scholarly journals Long-Term Techno-Economic Performance Monitoring to Promote Built Environment Decarbonisation and Digital Transformation—A Case Study

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 644
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Manfren ◽  
Lavinia Chiara Tagliabue ◽  
Fulvio Re Cecconi ◽  
Marco Ricci
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Base Temperature ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Energy Monitoring ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Buildings’ long-term techno-economic performance monitoring is critical for benchmarking in order to reduce costs and environmental impact while providing adequate services. Reliable building stock performance data provide a fundamental knowledge foundation for evidence-based energy efficiency interventions and decarbonisation strategies. Simply put, an adequate understanding of building performance is required to reduce energy consumption, as well as associated costs and emissions. In this framework, Variable-base degree-days-based methods have been widely used for weather normalisation of energy statistics and energy monitoring for Measurement and Verification (M & V) purposes. The base temperature used to calculate degree-days is determined by building thermal characteristics, operation strategies, and occupant behaviour, and thus varies from building to building. In this paper, we develop a variable-base degrees days regression model, typically used for energy monitoring and M & V, using a “proxy” variable, the cost of energy services. The study’s goal is to assess the applicability of this type of model as a screening tool to analyse the impact of efficiency measures, as well as to understand the evolution of performance over time, and we test it on nine public schools in the Northern Italian city of Seregno. While not as accurate as M & V techniques, this regression-based approach can be a low-cost tool for tracking performance over time using cost data typically available in digital format and can work reasonably well with limited resolution, such as monthly data. The modelling methodology is simple, scalable and can be automated further, contributing to long-term techno-economic performance monitoring of building stock in the context of incremental built environment digitalization.

scholarly journals Modeling Building Stock Development

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 723
Author(s):  
Antti Kurvinen ◽  
Arto Saari ◽  
Juhani Heljo ◽  
Eero Nippala
Keyword(s):  
Model Development ◽  
Housing Demand ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Test Arena ◽  
Climate Targets ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
The Impact

It is widely agreed that dynamics of building stocks are relatively poorly known even if it is recognized to be an important research topic. Better understanding of building stock dynamics and future development is crucial, e.g., for sustainable management of the built environment as various analyses require long-term projections of building stock development. Recognizing the uncertainty in relation to long-term modeling, we propose a transparent calculation-based QuantiSTOCK model for modeling building stock development. Our approach not only provides a tangible tool for understanding development when selected assumptions are valid but also, most importantly, allows for studying the sensitivity of results to alternative developments of the key variables. Therefore, this relatively simple modeling approach provides fruitful grounds for understanding the impact of different key variables, which is needed to facilitate meaningful debate on different housing, land use, and environment-related policies. The QuantiSTOCK model may be extended in numerous ways and lays the groundwork for modeling the future developments of building stocks. The presented model may be used in a wide range of analyses ranging from assessing housing demand at the regional level to providing input for defining sustainable pathways towards climate targets. Due to the availability of high-quality data, the Finnish building stock provided a great test arena for the model development.

Gender, mobility and contact

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-167
Author(s):  
Catherine E. Travis ◽  
Inas Ghina
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Change Over Time ◽  
Aceh Province ◽  
Rural Variety ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Abstract We examine variation in a rural variety of Acehnese spoken in Aceh Province, to better understand the impact of long-term contact with Indonesian and increasing urbanization. The Great Aceh variety is characterized by variable realization of word-final (t) as a dental vs. glottal stop. Analyses of over 2,000 tokens of this variable from a corpus of spontaneous speech from 35 speakers indicate that the variability is relatively stable among men, and among women of high mobility, measured in terms of education, occupation, and time spent outside Great Aceh. Women with low mobility produce the lowest rates of [t̪], and in this group we observe a higher rate of [t̪] by younger than older women, suggesting change over time. We thus find both stability – among those who have long enjoyed high levels of mobility – and change – among those most affected by recent social changes, namely low-mobility women.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF REGIONAL INEQUALITY ON MIGRATION TRENDS IN LATVIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 79-91
Author(s):  
Anastasija Jeršova ◽  
Iveta Mietule
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Constructive Method ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Integral Index ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Regional Inequalities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

The topic of current research and key findings are topical, taking into the consideration the territorial development tendencies of Latvia, which is characterized by the long-term regional inequalities and the tendencies of the migration of the population. The aim of the research is to analyse the impact of the regional inequalities on the migration tendencies of population in Latvia. The following research methods have been used in the research- logically constructive method, content analysis, monographic method, synthesis method, statistical analysis of interrelations, integral index method. Within the research, by using the selected research methods, authors have evaluated the influence of migration indicators-stimulators and indicators-de-stimulators on the migration trends in Latvia over time.

scholarly journals Long Term Implications in Surgical Re-assisting (L.I.S.A. study) During Covid-19 Outbreak: A Retrospective Observational Study on a Rural Population.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolò Fabbri ◽  
Antonio Pesce ◽  
Lisa Uccellatori ◽  
Salvatore Greco ◽  
Francesco D'Urbano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Operative Management ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Non Operative Management ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Colorectal Resections ◽  
Surgical Operations ◽  
Over Time

Abstract BackgroundThe spread of the COVID-19 is having a worldwide impact on surgicaltreatment. Our aim was to investigate the impact of the pandemic in a rural hospital in a lowdensely populated area.MethodsWe investigated the volume and type of surgical operations during the pandemic(March 2020 - February 2021) versus pre-pandemic period (March 2019 - February 2020) aswell as during the first and second pandemic waves compared to the pre-pandemic period.We compared the volume and timing of emergency appendectomy and cholecystectomyduring the pandemic versus pre-pandemic period, the volume, timing and stages of electivegastric and colorectal resections for cancer during the pandemic versus the pre-pandemicperiod.ResultsIn the prepandemic versus pandemic period, 42 versus 24 appendectomies and 174versus 126 cholecystectomies (urgent and elective) were performed. Patients operated onbefore as opposed to during the pandemic were older (58 vs. 52 years old, p=0.006),including for cholecystectomy (73 vs. 66 years old, p=0.01) and appendectomy (43 vs. 30years old, p = 0.04).The logistic regression analysis with regard to cholecystectomy and appendectomy performedin emergency showed that male sex and age were both associated to gangrenous typehistology, both in pandemic and prepandemic period. Finally, we found a reduction in cancerstage I and IIA in pandemic versus prepandemic period, with no increase in the moreadvanced stages.Conclusionsthe reduction in services imposed by governments during the first months oftotal lock down did not justify the whole decrease in surgical interventions in the year of thepandemic. Data suggest that greater "non-operative management" for cases of appendicitisand acute cholecystitis does not lead to an increase in cases operated over time, nor to anincrease in the "gangrenous" pattern, which seems to depend on age advanced and malepopulation.

Transitions in Technology Mediated Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-management: A Qualitative Study using the Theoretical Domains Framework (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreya Tadas ◽  
Claudette Pretorius ◽  
Emma J. Foster ◽  
Trish Gorely ◽  
Stephen J. Leslie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Theoretical Domains Framework ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Normal Life ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

BACKGROUND An acute cardiac incident is a life changing event, often necessitating surgery. While surgery has high success rates, rehabilitation, behaviour change, and self-care are critical to long-term health. Recent systematic reviews highlight the potential of technology in this area, but significant shortcomings are also identified, particularly in regard to patient experience. OBJECTIVE To improve future systems this paper explores the experiences of cardiac patients during key phases post-hospitalisation: recuperation, initial rehabilitation and long term self-management. The key objective is to provide a holistic understanding of behavioural factors that impact people across these phases, understand how experiences evolve over time, and provide user-centred recommendations to improve the design of cardiac rehabilitation and self-management technologies. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who attended rehabilitation programs following hospitalisation for an acute cardiac event. Interviews were developed and data is analysed via the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a pragmatic framework that synthesizes prior theories of behaviour change. RESULTS Three phases that arise post-hospitalisation are examined: recuperation, rehabilitation, and long-term self-management. Through these phases we describe the impact of key factors and important changes that occur in patients’ experiences over time, including: a desire for and redefinition of normal life; the need for different types of formal and informal knowledge; the benefits of safe-zoning and connectedness; and the need to recognise capability. The use of the TDF allows us to show how factors that influence behaviour evolve over time and identify potential sources of tension. CONCLUSIONS The paper provides empirically grounded recommendations for the design of technology-mediated cardiac rehabilitation and self-management systems. Key recommendations include the use of technology to support a normal life; leveraging social influences to extend participants’ sense of normality; the use of technology to provide a safe zone; the need to support both emotional and physical wellbeing; and a focus on recognizing capability and providing recommendations that are positive and reinforce this capability.

The impact of gender inequality in education and employment on economic performance in Turkey: evidence from a cointegration approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ömer Esen ◽  
Gamze Yıldız Seren
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cointegration Tests ◽  
Johansen Cointegration ◽  
Education And Employment ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study aims to empirically examine the impact of gender-based inequalities in both education and employment on economic performance using the dataset of Turkey for the period 1975–2018.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs Johansen cointegration tests to analyze the existence of a long-term relation among variables. Furthermore, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) estimation methods are performed to determine the long-run coefficients.FindingsThe findings from the Johansen cointegration analysis confirm that there is a long-term cointegration relation between variables. Moreover, DOLS and FMOLS results reveal that improvements in gender equality in both education and employment have a strong and significant impact on real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the long term.Originality/valueThe authors expect that this study will make remarkable contributions to the future academic studies and policy implementation, as it examines the relation among the variables by including the school life expectancy from primary to tertiary based on the gender parity index (GPI), the gross enrollment ratio from primary to tertiary based on GPI and the ratio of female to male labor force participation (FMLFP) rate.

scholarly journals The Price Impact of Lending Relationships

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Stein
Keyword(s):  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Price Impact ◽  
Bank Debt ◽  
Relationship Strength ◽  
Borrowing Costs ◽  
Lending Relationships ◽  
Relationship Length ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Abstract This study analyzes the impact of bank relationships on a firm’s borrowing costs. We find that a firm’s borrowing costs decrease with relationship strength, proxied by the share of bank debt provided by the lender. Borrowing costs, however, rise with relationship length. While the increase over time is weak on average, bank-dependent borrowers face a substantial premium after several relationship years. Switching the lender initially leads to only a small price discount on average. However, the discount is considerable for borrowers that switch and had a strong relationship with their previous lender. Our results suggest that close lending relationships lead to benefits for the firm, but may also imply hold-up costs in the long term.

scholarly journals Medical Ethnography over Time

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray Last
Keyword(s):  
Local Culture ◽  
Important Data ◽  
The Past ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Medical Ethnography ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Over Time

Too often, research into the health of a particular community is brief and superficial, focusing only on what is public and leaving the private health of women and children ‘foggy’. By contrast, long-term anthropology can offer access to processes taking place within a local culture of illness. Here, an account of a community’s experience of health over the past 50 years not only outlines the key changes as seen anthropologically but also shows how even close ethnography can initially miss important data. Furthermore, the impact of a researcher – both as a guest and as a source of interference – underlines how complex fieldwork can be in reality, especially if seen through the eyes of the researcher’s hosts.

The Estimation of Base Temperature for Heating and Cooling Degree-Days for South Korea

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoungmi Lee ◽  
Hee-Jeong Baek ◽  
ChunHo Cho
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Piecewise Linear ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Electricity Demand ◽  
Linear Regression Method ◽  
Base Temperature ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Cooling Degree Days ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn South Korea, heating degree-days (HDD) and cooling degree-days (CDD) have been widely used as climatic indicators for the assessment of the impact of climate change, but arbitrary or customary base temperatures have been used for calculation of HDD and CDD. The purpose of this study is to determine real base temperatures to accurately calculate HDD and CDD for South Korea, using monthly electric energy consumption and mean temperature data from 2001 to 2010. The results reveal that the regional electricity demand generally depends on air temperature in a V-shaped curve in urban settings but in an L-shaped curve in rural settings, indicating that the sensitivity of the electricity demand to the temperature change is affected by the size of cities. The South Korean regional base temperatures, defined by a piecewise linear regression method, range from 14.7° to 19.4°C. These results suggest that the assessment of climate change impacts on the energy sector in South Korea should be carried out on a regional scale.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document