Explanation and Application of the Evolving Contact Traction Fields in Shallow Foundation Systems

The present paper provides a qualitative discussion of the evolution of contact traction fields beneath rigid shallow foundations resting on granular materials. A phenomenological similarity is recognized in the measured contact traction fields of rigid footings and at the bases of sandpiles. This observation leads to the hypothesis that the stress distributions are brought about by the same physical phenomena, namely the development of arching effects through force chains and mobilized intergranular friction. A set of semi-empirical equations are suggested for the normal and tangential components of this contact traction based on past experimental measurements and phenomenological assumptions of frictional behaviors at the foundation system scale. These equations are then applied to the prescribed boundary conditions for the analysis of the settlement, resistance, and stress fields in supporting granular materials beneath the footing. A parametric sensitivity study is performed on the proposed modelling method, highlighting solutions to the boundary-value problems in an isotropic, homogeneous elastic half-space.

APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION MAKING METHODS IN CONSTRUCTION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Decision making is a key to business or project success in any sectors, especially in construction that requires handling numerous information and knowledge. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) is an important tool for decision problem solving due to simultaneous consideration of multiple criteria and objectives. Various MCDM methods are continually emerging and tend to be increasingly adopted to address the real-world construction problems. Therefore, it is urged to systematically review the existing body of literature to demonstrate the evolution of the mainstream MCDM methods in general and their application status in construction. A total of 530 construction articles published from 2000 to 2019 are selected in this study and then categorized into seven major application areas using a novel systematic literature review (SLR) methodology. The bibliometric analysis is then used to describe the research trend. Subsequently, the qualitative discussion by themes is conducted to analyze the application of MCDM methods in construction. A further discussion makes it possible to identify the potential challenges (e.g. applicability, robustness, postpone effect, dynamic and prospective challenges and scale problem) to existing research. It also contributes to the recommendation of future directions for the development of MCDM methods that would benefit construction research and practice.

Does Impact of Using an Online Learning on Salesmanship Course in The Era Covid 19 Pandemic?

This research aims to explore the application of learning salesmanship courses during the COVID-19 pandemic, where there are social policies and physical distance conducted by online lectures, while salesmanship courses will be effective if done with many direct practices. Approved implementation of planning, implementation, and evaluation of the implementation of online learning with the support of learning applications such as learning modules and videos. This research was conducted using descriptive qualitative, discussion, and collect data about responses and submissions of learning applications consisting of modules and video sales used during the online learning process. The technique of collecting data is done by collecting, observing, and questioning. Data were analyzed qualitatively using NVIVO software. The results showed that learning tools in the form of salesmanship modules and videos received very high responses, and were effective in fostering student interest in learning, the results of data analysis showed that with modules and videos made learning salesmanship easier, especially on the topic of effective selling techniques online at a pandemic period, very relevant to current needs.

Exploring the range of reported dream lucidity

Dream lucidity, or being aware that one is dreaming while dreaming, is not an all-or-none phenomenon. Often, subjects report being some variant of “a little lucid” as opposed to completely or not at all. As recent neuroimaging work begins to elucidate the neural underpinnings of lucid experience, understanding subtle phenomenological variation within lucid dreams is essential. Here, we focus on the variability of lucid experience by asking participants to report their awareness of the dream on a 5-point Likert scale (from not at all to very much). Participants implemented a combination of mnemonic training lucid dream induction methods at home for one week and provided detailed reports about their dream experiences each morning. Consistent with previous research, cognitive induction methods led to about half of participants reporting at least one lucid dream and about half of all dreams including some level of lucidity. However, we also show that induction success rate varies significantly depending on the minimum criteria for lucidity. Participants also reported how much they adhered to specific components of each induction method, and the amount of mnemonic rehearsal during a brief early awake period was predictive of lucidity level. Furthermore, lucidity levels were positively correlated with dream control, dream bizarreness, and next-morning positive affect. Lastly, we asked participants open-ended questions about why they chose particular levels of lucidity. We focus a qualitative discussion on responses to those “semi-lucid” dreams (rated just a little, moderately, or pretty much lucid) to explore why participants rate their dreams as having intermediate levels of awareness. Together, the present study explores the frequency of semi-lucid dreams, what they are, why they might arise, their correlates, and how they impact methodological concerns in lucid dreaming research.

Climate-Environmental Governance in the Mexico Valley Metropolitan Area: Assessing Local Institutional Capacities in the Face of Current and Future Urban Metabolic Dynamics

This paper focuses on the evaluation of local institutional capacities for advancing climate-environmental governance in the Mexico Valley Metropolitan Area (MVMA). It starts with a brief contextualization of the MVMA, followed by an estimation of current and tendential urban inflows and outflows by 2050 with the objective of delineating the challenges and potential implications ahead. Next, an assessment of local climate-environmental institutional capacities is offered. For that, the methodology and main outcomes of the so-called ICI-CLIMA index is presented for 2019. A qualitative discussion continues in order to assert the challenges and opportunities for advancing a coordinated urban agenda for sustainability and resilience. Such discussion has been enriched with documental and other type of information gathered through field research in all of the 76 municipalities that comprise the MVMA. The paper concludes that, in addition to the limited current climate-environmental local capacities, there is a mismatch between them and both the level of climate vulnerability officially identified and the environmental challenges currently facing. Therefore, for coping with a tendential scenario of increasing urban inflows and outflows and their associated climate-environmental implications, MVMA governments will have to improve their capacities while advancing, at all levels of government, the coordination of climate-environmental agendas, and of the later with urban planning and development agendas.

Changes, Losses, and Challenges on Transformation of the Urban Place: A Narrative on Istiklal Street, Istanbul from the 1900s Until Today

Over the years, the socio-cultural structures, architectural compositions of Istanbul have changed gradually. Unavoidably, Istanbul's urban places have been affected as they have gained new faces through the wrong-driven, top-down, controversial changing processes. Especially since the 1990s, the changes have gained momentum, many controversial modifications have occurred in the heart of Istanbul. Istiklal Street has turned into a symbol of the transformation that Istanbul has been going through. The process brought about the rapid disintegration of the Street's unique, hybrid constitutions and distinctive qualifications. Nearly all the characteristic landmarks that made Istiklal Street special have disappeared one by one and the area is converting into a place that has lost its spirit. To understand how the Street has shaped historically and what has lied at the behind stages, the study begins with a qualitative discussion on the formation of the area since the 1900s. But the focus of the narrative is based on the period from 1990 until today with an explanatory approach to criticise by which mechanisms and actions the area transformed and come today. The study stresses that the potentials of the urban probabilities, socio-spatial compositions, tangible and intangible features are responsible for the future of this place.

Disaster mitigation local wisdom in the tradition of the minangkabau community

This study is about Minangkabau’s local wisdom in disaster mitigation. Minangkabau is an ethnic and cultural group that is still alive and developing today. This ethnic group is centered in West Sumatra in the highlands of the Bukit Barisan which stretches along the island of Sumatra and develops through migrating to various regions in the world. This ethnicity is the oldest tribe on earth which is characterized by the use of the hereditary system according to the maternal or matrilineal line. His leadership made the Minangkabau ethnic have various kinds of local wisdom, especially those directly related to disaster mitigation. The Minangkabau cultural center is located in an area that has a high intensity of natural disasters by its natural topography. In responding to their natural environment, the Minangkabau community has local wisdom in the form of a superstructure that regulates infrastructure and social structure in disaster mitigation. This local wisdom is found in various literacy and traditions of the Minangkabau community. This qualitative discussion uses the perspective of cultural materialism theory. It was found that the local wisdom of disaster mitigation includes human norms and attitudes towards nature; norms before a disaster occurs; and post-disaster policies. To anticipate disasters, there are rules regarding the processing and utilization of nature, such as the use of land, hills, deserts, and swamps. In the event of a disaster, there are rules such as building rangkiang and filling it with food reserves, doing the ijok tradition, and batangeh.

Instant Evaporation ---the future of underwater propulsion

This writing is a qualitative discussion on the potential of having super fast watercraft propelled by super powerful underwater engine.