Recommendations for mitigating information disclosure from point of sale devices in South Africa

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Reflective learning in engineering education : a case study of Shell Eco- Marathon

Abstract: Globally, universities are reinventing STEM education where traditional classroom methods are substituted or supplemented with practical learning methods such as problem-based learning and project-based learning. Another method, not often employed in STEM, is learning through reflection. This paper presents a case study where a group of engineering students participated in an international competition, the Shell Eco-Marathon, and partook in reflective learning before and after the event. The results indicate that students who learn through reflection value the inclusion of project-based learning in their curricula, which emphasizes the importance of this study for the future of engineering education

A reverse order life cycle approach to enhance systems engineering education at undergraduate level

Abstract: The advances of Industry 4.0 lead the transition into the era of complex systems, requiring systems solutions for complex problems, increasing the interest in the development of systems engineers. However, traditional systems thinking may lose its effectiveness in this new context, which leads to a challenge in systems engineering education. This research aims to better prepare systems engineers of the future by addressing the disconnect which exist between systems engineering education at undergraduate level, and the real-life complex systems seen in society today though the implementation of a reverse order life cycle approach. By following the reverse order life cycle approach with a familiar electrical appliance, such as the electric kettle, in the classroom, undergraduate systems engineering students were able to gain the necessary insight and understanding regarding the dynamics of complex systems the underlying systems engineering concepts

A reverse order life cycle approach to enhance systems engineering education at undergraduate level

The advances of Industry 4.0 lead the transition into the era of complex systems, requiring systems solutions for complex problems, increasing the interest in the development of systems engineers. However, traditional systems thinking may lose its effectiveness in this new context, which leads to a challenge in systems engineering education. This research aims to better prepare systems engineers of the future by addressing the disconnect which exist between systems engineering education at undergraduate level, and the real-life complex systems seen in society today though the implementation of a reverse order life cycle approach. By following the reverse order life cycle approach with a familiar electrical appliance, such as the electric kettle, in the classroom, undergraduate systems engineering students were able to gain the necessary insight and understanding regarding the dynamics of complex systems the underlying systems engineering concepts.Institute for Science and Technology Education (ISTE

Towards a cyberterrorism life-cycle (CLC) model

Cyberterrorism has emerged as a new threat in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) landscape. The ease of use, affordability, remote capabilities and access to critical targets makes cyberterrorism a potential threat to cause wide-scale damage. Cyberterrorism is often incorrectly perceived as encompassing all cybercrimes. However, cyberterrorism differs from cybercrime in various ways including motivation, attack goals, techniques and effects. Motivations for cyberterrorism, which is similar to terrorism in general, stem from religious, social and political views. Cyberterrorists generally would seek to have high impact in order to gain publicity for their cause, whereas cybercriminals often prefer to have their acts undetected in order to hide their financial theft, fraud or espionage. Therefore, there are various factors that drive the development of a cyberterrorist. This paper proposes a model for the development of cyberterrorism in order to show the various influential forces. The Cyberterrorism Life-Cycle (CLC) model presented in this paper is composed of five phases: Prepare, Acquaint, Choose, Execute, and Deter (PACED). In addition the paper looks at various factors, including social, practices, objectives, targets and countermeasures, which are mapped onto the PACED phases in order to show the interaction and dynamic nature during the life-cycle development

Security threats and measures on multifunctional devices

Abstract: Multifunctional devices are employed in office networks for functionality and comfort, most often considered only as peripheral devices enabling the printing, copying and scanning of documents. Based on a study performed by InfoTrends in 2013 in the USA and Western Europe, the majority of people surveyed are of the opinion that computers pose the biggest security threats of all technological devices (Forbes, 2017a). In many cases, users of multifunctional devices do not realise that a multifunctional device is also a network device which have similar vulnerabilities, whereby the security threats relating to these devices are often overlooked. This paper provides an overview of the physical and network security risks relating to networked multifunctional devices. It includes a number of experiments and tests performed on multifunctional devices, security analysis, discussions on possible exploits as well as recommendations on various security measures. This paper could serve as a high-level guideline when installing multifunctional devices in a network environment and informing administrators and users of the security risks associated with installation and daily use

Application of various water soluble polymers in gas hydrate inhibition

Formation of hydrates in gas transmission lines due to high pressures and low temperatures is a serious problem in the oil and gas industry with potential hazards and/or economic losses. Kinetic hydrate inhibitors are water soluble polymeric compounds that prevent or delay hydrate formation. This review presents the various types of water soluble polymers used for hydrate inhibition, including conventional and novel polymeric inhibitors along with their limitations. The review covers the relevant properties of vinyl lactam, amide, dendrimeric, fluorinated, and natural biodegradable polymers. The factors affecting the performance of these polymers and the structure-property relationships are reviewed. A comprehensive review of the techniques used to evaluate the performance of the polymeric inhibitors is given. This review also addresses recent developments, current and future challenges, and field applications of a range of polymeric kinetic hydrate inhibitors. 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research is supported by Saudi Aramco through project # CPM 2297. Authors would like to thank the Center for Integrative Petroleum Research , King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals for supporting this research.Scopu

Broadening access to problem-based learning : design of the shell eco-marathon car-in-a-box concept

Abstract: Problem-based learning has proven to develop teamwork, problem solving skills, communication and critical thinking skills amongst learners. Due to these advantages, secondary schools in South Africa engage with problem-based events to promote the participation of learners in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, many schools face lack of time, lack of available funds and lack of the required technical skill set, which limits them from participating in these events. The Car-In-a-Box concept was developed to broaden access to a STEM problem-based learning event, called the Shell Eco-Marathon. The Car-In-A-Box concept addresses the three challenges that would normally prevent a school from entering the Shell Eco-Marathon, disenabling learners to harness the advantages of problem-based learning. The impact of the Car-In-A-Box concept for broadening access to problem-based learning is discussed

Gender dynamics : a case study of role allocation in engineering education

Abstract: The underrepresentation of women in engineering remains a problem till this day where women made up 4% of its registered professional engineers in South Africa in 2014. The experience of women engineers in industry and women students in engineering courses can play a significant role in their decision to remain in engineering or pursue a different career path. The investigation of gender dynamics in small groups of engineering students, specifically focusing on the participation and role allocation of women students, can shed light on the experiences of women students in the engineering education environment. This study shows that, although women engineering students are still in the minority in engineering courses, many are active participators in groups and fulfil leadership roles in those groups

Predicting enhanced absorption of light gases in polyethylene using simplified PC-SAFT and SAFT-VR

International audienceAbsorption of light gases in polyethylene (PE) is studied using two versions of the Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (SAFT): SAFT for chain molecules with attractive potentials of variable range (VR) and simplified perturbed-chain (PC) SAFT. Emphasis is placed on the light gases typically present during ethylene polymerisation in the gas-phase reactor (GPR) process. The two approaches are validated using experimental binary-mixture data for gas absorbed in PE, and predictions are made for mixtures of more components. For most cases studied both SAFT versions perform equally well. For the case of ternary mixtures of two gases with PE, it is predicted that the less-volatile of the two gases acts to enhance the absorption of the more-volatile gas, while the more-volatile gas inhibits the absorption of the less-volatile gas. This general behaviour is also predicted in mixtures containing more gases, such as typical reactor mixtures. The magnitude of the effect may vary considerably, depending on the relative proximity of the gas-mixture saturation pressure to the reactor pressure; for example it is predicted that the absorption of ethylene may be approximately doubled if diluent gases, propane or nitrogen, are partially or completely replaced by less-volatile butane or pentane for a reactor pressure similar to 2 MPa. In the case of a co-polymerisation reaction, it is predicted that increases in absorption of both co-monomers may be obtained in roughly equal proportion. Our findings cast light on the so-called co-monomer effect, in which substantial increases in the rate of ethylene polymerisation are observed in the presence of hexene co-monomer, while suggesting that the effect is more general and not restricted to co-monomer. For example, similar rate increases may be expected in the presence of, e.g., pentane instead of hexene, but without the change in the branch structure of the produced polymer that is inevitable when the amount of co-monomer is increased