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Analyzing Madrid’s microclimate: exploring the interaction between outdoor thermal comfort, energy efficiency strategies, and urban form
Full text linkClimate change and rapid urbanization pose significant challenges to urban sustainability, particularly through the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which is severe in the Mediterranean region. This area faces heat extremes, reduced precipitation, and increased cooling energy demands. Addressing microclimates in urban design is critical for improving thermal comfort and resilience. This research focuses on Madrid’s Picazo neighborhood, which has aging buildings and a vulnerable population. The study examines how microclimates, energy efficiency strategies, and urban morphology interact under summer conditions, predicting a 2.8 °C rise in extreme summer temperatures by 2050. Using calibrated ENVI-met simulations, the research evaluates façade solutions, finding Grey ETICS improve thermal comfort compared to White ETICS. It also highlights the role of shading, natural ventilation, and avoiding low wind-speed areas in new public residential buildings. Based on these findings, the study proposes guidelines to optimize façade materials, enhance ground-floor designs, and implement urban strategies to improve outdoor thermal comfort and urban resilience
Three-dimensional interaction of a droplet against multiple particles using lattice Boltzmann-immersed boundary method
No full textDroplet-particle interactions are common in multiphase flows, but most previous studies focused on single-particle cases or simplified models that cannot fully capture droplet deformation or multiparticle effects. In this work, the lattice Boltzmann method coupled with the immersed boundary method (LB-IBM) is employed to perform fully resolved simulations of droplet-moving multiparticle interaction. The effects of viscosity (represented by Reynolds number, 46.8 ≤ Re ≤ 81.91), initial impact velocity (characterized by Weber number, 23.53 ≤ We ≤ 147.09), droplet diameter(40 ≤ Dd ≤ 70 in lattice units, l.u.), particle diameter (6 ≤ Dp ≤ 10, .lu), particle number (9 ≤ NP ≤ 36), particle's wettability (60° ≤ θeq ≤ 120°), and random particle positions are systematically examined. The interaction process proceeds through three distinct stages-adsorption, motion, and separation. Lager We and Dd induce stronger deformation and more irregular particle distributions, while larger Dp and NP enhance droplet stretching. Increasing NP accelerates detachment of outer particles. The jellyfish-like droplet morphology is quantified by the tail length-to-width ratio (lt*), which decreases from 0.068 to 0.041 as Re increases and from 0.105 to 0.037 as We increases. These results provide new insights into multiparticle hydrodynamics and emulsion demulsification.</p
Collaboration in aphasia research: benefits to researchers and society
No full textIntroduction:The role of competition and collaboration as engines of science has been a heated topic of discussion in recent years. While the competitive model, imported from the business world, has been the dominant paradigm, collaborative approaches to science are gaining recognition as a necessary force for progress in the development of wide-ranging projects. Initiatives such as the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs), a collaboration established in 2013 and including more than 300 members from over 40 countries, constitute a valuable source of data as to the actual benefits of collaborative scientific efforts, from their perceived impact to their actual contributions.Aim:In the context of an international, multidisciplinary collaboration that sought to advance aphasia research efforts and in turn awareness, resources, services, and support for the benefit of people with aphasia, we explored collaboration members’ expectations and experiences of CATs membership and support and aspects that may benefit from further improvement.Methods:Developed by the Executive Committee and piloted extensively, we conducted an anonymised, cross-sectional, online survey consisting of 24 open and close-ended questions addressed to the CATs members 2022.Results:A total of 127 professionals from diverse nationalities (42% of all CATs members of which 69% were speech and language therapists and 45% > 8 years post PhD) responded to the questionnaire. Motivations for joining CATs and perceived benefits of membership aligned, with both mainly relating to opportunities for building international research links and research collaboration. Members welcomed the network’s visionary approach to progressing multidisciplinary aphasia research, collaborative international networking, and the inclusive ethos of the network. Challenges of membership were also identified which included maintaining communication flow and finding a personal space and contributions as a member.Discussion:Our results support the advancement of collaborative approaches to research, focused on the development and conduct of high quality globally-relevant, clinically impactful research which aims to address societal needs. As a byproduct, such approaches will address the objective research metrics employed by academic and research institutions such as citation rates, journal impact factors, and funding of research projects
Making events more sustainable: events management and circular economy
No full textThe events sector needs to change to embrace the principles of sustainability. Climate change and the associated pressures it has brought have necessitated worldwide action to combat the negative impacts that increased temperatures and greenhouse gases bring. Governments are now united in appreciating the need for global action, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are now the foundations for a sustainable future. The current consumption of fossil fuels, production of waste and a growing global population are unsustainable, and change is required to foster a more sustainable future for generations to come. As such, there is increased recognition that we need to do more with less and to this end, the principles of circular economy (CE), once associated with waste management, are finding resonance throughout society. Embedding the principles of CE is now being seen as a viable process to which the events sector, coming under the spotlight to become more sustainable, can reduce its carbon output and strive to become more sustainable. This chapter discusses the principles of CE and highlights a tale of two cities striving to become circular; Lahti in Finland is illustrative of how sustainability and circular thinking have been integrated into policy and the events they run, whilst Glasgow, Scotland, an internationally recognised event tourism destination, is now embracing circularity into its events and its management. The chapter highlights that the events sector can and needs to change to embrace sustainability and, by adopting the principles of CE, can aid in reaching this goal.</p
Development of a polymicrobial host-bacterial interface biofilm model for bacterial vaginosis
No full textBacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterised by a polymicrobial biofilm forming on the vaginal epithelium. In this study, we have developed a host-pathogen model of BV to replicate disease. We demonstrated tissue colonisation by four key vaginal pathobionts that formed metronidazole tolerant biofilms, with subtle changes in cytotoxicity and inflammation.</p
The inter-tester and test-retest reliability of the off-field SCAT6 assessment tool in an adult population
No full textObjective: No previously published repeatability and reliability data for The Sports Concussion Assessment Tool-6 (SCAT6) exists. We aimed to evaluate inter/intra-tester reliability of the off-field SCAT6 in a non-concussed adult population. Design: Inter-rater and Intra-rater reliability study design. Setting: Single university site. Participants: Twenty active adults (mean age: 27.55 ± 5.59 years) with no recent history of concussion (Concussive injury within past year). Interventions: Participants completed 3 SCAT6 tests on the same day, with 3 testers (Inter-rater testing). The same participants returned at 2 further time points to complete the remaining 2 SCAT6 tests with 1 tester (Intra-rater testing). Participants complete a total of 5 SCAT6 assessments in total across testers and time. Rater Background: Those completing the SCAT6 testing, our study rater team, comprised of 1 senior physiotherapist and PhD candidate, and 2 MSc Physiotherapy students. All raters were from Scotland, and had significant training in completing SCAT6 assessments. Main Outcome Measures: Off-field SCAT6 Domain scores. Analysis: ICCs were used to establish inter and intra-rater reliability for continuous, ration and ordinal data components of the SCAT6. For nominal data sets, Fleiss’s kappa was calculated. Kendall’s W was used for non-parametric data. Percentage error scores were calculated for SCAT6 domains. Results: Inter-tester: Symptom number, severity, and dual-task scoring demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.981; 0.984; 0.913, respectively). Total concentration score was found to have good reliability (0.827). Dual-task errors (0.398), Total mBESS (0.199), and Month recall all returned poor scores (k = 0.191). Intra-tester: Dual tasking was the only domain to report excellent reliability (ICC = 0.943). Symptom number (0.868), severity (0.831), total concentration (0.787), total mBESS (0.813), and time tandem gait (0.834) yielded good reliability scores. Dual-task error testing returned poor reliability scores (Kendall’s W = 0.001). All remaining domains yielded moderate reliability. Percentage error rates ranges from 3% to 100%, demonstrating the variability between scores yielded for non-concussed individuals completing the same SCAT6 domain tests. Conclusion: SCAT6 ICC results reported good-excellent reliability for 4 and 6 domains, out of 13 domains, for inter-tester and intra-tester reliability, respectively. Notably, the domains which relied on tester error scoring yielded poor reliability results. Percentage error highlighted the failure of the SCAT6 to provide consistent domain score results in this population.</p
International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) position paper on infectious disease considerations in xenotransplantation
No full textClinical xenotransplantation has the potential to address shortages of human organs for patients with end-stage organ failure. Advances in genetic engineering, immunosuppressive regimens, and infectious disease diagnostics have improved prospects for clinical xenotransplantation. Management of the infectious risks posed by clinical xenotransplantation requires biosecure breeding and validated methods for microbiological surveillance of source animals and recipients. Novel infection control protocols may complement biosafety requirements. Infectious risks in xenotransplantation include both known human pathogens common to immunosuppressed organ recipients and from porcine organisms or xenozoonoses for which the clinical manifestations are less well defined and for which microbial assays and therapies are more limited. Some pig-specific organisms do not infect human cells but have systemic manifestations when active within the xenograft. The human risk posed by porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) is uncertain. There are no documented transmissions of PERV in humans and swine are available with inactivated genomic PERV loci. Metagenomic sequencing will complement more traditional diagnostic tools in the detection of any unknown pathogens in xenotransplantation recipients. Such data are required for the development of protocols for donor and recipient microbiological surveillance, infection control, and antimicrobial therapies that will enhance the safety of clinical xenotransplantation.</p
A practical approach to investigating nosocomial acquisition of Aspergillus
No full textInvasive mould disease (IMD) has a high mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common IMD. A guideline for preventing IA has been published jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Use of high-efficiency particulate air filters, adequate air exchange rates, sealing of patient rooms, and preventing exposure to moulds by nursing patients in areas away from construction sites are recommended by the guideline. However, there is limited information in relation to the actions to be undertaken by infection prevention and control teams in the event of one or more cases of nosocomial aspergillosis. In this review, we describe a systematic approach to aspergillosis by defining possible and probable nosocomial acquisition based on the number of days since hospital admission. We advocate an incremental response to the investigation of nosocomial aspergillosis in patients in protective isolation taking into account the number of cases and the likelihood of nosocomial origin. For single cases of nosocomial IA, we suggest that infection control investigations should focus on case surveillance and walk-through inspection escalating in a stepwise manner to enhanced case surveillance, verification of environmental controls, environmental monitoring, genotyping of clinical and environmental isolates, and review of antifungal prophylaxis for multiple cases and outbreaks. Where applicable, the construction site should be inspected with the aim to reduce the dispersal of conidia. Surveillance systems need to be strengthened to better understand the epidemiology of IA.</p
Effects of novel nonlinear flow channels inspired by classical mathematical function on the output performance and low-grade heat recovery efficiency of thermally regenerative ammonia-based flow battery
No full textIn addressing the challenges of enhancing the output performance and low-grade waste heat recovery efficiency of thermally regenerative ammonia-based flow battery (TRAFB), this study introduces four novel nonlinear flow channels: the Hyperbolic tangent function flow channel (HTF-FC), Elliptic function flow channel (EF-FC) Quadratic function flow channel (QF-FC), and Exponential function flow channel (ExF-FC). These flow channel designs are inspired by classical mathematical function curves, enabling more targeted mass transfer enhancement based on species distribution. Multiple quantitative metrics are employed to evaluate the effects of these nonlinear structures on cross-scale mass transfer, reactant distribution, power output, and thermoelectric conversion efficiency under both Forward Flow mode (FF mode) and Reverse Flow mode (RF mode). The findings reveal that optimizing mass transfer at the electrode interface of the channel end is more critical for enhancing performance in TRAFB. The overall performance of the nonlinear flow channels in FF mode is superior to that in RF mode, yet both outperform the conventional straight channel (S-FC), with the ExF-FC showing the best performance and the HTF-FC the least. The ExF-FC exhibits the highest overall mass transfer efficiency and uniformity of active species in the electrode region, and its nonlinear contraction zone at the channel tail induces a significant acceleration effect, increasing the Cu2+ flux by ∼39.13 times in the reactant-starved region. When the inlet flow rate is 1 mL/min, the HTF-FC, QF-FC, EF-FC, and ExF-FC can enhance the peak power density by up to ∼1.30 %, ∼11.52 %, ∼54.67 %, and ∼ 80.65 %, respectively, compared to the S-FC, and when the inlet flow rate is increased to 3.8 mL/min, these enhancements reach ∼1.62 %, ∼42.60 %, ∼101.38 %, and ∼ 142.84 %, respectively. Moreover, the nonlinear channels significantly improve the energy storage capacity and waste heat recovery performance of TRAFB, particularly at high current densities. When the current density is 350 A/m2, at an inlet flow rate of 1 mL/min, the ExF-FC can enhance the electrical capacity and thermoelectric conversion efficiency by ∼2.81 times and ∼ 5.41 times, respectively, compared to the S-FC, and at an inlet flow rate of 3.8 mL/min, these increases are ∼1.11 times and ∼ 2.98 times, respectively.</p
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