I'M A visual thinker: Rethinking algorithmic education for architectural design

© 2016, The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong. The representational and visual aspects of architectural design education cause certain pedagogical stresses in student's capacities to learn how to code, and this paper will serve as a critique of the current state of algorithmic pedagogy in architectural education. The paper will suggest that algorithmic curriculum should not frame code as 'a design tool', but as something to be designed in its own right; the writing of the code is the 'design brief' itself and not something additional to an architectural design brief. The paper will argue for an architecture- less educational environment that focuses on computational competencies such as logic, loops and lists along with building a strong analytical basis for students' understanding of programming and digital geometries

Secondary implementation of interactive engagement teaching techniques: Choices and challenges in a Gulf Arab context

We report on a "Collaborative Workshop Physics" instructional strategy to deliver the first IE calculus-based physics course at Khalifa University, UAE. To these authors' knowledge, this is the first such course on the Arabian Peninsula using PER-based instruction. A brief history of general university and STEM teaching in the UAE is given. We present this secondary implementation (SI) as a case study of a novel context and use it to determine if PER-based instruction can be successfully implemented far from the cultural context of the primary developer and, if so, how might such SIs differ from SIs within the US. With these questions in view, a pre-reform baseline of MPEX, FCI, course exam and English language proficiency data are used to design a hybrid implementation of Cooperative Group Problem Solving. We find that for students with high English proficiency, normalized gain on FCI improves from = 0.16+/-0.10 pre- to = 0.47+/-0.08 post-reform, indicating successful SI. We also find that is strongly modulated by language proficiency and discuss likely causes. Regardless of language skill, problem-solving skill is also improved and course DFW rates drop from 50% to 24%. In particular, we find evidence in post-reform student interviews that prior classroom experiences, and not broader cultural expectations about education, are the more significant cause of expectations at odds with the classroom norms of well-functioning PER-based instruction. This result is evidence that PER-based innovations can be implemented across great changes in cultural context, provided that the method is thoughtfully adapted in anticipation of context and culture-specific student expectations. This case study should be valuable for future reforms at other institutions, both in the Gulf Region and developing world, facing similar challenges involving SI of PER-based instruction outside the US.Comment: v1: 28 pages, 9 figures. v2: 19 pages, 6 figures, includes major reorganization and revisions based on anonymous peer review. v3: 19 pages, 6 figures, minor revisions based on anonymous peer revie

ANN-Based Failure Modeling of T-56 Engine Turbines

The T-56 turboprop engine is one of the most widely used in military transportation aircraft. It operates virtually everywhere, from the arctic circle to the Sahara. Operation in desert conditions, however, presents a challenge for maintenance engineers regarding preventive maintenance scheduling. Erosion caused by sand particles drastically decreases turbine blades life. Recent studies showed that Artificial Neural Network ANN algorithms have much better capability at modeling reliability and predicting failure than conventional algorithms. In this study, more than thirty years of local operational field data were used for failure rate prediction and validation using several algorithms. These include Weibull regression modeling to establish a reference, feed-forward back-propagation ANN, and radial basis neural network algorithm. Comparison between the three methods is carried out. Results show that the failure rate predicted by both the feed-forward back-propagation artificial neural network model and radial basis neural network model are closer to actual failure data than the failure rate predicted by the Weibull model. The results also give an insight into the reliability of the engine turbine under actual operating conditions, which can be used by aircraft operators for assessing system and component failures and customizing the maintenance programs recommended by the manufacturer

Simulation of Transonic Compressor Performance Deterioration Due to Sand Erosion

Air sand erosion is a widely effecting phenomenon in GCC region, where a solid particle impacting on a wall surface causing catastrophic mechanical damage, the engine compressor operating in a particulate environment are subjected to deterioration of performance and life due to sand ingestion. In current paper we simulate and studied the sand erosion in such transonic compressors were flow rate, particle size and concentration were investigated to study particles distribution and erosion rate along the compressor blade. Result shows that particles concentration has the most significant effect on blade erosion rate where particles size has less effect among all other measured parameters. Surface deformation and roughness is in scope for further investigation

Clinical Characteristics of TMJD in a Kuwaiti Population

Poremećaji temporomandibularnih zglobova manifestiraju se znacima i simptomima koji ne zahvaćaju samo čeljusne zglobove nego i žvačnu muskulaturu i okolna tkiva. Najčešći znaci i simptomi jesu: bol u zglobovima i mišićima, poremećaji mandibularnih kretnji, zvučne senzacije, hipertrofija žvačnih mišića, glavobolja i vrtoglavica. Ranija su istraživanja pokazala da 70% stanovniπtva ima bar jedan znak ili simptom poremećaja temporomandibularnih zglobova. No to je klinički potvrđeno kod samo 38% slučajeva (Mc Neill 1993, Nouralach H et al 1998). U naše istraživanje uključili smo 144 pacijenta s poremećajima u području temporomandibularnih zglobova (102 žene i 42 muškarca). Pacijenti su bili podijeljeni u dvije skupine: lokalno stanovništvo (60,4%) i stranci (39,6%). Od ukupnoga broja pacijenata šezdeset četiri postotka žalilo se na smetnje pri otvaranju usta. No klinički je potvrđeno da takve smetnje ima samo 37,5% naših slučajeva. Zvučne senzacije bile su čest nalaz, koji je klinički potvrđen kao škljocanje u 88% slučajeva i kao krepoitacije u 11,2% pacijenata. Razmjerno mali broj pacijenata imao je bruksizam (12,5%), a artritis 11,1%. Mi smo također utvrdili da je glavobolja u oboljelih ispitanika bila čest klinički simptom (50,2%). Glavni znaci i simptomi poremećaja temporomandibularnih zglobova utvrđeni su u objema skupinama ispitanika. Žene su se češće žalile na bol u zglobu, zvučne senzacije i glavobolju nego muškarci. Lokalno stanovništvo je češće bolovalo od poremećaja temporomandibularnih zglobova nego stranci.Different signs and symptoms both in TMJ itself and masticator muscles and surrounding tissues clinically manifest temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD). The most common signs and symptoms are muscles and joint pain, mandibular movement disturbance, sound sensations, masticator muscle hypertrophy, headache and dizziness. Previous investigations revealed that 70% of the population complain of having at least one of these signs and symptoms, of which 38% have been clinically proved (Mc Neill 1993, Nouralach H et al 1998). Patients and Methods: TMJD was investigated in 144 patients (female = 102, male = 42). Patients were devided into two groups: local inhabitants (60.4%) and expatriates (39.6%). Sixty-four and half percent (64.5%) of our patients complained of having mouth opening disturbance, which was clinically confirmed in only 37.5% of cases. Sound sensation was a very common sign, clinically confirned as a click in 88% and as crepitation in 11.2%. A relatively small number of patients had bruxism (12.5%), and arthritis (11.1%). We also found headache as a common clinical symptom (50.2%). The main common signs and symptoms of TMJD were positive in both local and expatriate inhabitants. Females suffered more frequently than males, complaining of pain, sound sensation and headache. Local inhabitants had more frequent TMJD

Large Negative Poisson\u27s Ratio and Anisotropic Mechanics in New Penta-PBN Monolayer

The scarce negative Poisson\u27s ratio (NPR) in a two-dimensional (2D) material is an exceptional auxetic property that offers an opportunity to develop nanoscale futuristic multi-functional devices and has been drawing extensive research interest. Inspired by the buckled pentagonal iso-structures that often expose NPR, we employ state-of-the-art first-principles density functional theory calculations and analyses to predict a new 2D metallic ternary auxetic penta-phosphorus boron nitride (p-PBN) with a high value of NPR. The new p-PBN is stable structurally, mechanically, and dynamically and sustainable at room temperature, with experimental feasibility. The short and strong quasi sp3-hybridized B-N bond and unique bond variation and geometrical reconstruction with an applied strain allow p-PBN to inherit a high value of NPR (-0.236) along the (010) direction, the highest among any other ternary penta iso-structures reported to date. Despite having a small elastic strength, the highly asymmetric Young\u27s modulus and Poisson\u27s ratio along the (100) and (010) directions indicate large anisotropic mechanics, which are crucial for potential applications in nanomechanics and nanoauxetics

On Nucleon Electromagnetic Form Factors: A Pre'cis

Electron scattering at large Q^2 probes a nucleon's quark core. This core's contribution to electromagnetic form factors may be calculated using Poincare' covariant Faddeev amplitudes combined with a nucleon-photon vertex that automatically fulfills a Ward-Takahashi identity for on-shell nucleons. The calculated behaviour of G_E^p(Q^2)/G_M^p(Q^2) on 2<Q^2(GeV^2)<6 agrees with that inferred from polarisation transfer data, and exhibits a zero at Q^2\approx 6.5 GeV^2. There is some evidence that F_2(Q^2)/F_1(Q^2) \propto [\ln(Q^2/\Lambda^2)]^2/Q^2 for Q^2>6 GeV^2.Comment: Contribution to the proceedings of "Baryons 04," the 10th International Conference on the Structure of Baryons, 25-29/Oct./04, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau; 5 pages, 3 figure

THE APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICAL FIELD DISTRIBUTION IN THE SETUP OF PAPER INSULATED ELECTRODES IN OIL

Article presents the problem of the approach to the analysis of electrical field distribution in the model insulating system, which, in the author's experimental research, was used to the assessment of the influence of paper insulation on the mechanism of electrical discharge initiation in mineral oil. The main assumptions of the planned numerical works based on the finite element method were described and scientific aim of the numerical analysis were characterized in this paper. Both the assumptions and the scientific aim were related to the conclusions from the experimental works, especially to the measured times to initiation of the discharges developing in mineral transformer oil, indicating on the important role of the oil quality in the process of discharge initiation in the system of the insulated by paper electrodes immersed in oil

Measurement and ab initio Investigation of Structural, Electronic, Optical, and Mechanical Properties of Sputtered Aluminum Nitride Thin Films

We report our results on highly textured aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films deposited on glass substrates, oriented along the c-axis, using DC-magnetron sputtering technique for different values of back pressure. The structural, electronic, optical, piezoelectric, dielectric, and elastic properties of sputtered AlN thin films are measured and characterized. In particular, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) technique shows that AlN thin films exhibit a hexagonal structure. Moreover, we employed ab initio simulations of AlN using the Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package (VASP) to investigate the structural and the electronic properties of hexagonal AlN structures. The experimental lattice parameters of the as-prepared thin films agree well with those calculated using the total energy minimization approach. The optical parameters of AlN thin films, such as transmittance and refractive index, were measured using UV–vis measurements. Our measurements of refractive index, n, of AlN thin films yield a value of 2.2. Furthermore, the elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric tensors of AlN crystal are calculated using VASP. The dynamical Born effective charge tensor is reported for all atoms in the unit cell of AlN. Interestingly, ab initio simulations indicate that AlN has a static dielectric constant approximately equal to 4.68, which is in good agreement with the reported experimental value. In addition, the clamped-ion piezoelectric tensor is calculated. The diagonal components of the piezoelectric tensor are found to be e33=1.79 C/m2 and e31=−0.80 C/m2. The large values of the piezoelectric coefficients show that a polar AlN crystal exhibits a strong microwave piezoelectric effect. Additionally, the components of the elastic moduli tensor are calculated. The extraordinary electronic, optical, piezoelectric, and elastic properties make AlN thin films potential candidates for several optoelectronic, elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric applications

Determination of two-photon exchange amplitudes from elastic electron-proton scattering data

Using the available cross section and polarization data for elastic electron-proton scattering, we provide an extraction of the two-photon exchange amplitudes at a common value of four-momentum transfer, around Q^2 = 2.5 GeV^2. This analysis also predicts the e^+ p / e^- p elastic scattering cross section ratio, which will be measured by forthcoming experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, updated error analysi