DESIGN CHALLENGES OF SOLVING CIRCULAR GEOMETRY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

A dimensional geometrical shape such as a circular shape has been established all throughout the history of building design planning in order to find out the suitable arrangements for the living spaces: One of the most unusual designs planning in architecture is circular planning. Moreover, residential buildings that contain a circular plan are not built that frequently as well, but they still are a part of architecture since prehistoric times. Unfortunately, there are significant issues in such buildings, such as a structural challenge within the design module with orientation problems. In other words, there is a missing of the optimum use of space with acoustic problems including difficulties of furnishing. This paper therefore aims to provide the evidence that the geometry of a tiny minority of residential buildings are circular, and it questions why this is so. In addition, it intends to encourage the use of this type of buildings and to propose innovative design methods that can be applied in the circular residential buildings, trying to justify the architectural spaces to fit with the curvilinear walls and the recognition of the advantages produced within such buildings. To achieve this aim, this paper will begin by presenting literature review, based on desk research, carried out by re-reading the philosophical background of circular plans and its function. After that, the paper will theoretically highlight the historical use of circular-plan residential buildings, and will clarify the solution of design module, structural and services’ cores, circulation between apartments, terraces, and external walls, within the curvy design. The paper will investigate two case studies such as “Tour Lumière” 2017 by Jacques Ferrier in France, Paris and “Edelweiss Residence” 2010 by Matteo Thun & Partners in Austria as a consequence to comprehend their project\u27s concept and how they solved the circular form of their buildings

Designed polyelectrolyte shell on magnetite nanocore for dilution-resistant biocompatible magnetic fluids.

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with poly(acrylic acid-co-maleic acid) polyelectrolyte (PAM) have been prepared with the aim of improving colloidal stability of core-shell nanoparticles for biomedical applications and enhancing the durability of the coating shells. FTIR-ATR measurements reveal two types of interaction of PAM with MNPs: hydrogen bonding and inner-sphere metal-carboxylate complex formation. The mechanism of the latter is ligand exchange between uncharged -OH groups of the surface and -COO(-) anionic moieties of the polyelectrolyte as revealed by adsorption and electrokinetic experiments. The aqueous dispersion of PAM@MNP particles (magnetic fluids - MFs) tolerates physiological salt concentration at composition corresponding to the plateau of the high-affinity adsorption isotherm. The plateau is reached at small amount of added PAM and at low concentration of nonadsorbed PAM, making PAM highly efficient for coating MNPs. The adsorbed PAM layer is not desorbed during dilution. The performance of the PAM shell is superior to that of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), often used in biocompatible MFs. This is explained by the different adsorption mechanisms; metal-carboxylate cannot form in the case of PAA. Molecular-level understanding of the protective shell formation on MNPs presented here improves fundamentally the colloidal techniques used in core-shell nanoparticle production for nanotechnology applications

PEG-capped, lanthanide doped GdF3 nanoparticles: luminescent and T-2 contrast agents for optical and MRI multimodal imaging

A facile method for the synthesis of water dispersible Er3+/Yb3+ and Tm3+/Yb3+ doped upconverting GdF3 nanoparticles is reported. Strong upconversion emissions are observed in the red (for Er/Yb doped) and near-infrared (for Tm/Yb doped) regions upon laser excitation at 980 nm. The PEG coating ensures a good dispersion of the system in water and reduces the radiationless de-excitation of the excited states of the Er3+ and Tm3+ ions by water molecules. The r(2) relaxivity values are quite high with respect to the common T-2-relaxing agents (22.6 +/- 3.4 mM(-1) s(-1) and 15.8 +/- 3.4 mM(-1) s(-1) for the Tm/Yb and Er/Yb doped samples, respectively), suggesting that the present NPs can be interesting as T-2 weighted contrast agents for proton MRI purpose. Preliminary experiments conducted in vitro, in stem cell cultures, and in vivo, after subcutaneous injection of the lanthanide-doped GdF3 NPs, indicate scarce toxic effects. After an intravenous injection in mice, the GdF3 NPs localize mainly in the liver. The present results indicate that the present Er3+/Yb3+ and Tm3+/Yb3+ doped GdF3 NPs are suitable candidates to be efficiently used as bimodal probes for both in vitro and in vivo optical and magnetic resonance imaging

Simple scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Aspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1\ub115.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in-hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty-six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate 55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in-hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734-0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in-hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered. CONCLUSIONS: A simple scoring system based on risk factors for in-hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in the Management of Peyronie’s Disease

ABSTRACT: Purpose: The purpose if this article is to assess the efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWT) in the treatment of Peyronie’s Disease (PD). Method: Using the terms Peyronie’s Disease, Shockwave therapy, and Lithotripsy, a literature review was conducted using the PubMed database. A total of eighteen articles were found, ten of which were found to be pertinent. Results: There is evidence that ESWT can provide clinically significant pain relief and potentially reduce plaque size in patients with PD. There is limited data on ESWT showing any benefit in the reduction of penile curvature and the recovery of sexual function. Conclusion: PD is reported to affect between 8-12% of the general population. Patient diagnosed with PD often describe painful erections, penile curvature and a palpable plaque. In many patients, penile deformity can cause psychological distress. Therefore, it is important that we continue to explore innovative and minimally invasive treatment modalities such as the use of shockwave therapy in the treatment of PD. ESWT is a novel, minimally invasive, regenerative treatment used in Orthopedics, Cardiology and Urology. The use of Low Intensity lithotripsy on animal tissue has been shown to enhance neovascularization, recruit vascular growth factors and progenitor cells, activate stem cells, increase nitric oxide production and Shwann-cell nerve regeneration on the tissue it is applied. Although preliminary data indicates improvement in pain and potential reduction of plaque size, a multi-institutional randomized controlled trial is needed to determine if there is any benefit in reduction of penile curvature

Barns ledarskap och kommunikation i leken.

Sammanfattning Examensarbetet tar sin utgångspunkt i vår önskan att få reda på mer om hur den verbala kommunikationen hjälper barnen att ta och upprätthålla ledarskap i leken. I vår studie har vi använt oss av kvalitativa observationer. I studien utgår vi från det sociokulturella perspektivet som har varit styrande för vår forskningsgenomgång. I teoridelen har vi därför valt att utgå från olika tema såsom barns samspel, lek och kommunikation. Vi har även lyft fram forskning om olika kommunikationsstilar och deras koppling till ledarskapet. I observationerna framkom att den verbala kommunikationen är ett viktigt redskap för barnen för att kunna markera och upprätthålla sin ledarroll i leken. Barnen argumenterade, förklarade, instruerade och förhandlade med varandra. De använde också den verbala kommunikationen för att leda och organisera lekens innehåll och på det sättet få en ledarposition i leken. Resultatet visar även att barnen använder sig av olika kommunikationsstilar som kan kopplas till olika ledarstilar i leken

Medium-term outcomes of sacral neuromodulation in patients with refractory overactive bladder: A retrospective single-institution study.

BackgroundSacral neuromodulation (SNM) is a minimally invasive fully reversible therapy that was approved in 1997 for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) refractory to behavior modification and pharmacotherapy. Despite being in use for over two decades, the data on medium to long-term safety and efficacy of SNM in OAB is limited. We investigated the medium-term efficacy and safety of SNM along with the predictive factors for its success in patients with refractory OAB.MethodsA retrospective consecutive case series of 66 patients undergoing SNM for refractory OAB between July 2009 and July 2018. All patients underwent a test period followed by permanent implantation, if there was > = 50% improvement in any symptom. The primary outcome was "success" defined as > = 50% improvement in any clinical parameter based on the subjective assessment of patient's response. The secondary outcomes were number of pads used in 24 hours, post-operative complications and re-operation rates.Results66 females with an average age of 62.7 years were included. 55/66 patients (83.3%) had a successful test phase and underwent permanent implantation. After a median follow-up of 32 months, SNM was successful in 41/55 (74.5%) patients. Mean number of pads used in 24 hours decreased significantly from 3.5 preoperatively to 1.2 at last follow-up (pConclusionsThe success rate of SNM is 75% with a complication rate of 14.5% after a median follow-up of ~3 years. This study suggests medium-term efficacy and safety but a high re-operation rate of SNM in patients with refractory OAB

Barns ledarskap och kommunikation i leken.

Sammanfattning Examensarbetet tar sin utgångspunkt i vår önskan att få reda på mer om hur den verbala kommunikationen hjälper barnen att ta och upprätthålla ledarskap i leken. I vår studie har vi använt oss av kvalitativa observationer. I studien utgår vi från det sociokulturella perspektivet som har varit styrande för vår forskningsgenomgång. I teoridelen har vi därför valt att utgå från olika tema såsom barns samspel, lek och kommunikation. Vi har även lyft fram forskning om olika kommunikationsstilar och deras koppling till ledarskapet. I observationerna framkom att den verbala kommunikationen är ett viktigt redskap för barnen för att kunna markera och upprätthålla sin ledarroll i leken. Barnen argumenterade, förklarade, instruerade och förhandlade med varandra. De använde också den verbala kommunikationen för att leda och organisera lekens innehåll och på det sättet få en ledarposition i leken. Resultatet visar även att barnen använder sig av olika kommunikationsstilar som kan kopplas till olika ledarstilar i leken