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Data-driven models are gaining traction in Building Energy Simulation, driven by the increasing role of smart metering and control in buildings. This paper aims to enhance the knowledge in this sector by introducing a practical method to analyse heating consumption. The methodology involves the analysis of hourly total heating demand and outdoor temperature measurements to create and calibrate Energy Signature Curves. Importantly, the building Energy Signature Curve is calibrated independently for each daily hour, resulting in a subset of 24 data-driven models. After calibration, a disaggregation algorithm is proposed to distinguish space heating from domestic hot water usage. The method also evaluates the building’s thermal inertia, examining the correlation between the hourly global energy consumption and the outdoor air temperature moving average. It also presents a methodology for improving the DHW heat consumption model. The methodology is applied to a case study of 51 buildings in Tartu, Estonia, with complete yearly demand measurements from the district heating operator. Thanks to the hourly calibration approach, R2 is 0.05 higher on average than the yearly Energy Signature Curve approach. The difference between estimated and measured annual energy consumption is 8% on average, demonstrating the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method.

This article surveys recent studies about John the Baptist, focusing on disputed issues in contemporary research about this historical figure. After briefly reviewing the history of research as a framework for this survey, a presentation of the major contributions on John during the last decades follows. The article then reports on the status quaestionis of some still debated subjects related to the Baptist, such as the content of his message, portrayal as Elijah, relationship to Jesus, baptism, the account in Josephus, association with the Essenes/Qumran, and other minor matters. The work concludes by assessing what the author considers the most important research shifts and contributions of studies on John the Baptist in recent scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attachment of porous media to a blunt trailing edge (TE) can significantly suppress vortex shedding processes and the related tonal noise, yet the near-wall and internal flow fields of porous media are difficult to analyze experimentally and rely on numerical simulations to elucidate the internal flow features. A structured porous trailing edge (SPTE) has been recently designed that follows a methodology of a structured porous coated cylinder. The SPTE acoustic response was compared against randomized porous media with 10 and 30 pores/in. in an anechoic wind tunnel over a range of flow velocities. Acoustic beamforming revealed that the dominant acoustic sources were at the end of the solid plate, even when a porous TE was attached. A region of integration was used to extract acoustic spectra without additional noise sources, revealing that the SPTE possesses superior noise reduction capability. Dipolar directivity patterns were observed at the vortex shedding frequency for each TE, and the coherence between microphones revealed the complex acoustic propagation of the high-frequency content. A wavelet analysis revealed how the SPTE breaks periodic vortex shedding cycles into smaller cycles over a wider frequency range, leading to an overall noise reduction relative to the other TEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are considered promising solutions for urban wind energy generation due to their design, low maintenance costs, and reduced noise and visual impact compared to horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). However, deploying these turbines close to densely populated urban areas often triggers considerable local opposition to wind energy projects. Among the primary concerns raised by communities is the issue of noise emissions. Noise annoyance should be considered in the design and decision-making process to foster the social acceptance of VAWTs in urban environments. At the same time, maximising the operational efficiency of VAWTs in terms of power generation and actuation effort is equally important. This paper balances noise and aero-servo-elastic performance by formulating and solving a multi-objective optimisation problem from a controller calibration perspective. Psychoacoustic annoyance is taken as a novel indicator for the noise objective by providing a more reliable estimate of the human perception of wind turbine noise than conventional sound metrics. The computation of the psychoacoustic annoyance metric is made feasible by integrating it with an accurate and computationally efficient low-fidelity noise prediction model. For optimisation, an advanced partial-load control scheme – often used in industrial turbines – is considered, with the Kω2 controller as a baseline for comparison. Optimal solutions balancing the defined objectives are identified using a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) and are subsequently assessed using a frequency-domain controller analysis framework and mid-fidelity time-domain aero-servo-elastic simulations. The MCDM results indicate the potential application of this controller in small-scale urban VAWTs to attain power gains of up to 39 % on one side and to trade off a reduction in actuation effort of up to 25 % at the cost of only a 2 % power decrease and a 6 % increase in psychoacoustic annoyance on the other side compared to the baseline. These findings confirm the flexible structure of the optimally calibrated wind speed estimator and tip-speed ratio (WSE–TSR) tracking controller, effectively balancing aero-servo-elastic performance with noise emissions and marking the first instance of integrating residential concerns into the decision-making process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article from the Journal of Latin American Literary Criticism, the author, Roberto Méndez Martínez, shares his personal experience of reading the work of Peruvian poet César Vallejo. He highlights the intensity and complexity of Vallejo's poems, as well as his ability to convey deep emotions and reflections. He also mentions his encounter with poets Cintio Vitier and Fina García Marruz, who helped him better understand Vallejo's work. The article discusses the importance of Vallejo as a symbol of poetry and his influence on the author's writing. Additionally, it mentions the interpretation of Vallejo's work by different critics, emphasizing the fusion of the poet with the domestic world and the authenticity of his poetry. [Extracted from the article]

The physical and microbiological characteristics of the soil are indicators considered in the assessment of the conditions of anthropized areas and are tools to identify levels of degradation, define the best crops, and thus, propose actions that help the producer to choose the appropriate soil management. In this regard, the aim of this work was to analyze the physical and microbiological properties of the soil in different agricultural production systems and in a preserved area. The research was carried out at a property located in the municipality of Campo Novo do Parecis - MT, Cerrado's Biome. For the physical analysis, samples at depths of 0-0.10 m, 0.10-0.20 m and 0.20-0.30 m in five locations were collected randomly, within each production system and in the forest fragment. To evaluate the microbial activity of the soil, soil samples were collected at the 0-0.10 m layer also in five locations. All uses showed changes in physical characteristics, when compared to natural conditions. In the microbiological analysis, the integrated systems did not present significant differences in relation to the organic matter and the basal respiration of the soil when compared with the conventional systems and the forest fragment. The carbon of the microbial biomass of the soil and the metabolic quotient showed a difference between the systems of use and the preserved area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) may involve the hepatic pedicle and peripancreatic lymph nodes, cause damage to the bile duct and manifest, exceptionally, in combination with extrahepatic cholestasis (EHC), making investigation and treatment challenging., Aim: To investigate the management of patients with visceral PCM admitted with EHC., Methods: All patients diagnosed with PCM treated in a public, tertiary teaching hospital between 1982 and 2020 were retrospectively evaluated. Those also identified with EHC were allocated to two groups according to the treatment approach for the purpose of comparing clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, resources used for etiological diagnosis, treatment results, and prognosis. Statistical analyses were performed using the linear mixed-effects model (random and fixed effects), which was adjusted using the PROC MIXED procedure of the SAS ® 9.0 software, and Fisher's exact test., Results: Of 1645 patients diagnosed with PCM, 40 (2.4%) had EHC. Of these, 20 (50.0%) lived in the rural area and 29 (72.5%) were men, with a mean age of 27.1 years (3-65 years). Jaundice as first symptom and weight loss of at least 10 kg were observed in 16 patients (40.0%), and a mass in the head of the pancreas was observed in 8 (20.0%). The etiological diagnosis was made by tissue collection during surgery in 4 cases (10.0%) and by endoscopic methods in 3 cases (7.5%). Twenty-seven patients (67.5%) received drug treatment alone (Group 1), whereas 13 (32.5%) underwent endoscopic and/or surgical procedures in combination with drug treatment (Group 2). EHC was significantly reduced in both groups (40.7% in Group 1, with a mean time of 3 months; and 38.4% in Group 2, with a mean time of 7.5 months), with no statistically significant difference between them. EHC recurrence rates, associated mainly with treatment nonadherence, were similar in both groups: 37% in Group 1 and 15.4% in Group 2. The mortality rate was 18.5% in Group 1 and 23% in Group 2, with survival estimates of 71.3% and 72.5%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference., Conclusion: Although PCM-related EHC is rare, it needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of malignancies, as timely treatment can prevent hepatic and extrahepatic sequelae., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the mechanical failure modes of lithium-ion battery [Li-ion batteries (LIBs)] electrodes is exceptionally important for enabling high specific energy and flexible LIB technologies. In this work, the failure modes of lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes under repeated bending and the role of the polymer binder in improving the mechanical durability of the LCO electrodes for use in flexible LIBs are investigated. Mechanical and electrochemical evaluations of LCO electrodes (areal capacity of ≥2.5 mA h cm -2 ) employing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) binder were carried out, followed by extensive optical and electron microscopies. We find that the molecular weight (MW) of the PVDF significantly influenced the surface and bulk microstructure of the LCO electrodes, particularly the distribution of carbon additive and binder, which plays a crucial role in affecting the mechanical and electrochemical properties of the electrodes. Multiple mechanical failure modes (e.g., surface scratches and microcracks) observed in the LCO electrodes subjected to repeated bending originated from the use of low MW PVDF; these failure modes were successfully mitigated by using a high MW PVDF. Remarkably, the optimized flexible LCO electrode incorporating high MW PVDF showed comparable discharge capacity retention during galvanostatic cycling after repeated bending (7000 cycles at 50 mm bending diameter) to electrodes not subjected to the repeated bending. This study highlights the importance of carrying out a comprehensive investigation of the failure mechanisms in flexible electrodes, which identified the pivotal role of the PVDF MW in the electrode microstructure and its effects on the electrode resilience to failure during repeated bending.