Optimizing parking lot design by Generative design approach

The article describes how to transform the time-consuming process of selecting design solutions for parking spaces according to regulatory requirements and terms of reference by building information modelling (BIM). The main purpose of the work is to determine the possibility of applying a generative approach to the parking lot design by creating an optimization model of variant design. The process of selecting design solutions for parking is considered by using mathematical modeling and multi-criteria optimization. A mathematical description of finding the optimal solution on the region of admissible ratios is obtained both between the two types of parking spaces required by regulatory documents (type 1-Standard, with dimensions of 5.3 × 2.5 meters; type 2 - for People with Limited Mobility (PLM), with dimensions of 6.0 × 3.6 meters) and between the occupied area and the total number of parking spaces. The optimization model of choosing design solutions for parking lot helps a design engineer to adapt changes in requirements for defining admissible options for space-planning solutions. The study proves that the task of choosing admissible and optimal solutions for the parking lot, depending on the set of conditions, can be performed by using algorithms, and, consequently, by using computer-aided design in BIM. The proposed approach to parking lot design allows the project organization to coordinate the initial conditions and solutions between the project participants and related departments, and also serves as the basis for solving subsequent design tasks, such as determining the economic efficiency, the safety of the parking project, and others

Recapitulation of normal collagen architecture in embryonic wounded corneas

Wound healing is characterized by cell and extracellular matrix changes mediating cell migration, fibrosis, remodeling and regeneration. We previously demonstrated that chick fetal wound healing shows a regenerative phenotype regarding the cellular and molecular organization of the cornea. However, the chick corneal stromal structure is remarkably complex in the collagen fiber/lamellar organization, involving branching and anastomosing of collagen bundles. It is unknown whether the chick fetal wound healing is capable of recapitulating this developmentally regulated organization pattern. The purpose of this study was to examine the three-dimensional collagen architecture of wounded embryonic corneas, whilst identifying temporal and spatial changes in collagen organization during wound healing. Linear corneal wounds that traversed the epithelial layer, Bowman´s layer, and anterior stroma were generated in chick corneas on embryonic day 7. Irregular thin collagen fibers are present in the wounded cornea during the early phases of wound healing. As wound healing progresses, the collagen organization dramatically changes, acquiring an orthogonal arrangement. Fourier transform analysis affirmed this observation and revealed that adjacent collagen lamellae display an angular displacement progressing from the epithelium layer towards the endothelium. These data indicate that the collagen organization of the wounded embryonic cornea recapitulate the native macrostructure

HOST GENETICS OF SUSCEPTIBILITY Mutations in genes underlying atypical familial mycobacteriosis are not found in tuberculosis patients from Siberian populations

s u m m a r y Objectives: Atypical familial mycobacteriosis (AFM, OMIM #209950) is caused by mutations in genes regulating IL12/IFNG pathway. Some of the mutations exhibit incomplete penetrance, and they have been proposed to be involved in the common (polygenic) predisposition to tuberculosis (TB). We set out to test this hypothesis in two populations from Siberian region of Russia with high prevalence of TB. Material and methods: The prevalence of twelve mutations in IL12/IFNG pathway genes of were analysed in 331 Russians and 238 Tuvinians TB patients and in 279 healthy Russians and 265 healthy Tuvinians. A screening for new mutations and rare polymorphisms was carried out in 10 children with severe generalized TB and severe BCG-vaccine complications using Sanger's bidirectional sequencing. Results: Twelve mutations most commonly identified in AFM patients appeared to be "wild-type" monomorphic in the studied groups. No new mutations or rare polymorphisms were identified by sequencing. However, 15 common single nucleotide polymorphisms were found, none of which was associated with TB after correction for multiple testing. Conclusion: The results of the study contradict with a hypothesis that mutations underlying AFM syndrome are involved in the predisposition to TB

Art therapy as a means of correcting the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering

The article provides experience in the use of art therapy for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering. In order to experimentally test the effectiveness of the developed system of exercises on the use of art therapy in correcting the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering, the following tasks were identified:1. To diagnose the initial level of the psychoemotional state of primary school-age children suffering from stuttering.2. To develop and test a system of art therapy exercises for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering.3. To determine the effectiveness of the system of art therapy exercises for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering.The study was conducted in three stages. To determine the level of formation of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering, we used the experience and recommendations for working with children who have speech fluency disorders by Wiesel, as well as: an adapted projective technique in the form of a diagnostic game "The Missing Monkey", developed by Voropaeva; the method of studying the emotional state by the type of color sensitivity shift according to Dorofeeva; "Children's anxiety test", developed by American psychologists Tamml, Dorki and Amen; methodology for determining self-esteem "Ladder" for primary school age, modified by Shur; "Methodology for studying the motivation of learning in older preschoolers and younger schoolchildren" by Ginzburg. After analyzing the survey data, we found that all children have:- violations of the emotional sphere, manifested in the lack of means of emotional expression;- the indicator of the emotional state is characterized by a change in the parameters in the area of the state of arousal, but this is caused by negative emotions;- violations of communicative interaction are determined by an increased level of anxiety

Art therapy as a means of correcting the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering

The article provides experience in the use of art therapy for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering. In order to experimentally test the effectiveness of the developed system of exercises on the use of art therapy in correcting the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering, the following tasks were identified:1. To diagnose the initial level of the psychoemotional state of primary school-age children suffering from stuttering.2. To develop and test a system of art therapy exercises for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering.3. To determine the effectiveness of the system of art therapy exercises for the correction of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering.The study was conducted in three stages. To determine the level of formation of the psychoemotional state of primary school children with stuttering, we used the experience and recommendations for working with children who have speech fluency disorders by Wiesel, as well as: an adapted projective technique in the form of a diagnostic game "The Missing Monkey", developed by Voropaeva; the method of studying the emotional state by the type of color sensitivity shift according to Dorofeeva; "Children's anxiety test", developed by American psychologists Tamml, Dorki and Amen; methodology for determining self-esteem "Ladder" for primary school age, modified by Shur; "Methodology for studying the motivation of learning in older preschoolers and younger schoolchildren" by Ginzburg. After analyzing the survey data, we found that all children have:- violations of the emotional sphere, manifested in the lack of means of emotional expression;- the indicator of the emotional state is characterized by a change in the parameters in the area of the state of arousal, but this is caused by negative emotions;- violations of communicative interaction are determined by an increased level of anxiety

Optimizing parking lot design by Generative design approach

The article describes how to transform the time-consuming process of selecting design solutions for parking spaces according to regulatory requirements and terms of reference by building information modelling (BIM). The main purpose of the work is to determine the possibility of applying a generative approach to the parking lot design by creating an optimization model of variant design. The process of selecting design solutions for parking is considered by using mathematical modeling and multi-criteria optimization. A mathematical description of finding the optimal solution on the region of admissible ratios is obtained both between the two types of parking spaces required by regulatory documents (type 1-Standard, with dimensions of 5.3 × 2.5 meters; type 2 - for People with Limited Mobility (PLM), with dimensions of 6.0 × 3.6 meters) and between the occupied area and the total number of parking spaces. The optimization model of choosing design solutions for parking lot helps a design engineer to adapt changes in requirements for defining admissible options for space-planning solutions. The study proves that the task of choosing admissible and optimal solutions for the parking lot, depending on the set of conditions, can be performed by using algorithms, and, consequently, by using computer-aided design in BIM. The proposed approach to parking lot design allows the project organization to coordinate the initial conditions and solutions between the project participants and related departments, and also serves as the basis for solving subsequent design tasks, such as determining the economic efficiency, the safety of the parking project, and others

What prevails in climatic response of Pinus sylvestris in-between its range limits in mountains: slope aspect or elevation?

The roles of slope orientation and elevational temperature gradient were investigated for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth in the middle of its growth range, where these factors can significantly modulate microclimate and thus plant growth. We assumed that slope orientation causes more complex and severe effects than elevation because it influences all three main factors of plant growth: light, heat, and moisture. In addition to the total ring width, the earlywood and latewood width and latewood ratio were considered variables that contain information about tree ring growth during the season and wood structure over all tree life span on three sampling sites at different elevations and opposite slopes. Despite the observed dependence of pine growth rate on temperature and solar radiation, the mean latewood ratio is stable and similar between all sampling sites, being presumably defined by the genotype of individual trees. The seasonality of the climatic response of tree growth is bound to spatiotemporal variation of the vegetative season timing due to the elevational temperature lapse and local warming. However, its direction is primarily defined by slope orientation, where southern slope is moisture-limited, even at adjacent sites, and divergent climatic reactions of earlywood (weak moisture-limited in the last decades) and latewood growth (temperature-limited) were revealed on the northern slope

Social Robots and Society

Advancements in artificial intelligence and (social) robotics raise pertinent questions as to how these technologies may help shape the society of the future. The main aim of the chapter is to consider the social and conceptual disruptions that might be associated with social robots, and humanoid social robots in particular. This chapter starts by comparing the concepts of robots and artificial intelligence and briefly explores the origins of these expressions. It then explains the definition of a social robot, as well as the definition of humanoid robots. A key notion in this context is the idea of anthropomorphism: the human tendency to attribute human qualities, not only to our fellow human beings, but also to parts of nature and to technologies. This tendency to anthropomorphize technologies by responding to and interacting with them as if they have human qualities is one of the reasons why social robots (in particular social robots designed to look and behave like human beings) can be socially disruptive. As is explained in the chapter, while some ethics researchers believe that anthropomorphization is a mistake that can lead to various forms of deception, others — including both ethics researchers and social roboticists — believe it can be useful or fitting to treat robots in anthropomorphizing ways. The chapter explores that disagreement by, among other things, considering recent philosophical debates about whether social robots can be moral patients, that is, whether it can make sense to treat them with moral consideration. Where one stands on this issue will depend either on one’s views about whether social robots can have, imitate, or represent morally relevant properties, or on how people relate to social robots in their interactions with them. Lastly, the chapter urges that the ethics of social robots should explore intercultural perspectives, and highlights some recent research on Ubuntu ethics and social robots