The Role of Retrofits in Architecture Education

Although there is a wide range of retrofit technologies readily available, methods to identify the most cost-effective retrofit measures for particular projects is still a major technical challenge. The current study looks into the role of retrofits and repair in architecture education and aims at evaluating alternative retrofit solutions for a campus building to improve building performance. The pilot study is located in a hot and humid climate, including an atrium on a campus building, where the results are applicable to similar buildings. This research is novel in terms of testing retrofits in architecture education, using Building Energy Modeling on a campus building. The methodology used in this research is mainly an experimental research approach, using Autodesk Revit and DOE-2 as its computer simulation engine. Retrofit actions studied include insulation, windows, renewable energy, and efficient lighting. Retrofits could be understood as a method of ethical use of resources and restoration of the cultural architecture of an area. However, there is not much discussion about retrofits in the architecture curriculum, except for hints in urban design lectures. This study made an attempt to provide a research opportunity for graduate students to fill this gap. The results demonstrated simulation outcomes for adaptive reuse alternatives on a campus building, providing an open discussion on the value of adding retrofit in architecture education

Circulating antiangiogenic proteins in obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension

SummaryIntroductionObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes endothelial dysfunction and is an independent risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Although vasoactive agents and sympathoexcitation have been implicated and operational in the pathogenesis of hypertension associated with OSA the exact mechanisms underlying hypertension have not been established. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng) are released under hypoxic stress and cause endothelial dysfunction and hypertension in humans and animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of these antiangiogenic proteins in OSA and to determine their clinical significance.MethodsIn 22 untreated OSA patients with apnea-hypopnea index ≥30 events/h (11 with hypertension and 11 without hypertension) we measured plasma concentrations of endothelin-1, epinephrine, norepinephrine, nitric oxide metabolites, sFlt-1 and sEng.ResultsThe apnea-hypopnea indices were 81 ± 11 and 76 ± 9 events/h (P=ns) and the sleep times with SaO2<90% were 42 ± 13 and 39 ± 13min (P=ns) for normotensives and hypertensives, respectively. Both groups had similarly elevated levels of catecholamines with normal endothelin-1 levels. Nitric oxide metabolites were depressed in both groups with no inter-group differences. On the other hand, both sFlt-1 (90.0 ± 4.6pg/ml vs. 74.0 ± 4.4pg/ml, P=0. 018) and sEng (4.9 ± 0.34 ng/ml vs. 3.50 ± 0.42 ng/ml, P=0.016) were significantly elevated in the hypertensive patients compared to the normotensive subjects.ConclusionThese data show that sFlt-1 and sEng are increased in the circulation of patients with OSA and hypertension and suggest that they may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension