The complexities of managing historic buildings with BIM

Purpose The adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in managing built heritage is an exciting prospect, but one that presents complexities additional to those of modern buildings. If challenges can be identified and overcome, the adoption of historic BIM (HBIM) could offer efficiencies in how heritage buildings are managed. Design/methodology/approach Using Durham Cathedral as a case study, we present the workflows applied to create an asset information model to improve the way this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site is managed, and in doing so, set out the challenges and complexities in achieving an HBIM solution. Findings This study identifies the need for a better understanding of the distinct needs and context for managing historic assets, and the need for heritage information requirements (HIR) that reflect this. Originality/value This study presents first-hand findings based on a unique application of BIM at Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study provides a better understanding of the challenges and drivers of HBIM adoption across the heritage sector and underlines the need for information requirements that are unique to historical buildings/assets to deliver a coherent and relevant HBIM approach

Space shuttle main engine fault detection using neural networks

A method for on-line Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) anomaly detection and fault typing using a feedback neural network is described. The method involves the computation of features representing time-variance of SSME sensor parameters, using historical test case data. The network is trained, using backpropagation, to recognize a set of fault cases. The network is then able to diagnose new fault cases correctly. An essential element of the training technique is the inclusion of randomly generated data along with the real data, in order to span the entire input space of potential non-nominal data

The relationship between insomnia and depressive symptoms: genuine or artifact?

Fadia Isaac, Kenneth Mark GreenwoodSchool of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, AustraliaBackground: Somatic symptom overlap between depression and insomnia has emerged as a major concern. Self-report measures such as the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) include somatic symptoms related to depression that are also present in the research diagnostic criteria for insomnia. This study aimed firstly to examine the relationship between the cognitive and somatic factors of the BDI-II and global scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in individuals presenting for insomnia treatment and secondly to examine whether treating insomnia in depressed individuals with insomnia will lead to a reduction in their depressive symptoms and whether this reduction is related to a decrease in the somatic or cognitive factors of depressive symptoms.Methods: A total of 379 individuals (133 males and 246 females), with a mean (M) age of 49.95 (standard deviation [SD] = 14.15) years, were used to address the first aim. To address the second aim, a total of 64 participants (27 males and 37 females) with both insomnia and depressive symptoms were treated for their insomnia. Their ages ranged between 22 and 87 (M = 50.97, SD = 15.13) years.Results: A significant relationship was found between both the cognitive and somatic factors of the BDI-II and global scores on the PSQI. Furthermore, although results in this study are only suggestive, they lend support to the idea that the relationship between insomnia and depression is not due to somatic symptom overlap. Results may also support the hypothesis that insomnia is primary to the presentation of depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Clinicians and health care providers could initially treat insomnia in individuals suffering from insomnia who also experience depressive symptoms, as this will not only remit insomnia but also abate the accompanying depressive symptoms.Keywords: cognitive depressive symptoms, somatic depressive symptoms, symptom overla

Chinese students\u27 perceptions of their creativity and their perceptions of Western students\u27 creativity

This paper applies the Four C Model of Creativity (\u27Big-C, little-c, mini-c and Pro-c\u27) to determine Chinese students\u27 perceptions of their own creativity and their perceptions of Western students\u27 creativity. By surveying 100 Chinese students and interviewing 10 of them, this paper discovered that Chinese students generally perceived their creativity to be less than that of Western students. Differences on mini-c and Pro-c were larger in the direction of Western students being superior, and the items that differed in the opposite direction and those which did not differ were part of the subset of little-c items. The perceived superiority of Western students was not as strong in final-year students. Suggestions are proposed on how to nurture students\u27 creativity within context of culture

\u27Face\u27 and psychological processes of laid-off workers in transitional China

Objective: The objective was to explore the psychological experiences of laid-off workers in contemporary transitional China and to formulate a theoretical model of these. Methods: In-depth interviews of 26 laid-off workers were conducted and analysed using grounded theory techniques. Results: Four themes underline the psychological processes of these laid-off workers - feeling of loss, feeling of physical pain, feeling of fatalism, and final acceptance. These are characterized by Chinese culture and its philosophy - feeling of loss is dominated by their loss of face (diu mianzi), physical pain is a somatization of their mental painfulness, their fatalism is traced back to the Chinese ancient theocratic concept of Tian Ming, and their acceptance of reality to their final making face (zheng mianzi) is sourced from both Confucianism and Daoism. Conclusion: The psychological experience of laid-off workers (or unemployed workers) is likely to have varied manifestations in different cultural contexts. The psychological processes of Chinese laid-off workers (or unemployed workers) might be different from those of laid-off workers in Western countries. A therapeutic intervention to cater for the needs of laid-off workers derived from the four themes might be effective. © 2016 Family Medicine and Community Health

Understanding the complexities of managing historic buildings through heritage BIM: a case study of Durham Cathedral

The adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the management of built heritage is an exciting prospect, but one that presents some unknowns and complexities additional to those of modern buildings. If challenges can be identified and overcome, the adoption of Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM), could offer a number of advantages, including: more efficient and effective archiving, monitoring, inspection and surveying of sites; better evaluation of conditions and historical development; and more informed procurement, estimating and scheduling of interventions, particularly those that are outsourced. HBIM offers a new approach of visualising and managing historic building and estates by offering efficiency and effectiveness in the conservation, long-term management and presentation of historic built assets. The key factors are (1) the ‘parametric’ and ‘intelligent’ potential of BIM; (2) the capacity of BIM to embed non-geometric information (specifications, material properties, reports, etc. along with unique theoretical and heritage information associated with heritage buildings); and (3) the accessibility and flexibility to access and utilise the data, both graphical and non-graphical. However, despite this potential, and growth in interest, there has, to date, been little research into what Maxwell’s (2014) COTAC BIM4Conservation report highlights as ‘a specific HBIM approach that is coherent and relevant, whilst also taking fully into account the wide diversity of issues that affect the heritage’. It is from this challenge, that the research discussed in this paper aims to contribute. Using Durham Cathedral as a case study, this paper presents an overview of BIM-based workflow processes and technologies applied to improve the way this UNESCO world heritage site is managed. The paper sets out the challenges and complexities in managing the estate and provides an insight into the approach taken to capture and visualise a HBIM solution that provides functionalities that improves efficiencies compared with traditional pre-BIM workflows. In doing so, the research provides an underpinning narrative for understanding the potential advantages, disadvantages, challenges and drivers of HBIM adoption for facilities management across the heritage sector. The paper draws conclusions and areas of future research that identify the need for a stronger understanding of the culture within heritage building for managing historic assets, and identification of Heritage Information Requirements (HIR) and the unique theoretical and heritage information associated with heritage buildings, in order to deliver a coherent and relevant HBIM approach

The need for psychological therapies for sleep disorders other than insomnia: potential for mindfulness

[Extract] The nature of the symptoms of sleep disorders and the impact they have on sleep and waking function mean that distress and negative emotionality are common accompanying features to many sleep disorders. Even though there are specific biological treatments, such as medication for restless legs syndrome, wake-promoting medication for narcolepsy and positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnoea, these are not always perfectly effective and there may be a role for adjunctive treatments that address the distress and emotion that become part of these chronic conditions and add to their impact. For people with milder symptoms, psychological treatment alone may provide sufficient symptomatic relief. Many sleep disorders occur in association with other physical or psychiatric conditions, which may contribute to the distress experienced

Stress, Sleep and Performance in International and Domestic University Students

Stress and poor sleep quality are serious and common problems among university students that could have detrimental effects on their academic performance. International students may experience greater difficulty than domestic students because they also need to deal with the challenges associated with moving to a new culture. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between stress (perceived and acculturative), sleep quality, and academic performance by comparing them between international and domestic students. Perceived stress negatively correlates with sleep quality. However, no relationship is found between acculturative stress and sleep quality, between sleep quality and academic performance, and between stress (perceived and acculturative) and academic performance. Differences in perceived stress and sleep quality between international and domestic students are found. Perceived stress is found to be an important factor that requires the university to focus on effective stress management programs that could be useful for achieving better sleep quality

The need for psychological therapies for sleep disorders other than insomnia: potential for mindfulness

[Extract] The nature of the symptoms of sleep disorders and the impact they have on sleep and waking function mean that distress and negative emotionality are common accompanying features to many sleep disorders. Even though there are specific biological treatments, such as medication for restless legs syndrome, wake-promoting medication for narcolepsy and positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnoea, these are not always perfectly effective and there may be a role for adjunctive treatments that address the distress and emotion that become part of these chronic conditions and add to their impact. For people with milder symptoms, psychological treatment alone may provide sufficient symptomatic relief. Many sleep disorders occur in association with other physical or psychiatric conditions, which may contribute to the distress experienced

A preliminary investigation into worry about mental health: Development of the mental health anxiety inventory

Background: Worry about physical health is broadly referred to as health anxiety and can range from mild concern to severe or persistent anxiety such as that found in DSM-IV hypochondriasis. While much is known about anxiety regarding physical health, little is known about anxiety regarding mental health. However, recent conceptualizations of health anxiety propose that individuals can experience severe and problematic worry about mental health in similar ways to how people experience extreme worry about physical health. Aims: Given the paucity of research in this area, the aim of the current study was to explore anxiety regarding mental health through validation of the Mental Health Anxiety Inventory (MHAI), a modified version of the Short Health Anxiety Inventory. Method: The MHAI, and measures of state anxiety (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21), trait worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), and health anxiety (Short Health Anxiety Inventory) were administered to 104 adult volunteers from the general community. Results: The MHAI demonstrated high internal consistency, acceptable test-retest reliability, and good construct validity when correlated with other measures of anxiety. Results also indicated that participants worried about their mental health and physical health equally, and that almost 9% of participants reported levels of mental health anxiety that were potentially problematic. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that a small proportion of adults in the community may experience high levels of mental health anxiety requiring treatment, and that the MHAI, if validated further, could be a useful tool for assessing this form of anxiet