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This study addresses the challenge of predicting airflow volume in under-actuated zones, where occupant behavior and environmental factors complicate standard models. To improve prediction accuracy, we propose the Sigmoid Parametric Shifted ReLU (SPS-ReLU) with custom weight scaling as a novel activation function within a Multi-Layer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP-ANN) model. The model was trained and tested on a time-series dataset from a controlled environment, using optimal time intervals (5, 15, and 30 minutes) identified through polynomial regression analysis. These intervals best capture airflow patterns: the 5- minute interval effectively handles rapid fluctuations in Zones 1 and 2, while the 15-minute interval is better suited for the gradual changes in Zone 3. Results show that SPS-ReLU, particularly with a weight scale of 1.5, significantly improves accuracy, achieving an RMSE of 2.3891 and R² of 0.9974, outperforming both standard and advanced activation functions. Comparatively, DPReLU achieved an RMSE of 3.0469 and R² of 0.9957, while ReLU’s RMSE was 22.5458 with an R² of 0.7741. This demonstrates SPS-ReLU’s capability to balance smoothness and flexibility, enabling it to capture intricate airflow dynamics within dynamic environments. The findings highlight SPS-ReLU with custom scaling and optimal time intervals as an effective solution for enhanced airflow predictions in under-actuated zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in extreme weather events due to climate change challenges the balance of supply and demand for high-quality agricultural products. In Taiwan, greenhouse cultivation, a key agricultural method, faces increasing summer temperatures and higher operational costs. This study presents the innovative AI-powered greenhouse environmental control system (AI-GECS), which integrates customized gridded weather forecasts, microclimate forecasts, crop physiological indicators, and automated greenhouse operations. This system utilizes a Multi-Model Super Ensemble (MMSE) forecasting framework to generate accurate hourly gridded weather forecasts. Building upon these forecasts, combined with real-time in-greenhouse meteorological data, the AI-GECS employs a hybrid deep learning model, CLSTM-CNN-BP, to project the greenhouse's microclimate on an hourly basis. This predictive capability allows for the assessment of crop physiological indicators within the anticipated microclimate, thereby enabling preemptive adjustments to cooling systems to mitigate adverse conditions. All processes run on a cloud-based platform, automating operations for enhanced environmental control. The AI-GECS was tested in an experimental greenhouse at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, showing strong alignment with greenhouse management needs. This system offers a resource-efficient, labor-saving solution, fusing microclimate forecasts with crop models to support sustainable agriculture. This study represents critical advancements in greenhouse automation, addressing the agricultural challenges of climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant public health threat, prompting the need to pinpoint high-risk areas for targeted interventions and environmental control measures. Culex quinquefasciatus is the primary vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, including West Nile virus. Using spatial analysis and modeling techniques, we investigated the geospatial distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus abundance in the large metropolis of Harris County, Texas, from 2020 to 2022. Our geospatial analysis revealed clusters of high mosquito abundance, predominantly located in central Houston and the north-northwestern regions of Harris County, with lower mosquito abundance observed in the western and southeastern areas. We identified persistent high mosquito abundance in some of Houston's oldest neighborhoods, highlighting the importance of considering socioeconomic factors, the built environment, and historical urban development patterns in understanding vector ecology. Additionally, we observed a positive correlation between mosquito abundance and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status with the area deprivation index explaining between 22 and 38% of the variation in mosquito abundance (p-value < 0.001). This further underscores the influence of the built environment on vector populations. Our study emphasizes the utility of spatial analysis, including hotspot analysis and geostatistical interpolation, for understanding mosquito abundance patterns to guide resource allocation and surveillance efforts. Using geostatistical analysis, we discerned fine-scale geospatial patterns of Culex quinquefasciatus abundance in Harris County, Texas, to inform targeted interventions in vulnerable communities, ultimately reducing the risk of mosquito exposure and mosquito-borne disease transmission. By integrating spatial analysis with epidemiologic risk assessment, we can enhance public health preparedness and response efforts to prevent and control mosquito-borne disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-geothermal damage is one of the major challenges in high-speed railway tunnel construction. Current studies have shortcomings in the formation mechanism of tunnel environment and the environment evaluation system. This may lead to an over-optimal environmental acceptability evaluation and jeopardize tunnel construction safety. This study established a mathematical model of the tunnel environment formation mechanism, proposed the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) standard (26.49°C) for the tunnel construction, analysed the cooling efficiency of different environmental control measures. The results show that increasing the mechanical air supply volume can reduce tunnel temperature. Fog cannon can reduce the air temperature near the tunnel working face, the cooling range in front of the tunnel working face is 10.8 m. The cooling shield can control the WBGT below the standard. Under the 90°C rock temperature, the environmental acceptability of the tunnel under pure mechanical ventilation is 0%; the single fog cannon and double fog cannon (both cooperate with double-duct ventilation) are 22.85% and 54.29% respectively; the cooling shield with one fog cannon and double duct ventilation is 95.72%. This study improves the tunnel environment evaluation system during the construction stage, and provides design reference for temperature control measures in tunnel construction. Highlights: Tunnel environment under the impact of multi-physical coupling fields was analysed. Thermal radiation is taken into account in the formation of the tunnel environment. A new benchmark based on WBGT for high-geothermal tunnels construction was proposed. A tunnel environment assessment system was proposed. Cooling shield environmental-control measure was proposed for tunnel construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of heat pump systems in agriculture, especially within livestock farms, has attracted considerable attention due to their potential for energy efficiency and improved environmental sustainability. Many studies have explored using heat pumps to optimize the indoor environments of barns. This review offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of the current applications of heat pump systems in livestock barn environmental control. Initially, it outlines the fundamental principle of heat pumps and the various types of heat pumps. Then, the technical advantages of the heat pump systems in regulating indoor temperature and humidity of livestock facilities, improving energy efficiency, and reducing environmental impacts are evaluated. Heat pump systems outperform conventional heating and cooling methods in terms of energy utilization and cost-effectiveness, and they positively contribute to reducing environmental pollution. However, some barriers obstruct the widespread adoption of heat pump systems, including policy and regulatory, economic and financial, and technological and infrastructure, as well as public perception and awareness. Future research is recommended to address these barriers. Thus, more heat pump systems in livestock farms could be extensively applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supermarket applications are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating efforts to reduce carbon footprints in the food retail sector. Carbon dioxide (R744) is recognized as a viable long-term refrigerant choice due to its favorable properties, including low Global Warming Potential, non-toxicity, non-flammability, affordability, and widespread availability. However, enhancing the energy efficiency of pure CO2 systems in basic architecture units, particularly in warm regions like India, remains a challenge. To address this, modern refrigeration systems must prioritize low energy consumption and high coefficient of performance (COP) while meeting environmental standards. This study investigates different operating conditions to determine the optimal parameter range for maximizing COP and improving the efficiency of conventional CO2 refrigeration configurations. It examines both subcritical and transcritical refrigeration cycles under varying parameters, emphasizing the importance of understanding COP's relationship with factors such as subcooling, superheating, ambient temperature, and evaporator temperature. The study advises against superheating in CO2 systems but highlights the substantial COP increase with higher degrees of subcooling, leading to enhanced system performance. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive theoretical comparison between advanced pure CO2 supermarket applications and commonly used hydrofluorocarbons-based systems, offering insights into energy efficiency and environmental impacts for informed decision-making in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Greenhouses need to supply CO2 to crops while simultaneously emitting CO2. To effectively harness the dual functionality of greenhouses as a carbon source and carbon consumer, this work incorporates carbon capture and emissions trading into a multi‐energy greenhouse (MEG), which is equipped with various power and heat sources such as photovoltaic (PV) panels and a combined heat and power (CHP) unit and proposes that the captured CO2 should be used to feed crops on‐site. A low‐carbon economic operation method is proposed for the coordinated environment‐energy‐carbon management of the MEG, and it considers various factors, including the power purchase/carbon supply costs, carbon emissions trading income, temperature/humidity/light intensity and CO2 concentration requirements for crops, and operational constraints of various energy/environmental regulation equipment. The proposed method is validated using a tomato MEG. The results highlight the significant economic and environmental benefits of introducing carbon capture, emissions trading, and utilisation into MEGs.

Cognitive-experiential self-theory is a unique model for exploring restaurant patrons’ decision making. Fear and its impact on diners’ decision making, particularly related to specific dining contexts (dine-in, takeout, and delivery), are limited in their representation in the literature. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an instance where a single fear could be explored universally for dining patrons. This study explores how fear influences diners’ perception of risk, antipathy, and avoidance toward restaurant dining and how these factors impact their intention to dine in a restaurant. Furthermore, it investigates how those constructs influence diner decision making regarding the selection of one of the identified dining contexts. Online survey data (n = 1225) of diners were analyzed using SEM. The research finds that fear impacts dining contexts differentially. Additionally, environmental control is identified as a valuable tool in the mitigation of diners’ fear. The pandemic had devastating impacts on the restaurant industry, partly due to the lack of research into fear, particularly in dining contexts. This research helps to fill the important research gap through the findings and theoretical and managerial implications provided.

Heat stress has posed a significant threat to the laying hens inside the poultry houses in the Northwest region of China. Significant non-uniformities can be found in the thermal distribution and temperature variations in summer. The ventilation system has been the primary measure to regulate the thermal environment in the poultry houses. Excellent airflow arrangement and ventilation strategies are essential for the ventilation efficiency. Still, the continuous operation of fans can inevitably generate the excessive local cold air, thereby wasting the electrical energy for the high cost of environmental control. Alternatively, intermittent ventilation can serve as an efficient way to improve ventilation effectiveness with energy saving. However, it is notably limited to applying to the summer poultry houses so far. In this study, a novel intermittent ventilation was introduced to alleviate the significant temperature fluctuations and ensure the high stability of the thermal environment in the summer poultry houses. According to the internal air temperature, the fan operations were performed on the conventional tunnel-ventilated poultry houses (control house, CH) and sidewall inlets poultry houses (experimental house, EH). Specifically, the fans were regulated, when the temperature exceeded the upper limit. Once the temperature dropped below the lower limit temperature, the fans were deactivated simultaneously, which was different from the continuous operations of fans throughout the summer. The thermal environment was monitored in the operation periods of intermittent ventilation. The environmental conditions inside the poultry houses were also evaluated. The results revealed that the average internal temperatures of experimental and control poultry houses were 25.3 and 26.5 °C, respectively, under the same external environmental temperatures; While the average relative humidity were 65.8% and 62.7%, respectively. The temperature fluctuations during the EH and CH's intermittent and continuous ventilation were 0.6 and 0.7 °C, 1.2 and 1.0 °C, respectively. The maximal difference of temperature in the horizontal direction of EH and CH were 0.3 and 5.2, 0.8 and 4.7 °C, respectively. Temperature variations were assessed in the four-hour intervals. The EH consistently demonstrated more minor temperature fluctuations than the CH when the fans were operated intermittently. The horizontal temperature difference was less than that in the continuous operation in EH. There was no difference in pressure and air velocity under the intermittent and continuous ventilation in the same number of fans. The pressure difference between the interior and the evaporative cooling pad buffer room increased from 17 to 19 Pa from the fan opposite wall to the fan. Average air velocity at the sidewall inlets and along the aisles in the EH were 3.30 and 0.49 m/s, respectively, which were higher by 1.86 and 0.12 m/s, compared with the CH. Therefore, the intermittent ventilation was suitable for the sidewall inlets, to improve the thermal environment within the poultry house significantly. There was great potential for widespread adoption in the Northwest region of China in the summer. The lifespan of the fan was extended for the maximal economic benefits. The intermittent operation times of fans should be determined according to the local climate, poultry houses’ ventilation requirements and the poultry houses’ size. This finding can provide a foundational reference for designing and adjusting the intermittent ventilation in summer poultry houses in the Northwest region of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cerrado biome is a global biodiversity hotspot, and more than half of its area has been devastated in recent decades. Nevertheless, environmental enforcement agencies have a low capacity for monitoring and curbing illegal deforestation and fires. In this context, the local unit of the Public Prosecutor's Office in Itiquira, Mato Grosso, has been experimenting since mid-2018 with the Global Forest Watch platform to detect illegal deforestation at its onset and notify landowners by electronic means (WhatsApp, email, etc.). With this remote inspection there has been a significant increase in the number of infraction notices, criminal actions, agreements for civil reparation of damage and public civil suits. By seeking to identify illegal deforestation in progress (in flagrant situations), the Public Prosecutor's Office has prevented such events from turning into major deforestation. Preliminary data indicate that the practice of monitoring and notifications by the Public Prosecutor's Office and environmental control agencies has increased law enforcement on deforestation and fires in that municipality and halted infractions at their inception. The challenge now is to determine the extent to which this method can be replicated in broader territories and other biomes such as Amazonia and Pantanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide energy-efficient strategies for collections care in the face of financial and environmental challenges. Focusing on paper-based enclosures in storage rooms, the research proposes strategies to enhance energy efficiency by relaxing tight environmental controls. The five-stage process began with a standard test of hygrothermal properties and buffering capacity of the enclosures. In the second stage, a computer model was developed using the first stage results. This model was used in a series of specially designed tests simulating the transient heat, air, and moisture transfer between the room and enclosure to determine an acceptable room environment in which the enclosure conditions could meet collections care standards. The modelling results were used, in the third stage, to develop an AI model that predicted the enclosure conditions using room temperature and relative humidity (RH) inputs. In the final stage, a model for energy consumption of air-conditioning system operations was developed to predict across various control accuracies. Results indicate that the tight maintenance of room RH levels can be relaxed from 47–53% to 33–65%, with a corresponding reduction in energy consumption of approximately 16–18%. This relaxation, while maintaining enclosure conditions in line with conservation standards, was demonstrated through a simulation case at the National Library of Scotland. This study underscores the broader applicability of the developed procedure, asserting its relevance for cultural institutions seeking energy-saving potential through customized enclosure models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive-experiential self-theory is a unique model for exploring restaurant patrons' decision making. Fear and its impact on diners' decision making, particularly related to specific dining contexts (dine-in, takeout, and delivery), are limited in their representation in the literature. The COVID-19 pandemic provided an instance where a single fear could be explored universally for dining patrons. This study explores how fear influences diners' perception of risk, antipathy, and avoidance toward restaurant dining and how these factors impact their intention to dine in a restaurant. Furthermore, it investigates how those constructs influence diner decision making regarding the selection of one of the identified dining contexts. Online survey data (n = 1225) of diners were analyzed using SEM. The research finds that fear impacts dining contexts differentially. Additionally, environmental control is identified as a valuable tool in the mitigation of diners' fear. The pandemic had devastating impacts on the restaurant industry, partly due to the lack of research into fear, particularly in dining contexts. This research helps to fill the important research gap through the findings and theoretical and managerial implications provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of aquatic mesofauna representatives involved in trophic chains to sorb and accumulate toxicants is important for understanding the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and for fishing industry. This study investigated the capacity of marine amphipod Gammarus oceanicus and freshwater amphipods Eulimnogammarus vittatus and Gammarus lacustris to absorb the DNA-alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The presence of alkylating agents in the environment and in the tissues of the amphipods was determined using whole-cell lux-biosensor Escherichia coli MG1655 pAlkA-lux, in which the luxCDABE genes from Photorhabdus luminescens, enabling the luminescence of the cell culture, are controlled by the PalkA promoter of DNA glycosylase. It was shown that within one day of incubation in water containing MMS at a concentration above 10 μM, the amphipods absorbed the toxicant and their tissues produce more alkylation damage to biosensor cells than the surrounding water. Concentrations of MMS above 1 mM in the environment caused the death of the amphipods before the toxicant could be significantly concentrated in their tissues. The sensitivity and the capacity to absorb MMS were found to be approximately the same for the marine amphipod G. oceanicus and the freshwater amphipods E. vittatus and G. lacustris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Successive applications of phosphate fertilisers can exceed the phosphorus (P) requirements of plants and soil, resulting in surface accumulation and loss to aquatic systems, and therefore require monitoring. The aim of this study was to determine a mathematical model for the critical limit for phosphorus in the environment (CLPE) in a Red Latosol of the Cerrado, and to monitor the amount of P in the soil of 46 rural properties in the micro watershed of the Ribeirão Abóbora River. Sand was added to a dystroferric Red Latosol to simulate soils with textures of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% clay, in order to quantify the maximum P adsorption capacity (MPAC) and determine the CLPE. Soil from 46 rural properties that make up the micro watershed of the Ribeirão Abóbora River was collected, and the P and clay content was determined. The MPAC decreased proportionally to the reduction in clay content. Th e estimating equation to determine the CLPE for the Red Latosol of the Cerrado is CLPE = 16.64 + 0.432* (% clay), which can be simplified to CLPE = 20 + 0.5* (% clay). The P content on four of the properties in the micro watershed of the Ribeirão Abóbora River is greater than the CLPE. It is therefore recommended that the use of phosphate sources be suspended until appropriate P levels return, and that close attention be paid to these properties so that P values again reach acceptable levels, and no P is transferred to the water sources.

A fuzzy adaptive control system was presented for greenhouse temperature, according to heat balance and fuzzy control. The accuracy of temperature control was improved to reduce the energy consumption of the control system in the winter greenhouse. An adaptive adjustment module was introduced for the output membership functions using the heat balance equation in the system. The membership functions of output variables were real-time adjusted with the outdoor temperature in the upper computer. The target temperature was ultimately reached to be stable in the greenhouse. At the same time, the experiment was conducted to verify the fuzzy adaptive control. The final experimental results were as follows: (1) The temperature was set to be 30, 35, 40, and 45 ℃ for the water tank of the heating fan. The temperature inside the greenhouse was then monitored for a period of time. The monitoring data was substituted into the energy balance equation to calculate the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the heating fan. 19 datasets showed that the comprehensive heat transfer coefficient of the heating fan was 50.50 W/(m2·℃). (2) A fuzzy adaptive control system was developed for greenhouse temperature using Python. A comparison was made on the control effects of fuzzy control, adaptive fuzzy, and threshold control. The more sensitive output response of the fuzzy adaptive control was observed at the target temperature of 20 ℃, according to the heat balance equation. The higher temperature was found in the water tank of heating fan at the beginning of the control. The overall control time was shorter at 35 min. Finally, the temperature of the temperature chamber was stabilized at (19.8 ± 0.11) ℃. There was a longer control of 39 min for the general fuzzy controller. Finally, the greenhouse temperature was stabilized at (13.5 ± 0.5) ℃, which was unable to reach the target ambient temperature. The threshold control had the shortest control time of 26 min. But there were more fluctuations to reach the target temperature until the greenhouse temperature was stabilized at (20.0 ± 0.85) ℃. (3) The ratio of heat input was calculated from the heating fan to the total energy consumption of the greenhouse using different control systems. The energy utilization rate of fuzzy adaptive control was 45.97% when the total energy consumption was 1.584 × 107 J. While the energy utilization rate of threshold control was only 20.21% when the total energy consumption was 3.301 × 107 J. Therefore, low energy consumption, high stability, and accuracy were achieved in the fuzzy adaptive control system with the heat balance equation, fully meeting the needs of temperature control in a winter greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environments affect phenotypes through two elementary functions: modifying (by affecting the development of individuals' phenotypes) and adaptive (by determining the phenotypes' adaptive significance). Adaptation may be perceived to coordinate the two functions, which may even be performed by the same environmental factor. Organismic transformation of the environment can again affect both functions, where the adaptive functions are commonly addressed via notions of "niche/habitat construction" or "extended phenotype" and modifying function are largely ignored. The multi-causal role of these transformations in evolution and adaptation is hard to model and formalize using standard tools. To arrive at a more comprehensive representation, a systems approach is taken that allows classification and generalization of earlier results and the outlining of new insights. These include the following: ∗ Temporary transformation (restricted to one adaptational episode) is structurally equivalent to adaptation without transformation and therefore provide no new insights. ∗ Prolonged transformation (extending over several episodes) in either adaptive or modifying environments promotes adaptational coordination between the two functions but ultimately prevents persistent adaptedness. ∗ The success of transformations of the adaptive environment that do not affect the modifying environment depends on the diversity in the system states rather than on phenogenetic plasticity. ∗ A substantial difference between transformation of the adaptive and of the modifying environment is that adaptation can be reached within a single episode via transformation of the modifying environment, even if the adaptive environment has no modifying effect. The evolutionary consequences await explicit model analysis. ∗ Migration can be interpreted in terms of environmental transformation of either function, modifying or adaptive, by replacing transformation between environments by migration between them. Established results from migration models can help to reassess existing models of adaptation by environmental transformation and to design new models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the study of the ecological state of soils and vegetation in the zone of impact of the Sredneuralsky Copper Smelter (SNCS), the following tasks were solved: the content of heavy metals in the soils of the test sites laid within the zone of impact of the SNCS was determined; macrokinetic patterns of seasonal dynamics of the normalized relative vegetation index (NDVI) at the test sites in the zone of impact of the SNCS were revealed; macrokinetic patterns of vegetation response in the form of NDVI, calculated according to MODIS and Landsat 8 data, to soil pollution by a complex of heavy metals in the zone of impact of the SNCS were revealed; soil quality was ranked according to the patterns of vegetation response in the form of NDVI to soil pollution by a complex of heavy metals within the boundaries of the natural protection zone (NPZ) of the SNCS according to 2023. The intraseasonal dynamics of photosynthetically active biomass in the form of NDVI was modeled using a theoretical growth equation based on MODIS satellite data. The seasonal maximum of the vegetation index at the trial sites in 2012 fell on weeks 25‒28. In 2023, it occurred on weeks 27‒33, depending on the location of the sampling point. The rate of maximum achievement is characterized by weak intraseasonal and interannual variation. The patterns of changes in the concentration of photosynthetically active biomass in the form of maximum NDVI for the 2023 season in response to the gross content of a complex of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, and Zn) in the soil of the test sites were modeled using the theoretical equation of dose dependence. The maximum permissible level of the heavy-metal complex in the soil in the form of a geometric mean, which does not cause a decrease in the values of the vegetation index calculated according to the data of the MODIS and Landsat 8 satellites, was 101 and 106 mg kg–1, respectively. An analysis of histograms of the distribution of NDVI values within the NPZ was carried out, which showed how the true frequencies of occurrence of the values of the vegetation index correspond to the empirical boundary of the NPZ associated with the maximum dose dependence point identified by the study of the 2012. The nature of the distribution of true NDVI values for the NPZ exclusively fully supports the used zoning theory based on the analysis of dose dependence. The modern boundaries of the SNCS natural protection zone are 4‒7 km away from the center of the sanitary protection zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevational climatic heterogeneity, complex terrains, and varying subsurface properties affect the sensitivity of evapotranspiration (ET) in dryland mountain forests to hydrometeorological changes. However, the elevational distribution of ET sensitivity and its major influencing factors remain poorly understood. This study focused on the mid-altitude zone (1000–3500 m) forests in the Chinese Western Tianshan Mountains and assessed ET sensitivity to multiple climate variables, including precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PET), from 2000 to 2020. To evaluate the multi-year mean and trends in ET sensitivity, multi-source remote sensing data and regional survey data were analyzed using Spearman's correlation coefficient, the sliding window method, and Kendall's test. Furthermore, the relative importance of environmental variables (topography, geology, soil, and vegetation) was investigated. P and PET showed no significant trends, while ET exhibited a significant increasing trend (5.81 mm/yr, p < 0.01), particularly at elevations above 2000 m. Most forests (93.5%) showed a positive sensitivity of ET to P, and 70.0% showed a positive sensitivity of ET to PET, mainly at elevations of 1500–2500 m. Additionally, the trend in ET sensitivity to P decreased with an increasing elevation, with 64.5% showing a positive trend. Meanwhile, the trend in ET sensitivity to PET increased with elevation, with 88.1% showing a positive trend. Notably, 53.2% of the forests showed increasing ET sensitivity trends to both P and PET, primarily at elevations of 2000–3000 m with a mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of 0.56. Geological factors, particularly the hydrological properties of weathered bedrock, contributed the most (~47%) to mean sensitivity. However, geological and vegetative factors, including the NDVI and root zone water availability, were the main contributors (35% each) to the sensitivity. This study highlights the elevation-dependent sensitivity of dryland mountain forests to hydrothermal changes, with higher-elevation forests (>2000 m) being more sensitive to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a global strategy to save the environment through sustainable designs; this approach must begin throughout the college phase and progress through their professional career. During their academic journey, undergraduate architecture students take many courses, including a chain of Design courses and an Environmental Control (EC) course. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of EC courses and how they affect design courses' outcomes. The research methodology starts with secondary data through a literature review about environmental studies and their impact on design, what the topics that the EC course has covered, and when it should be taught to be able to design a framework that helped the instructors in developing their courses' plan, then collect the data from the instructors of both courses EC and design to develop the EC course plan by adding new assignment asking students to apply what they learn during EC course in one of their previous design projects which submitted before registered the EC course and gained a knowledge of different environmental techniques. Finally, test the application of the suggested Framework by comparing the results of design projects before and after EC study and validate the results by publishing an online survey targeting the experts in different countries to demonstrate the importance of EC courses as a powerful learning tool in architecture education, as well as to be a comprehensive approach that reflects the relationship between design and environmental studies to improve both architects and building design performance.

(1) Background: Aspergillus spp. is a widely distributed filamentous fungus in the environment due to its high sporulation capacity. Currently, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common invasive fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies, with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The multifactorial nature of the disease requires appropriate risk stratification to enable the most appropriate preventive measures to be adapted and implemented according to the characteristics of the patient. In this sense, the present research aims to identify recent risk factors and environmental control measures against invasive aspergillosis to establish preventive actions to reduce the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. (2) Methods: We conducted a qualitative systematic review of the scientific literature on environmental risk factors and preventive measures for invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. The Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were consulted, following the PRISMA and STROBE guidelines. (3) Results: Adequate implementation of environmental control measures is presented as the most efficient intervention in terms of prevention to decrease the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. Neutropenia, fungal contamination, insufficient environmental control measures in hospital and home settings, length of hospital stay, and anemia, are identified as independent risk factors. We show that HEPA, LAF, and Plasmair® systems are suitable methods to reduce the concentration of airborne fungal spores. Antifungal prophylaxis did not significantly influence IA reduction in our study. (4) Conclusions: Proper professional training and environmental control measures in hospitals are essential for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis. We should optimize risk stratification for patients with hematologic malignancies. Antifungal prophylaxis should be complementary to environmental control measures and should never be substituted for the latter. Studies should also be undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of environmental control measures against IA at patients’ homes.

The application of heat pump systems in agriculture, especially within livestock farms, has attracted considerable attention due to their potential for energy efficiency and improved environmental sustainability. Many studies have explored using heat pumps to optimize the indoor environments of barns. This review offers a comprehensive overview and analysis of the current applications of heat pump systems in livestock barn environmental control. Initially, it outlines the fundamental principle of heat pumps and the various types of heat pumps. Then, the technical advantages of the heat pump systems in regulating indoor temperature and humidity of livestock facilities, improving energy efficiency, and reducing environmental impacts are evaluated. Heat pump systems outperform conventional heating and cooling methods in terms of energy utilization and cost-effectiveness, and they positively contribute to reducing environmental pollution. However, some barriers obstruct the widespread adoption of heat pump systems, including policy and regulatory, economic and financial, and technological and infrastructure, as well as public perception and awareness. Future research is recommended to address these barriers. Thus, more heat pump systems in livestock farms could be extensively applied.

Aim of study: Marine climatic transition zones are boundary areas of major climate zones, here the boundary between the subtropical and temperate zones. They present areas containing high abundance of organisms living at the limit of their physiological tolerance. These marginal populations are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment. As such, marine climatic transition zones are excellent natural playgrounds for climate change-related hypothesis testing, especially with respect to marine habitat response to ocean warming. The marginal biogenic habitats around Jeju Island, South Korea, which lies within the temperate transition zone, have gradually changed from macroalgal-dominated to hard coral-dominated habitats. Understanding the specific abiotic environmental factors that influence the distribution of the marginal populations in temperate transition zones (i.e., species at their occurrence limit) is crucial to predicting and managing temperate zone habitat changes caused by climate change. This study aims to identify the specific abiotic environmental factors that contribute to explaining the current spatial distribution of the declining temperate and expanding subtropical foundation species in Jeju waters. Methods: Coverage and composition of sessile benthic communities were determined by photo-quadrat analysis at two depths (10 m and 15 m) at three sites along the island's south, east, and north coasts in May and November 2022. Divergences in community composition between sites were characterized in light of ten quantitative environmental parameters. Results: Our results show that sessile foundation communities vary significantly at different sites around the island. While the south is defined by high-latitude hard corals, predominately Alveopora japonica, the east is defined by the temperate canopy-forming macroalga Ecklonia cava, and the north is characterized by coralline algae. Winter sea surface temperature, water transparency, nutrient concentration, and water movement were statistically the most impactful environmental factors determining which foundation species constitute each distinct benthic community. Conclusion: This study provides valuable baseline information on the impacts of abiotic environmental factors on marine sessile communities in a temperate transition zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Aspergillus spp. is a widely distributed filamentous fungus in the environment due to its high sporulation capacity. Currently, invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common invasive fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies, with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The multifactorial nature of the disease requires appropriate risk stratification to enable the most appropriate preventive measures to be adapted and implemented according to the characteristics of the patient. In this sense, the present research aims to identify recent risk factors and environmental control measures against invasive aspergillosis to establish preventive actions to reduce the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. (2) Methods: We conducted a qualitative systematic review of the scientific literature on environmental risk factors and preventive measures for invasive aspergillosis in patients with hematologic malignancies. The Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were consulted, following the PRISMA and STROBE guidelines. (3) Results: Adequate implementation of environmental control measures is presented as the most efficient intervention in terms of prevention to decrease the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in hospitals. Neutropenia, fungal contamination, insufficient environmental control measures in hospital and home settings, length of hospital stay, and anemia, are identified as independent risk factors. We show that HEPA, LAF, and Plasmair® systems are suitable methods to reduce the concentration of airborne fungal spores. Antifungal prophylaxis did not significantly influence IA reduction in our study. (4) Conclusions: Proper professional training and environmental control measures in hospitals are essential for the prevention of invasive aspergillosis. We should optimize risk stratification for patients with hematologic malignancies. Antifungal prophylaxis should be complementary to environmental control measures and should never be substituted for the latter. Studies should also be undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of environmental control measures against IA at patients' homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calculation of a cockpit's transient thermal load is important for determining the capacity of the cockpit environmental control system, ensuring the safety of electronic equipment and increasing the health and comfort of cockpit occupants. According to the structural parameters of the cockpit of a sightseeing airship, a physical model is established. The turbulence model and calculation method are selected and verified. The transient thermal load within full flight envelope, the cockpit thermal loads at different times of the day, and the cockpit thermal loads under different free-flow velocities are obtained based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The cockpit transient thermal loads during different seasons are also obtained. The results show that solar radiation has a great influence on the cockpit transient thermal load. As the flight altitude increases, the thermal load decreases from 8.8 kW (H = 0 m) to 4.7 kW (H = 3000 m). With the change in the solar radiation intensity and solar radiation angle, the thermal load increases considerably, from 2.2 kW (8:00 a.m.) to 5.4 kW (12:00 a.m.). The influence of the free-flow velocity is not very obvious at an altitude of 3000 m, as discussed in this study. The influence of seasons is significant. Finally, the influence of the solar absorptivity and infrared emissivity of the cockpit surface material are studied, and the temperature distribution on the cockpit's surface is determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is aimed at studying the self-regulatory capacity (SRC) of the 10th graders in Gia Lai province (10th GGP) in learning English grammar based on Dornyei [1]’s theoretical framework. This study focuses on five sub-capacities of the SRC (Commitment control (CMT), Metacognitive control (MTC), Environmental control (ENV), Emotional control (EM) and Satiation control (ST) with differences and similarities in SRC demonstrated by male and female 10th GGP in the process of learning English grammar. The findings show that the CMT and the ENV are the two most prominent abilities demonstrated while the ST and the EM are the two least prominent ones. While the male and female 10th GGP shared similarities in CMT, ENV and ST, the male 10th GGP have demonstrated the positive aspects of their MTC and EM more clearly than the female ones.

The ability of aquatic mesofauna representatives involved in trophic chains to sorb and accumulate toxicants is important for understanding the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and for fishing industry. This study investigated the capacity of marine amphipod Gammarus oceanicus and freshwater amphipods Eulimnogammarus vittatus and Gammarus lacustris to absorb the DNA-alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). The presence of alkylating agents in the environment and in the tissues of the amphipods was determined using whole-cell lux-biosensor Escherichia coli MG1655 pAlkA-lux, in which the luxCDABE genes from Photorhabdus luminescens, enabling the luminescence of the cell culture, are controlled by the PalkA promoter of DNA glycosylase. It was shown that within one day of incubation in water containing MMS at a concentration above 10 μM, the amphipods absorbed the toxicant and their tissues produce more alkylation damage to biosensor cells than the surrounding water. Concentrations of MMS above 1 mM in the environment caused the death of the amphipods before the toxicant could be significantly concentrated in their tissues. The sensitivity and the capacity to absorb MMS were found to be approximately the same for the marine amphipod G. oceanicus and the freshwater amphipods E. vittatus and G. lacustris.

Humans live in complex socio-ecological systems where we interact with parasites and pathogens that spend time in abiotic and biotic environmental reservoirs (e.g., water, air, soil, other vertebrate hosts, vectors, intermediate hosts). Through a synthesis of published literature, we reviewed the life cycles and environmental persistence of 150 parasites and pathogens tracked by the World Health Organization's Global Burden of Disease study. We used those data to derive the time spent in each component of a pathogen's life cycle, including total time spent in humans versus all environmental stages. We found that nearly all infectious organisms were "environmentally mediated" to some degree, meaning that they spend time in reservoirs and can be transmitted from those reservoirs to human hosts. Correspondingly, many infectious diseases were primarily controlled through environmental interventions (e.g., vector control, water sanitation), whereas few (14%) were primarily controlled by integrated methods (i.e., combining medical and environmental interventions). Data on critical life history attributes for most of the 150 parasites and pathogens were difficult to find and often uncertain, potentially hampering efforts to predict disease dynamics and model interactions between life cycle time scales and infection control strategies. We hope that this synthetic review and associated database serve as a resource for understanding both common patterns among parasites and pathogens and important variability and uncertainty regarding particular infectious diseases. These insights can be used to improve systems-based approaches for controlling environmentally mediated diseases of humans in an era where the environment is rapidly changing.

This paper presents a design framework of a shading device applied on a building envelope, with a scheduled automatic activation logic, based on a sun path diagram. This proposal aims to balance the direct sun indoor exposure by evaluating the envelope area exposed to direct sun rays and the hourly activation rate of shading devices. These procedures are over the parametric modeling and simulation platform using raytracing, structural finite element analysis, and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) prototyping. The design process of building envelopes equipped with kinetic devices can use all these design resources. The kinetic device's activation logic relies on the feed-forward paradigm, scheduling the activation from the parametric modeling and the sun path diagram, using an angle threshold between the device post and the sun vector as a parameter. The design framework showed the preliminary path to develop shading devices considering the building envelope shape with a feed-forward activation logic based on local sun path characteristics.

Aim of studyMarine climatic transition zones are boundary areas of major climate zones, here the boundary between the subtropical and temperate zones. They present areas containing high abundance of organisms living at the limit of their physiological tolerance. These marginal populations are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment. As such, marine climatic transition zones are excellent natural playgrounds for climate change-related hypothesis testing, especially with respect to marine habitat response to ocean warming. The marginal biogenic habitats around Jeju Island, South Korea, which lies within the temperate transition zone, have gradually changed from macroalgal-dominated to hard coral-dominated habitats. Understanding the specific abiotic environmental factors that influence the distribution of the marginal populations in temperate transition zones (i.e., species at their occurrence limit) is crucial to predicting and managing temperate zone habitat changes caused by climate change. This study aims to identify the specific abiotic environmental factors that contribute to explaining the current spatial distribution of the declining temperate and expanding subtropical foundation species in Jeju waters.MethodsCoverage and composition of sessile benthic communities were determined by photo-quadrat analysis at two depths (10 m and 15 m) at three sites along the island’s south, east, and north coasts in May and November 2022. Divergences in community composition between sites were characterized in light of ten quantitative environmental parameters.ResultsOur results show that sessile foundation communities vary significantly at different sites around the island. While the south is defined by high-latitude hard corals, predominately Alveopora japonica, the east is defined by the temperate canopy-forming macroalga Ecklonia cava, and the north is characterized by coralline algae. Winter sea surface temperature, water transparency, nutrient concentration, and water movement were statistically the most impactful environmental factors determining which foundation species constitute each distinct benthic community.ConclusionThis study provides valuable baseline information on the impacts of abiotic environmental factors on marine sessile communities in a temperate transition zone.

Background: The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines emphasize environmental control as an integral part of asthma management; however, limited national-level data exist on how clinicians implement environmental control recommendations. Objective: We analyzed data on clinicians’ self-reported use of recommended environmental control practices in a nationally representative sample (n = 1645) of primary care physicians, asthma specialists, and advanced practice providers from the National Asthma Survey of Physicians, a supplemental questionnaire to the 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Methods: We examined clinician and practice characteristics as well as clinicians’ decisions and strategies regarding environmental trigger assessment and environmental control across provider groups. Regression modeling was used to identify clinician and practice characteristics associated with implementation of guideline recommendations. Results: A higher percentage of specialists assessed asthma triggers at home, school, and/or work than primary care or advanced practice providers (almost always: 53.6% vs 29.4% and 23.7%, respectively, P < .001). Almost all clinicians (>93%) recommended avoidance of secondhand tobacco smoke, whereas recommendations regarding cooking appliances (eg, proper ventilation) were infrequent. Although assessment and recommendation practices differed between clinician groups, modeling results showed that clinicians who reported almost always assessing asthma control were 5- to 6-fold more likely to assess environmental asthma triggers. Use of asthma action plans was also strongly associated with implementation of environmental control recommendations. Conclusions: Environmental assessment and recommendations to patients varied among asthma care providers. High adherence to other key guideline components, such as assessing asthma control, was associated with environmental assessment and recommendation practices on environmental control.

The potential application of the digital twins concept and its principles to all industries, including agriculture, has recently been the subject of considerable research interest. Since livestock farming is one of the mainstays of the agricultural industry, contributing to food security as well as employment and income generation, digital twins appear to be a promising technology to address issues related to the intensive nature of livestock production systems, which are typically characterized by high levels of input and output. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the latest scientific and technological contributions in the field of digital twins technology, with a view to its adoption and assimilation in livestock production systems in the context of Agriculture 5.0. In particular, the aim of this study is to synthesize the existing research and identify the opportunities and open issues related to the implementation of digital twins in livestock production systems. The results derived in the literature review indicate that digital twins is still in the early stages of development in livestock farming, but it has the potential to transform the industry. As Agriculture 5.0 evolves and the digital twins technology matures, it is expected to play an increasingly important role in the livestock farming industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facility agriculture is one of the most important indicators to achieve efficient and high-quality crop production in modern agriculture. Optimal environmental parameters can also be adjusted to improve crop growth, yield, and quality in the greenhouse. Therefore, environmental control and regulation technologies have been widely used to achieve efficient vegetable production. This review aims to summarize the recent research status in the field of environmental regulation in greenhouses. New approaches were also proposed for future research priorities. Greenhouse environment system was gradually shifted from the manual and timed to the threshold, feedback, and intelligent control systems, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Firstly, the main properties of different control systems were evaluated from an application perspective. Among them, the threshold control was simple and widely used, but it failed to adjust the control strategy in time following the dynamic changes of the external environment, in order to meet the needs of crops for light, water, and nutrients. The feedback control shared the stable environment through feedback regulation but was unsuitable for the complex multivariable conditions. Intelligent control was widely used to balance the interaction between different environmental factors in modern greenhouses. Afterward, the intelligent control methods were investigated for greenhouse environments, including fuzzy, decoupling, neural network, and environmental control, according to the crop phenotype parameters. Specifically, the mathematical model was independent of the controlled object in the fuzzy control, and easy to handle with nonlinear issues. However, the outline fuzzy was difficult to handle the sudden disturbances in the regulation system. In decoupling control, the appropriate control strategies were designed to transform the multiple parameters with coupling effects into a single variable. The regulation model was also constructed to integrate the multiple environmental factors and crop physiological needs. The intelligent control of the environment was realized in the development of greenhouse agriculture. The Neural networks were used to extract valuable information from a large amount of greenhouse environment data, thus providing powerful tools for the regulation models. The intelligent models mainly included single-factor, multi-factor, and multi-objective environment regulation. The data-driven method was one of the research hotspots in the intelligent regulation of greenhouse environments. However，the universality and economic benefits were the key limiting factors of regulation models. Efficient and accurate acquisition of phenotypic parameters greatly contributed to the fine management of greenhouse environments, indicating the intuitive, real-time monitoring, and dynamic regulation. However, it was still lacking in the interaction between phenotype and multiple environmental factors, which failed to apply directly in greenhouse production. In addition, the existing environmental control systems were evaluated for the light, temperature, air, ventilation, and irrigation greenhouse. Research directions were proposed to urgently improve and optimize the control system. Finally, future research and development trends were also recommended to construct the greenhouse environmental regulation, considering disturbance factors. Environmental regulation models were developed using crop growth and phenotype evaluation. A "cloud-edge-end" system of greenhouse environmental regulation was established to integrate multiple models. This finding can provide new ideas and references for the subsequent development of environmental control systems in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future phosphorus (P) shortages could seriously affect terrestrial productivity and food security. We investigated the changes in topsoil available P (AP) and total P (TP) in China's forests, grasslands, paddy fields, and upland croplands during the 1980s–2010s based on substantial repeated soil P measurements (63,220 samples in the 1980s, 2000s, and 2010s) and machine learning techniques. Between the 1980s and 2010s, total soil AP stock increased with a small but significant rate of 0.13 kg P ha−1 year−1, but total soil TP stock declined substantially (4.5 kg P ha−1 year−1) in the four ecosystems. We quantified the P budgets of soil–plant systems by harmonizing P fluxes from various sources for this period. Matching trends of soil contents over the decades with P budgets and fluxes, we found that the P‐surplus in cultivated soils (especially in upland croplands) might be overestimated due to the great soil TP pool compared to fertilization and the substantial soil P losses through plant uptake and water erosion that offset the P additions. Our findings of P‐deficit in China raise the alarm on the sustainability of future biomass production (especially in forests), highlight the urgency of P recycling in croplands, and emphasize the critical role of country‐level basic data in guiding sound policies to tackle the global P crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arab baths of Hernando de Zafra, popularly known as Casa de las Tumbas, are found at the intersection of calle Elvira and calle San Andrés in the historic centre of Granada (Spain). This article presents a thermodynamic study of the environmental operation of this complex of Arab baths, which has a furnace and hot, warm, and cold rooms, as well as auxiliary adjoining spaces and annexes. Computer models are used for the finite element analysis of the fluid dynamics for the process of lighting the furnace and subsequently diffusing the temperature, and smoke is expelled through the chimneys. The FDS software used—verified and validated by the NIST—processes the conditions for lighting the furnace and the thermal transmission of the generated heat to the different rooms in the building. This is the first case of this software being used for an analysis of the ancient Arab baths. The results show the global thermal behaviour, and the conclusions establish the temperatures reached inside the rooms and the thermal energy contributions needed to reach these temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial deterioration as one of the widespread problems in archaeological site museums significantly affects their safety and exhibits. This paper systemically investigated the environments and conditions of microbial outbreaks in the Dadiwan No. F901 site museum, which is a representative archaeological site of prehistoric Yangshao culture. The morphology and harmful characteristics of the outbreak microorganisms were analyzed by microscopic techniques. The ultraviolet resistance of harmful microorganisms was also studied. Combining these findings with the original facilities of the site museum, a scientific and reasonable project was proposed to control and prevent the activity of harmful microorganisms. In addition, a 1% OIT/DCOIT biocide concentration was applied to inhibit microorganism-caused deterioration, in combination with mechanical removal based on laboratory tests and screening in situ. The effectiveness of microbial control was assessed using a portable microscope, ATP bioluminescence assay, and color difference detection. As a long-lasting preventive measure for microbial deterioration, an ultraviolet sterilization system can efficaciously prevent the re-outbreak of microbial deterioration to form a relatively stable dynamic balance for the surroundings of the site. This study is a resultful exploration in terms of microbial control and plays an important role in the sustainable protection of archaeological site museums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper stresses the failure of 'economics' to predict and prevent repeated economic crises and the most critical topic of the environmental failure and ecological crises, founded also on economic theories and misconceived choices. The implication is a search for alternatives through an ontological-evolutionary-institutional approach and empirical investigations. The search for political 'normative economics', entity economics, accounting and information science copes with social and ecological-environmental problems, and systems science; it is necessary to keep always in mind these interactions for fully understand and correctly interpret the present 'social-economic reality'. The problem concerning environmental decisions goes beyond ontology and belongs to ethics. It must underline the debates on 'evolutionary ethics', not only related with 'environmental and ecological economics', the management of environment and reporting, but also with 'evolutionary ontology'; the new perspective affirms that 'existence', for instance, of a moral behavioral attitude, can reveal itself as a 'norm' thus relating ethics to ontology. General economists, entity economics theorists, as well as accountants and information scientists should be familiar with the potentials and limits of 'ontology', also for the ongoing expansion of computerization of scientific research in most of the scientific domains. The renewed interest, particularly in ontology, arouse specifically from systems scientists in constructing a wide variety of artificial intelligent systems. For its analysis, the study has been structured into two periods of time: until the middle of the 20th century and from that moment on. The paper ends by showing the new developments in information systems and their ontological approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security pressure, especially in urban areas, continues to rise due to surging demand for food resulting from a growing population and declining resources. It has been critical to improve crop production and make food readily available to consumers without traveling long distances in an economically sustainable manner. The novel GREENBOX technology uses Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) principles for leafy green crop production in urban structures. A GREENBOX is an individual thermally insulated chamber with an artificial lighting source and a soilless cultivation system (hydroponics) in an environment that is controlled at the grower's discretion. This study performed a financial feasibility study of GREENBOX technology for urban crop production in various scenarios to evaluate the system's profitability from an individual business's perspective and used market prices of the goods and services paid for or received by a project. The representative GREENBOX unit in the base case scenario had dimensions of a standard shipping pallet (1.0 x 1.2 x 0.9 m, or 40 x 48 x 36 in) and included thermally insulated walls, an LED artificial lighting source, a camera for monitoring growth, a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic growth platform, and an environmental monitoring and control system. A warehouse can host numerous GREENBOX units for mass production. We carried out a benefit-cost analysis by assessing the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period (PP). These parameters were evaluated for a base case scenario from data collected or estimated for a representative GREENBOX unit. We also applied the base case scenario to investigate the financial performance of the GREENBOX setup in selected urban areas in the United States; New York City (New York), Miami (Florida), Los Angeles (California), Dallas (Texas), Atlanta (Georgia), Chicago (Illinois), Boston (Massachusetts), and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania). We then carried out a sensitivity analysis on NPV, IRR, and PP by keeping all the parameters in the base case scenario invariant except for one at a time. We obtained a summary equation to understand the variation of the financial parameters with changing lettuce sale price, electricity cost, rental cost, labor cost, and the number of GREENBOX units. A GREENBOX unit would require an initial investment of $398 to assemble and an annual outflow of $157 to cover operating expenses. GREENBOX cultivation was financially viable in the base case scenario and in all the cities studied, with varying degrees of financial performance. The sensitivity analysis revealed that GREENBOX cultivation was financially viable in all scenarios except when skilled labor costs were beyond $19/hr, and there were fewer than 300 GREENBOX units. A statistically significant regression equation was derived in which rising rental costs, labor costs, and electricity prices negatively impacted the NPV, while the rising lettuce sales price and the number of GREENBOX units positively impacted the NPV. GREENBOX farming may serve as a local source of fresh crops for urban customers, with various benefits including improved food security, greater freshness and nutrition of food, the potential to contribute to the local economy by the creation of jobs and revenues from sales, and educational opportunities through extension programs on food nutrition and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) based control algorithms for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment have been gradually applied to improve building energy efficiency. Nevertheless, a reliable dataset is certainly a cornerstone for any meaningful AI training. Unfortunately, significant errors exist on humidity records due to asynchronous humidity and temperature sensor time constants, which need to be better compensated. This study aims to verify the general applicability of the previously proposed compensation algorithm and discover a new method to determine essential parameters for the algorithm without lab testing, which makes it possible to apply the compensation algorithm to on-duty sensor pairs. Experiment results from newly tested sensor pairs are found comparable to the previous study's outcome, which confirms the algorithm's general applicability. Meanwhile, the newly proposed performance indicator – the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of humidity ratio and temperature – results in a 64–97 % error reduction on the tested sensor pairs. Despite not being as steady as the original lab method, the PCC proved a possible alternative method worth further investigation due to its accessibility.

Plant factory is an important field of practice in smart agriculture which uses highly sophisticated equipment for precision regulation of the environment to ensure crop growth and development efficiently. Environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, significantly impact crop production in a plant factory. Given the inherent complexities of dynamic models associated with plant factory environments, including strong coupling, strong nonlinearity and multi-disturbances, a nonlinear adaptive decoupling control approach utilizing a high-order neural network is proposed which consists of a linear decoupling controller, a nonlinear decoupling controller and a switching function. In this paper, the parameters of the controller depend on the generalized minimum variance control rate, and an adaptive algorithm is presented to deal with uncertainties in the system. In addition, a high-order neural network is utilized to estimate the unmolded nonlinear terms, consequently mitigating the impact of nonlinearity on the system. The simulation results show that the mean error and standard error of the traditional controller for temperature control are 0.3615 and 0.8425, respectively. In contrast, the proposed control strategy has made significant improvements in both indicators, with results of 0.1655 and 0.6665, respectively. For humidity control, the mean error and standard error of the traditional controller are 0.1475 and 0.441, respectively. In comparison, the proposed control strategy has greatly improved on both indicators, with results of 0.0221 and 0.1541, respectively. The above results indicate that even under complex conditions, the proposed control strategy is capable of enabling the system to quickly track set values and enhance control performance. Overall, precise temperature and humidity control in plant factories and smart agriculture can enhance production efficiency, product quality and resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 80% of people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (plwALS) develop difficulties with their speech, affecting communication, self-identity and quality of life. Automatic speech recognition technology (ASR) is becoming a common way to interact with a broad range of devices, to find information and control the environment. ASR can be problematic for people with acquired neurogenic motor speech difficulties (dysarthria). Given that the field is rapidly developing, a scoping review is warranted. This study undertakes a scoping review on the use of ASR technology by plwALS and identifies research gaps in the existing literature. Electronic databases and relevant grey literature were searched from 1990 to 2020. Eleven research papers and articles were identified that included participants living with ALS using ASR technology. Relevant data were extracted from the included sources, and a narrative summary of the findings presented. Outcomes and Results: Eleven publications used recordings of plwALS to assess word recognition rate (WRR) word error rate (WER) or phoneme error rate (PER) and appropriacy of responses by ASR devices. All were found to be linked to severity of dysarthria and the ASR technology used. One article examined how speech modification may improve ASR accuracy. The final article completed thematic analysis of Amazon.com reviews for the Amazon Echo and plwALS were reported to use ASR devices to control the environment and summon assistance. There are gaps in the evidence base: understanding expectations of plwALS and how they use ASR technology; how WER/PER/WRR relates to usability; how ASR use changes as ALS progresses. Devices that people can interact with using speech are becoming ubiquitous. As movement and mobility are likely to be affected by ALS and progress over time, speech interaction could be very helpful for accessing information and environmental control. However, many people living with ALS (plwALS) also have impaired speech (dysarthria) and experience trouble using voice interaction technology because it may not understand them. Although advances in automated speech recognition (ASR) technology promise better understanding of dysarthric speech, future research needs to investigate how plwALS use ASR, how accurate it needs to be to be functionally useful, and how useful it may be over time as the disease progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]