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Monitoring indoor environmental conditions in office buildings using a sustainable Agentic RAG-LLM system
No full textIndoor Environmental Conditions (IEC) play a crucial role in determining the health, productivity, and overall building performance of employees, as well as their energy consumption. Key parameters, such as temperature and humidity, are not only vital for thermal comfort but also offer opportunities to enhance energy efficiency when effectively monitored and managed. Accurate Thermal Comfort Monitoring (TCM) remains challenging to achieve because it requires the integration of diverse data sources and intelligent analysis, particularly in light of evolving global energy and sustainability standards. Although Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly being adopted to manage complex building data, its integration with real-time sensor inputs remains vastly underutilized. Existing thermal monitoring systems are often development-intensive, require significant domain expertise, lack Natural Language (NL) interaction capabilities, and are not inherently adaptable, necessitating frequent technical upgrades. These limitations give rise to pressing concerns about long-term scalability, usability, and sustainability. To address these limitations, this study introduces ThermalComfortBot, an integrated Information System (IS) powered by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). ThermalComfortBot utilizes open-source technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), to enhance thermal comfort and support energy optimization in buildings. The system integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM), sensor data, and external datasets to generate actionable insights, delivered through both textual explanations and graphical visualizations. This system utilizes flexible and adjustable LLMs that are guided by principles of sustainability, thereby making them cost-efficient, scalable, and practical for a diverse range of organizational environments. In a real-world case study, ThermalComfortBot outperforms traditional RAG-LLM, achieving 94% accuracy, 92% precision, and 89% recall, enhancing comfort and efficiency
A Critical Success Factor (CSF) framework for implementing net-positive housing in the Water, Energy, Food, Environment (WEFE) Nexus: Insights from Jordan and South Africa
Get PDFAddressing the specific challenges faced by low-income communities, such as poor housing conditions, is crucial while simultaneously working toward global sustainability goals, including net-zero emissions and climate change mitigation. This study explores the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the Water, Energy, Food, and Environment (WEFE) nexus within the Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH) framework in Jordan and South Africa. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted to identify Net-Positive SIAH strategies, incorporating document searching, filtering, and content analysis to classify CSFs. Additionally, a semi-structured questionnaire campaign collected data from both countries, which was analyzed using unsupervised Machine Learning (ML) techniques to cluster responses and establish the relative importance and interconnections of CSFs through a Gephi network. Findings highlights key priorities within the WEFE nexus, providing insights into region-specific sustainability challenges and solutions. The study contributes a novel, evidence-based approach to affordable and sustainable housing by systematically quantifying and mapping CSF interrelationships. This research advances the understanding of Net-Positive housing by integrating technological, environmental, and social dimensions, offering practical implications for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders in the Global South
A flexible software-defined networking-based privacy-preserving method for Internet of Things-based Smart City environment based on the neighbors situation
No full textWe introduce “DPSmartCity,” a context-aware dynamic software-defined networking (SDN) framework that preserves privacy in smart cities. Enhancing the Internet of Things (IoT)-centric infrastructure with dynamic network management, the SDN controller employs contextual information and trust evaluation, determining secure routes from IoT devices to the cloud
Modulation of a rubber hand illusion by different levels of mental workload: An EEG study
Get PDFThe current study aimed to investigate the impact of externally evoked mental workload on the level of an artificial hand ownership sensation, a component of the embodiment phenomenon (feeling an external object, in this case a fake upper limb, as part of one’s body). The process of embodiment is extensively investigated in the literature also to find solutions for promoting the acceptance of prosthetic limbs. Before a traditional procedure for summoning in healthy subjects a Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI), the participants performed memory-related tasks in easy or demanding conditions to generate, respectively, low and high mental workloads. Alongside the behavioral correlates of the body ownership in the form of a proprioceptive drift (the measure of the correspondence between the perceived position of the actual limb and the fake one), EEG data was also collected. The results, both behavioral and neural, suggest that a high mental workload before the RHI experience leads to a low level of body ownership, whereas a low one enhances it. This can be interpreted as a consequence of distracting mental resources (possibly a specific type of them) from the embodiment stimulation session
Development and content validity of the Musculoskeletal Self-Management Questionnaire (MSK-SMQ)
Get PDFBackground Self-management is recommended for managing persistent musculoskeletal conditions. In self-management, standardized and validated measurements (e.g., questionnaires) should be used. However, there is no general questionnaire to evaluate the level of self-management in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions. Objectives To develop a generic questionnaire to evaluate the level of self-management and self-management skills in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions. Design Measurement properties study focused on the development and content validity of the Musculoskeletal Self-Management Questionnaire (MSK-SMQ). Methods The MSK-SMQ was developed, consisting of 24 questions. To assess the content validity of the MSK-SMQ, three panels (patients, professionals, researchers/academics) were used. The relevance, clarity and essentiality of each question was evaluated. Moreover, specific feedback could be provided. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was used to test content validity (Item-CV [I-CVI]) and the Scale-level-CVI [S-CVI]). The CVI was calculated for both relevance and clarity. The essentiality of each item was measured with the content validity ratio (CVR). Results/findings 91 people participated in this study. The overall content validity (relevance) was excellent, with an S-CVI of 0.96. Overall clarity was also excellent, with a score of 0.97. The range of the I-CVI for relevance was 0.91 – 1.00 and the range for clarity was 0.93 – 1.00. The mean CVR value was 0.51 and ranged from 0.14 to 0.87. Conclusions The content validity of the questionnaire was found to be excellent. The study resulted in a revised version of the MSK-SMQ, which can be used in future research to determine further psychometric properties
Experimental investigation of static strength in CFRP and aluminium lugs subjected to uniaxial tensile loading
Get PDFThis study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation into the performance of lug structures made from Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) with three distinct lay-up configurations: Hard (L-C-H), Quasi-Isotropic (L-C-QI), and Soft (L-C-S). The behaviour of these CFRP lugs was compared against conventional metallic aluminium lugs (L-Al) to evaluate their load-bearing performance under uniaxial tensile loading. Among the CFRP configurations, the L-C-QI lay-up exhibited the highest load-bearing capacity, even surpassing that of L-Al. In contrast, the L-C-H lay-up demonstrated the lowest strength within the CFRP group. L-C-S exhibited matrix cracking near the bore hole, facilitating stress relief similar to ductile metals. The L-Al lugs underwent significant plastic deformation and ligament necking, leading to 136% higher energy absorption compared to the best-performing CFRP lug (L-C-QI). Additionally, the study found that as the Hooke's stiffness of the lugs decreases, the angle between the failure surface and the loading direction increases, indicating a transition in failure mode from shear tear-out to net section tension. Significant delamination was observed on the bearing side of the lug bore hole in CFRP lugs, while aluminium lugs exhibited plasticity on the bearing surface and ligament necking. These findings offer insights into the static tensile behaviour and failure mechanisms of composite and metallic lug structures
BIM maturity and its influence on BIM implementation challenges: The perspectives of UK contractors
Get PDFBuilding information modelling (BIM) offers a powerful means to enhance collaboration and efficiency in construction project delivery. However, many organisations still face persistent technical, organisational, and environmental challenges during implementation. BIM maturity has emerged as a key factor in addressing these issues, yet few studies have empirically examined how maturity influences the ability to manage such challenges. This study investigates how BIM maturity affects implementation challenges from the perspective of UK construction contractors. The research adopted a quantitative approach using a structured questionnaire administered to 65 professionals from UK contracting organisations. The survey measured BIM maturity across technology, process, and policy domains and examined how organisations manage common implementation challenges. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation, and independent-sample t-tests. Findings reveal that most organisations operate at Capability Stage 2, with moderate maturity across key BIM areas. Technological maturity, especially in software use, ranked highest. Organisations with higher BIM maturity managed challenges more effectively, although the correlation was moderate. These results underscore the value of assessing and developing BIM maturity as a strategic tool for overcoming barriers. Practically, construction firms can use maturity assessments to identify gaps, prioritise improvements, and enhance BIM implementation success across their projects
Stakeholders' perspectives on addressing climate change and respiratory health impacts in Nigeria
Get PDFThe impacts of climate change on respiratory health are increasingly becoming a significant challenge in Nigerian cities, particularly in Lagos and Ogun States. Engaging stakeholders in discussions about climate change and health is crucial for addressing these challenges. The climate change and respiratory health (C2Rest) Nigeria Study team facilitated a stakeholder engagement to discuss climate change and health impacts in Nigeria, aiming to explore feasible solutions relevant to research, policy, and practice. A stakeholder meeting was conducted on April 23 , 2024, involving participants from Lagos and Ogun States. The framework for the activities was adapted from Gardner´s climate change engagement pathways, which examine key drivers (8 questions), barriers (7 questions), and adaptation pathways (3 questions). Data were collected through note-taking, written contributions, audio and video recording, and subsequently transcribed and analysed thematically. A total of 42 registered participants, comprising government officials, academicians, healthcare professionals, community and religious leaders, attended the stakeholder engagement meeting. Participants made group presentations and submitted a total of 380 written contributions. There were varying views on the drivers of climate change, but there was consensus that the most vulnerable populations include the poor, homeless, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions. An important barrier identified was the sociocultural belief that climate change is an act of God or spirits. Financial constraints were a recurrent theme in discussions about mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This report provides valuable information on the most vulnerable population to the effects of climate change in Nigeria and identifies sociocultural beliefs and financial constraints as key barriers to the adoption of effective mitigation and adaptation behaviors. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: Olayemi Oluseun Akinnola et al.
Embarking on a treatment journey: Experiences of caregivers of young children with craniofacial microsomia
No full textCaregiver psychosocial adjustment can be impacted by their children’s early treatment for craniofacial microsomia (CFM). A deeper understanding of caregiver early experiences is needed to advance family-centered clinical care. This study aimed to describe the range of caregiver experiences of CFM care for their young children to inform recommendations for providers. As part of the “Craniofacial Microsomia: Accelerating Research and Education” (CARE) program, health histories and narrative interviews were completed with a national sample of US caregivers (N=42) of children with CFM aged 3 to 17 years (mean=10.1, SD=4.5). Interviews (average 71 min) were in English (n=30) or Spanish (n=12) and primarily with mothers (93%). Thematic analysis was used to describe early care experiences. By age 3, 91% of children were diagnosed with hearing loss, 64% had participated in early developmental services, 38% had undergone at least one surgery, and 24% used hearing aids. Caregivers’ experiences fit within themes of: (1) Burden of Care; (2) Adaptation; (3) Perceived Quality of Care; (4) Child’s Physical Health; and (5) Early Surgical Interventions. CFM care in early childhood presented challenges for caregivers, which may be mitigated by health care providers reducing burdens of care, coordinating care, building trust, increasing CFM and hearing education, instilling hope, assisting with hearing aid access, referring to early interventions, screening for caregiver distress, linking caregivers to support services, promoting coping and social support, and preparing families thoroughly for surgeries
Applications of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of illegal drugs used in drink spiking
Get PDFDrink spiking is a significant public safety issue, often linked to crimes such as theft and sexual assault. The detection of drugs used in these incidents is challenging due to the low concentrations (<ng) and complex matrices involved. This review explores the application of gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify drugs in spiked beverages. GC-MS offers high sensitivity and specificity, and is capable of detecting drugs at ng/mL levels and distinguishing between compounds with similar structures. This review highlights the advantages of GC-MS, including its ability to simultaneously analyze multiple substances and provide detailed molecular information. Various methods for detecting gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), benzodiazepines, and other drugs in beverages are discussed, emphasizing the importance of derivatization to enhance their volatility and the method’s chromatographic performance. The paper also addresses the challenges of analyzing complex beverage matrices and the need for continuous improvement in detection techniques to keep pace with the evolving drug market. Overall, GC and GC-MS are powerful tools for forensic analysis in drink spiking cases, offering reliable and accurate results, which are essential for legal and investigative processes