 to GAN
Using one of NVIDIA’s office-building projects (designed by Gensler) as an experiment, we tested ML’s feasibility in the architect’s workflow to demonstrate a scenario where humans and machines work together.
To keep the experiment relatively simple, we chose part of the third floor rather than the whole building as a test bed. We focused on three types of components—cubicles, conference rooms, and phone booths—agreeing that those would provide enough information to provide a compelling proof of concept.
With help from NVIDIA and Gensler, we collected all variations of these three components used in their current projects and created a data set that contains all of the possible spatial combinations of each type.
An ML model “learns” by finding patterns in a large data set—in this case, interior-layout examples for an office building. One of the basic principles in ML is that the model must be trained on both good data and bad data—data that tells the model which outcomes you want (practical, pleasant, productive working environments) and which you don’t want. If we gave it only good data, it wouldn’t know when it did something wrong; it might have cubicles overrun walls or not allow enough walking space in between.
For this project, we chose a specific type of model called generative adversarial network (GAN). Like a human designer, an ML system can quicken and deepen its grasp of a domain of knowledge by repeatedly challenging its assumptions about what it’s already learned.
In a GAN, there are two models challenging each other. Both are trained, using NVIDIA GPUs, to “know” what good office layouts look like: combinations of furniture, infrastructure (such as HVAC and plumbing), light, and space that represent good office design. One model is constantly generating combinations of these features and challenging the other model to accurately label it a “good” or “bad” design.
If the Test Fits...
To make the BIM-to-GAN process real, Autodesk created a sketch interface that followed a workflow familiar to Gensler designers called “test fitting”: The architect selects part of a commercial office building and tries to optimally fit in the target number and ideal configuration of phone booths, conference rooms, and cubicles into the chosen space.
The team entered the project targets: 20 conference rooms, 20 phone booths, and 200 workstations. They configured these requirements into four zone types: the three project targets plus “keep-out zones”—areas like kitchens or atriums that don’t include these components or that need to be kept clear for building operation.
Using a pen and tablet, designers drew in the outline of the area to consider. Then they entered the target data describing what to fit into the space. The geometry of that space could then be converted into BIM, rendering the sketch as full-fidelity 3D geometry.
A major challenge for architects is when they need to process changes to an office layout—for example, 400 cubicles instead of 350. Those changes typically require the designer to start from scratch in Autodesk Revit, which can be a painstaking process to create and compare variations of a space. Without ML technology, architects generally cram in everything requested by their client, and in the end, they may not be able to hit the exact number of project targets.
But when the GAN allows the exploration of alternative layouts, it saves a huge amount of drudgery for designers and frees them to focus on the creative elements of their work. Sketching might take 90 seconds, but that 90 seconds of processing can represent two to three weeks of back-and-forth work for designers at Gensler working in Revit without ML assistance.
The model also enables users, using NVIDIA GPUs, to convert the design directly into a virtual-reality (VR) interface. Two minutes after you sketch, you could put on a VR headset and walk around in the space you created to experience what that office environment would actually feel like. If you didn’t like it, you could spend five minutes and come up with alternative approach.
The Future of Workflow
While ML may one day automate some of architects’ mundane tasks, the goal should be for designers to maintain control of the creative aspects of design. An architect uses uniquely human skills to create an environment that’s a delightful place to work and interact.
It will be difficult to teach GANs intangible parts of design, such as fit and finish, materials aesthetics, and how well the surroundings support collaboration among teams. But there is an important role for ML in computing an optimal layout allocating space for different types of activities and determining building-infrastructure needs. The technology could provide guidance to help architects choose the most practical and constructible design.
It may take a few years before ML-assisted design is widely available to architects. And, it’s difficult to quantify our experiment’s impact on productivity because it wasn’t an optimized, commercial release of a tool. But it did show that we can apply ML to a workflow that increases productivity—and decreases tedium—for architects, engineers, and builders. One day, that might allow architects to take an extra vacation once in a while.
Author: Mark Davis is head of Design Futures at Autodesk Research. Additional content provided by Chin-Yi Cheng, principal research scientist, Autodesk AI Lab.Update on viral hepatitis in 2004

Purpose of review This article highlights recent advances in viral hepatitis published from December 2003 to November 2004. Studies reporting novel and clinically relevant findings were selected after a PubMed search. The aim is to provide an up-to-date summary of important developments in viral hepatitis. Recent findings Lamivudine was shown to reduce the rate of long-term complications of hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis. Adefovir was effective in suppressing lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus. Pegylated interferon alone was as effective as pegylated interferon plus lamivudine in the management of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. A 24-week course of pegylated interferon plus low-dose ribavirin was optimal in patients with hepatitis C virus infected with genotype 2 or 3, but a 48-week course and standard dose of ribavirin were needed in patients with genotype 1. Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin was fairly well tolerated in HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfected patients with stable HIV infection and resulted in response rates that were only slightly lower than that in patients with hepatitis C virus infection only. A dramatic reduction in hepatitis C virus RNA level was observed after 2 days of treatment with an hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor. Summary The optimal management of chronic viral hepatitis is evolving rapidly. Newer treatment options for hepatitis B, including pegylated interferon, tenofovir, and combination regimens were shown to be effective in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients. In addition, impressive gains were made in the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in difficult-to-treat patients, including African Americans and those with HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfection.Hello all, with autuum approaching when should I stop feeding?, is there a temperature range, I have already reduced the amount I'm feeding them as they are taking longer to eat what I feed them, this is my 3rd year keeping Koi but I cant remember what signs to look out for regarding ceasing all feeding, any advise welcome, thanks, John.
When the water temperature drops to below 60 degrees switch over to a Spring/Fall formulated food, then when the water drops below 50 degrees, stop feeding.
What Gemma said your fish should be the indicator not a preset temp. If they want to eat feed them.
Very good to know, my fish have slowed in how much they eat but I didn't know they would for the most part just not eat.
Hi, thank you for your replies and advise, its very helpful, I think I did slowly reduce feeding as they took longer to eat, eventually stopping feeding when they refused the very small amounts I was giving them. Some good advise though with autuum food and temperatures etc, many thanks, John.
I forgot to mention that in September I also start cutting down the number of feedings.
Agreed with all the above. The fish let me know when they want to eat and when they don't. They are the best indicators. Your first season you might think they are sick or something, they start moving slowly, do not come over to see you as aggressively etc.
Ps thats WATER TEMPS not Air temp.I have had a lot of fun
working with Cotton Yarn
and want to share
some of the FREE patterns
I designed.
I really prefer other fibers
and wanted to try my hand at it,
and to my surprise
really enjoyed working with it.
Free Crochet Patterns Can be found
at this Link: Craftsy pattern Store
1. Bunny Baby clothes
2. Sweatband/ Headband
3. Soap Bag
4. Tissue Keeper (not ready yet)
5.Square cloths
6. Scrunchie ( not ready yet)
7.Round Face Cloths
This is the Basic Produce/ Shopping bag
This is the Round bottom
Shopping/ produce Bag
Both these Free Patterns Can also be
found in My Craftsy Pattern Store
I Hope you enjoy these Free patterns and
please feel free to post your finished
items to my Facebook fanpageDimitrios joined the School of Pharmacy in May 2018 as Reader in Pharmaceutical Engineering. He is originally from Greece, and has been trained in multi-disciplinary areas and in first class laboratories in Greece, UK and USA.
Dimitrios research and