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Economic development limits the living quality of rural residents. In particular, the residential buildings in northern China generally have poor thermal comfort in winter, which affects the physical and mental health of residents. Because of the separation of rooms, residents who live in cave dwellings often have to enter and leave rooms in the course of their daily lives, which leads to worse thermal feelings in winter. Because of the low price and the wind insulation and heat storage, sunrooms are widely used in renovations of rural houses. The traditional purpose of the addition of a sunroom is to provide a buffer room between outdoor and indoor spaces. This manuscript focuses on improving the degree of thermal comfort by means of a sunroom connecting all rooms. This study selected two families with the same number of members and similar daily activities as the study cases. One of the families had a sunroom built to connect its bedroom, living room, and washroom. The household's air temperature and human comfort were measured both on holidays and on workdays. It is demonstrated that adding a sunroom can significantly stabilize the thermal environment and increase the air temperature in both the bedroom and the living room. Adding a sunroom can increase the air temperature of a cave dwelling's main room by 1.0 °C on workdays and 4.3 °C on holidays. A cave dwelling with a sunroom can also provide residents with a decent level of human comfort for 24.4% of their daily time on workdays and 39.1% of the time during holidays. This research demonstrates that a sunroom can not only increase the air temperature in cave dwellings but also enhance the stability of human comfort. The conclusion provides new renovation ideas for improving the living comfort of cave dwellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic development limits the living quality of rural residents. In particular, the residential buildings in northern China generally have poor thermal comfort in winter, which affects the physical and mental health of residents. Because of the separation of rooms, residents who live in cave dwellings often have to enter and leave rooms in the course of their daily lives, which leads to worse thermal feelings in winter. Because of the low price and the wind insulation and heat storage, sunrooms are widely used in renovations of rural houses. The traditional purpose of the addition of a sunroom is to provide a buffer room between outdoor and indoor spaces. This manuscript focuses on improving the degree of thermal comfort by means of a sunroom connecting all rooms. This study selected two families with the same number of members and similar daily activities as the study cases. One of the families had a sunroom built to connect its bedroom, living room, and washroom. The household’s air temperature and human comfort were measured both on holidays and on workdays. It is demonstrated that adding a sunroom can significantly stabilize the thermal environment and increase the air temperature in both the bedroom and the living room. Adding a sunroom can increase the air temperature of a cave dwelling’s main room by 1.0 °C on workdays and 4.3 °C on holidays. A cave dwelling with a sunroom can also provide residents with a decent level of human comfort for 24.4% of their daily time on workdays and 39.1% of the time during holidays. This research demonstrates that a sunroom can not only increase the air temperature in cave dwellings but also enhance the stability of human comfort. The conclusion provides new renovation ideas for improving the living comfort of cave dwellings.

The cave dwelling is one of the most typical traditional dwellings and green building forms in the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi. The construction of the cave dwelling was built only based on the experience passed down by predecessors, without the guidance of formal design theories and calculation methods, and the overall safety of the cave-dwelling structure needs to be solved urgently. To make the mechanical analysis model closer to the actual force of the masonry cave dwelling, it is proposed to simplify the arch ring in the masonry cave-dwelling structure into an unhinged arch mechanical calculation model. Applying the theory of elastic center to the force method calculation in structural mechanics, the force of the cave-dwelling structure is analyzed and compared with the force results of the three-hinged arch calculation model, so as to determine the correctness and reliability of the calculation diagram of the unhinged arch. The conclusions indicate it is correct and reliable to use the unhinged arch calculation model, which is closer to the actual force situation, to calculate the forces of the arch rings in masonry cave dwellings, and both the three-hinged arch and unhinged arch models are feasible to be applied to the mechanical analysis of the arch rings. The unhinged arch calculation model is more reliable and safer in the design and calculation of the cave-dwelling leg components compared with the three-hinged arch calculation model because it considers the bending moment at the arch foot support. The research results can be used to improve the structural design data of the cave dwelling and provide theoretical guidance for the construction, repair, and protection of the cave dwelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We also see regional divisions in the internal space in the inner room, with the appearance of the front hall creating a transitional space between the front hall and the inner room that increased the functional zoning of the inner room and added a degree of privacy to the space. Keywords: Loess Plateau; prehistoric era; -shaped house remains; cave dwelling; cultural function EN Loess Plateau prehistoric era -shaped house remains cave dwelling cultural function 135 144 10 11/16/22 20221101 NES 221101 Postscript The original report was published in Kaogu (Archaeology) 2020.4:77-89 with 10 figures, 2 tables, and 63 notes. One perplexing issue is that, along with the widening of the front halls - which almost reaches the width of the inner rooms - room length decreases by at least half, and actual house stability may be in freefall. The somewhat wider rear chamber can be called the "inner room", and the narrower front area that connects to the entrance can be called the "front hall.". [Extracted from the article]

Rock-cut architecture is an essential yet little-known type of vernacular architecture whose nature is different from what we understand by the term "architecture". This research seeks to answer the question of which technics, designs and digging procedures have been applied in this type of vernacular architecture. Out of the 300 rock-cut buildings and complexes found in Iran, nearly 70 were functionally assessed. Ten complexes were found to serve residential functions in different climates. Technique, type and the settlement context material were also briefly compared and contrasted, and thus, three general excavation techniques were recognized. The largest rock-cut residential complex in Iran, Meymand, was selected as the main case study. Fifty residential units in the oldest part of the village in two regions on both sides of the main valley were studied in terms of technique and design style. They were also compared and contrasted. The quantitative data obtained in this section were compared and contrasted using the descriptive statistical method. Although the rock-cut buildings are dispersed throughout Iran, three main techniques were employed to excavate them. Most of them were excavated using two or three of the said techniques. Application of the fine technique and the size of the particles constituting the settlement context are the two factors determining the quality of excavation. The findings in the area of special climatic design standards and technologies not only give us a better insight into rock-cut architecture but also contribute to setting some standards for design and construction of rock-cut buildings in the present era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cave dwelling is one of the most typical traditional dwellings and green building forms in the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi. The construction of the cave dwelling was built only based on the experience passed down by predecessors, without the guidance of formal design theories and calculation methods, and the overall safety of the cave-dwelling structure needs to be solved urgently. To make the mechanical analysis model closer to the actual force of the masonry cave dwelling, it is proposed to simplify the arch ring in the masonry cave-dwelling structure into an unhinged arch mechanical calculation model. Applying the theory of elastic center to the force method calculation in structural mechanics, the force of the cave-dwelling structure is analyzed and compared with the force results of the three-hinged arch calculation model, so as to determine the correctness and reliability of the calculation diagram of the unhinged arch. The conclusions indicate it is correct and reliable to use the unhinged arch calculation model, which is closer to the actual force situation, to calculate the forces of the arch rings in masonry cave dwellings, and both the three-hinged arch and unhinged arch models are feasible to be applied to the mechanical analysis of the arch rings. The unhinged arch calculation model is more reliable and safer in the design and calculation of the cave-dwelling leg components compared with the three-hinged arch calculation model because it considers the bending moment at the arch foot support. The research results can be used to improve the structural design data of the cave dwelling and provide theoretical guidance for the construction, repair, and protection of the cave dwelling.

A new pseudoscorpion species of the genus Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 is described from a limestone cave of the Bambuí geomorphological group in southeast Brazil. This new species is only known from a single cave in a karst region with more than two hundred caves. It may be threatened by pasture, gas extraction, large scale exotic Eucalyptus plantations, and small hydroelectric power plants. The new species should be classified as critically endangered (CR). However, this species is regarded as data deficient data (DD), to fit on the different criteria of the IUCN Red List. That indicates the need for more studies on the Presidente Olegário area due to the occurrence of this new species and other specialized subterranean fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-cut architecture is an essential yet little-known type of vernacular architecture whose nature is different from what we understand by the term “architecture”. This research seeks to answer the question of which technics, designs and digging procedures have been applied in this type of vernacular architecture. Out of the 300 rock-cut buildings and complexes found in Iran, nearly 70 were functionally assessed. Ten complexes were found to serve residential functions in different climates. Technique, type and the settlement context material were also briefly compared and contrasted, and thus, three general excavation techniques were recognized. The largest rock-cut residential complex in Iran, Meymand, was selected as the main case study. Fifty residential units in the oldest part of the village in two regions on both sides of the main valley were studied in terms of technique and design style. They were also compared and contrasted. The quantitative data obtained in this section were compared and contrasted using the descriptive statistical method. Although the rock-cut buildings are dispersed throughout Iran, three main techniques were employed to excavate them. Most of them were excavated using two or three of the said techniques. Application of the fine technique and the size of the particles constituting the settlement context are the two factors determining the quality of excavation. The findings in the area of special climatic design standards and technologies not only give us a better insight into rock-cut architecture but also contribute to setting some standards for design and construction of rock-cut buildings in the present era.

Food shortages represent a common challenge for most animal species. As a consequence, many have evolved metabolic strategies encompassing extreme starvation-resistance capabilities, going without food for months or even years. One such strategy is to store substantial levels of fat when food is available and release these energy-rich lipids during periods of dearth. In this review, we provide an overview of the strategies and pathways underlying the extreme capacity for animals to store and mobilize lipids during nutritionally stressful environmental conditions and highlight accompanying resilience phenotypes that allow these animals to develop and tolerate such profound metabolic phenotypes. Olsen et al. present a review on the strategies and pathways underlying the extreme capacity for animals to store and mobilize lipids during nutritionally stressful environmental conditions and highlight accompanying resilience phenotypes that allow these animals to develop and tolerate such profound metabolic phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary studies in the karst hills of the Meratus Mountains in Kotabaru Regency found rock-shelters and caves that were indicated to have traces of prehistoric dwellings. One of them is Batu Cave which is in Batangkulur village, Kelumpang Barat district. This article discusses the results of excavations carried out in Batu Cave in 2018. The problems raised on proof of occupancy and how human life in the past in Batu Cave. Archaeological data were obtained from excavations by using test-pit at two different locations. The excavation findings analyses are quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative analysis was carried out to find out the quantity of findings. The qualitative analysis includes an initial classification, which divides archeological data according to the type, form and style. The results show that Batu Cave are cave dwelling with living activities that rely on the surrounding resources. Exploitation of environmental resources is seen in the use of several types of terrestrial fauna and water as one of the main food sources. Various types of tools were made using rocks, as well as bones and shells.

Cave dwelling is a characteristic residential building in northern Shaanxi. It is not only a masterpiece created by local residents in accordance with nature and local cases, but also meets the requirements of green ecology and sustainable development. In order to understand the influence of ventilation on the indoor environment of cave dwellings in northern Shaanxi, a representative traditional cave dwelling was selected as the research object. Based on the meteorological data in Yan'an and the actual measurement of indoor and outdoor thermal parameters, the methods of theoretical analysis, field testing and numerical simulation were adopted to study the indoor airflow distribution of cave dwellings under different ventilation methods, the results show that: the cave dwellings in northern Shaanxi have good thermal insulation performance, and the indoor temperature fluctuation is small; the relative humidity in the cave dwelling is relatively high, which is opposite to the trend of temperature change; reducing the humidity is the ventilation of the cave dwelling. The main task; the indoor wind speed is too small to form effective ventilation. Adjusting the size of the skylight can improve the natural ventilation in summer to optimize indoor ventilation. Through optimization analysis, when the size of the skylight is 0.5m*0.5m, the indoor airflow velocity changes between 0 and 0.3m/s, the ventilation efficiency is high, and the ventilation effect is high. Good, there will be no eddy current in the room, which can effectively remove moisture and enhance lighting, which can provide a basis for the opening of ventilation skylights in new local caves. Effectively improve indoor heat and humidity environment.

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Bats are among the most recognizable, numerous, and widespread of all mammals. But much of their fossil record is missing, and bat origins remain poorly understood, as do the relationships of early to modern bats. Here, we describe a new early Eocene bat that helps bridge the gap between archaic stem bats and the hyperdiverse modern bat radiation of more than 1,460 living species. Recovered from ∼50 million-year-old cave sediments in the Quercy Phosphorites of southwestern France, Vielasia sigei 's remains include a near-complete, three-dimensionally preserved skull—the oldest uncrushed bat cranium yet found. Phylogenetic analyses of a 2,665 craniodental character matrix, with and without 36.8 kb of DNA sequence data, place Vielasia outside modern bats, with total evidence tip-dating placing it sister to the crown clade. Vielasia retains the archaic dentition and skeletal features typical of early Eocene bats, but its inner ear shows specializations found in modern echolocating bats. These features, which include a petrosal only loosely attached to the basicranium, an expanded cochlea representing ∼25% basicranial width, and a long basilar membrane, collectively suggest that the kind of laryngeal echolocation used by most modern bats predates the crown radiation. At least 23 individuals of V. sigei are preserved together in a limestone cave deposit, indicating that cave roosting behavior had evolved in bats by the end of the early Eocene; this period saw the beginning of significant global climate cooling that may have been an evolutionary driver for bats to first congregate in caves. [Display omitted] • A new bat species is described from a 50-million-year-old cave deposit in France • Its well-preserved fossils include the oldest uncrushed skull of a bat yet known • This stem bat appears to have been capable of advanced (laryngeal) echolocation • The fossils suggest that advanced echolocation predates the crown bat radiation When and how echolocation first evolved in bats is contentious. Hand et al. report on an uncrushed, 50-million-year-old bat skull that provides significant new data to inform the debate. Measurements of the inner ear of the French stem bat Vielasia suggest that advanced (laryngeal) echolocation may have evolved before the crown bat radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the vast developing world represented by China, the unsatisfactory thermal and humidity conditions among rural built environments are extremely harmful to the elderly-health in cold regions. The cave-dwellings maintain competent thermal stability, while with current refurbishment still cannot meet their relatively demanding thermal comfort needs. In fact, few studies have highlighted the optimisation effect of passive designs engaging various buffer spaces. Through experimental field measurements of representative cave dwelling and numerical simulations based on the DesignBuilder tool for the corresponding retrofit prototypes, this study investigated in detail the hidden correlations between key buffer space design variables (sunroom, under-eave gray space, courtyard, etc.) and the resulting indoor thermal and humidity performances for the elderly. The results of the study showed that:1) The average winter room temperatures of both heated (11.2 ± 1.5 °C) and unheated (6.4 ± 2.7 °C) rooms in traditional cave-dwellings fail to meet the recommended standard by World Health Organization (18 °C) and the Chinese national standard (16 °C–24 °C). 2) For living track temperature steps reduction, the southern sunroom has obvious impact (mostly <10 °C), while enclosed courtyards with glass-top can even enhance such performance (mostly <5 °C). 3) For boosting indoor temperatures in winter, sunroom with enclosed courtyard are most effective in unheated and heated conditions. As the first systematic work to reveal the thermal-enhancing effectiveness of the south-facing buffer space for cave-dwellings in cold climates, the research findings can assist optimizing-retrofitting for cave-dwellings among similar climatic regions globally. • To experimentally measure featured winter thermal environment of cave dwellings in cold region. • To experimentally examine buffer space impacts on winter indoor temperatures and temperature steps of cave dwellings. • To numerically validate key buffer space variable induced indoor thermal performances of cave rooms in winter. • To propose suitable buffer space design strategies for better winter thermal environments of cave dwellings in cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of society, modern buildings have been consuming excessive amount of energy and resources. Eco-friendly building is going to be the leading style of architecture in the future. Underground villa, as a type of energy efficient architecture, has widely drawn humans’ attention. However, Chinese are still at an exploratory stage in terms of the development of underground construction. This paper describes several typical underground villas in western developed countries; briefly states the advantages and shortcomings of underground villas; discusses the design of style-planning, inner-space design, lighting and ventilation, and waterproof and fireproof of underground villas; also puts forward how to improve the living environment of underground villas. Besides, the paper suggests an innovative concept of underground living that best suits China’s market based on the merits of underground villas and the analysis upon China’s traditional cave-house. In addition, it roughly analyzes the prospect of this innovate style of dwelling in China.

Under the background of new urbanization development, landscape design of cave dwelling settlement should be valued. By mining and cognizing cave culture, the connotation and space type of cave dwelling settlement in Guanzhong region are analyzed, and landscape design strategies on natural environment, street space, courtyard space, public space, architectural form and landscape element of cave dwelling are proposed, which could provide some systematic theory suggestions for land design highlighting regional characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and use of subterranean caves for different functions has been relatively commonplace throughout history in different regions around the world, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Some of them are still standing at the beginning of the 21st century, and are a good example of adaptation to the geographic environment, and a part of the historical heritage. Following a short overview of the different Mediterranean countries, this work pays special attention to the present use of caves as dwelling spaces in Italy, and particularly in Spain where the caves are currently in an interesting process of renovation to meet the needs of the present population. This process is helping to boost the local economy, and it is funded by both private and public sources in several towns in Andalusia (Spain).

The population living in loess plateau is about 108 million, but so far there are about 27.8% of them still living in cave dwelling, which is a represented traditional residence in northwest China. Whether traditional cave dwelling should be inherited or replaced is gradually received extensive attention at home and abroad which has different characteristics, for example, adjusting measures to local conditions, low-cost, warm in winter and cool in summer with the rapid development of China's urbanization. Just as other vernacular architectures in China, the traditional cave dwellings are renovated in recent years. To compare the indoor thermal environment performance of cave dwellings and other local typical inhabitancy style, the cave-dwelling, courtyard, new cave-dwelling, general residence was selected as the research object being carried out indoor thermal environment of survey and questionnaires during July 4 ∼14, 2014, which is four typical architectural forms in Qingyang of Gansu province in loess plateau zones. The calculated value of prediction evaluation index PMV is generally higher than heat Sensation Vote value TSV through measuring. It turned out that the cave dwelling have a better thermal environment, but this test only based on one point temperature. However, in order to know about temperature field distribution, cliff soil cave dwelling, strengthening soil cave dwelling and new cave dwelling is regarded as objects through establishing physical model and heat transfer model at the same time. This article being based on different building structures deduces indoor temperature distribution. The result show that the temperature exponential decay along the cave dwelling depth direction. In addition, the airflow distribution inside cave dwelling are analyzed in theory using the application of plume model under the effect of hot-pressing ventilation. The article also get cave dwelling air velocity distribution of different interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]