be effective as a proof of concept at identifying latent threats to patient safety and differentiating the nontechnical skills of trainees and consultant surgeons.

Creating the World’s Deadliest Catch: The Process of Enrolling Stakeholders in an Uncertain Endeavor

There is growing interest in the processes by which entrepreneurial opportunities are cocreated between entrepreneurs and their stakeholders. The longitudinal case study of de novo firm Wakefield Seafoods seeks to understand the underlying dynamics of phenomena that play out over time as stakeholders emerge and their contributions become essential to the opportunity formation process. The king crab data show that under conditions of uncertainty, characterized by incomplete or missing knowledge, entrepreneurial processes of experimentation, failure, and learning were effective in forming and exploiting an opportunity. Moreover, contrary to existing literature that either emphasizes heroic entrepreneurs or downplays their value, this article shows that both the vision of the entrepreneur and the stakeholder contributions are critical. This detailed examination of process data shows that the cumulative actions made by entrepreneurs in concert with their stakeholders formed an opportunity that coalesced into a new market.

Influence of welding parameters on diffusible hydrogen content in high-strength steel welds using modified spray arc process

In order to satisfy the growing requirements towards lightweight design and resource efficiency in modern steel constructions, e.g., mobile cranes and bridges, high-strength steels with typical yield strength ≥ 690 MPa are coming into use to an increasing extent. However, these steels require special treatment in welding. The susceptibility for degradation of the mechanical properties in the presence of hydrogen increases significantly with increasing yield strength. In case of missing knowledge about how and the amount of hydrogen that is uptaken during welding, hydrogen-assisted cracking (HAC) can be a negative consequence. Moreover, modern weld technology like the modified spray arc process enables welding of narrower weld seams. In this context, a reduced number of weld beads, volume, and total heat input are technical and economical benefits. This work presents the influence of welding parameters on the diffusible hydrogen content in both (1) single-pass and (2) multi-layer welds. Different hydrogen concentrations were detected by varied contact tube distance, wire feed speed, arc length, and varied arc type (transitional arc and modified spray arc). The results show that all welding parameters have significant influence on the diffusible hydrogen concentration in the single-pass welds. By increasing the number of weld beads in case of multi-layer welding, the hydrogen concentration has been reduced. Whereby, differences in hydrogen concentrations between both arc types are present.