scholarly journals CityScope Platform for Real-Time Analysis and Decision-Support in Urban Design Competitions

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Jesús López Baeza ◽  
Julia L. Sievert ◽  
André Landwehr ◽  
Jonas Luft ◽  
Philipp Preuner ◽  
...  

This paper presents a digital online tool and interaction process that supplies algorithmic analysis and predictive simulation for early-stage urban design proposals within the framework of public competitions. Specifically, the system supports the decision-making of two user groups: 1) planners in the process of developing urban designs proposals, 2) competition juries in evaluating those proposals. The system provides instant assessment of the design solutions’ environmental and spatial impact regarding selected target criteria such as noise propagation or pedestrian accessibility. Enabling the easy testing of functional programs and the identification of feasible trade-offs between multiple design targets, the system supports rapid design iterations as well as the objective evaluation of proposals. Applied for the first time within an innovative tender format for a new residential and business district in Hamburg, Germany, the new toolset paves the way towards a more holistic and interactive form of sustainable urban design.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 0-0

This paper presents a digital online tool and interaction process that supplies algorithmic analysis and predictive simulation for early-stage urban design proposals within the framework of public competitions. Specifically, the system supports the decision-making of two user groups: 1) planners in the process of developing urban designs proposals, 2) competition juries in evaluating those proposals. The system provides instant assessment of the design solutions’ environmental and spatial impact regarding selected target criteria such as noise propagation or pedestrian accessibility. Enabling the easy testing of functional programs and the identification of feasible trade-offs between multiple design targets, the system supports rapid design iterations as well as the objective evaluation of proposals. Applied for the first time within an innovative tender format for a new residential and business district in Hamburg, Germany, the new toolset paves the way towards a more holistic and interactive form of sustainable urban design.


Author(s):  
Abheek Chatterjee ◽  
Richard Malak ◽  
Astrid Layton

Abstract The objective of this study is to investigate the value of an ecologically inspired architectural metric called the Degree of System Order in the System of Systems (SoS) architecting process. Two highly desirable SoS attributes are the ability to withstand and recover from disruptions (resilience) and affordability. In practice, more resilient SoS architectures are less affordable and it is essential to balance the trade-offs between the two attributes. Ecological research analyzing long-surviving ecosystems (nature's resilient SoS) using the Degree of System Order metric has found a unique balance of efficient and redundant interactions in their architecture. This balance implies that highly efficient ecosystems tend to be inflexible and vulnerable to perturbations while highly redundant ecosystems fail to utilize resources effectively for survival. Motivated by this unique architectural property of ecosystems, this study investigates the response to disruptions vs. affordability trade-space of a large number of feasible SoS architectures. Results indicate that the most favorable SoS architectures in this trade-space share a specific range of values of Degree of System Order. This suggests that Degree of System Order can be a key metric in engineered SoS development. Evaluating the Degree of System Order does not require detailed simulations and can, therefore, guide the early stage SoS design process towards more optimal SoS architectures.


Author(s):  
Т.А. Богумил

В статье предлагается концепция жизни и творческого роста В.М. Шукшина сквозь призму тезаурусного и кластерного подходов. Объяснительными «персональными моделями» для интерпретации биографического текста писателя являются кластеры Мартина Идена, Гамлета и Степана Разина. Ранее биографы и литературоведы указывали на важность этих персон для Шукшина, но разрозненно. Впервые предпринята попытка свести указанные персональные модели воедино, в целостный сюжет становления писателя в пространстве культуры. На разных этапах эволюции автора доминирует одна из указанных моделей, последовательно сменяя друг друга, но не вытесняя, а «внахлест». Ранний этап творчества, ориентированный на стратегию Мартина Идена, является попыткой «вписаться» в наличный культурный мейнстрим. Выражено это в следовании поэтике соцреализма. Второй этап подспудно начинается с реабилитации отца Шукшина в 1956 года, когда актуализируется «гамлетовский комплекс», проявляющийся в чувстве вины перед отцом, через стратегию утаивания подлинного «я», мотивы чудаковатости. Третий этап связан с личностью реального исторического лица, Степана Разина, и выражается в открытом протесте против власти. Все важные для В.М. Шукшина поведенческие модели объединены мотивом одинокого противостояния враждебному социуму и имеют трагический финал, что обусловило ранний уход писателя и порождение мифов о насильственном характере его смерти. В.М. Шукшин одновременно был фигурой неординарной и типичной, что позволило его биографии стать «персональной моделью» для последующих авторов, выходцев из сельской глубинки. The article proposes the concept of life and creative growth of V.M. Shukshin through the prism of the thesaurus and cluster approach. The explanatory "personal models" for interpreting the biographical text of the writer are clusters of Martin Eden, Hamlet and Stepan Razin. Earlier, biographers and literary critics pointed out the importance of these people for Shukshin, but it was scattered. For the first time, an attempt was made to bring these personal models together into an integral plot of the formation of the writer in the space of culture. At different stages of the writer’s evolution, one of these models dominates, successively replacing each other, but not crowding out, but “overlapping”. The early stage of creativity, focused on Martin Eden’s strategy, is an attempt to “fit in” the current cultural mainstream. This is expressed in following the poetics of socialist realism. The second stage implicitly begins with the rehabilitation of Shukshin’s father in 1956, when the “Hamletian complex” is actualized. It is manifested in a sense of guilt towards his father, the strategy of concealing the true “I”, eccentricities. The third stage is connected with the personality of a real historical person, Stepan Razin, and is expressed in an open protest against the authorities. All important for V.M. Shukshin's behavioral models are united by the motive of a lonely confrontation with a hostile society and have a tragic ending, which led to the early departure of the writer and the generation of myths about the violent nature of his death. V.M. Shukshin was an extraordinary and typical figure at the same time. That allowed his biography to become a “personal model” for subsequent authors who came from the rural outback.


Author(s):  
Andy Dong ◽  
Alice M. Agogino

Abstract In design synthesis, engineering prototypes make an ideal representation medium for preliminary designs. Unlike parametric design wherein a pre-specified design is parametrically varied, design synthesis demands artistic creativity and engineering experience to transform the previously known components, relationships and designs into a new form. The process compels the designer to ascertain which prototypes will, in some sense, best satisfy the design task. The challenge in this assignment lies in selecting the “right” design prototype. This selection process typically entails an objective evaluation of different designs that perform the same functions or have similar intended behavior and comparing trade-offs between alternate designs. This paper introduces a multi-objective spectral optimization algorithm for the selection of design prototypes based upon their functional representations. The optimization algorithm returns an index of rank, scoring the functional similarity of the proposed design to the goal design. Two illustrative examples apply the algorithm to the selection of a heat fin and beam.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
María A. Duque-Correa ◽  
David Goulding ◽  
Claire Cormie ◽  
Catherine Sharpe ◽  
Judit Gali Moya ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHundreds of millions of people are infected with whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), large metazoan parasites that live in the caecum and proximal colon. Whipworms inhabit distinct multi-intracellular epithelial burrows that have been described as syncytial tunnels. However, the interactions between first-stage (L1) larvae and the host epithelia that determine parasite invasion and establishment in the syncytium remain unclear. In vivo experiments investigating these events have been severely hampered by the limited in situ accessibility to intracellular infective larvae at the bottom of the crypts of Lieberkühn, and the lack of genetic tools such as fluorescent organisms that are readily available for other pathogens but not parasitic nematodes. Moreover, cell lines, which do not mimic the complexity of the intestinal epithelium, have been unsuccessful in supporting infection by whipworm larvae. Here, we show that caecaloids grown in an open crypt-like conformation recapitulate the caecal epithelium. Using this system, we establish in vitro infections with T. muris L1 larvae for the first-time, and provide clear evidence that syncytial tunnels are formed at this early stage. We show that larval whipworms are completely intracellular but woven through multiple cells. Using the caecaloids, we are able to visualise the pathways taken by the larvae as they burrow through the epithelial cells. We also demonstrate that larvae degrade the mucus layers overlaying the epithelium, enabling them to access the cells below. We show that early syncytial tunnels are composed of enterocytes and goblet cells that are alive and actively interacting with the larvae during the first 24 h of the infection. Progression of infection results in damage to host cells and by 72 h post-infection, we show that desmosomes of cells from infected epithelium widen and some host cells appear to become liquified. Collectively, our work unravels processes mediating the intestinal epithelium invasion by whipworms and reveals new specific interactions between the host and the parasite that allow the whipworm to establish on its multi-intracellular niche. Our study demonstrates that caecaloids can be used as a relevant in vitro model to investigate the infection biology of T. muris during the early colonisation of its host.


2008 ◽  
Vol 294 (3) ◽  
pp. E568-E575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Erdmann ◽  
Bianca Kallabis ◽  
Ulrich Oppel ◽  
Oleg Sypchenko ◽  
Stefan Wagenpfeil ◽  
...  

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, which is considered to be a core component in the pathophysiology of obesity-related comorbidities. As yet it is unknown whether insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia already develop during weight gain within the normal range. In 10 healthy male subjects the effect of intentional weight gain by 2 BMI points was examined on insulin. C-peptide and glucose levels following a meal, 75 g of glucose, and a two-step hyperglycemic clamp increased plasma glucose by 1.38 and 2.75 mmol/l, respectively. Baseline insulin, C-peptide, and glucose concentrations were significantly higher after weight gain from 21.8 to 23.8 kg/m2 BMI within 41/2 mo. Calculations of insulin secretion and clearance indicate that reduced insulin clearance contributes more to post-weight gain basal hyperinsulinemia than insulin secretion. Following oral or intravenous stimulation insulin concentrations were significantly higher post-weight gain during all three test conditions, whereas C-peptide and glucose levels did not differ. Calculations of insulin secretion and clearance demonstrated that higher stimulated insulin concentrations are entirely due to clearance but not secretion. Despite significantly higher insulin levels, the rate of intravenous glucose required to maintain the defined elevation of glucose levels was either identical (1.38 mmol/l) or even significantly lower (2.75 mmol/l) following weight gain. The present study demonstrates for the first time that insulin resistance already develops during weight gain within the normal range of body weight. The associated basal and stimulated hyperinsulinemia is the result of differentiated changes of insulin secretion and clearance, respectively.


Author(s):  
David Edward Jones ◽  
Chris Snider ◽  
Lee Kent ◽  
Ben Hicks

ABSTRACTWhile extensive modelling - both physical and virtual - is imperative to develop right-first-time products, the parallel use of virtual and physical models gives rise to two interrelated issues: the lack of revision control for physical prototypes; and the need for designers to manually inspect, measure, and interpret modifications to either virtual or physical models, for subsequent update of the other. The Digital Twin paradigm addresses similar problems later in the product life-cycle, and while these digital twins, or the “twinning” process, have shown significant value, there is little work to date on their implementation in the earlier design stages. With large prospective benefits in increased product understanding, performance, and reduced design cycle time and cost, this paper explores the concept of using the Digital Twin in early design, including an introduction to digital twinning, examination of opportunities for and challenges of their implementation, a presentation of the structure of Early Stage Twins, and evaluation via two implementation cases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. Cherny ◽  
Karin Sauer

ABSTRACT The dispersion of biofilms is an active process resulting in the release of planktonic cells from the biofilm structure. While much is known about the process of dispersion cue perception and the subsequent modulation of the c-di-GMP pool, little is known about subsequent events resulting in the release of cells from the biofilm. Given that dispersion coincides with void formation and an overall erosion of the biofilm structure, we asked whether dispersion involves degradation of the biofilm matrix. Here, we focused on extracellular genomic DNA (eDNA) due to its almost universal presence in the matrix of biofilm-forming species. We identified two probable nucleases, endA and eddB, and eddA encoding a phosphatase that were significantly increased in transcript abundance in dispersed cells. However, only inactivation of endA but not eddA or eddB impaired dispersion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in response to glutamate and nitric oxide (NO). Heterologously produced EndA was found to be secreted and active in degrading genomic DNA. While endA inactivation had little effect on biofilm formation and the presence of eDNA in biofilms, eDNA degradation upon induction of dispersion was impaired. In contrast, induction of endA expression coincided with eDNA degradation and resulted in biofilm dispersion. Thus, released cells demonstrated a hyperattaching phenotype but remained as resistant to tobramycin as biofilm cells from which they egress, indicating EndA-dispersed cells adopted some but not all of the phenotypes associated with dispersed cells. Our findings indicate for the first time a role of DNase EndA in dispersion and suggest weakening of the biofilm matrix is a requisite for biofilm dispersion. IMPORTANCE The finding that exposure to DNase I impairs biofilm formation or leads to the dispersal of early stage biofilms has led to the realization of extracellular genomic DNA (eDNA) as a structural component of the biofilm matrix. However, little is known about the contribution of intrinsic DNases to the weakening of the biofilm matrix and dispersion of established biofilms. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that nucleases are induced in dispersed Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells and are essential to the dispersion response and that degradation of matrix eDNA by endogenously produced/secreted EndA is required for P. aeruginosa biofilm dispersion. Our findings suggest that dispersing cells mediate their active release from the biofilm matrix via the induction of nucleases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilibeth Arias ◽  
Paula Cardona ◽  
Martí Català ◽  
Víctor Campo-Pérez ◽  
Clara Prats ◽  
...  

Cording was the first virulence factor identified in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). We aimed to ascertain its role in the induction of active tuberculosis (TB) in the mouse strain C3HeB/FeJ by testing the immunopathogenic capacity of the H37Rv strain. We have obtained two batches of the same strain by stopping their growth in Proskauer Beck liquid medium once the mid-log phase was reached, in the noncording Mtb (NCMtb) batch, and two days later in the cording Mtb (CMtb) batch, when cording could be detected by microscopic analysis. Mice were challenged with each batch intravenously and followed-up for 24 days. CMtb caused a significant increase in the bacillary load at an early stage post-challenge (day 17), when a granulomatous response started, generating exudative lesions characterized by neutrophilic infiltration, which promoted extracellular bacillary growth together with cording formation, as shown for the first time in vivo. In contrast, NCMtb experienced slight or no bacillary growth and lesions could barely be detected. Previous Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination or low dose aerosol (LDA) Mtb infection were able to delay the progression towards active TB after CMtb challenge. While BCG vaccination also reduced bacillary load when NCMtb was challenged, LDA did not, and its proliferative lesions experienced neutrophil infiltration. Analysis of lung cytokine and chemokine profiles points to their capacity to block the production of CXCL-1 and further amplification of IL-1β, IL-17 and neutrophilic extracellular trap formation, all of which are essential for TB progression. These data highlight the key role of cording formation in the induction of active TB.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-625
Author(s):  
Gul Kacmaz Erk ◽  
Tevfik Balcioglu

PurposeBringing product design and architectural design together, this article looks into the extraordinary use of everyday objects in urban and suburban spaces in The Lost Room mini-television series (2006). The study questions the accepted meanings of products and spaces in relation to their physicality, perception and use. Through multi-layered analysis of the relationship between objects, (architectural and suburban/urban) spaces and their users, the article opens up a discussion about the purpose, meaning and influence of designed products and places.Design/methodology/approachIn this context, this qualitative research makes use of moving images (as representations of products and spaces) to propose a critique of contemporary design via (sub-)urban design practices.FindingsUsing irony and metaphor to question the habit of object possession, accumulation and fetishism, the series challenges blind loyalty to contemporary beliefs. The Lost Room is not concerned with new forms or new designs. Instead, it forces the audience to consider the meaning of both objects and spaces in relation to one another. By transforming our understanding of space, the series also reveals humans' spatial limitations. The Lost Room is a unique small screen “product” in which people's relationship to the designed world is interrogated by having mass-produced objects and the built environment constantly in the foreground.Originality/valueFilm analysis from a design perspective is not new; however, this is the first time The Lost Room is brought to the attention of architects and designers via scholarly work. Film theorists and cinemagoers may also benefit from the unique design perspective outlined in the article.


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