Applying desirability functions to preference modelling in low-energy building design optimization

Building performance optimization is a valuable aid to design decision-making. Most existing research takes an ‘a posteriori’ approach, where stakeholder preferences are considered after deriving optimised results. Whilst this approach yields technically optimal solutions, it overlooks sub-optimal solutions that still satisfy stakeholder preferences. This research develops a technique to incorporate preferences into optimization by applying a “desirability function” to each criterion for multiple stakeholders. The approach enables the tradeoffs between decision-makers to be visualised as a Pareto frontier and aids “democratic” decision-making. Hence, incorporating preferences in advance of optimization may increase the likelihood of finding a desirable solution

Orexin Receptor Antagonism, a New Sleep-Enabling Paradigm: A Proof-of-Concept Clinical Trial

Peer reviewe

Análise de incertezas físicas em simulação computacional de edificações residenciais

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar incertezas físicas em simulação computacional de uma edificação residencial e sua implicação no desempenho térmico. O experimento foi elaborado com o método de Monte Carlo, que envolve as propriedades térmicas e físicas dos materiais da edificação. Foi analisada a sensibilidade das variáveis com coeficientes de regressão e correlação. Considerou-se o critério de graus-hora de desconforto por calor e por frio para o clima de Florianópolis, SC, conforme limites de conforto térmico adaptativo. Os resultados mostraram que as incertezas obtidas nos graus-hora são relativamente grandes, sendo de 32% no desconforto por frio e de 53% no desconforto por calor. Grande parte da incerteza é decorrente da temperatura média mensal do solo. Outras variáveis, como a absortância solar da cobertura e o calor específico da argamassa das paredes, resultam em impacto relevante no desconforto por calor, bem como a massa específica da argamassa e o calor específico da cerâmica das paredes no desconforto por frio. Essas variáveis precisam de maior precisão, seja por meio de bases de dados mais confiáveis, ou mesmo por medições em campo e/ou em laboratório

Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from Pleistocene sediments.

Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the scarcity of hominin fossils often impedes the understanding of which hominins occupied a site. Using targeted enrichment of mitochondrial DNA we show that cave sediments represent a rich source of ancient mammalian DNA that often includes traces of hominin DNA, even at sites and in layers where no hominin remains have been discovered. By automation-assisted screening of numerous sediment samples we detect Neandertal DNA in eight archaeological layers from four caves in Eurasia. In Denisova Cave we retrieved Denisovan DNA in a Middle Pleistocene layer near the bottom of the stratigraphy. Our work opens the possibility to detect the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where no skeletal remains are found

Proteomics Characterization of Cytoplasmic and Lipid-Associated Membrane Proteins of Human Pathogen Mycoplasma fermentans M64

Mycoplasma fermentans is a potent human pathogen which has been implicated in several diseases. Notably, its lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) play a role in immunomodulation and development of infection-associated inflammatory diseases. However, the systematic protein identification of pathogenic M. fermentans has not been reported. From our recent sequencing results of M. fermentans M64 isolated from human respiratory tract, its genome is around 1.1 Mb and encodes 1050 predicted protein-coding genes. In the present study, soluble proteome of M. fermentans was resolved and analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In addition, Triton X-114 extraction was carried out to enrich amphiphilic proteins including putative lipoproteins and membrane proteins. Subsequent mass spectrometric analyses of these proteins had identified a total of 181 M. fermentans ORFs. Further bioinformatics analysis of these ORFs encoding proteins with known or so far unknown orthologues among bacteria revealed that a total of 131 proteins are homologous to known proteins, 11 proteins are conserved hypothetical proteins, and the remaining 39 proteins are likely M. fermentans-specific proteins. Moreover, Triton X-114-enriched fraction was shown to activate NF-kB activity of raw264.7 macrophage and a total of 21 lipoproteins with predicted signal peptide were identified therefrom. Together, our work provides the first proteome reference map of M. fermentans as well as several putative virulence-associated proteins as diagnostic markers or vaccine candidates for further functional study of this human pathogen

E. coli Histidine Triad Nucleotide Binding Protein 1 (ecHinT) Is a Catalytic Regulator of D-Alanine Dehydrogenase (DadA) Activity In Vivo

Histidine triad nucleotide binding proteins (Hints) are highly conserved members of the histidine triad (HIT) protein superfamily. Hints comprise the most ancient branch of this superfamily and can be found in Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota. Prokaryotic genomes, including a wide diversity of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, typically have one Hint gene encoded by hinT (ycfF in E. coli). Despite their ubiquity, the foundational reason for the wide-spread conservation of Hints across all kingdoms of life remains a mystery. In this study, we used a combination of phenotypic screening and complementation analyses with wild-type and hinT knock-out Escherichia coli strains to show that catalytically active ecHinT is required in E. coli for growth on D-alanine as a sole carbon source. We demonstrate that the expression of catalytically active ecHinT is essential for the activity of the enzyme D-alanine dehydrogenase (DadA) (equivalent to D-amino acid oxidase in eukaryotes), a necessary component of the D-alanine catabolic pathway. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that catalytically active C-terminal mutants of ecHinT are unable to activate DadA activity. In addition, we have designed and synthesized the first cell-permeable inhibitor of ecHinT and demonstrated that the wild-type E. coli treated with the inhibitor exhibited the same phenotype observed for the hinT knock-out strain. These results reveal that the catalytic activity and structure of ecHinT is essential for DadA function and therefore alanine metabolism in E. coli. Moreover, they provide the first biochemical evidence linking the catalytic activity of this ubiquitous protein to the biological function of Hints in Escherichia coli

A method for checking homogeneity of subsurface regions by variable angle ATR: Experiments on polymers vs. optical modelling

The subsurface structure of many technically applied materials is characterised by alterations of the composition (swelling or surface reactions on polymers, leaching of glasses etc.). The same situation holds for coated materials where graded layers are more or less typical with the gradient strongly influencing the materials properties. The attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for analysing such surface regions. Because of problems with optical contact the ATR method is difficult to handle in practise. Based on variable angle ATR - FTIR spectroscopy a straightforward method has been established which can detect compositional inhomogeneities in subsurface regions or across layers. The method works as follows: (i) making ATR measurements at two different angles of incidence without changing sample, (ii) normalising the ATR absorbance spectra by using an appropriate band of the substrate as an internal standard, (iii) making difference spectra of the normali sed spectra. In the case of a homogeneous material the difference spectrum virtually vanishes whereas in the case of an inhomogeneous surface region the difference spectrum reflects the compositional gradient. Clearly, the method is only applicable to samples and ATR configurations where the penetration depth for both angles of incidence is higher than layer thickness. Furtheron, the substrate band used as an internal standard must be within the linear absorbance range and should exhibit a low structural sensitivity. The method has been tested at polyamid -12 foils: (a) coated by methacrylate layers, (b) plasma treated, and (c ) leached by a surface treatment with solvents. More detailed results are presented. The experimental findings have been supported by spectra modelling. Based on an optical multilayer model the ATR spectra of a homogeneous polymer and of the same material with a slightly altered surface layer have been calculated for different angles of incidence and the two pola risations. By applying steps (ii) to (iii) the experimental results are confirmed. In conclusion, the test method show some significant advantages in comparison with common ATR handling techniques: The method can be applied on one test specimen, there is no need for any reference material. The measurements are carried out by only changing the angle of incidence, without any additional sample preparation or optical re-adjustments

Teaching building performance simulation through a continuous learning cycle

During the past decades building performance simulation tools have become complex. Alternate methods are offered for resolving many of the significant heat and mass transfer processes and energy conversion systems. At the same time, modern user interfaces allow users to quickly ascend the learning curve to operate tools in order to produce simulation predictions, although the prediction of accurate results is perhaps becoming more challenging. This paper argues that a complete and continuous learning cycle that includes exposure to theories and the application of tools from the start can be used to effectively teach building performance simulation. Examples of the application of the various stages of this learning cycle are provided and recommendations are made for the further development of pedagogical methods

Dauerhaft schön - Kratzschutz durch Atmosphärendruck-Plasmaverfahren

At the Fraunhofer institute for material science and beam technol., Dresden, Germany, a method was developed for the growth of transparent, protective coatings. This process called plasma-enhanced CVD (PECVD) is described in detail. It works at ambient pressure. The deposition and growth conditions of the following layers were investigated: SiO2, Si3N4 (SiNx:H), TiO2, and C-based materials (a-C:H:X). Such layers can increase the scratch resistance of surfaces, and they can serve as corrosion barriers or elec. insulating films