Robotically driven construction of buildings: Exploring on-demand building components production

Robotically Driven Construction of Buildings (RDCB) is an exploration into design to production solutions for robotically driven construction of buildings initiated by the faculties of Civil Engineering and Architecture, TU Delft and Architecture, TU Eindhoven and implemented 2014 within the 3TU Lighthouse framework. The aim of was to involve the disciplines of architecture, robotics, materials science, and structural design in order to integrate knowledge from the individual disciplines and develop new numerically controlled manufacturing techniques and building-design optimisation methods for adding creative value to buildings in a cost-effective and sustainable way.RDCB builds up on expertise developed at Hyperbody with respect to applications of robotics in architecture and this paper presents the contribution of the Robotic Building team from Hyperbody, Faculty of Architecture, TU Delft to the RDCB project. The contribution is in line with Europe’s aim to improve material and energy efficiency of buildings and efficiency of construction processes. Robotically driven construction and customised building materials have the potential to realise this in a cost-effective way and at the same time reduce accidents and health hazards for workers in the building sector. In order to achieve this RDCB is distributing materials as needed and where needed. This requires exploration of a variety of techniques and implies working with customised materials and techniques while finding the best methods of applying materials in the logic of specific force flows or thermal dissipation patterns.RDCB advances multi- and trans-disciplinary knowledge in robotically driven construction by designing and engineering new building systems for the on-demand production of customisable building components (Bier, 2014). The main consideration is that in architecture and building construction the factory of the future employs building materials and components that can be on site robotically processed and assembled

Late complications of an atrial septal occluder provoked by anticoagulant therapy

Late complications of an atrial septal occluder device (ASO) are rare but may be serious. We report a case with extensive hemopericardium five years after ASO implantation most likely triggered by anticoagulant therapy. Although not surgically confirmed, indirect clues for erosion of the atrial wall by the device were the exclusion of other etiologies, lack of recurrence after pericardial drainage and withdrawal of anticoagulants. In addition, multimodality imaging using echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were helpful to elucidate this unusual cause. Initiation of anticoagulant treatment in patients with an ASO should be carefully balanced and may warrant more frequent echocardiographic follow-up

Social work practice with traumatic brain injury: the results of a structured review

Objectives: To determine public perception of: 1) mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) amongst British service personnel; and 2 (veteran healthcare). Methods: The study was posted online and participants were also recruited offline from town councils, public libraries, religious organisations, social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Twelve questions of public perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury and veteran healthcare were presented after a vignette on a service personnel’s account of mild traumatic brain injury. The responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified. The right to quality healthcare, awareness or lack thereof of the injury, and empathy towards the experiences of service personnel with mTBI. Members of the public have a firm opinion that veterans have a right to healthcare. Their service to their nation warrants proper treatment. There is empathy towards service personnel with the injury. However there is little awareness as to the nature of mTBI and the full extent of its impact on the lives of service personnel. Respondents cited that this might be due to the issue being low on the political agenda. Conclusion: Participants indicated that they had not previously given thought to the injury or had not heard about it previously. Most respondents were also not familiar with the services available to veterans with the injury. Empathising with the experiences while at the same time recognising the extent of their ability to render support for service personnel with the injury seemed to resonant. More public awareness campaigns on the extent of the injury and what the injury entails would ensure greater understanding of service personnel with the injury

Acceptability of risk-based triage in cervical cancer screening: A focus group study

Background Compared to the previous cytology-based program, the introduction of primary high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) based screening in 2017 has led to an increased number of referrals. To counter this, triage of hrHPV-positive women in cervical cancer screening can potentially be optimized by taking sociodemographic and lifestyle risk factors for cervical abnormalities into account. Therefore, it is essential to gain knowledge of the views of women (30–60 years) eligible for cervical cancer screening. Objective The main goal of this qualitative study was to gain insight in the aspects that influence acceptability of risk-based triage in cervical cancer screening. Design A focus group study in which participants were recruited via four general medical practices, and purposive sampling was used to maximize heterogeneity with regards to age, education level, and cervical cancer screening experiences. Approach The focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants A total of 28 women (average age: 45.2 years) eligible for cervical cancer screening in The Netherlands participated in seven online focus group discussions. Half of the participants was higher educated, and the participants differed in previous cervical cancer screening participation and screening result. Key results In total, 5 main themes and 17 subthemes were identified that determine the acceptability of risk-stratified triage. The main themes are: 1) adequacy of the screening program: an evidence-based program that is able to minimize cancer incidence and reduce unnecessary referrals; 2) personal information (e.g., sensitive topics and stigma); 3) emotional impact: fear and reassurance; 4) communication (e.g., transparency); and 5) autonomy (e.g., prevention). Conclusion The current study highlights several challenges regarding the development and implementation of risk-based triage that need attention in order to be accepted by the target group. These challenges include dealing with sensitive topics and a transparent communication strategy