scholarly journals Supporting the use of algorithmic design in architecture: An empirical study of reuse of design knowledge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anastasia Globa

<p>This thesis tests the reuse of design knowledge as a method to support learning and use of algorithmic design in architecture.  The use of algorithmic design systems and programming environments offer architects immense opportunities, providing a powerful means to create geometries and allowing dynamic design exploration, but it can also impose substantial challenges. Architects often struggle with adopting algorithmic design methods (translating a design idea into an algorithm of actions), as well as with the implementation of programming languages, the latter often proving frustrating and creating barriers for both novice and advanced software users.  The proposition explored in this thesis is that the reuse of design knowledge can improve architects’ ability to use algorithmic design systems, and reduce the barriers for using programming. This study explores and compares two approaches as a means of accessing and reusing existing design solutions. The first approach is the reuse of abstract algorithmic ‘Design Patterns’. The second is the reuse of algorithmic solutions from specific design cases (Case-Based Design).  The research was set up as an experimental comparative study between three test groups: one group using Design Patterns, a second group using Case-Based Design, and the control group. A total of 126 designers participated in the study providing sufficient numbers within each group to permit rigorous studies of the statistical significance of the observed differences.  Results of this study illustrate that the systematic inclusion of the Design Patterns approach to the learning strategy of programming in architecture and design, proves to be highly beneficial. The use of abstract solutions improves designers’ ability to overcome programming barriers, and helps architects to adopt algorithmic design methods. The use of Design Patterns also encourages design exploration and experimentation. The use of the Case-Based Design approach seems to be more effective after designers and architects, who are novices in programming, gain more experience with the tool. It encourages more focused reasoning, oriented to the realisation of a particular (originally intended) design outcome.  The contribution of this research is to provide empirical evidence that the reuse of abstract and case-based algorithmic solutions can be very beneficial. Results of this study illustrate that both reuse methods can be strategically integrated into design education and architectural practice, supporting learning and use of algorithmic design systems in architecture. The study also identifies potential weaknesses of each approach, proposing areas which could be addressed by future studies.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Anastasia Globa

<p>This thesis tests the reuse of design knowledge as a method to support learning and use of algorithmic design in architecture.  The use of algorithmic design systems and programming environments offer architects immense opportunities, providing a powerful means to create geometries and allowing dynamic design exploration, but it can also impose substantial challenges. Architects often struggle with adopting algorithmic design methods (translating a design idea into an algorithm of actions), as well as with the implementation of programming languages, the latter often proving frustrating and creating barriers for both novice and advanced software users.  The proposition explored in this thesis is that the reuse of design knowledge can improve architects’ ability to use algorithmic design systems, and reduce the barriers for using programming. This study explores and compares two approaches as a means of accessing and reusing existing design solutions. The first approach is the reuse of abstract algorithmic ‘Design Patterns’. The second is the reuse of algorithmic solutions from specific design cases (Case-Based Design).  The research was set up as an experimental comparative study between three test groups: one group using Design Patterns, a second group using Case-Based Design, and the control group. A total of 126 designers participated in the study providing sufficient numbers within each group to permit rigorous studies of the statistical significance of the observed differences.  Results of this study illustrate that the systematic inclusion of the Design Patterns approach to the learning strategy of programming in architecture and design, proves to be highly beneficial. The use of abstract solutions improves designers’ ability to overcome programming barriers, and helps architects to adopt algorithmic design methods. The use of Design Patterns also encourages design exploration and experimentation. The use of the Case-Based Design approach seems to be more effective after designers and architects, who are novices in programming, gain more experience with the tool. It encourages more focused reasoning, oriented to the realisation of a particular (originally intended) design outcome.  The contribution of this research is to provide empirical evidence that the reuse of abstract and case-based algorithmic solutions can be very beneficial. Results of this study illustrate that both reuse methods can be strategically integrated into design education and architectural practice, supporting learning and use of algorithmic design systems in architecture. The study also identifies potential weaknesses of each approach, proposing areas which could be addressed by future studies.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-179
Author(s):  
Melania Macarie ◽  
Simona Bataga ◽  
Simona Mocan ◽  
Monica Pantea ◽  
Razvan Opaschi ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: The importance of sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma has been recently established. These are supposed to cause the so-called “interval cancer”, having a rapidly progressive growth and being difficult to detect and to obtain an endoscopic complete resection. We aimed to establish the most important metabolic risk factors for sessile serrated lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study, on a series of 2918 consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Târgu-Mureș, Romania between 1 st of January 2015-31 th of December 2017. In order to evaluate the metabolic risk factors for polyps’ development, enrolled participants were stratified in two groups, a study group, 33 patients with SSLs lesions, and a control group, 138 patients with adenomatous polyps, selected by systematic sampling for age and anatomical site. Independent variables investigated were: gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, nonalcoholic liver disease. Results: For SSLs the most common encountered localization was the right colon in 30.55% of cases. By comparative bivariate analysis between SSLs group and control group, it was observed that hypertension (p=0.03, OR 2.33, 95 %CI 1.03-5.24), obesity (p=0.03, OR 2.61, 95 %CI 1.08-6.30), hyperuricemia (p=0.04, OR 2.72, 95 %CI 1.28-7.55), high cholesterol (p=0.002, OR 3.42; 95 %CI 1.48-7.87), and high triglycerides level (p=0.0006, OR 5.75; 95 %CI 1.92-17.2) were statistically associated with SSLs development. By multivariate analysis hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia retained statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study showed that the highest prevalence of SSLs was in the right colon and hypertension and increased triglycerides levels were associated with the risk of SSLs development. These risk factors are easy to detect in clinical practice and may help identifying groups with high risk for colorectal cancer, where screening is recommended.


Author(s):  
J.E. Azimova ◽  
E.A. Klimov ◽  
E.A. Naumova ◽  
Z.G. Kokaeva ◽  
A.I. Zaitseva ◽  
...  

Перспективным в изучении биомаркеров мигрени может быть многолокусный анализ, в частности, анализ частот сочетанных генотипов. Цель исследования - поиск составных генетических биомаркеров индивидуальной предрасположенности к мигрени, полученных на основе полиморфизмов генов, уже показавших статистическую значимость при однолокусном ассоциативном анализе. Методика. Обследовано 155 пациентов с мигренью (104 пациента с эпизодической мигренью, 51 - с хронической мигренью), наблюдавшихся в Университетской клинике головной боли (Москва). Все пациенты - представители белой расы, жители Московского региона. Возраст пациентов - 30-50 лет. Контроль составили 365 необследованных лиц (популяционный контроль). Выявление исследуемых 22 генов (всего 31 SNP) осуществляли методом ПЦР, ПЦР-ПДРФ, аллель-специфичной ПЦР и ПЦР в реальном времени. Выявление ассоциированных с мигренью сочетанных генотипов проводили с использованием программы анализа полигенных данных APSampler v3.6. Результаты. Выявлено 8 сочетанных генотипов с высокой статистически значимой ассоциацией с мигренью (ОШ>20,0). В состав сочетанных генотипов вошли гены: CCKAR, CCKBR, COMT, MTHFR, MTR, MTRR. Так же выявлено 4 защитных сочетанных генотипа (ОШ<0,02), основным в которых является ген MAOA. Заключение. Полученные данные об ассоциированных с мигренью сочетанных генотипах указывают на значимую роль в патогенезе заболевания 2 биохимических систем: 1) холецистокининергической системы, регулирующей выброс и обратный захват дофамина, и 2) фолатного цикла, в ходе работы которого гомоцистеин метаболизируется в метионин. Результаты, полученные в данном исследовании, позволяют говорить о защитной роли аллеля VNT:R4 гена MAOA.Multilocus analysis, specifically, analysis of combined genotype frequencies may be promising in studying migraine biomarkers. The aim of the study was to search for composite genetic biomarkers, which would predict individual predisposition to migraine, obtained on the basis of gene polymorphisms that have already shown a statistical significance in a single-locus associative analysis. Methods. 155 patients with migraine aging 41.7 ± 12.5 who had been followed up at the University Clinic of Headache, Moscow, were evaluated (104 patients with episodic migraine and 51 with chronic migraine). All patients were white and residents of the Moscow region. The control group included 365 unexamined individuals (population control). Identification of The 22 genes under study (total, 31 SNPs) were identified by PCR, PCR-RFLP, allele-specific PCR, and real-time PCR. Combined genotypes associated with migraine were identified using the APSampler v3.6 software for polygenic data analysis. Results. Eight combined genotypes were identified with a highly significant association with migraine (OR> 20.0). The combined genotypes included the CCKAR, CCKBR, COMT, MTHFR, MTR, and MTRR genes. Four protective combined genotypes were also identified (OS <0.02) with the MAOA gene as the major one. Conclusion. Our data on migraine-associated combined genotypes indicate a significant role in the migraine pathogenesis of two biochemical systems, i) the cholecystokininergic system that regulates the release and reuptake of dopamine, and ii) the folate cycle, where homocysteine is metabolized to methionine. The results obtained in this study suggest a protective role of the VNT: R4 allele of the MAOA gene.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-42
Author(s):  
Anna Kostiukow ◽  
Wojciech Strzelecki ◽  
Mateusz W. Romanowski ◽  
Marta Rosołek ◽  
Ewa Mojs ◽  
...  

Introduction: The study is aimed at drawing the attention of the medical environment to the mental health aspects of young patients as a factor that significantly influences the efficiency of their rheumatic disease treatment. Aim: This paper is to check the risk of depression among a group of adolescents and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Material and Methods: The study was conducted among a group of 68 late adolescents and young adults (18-22 years old) with rheumatic diseases. The control group consisted of 102 young people (18-22 years old) without a diagnosed chronic disease. Risk of depression was measured using a screening tool – the Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS). Results: The analysis showed that the probability of depression in the study group was 35.3%. In the control group, this rate was 19.6%. The results were statistical significance (p=0.028). Conclusions: The results of this study prove that the risk of depression among adolescents and young adults with rheumatic diseases is significantly higher than in healthy young people. The highest risk of depression is related to feeling tired, fatigue, low energy levels and lack of motivation as well as feeling worried, nervous, panicky, tense, keyed-up and anxious.


Author(s):  
Ruihuan Pan ◽  
Shanshan Ling ◽  
Haodong Yang ◽  
Yan Huang ◽  
Lechang Zhan ◽  
...  

Background: Shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) refers to a syndrome causing sudden edema, shoulder pain and limited hand function. Qingpeng ointment, a kind of Tibetan medicine, can reduce swelling, relieve pain, tonify stagnation and clear the meridians, which is consistent with the pathological mechanism of SHS after stroke. Therefore, if clinical trials can be used to explore the effectiveness of Qingpeng ointment for treatment of poststroke SHS and promote its application in clinical medicine, this is of specific significance for the treatment of poststroke SHS. Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Qingpeng ointment in the treatment of poststroke SHS. To provide an objective basis for a better therapeutic treatment for poststroke SHS. Method: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted. This study recruited 120 patients with poststroke SHS who met the inclusion criteria. They were randomized into the treatment group and the control group, with 60 patients allocated to each group. The treatment group received routine medical treatment and rehabilitative care after using the Qingpeng ointment, while the patients in the control group received only routine treatment without the ointment. All patients received clinical assessment with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), measurement of the range of motion (ROM) of the upper-limb joints, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-U) and the Modified Barthel Index Score (MBI) before and after the whole treatment. Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, the VAS scores of both groups were decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There is no statistical significance for the difference between the treatment group and control group in terms of the FMA-U and MBI scores and the forward bend, backward, outstretch, external rotation and pronation angles after treatment. The increases in the values of VAS, FMA-M and MBI in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The increases in the values of the forward bend, outreach and external rotation angles in the treatment group were greater than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The treatment group showed better results than the control group in terms of the relief of pain symptoms, the improvement of motor function and the improvement of the activities of daily living for patients with shoulder-hand syndrome after cerebral hemorrhage. Qingpeng ointment is effective and safe in treating poststroke SHS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Basma Sultan ◽  
Hamdy Omar ◽  
Housseini Ahmed ◽  
Mahmoud Elprince ◽  
Osama Anter adly ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Vascular calcification (VC) plays a major role in cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is one of the main causes of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study aims at early detection of breast arterial calcification (BAC) in different stages of CKD (stage 2, 3& 4) patients as an indicator of systemic VC. Method A case control study was conducted targeting CKD women, aged 18- 60 years old. The sample was divided into 3 groups; A,B,C (representing stage 2, 3 & 4 of CKD) from women who attended nephrology and Internal medicine clinics and admitted in inpatient ward in Suez Canal University Hospital. A 4th group (D) was formed as a control group and included women with normal kidney functions (each group (A, B, C, D) include 22 women). The selected participants were subjected to history taking, mammogram to detect BAC and biochemical assessment of lipid profile, Serum creatinine (Cr), Mg, P, Ca, PTH and FGF23. Results Our study detected presence of BAC in about 81.8% of hypertensive stage 4 CKD patients compared with 50% in stage 3 CKD, also in the majority of stage 4 CKD patients who had abnormal lipid profile parameters and electrolyte disturbance. Most of the variables had statistical significance regarding the presence of BAC. Conclusion Although it is difficult to determine the definite stage at which the risk of VC begins but in our study, it began late in stage 2 CKD, gradually increased prevalence through stage 3 and became significantly higher in stage 4. These results suggest that preventive strategies may need to begin as early as stage 2 CKD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Bac ◽  
Magdalena Wróbel ◽  
Katarzyna Ogrodzka-Ciechanowicz ◽  
Edyta Michalik ◽  
Anna Ścisłowska-Czarnecka

Abstract The assessment of the six-week influence of Kinesio Taping combined with a rehabilitation on selected ultrasonography measurements, the level of disability, and the quality of life in patients with rotator cuff lesions. 60 participants were randomly assigned into a taping group (KT combined with a six-week rehabilitating protocol) and a control group (only rehabilitation protocol). In all patients the following assessments were performed twice: USG, UEFI and NHP questionnaires. In the examination of the subacromial space and the subacromial bursa in the taping group, no statistical significance was observed. A statistically significant change in the thickness of the muscles was obtained only for the thickness of the infraspinatus in the taping group. A statistically significant change was obtained in the assessment of tendinopathy only for the supraspinatus muscle in both groups. Within both groups a statistically significant difference was observed in the average UEFI and NHP scores; however, the differences in the scores obtained between the groups were not statistically significant. The use of KT with a rehabilitation program did not yield statistically significantly better results in the improvement of selected shoulder region indicators, the function of the upper limb and the quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Yuan Gong ◽  
Hai-Ying Peng

Abstract Background To investigate the correlation between the thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL) -6, visfatin, juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1 (JAZF1) and type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) macroangiopathy. Methods The study enrolled 82 patients with T2DM with macroangiopathy (the Complication Group), and 85 patients with T2DM (the Diabetes Group) who were admitted to Shandong Provincial Third Hospital from February 2018 to February 2020. In addition, 90 healthy people who underwent physical examination at the same hospital during the same period were enrolled (the Healthy Control Group). Age, gender, height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), diabetic course and therapeutic drugs, waist hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded and calculated. Results The baseline characteristics of the three groups were comparable, and the diabetic course of the Complication Group and the Diabetes Group was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The WHR of the Complication Group was higher than that of the Diabetes Group and the Healthy Control Group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The FPG, 2hPG, HbA1C, CRP, IL-6, Visfatin, JAZF1, HOMA-IR, EAT thickness, and baPWV of the Complication Group were all higher than those of the Diabetes Group and the Healthy Control Group (P < 0.05, respectively). The JAZF1 and FIns of the Complication Group and Diabetes Group were lower than those of the Healthy Control Group, and JAZF1 of the Complication Group was lower than the Diabetes Group with statistical significance (P<0.05, respectively). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the EAT thickness was positively correlated with CRP, IL-6, visfatin, and JAZF1 (r = 0.387, 0.451, 0.283, 0.301, respectively, all P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that baPWV was positively correlated with EAT thickness, CRP, IL-6, visfatin, and JAZF1 (r = 0.293, 0.382, 0.473, 0.286, respectively, all P < 0.001). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that FPG, 2hPG, HbA1C, CRP, IL-6, visfatin, JAZF1, and EAT thickness were independent risk factors that affected T2DM macroangiopathy. Conclusions Clinical monitoring and treatment of T2DM macroangiopathy can use CRP, IL-6, Visfatin, JAZF1, and EAT thickness as new targets to delay the progression of the disease. Further research on the relationship between the above factors and the pathogenesis of T2DM macroangiopathy may be helpful provide new treatment strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Jun Tang ◽  
Li-Li Xie ◽  
Xiang-Rong Zheng ◽  
Chen-Tao Liu ◽  
Xia Wang

AbstractOur aim was to detect type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s)-related cytokines of infants with bronchiolitis by using Elisa, Liquidchip technology and RT-PCR and investigated its correlation with bronchiolitis. We recruited 26 infants with bronchiolitis and 20 healthy infants as control from Xiangya Hospital. Compared to the control group, the serum levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5) [41.99 (21.11) vs 25.70 (19.64)], IL-9 [27.04 (37.51) vs 8.30 (0.54)], IL-13 [184.05 (132.81) vs 121.75 (176.13)], IL-33 [83.70 (46.69) vs 11.23 (55.31)] and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) [31.42 (5.41) vs 28.76 (2.56)] were significantly increased in infants with bronchiolitis (P < 0.05), while the level of IgE had no significant difference between the two groups [19.05 (14.15) vs 14.85 (20.2), P > 0.05]. The mRNA expression of IL-17RB (9.83 ± 0.35 vs 9.19 ± 0.58), TSLP (16.98 ± 2.12 vs 15.07 ± 2.25), retinoid acid receptor related orphan receptor α (7.18 ± 0.71 vs 5.46 ± 1.09) and trans-acting T-cell-specific transcription factor 3 (4.86 ± 0.66 vs 4.19 ± 0.90) were significantly increased in infants with bronchiolitis versus the control group (P < 0.05), while there was no statistical significance for suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (5.59 ± 0.68 vs 5.41 ± 0.87, P > 0.05). Our findings suggested that ILC2s possibly play a specific role in immunopathology of bronchiolitis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 014556132110169
Author(s):  
Dan Yan ◽  
Shuai-Hua Li ◽  
An-Li Zhang ◽  
Yao Xiao ◽  
Ze-Chun Huang

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the clinical effect of autologous fat-granule transplantation in augmentation rhinoplasty and explore methods to improve the fat retention rate. Methods: A total of 70 enrolled patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: the platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) combined with high-density fat transplantation group (combined group) and the conventional fat-granule transplantation group (control group; n = 35 in each group). In the combined group, an appropriate amount of autologous fat was extracted and centrifuged, and the lower layer of high-density fat was taken and mixed with PRF isolated from whole blood for autotransplantation. In the control group, only fat was extracted and centrifuged for transplantation. The patients were followed up with for more than one year to observe the short- and long-term effects, complications, safety, and patient satisfaction. Results: Six months after the operation, the nasal shape was stable, the contour was higher and more stereoscopic than before, the average increase of nasal height was 3.0 mm in the combined group and 2.0 mm in the control group. No complications, such as fat embolism, infection, or necrosis occurred during the 1-year follow-up. The satisfaction rate between the 2 groups has statistical significance ( P < .05). Conclusion: Overall, PRF combined with autologous high-density fat transplantation is simple to perform, has a significantly increased fat-retention rate than the control group, and has stable long-term effects without obvious adverse reactions. A sufficient amount of fat and PRF transplantation can achieve a good orthopedic effect. Thus, this method can be widely used in clinical augmentation rhinoplasty.


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