1,720,986 research outputs found
Semantic knowledge in generation of 3D layouts for decision-making
Full text linkGenerative computation has the potential to enhance the accuracy, effectiveness, and creativity of spatial layout in design and planning. The paper proposes a methodology to separate the knowledge about objects, spatial relationships, and constraints from the generative process. The separation between the knowledge in a domain and its possible practical uses is an important achievement of semantic technologies, because it grants access to a large body of knowledge, spanning various aspects and processes across buildings and cities, which is being codified into formal ontologies. The present study has reused existing knowledge from two established ontologies. An illustrative case-project demonstrates the suitability of the methodology for a complex layout planning problem, involving a large number of decision-makers, with multiple competing objectives and criteria. The system implements multidimensional visual interactive tools to assist designers, planners, and decision-makers in exploring the layouts and the criteria, to develop their confidence in what qualifies as a good and effective solution
Financing the (Environmental) quality of cities with energy efficiency investments
Full text linkThe purpose of the paper is to study the financing models in order to drive the large amount of financial resources, already allocated for energy efficiency, to improve the quality of cities. These resources are being deployed worldwide by both public and private financial institutions. Energy efficiency is usually managed at the scale of the buildings, i.e., consumption reduction (heating, lighting, etc.). The study methodology is to review energy-efficiency finance (EEF) models, and assess them using multiple case studies. At the same time, the ownership of cities’ spaces is studied across public-private space management, as an effective methodology to bridge the gap between public and investor finance. The comparative analysis of the case studies suggests a paradigm shift in the definition of energy efficiency, not just in terms of the buildings, but instead also the local urban environment with its feedbacks on the quality of urban living. The practical implications are innovative EEF models, such as those being reviewed, which may be: (1) analytical, to assess the environment at the scale of blocks or neighbourhoods; (2) financial, to fund the specific scale; (3) relating to policy, to support and encourage. In recent years, support for urban regeneration is becoming particularly relevant, given the budget constraints of most public administrations and the conjunctural shortening of private partnerships
On the semiotics of the image and the computer image
No full textHow can we understand the word "image"? There are many possible definitions but here, not merely for the sake of convenience, we will use the most generally accepted definition: the image is the planar space- place of signification.
The object of our analysis will, therefore, be a visual plane, or plane of expression, made manifest through a medium, in relation to a second plane, the plane of content. By expression plane, we mean the occurrences, on the plane of manifestation, offered by a specific medium. These occurrences establish reciprocal relations of difference and correlation, which can be combined into systems of relations, in other words, into structures.
The identification of meaning derives less from the recognition of a discrete number of signifying units than from a preliminary perception of differences, oppositions, and correlations (Greimas 1991: 37-38) which give rise to signification.
Turning the attention to interpretation, we know that this is not a static activity which can be defined unequivocally and which is based on the identification and description of a predetermined number of correlations between expression and content.
For this reason, we can use the term narrative structure to refer to the meaning process which emerges, generated from forms — both in the plane of expression and the plane of content, in correlation — recognized as possibility. The production of a narrative structure derives, in the final analysis, from the dynamism of the relations to be established. At this point, we must distinguish, above all, between narrative structure in a static image (paintings, drawings, and photographs) and in a dynamic image (video, cinema, television, and computer graphics).
The paper addresses the veridiction process of the image and what might be the features of an image that trigger the mechanisms of veridiction. By veridiction we mean a representation that the image projects outwards "that tends towards a certain reality, or rather, a certain concept of reality" (Greimas 1985: 101)
In vivo PC3 overexpression by retroviral vector affects cell differentiation of rat cortical precursors
No full textThe PC3 gene is a marker of dividing neuroepithelial (NE) cells. We transduced single cortical precursors of the ventricular zone (VZ) with a PC3-carrying retroviral vector at E16 stage, and analysed the effects of transgene expression on their progeny in 3-week-old animals. Unlike control-transduced cells, all viable PC3-transduced cells remained close to the ventricle and displayed a round-shaped, undifferentiated morphology
In vivo PC3 overexpression by retroviral vector affects cell differentiation of rat cortical precursors.
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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Set-up and validation of numerical modeling techniques to simulate the cold roll forming of martensitic and high strength steel
No full textRoll forming is a material processing technology widely used in industry, especially within the automotive production. Resorting to some new materials promotes the innovation in processing techniques to increase product quality. Therefore, a precise prediction of process outcomes is required. Despite the progress in rolling mill design, a practical modeling approach to investigate shape and geometry of rolled product has been not yet assessed. The highly nonlinear behavior of material motivates setting up either time-consuming numerical analyses or some simplified approaches, still looking poorly reliable. In this paper, a numerical modeling technique aimed at predicting the properties of rolled product more than mill behavior has been conceived and tested to allow manufacturer performing a preliminary calibration of product line. Particularly, a real industrial case has been analyzed by focusing on three roll forming lines, with “U,” “W,” and “HAT” cross-section, respectively. The first two shapes have been exploited to experimentally validate the numerical model. The “U” line validation performed on the folded edges distance showed a relative systematic deviation of 1.44% and a dispersion of the relative error of ±0.56%. For the “W” line, the validation performed on crucial lengths and angles of the cross-section exhibited an average relative error of 0.13% and -0.02%, respectively. The validated numerical approach has been exploited to predict the mill performance in manufacturing the “HAT” profile, still under development. This activity aimed at providing the designer a tool to predict the process performance and assessing the system layout
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