Non-aqueous phase liquid behavior in the subsurface: Transportation, source zone characterization and remediation

Contaminant behaviour in soils and fractured rock is very complex, not least because of the heterogeneity of the subsurface environment. For non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs), a liquid density contrast and interfacial tension between the contaminant and interstitial fluid adds to the complexity of behaviour, increasing the difficulty of predicting NAPL behaviour in the subsurface. This paper outlines the need for physical model tests that can improve fundamental understanding of NAPL behaviour in the subsurface, enhance risk assessments of NAPL contaminated sites, reduce uncertainty associated with NAPL source remediation and improve current technologies for NAPL plume remediation. Four case histories are presented to illustrate physical modelling approaches that have addressed problems associated with NAPL transport, remediation and source zone characterization. © 2006 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Singapore's biomedical science sector development strategy: is it sustainable?

This paper outlines the strategic efforts undertaken by Singapore to establish its national capability in the biomedical science sector, reviews the commercial base as a result of these efforts and compares Singapore's approach to the UK and the US development models, discusses the challenges that Singapore faces and raises some questions on the long term sustainability of the sector.

Generating power from waves on a breakwater.

Outlines the possibility for wave power generation at artificial islands by construction of a breakwater. Reviews the development of wave energy systems, and describes several wave generators, e.g. the Mauritius lagoon system, the Nodding Duck, the oscillating cylinder, the oscillating water column and the Lancaster Bag. Applications and costs are outlined. (C.J.U.)

Biotechnology: in Great Britain

The general perception of this new 'industry' is one of high-powered science breaking the frontiers of knowledge. At the same time, there is a good deal of haziness about what biotechnology is, where it is done, and by whom. This article discusses the evolution of biotechnology, then outlines the industry as it exists in Britain today. The next section considers what are some of the most important locational considerations for firms and gives both a snapshot for the country as a whole and a more detailed picture for one area, that around Cambridge. Finally, comments on aspects of the industry's possible future development. -from Authors

Formation of silicon-on-insulator layers by electron beam recrystallization

This paper outlines the development of the electron beam recrystallization approach to the formation of silicon-on-insulator layers. The technique of recrystallizing seeded layers by a line electron beam has been widely adopted. Present practice in electron beam recrystallization is reviewed, both from materials and process points of view. Applications of silicon-on-insulator substrates formed in this way are described, particularly in three-dimensional integration. © 1988.

Modular risk modeling and management of water infrastructure disaster incidents

Water supply and wastewater control are critical elements of society's infrastructure. The objective of this study will be to provide a generic risk assessment tool to provide municipalities and the nation as a whole with a quantifiable assessment of their vulnerability to water infrastructure threats. The approach will prioritize countermeasures and identify where research and development is required to further minimize risk. This paper outlines the current context, primary concerns and state-of-the art in critical infrastructure risk management for the water sector and proposes a novel approach to resolve existing questions in the field. The proposed approach is based on a modular framework that derives a quantitative risk index for varied domains of interest. The approach methodology is scaleable and based on formal definitions of event probability and severity. The framework is equally applicable to natural and human-induced hazard types and can be used for analysis of compound risk events.

How to avoid the problems of target-setting

Purpose: Advocates and critics of target-setting in the workplace seem unable to reach beyond their own well-entrenched battle lines. While the advocates of goal-directed behaviour point to what they see as demonstrable advantages, the critics of target-setting highlight equally demonstrable disadvantages. Indeed, the academic literature on this topic is currently mired in controversy, with neither side seemingly capable of envisaging a better way forward. This paper seeks to break the current deadlock and move thinking forward in this important aspect of performance measurement and management by outlining a new, more fruitful approach, based on both theory and practical experience. Design/methodology/approach: The topic was approached in three phases: assembling and reading key academic and other literature on the subject of target-setting and goal-directed behaviour, with a view to understanding, in depth, the arguments advanced by the advocates and critics of target-setting; comparing these published arguments with one's own experiential findings, in order to bring the essence of disagreement into much sharper focus; and then bringing to bear the academic and practical experience to identify the essential elements of a new, more fruitful approach offering all the benefits of goal-directed behaviour with none of the typical disadvantages of target-setting. Findings: The research led to three key findings: the advocates of goal-directed behaviour and critics of target-setting each make valid points, as seen from their own current perspectives; the likelihood of these two communities, left to themselves, ever reaching a new synthesis, seems vanishingly small (with leading thinkers in the goal-directed behaviour community already acknowledging this); and, between the three authors, it was discovered that their unusual combination of academic study and practical experience enabled them to see things differently. Hence, they would like to share their new thinking more widely. Research limitations/implications: The authors fully accept that their paper is informed by extensive practical experience and, as yet, there have been no opportunities to test their findings, conclusions and recommendations through rigorous academic research. However, they hope that the paper will move thinking forward in this arena, thereby informing future academic research. Practical implications: The authors hope that the practical implications of the paper will be significant, as it outlines a novel way for organisations to capture the benefits of goal-directed behaviour with none of the disadvantages typically associated with target-setting. Social implications: Given that increased efficiency and effectiveness in the management of organisations would be good for society, the authors think the paper has interesting social implications. Originality/value: Leading thinkers in the field of goal-directed behaviour, such as Locke and Latham, and leading critics of target-setting, such as Ordóñez et al. continue to argue with one another - much like, at the turn of the nineteenth century, proponents of the "wave theory of light" and proponents of the "particle theory of light" were similarly at loggerheads. Just as this furious scientific debate was ultimately resolved by Taylor's experiment, showing that light could behave both as a particle and wave at the same time, the authors believe that the paper demonstrates that goal-directed behaviour and target-setting can successfully co-exist. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Improved energy efficiency in paper making through reducing dryer steam consumption using advanced process control

Over the last two or three years, the increasing costs of energy and worsening market conditions have focussed even greater attention within paper mills than before, on considering ways to improve efficiency and reduce the energy used in paper making. Arising from a multivariable understanding of paper machine operation, Advanced Process Control (APC) technology enables paper machine behaviour to be controlled in a more coherent way, using all the variables available for control. Furthermore, with the machine under better regulation and with more variables used in control, there is the opportunity to optimise machine operation, usually providing very striking multi-objective performance improvement benefits of a number of kinds. Traditional three term control technology does not offer this capability. The paper presents results from several different paper machine projects we have undertaken around the world. These projects have been aimed at improving machine stability, optimising chemicals usage and reducing energy use. On a brown paperboard machine in Australasia, APC has reduced specific steam usage by 10%, averaged across the grades; the controller has also provided a significant capacity to increase production. On a North American newsprint machine, the APC system has reduced steam usage by more than 10%, and it provides better control of colour and much improved wet end stability. The paper also outlines early results from two other performance improvement projects, each incorporating a different approach to reducing the energy used in paper making. The first of these two projects is focussed on optimising sheet drainage, aiming to present the dryer with a sheet having higher solids content than before. The second project aims to reduce specific steam usage by optimising the operation of the dryer hood.

Centrifuge modelling of the response of buildings to tunnelling

The response of surface structures to tunnelling induced ground movements is an area of great importance for any urban tunnelling project. Testing described in this paper aims to investigate soil structure interaction effects by observing the response of aluminium beams of varying stiffness to tunnelling, using the 8 m diameter beam centrifuge at Cambridge University. Soil and structure displacements are extensively monitored through a photo imaging technique which enables a detailed analysis of the interaction behaviour. Results to date indicate that the relative structure-soil stiffness is the governing factor in determining how a structure will respond to tunnelling. This parameter is highly dependent on both the structure and soil stiffness. It is also shown that contrary to common assumptions in the literature, negligible axial strains are transferred into the structure. This paper outlines the results of the research to date. © 2010 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Polarisation diversity of conformal arrays based on geometric algebra via convex optimisation

A simple and general design procedure is presented for the polarisation diversity of arbitrary conformal arrays; this procedure is based on the mathematical framework of geometric algebra and can be solved optimally using convex optimisation. Aside from being simpler and more direct than other derivations in the literature, this derivation is also entirely general in that it expresses the transformations in terms of rotors in geometric algebra which can easily be formulated for any arbitrary conformal array geometry. Convex optimisation has a number of advantages; solvers are widespread and freely available, the process generally requires a small number of iterations and a wide variety of constraints can be readily incorporated. The study outlines a two-step approach for addressing polarisation diversity in arbitrary conformal arrays: first, the authors obtain the array polarisation patterns using geometric algebra and secondly use a convex optimisation approach to find the optimal weights for the polarisation diversity problem. The versatility of this approach is illustrated via simulations of a 7×10 cylindrical conformal array. © 2012 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Visual pattern recognition models for remote sensing of civil infrastructure

As-built models have been proven useful in many project-related applications, such as progress monitoring and quality control. However, they are not widely produced in most projects because a lot of effort is still necessary to manually convert remote sensing data from photogrammetry or laser scanning to an as-built model. In order to automate the generation of as-built models, the first and fundamental step is to automatically recognize infrastructure-related elements from the remote sensing data. This paper outlines a framework for creating visual pattern recognition models that can automate the recognition of infrastructure-related elements based on their visual features. The framework starts with identifying the visual characteristics of infrastructure element types and numerically representing them using image analysis tools. The derived representations, along with their relative topology, are then used to form element visual pattern recognition (VPR) models. So far, the VPR models of four infrastructure-related elements have been created using the framework. The high recognition performance of these models validates the effectiveness of the framework in recognizing infrastructure-related elements.

Toward automated generation of parametric BIMs based on hybrid video and laser scanning data

Only very few constructed facilities today have a complete record of as-built information. Despite the growing use of Building Information Modelling and the improvement in as-built records, several more years will be required before guidelines that require as-built data modelling will be implemented for the majority of constructed facilities, and this will still not address the stock of existing buildings. A technical solution for scanning buildings and compiling Building Information Models is needed. However, this is a multidisciplinary problem, requiring expertise in scanning, computer vision and videogrammetry, machine learning, and parametric object modelling. This paper outlines the technical approach proposed by a consortium of researchers that has gathered to tackle the ambitious goal of automating as-built modelling as far as possible. The top level framework of the proposed solution is presented, and each process, input and output is explained, along with the steps needed to validate them. Preliminary experiments on the earlier stages (i.e. processes) of the framework proposed are conducted and results are shown; the work toward implementation of the remainder is ongoing.

Visual Pattern Recognition Models for Remote Sensing of Civil Infrastructure

As-built models have been proven useful in many project-related applications, such as progress monitoring and quality control. However, they are not widely produced in most projects because a lot of effort is still necessary to manually convert remote sensing data from photogrammetry or laser scanning to an as-built model. In order to automate the generation of as-built models, the first and fundamental step is to automatically recognize infrastructure-related elements from the remote sensing data. This paper outlines a framework for creating visual pattern recognition models that can automate the recognition of infrastructure-related elements based on their visual features. The framework starts with identifying the visual characteristics of infrastructure element types and numerically representing them using image analysis tools. The derived representations, along with their relative topology, are then used to form element visual pattern recognition (VPR) models. So far, the VPR models of four infrastructure-related elements have been created using the framework. The high recognition performance of these models validates the effectiveness of the framework in recognizing infrastructure-related elements.

A global model for effective use and evaluation of e-learning in health.

Healthcare systems worldwide face a wide range of challenges, including demographic change, rising drug and medical technology costs, and persistent and widening health inequalities both within and between countries. Simultaneously, issues such as professional silos, static medical curricula, and perceptions of "information overload" have made it difficult for medical training and continued professional development (CPD) to adapt to the changing needs of healthcare professionals in increasingly patient-centered, collaborative, and/or remote delivery contexts. In response to these challenges, increasing numbers of medical education and CPD programs have adopted e-learning approaches, which have been shown to provide flexible, low-cost, user-centered, and easily updated learning. The effectiveness of e-learning varies from context to context, however, and has also been shown to make considerable demands on users' motivation and "digital literacy" and on providing institutions. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of e-learning in healthcare as part of ongoing quality improvement efforts. This article outlines the key issues for developing successful models for analyzing e-health learning.