This doctoral thesis aims the theoretical and exploratory study of methodologies and mechanisms for automating 4D modeling, applied in the processes planning of volumetric construction in steel. We assume that in architecture, planning is the link of cohesion between design and construction. Hypothetically, we propose that through the study of methodologies and planning tools, we could get to know the mechanisms to extend the digitized information at rendering the design of the building, organizing it, in such a way that will be operable even in its industrialized production. In the area of visual communication in architecture and design, we have noticed a growing interest by the use of these innovations, the transition from CAD to BIM platforms, as well as the implementation of the CAVT (Computer Advanced Visualization Tools), whence 4D technology originated. We find particularly motivating for the realization of this work, the updating in 3D, 4D (3D + time) modeling techniques and its multidimensional progression; besides the verification of the possibilities of integration and synchronization of information, through built-in mechanisms of these new tools. From them, we draw general objective, know and describe how to prepare dynamic animation of assembly movements, a means of representation and communication almost absent in architecture and construction. In the exploratory proposal of the thesis we suggests, if in a 4D dynamic simulation model, ensures that the movements, and in general, the parametrized behavior of 3D graphic entities, occur in accordance with the logic of the construction sequence, then, the information used to represent the design of a building, would be used also for represent the construction process and develop the virtual environment of planning, where movements would be displayed upon executing the operations, the strategy evaluated and the length of its construction quantified. With this work, we intend to overcome the characteristic use of animation in the representation of the design; witch in part has caused the production of static images, preventing the virtual and dynamic representation of the construction processes. Then, on the basis of the analyzed fundamentals, we explore and disclose how to develop a 4D model ¿as built¿, detailing the 3D graphical entities that represent the integral parts of the objects of the building, and even the resources required to build them. Subsequently, we describe how linked together with the construction operations, in an exercise known as process modeling. Mainly we propose a strategy for the elaboration of the two virtual environments of the volumetric construction in steel, through the respective models of dynamic simulation 4D, where the assembly operations in site and offsite production of a modular building come alive virtually. To carry it out, we justify the integration of mechanical design platform, 4D and BIM, (Inventor, Navisworks, and Revit) from Autodesk. In the application of the thesis, we will approach to achieve integration of information from design and construction, for digitizing the complete cycle of industrial production of a modular building. We provide a series of procedures, recommendations, and qualitative appreciations, to capture and manage, the know-how of the logic of construction. Keywords: 4D technology, visual simulation, process planning, virtual construction. / La presente tesis doctoral, tiene por objeto el estudio teórico y exploratorio de las metodologías y mecanismos de automatización del modelado 4D, aplicados en la planificación de procesos de construcción. En este caso, de la construcción volumétrica en acero. Partimos del supuesto de que en la arquitectura, la planificación es el vínculo de cohesión del diseño con la construcción. Hipotéticamente planteamos, que a través del estudio de las metodologías y herramientas de planificación, podríamos llegar a conocer los mecanismos que permitan extender la información digitalizada al representar el diseño de la edificación, organizándola de tal manera, que sea operable hasta en su producción industrializada. En el contexto de la investigación, revisamos la literatura, las metodologías y las referencias significativas en los avances para la planificación de procesos. Se presentan los antecedentes y se justifica la elección de la tecnología de simulación visual 4D, integrada con el modelado multidimensional y los prototipos virtuales, como la nueva herramienta de análisis, que permite disminuir el riesgo en la industria de la construcción. Además, conveniente para que el arquitecto aproveche sus conocimientos de modelado 3D en la elaboración de entornos virtuales de construcción, que proveen la inexistente posibilidad en la arquitectura, de ensayar antes de construir: try before built. En el área de la comunicación visual en la arquitectura y el diseño, hemos percibido un creciente interés por la utilización de estas innovaciones, la transición entre las plataformas CAD al BIM, así como la implementación de las CAVT (Computer Advanced Visualization Tools), de donde proviene la tecnología 4D. Particularmente encontramos motivante para la realización de este trabajo, la actualización en las técnicas de modelado 3D, 4D (3D+tiempo) y su progresión multidimensional; además de la verificación de las posibilidades de integración y sincronización de la información, a través de mecanismos incorporados en estas nuevas herramientas. A partir de ellos, trazamos como objetivo general, conocer y describir cómo elaborar la animación dinámica de los movimientos de ensamblaje, un medio de representación y comunicación prácticamente inexistente en la arquitectura y la construcción.

Syftet med rapporten är att skapa en förståelse om vad BIM är och undersöka vad BIM för med sig i projekteringen. Det som kommer behandlas är BIM-samordnarens uppgifter, de olika negativa aspekter som påträffats vid användandet av BIM samt en presentation av olika program så kallade verktyg som används vid BIM-projektering. / Our main aim of this report is to create a foundation for understanding the meaning of BIM and explore the major contributions of BIM to construction design. One of the topics that we will be laying emphases on is the role and duties of a BIM-coordinator and different negative aspects that could be encountered when using BIM. So also presentation of different programmes (tools) used in the process of BIM-design.

During the development of atherosclerosis, contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) change to cells capable of migrating and proliferating to mediate repair, where the responses may be adaptive or mal-adaptive in effect. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-elevating agents have been shown to inhibit migration of VSMC. cAMP activity within the cell is known to be ubiquitous and dynamic, requiring control through signal termination mechanisms for cellular homeostasis. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes are central to this critical regulatory process catalyzing the hydrolysis of cAMP. A great deal of insight into the role of PDEs in defining compartmentalization of cAMP signaling has arisen predominately from recent studies on the cAMP-specific PDE4 family. Compartmentalization of PDE4 is mediated by their unique N-terminal domains, which have been proposed to provide the “postcodes/zipcodes” for cellular localization. PDE4D isoforms vary widely, yet their conservation over evolutionary time suggests important non-redundant roles in distinct cellular processes. To study the potential role of individual PDE4D isoforms we seek to utilize the unique N-terminal targeting domains that are proposed to be responsible for their protein-protein interactions and site-directed localization. Herein, we report on the expression, targeting and localization of five “long” PDE4D isoforms and the impact on cell morphology of certain amino-terminal domains of individual PDE4D constructs expressing green fluorescent protein (NT-PDE4D/GFP) in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Through the development of engineered NT-PDE4D/GFP expression plasmids, we were able to study the cell biological impacts associated with the overexpression of individual PDE4D amino-terminal variants in HASMCs. We show that NT-PDE4D5/GFP and NT-PDE4D7/GFP expressing cells exhibited an elongated cell morphology, where this effect was much more marked in NT-PDE4D7/GFP expressing cells, exhibiting multiple leading edge structures and highly elongated “tails”. We identify a potential role for PDE4D7 targeting in the regulation of cell polarity and migration. Our results suggest the novel idea that PDE4D7, rather than the four other long PDE4D isoforms (PDE4D3, PDE4D5, PDE4D8, or PDE4D9), represents the dominant PDE4D variant involved in controlling cAMP-mediated effects on cell tail retraction dynamics. / Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2014-03-13 13:00:31.684 / Video I: Time-lapse video of GFP-expressing cell migration in HASMC. GFP expressing cells did not differ in cell migration or morphology compared to non-injected control cells. HASMCs were microinjected with GFP construct. Representative images of micoinjected GFP cells were taken 24 h post-injection overnight at 30min intervals using a Zeiss Axiovert S100 microscope and processed as described in Materials & Methods. (10X) / Video II: Time-lapse video of NT-PDE4D7/GFP-expressing cell migration in HASMC. NT-PDE4D7/GFP expressing cells exhibit elongated tail and decrease in cell migration compared to non-injected control cells. HASMCs were microinjected with NT-PDE4D7/GFP construct. Particle tracking of NT-PDE4D7 cells showed cleaving and full detachment of elongated tail. Representative images of micoinjected NT-PDE4D7 cells were taken 24 h post-injection overnight at 30min intervals using a Zeiss Axiovert S100 microscope and processed as described in Materials & Methods. (10X)

Predictive multiple suppression methods consist of two main steps: a prediction step, in which multiples are predicted from the seismic data, and a subtraction step, in which the predicted multiples are matched with the true multiples in the data. The last step appears crucial in practice: an incorrect adaptive subtraction method will cause multiples to be sub-optimally subtracted or primaries being distorted, or both. Therefore, we propose a new domain for separation of primaries and multiples via the Curvelet transform. This transform maps the data into almost orthogonal localized events with a directional and spatial-temporal component. The multiples are suppressed by thresholding the input data at those Curvelet components where the predicted multiples have large amplitudes. In this way the more traditional filtering of predicted multiples to fit the input data is avoided. An initial field data example shows a considerable improvement in multiple suppression.

Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has been using 4D construction models (graphical illustration of the construction of a 3D building design with time as the 4th dimension) for many years to improve an existing construction schedule by identifying inconsistencies and out of sequence activities; reducing missing activities; and improving the ability to communicate construction plan information. In practice, majority of the AEC industry has been using a personal computer based monitor to view and analyze these models. A study on investigating the potential benefits and challenges of using an immersive 3D virtual environment to view 4D models proved that by interactively generating construction schedule in the immersive virtual environment, the construction professionals were able to identify design, constructability, sequencing, and interdisciplinary interfacing issues which resulted in the construction professionals being able to develop a plan that resulted in a 28% savings to their original schedule. The major shortcoming of these immersive virtual reality systems was the Building Information Models (BIM) had to be converted to a specific format before they can be visualized in the immersive virtual environments. This study is an attempt to address the shortcomings of the previous version of the BIM CAVE which had the control over the camera views for achieving an almost seamless immersive virtual environment by developing a new BIM CAVE application which synchronizes timelining of 4D construction sequence in BIM CAVE. The new BIM CAVE setup is run by a custom built application that makes use of the .Net API (Application Programming Interface) of the commercially available BIM application, Autodesk Navisworks 2012. The objective of this research is to investigate the effectiveness, potential benefits and challenges of timelining the 4D construction sequence in BIM CAVE developed at Texas A&M University by using a qualitative research methodology called phenomenological study. The findings of this research specify that timelining the 4D construction sequence in BIM CAVE has many potential benefits like better spatial perception which increases confidence of construction professionals over the schedule, better sequencing of construction activities, better communication of schedule, evaluating constructability issues, and training the work force. Thus, this research concludes that timelining the construction in BIM CAVE is effective over visualizing 4D construction on a single screen with some limitations mentioned in this research.

Recent research has enabled reconstruction of a scene from multiple images. These algorithms rely on assumptions that the scene does not change drastically from one photo to the next. Construction photographs, in particular, pose challenges for the existing algorithms. I propose a novel image-based reconstruction algorithm that overcomes these limitations and reconstructs a 4D indoor Manhattan model using construction photographs. Finally, I present a novel user interface that combines image-based rendering and intuitive 4D navigation controls to observe and explore the resulting reconstruction.

Recent research has enabled reconstruction of a scene from multiple images. These algorithms rely on assumptions that the scene does not change drastically from one photo to the next. Construction photographs, in particular, pose challenges for the existing algorithms. I propose a novel image-based reconstruction algorithm that overcomes these limitations and reconstructs a 4D indoor Manhattan model using construction photographs. Finally, I present a novel user interface that combines image-based rendering and intuitive 4D navigation controls to observe and explore the resulting reconstruction.

This research explores whether male risk taking emerges as a sexual display strategy in the presence of attractive women. Experiments 1 to 3 explored whether young males reported and engaged in more risk taking after viewing pictures of highly attractive females. Possible self-control mechanisms were investigated via working memory, reversal learning, and Stroop tasks. In addition, second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) was measured as a proxy for individual differences in testosterone. Viewing pictures of highly attractive females led to greater self-reported risk-taking. 2D:4D was found to moderate the effect on risk-taking behaviours, with increases for high, but decreases for low testosterone males. Digit ratio also moderated the effects observed on the Stroop and reversal learning tasks. Experiments 4 and 5 extended these findings to examine how power interacts with testosterone to influence risk taking and inhibitory control. As testosterone is as-sociated with the pursuit of power and status (Dabbs & Dabbs, 2000), high testoster-one individuals primed with power were expected to have little reason to disrupt the status quo and thus should be risk-avoidant. Conversely, high-testosterone individuals primed with low power were expected to use risk taking as a vehicle for pursuing po-tential gains to their status and resources. The findings from two experiments are con-sistent with these predictions. In Experiment 1, higher testosterone males (as indicated by second–fourth digit ratio) showed greater risk-taking when primed with low power. Experiment 2 replicated this effect and also showed that when primed with high power, higher testosterone males took fewer risks. The influence of power on Stroop performance was also moderated by individual differences in testosterone. Par-ticipants primed with high power showed better Stroop performance if they were lower in testosterone, whereas participants primed with low power showed better Stroop performance if they were higher in testosterone. These results suggest that greater executive control accompanies but does not underlie enhanced risk taking, caused by testosterone and power. Finally, results from a field experiment (Experiment 6) with skateboarders demon-strate that physical risk taking by young male skateboarders increases in the presence of an attractive female. This increased risk taking led to more successes but also more crash landings in front of the female observer. Mediational analyses suggest that this increase in risk taking is caused in part by elevated testosterone levels of men who performed in front of the attractive female. In addition, skateboarders’ risk taking was predicted by their performance on a reversal-learning task, reversal-learning perform-ance was disrupted by the presence of the attractive female, and the female’s presence moderated the observed relationship between risk taking and reversal learning. These results suggest that men use physical risk taking as a sexual display strategy, and they provide suggestive evidence regarding possible hormonal and neural mechanisms.

This research explores whether male risk taking emerges as a sexual display strategy in the presence of attractive women. Experiments 1 to 3 explored whether young males reported and engaged in more risk taking after viewing pictures of highly attractive females. Possible self-control mechanisms were investigated via working memory, reversal learning, and Stroop tasks. In addition, second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) was measured as a proxy for individual differences in testosterone. Viewing pictures of highly attractive females led to greater self-reported risk-taking. 2D:4D was found to moderate the effect on risk-taking behaviours, with increases for high, but decreases for low testosterone males. Digit ratio also moderated the effects observed on the Stroop and reversal learning tasks. Experiments 4 and 5 extended these findings to examine how power interacts with testosterone to influence risk taking and inhibitory control. As testosterone is as-sociated with the pursuit of power and status (Dabbs & Dabbs, 2000), high testoster-one individuals primed with power were expected to have little reason to disrupt the status quo and thus should be risk-avoidant. Conversely, high-testosterone individuals primed with low power were expected to use risk taking as a vehicle for pursuing po-tential gains to their status and resources. The findings from two experiments are con-sistent with these predictions. In Experiment 1, higher testosterone males (as indicated by second–fourth digit ratio) showed greater risk-taking when primed with low power. Experiment 2 replicated this effect and also showed that when primed with high power, higher testosterone males took fewer risks. The influence of power on Stroop performance was also moderated by individual differences in testosterone. Par-ticipants primed with high power showed better Stroop performance if they were lower in testosterone, whereas participants primed with low power showed better Stroop performance if they were higher in testosterone. These results suggest that greater executive control accompanies but does not underlie enhanced risk taking, caused by testosterone and power. Finally, results from a field experiment (Experiment 6) with skateboarders demon-strate that physical risk taking by young male skateboarders increases in the presence of an attractive female. This increased risk taking led to more successes but also more crash landings in front of the female observer. Mediational analyses suggest that this increase in risk taking is caused in part by elevated testosterone levels of men who performed in front of the attractive female. In addition, skateboarders’ risk taking was predicted by their performance on a reversal-learning task, reversal-learning perform-ance was disrupted by the presence of the attractive female, and the female’s presence moderated the observed relationship between risk taking and reversal learning. These results suggest that men use physical risk taking as a sexual display strategy, and they provide suggestive evidence regarding possible hormonal and neural mechanisms.

This research explores whether male risk taking emerges as a sexual display strategy in the presence of attractive women. Experiments 1 to 3 explored whether young males reported and engaged in more risk taking after viewing pictures of highly attractive females. Possible self-control mechanisms were investigated via working memory, reversal learning, and Stroop tasks. In addition, second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) was measured as a proxy for individual differences in testosterone. Viewing pictures of highly attractive females led to greater self-reported risk-taking. 2D:4D was found to moderate the effect on risk-taking behaviours, with increases for high, but decreases for low testosterone males. Digit ratio also moderated the effects observed on the Stroop and reversal learning tasks. Experiments 4 and 5 extended these findings to examine how power interacts with testosterone to influence risk taking and inhibitory control. As testosterone is as-sociated with the pursuit of power and status (Dabbs & Dabbs, 2000), high testoster-one individuals primed with power were expected to have little reason to disrupt the status quo and thus should be risk-avoidant. Conversely, high-testosterone individuals primed with low power were expected to use risk taking as a vehicle for pursuing po-tential gains to their status and resources. The findings from two experiments are con-sistent with these predictions. In Experiment 1, higher testosterone males (as indicated by second–fourth digit ratio) showed greater risk-taking when primed with low power. Experiment 2 replicated this effect and also showed that when primed with high power, higher testosterone males took fewer risks. The influence of power on Stroop performance was also moderated by individual differences in testosterone. Par-ticipants primed with high power showed better Stroop performance if they were lower in testosterone, whereas participants primed with low power showed better Stroop performance if they were higher in testosterone. These results suggest that greater executive control accompanies but does not underlie enhanced risk taking, caused by testosterone and power. Finally, results from a field experiment (Experiment 6) with skateboarders demon-strate that physical risk taking by young male skateboarders increases in the presence of an attractive female. This increased risk taking led to more successes but also more crash landings in front of the female observer. Mediational analyses suggest that this increase in risk taking is caused in part by elevated testosterone levels of men who performed in front of the attractive female. In addition, skateboarders’ risk taking was predicted by their performance on a reversal-learning task, reversal-learning perform-ance was disrupted by the presence of the attractive female, and the female’s presence moderated the observed relationship between risk taking and reversal learning. These results suggest that men use physical risk taking as a sexual display strategy, and they provide suggestive evidence regarding possible hormonal and neural mechanisms.