High School Graphics Experience Influencing the Self-Efficacy of First-Year Engineering Students in an Introductory Engineering Graphics Course

Today's students enter engineering colleges with different technical backgrounds and prior graphics experience. This may due to their high school of provenience, which can be technical or non-technical. The prior experience affects students’ ability in learning and hence their motivation and self-efficacy beliefs. This study intended to evaluate the role of prior high school graphics experience in first-year engineering students' self-efficacy beliefs in an introductory engineering graphics course. It also intended to evaluate the relationship between such freshmen's self-efficacy beliefs and their performance. Two assessment instruments were used in this study. The first is the eight-item Course Interest Survey (CIS) Confidence subscale, which was used to assess self-efficacy beliefs. The second is a multiple choice questionnaire designed on the course topics, which was used to assess performance. Ninety-nine students of the University of Brescia (Italy) participated in the experiment. Significant differences in self-efficacy were found between engineering freshmen from the technical high school versus engineering freshmen from the non-technical high school. A significant relationship between self-efficacy and performance was found only for engineering freshmen from the technical high school

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

La corte del mito: Gambara antico feudo della Bassa

Ampio excursus sulla storia di Gambara e della famiglia nel territorio bresciano

3D scanning and geometry processing techniques for customised hand orthotics: an experimental assessment

In the field of rehabilitation, the 3D scanning of body parts can be considered a crucial starting point for subsequent 3D model design of customised devices, especially when additive manufacturing techniques are involved in their production. This study experimentally evaluates and identifies appropriate procedures to acquire and process 3D anatomic images of the hand, including fingers, for the design of customised orthoses. Hand scanning is a complex activity and requires solutions capable of solving problematic aspects, such as the difficulty in maintaining the hand in a steady position and the presence of motion artefacts due to involuntary movements. We addressed such issues by considering the use of two different kinds of optical scanning device. The acquisition process has been initially defined based on healthy subjects and then extended to patients affected by pathologies that compromise upper limb functionality. Quality anatomical models were produced thanks to the application of advanced geometry processing technologies for the automated alignment of multiple scans and the removal of artefacts due to involuntary movements. As a result, with distinctive pros and cons, both the proposed combinations of scanning procedures and dedicated geometry processing evidenced their suitability in producing complete and accurate enough 3D models to be exploited for the subsequent design and production of customised hand orthoses in a typical reverse engineering pipeline

DESIGN OF A FACILITY TO HOST MICRO-ORGANISMEXPERIMENT IN SPACE

The current state of the space journeys offers the possibility of executing experiments in orbit in order to use the microgravity environment for scientific investigations. In the world of the space programs both American and European agencies offer the possibility of disposing of spaces arranged to accommodate some sets of scientific experiments. Several research activities are developing on the possibility of disposing of such spaces. The ESA (European Space Agency) is developing a new kind of Facility to be put at disposal of the international scientific community. Such Facility will be constituted, in synthesis, by a system of two centrifuge each containing 4 sites with suitable interfaces for experiments. This will allow to realise any gravity condition, between zero and the terrestrial gravity, or to execute comparative tests. The Facility offers a reduced space (about 60x60x100mm) for every scientific experiment. The abstract describes the study and the preliminary design of an equipment to be stored in this space, which executes the operations of cultivation (feeding, washing Etc..). of a series of samples of colonies of basic organisms

STUDY & DESIGN OF A SPECIAL TEST BENCH FOR HYDROSTATIC SPINDLE HOUSINGS

This paper deals with the study, design, manufacturing & testing of a particular scientific instrument, functional to investigate hydrostatic bushing behaviour under various experimental conditions. The job was conducted in concurrence with one of the leading companies in rotary transfer machines business. These machines are characterized by being turnkey solutions for the machining of parts requiring multi-sided machining processes and precision turning operations, starting from blanks or bar stock, for medium or high volume batch sizes. Typical rotary transfer architecture relies on a rotary table turret, where pieces to be machined are placed, rotating from one “station” to another. Each station has a particular process. Transfer machines are designed for a wide range of applications while production rate is as maximum up to 12.000 pieces/hour, with complete retooling in less than 1h. It must be understood that in a typical application, each station can comprise 2-3 machining “units” with their own spindle and its translating housing. For standardization purposes, there are a limited number of possible basic designs in machining “units”, subsequently each of them is accessorized to be functional to its target operation. Among them, one of the most prestigious is the hydrostatic unit, in which spindle assembly is contained in a sliding tube supported by a set of hydrostatic bushings. In this paper we will detail the design of a “research & test” bench whose aim is to help in developing new hydrostatic bushing systems and check production units, for quality issues

3D Scanning For Hand Orthotic Applications: A Comparative Assessment Between Static And Real-Time Solutions

The personalization of medical devices has made considerable progress in recent years. In the orthopedic field, following a typical reverse engineering approach, 3D scanning of anatomical regions of interest is the starting point for various kind of customized manufacturing, followed by the design of the device and its fabrication, particularly with additive manufacturing techniques. In this context, particularly challenging issues emerge from the customization of hand orthotic devices. The present work focuses on the identification and comparison of suitable scanning procedures in order to acquire accurate hand and fingers 3D models. Two different types of structured light scanners (static and real-time) were compared and several configuration of the hand were studied and acquired, allowing to evidence strength and weakness of the various approaches, while keeping in consideration the target application. In particular, the issues related to the presence of involuntary movements during acquisition are considered and possible solving approaches indicated

Technical Drawing Learning Tool-Level 2: An interactive self-learning tool for teaching manufacturing dimensioning

This work presents an interactive self-learning tool named Technical Drawing Learning Tool-Level 2\u2014TDLT-L2\u2014for teaching manufacturing dimensioning to engineering students. The tool was designed for the students enrolled in the first year of the Bachelor in Management and Mechanical Engineering of the Universities of Brescia and Udine. It consists of a simple interactive tool, based on video and drawing animations, aimed at demonstrating the connection between real and simple machining processes and workpiece dimensions on technical drawing. TDLT-L2 is currently available in two versions: as a standalone application for Windows or Android based operating systems and as a set of interactive PDF documents. It was conceived as the first module of a package of tools that will be developed, based on the learning levels proposed in the Technical Drawing Evaluation Grid\u2014TDEG. A preliminary evaluation of TDLT-L2 effectiveness was done involving the Management and Mechanical engineering students of Udine in some dimensioning exercises. The statistically considerations done on the obtained results confirmed the validity of the tool as a self-learning instrument with an average increase of marks of about 8.8%. \ua9 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 24:519\u2013528, 2016; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21728. \ua9 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc