bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marketing Implications Associated with Non-Returning Students in University Certificate Programs
Authors: Thompson Gordon
Published: June 2016

This study examines the attitudes and future plans of students who discontinued their studies in university certificate programs. These non-returning students were separated into three groups: opt-outs, stop-outs, and drop-outs. Two separate surveys were undertaken; one survey consisted of students enrolled in a certificate program offered by the University of Saskatchewan, and the other consisted of students enrolled in several certificate programs offered by the University of Manitoba. The study examined three primary questions:What proportion of non-returning students commenced their certificate studies with the intention of completing the program and earning the certificate?What proportion of non-returning students intend to return to complete their program?What attitudes do these students have toward the certificate program in which they had enrolled?Several findings of special significance are reported. First, approximately one-quarter of the students in this study indicated that they entered their certificate program with no intention of completing the program. Second, a significant proportion of the students in this study indicated an intention to return and complete their certificate program. Finally, respondents indicated a very high level of satisfaction with their university experience despite the discontinuation of their studies. The implications of these findings for the marketing of certificate programs are examined and suggestions for further research are offered.
A Critical Appraisal Model of Program Evaluation in Adult Continuing Education
Authors: Wiesenberg Faye
Published: June 2016

This paper describes a critical appraisal model of program evaluation that was developed specifically for a university continuing education context (i.e., credit and non-credit programs designed to meet the personal and professional development needs of adult learners). The articulation of this model is a result of the first Prairie Symposium on Research on University Continuing Education, held in June 1999, and of ensuing discussions about the need for a proactive, research-based, and adult learner-oriented approach to evaluating programs. The paper begins with a brief overview of the conceptual framework of the model, followed by a discussion of the process and content issues deemed important within a university continuing education context. The model is then illustrated in detail through a case study of the approach used by one university faculty of continuing education to evaluate its graduate program in workplace learning. The paper closes with a discussion of the applicability of this model to other adult continuing education programs.
Educating Health Professionals: New Ways of Learning, Knowing, and Doing
Authors: Campbell Katy
Published: June 2016

N/A
Revisiting the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): A Reflective Inquiry into RPL Practice in Canada
Authors: Conrad Dianne
Published: June 2016

The recognition of prior learning (RPL/PLAR) has been on the margins of Canada’s educational and economic scene for many years. A series of recent developments across Canada prompted this writer to reflect on whether a combination of forces may be moving RPL toward its “tipping point.” In examining this possibility, the article situates the issue educationally, socially, and economically. A developing societal and educational trend is identified and the use of the portfolio as an appropriate response tool is considered. Concluding remarks highlight anticipated and existing areas of resistance to moving the RPL agenda forward.
Reframing University Continuing Education’s Role in Community Engagement
Authors: McRae Heather
Published: June 2016

In Canada, a growing interest within higher education in community engagement practices is evidenced through the establishment of national networks, funding opportunities for community-university research partnerships, and the development of specially designated centres on university campuses. However, based on the literature in continuing education, the role of university continuing education (UCE) units in supporting community engagement is not clear. Many UCE units have been involved and continue to be involved in developing and implementing various types of community engagement activities, yet the work of these units is not widely recognized within the university and the community as contributing substantially to the social purpose mission of the institution. The pressures and tensions relating to balancing the social and economic goals of the UCE unit may be influencing the role of UCE in community engagement. Strategies identified in this article that could assist UCE in embedding community engagement within the practice and in reframing the focus of UCE include the development of a community engagement framework and measurement tools that assess outcomes leading to positive social change.
Writing Our Life: Adult Learning and Teaching Through Autobiography
Authors: Karpiak Irene
Published: June 2016

This paper explores the use of autobiography as a tool for teaching and learning in continuing education. In a recent continuing education course on adult learning and development, students took on the project of writing five chapters of their life story. Subsequent interviews with the writers explored the process and effects of writing. The findings suggest that when adult learners undertake autobiographical writing in the context of adult education, they embark on a process of self-exploration and meaning making that, in turn, can promote the development of an enlarged view of themselves and the world around them. Based upon these findings, a proposition is made for the transformative power of putting pen to paper.
Older Adults’ Participation in Education and Successful Aging: Implications for University Continuing Education in Canada
Authors: Sloane-Seale Atlanta , Kops Bill
Published: June 2016

Representatives from Manitoba seniors’ organizations and the University of Manitoba collaborated on a proposal to examine the participation of older adults in learning activities. The initiative led to a series of studies
on this theme, including an exploration of participation at a seniors’ centre (Sloane-Seale & Kops, 2004), a comparison of participants and non-participants at three selected urban seniors’ centres (Sloane-Seale & Kops, 2007), and an analysis of participation at several urban and rural seniors’ centres, as well as participants’ perceptions of the characteristics of successful aging (Sloane-Seale & Kops, 2008). Building on these previous studies, the study described in this article examined the participation of older adults in Manitoba and how it links to successful aging. Key statistics relating to older adults’ participation, types of educational activities, learning in later life, and characteristics of successful aging were collected. The results suggest that such participation leads to a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of successful aging; that educational activities positively influence mental and physical activity, which in turn result in more positive health and well- being; and that spirituality and life planning, including a positive sense of self, a focus on personal renewal and growth, a connection to the broader community, and setting life goals, contribute to successful aging. In light of Canada’s aging population, these findings have implications for educational gerontology, lifelong learning, and continuing education practice and research.
Canadian Adult Education: Still a Movement?
Authors: Selman Mark
Published: June 2016

In this journal’s Fall 2009 issue, the Forum section included an article by Gordon Selman and Mark Selman arguing that although Canadian adult education had existed as a social movement in the middle part of the 20th century, it is no longer a social movement. They also speculated about the causes of this change. In the Spring 2011 issue, Tom Nesbit responded that although the political influence of the field has declined, it is still a movement. He also argued that the purported causes were not significant or not relevant. This response to Nesbit recognizes and accepts the strengths of the field but argues that those strengths do not make it a social movement. It also argues that Nesbit has misconstrued the arguments intended to show that the distinctively Canadian aspects of the movement worked against it in its later years, and that a fear of missionary-like activities worked against asense of cohesion within the social movement.
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and the Online Classroom
Authors: Kreber Carolin , Kanuka Heather
Published: June 2016

This article explores the meaning of the scholarship of teaching and learning and describes how the concept has evolved over time. It then discusses how the scholarship of teaching and learning might contribute to developing effective online learning and, reciprocally, how online learning might change and advance the scholarship of teaching and learning. Through reflective, inquiry-based learning about teaching and the interactive capabilities of Internet communication technologies, higher education teachers can pursue excellence in promoting student learning.
Older Adults in Lifelong Learning: Participation and Successful Aging
Authors: Sloane-Seale Atlanta , Kops Bill
Published: June 2016

This article examines the relationship between the participation of older adult learners in educational activities and successful aging. In partnership with seniors’ organizations, focus-group interviews were conducted on seniors’ involvement in learning and their perceptions of its influence on successful aging. Successful aging is defined in terms of health, life satisfaction and happiness, and physical and cognitive functioning (Menec, 2003). The study was exploratory, but the results suggest that participation in educational activities has positive effects on successful aging and potentially contributes to both physical and psychological well-being. Connections are also made to activity-theory studies (Menec, 2003), lifespan theory (Baltes, 1997; Heckhausen & Schulz, 1995), and adult education studies on older adults (AARP Survey on Lifelong Learning, 2000; Thompson & Foth, 2002; Withnall, 2002). The authors conclude by suggesting a framework for thinking about older adults’ participation in learning activities and successful aging.
Experiential Graduate Education: An Experiment in Transformative Learning
Authors: Laiken Marilyn
Published: June 2016

Five years of teaching a graduate course in organizational learning have convinced the author that the course has a transformative impact on her mature adult students. The article examines the nature of this form of experiential education in the light of transformative learning theory and learning organization concepts. Using the course as a case example, the author offers a number of specific approaches to: developing a constructive learning environment; enhancing team learning; surfacing and discussing assumptions; supporting systems thinking; and personal mastery. Finally, the author examines the role of the instructor as a facilitator of transformative learning. The objectives are to help adult educators reflect on one kind of environment that seems to have a transformative impact and to explore how to continue to successfully design such experiences for and with adult students.
Narrative as a Means of Understanding the Multi-Dimensional Benefits of Telehealth: An Exploration of Telehealth Stories
Authors: Mary Carter Lorraine , Muir Linda , McLean Doris
Published: June 2016

These benefits include not only physical benefits but also emotional, psychological, and familial benefits. Special appreciation is expressed to the story tellers who agreed to share their experiences through the Storyboard Project and in this paper.
The Development of a Self-Assessment Instrument to Evaluate Selected Competencies of Continuing Education Practitioners
Authors: Sullivan Sherry
Published: June 2016

Adult and continuing education practitioners must engage in continuing professional education as a means of developing and maintaining their professional competence. This paper reviews the literature on competencies for continuing educators and examines the strengths of existing instruments for continuing educators to self-assess their competencies. One of the challenges in this process has been a means to systematically and comprehensively assess existing knowledge and skills and to identify where competencies are not adequate. This paper describes an assessment instrument that addresses these challenges and builds on the strengths of existing tools. It describes the development of a tool through a consultative process that identified the range of practitioner competencies required of adult and continuing educators. The assessment tool incorporates a behaviorally based approach to assessing identified competencies. It is unique because it addresses many of the needs identified in the literature including well articulated criteria for making judgments about a person’s current knowledge and skills, a format that allows for clear identification of gaps in learning so that meaningful professional development can take place, the clear structure needed to develop a “portfolio” of skills, and a format that requires the provision of evidence to support claims of proficiency in the identified areas. Though the development of the tool was initiated through the development of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition processes, it is anticipated that it will be useful for continuing educators to undertake self-assessments as a basis for hiring, career laddering, and planning their ongoing professional development activities and goals. In both cases it provides a framework for meaningful reflection, assessment, gap identification, and planning.
Adventure Guides, Outfitters, Firestarters, and Caregivers: Continuing Educators' Images of Identity
Authors: Fenwick Tara
Published: June 2016

In a recent study, 65 continuing education instructors each developed, then analyzed metaphors to describe their images of self in their respective contexts of practice. This article details the process developed by Deshler (1990) that was used to lead these educators into creating and critically reflecting on the meanings of their own metaphors, as well as the implications for their continuing reflection about practice. The relationship between metaphors and cognition is examined, and the process of metaphor-making discussed critically, with implications for its use by other educators. The metaphors generated by continuing educators through this process were grouped into four themes: adventure guides, outfitters, firestarters, and caregivers. These are analyzed here for insights about continuing educators' understandings of their teaching practice and the nature of the learning process.
Palestinian Continuing Education Under Occupation: Images of Distress and Possibilities for Hope
Authors: Davidson Howard
Published: June 2016

This study examines how aspects of a militarily enforced occupation have influenced continuing education at Palestinian universities. It focuses on three influences: the impact of the politics of occupation on the history
of continuing education; the effect of travel restriction, violence, and a damaged economy on participation; and the influence of a dependence on foreign donations on program development and delivery.
Trust: A Process and an Outcome in an Audio-Teleconferencing Learning Environment
Authors: Buchanan Judith , MacIntosh Judith
Published: June 2016

If trust is critical in relationships between teachers and distance education students, then how do teachers facilitate trust? This particularly challenging question arose from our experience teaching distance education nursing students who were continuing their education through the medium of audio-teleconferencing. Although audio-teleconferencing has the advantage of allowing students to stay in their own communities while accessing educational opportunities, we believed that it complicates the development of trusting relationships between teachers and students. In a qualitative study, students were asked to provide their perspectives on factors that facilitate trust within this distance education learning environment. Their responses indicate that, within the context of the learning milieu, trusting is construed as a developmental process, and through this process, trust in the learning, in the curriculum, and in one's co-learners occurs.
Aligning Continuing Education Units and Universities: Survival Strategies for the New Millennium
Authors: Petersen Nancy
Published: June 2016

The goal of the study presented in this paper was to understand and to start to document the contributions that a continuing education unit (CEU) makes to the university. Although continuing education contributes in both financial and non-financial ways, the financial benefits are often the only recognized contribution. The non-monetary contributions are significant, however, and may be the most critical.A national survey of Canadian continuing education deans, conducted by the author, is discussed in this paper. Deans were asked to respond to a list of contributions that were identified by focus groups of continuing education programmers. Deans were also asked to rank each indicator as to its level of importance in gaining support for a CEU within the university. Outcomes were categorized on the basis of their financial contributions and on contributions to the teaching mission, the research mission, and the strategic directions and initiatives of the university. The findings provide evidence of significant contributions in all four categories, although the research contributions are ranked the lowest. CEUs may find the list of institutional outcomes identified in this paper useful in assessing their own contributions and in building support for their units.
Research in University Continuing Education is Dead: Long Live Reflective Practice
Authors: Baskett H. K. Morris
Published: June 2016

Jack Blaney's and Gordon Thompson's arguments in support of research in university continuing education units are countered as being implausible, wishful thinking, and not in keeping with actual behaviours in CE units. Rather than pursue the elusive goal of full acceptance into academe through research, informed professional practice is proposed.
University Continuing Education Units: Agents for Social Change?
Authors: Cram Bob
Published: June 2016

Many commentators have argued that Canadian university continuing education has gradually abandoned its historical commitment to social justice in educational programming in favour of a market-oriented approach. Although such literature clearly expresses a deeply-felt sentiment among continuing educators, it has tended to have two problems. First, many proponents of this view have not explained what they mean by social justice, which makes informed discussion of this issue difficult. Second, in praising historical adult education as a social justice movement, many commentators have neglected to provide coherent and pragmatic alternatives for the present. This article addresses these two problems by providing a dialogic theory of social justice, derived from political philosophy, as a conceptual framework to examine ways in which a new understanding of social justice could be practically applied in both strategic and program planning for university continuing education. This conceptual framework is then used to guide and inform a discussion of how information and communications technologies (ICT) can be used by university-based continuing education units to develop and implement learning opportunities designed to empower persons and organizations working for social justice.
A Profile of University Continuing Educators in Canada
Authors: Pearce Sandra D. , Hein Larry I. , Donaldson Joe F.
Published: June 2016

As the field of adult and continuing education matures, it is useful to more fully understand both the nature of practice and the characteristics of practitioners. Although some attention has been devoted to these topics in the literature, this article focuses on those practitioners who work in a university setting. and reports the results of a national study of university continuing educators. The data, which was gathered on a Canada-wide basis, has allowed us to both describe the characteristics and job responsibilities of those working in the field and develop job responsibility profiles. In addition, the study considers questions of gender, academic rank, age, educational levels, and length of experience in university continuing education as important elements in understanding who continuing educators are, and the kind of work they do.
Creating a Common Space for Community Engagement
Authors: McRae Heather
Published: June 2016

The increased interest in community engagement within higher education provides new opportunities for examining the role of university continuing education (UCE) units in relation to their participation in community university partnerships. This article is based on findings from a qualitative study that used a social theory lens to examine the perspectives and ideas of representatives from the university and the community relating to their experiences and interests in participating in collaborations in support of the social good. While the respondents from community-based research and community organizations identified few constraints affecting their involvement in these kinds of partnerships, the UCE study participants described a number of issues that affected their participation, such as an emphasis on revenue generation and the lack of organizational support for engagement. Considerations for supporting a common space for engagement involving UCE professionals include the development of a partnership model, the adoption of an asset-based approach, affiliations with national organizations and networks, seeking external visibility and recognition, and using social theories to guide the development of community engagement practices.
The Life and Death of the Canadian Adult Education Movement
Authors: Selman Gordon , Selman Mark
Published: June 2016

Adult education in the Western tradition goes back at least to the craft guilds of the Middle Ages; however, the adult education movement, that is, organized attempts to promote and gain support for the practice, had its origins in Canada, at least, in the late 1920s and petered out in the 1990s. Part I of this article traces the development of that movement and includes brief references to the pre-movement years and comments on the periods identified as the Idealistic Period (the late 1920s to 1950) and the Professionalized Period (the early 1950s to the end of the 1980s). Part Two explores the causes of the movement's demise and speculates about its revival.
A Blended Faculty Community of Inquiry: Linking Leadership, Course Redesign, and Evaluation
Authors: Vaughan Norman , Garrison Randy
Published: June 2016

This article describes an institutional course redesign initiative in terms of leadership, support, and preliminary findings, based on the Inquiry Through Blended Learning (ITBL) program created to support faculty engaging in blended course redesign. Garrison, Anderson, and Archer’s (2000) Community of Inquiry framework has been adapted to a blended environment in order to provide faculty participants with opportunities to discuss and reflect on key redesign questions, explore and experience blended learning from a student perspective, and implement and evaluate their own course redesigns. This article describes the inquiry process and the preliminary lessons learned from the implementation of the ITBL program.
Continuing Education Leadership Matrix: A Model for Practitioners in Higher Education
Authors: Moroney Peter
Published: June 2016

Continuing education (CE) units are a diverse blend of philosophical and pedagogical approaches, personal aptitudes, and professional knowledge and skills. The Continuing Education Leadership Matrix model is presented as a conceptual frame-work for understanding and managing CE practice. The model is useful to leaders and managers working within CE and to those with senior-level oversight of CE units. It differentiates four domains of practice: academic, entrepreneurial, administrative, and adult education. Archetypes are used as a heuristic device for understanding the value and contributions of the respective domains as well as their dysfunctional aspects. Unique competencies and areas of innovation characterize each domain. The model has individual and organizational applications and offers insight into how CE practice can be better integrated and utilized.
Adopting Disruptive Technologies in Traditional Universities: Continuing Education as an Incubator for Innovation
Authors: Archer Walter , Garrison Randy , Anderson Terry
Published: June 2016

A recent book by Clayton M. Christensen, Associate Professor of Business at Harvard University, discusses the sometimes devastating impact in the corporate environment of what he refers to as "disruptive technologies." Successful, well-managed firms that dominate their markets have sometimes gone into a sharp decline or even collapsed when a new technology disrupts the pattern of their market segment. Other firms, however, have handled such transitions smoothly, maintaining their position of dominance in the market by employing specific techniques to integrate the new and disruptive technology into their operations.Traditional research universities enjoy a dominant position in the higher education "market," but they are beginning to feel the impact of disruptive technologies such as distance education. They may benefit not only from an examination of the insights that Christensen has derived from his study of the impact of disruptive technologies in the corporate environment but also from a selective application of the techniques for coping with disruptive technologies that Christensen has found to be effective in the business world. Some of these techniques imply an important role for continuing education units as semi-autonomous incubators of disruptive innovation.
Kubrick’s Approach to Burgess: The Significance of Costume in A Clockwork Orange
Authors: Metlić Dijana
Published: July 2016

Based on the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess, Stanley Kubrick wrote a screenplay, produced and directed film A Clockwork Orange in 1971. Made as decadent and nihilistic (Denby), designed in such a way as to enable viewers to enjoy scenes of rape and beatings (Kael), the film was shown in London theaters until 1974, when Kubrick withdrew it from the circulation due to the copy-cat murders in England and anonymous death threats that director’s family began to receive. This text focuses on Kubrick’s specific approach to the adaptation of Burgess’s novel through his significant use of costumes and artworks as important part of the set design, which helps the viewers to understand complex social circumstances of the late 1960s and early 1970s that caused the crucial cultural and political changes in the world. The Cold War crises, uneven economical development and the Vietnam War (1954-1975) moved young people in their teens and twenties to protest against the (unacceptable) way of life they were offered by their patriarchs. Burgess sets the story in England, in near future, after the enlightening changes initiated by the Mods and Rockers in the 1960s, announcing the emergence of the radical punk style in the second half of the 1970s. Opposing to this utopian world and the class society, Burgess’s main character Alex will have to fight against the state in order to retain his freedom of choice. By virtue of an actor Malcolm McDowell, in the Kubric’s version of the story, Alex becomes charismatic, conscious and powerful person, strong enough to confront the society and eventually retain his free will.
Piezoelectric mirror with an active kinematic pair
Authors: Mazeika Dalius , Bansevicius Ramutis , Jurenas Vytautas , Bakanauskas Vytautas , Kulvietis Genadijus
Published: June 2016

Accuracy of laser optical beam steering strongly depends on dynamic characteristics of the positioning mechanism of the mirror. Novel design of the beam steering mirror with an integrated piezoelectric active kinematic pair is introduced in the paper. Rotation mechanism of the mirror has a simple design and allows achieving nano-scale resolution. Rotation of the mirror is achieved by exciting harmonic vibrations in the special clamping mechanism. Plate type piezoelectric transducer is used to generate vibrations. Two different electrode patterns and excitation schemes of the actuator are analyzed. Numerical modelling was performed to confirm operating principle of the rotation mechanism. Experimental prototype of the piezoelectric mirror was made and corresponding measurements were performed. Results of numerical and experimental studies are discussed.
Non-linear time delay saturation controller for reduction of a non-linear vibrating system via 1:4 internal resonance
Authors: Sayed M. , Mousa A. A. , Alzaharani D. Y.
Published: June 2016

In this paper, active control with time delay was implemented for eliminating the vibration of the non-linear system excited by external and parametric forcing amplitude in the presence of 1:4 internal resonances. Multiple time scale method is applied to determine first-order approximations of the controlled system. The stability of the system is investigated analytically using Lyapunov first method and numerically using frequency, force-response curves and phase-plane method for the considered resonance case. Effects of different parameters on the steady state response of the controlled system are investigated. Variation of some parameters leads to the bending of the frequency, force-response curves and hence to the jump phenomenon occurrence.
Algae cell wall disruption by electrohydraulic shock
Authors: Borodinas Sergejus , Vasiljev Piotr , Bareikis Regimantas , Struckas Arunas , Kasperovicienė Jurate
Published: June 2016

Biofuel production from algae oil is one of the most attractive process technologies. Few principles of algae cell disruption are presented on the market and introduced on the conference. Mainly, mechanical, thermal and ultra-sonication technologies are widely used in biofuel production. In this paper, authors propose a novel method for algae cell disruption – electrohydraulic shock in the water (Yutkin effect). The short-term plasma can be determined as an effective method for algae cell wall disruption. The experimental results using the proposed method as well as the biological test performed using Scenedesmus algae specie are presented
The analysis of vortex induced vibration of the flexible pipe in a cylindrical fluid field with cross flow
Authors: Liu Ju-Bao , Yue Qian-Bei , Dong Ri-Zhi , Zhang Qiang
Published: June 2016

In view of the vortex-induced vibration of the flexible pipe in the limited fluid domain, the flexible pipe was dispersed into several three-dimensional beam elements and the fluid domain was discretized into solid element in this article. The fluid-structure coupling model and numerical calculation method were set up for flexible pipe in a limited fluid domain. The vortex-induced vibration characteristics were studied for flexible pipe at different positions in the cylindrical fluid domain. The results showed that with the deviation angle which the flexible pipe from inlet velocity increased, the fluid elastic instability was easier to occur and the vibration was more intense for flexible pipe. However, the location was opposite of the inlet velocity, the fluid elastic instability was less likely to occur and the flexible pipe vibration was decreased. Comparing to the vibration results of the test with numerical simulation, the error was small. Therefore, a reliable calculation model and method were presented in this paper.
Algorithm for noise reduction for strongly contaminated chaotic oscillators based on the local projection approach and 2D wavelet filtering
Authors: Pukenas Kazimieras
Published: June 2016

In this paper, a novel algorithm based on the local projection noise reduction approach is applied to smooth noise for strongly contaminated chaotic oscillators. Specifically, one-dimensional time series are embedded into a high dimensional phase space and the noise level is defined through orthogonal projections of the data points within the neighbourhood of the reference point onto linear subspaces. The current vector of the phase space is denoised by performing two-dimensional discrete stationary wavelet transform (SWT)-based filtering in the neighbourhood of the phase point. Numerical results show that our algorithm effectively recovers continuous-time chaotic signals in heavy-noise environments and outperforms the classical local projection noise reduction approach for simulated data from the Rössler system and Duffing oscillator at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) from 15 to 0 dB, either for the real world data – human breath time series.
Numerical computation of the flow noise for the centrifugal pump with considering the impeller outlet width
Authors: Luan Heng-xuan , Chen Qing-guang , Weng Li-yuan , Luan Yuan-zhong , Li Jie
Published: June 2016

In order to study the effects of the impeller outlet width on the flow noise of the centrifugal pump, a centrifugal pump is applied in the paper as the research object. Geometric parameters of the pump and impeller are constant, and BEM (Boundary Element Method) and experimental method are adopted to analyze noises when the impeller outlet width is 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm and 14 mm, respectively. Firstly, Large-eddy simulation method is applied to compute the transient flow field of the centrifugal pump. Larger pressures and flow velocity of the centrifugal pump mainly are at the edge of the impeller. When the fluid flows from the centrifugal pump, there are two obvious separation vortexes at the outlet of the centrifugal pump. The flow velocity distribution of the centrifugal pump in the horizontal plane is basically symmetric. Based on modal analysis and the transient flow field of the pump, BEM is adopted to compute the noise in the centrifugal pump caused by the unsteady flow, and experiments are also conducted for verification. Based on the above analysis, the noise in the interior and exterior field of the centrifugal pump is computed, and the effects of the impeller outlet width on the noise of the centrifugal pump are then studied. As shown from the result, the radiation sound power at the characteristic frequency increases with the increase of the impeller outlet width. With a reasonable range, the impeller outlet width makes the sound pressure level (SPL) in the interior and external field of various flow conditions be smaller. Considering the energy performance and flow field noises of the centrifugal pump, the pump has the optimal comprehensive performance at the impeller outlet width of 10 mm. The research results can be applied to provide a reference for the optimization design of the centrifugal pump with low vibration and noise.
Numerical optimization of flow noises for mufflers based on the improved BP neural network
Authors: Xie Xiao-lin , Gao Feng , Huang Xiao-yun , Huang Chuan , Li Jie
Published: June 2016

Aimed at the large noise of tail pipe, the method of fluid dynamics was firstly applied to analyze the inner flow field of the exhaust muffler. According to the result, the large noise of tail pipe was mainly caused by air flow regeneration noise, and the vice muffler was not the major component for generating airflow noise. The largest pressure of the whole muffler system was at the outlet end of main mufflers. The largest flow velocity was in the connection pipe between main mufflers and vice mufflers. Secondly, boundary element model of transmission loss for the muffler was established to compare and analyze it with the experimental. The experimental and computational value of transmission loss for the muffler has a good consistency in both change trend and numerical value, and the computational model was reliable. Finally, GA-BP neural network algorithm was used to optimize the acoustic performance of the muffler. Airflow noises of the tail pipe were effectively reduced through optimizing the inner structure of the muffler.
An analytical model for flutter behavior of composite panels with shape memory alloy fibers
Authors: Ren Yongsheng , Du Chenggang , Ma Xiaoqing
Published: June 2016

An analytical model for predicting the effect of shape memory alloys (SMA) on the flutter behavior of composite panels is developed in the frequency and time domains. The laminated plate theory and piston theory are employed to model the aeroelastic response of the composite panels to aerodynamic loads. A thermo-mechanical constitutive equation of SMA proposed by Brinson et al. is used to calculate the recovery stress of the constrained SMA fibers. The approximate solution is obtained for supersonic flutter analysis of the composite panels based on the Galerkin approach. The parametric study is carried out to display the effect of the actuation temperature, volume fraction, the initial strain of SMA fibers and the length to width ratio of the panels on flutter boundaries.
Launching dynamic analysis for truck mounted howitzer by using flexible multi-body techniques
Authors: Ragaee Rateb , Yang Guolai , Ge Jianli
Published: June 2016

The cornerstone of this article is to examine the integration possibility between artillery weapon systems and a special purpose generic hydraulic assistance control circuit in order to decrease the generated artilleries muzzle disturbances to the minimum level. The muzzle disturbance simulation of 122 mm caliber truck-mounted howitzer during firing is carried out in different calculation methods in terms of rigid and flexible components. Different element types are employed to build the best flexible model for such weapon system. Before launching dynamic simulations, modal analysis is accomplished to validate the numerical results accuracy of the generated flexible models by comparing them with the experimental snapshots. The muzzle disturbance simulations for such weapon system are demonstrated in both bandwidth and frequencies. In addition, sensitivity analyses for different design variables which affect the firing angle are completely examined. Finally, a future upgrade expectation of fully controlled muzzle disturbances for such weapon system is established. Complete problem formulation and system stability requirements are determined to specify accurately the required hydraulic responses in the future weapon.
Multi-objective optimization design for a battery pack of electric vehicle with surrogate models
Authors: Lin Cheng , Gao Fengling , Wang Wenwei , Chen Xiaokai
Published: June 2016

In this investigation, a systematic surrogate-based optimization design framework for a battery pack is presented. An air-cooling battery pack equipped on electric vehicles is first designed. Finite element analysis (FEA) results of the baseline design show that global maximum stresses under x-axis and y-axis transient acceleration shock condition are both above the tensile limit of material. Selecting the panel and beam thickness of battery pack as design variables, with global maximum stress constraints in shock cases, a multi-objective optimization problem is implemented using metamodel technique and multi-objective particle-swarm-optimization (MOPSO) algorithm to simultaneously minimize the total mass and maximize the restrained basic frequency. It is found that 2nd order polynomial response surface (PRS), 3rd order PRS and radial basis function (RBF) are the most accurate and appropriate metamodels for restrained basic frequency, global maximum stresses under x-axis and y-axis shock conditions respectively. Results demonstrate that all the optimal solutions in Pareto Frontier have heavier weight and lower frequency compared with baseline design due to the restriction of global maximum stress response. Finally, two optimal schemes, “Knee Point” and “lightest weight”, satisfied both of the stress constraint conditions, show great consistency with FEA results and can be selected as alternative improved schemes.
Experimental study on the seismic behavior of coupled shear wall with concealed partitioned steel plates
Authors: Cao Wanlin , Liu Hao , Dong Hongying , Zhang Jianwei
Published: June 2016

To study the seismic behavior and post-earthquake repairability of coupled shear wall with concrete filled steel tube (CFST) frame and concealed partitioned steel plates (SPs), three 1/5 scaled coupled shear wall specimens were designed with different type of CFST column or core structure. Low-cycle reversed loading was adopted in the test. The test contained two stages. Load-carrying capacity, energy dissipation, ductility, stiffness and failure characteristic of the specimens were compared in pre-repair stages and post-repair stages. The conclusions are drawn that the core structure shows a good ductile yielding mechanism. The cross-section type of frame has an obvious effect on the seismic behavior of shear wall. After damage and strengthening, the new coupled shear wall still has enough seismic capacity and good energy dissipation capacity, and it is easy to be repaired after earthquake. Finite element analysis software ABAQUS has been used to simulate the behavior of coupled shear wall. Ultimate strength is obtained with the vibration of thickness of SPs.
Vibro-acoustic modeling of a rectangular enclosure with a flexible panel in broad range of frequencies and experimental investigations
Authors: Jiao Renqiang , Zhang Jianrun
Published: June 2016

In this paper, unlike the existing studies, vibro-acoustic modeling and analysis of a rectangular acoustic cavity bounded by a flexible panel is conducted by three modeling techniques in a broad frequency range (up to 6.4 kHz). The finite element method (FEM) and statistical energy analysis (SEA) are employed at the low and high frequency range respectively. For the mid-frequency range, a hybrid FE-SEA method is employed to deal with the drawbacks in application of single deterministic or statistical methods. In this case, studies of the interior sound pressure and panel vibration responses for the structure-acoustic coupled system are made under external normal concentrated force acting at the flexible plate. And then comparisons are used to validate the three models and verify their accuracy through experimental investigations. Deviations between the numerical and test results are also discussed.
Characteristics of bow-flare slamming and hydroelastic vibrations of a vessel in severe irregular waves investigated by segmented model experiments
Authors: Jiao Jialong , Ren Huilong
Published: June 2016

Bow-flare slamming of vessels is a reason of concern in the field of naval architecture. Severe slamming loads can result in not only local structure damages but also transient whipping loads. Global whipping oscillations increase both the extreme load and fatigue load effects occurring in ships. This paper provides an experimental investigation of bow-flare slamming loads and global hydroelastic vibrations of a vessel in severe irregular waves. Hydroelastic experiments by a segmented scaled model have been conducted in an ultra-long hydrodynamic basin. Responses of motion, acceleration, sectional load and slamming pressure of the model were measured corresponding to different wave conditions and sailing speeds. The characteristics of motions, accelerations and sectional loads under different conditions are analyzed by spectral method. The bow-flare slamming pressures are characterized and discussed from different aspects in detail. Moreover, the relationship between slamming pressures and the hull global responses is presented and discussed.
Combination of principal component analysis and time-frequency representations of multichannel vibration data for gearbox fault detection
Authors: Wodecki Jacek , Stefaniak Pawel , Obuchowski Jakub , Wylomanska Agnieszka , Zimroz Radoslaw
Published: June 2016

A multichannel vibration data processing method in the context of local damage detection in gearboxes is presented in this paper. The purpose of the approach is to achieve more reliable information about local damage by using several channels in comparison to results obtained by single channel vibration analysis. The method is a combination of time-frequency representation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) applied not to the raw time series but to each slice (along the time) from its spectrogram. Finally, we create a new time-frequency map which aggregated clearly indicates presence of the damage. Details and properties of this procedure are described in this paper, along with comparison to single-channel results. We refer to autocorrelation function of the new aggregated time frequency map (1D signal) or simple spectrum (that might be somehow linked to classical envelope analysis). The results are very convincing – cyclic impulses associated with local damage might be clearly detected. In order to validate our method, we used a model of vibration data from heavy duty gearbox exploited in mining industry.
A real-time, rapid emergency control model for sudden water pollution accidents in long-distance water transfer projects
Authors: Xu Guobin , Long Yan , Ma Chao
Published: June 2016

A real-time, rapid emergency control (EC) model is proposed to cope with sudden water pollution accidents in long-distance water transfer projects. The EC model outputs the method of EC based on pollutant properties. A generalized form of EC model is proposed and tested with a demonstrative project. The rapid prediction formulas of emergency control parameters (ECPs) are proposed under different states of water diversion. The closing times of check gates and the pollution range are calculated by the rapid prediction formulas of ECPs. A case study is examined under the scenario of a sucrose spill in a demonstrative project conducted in the Fangshui to Puyang channel of the Beijing–Shijiazhuang Emergency Water Supply Project in the middle route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. The relative errors of peak concentration and arrival time of peak concentration are less than 20%. However, we could not use an actual toxic soluble pollutant to validate the EC model, so we performed the experiment with sucrose to test the EC model based on its concentration variation. The final result shows that the model is able to play a fundamental role in the decisions involved in the Emergency Environmental Decision Support System.
Estrategias de la unidad de negocio prestar servicios de formación virtual – unipanamericana compensar
Authors: Cardona Bedoya Jenny Marcela , Vaca González Yadira Carolina
Published: June 2016

Este artículo presenta los resultados del procesos de tesis del “Máster en Gestión y Dirección de Marketing Global y Nuevos Mercados” para la Universidad Camilo José Cela.  La recolección de la información se hace a través de una investigación exploratoria y del estudio de la unidad de negocios de Prestar Servicios de Formación Virtual de Unipanamericana – Compensar. Teniendo en cuenta las fuentes secundarias se identificó: 1. Las tendencias más relevantes en el mundo y en Colombia a nivel de nuevas tecnologías, 2. El desarrollo de la matriz Mic Mac establece la relación entre las tendencias y el portafolio de la unidad de negocio y 3. Identificar el crecimiento de las aplicaciones y el impacto del E-learning. La recolección y análisis de información se desarrolló bajo el método cualitativo por medio de entrevistas, teniendo como objetivo determinar las tendencias que más impactan un plan de marketing. Mediante el análisis se encontraron cuatro tendencias que impactan la línea de negocio: La articulación de los niveles educativos, Las nuevas experiencias educativas, Los cambios de los modelos de aprendizaje y Consolidación de los sistemas educativos. Estas tendencias, exploradas en un contexto evaluativo, permiten identificar que las nuevas tecnologías son necesarias para el desarrollo profesional.