Forensics and Case Studies in Civil Engineering Education: State of the Art

This paper reviews the state of the art in the use of forensic engineering and failure case studies in civil engineering education. The study of engineering failures can offer students valuable insights into associated technical, ethical, and professional issues. Lessons learned from failures have substantially affected civil engineering practice. For the student, study of these cases can help place design and analysis procedures into historical context and reinforce the necessity of lifelong learning. Three approaches for bringing forensics and failure case studies into the civil engineering curriculum are discussed in this paper. These are stand-alone forensic engineering or failure case study courses, capstone design projects, and integration of case studies into the curriculum. Some of the cases have been developed and used in courses at the United States Military Academy and the Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, as well as at other institutions. Finally, the writers have tried to assemble many of the known sources of material, including books, technical papers, and magazine articles, videos, Web sites, prepared PowerPoint presentations, and television programs

Raccolta dati su alcuni nuovi materiali di impiego nel settore elettrico e elettronico

Questa tesi ha come scopo quello di fare una rassegna dei materiali di recente sviluppo nel settore elettrico ed elettronico, descrivendone le proprietà, lo sviluppo storico, le applicazioni attuali e anche quelle possibili in futuro che attualmente sono solo in fase di sperimentazione. Limitandosi all’illustrazione delle caratteristiche e dei campi di applicazione dei vari materiali, senza entrare nel dettaglio dei metodi costruttivi né sulle tecniche di ricerca attuali, questa tesi vuole descrivere la situazione dello stato attuale dei materiali elettromagnetici e dei loro differenti utilizzi

(Re)connect social and environmental responsibility to learners’ living environments: Curriculum challenges and possible solutions for teaching-learning in Life Orientation

An analysis of the National Curriculum Statement indicates a strong focus on the promotion of knowledge in local context, whilst being sensitive to global imperatives. This implies that learning experiences must reflect local realities first; a call which compels teachers to adapt their teaching with the purpose to make learning relevant and meaningful for the learner. It is therefore an appropriate time to ask the key question: Do Life Orientation teachers (re)connect their teaching-learning on social and environmental responsibility with learners’ living environments to adhere to curriculum requirements of relevance and meaningfulness? The qualitative data obtained from 13 structured classroom observations, with specific reference to the topic social and environmental responsibility, revealed that Life Orientation teachers experienced challenges. Based on these qualitative findings the researchers propose place-based education as an appropriate teaching-learning strategy to (re)connect social and environmental responsibility with the learner’s living environment

An Application of Direct-Sequency Spread-Spectrum Ultrasonic to Global Inspection of Bridge Components

Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum Ultrasonic Evaluation (DSSSUE) offers solutions to unsolved inspection problems. A “better mouse-trap”, i.e., an improvement in technology that offers an alternative solution to problems that already have adequate solutions, generally does not make it in the market place for economic reasons. We cannot over-emphasize this aspect of the technology as there must be a clear perception of “new technology” and that the new technology is automatically economical, because it offer solutions were none existed before. DSSSUE incorporates a correlation receiver. The correlation peak to correlation noise floor effectively determines the “dynamic range” of the system and, therefore, its sensitivity. The sensitivity of DSSSUE is essentially limited by the cost of the technological implementation (memory and quantization levels) and processing time (length of correlation sequence). This results in a new technology that can be made extremely sensitive to changes in a test object, is operable over a broad range of frequencies, and is adaptable to a large number of inspection scenarios, including bridge components

Changing Behaviour towards Aerobic and Strength Exercise (BASE): Design of a randomised, phase I study determining the safety, feasibility and consumer-evaluation of a remotely-delivered exercise programme in persons with multiple sclerosis

Background Multiple sclerosis is a chronic progressive neurological disease. Evidence attests to the benefits of exercise, guidelines for exercise in multiple sclerosis are available. Remote-delivery of exercise adherence programmes based on the exercise guidelines require urgent testing. Aims The design, and outcomes of Behaviour towards Aerobic and Strength Exercise in MS (BASE-MS), a remotely-delivered exercise training study based principles of behaviour change, will further evaluate the remote-delivery of the current exercise guidelines. Methods BASE is a 4-month clinically relevant randomised controlled trial to explore the delivery of a remotely supervised, guidelines-based exercise programme for persons with multiple sclerosis, underpinned by principles of health behaviour change. Initially, 72 persons with mild to moderate multiple sclerosis will be randomised in a 1:1:1 allocation to receive the BASE programme, or act as controls continuing usual care. On programme completion, exercise participants will be further randomised to an optimised adherence treatment or usual adherence. Our online survey assesses the primary outcome of exercise participation, and secondary outcomes of symptoms, and correlates of behaviour change at baseline, month four, month five and month eleven. Online surveys will capture coach and participant feedback to identify the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of BASE implementation. Conclusions The research and clinical landscape for MS management must remain in-step with public health and health communication. BASE tests the remote-delivery of the current exercise guidelines for exercise in persons with MS. Safety, feasibility and evaluative outcomes will provide rich data for future remote-delivery of exercise in neurological conditions