Evaluating the 3D rendering of architecture models in a web browser

Due to hardware, software and time constraints it can be a laborious chore to view Computer Aided Design (CAD) data. Thanks to the emergence of 3D web rendering, it is now a more streamlined process, and an ever increasingly popular way of displaying CAD data, due in part to the fact that it is accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This paper reviews and evaluates 3 rendering engines and how they help the flow of getting architectural data into a virtual environment

Using atmospheric pressure tendency to optimise battery charging in o-grid hybrid wind-diesel systems for telecoms

Off grid telecom base stations in developing nations are powered by diesel generators. They are typically oversized and run at a fraction of their rated load for most of their lifetime. Operating these generators at partial load is inefficient and over time physically damages the engine. A hybrid configuration,which is the combination of multiple energy sources, uses a battery bank which powers the telecoms load for a portion of the time. The generator only operates when the battery bank needs to be charged. Adding a wind turbine further reduces the generator run hours and saves fuel. The generator is oblivious to the current wind conditions which lead to simultaneous generator-wind power production. As the batteries become charged by the generator, the wind turbine controller is forced to dump surplus power as heat through a resistive load. This dissertation details how the relationship between barometric pressure and wind speed can be used to add an additional layer of sophistication to the battery charger. A numerical model of the system is developed to test the different battery charging configurations. This work demonstrates that if the battery charger is aware of upcoming wind conditions it will provide modest fuel savings and reduce generator run hours in small scale hybrid energy systems. The contribution from this work provides insight into the power being wasted in small scale hybrid systems with storage and how they can operate more efficiently when the charging mechanism is aware of upcoming wind conditions. The system will operate more efficiently if the diesel generator is disengaged during periods of moderate to high wind power production. The methodology proposed in this dissertation ensures that this is the case, especially during periods of high wind power production

Exploring Older Adult Educational Tourism Experiences, Satisfaction and Well-being: A Pre-Post Travel Approach

This study attempts to develop a comprehensive understanding of the older adult educational tourism experiences through exploring the relationship between self-determined motivations, preferred tour attributes, memorable experiences, emotions, overall satisfaction, behavioral intentions and life satisfaction. By applying a concurrent mixed method design, the data will be collected from both pre-post travel surveys and semi structured interviews completed by Australians (50 years old or older) who participate in both domestic and international educational tour packages. It is anticipated the results of this study will demonstrate that educational tourism experiences provide a path to personal growth and the discovery of new meaning in life for older travelers with such journeys offering not only an opportunity to escape from everyday life but also a ‘transitional’ or temporary platform for reflection which ultimately a mean to achieve purpose, meaning and joy in life

Polymorphisms in NF-κB Inhibitors and Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) family is a set of transcription factors with key roles in the induction of the inflammatory response and may be the link between inflammation and cancer development. This pathway has been shown to influence ovarian epithelial tissue repair. Inhibitors of κB (IκB) prevent NF-κB activation by sequestering NF-κB proteins in the cytoplasm until IκB proteins are phosphorylated and degraded.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a case-control study to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in <it>NFKBIA </it>and <it>NFKBIB </it>(the genes encoding IκBα and IκBβ, respectively) and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. We queried 19 tagSNPs and putative-functional SNPs among 930 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 1,037 controls from two studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The minor allele for one synonymous SNP in <it>NFKBIA</it>, rs1957106, was associated with decreased risk (p = 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Considering the number of single-SNP tests performed and null gene-level results, we conclude that <it>NFKBIA </it>and <it>NFKBIB </it>are not likely to harbor ovarian cancer risk alleles. Due to its biological significance in ovarian cancer, additional genes encoding NF-κB subunits, activating and inhibiting molecules, and signaling molecules warrant interrogation.</p

Associations of common breast cancer susceptibility alleles with risk of breast cancer subtypes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Introduction: More than 70 common alleles are known to be involved in breast cancer (BC) susceptibility, and several exhibit significant heterogeneity in their associations with different BC subtypes. Although there are differences in the association patterns between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and the general population for several loci, no study has comprehensively evaluated the associations of all known BC susceptibility alleles with risk of BC subtypes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Methods: We used data from 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 carriers to analyze the associations between approximately 200,000 genetic variants on the iCOGS array and risk of BC subtypes defined by estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and triple-negative- (TN) status; morphologic subtypes; histological grade; and nodal involvement. Results: The estimated BC hazard ratios (HRs) for the 74 known BC alleles in BRCA1 carriers exhibited moderate correlations with the corresponding odds ratios from the general population. However, their associations with ER-positive BC in BRCA1 carriers were more consistent with the ER-positive as

Genome-Wide Association Study in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers Identifies Novel Loci Associated with Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk

BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer risks can be modified by common genetic variants. To identify further cancer risk-modifying loci, we performed a multi-stage GWAS of 11,705 BRCA1 carriers (of whom 5,920 were diagnosed with breast and 1,839 were diagnosed with ovarian cancer), with a further replication in an additional sample of 2,646 BRCA1 carriers. We identified a novel breast cancer risk modifier locus at 1q32 for BRCA1 carriers (rs2290854, P = 2.7×10-8, HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). In addition, we identified two novel ovarian cancer risk modifier loci: 17q21.31 (rs17631303, P = 1.4×10-8, HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38) and 4q32.3 (rs4691139, P = 3.4×10-8, HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.17-1.38). The 4q32.3 locus was not associated with ovarian cancer risk in the general population or BRCA2 carriers, suggesting a BRCA1-specific associat