Technical Material Research Articles

Towards a method for understanding collaborative learning in makerspaces using dynamic sociotechnical networks

ABSTRACT This study’s objective was to discuss approaches to understanding learning in an educational makerspace by considering complex and dynamic interactions that take place there. Our investigation focusses on technical resources within these interactions – particularly how to gain a structural perspective on these dynamic interactions. We address two primary challenges: (1) conceptualizing makerspace activity as networks of human and nonhuman actors, and (2) capturing the structural dynamics of interaction in sociotechnical makerspace networks, as well as discussing how solving these challenges can help understand technology-mediated collaborative learning practices in the makerspace. We present potential approaches to yield a more granular and nuanced view based on video data on the interplay between collaborators and technical tools and materials, such as how to transform video data into structural data, as well as capture and represent dynamic networks. We discuss how these approaches can inform researchers about collaborative learning in makerspaces by discussing students’ sociotechnical ego-networks, changing roles and the use of sociotechnical structural data as background information in qualitative analysis. Furthermore, the paper examines our study’s broader implications for understanding makerspace networks, suggesting node-grouping strategies and sociotechnograms to simplify and name the display of sociotechnical interdependencies.

Meaningful work in a grocery store: a phenomenological sensemaking approach to job crafting among store workers

ABSTRACT What constitutes meaningful work in contexts associated with routines and low-skill work, such as grocery stores? And how do workers contribute to making their work meaningful in such contexts? We expand the conception of meaningful work beyond meaning in terms of significance found in the job crafting literature. Employing a phenomenological sensemaking perspective on data material combining participatory observations in a grocery store and in-depth interviews with employees, we find that store workers continuously engage in work aimed at maintaining the technical material, and social order of the store, that is ongoingly ‘micro-disturbed’ by customers who, e.g., pick groceries from shelves, ask for assistance and sometimes shoplift. Sensitized by this phenomenological sensemaking perspective, we also demonstrate how this ‘maintenance work’ manifests as cognitive and behavioral (practical) crafting and clarify their intertwined nature, a previously unresolved conceptual puzzle in the job crafting literature.

Development of international guidelines by Tuina practitioners for specific acupoints of paediatrics Tuina (2022 version).

To establish a standardized framework encompassing the precise locations, manipulations, functions and indications of specific acupoints in the field of paediatric Tuina. The development of consensus involved three distinct stages. Initially, a list of paediatric Tuina specific acupoints was compiled based on an extensive literature review, which was subsequently supplemented through expert interviews. In the second stage, the Delphi method was employed to assess the significance of acupoint locations, manipulations, functions, and indications. In situations where the questionnaire survey failed to yield agreement or when the experts held reservations, the nominal group approach was utilized during the expert consensus meeting. The final version of the technical standardized material was ultimately determined during an expert consensus conference. After undergoing external peer review and evaluation, the completed draft was prepared for public dissemination RESULTS: The comprehensive list identified a total of 66 specific acupoints. The location and manipulation questionnaire consisted of 156 items based on the literature database, while the function and indication questionnaire contained 116 items. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted for the location and manipulation category, and another two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted for the function and indication category. During the experts consensus meeting The panel of experts conducted in-depth discussions on 61 questions, resulting in the formulation of technical guidelines for the locations, manipulations, functions, and indications of 64 paediatric Tuina acupoints. Subsequently, the research team compiled and edited the draft of the technical guidelines for acupoints of paediatric Tuina, which was finalized after external review and feedback. This study successfully established the recognized technical standards for practitioners of paediatric Tuina, thereby standardizing clinical practices and providing a foundation setting the framework for future research. The guidelines offer theoretical insights and recommendations for conducting clinical studies comparing different acupoint sites, as well as modifying or enhancing treatment regimens.

FOUNDRY TRIBOTECHNICAL BRONZE BrO3A3 CORROSION RESISTANCE INVESTIGATION

Problem statement. Bronzes have been and remain the main material for friction bearings, anti-friction and corrosion-resistant parts manufacturing that work under high loads, chemically active aggression influence at low and elevated temperatures, in cavitation, erosion, etc. conditions. That is, technology continuous development requires from anti-friction bronzes constant their corrosion resistance increasing, as a factor that will allow to significantly expand their application scope and increase cast products from them durability and reliability. The purpose of the articles. Based on relationship between corrosion damages and chemical composition analysis, compare BrO3A3 bronze corrosion resistance with BrA5, BrA9Zh3L and BrO5Tz5C5 bronzes corrosion resistance as the materials most often used in industry for parts manufacturing that work in friction nodes and chemically active environments. Methodology. Alloys for samples production have been prepared by technical purity primary charge materials fusing. Melting has been carried out in induction crucible furnace using a graphite crucible and charcoal as a coating material. Cast bronze samples corrosion resistance studies have been carried out in accordance with ISO 7384:2001, ISO 11845:1995 and GOST 9.308-85 requirements. Studied samples corrosion resistance has been evaluated based on the results of their relative weight loss during exposure for 90 days in climate chamber at relative humidity of 93 ± 3 % and temperature of 40 ± 2 °С, in sea and fresh water with temperature of 20...22 °С. Conclusions. BrO3A3 bronze, among the studied foundry bronzes, is characterized by the best level of anti-corrosion properties in all environments used in this research. In this regard, it is a reason to recommend the studied bronze for tribotechnical purpose cast parts manufacturing, which work in air, fresh or sea water.

HIGH-TEMPERATURE PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE COMPOSITION “KAOLIN-DOLOMITE-ALUMINA”

The article presents the results of a study of phase transformations in sintered compositions “kaolin-dolomite-alumina”. It has been established that the nature of the location of melting isotherms on the triple diagram indicates the spread of neoformation processes into the region of the internal compositions of the triangle and the formation of crystalline phases of the mineral’s spinel, corundum, mullite. It is shown that based on alumina-containing waste and kaolin, as well as partially introduced dolomite, it is possible to develop compositions of low-temperature sintering ceramic masses for technical materials.

LANDFILL MINING IN THE FRAMEWORK OF INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT: CASE STUDY OF AN ITALIAN LANDFILL

A remediation project involving landfill mining (LFM) was designed and is ongoing at the 40-year-old Villadose landfill in Rovigo, Italy. The original natural clay lining the bottom of the old landfill is being recovered and used as technical material. Meanwhile newly constructed landfill sectors, designed to contained more than four times more waste than previously are being filled with both excavated waste and fresh municipal solid waste. A laboratory scale experiment was conducted to simulate the expected landfill conditions and analyse the effects of different waste fractions on emissions. The fresh municipal waste although pretreated at a mechanical biological treatment plant shows a significant residual emission potential, in terms of TOC, and NH4. A landfill housing such quality of waste would not be expected to have achieved final storage quality by the end of its aftercare life. The joint disposal of this waste fraction and the substantially degraded excavated waste may contribute to shortening this timeline. This paper reports the landfill mining operation, an assessment of the emissions from the landfill simulation reactors and the implications for the expected landfill behaviour.

Deep Indentation Tests of Soft Materials Using Mobile and Stationary Devices.

Measurements of the properties of soft materials are important from the point of view of medical diagnostics of soft tissues as well as testing the quality of food products and many technical materials. One of the frequently used techniques for testing such materials, attractive due to its non-invasive nature, is the indentation technique, which does not puncture the material. The difficulty of testing soft materials, which affects the objectivity of the results, is related to the problems of stable positioning of the studied material in relation to the indentation apparatus, especially with a device held by the operator. This work concerns the comparison of test results using an indentation apparatus mounted on mobile and stationary handles. The tested materials are cylindrical samples of polyurethane foams with three different stiffnesses and the same samples with a 0.5 or 1 mm thick silicone layer. The study presented uses an apparatus with a flat cylindrical indenter, with a surface area of 1 cm2, pressed to a depth of 10 mm (so-called deep tests). Based on the recorded force changes over time, five descriptors of the indentation test were determined and compared for both types of handles. The tests performed showed that the elastic properties of foam materials alone and with a silicone layer can be effectively characterized by the maximum forces during recessing and retraction and the slopes of the recessing and retraction curves. In the case of two-layer materials, these descriptors reflect both the characteristics of the foams and the silicone layer. The results show that the above property of the deep indentation method distinguishes it from the shallow indentation method. The repeatability of the tests performed in the mobile and stationary holders were determined to be comparable.

Carbon-14 labeled transformation of atrazine in soils: Comparison of superabsorbent hydrogel coating and technical material

Atrazine exhibits adverse effects on diverse organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, even though it effectively targets specific organisms. This study employed superabsorbent hydrogels to coat 14C-atrazine coupled with a four-compartment model to determine the fate of this herbicide in three oxic soils over a 100-day incubation period. Mineralization of atrazine was limited in all soils, with rates remaining below 3.5 %. The encapsulation treatment reduced mineralization of atrazine in soil A and soil B. Bound residues ranged from 26.1 to 43.6 % at 100 d. The encapsulation treatment enhanced the degradation of atrazine and reduced the content of deethylatrazine in soil A, but significantly increased the content of deisopropylatrazine in soil A and hydroxyatrazine in soil C. Using the obtained data, we also constructed a four-compartment model to clarify the relationships among the parent compound, degradation products, bound residues, and mineralization. This model accurately fits the fate of atrazine in the present work. Additionally, the correlation study suggested that both soil parameters and superabsorbent hydrogels played significant roles in influencing atrazine transformation. These findings serve as a reference for evaluating the environmental impact of superabsorbent hydrogels in atrazine pollution reduction and offer a foundational model approach for a comprehensive understanding of organic pollutants.

CEMPRI, a primary cementing software for vertical onshore wells as a tool for petroleum engineering education

The use of simulation software applicable to the various stages of petroleum engineering facilitates decision-making and, at the same time, minimizes possible failures, problems, and incidents during each well intervention. In addition, a computer tool provides the user with instant and accurate results that can be used during personnel training and higher education. The objective of the present work was to develop an open-source computational tool with a graphical, numerical, and schematic interface to facilitate the teaching and learning of operations related to primary cementing. The tool considers four sections: (a) wellbore diagram, (b) identification of the relation between volumetry and the geometric design of the well, (c) integration of the mechanical state with the number of intervals, slurry design, and operating characteristics of the pumps, and (d) the wellbore diagram integrated by drilling, displacement and slurry fluids, according to each of the cementing stages. Among the results, it was combined programming with specialized technical and scientific material, considering academic and field experience characteristics. The program is a versatile tool that integrates the general mechanical state and each of the five stages with a maximum depth of 5,000 m.

Exploring helium retention from technical materials: Development and investigation

Materials used to study nuclear fusion can retain atmospheric helium unless pretreated before an experiment. Understanding helium outgassing is important for accurate diagnostics in experiments surrounding nuclear fusion. The presence of helium is often cited as the primary evidence that a nuclear reaction has occurred, so it is imperative that known sources of helium are mitigated prior to proceeding with novel nuclear experiments. It is also necessary to ensure hermeticity when transferring gas aliquots from an experiment to a mass spectrometer. In this article, we present studies of helium leak rates in systems used in novel nuclear experiments. We also present studies of helium retention in materials subjected to various heating profiles and atmospheric concentrations. Without pretreatment, 12-inch lengths of both 3/8” diameter tubes and 1/2″ diameter stainless-steel 316 tubing yielded an average areal outgassing amount of 0.64 pmol/cm2. If pretreatment is impractical, then the results may be scaled based on the tubing length necessary for constructing custom experimental equipment. It also may reabsorb 4He from the atmosphere in time. These studies also demonstrate that it is necessary to pretreat most materials prior to performing experiments where the presence of 4He is being used as an indicator for novel nuclear reactions.

Study on the wear characteristics of a 3D printed tool in flat lapping of Al2O3 ceramic materials

Widespread and popular use of ceramic products in various industry sectors necessitates the search for methods of their efficient processing. Lapping technology, which enables obtaining high dimensional and shape accuracy and high surface flatness, is one of the basic methods of finishing hard and brittle technical ceramics with a porous structure. This study analyzed the characteristics and wear value of an SLS-printed abrasive tool intended for single-sided lapping of Al2O3 technical ceramics. As earlier research demonstrated, introduction of a 3D printed lapping plate by selective laser sintering (SLS), leads to a significant development in the field of precision machining technology. This method showed not only efficient machining performance on oxide technical materials, but was also characterized by relatively low abrasive wear. Straightness errors were evaluated with the use of a least-squares method (LSQ) and minimum zone method based on control line rotation scheme (CLRS). The proposed model proved the experimental results by identifying a similar location of a higher contact density on the lapping tool, where this location is expected to be the one for bigger wear. Surface topography of the lapping tool depends on the tool wear intensity and as a consequence on its shape error. An SLS-printed lapping plate, by obtaining good technological effects, revealed its potential ability in machining hard and brittle technical ceramics.

Texture tomography, a versatile framework to study crystalline texture in 3D.

Crystallographic texture is a key organization feature of many technical and biological materials. In these materials, especially hierarchically structured ones, the preferential alignment of the nano constituents heavily influences the macroscopic behavior of the material. To study local crystallographic texture with both high spatial and angular resolution, we developed Texture Tomography (TexTOM). This approach allows the user to model the diffraction data of polycrystalline materials using the full reciprocal space of the crystal ensemble and describe the texture in each voxel via an orientation distribution function, hence it provides 3D reconstructions of the local texture by measuring the probabilities of all crystal orientations. The TexTOM approach addresses limitations associated with existing models: it correlates the intensities from several Bragg reflections, thus reducing ambiguities resulting from symmetry. Further, it yields quantitative probability distributions of local real space crystal orientations without further assumptions about the sample structure. Finally, its efficient mathematical formulation enables reconstructions faster than the time scale of the experiment. This manuscript presents the mathematical model, the inversion strategy and its current experimental implementation. We show characterizations of simulated data as well as experimental data obtained from a synthetic, inorganic model sample: the silica-witherite biomorph. TexTOM provides a versatile framework to reconstruct 3D quantitative texture information for polycrystalline samples; it opens the door for unprecedented insights into the nanostructural makeup of natural and technical materials.

Building a Strong English Civil Engineering Vocabulary

Vocabulary acquisition means the process of learning and acquiring new words and their meanings. Building a strong vocabulary is essential for effective communication, reading comprehension, and overall language proficiency. Civil engineering involves designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and buildings. To be successful in this field, it is important to have a good understanding of technical terms and concepts in English, which is the universal language of communication. Building a robust civil engineering English vocabulary is crucial for effectively communicating with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, as well as understanding complex engineering principles and procedures. One way to improve the civil engineering vocabulary is to familiarize with key technical terms and definitions. Another important aspect of building a strong civil engineering vocabulary is to study the different types of materials, tools, and techniques used in the industry. In addition to technical terminology and materials, it is also important to learn common abbreviations and acronyms, suffixes and prefixes used in civil engineering. Word formation is also a key aspect in enhancing civil engineering vocabulary. One effective way to expand the civil engineering vocabulary is to read industry publications, technical manuals, and research papers. Lastly, practice and repetition are key to building a strong civil engineering vocabulary. The present article deals with all these essential points in building a strong civil engineering English vocabulary.

BASELINE SUSCEPTABILITY AND FIRST OBSERVATION OF KNOCKDOWN RESISTANCE IN AEDES TAENIORHYNCHUS POPULATION OF ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FLORIDA.

The black saltmarsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, is a prominent nuisance mosquito within St. Johns County, Florida. Due to their characteristically large outbreaks, and the elevated amount of insecticide application correlated with the outbreaks, local populations of Ae. taeniorhynchus are at an increased risk of developing insecticide resistance. This study was established to form a baseline susceptibility of Ae. taeniorhynchus against two technical grade materials, permethrin, and chlorpyrifos. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bottle bioassays were conducted with technical-grade materials during two outbreaks in the fall of 2023. Results indicated a baseline susceptibility against the materials tested, but most notably, the phenotypic expression of knockdown resistance (kdr) was observed. Results highlight the need for continued monitoring and investigation into the resistance status and resistance level of this common Florida species.

Research on the Optimization Method of Project-Based Learning Design for Chinese Teaching Based on Interference-Tolerant Fast Convergence Zeroing Neural Network

The system known as project-based learning, which is applied to specific courses without compromising the coverage of the necessary technical material, uses projects to drive knowledge. The plan and implementation of project-based learning in Chinese teaching as a major project, which embraces undergraduate creativity and places an emphasis on real-world, open-ended projects are discussed in this paper. In this paper, research on optimization method of project-based learning design for Chinese teaching based on optimized interference-tolerant fast convergence zeroing neural network (PBLD-ITFCZNN-BRO). It consists of three stages, import phase, main stage and evaluation stage. In the initial phase, the teacher separated the students to groups before the lecture to make sure that every group poses various traits, with some strong leadership skills and hands-on skills. The second phase of the PBL procedure helped transform what is primarily a passive learning environment (taking notes, listening, and sitting) into a more dynamic, student-centered, and interactive one. Students presented data, articulated their concepts, and then optimized their approaches to problem-solving during the evaluation step. The teachers concluded by summarizing. The performance of the proposed PBLD-ITFCZNN-BRO approach contains 15.26%, 20.42% and 21.27% greater accuracy, and 15.61%, 17.50% and 20.24% greater precision rate, compared with Investigation of Computer Network Technology on New Media Problem-Basis Learning Teaching Mode (CNT-PBLTM), PBL Model Basis application on Deep Learning in Physical Education Classroom Integrating Production with Education (PBL-DL-PEC), Interdisciplinary project-based learning: experiences with reflections from teaching electronic engineering at china (PBL-EEC) techniques, respectively.

Teaching advanced topics in econometrics using introductory textbooks: The case of dynamic panel data methods

We show how to use the introductory econometrics textbook by Stock and Watson (2019) as a starting point for teaching and studying dynamic panel data methods. The materials are intended for undergraduate students taking their second econometrics course, undergraduate students in seminar-type courses, independent study courses, capstone, or thesis projects, and beginning graduate students in a research methods course. First, we distill the methodological core necessary to understand dynamic panel data methods. Second, we design an empirical and a theoretical case study to highlight the capabilities, downsides, and hazards of the method. The empirical case study is based on the cigarette demand example in Stock and Watson (2019) and illustrates that economic and methodological issues are interrelated. The theoretical case study shows how to evaluate current empirical practices from a theoretical standpoint. We designed both case studies to boost students’ confidence in working with technical material and to provide instructors with more opportunities to let students develop econometric thinking and to actively communicate with applied economists. Although we focus on Stock and Watson (2019) and the statistical software R, we also show how to modify the material for use with another introductory textbook by Wooldridge (2020) and Stata, and highlight some possible further pathways for instructors and students to reuse and extend our materials.

Artificial Intelligence – Illusions and Reality

Some aspects of the “artificial intelligence” phenomenon are considered, including possible political and economic reasons for its appearance. The directions for the development of artificial intelligence are outlined, which can bring real benefits to the state and society at the moment, first of all, the further development of digitalization of public administration and the improvement of devices to increase labor productivity. Signs are given that, according to the author, indicate the participation of a chatbot in preparing the text. To inform readers about the use of the chatbot, it is proposed to place special labels next to such texts. It has been suggested that the use of a chatbot in the preparation of scientific articles is an illusion that the lack of abilities, experience and professionalism can be replaced by technical competence and material resources, which in the future, with large-scale use, can lead to a distortion of the meaning of not only educational activities, but also to the changes in the researcher's activities.

A systematic review of the explicit knowledge used and evidence base in the process of design and fabrication of orthopedic footwear

BACKGROUND: The design and manufacturing of effective foot orthoses is a complex multidisciplinary problem involving biomedical and gait pattern aspects, technical material and geometric design elements as well as psychological and social contexts. This complexity contributes to the current trial-and-error and experience-based orthopedic footwear practice in which a major part of the expertise is implicit. This hampers knowledge transfer, reproducibility and innovation. OBJECTIVE/METHODS: A systematic review of literature has been performed to find evidence of explicit knowledge, quantitative guidelines and design motivations of pedorthists. RESULTS: 17 studies have been included. No consensus is found on which measurable parameters ensure proper foot and ankle functioning. Parameters suggested are: neutral foot positioning and control of rearfoot motion, maximum arch, but also tibial internal/external rotation as well as a three point force system. Also studies evaluating foot orthoses centering on the diagnosis or orthosis type find no clear guidelines for treatment or for measuring the effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: A gap in the translation from diagnosis to a specific, customized and quantified effective orthosis design is identified. Suggested solutions are both top-down, fitting of patient data in simulations, as well as bottom-up, quantifying current practices of pedorthists in order to develop new practical guidelines and evidence-based procedures.

APLIKASI ALAT BANTU ERGONOMIS PADA KERJA MANUAL BERDASARKAN KAJIAN ERGO-MECHANICAL UNTUK PETANI KECIL

Using traditional tools and manual work by small farmers in rural and developing areas is routine in processing agricultural land, especially planting plant seeds. This working model includes moderate to severe workload due to additional workload, namely sunlight when planting. In addition, work is carried out with non-ergonomic work postures, namely non-natural work postures. This causes musculoskeletal complaints to workers due to the non-harmonious tools with workers. Workers' productivity will decrease and have the potential to reduce the quality of life of small farmers themselves. To help the manual work of small farmers to create effective, comfortable, safe, healthy, efficient, and sustainable jobs, an ergo-mechanical application is needed to design work tools. This application is based on studies conducted on the design of work tools from several libraries or research results. The ergo-mechanical study is an integrated system that applies ergonomic and mechanical principles. The ergo-mechanical application produces ergonomic work tools that are comfortable to use by workers, and technical standards include material, product, and service requirements. Mechanically, the application through technical drawings, mechanical planning, and work tool materials to get a strong, lightweight, and safe work tool from hazardous substances, according to technical specifications. Technical standards are related to data sheets or specifications that describe the technical characteristics of a work tool. On the specifications of the work tool design, specifications can be added that the work tools are ergonomic. Ergonomic work tools can produce effective, comfortable, safe, healthy, and efficient work. This results from the compatibility between work tools and workers or the harmonious work tools with workers. Ergo-mechanical creates comfort in work that affects the increase in productivity and quality of life for workers.

A Black Fetus? Examining Social Justice in Medical Illustrations in Technical and Professional Communication (TPC) Pedagogical Materials

ABSTRACT Although the field of illustration is a major topic in technical and professional communication (TPC), social justice regarding medical illustrations is yet to be investigated. Drawing from an analysis of TPC journals, program websites, textbooks, and syllabi, this study explores how TPC could advance a social justice view on medical illustration, especially in the textbooks that we use in teaching medical and science writing courses. Not only did we find that very few medical and science writing textbooks included illustrations, but a significant number of illustrations were white. We suggest intentionality in the choice of pedagogical materials, overt discussion of social justice in the curriculum, and critical borrowing of pedagogical materials.