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This study critically examines the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on occupant health in two critical care units (ICUs) at Jason Sendwe Hospital (JSH) and General Carrier de Mine Hospital (GCMH) within the Southern DRC metropolitan area, focusing on their impact on occupant health and well-being. Utilizing a mixed methods approach that includes health questionnaires, continuous environmental monitoring (monitoring CO2, VOCs, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and relative humidity), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, this research aims to identify correlations between environmental factors and the health of hospital staff and patients. The investigation was conducted across both the rainy and dry seasons, revealing significant seasonal variations in IEQ parameters and exploring the incidence of symptoms commonly associated with sick building syndrome among hospital staff. Higher CO2, VOCs, and particulate matter levels during the dry season indicated the inadequacy of current ventilation strategies to maintain optimal air quality. This study proposes the implementation of air filtration and purification systems and the refurbishment of natural ventilation systems as effective measures to improve IAQ. Additionally, alternative ventilation strategies, including occupancy reduction and the integration of supply and exhaust ventilation, were explored to address the challenges of inadequate ventilation. The findings reveal the urgent need for hospitals to adopt ventilation strategies that ensure the health and well-being of occupants, highlighting the importance of continuous IAQ monitoring, community engagement, and the integration of advanced ventilation technologies in healthcare settings. This comprehensive exploration offers valuable insights for improving ventilation in ICUs, contributing to creating healthier indoor environments in hospital settings, especially in regions facing unique environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioprospecting of sea anemone tissues and secretions has revealed that they are natural libraries of polypeptides with diverse biological activities that can be utilized to develop of biotechnological tools with potential medical and industrial applications. This study conducted a proteomic analysis of crude venom extracts from Anthopleura dowii Verrill, 1869, and Lebrunia neglecta Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860. The obtained data allowed us to identify 201 polypeptides, of which 39% were present in both extracts. Among the obtained sequences, hydrolase-type enzymes, oxidoreductases, transferases, heat shock proteins, adhesion proteins, and protease inhibitors, among others, were identified. Interaction analysis and functional annotation indicated that these proteins are primarily involved in endoplasmic reticulum metabolic processes such as carbon metabolism and protein processing. In addition, several proteins related to oxidative stress were identified, including superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxin, and glutathione oxidase. Our results provide novel information on the polypeptide composition of the crude venom extract from sea anemones, which can be utilized to develop molecules for therapeutic tools and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the construction sector is witnessing a growing demand for lightweight solutions, which can be justified by the need to adopt high-performance solutions and the fact that the industry is struggling with a shortage of skilled labour. In this sense, this study focuses on a novel and flexible building wall system, constructed using an innovative extensible LSF profile. To enhance its functionality, a monitoring system comprising printed sensors was integrated into the wall. These sensors underwent a thorough verification process. To evaluate the hygrothermal performance of the complete LSF wall solution and validate the novel monitoring system, an extensive ageing test focused on heat/rain, freeze/thaw cycles was conducted on a large-scale wall prototype. Additionally, this research introduces a novel approach by simulating exceptional solar radiation conditions, surpassing the standard cycles outlined in EAD 040083-00-0404, for the first time in this kind of solution. The results cover the measurements taken inside the building system using the incorporated monitoring system. Additionally, supplementary external temperature and heat flow sensors were used to determine the thermal transmittance. Visual and thermography inspections were also carried out. The findings reveal no instances of failures or defects that could potentially impact the hygrothermal behaviour of the system. The hybrid LSF constructive solution leads to more stable temperatures on the inner surface. The presence of direct solar radiation can raise surface temperatures by up to 5 °C compared to surfaces not exposed to such radiation, even when a light-coloured surface is used. The monitoring system worked correctly. In conclusion, the innovative profile proved to be resistant to hygrothermal cycles and the monitoring system developed is efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global interest in nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs) has led to their establishment as mandatory building objectives in Europe for all new constructions starting in 2021. The principles outlined in the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD) emphasize the significance of reducing energy demand through various energy efficiency measures to achieve NZEB status. Among these measures, the utilization of high-performance glazing systems plays a crucial role in ensuring natural light, ventilation, favorable solar gain, aesthetics, and positive psychological effects in buildings, while maintaining high energy performance and thermal comfort without burdening the budget or harming the environment. The use of increasingly larger glazing areas makes this topic of great relevance. Nevertheless, numerous studies frequently overlook certain crucial aspects of glazing systems in their assessments. This review study aims to assess different glazing solutions based on four critical perspectives called "EThCE": Energy performance, thermal comfort, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact, considering their interrelationships. Furthermore, the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach for selecting the optimal glazing solution for NZEBs is discussed. Additionally, the relationship between glazing systems and climate change is taken into account. Ultimately, the authors propose a comprehensive approach, including all the influential factors, to assist designers and homeowners in making informed decisions regarding glazing system selection for new NZEBs or NZEB retrofits in different situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring drinking water quality is a key factor for public health and it is especially important given the increase in industrialization. Its quality is ensured by a water treatment process that includes a disinfection stage, mainly involving chlorination. However, by applying this disinfection method, unwanted disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are formed. These compounds have, in general, a negative impact on human health. Following this, the development of stricter regulations for drinking water quality standards has been conducted worldwide. Several techniques for the removal of DBPs have already been developed to prevent DBP formation or to reduce DBPs formed during disinfection. Nevertheless, controlling the water distribution systems after drinking water treatment is still important, since DBPs can reoccur along the distribution network. To achieve this, further research should be developed to efficiently monitor and allow the performance of the necessary actions to detect and control these contaminants throughout the water distribution system. Additionally, the most suitable places for sensing along the distribution system must be further assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An indoor climate impacts human comfort, well-being, and safety. Therefore, it remains an important topic since, nowadays, people spend a significant amount of time indoors. Additionally, as tropical geographical zones become more populated, urbanised, and industrialised, the energy demand for air conditioning will rise significantly. In terms of the indoor climate, hospitals are particularly demanding due to the special needs of their occupants, however there is a paucity of studies about the tropics. Through a systematic analysis of accessible data and peer-reviewed articles, this study performed a quantitative and qualitative review of the scientific studies selected by the defined inclusion and exclusion parameters. A total of 65 tropics-related scientific publications, 28 on indoor thermal comfort and 37 on indoor air quality published between 2000 and 2023, were systematically reviewed. This study's findings corroborated those from the previous studies, alluding that there is a paucity of scientific studies on the indoor climate conditions of buildings in tropical countries. A total of 42 studies (65%) were conducted in Asia and 15 studies (23%) in Africa. Six studies (9%) were reported in South America and two studies (3%) were obtained from Oceania, Australia. The results indicated that tropical Africa recorded the lowest number of indoor climate studies considering the population indices. Many of the reviewed indoor climate studies employed mixed methods, whereas only very few considered a seasonal approach. Meanwhile, in the developing tropics, only one record was found regarding an indoor climate study of hospitals based on their locations (correlating the outdoor and indoor air quality). Additionally, no record was found regarding the IC studies of hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa, in which, the IC impact on the occupant's performance, productivity, and behaviour was assessed. Inferably, gaps still exist in the indoor climate of tropical hospitals. The current study highlights the need to improve the indoor climate considerations in the design, siting, awareness, regulations, and policy implementations concerning the hospitals in developing tropical countries. In conclusion, the study emphasises the need for more scientific studies on the indoor climate of tropical hospitals and highlights the relevant areas of the indoor climate studies in future works for considering the climate, environmental, socio-economic, infrastructural, and demographic peculiarities of the tropics for the betterment of hospital indoor climates in developing tropical countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important parameters that indicate the energy performance of a window system is the thermal transmittance (U-value). Many research studies that deal with numerical methods of determining a window's U-value have been carried out. However, the possible assumptions and simplifications associated with numerical methods and simulation tools could increase the risk of under- or over-estimation of the U-value. For this reason, several experimental methods for investigating the U-value of windows have been developed to be used either alone or as a supplementary method for validation purposes. This review aims to analyze the main experimental methods for assessing the U-value of windows that have been published by national and international standards or as scientific papers. The analysis criteria include the type of the test in terms of boundary conditions (laboratory or in situ), the part of the window that was tested (only the center of glazing or the entire window), and the data analysis method (steady-state or dynamic). The experimental methods include the heat flow meter (HFM) method, guarded hot plate (GHP) method, hot box (HB) method, infrared thermography (IRT) method, and the so-called rapid U-value metering method. This review has been set out to give insights into the procedure, the necessary equipment units, the required length of time, the accuracy, the advantages and disadvantages, new possibilities, and the gaps associated with each method. In the end, it describes a set of challenges that are designed to provide more comprehensive, realistic, and reliable tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High noise levels in hospitals can affect patients' well-being, staff productivity, and medical error rates. This study measured noise in two intensive care units (ICUs) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). An occupant's survey and a continuous field sampling were conducted in May and June 2021 in each ICU, using a T Tocas SL 1361 digital sound level meter and an online questionnaire. In GH-ICU, variations in the noise levels for the day, evening, and night-time were recorded as measuring 60.5–94.6 dBA, 61.9–90.0 dBA and 33.3–80.2 dBA respectively, while respective values of 58.8–75.5 dBA, 57–75 dBA, and 33.9–74.8 dBA were recorded for CH-ICU. The weekly noise equivalent level (Leq) of 82.8 dBA and Lden of 83.8 dBA for GH-ICU was computed, and 68.6 dBA and Lden 72.1 dBA for CH-ICU. This study found that the noise levels in both ICUs exceeded the recommended limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) for hospitals, while three-quarters of occupants expressed dissatisfaction with the acoustic environment. The results suggest the need for immediate intervention, including implementing suitable noise mitigation measures since hospital workers and patients are prone to long-term exposure to high noise, which can decrease working performance and health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofs are made up of several components, including those belonging to the waterproofing and drainage layers, substrate, and vegetation. Of these, the substrate is undoubtedly one of the most important layers of a green roof, contributing not only to the healthy growth of vegetation but also to the water retention capacity and thermal behaviour of the whole solution. Although green roofs are widely recognized as sustainable solutions, it is possible to further improve their environmental performance by developing more ecological substrates that contain industrial by-products. Bearing this objective in mind, sixteen newly developed substrates were characterized in terms of thermal conductivity, specific heat, emissivity, water vapour transmission, hygroscopic sorption, and water retention/drainage capacity. These properties are extremely relevant when solving heat and mass transfer problems as well as for water management prediction. Two reference substrates were also studied for comparison purposes. The results showed that the new ecological substrates have properties that make them comparable to conventional substrates already available on the market. Additionally, the results showed that temperature, moisture content, and density play an important role in the behaviour of substrates of this kind and have a significant influence on many of the studied properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban stormwater models can be semi-distributed (SD) or fully distributed (FD). SD models are based on subcatchment units with various land use types, where rainfall is applied and runoff volumes are estimated and routed. FD models are based on the two dimensional (2D) discretization of the overland surface, which has a finer resolution with each grid-cell representing one land use type, where runoff volumes are estimated and directly routed by the 2D overland flow module. While SD models have been commonly applied in urban stormwater modeling, FD models are generally more detailed and theoretically more realistic. This paper presents a comparison between SD and FD models using two case studies in Coimbra (Portugal) and London (UK). To enable direct comparison between SD and FD setups, a model-building process is proposed and a novel sewer inlet representation is applied. SD and FD modeling results are compared against observed records in sewers and photographic records of flood events. The results suggest that FD models are more sensitive to surface storage parameters and require higher detail of the sewer network representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a common practice to assign the return period of a given storm event to the urban pluvial flood event that such storm generates. However, this approach may be inappropriate as rainfall events with the same return period can produce different urban pluvial flooding events, i.e., with different associated flood extent, water levels and return periods. This depends on the characteristics of the rainfall events, such as spatial variability, and on other characteristics of the sewer system and the catchment. To address this, the paper presents an innovative contribution to produce stochastic urban pluvial flood hazard maps. A stochastic rainfall generator for urban-scale applications was employed to generate an ensemble of spatially—and temporally—variable design storms with similar return period. These were used as input to the urban drainage model of a pilot urban catchment (~9 km²) located in London, UK. Stochastic flood hazard maps were generated through a frequency analysis of the flooding generated by the various storm events. The stochastic flood hazard maps obtained show that rainfall spatial-temporal variability is an important factor in the estimation of flood likelihood in urban areas. Moreover, as compared to the flood hazard maps obtained by using a single spatially-uniform storm event, the stochastic maps generated in this study provide a more comprehensive assessment of flood hazard which enables better informed flood risk management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology to quantify and to locate leaks. The original contribution is the use of a tool based on the TrustRank algorithm for the selection of nodes for pressure monitoring. The results from these methodologies presented here are: (I) A sensitivity analysis of the number of pressure transducers on the quality of the final solution; (II) A reduction of the number of pipes to be inspected; and (III) A focus on the problematic pipes which allows a better office planning of the inspection works to perform at the field. To obtain these results, a methodology for the identification of probable leaky pipes and an estimate of their leakage flows is also presented. The potential of the methodology is illustrated with several case studies, considering different levels of water losses and different sets of pressure monitoring nodes. The results are discussed and the solutions obtained show the benefits of the developed methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Some species of sacoglossan sea slugs are able to steal chloroplasts from the algae they feed on and maintain them functional for several months, a process termed "kleptoplasty". One of these photosynthetic slugs is Elysia crispata, found in coral reefs of the Gulf of Mexico. This sacoglossan inhabits different depths (0–25 m), being exposed to different food sources and contrasting light conditions. In this work, we characterized the pigment and fatty acid (FA) profiles, and quantified the total lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid contents of E. crispata from shallow (0–4 m) and deeper (8–12 m) waters, after a month of starvation to determine the longest and more stable retention of chloroplasts and its relation to habitat depth. Biochemical analyses allowed the identification of 12 photosynthetic pigments and 27 FAs. Heterogeneity in the composition of pigments confirmed the long-term retention of functional chloroplasts ingested from different algae. However, the differences found in pigment profile, total lipid content, and FA composition on individuals of E. crispata were not related to habitat depth. High amounts of glycolipids, exclusive chloroplast lipids, suggest a good condition of these photosynthetic organelles in animal cells. These results contribute baseline physiological data that may help explain evolutionary associations such as endosymbiosis. Long-term retention of functional chloroplasts in animal cells occurs only in sacoglossan sea slugs. Analysis of molecules related to the maintenance of these organelles can provide valuable information on this trait (kleptoplasty). The goal of our research was to characterize the pigment and fatty acid (FA) composition of the sea slug Elysia crispata and their associated chloroplasts that are kept functional for a long time, and to quantify total lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid contents, identifying differences between habitats: shallow (0–4 m) and deeper (8–12 m) waters. Specimens were sampled and analyzed after a month of food deprivation, through HPLC, GC-MS and colorimetric methods, to ensure an assessment of long-term kleptoplasty in relation to depth. Pigment signatures indicate that individuals retain chloroplasts from different macroalgal sources. FA classes, phospholipid and glycolipid contents displayed dissimilarities between depths. However, heterogeneities in pigment and FA profiles, as well as total lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid amounts in E. crispata were not related to habitat depth. The high content of chloroplast origin molecules, such as Chl a and glycolipids after a month of starvation, confirms that E. crispata retains chloroplasts in good biochemical condition. This characterization fills a knowledge gap of an animal model commonly employed to study kleptoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation alters the natural hydromorphology of streams, affecting aquatic communities and ecological quality. Increasing efforts have been put into the rehabilitation of urban streams due to their importance for urban sustainability. Despite these efforts, many projects fail to achieve the improvement of aquatic communities. This study aims to provide specific recommendations to enhance the biological rehabilitation of urban streams by reviewing: (i) the impacts of urbanisation and climate change on urban stream hydrology, (ii) the responses of invertebrate assemblages to alterations in the hydrology and morphology of streams, and (iii) the hydromorphological rehabilitation measures applied to streams and their effect on invertebrate communities. This review found that commonly employed measures of habitat heterogeneity enhancement (such as the addition of meanders, boulders, and artificial riffles) are not enough to improve invertebrate communities. On the other hand, the most effective measures are those leading to the re-establishment of natural hydrological patterns and good water quality. Ultimately, an integrated ecohydrological approach that considers the entire watershed and its interactions between ecosystems and anthropological activities is the key to managing and rehabilitating urban streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present 52 new geographic location records for the peracarid crustacean Antromysis cenotensis Creaser, 1936, endemic in cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. This species is currently considered threatened and, therefore, is protected by Mexican law. These results arise from several expeditions carried out between 2017 and 2020 in 75 locations within the cenote-ring, the interior, and coastal plains of the peninsula. A comprehensive literature review provided 84 geographic location records since the species was described in 1936. A map with 136 geographic location records that better describe the current species distribution is also included. With this information, plus some notes on the ecology of the species, a comprehensive literature and data review, and a brief analysis regarding the possible factors associated with the confirmed absence of the species in some locations in the state of Yucatan, we provide a brief and condensed summary of the actual knowledge on this particular species. The data in Darwin Core format can be retrieved in Zenodo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mollusk diversity in coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has been studied extensively, but this is not the case for deep-water habitats. We present the first quantitative characterization of mollusks in shallow and deep waters of the Perdido Fold Belt. The data came from two research cruises completed in 2017. Sediment samples were collected from 56 sites using a 0.25-m2 box corer. We tested hypotheses about spatial patterns of α, β, and γ-diversity of bivalves in two water-depth zones, the continental shelf (43–200 m) and bathyal zone (375–3563 m). A total of 301 bivalves belonging to 39 species were identified. The two zones display similar levels of γ-diversity, but host different bivalve assemblages. In general, α-diversity was higher on the continental shelf, whereas β-diversity was higher in the bathyal zone. These patterns can be explained by the higher input of carbon (energy) to the near-coast shelf zone, as well as by the greater topographic complexity of habitats in the bathyal zone. These results enabled us to propose redirection of sampling efforts for environmental characterization from continental zones to the deep-water zone, especially in the context of environmental assessments during oil and gas exploration and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating data stored in a geographical information system (GIS) within the development of hydraulic simulation models is crucial for operating, updating, and hence redesigning water supply systems (WSS). Building and updating hydraulic models can be both time and resource consuming; moreover, the need to update infrastructure cadastral information makes the model itself outdated. In addition, typical dispersion of data across several databases requires extra effort to maintain the whole system and ensure it is properly assembled. Albeit there are some GIS-based hydraulic modelling solutions available, they typically use external connections to assemble all components resulting in additional costs and less flexibility. In order to be able to establish a single fully integrated data model towards global characterization of a WSS and associate hydraulic simulation, this paper proposes the specific implementation of an EPANET 2 model in PostgreSQL along with PostGIS extension. The system developed enables the construction of the model, hydraulic simulation, and storage of results within a single database. Required procedures and functions were coded either in pgSQL or Python and their execution were carried out using SQL statements. Finally, a case study was selected in order to test the system proposed. Results show that an integrated approach indeed allows the expedited creation of more realistic hydraulic models based on the stored cadastral information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out a three-dimensional (3D) boundary element method (BEM) formulation in the frequency domain to simulate heat transfer through a point thermal bridge (PTB) at a corner in a building envelope. The main purpose was to quantify the dynamic effect of a geometrical PTB in terms of distribution of temperatures and heat fluxes, which is useful for evaluating moisture condensation risk. The numerical model is first validated experimentally using a hot box to measure the dynamic heat behavior of a 3D timber building corner. The proposed model is then used to study the dynamic thermal bridging effect in the vicinity of a 3D concrete corner. Given the importance of the risk of condensation, this study looks at the influence of an insulating material and its position on the temperature and heat flux distribution through the PTB under steady state and dynamic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotted cleaner shrimp, I Periclimenes yucatanicus i (Ives, 1891), forms symbioses with sea anemones that may serve as cleaning stations for reef fishes [[1]]. This Caribbean palaemonid shrimp has usually been reported in symbiotic association with several species of actiniarian hosts, such as I Condylactis gigantea i (Weinland, 1860) and I Bartholomea annulata i (Le Sueur, 1817), or even with some corallimorpharians and a scyphozoan jellyfish [[2]]. Graph: Figure 1 (a) Two anemone shrimps Periclimenes yucatanicus (arrows) on the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa. [Extracted from the article]

The bioprospecting of sea anemone tissues and secretions has revealed that they are natural libraries of polypeptides with diverse biological activities that can be utilized to develop of biotechnological tools with potential medical and industrial applications. This study conducted a proteomic analysis of crude venom extracts from Anthopleura dowii Verrill, 1869, and Lebrunia neglecta Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860. The obtained data allowed us to identify 201 polypeptides, of which 39% were present in both extracts. Among the obtained sequences, hydrolase-type enzymes, oxidoreductases, transferases, heat shock proteins, adhesion proteins, and protease inhibitors, among others, were identified. Interaction analysis and functional annotation indicated that these proteins are primarily involved in endoplasmic reticulum metabolic processes such as carbon metabolism and protein processing. In addition, several proteins related to oxidative stress were identified, including superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxins, thioredoxin, and glutathione oxidase. Our results provide novel information on the polypeptide composition of the crude venom extract from sea anemones, which can be utilized to develop molecules for therapeutic tools and industrial applications.