Teaching building performance simulation: ever done an autopsy?

In previous papers we have presented a continuous learning cycle that includes exposure to theories and the application of tools from the start for effectively teaching BPS and we have described the course we have developed based upon this cycle. The important role played by the simulation autopsy in this cycle is the focus of the current paper. This is accomplished by examining the teaching methods we use for 2 of our course’s 15 topics: determining the distribution of solar heat gains to internal building surfaces, and predicting solar irradiance on external building surfaces

Teaching building performance simulation through a continuous learning cycle

During the past decades building performance simulation tools have become complex. Alternate methods are offered for resolving many of the significant heat and mass transfer processes and energy conversion systems. At the same time, modern user interfaces allow users to quickly ascend the learning curve to operate tools in order to produce simulation predictions, although the prediction of accurate results is perhaps becoming more challenging. This paper argues that a complete and continuous learning cycle that includes exposure to theories and the application of tools from the start can be used to effectively teach building performance simulation. Examples of the application of the various stages of this learning cycle are provided and recommendations are made for the further development of pedagogical methods

Developing and testing a new course for teaching the fundamentals of building performance simulation

During the past decades building performance simulation (BPS) tools have become complex. Alternate methods are offered for resolving many of the significant heat and mass transfer processes and energy conversion systems. At the same time, modern user interfaces allow users to quickly ascend the learning curve to operate tools in order to produce simulation predictions, although the prediction of accurate results is perhaps becoming more challenging. In a previous paper we proposed a continuous learning cycle that includes exposure to theories and the application of tools from the start for effectively teaching BPS. This involves having the students actively experiment with BPS tools to support the theoretical study of modelling and simulation theory. This paper presents the pedagogical basis, the intended learning objectives, and the procedure for such a course. This contains a series of simulation exercises we have developed for supporting the teaching of models for simulating heat and mass transfer processes and convective heat transfer pertinent to the indoor environment. It also presents the feedback provided by the first two groups of students that have piloted these exercises

A systematic review of digital interventions for improving the diet and physical activity behaviors of adolescents

Many adolescents have poor diet and physical activity behaviors, which can lead to the development of noncommunicable diseases in later life. Digital platforms offer inexpensive means of delivering health interventions, but little is known about their effectiveness. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions to improve diet quality and increase physical activity in adolescents, to effective intervention components and to assess the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Following a systematic search, abstracts were assessed against inclusion criteria, and data extraction and quality assessment were performed for included studies. Data were analyzed to identify key features that are associated with significant improvement in behavior. A total of 27 studies met inclusion criteria. Most (n = 15) were Web site interventions. Other delivery methods were text messages, games, multicomponent interventions, emails, and social media. Significant behavior change was often seen when interventions included education, goal setting, self-monitoring, and parental involvement. None of the publications reported cost-effectiveness. Due to heterogeneity of studies, meta-analysis was not feasible.It is possible to effect significant health behavior change in adolescents through digital interventions that incorporate education, goal setting, self-monitoring, and parental involvement. Most of the evidence relates to Web sites and further research into alternate media is needed, and longer term outcomes should be evaluated. There is a paucity of data on the cost-effectiveness of digital health interventions, and future trials should report these data

Reproducibility of deep learning in digital pathology whole slide image analysis

Funding: This work is supported by the Industrial Centre for AI Research in digital Diagnostics (iCAIRD) which is funded by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) [project number: 104690], and in part by Chief Scientist Office, Scotland.For a method to be widely adopted in medical research or clinical practice, it needs to be reproducible so that clinicians and regulators can have confidence in its use. Machine learning and deep learning have a particular set of challenges around reproducibility. Small differences in the settings or the data used for training a model can lead to large differences in the outcomes of experiments. In this work, three top-performing algorithms from the Camelyon grand challenges are reproduced using only information presented in the associated papers and the results are then compared to those reported. Seemingly minor details were found to be critical to performance and yet their importance is difficult to appreciate until the actual reproduction is attempted. We observed that authors generally describe the key technical aspects of their models well but fail to maintain the same reporting standards when it comes to data preprocessing which is essential to reproducibility. As an important contribution of the present study and its findings, we introduce a reproducibility checklist that tabulates information that needs to be reported in histopathology ML-based work in order to make it reproducible.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Smartphone-Based Paper Microfluidic Particulometry of Norovirus from Environmental Water Samples at the Single Copy Level

Human enteric viruses can be highly infectious and thus capable of causing disease upon ingestion of low doses ranging from 10(0) to 10(2) virions. Norovirus is a good example with a minimum infectious dose as low as a few tens of virions, that is, below femtogram scale. Norovirus detection from commonly implicated environmental matrices (water and food) involves complicated concentration of viruses and/or amplification of the norovirus genome, thus rendering detection approaches not feasible for field applications. In this work, norovirus detection was performed on a microfluidic paper analytic device without using any sample concentration or nucleic acid amplification steps by directly imaging and counting on-paper aggregation of antibody-conjugated, fluorescent submicron particles. An in-house developed smartphone-based fluorescence microscope and an image-processing algorithm isolated the particles aggregated by antibody-antigen binding, leading to an extremely low limit of norovirus detection, as low as 1 genome copy/mu L in deionized water and 10 genome copies/mu L in reclaimed wastewater.University of Arizona National Science Foundation Water and Environmental Technology (WET) Center [IIP-1361815]; Tucson WaterOpen access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Hydrophobic Mycobacterial Antigens Elicit Polyfunctional T Cells in Mycobacterium bovis Immunized Cattle:Association With Protection Against Challenge?

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a chronic disease of cattle with a detrimental impact on food quality and production. Research on bTB vaccines has predominantly been focused on proteinaceous antigens. However, mycobacteria have a thick and intricate lipid outer layer and lipids as well as lipopeptides are important for immune-evasion and virulence. In humans, lipid extracts of M. tuberculosis have been shown to elicit immune responses effective against M. tuberculosisin vitro. Chloroform-methanol extraction (CME) was applied to M. bovis BCG to obtain a hydrophobic antigen extract (CMEbcg) containing lipids and lipopeptides. CMEbcg stimulated IFN-γ+IL-2+ and IL-17A+IL-22+ polyfunctional T cells and elicited T cell responses with a Th1 and Th17 cytokine release profile in both M. bovis BCG vaccinated and M. bovis challenged calves. Lipopeptides were shown to be the immunodominant antigens in CMEbcg, stimulating CD4 T cells via MHC class II. CMEbcg expanded T cells killed CMEbcg loaded monocytes and the CMEbcg-specific CD3 T cell proliferative response following M. bovis BCG vaccination was the best predictor for reduced pathology following challenge with M. bovis. Although the high predictive value of CMEbcg-specific immune responses does not confirm a causal relationship with protection against M. bovis challenge, when taking into account the in vitro antimycobacterial phenotype of CMEbcg-specific T cells (e.g. Th1/Th17 cytokine profile), it is indicative that CMEbcg-specific immune responses could play a functional role in immunity against M. bovis. Based on these findings we conclude that lipopeptides of M. bovis are potential novel subunit vaccine candidates and that further studies into the functional characterization of lipopeptide-specific immune responses together with their role in protection against bovine tuberculosis are warranted