Design Function in Innovation Processes

Some words emerge at a given moment to catalyse ideas and give new meaning to old terminology. Innovation and design are two such words. Innovation has traditionally been linked with the Applied Sciences, especially technology, whereas advances in the PureSciences tend to be termed discoveries, inventions, or creations. However, for decades now, innovation has been a leitmotiv in all fields of scientific knowledge in both the Pure and the Applied Sciences. Design has also emerged from the niche it once occupied for decades (andeven centuries) at least insofar as its impact on the History of Science and of Philosophy is concerned. In fact, design’s introduction into the academic world has gone hand-in-hand with Art and its impact on our daily lives. This paper analyses innovation processes in boththe Pure and the Applied Sciences to discover how far new design theories over the last few decades have influenced innovation in fields such as Epistemology and Technology. We focus on Design Epistemology and methodological innovation, specifically in connectionwith design simulations and methodological models. We also look at the underlying design technologies and the key role they play in innovation processes.

Numerical analysis of a tire shredder machine to produce rubber particulate material

The main objective of this work is to develop a numerical analysis of a shredder machine to generate rubber particulate material for its implementation in different sectors such as construction, artisanal, and road as aggregates in the raw material. As part of the methodology, modern design theories were considered to select the materials for the different elements of the crushing machine; for this purpose, the SolidWorks design software was used to obtain a conceptual design model of the prototype. The mathematical and numerical results indicate that the prototype of the crushing machine will work in good conditions, always guaranteeing high levels of safety and performance based on the mechanical and physical properties of the materials selected through the design theories. Likewise, this machine will be low-cost to promote growth and competitive capacity for studies of different products with rubber aggregates to solve global environmental problems. Finally, the physical behavior of the new materials can be obtained with rubber particles aggregate will allow evaluating and optimizing a different kind of products that can be used in different sectors aiding sustainability sources.

Design theories and maintenance technologies of slab tracks for high-speed railways in China: a review

The durability and reliability of slab track structures are essential for the long-term safety and stable operation of high-speed railways. In order to provide a solid theoretical basis and technical reference for the advancement of high-speed railway quality, this paper comprehensively discusses design theories of slab track structures, service performance evolution and maintenance technologies, and reviews the innovation happening in the industry. On top of that, the damage evolution, fatigue features and durability of slab tracks, which are highly relevant to serviceability, are summarized, and the future research trend of slab track service behaviours is pointed out. In addition, this paper summarizes the rules of establishing standards for damage maintenance, typical solutions for repairing damage and methods of evaluating the maintenance outcomes that combine field tests and numerical simulations. It also envisions a future direction where advanced testing technologies would assist the evaluation of maintenance effects.

Theoretical model for mental health management of project management practitioners in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organizations

PurposeThis conceptual paper aims to develop a multi-level mental health management framework for project management practitioners (PMPs) in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organizations through organizational design theories to extend current knowledge on mental health by revealing organizational, project and external environmental factors contributing to mental health management in AEC project organizations.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review was adopted to propose a theoretical model that integrated five organizational design theories: institutional theory, agency theory, resources-based theory (RBT), contingency theory and complexity theory.FindingsThe model reveals permanent organization, project organization and external environment factors for mental health management in AEC project organizations. It further proposed hypothetical interrelationships between elements of permanent organization, project organization, external environment and mental health management indicators to unravel the resultant effects of the interactions on mental health of PMPs.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the body of knowledge by developing a multi-level mental health management framework that identify and shows how combination permanent organization, project organization and external environment elements impact mental health of PMPs in AEC project organizations. It offers a model that offers guidance to practitioners on permanent organization and project organization management practices that can be implemented to improve mental health.

A Four-Step Cascade Drug-Release Management Strategy for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Therapeutic Applications

The purpose of this study was to develop a four-step cascade drug-release system for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapeutic applications according to disease-driven and patient-focused design theories. The four steps underlying these strategies involve the blockage of nutrient supply, nanoparticles, codelivery and the cell cytotoxic effect. Calibrated spherical gellan gum (GG) and nanoparticle-containing gellan gum microspheres were prepared using a water-in-oil emulsification method. Self-assembled nanoparticles featuring amine-functionalized graphene oxide (AFGO) as the doxorubicin (Dox) carrier were prepared. The results confirm that, as a drug carrier, AFGO–Dox nanoparticles can facilitate the transport of doxorubicin into HepG2 liver cancer cells. Subsequently, AFGO–Dox was introduced into gellan gum (GG) microspheres, thus forming GG/AFGO–Dox microspheres with a mean size of 200–700 μm. After a drug release experiment lasting 28 days, the amount of doxorubicin released from 674 and 226 μm GG/AFGO–Dox microspheres was 2.31 and 1.18 μg/mg, respectively. GG/AFGO–Dox microspheres were applied in a rabbit ear embolization model, where ischemic necrosis was visible on the ear after 12 days. Our aim for the future is to provide better embolization agents for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using this device.

Design Space Cards

The potential space of game designs is astronomically large. This paper shows how game design theories can be translated into a simple, tangible card deck that can assist in the exploration of new game designs within a broader "design space." By translating elements of game design theory into a physical card deck, we enable users to randomly sample a design space in order to synthesize new game design variations for a new play platform ("Lumies"). In a series of iterative design and testing rounds with various user groups, the deck has been optimized to merge relevant game theory elements into a concise card deck with limited categories and clear descriptions. In a small, controlled experiment involving groups of design students, we compare the effects of brainstorming with the card deck or the "Directed Brainstorming" method. We show that the deck does not increase ideation speed but is preferred by participants. We further show that our target audience, children, were able to use the card deck to develop dozens of new game ideas. We conclude that design space cards are a promising way to help adults and children to generate new game ideas by making it easier to explore the game design space.

De las bellas artes a la composición arquitectónica

El proceso compositivo en la proyectación arquitectónica puede ser considerado como uno de los mas complejos de abordar y uno de los mas complejos en argumentar, existen diversas teorías de diseño en arquitectura, principios ordenadores, de composición y de diseño, sin embargo, el resultado muchas veces no es el esperado, no es la representación del sentir y la esencia de quien y a quien lo proyecta. El bloqueo comúnmente llamado “papel en blanco” al abordar una composición está dado por diversas condiciones, una de ellas es considerada como bloqueo emocional[1], el no poder materializar la idea; dentro del proceso compositivo se establecen unos lineamientos basados en teorías, ellos ayudan a materializar la idea a partir de argumentos técnicos, sin embargo, la primera línea se produce antes de dibujarla[2] El ser humano es muy perceptivo a los estímulos exteriores como la música, la danza, la pintura, el cine, Las Bellas Artes, ellas reviven experiencias, conocimientos, momentos, que permanecen en la mente representando una idea. ¿Entonces porque no hacer una sinergia de estos estímulos con la técnica arquitectónica? Esta es la búsqueda en la investigación: establecer si las bellas artes como parte del proceso compositivo son una alternativa proyectual. [1] Carlos Churba, ‘Desarrollo de la Creatividad’ <http://blogsdelagente.com/carloschurba/> [accessed 22 April 2018 [2] José María de Lapuerta, El croquis, proyecto y arquitectura: scintilla divinitatis, 7333, 1st edn (Madrid: Celeste Ediciones, 1997) <http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6617>. The compositional process in architectural planning can be considered as one of the most complex to address and one of the most complex to argue, there are various design theories in architecture, computer principles, composition and design, however, the result is many Sometimes it is not what is expected, it is not the representation of the feeling and the essence of who and to whom it is projected. The blockage commonly called "blank paper" when approaching a composition is given by various conditions, one of them is considered an emotional blockage, not being able to materialize the idea; Within the compositional process, guidelines based on theories are established, they help to materialize the idea from technical arguments, however, the first line is produced before drawing it The human being is very perceptive to external stimuli such as music, dance, painting, cinema, Fine Arts, they relive experiences, knowledge, moments that remain in the mind representing an idea. ¿So why not make a synergy of these stimuli with the architectural technique? This is the search in research: to establish whether the fine arts as part of the compositional process are a project alternative.