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This paper deals with the use of metadiscourse by Italian university lecturers who teach through the medium of English (EMI, English-Medium Instruction). The objective is to verify whether, irrespective of possible shortcomings in their mastery of the language, lecturers demonstrate sensitivity to the situational demands of the EMI classroom, paying attention to the needs of the audience. A small, specialised corpus of undergraduate university lectures in the fields of Physical Sciences and Technology will be analysed. In particular, the focus will be on references to the discourse, the code, the lecturer as speaker and the students as listeners. I will investigate what discourse functions metadiscourse markers perform, what form-function associations can be identified, and whether signs of dysfluency and non-standard forms can be found in relation to metadiscourse. The pedagogical implications of the findings will be considered and suggestions provided on how to incorporate metadiscourse in teacher training programmes. The paper will conclude with some methodological reflections on how to investigate metadiscourse in university lectures.

The increasing complexity of the new breed of distributed intelligent systems, such as the Internet of Things, which require a diversity of languages and protocols, can only be tamed with design and programming best practices. Interest is also growing for including the human factor, as advocated by the "ambient intelligence" (AmI) research field, whose focus is on transparently and intelligently supporting people. These new design methodologies are increasingly needed in the toolbox of new electronic and computer engineers, and teaching strategies should be devised that allow students to acquire a systems-level view instead of getting lost in technology-oriented approaches. This paper describes a study carried out over two academic years, in a course in AmI at Politecnico di Torino, Italy. In the course, a project-based learning approach was adopted, in which students design and prototype an AmI system, and their progress is closely monitored throughout the semester. This paper presents the learning goals and teaching strategies, analyzes the learning outcomes from the qualitative and quantitative points of view, and highlights the lessons learned in the process.

Thermodynamics is a fundamental foundation of all engineering disciplines. A vast majority of engineering undergraduate programmes contain one or more courses on thermodynamics, and many engineers use thermodynamics every day to analyse or design energy systems. However, there is extensive anecdotal evidence as well as a wide range of published literature indicating that students often struggle to understand thermodynamic principles. In an effort to understand students' attitudes and perception of thermodynamics, including their expectations, experience and frustrations, an investigation was conducted. Following a review of the literature on the teaching and learning of thermodynamics in engineering, a survey questionnaire was developed and administered to close to a 1000 students in 17 thermodynamics classes at 13 universities in 7 countries. Survey results were analysed using statistical methods. This paper presents the findings of this investigation.

This paper publishes the sixty-nine surviving very personal letters that Reichsgraf von Rumford wrote to Viscountess Palmerston after they met in Milan in 1793. The letters draw attention to the private domestic spaces of science and the critical importance of the aristocracy in scientific developments, topics that have both received some discussion recently. They were, however, not written with the purpose of providing historical evidence, but as part of a decade-long friendship which the letters trace, revealing, among other things, Rumford's other amours. They also describe in some detail his thoughts about his activities as a member of the governing elite in Bavaria, his scientific and engineering researches (especially the writing and publication of his Essays ), as well as what he would have termed his philanthropic efforts in Bavaria, Northern Italy, Britain, and Ireland. All this is framed within the context of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars that in so many ways, directly and indirectly, affected Palmerston's and Rumford's lives and work.

This paper addresses the problem of sustainability in remediation, retrofit, and seismic upgrading of historic masonry structures. Different rehabilitation techniques and some successful applications throughout the Balkans and Italy are described, with particular emphasis to the shear reinforcement of wall panels. The selected techniques aim at improving the seismic performance, preserving the structures for future generations, having the least impact in altering the architectural and heritage values, as well as being sustainable, in terms of reduced carbon dioxide emissions, reversibility, and low energy consumption. The use of cross-laminated timber (CLT), natural fibers, and fiber-reinforced Polymers (FRP) jacketing with natural lime coatings are discussed. The paper concludes by summarizing key successes of the proposed rehabilitation solutions in conservation engineering and suggests areas in which these could be used with great advantage., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

This paper presents the second-generation estimates for the Italian engineering industry in 1911, a year documented both by the customary demographic census, and the first industrial census. The first part of this paper uses the census data to estimate the industry's value added, sector by sector; the second further disaggregates each sector by activity, and estimates the value added, employment, physical product, and metal consumption of each one. A third, concluding section dwells on the dependence of cross-section estimates on time-series evidence. Three appendices detail the specific algorithms that generate the present estimates; a fourth, a useful sample of firm-specific data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that educational robotics (ER) may impact student learning, especially in relation to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas. In the STEM framework, particularly for younger children, the "E" and the "T" are considered to be missing letters, because few studies have concentrated on teaching and evaluating technology and engineering through ER activities. This study aimed to develop and test the efficacy of an ER protocol to teach robotics in a sample of 389 students, hypothesizing that girls would be as successful as boys. A Robotics Questionnaire assessing the basics of robotics was developed for this study. A Wilcoxon nonparametric test was performed in order to evaluate improvements (p < 0.05). A Mann–Whitney nonparametric test was performed in order to test the presence of gender differences (p < 0.05). Data indicated significant improvements for all the age ranges considered. No gender differences were found. In order to evaluate the efficacy of a didactic intervention utilizing ER, it is important to assess the impact on children's technological and engineering (robotics, in particular) knowledge. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Studies have shown that educational robotics (ER) has a potential impact on student learning.In the STEM framework, the "E" and the "T" are considered the STEM missing letters.What this paper adds: This study aims at developing and testing the efficacy of an ER protocol to teach robotics.The hypothesis that girls will be equally successful than boys is explored too, and no gender differences were found.Implications for practice and/or policy: Our results suggest that ER can be utilized to learn robotics, bringing technology in the schools.ER could be considered as a tool able to contribute to girl's involvement in STEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the reinforcement of soft marine deposit, relying on the main reclamation works of the Hong Kong Airport three runway system project (hereinafter referred to as the Hong Kong three runway project), the on-site trial process for high pressure jet grouting piles was carried out, and the advanced multi-functional high pressure jet grouting rig from Italy was adopted, which has high degree of construction automation, good quality of jet grouting pile and fast work efficiency. This paper focuses on the influence of cement dosage, curing age, etc. on the strength on-site cement soil, as well as the strength proportion of indoor cement soil at different ages. It provides a good engineering and technical reference for the popularization and application of high-pressure jet grouting pile reinforcement method in coastal soft soil foundation in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pipes are widely used in pressurized water systems. Their viscoelastic behavior has to be taken into account in the design phase as well as in the interpretation of water-hammer signals for diagnostic purposes. The aim of the present paper is to experimentally investigate the transient waves' transmission and reflection in branched networks of high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes and to test the efficacy of a viscoelastic model for the interpretation of the results. Two laboratory Y-shaped systems were built in the Water Engineering Lab of the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Italy) and a set of water-hammer tests was conducted on them. A significant variation of transmission and reflection coefficients at the pipe junction is observed in comparison with the values suggested in classical textbooks. The strong agreement between the experimental pressure values and those obtained using the viscoelastic model suggests that the differences from the classical theory are due to the viscoelastic behavior of the material, since unsteady friction effects are negligible in the investigated scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulations of seismic site response require the characterization of the nonlinear behaviour of shallow subsoil. When extensive evaluations are of concern, as in the case of seismic microzonation studies, funding problems prevent from the systematic use of laboratory tests to provide detailed evaluations. For this purpose, 485 shear modulus reduction, G\G0(γ) and damping ratio, D(γ) curves were collected from multiple literature sources available in Italy. Each curve was associated with the related engineering geological units considered in seismic microzonation studies. A statistical analysis of the data was carried out with the aim of shedding light on the significant difference between the laboratory classification of samples and the macroscopic/engineering geological one, provided during seismic microzonation studies. Since the engineering geological classification plays a prominent role in extensive site response evaluations, the outcomes of the present work may be of help at least when preliminary seismic response estimates are of concern. The dataset provides reference information that can serve as key data for large-scale hazard assessments worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The ROBEX (Robotic Exploration of Extreme Environments) alliance, as formed by the German Helmholtz association, aims to explore synergies and bring together technological challenges and scientific questions between two, up to now unrelated, fields: space and deep sea. The final goal of the alliance targets field tests for available and newly developed instrumentation for the deep sea and on a terrestrial lunar analogue. In this regard, two different test campaigns were conducted, one in the area of Svalbard, Norway and one on mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. The volcano environment served as a lunar analogue, enabling seismic scientific experiments and testing of robotic mobility algorithms. The complete field mission infrastructure consists of a stationary lander, a mobile element and instrument carriers. The modular instrument carrier, commonly referred as Remote Unit (RU), was developed accounting for two different mass requirements: 3 kg (RU3) and 10 kg (RU10). While developed in the frame of ROBEX resumes the idea of a lightweight instrument carrier as developed for the MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid surface scout) mission. The RU houses the instrument, shelters it and provides all essential support functions such as rudimentary thermal control (via foil covering), power provision, data acquisition and handling and data transmission to the control centre. This paper presents theoretical and experimental results of the RU3 power subsystem analysis during the mount Etna field campaign. Drawing upon this analysis, necessary adjustments and revisions to further develop the system towards a more power efficient structure for terrestrial and extraterrestrial usage can be concluded. Highlights • RU suitable for harsh environments-space analog demonstration missions. • Test Data confirmed theoretical estimations for power management and consumption. • RU suitable for planetary exploration investigated (exemplary Moon application). • RU capable of surviving a complete lunar day when outfitted with photovoltaic cells. • A qualitative outlook on needed adaptations, focused on mass savings was considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semmering Base Tunnel: Gloggnitz Tunnel contract awarded / Semmering-Basistunnel: Baulos Tunnel Gloggnitz vergeben Italy approves 920 m. Euros for the third contract of the Brenner Base Tunnel / Italien gibt 920 Mio. Euro für drittes Baulos des Brenner Basistunnels frei Bilfinger sells Infrastructure Division to Porr / Bilfinger verkauft Division Infrastructure an Porr Implenia wins contract for the new Bözberg rail tunnel / Implenia erhält Zuschlag zum Neubau des Bözberg-Eisenbahntunnels Crossrail's tunnelling marathon completed / Crossrail Tunnelmarathon abgeschlossen New line from Wendlingen to Ulm: Breakthrough in the Imberg Tunnel / Neubaustrecke Wendlingen-Ulm: Durchschlag beim Tunnel Imberg General refurbishment of the Oswaldiberg Tunnel awarded / Generalsanierung des Oswaldibergtunnels vergeben Züblin Spezialtiefbau wins the Ground Engineering Award 2015 / Züblin Spezialtiefbau mit dem Ground Engineering Award 2015 ausgezeichnet 200 participants visited the Tunnelling Colloquium at the FH Münster / 200 Teilnehmer besuchten das Tunnelbau-Kolloquium an der FH Münster Call for papers - Themes for the next issues of Geomechanics and Tunnelling / Themen für die nächsten Ausgaben der 'Geomechanics and Tunnelling' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Civil Engineering, Seismic Characterization. We present two case studies of the application of seismic surveys to estimate the elastic properties of soil and rock in the shallow subsurface. The two sites present very different geological characteristics. The first test site is a town on the Croatian coast, not far from the city of Split, built on hard rock, where we acquired three seismic lines. The second site is located in the outskirts of the city of Ferrara, in Italy, in an alluvial plain, where two lines were acquired. In both sites, for detailed characterization, we acquired surface-, compressional- and shear-waves, further distinguishing the latter between horizontally (SH) and vertically (SV) polarized wavefields. We processed the data by performing a Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves to compute a preliminary one-dimensional shear wave velocity profile. Then, we performed first-break tomography to compute P-, SH- and SV-velocity profiles. Such unusual acquisition allowed us to compute not only basic engineering parameters such as the equivalent shear-wave velocity of the first 30 m of subsurface (VS30) from the SH profiles but also other useful parameters such as the VP/VS and estimate the anisotropy of the medium thanks to the VSV/VSH. Given the level of detail of the results and their engineering value, we conclude that the method of investigation we applied in the two test sites is a valuable tool for characterizing the shallow subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An active fault is defined capable (FAC) when, in fact, it is capable of offsetting the ground surface; while a seismogenic source (SS) is a tectonic structure that generates earthquakes and, under certain conditions, displaces the ground when the deep coseismic rupture propagates up to the surface. Therefore, the FACs may be considered as the surficial expression of SSs. The seismic sequences of central Italy in 2009 and 2016-2017 showed the importance to define and locate "in advance" FACs and SSs in any given area. However, the analysis of the scientific literature shows that the conceptual difference between the FAC and the SS is still marked in Italy. This is demonstrated by the availability of two distinct national databases, that deal separately with the FACs (ITHACA) and the SSs (DISS). This article analyses ITHACA and DISS in the 2009 and 2016-2017 seismic sequences epicentral areas and identifies possible conceptual differences and similarities between FAC and SS. It highlights the need of a welldefined methodological approach that can define and map a FAC as a surficial expression of a SS, to which a certain seismogenic and surface faulting potential can be associated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This study aims to identify and compare the knowledge and information retrieval needs from past projects and for future work among Italian and Japanese engineers. Engineering work, which is knowledge-intensive, is all the more critical as it both uses and generates knowledge for product and process innovation. Design/methodology/approach – This research uses data collected from engineers in Italy and Japan from an online survey using open-ended questions in their native language. Answers were then translated into English and coded into pre-determined categories; statistical analyses including factor analysis were conducted. Findings – For knowledge to be retrieved from past work, both Italian and Japanese engineers identified mainly experiential and systemic knowledge assets. For knowledge to be captured for future work, both groups picked experiential as well as conceptual knowledge related to the competitive environment of the firm absent from knowledge needs from past work. Finally, this research uncovered almost twice as fewer meta-categories for knowledge needs to be captured for future work compared to knowledge to be retrieved from past projects, as the former are by nature speculative and, therefore, difficult to foresee. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to the engineering domain and to two countries. Further research should extend the scope beyond these two countries. Practical implications – The study identified information and knowledge needs that could help inform the design of procedures to capture and document engineering work and the development of supporting information systems. Originality/value – This research contributes to an increased understanding of the substance of information and knowledge needs in a knowledge-intensive environment such as engineering work and product/service development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The May 20, 2012, Emilia Ml 5.9 earthquake was followed by some major aftershocks, well recorded by a large number of temporary stations that were installed to monitor the sequence. These additional recordings allowed us a thorough testing of the performance of the ShakeMap-a procedure designed to provide rapid information on the experienced ground motion. We found that the shakemaps for the May 29, 2012, Ml 5.8 earthquake, obtained using the permanent stations only, underestimate significantly the ground motion computed with the highest station density, especially for PSA at long periods (T $$=$$ 3.0 s). This low-frequency motion is controlled primarily by the surface waves recorded in the Po plain: the observed site effects are likely not accounted properly by the site correction coefficient based on Vs30 as implemented in the ShakeMap procedure. The shakemaps determined during the seismic sequence have been included in an Italian national law that was passed after the 2012 earthquake. According to this law, the factories safety verifications were bound to the comparison between the shakemaps and the design acceleration required by the current national seismic code. We then decide to appraise the impact of the shakemap accuracy on the law provisions. Following the law recommendations, we have estimated the possible errors resulting from the incomplete evaluation of the ground shaking: our results show that, if the complete dataset were available at the time of the law approval, the number of buildings for which the safety check was required would have been significantly smaller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]