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This study aims to measure the impact of having visual connections to nature through windows on the cognitive performance of university students, as assessed by their final exam scores. To build upon prior research conducted in controlled laboratory and climate chamber settings, which may have a gap between findings and real-world contexts, demonstrating the positive effects of window views on occupants, this study addressed the limitations of lab-based experiments by conducting a field test in university lecture rooms with 121 students enrolled in STEM classes, taking their actual final exam. In the field test, we randomly assigned the students to either of two conditions: one with windows and one without, while monitoring indoor environmental factors. The results revealed no significant difference in cognitive performance—whether measured by scores or cognitive efficiency gauged by the time taken to complete the exam—between students in conditions with and without window views. Given the known small effect size of having windows on cognitive performance and the relatively small number of data points, we recognized that further iterations of the field tests are required to accumulate a more substantial dataset and draw more robust conclusions.

Window views are closely related to indoor environmental quality and influence health and well-being. This study aimed to review quantitative studies investigating the health effects of window views. It was conducted in four stages: literature identification, screening and selection, eligibility determination, and data synthesis and thematic analysis. Database searches yielded 5,616 articles; ultimately, 121 studies were included. The results showed the effects of different aspects of window views on various health-related outcomes, as reflected in physical, psychological, and life experience. Overall findings confirmed the important associations between window views and health. There were significant variations in the number of studies on different aspects of views. The largest number of studies was related to view content, with a larger a number of studies on nature features, and demonstrated positive outcomes in several health domains. There were fewer studies on access and clarity, and their impact on health-related outcomes needs to be further determined. Future research should consider the consistency of measurement, the complexity of pathways of influence, and the combined effects of multiple factors. This review provides useful insights for research on the health benefits of indoor environments and has potential value for evidence-based design and related guidelines and standards.

AbstractIn bone grafting surgery, autograft, allograft, xenograft, and synthetic graft are the choices of materials used to fill the voids. Because of the risk of infection cautioned during bone grafting surgery, the bone harvested from patient’s own body is widely used to fill the damaged/diseased bone-site. In this study, the voids created post harvesting the bones from iliac-crest of a 40-years-old male patient was considered in-silico. Bone harvested in different geometric patterns by window and trapdoor techniques are considered, and a series of finite element analyses was conducted to evaluate the pelvis status pre and post extraction of bone graft under a single-leg stance loading condition. The results of the study revealed that the maximum of 20 cm3 volume of cortico-cancellous bone in the form of circular pattern harvested from the iliac-crest using a trapdoor technique as the best. To validate the result, the displacements obtained post the extraction of different volumes of cortico-cancellous bone was analyzed, and found that 20 cm3 volume of cortico-cancellous bone harvested using a circular trapdoor technique was ideal choice, considering the pelvis fragility as a major concern. The outcomes of the study can be used to noninvasively predict the pelvis status before harvesting the bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of laser power, high-energy laser systems have increasingly demanding requirements for laser exit aperture windows. Magnesium aluminate spinel ( MgAl2O4 ) transparent ceramics exhibit excellent optical, thermal, and mechanical properties, making them widely used in infrared guidance windows, high Mach aircraft radomes, and windows for optoelectronic equipment in extreme environments. However, there are relatively few reports on their use as laser exit aperture windows. This article briefly introduces the current state of research and development of magnesium aluminate spinel transparent ceramics for laser exit aperture window applications. Focusing on the most critical performance aspects for this application, the absorption coefficient of magnesium aluminate spinel transparent ceramics currently used in transparent bulletproof armor and aircraft windows are tested. The purity of magnesium aluminate spinel powders prepared by the bimetallic alcoholate method and the magnesium aluminate spinel transparent ceramics produced using hot pressing combined with hot isostatic pressing techniques are analyzed. Furthermore, the factors affecting the absorption coefficient of the ceramics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many urban planning and visualization applications, it is crucial to have 3D window details. However, the process of acquiring and reconstructing them can be challenging. Therefore, in many 3D city models, buildings often lack 3D windows. Instead, their building façades are usually represented using 2D planar textures (i.e., LoD2 CityGML models with textures). To generate a 3D façade from 2D images, current methods often need to carefully design various grammars to achieve desired results, which can be tedious. A useful property of building, the window semantics information, is also lacking. The main contribution of this paper is proposing a semantics-aware method for addition and LoD control of 3D window details to LoD2 CityGML models with textures (namely SLOD2+WIN). A deep learning-based two-level window-pane detection is introduced, and the detection results are then processed and adjusted to generate 3D windows and add to the building models. Unlike other methods, the semantics (i.e., frames and panes) are considered for adding window details. We also propose and integrate a LoD scheme for 3D windows following the same concept as the LoD in CityGML. The tedious efforts of reconstruction or grammar creation can be reduced in our method. Only the information present in the texture itself is extracted, and the shape and pattern information of windows are obtained and adjusted from the detection results in an efficient and unsupervised manner to achieve neat window parsing. Specifically, clustering-based window/pane alignment, neatness-based window image voting, grid-based symmetry, thickness filtering, and fitting-based window-top modeling are proposed. To demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of SLOD2+WIN, experiments on several datasets of 3D cities are conducted to add 3D window details with the novel LoD schema, illustrative applications in architectural visualization and urban planning are also showcased. This paper extended its conference version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction sector, there is a shift towards environmentally conscious practices that prioritize the minimization of environmental burdens. In this study, we dealt with a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of a wood–aluminum window in two software tools. SimaPro (PRé Sustainability) and Sphera LCA for Experts (formerly known as GaBi) were selected. The results from both software tools were compared to assess the output uniformity of the two selected tools. The results indicate the similarities and differences in the software tools. The most similar results were achieved for impact categories Photochemical Ozone Formation (1.1% difference), Human Toxicity, cancer (total) (3.6% difference), Climate Change (3.7% difference) and for Resource Use, fossils (4.5% difference), respectively. On the other hand, the results were most different in the impact categories Ozone Depletion (84.7% difference), Resource Use, minerals and metals (75% difference), Ecotoxicity, freshwater—inorganics (35.6%) and Ecotoxicity, freshwater (total) (31.2%), respectively. The differences in the LCA results between SimaPro and GaBi were analyzed in-depth and were mainly attributable to using different databases in the transportation process and due to different system boundaries in some processes, with the Ecoinvent data containing significantly more background processes and inconsistencies in the implemented characterization factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the thermal performance of windows is important for building energy efficiency. Filling windows with variable transparency shape-stabilized phase change materials (VTSS-PCM) improves the thermal inertia of windows while avoiding the leakage of PCM. In this paper, a new type of VTSS-PCM window was proposed, tested, simulated and optimized in hot summer and cold winter climate zone. A numerical model of the VTSS-PCM window was built, and the model was validated using experimental tests. On this basis, three key parameters of VTSS-PCM were investigated and optimized. Finally, the energy and economic performance of the optimized VTSS-PCM window were compared with a typical hollow glass window. The results showed that the total annual unfavourable heat transfer (TAHT) and the annual investment cost (AIC) of the VTSS-PCM window obtained from the optimization were 118.16 kWh/m2 and 8.53 CNY/m2, respectively. Compared with the hollow glass window, the VTSS-PCM window reduced the TAHT by 30.14% and the total annual cost by 28.39%. The VTSS-PCM window produced a better development potential in terms of energy performance and economic performance. This study provided a reference for the application of the VTSS-PCM window in hot summer and cold winter regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence of the big data era, the need for sampling methods that select samples based on the order of the observed units is felt more than ever. In order to meet this necessity, a new sequential unequal probability sampling method is proposed. The decision to select or not each unit is made based on the order in which the units appear. A variant of this method allows a selection of a sample from a stream. This method consists in using sliding windows which are a kind of strata of controllable size. This method also allows the sample to be spread in a controlled manner throughout the population. A special case of the method with windows of size one leads to deciding on each sampling unit immediately after observing it. The implementation of size one windows is simple and will be presented here based on an algorithm with a single condition. Also, by selecting the windows of size two, we will have one of the optimal stream sampling methods, which results in a well-spread stream sample with positive second-order inclusion probabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Computer Engineering & Applications is the property of Beijing Journal of Computer Engineering & Applications Journal Co Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural ventilation is an eco-friendly and renewable energy source that enhances thermal comfort and energy efficiency. The window is the most traditional method of introducing natural ventilation into the built environment, but its full potential has been slow to be explored. The indoor arrangement of naturally ventilated buildings must be effectively managed to ensure indoor thermal comfort and ventilation efficiency. Although the windows offer a number of advantages for natural ventilation, they can be challenging to implement in real occupied conditions due to the integrated design between façade and interior arrangement. A comprehensive review aims to investigate the potential factors that influence the performance of natural window ventilation. The overall findings show that wind-driven cross-ventilation and single-sided ventilation are the most extensively studied natural window ventilation strategies. However, the topics of corner ventilation and buoyancy-driven ventilation do not receive much attention. The findings highlight that appropriate window designs, including factors such as window geometry, opening ratio, number of openings, location, type, orientation, and shading systems, can maintain thermal comfort, reduce cooling loads, extend ventilation period, and improve indoor air quality. In addition, it has been discovered that the geometric and thermal properties of indoor obstructions determine the advantages and limitations of local thermal comfort and airflow patterns in different scenarios. The necessity for further studies on the effects of interior conditions on natural window ventilation is argued, as it is a crucial issue for ensuring accurate results. The review of recent literature contributes to categorizing the influential factors and identifying the important aspects to be considered in natural window ventilation. Through this literature review, further research is encouraged to fully exploit the potential for integrating interior factors and window characteristics in the design of low-energy buildings.

For the past several decades, the container shipping industry has grown rapidly. As a result, container shipping companies (CSCs) play a vital role in the global cargo transportation market. Thus, measuring the efficiency of CSCs is a primary concern of managers and practitioners. When the COVID‐19 pandemic broke out, the industry was severely disrupted and presented with unprecedented challenges. For this reason, evaluating how CSCs performed and learning the practices they took to achieve successful business results during this period have become necessary. To serve that purpose, this article used a hybrid method that combined data envelopment analysis Malmquist index with window analysis to analyze the world's nine leading CSCs' performance over time and their efficiency relative to each other, using data collected within a 5‐year period from 2016 to 2020. Our findings revealed different characteristics and trends in efficiency among these CSCs in terms of technical efficiency change, technological change, and total productivity change. Then, managerial implications were discussed to understand the best practices of successful CSCs as well as the circumstances in which some of them underperformed during this time. In closing, the study summarized a fact‐based guideline CSCs could take as management reference should a similar crisis occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cahiers Elisabethains: A Biannual Journal of English Renaissance Studies is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The coil is used for electrical connection and energy conversion in the electromagnetic pulse welding (EMPW) process, so its structure affects the welding effect. In this work, for the dual H-shaped (DH) coil, the influence of the symmetry coefficient on the Cu-Al sheets EMPW was studied through the simulation and experiment. When the voltage was 7 kV and the symmetry coefficient g was 0.75, 1, and 1.33, the Vc-β trajectory curve contained by the simulation combined with the welding window curve (WWC) to analyze the dynamic process and welding effect. The relative impact speed was the fastest and the corresponding weld seam length was the longest when g was 1.33. The welding experiment results were consisted with the simulation results, it was beneficial to weld the Cu-Al sheets when g was 133. The symmetry coefficient could change the impact speed and angle to affect the welding effect. This work is of great significance for DH coil design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to calculate the thermal response of different types of glazing windows used in buildings to achieve a sustainable environment. However, buildings experience a significant amount of heat gain or loss through and this will affect the thermal comfort of the building's occupants. One of the essential parts of the window is the glazing. Selecting a window glazing is complicated when energy saving and day lighting aspects of a building are considered concurrently. The study involves the estimation of changes in the numerical values regarding the heating and cooling load of a residential unit in the case of replacing glazing from a double-glazed with a single-glazed window. A model of a singlestory residential structure prototype has been taken as a case study in the climate of Lahore. The calculation has been compared with values of direct solar gains, heat gains, and losses throughout the year. A quantitative research-based approach has been used. Overall, the results indicate that during summers the Double-glazed window units have 37% less heat gain and during winters 36% less heat loss as compared to Single-glazed window units. Thus, double-glazed windows are more effective in terms of energy efficiency in comparison to single-glazed windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings consume about 40% of global energy. It is essential to use various measures to reduce the energy consumption of the buildings as much as possible. This research investigates the impact of using a new combination of thermochromic (TC) materials in the building envelope of educational buildings. A case study building at Razi University was selected, and a 3D model was created in DesignBuilder software. Firstly, TC coating for external walls was entered into the base model, and several simulations were performed to find the effect of this coating on the energy consumption of the building. Then, a low-emissivity thermochromic (LETC) window was defined using energy management system (EMS) scripting and was entered into the base model. Finally, these two measures were combined, and the cumulative effect of using both TC coating on the external walls and LETC window was identified. Results indicated that the simultaneous application of these two measures reduced the heating demand of the building more in Tabriz, with the least cooling degree days (CDD). Also, simulation results revealed that the simultaneous use of these measures decreased the cooling demand of the building more in Bandar Abbas, with the highest CDD. Using TC coating on the external walls and LETC windows together reduced the energy consumption of the building more in Bandar Abbas. Consequently, integrating these measures can reduce the heating demand of educational buildings more in heating-dominated climates. Also, the simultaneous use of these measures can reduce cooling demand more in cooling-dominated climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic ambient noise is increasingly important in estimating velocity and attenuation structures, as well as understanding parameter variations. However, gaps in recorded time series create challenges in processing ambient noise. This study introduces a novel technique that fills these gaps by using time series with suitable frequency content. To achieve this, a gap was intentionally applied into a continuous time series, and a similar time series, of the same length as the gap, is selected as the primary signal. A moving periodogram, incorporating various windows, was applied to the time series before and after the gap. Stacking these periodograms creates a reference periodogram that indicates the frequency content of the gap. This reference periodogram was then used to improve the frequency content of the primary signal. The study shows promising results with a significant improvement in correlation between the primary signal and the gap through the modification of frequency content. Increasing the number of periodograms used in the stacking process improves the estimation of frequency content, and optimal window lengths have a significant impact on outcomes. This methodology ensures accurate recovery of high powers through modification operations. By addressing data gaps in seismic ambient noise, this advanced technique contributes to continuous progress in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the effect of the surface on the strength of the corner joint on the window was analyzed. The corner joint on the window is made in the variant with double and triple dowel and slot using PVaC adhesive. Samples were made from pine tree (Pinus Nigra). For research purposes, a special holder was made for the samples to enable testing according to the EN514:2018 standard method. The aim of the work is to determine the influence of the connection element on the strength of the corner joint of the window when using PVaC glue. The samples were divided into 2 groups of 30 samples each, depending on the number of dowels. The standard methods of statistical analysis were used. The test showed that the connection with triple dowel and slot has higher breaking strength values compared to double dowel and slot.

Historically, windows shading systems have been part of sustainable design elements that minimize solar heat gain while still allowing fresh air to pass through. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the impact of shading systems on natural ventilation in furnished indoor spaces. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of vertical shadings on the cross-ventilation performance in an office building through numerical analysis by utilizing computational fluid dynamics. Site measurements were conducted to compare with the numerical results and were used as boundary conditions for the numerical simulations. The results showed that incorporating vertical shadings with the window has the potential to enhance the ventilation rate when the wind direction ranges from 45° to 90°. Then, different vertical fin settings were applied for various specific window types for further analysis. The initial case (awning window) with central shading resulted in a 30.46 % increase in the airflow rate compared to that in the non-shading scenario. The implementation of vertical shadings for sash windows can be considered to be the most effective combination, which resulted in a 12.04 % increase in the ventilation rate, a reduction of 17.73 % in the velocity non-uniformity coefficient, and a decrease of 31.47 % in the percentage area of the dead zone. Lastly, a first attempt to demonstrate the potential of altering the furniture placement to improve the natural ventilation with window shading systems is presented. The ventilation rates were slightly affected by the placement of furniture, while the local age-of-air surrounding the occupant could be reduced by 56.21 %. This study provides a practical architectural strategy for enhancing indoor natural ventilation behavior through the implementation of window vertical shadings.

Copyright of Bulletin of the Faculty of Forestry / Glasnik Šumarskog Fakulteta is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Generally, windows in greenhouses are automatically opened and closed to regulate the internal temperature. However, because the air outside during the winter in Japan is dry, opening windows to reduce the temperature causes the humidity deficit to increase above 6 g/m3, thereby inhibiting plant growth. Therefore, in this study, we developed a model that considers the effects of weather and the sampling period using a subspace (N4SID) method based on environmental data from inside and outside a greenhouse during winter. By adopting a data-driven model, models for greenhouse temperature and humidity deficits can be constructed conveniently. First, four models incorporating weather conditions were constructed over a 28-day modelling period. Moreover, the average root mean square error values from 8:00 to 16:00 during the 10-day model evaluation period were examined. Subsequently, model predictive controllers were developed from the four models with sampling periods of 1, 2, 4, and 8 min, and their performances were compared over the model evaluation period. The model predictive controller with a sampling period of 4 min was the most energy-efficient, achieving control of the humidity deficit of up to at most 6 g/m3 (close to the target value of 4.5 g/m3) while maintaining the target temperature of 26 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to determine the heat transfer coefficient of translucent fences, considering the number of storeys of buildings, climatic factors, such as wind velocity and outdoor temperature. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: analysis of heat transfer in translucent enclosures as a quasi-stationary process; analysis of heat transfer processes in translucent barriers, which are a combination of solid transparent plates and air gaps connected by a frame structure; determination of the heat transfer coefficient on the glass surface depending on climatic factors and the radiant component. The most important result is the empirical dependence of the heat transfer coefficient on the outer surface of the window block on the Reynolds criterion, the dependences for determining the heat transfer coefficient of window blocks are improved, considering climatic parameters. The heat transfer coefficient of the window block as a whole is presented in the form of analytical ratios, considering the location of the building and its height, changes in wind velocity and outdoor temperature. This methodology was tested on the example of a civil administrative building, for which the heat transfer coefficients of window structures of non-standard series were evaluated. The significance of the research results lies in the possibility of using the obtained dependencies to assess the thermal characteristics of window structures of non-standard shapes. The dependences of the heat transfer coefficient on wind speed and outside air temperature given in the paper can be used in the energy audit of buildings.

In many middle- and high-income countries, existing buildings will occupy the majority of building areas by 2050 and measures are needed to upgrade the mentioned buildings for a sustainable transition. This research proposes a method to mitigate the energy consumption of existing educational buildings using four energy efficiency measures (EEMs). The proposed method divides simulations into two main parts: simulations with and without using heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Four passive EEMs are used, including window replacement, proposed shading devices, new insulations, and installing a new partition wall for the entrance part of the building. This research uses a simulation-based method to examine the effect of each EEM on the energy consumption of the building using DesignBuilder software. The steps of data collection and modeling in this research include collecting raw data related to the physical characteristics of the building experimentally and creating a basic model. Afterwards, simulation scenarios were defined based on the proposed method, and several simulations were carried out to examine the impact of each EEM on the energy performance of the building. Two environmental parameters of the simulation process, including indoor air temperature (IAT) and relative humidity (RH), were used. The measures reduced the heating and cooling demands in the building by 80.14 % and 15.70 %, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that the total energy consumption of the building were reduced by 10.44 % after retrofitting measures.

Abstract Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious intensive care unit (ICU)-related infection in mechanically ventilated patients that is frequent, as more than half of antibiotics prescriptions in ICU are due to VAP. Various risk factors and diagnostic criteria for VAP have been referred to in different settings. The estimated attributable mortality of VAP can go up to 50%, which is higher in cases of antimicrobial-resistant VAP. When the diagnosis of pneumonia in a mechanically ventilated patient is made, initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy must be prompt. Microbiological diagnosis of VAP is required to optimize timely therapy since effective early treatment is fundamental for better outcomes, with controversy continuing regarding optimal sampling and testing. Understanding the role of antimicrobial resistance in the context of VAP is crucial in the era of continuously evolving antimicrobial-resistant clones that represent an urgent threat to global health. This review is focused on the risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in adult VAP and its novel microbiological tools. It aims to summarize the current evidence-based knowledge about the mechanisms of resistance in VAP caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in clinical settings with focus on Gram-negative pathogens. It highlights the evidence-based antimicrobial management and prevention of drug-resistant VAP. It also addresses emerging concepts related to predictive microbiology in VAP and sheds lights on VAP in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This research explores shading potential for improving the thermal properties of a box-window. Two different types of shades along with three placements were considered. Ten configurations were tested in a hot-box apparatus and compared to base window performance. Condensation issues that may arise after shading installation were also studied.Measurements showed that shading installed along with the original box-window has a positive impact on the window thermal performance. The highest U-value reduction by 35% (from 1.9 to 1.0 W/m2K) was achieved by a roller-shade with low-emissivity layer and constrained airflow on shade perimeter, installed inside the window recess. Temperature analysis showed a higher risk of condensation on the indoor window surface due to shade introduction on the indoor side of the window.Shading placement within the box-window gave improvements of 34% (reduced U-value from 2.0 to 1.3 W/m2K) for reflective roller-shades placed between the window frames. Shades in this position do not increase the risk of condensation on the indoor surface of the window. The probability of condensation inside the box-window may be lowered by draught-proofing indoor frames and maintaining ventilation through the outdoor frame.Shades proved to be effective at improving the thermal properties of box-windows.

In this study, the influence of variables defining indoor temperature is studied, focusing on operational data and visual and technical inspections rather than the temperature control setpoints and occupancy schedule. This is incorrect because infiltration and insolation are highly variable. This results in lowering the temperature difference between the supply and return lines, overheating some spaces, lowering the indoor temperature in others, and poor hydronic balancing. The novelty lies in studying the actual operating condition of real district heating (DH) systems. The research hypothesis is that internal heat gains along with the infiltration of and variations in outdoor temperature cause daily changes in indoor temperature. These factors seem to be the primary reasons for the variations in supply and return temperature, if the rate of energy loss is not large in new office buildings constructed according to tightened contemporary energy conservation regulations. The saving effect is achieved by allowing the energy to be dumped into building envelopes; thus, the flow rate or supply temperature are varied in a narrower range. Dumping heat by using the storage capacity of building envelopes is suggested. The corrected design approach minimizes energy consumption and increases annual performance (e.g., by 14.1% here). Advantages are achieved by tuning a controller at a DH substation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newer buildings have a lower but smoother profile of indoor temperature, while older buildings are less energy efficient. Sometimes, the indoor temperature is unreasonably high, being 25–30 °C. There are buildings where the indoor temperature does not correlate with the outdoor one. Correction factors adjusting convective heat transfer coefficients are suggested. Energy demand is defined using the rate of heat loss and internal heat gains for the given building construction and design consumption profile. We suggest adjusting the setpoints of the secondary supply temperature to keep indoor and return temperatures lower. Correcting a traditional approach when designing a building may minimize energy consumption by 23.3% and increase the annual performance by up to 14.1%. The reductions of thermal peak resulting from a new type of controller adjustment (for instance, discrete) compared to the traditional operation range from roughly 10 to 30%, respectively. A better understanding of the system operation is a necessary step to switch to fourth-generation district heating (4GDH). This methodology is especially helpful in shaving daily peaks of heat demand. Building envelopes ease the charging, maximum storage capacity, and balance of the given generation and demand profiles, which are key factors in achieving the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Once the heat demand is covered according to the maximum storage capacity for the given generation and demand profile, fewer efforts to modernize a district heating network are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a new method to accurately evaluate the overall building envelope thermal performance considering the window–wall correlation, providing a new tool for building thermal design. Firstly, a non-stationary room heat transfer model is established based on the Resistance-Capacity Network method. The influence of solar heat gain through the windows on the heat transfer process of the walls in the actual environment is considered, and the room's integrated thermal resistance and integrated heat capacity indexes describing the overall room thermal resilience performance are proposed. Then, a field research test is conducted around Lhasa to obtain the local dwelling information, climate conditions, and indoor thermal environment. Numerical simulations using EnergyPlus are made to verify the effectiveness of the indexes in describing the overall building (maximum difference within 3.67% MBE and 2.92% CVRMSE) based on the field test results. Finally, the proposed envelope thermal performance index is used to analyze the local residential buildings around Lhasa. The results show that the lack of consideration of window–wall correlation has led to the failure of a local newly built building's actual envelope performance to meet the design requirements. These findings could help to develop the thermal design method of the building envelope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Palíndromo is the property of Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Visual connection to nature has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on attention restoration, stress reduction, and overall health and well-being. Inside buildings, windows are the primary means of providing a connection to the outdoors, and nature views even through a window may have similar effects on the occupants. Given that humans recognize environments through multi-sensory integration, a window view may also affect occupants’ thermal perception. We assessed the influence of having a window with a view on thermal and emotional responses as well as on cognitive performance. We conducted a randomized crossover laboratory experiment with 86 participants, in spaces with and without windows. The chamber kept the air and window surface temperature at 28 °C, a slightly warm condition. The outcome measures consisted of subjective evaluations (e.g., thermal perception, emotion), skin temperature measurements and cognitive performance tests. In the space with versus without windows, the thermal sensation was significantly cooler (0.3 thermal sensation vote; equivalent to 0.74 °C lower), and 12 % more participants were thermally comfortable. Positive emotions (e.g., happy, satisfied) were higher and negative emotions (e.g., sad, drowsy) were lower for the participants in the window versus the windowless condition. Working memory and the ability to concentrate were higher for participants in the space with versus without windows, but there were no significant differences in short-term memory, planning, and creativity performance. Considering the multiple effects of window access, providing a window with a view in a workplace is important for the comfort, emotion, and working memory and concentration of occupants.

The article will deal with the analysis of measured data on a plastic window with thermal insulating triple glazing, which is suitable for low-energy or passive houses. The window was installed in 2011 in the test laboratory of the Department of Building Engineering and Urban planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Žilina (Slovakia), where it was tested under standard indoor climate conditions and real outdoor climate conditions. Surface temperatures on the frame friezes and glass system and heat flux density were recorded at a five-minute time step. In 2020, the window was removed from the laboratory and subsequently tested in a climate chamber. This paper will present the results of these measurements in terms of heat flow density waveforms, heat transfer coefficient, and total solar transmittance through the glazing. Subsequently, a simulation model of this window will be created in the environment of a computational program and its verification based on the measurements will be carried out. A series of calculations will be performed on the tuned model and analyses of the results and comparisons will be presented under the same climatic conditions as during the real measurements recorded by the meteorological station.

Objective: Currently, human beings are feeling the effects of global warming and high temperatures, and it is necessary to seek new forms of ventilation. This work aims to develop a prototype in order to propose a sustainable solution to improve the residential indoor temperature. Methodology: To compare the internal temperature of a standard house, with an unconventional ventilation house that was proposed in the prototype, in order to verify its efficiency. For this, statistical analyzes were carried out through the data of the measurements carried out in the two prototypes, which occurred at different times (14:00 and 18:00) during the period of 51 days. Relevance: Natural ventilation implies a sustainable method constituted by the natural flow of air providing the environment with a more pleasant sensation, being very relevant to the quality of life of the human being. Results: By comparing the average internal temperature between them, it was possible to verify that the average internal temperature of the standard house was significantly higher than the house with unconventional ventilation, considering the heat period. It analyzed that factors such as climate, humidity, period (time) and the window inserted in the prototype, influenced the temperature of the environment. Conclusion: The main conclusion of the work is given by the fact that the proposed prototype provided a reduction in temperature using natural methods, and consequently a possible reduction in electricity consumption contributing to a more sustainable world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tendency to improve the energy efficiency of windows has led to an increase in the number of panes used. The greater weight of the window sash leads to a loss of its geometry during normal usage. This deformation of geometry is caused by its own weight, and thus reduces the efficiency of preventing heat loss. All the positive effects that are obtained by using multiple panes of glass are thus lost. As window manufacturers often try to cut production costs by shortening the time of kiln drying, this paper researches the effect of using elements with different moisture content. Articles on similar topics were reviewed and it was found that there were no available data on the researched topic. Only about 20 different articles on similar topics were found, but the starting conditions or input was greatly different. Also, there are no official standards that cover the strength of window corner joints. This paper analyzes the influence of the change in moisture of the elements on the strength of the joint. Three groups of window corner joint samples were examined. The first group of samples was the control group that was supposed to determine the strength of the joint when the window beams were made with the recommended moisture according to a corresponding standard (12 ± 2%). In the second and third groups, the moisture of the beams was taken as a variable factor, namely the moisture content of 18 ± 2%. The results of this study show that the strength values of the currently used corner joints (double mortise and tenon) are different at different moisture contents. As expected, the samples with the recommended moisture content had higher strength values than the samples with the higher moisture content. There are many challenges in proper kiln drying and the final moisture content has a crucial impact on window strength. As windows have a specific purpose in buildings, they should have sufficient strength to be properly used over a long period. These obtained results should demonstrate the importance of the moisture content of wooden beams used in window production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious intensive care unit (ICU)-related infection in mechanically ventilated patients that is frequent, as more than half of antibiotics prescriptions in ICU are due to VAP. Various risk factors and diagnostic criteria for VAP have been referred to in different settings. The estimated attributable mortality of VAP can go up to 50%, which is higher in cases of antimicrobial-resistant VAP. When the diagnosis of pneumonia in a mechanically ventilated patient is made, initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy must be prompt. Microbiological diagnosis of VAP is required to optimize timely therapy since effective early treatment is fundamental for better outcomes, with controversy continuing regarding optimal sampling and testing. Understanding the role of antimicrobial resistance in the context of VAP is crucial in the era of continuously evolving antimicrobial-resistant clones that represent an urgent threat to global health. This review is focused on the risk factors for antimicrobial resistance in adult VAP and its novel microbiological tools. It aims to summarize the current evidence-based knowledge about the mechanisms of resistance in VAP caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in clinical settings with focus on Gram-negative pathogens. It highlights the evidence-based antimicrobial management and prevention of drug-resistant VAP. It also addresses emerging concepts related to predictive microbiology in VAP and sheds lights on VAP in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The views that windows provide from inside a building affect human health and well-being. Although the window view is an important architectural element in the building, there is no established framework to guide architectural design. The literature is widely dispersed across different disciplinary fields, and there is a need to coalesce this information into a framework that can be applied into the building design process. Based on the literature, we present a framework for what constitutes “view quality.” At the basis of our framework, we propose three primary variables: View Content (the assessment of visual features seen in the window view); View Access (the measure of how much of the view can be seen through the window from the occupant’s position); and View Clarity (the assessment of how clear the view content appears in the window view when seen by an occupant). Each variable was thematically derived from different sources (e.g., daylighting standards, green certification systems, and scientific research studies). We describe the most important characteristics of each variable, and from our review of the literature, we provide an index that can measure the quality of a window view. We also provide design recommendations for integrating these three variables into the building process and identify knowledge gaps.

Petruk is one of the punakawan figures in the puppet show who always entertains the audience. Despite his cute appearance, Petruk's figure has exemplary values and admirable values. In addition, Petruk also has a unique body shape, making it fascinating to use him as an inspiration for the creation of metal cast artwork for window decoration. This decorative artwork was made in 4 (four) steps: exploration, experimentation, incubation, and visualization. Five titles were given to the production of this decorative window artwork: "Petruk Ngilo," "Petruk Duding," "Berharap dan Berserah Diri," "Pemomong," and "Petruk Kanthong Bolong." Each of these window decorations represents a symbolic value for our existence as social beings and God's creatures.