On the topic of competency and excellence of our graduate engineers

Problem solving is an essential element of civil engineering education. It has been I observed that students are best able to understand civil engineering theory when there is a ' practical application of it. Teaching theory alone has led to lower levels of comprehension and motivation and a correspondingly higher rate of failure and "drop-out". This paper analyses the effectiveness of introducing practical design projects at an early stage within a civil engineering undergraduate program at Queensland University of Technology. In two of the essential basic subjects, Engineering Mechanics and Steel Structures, model projects which simulate realistic engineering exercises were introduced. Students were required to work in small groups to analyse, design and build the lightest I most efficient model bridges made of specific materials such as spaghetti, drinking straw, paddle pop sticks and balsa wood and steel columns for a given design loading/target capacity. The paper traces the success of the teaching strategy at each stage from its introduction through to the final student and staff evaluation.

Project-based civil engineering courses

Problem solving is an essential element of civil engineering education. It has been observed that students are best able to understand civil engineering theory when there is a practical application of it. Teaching theory alone has led to lower levels of comprehension and motivation and a correspondingly higher rate of failure and “drop-out”. This paper analyses the effectiveness of introducing practical design projects at an early stage within a civil engineering undergraduate program at Queensland University of Technology. In two of the essential basic subjects, Engineering Mechanics and Steel Structures, model projects which simulate realistic engineering exercises were introduced. Students were required to work in small groups to analyse, design and build the lightest / most efficient model bridges made of specific materials such as spaghetti, drinking straw, paddle pop sticks and balsa wood and steel columns for a given design loading/target capacity. The paper traces the success of the teaching strategy at each stage from its introduction through to the final student and staff evaluation.

Synthetic rating system for railway bridge management

This thesis developed a condition assessment and rating method to identify those bridges in a network which are in most need of repair for an effective life cycle management. The method estimates the contribution of critical factors towards bridge deterioration and uses structural analysis to overcome the subjectivity of traditional current condition assessment methods. This research was a part of the CRC project titled 'Life Cycle Management of Railway Bridges'. Efficient usage of resources and enhancing the safety and serviceability of railway bridges are the significant outcomes of using the proposed method.

Developing a three-dimensional in-vitro cell culture model for studying breast and prostate cancer using starPEG-heparin hydrogels

Introduction Hydrogels prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and maleimide-functionalized heparin provide a potential matrix for use in developing three dimensional (3D) models. We have previously demonstrated that these hydrogels support the cultivation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) (1). We extend this body of work to study the ability to create an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like model to study breast and prostate cancer cell growth in 3D. Also, we investigate the ability to produce a tri-culture mimicking tumour angiogenesis with cancer spheroids, HUVECs and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Materials and Methods The breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and PC3, were seeded into starPEG-heparin hydrogels and grown for 14 Days to analyse the effects of varying hydrogel stiffness on spheroid development. Resulting hydrogel constructs were analyzed via Alamar Blue assays, light microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining for cytokeratin 8/18, Ki67 and E-Cadherin. Cancer cell lines were then pre-grown in hydrogels for 5-7 days and then re-seeded into starPEG-heparin hydrogels functionalised with RGD, SDF-1, bFGF and VEGF as spheroids with HUVECs and MSC and grown for 14 days as a tri-culture in Endothelial Cell Growth Medium (ECGM; Promocell). Cell lines were also seeded as a single cell suspension into the functionalised tri-culture system. Cultures were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and analysed via immunostaining for Von Willebrand Factor and CD31, as well as the above mentioned markers, and observed using confocal microscopy. Results Cultures prepared in MMP-cleavable starPEG-heparin hydrogels display spheroid formation in contrast to adherent growth on tissue culture plastic. Small differences were visualised in cancer spheroid growth between different gel stiffness across the range of cell lines. Cancer cell lines were able to be co-cultivated with HUVECs and MSC. HUVEC tube formation and cancer line spheroid formation occured after 3-4 days. Interaction was visualised between tumours and HUVECs via confocal microscopy. Slightly increased interaction was seen between cancer tumours and micro-vascular tubes when seeded as single cells compared with the pre-formed spheroid approach. Further studies intend to utilise cytokine gradients to further optimise the ECM environment of in situ tumour angiogenesis. Discussion and Conclusions Our results confirm the suitability of hydrogels constructed from starPEG-heparin for HUVECs and MSC co-cultivation with cancer cell lines to study cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in a 3D environment. This represents a step forward in the development of 3D culture models to study the pathomechanisms of breast and prostate cancer. References 1. Tsurkan MV, Chwalek K, Prokoph S, Zieris A, Levental KR, Freudenberg U, Werner C. Advanced Materials. 25, 2606-10, 2013. Disclosures The authors declare no conflicts of interest

Sources and transport pathways of common heavy metals to urban road surfaces

Heavy metals that are built-up on urban impervious surfaces such as roads are transported to urban water resources through stormwater runoff. Therefore, it is essential to understand the predominant pathways of heavy metals to the build-up on roads in order to develop suitable pollution mitigation strategies to protect the receiving water environment. The study presented in this paper investigated the sources and transport pathways of manganese, lead, copper, zinc and chromium, which are heavy metals commonly present in urban road build-up. It was found that manganese and lead are contributed to road build-up primarily by direct deposition due to the re-suspension of roadside soil by wind turbulence, while traffic is the predominant source of copper, zinc and chromium to the atmosphere and road build-up. Atmospheric deposition is also the major transport pathway for copper and zinc, and for chromium, direct deposition by traffic sources is the predominant pathway.

Influence of traffic characteristics on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon build-up on urban road surfaces

Traffic is one of the prominent sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and road surfaces are the most critical platform for stormwater pollution. Build-up of pollutants on road surfaces was the focus of this research study. The study found that PAHs build-up on road surfaces primarily originate from traffic activities, specifically gasoline powered vehicles. Other sources such as diesel vehicles, industrial oil combustion and incineration were also found to contribute to the PAH build-up. Additionally, the study explored the linkages between concentrations of PAHs and traffic characteristics such as traffic volume, vehicle mix and traffic flow. While traffic congestion was found to be positively correlated with 6- ring and 5- ring PAHs in road build-up, it was negatively correlated with 3-ring and 4 ring PAHs. The absence of positive correlation between 3-ring and 4-ring PAHs and traffic parameters is attributed to the propensity of these relatively volatile PAHs to undergo re-suspension and evaporation. The outcomes of this study are expected to contribute effective transport and land use planning for the prevention of PAH pollution in the urban environment.

An improved modal strain energy method for structural damage detection, 2D simulation

Structural damage detection using modal strain energy (MSE) is one of the most efficient and reliable structural health monitoring techniques. However, some of the existing MSE methods have been validated for special types of structures such as beams or steel truss bridges which demands improving the available methods. The purpose of this study is to improve an efficient modal strain energy method to detect and quantify the damage in complex structures at early stage of formation. In this paper, a modal strain energy method was mathematically developed and then numerically applied to a fixed-end beam and a three-story frame including single and multiple damage scenarios in absence and presence of up to five per cent noise. For each damage scenario, all mode shapes and natural frequencies of intact structures and the first five mode shapes of assumed damaged structures were obtained using STRAND7. The derived mode shapes of each intact and damaged structure at any damage scenario were then separately used in the improved formulation using MATLAB to detect the location and quantify the severity of damage as compared to those obtained from previous method. It was found that the improved method is more accurate, efficient and convergent than its predecessors. The outcomes of this study can be safely and inexpensively used for structural health monitoring to minimize the loss of lives and property by identifying the unforeseen structural damages.

Two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded polymers in the crystal structures of the ammonium salts of phenoxyacetic acid, (4-fluorophenoxy)acetic acid and (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid

The structures of the ammonium salts of phenoxyacetic acid, NH4+ C8H6O3- (I), (4-fluorophenoxy)acetic acid NH4+ C8H5FO3- (II) and the herbicidally active (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), NH4+ C9H8ClO3-. 0.5(H2O) (III) have been determined. All have two-dimensional layered structures based on inter-species ammonium N-H...O hydrogen-bonding associations which give core substructures consisting primarily of conjoined cyclic motifs. Crystals of (I) and (II) are isomorphous with the core comprising R2/1(5), R2/1(4) and centrosymmetric R2/4(8) ring motifs, giving two-dimensional layers lying parallel to (100). In (III), the water molecule of solvation lies on a crystallographic twofold rotation axis and bridges two carboxyl O-atoms in an R4/4(12) hydrogen-bonded motif, creating two R3/4(10) rings which together with a conjoined centrosymmetric R2/4(8) ring incorporating both ammonium cations, generate two-dimensional layers lying parallel to (100). No pi-pi ring associations are present in any of the structures.

Report to VicRoads: Vehicle based sanctions to address drink driving

Licence sanctions including suspension, disqualification, or revocation have been effective in reducing recidivism and crash rates among those convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Nonetheless, studies have indicated that many offenders continue to drive while they are unlicensed. Consequently, more recent attention has been given to vehicle sanctions that separate the offender from their vehicle. Vehicle based interventions focus on incapacitating the vehicle or separating it from the offending driver rather than relying on the threat of further sanctions to encourage compliance. Following on from a previous review conducted by Dr. Ron Christie (2006) for VicRoads, which examined the effectiveness of vehicle based sanctions in deterring unlicensed driving, this report considers the effectiveness of the aforementioned vehicle based sanctions for addressing drink driving.

Structural complexity in structural health monitoring: Design of laboratory model and test plan

Many researchers in the field of civil structural health monitoring (SHM) have developed and tested their methods on simple to moderately complex laboratory structures such as beams, plates, frames, and trusses. Fieldwork has also been conducted by many researchers and practitioners on more complex operating bridges. Most laboratory structures do not adequately replicate the complexity of truss bridges. Informed by a brief review of the literature, this paper documents the design and proposed test plan of a structurally complex laboratory bridge model that has been specifically designed for the purpose of SHM research. Preliminary results have been presented in the companion paper.

Graphene-oxide-modified β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramics stimulate in vitro and in vivo osteogenesis

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted much interest for applications in bone tissue engineering; however, until now the interaction between GO and stem cells, and the in vivo bone-forming ability of GO has not been explored. The aim of this study was to produce a GO-modified β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP-GRA) biceramics and then explore the material’s osteogenic capacity in vitro and in vivo, as well as unravel some of the molecular mechanisms behind this. β-TCP-GRA disks and scaffolds were successfully prepared by a simple GO/water suspension soaking method in combination with heat treatment. These scaffolds were found to significantly enhance the proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic gene expression of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), when compared to β-TCP without GO modification (controls). Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hBMSCs appears to be the mechanism behind this osteogenic induction by β-TCP-GRA. β-TCP-GRA scaffolds led to an increased rate of in vivo new bone formation compared to β-TCP controls, indicative of the stimulatory effect of GO on in vivo osteogenesis, making GO modification of β-TCP a very promising method for applications in bone tissue engineering, in particular for the regeneration of large bone defects.

Structural complexity in structural health monitoring: Preliminary experimental modal testing and analysis

Many researchers in the field of civil structural health monitoring have developed and tested their methods on simple to moderately complex laboratory structures such as beams, plates, frames, and trusses. Field work has also been conducted by many researchers and practitioners on more complex operating bridges. Most laboratory structures do not adequately replicate the complexity of truss bridges. This paper presents some preliminary results of experimental modal testing and analysis of the bridge model presented in the companion paper, using the peak picking method, and compares these results with those of a simple numerical model of the structure. Three dominant modes of vibration were experimentally identified under 15 Hz. The mode shapes and order of the modes matched those of the numerical model; however, the frequencies did not match.

The structures of the isomorphous potassium and rubidium salts of 4-nitrobenzoic acid and an overview of the metal complex stereochemistries of the alkali metal salt series with this ligand

The structures of the isomorphous potassium and rubidium polymeric coordination complexes with 4-nitrobenzoic acid, poly[mu2-aqua-aqua-mu3-(4-nitrobenzoato)-potassium], [K(C7H4N2O2)(H2O)2]n, (I) and poly[mu3-aqua-aqua-mu5-(4-nitrobenzoato)-rubidium], [Rb(C7H4N2O2)(H2O)2]n, (II) have been determined. In (I) the very distorted KO6 coordination sphere about the K+ centres in the repeat unit comprise two bridging nitro O-atom donors, a single bridging carboxyl O-atom donor and two water molecules, one of which is bridging. In the the Rb complex (II), the same basic MO6 coordination is found in the repeat unit but is expanded to RbO9 through a slight increase in the accepted Rb-O bond length range and includes an additional Rb-O(carboxyl) bond, completing a bidentate O,O'-chelate interaction, and additional bridging Rb-Onitro) and Rb-O(water) bonds. The comparative K-O and Rb-O bond length ranges are 2.738(3)-3.002(3)Ang. (I) and 2.884(2)-3.182(2)Ang. (II). The structure of (II) is also isomorphous as well as isostructural with the known structure of the nine-coordinate caesium 4-nitrobenzoate analogue, [Cs(C7H4N2O~2~)(H~2~O)2]n, (III) in which the Cs---O range is 3.047(4)-3.338(4)Ang. In all three complexes, common basic polymeric extensions are found, including two different centrosymmetric bridging interactions through both water and nitro groups as well as extensions along c through the p-related carboxyl group, giving a two-dimensional structure in (I). In (II) and (III), three-dimensional structures are generated through additional bridges through the nitro and water O-atoms. In all structures, both water molecules are involved in similar intra-polymer O-H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions to both carboxyl as well as water O-atom acceptors. A comparison of the varied coordination behaviour of the full set of Li-Cs salts with 4-nitrobenzoic acid is also made.

No acute and persistent DNA damage after an Ironman triathlon

During acute and strenuous exercise, the enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species can induce damage to lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an Ironman triathlon (3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle, 42 km run), as a prototype of ultra-endurance exercise, on DNA stability. As biomarkers of genomic instability, the number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds were measured within the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in once-divided peripheral lymphocytes of 20 male triathletes. Blood samples were taken 2 days before, within 20 min after the race, and 5 and 19 days post-race. Overall, the number of micronuclei decreased (P < 0.05) after the race, remained at a low level until 5 days post-race, and declined further to 19 days post-race (P < 0.01). The frequency of nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds did not change immediately after the triathlon. The number of nucleoplasmic bridge declined from 2 days pre-race to 19 days post-exercise (P < 0.05). The frequency of nuclear buds increased after the triathlon, peaking 5 days post-race (P < 0.01) and decreased to basic levels 19 days after the race (P < 0.01). The results suggest that an Ironman triathlon does not cause long-lasting DNA damage in well-trained athletes.

Smart Cities, Social Capital, and Citizens at Play: A Critique and a Way Forward

Digital transformations are not contained within the digital domain but are increasingly spilling over into the physical world. In this chapter, we analyse some of the transformations undergoing in cities today towards becoming smart cities. We offer a critique of smart cities and a way forward, divided into three parts: First, we explore the concept of Smart Citizens in terms of both localities, the move towards a hyperlocal network and also the citizen’s role in the creation and use of data. We use the ‘Smart London’ plan drawn up by the Mayor of London, as a way to illustrate our discussion. Second, we turn to the civic innovations enabled by digital transformations and their potential impact on citizens and citizenship. Specifically, we are interested in the notion of social capital as an alternative form of in-kind currency and its function as an indicator of value, in order to ask, can digital transformations give rise to ‘civic capital,’ and how can such a concept help, for instance, a local government invite more representative residents and community champions to participate in community engagement for better urban planning. Third, we introduce a hybrid, location-based game under development by design agency Preliminal Games in London, UK. This illustrative case critiques and highlights the current challenges to establishing a new economic model that bridges the digital / physical divide. The game provides a vehicle for us to explore how established principles and strategies in game design such as immersive storytelling and goal setting, can be employed to encourage players to think of the interconnections of their hybrid digital / physical environments in new ways.