Placement Process Research Articles

Implementation of K-Means Clustering in Mapping Teacher Distribution Using Geographic Information System

The placement of teachers in Indonesia has not been evenly distributed across several regions due to inaccurate recruitment and placement processes. The quality of education, particularly in rural areas, is negatively impacted by this uneven distribution. Teachers play a crucial role in enhancing education, making it essential to address this issue. This study seeks to equilibrate the allocation of teachers in Langsa City using the K-Means Clustering method based on the number of teachers, students, and study groups at the Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, Madrasah Tsanawiyah, and Madrasah Aliyah levels. The clustering results are then mapped using the Quantum Geographic Information System. The study identifies 20 schools with a shortage of teachers, 7 schools with sufficient teachers, and 3 schools with a surplus. The utilization of the K-Means Clustering method demonstrated a high accuracy rate of 92.8%. The implications of these findings suggest that educational authorities can use the clustering results to strategically address teacher shortages by reallocating teaching resources more effectively, thus potentially improving educational outcomes in underserved areas. Moreover, the GIS mapping offers a practical tool for ongoing monitoring and decision-making regarding teacher distribution.

Effect of plasma treatment on LMPAEK/CF tape and composites manufactured by automated tape placement (ATP)

Automated tape placement (ATP) process is widely used in aerospace for its advanced process control and multi-axis capabilities but faces issues like limited choice of materials and suboptimal tape consolidation. This study investigates air plasma treatment on ATP carbon fiber thermoplastic feedstock tape to address these challenges. The effects on low melt Polyaryletherketone/carbon fiber unidirectional tape (LMPAEK/CF UD tape) were analyzed. Treated and untreated tapes were used to fabricate composites and evaluated for physical, thermal, mechanical, and interfacial properties. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses revealed surface roughness changes (on LMPAEK), extent of oxidation, and the presence of hydroxyl/carboxyl groups. Composites from plasma-treated tapes showed a 7.6% increase in tensile strength, 8% in tensile modulus, 18% in flexural strength, and 8.3% in flexural modulus. The interlaminar shear strength improved by 18.7%. Failure analysis showed untreated composites failed via inter-ply and fiber-matrix delamination, while treated composites experienced matrix cracking and fiber breakage. This study highlights atmospheric plasma treatment as a solution to ATP’s limitations, significantly enhancing LMPAEK/CF UD tape composites’ properties.

A New Model to Advance a Collaborative Clinical Education Placement Process: A Consortium Core Network.

The 2014 Clinical Education (CE) Summit and subsequent scholarly work prompted development of collaborative, mutually beneficial, innovative processes to mitigate CE challenges and inefficiencies. Contemporary practice advocates for collaboration among physical therapist (PT) academic programs (Programs) and clinical partners (Partners) to create a sustainable placement process with mutual benefits for stakeholders. The purpose of this article is to describe the design and implementation of the Ohio Kentucky Consortium of Physical Therapy Educators (Consortium) Consortium Core Network's (CCN) centralized PT CE Placement Process (PT-CEPP) model and share participants' experience perspectives. The Consortium established the CCN and a Steering Committee, representing stakeholders, and designed a novel 5-phase centralized PT-CEPP model, in Exxat, an educational management platform. The phases included Request, Offer, Placement, Reallocation, and Confirmation and Release. A postimplementation Qualtrics survey was disseminated to obtain participant perspectives. Open-text survey responses were compiled, reviewed, thematically analyzed, and presented in this article (part 1). The resulting quantitative CCN PT-CEPP analyses were deferred to a companion article (part 2). The CCN participation included invited Partners (n = 101/364; 28%) and Programs (n = 14/14; 100%). During initial PT-CEPP implementation, 1,005 offers resulted in 549 CE placements. Participant perspectives from 20 of 101 SCCEs (20%) and eight of 14 DCEs (57%) were dichotomized into "Benefits and What Worked Well" and "Challenges and What Did Not Work Well." Perspectives were unique to participant roles, with partners valuing "centralization" and Programs "process." Lessons gleaned from the PT-CEPP paradigm shift to a CCN-centralized model may optimize processes and improve sustainability with future iterations.

PROsthetic MEsh Reinforcement in elective minimally invasive paraesophageal hernia repair (PROMER): an international survey.

The optimal treatment for paraesophageal hiatus hernia (PEH) is controversial. While crural buttressing with mesh shows promises in reducing recurrences, the decision to use mesh during minimally invasive PEH repair is largely subjective. Due to these uncertainties, we conducted a survey to examine current clinical practices among surgeons and to assess which are the most important determinants in the decision-making process for mesh placement. Thirty-five multiple-choice Google Form-based survey on work-up, surgical techniques, and issues are considered in the decision-making process for mesh augmentation during minimally invasive PEH repair. Responses were graded on a 5-point Likert scale and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Consensus was defined as > 70% of participants agreed (agree or strongly agree) on a specific statement. Overall, 292 surgeons (86% from Europe) participated in the survey. The median age of participants was 42years (range 29-69). The median number of PEH procedures was 25/year/center (range 5-400), with 67% of participants coming from high-volume centers (> 20 procedures/year). Consensus on use of mesh was reached for intraoperative findings of large (> 50% of intrathoracic stomach) PEH (74.3%), crural gap with > 4cm distance between right and left crus (77.1%), and/or crural atrophy with < 0.5cm thickness of one or both pillars (73%), and for redo surgery (71.9%). Further, consensus was reached in defining recurrence as a combination of refractory symptoms and anatomical/radiological evidence of > 2cm hernia. This survey shows that large PEH, wide crural transverse diameter, fragile crura, and redo surgery are the most influential issues driving the decision for mesh-reinforced cruroplasty.

Predicting gaps and overlaps in automated fiber placement composites by measuring sources of manufacturing process variations

Manufacturing variations in the automated fiber placement (AFP) process are one of the causes of gaps and overlaps. These manufacturing variations can be due to robot inaccuracy, tow lateral movement on the roller, tow width variation or tow compaction. An experimental setup was built to measure and investigate these various sources of manufacturing variations and their relative contributions to gap and overlap defects. This setup consisted of a commercial AFP head instrumented with additional sensors. Among all the measured sources of variations, lateral movement of the tow on the compaction roller was the biggest contributor to gaps and overlaps. The distributions of these sources of variations were fit with probability density functions. Random samples from these fits were used to simulate adjacent tows and predict the occurrence of gap and overlap defects. The distribution of predicted gaps correlated closely with the distribution of experimentally measured gaps. Thus, this approach of using statistical information about the sources of manufacturing variations to predict the frequency and magnitude of defects in a layup was validated.

Implementing low budget machine vision to improve fiber alignment in wet fiber placement

Machine vision is revolutionizing modern manufacturing, with new applications emerging regularly. The composites industry, relying on precision in aligning fibers, stands to benefit significantly from machine vision. Ensuring the exact fiber orientation is critical, as deviations can compromise product mechanical properties and lead to failure. Machine vision, particularly in wet fiber placement (WFP), offers a solution for monitoring and enhancing quality control in composite manufacturing. WFP involves pulling fiber bundles, impregnating them with resin, and precisely transporting them to mold tooling for layer-by-layer fabrication. The challenge lies in handling tacky, wet fiber bundles, making tactile sensors impractical. This makes WFP an ideal candidate for contactless process monitoring. The objective of this study is to employ a low budget machine vision in WFP, utilizing a webcam connected to a single-board computer. Artificial intelligence is trained using images of fiber bundles just before placement on the tooling mold. The module detects and measures the position and orientation of a roving in the starting position, enabling the initiation of the WFP process. The methods employed are thoroughly evaluated for reliability and feasibility. After completing only 50 training epochs, a roving detection accuracy of 91.3% could be achieved with almost no critical errors. With additional iterations per placement process, the system functions almost flawlessly at its current state.

Partnership to Increase Care Access Through Mobile Outreach to Migrant Farm Communities: A Feasibility Study

Abstract: Background: Health care access for migrant farmworkers is limited given the nature of seasonal farm work, including migration patterns, capacity, and availability of local community health services. Consideration of these contextual elements when exploring a community–academic partnership to increase access to care for migrant farmworkers is essential. Objective: Explore the partnerships and processes for integrating nursing faculty and students from a regional public university’s school of nursing into a farmworker health outreach program’s mobile clinic process. Methods: A feasibility study was undertaken using Bowen et al.’s feasibility framework. Results: Integrating faculty and students into the farmworker health outreach program’s mobile clinic process was determined to be feasible. Conclusions: Integrating faculty providers and students into a farmworker outreach program’s mobile health process has several nuances requiring consideration before operationalizing the partnership, including nursing faculty practice (e.g., credentialing, malpractice insurance), student clinical placement processes, the farmworker outreach program’s processes, and farmworker availability.

Efficient 3D temperature field prediction and visualization for AFP process analysis in composite structures

AbstractProcess modeling is an indispensable tool for establishing a foundation for process optimization and enhancing the quality of products. Analyzing the thermoforming process of polymer matrix composites presupposes the acquisition of accurate thermal histories. This paper introduces a numerical solution based on the finite difference (FD) model to predict the temperature field of angle‐ply composite structures during automated fiber placement (AFP) process along the machining trajectory. The proposed method incorporates three‐dimensional hybrid boundary conditions and considers temperature‐dependent material properties, significantly improving efficiency compared to the finite element (FE) model and overcoming challenges related to complex boundary conditions and anisotropic heat transfer in analytical solutions. Real‐time temperature measurement experiments were conducted to validate predictions, and further a specific temperature control strategy that meets process requirements was explored. In summary, the paper introduces a novel approach to address the temperature field in complex composite structure manufacturing processes.Highlights A novel 3D finite difference model predicts the temperature field in automated fiber placement. Improved prediction accuracy by managing complex boundary conditions. Effectively handled anisotropic heat transfer in complex composite structures. Superior efficiency over existing numerical methods. Developed a model‐based strategy for optimal temperature control within ±5°C.

Stretch-steering of highly aligned discontinuous fiber tape with automated fiber placement

Highly aligned discontinuous fiber (ADF) composites have been developed with mechanical properties comparable to continuous fiber composites. These materials can be stretched in the fiber direction during processing enabling the production of complex geometries. This study utilizes 57% fiber volume fraction ADF tape comprised of a thermoplastic Polyetherimide (PEI) matrix with 3 mm long IM7 carbon fibers. The Laser-Assisted Automated Fiber Placement (LA-AFP) process is used to study the limits of stretch-steering of ADF tape at small radii. An experimental technique based on photogrammetry was developed to quantify the effect of stretch parameters on the tape strain fields and path placement accuracy. The measurements captured the local in-plane strain tensor (longitudinal, transverse, and shear) across the width and along the length of steered tapes. The results demonstrate that placement path accuracy can be achieved when the tool center point (center of rotation) of the AFP head is located at the nip-point versus the roller centerline, which is typically used for steering continuous fiber tapes at large steering radii. Accuracy of the in-situ tape stretching was demonstrated up to 60% applied stretch strain. The measurements also confirm that when stretch-steering ADF tape, the resulting strain across the tape width is on average the superposition of the in-situ applied tensile strain and in-plane bending computed from the tape width and steering radius. A statistical-based methodology is presented to select the average tensile stretch levels to minimize the probability of defects forming during steering on the inner radius of the tape. The experiments show that a 12.5 mm wide tape can be accurately placed on a 50 mm radius of curvature without defects. This represents a two order of magnitude improvement in steerability over continuous fiber tapes of the same tape width found in peer-reviewed literature.

Performance Modeling of Distributed Data Processing in Microservice Applications

Microservice applications are increasingly adopted in distributed data processing systems, such as in mobile edge computing and data mesh architectures. However, existing performance models of such systems fall short in providing comprehensive insights into the intricate interplay between data placement and data processing. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel class of performance models that enables joint analysis of data storage access workflows, caching, and queueing contention. Our proposed models introduce a notion of access path for data items to model hierarchical data locality constraints. We develop analytical solutions to efficiently approximate the performance metrics of these models under different data caching policies, finding in particular conditions under which the underlying Markov chain admits a product-form solution. Extensive trace-driven simulations based on real-world datasets indicate that service and data placement policies based on our proposed models can respectively improve by up to 35% and 37% the average response time in edge and data mesh case studies compared to baseline resource allocation heuristics.

Enhancing automated fiber placement process monitoring and quality inspection: A hybrid thermal vision based framework

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) has revolutionized composite manufacturing, yet quality assurance remains challenging due to the significant impact of emerging defects on part quality and the current reliance on time-consuming manual inspection protocols. This paper presents a comprehensive hybrid framework that enhances AFP process monitoring and quality inspection by integrating thermal vision with innovative methodologies. Our framework combines model-based and data-driven algorithms across three modules to address key AFP inspection tasks, including in-situ monitoring, dynamic tow identification, defect detection, segmentation, localization, and quantitative lay-up quality evaluation. The setup-independent spatial–temporal analysis algorithm estimates tow boundaries with sub-pixel accuracy. An optimized SVM classifier, trained on an extensive AFP defect database, achieves a defect detection accuracy of 96.4% and an F1-score of 96.43%, meeting industry standards. The active contours-based segmentation and localization module provides critical qualitative traits such as defect shape, size, and location. Moreover, the novel Defect Area Percentage (DAP) metric enables precise quantitative defect impact evaluation at both the course and tow levels. By consolidating qualitative and quantitative outcomes, the system offers real-time high-level feedback for informed decision-making, significantly improving process performance and reducing machine downtimes. This proactive approach advances AFP process monitoring and quality inspection and positions our framework as a promising solution for next-generation composite manufacturing.

Drilling mud contamination effect on wellbore cement strength: An experimental investigation

Cementing is an essential downhole operation during the drilling of oil, gas, and geothermal wells, with the primary objective of providing structural support and a seal in the wellbore. It is important to attain adequate cement strength to preserve well integrity, inhibit fluid movement, enhance zonal isolation, and hold the wellbore casing in place. However, a significant challenge arises from the potential contamination of the cement by drilling mud (DM) during the placement process. This study aims to assess the impact of both water-based drilling mud (WBDM) and oil-based drilling mud (OBDM) contamination on the strength of API Class G wellbore cement by comprehensively investigating the underlying causes and the mechanism of strength degradation. Following a systematic methodological approach and the guidelines provided by API and ASTM, cement slurries were prepared and contaminated with DM at 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % concentrations by volume. Subsequently, both neat and contaminated samples were cured for 1, 3, 7, and 14 days, after which a series of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) tests were conducted, and the results were further reinforced by microstructural and petrophysical property analysis. The results demonstrate that both WBDM and OBDM contamination significantly reduce cement strength, irrespective of curing time. Though the effect of OBDM contamination appears to be more pronounced, the effect of WBDM contamination is also remarkable. After final curing of 14 days, WBDM-contaminated cement samples exhibited an average strength reduction of 45.06 %, while OBDM contamination led to a 66.32 % reduction in strength compared to the neat cement with 30 % contamination. Additionally, for the same curing time and contamination percentage, porosity was found to be increased by 71.18 % and 91.33 %, respectively. The mechanism of neat and contaminated cement hydration is explained with the support of SEM-EDS tests, which confirmed the presence of contamination and revealed how two different drilling muds generate dissimilar pore structures within the cement sheath, affecting the hydration and ultimately contributing to the observed reduction in strength. The findings quantify the negative impact of WBDM and OBDM contamination on wellbore cement, emphasizing the importance of mitigating mud contamination during cementing operations.

Changing placements: A punctuated equilibrium model of work-family role boundary reconstruction.

In the face of changes to the work-family environment, the ability to manage role boundaries may be threatened. Drawing on punctuated equilibrium models of system change and cognitive dissonance theory, we extend boundary theory through a conceptual model that explains how and when individuals may tear down and rebuild work and family role boundaries in the mind in order to maintain well-being. We argue that divergent events compel individuals to enact role boundaries inconsistent with those held internally in the mind, resulting in cognitive dissonance. We further argue that high levels of cognitive dissonance past a threshold may trigger a revolutionary change in the deep structure of one's internally drawn role boundaries, resulting in a significant change in the extent to which work and family roles are cognitively segmented or integrated. We also argue that change events that generate lower levels of cognitive dissonance can be mitigated with boundary management tactics that create only incremental changes to work and family role boundaries. Our model advances a dynamic perspective of boundary theory that returns focus to the boundary placement process, which is often overlooked in work-family research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Process Mapping Midwifery Students' Clinical Placement in Sierra Leone: Identifying Facilitators and Barriers.

Background: Improving midwifery education is critical to improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Sierra Leone. A significant priority within midwifery education is to strengthen the clinical teaching and students' hands-on experience in the clinical setting. Objectives: To identify facilitators and challenges within midwifery students' clinical placements and to highlight areas to strengthen the clinical midwifery education system as well as the role of preceptors. Methods: We conducted a participatory process mapping with two schools of midwifery in Sierra Leone to detail steps taken by practicing midwives and midwifery faculty when students are placed in clinical settings for midwifery rotations. Findings: There were 42 participants from the Bo and Makeni regions of Sierra Leone. Participants included midwifery faculty from the Schools of Midwifery in Makeni and Bo, clinical midwives from two regional government hospitals, clinical midwives from two affiliated community health centers, and midwives from the District Health Management Teams. Three recurring themes emerged in the process. First, there was always some element of preparing or teaching the student. Second, there were administrative tasks to coordinate between the schools, clinical sites, and students, before, during, and after clinical placements. And third, there were elements of communication and collaboration between schools and clinical sites/preceptors that could be improved through shared understanding and standardization. Additional themes were inconsistencies across activities before, during, and after students' clinical placement and limited opportunities and confusion around systems of evaluating all components of the clinical placement experience. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the process of midwifery students' clinical placement and highlights facilitators to be standardized and some modifiable barriers to be addressed. As Sierra Leone and many other similar countries in sub-Saharan Africa attempt to strengthen students' clinical education through educating and developing preceptors, processing mapping can be a useful tool.

BI in simulation analysis with gaming for decision making and development of knowledge management

Increasing technology advancements have led to a number of problems with modern corporate decision-making, which is a challenging occurrence in the absence of business intelligence and machine learning (ML). Because effective decision-making is impossible without ML, integration of ML with business intelligence (BI) is essential to both corporate decision-making and business intelligence as a whole. Only once they have learned anything again may machines assist in your educational process. This study suggests a fresh approach to knowledge building in company management decision-making through the use of gaming and machine learning models. Using a game model that involves decision-making, knowledge analysis based on business management is conducted. Subsequently, quantum reinforcement reward neural networks build knowledge. The accuracy, precision, recall, F_1 score, MSE, NSE of business management modelling with knowledge growth are all assessed by simulation. The student’s gender had no bearing on the income they were offered throughout the job placement process or their MBA specialisations in Marketing and Finance (Mkt & Fin) or Marketing and Human Resource (Mkt & HR), according to a statistical t-test with a significance threshold of 0.05 (p > 0.05).

Empleo y salarios de los graduados universitarios: evaluación del impacto de un programa de ayuda financiera mediante propensity score matching

Introduction / Objective: Educational funding in Venezuela is limited, especially in private higher education institutions, due to existing budget constraints. Despite these limitations, some grant programmes manage to serve a significant proportion of students. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact of a financial aid programme at a Latin American university by analysing the probability of employment and remuneration at three key points in time: during the degree programme, upon graduation, and three years after graduation. Methodology: A sample of graduates from various programmes was used, and information about their career paths was collected by means of a follow-up survey. The analysis was conducted using propensity score matching through the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) estimator, employing both parametric and non-parametric methods. Results: The results indicate an inverse relationship between the financial aid received and the salary earned during the evaluation periods, alongside a positive relationship with the probability of being employed. However, none of the estimated coefficients were significant, whether for the nearest neighbour, the 5 or 10 nearest neighbours, the Kernel estimation, or the local linear estimation, taking into account the common support and the 20% trimming. Conclusions: It cannot be concluded that the grant received during the degree programme significantly improves employment and remuneration outcomes. This suggests the need for a comprehensive programme that includes support in job placement processes in order to enhance these outcomes.

Leveraging Inventory Management for Enhanced Performance in Elementary School Cooperatives: Case Study from Majalengka Regency

Cooperatives play a significant role in promoting economic growth by not only increasing community income but also providing employment opportunities in the small business sector. For cooperatives to effectively support the economic development of villages, it is crucial for them to function as healthy business entities. One way to enhance their efficiency is by ensuring consistency in their managerial activities, ranging from planning to control, including inventory management. SD "X" Cooperative, located in Majalengka, engages in retail trading activities through a mini market. The cooperative deals with 19 specific types of items, which require strict inventory control. The governance process starts with determining the optimal quantity of economic orders to avoid shortages or excessive inventory of goods, thus ensuring satisfactory customer service. However, the cooperative currently faces challenges in terms of working capital shortage, hindering its ability to place orders according to the predetermined optimal quantity. Therefore, it becomes imperative to redefine the optimal order placement process by considering the available working capital. Such re-optimization will have an impact on increasing inventory costs, as the optimal order quantity decreases and the frequency of orders becomes more frequent. Despite the decrease in the optimal number of orders, the cooperative strives to fulfill customer demands while managing its limited working capital effectively

Contrasting Educator and Black Student Perspectives of the Special Education Placement Process: A DisCrit Counter-Narrative Analysis.

This critical qualitative inquiry employed a Disability Critical Race Studies Counter-Narrative framework (DCCN) to explore the contrast between educator and Black student understandings of the special education placement process and their implications. Interviews with 21 members of school personnel and 20 Black students between the ages of 14 and 18 were cross-referenced to narratively reconstruct the special education placement process in Quebec, Canada. Analysis of the results reveals a striking gap between educator and student understandings of the process, which can be linked to adverse student experiences. Subsequently, implications for enhancing educators' knowledge of diverse learners and professional practices are discussed.

Optimizing Internship Placement Process: A Study on the Implementation of an Internship Placement Management System (IPMS) at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia to Improve Efficiency and Student Experience

Managing student internship and placement of Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) students is a task that needs to be handled systematically and efficiently. With proper management and organization of data, a proper system can help in managing data and manipulating it to get more information and produce more results in reporting. This study aims to improve the process of managing students for internship placement using a new proposed system called IPMS (Internship Placement Management System). The evolutionary prototyping models were used as a methodology to develop the IPMS (Internship Placement Management System). There are 5 (FIVE) categories of users involved in this system that have 6 (SIX) modules to be used according to their roles. The modules will consist from the beginning which is managing the users’ information records, processing internship applications and confirmation, updating continuous progress from the students, assignment of academic supervisor by the Coordinator, students’ internship performance evaluation, and reporting. The implementation of IPMS will help the Coordinator monitor the process from the beginning of the internship until the end. Therefore, the new proposed system, IPMS (Internship Placement Management System) will be useful and helpful in keeping track of and managing the complete process of internship placement in Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM).

The influence of temperature and placement rate on wound laminated carbon fibre/PEEK hoop specimens manufactured by in-situ consolidated LATP

The effect of laser-assisted automated tape placement (LATP) in-situ consolidation processing parameters on mechanical properties of manufactured laminates is an important consideration. In this study, a combination of placement rates and processing temperatures were assessed to determine their effects on wound laminated hoops for two carbon fibre (CF)/PEEK material systems, one with sized fibres and one without. It was found that these CF/PEEK material systems, while manufactured with the same LATP processing parameters, have different maximum interlaminar shear strengths, void growth characteristics and crystallinity levels. The results indicate that the placement rate has a statistically significant influence on the interlaminar shear strength and sample thickness. It was observed that there is a notable interaction between placement rate and processing temperature for the unsized fibre CF/PEEK system.