GAP WORK project report: training for youth practitioners on tackling gender-related violence

This project sought to challenge gender-related violence against (and by) children and young people by developing training for practitioners who have everyday contact with general populations of children and young people (‘youth practitioners’). Through improved knowledge and understanding practitioners can better identify and challenge sexist, sexualising, homophobic or controlling language and behaviour, and know when and how to refer children and young people to the most appropriate support services. This summary outlines the Project and our initial findings about the success of the four training programmes developed and piloted.Co-funded by the DAPHNE III programme of the EU

Methodologies for model-free data interpretation of civil engineering structures

Structural health monitoring (SHM) has the potential to provide quantitative and reliable data on the real condition of structures, observe the evolution of their behaviour and detect degradation This paper presents two methodologies for model-free data interpretation to identify and localize anomalous behaviour in civil engineering structures Two statistical methods based on (i) moving principal component analysis and (ii) robust regression analysis are demonstrated to be useful for damage detection during continuous static monitoring of civil structures. The methodologies are tested on numerically simulated elements with sensors for a range of noise in measurements. A comparative study with other statistical analyses demonstrates superior performance of these methods for damage detection. Approaches for accommodating outliers and missing data, which are commonly encountered in structural health monitoring for civil structures, are also proposed. To ensure that the methodologies are scalable for complex structures with many sensors, a clustering algorithm groups sensors that have strong correlations between their measurements Methodologies are then validated on two full-scale structures: The results show the ability of the methodology to identify abrupt permanent changes in behavior. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved

Measurement of dynamic deformations using a path unbalance Michelson interferometer based optical fiber sensing device

A novel demodulation technique for performing dynamic deformation measurements using a path-unbalanced Michelson interferometer is reported, The method is based on the rf amplitude modulation of a low-coherence source, and demodulation Is achieved by tracking in the frequency domain the position of the minimum of the detected intensity. This technique is particularly suitable for deformation measurements in civil engineering structures where deformations of the order of few millimeters over the sensor length are expected. The method features a measurement range of at least 10 mm, sensitivity better than 10 μm, and dynamic deformation measurements with a bandwidth up to 100 Hz

Voltammetric Study for the Determination of Diclofenac in Aqueous Solutions Using Electro-Activated Carbon Electrodes

Diclofenac (DCF) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to treat pain and inflammatory diseases. The high consumption of the drug leads to a significant change in the ecosystem. With the aim of optimizing a fast screening analysis for DCF detection on many samples with a sensitive and cheap procedure, we considered electrochemical methods using carbon-based electrodes as sensors. The electrochemical behavior of the DCF was studied on glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) and on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) from two different suppliers after an anodic activation. The surface of the SPCEs was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS). On all the activated electrodes, the voltammetric procedure (Differential Pulse Voltammetry) for the determination of DCF was optimized by the Experimental Design method, and the linearity range of the response, as well as the calibration and limit parameters (limits of detection—LoD; limit of quantification—LoQ), were defined. Analyses on SPCEs were performed both by immersing the electrode in the solution and by deposing a drop of solution on the electrode. DCF signals are stabilized by the polishing process and enhanced by the anodic activation and acid pH. The electrochemical response of DCF is not reversible, and its by-products tend to be adsorbed on the surfaces, particularly on GCE. The lowest limit parameters were obtained using the GCE (LoD = 1.6 µg L−1) and the SPCE, having the smallest surface, immersed in solution (LoD = 7 µg L−1)

Review: optical fiber sensors for civil engineering applications

Optical fiber sensor (OFS) technologies have developed rapidly over the last few decades, and various types of OFS have found practical applications in the field of civil engineering. In this paper, which is resulting from the work of the RILEM technical committee “Optical fiber sensors for civil engineering applications”, different kinds of sensing techniques, including change of light intensity, interferometry, fiber Bragg grating, adsorption measurement and distributed sensing, are briefly reviewed to introduce the basic sensing principles. Then, the applications of OFS in highway structures, building structures, geotechnical structures, pipelines as well as cables monitoring are described, with focus on sensor design, installation technique and sensor performance. It is believed that the State-of-the-Art review is helpful to engineers considering the use of OFS in their projects, and can facilitate the wider application of OFS technologies in construction industry