Simulation‐based Learning in Engineering Education: Performance and Transfer in Learning Project Management

This paper reports empirical findings on the impact of keeping and reviewing learning history in a dynamic and interactive simulation environment of engineering education. The simulator for engineering project management had two learning history keeping modes: automatic (simulator‐controlled) and manual (student‐controlled), and a version with no history keeping. A group of industrial engineering students performed four simulation‐runs divided into three identical simple scenarios (single project) and one complicated scenario (multi‐project). The performances of participants running the simulation with the manual history mode were significantly better than users running the simulation with the automatic history mode. Moreover, the effects of using the history mechanism with the ability to undo further enhanced the learning process. The findings imply that students' decision when to record the history during their engineering training process can have a particularly strong enhancing effect on learning. In addition, the simulator as educational innovation improves students learning and performance. The practical implications of using simulators in the field of engineering learning are discussed.     

News & notes.

This article gives the latest information about the Society for the History of Psychology. It announces that David B. Baker will become News & Notes Editor for History of Psychology in 2006. It covers statements from the candidates for the presidential elections in Division 26, the candidate for secretary-treasurer, and the candidates for representative to council. It also discusses the 2005 meeting of the council of representatives and provides the Society for the History of Psychology's 2005 Convention Program. There is also personal news, as well as a notice of death. The article concludes by summarizing the History of Psychology Around the World: Philemon Foundation Lectures, C. G. Jung Center, Houston, Texas. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Time derivative equations for mode I fatigue crack growth in metals

Predicting fatigue crack growth in metals remains a difficult task since the available models based on the Paris law are cycle-derivative equations (da/dN), while service loads are often far from being cyclic. This imposes a cycle-reconstruction of the load sequence, which significantly modifies the load history in the signal. The main objective of this paper is therefore to propose a set of time-derivative equations for fatigue crack growth in order to avoid any cycle reconstruction. The model is based on the thermodynamics of dissipative processes. Its main originality lies in the introduction of a supplementary state variable for the crack, which allows describing continuously the state of the crack throughout any complex load sequence. The state of the crack is considered to be fully characterized at the global scale by its length a, its plastic blunting ρ, and its elastic opening. In the equations, special attention is paid to the elastic energy stored inside the crack tip plastic zone, since, in practice, residual stresses at the crack tip are known to considerably influence fatigue crack growth. The model consists finally in two laws: a crack propagation law, which is a relationship between dρ/dt and da/dt and which observes the inequality stemming from the inequality of Clausius Duhem, and an elastic–plastic constitutive behaviour for the cracked structure, which provides dρ/dt versus load and which stems from the energy balance equation. The model was implemented and tested. It successfully reproduces the main features of fatigue crack growth as reported in the literature, such as the Paris law, the stress ratio effect, and the overload retardation effect.     

From First Conception to First Demonstration: the Nascent Years of Machine Translation, 1947–1954. A Chronology

The early history of applying electronic computers to the task of translating natural languages is chronicled, from the first suggestions by Warren Weaver in March 1947 to the first demonstration of a working, if limited, program in January 1954.     

边际函数的绝对连续性

本文给出边际函数的绝对连续性性质．     

Low-velocity impact analysis of composite laminates using linearized contact law

Usually many researchers have used the modified Hertzian contact law or experimental static indentation law to analyze impact response of composite laminates subjected to low-velocity impact. In this study, physical meaning of the analytical method using the laws was investigated and the difference between the analytical results obtained using the two laws was also investigated. Furthermore parametric study on contact coefficient and exponent of the contact law was performed. Finally it could be shown that linearized contact law could be well applied to the low-velocity impact analysis of composite laminates. If this concept is used, any general-purpose finite element method software can be used to solve impact problem without direct developing any FEM code by each researcher. In this paper, some analytical results analyzed using a general-purpose commercial FEM software were also presented.     

Josef Bro?ek: Friendship and History.

Presents reflections on the life and achievements of Josef Maria Bro?ek. The author notes that, in his way, Bro?ek turned psychology historiography into an international domain involving, in this construction, researchers from countries not only of Anglo Saxon languages but also those of Slavic and Latin languages, including Brazil. Quoting from Braque, he affirmed that "knowledge of the past enables the revelation of the present." However, he believed that "reality is not revealed if it is not sparkled by a poetic beam." The poetry of life illuminated Bro?ek and his actions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Twelve-Week Outcomes From an Investigation of High-Dose Nicotine Patch Therapy for Heavy Smokers With a Past History of Alcohol Dependence.

This study reports findings from an investigation of the efficacy of high-dose nicotine patch (NP) therapy for heavy smokers with a past history of alcohol dependence. One hundred thirty participants were randomly assigned to 42 mg or 21 mg of transdermal nicotine for 4 weeks, followed by an 8-week dose titration. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 4 and 12 weeks. Differences between dose conditions were nonsignificant, although unexpectedly, outcomes favored participants in the 21-mg NP condition. Nicotine abstinence at follow-up was related to longer length of alcohol abstinence at time of enrollment. Future research should investigate ways to improve smoking quit rates in this population, including more frequent counseling sessions and/or other pharmacotherapies. These investigations should focus primarily on smokers in early alcohol recovery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Managed Care: Implications for School Psychology. Comment.

Comments on the article by Sanchez and Turner (see record 2003-03405-005) examining the implications for practice and training in psychology in the era of managed care. The current author states that Sanchez and Turner should be commended. Their article amplifies and clarifies critical issues psychologists must consider while practicing within an era increasingly shaped by health insurance policies and practices. Nevertheless, the author feels that several intriguing facets of managed care were not highlighted. Discussion focuses on the impact that reimbursement and managed care is having on school (and clinical) psychologists. The author points out that it is unknown to what extent managed care may (and has) altered psychological services delivered by school psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

THEORETICAL ANALYSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION ON TERNARY-WAVES METHOD TO COMPILE ACCELERATED SPECTRA

The equivalent damage calculation formulae of fatigue crack formation and growth are established. In order tocompile the fatigue crack formation and growth accelerated load spectra, the main wave shapes and load sequence of theactual load spectrum are kept constant, and the carrier waves are cut off. And secondary waves are put together into newsecondary waves to shorten the test time according to the equivalent damage calculation formulae respectively. Then bythe fatigue cumulative damage calculation of the fatigue crack formation and growth accelerated load spectra, the onecorresponding to the bigger damage is determined as the fatigue accelerated test load spectrum. Therefore in the test process, the fatigue accelerated test spectrum may be applied till fatigue failure, the engineering fatigue crack length of full-scale structure need not be inspected, and the fatigue crack formation accelerated load spectrum need not be transferredinto the fatigue crack growth accelerated load spectrum. Finally, it