Exploration of Adaptive Origami Shading Concepts through Integrated Dynamic Simulations

This paper presents integrated energy and lighting simulations as a part of wider research focused on the form-finding process of adaptive shading concepts and on the actuation of shading movement using shape memory alloys (SMAs). The use of this new type of microactuator in responsive architectural components presents a challenge because of the limited contraction state of the SMAs. Hence, origami shapes were considered to amplify shading movements thanks to their geometric properties. This study exploited the visual and thermal comfort of a south-oriented office located in Milan, Italy, that was equipped with adaptive origami shading. Two-hundred and ten shapes were considered and the geometry, contraction states, and surface materials were considered as variable properties. The final aim was to explore the potential of adaptive origami shadings in controlling visual and thermal comfort. Daylight illuminance (UDI), daylight glare probability (DGP), and total energy (TE) demand (for cooling, heating, and lighting per year) were used as main metrics for understanding the environmental benefits of the proposed shading devices

shaping an origami shading device through visual and thermal simulations

Abstract This paper presents the first results of a research work aimed at the optimisation of a shading system through parameters of visual comfort – Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), Daylight autonomy (DA) and Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) – and Total Energy (TE) consumption (cooling, heating and lighting per year). The goal is to define a shading system for office buildings that delivers visual comfort for users whilst reducing energy consumption for indoor climate control and artificial lighting. As the design of the shading system considers the use of shape memory alloys (SMA) as micro-actuators to accomplish solar adaptation, Origami pattern has been adopted to guarantee a relatively large displacement of the shading system with a small deformation of the SMA wires actuators. Thanks to this shape change, generating overlapped pleats and angle variation and using different materials, it has been possible to provide alterations of the direct light transmission inside the building while maintaining a certain degree of diffuse light component

Kinetic Solar Skin: A Responsive Folding Technique

The paper focuses on optimized movements analysed by means of Origami, the Japanese traditional art of paper folding. The study is a way to achieve different deployable shading systems categorized by a series of parameters that describe the strengths and weaknesses of each tessellation. Through the kinetic behaviour of Origami geometries the research compares simple folding diagrams with the purpose to understand the deployment at global scale and thus the potential of kinetic patterns’ morphology for application in adaptive facades. The possibilities of using a responsive folding technique to develop a kinetic surface that can change its configuration are here examined through the variation of parameters that influence kinematics’ form. Moreover, in order to perform the shape change without any external mechanical devices, the use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators has been tested

A comparison among Reinforcement Learning algorithms in financial trading systems

In this work we analyze and implement different Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms in financial trading system applications. RL-based algorithms applied to financial systems aim to find an optimal policy, that is an optimal mapping between the variables describing the state of the system and the actions available to an agent, by interacting with the system itself in order to maximize a cumulative return. In this contribution we compare the results obtained considering different on-policy (SARSA) and off-policy (Q-Learning, Greedy-GQ) RL algorithms applied to daily trading in the Italian stock market. We consider both computational issues related to the implementation of the algorithms, and issues originating from practical application to real stock markets, in an effort to improve previous results while keeping a simple and understandable structure of the used models

Shape morphing solar shadings: a review

This paper provides an overview of available innovative shape morphing building skins and their design principles. In particular, the proposed review deals with comfort-related issues associated with dynamic solar shading devices, building integration of smart materials, and morphological analyses related to the most recent shape morphing solar skins. In the first part of the paper, an introduction to the typologies of movement in architecture, its concept and application are presented. An explanation of biomimetic principles together with an overview of user's response to dynamic shading devices is also provided. This is followed by the description of the design principles for shape morphing solar shadings with particular focus on energy and comfort aspects, smart materials and biomimetic principles for efficient movements. A review of most recent developments on the topics of comfort, users' response and control of dynamic shading devices, is presented and summarized in a comparison table. The main technical and mechanical properties of the most diffused smart materials (Shape Memory Alloys, Shape Memory Polymers and Shape Memory Hybrids) that can be used for innovative shape morphing solar skins are illustrated in detail and compared. Biomimetic principles for efficient movements complete this part of the work. The principles illustrated in the previous part of this paper are then used to critically analyse the most recent examples of building integrated shape morphing shadings

Predicting human cardiac QT alterations and pro-arrhythmic effects of compounds with a 3D beating heart-on-chip platform

Determining the potential cardiotoxicity and pro-arrhythmic effects of drug candidates remains one of the most relevant issues in the drug development pipeline. New methods enabling to perform more representative pre-clinical in vitro studies by exploiting induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) are under investigation to increase the translational power of the outcomes. Here we present a pharmacological campaign conducted to evaluate the drug-induced QT alterations and arrhythmic events on uHeart, a 3D miniaturized in-vitro model of human myocardium encompassing iPSC-CM and dermal fibroblasts embedded in fibrin. uHeart was mechanically trained resulting in synchronously beating cardiac microtissues in one week, characterized by a clear field potential (FP) signal that was recorded by means of an integrated electrical system. A drug screening protocol compliant with the new International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines was established and uHeart was employed for testing the effect of 11 compounds acting on single or multiple cardiac ion channels and well-known to elicit QT prolongation or arrhythmic events in clinics. The alterations of uHeart's electrophysiological parameters such as the beating period, the FP duration, the FP amplitude and the detection of arrhythmic events prior and after drug administration at incremental doses were effectively analyzed through a custom developed algorithm. Results demonstrated the ability of uHeart to successfully anticipate clinical outcome and to predict the QT prolongation with a sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 91.6%. Cardiotoxic concentrations of drugs were notably detected in the range of the clinical highest blood drug concentration (Cmax), qualifying uHeart as a fit-to-purpose pre-clinical tool for cardiotoxicity studies

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19 and influenza H1N1 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has become an established rescue therapy for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in several etiologies including influenza A H1N1 pneumonia. The benefit of receiving ECMO in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still uncertain. The aim of this analysis was to compare the outcome of patients who received veno-venous ECMO for COVID-19 and Influenza A H1N1 associated ARDS. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study including adults with ARDS, receiving ECMO for COVID-19 and influenza A H1N1 pneumonia between 2009 and 2021 in seven Italian ICU. The primary outcome was any-cause mortality at 60 days after ECMO initiation. We used a multivariable Cox model to estimate the difference in mortality accounting for patients’ characteristics and treatment factors before ECMO was started. Secondary outcomes were mortality at 90 days, ICU and hospital length of stay and ECMO associated complications. RESULTS: Data from 308 patients with COVID-19 (N = 146) and H1N1 (N = 162) associated ARDS who had received ECMO support were included. The estimated cumulative mortality at 60 days after initiating ECMO was higher in COVID-19 (46%) than H1N1 (27%) patients (hazard ratio 1.76, 95% CI 1.17–2.46). When adjusting for confounders, specifically age and hospital length of stay before ECMO support, the hazard ratio decreased to 1.39, 95% CI 0.78–2.47. ICU and hospital length of stay, duration of ECMO and invasive mechanical ventilation and ECMO-associated hemorrhagic complications were higher in COVID-19 than H1N1 patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with ARDS who received ECMO, the observed unadjusted 60-day mortality was higher in cases of COVID-19 than H1N1 pneumonia. This difference in mortality was not significant after multivariable adjustment; older age and longer hospital length of stay before ECMO emerged as important covariates that could explain the observed difference. Trial registration number: NCT05080933, retrospectively registered. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-022-03906-4

The polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor NMS-P937 is effective in a new model of disseminated primary CD56+ acute monoblastic leukaemia

CD56 is expressed in 15–20% of acute myeloid leukaemias (AML) and is associated with extramedullary diffusion, multidrug resistance and poor prognosis. We describe the establishment and characterisation of a novel disseminated model of AML (AML-NS8), generated by injection into mice of leukaemic blasts freshly isolated from a patient with an aggressive CD56+ monoblastic AML (M5a). The model reproduced typical manifestations of this leukaemia, including presence of extramedullary masses and central nervous system involvement, and the original phenotype, karyotype and genotype of leukaemic cells were retained in vivo. Recently Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) has emerged as a new candidate drug target in AML. We therefore tested our PLK1 inhibitor NMS-P937 in this model either in the engraftment or in the established disease settings. Both schedules showed good efficacy compared to standard therapies, with a significant increase in median survival time (MST) expecially in the established disease setting (MST = 28, 36, 62 days for vehicle, cytarabine and NMS-P937, respectively). Importantly, we could also demonstrate that NMS-P937 induced specific biomarker modulation in extramedullary tissues. This new in vivo model of CD56+ AML that recapitulates the human tumour lends support for the therapeutic use of PLK1 inhibitors in AML