Engineering Tools Research Articles

Enhancing Safety in the Construction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Microreactors (MRs) through Improving Guidelines and Involving Digital Technology Tools

Enhancing Safety in the Construction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Microreactors (MRs) through Improving Guidelines and Involving Digital Technology Tools

Impact of Technology in Modren Classroom

Abstract: In the ever-evolving landscape of education, technology has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping the way we teach and learn.The purpose of this study was to determine the impact that computer technology use in the Modren classroom had on students skill development, new study technology grades, attractive , efficient and improve knowledge with digram. Integrating technological tools in the classroom has not only modernized traditional teaching methods but has also opened up new avenues for interactive and personalized learning experiences.Indeed, technology has become an essential component of sustaining civilization, and its incorporation into education is consequently unavoidable. Technology not only gives students access to a plethora of online materials, but it also helps them study. The majority of colleges and educational institutions have already begun to use technology into their teaching techniques. Education has been transformed by technological advancements. The significance of technology in classrooms cannot be overstated. Indeed, the introduction of computers into education has made it simpler for instructors to transfer information and for pupils to retrieve it. The sample for this study consisted of faculty from the shri Nathmal Todi collegeTh.laxmangarh. Results of the study indicated that faculty technology use, student technology use, and overall technology use depended on how well the faculty used the technology in the Morden classroom.

BIM for maintenance planning of façades in precast concrete buildings

Purpose This paper aims to identify the different system approach using Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology that is equipped with decision making processes. Maintenance planning and management are integral components of the construction sector, serving the broader purpose of post-construction activities and processes. However, as Precast Concrete (PC) construction projects increase in scale and complexity, the interconnections among these activities and processes become apparent, leading to planning and performance management challenges. These challenges specifically affect the monitoring of façade components for corrective and preventive maintenance actions. Design/methodology/approach The concept of maintenance planning for façades, along with the main features of information and communication technology tools and techniques using building information modeling technology, is grounded in the analysis of numerous literature reviews in PC building scenarios. Findings This research focuses on an integrated system designed to analyze information and support decision-making in maintenance planning for PC buildings. It is based on robust data collection regarding concrete façades' failures and causes. The system aims to provide appropriate planning decisions and minimize the risk of façade failures throughout the building's lifetime. Originality/value The study concludes that implementing a research framework to develop such a system can significantly enhance the effectiveness of maintenance planning for façade design, construction and maintenance operations.

Experimental Investigation of a Free-Form Honed Cylinder Liner for Heavy-Duty Engines

For future internal combustion engines, driven by regenerative fuels, efficiency is more important than ever. One approach to reduce the losses inside the piston cylinder unit (PCU) is to improve the alignment of the liner and the piston. Therefore, a cylinder liner with a free form was developed at the Institute of Technical Combustion (ITV) of the Leibniz University Hannover which compensates radial and linear deformations along the stroke. The layout is based on a FEM simulation. The liner was manufactured by the Institute of Production Engineering and Machine Tools (IFW) of Leibniz University of Hannover with a novel turn-milling process. The liner was investigated on the heavy-duty Floating-Liner engine of ITV with a displacement of 1991 ccm and a bore diameter of 130 mm. The experimental results show improvement in the friction losses over the whole engine map in the range of 9% and up to 17.3% compared to a serial liner. Sealing efficiency could be improved up to 28.8%, depending on the operational point. Overall, the investigation aims for lower fuel consumption which would in result fewer emissions.

Application of ChatGPT in Information Literacy Instructional Design

Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence tools have prompted immediate reactions in the academic library community. While most studies focus on the potential impact on academic integrity, this work explored constructive applications of ChatGPT in the design of instructional materials for courses in academic information literacy. The starting point was the use of openly licenced information resources or content infrastructure as facilitators in the creation of educational materials. In the first phase, course teaching material was developed using a prompt engineering strategy, predefined standards, and a prompt script. As a second step, we experimented with designing a custom chatbot model connected to a pre-defined corpus of source documents. The results demonstrated that the final teaching material required careful revision and optimisation before use in an actual instructional programme. The experimental design of the custom chatbot was able to query specific user-defined documents. Taken together, these findings suggest that the strategic and well-planned use of ChatGPT technology in content creation can have substantial benefits in terms of time and cost efficiency. In the context of information literacy, the results provide a practical and innovative solution to integrate the new technology tool into instructional practices.

Efficient Sizing and Layout Optimization of Truss Benchmark Structures Using ISRES Algorithm

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the application of the Improved Stochastic Ranking Evolution Strategy (ISRES) algorithm for the sizing and layout optimization of truss benchmark structures. Truss structures play a crucial role in engineering and architecture, and optimizing their designs can lead to more efficient and cost-effective solutions. The ISRES algorithm, known for its effectiveness in multi-objective optimization, is adapted for the single-objective optimization of truss designs with multiple design constraints. This study encompasses a wide range of truss benchmark structures, including 10-bar, 15-bar, 18-bar, 25-bar, and 72-bar configurations, each subjected to distinct loading conditions and stress constraints. The objective is to minimize the truss weight while ensuring stress and displacement limits are met. Through extensive experimentation, the ISRES algorithm demonstrates its ability to efficiently explore the solution space and converge to optimal solutions for each truss benchmark structure. The algorithm effectively handles the complexity of the problems, which involve numerous design variables, stress constraints, and nodal displacement limits. A comparative analysis is conducted to assess the performance of the ISRES algorithm against other state-of-the-art optimization methods reported in the literature. The comparison evaluates the quality of the solutions and the computational efficiency of each method. Furthermore, the optimized truss designs are subjected to finite element analysis to validate their structural integrity and stability. The verification process confirms that the designs adhere to the imposed constraints, ensuring the safety and reliability of the final truss configurations. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of the ISRES algorithm in providing practical and reliable solutions for the sizing and layout optimization of truss benchmark structures. The algorithm’s competitive performance and robustness make it a valuable tool for structural engineers and designers, offering a versatile and powerful approach for complex engineering optimization tasks. Overall, the findings contribute to the advancement of optimization techniques in structural engineering, promoting the development of more efficient and cost-effective truss designs for a wide range of engineering and architectural applications. The study’s insights empower practitioners to make informed decisions in selecting appropriate optimization strategies for complex truss-design scenarios, fostering advancements in structural engineering and sustainable design practices.

Young Children’s Digital Literacy Practices with Caregivers in the Home Environment: Voices of Chinese Parents and Grandparents

The development of children’s digital literacy is essential in the 21st century. Digital technologies have been adopted by both parents and grandparents to enhance children’s quality of education, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., SDGs 4 and 17). Many children have been provided with all types of digital tools and e-devices from birth, which puts their caregivers in a challenging position. In that context, investigating the attitudes, beliefs, communication, and practices of caregivers when interacting with young children while utilizing digital technologies is crucial for comprehending the disparity in digital literacy between parents and grandparents. In this study, we adopted a mixed research design to examine Chinese intergenerational caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic and different types of caregivers’ beliefs, practices, and communication with children through various digital tools in the home environment. A caregiver-reported survey was conducted to investigate the primary caregivers’ beliefs, practices, and communication using digital media tools with children at home. Intergenerational interviews with 18 families further identified the different methods of caregiving between parents and grandparents. Mixed attitudes were found concerning popular technologies commonly used at home and children’s digital literacy practices, and we heard intergenerational concerns about children’s use of digital technologies. This study shows that Chinese fathers are generally more supportive of digital practices at home, while mothers are more restrictive of their children’s use of digital technology tools. Grandparenting may be overwhelming for Chinese seniors in the 21st century.

Health information technology tools to accelerate gastrointestinal evaluation in patients with iron deficiency anaemia: a cluster randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveSystem-level safety measures do not exist to ensure that patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) undergo proper diagnostic evaluations. We sought to determine if a set of EHR (electronic health...

Deep Learning PCA Correlation Analysis of Teacher’s Educational Technology Quality and Teacher’s Professional Competence

In contemporary education, the integration of educational technology has become crucial for enhancing teaching quality and fostering student learning outcomes. This study employs a novel approach by combining deep learning techniques with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to explore the relationship between teachers' educational technology proficiency and their professional competence. The research leverages a dataset comprising various metrics related to teachers' usage of educational technology tools and their performance in professional development programs. Initially, the study preprocesses the data and applies deep learning models to extract high-level features from the complex and heterogeneous dataset. Subsequently, PCA is employed to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space while preserving the underlying structure and variability of the data. Through this process, latent factors representing different aspects of educational technology proficiency and professional competence are identified. The correlation analysis conducted on the reduced feature space reveals intricate relationships between teachers' competency in educational technology and their overall professional capabilities. The findings indicate that certain dimensions of educational technology quality, such as adaptability to new tools and innovative pedagogical approaches, positively correlate with measures of professional competence, including classroom management skills, student engagement, and instructional effectiveness. 

Inadvertent administration of intravenous anaesthesia induction agents via the intracerebroventricular, neuraxial or peripheral nerve route – A narrative review

Intravenous (IV) medication administration error remains a major concern during the perioperative period. This review examines inadvertent IV anaesthesia induction agent administration via high-risk routes. Using Medline and Google Scholar, the author searched published reports of inadvertent administration via neuraxial (intrathecal, epidural), peripheral nerve or plexus or intracerebroventricular (ICV) route. The author applied the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) framework to identify systemic and human factors. Among 14 patients involved, thiopentone was administered via the epidural route in six patients. Four errors involved the routes of ICV (propofol and etomidate one each) or lumbar intrathecal (propofol infusion and etomidate bolus). Intrathecal thiopentone was associated with cauda equina syndrome in one patient. HFACS identified suboptimal handling of external ventricular and lumbar drains and deficiencies in the transition of care. Organisational policy to improve the handling of neuraxial devices, use of technological tools and improvements in identified deficiencies in preconditions before drug preparation and administration may minimise future risks of inadvertent IV induction agent administration.

Evaluation of the safety and quality of Brazil nuts (Bertholletia excelsa) using the tools of dna sequencing technology and aflatoxin profile

IntroductionBrazil nuts (BNs) result from sustainable extraction and are widely exploited in the Amazon region. Due to the production characteristics in the forest and the nutritional characteristics of these nuts, the occurrence of fungal contamination and the presence of aflatoxins are extensively discussed in the literature as a great aspect of interest and concern. This study aims to evaluate the microbial profile through DNA sequencing and amplification of 16S and ITS genes for bacterial and fungal analysis, respectively, and the presence of mycotoxins using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) from different fractions of the nuts processed.MethodsThe BN samples, harvest A (HA) and harvest B (HB), from two different harvests were collected in an extractive cooperative in the Amazon region for microbiological analysis (from DNA extraction and amplification of 16S genes, bacteria analysis, and ITS for fungi) and mycotoxins (aflatoxins AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) using HPLC-FD/KobraCell®.Results and discussionThe samples showed a very different microbiome and aflatoxin profile. Genera such as Rothia (HA) and Cronobacter (HB) were abundant during the analysis of bacteria; as for fungi, the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria were also considered prevalent in these samples. Soil microorganisms, including those pathogenic and related to inadequate hygienic-sanitary production practices, as well as aflatoxins, were found in the samples. However, they were within the established limits permitted by Brazilian legislation. Nuts have a diverse microbiota and are not restricted to fungi of the genus Aspergillus. The microbiological and toxicological profile can vary significantly within the same nut in the same extraction region and can be exacerbated by global climate changes. Therefore, it is necessary to advance sanitary educational actions by applying good production practices and inspection programs to ensure the sustainability and quality of the BN production chain.

Adoption of Digital Technologies as a Driver for Cost Leadership Strategy in Tour Firms within Nairobi City County, Kenya

Digital technologies play a major role in reducing the cost of operations in tour firms. The main focus of the study was to find out the adoption of digital technologies as a driver of cost leadership strategy in tour firms within Nairobi City County.  The specific objective was to investigate the influence of mobile applications on cost leadership strategy in tour firms in Nairobi City County. Embedded research design was applied in the study. The study adopted the null hypothesis that mobile applications had no statistically significant influence on cost leadership strategy in tour firms within Nairobi City County. The study population was 278 tour firms obtained from the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) list where a sample of 164 tour firms were selected through the application of Yemane’s (1967) sample size formula. 10 tour firm mangers were selected for interviews. Systematic random sampling was utilized for the determination of the sample size of 164 tour firms. Semi-structured questionnaires and interview schedules were utilized as data instruments. Questionnaires were filled by tour consultants while interviews were conducted with tour firm managers. 133 respondents filled out the questionnaires representing 81% response rate while 7 interviewees were conducted representing 70% response rate. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used during data analysis. The study utilized both ANOVA and multiple regression tests to test the hypotheses, and influence between the adoption of digital technology and cost leadership strategy. The results of the R Square equals 0.919 therefore revealing that 91.9% of cost leadership is attributed to mobile applications. The study confirmed there was a statistical significance (p =.000) between mobile applications and cost leadership. Mobile applications as a digital technology tool accounted for a positive significant increase (B = 637) in cost leadership strategy. The study concluded that there is a positive strong influence between the adoption of mobile applications and cost leadership strategy. The study recommends that tour firms should fully adopt digital technologies to maximize cost control, minimize marketing costs, and promote operational efficiency

Constructing and validating authentic assessments: the case of a new technology-based assessment of economic literacy

BackgroundAuthentic situations are considered a source of learning due to their real world relevance. This can encourage learners to acquire new knowledge. Increasing digitisation and associated resources, such as professional development opportunities for teachers, technology tools, or digital equipment for schools enable the development and implementation of authentic assessments. The basic academic principles for acquiring economic literacy are already provided in lower secondary school. This article examines, using the example of a new authentic technology-based assessment (TBA)—Economic Literacy—Assessing the Status Quo in Grade 8 (ECON 2022) -, the processes involved in constructing a TBA. The purpose is to develop a curricular valid measurement instrument for surveying the current state of economic literacy in the 8th grade of a German federal state. This study explores which economic competencies students—typically between 14 and 15 years of age—possess in Grade 8, and what level of competence can therefore be expected of them at the beginning of a vocational training programme. The assessment is geared toward the curriculum of the subject of economics and is based on a domain model. This article presents the background and construction process for the development of ECON 2022 as a TBA.MethodsTo check the validity of test construction with a focus on the implementation of the authentic assessment and an analysis of difficulty-generating characteristics, the ECON 2022 test items were validated with an expert survey (N = 25). The two-stage data analysis comprised a descriptive quantifying analysis of the rating from the difficulty-generating characteristics specificity, cognitive demand and modelling and the design criterion authenticity. A set of experts rated the criteria. The expert survey was then compared with a previously conducted rating by the research team. The analysis of free-text comments on individual items was carried out discursively and qualitatively by the research team. Both sources of information were used to adapt the test items to measured item difficulties from the field test. For this purpose, items of great difficulty were changed to slightly easier items. In this context, the paper focuses on two central research questions: - How does the authenticity of a test environment relate to difficulty-generating criteria at item level? - Does the authenticity of a test environment have an impact on test results?ResultsResults are as follows. (1) The ECON 2022 assessment offers an example of a test design in which the use of TBAs can support innovative and interactive item development. (2) Using the ECON 2022 assessment enabled the implementation of an assessment of economic literacy using authentic situations and the mapping of different facets of economic competence. (3) The validation study showed that the actual item difficulty did not correlate significantly with the authenticity of the assessment, and authenticity thus did not contribute to item difficulty.ConclusionThe results of the study show that we were successful in developing an authentic TBA in ECON 2022. ECON 2022 allows us to examine economic literacy in schools with a high degree of curricular validity and relevance and to analyse what level of competence and knowledge can be expected of students when they enter a vocational training occupation.

Computational Optical Scanning Holography

Holographic techniques are indispensable tools for modern optical engineering. Over the past two decades, research about incoherent digital holography has continued to attract attention. Optical scanning holography (OSH) can obtain incoherent holograms using single-pixel detection and structured illumination with Fresnel zone patterns (FZPs). Particularly by changing the size of a detector, OSH can also obtain holograms under coherently illuminated conditions. Since 1979, OSH has continuously evolved. According to the evolution of semiconductor technology, spatial light modulators (SLMs) come to be useful for various imaging fields. By using SLM techniques for OSH, the practicality of OSH is improved. These SLM-based OSH methods are termed computational OSH (COSH). In this review, the configurations, recording and reconstruction methods, and proposed applications of COSH are reviewed.

Predicting Rutting Development Using Machine Learning Methods Based on RIOCHTrack Data

As the main cause of asphalt pavement distress, rutting severely affects pavement safety. Establishing an accurate rutting prediction model is crucial for asphalt pavement maintenance, pavement structure design, and pavement repair. This study explores five machine learning methods, namely Support Vector Regression (SVR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT), Random Forest (RF), and Extra Trees, to predict the development of rutting depth using data from RIOHTRack. The model’s performance is measured by comparing the performance evaluation indicators of different models, such as the coefficient of determination, root mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error. The results demonstrate that integrated learning techniques such as RF, GBDT, and Extra Trees works best with R2 = 0.9761, 0.9833, and 0.9747. Moreover, the GBFT model can capture the trend of the measured rutting progression curve better than the mechanistic-empirical (M-E) model. The analysis of feature importance reveals that, in addition to external factors such as temperature and axle load, the aggregate of the asphalt concrete layer and air void crucially affect rutting. The higher the base strength, the smaller the rutting depth. The proposed model is highly straightforward and serves as an accessible analysis tool for engineers in practice.

Recombinant Amidases: Recent Insights and its Applications in the Production of Industrially Important Fine Chemicals.

The current research for the synthesis of industrially important fine chemicals is more inclined towards developing enzyme-based processes. The biotransformation reactions wherein microbial cells/enzymes are used, have become essential in making the process efficient, green, and economical. Amongst industrially important enzymes, amidase is one of the most versatile tools in biocatalysis and biotransformation reactions. It shows broad substrate specificity and sturdy functional characteristics because of its promiscuous nature. Further, advancement in the area led to the development of amidase recombinant systems, which are developed using biotechnology and enzyme engineering tools. Additionally, recombinant amidases may be instrumental in commercializing the synthesis of fine chemicals such as hydroxamic acids that have a significant pharmaceutical market. Hence, the present review focuses on highlighting and assimilating the tools and techniques used in developing recombinant systems followed by their applications.

Analytical 3D failure envelopes for RC pile groups under combined loading: A generalised design approach

The paper presents a generalised design approach for pile groups subjected to combined (VHM) loading. The Limit Equilibrium method is extended to pile groups under general planar loading, considering the axial load dependency of bending stiffness and strength of reinforced concrete (RC) piles. 3D failure envelopes are analytically derived for different layouts. The key simplifying assumptions are critically discussed, and the failure envelopes are verified against finite element (FE) analysis results. Key features of pile group response, such as plunging vs. non-plunging axial pile response and the role of transverse reinforcement, are identified and quantified. A key novelty of the proposed method lies on the consideration of coupling between the lateral–bending resistance of the piles. The method further incorporates well-recognised features of pile group response regarding the axial load dependency of bending moment capacity and stiffness of the RC piles. The latter results in redistribution of bending moments and shear forces along the piles of the group. These features allow the reproduction of key aspects observed in demanding FE simulations and centrifuge tests, regarding the ultimate resistance under VHM and in addition the load path dependent failure modes. The proposed method offers a practical engineering tool for preliminary design and optimisation.

A hybrid CAD/CAE/CAM project‐based laboratory framework integrating topology optimization and laser powder bed fusion for engineering education

AbstractIn the era of Industry 4.0, laser‐based additive manufacturing (LBAM) has gained substantial momentum in the production of complex lightweight structures in several domains such as aerospace, civil, and biomedical engineering. The increasing demand for consistent and precise manufacturing processes has urged the manufacturing industry to consider the coupling of topology optimization (TO) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) in the design of sophisticatedly novel topologies that are unattainable through traditional processes. Notably, this union has demonstrated a highly efficient and productive capability toward the manufacturing industry. In line with this accelerated pace, engineering programs within universities exert significant effort to revise and update their engineering curriculum design to incorporate emerging manufacturing technologies providing students with skills that are aligned with the actual industrial context. In this article, a computer‐aided design (CAD)/computer‐aided engineering (CAE)/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAM) project‐based laboratory framework is proposed combining TO and LPBF exploiting a simulation‐based environment integrating CAD, CAE, and CAM. The structure of the proposed CAD/CAE/CAM design methodology is revisited to discern the added value of the newly developed framework and its particularity in assisting aerospace engineering students to meet industrial expectations. A new CAD/CAE/CAM project‐based laboratory framework has been developed integrating TO and LPBF using advanced engineering tools within the aerospace engineering education.

Engineering tools for stimulating wound healing

Wound healing is the complex physiological process of restoring the skin's integrity, structure, and function after damage caused by external conditions. The wound healing cascade may be altered due to the progression of certain diseases, such as diabetes, venous hypertension, or peripheral arterial disease, resulting in non-healing chronic wounds. Chronic wounds can be characterized by a wide variety of pathologies including increased reactive oxygen species, ineffective neutrophil activity, overabundance of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and chronic hypoxia. Medical intervention is crucial to heal chronic wounds. This review explores current research to engineer improved chronic wound treatment devices, dressings, and constructs to facilitate tissue regeneration and wound closure. This review first covers different physical stimulation therapies, then, local therapeutic delivery systems, and finally three-dimensional (bio)printing techniques for the fabrication of skin grafts and wound dressings. Additionally, the review discusses the regulatory process for bringing cutting-edge wound healing technologies to market and highlights currently approved products for wound treatment. At the end, the unmet need and future directions that the field should expand are discussed.

Medical Microrobots.

Scientists around the world have long aimed to produce miniature robots that can be controlled inside the human body to aid doctors in identifying and treating diseases. Such microrobots hold the potential to access hard-to-reach areas of the body through the natural lumina. Wireless access has the potential to overcome drawbacks of systemic therapy, as well as to enable completely new minimally invasive procedures. The aim of this review is fourfold: first, to provide a collection of valuable anatomical and physiological information on the target working environments together with engineering tools for the design of medical microrobots; second, to provide a comprehensive updated survey of the technological state of the art in relevant classes of medical microrobots; third, to analyze currently available tracking and closed loop control strategies compatible with the in-body environment; and fourth, to explore the challenges still in place, to steer and inspire future research.