bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reaffirming a proud tradition
Authors: Candy Philip C.
Published: October 2003

Although the term ‘lifelong learning’ has a long and distinguished history, for many people it has erroneously been thought of as a synonym for adult education or, more particularly, for selfdirected learning. In recent years, however, there has been a recognition that it includes all aspects of education and training–formal, non-formal and informal–at all ages and stages of life, irrespective of where it occurs or who organizes it. As part of this recognition, universities and other institutions of higher education have had to consider their place within the total domain of lifelong learning. Broadly speaking, there are two aspects to this: the steps they might take to produce lifelong learners, and those that they can take–both administratively and pedagogically–to support and encourage lifelong learning itself. In relation to the first of these issues, this article considers five facets of the undergraduate experience in particular: the content of the curriculum, the structure of the curriculum, teaching methods, assessment approaches and the place of student support services. With respect to the broader question of supporting and encouraging lifelong learning more generally, the article considers a range of approaches involving institutional linkages: ‘vertically’ to the school and adult education sectors;‘sideways’ to learning which occurs in the home, workplace or community; and ‘forwards’ to embrace students’ post-graduation learning experiences, including their participation in further formal study. It is concluded that lifelong learning not only provides a valuable unifying theme for the current work of universities, but that historically it has been the mandate of universities to provide lifelong learning opportunities for members of their communities.
Partners for Change
Authors: Butler Terry , Chao Tracy
Published: October 2003

Numerous challenges face teaching staff in a postsecondary institution who wish to explore their options and integrate technology into their teaching practice. The Arts Technologies forLearning Centre (Arts TLC) at the University of Alberta has adopted a model that enables students to support teaching staff by taking the role of technology mentors to them.The student mentors guide, advise and teach the teaching staff about the appropriate use of technology. The emphasis is less on the production of materials, and more on the development of self-sufficiency for the teaching staff member. The successes, challenges and prospects of this approach are discussed.
Technology-Based Interactive Learning
Authors: Diochon Monica C. , Cameron Ann Frances
Published: October 2003

This article uses a case study of an international student research project to provide insight into the range of design considerations associated with technology-based learning. In aiming to add value to the learning experience of our undergraduate business students, colleagues from three universities set out to design a project that would enable students to learn things that would be inaccessible by any other means. The article discusses the inherent structural constraints associated with international partnering and illustrates how new ways of working with others are needed in dealing with the issues and challenges that arise. Practical suggestions are offered for others considering a project of this nature.
Experiences of Reflective Teaching
Authors: Kuit Judith A. , Reay Gill , Freeman Richard
Published: October 2003

This article describes a reflective teaching project initiated at the University of Sunderland. It identifies some of the staff development that was required to fulfil the aims of the project. Models of reflection are given: DATA; critical thinking; experiential learning; action research; critical incident; concept map; and storytelling. Methods of data collection are outlined: teaching observation; diaries/logs; and student feedback; and data analysis is summarized. The article discusses some of the critical issues identified by the project and suggests appropriate methods for starting the process of reflective practice by others.
‘Sometimes You Feel You’re in Niche Time’
Authors: Owen Mairead
Published: October 2003

In the light of the move to mass higher education, this article explores the necessity for supporting all students, but especially those non-traditional students who increasingly form the student body. It demonstrates this by presenting an empirical study of the personal tutor system in one of the faculties in a ‘new’ university in the north-west of England, drawing upon in-depth interviews with both students and tutors.The article also cites contributions from other universities as a comparison. The research incorporates some models of support systems and suggests a way forward.
Discipline-Based Study Skills Support for First-Year Undergraduate Students
Authors: Durkin Kathy , Main Andrew
Published: October 2003

Universities are expected to align their programmes with the new Quality Assurance Agency National Qualifications framework by the start of the academic year 2003–2004 (QAA 01). QAA have identified a number of ‘intellect’ and ‘transferable’ skills in their guidelines, which they regard as essential to develop atall levels of higher education. They define ‘intellect’ skills as including analysis, synthesis, evaluation and problem-solving. Transferable skills include communication (oral and written), teamwork, research skills, etc. This article argues that these skills can be developed through study skills support and considers the potential benefits of different approaches to academic study skills support for undergraduate students.
The Learning Web
Authors: Williams Peter
Published: October 2003

The incorporation of undergraduate key skills programmes has been a major concern for some years now, recently given added impetus by the Dearing (1997) report.This article discusses the development, implementation and evaluation of electronically disseminated key skills materials at the University of North London. Take up of these was positively correlated with academicsuccess, although misuse of on-line discussion fora was evident. Lecturers and students differed markedly in their perception and evaluation of the system. Many of the advantages trumpetedby academics were dismissed by learners, who felt that material posted on-line gave them extrawork; represented an abrogation of lecturers’ teaching duties and shifted printingcosts from the institution to the student. Network and other access problems caused further disenchantment. The article concludes that more attention needs to be paid both to student needsand attitudes, and to the resource implications of running such a system.
Preparing Students for the Empowered Workplace
Authors: Costello Melinda L. , Brunner Penelope W. , Hasty Karen
Published: October 2003

Empowerment of workers has been occurring for a number of years in a high percentage of international business organizations. This shift of decision-making from upper-level management to the workers themselves has created a demand for entry-level employees who are familiar and comfortable with working in an empowered environment. Although college classrooms play a major role in employee preparation, the traditional classroom structure continues to reinforce a dependent, rather than interdependent or empowered, attitude toward authority. Student-centered instruction, however, not only encourages a deeper understanding of subject matter, it also allows students an opportunity to experience the empowerment they will need later in their careers. This article describes a qualitative study of the challenges related to restructuring a management classroom in which students experience firsthand the effects of empowerment. The evidence from student comments and researcher observation indicates that perseverance through the negative reactions to change and feelings of abandonment results in students’ increased feelings of personal power, control and self-awareness.
Using Marketing Simulations for Teaching and Learning
Authors: Tonks David
Published: October 2003

This article is a ‘reflective piece’ that considers the ways in which the author’s teaching and learning ‘ideology’ has evolved over time. More specifically, it concerns the learning objectives connected with the use of computer-based marketing simulation exercises. The article takes a broad sweep, dealing with the general pattern rather than fine detail, and uses the classic Kolb model of experiential learning to trace, to discuss and also to note the circular nature of that evolution for all participants.
The Role and Integration of Learning Outcomes into the Educational Process
Authors: Watson Paul
Published: October 2003

This article provides a rationale for the adoption of a learning outcomes approach for delivering a curriculum. Included is a unit guide framework for establishing the learning outcomes and the incorporation of an appropriate assessment strategy. This format has been adopted at Sheffield Hallam University and has proved to be most successful. In order to provide validity for this approach, the article contains an example of the use of a learning outcomes model related to the requirements of professional bodies involved in the education of construction students within higher education establishments. Professional bodies have assisted in determining a set of common learning outcomes which all construction graduates should be capable of performing. However, higher education is charged with designing a strategy for delivering the common learning outcomes. Therefore, an appropriate methodology for addressing this issue built around the construction example is provided in the form of an implementation model.
Understanding the Space of Experiential Variation
Authors: Fazey John A. , Martonl Ference
Published: October 2003

Learning and understanding are often differentiated and distinguished from each other in people’s experience and thinking, but they are necessarily related to each other. This relationship is visible in examples of how individuals express what they mean by learning. Starting from an observed similarity of expression, an idea is presented about how understanding may be appropriately described for pedagogy. Several examples of conceptual learning are highlighted and characterized in terms of the learners’ experiences of variation in critical dimensions of the learning task. However, systematic variation of the learners’ task has seldom been a primary theme in research except in the particular domains of perceptual and motor skills. By reconsidering the ways in which what is learned differs when skill practice conditions are systematically varied leads to a reorientation of our interpretation of what it is that is learned. It seems that it is something about the variation experienced that is learned. The resulting understanding can then be seen as the space of experiential variation.
Cognitive Prerequisites and Learning
Authors: Dochy Filip , de Rijdt Catherine , Dyck Walter
Published: October 2003

Bloom’s work stressed the importance of cognitive entry behaviors to a large extent. In this article, we give an overview of the conceptual advances that have been made during the past decades concerning the outdated term ‘cognitive entry behaviors’. Moreover, we search for further evidence in research that will highlight from different perspectives the great importance that Bloom assumed for this factor in learning situations. Explanations for the influence of prior knowledge on learning are reviewed. Finally, some short comments are made concerning Bloom’s work in relation to new educational developments, educational practice, and teaching.
Citizenship Behaviours of University Teachers
Authors: Regoxs Arm…nio
Published: October 2003

This article describes the relationship between citizenship behaviours and performance of university teachers (CBUT) and the professional motivation and self-confidence of their students. Four CBUT dimensions were studied: participatory behaviour, practical orientation, conscientiousness and courtesy. A sample of 242 graduates from a variety of organizations and occupations were contacted. The findings are consistent with those obtained by Rego and Rego and Sousa concerning students’ and teachers’ points of view. Our study, conducted in Portugal, supports the view that an excellent teacher is one who scores well across all four CBUT dimensions. Our findings suggest that the four CBUT can contribute to improving quality in higher education with respect to the quality of the teaching–learning process.
Exploring the Practice of Feedback to Students
Authors: Mutch Alistair
Published: October 2003

Feedback to students is a vital but relatively underresearched area. An analysis is presented of practice in a complex modular business programme. Attention is drawn to the difficulty of such analysis, but three ways of looking at the text are presented: by modality, by area of concern and by developmental content. A conversational form of feedback with a focus on ‘implied development’ is identified and placed in the context of Bernstein’s notion of an ‘invisible pedagogy’. Such a focus may disadvantage students and the importance of reflection on feedback in the context of knowledge claims at both the module- and the programme level is stressed.
Theory and Practice in Photography
Authors: Grove-White Annie
Published: October 2003

The relationship between theory and practice in BA art, media and design courses, is often cited as being a crucial aspect in distinguishing how ‘education’ is different from ‘training’ in higher education. Yet what do students understand by this relationship and how does it make itself manifest in students’ work? This article attempts to unravel and analyse the different conceptions that undergraduate students of photography have about the nature and relationship of theory to practice in making their own work, as they move through their course of study. Influenced by phenomenology, the author attempts to interpret these different conceptions in relation to different learning approaches that students adopt. The article concludes by asking to what extent do we as lecturers understand how our students come to reach this range of understandings, and if so, are they the understandings we intend them to gain?
Automatic Assessment of Problem-Solving Skills in Mathematics
Authors: Beevers Cliff E. , Paterson Jane S.
Published: October 2003

Since 1985 the CALM Project for computer aided learning in mathematics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has delivered automatic assessment to large groups of students in engineering and science. Initially, CALM used the computer to assess basic mathematical skills/techniques and acquired facts/knowledge. CALM has been proud of its testing capability, providing as it does a comparison of numerical and mathematical expressions as answers. This is well beyond the multiple-choice format favoured in some subjects but not appropriate in much of mathematics. However, much progress has been made through the design of intermediate steps, the inclusion of hints and the extension of question types. In the SCHOLAR Project, delivered over the Web to 58,000 students in all Scottish schools during the last academic year, more complex mathematical skills have been tested automatically using the on-line assessment engine known as CUE. This article addresses the advances in automatic assessment with particular emphasis on mathematics. The capability of the computer to assess more general problem-solving skills in mathematics is explored. The article concludes with some thoughts on how the subject might expand in the near future.
Personal Creativity for Entrepreneurship
Authors: Morrison Alison , Johnston Bill
Published: October 2003

Systematic approaches to the development of creativity amongst higher education students appear to be limited, particularly in the UK. The consequence is that prospective lecturers and students find themselves with little practical guidance to action. Towards addressing this void, this article presents a case study example of a ‘non-traditional’ educational intervention in the form of one class in action: ‘ Entrepreneurship: Personal Creativity’. The University of Strathclyde has offered this class, as part of the offerings of the Strathclyde Entrepreneurship Initiative, since the academic session 1996/97. It is concluded that creativity could usefully be introduced into the curriculum more systematically and widely and with greater coherence, rather than being ring-fenced into a stand-alone class.
Ropes, Poles, and Space
Authors: Snyder Kimberlee D.
Published: October 2003

As business students graduate and obtain jobs in the global market, corporations are complaining that students employed in entrylevel management positions lack critical thinking or creativity skills. Creativity involves the ability to break out of established patterns and try new approaches. A truly creative individual is not lost in his or her own world, oblivious to all that goes on around them; rather, they combine broad knowledge and imagination to stimulate adventurous (and very likely unconventional) thinking versus merely generating a taxonomy of ideas leading to only one conclusion. How can a university business faculty incorporate ‘critical thinking’ and ‘creativity’ into their courseware? This article discusses an encompassing active learning matrix with examples of exercises, projects, and simulations to foster critical and creative thinking skills in business courses.
It’s Good to Talk
Authors: Ottewill Roger , Drew Fiona
Published: October 2003

Traditionally, language and non-language learning in higher education have been treated as separate and distinct. Arguably, however, this has been thrown into question with the advent and expansion of institution-wide language programmes (IWLPs). These provide students, from any discipline, with opportunities for broadening their competencies by developing communication skills in a foreign language. Their existence, however, raises issues concerning the relationship between languages and other disciplines. This article summarizes reflections on such issues, informed by semi-structured interviews. They suggest that more should be done to help IWLP students develop learning strategies in which greater recognition is given to opportunities for cross-fertilization between language learning and other components of their learning experience. There should also be closer cooperation between linguists and non-linguists in areas such as staff development, team teaching and education research.
The Problem Problem and Other Oddities of Academic Discourse
Authors: Graff Gerald
Published: October 2003

Habits of thinking and writing that are so familiar to academics that we hardly recognize them often seem counter-intuitive to high school and college students. These habits include the search for hidden meanings in texts and experience generally, the inclination to be contentious and to foment controversy, the tendency to make seemingly obvious assumptions explicit and the general obsession with searching for problems where often there do not seem to be any. The most productive way for teachers to help students cope with these unfamiliar academic habits is to identify these habits in class, inviting students to discuss them and even air their doubts about them.
Pedagogy and the Politics and Purposes of Higher Education
Authors: Walker Melanie
Published: October 2003

Despite current rhetoric around the civic purposes of higher education, in practice higher education has been increasingly captured by ‘market values’, the ‘corporate’ university and a technicist language of ‘teaching and learning’ that displaces more complex notions of curriculum and pedagogy. This article seeks to develop alternative languages of teaching and learning in higher education to enable explorations of the intersections of pedagogy, culture and power. Two languages are described: a pedagogy of ‘recognition’ and an ‘Arendtian’ pedagogy. A case study of teaching German Popular Culture is then presented as an exemplar of what such critical pedagogies might look like in action. At issue is the keeping open of the spaces in higher education wherein the democratic possibilities and social justice purposes of universities might be argued for and practised through curriculum and pedagogical work in concrete sites.
Curriculum Design in a Context of Widening Participation in Higher Education
Authors: Warren Digby
Published: October 2003

The current ‘widening participation’ and ‘key skills’ agendas in higher education present the challenge of developing curriculum models that can accommodate a more heterogeneous student body. Drawing primarily on the South African experience, and similar findings from Australia, this article examines various forms of provision in terms of intended target group, assumptions, goals and curriculum context. A distinction is made between separate, semi-integratedand integratedapproaches and associated models. On the grounds of both educationally relevant theory and actual practice, it is argued that ‘separate’ provision of the ‘academic support’ type has a limited impact, and that a mix of semi-integrated and integrated models of curriculum provision offers better prospects for helping a wide spectrum of students to succeed at university. Some implications for teaching and curriculum development are illustrated with reference to the Arts and Humanities.
Theory into Practice
Authors: Sinclair StÈfan , Gouglas Sean W.
Published: October 2003

This article outlines the pedogogical imperatives and practical necessities that shaped the establishment of the new Master of Arts degree in Humanities Computing at the University of Alberta (Canada). Established as a graduate programme open to students across the Faculty of Arts, the programme provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary studies that combine the rigours of a traditional Liberal Arts education with hands-on experience in emerging technologies. Although research in Humanities Computing is not necessarily a broadly interdisciplinary proposition, the establishment of a Humanities Computing curriculum is. Teaching in Humanities Computing must incorporate the work of many different disciplines (either separately or in concert). It can serve as a powerful vehicle for promoting the type of collaboration between departments and faculties that many colleagues and administrators seek.
The Utility of the Arts and Humanities
Authors: BÈrubÈ Michael
Published: October 2003

Artists and humanists who work in universities are generally ambivalent about the idea of defending their enterprises in terms of social utility: on the one hand they do not want to claim that the Arts and Humanities are such exalted and selfjustifying endeavors that no one need bother explainingwhy such things are worth pursuing, yet on the other hand they are rightly skeptical that cost-benefit analyses of academic labor will do justice to disciplines devoted to the varieties of human cultural expression rather than to the research and development of patentable forms of knowledge. This essay explores this ambivalence and suggests an alternative way of thinking about the ‘utility’ of cultural work.
Assessing Diversity
Authors: Alfred’s King
Published: October 2003

This article examines the nature of assessment in the context of a music course in higher education. It looks at possible criteria for assessing a diversity of world musics including pop/rock, classical traditions and ethnic traditions. It looks at how the process of music making as well as the musical product might be assessed and at the personnel involved in the assessment. Practical measures are described as illustration and examined critically. These include process journals and diaries, peer assessment practices and the use of technology.
From Equity to Efficiency
Authors: Boughey Chrissie
Published: October 2003

In South Africa, the focus of the democratic government elected in 1994 has shifted from the need to achieve equity in relation to access to higher education to the need to achieve greater efficiency in terms of the way the tertiary system functions as a whole. One result of this shift is that debates about what it means to provide‘epistemological access’ in terms of curricula and teaching methodologies have been sidelined in favour of the need to develop curricula which will allow students to become members of a global workforce. This article examines issues related to access not only in terms of the theoretical debate just outlined but also in terms of the way financial and other constraints impact on the higher education system itself.
Bridging the Gap between A Level and Degree
Authors: Ballinger Gillian J.
Published: October 2003

This article examines the teaching of Advanced level students in both years of their studies at two secondary schools in the Staffordshire area. The purpose of the investigation is to compare the tuition of A level students to the teaching of first year undergraduates at Keele University, specifically in relation to concerns raised by the undergraduates during the potentially disorientating period at the start of their degree studies. The question of whether there is a need to manage the students’ transition to higher education more effectively is considered.
FcγRIIIa and FcγRIIa polymorphisms do not predict response to rituximab in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Farag Sherif S. , Flinn Ian W. , Modali Rama , Lehman Teresa A. , Young Donn , Byrd John C.
Published: October 2003

In follicular lymphoma (FL), genomic polymorphisms corresponding to the expression of valine (V) or phenylalanine (F) at amino acid 158 of FcγRIIIa alter the binding affinity of immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) to the receptor and have been associated with varied responses to rituximab. We examined FcγRIIIa polymorphisms of 30 CLL patients with the phenotypes V/V (n = 6), V/F (n = 12), and F/F (n = 12) treated with thrice-weekly rituximab (375 mg/m2) for 4 weeks to correlate polymorphism type with infusion toxicity and response. Infusion toxicity (grade 3 or greater or hypoxia/hypotension requiring transient cessation of therapy) was observed equally among the groups (V/V, 50%; V/F, 33%; F/F, 41.6%; P = .78). The response to rituximab was also similar among the different polymorphism phenotypes (V/V, 33%; V/F, 41.6%; F/F, 50%). These data suggest that FcγRIIIa polymorphisms are not predictive of response in CLL and that, unlike the case with FL, mechanisms of tumor clearance other than antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity may be more important.
Technology roadmapping—developing a practical approach for linking resources to strategic goals
Authors: Probert D R , Farrukh C J P , Phaal R
Published: October 2003

As technological development increases in pace and complexity, it is ever more important for companies to understand the link between the technological resources at their disposal, their effective deployment, and the business goals that they aim to achieve. The cost of bringing inappropriate technologies to market may be damaging for an otherwise successful firm, and it is imperative to make the right choices at all stages of the product life cycle. Technology roadmapping offers a way to explore this linkage and, together with the associated supporting analysis, is a powerful means of identifying the key required technologies. Research to date has not revealed a generally applicable roadmapping approach in the public domain, and individual company experience is fragmented and inaccessible. This paper describes the development of a particular approach to technology roadmapping. It is intended to enable any organization to assess the value of roadmapping in its own particular context by means of a rapid first application. The experience gained from the research cases is discussed, providing some guidance for further applications.
Enhanced product functionality with life cycle units
Authors: Seliger G , Buchholz A , Kross U
Published: October 2003

Cycle economy is not only ecologically reasonable but also a chance for new business. Selling utilization instead of selling products is advantageous once additional costs for information processing and logistics are less than costs for underutilized capacity. A competitive provider offers product functionality in quality, time and location as required by the user. Lifetime component monitoring is conditional for this performance. Modern microelectronic technology enables the acquisition of component deterioration with sensorial devices, information processing and storing with microcontrollers and initiating appropriate actions such as maintenance. The architecture of a microsystem called the life cycle unit (LCU) for product and component monitoring is introduced and specified. Product examples illustrate some application areas.
Assessing the manufacturability of early product designs using aggregate process models
Authors: Maropoulos P G , Bramall D G , McKay K R
Published: October 2003

Designers have no way of establishing, and hence controlling, the likely production consequences of design decisions during the early stages of new product introduction. Aggregate process modelling is a newly developed methodology for the identification and manufacturability assessment of production routeings for partially specified product configurations. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in the close integration of process models with existing product and resource information and the provision of feedback regarding manufacturing issues to control downstream design processes. A description of the methods for early estimation of product manufacturability and their potential application in a design support system, able to prevent the progression of design ideas that would be costly, difficult or even impossible to manufacture, is presented in this paper.
Decision making in conceptual engineering design: An empirical investigation
Authors: Girod M , Elliott A C , Burns N D , Wright I C
Published: October 2003

This paper describes the aims, methodology and results of an empirical research project. The aim was to gather new insight about how collaborative decision-making processes in the conceptual engineering design phase of the product development process takes place. The insight contributes to bridging the gap between the theoretical development of new decision-making methods in academia and the needs of practitioners. The researchers observed, recorded and transcribed three workshops involving groups that were engaged in the collaborative decision-making processes. Through analysing the transcripts, a set of decision-making related activities was identified. Each activity's time consumption was quantified, and a number of decision-making process models at different levels of detail were developed. During this analysis, various observations on particular process characteristics were made. It was observed that generating formal structures and documentation was beneficial to the decision-making process. This was particularly true with respect to developing problem understanding and consistency. The outcomes should be valuable for the design and development of improved decision-support systems.
Managing product development resources through the use of product quality attribute mapping
Authors: Elliott A C , Swain E , Wright I C
Published: October 2003

A technique using product quality attribute mapping to assist product resourcing decisions is described. Primary data from respondents via quantitative questionnaire surveys of four different industrial manufacturing companies were collected and analysed. Care was taken with the data source and type of scales employed to ensure meaningful comparisons could be made. The first objective of the data analysis was to determine the importance of each of the companies' customers. This was followed by determining the importance of the product attributes to each customer. An overall perception of product attribute importance was obtained by combining the customer importance with the importance of product attributes. The respondents' perceptions of the competitive situation was then combined with the overall perception of product attribute importance to give a quality index for each product attribute. The derived picture product attributes relative to one another are shown by bubble maps indicating the position of the competitive index against attribute importance, with the quality index represented by the bubble size. The significance of these bubble maps, particularly in relation to resourcing decisions for the companies, is discussed. It is concluded that companies can use data in this form to guide product development in a quantifiable manner.
Flatness adaptive control of a hot strip in finishing mills
Authors: Hong W K , Choi J J , Kim J S , Yi J J
Published: October 2003

In order to improve the flatness of a hot rolled strip in hot strip finishing mills, a new segmented looper system was developed, which is called the flatness sensing inter-stand looper (FlatSIL) system. The FlatSIL system measures the tension along the width of the strip by using segmented rolls and the tension profile is calculated. Using the tension profile, the flatness control system of the hot strip can be constructed. The new flatness control system works for the full strip length during strip rolling as long as the tension profile-measuring device and the work roll bender are activated. To control the flatness of the hot strip, a self-tuning algorithm using the recursive least mean square method was applied to update proportional-integral (PI) gains. By computer simulation and experimentation, the performance of flatness control systems was compared with fixed and self-tuning PI gains.
Determination of the formability of stainless steel sheets using the technological proofing method
Authors: Hennig R , Malveira N V , Crivellaro R S , Netto S E Silveria , Borsoi C A , Schaeffer L
Published: October 2003

This paper shows the proofing of the formability of stainless steel materials with a new technological testing method to determine differences in their forming behaviours. The new method uses different round punch forms in the cup-drawing test to cause ruptures and to combine systematic rising stretch-forming division ranges with the deep-drawing process, as described by Hennig. In this way the deep-drawability as well as the stretch-formability of sheet metal materials are tested simultaneously. Through this increase in the proofing conditions, the broad demands in manufacturing complicated panels are greater than had so far been considered in an experiment. In the tests, only small differences could be shown in the forming behaviours of the different stainless steel materials, and they form industrial plants. However, this depends on the change in the load between the industrial practice test and the current experiments. On the other hand, the results could show the improvement in the material from a supplier only by attaining nearly the same or better results with these sheets, which has to be proved once again in practice.
Optimum control of process parameters in electrical upsetting
Authors: Sun Y , Liu T , Zhang Z , Zhang T , Luo T
Published: October 2003

In the normal electrical upsetting process, the process parameters were determined by experience. During working, these parameters were constant and could not be controlled on line. In this paper a new computer-controlled electrical upsetting system is introduced. Based on analysis of main process parameters such as upsetting velocities, heating current and upsetting pressures, the optimum control system of process parameters is determined. The control strategy includes two key parts: sensing the temperature from the system pressure and controlling temperature by adjusting the current i or velocity V 1 and keeping V 2 = [ d2/( 2h2 + d2)] V1 to realize spherical upsetting.
Thixoforming process of a component with a non-circular type of metal matrix composite and its formability limitation
Authors: Kang C G , Jeon Y P
Published: October 2003

The characteristics of the thixoforming process can decrease liquid segregation because of the improvement in fluidity in a globular microstructure state and can utilize flow without an air entrapment. Therefore, in order to obtain the sound parts of metal matrix composites by using the thixoforming process, which has a coexisting solidus-liquidus phase, it is very important to design a die shape property and to obtain the fabrication conditions that affect the uniformity of the solid fraction on the unfilling state and various defects throughout the fabricated parts. The die designs and fabrication conditions used to obtain a good piston part were proposed for the thixoforging process of metal matrix composites. When reheated, metal matrix composite billets were transferred to the closed die gate and thixoforging was carried out under the various pressures (60, 80, 100 MPa) with a controlled forging speed. The mechanical properties, such as hardness and tensile strength, used for the specimens machined by thixoforged parts have been investigated after T6 heat treatment.
Detection of causes of casting defects assisted by artificial neural networks
Authors: Perzyk M , Kochański A
Published: October 2003

Defects in castings often appear unexpectedly and it is difficult to identify their source as they can be brought about by a large number of randomly changing production parameters. Artificial neural networks were used for detection of the causes of gas porosity defects in steel castings. The applied procedure included systematic storing of two types of information: about the process parameters, materials used and even employees involved in the production (as the network inputs) and about the appearance of a given defect (as the network output). The trained network was able to detect interdependences among various factors influencing water vapour pressure in the mould and thus to indicate the most probable cause of porosity.
Computer-integrated optics design and tool path generation in virtual machining of aspheric surfaces
Authors: Lee W B , Gao D , Cheung C F , Li J G
Published: October 2003

This paper presents an integrated optics design and tool path generation system for the design and manufacture of aspheric optics. The optics design is accomplished by a computer aided optics design software which allows the simulation, evaluation and optimization of the performance of the optical system without the need to make a real prototype. The required optical surface is automatically translated into its corresponding numerical control (NC) program based on a tool path generator. The output of the system is a set of optimized optics design parameters, verified NC program and cutting condition. The tool path program can be generated directly from computer-aided optical design software without the need for any manual data post-processing and can be verified by an expensive trial cutting test.
Tool life and tool wear during high-speed rough milling using alternative cutter path strategies
Authors: Toh C K
Published: October 2003

The paper is concerned with a feasibility study of tool life and tool wear when employing high depths of cut (between 10 and 20 mm) and different cutter path strategies in the high-speed milling (HSM) of hardened die/mould steel. Following a review of previous work, experimental data are presented on the peripheral milling of hardened AISI H13 steel (HRC 52) using raster, single-direction raster and offset machining strategies. Coated carbide corner-radius end mills with a diameter of 10mm were employed with a fixed cutting speed of 314m/min and a feed per tooth of 0.067mm. From the experimental results it was realized that a raster cutter path strategy (combination of up and down milling) combined with high-depth roughing achieved the lowest tool wear. The offset strategy achieved the lowest tool life at all axial depths of cut within the range investigated. The experimental results clearly show that cutter path strategies and axial depths of cut have a significant effect on the tool life and tool wear for the cutters employed.
A study of a dual-electromagnetic sensor system for weld seam tracking of I-butt joints
Authors: Kim J-W , Shin J-H
Published: October 2003

Seam tracking systems for the arc welding process use various kinds of sensor including the arc sensor, vision sensor and laser displacement sensor. Among the various sensors available, the electromagnetic sensor is one of the most useful methods, especially in sheet metal butt-joint arc welding, primarily because it is hardly affected by the intense arc light and fumes generated during the welding process, or by the surface conditions of the weldment such as paint marks and scratches. In this study, a dual-electromagnetic sensor, which utilizes the induced current variation in the sensing coil due to the eddy current variation in the metal near the sensor, was developed for the arc welding of sheet metal I-butt joints. The dual-electromagnetic sensor thus detects the offset displacement of the weld line from the centre of the sensor head, even when there is no gap in the joint. A set of design variables for the sensor was examined to determine the maximum sensing capability through repeated experiments. Seam tracking was performed by correcting the position of the sensor to the amount of offset displacement determined during each sampling period. From the experimental results, the developed sensor system showed an excellent capability for weld seam detection and tracking when the sensor-to-workpiece distance was less than 5mm.
An application of computer vision for programming computer numerical control machines
Authors: Eladawi A E , Gadelmawla E S , Elewa I M , Abdel-Shafy A A
Published: October 2003

Generation of the part programs, or tool paths, for products to be manufactured by computer numerical control (CNC) machines is very important. Many methods have been used to produce part programs, ranging from manual calculations to computer aided design/ manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems. This work introduces a new technique for generating the part programs of existing products using the latest technology of computer vision. The proposed vision system is applicable for two-dimensional vertical milling CNC machines and is calibrated to produce both metric and imperial dimensions. Two steps are used to generate the part program. In the first step, the vision system is used to capture an image for the product to be manufactured. In the second step, the image is processed and analysed by software specially written for this purpose. The software CNCVision is fully written (in lab) using Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0. It is ready to run on any Windows environment. The CNCVision software processes the captured images and applies computer vision techniques to extract the product dimensions, then generates a suitable part program. All required information for the part program is calculated automatically, such as G-codes, X and Y coordinates of start-points and end-points, radii of arcs and circles and direction of arcs (clockwise or counterclockwise). The generated part program can be displayed on screen, saved to a file or sent to MS Word or MS Excel. In addition, the engineering drawing of the product can be displayed on screen or sent to AutoCAD as a drawing file.
Drilling and deburring in a single process
Authors: Kim K H , Cho C H , Jeon S Y , Lee K , Dornfeld D A
Published: October 2003

A drill bit integrated with a retractable deburring cutter can be used for drilling and deburring exit burrs in a single process. In preliminary works, the authors learned that the retractable cutter may cause hole widening during its passage through the holes. A new design for the deburring cutter is proposed to avoid hole widening. With the new design, mild exit burrs (types I and II) are successfully removed. For large exit burrs (type III), however, the deburring is likely to be incomplete.
Development of a machining simulator considering machine behaviour
Authors: Dugas A , Lee J J , Terrier M , Hascoët J Y
Published: October 2003

High-speed machining gives much potential for increasing the efficiency of the milling operation, but it requires very careful preparation for the milling process to use this potential. A machining simulator has been developed that can analyse dynamic errors due to tool deflections and machine dynamic behaviour using a three-dimensional solid simulation model. This kind of simulator would be a useful tool to apply in high-speed machining where it is necessary to obtain very well prepared part programs considering dynamic errors as well as geometrical errors. In this short communication, an algorithm will be introduced to estimate the dynamic errors caused by machine dynamic behaviour. Specifically, this algorithm predicts real feed rates and tracking errors considering the limits of numerical controllers and machine tools. The efficiency of the algorithm has been verified through several experiments with various tool paths. In addition, the algorithm has been integrated into the machining simulator. Some results obtained from the machining simulator concerning the estimation of tracking errors will be reported.
Formation of 8-Membered Ring Compounds by the Reaction of Styrene Oxide with MoCl5
Authors: Guo Qiaoxia , Nakajima Kiyohiko , Takahashi Tamotsu
Published: October 2003

Styrene oxide reacted with group 5 and 6 metal halides in 1,2-dichloroethane to afford an 8-membered ring compound, 2,3,6,7-dibenzo-9-oxabicyclo[3,3,1]nona-2,6-diene. When the reaction was carried out in benzene instead of 1,2-dichloroethane as a solvent, unexpected new 8-membered ring product, tribenzobicyclo[3.3.2]decatriene, and 1,1,2-triphenylethane were obtained. The structures of the 8-membered ring compounds were confirmed by X-ray analysis.
Behavior of By-products during Direct-photodegradation Treatment of Trichloroethylene. Effect of Oxygen Concentration on Production of By-products
Authors: Yamamoto Shin , Amemiya Takashi , Murabayashi Masayuki , Itoh Kiminori
Published: October 2003

During direct-photodegradation treatment of trichloroethylene by a low-pressure mercury lamp in a dry air atmosphere, slightly degradable by-products are produced; this production is the most serious issue associated with such treatment. We observed the acceleration of by-products degradation with decrease in an oxygen concentration in a treatment atmosphere.
2,3,6,7,10,11-Hexakis(dimethylsilyl)triphenylene
Authors: Kyushin Soichiro , Takemasa Norikatsu , Matsumoto Hideyuki , Horiuchi Hiroaki , Hiratsuka Hiroshi
Published: October 2003

2,3,6,7,10,11-Hexakis(dimethylsilyl)triphenylene (1) was synthesized by the silylation of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexabromotriphenylene with chlorodimethylsilane and magnesium. The absorption and emission spectra of 1 revealed that the silyl substituents modify optical properties of triphenylene.
Direct Proof for Electrochemical Substitution of Surface Hydrogen of Boron-doped Diamond Electrode by TOF–ESD Method
Authors: Yagi Ichizo , Ogai Keiko , Kondo Takeshi , Fujishima Akira , Ueda Kazuyuki , Uosaki Kohei
Published: October 2003

The substitution of surface hydrogen on boron (B)-doped diamond electrodes during electrochemical hydrogen evolution was confirmed using TOF–ESD method. The results show that surface-H(D) was substituted by D(H) as a result of the reduction of D+(H+) in solution during the electrochemical hydrogen evolution at the B-doped diamond.
A Duplex of Tetra(2-pyridyl)porphyrin and Tetrahydroxylcalix[4]arene
Authors: Ohkawa Haruki , Arai Satoshi , Takeoka Shinji , Shibue Toshimichi , Nishide Hiroyuki
Published: October 2003

meso-Tetra(2-pyridyl)porphyrin forms a duplex with tetrahydroxylcalix[4]arene via triplicate or quadruple hydrogen bonds, to provide a capping structure on the porphyrin plane.
Fabrication of Nanoelectrode Ensembles of Porous Gold Nanoshells and Direct Electrochemistry of Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilized on the Electrode
Authors: Wang Xia-Yan , Zhong Hui , Lv Yang , Chen Hong-Yuan
Published: October 2003

Novel nanoelectrode ensembles of porous gold nanoshells were prepared on a glassy carbon electrode surface through NH2(CH2)2SH self-assembly approach. The direct electrochemistry of horseradish peroxidase immobilized on the NAuE with high surface area was investigated using electrochemical methods.