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Virtual-reality exposure therapy (VRET) is a novel intervention technique that allows individuals to experience anxiety-evoking stimuli in a safe environment, recognise specific triggers and gradually increase their exposure to perceived threats. Public-speaking anxiety (PSA) is a prevalent form of social anxiety, characterised by stressful arousal and anxiety generated when presenting to an audience. In self-guided VRET, participants can gradually increase their tolerance to exposure and reduce anxiety-induced arousal and PSA over time. However, creating such a VR environment and determining physiological indices of anxiety-induced arousal or distress is an open challenge. Environment modelling, character creation and animation, psychological state determination and the use of machine learning models for anxiety or stress detection are equally important, and multi-disciplinary expertise is required.In this work, we have explored a series of machine learning models with publicly available data sets (using electroencephalogram and heart rate variability) to predict arousal states. If we can detect anxiety-induced arousal, we can trigger calming activities to allow individuals to cope with and overcome distress. Here, we discuss the means of effective selection of machine learning models and parameters in arousal detection. We propose a pipeline to overcome the model selection problem with different parameter settings in the context of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy. This pipeline can be extended to other domains of interest where arousal detection is crucial. Finally, we have implemented a biofeedback framework for VRET where we successfully provided feedback as a form of heart rate and brain laterality index from our acquired multimodal data for psychological intervention to overcome anxiety.

This study assessed the impact of introducing a Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) scheme to a socioeconomically deprived area, on residents buy-in and sustainable behaviours. Surveys were completed before the scheme was implemented by 180 residents (in affectedn = 79 and neighbouring streetsn = 101) and 1 year after the schemes completion by 51 residents. Following scheme completion, sustainable behaviours significantly increased by 17% in the scheme area and by 9% in the neighbouring streets. Written feedback indicated increased buy-in from residents affected by the scheme, and from neighbouring areas. Written feedback before the scheme included: (i) Concerns about parking; (ii) Liking the scheme; (iii) Feeling consultation was lacking; and (iv) Feeling the scheme was a waste of funds. Feedback after scheme completion included: (i) Feeling the SuDs improved the area; (ii) Remaining concerns about parking; (iii) Valuing the extra green space in the neighbouring area; and (iv) Wanting the SuDs in neighbouring streets. Introducing Green Infrastructure may improve resident’s sustainable behaviours. Importantly, residents in neighbouring areas became envious of the SuDs once completed and showed increased sustainable behaviours indicating spill-over effects. The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) recently took place, and England is considering statutory SuDs as seen in the scheme discussed here. Therefore, this research is particularly relevant to local authorities and stakeholders who can struggle to communicate the multi-benefits of sustainable urban design solutions.

Many studies have shown that fluorosis due to long-term fluoride intake has damaging effects on the heart. However, the mechanisms underlying cardiac fluorosis have not been illuminated in detail. We performed high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) on rat cardiac tissue to explore the molecular effects of NaF exposure. In total, 372 and 254 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between a group given 30 mg/L NaF and control and between a group given 90 mg/L NaF and control, respectively. The transcript levels of most of these genes were significantly down-regulated and many were distributed in the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Transcriptome analysis revealed that herpes simplex infection, ECM-receptor interaction, influenza A, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, apoptosis, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway were significantly affected. IL-6 and IL-10 may play a crucial role in the cardiac damage caused by NaF as external stimuli according to protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting showed a marked decreased mRNA and protein levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-10 in the low concentration fluoride (LF) and high concentration fluoride (HF) groups, which was in agreement with RNA-Seq results. This is the first study to investigate NaF-induced cardiotoxicity at a transcriptome level.

As human beings have detached themselves from natural environments by spending most of their time indoors, they have also distanced themselves from the positive experiences that nature provides. Sick building syndrome, nature deficit disorder amongst others, are examples of the impact of separating the built environment from nature. Biophilia is an innate affiliation to nature which stems from our evolutionary history, vital for sustaining health and wellbeing. Biophilic concepts have been explored from biophilic cities to biophilic hospitals. However, existing biophilic research is fragmented. In the last few decades, energy efficiency and carbon emissions have increased in importance for low environmental impact design, nonetheless, there is a need for more research in biophilic buildings which are beneficial to our health and wellbeing as well as causing less harm to the environment. This paper aims to investigate the application of biophilia in building design practices for improved health and wellbeing. Firstly, biophilic theoretical frameworks developed by leading biophilic experts have been examined and compared to health and wellness performance certifications such as WELL Building and Living Building Challenge (LBC) standards. Finally, a holistic biophilic framework inspired by Kellert and Calabrese has been elaborated to assess the biophilic features in the built environment. Multiple explorative case studies were employed for this paper, the findings revealed that the biophilic applications linked to direct experiences of nature were implemented inefficiently and lacked a holistic approach to improve health and wellbeing. The authors argue that biophilia needs to be included holistically to maximise the benefits of nature’s experiences.

Due to the increasing magnitude and high frequency of urban heatwaves, recently, there has been a surge of interest in the reflective roofs and the vegetative green roofs. Along with the rising temperature, there are also more frequent droughts and rainfall which have led to wider changes in weather conditions subsequently affecting the performance of green roofs and white roofs. However, there is still a lack of research in comparing dynamic energetic and hydrological performance of green roof and white roofs during heatwave events. This paper introduces a newly constructed outdoor test rig (installed with a semi-intensive green roof and an aluminium white roof) and a few initial monitoring results. The hydrological performance monitoring results showed that, although a noticeable peak runoff reduction of the white roof was observed, more significant water retention of green roofs had been established. The energetic performance monitoring results indicated that the green roof performed better than the white roof during the heatwave event reducing solar heat gains by 76% during day time, improving U-value by 28% and reducing indoor air temperature by 2.5°C. The peak indoor air temperature reduction in the green roof space occurred during late afternoons (around 7 pm).

A number of innovations in building envelope technologies have been Received 9 August 2016 implemented recently, for example, to improve insulation and air Accepted 24 September 2017 tightness to reduce energy consumption. However, growing concern KEYWORDS over the embodied energy and carbon as well as resource depletion, is Adaptability; energy beginning to impact on the design and implementation of existing and conservation measures; novel building envelope technologies. Biomimicry is proposed as one ecological design; intelligent approach to create buildings which are resilient to a changing climate, building; green building; embedded in wider ecological systems, energy efficient and waste free. biomimicry; biomimetics; However, the diversity of form and function in biological organisms and adaptable facade; plant cell therefore potential applications for biomimicry, requires a holistic wall approach spanning biology, materials science and architecture. It is considered timely to re-examine opportunities to learn from nature, including in the light of recent understanding of how plant form and function are determined at the cellular levels. In this article, we call for a systemic approach for the development of innovative biological and living building envelopes. Plant cell walls are compared to building envelopes. Key features of cell walls with the potential to inform the development of design principles of biological and living building envelopes are identified and discussed.

Air pollution has increased in the last decade in China. Urban green infrastructure, such as trees, could help to mitigate air pollution by the dry deposition process. The aim of this paper is to develop an assessment method for improving air quality by appropriate urban green infrastructure for high density urban environment in north China. Based on a literature review of relevant researches, an evaluation method of PM10 removal has been improved.

Urbanisation contributed to the presence of urban heat island phenomenon, and aggravated urban heat island effect intensity with the improvement of urbanisation level. Overheat weather condition caused severe threat to human life and health, while green infrastructure including water bodies has been validated to be able to reduce urban land surface temperature in different extent. To examine the impact of green infrastructure on urban heat island effect in Harbin, with the aid of ENVI and geographic information system software, this paper retrieved seasonal Harbin land surface temperature from 2000 to 2015 using Landsat series and MODIS 8-day remote sensing data, and further computed surface urban heat island intensity(SUHII). Then, to build the quantitative relationship between green infrastructure fraction and urban heat island intensity applying regression analysis method. Finally, by means of ENVI-MET software, this article simulated urban heat island intensity change based on different green infrastructure scenarios. The results showed that, as far as administrative region of Harbin scale, surface urban heat island intensity both in summer and in winter reduced from 2000(6.55°C in summer, 4.15°C in winter) to 2015(2.6°C in summer, 0.47°C in winter), and SUHII in summer is higher than it in winter except 2005; Green infrastructure fraction is negative correlated with SUHII; Simulation result indicated that increase on green infrastructure would facilitate to mitigation of urban heat island effect. The result of this study would provide some help and advice for land use planning decision and urban construction in the future of Harbin.

From the view of geographic location, climate and population status, this paper makes a comparative study of the economy structure, transport system, energy supply and carbon emissions among a few cities, especially between Beijing and London, two mega-cities in the world. The developed tertiary industry, consummate transport system and low-carbon energy supply system in London can be referenced to assist Beijing in establishing a low-carbon development pathway. The difference in the statistical coverage of population between these two cities also brings about the divergence of energy consumption per capita and CO2 emissions per capita between them.

Urban planning is a vital process in determining the functionality of future cities. It is predicted that at least two thirds of the world’s citizens will reside in towns and cities by the middle of this century, up from one third in the middle of the previous century. Not only is it essential to provide space for work and dwelling, but also for their well-being. Well-being is inextricably linked with the surrounding environment, and natural landscapes have a potent positive effect. For this reason, the inclusion and management of urban green infrastructure has become a topic of increasing scientific interest. Elements of this infrastructure, including green roofs and facades are of growing importance to operators in each stage of the planning, design and construction process in urban areas. Currently, there is a strong recognition that “green is good”. Despite the positive recognition of urban greenery, and the concerted efforts to include more of it in cities, greater scientific attention is needed to better understand its role in the urban environment. For example, many solutions are cleverly engineered without giving sufficient consideration to the biology of the vegetation that is used. This review contends that whilst “green is good” is a positive mantra to promote the inclusion of urban greenery, there is a significant opportunity to increase the contribution of plant science to the process of urban planning through both green infrastructure, and biomimicry.

Buildings account for almost half of energy consumptions in European countries and energy demand in building continues to grow worldwide. Fossil fuels are finite reserves. Impacts of peak oil will be perceived soon or later in the next decades. The scale of the challenge in reducing fossil fuel dependency in the built environment is vast and will require a dramatic increase in skills and awareness amongst the construction professions. Building refurbishment towards zero carbon is established itself as one critical aspect to decouple from fossil fuels and tackle with future energy crisis. However, it is a very complex phenomenon cuts across disciplines. This paper categorises a range of technologies for building refurbishment in a sequential manner. A hierarchical process with embedded techniques (insulations, energy efficient equipment and micro-generation) is presented in this paper as a pathway towards zero-carbon building refurbishment.

In order to improve energy performance of buildings, insulation materials (such as mineral glass and rock wools, or fossil fuel-based plastic foams) are being used in increasing quantities, which may lead to potential problem with materials depletions and landfill disposal. One sustainable solution suggested is the use of bio-based, biodegradable materials. A number of attempts have been made to develop biomaterials, such as sheep wood, hemcrete or recycled papers. In this paper, a novel type of bio insulation materials – mycelium is examined. The aim is to produce mycelium materials that could be used as insulations. The bio-based material was required to have properties that matched existing alternatives, such as expanded polystyrene, in terms of physical and mechanical characteristics but with an enhanced level of biodegradability. The testing data showed mycelium bricks exhibited good thermal performance. Future work is planned to improve growing process and thermal performance of the mycelium bricks.

Urban man-made assets have impacts not just on those who develop, build and operate them, but on people who may be quite remote from them. For example, the impact of a building on greenhouse gas emissions arising from fossil fuel use, pollution caused by travel to work patterns and employment opportunities provided by urban developments may be far removed from their immediate locality. There is a growing recognition of the need to internalize these external costs and benefits in accountancy frameworks, drawing on experiences in accounting for sustainable development. This desire, however, presents major challenges in identifying, evaluating and allocating the external environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of an urban environment. This paper reports on the development of an Urban Development Sustainability Assessment Model (UD-SAM) which allows decision makers to identify sustainability indicators (economic, environmental and social) and which may lead to more holistic evaluation of the sustainability impact of elements of the urban environment. The UD-SAM builds on a sustainability assessment model (SAM) developed originally in the oil industry. This paper describes how SAM has been tailored for the construction industry and urban sustainability assessment, and how a set of generic sustainable development indicators have been identified and validated by stakeholders.

Chapter examining the issues surrounding urban retrofitting to achieve sustainable and integrated water management (SIWM)

Oil and coal is a finite, non-renewable resource, and an oil peak is inevitable. A 100% renewable energy system (RES) requires dramatic progress in the areas of demand reduction, efficient renewable energy harvesting and integrated storage. Currently, building sector is the largest consumer in UK. It is followed by transportation sector, which has significant links with the building energy systems. Contributions of building integrated/attached RES applications are explored in this research. A computer simulation model has been developed to facilitate energy system planning in creating a 100% building RES. Conceptual structure of the model and initial simulation results are presented in this paper.

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries and is a source of jobs across national and regional economies. Assessing the economic, environmental and social impacts of tourism development has become a major activity within the tourism and sustainable development communities. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the contribution of system dynamics for analysing policies that can not only promote sustainable tourism development, but also act as a warning signal to the industry about the potential negative consequences of uncontrolled growth of mass tourism, particularly in island tourist economies. Previous research in the tourism sector has been fragmented, when a holistic approach is needed in order to try to coerce some alignment in the views of the various stakeholders. The main research results illustrated in this paper are: a generic model of a tourism system informed by the (mainly) South European island tourist economies and a set of scenarios illustrating examples of policy analysis. The generic model and the modelling process developed in this research will have some transferability to other issues concerned with policymaking for sustainable development.