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A Preliminary Study on BIM Integration in Modular Construction
No full textThe construction industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by digital technologies, with Building Information Modeling (BIM) emerging as a critical enabler of modular construction. BIM optimizes the design, manufacturing, and assembly of modular components, leading to improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and project delivery. This study examines the integration of BIM in modular construction, analyzing its impact on cost savings, resource optimization, and environmental performance. Case studies, including modular developments in China and the UK, reveal that BIM enhances design coordination, lifecycle cost control, and material efficiency, with observed benefits such as a 45% reduction in material waste, a 36% decrease in water consumption, and a 30% improvement in energy efficiency. Despite these advantages, challenges such as high initial costs, interoperability limitations, and workforce skill gaps continue to hinder widespread adoption. The findings underscore BIM’s role in addressing labor shortages, reducing carbon footprints, and improving overall construction efficiency. As modular construction gains global traction, BIM integration is positioned to redefine industry standards, promoting sustainable, cost-effective, and high-precision building solutions
A Vital Response to the Ecological Crisis: Intrinsic Biophilic Approaches in Interior Design Education
No full textIntrinsic biophilic design approaches in the interior design studio are discussed in this paper to prevent harm to the sensitive ecological state of the world today. Through rich projects, the variability of biophilic design is shown, with possible lessons for both educators and practitioners. The field of interior design has a significant impact on the environment, through construction techniques, material resources, waste generation, indoor air quality issues, as well as its role as a mediator of health, function, and communicator of sustainable living. The field of Biophilic Design has created knowledge and methods for making decisions that create a better understanding of the role of nature in the lives of human beings and thus attempting to bring aspects of nature into the interior space, both directly and indirectly. Biophilic Design is also more accessible for both scholars and practitioners due to its varied and wide-ranging scope of interpretations, involving technical as well as what may be defined as more poetic or philosophical definitions. It is clear that, in each design decision, one can opt in or out to side with ecological steps, and both awareness and know-how are effective in these choices. The power that interior designers have is considerable, and any decision taken during the intricate design process may potentially have a large-scale impact on the environment. Subsequently, if interior designers adopt a biophilic outlook on healthy living for themselves, it is believed that this will lessen the negative impact of the field on ecosystems. In this context, “Intrinsic Biophilia” and/or “Intrinsic Biophilic Design” has been coined to define the active involvement of designers in biophilic approaches [1]. The second-year interior design studio at Izmir University of Economics is the first in Turkey to be consistently utilizing biophilic design as a framework for several years, and the ecological awareness of students and graduates has been observed to increase significantly. The most recent project of the studio was to design a work environment through the purposing of biophilic design models that bridge theory and application. Intrinsic approaches include requirements to prevent the use of plastics in the studio, use ecological and recycled material in models, and an incentive to eat non-packaged goods, not buy new clothes, and waste less as an overall philosophy. Moreover, the biocomposite workshop completed in the studio enabled students to achieve hands-on experience with nature-based materials, enabling them to observe the behavior of natural constituents. The project brief was to redesign an interior design office with a new identity and use adaptive reuse methods, defined by a biophilic design concept statement. The project began with a site analysis to utilize the existing resources at the 1/200 scale and brought to 1/1 scaled detail drawings under the same concept. The resulting projects reflect sensitized intrinsic design decisions like to be carried into practice in the endeavors of future interior designers
Clinical profile and evolution of acute poisoning cases in a public hospital in Ica, Peru
No full textCases of acute poisoning represent a serious public health problem in developing countries, where 90% of poisoning-related deaths occur. In Peru, epidemiological information on these cases in public hospitals is limited. Strengthening drug surveillance and implementing poison control centres are key to improving case detection and reporting in hospital emergencies. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of acute poisoning cases treated in the emergency department of a referral hospital in Ica, Peru, between January 2022 and June 2024 (Table 3). An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study was conducted by analysing variables from admission records and patient medical records. A total of 207 cases were analysed, with a predominance of women (53.1%) and young adults (45.4%), with an average age of 24.3 years. The six-monthly incidence was 26 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions. Most patients were single (66.7%) and had a secondary education (68.1%). The most frequent cases of poisoning were due to psychotropic drugs (25.6%) and pesticides (23.2%), with intentional causes at 62.8%, particularly suicide attempts. Most cases had a mild to moderate course, with hospital stays of 12 to 24 hours. No deaths were recorded. It is concluded that cases of poisoning primarily affect young women, with a significant association between aetiology and case severity
Why African Estuaries Matter? An Expert Perspective on Global Sustainability
No full textAfrican estuaries are critical ecosystems that serve as vital interfaces between terrestrial and marine environments, playing indispensable roles in regional and global sustainability. Africa possess the second largest river in the world, the Congo river. This review article synthesizes expert perspectives on the multifaceted importance of these dynamic systems, highlighting their ecological, economic, and social contributions. We explore their significance as biodiversity hotspots, nurseries for commercially important species, natural filters for pollutants, and buffers against climate change impacts. Furthermore, the article examines the threats facing African estuaries, including pollution, habitat degradation, overexploitation, and climate change, and discusses the implications for human well-being and ecosystem resilience. By integrating current research and expert insights, we underscore the urgent need for integrated management strategies and conservation efforts to safeguard these invaluable natural assets for present and future generations
Sensor-based room inhabitance monitoring using robust ML models compatible with large datasets / real-time datastreams
No full textSmart homes, live streaming IoT devices, and smart sensors can all be optimised to enhance energy efficiency. In order to offer a cheap alternative to the traditional real-time monitoring systems, this study proposes a sensor-based occupancy system. The evaluation in real time of the number of occupants in buildings/ rooms /houses is reflected in the energy usage. Sensor data can provide insight into many characteristics of a considered environment. The sensor dataset considered was collected with the aim of determining how many people are present in a given space/room. The sensor data does not portray the people present in the room, but rather their impact on it (e.g. CO2/ noise/ light level changes). The dataset was cleaned and preprocessed to optimise model performance. The results obtained by training several classifiers yielded accuracies that reach 98%-99%. The research provides an end-to-end solution for the considered problem, through data preprocessing/feature selection/outlier removal and model training/evaluation. Hyperparameters were tuned for more than twenty models. All chosen models and features were ranked based on performance and robustness. A novel solution for optimising sensor placement has also been proposed by this study, to further improve sensor-based monitoring systems
Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Semioscopis (Lepidoptera, Depressariidae), with description of a new species from China
No full textThis study describes Semioscopis sinicella Wang, Zhu & Xiao, sp. nov. of the genus Semioscopis Hübner, 1825 (Lepidoptera, Depressariidae) from China. The new species is similar in external morphology and male genitalia to the European S. avellanella (Hübner, 1793) and the Japanese S. similis Saito, 1989, but it can be distinguished in female genitalia mainly by the distinctly shorter sclerotised section of the ductus bursae and the length ratios of the ductus bursae and corpus bursae to the papillae anales. Morphological descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis based on COI gene sequences using IQ-tree supports S. sinicella sp. nov. as a monophyletic lineage and further divides the genus Semioscopis into seven species groups
Assessing the use of Small Inland Wetlands by fish in the Lower Tagus Basin (Portugal)
No full textInland wetlands have long been recognized as important biodiversity hotspots and amongst the most impacted ecosystems worldwide, requiring urgent conservation management and restauration. However, focus has been mostly on wetland use by iconic birds and mammals, largely ignoring other highly endangered animals, such as fish. The Tagus Basin harbours the most diverse regional pool of freshwater fish in Portugal, with a total of 28 native species, 2 of which are Lusitanian endemics. In particular, the Lisbon arched-mouth nase (Iberochondrostoma olisiponense) is strongly associated to small inland wetlands and restricted to the Lower Tagus basin. Multiple wetlands were historically found in this region, with periodic floods inundating the riverside floodplain. However significant changes in land and water uses have occurred, potentially affecting the spatial availability, distribution and dynamics of small wetlands and their use by fish. Here we aimed to identify small inland wetlands in the Lower Tagus Basin (Portugal) and assess local fish communities. Using the Sentinel-2 imagery combined with Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), a total of 409 small wetlands were identified in the Lower Tagus basin, 30 of which were persistent and showed potential to host fish. From these, 10 wetlands covering the perceived variability in environmental conditions and distributed across the basin were sampled for fish. Data obtained using multiple sampling techniques were combined using the Gear Mean Standardization (MGMS) approach, and related to habitat, landscape, and land use variables using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Fish communities included five native species, but were dominated by eight non-native species. Fish community structure was significantly related to habitat depth and wetland connectivity to the Tagus river, and showed no measurable association with land uses. Isolated, deep wetlands were mostly used by angling non-native species such as Largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) and Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). Wetlands most connected to the Tagus mainstem, harboured mobile species such as Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) and Thinlip grey mullet (Chelon ramada). Shallow wetlands were habitat for threatened European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and Lisbon arched-mouthed nase. Our results indicate that small inland wetlands may act as refuges for threatened fish species, and should be managed and restored to help hamper fish diversity loss. However, connected wetlands they may also provide potential spreading hotspots for non-native fish, and should thus require population eradication and control programs to help boost native fish diversity
Genetic assessment of Crucian carp (Carassius carassius) populations in Hungary as part of a conservation initiative aimed at creating a live gene bank
No full textThe crucian carp, Carassius carassius Linnaeus 1758, is a native cyprinid species in Europe that is experiencing a concerning decline in its population numbers. This species predominantly resides in small aquatic habitats and faces significant threats, primarily as a result of climate change, human-induced impacts, and competition from invasive relatives, particularly the Prussian carp. Despite ongoing conservation initiatives being implemented throughout Europe, comprehensive data regarding populations within the Carpathian Basin remain limited. In the present study, we undertook an analysis of nine distinct natural populations comprising a total of 257 individuals located in Hungary. This endeavour utilized thirteen microsatellite markers along with mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) sequencing, which involved 187 individuals from these populations. The results of the mitochondrial DNA sequencing indicated the likely introduction of a Baltic stock in addition to the indigenous Danube lineage, as well as the identification of hybrids between the crucian carp and Prussian carp in certain populations. The analysis employing microsatellite markers further verified the presence of these hybrids; however, it also revealed that some populations in the southern region of Hungary were free from any hybridization. The assessment of genetic diversity demonstrated moderate levels, with observed heterozygosity (Ho) values ranging from 0.49 to 0.61 and allelic richness (Ar) ranging from 6.01 to 7.98. According to the genetic structure analysis, two or three principal units exhibiting low to moderate differentiation were recognized, with FST values ranging from 0.054 to 0.192. Moreover, based on assessments of gene flow, it was found that the Danube-Drava region displayed clear separation from populations located in the northern areas and those situated on the eastern side of the Danube River. Conclusively, findings revealed that eight of the nine populations studied, notably those in the southern Danube region, possess substantial potential for forming the foundation of a genetically managed gene bank dedicated to preserving the remaining stocks of crucian carp that are devoid of hybrid genetic influence. This insight provides a vital opportunity for efforts aimed at conserving the genetic integrity and sustainability of this declining native species
Ex situ and in situ breeding and stocking of the European Mudminnow in Hungary: insights from a 15-year cycle of population reinforcement
No full textSince 2011, our team has been engaged in the conservation biology of the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri), focusing on both ex-situ and in-situ methods. Our work includes (captive) breeding, egg incubation, and larval and juvenile rearing under controlled conditions and in natural habitats. Induced reproduction has been attempted in closed systems through the application of various hormonal treatments; however, these efforts have not resulted in success. In contrast, controlled natural reproduction has proven effective for producing offspring. An innovative spawning cage has been developed. This device facilitates the natural spawning of paired individuals, egg incubation, and larval rearing either directly at the original habitat of the parents or in reconstructed sites designated for population reinforcement. This method may result in higher survival rates compared to laboratory-based reintroduction. The spawning cage also allows the assessment of adverse environmental factors (e.g., sudden temperature fluctuations) during natural reproduction in the wild, providing insight into the reproductive success of local populations. Experiments on sperm cryopreservation, spawning substrate preference and feeding behaviour have been conducted under controlled conditions in recent years. Although only a small number of broodstock females are used annually, more than 8,700 individuals of various life stages (larvae, juveniles, adults) have been successfully released back into their original habitat or pilot areas. Currently, we carry out population maintenance and breeding in the artificial ornamental ponds of the Botanical Garden of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Gödöllő, Hungary), as most of the natural habitats of the species have dried out in recent years. Furthermore, a multifunctional device has been designed to integrate broodstock spawning, egg incubation, and larval rearing, thereby contributing to the sustainable reinforcement of U. krameri populations. Conservation efforts are currently ongoing
Gone unnoticed: The first record of Pytho depressus in Greece
No full textPytho is a small saproxylic genus with 10 species belonging to the tenebrionoid family of Pythidae, that live in the cambial layer of dead trees whilst feeding on them. Pytho depressus is the most widespread species of the genus with records in more than 30 countries. In this study we report the occurrence of this genus and this species for the first time in Greece, something that marks the southernmost distribution of the species worldwide