Drawing as a method of researching social representations

This paper explores the possibilities of drawing as a method of researching social representations. The theory of social representations focuses on studying the forms, contents, and functions of socially shared common knowledge. In this paper, we (1) present the central premises of social representations theory, (2) elaborate drawing as a visual research method, and (3) synthesize how the drawing method may promote and diversify our understanding of social representations. We suggest that the drawing method is especially fruitful in the analysis of objectification process (how something abstract is made tangible); cognitive polyphasia (the idea of the simultaneous existence of diverse and contradicting social representations); and the different levels of analysis in which social representations become observable: ontogenesis (individual level), microgenesis (social interaction level), and sociogenesis (societal level). Through these insights, this paper advances the current understanding of the drawing method in qualitative social representations research.

Sequence Graphics to Impart Drawing Skills in an Upper Extremity Anatomy Course

Background: Sequence graphics could be used to address the lacunae of drawing skill development in medical undergraduates. Objectives: The present study aimed to use sequence graphics to evaluate medical undergraduates in terms of drawing moderately complex diagrams. Methods: This pilot study was conducted on six medical students, and four moderately complex diagrams were evaluated regarding the usefulness of sequence graphics. Core and accessory components were identified before asking the students to draw the diagram. In a conventional drawing exercise, the students were asked to draw four diagrams consecutively during the dissection hour. On the next day, videos of sequence graphics were projected on the screen, and the students were asked to draw the diagrams simultaneously. Results: While using the conventional drawing method, the students took significantly more time to complete the diagram, the outcomes were not uniform, and several missing core and accessory components were detected. Using sequence graphics, all the students traced the diagrams in tandem with the projected videos. The videos would be paused and replayed an average of six times each; the mean duration of the videos was 95 seconds. The students started and ended the drawing at the same time, and immediate feedback revealed that they all agreed that sequence graphics could impart better drawing skills, thereby leading to the ease of drawing the diagrams. Conclusions: According to the results, sequence graphics resulted in uniform, centered, labelled, large diagrams with defined core and accessory components drawn in lesser time compared to conventional drawing.

Choice of a method of carbon wire drawing

At present for wire production various methods of drawing are used. To choose an effective drawing method or their combination, a methodology is needed to estimate existing and new methods of drawing. A methodology of simultaneous estimation of strain-stress state of carbon wire in the area of deformation and force conditions of drawing presented. Based on it an analysis of drawing in monolith dies, roller dies of radial-shear broach, classic two- and multi-roller dies was carried out. A module-combined method of drawing was also considered. Recommended modes of reduction for drawing in monolith dies presented. It was shown that to obtain a wire of 4.0 mm diameter max, the drawing in monolith dies is most effective. For production of wire of larger diameters, roller dies are more advisable. Application of the technology of radial-shear deformation enables to obtain a fine-grained structure in the surface layers of wire. It was shown that application of a module comprising a roller die and a monolith die is most effective. An example of drawing of a round wire from 8.0 mm diameter to 3.0 mm diameter by a route developed with their application considered. Recommendations on application of various methods of drawing for wires of diameter from 0.007 mm to 15.0 mm presented.

Pictures and a thousand words: the experiences of significant others whose loved ones have a severe brain injury who are being discharged home

Purpose: To investigate the experiences of significant others when their loved one with a severe acquired brain injury (ABI) is being discharged from an ABI-specific rehabilitation unit. Participants: Significant others of loved ones with an ABI participated in interviews close to their loved ones being discharged from inpatient ABI rehabilitation. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis applied. Additionally, the drawing method was also used which involved participants drawing what it was like for them as their loved one was going home. Image analysis was then combined with the interview data. Results: Eight significant others participated in interviews on discharge and completed a drawing describing their experience. Five themes were identified (Change, Mixed feelings, Support of family and friends, Journey and Staff interactions). Conclusion: The experience of having a loved one with a severe ABI in rehabilitation is an emotional event. Compassionate communication, consistency of information and thorough discharge planning practices were cornerstones to enhancing the experience of significant others, empowering them to undertake their new role.

Development of a resource-saving technology of production of strip-type profiles by drawing in roller dies using dummy passes

The rolling-drawing process is used in the production of a large number of shaped profiles of complex configuration, including thin-walled, strip and periodic section profiles. This process, in comparison with drawing in monolithic dies, allows to reduce energy costs by 20–40 %, to increase deformation in one pass to 40–50 %, to reduce the number of preparatory operations (heat treatment, pickling), to exclude the use of expensive lubricants for drawing. Compared to the production of profiles by the method of cold rolling, the rolling-die process has a higher technological flexibility, does not require significant capital investments when organizing the production of precise profiles. At the same time, due to the presence of tensile stresses at the edges of the profile, which can cause their destruction, the assortment of strip-type profiles produced by this method was previously limited to readymade profiles with a ratio of width to height of no more than two. The authors of this work have previously developed a technology for the production of crimped steel strip with a width-to-height ratio of more than 10 by the rolling-drawing method. However, the developed calibration provides for a large number of transitions, complicates the organization of the production of strip profiles of a wide range of sizes, especially in the production of low-tonnage batches. To decrease the number of transitions, the use of dummy paases was proposed. It was shown that this will make it possible to increase the width-to-height ratio of strip-type profiles to 20, and, accordingly, reduce the production cost. The proposed technology for the production of strip-type profiles by the method of drawing in roller dies using dummy passes will allow to comprehensively solve the problem of providing machine-building and instrument-making enterprises by especially precise profiles of a wide range of sizes.

A Drawing System for Pole Diagram and Rose Diagram of Rock Mass Structural Surface

The distribution of structural planes is complex and irregular. How to quickly and effectively obtain the occurrence and distribution characteristics of structural planes and improve the efficiency of data processing is a key technical issue in structural plane analysis. The paper combined fuzzy equivalent clustering algorithm, rose diagram drawing method, and C++ language, developed a drawing system for the pole diagram and rose diagram of rock mass structural planes, and verified the practicability of the system through an engineering case analysis. In the article, the fuzzy equivalent clustering of the occurrence of structural planes, the drawing of pole diagram, and the statistical analysis of structural planes were realized based on the fuzzy equivalent clustering algorithm. The rapid drawing of the striking rose diagram, trending rose diagram, and dip rose diagram module were realized based on the rose diagram drawing method. The system integrated the structure plane pole diagram and the occurrence rose diagram together and realized the rapid analysis and drawing of the structure plane.

Inorganic Thermoelectric Fibers: A Review of Materials, Fabrication Methods, and Applications

Thermoelectric technology can directly harvest the waste heat into electricity, which is a promising field of green and sustainable energy. In this aspect, flexible thermoelectrics (FTE) such as wearable fabrics, smart biosensing, and biomedical electronics offer a variety of applications. Since the nanofibers are one of the important constructions of FTE, inorganic thermoelectric fibers are focused on here due to their excellent thermoelectric performance and acceptable flexibility. Additionally, measurement and microstructure characterizations for various thermoelectric fibers (Bi-Sb-Te, Ag2Te, PbTe, SnSe and NaCo2O4) made by different fabrication methods, such as electrospinning, two-step anodization process, solution-phase deposition method, focused ion beam, and self-heated 3ω method, are detailed. This review further illustrates that some techniques, such as thermal drawing method, result in high performance of fiber-based thermoelectric properties, which can emerge in wearable devices and smart electronics in the near future.

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Tunnel Face Based on Multiple Images

The current geological sketch in tunnel engineering is mainly based on sketches of workers. However, geological sketch drawn by workers always offers fundamental data purely due to its drawing mode. A novel drawing method for geological sketch has been introduced using multiview photos in this process. The images of tunnel faces are taken from multiple angles, and every two pictures have overlaps. By measuring the distance between the camera and the tunnel face using a laser range finder, the photographic scale of each photo can be confirmed. SpeededUp Robust Features (SURF) is a good practice for detecting feature points, and the sparse point cloud is reconstructed from multiview photos by structure from motion (SFM). However, the sparse point cloud is not suitable for analysis for structural planes due to its sparsity. Therefore, patch-based multiview stereo (PMVS) is used to reconstruct dense point cloud from the sparse point cloud. After 3D reconstruction, the details of the tunnel face are recorded. The proposed technique was applied to multiview photos acquired in the Xiaosanxia railway tunnel and Fengjie tunnel in Chongqing, China. In order to record the geological conditions of the tunnel face quickly and accurately, Chengdu Tianyou Tunnelkey has developed a set of software and hardware integration system called CameraPad. Besides, CameraPad was used to collect the multiview photos of the tunnel face in the No. 1 Xinan railway tunnel in Jilin, China. By comparing with traditional and existing methods, the proposed method offers a more reductive model for geological conditions of the tunnel face.