A Literature Review On the Use of Bamboo as A Truss Member and Fiber-Reinforced Polymer as A Truss Jointing Material

A truss is a structure that has a rigid configuration formed by an assembly of straight members connected by pins. Many roofing systems use trusses, but the wide variety of truss configurations in architecture is an advantage to creating vast arrays of aesthetics in buildings. Steel, mainly plain carbon steel designated A36, is the most used material for truss members and joint connectors. However, these members are both heavy and non-sustainable, so several kinds of literature recommend studying the potential of using lightweight and sustainable alternatives. This review focuses on using bamboo in truss and the potential of fiber-reinforced composite as a truss joint connector. Bamboo culms and glued-laminated bamboo (glubam) are the two types of bamboo commonly used in truss fabrication based on the review. Bamboo culms from Dendrocalamus asper exhibit a tensile strength of 340 MPa, while the glubam made of Yushania alpina has 364 MPa. Other mechanical properties of bamboo necessary for the truss analysis are not yet clearly defined, although studies used ASTM D143-09 to determine several mechanical properties of bamboo or glubam. Fiber-reinforced composite can exhibit an enormous array of varieties and still demonstrate a strength close to or even higher than steel. It is lightweight and can reach a tensile strength of 700 MPa. The researcher recommends synthesizing bamboo or glubam as truss members and fiber-reinforced composite as truss joint connectors

A Literature Review On the Use of Bamboo as A Truss Member and Fiber-Reinforced Polymer as A Truss Jointing Material

A truss is a structure that has a rigid configuration formed by an assembly of straight members connected by pins. Many roofing systems use trusses, but the wide variety of truss configurations in architecture is an advantage to creating vast arrays of aesthetics in buildings. Steel, mainly plain carbon steel designated A36, is the most used material for truss members and joint connectors. However, these members are both heavy and non-sustainable, so several kinds of literature recommend studying the potential of using lightweight and sustainable alternatives. This review focuses on using bamboo in truss and the potential of fiber-reinforced composite as a truss joint connector. Bamboo culms and glued-laminated bamboo (glubam) are the two types of bamboo commonly used in truss fabrication based on the review. Bamboo culms from Dendrocalamus asper exhibit a tensile strength of 340 MPa, while the glubam made of Yushania alpina has 364 MPa. Other mechanical properties of bamboo necessary for the truss analysis are not yet clearly defined, although studies used ASTM D143-09 to determine several mechanical properties of bamboo or glubam. Fiber-reinforced composite can exhibit an enormous array of varieties and still demonstrate a strength close to or even higher than steel. It is lightweight and can reach a tensile strength of 700 MPa. The researcher recommends synthesizing bamboo or glubam as truss members and fiber-reinforced composite as truss joint connectors

SITUATIONAL FACTORS: BASES FOR IMPROVING THE ATTITUDE AND MOTIVATION OF ESL LEARNERS’ SPEAKING SKILLS IN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS

This paper highlights the importance of enhancing the speaking skills among ESL freshmen in the College of Arts and Letters of Bulacan State University. The respondents in this study were Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication Major in Broadcasting Sections A to D. Although this course requires oral communication proficiency for global competitiveness, only a few students participate actively in classroom discussions. Many of them lag behind in terms of speaking skills. The ability to speak English has become the norm in the country and around the world. Graduates who possess such a skill can have better opportunities locally or internationally compared with those who cannot speak fluently. Hence, the researchers looked into the role of attitude and motivation in enhancing speaking skills among the respondents in terms of the following: demographics, the attitude of students toward English, situational factors affecting the attitude of students toward English, the motivation of students in learning English, and students’ beliefs about learning English. The research instrument was administered to the respondents via Google Forms. The 32-item questionnaire was designed to determine the attitudes and motivation of ESL students toward learning English. Each of the respondents was scored from 1-5 on a Likert Scale. Through the use of the Pearson Correlation Coefficient, Fisher Z-test, and P-Value in testing the hypotheses, data were analyzed and interpreted. The Likert Scales show the participants had an incredibly positive attitude and behavior toward English in general. Among all motivation items, the top factors affecting students to learn more in English are the Student’s Practical Purpose, Correction of the Teacher during Class, Communication Focused Class Activities, and Positive Atmosphere during class. Based on the findings of the study, language teachers should take advantage of motivation to foster a positive attitude among the students when it comes to speaking skills through the use of authentic materials such as audio, video, printed, and softcopies. Factors such as activities, environment, and teachers’ attitudes should be the point of reference in determining which learning materials work best in enhancing the speaking skills of the students.  Article visualizations

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Waste as Partial Aggregate and Reinforcement in Reinforced Concrete: A Review

Plastic disposal is now a significant problem for the sustainability of the environment. And, viewing the engineering properties of plastics (e.g., lightweight, flexible, strong, moisture-resistant, and cheap) opens the possibility of using them as a structural material. Over the decade, many researchers have studied using plastics as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete or as an additive. Besides, past experimental results have shown that adding plastic waste in concrete will alter the concrete's mechanical and durability properties. However, such concrete can still fulfill engineering properties and be used in other structures with low strength requirements. This research intends to try other possibilities of using plastic waste as partial aggregate and reinforcement in reinforced concrete. Therefore, it is proposed that researchers look into the effects of plastic particles in concrete on the environment and their durability over time due to its deterioration. It recommends surface treatment of plastics waste using appropriate chemicals

Door-to-Door Culture of Commuters: Its Impact on the Road Carrying Capacity

Barriers to exchange of goods and ideas have shrunk because of technology. Mobility is one of the greatest contributions of industrialization and urbanization. This has also changed the lifestyle of millions of people. The vision of seamless travel has been a byword in regional and urban planning. Providing intermodal facilities has become the top priority of the private and public sector. The concept of door to door, from home to work to places of recreation and other social activities should provide accurate, safe and comfortable travel for commuters. This concept is directed in long distance travel. However, the concept of door to door journey for commuters in the City of Manila specifically in the District of Sta. Mesa took a different epithet. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines was used as a model on how people would literally go out of a building and hop on a tricycle to go to another destination even when the distance is less than a kilometer. The paper investigates on the choices of the commuters specifically of the students, faculty, and staff of this university. It looks into how this phenomenon affects the carrying capacity of the road and explores complimentary and supplementary existence of this transport phenomena of door to door culture of the pedestrian in this case, the PUP community and the constituents of the District of Sta. Mesa, Manila

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Waste as Partial Aggregate and Reinforcement in Reinforced Concrete: A Review

Plastic disposal is now a significant problem for the sustainability of the environment. And, viewing the engineering properties of plastics (e.g., lightweight, flexible, strong, moisture-resistant, and cheap) opens the possibility of using them as a structural material. Over the decade, many researchers have studied using plastics as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete or as an additive. Besides, past experimental results have shown that adding plastic waste in concrete will alter the concrete's mechanical and durability properties. However, such concrete can still fulfill engineering properties and be used in other structures with low strength requirements. This research intends to try other possibilities of using plastic waste as partial aggregate and reinforcement in reinforced concrete. Therefore, it is proposed that researchers look into the effects of plastic particles in concrete on the environment and their durability over time due to its deterioration. It recommends surface treatment of plastics waste using appropriate chemicals

Making Connections: A Metacognitive Teaching Strategy in Enhancing Students’ Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension skill is crucial for success beyond academic endeavor. However, even academic success can never be possible when a student does not understand the importance of developing good reading comprehension. Using one-group pretest–posttest research design, the study explored the effect of making connections as a metacognitive teaching strategy to enhance the students’ reading comprehension. Purposively selected college students were given assessments and intervention. Based on the data gathered from the pretest and posttest, findings revealed that application of metacognitive teaching strategy, making connections has a positive effect on enhancing the students’ level of reading comprehension as indicated by an increase from average to very high level. The six levels of reading comprehension which were the literal, inferential, appreciative, critique, and evaluative also showed improvement. Results of the Metacognitive Awareness Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) indicated that students were unconsciously using Global reading, Problem-solving, and Support reading strategies. Focus group discussion revealed factors that affect the reading comprehension such as interest, teaching styles, and language. The study suggested the important role that educators play in maximizing the benefits of making connections and making use of any other metacognitive strategy towards developing higher level of comprehension leading to academic success

Climate change effects on northern Spanish grassland-based dairy livestock systems

Background Understanding the effects of climate change on agro-ecosystems is fundamental in order to select the optimum management practices to mitigate environmental pressures. There is a need to forecast greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions of grassland systems under climate change scenarios whilst also accounting for SOC sequestration. The objective of this study is to assess the net GHG emissions over > 405,000 hectares (ha) of moist temperate Northern Spanish grasslands utilised for dairy production, under climate change conditions (i.e., RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5), compared to a reference baseline scenario. It is hypothesised that net GHG will increase under climate change conditions and that implementing specific manure management practices (namely the anaerobic digestion (AD)) may mitigate the global warming effect. Methods We used an integrated modelling framework comprising: (i) geographic information systems (GIS); (ii) a modified RothC version to simulate SOC changes in managed grasslands under moist temperate conditions; and (iii) Tier 2 recent IPCC methods to estimate GHG emissions. Results Average net GHG emissions contributed to global warming potential with average emissions of 5.8 and 6.2 Mg CO2-e ha−1 year−1, under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. Anaerobic digestion allowed net GHG under both climate change scenarios to equal net GHG under the baseline reference scenario. Conclusion Under climate change conditions, implementing specific manure management practices, namely AD, will likely reduce the net GHG emissions of the grassland systems associated with dairy production in Northern Spain