A wavelet based drive-by bridge inspection system

This paper investigates a low-cost wavelet-based approach for the preliminary monitoring of bridge structures, consisting of the use of a vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. The approach aims to reduce the need for direct instrumentation of the bridge. A time-frequency analysis is carried out in order to identify the existence and location of damage from vehicle accelerations. Firstly, in theoretical simulations, a simplified vehicle-bridge interaction model is used to investigate the effectiveness of the approach. A number of damage indicators are evaluated and compared. A range of parameters such as the bridge span, vehicle speed, damage level and location, signal noise and road roughness are varied in simulations. Secondly, a scaled laboratory experiment is carried out to validate the results of the theoretical analysis and assess the ability of the selected damage indicators to detect changes in the bridge response from vehicle accelerations. 

Development of a Vehicle-Bridge-Soil Dynamic Interaction Model for Scour Damage Modelling

Damage detection in bridges using vibration-based methods is an area of growing research interest. Improved assessment
methodologies combined with state-of-the-art sensor technology are rapidly making these approaches applicable for real-world
structures. Applying these techniques to the detection and monitoring of scour around bridge foundations has remained
challenging; however this area has gained attraction in recent years. Several authors have investigated a range of methods but
there is still significant work required to achieve a rounded and widely applicable methodology to detect and monitor scour.This
paper presents a novel Vehicle-Bridge-Soil Dynamic Interaction (VBSDI) model which can be used to simulate the effect of scour
on an integral bridge. The model outputs dynamic signals which can be analysed to determine modal parameters and the variation
of these parameters with respect to scour can be examined.The key novelty of this model is that it is the first numerical model for
simulating scour that combines a realistic vehicle loadingmodel with a robust foundation soil responsemodel.This paper provides a
description of the model development and explains the mathematical theory underlying themodel. Finally a case study application
of the model using typical bridge, soil, and vehicle properties is provided.

Determining the Presence of Scour around Bridge Foundations Using Vehicle-Induced Vibrations

Bridge scour is the number one cause of failure in bridges located over waterways. Scour leads to rapid losses in foundation stiffness and can cause sudden collapse. Previous research on bridge health monitoring has used changes in natural frequency to identify damage in bridge beams. The possibility of using a similar approach to identifying scour is investigated in this paper. To assess if this approach is feasible, it is necessary to establish how scour affects the natural frequency of a bridge, and if it is possible to measure changes in frequency using the bridge dynamic response to a passing vehicle. To address these questions, a novel vehicle–bridge–soil interaction (VBSI) model was developed. By carrying out a modal study in this model, it is shown that for a wide range of possible soil states, there is a clear reduction in the natural frequency of the first mode of the bridge with scour. Moreover, it is shown that the response signals on the bridge from vehicular loading are sufficient to allow these changes in frequency to be detected.

Does subjective rating reflect behavioural coding? Personality in 2 month-old dog puppies: An open-field test and adjective-based questionnaire

A number of studies have recently investigated personality traits in non-human species, with the dog gaining popularity as a subject species for research in this area. Recent research has shown the consistency of personality traits across both context and time for adult dogs, both when using questionnaire based methods of investigation and behavioural analyses of the dogs' behaviour. However, only a few studies have assessed the correspondence between these two methods, with results varying considerably across studies. Furthermore, most studies have focused on adult dogs, despite the fact that an understanding of personality traits in young puppies may be important for research focusing on the genetic basis of personality traits. In the current study, we sought to evaluate the correspondence between a questionnaire based method and the in depth analyses of the behaviour of 2-month old puppies in an open-field test in which a number of both social and non-social stimuli were presented to the subjects. We further evaluated consistency of traits over time by re-testing a subset of puppies. The correspondence between methods was high and test-retest consistency (for the main trait) was also good using both evaluation methods. Results showed clear factors referring to the two main personality traits 'extroversion,' (i.e. the enthusiastic, exuberant approach to the stimuli) and 'neuroticism,' (i.e. the more cautious and fearful approach to the stimuli), potentially similar to the shyness-boldness dimension found in previous studies. Furthermore, both methods identified an 'amicability' dimension, expressing the positive interactions the pups directed at the humans stranger, and a 'reservedness' dimension which identified pups who largely chose not to interact with the stimuli, and were defined as quiet and not nosey in the questionnaire.

Do challenge, task experience or computer familiarity influence the learning of historical chronology from virtual environments in 8–9 year old children?

Studies examined the potential use of Virtual Environments (VEs) in teaching historical chronology to 127 children of primary school age (8–9 years). The use of passive fly-through VEs had been found, in an earlier study, to be disadvantageous with this age group when tested for their subsequent ability to place displayed sequential events in correct chronological order. All VEs in the present studies included active challenge, previously shown to enhance learning in older participants. Primary school children in the UK (all frequent computer users) were tested using UK historical materials, but no significant effect was found between three conditions (Paper, PowerPoint and VE) with minimal pre-training. However, excellent (error free) learning occurred when children were allowed greater exploration prior to training in the VE. In Ukraine, with children having much less computer familiarity, training in a VE (depicting Ukrainian history) produced better learning compared to PowerPoint, but no better than in a Paper condition. The results confirmed the benefit of using challenge in a VE with primary age children, but only with adequate prior familiarisation with the medium. Familiarity may reduce working memory load and increase children’s spatial memory capacity for acquiring sequential temporal-spatial information from virtual displays. Keywords: timeline, chronographics

Land grabbing, investors, and indigenous peoples: new legal strategies for an old practice?

This article examines how new legal strategies need to be adopted by indigenous peoples to react to the increasing phenomenon of ‘land grabbing’ taking place across the globe. In examining the specificity of the ‘land grab’ and how it particularly affects indigenous peoples, it analyses how new legal strategies targeting the investors need to be adopted by communities to mitigate some of the negative aspects of land grabbing. It argues that since the current ‘land grab’ is driven by investors it is important that indigenous peoples, and their supportive organisations, target investors and lending institutions which are behind the massive investments in land acquisitions.

Using data envelopment analysis to assess the efficiency of social security systems: the case of income protection in old age

As the number of pensioners in Europe rises relative to the number of people in employment, the gap between the contributions and the benefit levels increases, and consequently ensuring adequate pensions on a sustainable basis has become a major challenge. This study aims to explore the potential of using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique in order to access the efficiency of the income protection in old age, one of the most important branches of Social Security. To this effect, we collected data from the 27 European Union Member States regarding this branch. Our results show important differences among the Member States and stress the importance of identifying best practices to achieve more adequate, sustainable and modernised pension systems. Our results also highlight the importance of using DEA as a decision support tool for policy makers.

Old St. David's, Cheraw, South Carolina, 1770-1947

A history of Old St. David's Church in Cheraw, SC from 1770 to 1947.

Old House Creek S106

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources provides maps to recreational and state shellfish grounds, available to the public for recreational harvesting or to commercial harvest. This map shows the location of Old House Creek S106 Recreational Shellfish Ground in Beaufort County.

Wando River S248 (Above Hwy 41 Bridge)

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources provides maps to recreational and state shellfish grounds, available to the public for recreational harvesting or to commercial harvest. This map shows the location of Wando River S248 (Above Hwy 41 Bridge) Recreational Shellfish Ground in Charleston County.