Numerical Construction Research Articles

Student autonomy and Learning Analytics: Philosophical Considerations for Designing Feedback Tools

LA-based feedback applications are becoming increasingly important in higher education institutions (HEIs). However, the impact of such systems on student autonomy is contested in parts of the research debate, where hopes and ambitions of learner autonomy and self-regulated learning are confronted with fears that learners are being reduced to mere numeric constructs and are caught up in neoliberal demands to self-optimize. We explore these challenges from the debate with a focus on automated, LA feedback systems in HEIs and their impact on student autonomy. As we show, such technologies must be seen within a field of tension between heteronomous (i.e., contextual and societal) demands and autonomous, self-organized learning. Aiming to bridge the critical parts of the debate with those that highlight the potential of such technologies, we build upon meaningful conceptions of limited, situated autonomy and explore what it would mean for such feedback systems to strengthen, not undermine student autonomy. To make the concept of student autonomy applicable, we propose a list of philosophical design considerations for LA-based feedback systems. We believe that this will offer a philosophically informed intellectual tool to address common concerns raised by parts of the debate and that it can encourage further discussion on recognizing, promoting, and preserving student autonomy in higher education.

Applicability of Health, Safety, and Welfare Law Relating to the Construction Industry in Sri Lanka

Construction is particularly a high-risk industry, with a higher rate of accidents compared to other sectors. In Sri Lanka specifically, numerous construction accidents result from neglecting safety protocols stipulated by relevant authorities. Despite the presence of various Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) legislations in Sri Lanka, the incidence of accidents has been steadily increasing. Hence, this research aims to examine the Health, Safety, and Welfare Law pertinent to the Construction Industry, proposing strategies to improve the effectiveness of the current laws. It includes a review of primary legislation governing HSW aspects in Sri Lanka's Construction Industry, such as the Factories Ordinance No. 45 of 1942, Workmen's Compensation Ordinance of 1934, Shops and Office Employees Act No.19 of 1954, Wages Boards Ordinance No.27 of 1941, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act No. 15 of 1958, and Employees Trust Fund (ETF) Act No.46 of 1980. Additionally, the research addresses the significant challenges and issues encountered by stakeholders in the Construction Industry when adhering to these laws. This study utilized a mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The analysis utilized the RII method, mean and standard deviation assessments, and content analysis. Results revealed a lower average awareness level among respondents concerning these legislations, and significant variability in their understanding. Notably, despite previous suggestions to update existing legislation, this study highlighted that while the laws have been amended, stakeholders remain unaware of these amendments.

Implementation of magnetic compressional effects at arbitrary wavelength in the global version of GENE

The global tokamak code GENE has been extended including the effect of magnetic compression caused by B1,|| turbulent fluctuations of the magnetic field parallel to the equilibrium one. This paper outlines the basic structure of the algorithm, valid at arbitrary wavelengths of the gyrokinetic fluctuations, with emphasis on the numerical construction of the so-called “gyrodisk-integral” operators necessary for the model. The numerical implementation is successfully verified against radially local simulations, recovering excellent agreement. Global tokamak simulations are presented as well. The upgrade enables studying a large variety of new physical scenarios at high plasma-β, such as kinetic ballooning modes, MHD-like modes or the interaction of B1,|| with fast particle modes, reducing the gap between gyrokinetic models and physically realistic systems.

The environment is somewhat alike for different adaptive motivations: Machine learning reveals optimal motivational contexts involve collective support of parents, teachers, and peers

Achievement motivation is fundamental for human flourishing. While numerous adaptive motivational constructs have been proposed, they are often examined in isolation without considering their shared contextual roots. To identify the contextual factors underlying different forms of adaptive achievement motivation, we conducted comprehensive analyses by integrating a global student assessment dataset (n = 77,068 middle-school students across 19 countries, Mage = 15.79). We conducted a literature review and identified 27 potential predictors theoretically and empirically related to achievement motivation, including immediate contextual factors available in the dataset and distal contextual factors available from varying sources. Results from machine learning analyses showed convergent patterns of the contextual predictors for adaptive motivation (self-efficacy, learning goals, and task mastery orientation). Specifically, the optimal environment for adaptive motivation is characterized by the collective positive influence of parents, teachers, and peers, rather than depending on one exclusively. In comparison, the pattern of other less adaptive motivation constructs (fixed mindsets, performance goals, and fear of failure) is idiosyncratic. These findings provide synthesized evidence consolidating achievement motivation research, highlighting the shared contextual foundations for various adaptive motivations. This integrative approach clarifies that the optimal motivational contexts involve the collective social support of parents, teachers, and peers.

Heritage Diplomacy, Neo-Ottomanism, and a Local Quest for a New Place of Worship: The Politics of Mosque Building in Batumi, Georgia

ABSTRACT Over the past few decades, Turkey has funded numerous construction and building rehabilitation initiatives in foreign countries. Amidst such efforts, this article scrutinises the implications of Turkey’s heritage diplomacy tied to Ottoman architecture and how it has the potential to overshadow the desires of local populations. It points to one such case in Batumi, Georgia, where a replica of the 1868 Aziziye Mosque was proposed as a part of Georgia-Turkey cross-border heritage exchanges in the 2010s. Here, Turkey’s fostering of the project exacerbated local Muslim Georgian efforts to construct a mosque of their own in the city. The case demonstrates how heritage diplomacy can land poorly, shining light on a range of broader domestic impacts to urban planning and national identity, electoral politics and community social cohesion. Instead of seeing local Muslims as passive bystanders, the article demonstrates how they asserted their rights, building a temporary open-air mosque and redirecting the focus back towards their particular needs. The findings are based on a long-term study of the politics of urban development in Batumi using qualitative methods. They contribute to a growing body of scholarship in critical heritage studies, highlighting connections to public policy, diplomatic relations, and religious activism.

Temporary Circular External Fixation for Spanning the Traumatized Ankle Joint.

Temporary ankle-spanning circular fixation aims to provide osseous stability while (1) allowing access to and recovery of the traumatized soft-tissue envelope and (2) facilitating safe, comfortable, and clinically relevant cross-sectional imaging for surgical planning. It is most commonly utilized in a "span-scan-plan" treatment strategy in cases of peri-articular fractures around the ankle2. Conventional monolateral fixators are prone to morbidity at the half-pin sites in the foot and variation in construct stability. Temporary ankle-spanning circular external fixation of the traumatized ankle joint can mitigate these issues. A circular external fixator construct is assembled beginning with a single tibial ring that is fixed to the tibia by half-pins that are spread on either side of the ring and forming a "virtual ring block." A foot ring is attached via 2 crossed tensioned fine wires in the calcaneum and a single midfoot fine wire in order to prevent an equinus deformity. The tibial virtual ring block and the foot ring are interconnected by 3 polyaxial "rapid-adjust struts" that are evenly distributed around the limb. The fracture is then reduced, and the polyaxial rapid-adjust struts are locked1. Numerous constructs have been proposed to optimally immobilize the ankle joint while also allowing limb elevation and access to the ankle for soft-tissue care3-6. A commonly utilized construct is the monolateral "bar-and-clamp" spanning external fixator, which relies on half-pin fixation in the foot that may induce bone lysis, result in pin-site infections, and prevent weight-bearing. Calcaneal half-pins are particularly troublesome and can lead to adjacent lysis, instability, and potential loss of initial reduction as a result of the cancellous bone quality. The principal objective of temporary joint-spanning external fixation is to realign the traumatized joint and to maintain this reduction until definitive surgery while facilitating soft-tissue treatment and surgical planning7-11. This strategy forms the first step in the "span-scan-plan" approach to pilon fractures described by Sirkin et al.2. Multiple subsequent studies have confirmed the superiority of external fixation over splinting for initial soft-tissue care following distal tibial and ankle trauma12,13. Temporary circular external fixation has been shown to outperform monolateral fixation in terms of both the adequacy of the initial reduction and the maintenance of this reduction1. Harrison et al. demonstrated that temporary circular fixation of the traumatized ankle yielded 100% good or excellent initial reduction compared with 91% for monolateral fixation. This initial reduction was also better maintained by circular fixator constructs compared with monolateral ones (96% versus 78%). Placement and orientation of the rings should take into account the zone of injury, access for orthoplastic procedures, and the maximum length of adjustable struts.Orthogonal frame application allows the best biomechanical environment for stabilization of fracture and/or dislocation of the tibiotalar joint to facilitate soft-tissue care. Care should be taken in the operating room to ensure orthogonal mounting of both the proximal and the distal ring to their respective bone segments.Avoid transverse fine wires in the calcaneus to prevent translation while in the frame; consider the use of tensioned olive wires to further protect against translation.Place the midfoot wire through the base of the metatarsals or along the cuneiforms to maximize fixation.Take care to avoid placing the ankle or forefoot in equinus. CEF = circular external fixatorPAD = pronation adductionPER = pronation external rotationSAD = supination adductionSER = supination external rotation.

Development of a Golden Gate Assembly-Based Genetic Toolbox for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Its Application for Engineering Monoterpenoid Biosynthesis.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a food-grade lactic acid bacterium widely used in the food and beverage industry. Recently, this probiotic organism has been applied as a biofactory for the production of pharmaceutical and food-related compounds, but existing promoters and expression vectors for the genetic engineering of L. plantarum rely on inefficient cloning strategies and are usually not well-characterized. We therefore developed a modular and standardized Golden Gate Assembly-based toolbox for the de novo assembly of shuttle vectors from Escherichia coli to L. plantarum. A collection of the most relevant genetic parts, e.g., different origins of replication and promoters, was incorporated in our toolbox and thoroughly characterized by flow cytometry and the fluorescence assay. Standardized fusion sites allow combining the genetic part freely into a plasmid in one step. This approach allows for the high-throughput assembly of numerous constructs in a standardized genetic context, thus improving the efficiency and predictability of metabolic engineering in L. plantarum. Using our toolbox, we were able to produce the aroma compounds linalool and geraniol in L. plantarum by extending its native mevalonate pathway with plant-derived monoterpenoid synthases.

A New Notion of Convergence Defined by The Fibonacci Sequence: A Novel Framework and Its Tauberian Conditions

The Fibonacci sequence has broad applications in mathematics, where its inherent patterns and properties are utilized to solve various problems. The sequence often emerges in areas involving growth patterns, series, and recursive relationships. It is known for its connection to the golden ratio, which appears in numerous natural phenomena and mathematical constructs. In this research paper, we introduce new concepts of convergence and summability for sequences of real and complex numbers by using Fibonacci sequences, called Δ-Fibonacci statistical convergence, strong Δ-Fibonacci summability, and Δ-Fibonacci statistical summability. And, these new concepts are supported by several significant theorems, properties, and relations in the study. Furthermore, for this type of convergence, we introduce one-sided Tauberian conditions for sequences of real numbers and two-sided Tauberian conditions for sequences of complex numbers.

A psychological mechanism for the development of anxiety.

Although numerous behavioral constructs have been proposed to account for anxiety disorders, how these disorders develop within an individual has been difficult to predict. In this perspective, I selectively review clinical and experimental evidence suggesting that avoidance (i.e., safety) behavior increases beliefs of threat or fear. The experimental evidence has been replicated numerous times, with different parameters, and shows that when human participants emit avoidance responses in the presence of a neutral stimulus, they later show heightened expectations of threat in the presence of the neutral stimulus. I interpret these findings as resulting from prediction errors as anticipated by the Rescorla-Wagner model, although other animal learning theories can also predict the phenomenon. I discuss some implications and offer a few novel predictions. The analysis presented here sheds light on a phenomenon of theoretical and clinical relevance which is accommodated by basic associative learning theory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Unicortical button fixation provides higher strength compared with transosseous repair for subscapularis tendon in total shoulder arthroplasty

Subscapularis tendon (SSc) dysfunction after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) results in poor functional outcomes. There have been numerous SSc repair constructs tested biomechanically and clinically; however, none has been demonstrated as superior. Newer techniques and implants have emerged but have not been fully tested. We hypothesized that the unicortical button (UB) fixation would provide significantly improved restoration of the anatomic footprint and biomechanical properties compared with transosseous (TO) repair of the SSc. A digital footprint of SSc humeral insertion was obtained in 6 pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders using a 3-dimensional digitizer. A complete SSc tear was created, and each pair of shoulders was randomized to either SSc repair with UB or TO repair. Each specimen underwent a cyclic loading protocol, followed by pull to failure. The failure load, elongation at failure, gapping failure, number of cycles until failure, the load at key gapping points (1 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm), and the failure mode were recorded using high-resolution video recording. Three-dimensional surfaces of the insertion footprint and repair site were obtained, and surface areas were calculated using a custom MATLAB script and laser scanner. Paired t tests were conducted to compare differences between the 2 repair groups. Failure load was significantly higher in the UB group (382.4 N±56.5 N) than in the TO group (253.6 N±103.4 N, P=.005). TO repair provided higher gapping at failure (28.8 mm±8.2 mm) than UB repair (10.4 mm±6.8 mm, P=.0017). UB repair had significantly higher load at the 1-mm, 5-mm, and 10-mm gapping than TO repair, with P=.042, P=.033, and P=.0076, respectively. There were no significant differences in elongation failure, the difference in footprint area from native to repair states, or the percentage of the restored footprint area between the groups (P=.26, P=.18, and P=.21, respectively). The UB fixation showed a significantly lower gap at failure, higher failure load and number of cycles until failure, and higher gap loads than the traditional TO repair for SSc. Although more clinical research is necessary, the UB fixation that uses cortical bone presents promising results.

Non-separable multidimensional multiresolution wavelets: A Douglas-Rachford approach

After re-casting the wavelet construction problem as a feasibility problem with constraints arising from the requirements of compact support, smoothness and orthogonality, the Douglas–Rachford algorithm is employed in the search for multi-dimensional, non-separable, compactly supported, smooth, orthogonal, multiresolution wavelets in the case of translations along the integer lattice and isotropic dyadic dilations. An algorithm for the numerical construction of such wavelets is described. By applying the algorithm, new one-dimensional wavelets are produced as well as genuinely non-separable two-dimensional wavelets.

LEVERAGING LEAN SIX SIGMA TECHNIQUES FOR ACCELERATED ON-SITE CASTING: FACTORS AND STRATEGIES

In the construction industry, issues such as excessive waste, rising costs, and strained relationships are prevalent. A pressing matter of plunged casting time during mass concreting activities has engulfed numerous construction contracting firms around the world. The increased time of concrete utilization not only risks the commencement of the heat of hydration but also initiates the setting time of concrete. The use of admixtures has often been a boon to curb this situation but human errors are almost impossible to escape from as inappropriate dosage of the admixtures can result in changing the properties of the concrete, affects the quality and pumping ability, which ultimately reducing the speed of casting and elapsed schedules. Other factors on site, though minor, vastly affect the pumping efficiency and causes considerable delays in the casting which not only affects the schedules but also causes time overrun and affects the productivity at site. The focus of this study is to address the issues encountered at the site that directly affect the speed of on-site casting and corrective actions.

Flexible parsing, interpretation, and editing of technical sequences with splitcode.

Next-generation sequencing libraries are constructed with numerous synthetic constructs such as sequencing adapters, barcodes, and unique molecular identifiers. Such sequences can be essential for interpreting results of sequencing assays, and when they contain information pertinent to an experiment, they must be processed and analyzed. We present a tool called splitcode, that enables flexible and efficient parsing, interpreting, and editing of sequencing reads. This versatile tool facilitates simple, reproducible preprocessing of reads from libraries constructed for a large array of single-cell and bulk sequencing assays. The splitcode program is available at http://github.com/pachterlab/splitcode.

Issues Related to Numerous Construction Techniques Practices In the Southern-Western Part of Rural Rajasthan

Issues Related to Numerous Construction Techniques Practices In the Southern-Western Part of Rural Rajasthan

Experimental study on vertical seepage of coarse-grained calcareous sand

Calcareous sand, a special geotechnical material employed as foundation fill in numerous reef constructions, exhibits susceptibility to seepage deformation in complex marine dynamic environments. Its permeability characteristics are notably distinct from conventional terrestrial soil, making the understanding of these properties critical for further applications. This study conducted vertical seepage tests on coarse-grained calcareous sand samples with varying coefficients of uniformity (Cu), coefficients of curvature (Cc), relative compactions (Dr), and soil skeletal structures. These tests utilized a custom-designed apparatus, supplemented with image binarization and particle image velocimetry techniques. Based on the results, the findings revealed a three-stage vertical seepage process: steady seepage, hydraulic adjustment, and seepage failure. The permeability coefficient k20 of the calcareous sand samples was observed to transition from a decreasing to an increasing trend with rising Cu and Cc values. Moreover, the k20 of tightly compacted and medium-tightly compacted samples exceeded that during the steady seepage stage upon entering the second stage, while the opposite holds true for relatively loose samples. The spatial organization of the sample skeleton had a considerable impact on its permeability, with coarse-grained calcareous sand imposing a greater constraint on fine particle migration compared to river sand.

Crosslinguistic influence in bilingual morphosyntactic processing: Effects of language-common, language-contrasting, and language-specific information

Abstract This study investigated how second language (L2) learners process the Korean numeral quantifier construction by using transferable and nontransferable information. For Chinese-speaking learners of Korean (Chinese group), agreement between an honorific numeral quantifier and a noun in Korean constitutes transferable information in the canonical structure and nontransferable L2-specific information in the scrambled structure. For Japanese-speaking learners of Korean (Japanese group), this information gives rise to crosslinguistic conflicts in both structures. The results from a self-paced reading task showed that the Japanese group did not exhibit sensitivity to grammatical errors in both structures, whereas the Chinese group detected the agreement violation in the canonical but not in the scrambled structure. When a context sentence was provided to license scrambling in the test sentence, however, another group of Chinese-speaking learners of Korean showed sensitivity to the violation. These findings suggest varying degrees of crosslinguistic influence in L2 sentence processing.

Research on the Correlation of Safety Risk of Railway Bridge Construction Based on Meta-Analysis

China has emerged as a prominent global player in the field of railways, with numerous railway construction projects spanning across diverse locations. Railway bridges, as a crucial component of railway construction, warrant significant attention. Meta-analysis, a statistical method that systematically synthesizes research findings, has been utilized to summarize and compare the results of safety risk management studies pertaining to railway bridge construction in China. By integrating social network analysis and evidence-based assessment of the literature, this study explores the interrelationships among risk factors. Within a specific railway bridge construction project, various safety risk factors may originate from common sources, including environmental factors, material and equipment factors, technical factors, management factors, personnel factors, and bridge-specific factors. Notably, there exists coupling among these security risk factors, whereby the presence or occurrence of one factor can influence the probability or severity of consequences associated with other factors. The results reveal that safety risk factors in railway bridge construction accumulate and propagate, thereby impacting the efficacy of safety risk management. Moreover, these factors are significantly influenced by the complexities inherent in the geo-meteorological and social-technical systems. This finding provides valuable insights for innovations in security risk management practices and offers suggestions for future innovation pathways.

NEWTON’S METHOD IN CONSTRUCTING A SINGULAR SET OF A MINIMAX SOLUTION IN A CLASS OF BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS FOR THE HAMILTON - JACOBI EQUATIONS

The non-smooth features of the minimax (generalized) solution of the considered class of Dirichlet problems for equations of Hamiltonian type are due to the existence of pseudo-vertices - singular points of the boundary of the boundary set. The paper develops analytical and numerical methods for constructing pseudo-vertices and their accompanying constructive elements, which include local diffeomorphisms generating pseudo-vertices, as well as markers - numerical characteristics of these points. For markers, an equation with a characteristic structure inherent in equations for fixed points is obtained. An iterative procedure based on Newton’s method for the numerical construction of its solution is proposed. The convergence of the procedure to the pseudovertex marker is proved. An example of the numerical-analytical construction of a minimax solution is given, illustrating the effectiveness of the developed approaches for constructing nonsmooth solutions of boundary value problems.

Effects of a first-year undergraduate engineering design course: survey study of implications for student self-efficacy and professional skills, with focus on gender/sex and race/ethnicity

BackgroundStudents’ academic self-efficacy maximizes likelihood for success and retention, yet prior research suggests that historically underrepresented (minoritized) undergraduate students in higher education and in college-level engineering show lower self-efficacy, which has been linked to histories of systemic exclusion. To address such gaps in student success, this work examines the effect of a new first-year undergraduate engineering design course on students’ self-efficacy, as measured by students’ assessment of their ability to achieve engineering design goals, and their confidence in their professional skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership. It draws upon two aligned survey studies that examine this development (a) among the students participating in the course during the academic semester and (b) among both course participants and non-participants in the year following the course. Survey results for all students were considered, with attention to specific demographic subgroups traditionally underrepresented in engineering.ResultsAnalyses indicate effect of the course on self-efficacy and other examined constructs, such as communication and teamwork, during the course semester and continued effects in engineering design self-efficacy and tinkering self-efficacy in the year following course participation. Results also reveal differences for specific racial/ethnic and gender/sex subgroups in numerous constructs, including suggestion of specific effect for female students.ConclusionsThis study’s focus on the implication of engineering design education on self-efficacy and other critical professional outcomes, as well as its attention to specific demographic subgroups, adds to research on engineering education and the effect of design-focused coursework using project-based learning. The study indicates an increased potential role for such coursework, as early as the first year of a university trajectory, in fostering student growth and increased representation in the field. Findings on differences by gender/sex and by racial/ethnic groups, including clearer positive effect for female students but more complexity in effect for underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, support added research probing experience and outcomes within and across these groups.

Transformational leadership and project success: the serial meditating roles of team flexibility and team agility

The construction sector is known for its dynamic nature, and numerous construction projects have failed to reach completion due to inadequate development of leadership. As a widely recognized leadership, transformational leadership has shown the positive relationship with project success. However, the mechanisms driving this relationship remain unclear in the context of construction projects. In response to this topic, by adopting the Input-Mediator-Outcome model, this study seeks to investigate the mediating effect of team flexibility and team agility between transformational leadership and project success in the context of construction projects. Data were collected through a survey from 306 construction project members. The Structural Equation Modeling method was employed to test the proposed model. The findings demonstrate that (1) transformational leadership positively impacts team flexibility and team agility; (2) team flexibility and team agility positively impact project success; (3) team flexibility shows a positive mediating effect between transformational leadership and project success; (4) team agility shows no mediating effect between transformational leadership and project success; and (5) team flexibility and team agility play serial mediating roles between transformational leadership and project success.