10 research outputs found
Reading the Nieuwe Binnenweg: A section of a city, a street and its social territory
No full textThis project tries to, inspired by the heavily quantified and confined ways of assessing "liveability" in policy documents, come up with a different way of reading the city. In this project, I aimed to explore this reading within the unit of the street, to see how focusing on a single street, a section of the city, could result in valuable broad insight into the neighborhood, the city and beyond. For the reading of this street, a socio-spatial approach was adopted, seeing space as a social product and focusing on how it is perceived and lived by its users in everyday socio-spatial practices. This is researched by walking and talking with ten individuals living and/or working on the this street. From this I tried to read the street through different eyes, the eyes of the people that are in a way experts of the street and see what lessons can be learned from this.Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences | Explorela
Investigation of the Effect of the Green Glaze Layer in the Background of <i>Girl with a Pearl Earring</i> by Johannes Vermeer: An Approach using Optical Properties of Paints and Rendering Technique
No full textA novel combination of analytical techniques for measuring optical properties of glaze and paint as input for computer modelling is used to investigate the influence of the green glaze layer present on top of the black underpainting in the background of Girl with a Pearl Earring. The absorption spectra of paint layers from paint reconstructions and samples of the original painting were determined using micro spectrophotometry. Additionally, Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) measurements were done on paint reconstructions to determine the reflection distribution from multiple illumination and observation angles. Already existing height and layer thickness information was compiled in a digital 3D model of the painting which, in combination with the optical properties, was used as a base for rendering using the Mitsuba render engine. The experimental results clearly show that the green glaze layer under specific angles darkens the appearance of the black paint onto which it is applied. The computer simulation shows promising results for digitally recreating the painting.Materials Science and Engineerin
Predictive modelling of facial features from DNA
No full textBackground: In recent years, attention to the genetic architecture of normal-range variation in facial morphology has risen and through GWAS genetic loci associated with facial morphology have been identified. However these give no insight in how the face is shaped by genetics. To investigate the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype, predictive modelling can be used. Predictive modelling is a term used to describe genetic prediction models: tools that aim to predict a phenotype from the genotype.Objectives: The objective of this project was to investigate the possibility of predictive modelling of facial features from DNA. This method could be used to visualize the variation in facial features caused by the underlying geneticsMethods: In this project the LDAK genetic prediction model was used, this is a software package for phenotype prediction, which uses multilinear regression. Two different datasets were used for this study: Generation R and the Rotterdam Study. Generation R data existed of subjects at the age of nine years old and from the Rotterdam study subjects ≥ 45 years old were included. The datasets were processed individually. From both datasets, phenotype and genotype data was used. The phenotype data consisted of 3D facial meshes that were reduced to 200 endophenotypes with an auto-encoder prior to this study, and genotype data consisted of SNPs acquired using genotyping arrays. The prediction model was trained on 90% of the data, the other 10% was used for testing, where the facial morphology was predicted based on the SNPs. To evaluate the prediction a similarity measure was computed between the predicted faces and the ground truth faces. The similarity measure was computed between each predicted face and all ground truth faces in the test set, thereafter they were ranked in ascending order based on the computed similarity. Next the rank of the true ground truth was determined. Based on the ranking, an accuracy plot was constructed for both datasets and the accuracy ratios (AR) were computed.Results: For the Generation R dataset the AR found was 0.06 for the Generation R dataset and 0.02 for the Rotterdam Study dataset. The results indicate there is some predictive power, however the AR’s are only slightly above the lower bound for presence of predictive performance. Furthermore, there was a difference in the AR for the Generation R and Rotterdam Study dataset, which could be the result of increased environmental component in facial morphology which reduced the genetic predictability. However, currently the predictive power is minimal. This could be caused by several factors, such as the number of subjects and prediction model that is restricted to only linear relationships. Conclusion: The objective of this project was to explore the possibility of predictive modelling of facial features from DNA. It was found that there was some predictive power, however this was very limited. Research on predictive modelling of facial features is still in early stages and further research is required to improve the predictive power.Technical Medicine | Imaging and Interventio
Quantifying the required resources for a central sterile supply department using a decomposition method
No full textOptimizing supply chain management in hospitals can lead to a significant reduction in costs. One of the supply chain processes that can be optimized is the sterilization of reusable instruments used during surgical procedures. This process takes place at the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and consists of two main steps, `washing and disinfection' and `sterilization'. These steps are executed by batch processing machines, with a setup time prior to each step. The setup at each stage is executed manually. The machines of a CSSD are renewed every 10 years, which provides a opportunity to assess all capacity planning decisions. In this thesis, the aim is to determine the required resources of the CSSD, while minimizing the total costs and guarantying the availability of instruments for scheduled surgeries. Costs include: acquiring machines, machine batch costs, machine maintenance costs, and staff costs depending on the number of opening hours. This thesis contributes to current research by proposing a framework for the capacity planning decisions at a CSSD, by extending existing models by taking specific characteristics of the CSSD into account, and considering a new objective function, namely minimizing the total costs. Capacity planning decisions are considered on three hierarchical levels. First, the strategic level involves long-term decisions, where the number and type of required machines have to be determined. Second, on a tactical level, the amount of opening time has to be determined. Third, on an operational level, the instrument sets have to be scheduled within batches and machines. The sterilization process is formulated as a mixed integer linear problem (MILP). The problem is described as a multi-stage hybrid flow shop with additional constraints to represent the specific characteristics of the CSSD. This model takes into account capacity planning decisions on all three levels. The MILP formulation is proven to be NP-hard. The demand for sterilized instruments is determined from historical data from the Leiden University Medical Center. To evaluate the model, three instances with a timespan of a week are created. Preliminary results showed that the multi-stage flow shop is difficult to solve for real-life instances. Hence, a decomposition, based on the three hierarchical levels, is proposed. The decomposition leads to three levels of optimization models. The strategic model takes into account the scheduling of instruments per day, while the tactical model schedules per day parts, and the operational models determine a specific point in time. The proposed models are individually tested on their performance. The results from the strategic model are used as input for the tactical model. Results show that the strategic model underestimated the required amount of opening time, as it does not take into account the spread of release times. Furthermore, the computational results show that the tactical and operational models are difficult to solve for real-life instances. Hence, a heuristic approach is proposed by forming a chain of the models. The best results were obtained by setting a minimum amount of opening time for the strategic model and using the resulting machines as input for the tactical model. The results show that the instrument sets are equally spread over the week. To conclude, the results of this thesis contribute to quantifying the required resources for a sterilization process within a hospital. However, to obtain more practical results, future research is required. Suggestions for future research include: taking uncertainties within the process into account, the application of metaheuristics, and the required number of employees.Applied Mathematic
The rapid rise of social infrastructure:Mapping the concept through a systematic scoping review
Get PDFThe concept of social infrastructure has recently gained much traction in academic, policy, and public discourses. However, it remains unclear what constitutes a social infrastructure and how the concept is applied in academic research. This systematic scoping review therefore synthesizes the various spaces, characteristics, and social functions that define a social infrastructure. A systematic literature search was conducted to identify articles on social infrastructures. In total, 100 articles met the inclusion criteria. From the literature we create a typology of spaces of social infrastructure: public institutions, commerce, recreational facilities, places of worship, transit, digital infrastructures and (groups of) people. We also address the organizational, social, and physical characteristics that affect their functioning. Moreover, we develop an overview of the various social functions that these spaces fulfill. These functions include serving as important sites for sociality, providing essential services, serving as a platform for collective action, functioning as spaces for identification and belonging, and social control. Finally, we consider how social infrastructures function in the context of disaster response. In addressing theoretical, methodological, and empirical gaps, this study ends with a discussion on how the concept of social infrastructure can be a valuable research approach
The Five Functions of Social Infrastructure During a Pandemic
Get PDFEen sociale infrastructuur is het geheel aan organisaties, voorzieningen en plekken in een buurt of wijk die onderlinge contacten en relaties tussen mensen bevorderen en ondersteunen. Het gaat om zowel formele als informele georganiseerde voorzieningen en netwerken die dicht bij burgers staan. Dit kunnen buurthuizen, bibliotheken, scholen, parken en markten zijn, maar ook bewonersorganisaties, online gemeenschappen en burgerinitiatieven. Een sociale infrastructuur helpt om mensen te bereiken, contact met elkaar te hebben, samen te werken en elkaar te helpen. Het is belangrijk voor de gezondheid en het welzijn van bewoners en de kwaliteit van samenleven in een buurt. Het investeren in en onderhouden van een sterke sociale infrastructuur is cruciaal om bewoners en hun gemeenschappen weerbaar te maken en te houden in geval van crises zoals een pandemie
The Five Functions of Social Infrastructure During a Pandemic
Get PDFEen sociale infrastructuur is het geheel aan organisaties, voorzieningen en plekken in een buurt of wijk die onderlinge contacten en relaties tussen mensen bevorderen en ondersteunen. Het gaat om zowel formele als informele georganiseerde voorzieningen en netwerken die dicht bij burgers staan. Dit kunnen buurthuizen, bibliotheken, scholen, parken en markten zijn, maar ook bewonersorganisaties, online gemeenschappen en burgerinitiatieven. Een sociale infrastructuur helpt om mensen te bereiken, contact met elkaar te hebben, samen te werken en elkaar te helpen. Het is belangrijk voor de gezondheid en het welzijn van bewoners en de kwaliteit van samenleven in een buurt. Het investeren in en onderhouden van een sterke sociale infrastructuur is cruciaal om bewoners en hun gemeenschappen weerbaar te maken en te houden in geval van crises zoals een pandemie
Melamine-Based Microporous Organic Framework Thin Films on an Alumina Membrane for High-Flux Organic Solvent Nanofiltration
No full textMicroporous polymer frameworks have attracted considerable attention to make novel separation layers owing to their highly porous structure, high permeability, and excellent molecular separation. This study concerns the fabrication and properties of thin melamine-based microporous polymer networks with a layer thickness of around 400 nm, supported on an α-alumina support and their potential use in organic solvent nanofiltration. The modified membranes show excellent solvent purification performances, such as n-heptane permeability as high as 9.2 L m−2 h−1 bar −1 in combination with a very high rejection of approximately 99 % for organic dyes with molecular weight of ≥457 Da. These values are higher than for the majority of the state-of-the-art membranes. The membranes further exhibit outstanding long-term operation stability. This work significantly expands the possibilities of using ceramic membranes in organic solvent nanofiltration.OLD ChemE/Organic Materials and Interface
Author Correction:Functional connectome differences in individuals with hallucinations across the psychosis continuum (Scientific Reports, (2021), 11, 1, (1108), 10.1038/s41598-020-80657-8)
Get PDFThe Supplementary Information published with this Article contained an error, where an old version of Figure S5 was used. This error has now been corrected in the Supplementary Information file that accompanies the original Article. The corrected Supplementary Information file is also linked to this correction notices.</p
beyond the echo chamber: International Design Seminar 2019
Get PDFINDESEM - International Design Seminar - is a biennial with workshops, lectures and debate founded in 1962 and re-initiated in 1986 by Herman Hertzberger. This publication reviews and reflects on the 2019 edition of the seminar; explorations on the position of the architect in a rapidly developing, (digitally) connected society. Nowadays, the amount of available knowledge to designers is becoming sheer endless. Whether or not willingly, this forces designers, architects and urban planners to take position in a globalised changing world.
By whom or what are you influenced? What is the scope of your work? What message do you want to convey? Who is it precisely you’re designing for? In short, what defines the echo chamber wherein one operates? INDESEM 2019 forms a critical stage to confront students with their respective echo chamber, the extent to which it is perforated or segregated and to (re)define it, based on critical debate.
INDESEM 2019 has been contributed to by:
Winy Maas, Momoyo Kaijima,Laurens Jan ten Kate, Stefan Metaal, Studio Ossidiana, Alun Jones, Kees Kaan, Reinier de Graaf, Donna van Milligen Bielke, ZUS, RAAAF, Ma Yansong, Francine Houben, Eko Prawoto, Federica Sofia Zambeletti, fala atelier, Dick van Gameren, Nelson Mota, Thijs Asselbergs, Salomon Fausto, Mark Pimlott, Machiel van Dorst
