Exploring virtual reality in construction, visualization and building performance analysis

In the past two decades, the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry has investigated different approaches to improve communication among project parties, including Virtual reality (VR) however these approaches have not been widely adopted by the industry. Today, the tremendous advancements in technologies and computer hardware have potentially improved the current approaches and enabled a significant enhancement of user experience of Virtual reality (VR) devices. Based on that the researchers have conducted a review to investigate the global VR applications research in (AEC) community in 2015- 2017 to understand the status and the trend of immersive virtual reality (IVR) research in the world using these affordable devices. This paper also presents a result of an experiment to integrate three different types of AEC digital modeling data and proposed workflows for IVR applications in construction, visualization and building performance analysis. The experiment deals with construction simulation, rapid generation of the VR scene for existing building and airflow visualization. Several workflows investigated game engine and VR tools have been use

The development of a digitally enhanced visual inspection framework for masonry bridges in the UK

Purpose: The utilisation of emerging technologies for the inspection of bridges has remarkably increased. In particular, non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies are deemed a potential alternative for costly, labour-intensive, subjective and unsafe conventional bridge inspection regimes. This paper aims to develop a framework to overcome conventional inspection regimes' limitations by deploying multiple NDT technologies to carry out digital visual inspections of masonry railway bridges. Design/methodology/approach: This research adopts an exploratory case study approach, and the empirical data is collected through exploratory workshops, interviews and document reviews. The framework is implemented and refined in five masonry bridges as part of the UK railway infrastructure. Four NDT technologies, namely, terrestrial laser scanner, infrared thermography, 360-degree imaging and unmanned aerial vehicles, are used in this study. Findings: A digitally enhanced visual inspection framework is developed by using complementary optical methods. Compared to the conventional inspection regimes, the new approach requires fewer subjective interpretations due to the additional qualitative and quantitative analysis. Also, it is safer and needs fewer operators on site, as the actual inspection can be carried out remotely. Originality/value: This research is a step towards digitalising the inspection of bridges, and it is of particular interest to transport agencies and bridge inspectors and can potentially result in revolutionising the bridge inspection regimes and guidelines

Development of Mountain Climate Generator and Snowpack model for Erosion Predictions in the Western United States using WEPP, Reserach Completion Report for Phase II

Executive Summary: This report summarizes work conducted during the funding period (July 1 through September 30, 1990) of a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), Utah State University. The purpose of the agreement is to develop a Western Mountain Climate Generator (MCLIGEN) similar in function to the existing Climate Generator (CLIGEN), which is part of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) procedure. Also, we are developing a Western U.S. snowpack simulation model for inclusion in WEPP. In the Western U.S., few meteorological observations exist in high elecation areas where Forest Service properties are located. Therefore, a procedure for estimating climatological variables in mountainous areas is needed to apply WEPP in these regions. A physically-based approach, using an expanded and improved orographic precipitation model, is being utilized. It will use radiosonde data and also lighning data to simualte convective storms. Climatological sequences thus estimated at ungaged locatiosn will be represented using stochastic models, similar to the approach used in the existing CLIGEN, and their parameters will be available to users through maps. By using these stochastic models, WEPP usters can synthsize climate sequences for input to WEPP. During the reporting period we have implemented the the Rhea orographic precipitation model and begun preliminary model testing in two regions. Also, we have begun formulation of model modifications for handling convective events. Various snowplack and meteorological data sets have been acquired and others have been ordered. Some of these have been applied in ititial applications of several snowpack models which have been recorded in a modeular form. Work has commenced on the statistical analysis of western climate sequences, including the preliminary assessment of the alternative stochastic model structures. Additional review of literature has been commenced for establishing desing storms and design hydrographs for events of various return periods in mountainous regions. Accomplishments are summarized in three parts: 1) climatological process models, 2) snowpack simulation models, and 3) stochastic models of climatological variablse and parameter regionalization. A chapter of the report is devoted to each of these three parts

Development of Mountain Climate Generator and Snowpack model for Erosion Predictions in the Western United States Using WEPP, Progress Report No. 1

Executive Summary: This report summarizes work conducted during the initial funding period (November 1, 1989 through June 30, 1990) of a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), Utah State University. The purpose of the agreement is to develop a procedure for incorporating western mountain climate into the existing Climate Generator (CLIGEN), which is part of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) procedure. In the Western U.S., few meteorological observations exist in high elevation areas where Forest Service properties are located. Therefore, a procedure for estimating climatological variables in mountainous areas is needed to apply WEPP in these regions. A physically-based approach, an expanded and improved orographic precipitation model, is proposed in this report. It will use radiosonde data and also lightning data to simulate convective storms. Climatological sequences thus estimated at ungaged locations will be represented using stochastic models, similar to the approach used in the existing CLIGEN, and their parameters will be available to users through maps. By using these stochastic models, WEPP users can synthesize climate sequences for input to WEPP. Several alternative approaches to developing the Mountain Climate Generator (MCLIGEN) have been formulated and evaluated. These options vary in their spatial resolution. Some will provide synthetic climate inputs whereas others will provide synthetic sequences of water delivery to the ground surface or overland flow delivery. The latter will reduce the user\u27s responsibility for judging adequate snowpack or hydrological simulations, but will enormously increase the effort required for parameterization during the developmental phase. Based on our evaluation, we recommend that Option 2 for generating fine scale climate sequences be adopted. This option appears to satisfy the WEPP spatial resolution requirements of the USFS and requires a reasonable level of developmental effort. We also recommend that Option 3 be available to the users. We recomment that under this option snowpack initial conditions at a specified date be available based on a return period or exceedance probability. Under this option discontinuous simulation periods could be considered. The data, models, and parameters needed to implement the recommended approach can be divided into three parts: 1) climatological process models, 2) a snowpack imulation model, and 3) stochastic models of climatological variables and parameter regionalization. A chapter of the report is devoted to each of these three parts. Each chapter includes a literature review and a description of the proposed methodology and work plan for its development. We further recommend that a comprehensive plan for data collection for validation of the entire WEPP methodology applied to the mountainous Western U.S. be developed. Also, we propose that UWRL take the lead in settin gup a user group for orographic precipitation modelers

Iranian Herbalists, But Not Cooks, Are Better at Naming Odors Than Laypeople

Odor naming is enhanced in communities where communication about odors is a central part of daily life (e.g., wine experts, flavorists, and some hunter-gatherer groups). In this study, we investigated how expert knowledge and daily experience affect the ability to name odors in a group of experts that has not previously been investigated in this context—Iranian herbalists; also called attars—as well as cooks and laypeople. We assessed naming accuracy and consistency for 16 herb and spice odors, collected judgments of odor perception, and evaluated participants' odor meta-awareness. Participants' responses were overall more consistent and accurate for more frequent and familiar odors. Moreover, attars were more accurate than both cooks and laypeople at naming odors, although cooks did not perform significantly better than laypeople. Attars' perceptual ratings of odors and their overall odor meta-awareness suggest they are also more attuned to odors than the other two groups. To conclude, Iranian attars—but not cooks—are better odor namers than laypeople. They also have greater meta-awareness and differential perceptual responses to odors. These findings further highlight the critical role that expertise and type of experience have on olfactory functions

Laminectomy versus interlaminar approach for Lumbar disc herniation

Background: Low back pain is the most common health problem in men and women between the ages of 20 and 50 years. The lumbar disc prolapse has a major role in this condition. Treatment is either conservative or surgical. The most common surgical interventions are either laminectomy or interlaminar approach. Objective: To determine which is the best surgical approach for the patient according to his/her type of disc herniation. Patients and methods: A comparative clinical study conducted in the Neurosciences Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq from January 2016 to January 2018. In this paper we evaluated the clinical outcome following both approaches Results: We studied sixty cases; thirty-four patients had interlaminar approach for lumbar discectomy while twenty-six patients had laminectomy with discectomy. Conclusion: Both methods can manage different types of lumbar disc prolapse, apart from far-lateral disc which favors laminectomy approach

Solid-state epimerisation and disproportionation of pilocarpine HCl: why we need a 5-stage approach to validate melting point measurements for heat-sensitive drugs

Melting points for new drugs are reported in regulatory documents, e.g. investigational brochures, and frequently in published research; however, the authors do not typically consider that heat-induced degradation can affect the melting point measurement. Applying a single heating rate is not adequate, and thus many melting points in the literature and regulatory documentation are not valid. Our aim was to validate a five-stage approach for the melting point measurement of heat-sensitive drugs. These stages are; (1) observe melting; (2) record mass loss; (3) measure melting points at different heating rates; (4) characterise degradation and (5) test for potential isomerisation. Applying this approach to pilocarpine HCl illustrated the sensitivity of a melting point to thermal degradation. Due to salt disproportionation & loss of HCl gas, pilocarpine�s melting point decreased by 14 °C when the heating rate was lowered from 20 to 1 °C/min. Epimerization occurred before melting was reached. Increasing the heating rate diminished disproportionation; however, this did not remove epimerization. Thus, the melting point of pilocarpine HCl of 205.5 ± 0.4 °C measured at 20 °C/min represents the melt of a racemic mixture containing inactive isopilocarpine. Heating above the melting point accelerated degradation, a rate of 5 °C/min recovered just 38 ± 1 of pilocarpine. Such data predicted a shelf-life of 6.6 years. Pilocarpine successfully validated the multistage approach by providing new knowledge concerning its thermal stability. Our 5-stage approach must be applied to all new drugs especially if their formulation requires heat. For example, thermal stability is an infrequently considered pre-requisite in the emerging field of 3D printing

Extracorporeal cellular therapy (ELAD) in severe alcoholic hepatitis: A multinational, prospective, controlled, randomized trial.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (sAH) is associated with a poor prognosis. There is no proven effective treatment for sAH, which is why early transplantation has been increasingly discussed. Hepatoblastoma-derived C3A cells express anti-inflammatory proteins and growth factors and were tested in an extracorporeal cellular therapy (ELAD) study to establish their effect on survival for subjects with sAH. Adults with sAH, bilirubin ≥8 mg/dL, Maddrey\u27s discriminant function ≥ 32, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ≤ 35 were randomized to receive standard of care (SOC) only or 3-5 days of continuous ELAD treatment plus SOC. After a minimum follow-up of 91 days, overall survival (OS) was assessed by using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A total of 203 subjects were enrolled (96 ELAD and 107 SOC) at 40 sites worldwide. Comparison of baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between groups and within subgroups. There was no significant difference in serious adverse events between the 2 groups. In an analysis of the intent-to-treat population, there was no difference in OS (51.0% versus 49.5%). The study failed its primary and secondary end point in a population with sAH and with a MELD ranging from 18 to 35 and no upper age limit. In the prespecified analysis of subjects with MELD \u3c 28 (n = 120), ELAD was associated with a trend toward higher OS at 91 days (68.6% versus 53.6%; P = .08). Regression analysis identified high creatinine and international normalized ratio, but not bilirubin, as the MELD components predicting negative outcomes with ELAD. A new trial investigating a potential benefit of ELAD in younger subjects with sufficient renal function and less severe coagulopathy has been initiated. Liver Transplantation 24 380-393 2018 AASLD