scholarly journals Optical Characteristics of Traditional Portuguese Azulejos: Mixing Colors to Obtain “Cool” Building Façades

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-281
Author(s):  
Laura Bellia ◽  
◽  
Viviana Del Naja ◽  
Francesca Fragliasso ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Inertia ◽  
Spectral Measurements ◽  
Ceramic Tiles ◽  
Traditional Architecture ◽  
The Past ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Building Facades ◽  
Intuitive Judgments ◽  
Positive Effect

The need to reduce energy consumptions in buildings brings modern research to focus on the use of natural sources. In this context, the interest towards traditional architecture has been fueled, since one of the characteristics identifying it is the intuitive and intrinsic link between the building and the surrounding environment. For example, in Mediterranean traditional buildings the attention to the orientation, the limitation of openings, the use of shading systems, the great thermal inertia of the envelope, the exploitation of natural ventilation and the light colored external coatings are all technical answers to the overheating risks typical of hot climates. In this context, the Portuguese traditional habit to cover building façades in azulejos (square ceramic tiles painted in vivid colors) is undoubtfully an interesting topic. The paper describes optical and chromatic characteristics of four types of azulejos by means of spectral measurements. Obtained results have demonstrated that the chromatic composition of the tiles, despite dark colors are mixed with clear ones, is such to determine visual reflectance values higher than expected. This seems to suggest that, even if the chromatic composition in the past was mostly driven by decorative issues and visual intuitive judgments, the energetic needs were not completely neglected or at least that the traditionally preferred colors were such to obtain a positive effect in enhancing reflected component of daylight.

Spatiotemporal Changes of Riverbed and Surrounding Environment in Yongding River (Beijing section) in the Past 40 Years

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 40407-1-40407-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Pang ◽  
He Huang ◽  
Tri Dev Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Cropland Area ◽  
The Past ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Spatiotemporal Changes ◽  
Yongding River

Abstract Yongding River is one of the five major river systems in Beijing. It is located to the west of Beijing. It has influenced culture along its basin. The river supports both rural and urban areas. Furthermore, it influences economic development, water conservation, and the natural environment. However, during the past few decades, due to the combined effect of increasing population and economic activities, a series of changes have led to problems such as the reduction in water volume and the exposure of the riverbed. In this study, remote sensing images were used to derive land cover maps and compare spatiotemporal changes during the past 40 years. As a result, the following data were found: forest changed least; cropland area increased to a large extent; bareland area was reduced by a maximum of 63%; surface water area in the study area was lower from 1989 to 1999 because of the excessive use of water in human activities, but it increased by 92% from 2010 to 2018 as awareness about protecting the environment arose; there was a small increase in the built-up area, but this was more planned. These results reveal that water conservancy construction, agroforestry activities, and increasing urbanization have a great impact on the surrounding environment of the Yongding River (Beijing section). This study discusses in detail how the current situation can be attributed to of human activities, policies, economic development, and ecological conservation Furthermore, it suggests improvement by strengthening the governance of the riverbed and the riverside. These results and discussion can be a reference and provide decision support for the management of southwest Beijing or similar river basins in peri-urban areas.

FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI BEHAVIOR INTENTION UNTUK PENGGUNAAN APLIKASI DOMPET DIGITAL MENGGUNAKAN MODEL UTAUT2

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Aries Andrianto
Keyword(s):  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Electronic Money ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Behavior Intention ◽  
The Past ◽  
Performance Expectancy ◽  
Effort Expectancy ◽  
Facilitating Conditions ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Digital Wallet

Based on Bank Indonesia data, electronic money transactions have grown rapidly in the past 10 years. Throughout 2018, the volume of electronic money transactions was 2.92 billion transactions, growing 16,600 times compared to 2009.This study aims to analyze the factors that influence interest in using the LinkAja digital wallet using the UTAUT 2 method. The object of this study is the LinkAja digital wallet user who is domiciled in Jakarta. The independent variables examined in this study were Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, Facilitating Conditions, Hedonic Motivation, and Habit on Behavior Intention using PLS-SEM analysis techniques. The results of this study indicate that Price Value has a positive effect on Behavior Intention.

scholarly journals Behavior and Energy Losses of Cows during the Period of Low Temperatures

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 46-53
Author(s):  
Oleksandr O. Borshch ◽  
Oleksandr V. Borshch ◽  
Yurii Mashkin ◽  
Vasyl Malina ◽  
Maxim Fedorchenko
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Heat Insulation ◽  
Energy Losses ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
The Past ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Moderate Climate

Over the past 20 years, dairy farms in Ukraine have been actively introducing the keeping of cows in easy-to-assemble premises. However, in a moderate climate (with four distinct year seasons), the issues of microclimate, energy losses of animals and their behavior during the cold period of the year for keeping in such premises have not been fully studied. The purpose of this work was to study the influence of the heat insulation elements use of side curtains in easy-to-assemble premises during the period of low temperatures on microclimate, energy outgoings for thermoregulation and behavior of cows. The research conducted in the central part of Ukraine (Kyiv region). The research was conducted during January-February (29-43 days of the year) 2021. This period characterized by low average daily temperatures of -12.2– -18.7°С, strong wind gusts and daily precipitation in the form of snow. Two easy-toassemble premises for 400 heads were used for research. Parameters of placements (LxWxH): 150х32х10.5 m. The first one was without the use of curtains heat insulation elements, and the second one was with these elements of heat insulation. It was found that the use of polycarbonate wall heat insulation elements had a positive effect on the microclimate in the placement during the period of low temperatures. Indicators of average daily air temperatures in the placement were 3.2 and 8.8°C higher compared to the temperature in the same premise without the use of heat insulation elements and the environment. The wind speed also differed by 0.18 and 11.04 m/s, respectively. In addition, the heat insulation of the walls affected the temperature under the lying cow (+1.8°C), energy outgoings for thermoregulation (-1.93 MJ) and the number of cows that lay in the period of the lowest temperatures (+3.23-9.83%) compared to the placement without heat insulation elements. The difference in temperature of rubber carpet in the compared premises was significant: +3.3°C in the premises with heat insulation elements compared to the premises without heat insulation

scholarly journals Is It Helpful to Believe That Efforts Will Lead to Positive Outcomes? Two Cross-Lagged Panel Investigations among Adolescents and Young Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7585
Author(s):  
Jacky C. K. Ng ◽  
Vince W. T. Cheung ◽  
Helen S. M. Wong ◽  
Sherry M. Y. Leung ◽  
Victor C. Y. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multiplicative Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

Over the past few decades, the role of self-views in life satisfaction has been extensively investigated. Recently, growing attention has been directed to the question of whether an optimistic worldview, termed “reward for application”, helps boost life satisfaction. Conceptually, the association between reward for application and life satisfaction can be paradoxical. Due to various methodological and theoretical shortfalls, previous investigations were unable to draw a robust conclusion on this association. To address these shortfalls, two cross-lagged panel studies were conducted with different time lags. Over and above the potential confounds of self-views (namely, self-esteem and self-rated personality traits), reward for application had a positive effect on lagged life satisfaction among both adolescents and young adults, while the reverse effect was not found. Moreover, we found support for the multiplicative effect between worldviews and self-views, in which the positive effect of reward for application on life satisfaction was attenuated by high self-esteem.

scholarly journals Effect of Specific Over Nonspecific VR-Based Rehabilitation on Poststroke Motor Recovery: A Systematic Meta-analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Maier ◽  
Belén Rubio Ballester ◽  
Armin Duff ◽  
Esther Duarte Oller ◽  
Paul F. M. J. Verschure
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Stroke Rehabilitation ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Past ◽  
Upper Limb Function ◽  
Activity Measures ◽  
Recovery Mechanisms ◽  
Positive Effect

Background. Despite the rise of virtual reality (VR)-based interventions in stroke rehabilitation over the past decade, no consensus has been reached on its efficacy. This ostensibly puzzling outcome might not be that surprising given that VR is intrinsically neutral to its use—that is, an intervention is effective because of its ability to mobilize recovery mechanisms, not its technology. As VR systems specifically built for rehabilitation might capitalize better on the advantages of technology to implement neuroscientifically grounded protocols, they might be more effective than those designed for recreational gaming. Objective. We evaluate the efficacy of specific VR (SVR) and nonspecific VR (NSVR) systems for rehabilitating upper-limb function and activity after stroke. Methods. We conducted a systematic search for randomized controlled trials with adult stroke patients to analyze the effect of SVR or NSVR systems versus conventional therapy (CT). Results. We identified 30 studies including 1473 patients. SVR showed a significant impact on body function (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.36; P = .0007) versus CT, whereas NSVR did not (SMD = 0.16; 95% CI = −0.14 to 0.47; P = .30). This result was replicated in activity measures. Conclusions. Our results suggest that SVR systems are more beneficial than CT for upper-limb recovery, whereas NSVR systems are not. Additionally, we identified 6 principles of neurorehabilitation that are shared across SVR systems and are possibly responsible for their positive effect. These findings may disambiguate the contradictory results found in the current literature.

Fiber Transport and Deposition in Human Upper Tracheobronchial Airways

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Tian ◽  
G. Ahmadi ◽  
P. K. Hopke ◽  
Y.-S. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Pathological Response ◽  
Lung Model ◽  
Deposition Pattern ◽  
Asbestos Fibers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Airway Morphology ◽  
Living Being

Transport and deposition of inhaled asbestos fibers has been studied in the past few decades due to its pathological response in living being. Of the earlier study, in vitro and vivo experiments in human and animal subjects were conducted and measurements were made where carcinogenicity of these particles was investigated. In this work, the transport and deposition of elongated ellipsoidal fibers were numerically simulated in a physiological realistic multi-level lung model. Detailed motion of the inhaled fibers and their interaction with the surrounding environment were reproduced by solving the system of coupled nonlinear equations governing the fibers’ translational and rotational motion. This information has never been revealed in past studies. Correlations between the deposition pattern, fiber characteristics, breathing conditions, and airway morphology in human upper tracheobronchial airways were analyzed. The results were compared with experimental measurements, and carcinogenicity of these fibers was discussed.

Study on Thermal Environment of Traditional Architecture in Tropic Climate

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 6857-6861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Juan Wang ◽  
Jia Ping Liu ◽  
Yan Feng Liu ◽  
Ying Ying Wang ◽  
Jing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Traditional Architecture ◽  
Thermal Environments ◽  
Heat Stress Index

Haikou is located in tropic climates in China. The outdoor environment in summer is too harsh to stay here. However, the traditional architecture, namely arcade, still survives in the severe climate. Its indoor and outdoor parameters of arcade are tested in field to research its thermal environments. The heat stress index is used to study the adaptability mechanism of arcade and local human to hot and humid environment. It proves that the metabolic rate and wind velocity are main and adjustable factors to reduce heat stress in such wretched weather. On the condition of metabolic rate below 60met and wind speed above 0.7m/s, the healthy adult can work normally in the arcade or on the corridor. So the human in tropic area should keep their metabolic rate and period staying out in the summer daytime as less as possible, and the architects should make full use of the local wind speed to organize natural ventilation.

Influence of Environmental Agents in Architecture. Tradition and Innovation. Romania: A Case Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 174-177 ◽  
pp. 1722-1725
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Dabija
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Summer Season ◽  
Traditional Architecture ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Environmental Agents

Geographically, Romania is situated in the continental temperate zone of Europe, with severe climatic conditions: the winters are very cold (with temperatures that can reach, in some provinces or in some days, values of -200C to –350C) and the summers very hot (in the past few years temperatures were between +38 - +400C, for weeks). Not only the air temperature gradient is broad (75 ÷ 800C), but as a consequence the temperature difference on the horizontal surfaces may rise to as much as 1000C. Romania is situated between parallels 430 and 480. In a very simple/simplistic approach, it can be considered as being half way between the North Pole and the Equator, therefore the constructive components can be identified in both the Northern architecture and the Southern one. The traditional architecture aims to provide a comfortable indoor environment both during the winter and the summer season, by using local building materials. Along with the building conformation, given by the local conditions (climate, earth, building materials), the peoples interventions (from religion to fashion) are also determinant. The paper presents some building principles, constructive systems and materials that transcend traditional architecture, in Romania.

scholarly journals Mulching in grape plantations

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Némethy ◽  
J. Májer ◽  
P. Varga ◽  
Cs. Németh ◽  
L. Fenyvesi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
The Past ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Positive Effect

In continuous studies regarding the conservation of the advantageous condition of the soil structure, the highland plantations that are surrounded by living waters have major importance where the erosion of the soil, nutrients and chemicals endangers the quality of the water and the living world of the waters. At the same time the extreme weather and dry summers of the past years have made it important to look for soil cultivation solutions and technologies that are capable of decreasing the evaporation of the soil, for enhanced conservation of soil moisture and to improve the soil structure that is required for the growth of healthy roots. In our experiment we have studied soil mulching with organic plant residue, by sods and the effect of the mechanical cultivation on the soil and on the grape through two growing seasons. From the studied treatments, the mulching with organic plant wastage showed the most efficient results from the point of view of the nutrient distribution in the grape and yield. It also had a positive effect on the soil structure and humidity.

scholarly journals Sustainable Accountability:   a Dualist Vedic Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samuel David Stewart-Jacks
Keyword(s):  
The Self ◽  
Ancient India ◽  
The Past ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Academic Scholarship ◽  
The Social ◽  
Realist Ontology ◽  
Forms Of Knowledge ◽  
Relative Factors

<p>This thesis offers a theory of sustainable accountability informed by Vedic philosophy. Although Vedic philosophy is often described as the philosophy of ancient India, this thesis will explain how relative factors, such as time and place, do not exclude one from experiencing the taste of what is described as the ripened fruit of the tree that is the Vedic literatures. The implications the Vedas have for sustainability stem mainly from their alternative notions of the self and its needs. The Vedas hold that upon a correct evaluation of the needs of the self, an individual will be completely satisfied and will therefore not desire to live and consume in a way that is destructive to their surrounding environment and its inhabitants. Within the Vedic paradigm there are two main divisions of thought - the dualist and non-dualist schools of philosophy. Because they differ in their conceptions of the self, these schools differ markedly in their notions of accountability, welfare and theories of sustainability and social change. Within the social accounting literature, a non-dualist theory of sustainable accountability has been given by Saravanamuthu (2006), but a dualist opinion has not yet been presented. This thesis seeks to introduce dualist Vedic philosophy and its theory of sustainability, and describe how a system of accountability could be constructed upon such a philosophy. In the past, academic scholarship has frowned upon sacred forms of knowledge such as the Vedas, and has considered their claims to be unverifiable. Therefore this thesis also asserts, using arguments from the critical realist ontology, that sacred forms of knowledge such as the Vedas should be admissible in academic circles.</p>

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