Practical Project Research Articles

Response of semicircular canyons and movable cylindrical cavities to SH waves in anisotropic half-space geology

The development of tunnels or the laying of underground pipelines are essential engineering projects in modern society, and in canyon tunnels and underground pipeline projects, the surface motion and cavity edge motion have been topics of concern in ground vibration problems. We investigate the wave scattering problem in an elastic half-space anisotropic medium containing a semicircular canyon and a subsurface movable cylindrical cavity by using the wave function expansion method, the complex function method, and the mirror method. By deriving the governing equation and transforming it into the standard form of the Helmholtz equation satisfying the zero-stress boundary condition, we solve the corresponding displacement functions. Introducing a position correction coefficient, the scattered wavefield in a half-space anisotropic medium is constructed by the mirror method, which improves the problem of scattered wave source singularity in anisotropic half-space media. Then, combining the free boundary conditions with a Fourier series expansion method, we solve the unknown coefficients in the equations. The correctness of the method is verified by degenerating it to a classical analytic solution. Finally, using frequency- and time-domain analysis, we investigate the effects of the relevant parameters on the surface motion [Formula: see text], the dynamic stress concentration factor, and the displacement amplitude [Formula: see text]. The results indicate that rock anisotropy and the presence of semicircular canyons have a significant effect on the dynamic response of subsurface structures. This not only provides a theoretical basis for practical unlined tunnels or pipeline projects but also can provide a basis for seismic design of underground structures.

The Correlation between Java Programming and BSICT Graduate Attributes of Information Technology Students at Surigao del Norte State University

This study examines the relationship between graduate attributes of 150 Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) students and Java programming. The study focuses on graduate-level skills like problem-solving abilities, communication, and problem analysis in relation to Java programming elements like classes, file handling, and methods. A 5-point Likert scale rating is incorporated into the survey questionnaire design in order to quantitatively evaluate the responses. The study makes use of the Jamovi application as a statistical spreadsheet. The outcome shows a good relationship between the characteristics of BSIT graduates, such as communication, problem-solving skills, and problem analysis, and Java programming elements like classes, file handling, and methods. Additionally, some BSIT students find it difficult to use complicated methods, indicating the necessity for instructional strategies, practical projects, assessments, and peer programming exercises.

Predicting the wear on the non-working side of the rail profile registration method and its validation

Abstract Rail cross-section profile detection can assess the wear and tear of measured rails, providing crucial references for railway maintenance and upkeep. It is challenging to use the conventional method to register only the profile of rail head detection accurately. After the rail edge adjustment in some conventional railways, it becomes difficult to determine the base point of rail profile registration. Due to the wear of non-working edge of rail, a rail profile registration method is proposed. Firstly, a wear prediction model based on the generalized regression neural network is constructed by optimizing smoothing parameters through ten-fold cross-validation to achieve the optimal values. This model predicts the wear values on the non-working rail edge, providing reliable coordinates for two wear points as alignment reference points. Secondly, an initial alignment between the measured profile and the target profile is achieved using the nearest point iterative algorithm, which ensures that both profiles are in the same region and oriented similarly. Thirdly, the weight is assigned to the wear measurement points based on their respective wear values. The predicted positions of wear points are applied for calculating the translation and rotation parameters. These parameters could align the measured profile and facilitate the final profile alignment. Lastly, the experimental profiles under rail adjustment conditions were registered, verifying the accuracy of the proposed method. The research results indicate that under rail adjustment conditions, the mean squared error (MSE) between the calculated and actual values of lateral wear is 0.094 mm2, which is lower than the MSE from manual measurements. The calculated lateral wear value for experimental profiles achieved high alignment and calculation accuracy. This method can be applied in practical projects, providing an effective solution for rail head profile alignment and serving as a reference for profile alignment on the non-working rail edge with incomplete measurement data.

Determining the Effects of Complex Education on Primary Care Nurse Practitioners' Self-efficacy in Advance Care Planning for Healthy Adults.

Advance care planning is a process in which capable adults communicate their preferences for medical care in case of incapacitation. Regardless of health status, most adults are interested in advance care planning conversations and prefer providers to initiate these discussions. Primary care nurse practitioners are ideally positioned to lead these conversations but lack knowledge, confidence, and communication skills to do so. This project aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate an educational program for primary care nurse practitioners regarding leading advance care planning conversations with healthy adults. This evidence-based practice project used the Advance Care Planning Self-Efficacy Scale to measure primary care nurse practitioners' self-efficacy after completing a complex educational program. The educational program was developed based on a nationally recognized program incorporating didactic, observational, and role-play learning. The findings of this project indicated that providing complex education was an effective intervention immediately and after 3 months ( P = .018 and P = .023, respectively). The results indicate that educating nurse practitioners is an effective intervention for increasing their self-efficacy in leading advance care planning conversations with healthy adults over 3 months, recommending additional intervention at least earlier than 6 months.

On the multi‐parameters identification of concrete dams: A novel stochastic inverse approach

AbstractThis paper introduces a novel stochastic inverse method that utilizes perturbation theory and advanced intelligence techniques to solve the multi‐parameter identification problem of concrete dams using displacement field monitoring data. The proposed method considers the uncertainties associated with the dam displacement monitoring data, which are comprised of two distinct sources: the first is related to stochastic mechanical properties of the dam, and the second is due to observation errors. The displacements at different measuring points generated by dam mechanical properties exhibit spatial correlation, while the observation errors at different points can be considered statistically random. In this context, the inversion formulas are derived for unknown stochastic parameters of the dam by combining perturbation equations and Taylor expansion methods. An improved meta‐heuristic optimization method is employed to identify the mean of stochastic parameters, while mathematical and statistical methods are used to determine the variance of stochastic parameters. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified through numerical examples of a typical dam section under different conditions. Additionally, the paper discusses and demonstrates the applicability of this method in a practical dam project. Results indicate that this method can effectively capture the uncertainty of dam's mechanical properties and separates them from observation errors.

Exploration and Practice of Digital Teaching in Digital Media Art Design Major

The Digital Media Art Design major plays an important role in cultivating students' digital skills and innovative thinking. This article aims to explore the exploration and practice of digital teaching in this major, analyze the challenges and opportunities of existing teaching models, propose teaching strategies and methods that meet the needs of the digital age, and cultivate students' practical and innovative abilities through practical teaching, project driven, virtual simulation and other methods, providing feasible solutions for the development of the Digital Media Art Design major.

Teachers’ Stories about Home Language Surveys

U.S. schools use home language surveys (HLS) as initial screening tools to determine whether students should be screened for ESL services. These placement decisions have potentially long-lasting implications for multilingual students. In this Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices (S-STEP) project, we explored how teachers talk about HLS across 7 academic years of the first author’s ESL assessment course, and how they made sense of families’ decisions to hide home languages on the HLS. We analyzed teachers’ stories when discussing a news article about families who provided misinformation on HLS, so their children would not be screened for ESL. Our question is: How do teachers use their experiences to understand families’ decisions about providing misinformation on HLS? These stories illuminated how teachers made sense of the HLS experiences of families in the news article, and how teachers identified problems with HLS. Teachers’ stories included sharing about people they knew or about they themselves, as parents, completing HLS; about what happened after families submitted HLS; and about why families would provide misinformation, including past difficult experiences in ESL themselves and fears of stigma or tracking. Based on these stories, we consider implications for those who might change HLS, teachers, teacher educators, and researchers.

Numerical Study on the Axial Compression Behavior of Composite Columns with High-Strength Concrete-Filled Steel Tube and Honeycombed Steel Web Subjected to Freeze–Thaw Cycles

To investigate the axial compression behavior of composite columns with high-strength concrete-filled steel tube flanges and honeycombed steel web (STHHC) under load during freeze–thaw cycles, 48 full-scale composite column specimens were designed with different parameters: the restraint effect coefficient (ξ), concrete strength (fcu), number of freeze–thaw cycles (nd), slenderness ratio (λ), space–height ratio (s/hw), and hole–height ratio (d/hw). The finite element models of STHHC composite columns were simulated using ABAQUS finite element software (Version: 2021). The modeling method’s rationality was verified by comparing simulation results with experimental outcomes. Based on the finite element model, a parametric analysis of the composite columns under freeze–thaw cycles was conducted, analyzing their failure modes and load-bearing processes. The results indicate that the bearing capacity of the STHHC increased with increases in ξ and fcu, and decreased with a rise in λ. In contrast, the influence of s/hw and d/hw on the ultimate bearing capacity of the composite columns was relatively minor. An equation for calculating the axial bearing capacity of the STHHC composite columns under freeze–thaw cycles was derived using statistical regression methods and considering the impact of different parameters on the axial compressive performance of the composite columns, laying the foundation for the promotion and application of this type of composite column in practical engineering projects.

Reducing flow fluctuation using deep reinforcement learning with a CNN-based flow feature model

Flow control and shape optimisation are fundamental problems in fluid mechanics, particularly in certain scenarios involving ocean engineering. Attempts to manage the flow field via reinforcement learning are based on newly developed deep-learning techniques. By utilising an adaptive optimisation process in the flow around two square cylinders (the main square cylinder with a smaller square cylinder in the front) for the position of the front square cylinder, the flow state that minimises the oscillation of the flow field in the wake can be obtained through deep reinforcement learning. Furthermore, as the training process for this reinforcement learning is time consuming, the flow simulation component of the process is replaced with a feature detection model based on a convolutional neural network, which effectively accelerates the training process. This approach to simulating the optimal position-finding procedure with acceleration can be extended to other similar situations and practical engineering projects.

The concept of "Nine Stars in the Sky, Nine Provinces on Earth" guided the urban design in ancient China

One of the core concepts of ancient Chinese civilization is the "harmony between humanity and nature", emphasizing that the way of human conduct should imitate the way of heaven and earth. In architectural practice, the concept of "Nine Stars in the Sky, Nine Provinces on Earth" is a typical reflection of this ideology. This paper first succinctly outlines the concepts of the Nine Stars, Nine Provinces, and Nine Sectors, along with their interrelations and correlations. It then discusses in detail the application of this concept in the context of specific examples such as the Jiuzhou Qingyan in the Old Summer Palace (a large imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty from 1724 to 1860) and the Jiuzhou Pond in Luoyang (an important royal garden in the Ziwei City which was the imperial city of Luoyang during the Sui and Tang dynasties). Finally, the paper provides a systematic exposition on the application of this concept in the practical engineering project of the Luoyang Jiuzhou Pond, offering insights for researchers in architectural history and architects alike.

“No One Is Who They Say They Are”: The Political Aesthetics of David Peace, Waste Land Poetry, and Extreme Music

Abstract This article constructs a genealogy of anti-imperialist cultural practice, connecting novels and spoken word projects of David Peace to post–World War II Japanese poetry and to the extreme music practice of the powerviolence band Column of Heaven. By placing Peace's novels in conversation with these different cultural forms, it aims to show how the modernist mystification can augment the radical political effects of popular art during the era of imperialism. The article proposes an alternative route to Marxist cultural criticism via Althusser's understanding of ideological interpellation and his critique of Lenin's classic analysis of imperialism. In this sense, it proposes to link contemporary experimental musical and literary practice to a Marxist politics of anti-imperialism, in contradistinction to the potentially depoliticizing effects of the popular critique of neoliberalism.

Examining Dwelling Interior Conditions for Informal Settlement Upgrading Along the Mae Kha Canal, Chiang Mai

This article delves into the internal features of habitat in slum-like informal settlements, focusing on the challenges faced by the locale in the Mae Kha Canal informal settlements in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The study aims to clarify the dwelling characteristics as well as understand the interplay between housing and the living circumstances of the occupants. A mixed-methods approach was utilised, primarily employing field surveys, house investigation including arrangement and utilisation of space, and in-depth interviews with residents. A total of 80 households were sampled and analysed. The findings reveal that the previous relocation plans made by local authorities, which offered only a single room per family as a one-size-fits-all strategy, are not suitable for the current inhabitants' living conditions. Consequently, this article concludes with alternate suggestions for the forthcoming practical Mae Kha Canal Housing Upgrade project. It emphasises the potential of applying the idea of interiority to examine the distinctive interior conditions, thereby contributing to better dwelling design for the locals.

The Influence of Relative Position on Ground Potential and Electric Field Based on Interfacial Charge Accumulation in HVDC

AbstractWith the development of high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) engineering around the world, there has been increasing attention to the issue of selecting site for direct current (DC) grounding electrodes since the pollution coming from ground potential and electric field. As previous study result, the distance is closer to the grounding electrode, the influence is greater for ground potential and electric field, as well as vice versa. Through proposing the analysis approach of equivalent interfacial charge accumulating, the article goes beyond this previous general‐conclusion and extracts the relative position conception from the mono‐distance for further studying on weakening their impacts on the environment. In comparison with the previous results, the research finding shows that the movement of relative position is able to achieve the best distribution of ground potential or electric field corresponding to different soil‐layered structure, furthermore, the specific mathematic formula about the best relative position has been derived by the accumulated charge model proposed. Finally, the results have been demonstrated by simulation calculation of the CDEGS software for a practical HVDC project in China, moreover, regarding soil resistivity variation related to the different seasons, the optimized relative position about 13 ~ 24 km has been adopted in the real HVDC grounding project as a suggested site. It reveals that the underlying relative position behind the mono‐distance could be applied to selecting the site of grounding electrode as reference in the future. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Analysis on the cooperative variation law of pile-soil temperature field in Island permafrost region

To determine the cooperative variation laws of temperature fields in bridge concrete piles and the surrounding frozen soil during the freezing process in high-latitude, low-altitude insular permafrost regions, we utilized a practical bridge construction project within the frozen soil area of the Daxing'an Mountains, China. This served as the foundation for developing a method to remotely and dynamically monitor the temperatures of piles and soil in permafrost regions, enabling continuous, automatic monitoring of pile-soil temperature data. Employing this automatic temperature monitoring system, we collected temperature data from two 15-m-long concrete bored piles before and after freezing, and monitored the freezing process of the pile foundations in real-time. The cooperative variation laws of the pile-soil temperature field over time were summarized, and a calculation equation for the pile foundation's freezing time was established based on finite element analysis results. Monitoring and analysis reveal that under the influence of the frozen soil temperature field, the pile foundation initially freezes from the bottom up in a unidirectional manner. When the atmospheric temperature falls below 0 °C, the pile foundation freezes simultaneously from both the upper and lower directions. Post-freezing, the internal temperature of the pile body aligns with the surrounding soil temperature, with a temperature difference of less than 0.1 °C at the same depth. For similar in-place temperatures, the freezing time for a test pile with a 1.2m diameter is 1.14 times that of a 1.0m diameter test pile. The range of the hydration heat effect of cement concrete extends 1–2 times the pile diameter.

Simulation study on breakdown evolution of tri-post insulator under electric-mechanical-thermal stresses in 1100 kV HVAC-GIL

Due to the presence of electric-mechanical-thermal stress, inner cracks and reduced adhesion strength between metal and epoxy can cause the breakdown of a tri-post insulator in the GIL. In this study, a simulation model was developed to investigate the breakdown evolution of the tri-post insulator subjected to combined electrical, mechanical, and thermal stresses. Various temperature gradients and defect positions were considered, along with the application of an AC voltage of 1100 kV. At room temperature, the tri-post insulator undergoes considerable residual internal stress of up to 35 MPa, primarily concentrated around the conductor and inserts, thereby accelerating the breakdown process. The temperature gradient across the insulator post has a notable impact on breakdown characteristics. Specifically, when the conductor temperature increases from 25 °C to 125 °C, the breakdown time of the insulator with the HV side defect increases by 83.1 %, while the damaged area reduces by 41.9 %. This is attributed to the release of the residual internal stress and the reduction of strain energy. When the defect is located at the GND side, the breakdown channel forms more rapidly, and the impact of temperature gradient on the breakdown process is weakened, because the tensile stress is high but the temperature is low around the GND inserts. The outcomes of this study are hoped to enhance understanding and enable the prediction of insulation breakdown behaviors in practical projects.

The Role of Nursing in the Management of Chemotherapy Extravasation: A Systematic Review Regarding Public Health.

The scientific literature was reviewed with the aim of analysing the state of the art on the role of nursing in the management of chemotherapy extravasation, recognising the possible risk factors and identifying effective training programmes for nurses. WOS, Scopus, and PubMed databases were used to perform the searches. Papers that met the inclusion criteria and that had been published in the last 9 years were selected. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) instrument was applied to the selected studies. In addition, this research was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (ID: 512480). Out of the 23 initially selected articles, a total of 9 articles were eventually included, since they met the eligibility criteria that were established after a more exhaustive analysis, which included reading their abstracts and full texts. The results show that the management of chemotherapy extravasation is closely related to factors that largely depend on the nursing staff. Among the most relevant findings are factors including the identification of the nursing role in the management of extravasation due to chemotherapy; risk factors; and effective training programmes for nursing. Nurses play a crucial role throughout the entire process of treatment, prevention, and health education in chemotherapy treatment. Training programmes for nurses are fundamental, as they increase their professional competence and improve the safety of the patient. Adequate knowledge of chemotherapy treatment and the risk factors of extravasation are basic elements for the prevention of this type of injury, as well as for the improvement of the quality of life of patients under this kind of intravenous therapy.

“Global challenge program” projects themed on preventing zoonosis: developing One Health core competences in medical students at SJTU

Abstract Objectives To develop One Health (OH) core competencies in medical students, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has conducted an OH practice project named the “Global Challenge Program” (GCP) for three years. This study aims to understand the outcomes and challenges of the pilot projects, thereby providing evidences to support the expansion of One Health education program on a larger scale. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey to a purposive sample of 48 participants who were involved in GCP projects. A questionnaire was designed to assess the effect of GCP projects on improving the core competencies of OH professionals. It consists of 32 questions divided into four categories: basic information, overall assessment, communication skills, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Statistical analysis was conducted and reported based on the data collected from the survey. Results A total of 42 students (87.5 % of 48 participants) completed the follow-up survey. Among them, 64.3 % perceived a significant improvement in their understanding of the OH concept and approach after participating in the GCP projects. Benefiting from the communication opportunities offered by the GCP projects, 24.0 % and 49.0 % of the students reported significant and moderate improvement in their international communication abilities, respectively. In addition, 74 .0% of the students noted that the GCP projects greatly enhanced their capabilities in interdisciplinary cooperation and systematic thinking in addressing complex health issues. Conclusions The GCP project has served as a pilot initiative for participatory OH education, contributing to the development of OH core competencies in medical students, particularly in systems thinking, international communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration. However, generalizing the experience of the pilot project to a large-scale education program for medical students requires careful revisit of the gaps of resources and talents in curriculum building and project operation.

Exploration and Practice of Teaching Reform of Robotics Engineering Specialty Based on Project-based Teaching

With the rapid development of science and technology, the new research direction of robotics is also getting more and more attention. The teaching reform of robotics engineering based on project-based teaching should break the traditional teaching mode. Through the introduction of practical projects, students can not only master the theoretical knowledge they have learned, but also develop a strong application ability in the process of internship. This reform of teaching is not only conducive to the cultivation of students comprehensive ability, but also adapts to the needs of society for robotics talents. Through project-based teaching, students can have a deeper understanding of the core principles and application situations of robotics and have a deeper knowledge of their future work.

Analysis of sensitive clay landslide mechanism and impact pipeline bearing characteristics considering spatial variability

Landslides caused by the progressive failure of sensitive clay slopes may cause substantial economic losses and environmental pollution to pipelines. This study utilizes the Karhunen-Loève (K-L) expansion method, the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method, and the Monte Carlo method to model the large deformation behaviour of slopes with spatial variability. The proposed RCEL-MC framework for joint analysis of extensive deformation-probability statistics of landslide impact on pipelines confirms that the spatial variability clay slope instability failure mechanism, considering the soil softening effect under earthquake action, aligns more closely with real-world scenarios. Furthermore, based on the statistical failure probability of pipelines impacted by landslides, a sensitive clay slope pipeline safety design method is suggested. The research highlights that the random field parameters significantly influence the load-bearing characteristics of pipelines affected by spatially variable slope progressive failure landslides. The uncertainty surrounding the maximum impact force on pipelines notably increases with the rise of the horizontal correlation length and variability coefficient. When accounting for spatial variability, the maximum impact force on landslide pipelines surpasses the deterministic model analysis results by 28-69 %. It is emphasized that the deterministic model analysis, which neglects the spatial variability of soil and the soil softening effect, may seriously underestimate landslide risk. Based on the criteria for pipeline buckling failure and yield failure, it is advised that the safe design parameters for pipelines in practical projects should fall within the intersection of the secure regions defined by the two failure criteria.

Changing Peripheral Intravenous Catheter When Clinically Indicated: First Evidence-Based Practice Project in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Changing Peripheral Intravenous Catheter When Clinically Indicated: First Evidence-Based Practice Project in Makkah, Saudi Arabia