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Submission received: 18 January 2024 / Revised: 30 January 2024 / Accepted: 1 February 2024 / Published: 5 February 2024, Customized metasurfaces allow for controlling optical responses in photonic and optoelectronic devices over a broad band. For sensing applications, the spectral response of an optical device can be narrowed to a few nanometers, which enhances its capabilities to detect environmental changes that shift the spectral transmission or reflection. These nanophotonic elements are key for the new generation of plasmonic optical sensors with custom responses and custom modes of operation. In our design, the metallic top electrode of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film solar cell is combined with a metasurface fabricated as a hybrid dielectric multilayer grating. This arrangement generates a plasmonic resonance on top of the active layer of the cell, which enhances the optoelectronic response of the system over a very narrow spectral band. Then, the solar cell becomes a sensor with a response that is highly dependent on the optical properties of the medium on top of it. The maximum sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM) are SB = 36,707 (mA/W)/RIU and ≈167 RIU−1, respectively, for the 560 nm wavelength using TE polarization. The optical response and the high sensing performance of this device make it suitable for detecting very tiny changes in gas media. This is of great importance for monitoring air quality and thecomposition of gases in closed atmospheres., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España, Comunidad de Madrid (España), Depto. de Óptica, Sección Deptal. de Óptica (Óptica), Fac. de Óptica y Optometría, TRUE, pub

With the ongoing significance of overheating calculations in the residential building sector, building codes such as the European Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) are essential for harmonizing the indicators and performance thresholds. This paper investigates Europe's overheating calculation methods, indicators, and thresholds and evaluates their ability to address climate change and heat events. e study aims to identify the suitability of existing overheating calculation methods and propose recommendations for the EPBD. The study results provide a cross-sectional overview of twenty-six European countries. The most influential overheating calculation criteria are listed the best approaches are ranked. The paper provides a thorough comparative assessment and recommendations to align current calculations with climate-sensitive metrics. The results suggest a framework and key performance indicators that are comfort-based, multi-zonal, and time-integrated to calculate overheating and modify the EU's next building energy efficiency regulations. The results can help policymakers and building professionals to develop the next overheating calculation framework and approach for the future development of climate-proof and resilient residential buildings.

Efficient low-cost optoelectronic devices are used for many applications, for example, energy production, and sensing. The development of these devices can be step-forward using nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic structures. In this dissertation we propose, design, and analyze several nanostructures to improve the performance of these devices. For energy applications, we select amorphous silicon hydrogenated, and perovskite/crystallinesilicon tandem solar cells. We choose amorphous silicon solar cells because this material is abundant, non-toxic, long-life compared to organic solar cells, and can be fabricated at a low cost. The tandem perovskite/crystalline silicon solar cells are devices with potential power conversion efficiency > 30 %. Our designs are based on dielectric nanostructures. We applied a 1D nanostructure array to the top and bottom of amorphous silicon hydrogenated solar cells, in two separate designs. The absorption enhancement within the auxiliary layers of these devices is dissipated as heat and partially mitigate the defects resulted from the Staebler Wronski effect. A metasurface in the form of multilayer gratings embedded in the active layer of the perovskite top cell of the tandem device, improves the absorption efficiency in the whole device. A sawtooth periodic back texture has been optimized and tested to work with the metasurfacef or further improvement of the device performance. These nanostructures are arranged to maximize the absorption efficiency of the selected solar cells, mainly by reducing their total reflectance. The analysis and calculations are completed by modeling the conditions of the sun illumination, i.e, unpolarized light, and oblique incidence. The performance of the devices is calculated under these conditions..., Los dispositivos optoelectrónicos eficientes y de bajo coste se utilizan en muchas aplicaciones. Por ejemplo, en la producción de energía y en sensores. La incorporacion de estructuras nanofotónicas y nanoplasmónicas es un paso adelante en el desarrollo de estos dispositivos. En esta tesis doctoral proponemos, diseñamos y analizamos varias nano-estructuras que mejoran el rendimiento de estos dispositivos. En aplicaciones para energía, hemos selecionado células de silicio amorfo hidrogenado, y células tándem de perovskitas y silicio cristalino. Hemos elegido las células solares de silicio cristalino porque es un material abundante, no tóxico, de larga vida comparada con las células orgánicas y fabricadas a bajo coste. Las células tándem perovskita/silicio cristalino son dispositivos con eficiencias de conversión superiores al 30 %. Nuestros diseños están basados en nano-estructuras dieléctricas. Hemos aplicado una nano-estructura periódica 1D a la superficie anterior y posterior de células solares de silicio amorfo hidrogenado en dos diseños separados. El aumento de la absorción en las capas auxiliares de estas células se disipa como calor y mitiga parcialmente los defectos producidos por el efecto Staebler-Wronski. Una metasuperficie hecha con redes apiladas en capas incluidas en las capa activa de la porción superior de una célula tándem mejora la eficiencia de absorción de todo el dispositivo...

Efficient low-cost optoelectronic devices are used for many applications, for example, energy production, and sensing. The development of these devices can be step-forward using nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic structures. In this dissertation we propose, design, and analyze several nanostructures to improve the performance of these devices. For energy applications, we select amorphous silicon hydrogenated, and perovskite/crystallinesilicon tandem solar cells. We choose amorphous silicon solar cells because this material is abundant, non-toxic, long-life compared to organic solar cells, and can be fabricated at a low cost. The tandem perovskite/crystalline silicon solar cells are devices with potential power conversion efficiency > 30 %. Our designs are based on dielectric nanostructures. We applied a 1D nanostructure array to the top and bottom of amorphous silicon hydrogenated solar cells, in two separate designs. The absorption enhancement within the auxiliary layers of these devices is dissipated as heat and partially mitigate the defects resulted from the Staebler Wronski effect. A metasurface in the form of multilayer gratings embedded in the active layer of the perovskite top cell of the tandem device, improves the absorption efficiency in the whole device. A sawtooth periodic back texture has been optimized and tested to work with the metasurfacef or further improvement of the device performance. These nanostructures are arranged to maximize the absorption efficiency of the selected solar cells, mainly by reducing their total reflectance. The analysis and calculations are completed by modeling the conditions of the sun illumination, i.e, unpolarized light, and oblique incidence. The performance of the devices is calculated under these conditions..., Los dispositivos optoelectrónicos eficientes y de bajo coste se utilizan en muchas aplicaciones. Por ejemplo, en la producción de energía y en sensores. La incorporacion de estructuras nanofotónicas y nanoplasmónicas es un paso adelante en el desarrollo de estos dispositivos. En esta tesis doctoral proponemos, diseñamos y analizamos varias nano-estructuras que mejoran el rendimiento de estos dispositivos. En aplicaciones para energía, hemos selecionado células de silicio amorfo hidrogenado, y células tándem de perovskitas y silicio cristalino. Hemos elegido las células solares de silicio cristalino porque es un material abundante, no tóxico, de larga vida comparada con las células orgánicas y fabricadas a bajo coste. Las células tándem perovskita/silicio cristalino son dispositivos con eficiencias de conversión superiores al 30 %. Nuestros diseños están basados en nano-estructuras dieléctricas. Hemos aplicado una nano-estructura periódica 1D a la superficie anterior y posterior de células solares de silicio amorfo hidrogenado en dos diseños separados. El aumento de la absorción en las capas auxiliares de estas células se disipa como calor y mitiga parcialmente los defectos producidos por el efecto Staebler-Wronski. Una metasuperficie hecha con redes apiladas en capas incluidas en las capa activa de la porción superior de una célula tándem mejora la eficiencia de absorción de todo el dispositivo...

The concept of climate resilience has gained extensive international attention during the last few years and is now seen as the future target for building cooling design. However, before being fully implemented in building design, the concept requires a clear and consistent definition and a commonly agreed framework of key concepts. The most critical issues that should be given special attention before developing a new definition for resilient cooling of buildings are (1) the disruptions or the associated climatic shocks to protect against, (2) the scale of the built domain, (3) the timeline of resilience, (4) the events of disruption, (5) the stages of resilience, (6) the indoor climate limits and critical comfort conditions, and (7) the influencing factors of resilient cooling of buildings. This paper focuses on a scoping review of the most of the existing resilience definitions and the various approaches, found in 90 documents, towards possible resilient buildings. In conclusion, the paper suggests a definition and a set of criteria —vulnerability, resistance, robustness, and recoverability— that can help to develop intrinsic performance-driven indicators and functions of passive and active cooling solutions in buildings against two disruptors of indoor thermal environmental quality—heat waves and power outages.

Efficient low-cost optoelectronic devices are used for many applications, for example, energy production, and sensing. The development of these devices can be step-forward using nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic structures. In this dissertation we propose, design, and analyze several nanostructures to improve the performance of these devices. For energy applications, we select amorphous silicon hydrogenated, and perovskite/crystallinesilicon tandem solar cells. We choose amorphous silicon solar cells because this material is abundant, non-toxic, long-life compared to organic solar cells, and can be fabricated at a low cost. The tandem perovskite/crystalline silicon solar cells are devices with potential power conversion efficiency > 30 %. Our designs are based on dielectric nanostructures. We applied a 1D nanostructure array to the top and bottom of amorphous silicon hydrogenated solar cells, in two separate designs. The absorption enhancement within the auxiliary layers of these devices is dissipated as heat and partially mitigate the defects resulted from the Staebler Wronski effect. A metasurface in the form of multilayer gratings embedded in the active layer of the perovskite top cell of the tandem device, improves the absorption efficiency in the whole device. A sawtooth periodic back texture has been optimized and tested to work with the metasurfacef or further improvement of the device performance. These nanostructures are arranged to maximize the absorption efficiency of the selected solar cells, mainly by reducing their total reflectance. The analysis and calculations are completed by modeling the conditions of the sun illumination, i.e, unpolarized light, and oblique incidence. The performance of the devices is calculated under these conditions...

Efficient low-cost optoelectronic devices are used for many applications, for example, energy production, and sensing. The development of these devices can be step-forward using nanophotonic and nanoplasmonic structures. In this dissertation we propose, design, and analyze several nanostructures to improve the performance of these devices. For energy applications, we select amorphous silicon hydrogenated, and perovskite/crystallinesilicon tandem solar cells. We choose amorphous silicon solar cells because this material is abundant, non-toxic, long-life compared to organic solar cells, and can be fabricated at a low cost. The tandem perovskite/crystalline silicon solar cells are devices with potential power conversion efficiency > 30 %. Our designs are based on dielectric nanostructures. We applied a 1D nanostructure array to the top and bottom of amorphous silicon hydrogenated solar cells, in two separate designs. The absorption enhancement within the auxiliary layers of these devices is dissipated as heat and partially mitigate the defects resulted from the Staebler Wronski effect. A metasurface in the form of multilayer gratings embedded in the active layer of the perovskite top cell of the tandem device, improves the absorption efficiency in the whole device. A sawtooth periodic back texture has been optimized and tested to work with the metasurfacef or further improvement of the device performance. These nanostructures are arranged to maximize the absorption efficiency of the selected solar cells, mainly by reducing their total reflectance. The analysis and calculations are completed by modeling the conditions of the sun illumination, i.e, unpolarized light, and oblique incidence. The performance of the devices is calculated under these conditions...

Systematic interactions between buildings, vehicles, and renewables can increase eco-economic viability on a neighbourhood scale. In this study, an interactive buildings-vehicles energy sharing network with multidirectional energy interactions was formulated for energy interactions and integrations together with a grid-responsive strategy for the management of off-peak renewable energy and grid electricity. Energy flexibility indicators (e.g., off-peak surplus renewable shifted ratio and off-peak grid shifted ratio) were introduced, developed, and implemented in an interactive buildings-vehicles energy sharing network for the energy flexibility assessment. Several energy-related conflicts, such as energy congestion contradiction and energy-related economic and environmental conflicts, were presented and discussed together with effective solutions provided to decision-makers for optimal design and robust operation. To reach a trade-off between energy-related conflicts, multi-objective optimisation was conducted, and implemented with an advanced multi-objective optimisation algorithm (called Pareto archive NSGA-II). The research results show that the formulated interactive buildings-vehicles energy sharing network demonstrates greater robustness and competitiveness than the conventional isolated system in terms of cost, emissions, and energy flexibility. Regarding multiple energy-related conflicts in the formulated interactive energy sharing network, the results show that multi-objective optimisation is able to decrease the equivalent CO2 emissions of the buildings-vehicles energy system by 7.5%, from 147.4 to 136.4 kg/m2.a, and reduce the import cost from the electric grid by 8.5%, from 212.7 to 194.6 HK$/m2.a, together with a high energy flexibility: a maximum of 11.03% (1.5% in a conventional isolated system) of the off-peak grid electricity can be stored by the electrical storages and a maximum of 52.48% (33.6% in the conventional isolated system) of the off-peak

Windows play a huge role in today's buildings, allowing for outside view and providing occupants with daylight. However, windows are also often considered to be one of the weakest building components with respect to high thermal losses and are in addition often the reason for overheating and glare issues. In comparison to traditional static windows, dynamic solutions like adaptive and controllable smart windows have the ability to adjust their optical properties in response to changing boundary conditions and hence have the potential to improve the energy performance and the user comfort of buildings. The objective of this work is twofold: (1) To collect and present the state-of-the-art of commercially available smart windows from manufacturers, both adaptive and controllable products, i.e. thermochromic, photochromic and electrochromic smart windows. This collection provides the reader with valuable information about window properties such as the U-value, g-value, solar transmittance (Tsol) and visible solar transmittance (Tvis). However, it is currently difficult to obtain all the desired information about the products from the manufacturers' websites and other open channels. (2) To conduct building energy performance simulations on selected products from each technology. These products are also simulated using the same U-values as the reference window, and in addition, two theoretical cases have been simulated to investigate the theoretical potential of different smart windows. Here, the optical parameters take on fictitious values between 10 and 90% and between 0 and 100% transmittance, respectively. All cases are simulated at three different locations, i.e. Trondheim (Norway), Madrid (Spain) and Nairobi (Kenya), and are compared to a reference static window. In total, 63 cases are simulated using the simulation software package IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA ICE). The results shows that the electrochromic window controlled by operative temperature has the h

Green façades or vertical greenery systems (VGSs) are continuously gaining attention among urbanists for improving the living comfort and energy efficiency in urban areas. However, modeling and simulating the thermal response of VGSs remains a research topic. This paper introduces a novel inverse modeling approach for modeling the thermal response of VGSs on building envelopes. The modeling approach considers the VGSs as a homogeneous layer with apparent thermo-physical properties. The approach optimizes the apparent thermo-physical properties by calibrating the inverse model using data generated by a detailed thermal response model of VGS or experimental data. It is shown that the predicted temperature of VGS deviates by less than ±1.3 °C, while the heat flux on the inner side of the building envelope deviates by less than ±0.3 W/m2 compared to the measured values.

Windows play a huge role in today's buildings, allowing for outside view and providing occupants with daylight. However, windows are also often considered to be one of the weakest building components with respect to high thermal losses and are in addition often the reason for overheating and glare issues. In comparison to traditional static windows, dynamic solutions like adaptive and controllable smart windows have the ability to adjust their optical properties in response to changing boundary conditions and hence have the potential to improve the energy performance and the user comfort of buildings. The objective of this work is twofold: (1) To collect and present the state-of-the-art of commercially available smart windows from manufacturers, both adaptive and controllable products, i.e. thermochromic, photochromic and electrochromic smart windows. This collection provides the reader with valuable information about window properties such as the U-value, g-value, solar transmittance (Tsol) and visible solar transmittance (Tvis). However, it is currently difficult to obtain all the desired information about the products from the manufacturers' websites and other open channels. (2) To conduct building energy performance simulations on selected products from each technology. These products are also simulated using the same U-values as the reference window, and in addition, two theoretical cases have been simulated to investigate the theoretical potential of different smart windows. Here, the optical parameters take on fictitious values between 10 and 90% and between 0 and 100% transmittance, respectively. All cases are simulated at three different locations, i.e. Trondheim (Norway), Madrid (Spain) and Nairobi (Kenya), and are compared to a reference static window. In total, 63 cases are simulated using the simulation software package IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA ICE). The results shows that the electrochromic window controlled by operative temperature has the h

Green façades or vertical greenery systems (VGSs) are continuously gaining attention among urbanists for improving the living comfort and energy efficiency in urban areas. However, modeling and simulating the thermal response of VGSs remains a research topic. This paper introduces a novel inverse modeling approach for modeling the thermal response of VGSs on building envelopes. The modeling approach considers the VGSs as a homogeneous layer with apparent thermo-physical properties. The approach optimizes the apparent thermo-physical properties by calibrating the inverse model using data generated by a detailed thermal response model of VGS or experimental data. It is shown that the predicted temperature of VGS deviates by less than ±1.3 °C, while the heat flux on the inner side of the building envelope deviates by less than ±0.3 W/m2 compared to the measured values.

Field oriented control is from the best methods to control the AC drives this is because this method of control transfers the advantages of DC drives into AC drives. With using this method of control, the torque per ampere for AC machines increases, the dynamic performance becomes higher, transient and steady state performance become improvement. This paper is comparing between the steady state characteristics of induction motor with using the field oriented control and scalar control to show the advantages of the field oriented control comparing to scalar control. this studying not only concerned with constant flux region but also focused in the field weakening region. The MATLAB program is used to studying the steady state performance characteristics of induction motor with field oriented control and scalar control.

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

Hamdy MA Ahmed,1–3 Samar Abohamad,2 Mohanad Elfishawi,4 Mohamed Tharwat Hegazy,2 Kadambari Vijaykumar1,5 1Internal Medicine Department, Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY, USA; 2Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Division, Internal Medicine Department, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; 4Internal Medicine Department, Queens Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; 5Pulmonology and Critical Care Division, Internal Medicine Department, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA Abstract: Belimumab is a novel add-on therapy that has been approved for patients with active and antibody-mediated systemic lupus erythematosus. It is a monoclonal antibody that decreases the activation of B-cells and consequently decreases antibodies’ production. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved subcutaneous belimumab for patients who have received training on using it. Subcutaneous belimumab can be administered using either a prefilled syringe or an auto-injector device. Weekly subcutaneous belimumab seems to be as effective as monthly intravenous belimumab with a similar safety margin. In this article, we reviewed the literature on subcutaneous belimumab focusing on safety and patients’ experiences and satisfaction. Overall, subcutaneous belimumab appears to be preferred over intravenous belimumab for a number of reasons. However, more studies are still required to prove these findings. Keywords: belimumab, subcutaneous, safety, self-injection, patient satisfaction, adherence, auto-injector

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

When examining the traditional Egyptian community since the beginning of time, it would be found that the Egyptian individual is no different from any other traditional one. His life images and perceptions have some strong collective roots, they interweave strongly with the religion. He uses religious references to formulate images and manifestations to create a sacred universe where he can inhabit and function. The aim of this paper is to analyze vernacular/ traditional Egyptian architecture and its religious/cultural manifestations through the Egyptian heritage. It will focus on the cultural heritage of “Saints” and how they affected both traditional architecture and urban through time. This paper will cover the following: Presenting several psychological concepts in relation to the Egyptian vernacular urban forms. It will focus on the psychological Jungian concepts of “center of the world, Axis Mundi and sacred orientations”. It will also investigate their corresponding anthropological concept of the “sacred hero” which has its manifestations in the innumerous number of the Egyptian saints / “Awliaa” through history. Transcending the limitations of perspective by analyzing the urban product of a number of Egyptian case studies in the light of psychological and anthropological concepts to lay out certain popular principles and constraints that control their urban manifestation. Exploring The huge legacy of Saints/ Awliaa with all their related festive ceremonies as this collective belief of saints leads to an important socio-cultural event that is held in most of Egyptian urban settlements. It is “Al-Moulid”, a religious ceremonial festival that is held to celebrate the birth of the saints. These religious ceremonies have a strong role in formulating the Egyptian cultural and religious identities. Finally, presenting a classification for the Egyptian villages and cities on corresponding to this cultural / religious heritage and their manifestations on the Egyptian

This paper summarizes a study undertaken to reveal potential challenges and opportunities for integrating optimization tools in net zero energy buildings (NZEB) design. The paper reviews current trends in simulation-based building performance optimization (BPO) and outlines major criteria for optimization tools selection and evaluation. This is based on analyzing user's needs for tools capabilities and requirement specifications. The review is carried out by means of a literature review of 165 publications and interviews with 28 optimization experts. The findings are based on an inter-group comparison between experts. The aim is to assess the gaps and needs for integrating BPO tools in NZEB design. The findings indicate a breakthrough in using evolutionary algorithms in solving highly constrained envelope, HVAC and renewable optimization problems. Simple genetic algorithm solved many design and operation problems and allowed measuring the improvement in the optimality of a solution against a base case. Evolutionary algorithms are also easily adapted to enable them to solve a particular optimization problem more effectively. However, existing limitations including model uncertainty, computation time, difficulty of use and steep learning curve. Some future directions anticipated or needed for improvement of current tools are presented. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

The photocatalytic conversion of an aqueous solution of l-tryptophan (Trp) to kynurenine (KN) was investigated under the illumination of different light sources. Results show that Trp converted to KN with a selectivity of 64% under the illumination of a medium pressure (MP) Hg lamp. KN selectivity was increased to >90% when black light (BL) was used a light source. The novel use of BL in the photocatalytic conversion of Trp to KN significantly reduces the energy consumption compared with MP light

This paper provides an overview of the use of building performance simulation (BPS) among the building design professionals in Egypt. To assess the situation and highlight the status and difficulties encounter in the usage and the needs for BPS tools, three workshops were held, in July and August 2010 in Cairo. The paper first presents a brief overview of the status of the use of BPS in practice then describes the methods used, including, surveys, interviews, tools testing, brainstorming sessions and discussions. Finally, the study presents recommendations for the process of developing and using performance simulation tools for building design support.

A process for converting tryptophan into kynurenine. Theconversion of tryptophan into kynurenine is carried out by irradiating a substance comprising tryptophan with electromagnetic radiationcomprising waves withwavelength in the range of 10 nanometer to 750 nanometer.

Presented here is an analysis of some of the existing methods used for the determination of the series resistance of solar cells which is one of the key parameters in solar cell fabrication and technology together with the diode ideality factor and the reverse saturation current. These methods are based on the network analysis of the single-exponential lumped constant parameters model which has been accepted as being operationally sufficient to describe the current-voltage characteristics of the solar cell. The methods analyzed in this study are divided into two main groups. Methods using two I-V characteristics and methods using a single I-V output curve. For comparison purposes, all methods are applied first using data extracted from existing I-V curves and then using in-lab measurements of a commercial solar cell. It is demonstrated that the determination of the series resistance of solar cells using two I-V characteristics has several advantages over methods using a single I-V output curve. It becomes evident that methods which use a single I-V output curve are only accurate for cells operating under very high illumination conditions. At normal intensities, however, such methods result in erroneous R(s) values. This is due to the assumption of a constant diode ideality factor along the entire I-V output curve used in the derivation of these methods. It is shown that this assumption is inaccurate at normal intensity levels and can be appropriate only under very high illuminations. Three new methods are proposed in this study. One of the methods presents a new approach in determining the solar cell equation parameters. The new approach relies upon treating the diode ideality factor of the solar cell as a variable that is a function of both the terminal current and the light intensity level. The method uses two I-V output curves at different illumination levels in determining all solar cell parameters: The series resistance, the diode ideality factor and the revers