Design Principles Research Articles

How Do the Morphology and Crystal Facet of CeO2 Determine the Catalytic Activity toward NO Removal?

Cerium oxide (CeO2) exhibits application potential for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) with NH3 (NH3-SCR). The crystal facets and morphology of CeO2 have a vital impact on the catalytic performance of NH3-SCR. However, the precise influence mechanisms on SCR activity remain elusive. In this work, CeO2 is successfully synthesized with three distinct crystal facets and nine diverse morphologies. This investigation involves a comprehensive blend of theoretical analysis and experiments, to gain profound insights into the underlying mechanisms governing the SCR catalytic activity concerning morphology and crystal facets. By closely integrating density functional theory (DFT) calculations, Ab initio thermodynamic analysis, SCR catalytic activity experiments, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, it is discovered that the concentration of surface-active oxygen (O*) plays a pivotal role in determining the catalytic activity of CeO2 in SCR reactions, as opposed to factors like specific surface area or oxygen defect concentration. This experimental-theoretical joint study provides design principles of CeO2 catalysts for NO removal.

Toward Guidelines for Designing Holistic Integrated Information Visualizations for Time-Critical Contexts: Systematic Review.

With the extensive volume of information from various and diverse data sources, it is essential to present information in a way that allows for quick understanding and interpretation. This is particularly crucial in health care, where timely insights into a patient's condition can be lifesaving. Holistic visualizations that integrate multiple data variables into a single visual representation can enhance rapid situational awareness and support informed decision-making. However, despite the existence of numerous guidelines for different types of visualizations, this study reveals that there are currently no specific guidelines or principles for designing holistic integrated information visualizations that enable quick processing and comprehensive understanding of multidimensional data in time-critical contexts. Addressing this gap is essential for enhancing decision-making in time-critical scenarios across various domains, particularly in health care. This study aims to establish a theoretical foundation supporting the argument that holistic integrated visualizations are a distinct type of visualization for time-critical contexts and identify applicable design principles and guidelines that can be used to design for such cases. We systematically searched the literature for peer-reviewed research on visualization strategies, guidelines, and taxonomies. The literature selection followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The search was conducted across 6 databases: ACM Digital Library, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search was conducted up to August 2024 using the terms ("visualisations" OR "visualizations") AND ("guidelines" OR "taxonomy" OR "taxonomies"), with studies restricted to the English language. Of 936 papers, 46 (4.9%) were included in the final review. In total, 48% (22/46) related to providing a holistic understanding and overview of multidimensional data; 28% (13/46) focused on integrated presentation, that is, integrating or combining multidimensional data into a single visual representation; and 35% (16/46) pertained to time and designing for rapid information processing. In total, 65% (30/46) of the papers presented general information visualization or visual communication guidelines and principles. No specific guidelines or principles were found that addressed all the characteristics of holistic, integrated visualizations in time-critical contexts. A summary of the key guidelines and principles from the 46 papers was extracted, collated, and categorized into 60 guidelines that could aid in designing holistic integrated visualizations. These were grouped according to different characteristics identified in the systematic review (eg, gestalt principles, reduction, organization, abstraction, and task complexity) and further condensed into 5 main proposed guidelines. Holistic integrated information visualizations in time-critical domains are a unique use case requiring a unique set of design guidelines. Our proposed 5 main guidelines, derived from existing design theories and guidelines, can serve as a starting point to enable both holistic and rapid processing of information, facilitating better-informed decisions in time-critical contexts.

Sensing the shape of a surface by intracellular filaments.

The protein MreB, a homolog of eukaryotic actin, regulates the shape of bacteria like Escherichia coli by guiding new cell-wall insertion based on local curvature cues. However, the mechanism by which a nanometer-scale MreB filament "senses" the micron-scale curvature of the cell wall has remained a mystery. We introduce a biophysical model of the energetics of twisted and bent filaments bound to curved surfaces, which predicts that localization of filaments like MreB is sensitive to both mean and Gaussian curvature. The model captures experimentally measured curvature enrichment patterns and explains how MreB naturally localizes to saddle-shaped regions without energy-consuming processes. Beyond cell shape regulation, our work suggests design principles for synthetic systems that can sense and respond to surface shape.

The Effects of Modern Architecture on the Evolution of Mosques in Sulaymaniyah

Since the establishment of the Kurdistan Region Autonomy in 1991, extensive construction, including that of mosques, has reshaped the architectural environment. This phenomenon requires an examination of the evolved architectural features in new mosques and also raises questions about their alignment with the religious and symbolic objectives of mosque designs. This study focuses on the transformative impact of modern architectural styles on mosque evolution in Sulaymaniyah and uses an in-depth case study approach to analyze 23 contemporary mosques built over the past three decades. They blend traditional architecture with modern design principles, producing evolved features. The evolution in mosque designs raises questions about the alignment of new architectural features with the religious and symbolic objectives of mosque designs. This study employs indicator-based impact assessments to examine how modern features affect mosque evolution in terms of religious needs and mosque symbolism. Based on the literature of modern architecture and Islamic legitimacy, indicators of modern architecture and mosque design objectives were determined for further analysis. Then, the collected data from the field survey were analyzed through developed formulas. The results were converted to numerical values for use with the Pearson correlation coefficient, which identifies the causal relationship between modern architecture and design objectives. The results revealed that the overall influence of modern architecture on mosque evolution tends to be negative. Modern architectural styles have impacted mosques by increasing structural obstructions in 14%, reducing symbolic elements in 23%, and simplifying designs with fewer embellishments in 43% of all the cases. This study can assist decision-makers and designers in revising mosque design regulations; the issue has recently been the subject of ongoing debate in architects’ society.

ELMO: Enhanced Real-time LiDAR Motion Capture through Upsampling

This paper introduces ELMO, a real-time upsampling motion capture framework designed for a single LiDAR sensor. Modeled as a conditional autoregressive transformer-based upsampling motion generator, ELMO achieves 60 fps motion capture from a 20 fps LiDAR point cloud sequence. The key feature of ELMO is the coupling of the self-attention mechanism with thoughtfully designed embedding modules for motion and point clouds, significantly elevating the motion quality. To facilitate accurate motion capture, we develop a one-time skeleton calibration model capable of predicting user skeleton off-sets from a single-frame point cloud. Additionally, we introduce a novel data augmentation technique utilizing a LiDAR simulator, which enhances global root tracking to improve environmental understanding. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, we compare ELMO with state-of-the-art methods in both image-based and point cloud-based motion capture. We further conduct an ablation study to validate our design principles. ELMO's fast inference time makes it well-suited for real-time applications, exemplified in our demo video featuring live streaming and interactive gaming scenarios. Furthermore, we contribute a high-quality LiDAR-mocap synchronized dataset comprising 20 different subjects performing a range of motions, which can serve as a valuable resource for future research. The dataset and evaluation code are available at https://movin3d.github.io/ELMO_SIGASIA2024/

Confinement Effects and Manipulation Strategies of Nanocomposite Membranes towards Molecular Separation

AbstractMaterials featuring well‐defined nanoscale channels offer inherent advantages in the selective transport of gases, liquids, and ions, making them pivotal in applications such as molecular separation, catalysis and energy storage. A crucial challenge lies in assembling ordered nanochannel structures and translating these microscopic architectures into macroscopic regular distributions to enhance performance. Nanocomposites provide a promising solution by incorporating nanoscale material (e.g., filler) that significantly enhances macroscale properties of matrix (e.g., polymer). In this review, we spotlight nanocomposite membranes nanocomposite membranes that utilize confinement effects between filler and matrix to precisely control nanochannel apertures, surface properties, and channel distribution for efficient separation of target systems. We discussed the underlying design principles, channel architectures, and strategies for optimizing polymer‐filler interfaces and nanochannel manipulation within functional membranes. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental mechanisms of mass transport, and the structure‐property‐performance relationships within the nanocomposite membranes towards molecular separation. This work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these nanocomposite membranes can be further developed to meet the demands of industrial and environmental applications.

Availability Of Inclusive City Park Infrastructure (Case Study: Taman Tirto Agung Semarang)

City parks are places that support physical and social activities/discussions for all levels of society. Therefore, city park infrastructure needs to be accessible independently, even without the help of others. This research is located in Tirto Agung Park which is located in a mix-use area (education, housing, trade) so that park users come from various levels of society both in terms of age and competence. The method used in this study is qualitative with literature studies, and field observations were carried out to assess the availability and suitability of Tirto Agung Park infrastructure with the principles of universal design and the Regulation of the Minister of Public Works Number 14 of 2017 concerning Building Ease Requirements. The results of the analysis showed that Tirto Agung Park has shortcomings in providing facilities for users, especially people with disabilities, such as ramps (low physical effort), guiding blocks (simple and intuitive use), hand rails (equitable use), zebra crossings (tolerance for error) and wayfinding/signage (perceptible information). The recommendation in this study is to add, improve and maintain park facilities and infrastructure.

Identification of Determinants That Reduce Women’s Safety and Comfort in Urban Public Spaces (UPS)

Urban development and population growth present new challenges for developing urban public spaces (UPS) in cities. The significance of cities as centers of integration of different socio-cultural groups is growing. Taking into account the diversity of needs and expectations of sensory-sensitive groups (women) as residents and users of urban public spaces is a key task facing modern city managers. Women’s public participation is relevant and important, because recognizing their needs and taking them into account in urban spatial policy contributes to creating cities tailored to the needs and expectations of residents and users, according to the principle of “everyone-important”. This article has goals for the identification of factors that reduce the safety and comfort of women’s activities and the most important architectural features UPS. The results of the research indicate that the determinants that reduce the friendliness of safety and comfort in UPS are a lack of lighting, lack of esthetics of space development, lack of benches and toilets, and street noise. A space tailored to women’s needs and expectations should be well-lit with a level walking and sidewalk surface and include architectural infrastructure elements such as adequate municipal sanitation (toilets), benches and urban furniture, with landscaped green space (squares, flowerbeds, trees), which is in line with the principles of universal design. This study’s results found that such factors can help create safe, egalitarian, and inclusive cities. They complete the research gap in the field of sustainable urban development and are key to developing gender-equitable urban planning and urban development policy practices.

Optimum Geometry of Double-skin Self-Shading Facade of Classrooms with the Aim of Creating Energy Saving and Visual Comfort in Isfahan Province, Iran

The significant energy consumption in educational spaces worldwide and its environmental impact greatly influence the quality of space, learning levels, and student comfort. Despite offering free school energy costs, developing countries like Iran have not established specific design principles to ensure student comfort. Additionally, the poor design of school building exteriors, such as the common installation of large, unshaded windows in Iranian schools, causes glare issues. The primary objective of this study is to control direct sunlight and increase shading, thereby reducing its impact on energy consumption and enhancing visual comfort. This paper proposes a novel solution that combines a self-shading facade with a double-skin facade for classroom spaces. The study variables, involving the modification of the geometry of the double-skin self-shading facade via DesignBuilder software and the Daysim plugin, were compared to a simple double-layer facade. Based on the results, the optimal scenario for the self-shading double-skin façade with the specifications of a triangular pyramid module shape, ridge position fold 3/2 the module height, cavity depth 7.0, and number of module 2×2 exhibited 40% lower cooling load, 25% lower heating load, and 95% lower lighting load than a simple double-skin facade. At the same time, all scenarios of the new solution provided better visual comfort and daylighting criteria compared to the simple double-skin facade. The modularity and use of indigenous brick materials in the double-skin self-shading facade design reduce construction costs.

Algae-Derived Nacre-like Dielectric Bionanocomposite with High Loading Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Green Electronics.

The surging demand for electronics is causing detrimental environmental consequences through massive electronic waste production. Urgently shifting toward renewable and eco-friendly materials is crucial for fostering a green circular economy. Herein, we develop a multifunctional bionanocomposite using an algae-derived carbohydrate biopolymer (alginate) and boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) that can be readily employed as a multifunctional dielectric material. The adopted rational design principle includes spatial locking of superhigh loading of BNNS via hydrogel casting followed by layer-by-layer assembly via solvent evaporation, successive cross-link engineering, and hot pressing. We harness the hierarchical assembly of BNNS and the molecular interaction of alginates with BNNS to achieve synergistic material properties with excellent mechanical robustness (tensile strength ∼135 MPa, Young's modulus ∼18 GPa), flexibility, thermal conductivity (∼4.5 W m-1 K-1), flame retardance, and dielectric properties (dielectric constant ∼7, dielectric strength ∼400 V/μm, and maximum energy density ∼4.33 J/cm3) that outperform traditional synthetic polymer dielectrics. Finally, we leverage the synergistic material properties of our engineered bionanocomposite to showcase its potential in green electronic applications, for example, supercapacitors and flexible interconnects. The supercapacitor device consisting of aerosol jet-printed single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes on our engineered bionanocomposite demonstrated a volumetric capacitance of ∼7 F/cm3 and robust rate capability, while the printed silver interconnects maintained conductivity in various deformed states (i.e., bending or flexing).

An analysis of the use of 3D game engine technology in visualising sustainability data

Purpose Responding to calls for accountants to engage with modern technologies and explore data visualisation within a three-dimensional (3D) environment, this study aims to explore whether social and environmental accounting (SEA) data visualisation is a promising use case for 3D game engine technology. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on visual perception and embodiment theories, this study uses photo-elicitation, a qualitative research method, to explore the usefulness of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D visualisations of sustainability information in a 3D virtual environment. This study provides three stimuli: numerical data, 2D visualisations and 3D visualisations, and asks open-ended questions regarding future applications. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with academics, preparers and users of sustainability reports to obtain responses to these stimuli. Findings The key finding is that visualisation of SEA information may indeed be a strong use case for 3D game technology, but only for certain data and for certain audiences. Presenting information within a 3D virtual environment offered enhanced engagement and contextual understanding but reduced navigation speed and data clarity. Participants were enthusiastic about the potential of a museum-like experience, incorporating interactivity and community, but felt that the appropriate audience was more likely to be novices than experts. Practical implications This study suggests that deploying 3D game engine technology can be a powerful tool for presenting sustainability information but requires significant resources. The optimum audience is likely to be novices, and a key design principle is to ensure the virtual environment supports, rather than overwhelms, the information presented within that environment. Originality/value This study introduces a novel application of 3D visualisation technology within the SEA context, offering original insights into its potential to enhance user understanding and decision-making capabilities. This study highlights the technology’s value not as a replacement for traditional reporting but as a supplementary educational tool. The study also provides a novel setting for the photo-elicitation method, demonstrating this approach’s utility in a 3D environment.

A Systematic Review of Working Memory Applications for Children with Learning Difficulties: Transfer Outcomes and Design Principles

Working memory (WM) is a crucial cognitive function, and a deficit in this function is a critical factor in learning difficulties (LDs). As a result, there is growing interest in exploring different approaches to training WM to support students with LDs. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review aims to identify current computer-based WM training applications and their theoretical foundations, explore their effects on improving WM capacity and other cognitive/academic abilities, and extract design principles for creating an effective WM application for children with LDs. The 22 studies selected for this review provide strong evidence that children with LDs have low WM capacity and that their WM functions can be trained. The findings revealed four commercial WM training applications—COGMED, Jungle, BrainWare Safari, and N-back—that were utilized in 16 studies. However, these studies focused on suggesting different types of WM tasks and examining their effects rather than making those tasks user-friendly or providing practical guidelines for the end-user. To address this gap, the principles of the Human–Computer Interaction, with a focus on usability and user experience as well as relevant cognitive theories, and the design recommendations from the selected studies have been reviewed to extract a set of proposed guidelines. A total of 15 guidelines have been extracted that can be utilized to design WM training programs specifically for children with LDs.

Visual Branding of Universitas Negeri Padang Eartquake and Tsunami Disaster Rensponse

Padang is a city prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. Universitas Negeri Padang is one of the universities that focuses on public services. Therefore, it plays an active role in disaster preparedness, including by providing lecture buildings with mitigation shelters. This is done to support the government in reducing casualties due to earthquake and tsunami disasters. This research uses the Research and Development method, which produces visual branding in the form of UNPSIGAP's visual identity based on design principles and logos. So that it can build a positive brand image as an earthquake and tsunami disaster response university.

Integrating learner-centered design and user-centered design for meaningful instructor onboarding: Supporting large-scale curricular changes to general education

Supporting instructors through large-scale curricular changes to cross-disciplinary programs such as general education is a complex challenge. In this case-based narrative, we describe how one large R1 university in the Southwest United States developed and implemented an instructor support program during a large-scale general education program redesign for a program that had not been substantively revised since 1998. This program typically offers about 500 courses each semester and is taught by roughly 650 instructors. To support the phased rollout of the new program curriculum, we designed and implemented a Quick Start program to support instructors revising courses for the new program, serving over 400 instructors during its first year of implementation. We discuss our integration of learner-centered design principles (McCombs & Whisler, 1997; Weimer, 2013) to guide the development of the Quick Start program and user-centered design principles (Greer & Harris, 2018; Tham, 2022) to create accessible, useful, and context-driven learning content for the instructors. While these frameworks have been integrated in the past to develop learning materials for students (Jones, 2018; Shivers-McNair et al., 2018), our case-based descriptive analysis presents a novel application of this integration for faculty development. We describe how we integrated these principles to design, scale, iterate, and implement instructor onboarding to the new curriculum. Specifically, we offer four guiding pillars: (i) creating an aligned learning experience, (ii) building an instructional community, (iii) foregrounding an asset-based approach, and (iv) creating useful and usable materials to operationalize such an integration of learner-centered and user-centered design approaches for faculty development.

Inclusive Public Toilets: A Universal Design Enquiry for Indian Context.

Public toilets fulfil an essential need for all human beings. In the context of India, the diversity of population implies a diverse set of complex barriers in the public toilet experience. Inclusion and the contextual translation of universal design becomes crucial, considering the distinct socio-cultural dimensions. This study intends to enquire the above-mentioned perspective and contribute towards an understanding of inclusion and universal design in public toilets. The methodology is a three-part process including literature review, experiential case reflections and ethnographic field perspectives. The gathered data is mapped thematically and assessed qualitatively, based on the existing principles of universal design. The insights from the assessment highlight the need for contextualization of existing universal design principles, bringing out a multi-dimensional complexity of inclusion across human needs, behaviour, physical, planning and service aspects. This study paves a way forward for evolving design directions by raising further questions through fresh perspectives on inclusion & accessibility in public toilets. The raised questions contribute to a dilemma of standardisation versus contextual customisation around the understanding of inclusion and universal design, focusing on the scenario of Indian public toilets.

Should Student Coursework Be Universally Designed? Universal Design Requirements May Prevent Academic Cheating.

This study explores the proposition of requiring students to hand in universally designed coursework and the transferrable benefits of accessibility audits. Coursework that adheres to universal design (UD) principles will be more accessible to fellow students and teachers. In this study we investigate if the universal design perspective can have positive side effects as a vessel for plagiarism detection. An experiment confirmed that an accessibility checking tool indeed can help flag some cheating attempts that go undetected by the plagiarism detection tool, but not all. Universal designed coursework requirements may prevent students from exploiting several of these cheating techniques. Through the process of preparing universally designed assignments, students will gain practice, knowledge, increased competence, and awareness of UD.

Universal Design in University Environments. Are the New Buildings More Inclusive? A Tool for Equal Design Assessment.

This study explores the application of Universal Design (UD) principles to university environments, aiming to improve the experiences of students and staff by fostering inclusivity in educational and social spaces. The research began with a literature review and employed the 'Design for All A.U.D.I.T.' tool, developed by Politecnico di Milano. This tool was adapted to evaluate six buildings across two universities in Milan:Politecnico di Milano and Statale University. The buildings ranged from the most recent to medium-aged and the oldest on each campus. The assessment focused on three main categories-physical, social, and sensory-cognitive quality-across eight key areas, including outdoor environments, entrances, halls, horizontal and vertical circulation, restrooms, classrooms, and study/leisure spaces. A binary scoring system was used to calculate the satisfaction of requirements, previously weighted by experts. The evaluation revealed that newer buildings generally scored higher on average (77%) compared to those from the 1960s (62%) and historical ones (67%). Despite higher scores, newer constructions often prioritized educational spaces over social and leisure areas, resulting in a lack of student gathering spaces. Significant issues included poor entrance design, inadequate wayfinding strategies, and a lack of inclusive classroom features, although restroom facilities consistently demonstrated good accessibility. The most recent building atPolitecnico di Milano scored highest overall but struggled in leisure and study rooms, as did the new building at Statale University. This research highlights both the current state and potential for improvement in university architecture through the lens of UD. The study underscores that innovative design does not always equate to user satisfaction and provides an objective tool to aid decision-makers in enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of university spaces, ultimately improving the well-being of all users.

The Use of Card-Game Design to Teach Universal Design Theory.

This paper discusses the use of a card-game design task to teach the implementation of Universal Design (UD) principles to undergraduate students. The underlying assumption is that in order to implement UD methods, designers need to select the right tools to gather information and they need to understand the theoretical basis of the tools chosen. The aim is to bridge the theory/practice gap by getting students to actively consider how each aspect of their design research contribute to the implementation of the theory. Work by Herriott (2023) shows that design researchers are not consistent in explaining or making transparent the underlying reasons for why a UD tool was chosen. UD theory is also somewhat weak on the topic of implementation, a necessary element of design theory according to Jones & Gregor (2007). The didactic purpose of the card-game design was to encourage students to become conscious of the reason they chose the design tools eventually used in their course project. It was also to examine how, from a UD theory standpoint, implementation of UD could be enhanced since this aspect of UD theory appears to be in need of reinforcement. The students developed in class a card-game which could be used to create and advance their designs and also to retrospectively analyse them upon completion. The in-class discussion of what was required for a game also focused studentst' attention to the elements of UD and their possible implementation. The work shows that more time is needed to explain game design; mapping of UD concept to game affordances is necessary; the course learning outcomes require addition of demonstration of theory-to-implementation.

Limiting possibilities of detecting cracks in ferromagnetic structures through an anti-corrosion coating using a smartphone based eddy current flaw detector

Detection of cracks in ferromagnetic steel structures by the eddy current method is often limited by additional noise associated with magnetic and structural heterogeneity, especially when it is necessary to detect structural cracks through a layer of dielectric anti-corrosion coating. A promissing approach to problem solution is based on the use of selective eddy current probes, which include the eddy current probes of double differential type. One of the features of such eddy current is the possibility of detecting hidden defects even through a layer of dielectric anti-corrosion coating. In this paper, the limiting possibilities of crack detection using an improved low-frequency eddy current probe of double-differential type with a diameter of 15 mm and a smartphone based eddy current flaw detector were investigated. This probe provides a high depth of penetration necessary to detect defects under the dielectric coating. The greater depth of penetration of this probe is achieved by increasing the diameter of the windings, the distance between them and the number of turns. The research was carried out using a rectangular specimen, in which a large crack (or through wall structure fracture) was simulated by a joint of two identical polished rectangular parts. The assembled specimen was covered with dielectric plates of different thicknesses up to 25 mm thick to simulate anti-corrosion coating of different thicknesses. It is shown, in particular, the possibility of detecting large cracks or structural fractures through an anti-corrosion dielectric coating up to 25 mm thick. The principle of design of an eddy current flaw detector based on a smartphone using the EddySmart application, which can provide remote control of ferromagnetic steel structures with wireless transmission of inspection results via mobile communication channels and the use of autonomous automated scanners, is considered.

Dynamic Resource Allocation: Algorithmic Design Principles and Spectrum of Achievable Performances

In “Dynamic Resource Allocation: Algorithmic Design Principles and Spectrum of Achievable Performances,” O. Besbes, Y. Kanoria, and A. Kumar consider a broad class of dynamic resource allocation problems and study the performance of practical algorithms. In particular, they focus on the interplay between the distribution of request types and achievable performance, given the broad set of configurations that can be encountered in practical settings. Although prior literature studied either a small number of request types or a continuum of types with no gaps, the present work allows for a large class of type distributions. Using initially the prototypical multisecretary problem to explore fundamental performance limits as a function of type distribution properties, the authors develop a new algorithmic property “conservativeness with respect to gaps” that guarantees near-optimal performance. In turn, they introduce a practically motivated, simulation-based algorithm and establish its near-optimal performance, not only for multisecretary problems, but also for general dynamic resource allocation problems.