COLLABORATION AND ALTERED PROCESSES

The architectural technologist could be defined as a designer whose methods are driven by the intimate and experimental use of varying digital technologies. The technologist, in this scenario, is a designer by training, but typically, seen primarily for their technical expertise. Through an emerging practice of the architectural technologist as a design collaborator, an identity is forming of the technologist as a designer who balances general issues of architecture with an analytical mind towards digital/computational methods. Collaboration exists ultimately in the realm of design (not in production) but introduces a shift in process, where design involves the construction of digital means and the critique of process by all participants in the collaboration. This paper describes the necessity of this type of collaboration in relation to several specific design projects, to which Sean Ahlquist / Proces2 participated as the technologist. At issue is the technologist’s degree of influence on the processes, the level of exchange between designers, and the resulting influence on the success of the design. Three projects will be discussed to show the range of collaborative interaction. In one scenario, the technologist worked within a stratified and somewhat traditional process based on the applying digitallyderived systems to a specified form. A second scenario looked to find a generative, computational method through the collaboration. The intent was to discover an architectural pattern that had an advanced level of complexity, and simultaneously provide data for fabrication and construction. The last project saw the collaboration as a necessity to produce an array of highly complex 3-dimensional forms and provide means of communication between the highly digital environment and analog means for analysis and fabrication

Country clustering in comparative political economy

"In the comparative political economy of rich democracies there is a long tradition of classifying countries into one of a small number of categories based on their economic institutions and policies. The most recent of these is the Varieties of Capitalism project, which posits two major clusters of nations: coordinated and liberal market economies. This classification has generated controversy. We leverage recent advances in mixture model-based clustering to see what the data say on the matter. We find that there is considerable uncertainty around the number of clusters and, barring a few cases, which country should be placed in which cluster. Moreover, when viewed over time, both the number of clusters and country membership change considerably. As a result, arguments about who has the 'right' typology are misplaced. We urge caution in using these country classifications in structuring qualitative inquiry and discourage their usage as indicator variables in quantitative analysis, especially in the context of time-series cross-section data. We argue that the real value of both Esping-Andersen's work and the Varieties of Capitalism project consists of their theoretical contributions and heuristic classification of ideal types." (author's abstract)"In der vergleichenden Politischen Ökonomie reicher Demokratien gibt es eine lange Tradition, Länder aufgrund ihrer unterschiedlichen wirtschaftlichen Institutionen und Policies zu typologisieren. Die jüngste dieser Typologien - das 'Varieties-of-Capitalism'-Konzept - erfasst zwei Gruppen von Ländern: koordinierte und liberale Marktwirtschaften. Da diese Klassifizierung einige Kontroversen hervorgerufen hat, nutzen die Autoren neueste Fortschritte im 'mixture model-based clustering', um zu prüfen, welche Erkenntnisse die Daten zu diesem Problem liefern. Die Ergebnisse weisen eine beträchtliche Unsicherheit hinsichtlich der Anzahl der Cluster und, mit wenigen Ausnahmen, der Zuordnung der Länder zu Clustern auf. Betrachtet man größere Zeiträume, variieren darüber hinaus die Anzahl der Cluster und Ländermitgliedschaften erheblich. Als Folge dieser Befunde halten die Autoren Argumentationen über die 'richtige' Typologisierung für unangebracht und raten davon ab, diese Länderklassifizierungen zur Strukturierung qualitativer Studien heranzuziehen oder als Indikatorvariablen in quantitativen Analysen zu nutzen. Dies gilt insbesondere im Kontext von gepoolten Zeitreihen- und Querschnittsdaten. Sie argumentieren, dass der substanzielle Wert sowohl der Forschung von Esping-Andersen als auch des 'Varieties-of-Capitalism'-Ansatzes in den Beiträgen zur Theorie und den heuristischen Klassifizierungen von Idealtypen besteht." (Autorenreferat

Finite element modelling in integral design strategies of form- and bending-active hybrid structures

This paper discusses form-finding and simulation strategies for form- and bending-active hybrid structures, with practical feedback from two realised projects. Next to some general aspects of computational form-finding approaches with focus on finite element methods (FEM), the influence of changing mechanical properties of elastic beams on the resultant form-found hybrid system will be discussed on an umbrella structure with integrated bendingactive beam elements. Alongside the question of simulation strategies comes the search for a practical design setup to establish an FEM environment that is cross integrating information from various other modelling environments. This is discussed through the case study project M1 where physical form-finding and vector-based spring methods are utilised to generate input data for the FEM simulation

Active membranes:3D printing of elastic fibre patterns on pre-stretched textiles

There has been a steady growth, over several decades, in the deployment of fabrics in architectural applications; both in terms of quantity and variety of application. More recently 3D printing and additive manufacturing have added to the palette of technologies that designers in architecture and related disciplines can call upon. Here we report on research that brings those two technologies together - the development of active membrane elements and structures. We show how these active membranes have been achieved by laminating 3D printed elasto-plastic fibres onto pre-stretched textile membranes. We report on a set of experiments involving one-, two- and multi-directional geometric arrangements that take TPU 95 and Polypropylene filaments and apply them to lycra textile sheets, to form active composite panels. The process involves a parametrised design, actualized through a particular fabrication process. Our findings document the investigation into mapping between the initial two-dimensional geometries and their resulting three-dimensional doubly-curved forms, as well as accomplishments and products of the resulting, partly serendipitous, design process

Factors that contribute to faecal cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression in subjects with colorectal cancer

浜松医科大学学位論文　医博第600号（平成23年3月16日

Gene methylation profiles of normal mucosa, and benign and malignant colorectal tumors identify early onset markers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiple epigenetic and genetic changes have been reported in colorectal tumors, but few of these have clinical impact. This study aims to pinpoint epigenetic markers that can discriminate between non-malignant and malignant tissue from the large bowel, i.e. markers with diagnostic potential.</p> <p>The methylation status of eleven genes (<it>ADAMTS1</it>, <it>CDKN2A</it>, <it>CRABP1</it>, <it>HOXA9</it>, <it>MAL</it>, <it>MGMT</it>, <it>MLH1</it>, <it>NR3C1</it>, <it>PTEN</it>, <it>RUNX3</it>, and <it>SCGB3A1</it>) was determined in 154 tissue samples including normal mucosa, adenomas, and carcinomas of the colorectum. The gene-specific and widespread methylation status among the carcinomas was related to patient gender and age, and microsatellite instability status. Possible CIMP tumors were identified by comparing the methylation profile with microsatellite instability (MSI), <it>BRAF</it>-, <it>KRAS</it>-, and <it>TP53 </it>mutation status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean number of methylated genes per sample was 0.4 in normal colon mucosa from tumor-free individuals, 1.2 in mucosa from cancerous bowels, 2.2 in adenomas, and 3.9 in carcinomas. Widespread methylation was found in both adenomas and carcinomas. The promoters of <it>ADAMTS1</it>, <it>MAL</it>, and <it>MGMT </it>were frequently methylated in benign samples as well as in malignant tumors, independent of microsatellite instability. In contrast, normal mucosa samples taken from bowels without tumor were rarely methylated for the same genes. Hypermethylated <it>CRABP1, MLH1</it>, <it>NR3C1</it>, <it>RUNX3</it>, and <it>SCGB3A1 </it>were shown to be identifiers of carcinomas with microsatellite instability. In agreement with the CIMP concept, MSI and mutated <it>BRAF </it>were associated with samples harboring hypermethylation of several target genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Methylated <it>ADAMTS1</it>, <it>MGMT</it>, and <it>MAL </it>are suitable as markers for early tumor detection.</p

Fecal Tests: From Blood to Molecular Markers

Detection of molecular markers for colorectal neoplasia in feces has the potential to improve performance of simple noninvasive screening tests for colorectal cancer. Most research has explored the value of DNA-based, RNA-based, and protein-based markers. In all cases there has been a trend to move from a single marker to a panel of markers to improve sensitivity. Unfortunately, no type of molecular marker has proved specific for neoplasia. DNA tests have been improved by combining mutation detection with assessment of DNA integrity plus epigenetic markers of neoplasia. RNA-based approaches are just beginning to explore the full power of transcriptomics. So far, no protein-based fecal test has proved better than fecal immunochemical tests for hemoglobin. Finally, no marker or panel of markers has yet been developed to the point where it has been evaluated in large unbiased population studies to assess performance across all stages of neoplasia and in all practical environments

Early Detection of and Screening for Colorectal Neoplasia

There are approximately one million new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) per year worldwide, with substantial associated morbidity and mortality. The long natural history of colorectal neoplasia affords the opportunity to use preventive measures to improve survival in this disease. Currently screening for adenomatous polyps and early-stage cancers is the best methodology for improving survival. The increasing knowledge of CRC pathogenesis and its natural history is allowing the development of new tools to identify patients who will benefit most from colon cancer screening and the defining of appropriate surveillance intervals. The guidelines for screening for colorectal neoplasia have recently been substantially revised by several organizations based on developing technologies and a growing body of data on the efficacy of CRC screening