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Indoor spaces are essential to most humans' lives. Furthermore, in many cases, buildings are shared indoor environments that contain diverse people and resources. Spatial patterns of use are important but under‐examined aspects of human‐building interactions. This study leverages perspectives from human‐environment geography and mechanical engineering to examine spatial patterns of use within a network of shared indoor spaces in an academic building at a research university in the United States. Here we ask: (1) What spaces and resources do building users value? and (2) How are values associated with observed measures of use? We hypothesise that spatial patterns of use follow an ideal free distribution (IFD), a common ecological model of resource use. To test this, we define measures of value and use derived from mixed qualitative (n = 50) and survey‐based social data (n = 196) and data from a building‐based system of accelerometers. Our analyses provide some support for the IFD hypothesis. We discuss the implications of this finding and potential new avenues for geographic research in shared indoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing frequency of high-intensity hurricanes and associated flooding can expose residential structures to severe moisture intrusion and initiate fungal biodeterioration of structural elements. This state-of-the-art review discusses the effects of moisture intrusion from hurricane events and subsequent biodeterioration in residential wood-frame structures in the southeast United States. The review is structured to follow the timeline of progressive biodeterioration. Moisture intrusion during the hazard event is considered through post-hazard damage assessments and experimental efforts. Fungal decay inception and propagation are considered from a plant pathology view, including the limited engineering literature on the mechanical effects of decay. The long-term impacts of biodeterioration on housing and residents are explored through a social-science based discussion of pre-hazard risks and post-disaster recovery. Additionally, recommendations are suggested to prevent and mitigate wood degradation. The review found that little effort has been conducted at the scale of timber framed structures to evaluate the effects of biodeterioration from a structural engineering viewpoint, nor have existing efforts considered the long-term effects of wood rot on housing availability or health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mark the golden anniversary of the History and Heritage Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the society commissioned I Chronicles of Mechanical Engineering in the United States i . Chronicles of Mechanical Engineering in the United States Edited by Thomas H. Fehring and Terry S. Reynolds. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of this article is to bring together a summary of research on motivation of scientists and engineers in combination with data from interviews with ten scientists and engineers in a large research and development laboratory. Those interviewed were managers, who functioned on various levels. In order to present this summary, the device of a hypothetical clinical study of one George Engineer was chosen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate demand forecasting for new technology products is a key factor in the success of a business. We propose a way to forecasting a new product’s diffusion through technology diffusion and interest diffusion. Technology diffusion and interest diffusion are measured by the volume of patent citations and web search traffic, respectively. We apply the proposed method to forecast the sales of hybrid cars and industrial robots in the US market. The results show that that technology diffusion, as represented by patent citations, can explain long-term sales for hybrid cars and industrial robots. On the other hand, interest diffusion, as represented by web search traffic, can help to improve the predictability of market sales of hybrid cars in the short-term. However, interest diffusion is difficult to explain the sales of industrial robots due to the different market characteristics. Finding indicates our proposed model can relatively well explain the diffusion of consumer goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite known health disparities for sexual minorities, few studies have described sexual function by sexual orientation using a robust approach to measurement of sexual function. We compared recent sexual function and satisfaction by sexual orientation among English-speaking US adults. Methods and findings: Cross-sectional surveys were administered by KnowledgePanel® (GfK), an online panel that uses address-based probability sampling and is representative of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US population. Data were collected in 2013 from the general population (n = 3314, 35% response rate) and in 2014 from self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults (n = 1011, 50% response rate). Sexual function and satisfaction were measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® Sexual Function and Satisfaction measure version 2.0 (PROMIS SexFS v2). The PROMIS SexFS v2 is a comprehensive, customizable measurement system with evidence for validity in diverse populations. A score of 50 (SD 10) on each domain corresponds to the average for US adults sexually active in the past 30 days. We adjusted all statistics for the complex sample designs and report differences within each sex where the 95% CIs do not overlap, corresponding to p<0.01. Among US men who reported any sexual activity in the past 30 days, there were no differences in erectile function or orgasm-ability. Compared to heterosexual men, sexual minority men reported higher oral dryness and lower orgasm-pleasure and satisfaction. Compared to heterosexual men, gay men reported lower interest, higher anal discomfort and higher oral discomfort. Among sexually active women, there were no differences in the domains of vulvar discomfort-clitoral, orgasm-pleasure, or satisfaction. Compared to heterosexual women, sexual minority women reported higher oral dryness. Lesbian women reported lower vaginal discomfort than other women; lesbian women reported higher lubrication and orgasm-ability than heterosexual women. Bisexual women reported higher interest, higher vulvar discomfort-labial and higher anal discomfort than other women, as well as higher oral discomfort compared to heterosexual women. Conclusions: Recent sexual function and satisfaction differed by sexual orientation among US adults. Sexual minority men and women had decrements in domains of sexual function that have not traditionally been included in multi-dimensional self-report measures. Clinicians should make themselves aware of their patients’ sexual concerns and recognize that sexual minority patients may be more vulnerable to certain sexual difficulties than heterosexual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcontroller is a required course in most Electrical, Computer, and Mechanic Engineering (Technology) programs at U.S. universities. Most engineering courses (e.g., microcontrollers), by nature, introduce abstract concepts, definitions, and models, and use primarily lectures and readings (words, symbols) to transmit information. This traditional engineering educational method has its unique advantages but also serious shortages. In this paper, we analyze the features of the traditional engineering education method and investigate two major reasons that may cause students not to learn engineering curricula, and try to remedy them by proposing an interactive simulator-based pedagogical (ISP) approach for enhancing the teaching and learning process, without compromising the depth or breadth of course materials. Demonstration examples are presented. The effectiveness of the ISP approach is evaluated from both the questionnaire-based assessment and the outcome-based assessment. The ISP approach can be incorporated into a variety of educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a dataset from universities in the U.S. that includes over 90,000 first-time-in-college students and over 26,000 transfer students who majored in engineering, this work describes the demographics and outcomes for students starting in and transferring into Mechanical Engineering (ME). This aims to inform the decision making of faculty, department heads, and deans. Although men consistently outnumber women in ME, the rates of matriculation and six-year graduation vary by race/ ethnicity and gender. Retention is higher in ME than in the aggregate of all engineering majors for Asian, White, and Black students, but not for Hispanic students. While about half of ME starters leave, most are replaced by switchers and transfers. Black males are noticeably absent from this 'replacement' population. Black males are also the least likely to stick with ME through graduation. Asian females are the most likely to graduate in ME. Pathways of ME starters and ME graduates are illustrated. Nearly half of all ME graduates started somewhere other than ME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw from the authors' experiences, as women teaching Communication in a College of Engineering and mechanical engineering students' evaluations, to highlight student resistance to both practices and bodies deemed "feminine." Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine how the masculine discipline of engineering might construct a learning environment that is incompatible with feminist ideals. This is illuminated when engineering students are required to learn communication skills from female instructors. Findings – The authors' analysis suggests that students' resistance to communication instruction is gendered. Students often constructed hierarchical relationships where communication was considered "soft" in relation to the "hard" science of engineering instead of integral to the discipline and profession. Students resisted by expressing a lack of utility of information, devaluing feedback and instruction, degrading communication teachers, and questioning their bodies. Originality/value – The paper discusses implications of a gendered educational context and suggests ways interdisciplinary instruction can be utilized to enhance gender diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have not been many studies on the factors that affect chest deflection, although the US NCAP thoracic injury criterion was recently shifted from the 3-msec clip to chest deflection. This study explored these factors and proposed a design methodology for the factors to minimize chest deflection. Because injuries can become severe if the driver crashes against the vehicle interior, this study also sought a solution using a penalty function to prevent crashes with the interior and minimize injuries. First, a MADYMO model was made to simulate US NCAP and EURO NCAP tests by one-to-one and stochastic verifications. Second, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to find the major factors that affect chest deflection. Lastly, the factors identified via the sensitivity analysis were optimized to propose design guidelines that helped vehicles receive high star ratings in US NCAP and EURO NCAP tests and helped minimize the possibility of hard contact between the driver and the vehicle interior by utilizing a penalty function and the Taguchi method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on several job openings in the field of materials science and engineering in the U.S. One opening is for Senior Development Engineer at the University of California, Irvine. One opening is for Infrared Imaging Scientist at Agiltron Inc. based in Massachusetts. One opening is for faculty positions in the field of mechanical engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In this study, Undergraduate Education Program and Mechanical Engineering Education in the USA are emphasized. Some universities of U.S.A. are investigated, compared with the Undergraduate Curriculum of universities in Turkey and then the differences are evaluated. While comparing, courses are collected in four main categories which are Basic Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Social Sciences. Total credits of courses in each category arc compared for the mentioned countries. At the end of the examination, the largest difference is determined in the total credits of Social Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal axis washing machines are water and energy efficient and becoming popular in the USA. Unlike a vertical axis washer, these do not have an agitator and depend solely on tumbling for the agitation of laundry during the wash cycle. However, due to the constant shifting of laundry during washing, the load distribution is often unbalanced during the high speed spin cycle. We present a displacement-based sensing method to detect unbalance early while the spin rate (rpm) is well below the resonance frequency so that corrective actions may be taken prior to the high speed spin cycle. Experimental and analytical characterizations of the sensor configuration are presented. Results show that the displacement sensor is more appropriate than an accelerometer for this application and offer the potential for a simple, reliable, low cost detection of unbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports a design and building process of a net-zero-energy modular house, named ElementHouse, which was entered for the 2007 Solar Decathlon competition that was organized by the U.S. Department of Energy. This paper discusses the development of the ElementHouse from its initial concept to the actual construction, which integrated multi-disciplinary knowledge of architecture, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. By employing computer-aided simulation tools, several design approaches were developed to achieve the optimal balance among function, aesthetics, economy, and energy—a challenge in many sustainable building designs. A simplified energy model helped to form the building configuration at the preliminary design stage by showing how energy use is affected by various parameters, leading to optimization studies that provided design guidelines towards an energy-efficient building envelope and opening design. Energy modelling also estimated the annual energy use and electricity generation, as well as the costs associated with long-term operation of the house. The energy demand estimate and its daily power profile helped to design the photovoltaic (PV) system. The modular configuration of the building and its roof structure was then iteratively altered to accommodate the PV panels in such a way as to generate the most power and to facilitate interstate transportation of ElementHouse. With the progress of the design process, detailed energy simulation using EnergyPlus provided more accurate estimates of power use and generation and, coupled with daylighting simulation performed with Radiance, permitted finalizing the building envelope, opening, and electric lighting design. The building envelope embraced the passive and low energy philosophy to minimize the annual heating and cooling load and to optimize natural lighting. By illustrating the whole picture of ElementHouse design, this paper discusses a way of effectively designing and building a comfortable and affordable solar house. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author discusses on the engineering graduates of Design and Human Environment curriculum at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He compared mechanical engineering curricula from past to present on three major universities in the U.S. His investigations presented the tables of courses offered and list of students took the course and a diagram of tradition and modern approach to gain engineering experience. His hypothesis confirmed that school curriculum has significantly changed.

The article provides an insight to various features and configurations of multitasking machining (MTM) systems and presents several application-based selection guidelines in the U.S. It reveals that MTM systems have become sophisticated as well as expensive capital equipment and highlights that the lack of practical guidelines for the selection of these machines can contribute to significant undesirable machine attributes, application mismatch, and longer return of investment. It develops a taxonomy of MTM systems based on the number of axes of motions, tooling and spindle systems.

This research effort examined current mechanical engineering educational programmes in America and Australia to determine the degree of holistic, systems thinking of each programme. Faculty from ten American universities and ten Australian universities participated in online surveys and interviews. Resulting data analysis and interpretation suggest that holistic, systems thinking is present in both American and Australian engineering educational programmes, although it is more prevalent in Australian programmes. Specific examples of educational opportunities (courses, projects, extracurricular activities, research experiences) that integrate complex systems study are described in the full paper. This study is currently limited a small sample size within two countries, but it would be very useful to expand the study to a larger population and to include European sites to gain a fuller picture of the state of holistic, systems thinking in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attribute focus in engineering education now adopted by the engineering education accrediting bodies of the US, UK and Australia is based on meeting the assumed needs of professional practice. It is associated with an increasing expectation by employers of work-ready graduates rather than relying on subsequent work-based learning and experience to develop many of the essential professional practice attributes. Yet the scope of the mechanical engineering profession is broad and views of practitioners contributing to debate on attribute requirements are largely influenced by their own often unique professional formation. In addition, the formative development of the profession in Australia has been significantly influenced by 19th and 20th century UK and US practices, although historically the industrial profile of Australia has been strikingly different. An analysis of current industry distribution of Australian, UK and US mechanical engineers presented in this paper shows continuing, although less marked, differences. To develop a clearer perception of the profession in Australia, its educational formation, and operational environment, this paper provides a concise study of the formative development of the profession, and presents a breakdown of the industry sectors in which they are currently employed. The effects of momentous global changes in engineering employment and formation over recent decades are also discussed. Recent changes in engineering employment have included major structural changes to organisations, accelerating technical and educational developments and mounting societal expectations making it imperative that attributes be attuned to the new engineering paradigm as increasing demands are placed on our graduates. This paper provides an essential foundation for ongoing debate and analysis of attribute needs related to this broadly based engineering discipline. Although presented from an Australian perspective, many issues discussed are applicable worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the use and importance of mechanical seals in various industries in the U.S. Description of mechanical seals; Overview of the process involved in mechanical seal operations; Citation of common seal metallic materials.

Professional engineering societies which are based in the United States, such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME, now ASME International) are recognizing that their codes of ethics must apply to engineers working throughout the world. An examination of the ethical code of the ASME International shows that its provisions pose many problems of application, especially in societies outside the United States. In applying the codes effectively in the international environment, two principal issues must be addressed. First, some Culture Transcending Guidelines must be identified and justified. Nine such guidelines are identified. Second, some methods for applying the codes to particular situations must be identified. Three such methods are specification, balancing, and finding a creative middle way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on topics discussed during the meeting held for the mechanical engineering sector on February 25, 2003 in Auburn University, Alaska. Effort made by educational institutions for undergraduate engineering education improvement; Opportunities provided by rapid advances in science and technology; Need to redefine the mechanical engineering discipline.

The educational beliefs of seven mechanical engineering academics are examined in the context of their department and the history of the engineering education. Despite commonalities at one level, key differences were found among the academics' educational beliefs about the nature of the profession, learning goals for students, teaching approaches, and their analysis of student difficulties. Illustrative case examples are included. It is concluded that the faculty beliefs found in this department of mechanical engineering recapitulate major developments in and professional differences about the field. Implications for research on teaching and educational development are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents empirical data to demonstrate that during the Progressive period in the U.S., mechanical engineers used labor unrest as a rhetorical device to increase public interest in management systems in the engineering literature. Views of industrialists on the systematization of management; Reasons for using data from periodicals; Objection of manufacturers to management systems.

Presents a case study to illustrate how outcomes-based assessment tools can be adapted and applied to develop a continuous quality improvement (CQI) process for an undergraduate mechanical engineering program. Mechanical engineering curriculum at the University of South Carolina, Columbia; Need for the systemic and systematic reform of educational programs.

Describes the use of the scenario assignment tool in an upper division Mechanical Engineering course at the University of California-Berkeley. Challenge regarding finding effective qualitative tools to assess students' skills and knowledge of engineering practices; Learning outcomes associated with the scenario tool; Identification of students' strengths and weaknesses.

Presents information on the mechanical engineering program at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California. Overview of the curriculum development; Details on the curricular threads; Appropriateness as template for the evaluation individual engineering programs.

Rapid escalation of fieldwork costs during the past years has required archaeologists to pursue innovative methods for maximizing the amount of fieldwork for the funds available. One of the more labor-intensive aspects of fieldwork is the recovery of cultural materials through the use of manual shaker screens. During the past several years, several archaeologists in the midwestern United States have utilized slightly modified, commercially-manufactured agricultural machines for this task. The result is a very cost-efficient method of artifact recovery which drastically reduces the amount of time spent at this task, allowing excavators to spend much more of their field time in excavation and data recording. It has also proved to be very nondestructive to artifacts passing through the machine. Instructions fir modifying and using the machine are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of Frank J. Malina, engineer, is presented. He studied mechanical engineering at the Texas A&M University and pursued a Doctorate degree in Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology. He married Marjorie Duckworth in 1949 and had two sons. He worked as a professor at the California Institute of Technology in California. His awards and citations include the Medal of Honor in 1970, and Distinguished Alumnus Award in Texas A&M University.

Metal-forming operations such as extrusion, drawing, and rolling offer many opportunities for operations improvement through better process understanding and improved planning practices. This paper addresses medium-term planning issues in aluminum tube manufacturing operations. First, we identify certain distinctive characteristics-the inherent process flexibility, close interdependence between successive stages, and economies of scale-of metal-forming operations, and identify performance trade- offs across stages. To exploit the strategic potential of process planning, it must be closely coupled with process engineering efforts, and must simultaneously consider the facility's entire product mix. In contrast, current process engineering efforts are mainly reactive, focusing on fixing problems at individual operations and with less emphasis on the interactions between successive stages. Similarly, planning activities are incremental, considering only individual products or orders one at a time rather than the entire range of product sizes to be manufactured. By working together, planners and engineers can develop effective process plans that exploit process capability, and adopt proactive process improvement strategies that focus on critical constraints. We describe a medium-term planning model to select standard extrusion sizes, illustrate the close linkages between planning and engineering activities, and identify research opportunities spanning management science, materials science, and mechanical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the need to promote equality in engineering departments especially in mechanical and electrical engineering in which women have been underrepresented in the U.S. He argues on the importance of disseminating accurate portrayals of engineering and that its perception should be improved to increase the number of students. He also indicates that having female engineering mentors can help female students aspire of becoming part of the field.

The article comments on a research article on the cumulative impact of changes in mechanical and electrical construction projects in the U.S. Key issues discussed include reliable quantitative tools for the analysis of the unexpected effects of cumulative changes in mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as an assessment of a method proposed for the calculation of productivity losses caused by the changes.

The article presents the author's reactions to a critique of his research article on the cumulative impact of project changes for mechanical and electrical construction in the U.S. Key issues discussed include the stipulations of public contract law addressing changes in mechanical and electric construction projects and the compensation due to contractors if cost overruns are incurred as a result of the project changes.