Internationalisation of the Curriculum: Designing inclusive education for a small world

Responding to the globalisation of commerce and communication and driven by competition in the multi-billion dollar international market for higher education, many universities are seeking to market their educational provision internationally. Feedback from some disappointed 'customers' has created pressure for change in the way that instruction is designed and delivered. This pressure is beginning to affect teachers in subjects perceived as international in perspective. This paper reviews the strategies suggested by Western universities to achieve internationalisation of the curriculum. Internationalisation is a major project that affects all aspects of a university's provision, including its priorities for staff development and career rewards. The challenge for course developers is to design a curriculum that serves global rather than national priorities, which does not rely on prior knowledge of local provenance, where students from all sources share equal opportunities for advancement in an inclusive learning environment, and which serves to introduce stay-at-home students to the demands of an increasingly multinational world of work.     

网络信息时代公共图书馆读者信息服务刍议

本文从网络信息时代读者信息服务的新形势入手,对现阶段读者信息服务工作中存在的问题进行了较为详细的阐述,并从强化现代服务理念、注重网络信息时代图书馆的人才队伍建设等方面提出了相应的对策和建议。     

Choices and Criteria for Seismic Strengthening

Risk assessment is affected by large uncertainties, depending on hazard, structure, damage, and loss analysis. Crucial problems and choices may refer to: (a) hazard parameters, including the definition of appropriate ground motion levels and of their probability to occur; (b) level of knowledge about materials, geometry, detailing; (c) assessed damage and failure modes; and (d) resulting potential for step changes in performances.

The cost of attaining a high level of knowledge may significantly reduce the remaining resources, it is therefore important to favor resilient solutions with a creative adoption of appropriate strengthening strategies.

In this framework, this article discusses the possible criteria for the mitigation of seismic risk and some of the alternative choices that may be adopted for strengthening, with reference to:

(a)?the modification of damage and collapse modes strengthening individual elements or locallyincreasing the deformation capacity;

(b)?the insertion of additional systems resisting to horizontal actions;

(c)?the introduction of base isolation, with the objective of capacity-protecting the existingstructure;

(d)?the reduction of displacement demand by added damping or introducing tuned masssystems.

Alternative strengthening choices lead to different protection levels and imply different performances that are, in general, represented by non linear or step functions of a cost parameter of the intervention. From these considerations, conceptual “structure driven” strengthening criteria, based on a logical use of resources, are discussed.     

The Life and Poetry of Yun Sŏn-Do 尹善道, the Greatest Poet in the Sijo Form

Abstract

This essay, beginning with the proposition of Confucius being born with knowledge, aims to illustrate the sacred imagination Zhu Xi has on Confucius, as well as how the former utilizes specific hermeneutical strategies to maintain the image of the latter. The essay first places in order theories from scholars in the past, regarding “sages being born with knowledge,” then goes on to examine the exegesis Zhu had on the fact that Confucius has “Inborn Knowledge”; followed by a revelation on how Zhu has made use of the concept of “Expression of Modesty” to resolve textual conflicts caused by the affirmation of such knowledge. Finally, limitations of Zhu's hermeneutical strategies are critically examined, so as to exhibit the correlation between commentators of the Classics and the time they live in. The investigation can deepen our understanding on the hermeneutical tradition of Confucianism, hence producing a complementary effect on recent studies.     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF STRENGTHENING AND RETROFITTING MEASURES FOR UNREINFORCED BRICK MASONRY MODEL UNDER CYCLIC TESTING

An experimental study on half-scale brick-masonry models with different strengthening and retrofitting measures has been studied under cyclic loading in a quasi-static test facility. The strengthening measures undertaken for the studies axe the horizontal bond beam at the lintel and sill level with a combination of vertical reinforcement at corners and openings. The retrofitting measures studied are grouting with epoxy-sand-mortar and cement-grout-injection with welded wire mesh in the cracked region. The tests reveal that the horizontal bond beam at lintel level with vertical reinforcement is effective in reducing the cracking above the lintel level. The insertion of an additional sill-band signi-ficantly reduces the cracking in walls. The epoxy-sand-mortar techniques for retrofitting of cracked regions prove to be effective enough to restore the initial strength, stiffness and deformation capacity. Although specimen retrofitted with cement-grout-injection with welded wire mesh is effective to regain the ultimate strength yet the brittle failure is observed as the specimen is stressed beyond the elastic limit.     

明代石拱桥永昌桥的加固修缮技术研究

为明晰明代石拱桥的结构性能,并提出适宜的加固修缮方法,以典型的明代石拱桥永昌桥为例进行研究。首先对其进行精确测绘,获得其准确可靠的几何信息;然后对其建筑形制、构造工艺及残损状况进行研究,为结构性能分析提供依据;接着利用ANSYS软件建立永昌桥主体结构的有限元模型,进行包括荷载影响分析、重要度分析和裂缝分析的结构性能研究;最后基于现状分析和结构性能研究,通过对比拱背套钢筋混凝土拱加固法和拱背粘贴碳纤维布加固法对石拱桥的结构性能的影响,提出了明代石拱桥永昌桥的加固修缮方法。研究成果可为同类型石拱桥的加固修缮提供参考。     

传统方法加固馆藏浮放文物抗震性能试验

为探索馆藏浮放文物的有效抗震加固方法,采用振动台试验手段,研究了传统方法加固浮放文物的抗震性能。基于故宫博物院某展柜原型尺寸,制作了1:1比例陈列柜模型。在陈列柜内浮放一轻质陶瓷文物,分别考虑采用砂子、塑料卡、鱼线、橡皮泥及磁铁加固文物,进行了振动台试验。通过白噪声激励,获得了陈列柜基频分布;通过输入不同强度、不同类型的地震波,获得了不同方法加固条件下陈列柜和文物的位移响应、加速度响应和和动力放大系数,评价了不同方法的加固效果。结果表明:陈列柜的基频与输入地震波相差较大,这是陈列柜震害不明显的主要原因之一;传统方法加固文物后,输入地震波的加速度仍有一定放大,但是与加固前文物相比,文物的位移和加速度响应均有所减小,且文物因摇晃幅度而产生倾覆的可能性减小。此外,从减小文物加速度响应峰值角度考虑,橡皮泥和鱼线加固文物效果优于其它方法。试验结果可为文物防震保护研究提供较全面的参考。     

Full-Scale Shaking Table Tests on a Substandard RC Building Repaired and Strengthened with Post-Tensioned Metal Straps

The effectiveness of a novel Post-Tensioned Metal Strapping (PTMS) technique at enhancing the seismic behavior of a substandard RC building was investigated through full-scale, shake-table tests during the EU-funded project BANDIT. The building had inadequate reinforcement detailing in columns and joints to replicate old construction practices. After the bare building was initially damaged significantly, it was repaired and strengthened with PTMS to perform additional seismic tests. The PTMS technique improved considerably the seismic performance of the tested building. While the bare building experienced critical damage at an earthquake of PGA = 0.15 g, the PTMS-strengthened building sustained a PGA = 0.35 g earthquake without compromising stability.     

Contribution of Earthquake-Resistant Design for Reinforced Concrete Buildings when Coping with External Explosions

Fanaticism, as well as social and economic crises, has provoked a significant increase in the frequency of terrorist attacks during the last two decades and, when considered together with possible accidental explosions, has lead to a higher awareness among involved staff (owners, designers, constructors, government entities). Additionally, the fact that some buildings or targets are in seismic areas while others are not leads to a blast-loading behavior comparison. This article examines the contribution of earthquake-resistant design when coping with ground-surface explosions through nonlinear seismic assessment static analyses and nonlinear time-history analyses of blast resistance assessment using finite elements.     

试论十二桥文化的生业方式——以动物考古学研究为中心

通过对十二桥文化成都平原类型和渝东类型典型遗址所出动物骨骼的可鉴定标本、最小个体数和肉量估算的统计来考察其生业方式,结果显示前者的肉食资源以家畜为主,而后者则以狩猎为主。与香炉石文化的生业方式进行比较,并认为在早期文明阶段,同一考古学文化的不同类型其生业方式不尽相同,而不同的考古学文化间的生业方式则可能趋同。