Design Study Research Articles

First-Year Architectural Design Studio in Action: Insights from the ‘Timberscapes' Design-Build Experience

The "Design-Build" approach in design studios emphasizes hands-on learning and 1:1 scale production in dynamic environments that encourage teamwork, material understanding, bodily awareness, and collaborative decision-making. This study presents a design-build experience titled “Timberscapes” for the final project in the "Design Studies" studio during the Spring semester of the 2021-22 academic year at Bahçeşehir University, Architecture Department. The project explored collaborative design interventions in the campus's limited open spaces. Over five weeks, students identified campus needs through personal experiences and developed spatial proposals in teams. Three projects were selected involving student participation for different campus locations. In the second phase, due to the unavailability of conditions for their implementation, the projects were further developed with new divisions of labor and expert consultations. The studio problem emphasized dialogue and negotiation in team-based processes, structured in two stages with changing teams and responsibilities for students. This paper presents the experimental studio process and student outputs, and investigates its contributions for the students. The method involves a literature review of past experiences with design-build method, the pedagogy of teamwork in the design studio, potentials of timber as a sustainable material to be flexibly used in architectural education and presents the current experience as a staged case study. The paper discusses the case study’s gains in creating a dynamic negotiation environment in the first-year architectural design studio, and highlights the practical limitations and future implications of the applied process.

Design, synthesis, in-vitro and in-silico anticancer studies on amide derivatives of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-isoxazol-pyridine-benzimidazole

Design, synthesis, in-vitro and in-silico anticancer studies on amide derivatives of 1,3,4-oxadiazole-isoxazol-pyridine-benzimidazole

Culture and Sketching: Comparative Analysis of UK and Chinese Designers

ABSTRACTThis research investigates the influence of culture on sketching by comparing UK and Chinese designers. We employed a novel dual‐method approach: machine learning algorithms analyzed a dataset of 2,090 digitized sketches from student designers, while protocol analysis based on shape transformation rules examined the sketching processes of professional designers from both cultures. The machine learning analysis classified sketches by extracting region‐ and shape‐based features, revealing distinctive visual attributes between the two cultures. Concurrently, protocol studies of professional designers' sketches uncovered patterns in their sketching processes. By integrating computational analyses of student sketches with protocol studies of professional designers, we identified significant cultural differences in both visual attributes and sketching processes. The paper discusses potential factors contributing to these disparities, drawing on insights from cross‐cultural comparisons of cognitive styles. This comprehensive mixed‐methods analysis provides new insights into the complex interplay between culture, cognition, and design.

Optimization Design Study of Pipe Curtain Freezing Scheme for Sanya Estuary Submarine Channel

The artificial freezing construction technology, compared to other methods, offers several advantages, including superior waterproofing capabilities and the absence of environmental pollution. This technique is particularly prevalent in the construction of tunnels in challenging environments, where the dynamics of the freezing temperature field during the freezing process have consistently been a key area of interest during actual construction activities. In the Sanya Estuary Channel Submarine Tunnel Project, a three-dimensional transient model was developed using COMSOL finite element software to deeply analyze the formation and temperature distribution of the permafrost curtain. Two alternative schemes were designed to improve the original design by optimizing the layout of the permafrost pipeline. Comparative analysis shows that the isotherm −10 °C intersected at 14 days in the original scheme, 23 days in Optimized Scheme 1, and 24 days in Optimized Scheme 2, indicating a 10-day delay in Scheme 2 versus the original, yet still meeting the 25-day deadline. After 40 days of active freezing, the greatest difference in permafrost curtain thickness was observed at the east wall (downstream), with Scheme 2 differing by 1.05 m from the original and by 0.23 m from Scheme 1. Scheme 2 achieved an average permafrost curtain thickness of 4.18 m around the tunnel, exceeding the 3.5-m design requirement. The mean temperatures in the strong and weak freezing zones of Scheme 2 were below −10 °C and −8 °C, respectively, aligning with design standards. Given the conservative nature of the initial plan, Optimized Scheme 2 is highly practical for implementation and offers significant cost savings.

Design and Evaluation of a Mobile Health Application for Self-Care of Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: Participatory Design Study

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a significant complication of diabetes, potentially leading to vision loss. Effective self-care and management are crucial to prevent its progression. Mobile Health (mHealth) applications offer a promising solution for supporting DR patients in self-care by providing continuous monitoring, education, and reminders. Objectives: This Participatory Design study aimed to create and assess a mobile health app to help diabetic retinopathy patients manage their condition through self-care. Methods: This practical research was carried out in 2024 over two stages: Design and Evaluation. First, we determined the functional requirements and developed a conceptual model of the application using Microsoft Visio 2021. In the next stage, we evaluated the application using the Mobile Application Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) and gathered feedback from patients with diabetic retinopathy to understand their views on the application's usability. Results: The application's main features included reminders, alerts, educational content, and useful links. Thirty users with diabetic retinopathy participated in the usability testing. The participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with the application (mean score: 5.67 ± 1.04 out of a maximum of 7.00). Conclusions: The mHealth application for diabetic retinopathy self-care demonstrated high usability and potential to support patients in managing their condition. Future work should focus on integrating more advanced features and conducting long-term studies to assess the app's impact on clinical outcomes.

Stem subsidence in total hip arthroplasty: retrospective investigation of a short stem using a simple measurement approach

BackgroundUncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful treatment for advanced hip joint diseases. More recently, short stems became increasingly popular, but stem subsidence remains a concern. This study investigates early short stem subsidence in a large patient cohort using a simple measurement approach for everyday practice.MethodsThis retrospective, single center, single implant design study included 1000 patients with primary THA. Subsidence was evaluated using standardized weight-bearing radiographs taken 3–5 days and 2–3 weeks postoperatively with full weight-bearing (FWB). A novel Subsidence Index (SID) was introduced to quantify stem subsidence in a simple and reproducible manner. The SID is calculated by averaging four distinct linear measurements between defined anatomical landmarks on the femur and the implant, captured on standard radiographs without additional software.ResultsOut of all analyzed patients 6% (60/1000) had subsidence of more than 3 mm. The mean subsidence was 1.3 mm (range, 0 to 16.25 mm).There were 0.6% (6) who underwent stem revision for symptomatic subsidence. Men and obese patients had greater subsidence. However, patient age, BMI, stems without lateral bone contact and other demographic factors were not associated with subsidence.ConclusionEarly subsidence is relatively frequent with this uncemented short stem, however revisions are rare. Patients with risk factors should be counseled regarding FWB and radiographic controls should be performed. The SID provides an easy, non-invasive and inexpensive tool for early subsidence assessment; however, its simplicity limits its accuracy. Further research is needed in comparison to more elaborate methods.

Prognostic accuracy of blood cell count ratios in predicting adverse outcomes in crush syndrome patients

The rationale behind this study was the lack of an accurate predictor to facilitate treatment management and anticipate prognosis in crush syndrome. Our research aimed to investigate the following: (1) Is there a correlation between the ratios of blood cell counts upon admission and the adverse outcomes of crush syndrome? and (2) if such a correlation exists, what are the precise thresholds of blood cell count ratios for predicting these adverse outcomes? In this single-centered and retrospective design study, we analyzed all patients admitted to our hospital after Kahramanmaras Earthquake. The data on length of stay in the ICU and mortality status were obtained using our hospital system. Ratios of blood cell count were calculated and recorded at the time of admission. The NLR values in admission were significantly higher in patients with amputation, patients who received intensive care unit (ICU), and patients who died. (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The MLR values were significantly increased in patients who underwent amputation and patients who received ICU (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). NAR values in admission were significantly higher in patients with amputation, patients who received intensive care unit (ICU), and patients who died (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). In addition, according to binary logistic regression analysis, with a CLR value of > 109.844, the risk of amputation increases 8.188 fold; with a CLR value of > 64.518, the possibility of ICU admission requirement increases 10.117 fold, and with a CLR value of > 116.00, the risk of death increases 5.519 fold. Ratios of blood cell count such as NLR, MLR, NAR, and CLR offer a reasonable prognostic accuracy in predicting adverse outcomes and mortality in patients with crush syndrome. Therefore, for better disaster management in the future, the determination of these values at admission should be used as an adjunct tool for predicting prognosis in patients with crush syndrome.

Examining Science Teachers’ Conceptions of Student Interest as a Consideration in Designing Assessments

ABSTRACT A key goal of science education articulated in A Framework for K-12 Science Education is to create opportunities for students to answer questions about the world that connect to their interests, experiences, and identities. Interest can be seen as a malleable relationship between a person and object (such a phenomenon students might study). In this paper, we analyzed data from a design study of an online course focused on preparing 11 secondary teachers to design three-dimensional tasks that align to the Next Generation Science Standards and that connect to students’ interests. Our data sources were teachers’ descriptions of their design decisions about what phenomena to use to anchor assessment, designed assessment tasks, and interviews with them about those decisions. We found that interest was an important consideration for assessment design, but teachers considered student interests in different ways. Some teachers shifted their views of what it meant to engage student interests in the context of assessment design over the course of their participation in professional learning. Most teachers made decisions about what they believed their students were interested in based on their knowledge of students or beliefs about their students’ interests. In supporting teachers to design summative assessments that link to students’ interest, it is critical to assume teachers bring a range of conceptions of interest and to consider the feasibility and utility of task design tools from teachers’ point of view.

Current Implementation of Digital Health in Chronic Disease Management: Scoping Review.

Approximately 1 in 3 adults live with multiple chronic diseases. Digital health is being harnessed to improve continuity of care and management of chronic diseases. However, meaningful uptake of digital health for chronic disease management remains low. It is unclear how these innovations have been implemented and evaluated. This scoping review aims to identify how digital health innovations for chronic disease management have been implemented and evaluated: what implementation frameworks, methods, and strategies were used; how successful these strategies were; key barriers and enablers to implementation; and lessons learned and recommendations shared by study authors. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Five databases were searched for studies published between January 2015 and March 2023: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and IEEE Xplore. We included primary studies of any study design with any type of digital health innovations for chronic diseases that benefit patients, caregivers, or health care professionals. We extracted study characteristics; type of digital health innovation; implementation frameworks, strategies, and outcome measures used; barriers and enablers to implementation; lessons learned; and recommendations reported by study authors. We used established taxonomies to synthesize extracted data. Extracted barriers and enablers were grouped into categories for reporting. Descriptive statistics were used to consolidate extracted data. A total of 252 studies were included, comprising mainly mobile health (107/252, 42.5%), eHealth (61/252, 24.2%), and telehealth (97/252, 38.5%), with some studies involving more than 1 innovation. Only 23 studies (23/252, 9.1%) reported using an implementation science theory, model, or framework; the most common were implementation theories, classic theories, and determinant frameworks, with 7 studies each. Of 252 studies, 144 (57.1%) used 2 to 5 implementation strategies. Frequently used strategies were "obtain and use patient or consumer feedback" (196/252, 77.8%); "audit and provide feedback" (106/252, 42.1%); and piloting before implementation or "stage implementation scale-up" (85/252, 33.7%). Commonly measured implementation outcomes were acceptability, feasibility, and adoption of the digital innovation. Of 252 studies, 247 studies (98%) did not measure service outcomes, while patient health outcomes were measured in 89 studies (35.3%). The main method used to assess outcomes was surveys (173/252, 68.7%), followed by interviews (95/252, 37.7%). Key barriers impacting implementation were data privacy concerns and patient preference for in-person consultations. Key enablers were training for health care workers and personalization of digital health features to patient needs. This review generated a summary of how digital health in chronic disease management is currently implemented and evaluated and serves as a useful resource for clinicians, researchers, health system managers, and policy makers planning real-world implementation. Future studies should investigate whether using implementation science frameworks, including how well they are used, would yield better outcomes compared to not using them.

Chatbots in complaint handling: the moderating role of humor

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot technology is increasingly used to handle customer complaints in the service recovery process. Built on the justice theory, this paper aims to explore the optimal way to utilize chatbots in handling customer complaints for service failure recovery and the moderating role of humor. Design/methodology/approach Two scenario-based between-subjects experimental design studies were conducted to examine the two aspects of justice in service failure recovery: Study 1 focuses on procedural justice manifested as perceived control and Study 2 on interactional justice assessed as social presence. Furthermore, the moderating role of humor is investigated. Findings The results indicate that both perceived control and social presence can improve chatbots’ effectiveness in handling service failures to regain customer satisfaction and the consequent revisit intention. However, humor shows opposite effects in the two studies: chatbots using humorous language in complaint handling may attenuate the positive effect of perceived control but enhance the positive effect of social presence. Practical implications The findings provide practical guidelines to the service industry regarding the optimal service design and technology deployment in customer service, particularly for an effective service failure recovery process. Originality/value This research contributes to the service failure recovery literature by investigating how the new service technology of AI-powered chatbots can effectively handle customer complaints for service failure recovery. Furthermore, the research reveals the nuanced effects of humor in different complaint-handling situations.

Integrating axiomatic design and design structure matrix into model‐based systems engineering: A case study for emergency response space mission design

AbstractWith the increasing complexity of space missions due to technological advancements, model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) has become a new paradigm for systems engineering (SE), providing a more formal and accurate system engineering process while reducing costs. However, MBSE does not offer a comprehensive approach for effective system function design. This study introduces a conceptual design approach that integrates axiomatic design (AD) and design structure matrix (DSM) into the MBSE paradigm and applies it to functional and logical design. The research focuses on utilizing the design knowledge encapsulated by system models to facilitate the development of new systems. System models have the potential to bridge different design domains in AD, reveal implicit associations, and offer functional and structural analysis capabilities. To validate our approach, we conducted a case study on an Emergency Response Remote Sensing mission system. This case study demonstrates that our proposed methodology lends formality to traditional AD by deriving AD matrices and DSMs from a system model, thereby enhancing the system's structure while curtailing elemental alterations during iterative design processes. The novelty of this research lies in realizing the integration of traditional design theory with the model paradigm of SE, leading to an effective design solution during the functional and logical design stages.

Latent Thermal Energy Storage for Cooling Demands in Battery Electric Vehicles: Development of a Dimensionless Model for the Identification of Effective Heat-Transferring Structures

Thermal energy storage (TES) systems open up alternative paths for air conditioning to increase the range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by reducing power consumption. The central prerequisites for this purpose are high storage densities: high-temperature TES systems are being focused on for heat demands, while effective solutions for cooling are missing. Due to their lower temperature potentials, concepts with high storage capacities and heat transports between the storage and cold transferring medium are needed. Latent TES systems based on water enable these capacities but require adequate internal structures for effective heat transfer. Due to the large number of geometric options, high simulation efforts must be conducted to identify favored structures, or the possible design space must be limited for investigations. For this purpose and for the first time, an alternative way is presented using newly developed dimensionless models in a top-down methodology for time-efficient design studies and evaluations. These models were successfully validated and used as a design tool to identify effective structures in latent TES systems for cooling demands in BEVs. A wide array of variation studies on tube, finned plate and novel Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) structures were performed and uniformly evaluated with regard to storage densities, cooling efficiencies and geometry. The results show high storage densities for novel TPMS structures, including the enclosure of 100 Wh/kg or 102.2 kWh/m3 with average cooling capacities of 1 kW over 30 min, confirming the usability of latent TES systems in terms of compactness and efficiency for cooling demands in BEVs.

Evaluation of General Entrepreneurship Programme Curriculum in Tertiary Institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria

Entrepreneurship programme has recently been discussed as the only solution to the unemployment ravaging the country. Using epistemological approach of the quantitative case study of the descriptive research design, this study assessed the general entrepreneurship programme curriculum in tertiary institutions in Ogun State. This was with a view to providing information on the extent of implementation of the entrepreneurship programme curriculum in Tertiary institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria. Directors of three higher institutions of learning (one University, one Polytechnic and one College of Education) were purposively selected based on compliance with the requirements for entrepreneurship programme. The results showed that the entrepreneurship programme curriculum in tertiary institutions in Ogun State was not effectively implemented. Also, it was discovered that only 37.4% of the courses had written curriculum. In addition, it was discovered that only 35.4% written curriculum are available for the entrepreneurship programme courses. Based on the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended that more skill acquisition courses should be embraced as stipulated by the federal government and experts should be employed to design written curriculum for entrepreneurship courses in tertiary institutions in Ogun state among others.

New thiazolidin-4-ones as anti-cervical cancer agents targeting EGFR: design, synthesis, and computational studies.

A new series of 3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2 h)-ylidene)hydrazineylidene)-5-substituted thiazolidin-4-one derivatives were designed and synthesized. The new compounds were screened for in vitro antitumor activity against Hela cancer cell line. The compounds 7b, 7 h, and 7i produced more potent cytotoxicity than doxorubicin with IC50 values of 1.83 ± 0.1, 2.54 ± 0.14, 2.75 ± 0.15, and 3.63 ± 0.2 μM, respectively. They also showed a promising safety profile against WI-38 normal cells. In addition, compound 7b produced a promising multi-kinase inhibition against EGFR (WT) while being very selective toward the mutant forms (L858R and T790M) with IC50 values of 0.099 ± 0.006, 0.064 ± 0.006, and 0.026 ± 0.007 μM, respectively, in comparison to gefitinib and osimertinib. A study of the cell cycle in Hela cells showed that 7b arrests cell cycle in the pre-G1 phase and causes early and late apoptosis. Eventually, the molecular docking results showed that 7b had good-binding interactions with EGFRWT, EGFRL858R, and EGFRT790M. Compound 7b was predicted to have promising oral absorption, good drug-likeness, and low toxicity risks in humans. Moreover, MD simulations confirmed the stable complexes of 7b with EGFRWT, EGFRL858R, and EGFRT790M (with RMSD 0.12-0.35 nm, RMSF 0.2-0.55 nm, SASA 140-150, and Rg 1.80-2.00 nm).

Co-design as a research method in doctoral research: asking the right questions

This paper is concerned with the act of co-designing as a research method within doctoral design studies in which multiple participants design together as part of a design PhD research project. Co-design as a research method is an under researched activity and, we argue, there is a danger that the co-design, relying on often implicit, unacknowledged and opaque undertakings, can undermine the rigour of the research process in comparison to other methods that are more completely defined and articulated and comparable. Drawing on an analysis of co-design, we present six key questions to be explicitly addressed before embarking on co-design as part of doctoral research. These intentionally straight-forward questions preserve the essential essence of playfulness and freedom in co-design while offering a framework to help make explicit the assumptions often unexamined in co-design as part of a PhD in design.

Impact of a hybrid coating REBCO-CC-Cu to the resistive wall beam impedance of the FCC-hh beam screen

The Future Circular Hadron Collider design studies proposed a novel dual chamber beam screen consisting of copper and stainless steel. However, one concern about the current design is the inherent resistive wall beam impedance of the beam screen, which may not be low enough to guarantee stable beam operation especially critical on the vertical plane. In order to reduce the resistive wall beam impedance as much as possible while keeping the dipole field quality within specifications, a hybrid beam screen consisting of REBCO-CC and Cu is proposed for the inner chamber of the beam screen. We performed a comprehensive position and REBCO-CC content study, leading to an optimum configuration for a REBCO-CC-Cu hybrid design. These studies utilized measured values of REBCO-CC surface impedance obtained under realistic FCC-hh conditions. The calculations were carried out by combining numerical simulations and beam coupling impedance theory for general beam pipe cross sections, where we found a substantial decrease in the vertical resistive wall beam impedance by about an order of magnitude compared to the nominal beam screen design made of copper. Limitations of the proposed design and possible mitigation actions are also discussed.

Orchestrating iVR technology in an authentic classroom setting and its effects on factual knowledge, comprehension and transfer

AbstractAn increasing number of studies has observed that immersive virtual reality (iVR) technology using head-mounted displays (HMDs) can facilitate learning outcomes. However, most studies have been exploratory and were executed in laboratory settings instead of being implemented and orchestrated in authentic teaching settings. Furthermore, iVR design approaches based on learning theories in which learning objectives are in line with relevant curricula are still scarce. Thus, we conducted a study to provide insights from a perspective of instruction in authentic settings. We present the design of an iVR learning application that was aligned with curricula and that includes specific design features to foster relevant learning objectives. Orchestrated with additional learning material and learning activities, the iVR learning application was implemented and evaluated in an authentic teaching setting in the field of electrical engineering at a German vocational school. In order to investigate the effects of a lesson orchestrated around the iVR application, we conducted a study (n = 29) in a pre-post between-subject design in which we compared learning orchestrated around an iVR experience (iVR group n = 14) with learning in a more traditional setting consisting of a typical group task (control group n = 15). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups; in both conditions, the same content was addressed. We compared group differences regarding four dependent variables: motivation, factual knowledge, comprehension and transfer. In both groups, we observed an increase in knowledge and comprehension. The gain in the iVR group was significantly stronger compared to the control group, but we observed no differences in motivation and transfer. We discuss our findings from a perspective of instruction in authentic settings, along with implications for instructional iVR technology design. Despite the high organizational effort still required to embed iVR technology into a classroom setting, we stress that instructional settings that entail complex cognitive and motor tasks can benefit in particular from agency as one of the main affordances provided by iVR technology. More research should be conducted in these settings, and additional research should focus on which design features make these iVR experiences effective, and how it can be assured that transfer of knowledge is also increased.

Returns to women’s education within marriage: evidence from a regression discontinuity design study in China

Returns to women’s education within marriage: evidence from a regression discontinuity design study in China

Design, DFT, experimental, and NLO studies of a new hybrid containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and indole moieties

Abstract In this article, design and nonlinear optical (NLO) response studies of a new synthesized hybrid molecule (HM 6) containing 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole and indole moieties are introduced. The spatial structure of the target hybrid is analytically determined using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, FT-IR, UV–vis., and Mass spectra. Efficiency of the fully optimized geometry of the synthesized HM (6) is elucidated via energy gap (EHOMO-ELUMO), potential ionization, and electron affinity. The small energy gap leads to efficient NLO response. The cooperation of 1, 3, 4-oxadiazol moiety as a good acceptor and indole as a good donor in the HM (6) enhances long π-conjugation system, led to large hyperpolarizability (β = 2.79 × 10−28 esu). Density functional theory and TD-DFT-assisted calculations proved high potential intramolecular charge transfer and effective β value verify NLO activities. The NLO activities of the HM (6) are examined under the excitation with 473 nm, single transverse, low power laser beam via diffraction patterns (DPs), and Z-scan techniques. As high as 5.49 × 10−11 m2/W of nonlinear refractive index due to the DPs technique has been obtained. Both the nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient are estimated via the standard Z-scan methods. The all-optical switching, both static and dynamic, prove to occur in the HM (6) using two visible laser beams.

Review on the Structure Design of Morphing Winglets

Winglets have a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of aircraft. When aircraft are in different flight phases such as takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and landing, traditional fixed winglets often cannot provide optimal performance gains. If winglets that can morph according to different flight conditions are employed, it is expected that the aircraft’s lift-to-drag ratio and control performance can be optimized throughout the entire flight process. This paper reviews the current research status, from theoretical studies on the performance gains of morphing winglets and design studies based on mechanical transmission mechanisms, smart materials and novel structures, to optimization techniques and testing and verification technologies in the design of morphing winglets. It elucidates two main reasons for the low technological maturity of current morphing winglet research, and points out three areas worthy of further in-depth study.