A Case Study for Sensitivity-Based Building Energy Optimization

Building design optimization process is associated with uncertainties due to climate change, unpredictable occupant behavior, and physical degradation of building material over time. The inherent uncertainties in the design process reduce the reliability and robustness of the optim3l design solution(s) and affect design decision-making results. This research studies the capabilities of parametric design tools in adopting probabilistic methods to handle uncertainties in building performance optimization. Variance-based methods, e.g., Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses are implemented to identify the most critical parameters in design optimization problems and improve the efficiency of design optimization. The optimal solutions achieved with variance-based methods are satisfying the design objectives more efficiently, also remain robust to changes and uncertainties

UNCERTAINTY AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS USING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (An Energy Analysis Test Case)

Building design decision-making is associated with uncertainties due to variations over time and unpredictable parameters. There is a growing demand for probabilistic methods, i.e., uncertainty and sensitivity analyses to handle the uncertainties in building design. This research intends to encourage the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for addressing design uncertainties affecting building energy performance. The mapping between BIM (Revit and Dynamo) and a customized model-based energy analysis tool in Excel is investigated to translate architectural models to energy models and conduct the probabilistic analyses. The application of this method is demonstrated with a test case of a hypothetical residential unit in College Station, Texas, USA. Input variables in this example are the thermal properties of building elements, and the two simulation outputs are annual heating and cooling energy consumption, and deviation from comfort temperature. The results indicate the probability distribution of simulation outputs and the importance factor of each design input. This method deals with uncertainties and provides a more reliable and robust basis for design decision-making

UNCERTAINTY AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS USING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (An Energy Analysis Test Case)

Building design decision-making is associated with uncertainties due to variations over time and unpredictable parameters. There is a growing demand for probabilistic methods, i.e., uncertainty and sensitivity analyses to handle the uncertainties in building design. This research intends to encourage the application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for addressing design uncertainties affecting building energy performance. The mapping between BIM (Revit and Dynamo) and a customized model-based energy analysis tool in Excel is investigated to translate architectural models to energy models and conduct the probabilistic analyses. The application of this method is demonstrated with a test case of a hypothetical residential unit in College Station, Texas, USA. Input variables in this example are the thermal properties of building elements, and the two simulation outputs are annual heating and cooling energy consumption, and deviation from comfort temperature. The results indicate the probability distribution of simulation outputs and the importance factor of each design input. This method deals with uncertainties and provides a more reliable and robust basis for design decision-making

Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) in Prediction of Computed Tomography Findings in Traumatic Brain Injury; a Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) is one of the promising candidates, with an acceptable diagnostic value for predicting head computed tomography (CT) scan findings. However, there has been a controversy between studies and still, there is no general overview on this. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis attempted to estimate the value of UCH-L1 in predicting intracranial lesions in traumatic brain injury.Methods: Two independent reviewers screened records from the search of four databases Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. The data were analyzed in the STATA 14.0 statistical program and the findings were reported as a standardized mean difference (SMD), summary receiver performance characteristics curve (SROC), sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Results: Finally, the data of 13 articles were entered into the meta-analysis. The mean serum level of UCH-L1 was significantly higher in patients with CT-positive than in TBI patients with CT negative (SMD = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.23, I2 = 98.1%; p <0.0001). The area under the SROC curve for UCH-L1 in the prediction of intracranial lesions after mild TBI was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.86). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio of serum UCH-L1 was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92 to 0.99), 0.40 (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.51) and 19.37 (95% CI: 7.25 to 51.75), respectively. When the analysis was limited to assessing the serum level of UCH-L1 within the first 6 hours after mild TBI, its sensitivity and specificity increased to 0.99 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.0) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.052), respectively. In addition, the diagnostic odds ratio of 6-hour serum level of UCH-L1 in the prediction of intracranial lesions was 680.87 (95% CI: 50.50 to 9197.97).Conclusion: Moderate level of evidence suggests that serum/plasma levels of UCH-L1 have good value in prediction of head CT findings. It was also found that evaluation of serum/plasma level of UCH-L1 within the first 6 hours following TBI would increase its predictive value. However, there is a controversy about the best cutoffs of the UCH-L1

Towards the Application of Uncertainty Analysis in Architectural Design Decision-Making

To this day, proper handling of uncertainties -including unknown variables in primary stages of a design, an actual climate data, occupants` behavior, and degradation of material properties over the time- remains as a primary challenge in an architectural design decision-making process. For many years, conventional methods based on the architects' intuition have been used as a standard approach dealing with uncertainties and estimating the resulting errors. However, with buildings reaching great complexity in both their design and material selections, conventional approaches come short to account for ever-existing but unpredictable uncertainties and prove incapable of meeting the growing demand for precise and reliable predictions. This study aims to develop a probability-based framework and associated prototypes to employ uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis in architectural design decision-making. The current research explores an advanced physical model for thermal energy exchange characteristics of a hypothetical building and uses it as a test case to demonstrate the proposed probability-based analysis framework. The proposed framework provides a means to employ uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to improve reliability and effectiveness in a buildings design decision-making process

Expression of CD34 and CD31 in Central and Peripheral Giant Cell Granulomas

Statement of the Problem: There are some differences between clinical features of central giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) and peripheral giant cell granulomas (CGCGs) despite their same microscopic features. The possible role of angiogenesis in this issue is still a matter of debate. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to compare microvessel density (MVD) between CGCGs and PGCGs of the oral cavity using CD31 and CD34. Materials and Method: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 18 PGCGs and 19 CGCGs using a monoclonal antibody against CD34 and CD31. MVD was assessed and compared between the lesions using t-test for statistical analysis. p< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The expression levels of both CD34 and CD31 were significantly higher in CGCGs compared to PGCGs (p< 0.002 and p< 0.001, respectively). Significant differences in MVD assessed by both markers were observed between males and females in PGCGs (p< 0.05), but not CGCGs (p< 0.2). Conclusion: The combined evaluation of old- and newly-formed vessels by pan-endothelial cell markers showed differences between CGCGs and PGCGs, supporting the possible vascular-proliferative nature of the former. Whether this difference has a part in their diverse biologic behaviors and the role which pre-existent vessels play in comparison to neo-formed vasculature, requires further investigation

Ethnobotanical and ethnoecological study of the most important edible, medicinal and industrial species in the grasslands of Khalil Abad region, Zarrin Dasht, Fars province, Iran

It is vital to record and preserve indigenous knowledge on plants to prevent loss of this valuable information. The indigenous knowledge about herbal drugs can provide us with useful information, such as their phytotherapeutic activities for the treatment of various diseases. This study investigated the indigenous knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of human diseases and disorders in Khalil Abad region, Zarrin Dasht County, Fars province (Iran) from January to May 2017. Questionnaires were distributed among the subjects and traditional herbal information were recorded. The medicinal plants in this region are predominantly bush, including Zataria multiflora Boiss, Peganum harmala L., Alhagi persarum Boiss. & Buhse and Astragalus sp. The results of this study indicate that the residents of Khalil Abad village use various medicinal plants for nutritional and medicinal purposes. This is the first report of the ethnobotany of the region and the medicinal plants of indigenous knowledge of this region could be used as a source for new drugs

Biclustering Algorithm for Embryonic Tumor Gene Expression Dataset: LAS Algorithm

An important step in considering of gene expression data is obtained groups of genes that have similarity patterns. Biclustering methods was recently introduced for discovering subsets of genes that have coherent values across a subset of conditions. The LAS algorithm relies on a heuristic randomized search to find biclusters. In this paper, we introduce biclustering LAS algorithm and then apply this procedure for real value gene expression data. In this study after normalized data, LAS performed. 31 biclusters were  discovered that 26 of them were for positive gene expression values and others were for negative. Biological validity for LAS procedure in biological process, in molecular function and in cellular component were 77.96% , 62.28% and 74.39% respictively. The result of biological validation of LAS algorithm in this study had shown LAS algorithm effectively convenient in discovering good biclusters

The most important medicinal plants affecting the brain and nerves: An overview on Iranian ethnobotanical sources

Medicinal plants have been used traditionally to treat neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to report the medicinal plants used to treat these disorders in ethnobotanical resources of Iran. Traditional remedial information of this study was obtained by searching common key words such as neurological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, mental illness, and medicinal plants in scientific databases including ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Islamic World Science Citation Database (ISC), Magiran and Scientific Information Database (SID) of Iran. Several medicinal plants up to 71 species are used as effective remedies on neurological disorders in different cities, regions and provinces of Iran such as Arasbaran, Jandagh, Khuzestan, Sirjan, Sistan, north of Iran, Mobarakeh, Marivan, Kashan, West Azarbaijan, Ilam. Medicinal plants show their therapeutic effects due to the presence of antioxidants, flavonoids, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins activities and so on

Identification of medicinal plants effective on sinusitis native to Shiraz province in Iran

Sinusitis is one of the most infectious diseases that affect holes around the nose such as frontal ethmoid sinuses, maxillary and sphenoid. Symptoms usually include nasal congestion and obstruction, feeling of pressure or fullness in the face, anterior or posterior nasal causing discharge, headaches, fever, swelling and erythema in forehead or cheek and cough. The symptoms might be edema and mucosal congestion, nasal drainage, posterior nasal discharge, nasal septum deviation and polyps. The medicinal plants identified for instance are Amygdalus scoparia Spach, Echinophora platyloba DC., Haplophyllum perforatum L, Lavandula stoechas L, Borago officinalis, Matricaria recutita, Descurainia Sophia (L.) Schr and Haplophyllum perforatum L to treat sinusitis in Shiraz. Many of these plants have antioxidant activity and contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, tannins and many other pharmaceutical bioactive ingredients that have effects on sinusitis. This paper aims to review the recently published papers in this topic