A Model of Architectural Design Education Based on Collaborative and Interactive Thoughts

Background and Objective:The large gap between academic lessons in architecture schools and the labor market in society has made many graduates of architecture schools unfamiliar with the work process and solving architectural issues in society. An important constituent which has been present in Iranian education and training culture from yesteryear, which can be seen in novel education stands around the world, is collaborative education. In this method, learners get accustomed to concerns related to collective benefits and group problem solving. Thus, after graduation students gain higher ability to identify issues in society and solve problems with colleagues and interact with others. The aim of this study is to present a model for collaborative architectural design education, on the subject of decreasing the gap between academic education and work. Some of the benefits which can be gained from this method include preparing learners for work and social life, improving awareness of the educational issue by grouping students of different levels, strengthening students’ responsibility and commitment towards their surrounding environment, objectivism in education, academic education based on the realities of society. Methods: In this study, the method is qualitative and post positivism. It is inductive and first-degree data was collected, organized, and classified. It sought to discover issues surrounding architectural design education in a collaborative manner. Findings:The presented model consequently showed that it is not only synergistic, but also instigates efficiency in design education students. It can also significantly reduce the gap between academic education and the labor market. Conclusion: The results of theoretical and field studies on the proposed model show that architectural design in a participatory and interactive manner while synergizing in education leads to the effectiveness of design education among students. Because in this model, the distance between academic education and students' daily life is reduced. At the same time, students achieve group benefits by raising a sense of solidarity. In this model, students feel responsible for their surroundings and gain more knowledge about the artificial environment around them. Therefore, by identifying the architectural problems of their surroundings, they seek to solve the problem as a group. Students in the architectural design studio, while communicating and creating a dialogue space, will not only be effective in enhancing each other's design capabilities, but will also seek to solve the problem by explaining clear goals and defining the architectural problems around them, by identifying a common goal. Therefore, teaching participatory architecture design reduces the gap between education and society, improves the efficiency of academic education in architectural design, and prepares the learner for professional and social life. It strengthens the student's sense of responsibility and commitment to their environment. It causes objectivism in education and makes it possible to start education by describing the issues of daily life and achieving an accurate understanding of the realities of society. It also enhances learning capabilities through social relationships, organizing experience, innovation, and creativity through pluralism. In the method of teaching participatory architecture design, it is possible to transfer experiences between different levels of students. In this way, based on this model of architectural design education, one of the most important shortcomings of architectural education, which is the long distance between the labor market and the university, will be eliminated.   ===================================================================================== COPYRIGHTS  ©2019 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.  ====================================================================================

Shear wave elastography and parathyroid adenoma: A new tool for diagnosing parathyroid adenomas

AbstractObjectivesThis study prospectively determines the shear wave elastography characteristics of parathyroid adenomas using virtual touch imaging quantification, a non-invasive ultrasound based shear wave elastography method.MethodsThis prospective study examined 57 consecutive patients with biochemically proven primary hyperparathyroidism and solitary parathyroid adenoma identified by ultrasound and confirmed by at least one of the following: surgical resection, positive Technetium–99m Sestamibi Scintigraphy (MIBI) scan, or fine needle aspiration biopsy with positive PTH washout (performed only in MIBI negative patients). Vascularity and shear wave elastography were performed for all patients. Parathyroid adenoma stiffness was measured as shear wave velocity in meters per second.ResultsThe median (range) pre-surgical value for PTH and calcium were 58pg/mL (19, 427) and 10.8mg/dL (9.5, 12.1), respectively. 37 patients had positive MIBI scan. 20 patients had negative MIBI scan but diagnosis was confirmed with positive PTH washout. 42 patients underwent parathyroidectomy, and an adenoma was confirmed in all. The median (range) shear wave velocity for all parathyroid adenomas enrolled in this study was 2.02m/s (1.53, 2.50). The median (range) shear wave velocity for thyroid tissue was 2.77m/s (1.89, 3.70). The shear wave velocity of the adenomas was independent of adenoma size, serum parathyroid hormone concentration, or plasma parathyroid hormone concentration.ConclusionsTissue elasticity of parathyroid adenoma is significantly lower than thyroid tissue. B-mode features and distinct vascularity pattern are helpful tools in diagnosing parathyroid adenoma with ultrasound. Shear wave elastography may provide valuable information in diagnosing parathyroid adenoma

The relationship between neonatal factors and involving with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) and patients\' outcome in Fars Province

Introduction: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) or fauvism is the most common enzyme deficiency in human, so that 400 million people are living with this disease worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the role of some neonatal factors among newborns suffering from G6PD deficiency and neonatal outcomes associated with this disease. Materials and methods: In this study, two methods including case-control and retrospective cohort regarding some neonatal factors associated with G6PD deficiency were used. These methods were performed on 142 children with this kind of deficiency and 142 healthy infants in the city of Marvdasht during 2013- 2014. The analysis of data was based on chi-square tests, t-test, logistic regression, descriptive statistics and estimation of odds ratios or relative risks via SPSS16 software. Results: Totally 284 newborns including 132 (46.6%)/ 152 (53.4%) boys/girls and mean weight on birth of 3163 ± 471 (gr) were analyzed. Comparison of case and control samples did not show any significant differences between sex and involving with G6PD deficiency but the chance of having a baby with this defect in pregnancy intervals between 6 to 8 years was increased (95% CI: 1- 4.4, OR: 2). Relative risk of jaundice in infected and healthy infants was estimated as 3.73, which demonstrated a statistically significant association (95% CI: 1.33- 10.4). The frequency of low birth weight, birth order and type of delivery was associated with the disease, but their differences were insignificant compared to the healthy group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the number of hospitalization is increased due to jaundice in infants with G6PD. There is also an insignificant relation between low birth weight, rank of birth and type of delivery. Thus, it is recommended that other consequences of this deficiency need to be revealed by screening other populations with more samples

Shear Wave Elastography and Cervical Lymph Nodes: Predicting Malignancy

AbstractThis prospective study evaluates the accuracy of virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ), a non-invasive shear wave elastography method for measuring cervical lymph nodes (LN) stiffness in differentiating benign from malignant LN. The study evaluated 270 LN in 236 patients with both conventional B-mode ultrasound and VTIQ shear wave elastography before fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). LN stiffness was measured as shear wave velocity (SWV) in m/s. Surgical resection was advised for FNAB results that were not clearly benign. Surgical pathology confirmed 54 malignant LN. The receiver operating curve (ROC) identified a single cut-off value of 2.93 m/s as the maximum SWV for predicting a malignant cervical LN. The sensitivity and specificity were 92.59% and 75.46%, respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 48.54% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 97.60%. LN stiffness measured by VTIQ–generated shear wave elastography is an independent predictor of malignancy