The development of a simulation engineering game to teach problem solving skills and team dynamics

Simulation technologies have become the corner stone of many training programs, from simple game–playing scenarios to totally immersive virtual reality simulators. However, many of these simple teaching aides merely tend to develop the manual dexterity of the learner. The game described in this paper develops the learner’s problem-solving skills and teamwork. The game under development is based on a simulated production line, constructing structures with Lego blocks. The game has three discrete phases; each with a briefing session, a production “run” and a debriefing session. It encourages observation and discussion of possible improvements required to increase productivity. This is achieved by the learning of good team interaction and the application of different problem-solving techniques. Initial feedback from students reveals that the simulated game provides a better method of observing the importance of team dynamics and the honing of problem solving skills

Effective use of WebCT in a problem-based learning course for a dual mode delivery

As part of a radical curriculum change, the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) introduced a strand of four problem-based learning (PBL) courses in 2002 [1]. While the first of these courses concentrates on building team skills, the second in the strand, Engineering Problem Solving 2 (ENG2102), introduces statistical analysis, basic physics concepts and elements of GIS and mapping as part of the technical content. The annual enrolment in this course is about 250 including over 100 students studying this course externally. One of the important factors to be considered in the design and delivery of such course is to provide an effective e-learning system considering that a significant number of the students study through the distance mode

Flexural behavior of two-span continuous prestressed concrete girders with highly eccentric external tendors

[Abstract]: It is generally known that the flexural strength of beams prestressed with external tendons is comparatively lower than that of members with internal bonded tendons. One possible method of enhancing the flexural strength of such beams is to place the tendons at high eccentricity. To obtain an insight into the flexural behavior of beams with highly eccentric tendons, an experimental investigation is conducted on single-span and two-span continuous beams. The test variables include external tendon profile, loading pattern on each span, casting method, and confinement reinforcements. It is found that continuous girders with linearly transformed tendon profiles exhibit the same flexural behavior irrespective of tendon layout. The presence of confinement reinforcement enhances the ductility behavior but does not increase the ultimate flexural strength. The degree of moment redistribution is affected by the tendon layout and the loading pattern on each span. The results of the experimental investigation are discussed in this paper

REGULATORY ROLE OF OX22HIGH T-CELLS IN MERCURY-INDUCED AUTOIMMUNITY IN THE BROWN NORWAY RAT

The monoclonal antibody OX22 defines a functional split within CD4+ T cells in the rat, with OX22high cells mainly producing interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon γ and responsible for delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, and OX22low cells mainly producing IL-4 and -5 and responsible for providing B cell help. There are reciprocal interactions between OX22high and OX22low cells, and it has been suggested that the OX22low subset has a role in the prevention of autoimmunity. We have used OX22 in vivo to define the role of these subsets in mercuric chloride-induced autoimmunity in the Brown Norway rat. In this model, there is polyclonal B cell activation and animals develop widespread tissue injury. Treatment of thymectomized animals with OX22 led to a profound reduction in the number of OX22high T cells in the peripheral blood. OX22-treated animals consistently developed more severe tissue injury than controls given an irrelevant antibody of the same isotype. Control animals pretreated with broad spectrum antimicrobial drugs showed milder tissue injury, but this protective effect of antimicrobials was lost in OX22-treated animals. Transfer of naive T cells to OX22-treated animals provided protection, but if T cells were depleted in vitro of OX22high cells before transfer, this effect was lost. These data provide evidence for a protective immunoregulatory role for OX22high T cells in mercuric chloride-induced autoimmunity.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Finite element analysis of fibre composite sandwich panel

This research work aims to understand the behaviour of fibre composite sandwich panel by using nonlinear Finite Element (FE) method. The original FRP sandwich panel is associated with waste of materials usage related to its ability to resist the external load and stay in the working load serviceability. The experimental analysis was done by CEEFC in the University of Southern Queensland and it showed that the failure load is (5-10) times the working load recommended by EUROCOMP. The analysis of composite FRP panel using 3D solid Finite Element and shell element shows a relatively accurate simulation for the behaviour of the FRP panel compare to the experimental results. The objective of this research is to verify the behaviour of FRP sandwich panel by using finite element methods. The numerical finite element model using traditional available ABAQUS software was developed to simulate the structural behaviour of FRP panel

Analysis of a typical railway turnout sleeper system using grillage beam analogy

A simplified grillage beam analogy was performed to investigate the behaviour of railway turnout sleeper system with a low value of elastic modulus on different support moduli. This study aimed at determining an optimum modulus of elasticity for an emerging technology for railway turnout application - fibre composites sleeper. The finite element simulation suggests that the changes in modulus of elasticity of sleeper, Esleeper and the sleeper support modulus, Us have a significant influence on the behaviour of turnout sleepers. The increase in Us from 10 to 40 MPa resulted in a 15% reduction in the bending moment while the increase in Esleeper from 1 GPa to 10 GPa has resulted in almost 75% increase in the bending moment. The shear forces in turnout sleepers is not sensitive to both the changes of the Esleeper and Us while the sleeper with low Esleeper tend to undergo greater settlement into the ballast. An Esleeper of 4 GPa was found optimal for an alternative fibre composite turnout sleeper provided that the Us is at least 20 MPa from the consideration of sleeper ballast pressure and maximum vertical deflection. It was established that the turnout sleeper has a maximum bending moment of 19 kN-m and a shear force of 158 kN under service conditions

On Retrieving the Baby

In his recent critique of contemporary Translation Theory (TT), Singh (2005) argues that (1) as things stand, contemporary TT is not really a theory of translation but an exploration that seems to simply assume that the various uses, literal and metaphorical, of the word ‘translation’ and of the techniques employed in what languages normally refer to as translation delimit an interesting domain of which one can construct a theory and (2) one of the new ways in which translation and TT need to be conceptualized is to revisit and renew the old ways in which they used to be seen, albeit with a difference. This paper will, in effect, sketch out a possible itinerary for such a revisit. The purpose of this paper is, in other words, to summarize that critique and to sketch out the content of what we view as crucial courses for a programme in translation that could constitute the first proactive steps for recovering the baby contemporary TT seems to have thrown out with the bath water of structuralist ‘equivalence’. These courses have been and are being tried at the newly instituted graduate programme in translation at the University of Peradeniya in Srilanka.Dans sa critique récente des théories contemporaines de traduction (TT), Singh (2005) argumente que (1) étant donné l’état actuel de la situation, TT n’est pas une théorie de traduction mais plutôt une exploration qui semble simplement supposer que les différentes utilisations qu’elles soient littérales et métaphoriques du mot ‘traduction’ et des techniques employées en traduction, délimite un domaine intéressant pour lequel on peut construire une théorie et (2) l’une des façons dans lesquelles la traduction et TT devraient être conceptualisées est de revisiter et renouveler des anciennes manières de les voir, quoique non sans différence. Ce travail donnera en effet un aperçu d’un itinéraire possible pour un tel retour. Autrement dit, le présent travail vise à résumer la critique en question et à présenter une esquisse du contenu qu’on considère crucial pour un programme de traduction qui pourrait constituer les premières étapes proactives à fin de récupérer le bébé TT contemporain qui semble avoir été jeté avec son eau de bain d’équivalence structuraliste. Ces cours ont été mis à l’épreuve et le sont actuellement au programme de troisième cycle de traduction à l’Université de Peradeniya au Sri Lanka