Unconventional Methods Research Articles

Quasi-Static and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of a Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy Produced Using Unconventional Manufacturing Methods

The purpose of this paper was to determine the mechanical properties of a Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy produced by traditional CIP (Cold Isostatic Pressing) and by LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping), an additive manufacturing process. A reference material, being a commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy, was also tested. The strength test specimens were produced from a high-quality, Grade 5 titanium powder. Each specimen had its density, porosity, and hardness determined. Compression curves were plotted for the tested materials from the strength test results with static and dynamic loads. These tests were performed on an UTS (Universal Testing Machine) and an SHPB (Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar) stand. The test results obtained led to the conclusion that the titanium alloy produced by CIP had lower strength performance parameters than its commercially-sourced counterpart. The LENS-produced specimens outperformed the commercially-sourced alloy both in static and dynamic load conditions.

THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ASSESSING THE STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

The article presents some aspects of assessing students' educational achievements formed in different educational systems. The attention was paid to the subject of assessment - students' knowledge, skills, habits, and attitudes, and it was emphasized that in many education systems the subject of checking is the same and has remained unchanged for many years. The types of assessment that have been shaped in the education system are described: formative and summative, external and intramural, intuitive and analytical, and empowering assessment, which minimizes screening and dropping out of students at different stages of education. It has been noted that in the Ukrainian education system, assessment as a pedagogical procedure has both a qualitative and quantitative context. In addition to traditional methods of assessing the knowledge and skills of students, unconventional methods are presented.The article also presents the functions of each type of assessment in the didactic and educational process. Attention is paid to the information and regulatory, motivational, and educational as well as socio-selective functions. It has been distinguished that the main functions of assessment in Ukrainian education include controlling, didactic, diagnostic-corrective, stimulating-motivating, and educational functions.Practical aspects of a given problem are included in the comparative analysis of the Polish and Ukrainian educational systems. Based on the collected data, the otherness of evaluating the pupils’ progress in the earlier stages of education is presented. The scale of assessing the students' educational achievements in education in Poland and Ukraine was described and compared. The behavior rating scale has also been compared.

Unconventional methods in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding in girls

Unconventional methods in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding in girls

Teaching English in preschool age - selection of methods and techniques

The main purpose of this article is to present methods and techniques that can be used in the process of teaching a foreign language at preschool age. The first aspects to be addressed are developmental features of children, such as mechanical memory, short attention span, emotions and physiology of brain. The following issue described in the article refers to conventional methods, such as the Direct Method and the Audiolingual Method. The third part is devoted to unconventional methods, such as the Natural Approach, CLT, the Spiral Language System, as well as methods based on action (TPR), or - observation and words. They are supported by interesting techniques that are considered key factors in the discussed topic.

Comparative characteristics of the results of surgical treatment of combined anorectal pathology using modern radiosurgical and high-frequency electrosurgical technologies

Annotation. Surgery of combined anal canal and rectal diseases requires an unconventional tactics and methods of treatment of these pathologies, which provide minimal impact on tissues, preventing postoperative complications. The purpose of the study was conduction a comparative evaluation of the results of surgical treatment of combined anorectal pathology using modern radiosurgery and electrosurgery technologies by analyzing the clinical course of the postoperative period and studying the depth of impact of these technological devices on the structure of operated tissues. The results of treatment of 635 patients with combined diseases of the anal canal and rectum, divided into four study groups, were analyzed. The control group consisted of 112 patients operated with a surgical scalpel. After surgery 30 patients from each study group underwent morphological investigation of rectal and anal tissues for measurement of the thickness of thermal impacts on them, which was performed using an eyepiece-micrometer scale. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using IBM SPSS STATISTICS SUBSCRIPTIONAL TRIAL software. License number: L-CZAA-BHG85V. The following are used in the work: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test with Lilliefors and Shapiro-Wilk correction, Levene's criterion at p<0.05; applied one-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni test; used the Welch test and the Brown-Forsyth test, the Games-Howell test; used the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney test. It is established that due to the minimal and shallow impact on the tissues during application of electrosurgery devices “KLS Martin”, “EFA” and “ERBE ICC 200”, as well as radiosurgery device “Surgitron”, there were no detected neither scar anal strictures in any of the four study groups nor scarring deformities of the pararectal areas, which contributed to the cosmetic nature of the combined operations and caused rapid rehabilitation of patients in the study groups. In the control group in 2 (1,8%) patients diagnosed the formation of scar anal stricture which required conservative (1 patient) and operative (1 patient) measures to eliminate them. Using of modern radiosurgical and electrosurgical technologies for the treatment of combined anal and rectal diseases reduces the duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain and prevents scar strictures of the anal canal.

Continuous Mapping Identifies Loci Associated With Weevil Resistance [Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar)] in a Triploid Banana Population.

The first step toward marker-assisted selection is linking the phenotypes to molecular markers through quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. While the process is straightforward in self-pollinating diploid (2x) species, QTL analysis in polyploids requires unconventional methods. In this study, we have identified markers associated with weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) resistance in bananas using 138 triploid (2n = 3x) hybrids derived from a cross between a tetraploid “Monyet” (2n = 4x) and a 2x “Kokopo” (2n = 2x) banana genotypes. The population was genotyped by Diversity Arrays Technology Sequencing (DArTSeq), resulting in 18,009 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between the two parents. Marker–trait association was carried out by continuous mapping where the adjusted trait means for the corm peripheral damage (PD) and total cross-section damage (TXD), both on the logit scale, were regressed on the marker allele frequencies. Forty-four SNPs that were associated with corm PD were identified on the chromosomes 5, 6, and 8, with 41 of them located on chromosome 6 and segregated in “Kokopo.” Eleven SNPs associated with corm total TXD were identified on chromosome 6 and segregated in “Monyet.” The additive effect of replacing one reference allele with the alternative allele was determined at each marker position. The PD QTL was confirmed using conventional QTL linkage analysis in the simplex markers segregating in “Kokopo” (AAAA × RA). We also identified 43 putative genes in the vicinity of the markers significantly associated with the two traits. The identified loci associated with resistance to weevil damage will be used in the efforts of developing molecular tools for marker-assisted breeding in bananas.

Electrospun cellulose fiber-reinforced UV-curable composites with tunable properties

The goal of a carbon-neutral economy urges the search for unconventional eco-friendly methods of manufacturing conventional materials, including functional composites. This study combines the best practices of cellulose dissolution, fiber production through electrospinning, and composite preparation to develop a facile method for preparing lightweight fiber-reinforced composites. The challenge in solution electrospinning is that the solvent must be immediately removed. We demonstrated an electrospinning method using the nonvolatile cellulose solvent ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMAc). Fiber fusion was effectively prevented through the rapid removal of the solvent. The overall process resulted in micro-sized fibers and a porous cellulose matrix, which was further impregnated to prepare polymer composites. The removal of ionic liquid (IL) and the grafting of Si for reducing the hydrophilicity were confirmed by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared, and water contact angle analyses. Finally, strong, tough fiber-reinforced composites were fabricated through impregnation using UV-curable acrylic resin. The composite samples containing 10 wt% of cellulose fibers had a 10% higher Young’s modulus, 50% greater tensile strength, and an almost 100% higher strain at break compared with neat acrylic resin. All in all it was shown that pure cellulose fiber can be readily produced in controlled environment and used for effective reinforcement of polymer matrix.

A review and future agenda for behavioral research on leader–follower interactions at different temporal scopes

SummaryScholars are increasingly embracing innovative research designs and measures to capture actual leader and/or follower behaviors in real interactions. Our systematic review of this emerging research stream and development of a research agenda seeks to move the literature further in this direction. Specifically, we aim to inspire scholars with techniques for observing, manipulating, or training actual leadership and/or followership behaviors at different temporal scopes in the laboratory or field and identify which future research areas are worth exploring. To achieve these aims, we perform a review of existing studies in this domain according to their underlying conceptual model and temporal scope. We analyze which types of leader or follower behaviors (i.e., verbal behavior, text‐based behavior, choice behavior, gaze, facial expressions, gestures, voice tone and pitch, movement cues, and unspecified nonverbal behavior) have been studied, how they have been studied (i.e., using which methodological approaches), and in which study context (i.e., laboratory or field). We distill these findings to derive six future research directions: conducting studies that connect actual and perceived leader/follower behaviors, considering temporal granularity in a nuanced manner, exploring interdependent behavioral patterns, leveraging unconventional research methods, performing multimodal behavior analyses, and conducting more studies “in the wild” (i.e., field research).

Fix the Flat: Applying the Principles of Tire Aerosol Repair to Prevent Exsanguination From a Hemorrhagic Intrahepatic Mass.

Metastatic neoplasias often require increased blood supply for proliferation. Tumors that outgrow their blood supply can undergo necrosis, leading to the formation of mass-like abscesses. Depending on the location, these lesions can form fistulas with nearby organs resulting in poor patient outcomes. Interventional operators may use unconventional methods to the benefit of patients when resolving these complex lesions. The following case describes a patient with a large right hemorrhagic intrahepatic collection and formation of a duodenal fistula, resulting in acute blood loss anemia. Although there is not a standardized treatment for this complication, we present a novel therapeutic technique that incorporates similar principles analogous to the standard canned aerosol tire repair device.

On the need for legal regulation of acupuncture practice in the Bulgarian context

In the Western world acupuncture, whose homeland is considered to be China, was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century, and since then the methods of its application have changed and adapted to the perceptions and expectations of the modern patient. The growing interest in the method presupposes the adaptation of the Bulgarian legislation to the established practice of acupuncture, in addition to the complex therapy. The aim of this article is to study and analyse the legal framework of acupuncture in Bulgarian conditions. Material and methods. Documentary-content analysis of enactments, incl. regulations, medical standards and clinical pathways, in which acupuncture is mentioned or discussed. Results. Acupuncture does not meet the definition of an unconventional method and its legal status should be reconsidered in a conventional direction. Specialists who can train and practice acupuncture are in an unnecessarily wide range. The method poses risks to human health and should be performed in accordance with the rules for good medical practice by a trained doctor (certified acupuncturist), who has undergone all levels of training in acupuncture. Conclusions. The review of the legal framework of acupuncture reveals contradictions between the separate texts in the enactments in which acupuncture is mentioned. In medicine acupuncture is imposed as a conventional method, and perhaps as more – a conventional physical factor, among other natural and reformed physical factors. To this date the practice requires a change in the legislation on this issue by removing acupuncture from the regulation for unconventional methods.

WELDABILITY OF COBALT ALLOYS BY HYBRID METHODS

The article presents the current state of the use of cobalt in various industries and its possible elimination in the field of welding. In this area, it is used in the form of cobalt alloys which are affected by various mechanical and chemical influences. These alloys are produced by the secondary metallurgical area. The primary area is the chemical industry which reserves all the use of cobalt for the production of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles at an increasing price. The primary area is the chemical industry which reserves all the use of cobalt for the production of Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles at an increasing price. As it becomes unprofitable for other areas, its savings must be sought. From the point of view of welding technology, the solution could be the use of unconventional and hybrid methods that do not require filler material for the connection of elements. Based on these aspects, the methods of a laser beam, electron beam, and combination of a laser beam with TIG method were selected. Verification of the suitability of the use of the mentioned methods was performed on the abrasion-resistant alloy Stellite 6B. The quality of the joints was evaluated by destructive methods such as microstructure, macrostructure, microhardness, and EDS. After evaluating the results of all samples, the hybrid method in the combination of a laser beam and TIG method seems to be the best.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Isoamyl Acetate by Nanoconventional Techniques

Chemical methods for the synthesis of esters require the use of high temperatures in the presence of chemical catalysts resulting in undesirable by-products. To avoid these problems the use of biocatalysis can lead to greener products. The aim of this papar is to study the synergism of enzyme catalysis with unconventional techniques suc as microwave or ultrasound assited processes. The effect of different reaction parameters, such as temperature, enzyme loading, ultrasonic amplitude and duty cycle, on the enzymatic synthesis of isoamyl acetate has been evaluated. To highlight the efficiency of unconventional techniques, experiments using conventional methods were also performed. The concetrations of isoamyl acetate obtained by unconventional methods were higher than those achieved under conventional heating, as 478 mgester/gmixture was obtained with ultrasounds in 1 h using 25g/L of enzyme loading, at 50ºC as compared to 387 mgester/gmixture by conventional methods. Mild process conditions and using green techniques (microwaves and ultrasounds) make the biocatalytic procedure a useful way to synthetise esters with application on food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

A short review on environmental impacts and application of iron ore tailings in development of sustainable eco-friendly bricks

Increased mining activity of iron ore has led to the generation of voluminous wastes of various nature, especially during the different stages of its extraction and production. The improper disposal of such waste causes negative impact on the environment. One such waste which is generated during the beneficiation process of iron ore is waste iron ore tailings, which is also termed as IOT. Further, dumping of IOT on open ground creates huge dumping sites. This dumping sites have been a concern to the environment and human population in its close vicinity. Therefore, a need to effectively use IOT has become one of the subjects of interest for many researchers. This article provides a short review of environmental problems caused due to improper disposal of IOT, and also reviews on the reuse methods of IOT in the construction sector, which helps to alleviate the environmental pollution associated with improper disposal of IOT. Furthermore, reuse of IOT in construction sector reduces the exploitation of the virgin materials for production of construction material, and thus reducing depletion of natural resources. Based on the existing literatures and findings it was observed that the use of IOT to develop stable building blocks using unconventional methods showed great potential and improved performance, when compared with conventional materials such as clay fired bricks.

Multifunctional leather surfaces coated with nanocomposites through conventional and unconventional methods

In this paper we present the results obtained by depositing the nanocomposite materials based on nano TiO2/TiO2:N, Ag, SiO2, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs), single-walled functionalized carboxylic acid, (SWCNT-COOH), poly(2,2′ bithiophene) (PBTh) and poly(dipheylamine) (PDPA) by conventional and unconventional methods on the surface of sheepskin leathers. The nanocomposite materials were integrated in film forming polymers and were applied on sheepskin leather surfaces by spraying (conventional method) or by activating the surface with cold atmospheric plasma followed by electrospraying (unconventional methods). The leather surfaces were tested for antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi according to ISO 20743: 2007. The photocatalytic properties under visible light exposure were also tested using two organic stain models (methylene blue and orange II). The stain discoloring was evaluated by measuring the color differences between the blank and the samples with DATA Color Check Plus II portable device assisted by CIELab color management software. The evaluation of the physical–mechanical resistance and comfort properties for the sheepskin leathers was determined by measuring the water vapor permeability, rubbing tests and abrasion resistance. The results showed that the sheepskin leather surfaces treated with nanocomposite materials have improved antibacterial, self-cleaning, physical–mechanical and comfort properties as compared to untreated samples, with potential applications for added value multifunctional products.

MASTERING RESEARCH SKILLS BY FUTURE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF NON-STANDARD LESSON

This study investigates the development of research skills in the course of higher education training programs for future elementary school teachers. The purpose of this article is to analyze the formation and development of the scientific and pedagogical outlook of higher education students by employing an innovative approach to traditional education. The article identifies the role of modern children’s books in the development of educational competencies by university students in the elementary education field.The authors suggest optimal methods for future teachers’ research competence development by using the material of modern children’s literature. The emphasis on the creative nature of teaching instruction and the application of learning technologies in the education process are outlined. The proposed design foundation for unconventional teaching methods is focused on generating interest in the content of the subject being taught, emphasizing creative approach to the learning exercise completion and ongoing pedagogical evaluation and research. These principles define the educational content and the teaching methods.The author underlines the importance of using the training method in the classroom for the independent assignments to activate the students’ creative potential and curiosity.The study shows how the training session in the works of modern children’s literature could contribute to the language quality and literary education improvements for future elementary school teachers.It is proposed in the article to design a system of training sessions to develop personal and professional competencies and skills required for the future elementary school teachers. The authors hope that the content of the article is of interest to all Ukrainian language students and educators of all levels from elementary to postgraduate education.
 Keywords: educational process; research skills and competence; language and literary competence; children’s literature, integration; innovation in training; training, hands-on training.

Health system efficiency in OECD countries: dynamic network DEA approach

BackgroundIn recent years, measuring and evaluating the efficiency of health systems has been explored in the context of seeking resources to ensure the sustainability of ‘countries’ health and social systems and addressing various crises in the health sector. The study aims to quantify and compare the efficiency of OECD health systems in 2000, 2008, and 2016. The contribution to research in the field of efficiency in the healthcare system can be seen in the application of Dynamic Network Data Envelopment Analysis (DNDEA), which help us to analyse not only the overall efficiency of the healthcare system but analyse the overall efficiency as the result of the efficiencies of individual interconnected areas (public and medical care area). By applying the DNDEA model, we can realise the analysis not only within one year, but we can find out if the measures and improvements taken in the healthcare sector have a positive impact on its efficiency in a later period (eight-year interval).MethodsThe analysis focuses on assessing the efficiency of the health systems of OECD countries over three periods: 2000, 2008, and 2016. Data for this study were derived from the existing OECD database, which provides aggregated data on OECD countries on a comparable basis. In this way, it was possible to compare different countries whose national health statistics may have their characteristics. The input-oriented Dynamic Network Data Envelopment Analysis model was used for data processing. The efficiency of OECD health systems has been analysed and evaluated comprehensively and also separately in two divisions: public health sub-division and medical care sub-division. The analysis combines the application of conventional and unconventional methods of measuring efficiency in the health sector.ResultsThe results for the public health sub-division, medical care sub-division and overall health system for OECD countries under the assumption of constant returns to scale indicate that the average overall efficiency was 0.8801 in 2000, 0.8807 in 2008 and 0.8472 in 2016. The results of the input-oriented model with the assumption of constant returns to scale point to the overall average efficiency of health systems at the level of 0.8693 during the period. According to the Malmquist Index results, the OECD countries improved the efficiency over the years, with performance improvements of 19% in the public health division and 8% in the medical care division.ConclusionsThe results of the study are beneficial for health policymakers to assess and compare health systems in countries and to develop strategic national and regional health plans. Similarly, the result will support the development of international benchmarks in this area. The issue of health efficiency is an intriguing one that could be usefully explored in further research. A greater focus on combining non-parametric and parametric models could produce interesting findings for further research. The consistency in the publication and updating of the data on health statistics would help us establish a greater degree of accuracy.

Experimental Investigation and Optimization of Electric Discharge Machining Process Parameters Using Grey-Fuzzy-Based Hybrid Techniques.

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) has recently been shown to be one of the most successful unconventional machining methods for meeting the requirements of today’s manufacturing sector by producing complicated curved geometries in a broad variety of contemporary engineering materials. The machining efficiency of an EDM process during hexagonal hole formation on pearlitic Spheroidal Graphite (SG) iron 450/12 grade material was examined in this study utilizing peak current (I), pulse-on time (Ton), and inter-electrode gap (IEG) as input parameters. The responses, on the other hand, were the material removal rate (MRR) and overcut. During the experimental trials, the peak current ranged from 32 to 44 A, the pulse-on duration ranged from 30–120 s, and the inter-electrode gap ranged from 0.011 to 0.014 mm. Grey relational analysis (GRA) was interwoven with a fuzzy logic method to optimize the multi-objective technique that was explored in this EDM process. The effect of changing EDM process parameter values on responses was further investigated and statistically analyzed. Additionally, a response graph and response table were produced to determine the best parametric setting based on the calculated grey-fuzzy reasoning grade (GFRG). Furthermore, predictor regression models for response characteristics and GFRG were constructed, and a confirmation test was performed using randomly chosen input parameters to validate the generated models.

The Role of Product Innovation on an Improvement of the Organization's Reputation /A Field Study in State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO)

This paper aims to verify the existence of relationships between product innovation and the reputation of the organization. The study problem is that the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) system is inflexible in terms of marketing procedures and needs innovative, unconventional methods in innovating its products and improving performance. The reputation of the organization. The importance of the study lies in that it is an attempt to raise the interest of SOMO in its approach to the research variables in order to enhance its competitive position in the future and improve the marketing business environment, which contributes to enhancing the reputation of the organization by product innovation. The study sample included 221 of SOMO employees and employees. Data and information were collected using questionnaires and personal interviews. As well as, the field presence of the researchers. The data were analyzed using the statistical program (SPSS v.24). The most prominent findings of the study showed that any change in product innovation can contribute to bringing about a change in the reputation of the organization

SOME ASPECTS OF BASIC COMPUTER TRAINING OF BACHELORS IN THE CONDITIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS AND FORMS OF TRAINING

The work is devoted to methodological problems of basic computer training of bachelors with a focus on the use of unconventional methods and forms of education.
 Unconventional methods and forms of basic computer training of future bachelors are formed under the influence of a number of factors, among which today the main ones are the introduction of a competence approach in higher education and the transition to a mixed (fulltime-distance) form of education.
 In the process of basic computer training, the information and computer and technological competences of bachelors of technical specialties can be formed on the basis of the use of traditional methods and forms of training. For the formation of procedural and activity competence, unconventional approaches are proposed, based on the use of quasi-professional tasks and the orientation to the formation of such general competencies as the ability to abstract thinking, analysis and synthesis in future bachelors; the ability to make informed decisions; ability to apply knowledge in practical situations, etc. The corresponding structure of the main discipline of basic computer training with the allocation of two modules, the main topics of each module and their approximate volumes is proposed.
 To ensure readiness for the educational process in emergency situations, it is advisable to use the adaptive full-distance learning scheme AFDLS. Regarding the basic computer training of higher education student, the main methodological issue is the determination of rational proportions of the combination of classroom and distance work in the context of certain types of educational work, establishing criteria and procedures for the transition from one form of education to another. To ensure the possibility of promptly changing the calendar plan and eliminating the need for independent study of complex material, it is proposed in the working programs of computer disciplines to allocate blocks of as small a volume as possible that are little connected with each other.

Implementation of Big Data to Develop Origin-Destination Matrix Estimation Model

Big data is a huge collection of electronic data which is currently popular to be developed in various scientific fields, including the transportation sector. Several data categories that can be used for transportation infrastructure planning are real-time location/position and timestamp of road users. This technological sophistication addresses a very crucial transportation planning problem that has been faced for many years, that is the inaccurate and unrepresentative prediction of the Origin-Destination Matrix. Up to this point, the Origin-Destination Matrix has been obtained using conventional and unconventional methods. Data was collected through manual traffic counts survey and direct interview in the study area. This results in unreliable data and inadequate sampling rates, which are only able to cover 20% of the population. In addition, the application of these techniques is expensive, time-consuming, and require a lot of human resources. Therefore, this study tries to develop a model capable of predicting the origin and destination of mobility, which in this case is represented by the sub-district boundary as a zone. As a result, an Origin-Destination Matrix can be obtained with a high degree of accuracy. The case study used is Bandung city. In the future, this research is expected to become a milestone in elaborating a validated Origin-Destination Matrix estimation model that can be used in various areas.