Benefits and Costs of EEO Rules in Construction

The findings of a study designed to investigate the benefits and costs of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations in the construction industry are presented. The data indicate that large contractors have less difficulty than smaller organizations in meeting EEO requirements. In addition, it is shown that the regulations both benefit and increase the number of minority construction workers. According to the study, however, EEO procedures have not increased the number of qualified minority craftsmen. The data also indicate that EEO regulations have increased the cost of the construction projects. The amount spent on both record keeping and low productive personnel, although significant, is not substantial. For example, the unweighted values, in terms of construction dollar volume, range from 1.05% for the Engineering News Record (ENR) 400 organizations to 2.31% for the Indiana Constructors. The weighted values range from 0.48% for the ENR 400 contractors to 1.55% for the Indiana Constructors. The great majority of firms surveyed indicated that EEO rules and regulations should be modified. Better recruiting efforts and comprehensive union and contractor programs to train competent workers appear to be a necessity.     

Practitioner and Student Recommendations for an Engineering Curriculum

Abstract For over 100 years studies have consistently recommended that the engineering curriculum should stress underlying principles and have a considerable range of cultural studies. Nevertheless, some employers continue to state that they are not totally satisfied with the average engineering graduate. The findings of this study, however, suggest that practicing engineers and students are generally satisfied with the civil engineering curriculum. Nevertheless, both groups recommend that the credits allocated to surveying, graphics, and computers should be increased. Practitioners, in general, believe that there should be a decrease in mathematically oriented subjects such as calculus, statistics and numerical methods. Older graduates, in particular, recommend an increase in business courses such as law, accounting, and personnel management. They also believe that technical writing and oral communication skills should be a vital part of the program. It appears to be difficult to design a curriculum, requiring a reasonable number of credits, that satisfies all age groups. Therefore, at commencement, an engineer must expect to initiate a life-long process of informal/formal education to supplement the knowledge obtained by satisfying the civil engineering degree requirements.     

Manipulate the Electronic and Magnetic States in NiCo2O4 Films through Electric‐Field‐Induced Protonation at Elevated Temperature

Ionic‐liquid‐gating‐ (ILG‐) induced proton evolution has emerged as a novel strategy to realize electron doping and manipulate the electronic and magnetic ground states in complex oxides. While the study of a wide range of systems (e.g., SrCoO_2.5, VO₂, WO₃, etc.) has demonstrated important opportunities to incorporate protons through ILG, protonation remains a big challenge for many others. Furthermore, the mechanism of proton intercalation from the ionic liquid/solid interface to whole film has not yet been revealed. Here, with a model system of inverse spinel NiCo₂O₄, an increase in system temperature during ILG forms a single but effective method to efficiently achieve protonation. Moreover, the ILG induces a novel phase transformation in NiCo₂O₄ from ferrimagnetic metallic into antiferromagnetic insulating with protonation at elevated temperatures. This study shows that environmental temperature is an efficient tuning knob to manipulate ILG‐induced ionic evolution.     

Reduced DNAJC3 Expression Affects Protein Translocation across the ER Membrane and Attenuates the Down-Modulating Effect of the Translocation Inhibitor Cyclotriazadisulfonamide

One of the reported substrates for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) translocation inhibitor cyclotriazadisulfonamide (CADA) is DNAJC3, a chaperone of the unfolded protein response during ER stress. In this study, we investigated the impact of altered DNAJC3 protein levels on the inhibitory activity of CADA. By comparing WT DNAJC3 with a CADA-resistant DNAJC3 mutant, we observed the enhanced sensitivity of human CD4, PTK7 and ERLEC1 for CADA when DNAJC3 was expressed at high levels. Combined treatment of CADA with a proteasome inhibitor resulted in synergistic inhibition of protein translocation and in the rescue of a small preprotein fraction, which presumably corresponds to the CADA affected protein fraction that is stalled at the Sec61 translocon. We demonstrate that DNAJC3 enhances the protein translation of a reporter protein that is expressed downstream of the CADA-stalled substrate, suggesting that DNAJC3 promotes the clearance of the clogged translocon. We propose a model in which a reduced DNAJC3 level by CADA slows down the clearance of CADA-stalled substrates. This results in higher residual translocation into the ER lumen due to the longer dwelling time of the temporarily stalled substrates in the translocon. Thus, by directly reducing DNAJC3 protein levels, CADA attenuates its net down-modulating effect on its substrates.     

Preparation,processing, and rheology of thermoplastic collagen

This article describes a technology for the thermoplastic treatment of collagen. Based on limed, untanned cattle pelts a fine powder, termed Thermoplastic Collagen (TC) is produced, which can be processed using conventional thermoplastic techniques. Central step in the production of TC is the partial denaturation of collagen, which was achieved by four different methods. Extrusion of TC at temperatures below 100°C is possible after addition of 30–60% water as plasticizer. In order to maintain permanent flexibility and reduce tackiness, glycerol and stearic acid are used as additives. Shear and elongational viscosities of TC‐water‐mixtures decrease with the shear rate which is consistent with the behavior of thermoplastic materials. The power law can be applied, yielding power law indices of 0.15–0.35. The viscosities are more distinctly influenced by raw material and water content than by temperature or glycerol content. Material properties of the extrudates are described and compared with the starting material. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

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Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Engineering Experience and Competitions Implement ABET Criteria

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has adopted a revised set of criteria for accrediting engineering programs. Nevertheless, as in the past, civil engineering departments will be required to demonstrate proficiency in specific subject areas which are included in the ABET program criteria. This paper investigates, according to civil engineering students, the level at which their understanding of various subjects required by ABET and listed in the Program Criteria for Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Programs and the General Criteria (Professional Component) has been enhanced by being involved with projects associated with the steel bridge and concrete canoe competitions. The results are also compared with students who have practical civil engineering experience. In particular, the findings suggest that students who are directly involved with project work believe that four areas have been greatly enhanced. They include: structural engineering, project management/scheduling and estimating, constructability, and teamwork. Understanding of engineering codes and standards, health and safety issues, materials engineering, and ethical considerations are also perceived to be enhanced. Furthermore, the results complement documentation from the American Institute of Steel Construction including comments from students participating in the steel bridge competition.