88 research outputs found
Dwelling on Courtyards: Exploring the energy efficiency and comfort potential of courtyards for dwellings in the Netherlands
No full textThe urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon and the dependency of buildings on fossil fuels were the two main issues that formed this dissertation. UHI results in higher air temperatures in dense urban areas compared with their suburbs and rural surroundings. This phenomenon affects human health through thermal discomfort and air pollution. Furthermore, in the Netherlands, it is estimated that by 2050 the air temperature could be up to 2.3°C warmer as compared to the period of 1981-2010. Besides, the energy consumption of buildings is responsible for 30 to 45% of CO2 emissions. 31% of this consumption belongs to residential buildings. Residential buildings can play a major role in reducing the CO2 emissions caused by fossil fuel consumption. One of the passive architectural design solutions is the courtyard building form. Courtyards have been used for thousands of years in different climates in the world. In hot climates they provide shading, in humid climates they cause a stack effect helping ventilation, in cold climates they break cold winds and protect their microclimate. In temperate climates (such as of the Netherlands), the thermal behaviour of courtyards has been studied less. In this study, low-rise residential courtyard buildings were therefore studied among (and along) different urban block types in the Netherlands. As the first step, computer simulations were done as a parametric study for indoor and outdoor thermal comfort. Field measurements were done in actual urban courtyards and in dwellings alongside urban courtyards in the Netherlands (and in a similar temperate climate in the US). A scale model experiment later followed the simulations. Some of these field measurements were used to validate the simulation models. These efforts answered the two main research questions: 1) To what extent is a dwelling alongside an urban courtyard more efficient and thermally comfortable than other dwellings? 2) To what extent do people have a more comfortable microclimate within an urban courtyard block on a hot summer day than within other urban fabric forms? To answer the first question, the energy performance of and thermal comfort inside dwellings in three types of urban blocks in the Netherlands (each with 1, 2 and 3 stories) were analysed (with an identical floor area). The main objective of the research was to clarify the effect of building geometry on annual heating energy demand, heat loss, solar gains through external windows and on overheating in summer). The buildings have different surface to volume ratios owing to different shapes: single, linear and courtyard shape. The single shape model is more exposed to its outdoor environment and has the highest surface to volume ratio. The linear models consist of a row of dwellings, which leads to a smaller area exposed to the outdoor environment, and this amount is the lowest for the courtyard models. The single dwelling has a higher surface to volume ratio and this model has the highest solar gains. The average amount of energy demand for heating in a year for the single shape is the highest among the models. However, the lighting energy demand for the single shape is the lowest. The linear and courtyard models are very similar in lighting energy demand. The courtyard shape has the lowest energy demand for heating since it is more protected. Considering thermal comfort hours in free running mode, the courtyard shape has the lowest number of discomfort hours among the models. Reducing the external surface area exposed to the climatic environment leads to higher energy efficiency and improved summer thermal comfort performance. Therefore, this analysis showed that the courtyard shape proves to be more energy efficient and thermally comfortable than other dwellings. For the second research question, the microclimate within the urban forms previously studied (singular, linear and courtyard) were simulated, each with two different orientations (E-W and N-S, except for the courtyard). To explore their microclimates the simulations were done in ENVI-met for the hottest day in the Netherlands (19th June 2000) according to the temperature data set provided in NEN5060. The results showed that the singular forms provide a long duration of solar radiation exposure for the outdoor environment. This causes the worst comfort situation among the models at the centre of the canyon for a hot summer day. In contrast, the courtyard provides a more protected microclimate which has less solar radiation in summer. Considering the physiological equivalent temperature (PET), the courtyard has the highest number of comfortable hours on a summer day. Regarding the different orientations of the models and their effect on outdoor thermal comfort, it is difficult to specify the differences between the singular E-W and N-S forms because they receive equal amounts of insolation and are equally exposed to wind. Nevertheless, the linear E-W and N-S forms are different in their thermal behaviour. The centre point at the linear E-W form receives sun for about 12 h. In contrast, this point at the linear N-S form receives 4 h of direct sunlight per day. Therefore, in comparison with the E-W orientation this N-S orientation provides a cooler microclimate. To sum up the above findings, it should be said that this study showed that courtyard buildings as a passive design solution (originally from hot and arid climates) can do both. This building archetype can reduce energy demands for cooling, as a result being a good alternative form for the expected warmer future of the Netherlands. The most efficient way of using courtyards in this temperate climate is to design urban courtyards. Designing small scale courtyards (single-family house) needs attention in winter. Courtyards provide more indoor and outdoor comfort in comparison with linear and singular forms. With this knowledge, it could be said that design strategies taken from one climate may be applicable in other climates but with serious attentions and modifications. Different disciplines and sciences can perform valuable roles to make this transition beneficial for the fragile ecosystem and people.Architectural Engineering + TechnologyArchitecture and The Built Environmen
Towards Urban Facilities Energy Performance Evaluation Using Remote Sensing
No full textAbstractUrban facilities are major contributors to annual energy consumption and therefore, evaluating their energy efficiency and retrofit planning play a major role in achieving sustainability goals. For urban facilities, such as buildings, energy performance audits could be conducted by detailed evaluation at building level. However, at urban level, detailed evaluation is cost and time intensive. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the correlation between land surface temperature, obtained through satellite imagery, and energy consumption patterns at urban level to explore its feasibility for energy performance evaluations. New York City was used as the main case study for conducting the analysis. We have investigated the correlation between energy consumption intensity and temperature at city block level for selected points. The outcome demonstrates a strong correlation between energy consumption intensity and land surface temperature. The observed correlation could potentially be leveraged for developing an approach for energy performance auditing
Comparison of the effect of ceftriaxone versus ciprofloxacin treatment on Shigella dysentery in children referred to Taleghani Children\'s Hospital in Gorgan, 2024
No full textBackground and purpose: Diarrheal diseases are considered one of the serious health problems and major causes of mortality in children under 5 years of age. Considering the contradiction and difference in the effectiveness of antibiotics recommended in the treatment of dysentery, this study was conducted to compare the effect of ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of acute Shigella hemorrhagic dysentery in children.
Materials and methods: This study was an interventional, randomized, parallel, single-blind clinical trial on 196 children aged 2-15 years with acute Shigella hemorrhagic dysentery at Taleghani Pediatric Hospital, Gorgan. After obtaining ethical approvals, patients were randomly assigned to one of two study groups (ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin) using a block-based method. After 48 hours of treatment, the clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and demographic variables of the patients were recorded and analyzed using a checklist
Results: Patients in the two groups had similar distributions in terms of gender, ethnicity, and age. The type of treatment (ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin) had no effect on the length of hospitalization of children with acute bloody diarrhea referred to Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan (P=0.254). There was also no statistically significant difference between the proportion of children who recovered within 48 hours of treatment with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin (P=0.144) and the proportion of children whose stool cultures were negative on the fifth day of hospitalization (P=0.538).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the effect of antibiotic treatment in children with acute Shigella bloody diarrhea is not related to demographic factors (age, gender, ethnicity). Also, no difference was observed between the use of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in the treatment of dysentery.
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20231119060110N1
Theoretical Review of The Iranian Case in Multilingualism
No full textThe country of Iran is made up of numerous distinct cultures and linguistic groups. According to Turkish, Kurdish, Baluchi, and Arabic speakers in Iran, their minority language is a significant part of their ethnic identity. The dominant Iranian population is bilingual. Persian is a language used for cultural and linguistic homogenization as well as for official purposes, but minority languages are not used in the education system. Complicated and puzzling for education authorities is the fact that there is an ongoing debate on the issue of bilingual education, and these programs are in place to assist students who speak a minority language. While it is difficult for Iranian educational institutions to balance different perspectives on English globalization, one of the obstacles they face is reconciling conflicting viewpoints on bilingual education. It's the lingua franca of international business, commercial aviation, and scientific research, and as such, most parents want their children to learn English. In contrast, Iran's comprehensive scientific plan predicts that Persian will become the world's primary scientific language in the not-too-distant future. Challenges, perspectives, and solutions in Iran's bilingual education were documented in this study. As seen from the results, resolving conflicts related to diversity, majority groups, and the presence of multiple languages will be an important challenge in the future. At the end of this manuscript, some solutions and proposals for finding a middle ground between bilingual education were presented
The role of sky view factor and urban street greenery in human thermal comfort and heat stress in a desert climate
No full textThe aim of this study was to understand the effect of urban street greenery type and arrangements on thermal comfort and heat stress in summer. Field measurements and computer simulations were carried out on East-West (E-W) and North-South (N-S) oriented streets in Isfahan, Iran. Through the field measurements in July 2014, 17 different streets were studied, followed by 15 perturbation scenarios (urban design alternatives) simulated by ENVI-met. The study showed that there is a significant and positive relationship between the Sky View Factor (SVF) and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) values. Comparison of the meteorological parameters within different street orientations showed that the effect of the SVF on the E-W streets was more significant than in N-S streets. Furthermore, greenery arrangement and building heights showed different impacts on the outdoor thermal comfort streets with different orientations.Accepted Author ManuscriptBuilding Physic
Investigating the Relationship between Maternal and Fetal Attachment and Spouses\' Functional Health Literacy in Mothers
No full textBackground and Objective: Considering the inseparable component of maternal attachment to the fetus and the importance of mother and fetus care in this period and after and the special role of men as husband and father in caring for wife and child, the present study aims to determine The relationship between maternal attachment to the fetus and spouse's functional health literacy was performed in individuals referred to Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz in 2021.
Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive correlational study on all pregnant women referred to Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Ahvaz in 2021 and their spouses in the available method. The research instruments were demographic information self-report questionnaires, Montazeri et al.'s Health Literacy Questionnaire (2014) and the Cranley Fetal Attachment Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 12.
Results: Findings show that the mean scores obtained for maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses 'functional health literacy were moderate and with 95% confidence, there is a significant correlation between the variables of maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses' functional health literacy (p <0.05 and r =-0.796)
Conclusion: Given the relationship between maternal attachment to the fetus and spouses 'functional health literacy, the importance of spouses' functional health literacy has been identified; therefore, it is necessary to take into account this point in macro-socio-economic planning and policies, so that we can see the promotion of health literacy more than all spouses
Optimisation of Heating Energy Demand and Thermal Comfort of a Courtyard-Atrium Dwelling
No full textIn the light of energy reduction, transitional spaces are recognised as ways to receive natural light and fresh air. This paper analyses the effects of courtyard and atrium as two types of transitional spaces on heating demand and thermal comfort of a Dutch low-rise dwelling, at current and future climate in 2050. The inclusion of a courtyard within a reference Dutch terraced dwelling showed an increase in annual heating energy demand and a decrease in the number of discomfort hours. In contrast, covering the courtyard and making an atrium led to reduction in the heating demand but more discomfort hours. Results showed that using a courtyard in May through October and covering that (as an atrium) for the rest of the year is the most efficient situation in the NetherlandsArchitectural Engineering +TechnologyArchitectur
Courtyards as solutions in green architecture to reduce environmental pollution
No full textAfter the industrial revolution, men intended-more than ever-to use energy, specifically the fossil fuels. In spite of providing comfort conditions for human life, too much use of these energy resources can cause the pollution and destruction of environment. The result is the threatening of the environment and the continuity of life on the planet Earth. Hence, the environmental concerns in the 1970s caused the emergence of a new concept entitled as sustainability in all sciences and industries. Therefore, construction sectors -as one of the main consumers of energy- are required to follow sustainability principles, as other disciplines do. One of the techniques in planning green architecture to reach the optimal usage of clean energies and, subsequently, to reduce environmental pollution is to have central courtyards around buildings. This research considers the effect of different parts of a courtyard building on the operative temperature and solar gain per square meter in Isfahan. Therefore, three traditional houses have been chosen and simulated in DesignBuilder as case studies.Building TechnologyArchitectur
Effect of Green Tea on the Level of Salivary Interleukin-1 Beta in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
No full textAIM: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is one of the major biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in salivary IL-1β concentration in patients with chronic periodontitis following daily consumption of green tea. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients with an average age of 45.8 years suffering from chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned into 2 groups (i.e., experimental and control groups). Besides receiving phase 1 periodontal treatment (scaling and root planning (SRP)), the experimental group drank green tea for a period of 6 weeks. To measure the concentration of salivary IL-1β, saliva samples were taken from both groups at 2 time points, i.e., prior to SRP (time point 1 (T0)) and after 6 weeks (time point 2 (T1)). The nonparametric Wilcoxon test was used to examine and compare the changes in the concentration of salivary IL-1β in each group relevant to the 2 time points (T0 and T1). Data were submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: At the end of the study period, a significant reduction (P=0.0001) in the concentration of salivary IL-1β was observed in the experimental group (A). As for the control group (B), however, there was no significant change (P=0.307) in the concentration of salivary IL-1β after 6 weeks following phase 1 periodontal treatment. CONCLUSION: Green tea supplementation, in addition to SRP, may reduce salivary IL-1β levels in patients with chronic periodontitis for a period of 6 weeks
- …
