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This review outlines the evolutionary journey from traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture to the revolutionary field of organ-on-a-chip technology. Organ-on-a-chip technology integrates microfluidic systems to mimic the complex physiological environments of human organs, surpassing the limitations of conventional 2D cultures. This evolution has opened new possibilities for understanding cell–cell interactions, cellular responses, drug screening, and disease modeling. However, the design and manufacture of microchips significantly influence their functionality, reliability, and applicability to different biomedical applications. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider design parameters, including the number of channels (single, double, or multi-channels), the channel shape, and the biological context. Simultaneously, the selection of appropriate materials compatible with the cells and fabrication methods optimize the chips' capabilities for specific applications, mitigating some disadvantages associated with these systems. Furthermore, the success of organ-on-a-chip platforms greatly depends on the careful selection and utilization of cell resources. Advances in stem cell technology and tissue engineering have contributed to the availability of diverse cell sources, facilitating the development of more accurate and reliable organ-on-a-chip models. In conclusion, a holistic perspective of in vitro cellular modeling is provided, highlighting the integration of microfluidic technology and meticulous chip design, which play a pivotal role in replicating organ-specific microenvironments. At the same time, the sensible use of cell resources ensures the fidelity and applicability of these innovative platforms in several biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper thoroughly examines the advancements and challenges in the field of additively manufactured Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). It delves into conceptual approaches for FGM design, various manufacturing techniques, and the materials employed in their fabrication using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. This paper explores the applications of FGMs in diverse fields, including structural engineering, automotive, biomedical engineering, soft robotics, electronics, 4D printing, and metamaterials. Critical issues and challenges associated with FGMs are meticulously analyzed, addressing concerns related to production and performance. Moreover, this paper forecasts future trends in FGM development, highlighting potential impacts on diverse industries. The concluding section summarizes key findings, emphasizing the significance of FGMs in the context of AM technologies. This review provides valuable insights to researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders, enhancing their understanding of FGMs and their role in the evolving landscape of AM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review outlines the evolutionary journey from traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture to the revolutionary field of organ-on-a-chip technology. Organ-on-a-chip technology integrates microfluidic systems to mimic the complex physiological environments of human organs, surpassing the limitations of conventional 2D cultures. This evolution has opened new possibilities for understanding cell–cell interactions, cellular responses, drug screening, and disease modeling. However, the design and manufacture of microchips significantly influence their functionality, reliability, and applicability to different biomedical applications. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider design parameters, including the number of channels (single, double, or multi-channels), the channel shape, and the biological context. Simultaneously, the selection of appropriate materials compatible with the cells and fabrication methods optimize the chips’ capabilities for specific applications, mitigating some disadvantages associated with these systems. Furthermore, the success of organ-on-a-chip platforms greatly depends on the careful selection and utilization of cell resources. Advances in stem cell technology and tissue engineering have contributed to the availability of diverse cell sources, facilitating the development of more accurate and reliable organ-on-a-chip models. In conclusion, a holistic perspective of in vitro cellular modeling is provided, highlighting the integration of microfluidic technology and meticulous chip design, which play a pivotal role in replicating organ-specific microenvironments. At the same time, the sensible use of cell resources ensures the fidelity and applicability of these innovative platforms in several biomedical applications.

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This research aims to improve the sustainability of the Kalibaru robusta coffee agroindustry through the use of soft system methodology and decision support tools. Data was collected through literature review, focus group discussions, interviews, observation, and field verification. The results show that quality assurance, technology, and resources are the main dimensions with a strong influence on sustainability. Based on the findings, 12 independent, 20 linkage, 23 dependent, and 16 autonomous sub-elements were identified. Strategic alternative formulations were developed using interpretive structural modeling and strategic assumption surfacing and testing methods. This study provides insights for sustainable development strategies in the robusta coffee agroindustry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper brings out a review of existing, state-of-the-art approaches to designing the geometry of the scaffolds that are used for tissue engineering with a special emphasis on the macro scaffolds aimed for bone tissue recovery. Similar concepts of different authors are organized into groups. The focus of the paper is on determining the existing concepts as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Besides the review of scaffolds' geometry solutions, the analysis of the existing designs points to some serious misconceptions regarding the scaffold role within the (bone) tissue recovery. In the last section of the paper, the main requirements regarding geometry, that is, architecture and corresponding mechanical properties and permeability are reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper thoroughly examines the advancements and challenges in the field of additively manufactured Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). It delves into conceptual approaches for FGM design, various manufacturing techniques, and the materials employed in their fabrication using additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. This paper explores the applications of FGMs in diverse fields, including structural engineering, automotive, biomedical engineering, soft robotics, electronics, 4D printing, and metamaterials. Critical issues and challenges associated with FGMs are meticulously analyzed, addressing concerns related to production and performance. Moreover, this paper forecasts future trends in FGM development, highlighting potential impacts on diverse industries. The concluding section summarizes key findings, emphasizing the significance of FGMs in the context of AM technologies. This review provides valuable insights to researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders, enhancing their understanding of FGMs and their role in the evolving landscape of AM.

Many reasons such as the Industrial Revolution and the need for rapid building production after the Second World War have led to an acceleration of developments in the construction sector and new construction systems have emerged. These construction systems have brought forth the need for new facade designs. Prefabricated facade panels designed with the aim of quickly closing a building whose structure is completed so that it is least affected by external environmental conditions and ensuring that the facades created can exhibit good performance are also among these innovations. In this study, thermal and sound insulation, and fire resistance performance characteristics of prefabricated facade panels with wood, concrete, metal, or terracotta-based structure material, made with three different design concepts as massive, sandwich, and frame, were examined. The study is considered important because it examines the characteristics of facade elements aimed at improving the quality of the indoor environment.

Offshore wind energy is a sustainable renewable energy source that is acquired by harnessing the force of the wind offshore, where the absence of obstructions allows the wind to travel at higher and more steady speeds. Offshore wind has recently grown in popularity because wind energy is more powerful offshore than on land. Prior to the development of floating structures, wind turbines could not be deployed in particularly deep or complicated seabed locations since they were dependent on fixed structures. With the advent of floating structures, which are moored to the seabed using flexible anchors, chains, or steel cables, wind turbines can now be placed far offshore. The deployment of floating wind turbines in deep waters is encouraged by several benefits, including steadier winds, less visual impact, and flexible acoustic noise requirements. A thorough understanding of the physics underlying the dynamic response of the floating offshore wind turbines, as well as various design principles and analysis methods, is necessary to fully compete with traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels. The present work offers a comprehensive review of the most recent state-of-the-art developments in the offshore wind turbine technology, including aerodynamics, hydromechanics, mooring, ice, and inertial loads. The existing design concepts and numerical models used to simulate the complex wind turbine dynamics are also presented, and their capabilities and limitations are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered as promising large‐scale energy storage devices due to their high safety and low cost. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) as the potential aqueous Zn‐storage cathode materials are under the research spotlight because of their facile 2D ion‐transport channels and weak electrostatic interactions with Zn2+. In this concept article, we summarize the intrinsic structural features and aqueous Zn‐storage mechanisms of the TMDs‐based electrodes. More significantly, the latest design concepts of TMDs materials for high‐performance AZIBs are discussed in detail from three aspects of interlayer expansion engineering, phase transition engineering, and structure defects engineering. Finally, the current challenges facing TMDs cathodes and possible remedies are outlined for future developments towards efficient, rapid, and stable aqueous Zn‐ion storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the exhibition of “The Value of Good Design” held by The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The author analyzes the features of this exhibition through design discourses she conducted in the 2019 spring term within the “Discourses in Design” course at The New School. The object of this paper is to reveal the relation between the core texts in the theory of design and objects from this exhibition. Rather than looking at the curation, this paper aims to discuss the relationship between theory and practice of design by using this exhibition as a medium. The exhibition’s concept of good design and its historical narration has the capacity of rethinking our habitat and raising questions towards our material world. In this paper, it is shown that interpretation of analyzing design objects can be a means of understanding design concepts by adopting inquiry-based learning as one of the pedagogical approaches. As a result, this paper discusses that design will develop as we find the context from our lives and then to apply to the process of learning design theory, or vice versa. It is presented in this paper as a proposal to display this connection in exhibitions by correlating with living spaces.

Offshore wind energy is a sustainable renewable energy source that is acquired by harnessing the force of the wind offshore, where the absence of obstructions allows the wind to travel at higher and more steady speeds. Offshore wind has recently grown in popularity because wind energy is more powerful offshore than on land. Prior to the development of floating structures, wind turbines could not be deployed in particularly deep or complicated seabed locations since they were dependent on fixed structures. With the advent of floating structures, which are moored to the seabed using flexible anchors, chains, or steel cables, wind turbines can now be placed far offshore. The deployment of floating wind turbines in deep waters is encouraged by several benefits, including steadier winds, less visual impact, and flexible acoustic noise requirements. A thorough understanding of the physics underlying the dynamic response of the floating offshore wind turbines, as well as various design principles and analysis methods, is necessary to fully compete with traditional energy sources such as fossil fuels. The present work offers a comprehensive review of the most recent state-of-the-art developments in the offshore wind turbine technology, including aerodynamics, hydromechanics, mooring, ice, and inertial loads. The existing design concepts and numerical models used to simulate the complex wind turbine dynamics are also presented, and their capabilities and limitations are discussed in detail.

The development of residential architecture in Yugoslavia during the period of socialism had its peak in the 1960s and 1970s. Significant progress in construction was accompanied by housing research directed towards finding the optimal urbanistic solutions for the newly formed lifestyle of the socialist society. The tendency was to “pack” as many residential units as possible into each building, almost up to the limits of the functional minimum, at the same time with the aim of setting a more humane pattern of living. Innovative theoretical ideas were developed at leading housing research centers and then spread at conferences, consultations, expositions and architectural contests. Top quality design concepts were mostly obtained through architectural contests, which, among other things, also served the purpose of testing theoretical principles and new concepts of residential patterns on actual examples. Although the term “socialist apartment” seems to be accepted in practice, in the scientific sense, it has not been sufficiently explored or examined. The aim of this paper is to explore whether there was a certain architectural pattern as a form of response to the specific socio-economic conditions in Yugoslavia, in terms of a functional scheme that architects followed and which could be defined by the term “socialist apartment”. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR 36035: Spatial, Environmental, Energy and Social Aspects of Developing Settlements and Climate Change - Mutual Impacts]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report the grounded theory empirical validation on key categories within a design-led methodology to envision urban futures. The paper focuses on the editorial products and the design concepts that constitute the heart of the approach. An original elaboration of trend clusters is presented as an exemplification of the outcome of this trend research approach. Although the approach was not created from the viewpoint of tourism and leisure, bibliographic notes on place-making complement it for this journal. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents empirical findings extracted by the means of the grounded theory, with the purpose to empirically validate two key categories (product and process) of a urban futures methodology. The methodology is an application of High Design, the process in use at Royal Philips BV for two decades. This methodology is contextualized within the constructivist episteme, as defined by the editors of this journal in a separate publication. Bibliographic references to place-making complete the paper. Findings – The following findings are provided: empirical validation of the city.people.light communication platform (qualitative research); empirical validation of the city.people.light workshop practice (qualitative research); and bibliographic descriptions of the design process governing city.people.light and newly developed urban futures trend clusters, at European level, as an exemplification of the program/approach outcome. Research limitations/implications – The paper is structured according to a multi-layered editorial focus. Empirical findings were generated at primary research level in a 2013-2015 grounded theory projected by the author. Furthermore, the author directed the research processes and products that are the object of empirical validation. Newly defined elaborations and a discussion thereof is offered, taking into account contemporary place-making issues. Practical implications – The original design-based methodology is a structured practice in urban futures from applied sciences and corporate innovation viewpoint. In this paper, its key categories are empirically validated through the grounded theory. Additionally, outcome from the original foresight programs is presented and a bibliographic review is provided from the viewpoint of place-making. Social implications – The co-creative methodology herein empirically validated is socio-cultural centered, with a strong drive to coutnerbalance the positivist and engineering corporate mindset through a humanistic concern for people. The framework in terms of place-making takes into account postmodern evolutions of the field. Originality/value – The paper benefits from a unique mix of: epistemic note on tourism, leisure, and the future; original urban futures scenarios and design concepts from a world class corporate innovation program; and the actual empirical core of the grounded theory validation as performed in a dedicated research project. These three separate streams are mutually related.

Additive manufacturing (AM) stands out from other manufacturing processes because it enables covering the functionality of an assembly by one single component only. In order to further increase the functional density in AM parts, it is of interest to integrate sensors in metal components during the Laser-based Powder Bed Fusion manufacturing process. This paper presents design concepts that facilitate an automated integration process of electronic components by using specific and individual criteria. In consideration of an automated embedding process, a standardized solid is outlined to unify different sensor types in a design space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A framework is proposed to capture the designer's mental models. • Mental models are available as a logical knowledge expression for designers. • Both explicit and tacit knowledge are considered in the design process. • Designers' actions, thoughts, and intentions are analyzed based on the knowledge. What do designers actually do while they are designing? How about their ideas and intentions toward a specific design activity? These issues are still urgently in need of resolution since designers play such a crucial role in the design process. However, existing research primarily concentrates on the explicit knowledge representation of designers' activities, but ignores tacit information that is underlying the motivation behind those activities. Fortunately, as a psychology-based inner cognitive representation of external reality, mental models take us a glimpse into explaining and driving designer activities. Based on the above, this paper proposed a novel framework with Latent Dirichlet Allocation and Word2Vec integrated harmoniously to capture the designer' activities. Additionally, both the know-how and know-why knowledge were represented by eliciting knowledge structure and belief structure of mental models respectively. Based on the distribution values of these two structures, the using opportunities of designer's ideas are further explored to reveal their potential for being adopted, improved, explored, or discarded during the design process. Then the detailed design process is characterized by mental models to express the designers actions, ideas, and intentions for the artifact that they are designing. Finally, the experimental results performed a practical design case demonstrating that our proposed framework is applicable and helpful for designing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar collectors have been rigorously modified over the years to better serve the thermal needs of the era. Various design innovations have paved their way to invent new ways of gaining more solar energy in the form of useful heat. Few of these approaches have been commercialized and others have taught lessons. New technological advancements, like phase change materials (PCM), and their integration with solar collectors produced better results in recent years. Hence, various methods of integrating PCM inside the collector cavity were investigated. This review studies innovative concepts of integrating PCMs in flat plate (water/air), evacuated tube, and photovoltaic/thermal solar collectors. Flat plate collectors for water and air heating have been extensively studied. Uses of nano-composite PCM in solar collectors are also compiled. It was observed that maximizing the contact surface area between the PCM and the absorber plate significantly enhances the outlet temperatures. General trends, proportionalities and noteworthy observations are also discussed for each type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Functional--structural plant (FSP) models have been widely used to understand the complex interactions between plant architecture and underlying developmental mechanisms. However, to obtain evidence that a model captures these mechanisms correctly, a clear distinction must be made between model outputs used for calibration and thus verification, and outputs used for validation. In pattern-oriented modelling (POM), multiple verification patterns are used as filters for rejecting unrealistic model structures and parameter combinations, while a second, independent set of patterns is used for validation. Methods To test the potential of POM for FSP modelling, a model of avocado (Persea americana 'Hass') was developed. The model of shoot growth is based on a conceptual model, the annual growth module (AGM), and simulates photosynthesis and adaptive carbon allocation at the organ level. The model was first calibrated using a set of observed patterns from a published article. Then, for validation, model predictions were compared with a different set of empirical patterns from various field studies that were not used for calibration. Key Results After calibration, our model simultaneously reproduced multiple observed architectural patterns. The model then successfully predicted, without further calibration, the validation patterns. The model supports the hypothesis that carbon allocation can be modelled as being dependent on current organ biomass and sink strength of each organ type, and also predicted the observed developmental timing of the leaf sink'source transition stage. Conclusions These findings suggest that POM can help to improve the 'structural realism' of FSP models, i.e. the likelihood that a model reproduces observed patterns for the right reasons. Structural realism increases predictive power so that the response of an AGM to changing environmental conditions can be predicted. Accordingly, our FSP model provides a better but still parsimonious understanding of the mechanisms underlying known patterns of AGM growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ‘Letter from the Editors’ introduces two theories about the role of play in culture and society. Drawing on the work of Roger Caillois, the editors identify two types of play, broadly aligning each to the concerns and approaches taken in the two parts of this issue of the Nexus Network Journal. Thereafter, they introduce the papers that make up the second part of vol. 20, no. 1 (2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geologic surface is more vulnerable and unstable than ever before: we are facing an era when continental shifts, the disappearance of glaciers, the movement of mountains, and earthquakes and tsunamis are creating a new terrestrial crust and new landforms. Changes in geology and earth processes affects our environment as well as our daily life. What is the role of architecture in solving these urgent issues? What is the appropriate way to address these changes? Landform direction in architecture gives insight to an understanding of the environment, mankind's relationship to landscape, and urbanism. The understanding of buildings as a link between people and nature bring even more value to this direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of decision-making in an uncertain environment during early design stages has found paramount importance in recent years. A novel method based on soft set theory is developed and proposed here, for concept selection during the early phase of product design. The advantage of soft set theory to describe the features of an object through any approximations is used in the proposed method to incorporate qualitative judgements of decision-makers. Bijective soft sets are used in the proposed work to depict mapping between customer requirements and generated design concepts. The method proposes the construction of a correlation table from a bijective soft set in a parametric sense. Correlation table helps the designers to identify the effect of conflicting requirements of different customers. The union and intersection operations are then performed on the correlation table which are called here as Row Union (RUnion), Row Intersection (RIntersection), Column Union (CUnion), and Column Intersection (CIntersection). A RUnion and CUnion operation on correlation table helps the designer to identify all the potential concepts which are suboptimal choices based on customer requirements. After performing RUnion and CUnion operations, RIntersection and CIntersection are performed to identify optimal choice(s) which could meet maximum conflicting requirements of customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is focused on the impact of artistic styles and evolution of XX-th century art upon main formal characteristic of older and modern camouflage patterns. In the beginning of the period (1915- 1918), the main principles that have been used are those of boundery and simultaneous contrast, targeting at an effect of relief and non-homogeneity and decomposition. The first stage in camouflage evolution was the attempt to “dazzle” and confuse enemy by creating a false form characteristic. It was used for big military objects –ships, planes. Armies hired a lot of artists with the task to design camouflage schemes. Due to the trend for entrenchment in World War I the first approaches for camouflage most visual parts of the soldiers body are made. Logically, these efforts follow the same principles of visual illusion developed and modified in style, close to the one which was used for the larger objects. The German army prefers geometrical styles while Great Britain and French armed forces choose more expressionistic manner for their camouflage patterns. For the creation of the camouflage patterns, several optic principles and visual illusion are being used. The target is to create a visual illusion for complexity and shape sharpness by breaking down the silhouette unity until visual illusion of merge with the nature.

Approaches to improving the design of metal-cutting machines are discussed. The most important problems relating to the precision, thermal processes, dynamic modeling, and diagnostics of metal-cutting machines are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trends in the development of industrial machines and corresponding design methods are considered. The problems to be solved in the design of traditional and innovative machine tools are discussed. Approaches to meeting the operational requirements on industrial machines are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding meaningful concepts in engineering application datasets which allow for a sensible grouping of designs is very helpful in many contexts. It allows for determining different groups of designs with similar properties and provides useful knowledge in the engineering decision making process. Also, it opens the route for further refinements of specific design candidates which exhibit certain characteristic features. In this work, an approach to define meaningful and consistent concepts in an existing engineering dataset is presented. The designs in the dataset are characterized by a multitude of features such as design parameters, geometrical properties or performance values of the design for various boundary conditions. In the proposed approach the complete feature set is partitioned into several subsets called description spaces. The definition of the concepts respects this partitioning which leads to several desired properties of the identified concepts. This cannot be achieved with state-of-the-art clustering or concept identification approaches. A novel concept quality measure is proposed, which provides an objective value for a given definition of concepts in a dataset. The usefulness of the measure is demonstrated by considering a realistic engineering dataset consisting of about 2500 airfoil profiles, for which the performance values (lift and drag) for three different operating conditions were obtained by a computational fluid dynamics simulation. A numerical optimization procedure is employed, which maximizes the concept quality measure and finds meaningful concepts for different setups of the description spaces, while also incorporating user preference. It is demonstrated how these concepts can be used to select archetypal representatives of the dataset which exhibit characteristic features of each concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]