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Specialized cancer treatments have the potential to exploit glutamine dependence to increase patient survival rates. Glutamine diagnostics capable of tracking a patient's response to treatment would enable a personalized treatment dosage to optimize the tradeoff between treatment success and dangerous side effects. Current clinical glutamine testing requires sophisticated and expensive lab-based tests, which are not broadly available on a frequent, individualized basis. To address the need for a low-cost, portable glutamine diagnostic, this work engineers a cell-free glutamine biosensor to overcome assay background and signal-to-noise limitations evident in previously reported studies. The findings from this work culminate in the development of a shelf-stable, paper-based, colorimetric glutamine test with a high signal strength and a high signal-to-background ratio for dramatically improved signal resolution. While the engineered glutamine test is important progress towards improving the management of cancer and other health conditions, this work also expands the assay development field of the promising cell-free biosensing platform, which can facilitate the low-cost detection of a broad variety of target molecules with high clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is an editorial introducing selected papers from the 4th International Symposium on Thermal-Fluid Dynamics (ISTFD 2023). Thermal-fluid dynamics is a crucial field that impacts various subjects and technologies, including energy generation, aerospace, automotive engineering, and more. The ISTFD series was established in 2019 to promote research and progress in thermal-fluid dynamics. The 4th symposium was successfully held in Nanjing, China, in 2023, with over 200 participants from 15 countries. This special issue contains 15 peer-reviewed articles showcasing recent research progress in thermal-fluid dynamics and interdisciplinary research. [Extracted from the article]

This article is a summary of the 10th International Conference on Inverse Problems in Engineering (ICIPE 22), which took place in May 2022 in Francavilla al Mare, Italy. The conference brought together applied mathematicians and engineers from various disciplines to collaborate and discuss the use of inverse analysis tools in fields such as manufacturing, medical imaging, and space applications. The event also honored Professor James V. Beck, who made significant contributions to parameter estimation and inverse heat transfer problems. The conference featured keynote addresses, lectures, and a tribute to Prof. Beck. The article expresses gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, reviewers, and the editor-in-chief of the Heat Transfer Engineering Journal. The 11th ICIPE conference will be held in Brazil in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses ways to teach engineering fundamentals with simple materials. Topics discussed include tips and tricks to use paper effectively to teach engineering principles to children, thousands of STEM/STEAM challenges available in books and online and working of Marina Bernasuli, Technology Coordinator at the Browning School, by using engineering with paper projects throughout the 2020-21 school year.

Segmental tunnel linings have a complex structural behavior that is difficult to predict. Full-scale in situ structural monitoring allows us to gain access to these structures, observe the acting mechanisms, and better understand the actual structural behavior under realistic boundary conditions. In a recent structural monitoring project in Frankfurt, Germany, strains, deformations, and temperatures were measured at the segmental lining of a twin-tube tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnel. Hereby, internal forces were back-calculated from the strain measurements. The results of the monitoring are presented and discussed in this paper. The measurements began immediately after the assembly of the segments and have been performed continuously over several years. Because of that, it was possible to observe that the internal forces differ significantly between the construction stage and the final state. During the construction stage, the internal forces develop quickly within hours after ring assembly, showing a distribution along the lining's circumference that is hard to predict. Almost all radial deformations occur during this period and remain unchanged afterward. After this first early phase, a period of stress redistribution follows, including significant changes in the internal forces. At its end, the stable, final state is reached. In this state, the internal forces match better with expectations. In the monitored areas, the stresses during the construction stage slightly exceeded those of the final state, which should be avoided for economic reasons. Additional investigations regard the temperature development within the lining, the influence of the second tube construction on the already built tube, and the development of longitudinal ring interaction over time. The latter significantly influences the structural behavior, but its development is often subject to uncertainties. In this case, it was observed that the longitudinal interaction decreases considerably over time. Practical Applications: In the structural design of segmental tunnel linings, structural or geotechnical engineers have various options regarding the available calculation methods and modeling strategies. All of these options are part of the state of the art, and the selection is up to the engineer. However, the results can be quite different depending on the chosen option. Consequently, uncertainties remain regarding the real linings' internal forces and structural reliability. The actual mechanisms can be identified by investigating the real structural behavior of segmental tunnel linings with in situ structural monitoring. Then, with back-analyses, on the one hand, it can be tested to determine how well different calculation methods and modeling strategies correspond to reality. On the other hand, the monitoring data can contribute to improving existing calculation methods, developing new modeling approaches, and establishing more detailed recommendations or optimizations regarding the design and construction of segmental tunnel linings. This paper presents findings derived from a structural monitoring project on a segmental lining. Different mechanisms and aspects, sometimes uncertain or debatable in tunnel design, are discussed regarding their real in situ appearance. The gained data will also be used for further back-analyses and investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

She holds a B.Eng. in building engineering from Tongji University (2001), a M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts (2005), and a Ph.D. in geotechnical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2010). Dr. Tan's areas of specialization include deep excavation and tunnelling, foundation engineering, forensic geotechnical engineering, and engineering failures associated with climate change. He received his B.Eng. in building engineering from Tongji University (1999), M.Eng. in Geotechnical Engineering from Tongji University (2002), and Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts (2005). [Extracted from the article]

Scientists and policy‐makers promote 'Nature‐based Solutions' to the interconnected challenges associated with the Anthropocene. Often these involve the strategic use of ecosystem engineers: animals, plants, and microbes with disproportionate ecological agency capable of regional or even planetary‐scale niche construction. This environmental mode of biopolitics is promoted as biomimicry: restoring, rewilding, or rewetting diverse ecological systems. This paper critically examines the multispecies relations promised by this model through a focus on beaver in Britain over the last 12,000 years. It begins with beaver making Britain hospitable for early settlers and agriculturalists as they returned after the last ice age. It traces the subsequent demise of beaver due to hunting and land use change, and then follows the recent return of beaver as tools for natural flood management and nature recovery. It attends to situations in which these multispecies world‐making projects go awry in the weird ecologies of the Anthropocene. This story of beaver helps situate enthusiasms for proactive ecosystem engineering in deeper time. It highlights the beguiling potential of Nature‐based Solutions while cautioning against tendencies towards anthropocentrism, an apolitical mononaturalism, and an ecomodernist hubris. The paper combines concepts from archaeology, ecology, anthropology, and geography into a new framework for theorising multispecies acts of worlding and weirding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various algorithms have been put forth for an efficiency estimation of an in-service induction motor with varying intrusion levels and accuracy. In the field, it is hard to reach the terminals of an in-service motor because of its location. This paper helps a field engineer to choose properly an efficiency estimation method for condition monitoring of an in-service induction motor. In this paper, the author put forth an approach based on symmetrical components to assess the efficiency of induction machine working on unbalanced power supplies at any loading condition. A comparison is done between two offline intelligence techniques like gravitational search (GS) algorithm and cuckoo search (CS) algorithm for estimating the efficiency of an induction machine by using limited measurements. The merit of these techniques is that the motor is not taken out from its place of installation for testing. Also, the highly intrusive no-load test is avoided. Simulations and experimental results support and validate the carried-out research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In safety‐critical systems engineering, regulations such as Automotive SPICE, ISO26262, or ED‐109A mandate software quality assurance measures to provide evidence that the developed system is high quality. The constraints that define quality assurance conditions during the engineering life cycle are often non‐trivial. This paper addresses the challenges, engineers face who are unfamiliar with the precise constraints of various projects (e.g., when newly joining a company or switching between departments). Understanding how to fulfill a constraint is a time‐consuming and challenging task as an engineer needs to determine the most suitable option (out of potentially many) to fulfill a constraint violation. To this end, we propose a guidance action ranking framework to provide engineers with the most relevant guidance actions. Our primary ranking algorithm analyzes in the background the actions that engineers have made in the past to resolve a constraint violation without requiring explicit feedback from them. We evaluated our framework on two real‐world data sets: an open‐source drone management and an industrial air traffic control software system. Concretely, we replay past engineering activities and measured whether, in the case of a constraint violation, our suggested guidance actions were indeed selected by the engineer. The evaluation results revealed that learning from prior guidance actions effectively identifies the most appropriate guidance actions (ranked top 1 or 2) when compared to ranking algorithms based on action simplicity and artifact property change frequency. Specifically, we achieve a median MRR of 0.95 for the first case study and 0.94 for the second case study: an improvement of 80% and 100% over the baseline. Additionally, we observed that the simplicity of a guidance action does not reliably indicate its suitability for fulfilling a constraint, whereas learning from prior change operation property out‐performed simplicity‐based ranking but did not surpass guidance frequency‐based ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often assumed that how we talk about the world matters a great deal. This is one reason why conceptual engineers seek to improve our linguistic practices by advocating novel uses of our words, or by inventing new ones altogether. A core idea shared by conceptual engineers is that by changing our language in this way, we can reap all sorts of cognitive and practical benefits, such as improving our theorizing, combating hermeneutical injustice, or promoting social emancipation. But how do changes at the linguistic level translate into any of these worthwhile benefits? In this paper, we propose the nameability account as a novel answer to this question. More specifically, we argue that what linguistic resources are readily available to us directly affects our cognitive performance on various categorization‐related tasks. Consequently, our performance on such tasks can be improved by making controlled changes to our linguistic resources. We argue that this account supports and extends recent motivations for conceptual engineering, as categorization plays an important role in both theoretical and practical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to study the trajectory of the architect Frei Otto (FO) using an exploratory analysis of his projects, which pays special attention to the conceptual and chronological temporal evolution, the type of structures designed, and the relationship with his partners for his built and unbuilt projects. In the latter case, the projects developed, not requested, that are not part of his built works have been approached (i.e., not considered under competition). The main results indicate that FO's architectural trajectory, from a chronological point of view, was intense, which is generally reflected throughout the years. The 1950s–1970s were very productive. In addition to the large number of projects, there were innovative designs for quantity and structural innovation in Germany and other countries (e.g., France and Saudi Arabia). The analyses that were carried out made it possible to ascertain FO's professional and academic influence, which has been reflected in his projects. Likewise, his relationships with his collaborators have been long-lasting in some cases. Practical Applications: This work aimed to study the work of the architect and engineer Frei Otto (FO), of recognized prestige by the awards received and his colleagues. Some mention the scarce diffusion of his work. The interest of this work lies mainly in making known to professionals, academics, and the general public, in a short format, such as that used in scientific papers, the design of his structures, built and unbuilt. As Félix Candela mentions about FO's career, he is a typical and outstanding example of architectural innovation who concentrated his vocation and efforts on the study and research of tensile structures. His international projection and toward the citizen, give Frei Otto academic interest. This work is developed from different perspectives, which include chronological, type of structure, the location and function of the project, and the collaborators he worked with, with whom he shared his innovation and construction activities. Attention has been paid to a collection of unpublished or little-known projects by FO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of rock material and modeling uncertainties, the optimization of rock tunnel support systems is often conducted by selecting the most cost‐effective solution among several feasible options that typically rely on the engineer's experience, potentially leading to overlooking the most optimal design. To improve such a limitation, this paper presents a multi‐objective reliability‐based robust design, considering the cost, safety, and design robustness systematically while maintaining the computational efficiency. In this framework, the uncertainty‐based reliability constrains is performed using the first‐order reliability method (FORM) and an improved Hasofer–Lind–Rackwits–Fiessler recursive algorithm (iHLRF‐x). The design robustness, in terms of sensitivity index (SI), is evaluated using the normalized gradient of the system response to the noise factors, which can be efficiently obtained from the output of FORM analysis. Then, the Pareto front revealing the tradeoff between multiple objectives can be directly generated using the proposed optimization framework. To illustrate the effectiveness of this procedure, a set of the optimal design combinations of the shotcrete thickness and installation position for the exampled rock tunnel are obtained, and new perspectives pertaining the success of the reliability‐based robust designs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous reviews are available in the literature on PV inverter topologies. These reviews have intensively investigated the available PV inverter topologies from their modulation techniques, control strategies, cost, and performance aspects. However, their compliance with industrial standards has not been investigated in detail so far in the literature. There are various standards such as North American standards (UL1741, IEEE1547, and CSA 22.2) and Australian and European safety standards and grid codes, which include IEC 62109 and VDE. These standards provide detailed guidelines and expectations to be fulfilled by a PV inverter topology. Adherence to these standards is essential and crucial for the successful operation of PV inverters, be it a standalone or grid-tied mode of operation. This paper investigates different PV inverter topologies from the aspect of their adherence to different standards. Both standalone and grid-tied mode of operation-linked conditions have been checked for different topologies. This investigation will help power engineers in selecting suitable PV inverter topology for their specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many powerful metamodeling platforms enabling model-driven software engineering (MDSE) exist, each with its strengths, weaknesses, functionalities, programming language(s), and developer community. Platform interoperability would enable users to exploit their mutual benefits. Such interoperability would allow the transformation of metamodels and models created in one platform into equivalent metamodels and models in other platforms. Language engineers could then freely choose the metamodeling platform without risking a lock-in effect. Two well-documented and publicly available metamodeling platforms are the eclipse modeling framework (EMF) and the modeling SDK for visual studio (MSDKVS). In this paper, we propose an M3-level-bridge (M3B) that establishes interoperability between EMF and MSDKVS on the abstract syntax level and on the graphical concrete syntax level. To establish such interoperability we (i) compare the two platforms, (ii) present a conceptual mapping between them, and (iii) implement a bidirectional transformation bridge including both the metamodel and model layer. We evaluate our approach by transforming a collection of publicly available metamodels and automatically generated or manually created models thereof. The transformation outcomes are then used to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the transformation's validity, executability, and expressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores three different forms of negotiation implemented by environmentalist engineers between their professional work and their environmental activism. These engineers, members of environmentalist organizations, appropriate in different ways this conceptual professional boundary that separates and opposes the social worlds of engineering and activism. The article draws from narrative interviews with 50 environmentalist engineers that focused on the dynamics of these negotiations and their effects on biographical trajectories. The process of conforming, shifting or overstepping the boundary between profession and activism is linked to the framing of environmental causes. The precarious balances these engineers strike between work and activism thus depend on three factors: the emergence (or not) of a professional reflexivity, the adoption (or not) of a political interpretation and the reaction of hierarchical superiors and company management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative approach that combines isogeometric analysis (IGA), limit analysis, machine learning, and the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) model is presented in this paper to investigate sinkhole stability of circular cavity. The upper bound limit analysis method using IGA and second-order cone programming (SOCP) is employed to analyze circular cavity stability. Based on Bézier extraction, the non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) is used to generate a set of NURBS surfaces that define the boundary of the soil domain. The proposed approach is validated through comparative analysis with previous studies, demonstrating its effectiveness in accurately predicting soil stability. A large dataset consisting of 5000 randomly generated runs is used to train the machine learning algorithm that is integrated with the MARS model. The results show high accuracy, with a small mean squared error of 10–3, in predicting the undrained stability of circular cavities. The integration of IGA, limit analysis, machine learning, and the MARS model contributes significantly to advancing computational techniques for assessing soil stability. The proposed approach offers a comprehensive and precise tool for engineers and researchers, providing an accurate design formula for evaluating the undrained stability of circular cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some scholars add authors to their research papers or grant proposals even when those individuals contribute nothing to the research effort. Some journal editors coerce authors to add citations that are not pertinent to their work and some authors pad their reference lists with superfluous citations. How prevalent are these types of manipulation, why do scholars stoop to such practices, and who among us is most susceptible to such ethical lapses? This study builds a framework around how intense competition for limited journal space and research funding can encourage manipulation and then uses that framework to develop hypotheses about who manipulates and why they do so. We test those hypotheses using data from over 12,000 responses to a series of surveys sent to more than 110,000 scholars from eighteen different disciplines spread across science, engineering, social science, business, and health care. We find widespread misattribution in publications and in research proposals with significant variation by academic rank, discipline, sex, publication history, co-authors, etc. Even though the majority of scholars disapprove of such tactics, many feel pressured to make such additions while others suggest that it is just the way the game is played. The findings suggest that certain changes in the review process might help to stem this ethical decline, but progress could be slow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is becoming more prevalent in an ageing population, leading to challenges in diagnosis and management. This two-part Series offers a comprehensive review of changing concepts in VHD, covering diagnosis, intervention timing, novel management strategies, and the current state of research. The first paper highlights the remarkable progress made in imaging and transcatheter techniques, effectively addressing the treatment paradox wherein populations at the highest risk of VHD often receive the least treatment. These advances have attracted the attention of clinicians, researchers, engineers, device manufacturers, and investors, leading to the exploration and proposal of treatment approaches grounded in pathophysiology and multidisciplinary strategies for VHD management. This Series paper focuses on innovations involving computational, pharmacological, and bioengineering approaches that are transforming the diagnosis and management of patients with VHD. Artificial intelligence and digital methods are enhancing screening, diagnosis, and planning procedures, and the integration of imaging and clinical data is improving the classification of VHD severity. The emergence of artificial intelligence techniques, including so-called digital twins—eg, computer-generated replicas of the heart—is aiding the development of new strategies for enhanced risk stratification, prognostication, and individualised therapeutic targeting. Various new molecular targets and novel pharmacological strategies are being developed, including multiomics—ie, analytical methods used to integrate complex biological big data to find novel pathways to halt the progression of VHD. In addition, efforts have been undertaken to engineer heart valve tissue and provide a living valve conduit capable of growth and biological integration. Overall, these advances emphasise the importance of early detection, personalised management, and cutting-edge interventions to optimise outcomes amid the evolving landscape of VHD. Although several challenges must be overcome, these breakthroughs represent opportunities to advance patient-centred investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue of the journal "Materials" focused on the topic of surface engineering for wear, corrosion, and erosion prevention in metallic and ceramic materials. The special issue includes twelve scientific papers covering various aspects of the operational performance and properties of metallic and ceramic materials. The papers discuss topics such as the effects of peening treatments, corrosion resistance, tribological behavior, and wear improvement through microstructural modification and the deposition of wear-resistant coatings. The special issue received significant interest from authors and readers, leading to the announcement of a second volume on the same topic. The summary acknowledges the need for experimental data in surface engineering to understand the wear and performance of engineering materials. [Extracted from the article]

This document is an introduction to a special issue of the journal Foundations of Science. The special issue focuses on the field of History of Mechanism and Machine Science (MMS) and includes papers presented at the Seventh International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms. The papers cover a wide range of topics related to the history of machine and mechanism science, such as nomograms, Spanish artifacts, water lifting machines, belt conveyors, mechanical engineering in the Americas, harmonographs, pulley systems, robots, stamp mills, and machinery. The articles provide historical context, analyze important phenomena, and discuss theoretical and practical achievements in the field. The special issue aims to promote recent advances and developments in the history of MMS. [Extracted from the article]

Measurement was vital to nineteenth-century engineering. Focusing on the work of the Stevenson engineering firm in Scotland, this paper explores the processes by which engineers made their measurements credible and explains how measurement, as both a product and a practice, informed engineering decisions and supported claims to engineering authority. By examining attempts made to quantify, measure and map dynamic river spaces, the paper analyses the relationship between engineering experience and judgement and the generation of data that engineers considered to be 'tolerably correct'. While measurement created an abstract and simplified version of the river that accommodated prediction, this abstraction had to be connected to and made meaningful in real river space despite acknowledged limitations to measuring practice. In response, engineers drew on experience gained through the measuring process to support claims to authoritative knowledge. This combination of quantification and experience was then used to support interventions in debates over the proper use and management of rivers. This paper argues that measurement in nineteenth-century engineering served a dual function, producing both data and expertise, which were both significant in underpinning engineering authority and facilitating engineers' intervention in decision making for river management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations are confronted with quality failures that must be addressed. Often, statistical methods can be helpful, but the organization lacks an internal statistician. This paper explores the use of a statistical problem‐solving team using Six Sigma professionals as problem‐solving team leaders, trainers, and coaches. A case study methodology is used. The actions and events from the implementation of a statistical problem‐solving team in a global manufacturing organization in the automotive industry through the first decade after implementation are described. Statistical problem‐solving bridges the gap between engineer and statistician using engineers trained to awareness‐level knowledge of statistics and supported by Six Sigma Master Black Belts. The statistical problem‐solving team members need to be highly trained in the three pillars of statistical problem‐solving: Key statistical concepts, key statistical analysis, and the key test method as well as a solid foundation in quality tools. This paper provides a unique view of a global problem‐solving team using both Six Sigma tools and methods and the 8D process as a problem‐solving methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on fast evolution of computer and networking technologies. Topics include distributed data storage facilities which are being increasingly implemented using replicated, tamper-proof blockchain ledgers; and plethora of existing security- and privacy-related constraints on the networks are exacerbated, rather than solved, by blockchain technology.

Research shows a positive association between skilled migration and innovation. Related literature however is largely limited to the use of proxies such as patents, and publications. There is also a lack of attention to how innovation is accomplished in practices. This paper addresses these gaps with an examination of the innovative contributions made by immigrant engineers in Canada. Conceptually, informed by practice-based theories, it conceives innovation as a sociocultural and sociomaterial process that leads to the transformation of the object/motives of activities, i.e. the problem space to which actions are directed. Empirically, drawing on a thematic and situational analysis of the career accounts of 32 immigrant engineers, it shows that immigrants expand engineering practices by introducing, inter alias, new technologies, products, processes, policies and standards. It further traces the rise of the problem spaces, and the ways in which engineering objects and other practitioners are knotted into practices of innovation. It argues that while immigrants manage to introduce epistemic objects through continuous learning and knowledge translation, it is through the enrolment of other practitioners, and technologies and tools that relations of differences and power are (re)negotiated, and new ways of doing become amplified as innovation at work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a wind farm, the grounding circuit is a complex electrical system made up of several interconnected groundings. Its role is very important for the protection of the electrical equipment during a direct lightning strike. To contribute to the optimization of the conception of this complex grounding system in his real configuration (wind turbine towers, grounding grids, and several hundred meters of buried conductor wires ...), we propose in this paper a realistic modeling. Realistic because, to model in all rigors using an electromagnetic field formalism a problem of propagation of electromagnetic transients in electrical device of large geometrical dimensions where the main environment (soil) is not homogeneous does not bring an appreciable advantage and consumes a very high calculation time. Also, the ideal for the engineer is to have a model that is easy to understand, accessible in its theory and obviously preserving the accuracy of the results and with very low computation time. In this work, to study the lightning surges in a wind farm, mainly to know the Ground Potential Rise and the distribution of the currents in the conductors, we use a modeling based on the transmission line equations. Our modeling is carried out by considering the effect of the frequency on the electrical characteristics (resistivity and dielectric permittivity) of the soil; the results we obtain are without loss of precision and with a very short calculation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method for increasing the impact of academic research by providing materials for public use, thus engaging the maker community, and by collaborating with internet content creators to extend the reach. We propose a framework for engagement and report a multi-year study that evaluates short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes, with a second effort to demonstrate repeatability of the short-term outcomes. In the first study, we posted forty-one 3D printable compliant mechanisms on public repositories and collaborated with physicist and content creator Derek Muller (Veritasium YouTube channel). Outputs and outcomes from this interaction were measured over 3 years. The framework was exercised again with four new 3D printable mechanisms in collaboration with engineer and STEM influencer Mark Rober. The proposed methods aim to help researchers extend the reach of their work to broader audiences, including professional engineers, hardware designers, educators, students, researchers, and hobbyists. This work demonstrates promising impacts of the framework, including (1) extending public awareness of research findings to broader audiences by engaging the maker community and collaborating with content creators, (2) accelerating the pace of innovation and further hardware-based research through public application of research findings, (3) fostering a culture of open-source design and collaboration among other researchers, engineers, educators, and makers, and (4) increasing utilization of peer-reviewed published content. These outreach practices can be valuable tools for researchers to increase impact of and excitement for their research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to describe the idea and approach to innovate the curricula and syllabuses at the Faculty of Technical Sciences at University "Mother Tereza" towards taking its part of responsibility to contribute to the UN goals of Sustainable Development. In last improvement of the curricula od different studying programs, the Faculty of Technical Sciences introduced a course "Sustainable development in technology" as basic tool to make sure the students, further engineers, become familiar with one of the most important awareness of humanity regarding periods to come, all shaped in UN Sustainable Development strategy. Due to the fact that Sustainable Development is a mixture of environmental, economic and social aspects of contemporary life, and all of them have deep connections with the technology, no gap between purely technical, economic and social views are allowed any more. Therefore, in front of teaching staff at the Faculty of Technical Sciences is a very important and complex duty to make students aware of the core meaning of Sustainable Development, its relation to their further profession and bring knowledge and skills how to deal with all new challenges. This task, opposite to some basic courses in engineering is much more complex in terms of multidisciplinary and put some new challenges in front of the teaching staff. This comes from the fact that nowadays, and in the future, the role of the engineer has been widened and become more complex, and more interdisciplinary adding more environmental, economic and social aspects. It is important that including of sustainable development knowledge, competences and skills, in engineer portfolio should not be taken as a burden, but chance to contribute to everyone's future. The Faculty of Technical Sciences already takes the first steps in this direction and first experiences are described here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fires have the potential to destroy, resulting in the loss of property and livelihoods, as well as injury, death and repeated trauma for those who are already vulnerable. However, fire as a hazard has been treated rigidly and un-critically, a model that has influenced how it is perceived by policy makers, first responders, engineers and academics and subsequently approaches to implementing and better understanding fire prevention, mitigation, response and recovery from the impacts of fire. Design/methodology/approach: This article deals with fire, arguing that its case can help imagine what liberation might mean within and for disaster studies. The study argues against dogmatic, outdated, technological and solution-focused perspectives that have constrained how fire and its effects are understood and discuss what disciplinary liberation could mean for the study of fire and its integration within DRR. The study's approach is based on the DRR Assemblage Theory, which points to fire as an issue at a societal level. Findings: The study explores the themes of fire and liberation through contributions and insights that have emerged through the authors' professional experience in research and practice. It offers an original and timely engagement with disaster studies through the lens of fire, an increasingly pertinent phenomenon for disaster scholars and practitioners alike. Originality/value: By drawing on the example of fire as a socio-technical-environmental phenomenon, this paper contributes a novel perspective on the intellectual and practical possibilities that can emerge from disciplinary liberation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the influence of different sign conventions for strains and stresses, i.e. the solid mechanics sign convention and the soil mechanics sign convention, on the form of governing partial differential equations (the static equilibrium equations and the continuity equation) used to describe the wave-induced cyclic response of a poro-elastic seabed due to propagation of a sinusoidal surface water-wave. Some selected analytical solutions, obtained by different authors and published in specialist literature in the form of complex functions describing the wave-induced pore-fluid pressure, effective normal stress and shear stress oscillations in the seabed, have been analysed and compared with each other mainly with respect to different sign conventions for stains and stresses and also with regard to different orientations of the positive vertical axis of the two-dimensional coordinate system and different directions of surface water-wave propagation. The performed analyses of the analytical solutions has indicated many inaccuracies, or even evident errors and exemplary mistakes of wrong-signed values of basic wave-induced response parameters (the shear stress in particular), thereby disqualifying these solutions and their final equations from practical engineering applications. Most of the mistakes found in the literature must be linked to authors' lack of understanding and consistency in an uniform application of a certain sign convention for strains and stresses in the soil matrix at both stages of mathematical formulation of the governing problem and correct interpretation of equations of the final analytical solution. The present paper, based mostly on a thorough literature review, ought to draw attention and arouse interest among coastal scientists and engineers in proper identification and use of the existing analytical solutions to the wave-induced cyclic seabed response - solutions which differ very often in the applied sign convention for stresses in the soil matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the vibration periodic property of Duffing oscillator with generalized initial conditions. Firstly, the undamped case is solved by Ji-Huan He’s frequency formulation; Secondly, the formulation is extended to the damped case. Numerical verification shows that the frequency formulation is mathematically simple and physically insightful and practically applicable. This paper paves a novel way for engineers to use the formulation to study nonlinear vibration system with ease and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of existing structures is raising a number of pertinent questions to the owners and engineers. Many structures built more than 50 years ago (even those built hundreds of years ago) usually no longer comply with safety requirements of current codes, which are typically addressed in new structures. This is not necessarily only caused by a poor original design or degradation with time, but it may be, for example, the consequence of increase in actions, reducing the level of reliability of a structure. This paper focuses on strategies to be adopted for existing structures which do not comply with code requirements for new constructions (e.g., to repair, to demolish, to rebuild, etc.) on the basis of a more holistic approach that includes economic, social, and environmental considerations. To that aim, first, a brief review of the background concepts on the reliability of structures is presented, highlighting the differences for new and existing structures. Following this analysis, suitable values for the reliability index (including sustainability considerations) are proposed, as well as tailored maintenance strategies. Finally, the paper presents a case study based on a real project to emphasize the benefits of adopting such a holistic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many applications, artificial neural networks are best trained for a task by following a curriculum, in which simpler concepts are learned before more complex ones. This curriculum can be hand-crafted by the engineer or optimised like other hyperparameters, by evaluating many curricula. However, this is computationally intensive and the hyperparameters are unlikely to generalise to new datasets. An attractive alternative, demonstrated in influential prior works, is that the network could choose its own curriculum by monitoring its learning. This would be particularly beneficial for continual learning, in which the network must learn from an environment that is changing over time, relevant both to practical applications and in the modelling of human development. In this paper we test the generality of this approach using a proof-of-principle model, training a network on two sequential tasks under static and continual conditions, and investigating both the benefits of a curriculum and the handicap induced by continuous learning. Additionally, we test a variety of prior task-switching metrics, and find that in some cases even in this simple scenario the a network is often unable to choose the optimal curriculum, as the benefits are sometimes only apparent with hindsight, at the end of training. We discuss the implications of the results for network engineering and models of human development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamified-integrated STEM is a technique that combines integrated STEM stages with gamification elements and can engage individuals in climate change communication. This paper presents a gamified-integrated STEM activity focused on global climate change. The activity includes gamified-integrated STEM instructional stages implemented in 6 lesson hours. The game elements used in the activity were time, rewards, points, badges, leaderboards, materials, stories, goals, and rules. Badges included: Decoders, Explorer, Meteorologist, Climatologist, Benevolent Koala, Scientist, and Engineer. The activity was designed for middle school students and aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Educators are encouraged to incorporate this pedagogical activity within their instructions to elucidate fundamental concepts related to the consequences of climate change. In doing so, teachers can promote student engagement, improve awareness, and refine problem-solving competencies pertinent to climate-centric challenges. The activity has been evaluated and recommendations for enhancement have been made to ensure optimal efficacy in cultivating gamification and a nuanced understanding of climate-related topics among learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturers perpetually adapt their systems to meet unforeseen events, new objectives, competition, and improved understanding of processes. In that human-directed work, models mediate an enduring relationship between production resources and engineers. Accommodating new understanding in the models controlling production can lead to more effective manufacturing. That work has previously been the province of quality programs such as Six Sigma, but is now fertile ground to study human-computer interaction about that enduring relationship mediated by models. Can AI augment human capability in the arcane work of formulating and refining models? This question is relevant to complex system engineering generally, not just manufacturing. In answering this question, this paper adapts Klein's flexecution for use in adaptable manufacturing systems. Theory flexecution, the methodical refinement of models, points to human-computer interactions that emphasize the roles of models, explanation, and machine agents that recognize the engineer's goals. This perspective article illustrates these ideas with an example of formulating models for production scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pragmatists are interested primarily not in representing a purportedly unchanging Reality but in articulating prophetic future possibilities on the basis of the values most venerated by a culture/society in the present. This makes pragmatism sound a little like 'Conceptual Engineering'. Conceptual engineers too are interested in transforming our ways of talking, which implies some notion of how such improvements are to be evaluated. Nevertheless, this paper argues that accounts of conceptual engineering that regard it as key to the project of elucidating an externalist semantics find it difficult to accommodate on their own terms the problem-phenomena taken to be of shared interest: regions of discourse where the demand for change are at their most pressing culturally. This difficulty takes the form of what I call the Conceptual Engineering Dilemma (CED), an inability to accommodate simultaneously the ethical and ameliorative dimensions of contestation. I argue that acknowledging the formalist commitments that undergird CED should make pragmatism more appealing to the practically-orientated analytic philosopher and conclude with a brief survey of some of the tools that it makes available for the pressing work of changing minds for the better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The later Carnap is usually cited as the first conceptual engineer – someone who argues that we can and should revise our concepts in order to make them fit for their purpose. This paper shows that there is an earlier, pragmatist, account of conceptual engineering and that today's conceptual engineers would do well to turn to it, rather than to Carnap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) is a swarm intelligence algorithm based on natural heuristics, which has gained considerable attention from researchers and engineers. However, WOA still has some limitations, including limited global search efficiency and a slow convergence rate. To address these issues, this paper presents an improved whale optimization algorithm with multiple strategies, called Dynamic Gain-Sharing Whale Optimization Algorithm (DGSWOA). Specifically, a Sine–Tent–Cosine map is first adopted to more effectively initialize the population, ensuring a more uniform distribution of individuals across the search space. Then, a gaining–sharing knowledge based algorithm is used to enhance global search capability and avoid falling into a local optimum. Finally, to increase the diversity of solutions, Dynamic Opposition-Based Learning is incorporated for population updating. The effectiveness of our approach is evaluated through comparative experiments on blackbox optimization benchmarking and two engineering application problems. The experimental results suggest that the proposed method is competitive in terms of solution quality and convergence speed in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architecture-Driven Modernization (ADM) is a special kind of reengineering that employs models along the process. The main ADM metamodel is the Knowledge Discovery Metamodel (KDM), which is a platform-independent metamodel able to represent several views of a system. Although a lot of research is currently focused on the reverse engineering phase of ADM, little has been devoted to the forward engineering one, mainly on the generation of Platform-Specific Models (PSMs) from KDM. The forward engineering phase is essential because it belongs to the end of the horseshoe model, completing the reengineering process. Besides, the lack of research and the absence of tooling support in this phase hinder the industrial adoption of ADM. Therefore, in this paper, we present a process for creating Transformation Engines (TEs) capable of transforming KDM instances in a chosen PSM. We highlight two main contributions in this work. The first is a process that software engineers can follow for building TEs capable of generating PSM instances (e.g., Java model, Python model, etc.) from KDM instances. Having that on their hands, modernization engineers can then use generators for generating language-specific source code from the PSM. The second is delivering a specific TE called RUTE-K2J, which is able to generate Java models from KDM models. The transformation rules of RUTE-K2J have been tested considering sets of common code structures that normally appear when modernizing systems. The test cases have shown that in this version of RUTE the transformation rules are able to correctly generate 92% of the source code submitted to the transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present scientific paper highlights the complex personality of the teacher, the man and one of the promoters of the Cadet INOVA exhibition - Professor Diplomat Engineer, Doctor Honoris Causa, Octavian Constantin BOLOGA, PhD. An academic and cultural personality recognized nationally and internationally, the tribute brings to the attention of young cadets examples of good scientific and civic practices carried out by the regretted professor. The paper is intended to be a tribute to the opener, trainer and path-maker of young thinking minds - Octavian Constantin BOLOGA - the man who marked the training of "heavy caliber" PhD students and scientific researchers who continue today, with discretion and professionalism, the scientific legacy left by their mentor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the technical and practical challenges faced during the conservation repair of a large 15th-century trussed roof structure of a Grade I listed church building. Urgent repairs were required after a section of ceiling plaster fell, after years of water ingress, resulting in tight programme and budget constraints, with the added pressure of a global pandemic. The paper describes the early stages of the contract, with surprising discoveries such as a hive of over 40,000 honeybees, bat roosts, a secondary roof structure, concrete and extensive deathwatch beetle decay. The engineer's economic solutions to complex structural problems are explained, as well as architect designed details to address ongoing causes of decay, such as new ventilated eaves and ridge details. This paper sets out to describe how technical challenges were overcome, but also explains how opportunities were taken to introduce new oak carvings and lead details, to leave a legacy and add to the historic narrative of the building. This paper will be of particular interest to anyone working on ecclesiastical or listed building structures, where there has been a history of poor maintenance or previous repairs. It should offer technical information relating to a wide range of traditional building trades, but particularly structural repairs of historic timber structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has had massive infrastructure projects development to meet the increasing demand for public services and foster socioeconomic transformation. As a result, there has been an influx of Chinese international contractors (CICs) in SSA in order to close the infrastructure gap. Despite the significant involvement and active participation of CICs in the global construction industry, clearly few studies have investigated the performance of CICs in SSA, and their performance is not very well understood. The goal of this paper is to provide insights into the performance of CICs in SSA using a case study of an engineering-procure-construct (EPC) hydropower project in Uganda, East Africa. A literature review was carried out followed by a case study analysis including interviews with the owner's key senior project participants. Performance is evaluated based on five criteria: schedule; change orders; quality; health, safety, and environment (HSE); and owner satisfaction. The findings indicate poor performance of the CIC with 20% schedule overrun, breach of change order procedures, poor quality of work, high rate of incidents and fatalities, and low level of owner's satisfaction. The findings and lessons learned, though specific to this case study, will be useful for public agencies in developing countries, particularly in SSA, administering similar contracts and projects with CICs. The paper established the poor performance of a Chinese international contractor (CIC) on a hydropower engineering-procure-construct (EPC) project in Uganda, based on five project performance/success criteria: schedule; change orders; quality; health, safety, and environment (HSE); and owner satisfaction. Ultimately, the outcomes of this paper provide practical insights for industry practitioners on performance evaluation of CICs executing projects using EPC project delivery methods. Lessons learned and best practice strategies are also put forward to mitigate the identified performance shortcomings of CICs in future projects and improve the chances of project success. What is truly important, in the end, is owners dedicating sufficient resources for pre-project planning including the selection of competent and credible EPC contractors and the owner's engineer to ensure enhanced project contract administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]