TESTING DESIGN STIMULI FOR DESIGN-BY-ANALOGY ON A LARGE SET OF DESIGNERS

This paper presents evidence supporting the hypothesis that, for designers not specifically trained in designing-by-analogy, the sources of inspiration that share the same (sub-functions) and context of the target system lead to ideas having higher novelty and quality. The exploration of the design space gets positively affected as well. These evidence emerge after the statistical analysis of the results of an experiment that involved 84 graduate students in Mechanical Engineering, with typical competencies on engineering design, but without any specific skill on analogy-based idea generation

An optimization-based rigid block modeling approach to seismic assessment of dry-joint masonry structures subjected to settlements

A rigid block modeling approach is presented for rocking dynamics and nonlinear static analysis of dry-joint masonry structures subjected to settlements and earthquake excitations. For the different types of analysis, a unified optimization-based formulation is adopted, which is equivalent to the system governing the static and dynamic structural response. Sequential solution procedures are used for time integration and for pushover analysis which take into account the effects of large displacements under the combined action of support movements and lateral loads. No-tension elastic contacts with finite shear strength are considered at block in-terfaces for time-history analysis and to obtain the elastic branch of pushover curves in nonlinear static analysis. A unilateral rigid contact behavior is also considered to obtain the descending post-peak branch of pushover curves corresponding to the activation of the rigid-body rocking motion, according to displacement-based assessment methods of failure mechanisms adopted in the standards. Comparisons with numerical models and experimental tests on a rocking block and on a buttressed arch are presented to show the accuracy of the developed approach. Simple tests on dry-joint tuff panels on the tilting table were also carried out to show the effects of imposed movements at support on the response to lateral loads. Finally, an application is presented to a full-scale triumphal arch subjected to the combined action of support movements and earthquake excitation to discuss, on the basis of the developed model, the effects of settlement-induced damage on seismic performance. The numerical analyses showed that the lateral force, the displacement capacity and the rocking response can be significantly affected by support movements, pointing out the relevance of the current building condition in the seismic safety assessment.- The financial support of the research project DPC-ReLUIS 2022-2024: Work Package 5 "Integrated and low-impact strengthening interventions" funded by the Civil Protection Department IT (Grant no. 897-01/04/2022) is acknowledged. The authors are grateful to Prof. Chiara Calderini from the University of Genova for providing data from the experimental tests on the arch-pillars system investigated in the manuscript. The authors are also grateful to Mr. Domenico Imperatrice from the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture for his assistance and support throughout the experimental investigation on the wall panels subjected to support movement and lateral loads

Cultural Heritage Exposed to Natural Hazards: the Case Study of the Convent of San Domenico in Maiori

Nowadays it is widely recognized that structural interventions on cultural heritage buildings shall comply with the minimum intervention principle. The main goal is to enhance the structural capacity respecting, at the same time, the authenticity of the monument. As such, the correct interpretation of the current damage is a first fundamental step in the design of an efficient structural intervention. Within this framework, the paper presents the results of an in depth investigation carried out to assess the structural capacity of a complex monument affected by several deficiencies. The case study is the convent of Saint Domenico, a seventeenth century’s masonry structure, belonging to the traditional architectural typology of the court building. The building is located in Maiori, a small town in the Amalfi Coast (Italy), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997 for its great cultural and naturalistic interest. The structure was abandoned during the 80s, and currently presents an extensive and diffuse crack pattern that is the consequence of several causes such as: the natural aging of material, the lack of maintenance, the modifications occurred during the centuries, the seismic events occurred in the past and the poor quality of the foundation soil. In this paper, starting from the knowledge acquisition path of the whole Convent, a special focus on the structural behavior of the East wing is provided. A numerical model of a cross section of the wing has been developed and analyzed considering the effects of lateral loads and settlements. The numerical analyses are carried out using LiaBlock_3D, an in-house software tool for the limit equilibrium analysis of rigid block assemblages. Results of the analyses are discussed in details and a comparison with the actual crack pattern of the structure is provided as well

Cultural Heritage Exposed to Natural Hazards: the Case Study of the Convent of San Domenico in Maiori

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Somatostatin subtype-2 receptor-targeted metal-based anticancer complexes

Conjugates of a dicarba analogue of octreotide, a potent somatostatin agonist whose receptors are overexpressed on tumor cells, with [PtCl 2(dap)] (dap = 1-(carboxylic acid)-1,2-diaminoethane) (3), [(η 6-bip)Os(4-CO 2-pico)Cl] (bip = biphenyl, pico = picolinate) (4), [(η 6-p-cym)RuCl(dap)] + (p-cym = p-cymene) (5), and [(η 6-p-cym)RuCl(imidazole-CO 2H)(PPh 3)] + (6), were synthesized by using a solid-phase approach. Conjugates 3-5 readily underwent hydrolysis and DNA binding, whereas conjugate 6 was inert to ligand substitution. NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics calculations showed that conjugate formation does not perturb the overall peptide structure. Only 6 exhibited antiproliferative activity in human tumor cells (IC 50 = 63 ± 2 μ in MCF-7 cells and IC 50 = 26 ± 3 μ in DU-145 cells) with active participation of somatostatin receptors in cellular uptake. Similar cytotoxic activity was found in a normal cell line (IC 50 = 45 ± 2.6 μ in CHO cells), which can be attributed to a similar level of expression of somatostatin subtype-2 receptor. These studies provide new insights into the effect of receptor-binding peptide conjugation on the activity of metal-based anticancer drugs, and demonstrate the potential of such hybrid compounds to target tumor cells specifically. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Diffusion-Weighted MRI for Selection of Complete Responders After Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter Study

PURPOSE: In 10-24% of patients with rectal cancer who are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, no residual tumor is found after surgery (ypT0). When accurately selected, these complete responders might be considered for less invasive treatments instead of standard surgery. So far, no imaging method has proven reliable. This study was designed to assess the accuracy of diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) in addition to standard rectal MRI for selection of complete responders after chemoradiation. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer from three university hospitals underwent chemoradiation followed by a restaging MRI (1.5T), consisting of standard T2W-MRI and DWI (b0-1000). Three independent readers first scored the standard MRI only for the likelihood of a complete response using a 5-point confidence score, after which the DWI images were added and the scoring was repeated. Histology (ypT0 vs. ypT1-4) was the standard reference. Diagnostic performance for selection of complete responders and interobserver agreement were compared for the two readings. RESULTS: Twenty-five of 120 patients had a complete response (ypT0). Areas under the ROC-curve for the three readers improved from 0.76, 0.68, and 0.58, using only standard MRI, to 0.8, 0.8, and 0.78 after addition of DWI (P = 0.39, 0.02, and 0.002). Sensitivity for selection of complete responders ranged from 0-40% on standard MRI versus 52-64% after addition of DWI. Specificity was equally high (89-98%) for both reading sessions. Interobserver agreement improved from kappa 0.2-0.32 on standard MRI to 0.51-0.55 after addition of DWI. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of DWI to standard rectal MRI improves the selection of complete responders after chemoradiation

Guidelines for the selection of appropriate remote sensing technologies for landslide detection, monitoring and rapid mapping: the experience of the SafeLand European Project.

New earth observation satellites, innovative airborne platforms and sensors, high precision laser scanners, and enhanced ground-based geophysical investigation tools are a few examples of the increasing diversity of remote sensing technologies used in landslide analysis. The use of advanced sensors and analysis methods can help to significantly increase our understanding of potentially hazardous areas and helps to reduce associated risk. However, the choice of the optimal technology, analysis method and observation strategy requires careful considerations of the landslide process in the local and regional context, and the advantages and limitations of each technique. Guidelines for the selection of the most suitable remote sensing technologies according to different landslide types, displacement velocities, observational scales and risk management strategies have been proposed. The guidelines are meant to aid operational decision making, and include information such as spatial resolution and coverage, data and processing costs, and maturity of the method. The guidelines target scientists and end-users in charge of risk management, from the detection to the monitoring and the rapid mapping of landslides. They are illustrated by recent innovative methodologies developed for the creation and updating of landslide inventory maps, for the construction of landslide deformation maps and for the quantification of hazard. The guidelines were compiled with contributions from experts on landslide remote sensing from 13 European institutions coming from 8 different countries. This work is presented within the framework of the SafeLand project funded by the European Commission’s FP7 Programme.JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen

Challenges facing mental health systems arising from the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from 14 European and North American countries

We assessed challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented for mental health systems and the responses to these challenges in 14 countries in Europe and North America. Experts from each country filled out a structured questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions between January and June 2021. We conducted thematic analysis to investigate the qualitative responses to open-ended questions, and we summarized the responses to closed-ended survey items on changes in telemental health policies and regulations. Findings revealed that many countries grappled with the rising demand for mental health services against a backdrop of mental health provider shortages and challenges responding to workforce stress and burnout. All countries in our sample implemented new policies or initiatives to strengthen mental health service delivery - with more than two-thirds investing to bolster their specialized mental health care sector. There was a universal shift to telehealth to deliver a larger portion of mental health services in all 14 countries, which was facilitated by changes in national regulations and policies; 11 of the 14 participating countries relaxed regulations and 10 of 14 countries made changes to reimbursement policies to facilitate telemental health care. These findings provide a first step to assess the long-term challenges and re-organizational effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health systems in Europe and North America