1,721,109 research outputs found
Windows opening in naturally ventilated classrooms: management strategies to balance energy use and reduction of risk infection transmission
No full textThe study presents a method to determine window opening time and frequency, considering window characteristics, indoor and outdoor conditions, and room occupancy. Results reveal that opening time correlates with room surface and occupancy but diminishes with larger window areas and favourable discharge coefficients based on window types. Additionally, in windless conditions, opening time decreases as the indoor -outdoor temperature difference increases
Some hydrological applications of small samples estimators of Generalized Pareto and Generalized Extreme Value distributions
No full textThe Generalized Pareto (GP) and Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distributions have been widely applied in the frequency analysis of numerous meteorological and hydrological events. There are several techniques for the estimation of the parameters, which use the total sample as a source of information. In this paper, we show how valuable estimates are also possible considering only a proper subset of the sample, and we identify the portion of the sample containing the most relevant information for estimating a given parameter. In turn, this may prevent the use of anomalous values, which may adversely affect standard techniques. Here, we illustrate original techniques (based on linear combinations of ‘selected’ order statistics) to estimate the position parameter, the scale parameter, the quantiles, and the possible scaling behavior of the GP and GEV
distributions with negative shape parameters. These estimators are generally unbiased and Mean-Square-Error-consistent. In
addition, weakly consistent estimators of quantiles are introduced, the calculation of which does not require the knowledge of
any parameter. Some case studies illustrate the applicability of the new techniques in hydrologic practice, and comparisons with
standard methods are presented. The new estimators proposed may provide a reasonable alternative to standard methods, and
may serve, at least, as a methodology to cross-check the estimates resulting from the application of other techniques
Sustainable lighting for cultural heritage: a pilot study for evaluating the exhibits’ display inside historical buildings
No full textLighting cultural heritage is a complex task that requires considering the conservation needs of the exhibits and visitors’ visual comfort. However, these needs are often in contrast. In addition, whenever the exhibitions are displayed inside historical buildings, the task further complicates, as lighting designers must face and respect the architectural character of the host building. They have two mean of work: static and dynamic analysis. The former uses the Daylight Factor (DF) while the latter requires a prolonged and expensive measurement campaign. Both analyses present advantages and shortcomings: the DF approach is easy and fast, but it implies many oversimplifications whereas the annual approach provides accurate results but is time and money-consuming. In this paper the authors analyse a case study with both methods. The case study is the Cetacea’s Gallery of the Charterhouse of Calci (PI). The findings of this research demonstrate that the annual approach is preferable, despite its costs, and that the static approach should be used just for first instances analyses. The research pointed out the necessity of a standardized procedure of evaluation that would allow lighting designers to confront possible interventions and find the most adequate to solve the conservation and comfort issues of the case in exam
Development and application of a methodology for heat stress assessment of workers in an Italian glass industry
No full textHeat stress is a typical health problem in glass industries, due to the high temperatures that can be reached in these spaces, especially close to the furnaces. For this reason, the evaluation of the conditions in these environments is particularly important. In this paper, the aim is to assess the workers' exposure in an Italian glass industry to the severe environment present in the furnace area, through the use of the WBGT index. Furthermore, the maximum time that they can spend in the industry warm area was also evaluated for different types of clothing and of metabolic rates, in order to reduce the health risk that may occur
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Multivariate assessment of low-flow hazards via copulas: The case study of the Çoruh basin (Turkey)
No full textBivariate modeling and hazard assessment of low flows are performed exploiting copulas. 7-day low flows observed, respectively, in the upper, middle and lower parts of the Çoruh basin (Turkey) are examined, considering three pairs of certified stations located in different sub-basins. A thorough statistical analysis indicates that the GEV distribution can be used to model the marginal behavior of the low-flow. The joint distributions at each part are modeled via a dozen of copula families. As a result, the Husler–Reiss copula adequately fits the joint low flows in the upper part, while the t-Student copula turns out to best fit the other parts. In order to assess the low-flow hazard, these copulas are then used to compute joint return periods and failure probabilities under a critical bivariate “AND” hazard scenario. The results indicate that the middle and lower parts of the Çoruh basin are likely to experience the largest drought hazards. As a novelty, the statistical tools used allow to objectively quantify drought threatening in a thorough multivariate perspective, which involves distributional analysis, frequency analysis (return periods) and hazard analysis (failure probabilities)
Health and Well-being in Indoor Work Environments: Features of an Expert Assessment Campaign in an Italian University Hospital
No full textThe evaluation of health and well-being in indoor work environments is nowadays a very important issue. In complex study cases, such as Hospitals, this evaluation can be very difficult and onerous. For this reason, it is useful to have systematic procedures, that guide the evaluator especially in the early stages of the assessment. In this paper, the authors present the features of the expert assessment activities as a part of an extensive environmental quality survey, carried out in an Italian University Hospital. The expert assessment activities were performed through site inspections and compilation of specific checklists. With the obtained results, it was possible to: identify the recurring criticalities, restrict the rooms to be analysed through field measurements, to optimize the investigations by reducing the impact on hospital regular operations. The described activities and their results can be considered as a pilot study for the development of a complete and systematic assessment procedure
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