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Building envelopes are perhaps the most influencing players on assuring indoor comfort conditions, in alliance with their impact on the sustainability and energy-efficiency of the building during operation. However, given the multitude of commercial solutions available on the market and the use of different criteria and inconsistent semantics among the existing categorization/classification systems of construction objects, there is still a need for uniformisation of the many regarding the main Prefabricated Enclosure Wall Panel Systems (PEWPS) for building applications. In such context, this paper firstly explores the distinct categories of off-site Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and how can they be classified. Secondly, focus will be given to panelised systems, where the classification of PEWPS is thoroughly investigated. Lastly, a summarised literature review of selected innovative research trends in advanced building envelopes is presented, with positive consequences on the comfort, energy and environmental performance of buildings. The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive framework to understand which singularities and challenges are associated with PEWPS; This set of tools should be accessible to designers (and construction stakeholders in general) to realise how each building solution is supposed to work on the road to fulfilling user requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles mostly use single battery pack for energy storage, which is easy to cause various battery problems. Moreover, short driving range and inconvenient charging are still the restrictive factors for the development and promotion of electric vehicles. A new kind of dynamic driving system was proposed in this paper -- Load isolated pure electric driving. According to the performance requirements of load isolated pure electric driving vehicle we made homologous parameter matching of the power system, and the driving system control strategy was carried on analysis based on the SOC of power batteries and the running conditions of vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major basic problem in selecting appropriate polymeric materials and processing technology routes is related to the lack of well-defined functional and performance requirements on the component level and to material property requirements on the specimen level. Hence, in a first step several reference climate regions were defined for pumped systems (continental (Graz/Austria), moderate climate (Beijing/China)) and non-pumped systems (Mediterranean (Athens/Greece), hot and dry (Pretoria/South Africa), hot and humid (Fortaleza/Brazil)), respectively. For each of these reference regions various solar-thermal plant types (e.g., domestic hot-water systems for single family houses (pumped and thermosiphon); domestic hot-water systems for multi-family houses; solar combi-systems for domestic hot-water and space heating (pumped) were pre-defined and evaluated and optimized virtually by modelling and simulation. To determine performance requirements on the component level and to derive material property requirements on the specimen level all-purpose modelling and design tools for collectors were implemented and used which allow for the description of temperature profiles, stagnation conditions, efficiency curves, pressure losses, distribution of fluid and heat flow and the thermal and hydraulic optimisation of the whole collector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During ground system conceptual design and engineering development many tradeoff decisions are made to balance functional performance, cost, risk, robustness, reliability, interoperability, growth margin, and other life-cycle characteristics. Tradespace analysis reveals and quantifies the compound and ripple effects and interactions among performance requirements and system design options. An analytic tradespace framework is an executable model that represents the logical and causal relationships among vehicle subsystems and system performance characteristics. Logical relationships define compatibility requirements between interacting subsystems. Causal relationships quantify higher level system attributes as functions of lower level subsystem attributes. Research at the US Army, TARDEC, has been developing a generic ground system performance specification framework, and a ground system standard product classification hierarchy. The current research seeks to integrate these two frameworks with a unifying framework of the logical and causal relationships. The tradespace framework identifies the relevant subsystem attributes and how they interact to govern product performance and life-cycle characteristics, and identifies the subsystem interfaces and compatibility characteristics that constrain and enable practical ground vehicles. The objective is a qualitative and quantitative framework integrating system architecture and technology options with functional and life cycle performance to support design and performance requirement decisions. The goal is to integrate the ground system architecture and performance specification frameworks for interactive tradespace analysis and exploration. The research is motivated by, and grounded in, an understanding of the performance and affordability tradespace decisions and supporting analysis in ground vehicle development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although public transport passengers consider service reliability a key quality aspect, actual services are often not perceived as reliable. To gain insights into how authorities deal with (improving) service reliability, an international survey was performed, showing that very little attention is paid to service reliability during the design of the network and of the timetable. It also illustrates that there is little consistency in approaches. In addition, a second survey was performed, showing how Dutch authorities deal with service reliability in relation to concession requirements and incentive regimes. The main findings are that consistency is lacking on this topic and that minimum attention is paid to passenger impacts of unreliability in concession requirements. This results in services that do not match the (implicitly) required level of service reliability. These surveys also revealed that there is no consistency in the definition of service reliability. For instance, traditional indicators focus on vehicles instead of passengers. By using an alternative reliability indicator, additional travel time, we demonstrated that traditional indicators lead to wrong indications. Based on our findings, we present recommendations to improve concession requirements as well as to improve the design of networks and of timetables, both aiming at enhanced service reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of powder-free natural rubber or latex-free emergency medical examination gloves is especially important to emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and emergency department personnel to avoid eliciting an allergic reaction in the latex sensitized patient. The majority of our emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters are now wearing powder-free emergency medical examination gloves that comply with the stringent codes and standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), while very few hospital emergency department personnel have been provided with NFPA-approved gloves. There are four well-defined goals of this report that will assist emergency medical services, fire departments, and hospitals in the selection and purchase of emergency medical examination gloves. First, we will review again the stringent regulations for emergency medical examination gloves that are outlined by the NFPA. This design and performance standard was devised by the NFPA to address protective clothing for emergency medical operations. The design and performance requirement of the emergency medical examination gloves were described in the NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 1997 Edition. As of September 2003, the emergency medical examination glove must meet the new design and performance requirements of emergency medical examination gloves discussed in NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 2003 Edition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the development stages of an expert system BES for the evaluation and selection of the building elements. The work covers all kinds of building elements that are available in building construction including retaining walls, foundations, external walls, internal walls, floors, external stairs, internal stairs, roofs, external chimneys, internal chimneys, windows, and external doors and internal doors. The selection is based on the importance of performance requirements of the building elements and their expected performances. The selection is achieved by SMART Methodology, and the expert system shell “Exsys Corvid” is used to construct the expert system. Use of computer and Internet with its advantages in handling vast amount of data makes the system widely applicable and a useful design aid for architects. The decision-making feature of the system provides a suitable selection among numerous alternatives. The paper explains the experience gained through the use of this method and discusses further development of the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dusting powders were first applied to gloves to facilitate donning. After 1980, manufacturers devised innovative techniques to manufacture gloves without dusting powders. It has been well documented that the powders on gloves present a health hazard to patients, as well as healthcare workers. First, these powders elicit tissue toxicity in every tissue in the body. Second, these powders serve as carriers of latex allergen and may precipitate a life-threatening allergic reaction in sensitized patients. These well-documented hazards of glove powders have caused a growing number of emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and hospitals to abandon the use of powdered emergency medical examination gloves, using only powder-free gloves. Powder-free latex as well as non-latex gloves are now available to emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, and emergency department personnel. The use of powder-free natural rubber latex-free gloves is especially important to emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, as well as emergency department personnel to avoid eliciting an allergic reaction in the latex sensitized patient. The majority of our emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firefighters are now wearing powder-free emergency medical examination gloves that comply with the stringent Codes and Standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), while very few hospital emergency department personnel have been provided with NFPA approved gloves. It is the purpose of this report to review the stringent regulations for emergency medical examination gloves that are outlined by the NFPA. This design and performance Standard was devised by the NFPA to address protective clothing for emergency medical operations. The design and performance requirement of the emergency medical examination gloves were described in the NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 1997 Edition. In... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential features of the investigation process of innovative building systems, which have been established on a performance-based approach, are clarified. In the absence of constrictive formal regulations and standards, this approach was applied in establishing requirements and criteria, which define a well-performing building system, and in detecting building systems’ faults. A unified procedure, based on Responses to generalized Loads, is presented. A distinction is made between the rejection of an innovation due to inherent performance violations that cannot be modified, its classification as of limited applicability due to inherent limited performance capabilities, and its acceptance as a generally adequate building system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]