Bio-inspired Parametric Design for Adaptive Stadium Façades

The challenge of developing sustainable, adaptive architecture requires unconventional approaches to innovative knowledge about composition and dynamic interaction between building façades and environmental conditions. These approaches are often inspired by biology, its complex fine-tuned behaviour and integration of living systems. This paper proposes a system inspired from the optics of reflecting superposition compound eyes to create responsive façade structures that capture and distribute daylight within a building in response to the movement of the sun. This is investigated using the parametric reshaping of a building envelop as part of solar radiation and target ray simulations. The prototype façade system is capable of adapting to different functional needs, locations, times of the day, and other contextual conditions.Keywords: Biomimetics, kinetic/adaptive façades, reflecting superposition compound eye

Out on the town:a Socio-Physical Approach to the Design of a Context-Aware Urban Guide

As urban environments become increasingly hybridized, mixing the social, built, and digital in interesting ways, designing for computing in the city presents new challenges—how do we understand such hybridization, and then respond to it as designers? Here we synthesize earlier work in human-computer interaction, sociology and architecture in order to deliberately influence the design of digital systems with an understanding of their built and social context of use. We propose, illustrate, and evaluate a multidisciplinary approach combining rapid ethnography, architectural analysis, design sketching, and paper prototyping. Following the approach we are able to provide empirically grounded representations of the socio-physical context of use, in this case people socializing in urban spaces. We then use this understanding to influence the design of a context aware system to be used while out on the town. We believe that the approach is of value more generally, particularly when achieving powerfully situated interactions is the design ambition.

The Relationship of Facet Joint Orientation and Tropism with Lumbar Disc Herniation and Degenerative Spondylolisthesis in the Lower Lumbar Spine

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose This study aimed to clarify the relationship of both facet tropism (FT) and the sagittally aligned facet (SAF) joint with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Overview of Literature Despite several studies conducted, there is no consensus on the association of the SAF joint and FT with DH and DS. Methods Between June 2015 and December 2017, magnetic resonance imaging scans of 250 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for LDH and DS were analyzed. The facet angles at all the lower lumbar levels were calculated, and SAF and FT were noted. The relationship between the side of disc herniation and that of the SAF joint were also determined. Statistical analysis was performed, and the relation of SAF and FT to LDH and DS was noted. Results We observed a positive relationship between SAF and LDH at L4–5 and L5–S1 with a p-value of 0.02 (<0.05). FT demonstrated a positive association with LDH at L4–5 (p=0.047) but not at L3–4 or L5–S1. SAF demonstrated a positive relationship with DS at L3–4 (p<0.001) but not at L3–4 or L5–S1. FT demonstrated a significant relation with DS at L4–5 (p<0.001), whereas no positive association was observed at L3–4 and L5–S1. Conclusions The L4–5 level demonstrated a significant association with SAF and FT in LDH and DS. Moreover, SAF at L5–S1 demonstrated a positive association with LDH. These findings provide useful information for future longitudinal studies to elucidate the possible causes for such phenomena

Expanded Indications of Full Endoscopic Spine Sugery

Treatment of spine surgeries has evolved from traditional surgeries to open surgeries. Endoscopic spine surgeries (ESS) and endoscope assisted surgeries along with microscopic and tubular surgeries has developed significantly over the last three decades. With improvement in the diagnostic methods it is now possible to find and differentiate the spinal pathologies. ESS was initially limited to the lumbar disc herniations (DH). But, now it can be used for cervical and thoracic DH. Minimized technical problems has been brought by evolutions in endoscopy, better optics, instruments, access, and safety. Similarly acquired knowledge and skills are being extrapolated to advanced indications in different spinal pathologies. Due to the further advantages of ESS within the ambit of minimal invasive spine surgeries, many misnomers are as well getting added. This confuses the new learners and potential patients as well. ESS should be classified for uniformity in reporting and common nomenclature like FESS (Full endoscopic spine surgery) should be used. It specifically refers to surgery through one working channel under irrigation with incorporated optics. This will make easier understanding for novice surgeons and general population. It will lead to standardised reporting of high quality clinical studies, trials, and meta-analysis for the publications. Rising misnomers and complex nomenclature of endoscopy is suggesting along with the exponential publications in last decade that ESS is entering into its golden era. This review is undertaken to throw light on the techniques, advances and literature review of only FESS and clear the misnomers. This review also describes the evolution of different techniques and goals that led to impeccable advances in the field of FESS. Further improvement of technologies and techniques in future will soon establish FESS as the Gold Standard in spine surgery

End-points of Decompression of in Lumbar Transforaminal Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Narrative Review of Objective and Subjective Criteria to Prevent Failures

Objective Executions of indications/extended indications are associated with higher than normal rates of symptomatic recurrences and treatment failures, especially for novice surgeons incorporating Percutaneous Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy/decompression (PTELD) techniques. Causes of failures can be manifold and can occur because of a residual or a complete fragment causing persistent compression or associated unaddressed stenosis. To prevent this problem, proper training, multiple instrument inventory, variable techniques are needed with progressive learning. Authors aim to suggest objective and subjective criteria to define end-points/adequacy of decompression (EPD). Methods PubMed database search was limited to locate only adequacy of decompression of PTELD and thus included specific keywords: “ENDPOINT” OR “ADEQUATE” AND “DECOMPRESSION” AND “TRANSFORAMINAL” AND “ENDOSCOPY”. Authors added their experience to refine and define multiple EPD. Results In the search we found 12 articles total. Upon reviewing these, we found 7 articles matching our criteria. Cross references of included articles were searched, 5 additional articles were included. EPD were described in only 9 articles. Author’s experience with other relevant references were added to complete the viewpoint (EPD, n=29). Direct observed/provoked EPD and inferred EPD were defined separately. Videos, illustrations and descriptions of each EPD are illustrated to provide the ideation. Conclusion EPD are variable and not all signs may be elicited in every case and may change with surgeon experience. The ability to recognize EPD is the crux for successful outcomes and maximum possible EPD’s should be aimed in every surgery to avoid failures

Novel sensor technology integration for outcome-based risk analysis in diabetes

Novel sensor-based continuous biomedical monitoring technologies have a major role in chronic disease management for early detection and prevention of known adverse trends. In the future, a diversity of physiological, biochemical and mechanical sensing principles will be available through sensor device 'ecosystems'. In anticipation of these sensor-based ecosystems, we have developed Healthcare@Home (HH) - a research-phase generic intervention-outcome monitoring framework. HH incorporates a closed-loop intervention effect analysis engine to evaluate the relevance of measured (sensor) input variables to system-defined outcomes. HH offers real-world sensor type validation by evaluating the degree to which sensor-derived variables are relevant to the predicted outcome. This 'index of relevance' is essential where clinical decision support applications depend on sensor inputs. HH can help determine system-integrated cost-utility ratios of bespoke sensor families within defined applications - taking into account critical factors like device robustness / reliability / reproducibility, mobility / interoperability, authentication / security and scalability / usability. Through examples of hardware / software technologies incorporated in the HH end-to-end monitoring system, this paper discusses aspects of novel sensor technology integration for outcome-based risk analysis in diabetes

Pixel points

© 2003 Bharat DaveThe increasing adoption of digital media in design education also leads to subtle changes in design objectives, means, and outcomes in that process. Such changes are due to the peculiar nature of digital representations and operations that allow us to manipulate representations. With only a few decades of collective developments and experiences in digitally supported design education, it is not surprising that we still frame and reflect on these changes in only a provisional fashion. This paper reviews changes in design pedagogy and highlights emergence of a new design sensibility in ways of designing, that which is designed, and ways designs are communicated. In order to integrate such conceptual shifts in design education, we draw partially upon studies in traditional representations, media and architectural design that trace lineage of contemporary western architectural educational pedagogies to the earlier ones, to Bauhaus, Beaux-Arts and the master apprentice systems in antiquity. However, we also recognize that digital media are fundamentally different from traditional ones and call for new pedagogical strategies that in various guises complement, substitute or completely displace traditional modes of design exploration, development, documentation and communication