Search

Background and objectives: Forest environments provide various healing benefits for humans and have been widely studied. Nevertheless, the field of forest management for forest healing remains relatively understudied. The purpose of this study is to utilize thermal environmental simulation to derive forest management scenarios that are optimized for forest healing. Methods: This study focused on the Seogwipo Experimental Forest on Jeju Island, Korea. Three-dimensional forest models were generated based on field surveys. Thermal environment simulations were conducted using Grasshopper with the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins, and the thermal comfort levels of six forest management scenarios were evaluated using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results: The simulation results showed that, among all the scenarios, only scenario (c), "10% thinning in the buffer zone", led to an improvement in thermal comfort. Additionally, the study identified discrepancies in thermal comfort between different forest management scenarios. Conclusions: In the management of forests for healing forestry purposes, the distinction of forest zones by use and the application of different forest management scenarios have thermal comfort implications. Thus, the methodology could be employed in forest management for forest healing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the application of procedural design methods in urban morphology, drawing inspiration from the innovative work of the Architectural Workshop of Miskolc in Hungary during the late 20th century. This study presents a generative approach termed "Simulated Morphogenesis" (or the "Miskolc Method"), which models organic city growth by analysing historical urban tissues and applying recursive algorithms to simulate natural urban development. The method leverages advanced generative tools, such as Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, to model the step-by-step growth of Central European cities, with a particular focus on Miskolc. By incorporating controlled randomness into the algorithmic processes, the method captures the complexity of organic urban growth while maintaining structured development. The Miskolc Method emphasizes the importance of continuity and context, allowing for the "healing" of urban fabric discontinuities or the generation of new urban structures. This article demonstrates how this approach, while rooted in geometrical analysis, offers a valuable foundation for preliminary urban planning. The findings are relevant for understanding the morphogenesis of cities and provide a flexible framework applicable to various urban contexts globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the effect of Mimosa invisa L. weed extract application and a low dose of NPK fertilizer on the intensity of pest attack and pathogen infection on upland rice. This research has been done using Split Plot Design with 3 replications. The main plot was the dose of NPK fertilizer (50% and 100% NPK). The subplot was the concentration of weed extract (0, 1.25, 1.67, 2.5, and 5% concentrations). The variables observed include the intensity of grasshopper and case worm attack, Cercospora sp. that causes brown spots, and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae that causes bacterial leaf blight. The results showed that the application of weed extract under a low dose (50% NPK) has not been able to suppress the intensity of grasshopper and case worm attacks, and the intensity of the pathogen causes brown spots and bacterial leaf blight. However, 2,5% and 5% concentrations of weed extract can potentially suppress pathogen infection that causes brown spots on upland rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions have been promoted as an effective strategy to address climate impacts, including urban temperature reduction. In this paper, we analyze the impacts of the introduction of street trees on temperature (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI) for three different dates, 2000, 2023, and 2050. A 3D model was developed in Rhinoceros software for a part of George Town, on Penang Island. Four different sections of streets were simulated after integration of the model with the Grasshopper plug-in, where a parametric system was built for temperature measurements based on simulations in the Ladybug and Honeybee plug-ins. The tree species used were selected from a pool of tree species commonly planted in urban settings in Malaysia that have low and medium sensitivity to climate impacts. The results show a maximum reduction of 7 °C between 2000 and 2050, achieved on a street with an NW–SE orientation that was planted with three rows of trees. The minimum UTCI reduction achieved was 3 °C, between 2023 and 2050, in a street with NW–SE orientation that was planted with one tree row. The two streets with a SW–NE orientation showed a 5 °C temperature reduction between 2023 and 2050. Both streets have only one row of trees but different species and sizes, with the bigger trees reducing the temperature in a slightly larger area. The results show the importance of introducing and safeguarding street trees to reduce urban temperatures in the country, potentially keeping temperatures below life-threatening levels, thereby safeguarding urban health, while also reducing costs of energy consumption. Solar orientation, the number of tree rows, and their distribution impact the outcomes. The findings provide useful guidance for climate-conscious urban planning practices in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the application of procedural design methods in urban morphology, drawing inspiration from the innovative work of the Architectural Workshop of Miskolc in Hungary during the late 20th century. This study presents a generative approach termed “Simulated Morphogenesis” (or the “Miskolc Method”), which models organic city growth by analysing historical urban tissues and applying recursive algorithms to simulate natural urban development. The method leverages advanced generative tools, such as Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, to model the step-by-step growth of Central European cities, with a particular focus on Miskolc. By incorporating controlled randomness into the algorithmic processes, the method captures the complexity of organic urban growth while maintaining structured development. The Miskolc Method emphasizes the importance of continuity and context, allowing for the “healing” of urban fabric discontinuities or the generation of new urban structures. This article demonstrates how this approach, while rooted in geometrical analysis, offers a valuable foundation for preliminary urban planning. The findings are relevant for understanding the morphogenesis of cities and provide a flexible framework applicable to various urban contexts globally.

The Italian industrial sector contains 22% of the final energy demand due to the poor energy performance of manufacturing buildings. This proposed study aimed to evaluate retrofit interventions for existing industrial buildings integrating photovoltaic solutions into the external envelope to improve both the environmental sustainability and the facade performance. The methodology is based on an innovative procedure including BIM and generative design tools. Starting from the Revit model of a representative case study, interoperability with energy analysis plugins via Grasshopper were exploited to optimize the differently oriented facade layout of photovoltaic modules to maximize the electricity production. In the case of comparable facade sizes, the building orientation had a minor impact on the results, although a southern exposure was preferable. The optimized configuration involved the installation of PV panels with a tilt angle ranging from −35° to −75°. The best compromise solution between the panel surface area and energy production during the summer solstice involves 466 m2 of PV modules. The design-optioneering approach was used to define possible alternatives to be explored for the possible installation of solar shading systems on existing windows. In this case, the impact on visual comfort within the working environment was chosen as a reference parameter, along with the value of the indoor air temperature. A decrease in this parameter equal to 0.46 was registered for the solution with horizontal (or nearly horizontal) shaders and a spacing ranging between 0.2 and 0.4. The integration of the BIM environment with generative design tools effectively assists decision-making processes for the selection of technological solutions in the building sector.

For wide flange box sections, conventional Euler–Bernoulli beam theory with maintaining the cross-section planarity may lead to underestimation of axial stresses. Axial stresses in cross-section flanges may have a non-uniform distribution due to shear pliability, decreasing in value from the flange–web junction to the middle area of the flange. This phenomenon leads to the introduction of an effective flange width with a uniform distribution of original maximum stress. Furthermore, the introduction of flange curvature makes it even more complex due to the varying lever arm of each flange part with respect to the neutral bending axis. Because of this, in some cases, it is hard to predict where the flange's highest normal stress value will appear. In this paper, the shear lag effect on wide curved box sections is analyzed through parametric numerical analysis using the FEA software Dlubal RFEM 5, together with visual programming performed in Rhino Grasshopper. This study investigates the interaction of the shear lag effect and plane section hypothesis, which can be simplistically represented as a reduction in the impact of shear lag and the activation of a larger part of the flange of a wide-flange beam in the structural system of a continuous beam. The results suggest that for higher flange curvature and higher width to length ratio, this effect is more prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis species complex is distributed across arid and semi-arid environments from North to South America, reaching high altitudes along the Andes Mountain range. Currently, there are four valid species of Trimerotropis in South America. However, some species were found to comprise several genetic lineages. Here, we describe the genetic structure, lineage diversification, and environmental requirements within the Trimerotropis species complex in South America based on sequences from the mitochondrial COI gene, 4048 single nucleotide polymorphisms, and ecological niche modelling. The analyses revealed the existence of at least five lineages: two with a restricted geographical distribution and three with a very wide one. The results provide evidence that glacial cycles promoted not only the presence of refuge areas but also the isolation of widely distributed lineages on the eastern and western sides of the southern Andes, potentially driving the emergence of the Trimerotropis sp. lineage, which can tolerate more temperate habitats. Our results provide evidence for the effects of Pleistocene climatic changes on the diversification history of a South American grasshopper species complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian industrial sector contains 22% of the final energy demand due to the poor energy performance of manufacturing buildings. This proposed study aimed to evaluate retrofit interventions for existing industrial buildings integrating photovoltaic solutions into the external envelope to improve both the environmental sustainability and the facade performance. The methodology is based on an innovative procedure including BIM and generative design tools. Starting from the Revit model of a representative case study, interoperability with energy analysis plugins via Grasshopper were exploited to optimize the differently oriented facade layout of photovoltaic modules to maximize the electricity production. In the case of comparable facade sizes, the building orientation had a minor impact on the results, although a southern exposure was preferable. The optimized configuration involved the installation of PV panels with a tilt angle ranging from −35° to −75°. The best compromise solution between the panel surface area and energy production during the summer solstice involves 466 m2 of PV modules. The design-optioneering approach was used to define possible alternatives to be explored for the possible installation of solar shading systems on existing windows. In this case, the impact on visual comfort within the working environment was chosen as a reference parameter, along with the value of the indoor air temperature. A decrease in this parameter equal to 0.46 was registered for the solution with horizontal (or nearly horizontal) shaders and a spacing ranging between 0.2 and 0.4. The integration of the BIM environment with generative design tools effectively assists decision-making processes for the selection of technological solutions in the building sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atrium, as the core space of modern university libraries, is crucial for providing ample natural lighting and creating a comfortable spatial experience. It is also key to achieving the building's green and low-carbon goals. However, designing the atrium of a university library faces a significant challenge: finding the right balance between ensuring good natural lighting and effectively reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioning system. This study aims to explore this balance and provide architects with various feasible design schemes. Firstly, a parametric typical model of the atrium space was established by researching 36 university libraries. Based on the Grasshopper platform in Rhino, the typical model was simulated for natural lighting and energy consumption, and the Wallacei plugin was used to couple the optimization parameters of the typical model with the optimization target parameters. The multi-objective optimization experiment of the typical model was carried out with the objectives of maximizing spatial daylight autonomy and the percentage of useful daylight illuminance, as well as minimizing air conditioning energy consumption. The experiment generated 2000 optimization solutions, and the analysis of the historical solution set revealed the complex non-linear relationship between optimization parameters and performance indicators. Moreover, three Pareto optimal solutions were selected as representative design schemes, providing valuable references for architects when designing the spatial form of the atrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the planning of a bridge in central Germany. Scheduled for construction in mid‐2024, this new bridge is a replacement for a century‐old pedestrian bridge crossing the Lahn river. The proposed bridge will be an airtight‐welded arch bridge, employing steel cross‐sections in both the arch and tension member. Designed as a single‐span, the arches extend 48.0m over the Lahn. The two arches have a flat rise of 4.65m, supporting the roadway through 9 inclined flat steel hangers. This paper delves into the structural engineering aspects, exploring challenges inherent in the design process. An examination of the parametric design process, facilitated through 3‐D modeling in Rhino® and Grasshopper®, will be presented, along with insights into their interface with the finite element modeling software, RFEM®. This process enables an engineering approach to form‐finding and structure optimisation through iterative design checks for various elements and stages of the structural analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the potential ecological and economic impacts of invasive species, there is a dearth of data on the presence, impacts, and management implications of potentially invasive Orthoptera species. This lack of research and inconsistent data, including risk screenings and impact assessments, is especially evident in Europe. Consequently, assessing the status, distribution, and potential threats of nonnative Orthoptera in Europe remains challenging, impeding the development of effective management strategies. To address this gap, we call for increased efforts to collect and curate data on non‐native and possibly invasive Orthoptera in Europe. Such efforts will improve our understanding of this order's invasion dynamics, facilitate the identification of priority areas for conservation, and support the development of effective management policies and preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is in the preliminary design phase of a project that the designer makes decisions concerning the global geometry of the structure. When working with space frames, the choice of the frame topology is key for the structural behavior. It is difficult to find manuals that provide guidance on which of the most common topologies is the right one for the project, let alone in wood construction. In response to this shortcoming, the use of parametric software is proposed (Grasshopper build1.0.0007 and Karamba 3D 2.2.0.16-220828). The aim is to create a dynamic catalog that responds instantaneously to changes in the parameters to provide information on structural behavior, pre-dimensioning and metrics. With the display of all this information, the architect will have enough technical argumentation to choose or reject options. The proposal is developed through a case study: the early design and analysis stages of flat double-layer timber spatial frames as for rectangular medium-span roofs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewilding aims to restore 'self-willed' ecosystems involving the creation of habitats subject to stochastic disturbance connected by favorable corridors for dispersal of animals, including insects. Reversion of arable land to grassland and scrub habitats adjacent to Arger Fen nature reserve in Suffolk (southeast England) through non-intervention allowed succession to occur largely unmanaged on fields with differing topography, from flat terrain to slopes. Monitoring of Orthoptera revealed statistical evidence that species diversity and richness was greater on the steeper slopes (gradient > 10%), while species varied in their topographic preferences from flat terrain (e.g., long-winged conehead Conocephalus fuscus Fabricius, 1793) to slopes (e.g., field grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus Thunberg, 1815). Lagomorph grazing by the wild brown hare Lepus europaeus (Pallas, 1778) and the rabbit Oryctoloagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) appeared to be critical in maintaining exposed soil for hillside species such as C. brunneus, which may require the egg-laying and basking habitat. A mosaic of scrub and grassland on a wooded hillside affected by ash dieback Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Baral et al. 2014) was also important for Orthoptera. We postulate that rewilding schemes on arable land may be particularly effective when there are topographic undulations incorporating flat and hillside areas to promote the greatest diversity of Orthoptera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In China, Oedaleus decorus asiaticus is a typical pest that poses a serious threat to Inner Mongolian grasslands. However, the large-scale monitoring and control of grasshopper is still a priority that needs to be improved, so it is particularly important to identify environmental factors that influence locust breeding and growth to reveal the role of environmental factors in the occurrence of the dominant species Oedaleus decorus asiaticus in Inner Mongolia, and to study the potential spatial distribution of Oedaleus decorus asiaticus in typical grasslands. We matched the Maxent model with remote sensing, meteorological, and geographical data to identify environmental factors associated with Oedaleus decorus asiaticus occurrence and to identify possible grasshopper habitats. These efforts could effectively reduce the cost and time investment in grasshopper management. Grasshoppers pose a significant threat to both natural grassland vegetation and crops. Therefore, comprehending the relationship between environmental factors and grasshopper occurrence is of paramount importance. This study integrated machine learning models (Maxent) using the kuenm package to screen MaxEnt models for grasshopper species selection, while simultaneously fitting remote sensing data of major grasshopper breeding areas in Inner Mongolia, China. It investigated the spatial distribution and key factors influencing the occurrence of typical grasshopper species in grassland ecosystems. The modelling results indicate that a typical steppe has a larger suitable area. The soil type, above biomass, altitude, and temperature, predominantly determine the grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. This study explicitly delineates the disparate impacts of key environmental factors (meteorology, vegetation, soil, and topography) on grasshopper occurrence in typical steppes. Furthermore, it provides a methodology to guide early warning and precautions for grasshopper pest prevention. The findings of this study will be instrumental in formulating future management measures to guarantee grass ecological environment security and the sustainable development of grassland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism is known to affect the behavior of host species to enhance parasite dispersal and transmission. However, host behavioral responses to parasitism unrelated to parasite dispersal and transmission have been much less studied. The objective of this study was to determine whether grasshopper hosts infected and uninfected with a parasitic fly (Blaesoxipha sp.) differ in terms of the nutrient content of the diet they consume. We investigated the dietary preferences of two grasshopper species (i.e. Asulconotus chinghaiensis and Chorthippus fallax) in terms of the C/N composition of plant species consumed, and determined whether this affected the egg production of unparasitized and parasitized grasshoppers by flies in a Tibetan alpine meadow. The composition of plants consumed differed significantly between the unparasitized and parasitized grasshoppers. Specifically, the abundance of N‐rich legumes was lower and that of high C/N grasses was higher in the diet of the parasitized compared to the unparasitized grasshoppers. Diet N content was higher and C/N was lower in the diet of unparasitized grasshoppers, and parasitized females produced fewer eggs than their unparasitized conspecifics. Future enquiries are needed to understand the specific mechanisms underlying these dietary differences. The effects of parasites on the fitness–associated behavior of hosts should be studied more broadly to better understand parasite evolution and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many mammals, grasshoppers (infraorder Acrididea) chew using molariform structures. Despite decades of research on mammals, little is known about grasshopper molar form and how it relates to grasshopper feeding biomechanics, diet, dietary ecology and evolution. Here, we develop a method for quantifying molar form and apply it to two species of distantly related grasshoppers with different diets (Phymateus saxosus, seven females; Valanga nigricornis, seven females, 11 males). We show that there are quantifiable differences in molar form, potentially related to diet. There are some differences in molar shape between left and right molars in both species and sexes, and significant differences in molar size, potentially due to scaling. Like in mammals, molar wear can cause large differences in molar shape. Species differences in molar shape did not match what was expected based on mammalian molar functional morphology. Dental topographic analysis is a promising new avenue for quantifying molar form in grasshoppers and a distinct advantage over traditional two-dimensional microscopy methods, and promises to reveal much about the biology, biomechanics and evolution of Acrididea.

Biogeography attempts to find explanations for the distributions of species, based on their past histories and present environmental conditions. Historically, biogeographic studies were modelled on intuitive and expert knowledge, whereas recent studies have advanced with the aid of digitised natural history collections, computational power and repeatable methods. In South Africa, biogeographical studies on insects are greatly lacking and very little is known about the zoogeographic patterns for many insect groups in the region. South Africa has a high level of diversity and endemism of orthopterans (> 800 species), making them an ideal group to investigate zoogeographic patterns. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the zoogeographical patterns of South Africa’s orthopteran species, based on the distributions and levels of diversity of all major families. Point locality data was used to conduct a hierarchical cluster analysis based on the shared presence of species to delimit zoogeographical centres. In addition, delimited centres were compared to plant-based biomes and phytogeographic regions. Results showed that orthopteran species richness was evenly distributed across the region and clustered into six zoogeographical centres. There was a primary split, separating species into a western winter-rainfall and an eastern summer-rainfall group. The western and eastern regions contained three centres each, with the east being less diverse and taxonomically distinctive than the west. Strong consensus was seen between orthopterans and the Greater Cape Floristic Region, and between orthopterans and the Cape zoogeographic region for butterflies, reinforcing the notion that this region is representative of a biochorion. In addition, this region had the greatest numbers of orthopteran families, highlighting its importance for orthopteran diversification.

The structural components of large-scale public construction projects are more complex than those of ordinary residential buildings, with irregular and diverse components, as well as a large number of repetitive structural elements, which increase the difficulty of BIM-modeling operations. Additionally, there is a significant amount of inherent parameter information in the construction process, which puts forward higher requirements for the application and management capabilities of BIM technology. However, the current BIM software still has deficiencies in the parameterization of complex and irregular structural components, fine modeling, and project management information. To address these issues, this paper takes Grasshopper as the core parametric tool and Revit as the carrier of component attribute information. It investigates the parametric modeling logic of Grasshopper and combines the concepts of parameterization, modularization, standardization, and engineering practicality to create a series of parametric programs for complex structural components in building projects. This approach mainly addresses intricate challenges pertaining to the parametric structural shapes (including batch processing) and parametric structural attributes (including the batch processing of diverse attribute parameters), thereby ensuring the efficiency in BIM modeling throughout the design and construction phases of complex building projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze the acceptance of muffins containing a 15% addition of powder from four edible insect species (Alphitobius diaperinus, Tenebrio molitor, Acheta domesticus, Ruspolia differens) in both savory and sweet versions, focusing on the psychological factors influencing their consumption. The study involved 106 adult consumers. Initially, the level of food neophobia (FNS) among participants was determined. Over 80% displayed low to medium levels of neophobia. Similar results were obtained when assessing attitudes towards insects, with most participants showing positive and ambivalent attitudes. Based on these findings, the acceptance of insect-based muffins was evaluated. The level of acceptance of insects varied and depended mainly on taste, smell, and texture. Participants with lower levels of neophobia and positive attitudes towards consuming insects generally rated the insect muffins higher compared to those with higher levels of neophobia and negative attitudes. The sweet versions of insect powder muffins were rated higher, which also indicates preferences and dietary habits. Products with grasshopper powder (GS, GCL) were rated the lowest for both taste versions. Conversely, products based on buffalo worms (BS, BCL) were seen as having the greatest potential for acceptance. Understanding consumer attitudes, neophobia, and levels of acceptance provides valuable insights for designing new insect-based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Electronic Turkish Studies is the property of Electronic Turkish Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: Temperature is one of the main drivers shaping species diversity and assembly processes. Yet, site‐specific effects of the local microclimate on species and trait compositions of insect communities have rarely been assessed along macroclimatic temperature clines. Location: Bavarian Alps, Germany. Methods: Bayesian joint species distribution models were applied to investigate how ecological and morphological traits drive variation in the climatic niches of 32 Orthoptera species on 93 grassland sites with contrasting microclimatic conditions along a steep elevational macroclimatic gradient in an Alpine region in Central Europe. Results: Species richness and abundance decreased along the elevational macroclimatic gradient, and both benefitted from warm microclimate. Interactive effects of elevation and microclimate on the abundance were, however, species‐specific, and partly mediated by traits: Warm microclimatic conditions facilitated the occurrence of demanding xerophilic and late‐hatching species, resulting in marked community dissimilarities at mid‐elevations where colder sites harboured only a subset of the species. The latter mainly occurred at low elevations together with long‐winged species. Abundance peaks of non‐xerophilic species were further upslope when microclimate was warm. Intraspecifically, the body sizes and wing lengths of the larger females, but not the males, decreased with elevation akin the community mean, and brown colour morphs were more frequent at sites with warm microclimate. Main Conclusions: Our nuanced results reveal that trait‐dependent responses of species to microclimate play a key role in the assembly and structuring of insect communities along macroclimatic gradients. Since microclimate preferences changed with elevation, we conclude that species temperature niches are narrower than the elevational range suggests and both macro‐ and microclimatic conditions must be considered when predicting species responses to climate change. Microclimatic contrasts among sites at similar elevations enhanced species turnover mediated by moisture preferences and phenology, highlighting the importance of mountains for conservation as climatic refugia where species with diverging niches can persist in proximity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the AI 'architectural explosion' of 2022, and as things have become clearer but have not yet settled down, a whole raft of possibilities for creativity and commercial exploration are emerging. Architectural and urban designer Wanyu He explains some of these opportunities, and also reminds us of the ethical and societal concerns about this technology – its biases and blindnesses – which must be addressed before these new approaches can be applied equitably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last thirty or so years, architects have embraced all manner of computer softwares and hardwares. This has often resulted in convoluted forms and a concentration on the part of architects to solve fabrication complexities at the expense of dexterous design explorations. Artist, designer and educator Andrew Kudless reminds us of the messy, illogical and contradictory aspects of design development, and that we have yet to develop something as multivalent in its evocative suggestions as the old‐fashioned 'hairy' sketch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging trend of employing 4 or more axes multi-purpose and gantry industrial robots in large format additive manufacturing presents numerous opportunities as well as challenges. The capacity to handle substantial material quantities and rapidly produce prototypes, instrumentation, and final products of considerable dimensions necessitates the formulation of a well-suited production strategy. This involves setting production parameters to minimize material consumption and production time, considering the limitations of the utilized technologies, and ensuring the final product's quality. While slicers are commonly employed for establishing manufacturing strategies and production parameters, most additive manufacturing slicers are optimized for planar 3 axes 3D printing. This limitation hinders their ability to generate non-planar and freeform toolpaths. To overcome this constraint, this paper delves into the utilization of parametric modelling as a potent tool in the realm of non-planar additive manufacturing. It explores the possibilities offered by Rhinoceros Grasshopper software in designing toolpath strategies and fabricating non-planar layers. The paper addresses the associated challenges and limitations of parametric modelling, including computational complexity and the requirement for specialized software and expertise. It emphasizes the crucial need to strike a balance between design complexity and manufacturability to ensure the successful implementation of non-planar additive manufacturing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the genus Kingdonella and the first report of a male K. qinghaiensis Zheng, 1990 are presented. The new species K. gandensis sp. nov. has similar morphological features to K. wardi Uvarov, 1933, but it differs from the latter in having 1) the hind tibia black; 2) the epiproct, in males, with a median groove in the basal 1/2 and in the apical 1/4; 3) the denticles of the male epiproct black; 4) the outside of the hind femur reddish-brown on the basal 1/4 and black on the apical 3/4; and 5) the ventral face of the hind femur black on the outer side. The second new species, K. biruensis sp. nov., is morphologically close to K. pienbaensis Zheng, 1980 but differs from the latter in having 1) the length of the middle segment (12th segment) of antennae 1.2 times longer than its width; 2) the subgenital plate sharp-cornered in males; 3) the ovipositor smooth; 4) the upper half of hind femur outside surface with two black spots; and 5) the ventral face of the hind femur black on its outer side, red on the basal 2/3, and black on the apical 1/3 of its inner side. Finally, we provide a key to all known species of Kingdonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grasshoppers are the most widely distributed pests in the natural grasslands of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu, northwest China. We clarified the distribution of the grasshopper suitable areas and the main environmental variables affecting the distribution of the grasshopper suitable areas, which will provide a basis for monitoring and forecasting grasshoppers in grassland. Therefore, based on the MaxEnt model, this study predicted the distribution of the four grasshoppers in their suitable areas by combining five environmental variables, namely climate, vegetation, soil, topography, and human footprint, and analyzed the main influencing factors affecting the distribution of the suitable areas. Mean annual precipitation was the main environmental variable affecting the distribution of grasshopper habitats, and the extent of the habitat of four species of grasshoppers either increased or decreased in future. Angaracris rhodopa (Fischer et Walheim), Calliptamus abbreviatus (Ikonnikov), Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zubowsky), and Oedaleus decorus asiaticus (Bey-Bienko) are the main grasshoppers that harm the natural grassland in the Hexi Corridor in Gansu, northwest China. In this study, the MaxEnt model was employed to identify the key environmental factors affecting the distribution of the four grasshoppers' habitats and to assess their distribution under current and future climate conditions. The aim was to provide a basis for grasshopper monitoring, prediction, and precise control. In this study, distribution of suitable habitats for A. rhodopa, C. abbreviates, M. palpalis, O. decorus asiaticus were predicted under current and future climatic scenarios using the Maxent model. The average AUC (area under the ROC curve) and TSS (true skill statistic) values of the four grasshoppers were greater than 0.9, and the simulation results were excellent and highly reliable. The mean annual precipitation was the main factor limiting the current range of suitable areas for these four species. Under the current climate, A. rhodopa, C. abbreviatus, and O. decorus asiaticus were mainly distributed in the central and eastern parts of the Hexi Corridor, and M. palpalis was distributed throughout the Hexi Corridor, with a suitable area of 1.29 × 104, 1.43 × 104, 1.44 × 104, and 2.12 × 104 km2, accounting for 13.7%, 15.2%, 15.3%, and 22.5% of the total area of the grasslands in the Hexi Corridor, respectively. The highly suitable areas of A. rhodopa, C. abbreviatus, and O. decorus asiaticus were mainly distributed in the eastern-central part of Zhangye City, the western part of Wuwei City, and the western and southern parts of Jinchang City, with areas of 0.20 × 104, 0.29 × 104, and 0.35 × 104 km2, accounting for 2.2%, 3%, and 3.7% of the grassland area, respectively. The high habitat of M. palpalis was mainly distributed in the southeast of Jiuquan City, the west, middle, and east of Zhangye City, the west of Wuwei City, and the west and south of Jinchang City, with an area of 0.32 × 104 km2, accounting for 3.4% of the grassland area. In the 2030s, the range of A. rhodopa, C. abbreviatus, and O. decorus asiaticus was predicted to increase; the range of M. palpalis will decrease. The results of this study could provide a theoretical basis for the precise monitoring and control of key areas of grasshoppers in the Hexi Corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the rate of mortality and morbidity increased due to uncontrolled conditions of liver diseases. Liver disorders are mainly caused because of inhalation of toxic gases, consumption of contaminated food, alcohol usage, etc. If the progression of liver disease is not detected at an early stage, it seriously threatens human life. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are the only ways to prevent such life-threatening diseases. This paper mainly aims to design an automated prediction model using ultrasound liver images. Due to non-invasive, cost-effective, and real-time imaging abilities, the ultrasound becomes most preferable modality. Therefore, the main purpose of the paper is at predicting liver diseases using the proposed modified faster region-based convolutional neural network-based hybrid grasshopper tunicate swarm (MFRCNN-HGTS) approach. The distortions in the raw ultrasound liver images are removed and the number of training images is increased by the augmentation process. The augmented data samples are then allowed to pass through a modified faster region-based convolutional neural network (MFRCNN) classifier to predict normal and abnormal instances from the images. To improve classification accuracy, the weight factors are assigned with appropriate values using the hybrid grasshopper tunicate swarm (HGTS) algorithm. The proposed MFRCNN-HGTS approach predicts liver diseases accurately and classifies them based on texture features as normal, cirrhosis, or hepatitis. The experimental setup is performed using MATLAB R2016a software. The proposed MFRCNN-HGTS method is evaluated by comparing it with other traditional methods. The analytic result illustrates that the proposed MFRCNN-HGTS techniques achieve 98.45% accuracy over other techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early stage of architectural design, addressing the challenges posed by negative spaces in high-density urban environments is crucial for enhancing spatial efficiency and building sustainability. Multiple studies employed digital methods and tools to address these issues, such as parametric design, simulation, and genetic algorithms, to investigate architectural generation approaches for urban negative spaces. This article proposes an integrated design process that involves finding the location and form of negative spaces, generating solutions using slime mold and wasp algorithms, and optimizing and analyzing solutions using the Wallacei plugin in Grasshopper. This comprehensive approach underscores the potential of parametric design to yield a multitude of solutions while also acknowledging the convergence challenges encountered during simulations, particularly in optimizing for optimal sunlight exposure during the winter solstice and minimal solar radiation in the summer. Analyzing the optimization goals and parameter values of the 15th Pareto optimal solution in the 100th generation reveals: (1) a higher number of units leads to positive correlation growth in both objectives; (2) within a certain number of units, parametrically generated solutions facilitate the convergence of optimization goals, yielding optimal outcomes. Therefore, factors such as the range of unit quantities and proportions need consideration during early-stage parametric design and simulation. This study explores a design methodology for negative spaces in high-density urban cities, validating the feasibility of various mainstream generation methods and offering insights for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfortunately, flooding is a major worldwide problem that especially affects low-lying cities like Semarang, Indonesia. Therefore, this study focuses on the flood-prone areas of Semarang, where recurring high tides and surges from severe precipitation cause havoc. In order to create water-resistant dwelling topologies, the paper explores the early incorporation of computational design approaches. Ultimately, the objective is to explore the strategic application of generative design techniques to support the development of a highly adaptive urban environment using optimization-based data-driven design approaches. With careful consideration, advanced computational methods were used to find concepts that may manage and lessen possible consequences in an efficient manner, increasing the urban landscape's overall flexibility. Achieving the best possible solutions, which consider issues like feasibility, sustainability, durability, adaptability, and user comfort, requires the application of computational studies such as microclimatic, rainfall, energy performance, and fluid simulations. Consequently, promising advances in water retention and trajectory control features are shown by evaluations that concentrate on wind dynamics and energy considerations. One such example is GEN_8, the most optimal typology produced by additive massing approaches. In addition to showing less water retention than usual building typologies, GEN_8 optimizes energy performance to improve user experience overall. Accordingly, the computationally created geometry GEN_8's shaded areas and facades effectively account for between 191.4 and 957 kWh/m2 of yearly solar radiation. In contrast, average building typologies show higher amounts of annual solar radiation, with a minimum of 574.32 kWh/m2 and a maximum of 1148.65 kWh/m2. This paper's comprehensive approach not only addresses worldwide issues but also highlights how computational design techniques may be used to construct, assess, and validate workable solutions for flood-prone locations within a flexible framework that has been painstakingly designed. As a result, the research also highlights the significance of technological advancements and computational tools in assessing, producing, and validating workable solutions for flood-prone locations by carefully curating a flexible framework that ensures efficiency, comfort, and design optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students and educators spend significant time in learning spaces on university campuses. Energy efficiency has become a concern among facility managers, given the need to maintain acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) levels during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the relationship between control and extraneous variables in a university classroom's total mechanical ventilation (kWh). The model is built using Grasshopper software on Rhino Version 7. Our methodology encompasses (1) an extensive review of recent trends for studying IAQ and energy, (2) selecting parameters for simulation, (3) model configuration on Grasshopper, and finally, (4) a formulation of a pertinent equation to consolidate the relationship between the studied factors and the total mechanical ventilation energy (kWh). Central to this study are two key research questions: (1) What correlations exist between various parameters related to occupancy and IAQ in educational spaces? And (2) how can we optimize energy efficiency in university classrooms? The main contribution of this research is a generated equation representing the annual mechanical ventilation energy consumption based on selected parameters of classroom height, area, occupancy, window location, and ventilation rate of HVAC systems. We find that occupancy and class volume are the two most influential factors directly affecting mechanical ventilation energy consumption. The equation serves as a valuable estimation tool for facility managers, designers, and campus operations to investigate how fluctuations in occupancy can influence ventilation energy consumption in the physical attributes of a university classroom. This enables proactive decision-making, optimizing energy efficiency and resource allocation in real-time to promote sustainable and cost-effective campus operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenced by the water design principle of Chinese classical garden, the design of urban waterbodies (lakes, ponds and wetlands) in China typically exhibits natural-like morphological characteristics, but what similarities and differences among these characteristics remain unclear. Also, the morphology of urban waterbodies is mostly designed with beauty and lacks quantitative research and methodological support, which is not favourable to the exploration of the correlation between waterbody morphology and ecology. In this study, 11 quantifiable morphological indicators are selected from water surface, shoreline complexity and water-land spatial morphology. A Grasshopper-based model for waterbody morphology quantification and analysis was constructed and applied to 42 cases in China. Combined with frequency, correlation and PCA analysis, the cases and indicators with higher composite scores generally showed more natural water surface morphology, island distribution, and diversified land and water spaces. The thresholds for the more representative indicators are 0.10–0.60 for the circularity ratio (C), 1.01–1.15 for the shoreline fractal dimension (D0), 1.58–29.42 for the island nearest-neighbour index (NN), 1.20–2.50 for the shoreline development index (SDI), 0.20–0.55 for the compactness ratio (Rc) and 0.30–0.85 for the unit water surface morphological difference ratio (ΔB). Focusing on these indicators, along with ΔB and I which describe spatial inclusiveness and island distribution, their regression equations and threshold ranges provide a primary basis for developing waterbody morphology designs and generative algorithms. This methodology has been experimentally applied in the design of a case waterbody in Suqian City Park. Overall, this study constructs and validates the feasibility of a Grasshopper-based algorithm for the quantitative analysis and morphogenetic design of waterbody morphology. It demonstrates the potential of this method for understanding complex waterbody morphology and water-land spaces, and supports a new digital methodology for the optimisation of waterscape design.

Conducting a rigorous evaluation of the daylight performance of buildings is essential for human health and energy efficiency. Today, there are two main methods used for analysis: the daylight factor, which has been used since the early 1900s, and the newer approach known as climate-based modelling. Both methods are employed in the EN 17037 Daylight in Buildings’ standard. Utilizing different calculation methods causes discrepancies in daylight provision performance analyses of a room. However, there is no definition or limitation for this subject in the standard. As a result, researchers prefer different calculation methods for the same location in daylighting analyses without a clear justification. Additionally, there is a lack of parametric methods that follow the guidelines of the standard. This study aims to analyse the impact of calculation methods on daylighting analyses according to different regions and generate parametric methods in compliance with the standard. In this respect, comparison calculations are conducted for a theoretical room situated in all 81 provinces of Turkey, where variant climate types occur over a year. Furthermore, parametric workflows are generated using Rhinoceros/Grasshopper following the directives of the standard. The findings indicate that the method choice affects the illumination levels in all zones, ranging from 15 to 114 %.

Grasshoppers have profound effects on both grassland ecosystems and livestock production. Despite commendable efforts made by China in grasshopper control, completely eradicating or preventing them still remains a distant prospect. This study aims to analyze the ecological distribution and patterns of grasshopper occurrences in order to provide more accurate monitoring techniques and preventive measures. By considering four types of environmental determinants—meteorology, vegetation, soil, and topography—we systematically identified 18 key influencing factors. These factors encompass various developmental stages of grasshoppers, including variables such as temperature, precipitation, vegetation coverage, vegetation type, soil moisture, soil salinity, soil type, and terrain characteristics. The MaxEnt model is employed in this study to comprehensively capture complex ecological interactions. Omission curves, Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (ROC curves), and the Area Under the Curve (AUC values) demonstrate the robustness and high accuracy of the MaxEnt model. Our research results indicate that meteorological factors are the primary influencing factors for the distribution of grasshoppers, surpassing the effects of vegetation, soil, and terrain. Precipitation and vegetation type emerge as key factors shaping their distributional patterns. Integrating the Sen-MK trend method, our findings identify the epicenter of damage primarily within the central, southern, and northeastern regions, notably affecting locales such as New Barag East County and the Ewenki Autonomous Banner. While their impact in 2012 was particularly severe, temporal trends indicate a decreasing risk of grasshoppers in specific regions, with escalated activity observed in other areas. The empirical insights from this study lay a solid foundation for the development of monitoring and control strategies concerning grasshoppers. Furthermore, the derived theoretical framework serves as a valuable foundation for future research endeavors addressing grasshopper infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation is an increasingly used tool in conservation management, but there is a risk that source populations are overcollected. The risk depends critically on the detection probability and the source population size. We quantified this risk for a wingless grasshopper population in a patch of remnant habitat in suburban Melbourne that was condemned to be cleared for housing development. We collected ∼2000 grasshoppers in five samples spread over 1 month and used the results to estimate the initial population size (∼3400) with high confidence. Despite our perception of substantially depleting the population, we removed only an estimated 60%, and this relatively high fecundity (∼50 eggs per lifetime) annual species had recovered by the following year to near its original density. Wild‐to‐wild translocation is likely to be a low‐cost and effective strategy in the conservation of many invertebrates, and our findings highlight the feasibility of using natural source populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying fraud with credit cards is still a significant obstacle in economic safety, requiring precise and effective classification models to reduce the dangers connected with fraudulent transactions. The evaluation of several classifiers, such as "MLP," "SVM," "Random Forest," and "Logistic Regression," is examined in this paper using extensive evaluation criteria like Precision, Recall, F-measure, and Accuracy. The dataset encompasses average values for these metrics, providing insights into the classifiers' abilities to predict positive and negative instances accurately. Understanding the Grasshopper algorithm's function in enhancing feature selection for credit card fraud detection is essential to this research. The results highlight 'MLP' as a standout performer across multiple metrics, showcasing its precision (0.942), recall (0.891), F-measure (0.915), and accuracy (95.49%). 'Random Forest' and 'Logistic Regression' demonstrate commendable results, reflecting their suitability for this task. However, 'SVM' slightly lags in comparison. The results highlight the complementary roles that good feature selection and suitable classifier selection play in improving the identification of credit card fraud systems. The robustness of 'MLP' and high accuracy position it as a promising option for addressing the complexities of credit card fraud. This study highlights the importance of careful feature selection and classifier optimization in building effective fraud detection systems that can successfully address changing fraudulent actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]