Search Results (247)

Recently, many Chinese cities have initiated improvement projects aimed at enhancing living conditions in older residential neighborhoods. Urban improvement should be closely linked to the needs of occupants to determine “what to improve”. Governmental initiatives and the various stakeholders involved in the project influence the impact of improvement efforts. The objectives of the study are essential to identify the factors influencing occupants’ satisfaction and to evaluate whether the occupants are satisfied with the improved old residential neighborhoods. This study conducts a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of improved outdoor spaces in old residential neighborhoods, focusing on neighborhoods in Wuxi, China. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate residents’ efficacy and satisfaction with the enhancements implemented in outdoor spaces. The methodology involved collecting data through surveys and on-site observations, which were then analyzed to identify the pivotal factors impacting the effectiveness of these improvements. The results indicated that enhancing outdoor spaces had a substantial positive impact on residents’ quality of life, social interactions, and physical activity levels. Additionally, the PCA identified accessibility, safety, and aesthetic quality as the main factors contributing to resident satisfaction. This study offers valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers aiming to rejuvenate aging residential districts, emphasizing the importance of data-driven approaches to improve the design and functionality of outdoor spaces. Full article

A typical halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR) formulation for electric cables may contain polymers, various additives, and fire-retardant fillers. In this study, composites are prepared by mixing natural magnesium hydroxide (n-MDH) with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and a few types of ethylene–octene copolymers (C₈-POE). Depending on the content of LLDPE and C₈-POE, we obtained composites with different crystallinities that affected the final mechanical properties. The nucleation effect of the n-MDH and the variations in crystallinity caused by the blending of C₈-POE/LLDPE/n-MDH were investigated. Notably, in the C₈-POE/LLDPE blend, we found a decrease in the crystallization temperature of LLPDE compared to pure LLDPE and an increase in the crystallization temperature of C₈-POE compared to pure C₈-POE. On the contrary, the addition of n-MDH led to an increase in the crystallization temperature of LLDPE. As expected, the increase in the crystallinity of the polyolefin matrix of composites led to higher elastic modulus, higher tensile strength, and lower elongation at break. It has been observed that crystallinity also influences fire performance. Overall, these results show how to obtain the required mechanical features for halogen-free flame-retardant compounds for electric cable applications, depending on the quantities of the two miscible components in the final blend. Full article

Providing older people with quality long-term care (LTC) contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3—Good Health and Well-being. Person-Centered Care (PCC) is the optimal approach that enhances the quality of life for older adults residing in LTC facilities. This study develops the Long-Term Care Unit Environment Assessment Tool (LTCU-EAT) to assess how LTC environments support PCC goals. The study was conducted in five steps. (1) Reviewing and revising assessment items based on existing literature; (2) Preliminary assessment and protocolling with expert opinions; (3) On-site assessments conducted by two raters among 21 LTC units across 13 facilities; (4) Reliability test of assessment items; (5) Scoring and reliability test of LTC unit samples. The LTCU-EAT, comprising 89 items distributed across 12 subscales within four themes, was developed based on a summary of 14 PCC goals. A total of 83 items (93.26%) demonstrated strong inter-rater reliability. The assessments of all LTC unit samples displayed good criterion-related validity. The LTCU-EAT is a valuable tool for conducting post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of LTC facilities, systematically evaluating the level of environment support for PCC, and providing empirical evidence for future research, policy and practice. Full article

Cultural heritage has educational value because it provides children with a realistic learning environment and a wealth of educational resources. This study intends to fill a gap in academic research by evaluating the efficiency of utilizing cultural heritage in children’s education. This study uses the Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) method to create a comprehensive evaluation index system. Through research and analysis of six key elements—inheritance of historical context, improvement in environmental quality, completion of infrastructure, achievement of educational goals, participation in children in activities, and sustainable development—it was discovered that rational utilization of cultural heritage space significantly improves the educational experience and promotes cultural heritage transmission. This study is significant since it provides an empirical foundation for educational practice and serves as a valuable guide for innovative heritage transmission and policy creation. Our findings emphasize the necessity of incorporating educational goals into preserving and revitalizing cultural heritage, advocating for a forward-thinking approach that honors the past while fostering learning and progress for future generations. Full article

Public participation in architectural heritage protection is a crucial part of promoting the development of heritage conservation. However, even in the same country, different regions protect heritage at different levels. This study, taking national wooden arch corridor bridges as the research object, analyzes the public participation level in wooden arch corridor bridge protection in the last 5 years, studying the factors that influence public participation and the change in rules of public participation caused by geography, providing a theoretical reference for the sustainable development of the protection of wooden arch corridor bridges. The results indicate (1) public participation in the protection of wooden arch corridor bridges has been increasing annually under government guidance; (2) there is a positive correlation between the concentration of wooden arch corridor bridges and the level of public participation; (3) the better the planning is regarding wooden arch corridor bridges and their surrounding areas, the higher the level of public participation, while the lower the level of residents’ participation and willing; (4) the higher the development and better the transportation in the areas where wooden arch corridor bridges are located, the higher the level of public participation; and (5) increasing the popularity of wooden arch corridor bridges, as well as the areas they are located in, can enhance public participation. These conclusions and research methods also provide methodological guidance and theoretical support for other public participation in the study of architectural heritage. Full article

Gravity-assisted separation heat pipes (GSHPs) are extensively utilized in telecommunications base stations and data centers. To ensure year-round cooling, integrating GSHPs directly with a vapor compression refrigeration system is a viable solution. It is unavoidable that the refrigeration system’s lubricant will infiltrate the heat pipe loop, thereby affecting its thermal performance. This paper examines the performance of a GSHP, which features a water-cooled plate heat exchanger as the condenser and a finned-tube heat exchanger as the evaporator, when the working fluid (R134a) is contaminated with a lubricant (POE, Emkarate RL-46H). The findings are compared with those from a system free of lubricant. The experimental outcomes indicate that the presence of lubricant degrades the heat transfer efficiency, particularly when the filling ratio is adequate and no significant superheat is observed at the evaporator’s outlet. This results in a 3.86% increase in heat transfer resistance. When the charge of the working fluid is suboptimal, the average heat transfer resistance remains relatively constant at a 3% lubricant concentration yet increases to approximately 5.27% at a 4–6% lubricant concentration, and further to 12.32% at a 9% lubricant concentration. Concurrently, as the lubricant concentration fluctuates between 3% and 9%, the oil circulation ratio (OCR) varies from 0.02% to 0.11%. Full article

Hindered phenol antioxidants and benzophenone UV absorbers are common polymer additives and often used in combination applications to enhance the anti-aging performance of polymer materials. This study primarily aims to incorporate hindered phenol and benzophenone structures into a single molecule to develop a multifunctional polymer additive with good anti-aging performance. Thus, a novel potential polymer anti-aging agent, namely 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid 3-(4-benzoyl-3-hydroxyphenoxy)propyl ester (3C), was synthesized using 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, 3-bromo-1-propanol, and 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone as raw materials by two-step procedure. The structure of compound 3C was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Its thermal stability and UV resistance were assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV absorption spectroscopy (UV). The compound 3C as an additive was incorporated into the preparation of polyolefin elastomer (POE) films. The anti-aging performance of POE films was evaluated by measuring parameters such as oxidation induction time, melt flow index, transmittance, and infrared spectra of the artificially aged POE films. The results indicate that the compound 3C exhibits a promising anti-aging performance in both thermo-oxidative aging and ultraviolet aging tests of POE films and is a potential polymer anti-aging agent. Full article

Background: The German–Austrian guideline on the treatment of carotid stenosis recommends specialist neurological assessment (NA) before and after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS). This study analyzes the determinants of NA and the association of NA with the perioperative rate of stroke or death. Materials and Methods: This study is a pre-planned sub-study of the ISAR-IQ project, which analyzes data from the nationwide German statutory quality assurance carotid database. Patients were classified as asymptomatic (group A), elective symptomatic (group B), and others (group C: emergency (C1), simultaneous operation (C2), and other indications (C3)). The primary outcome event (POE) of this study was any in-hospital stroke or death. Adjusted odds ratios for pre- and post-NA and the POE were calculated using multivariable regression analyses. Results: We analyzed 228,133 patients (54% asymptomatic, 68% male, mean age 72 years) undergoing CEA or CAS between 2012 and 2018. Age and sex were not associated with the likelihood of pre-NA or post-NA. The multivariable regression analysis showed an inverse association between pre-NA and POE (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.47; 95% CI 0.44–0.51, p < 0.001), and a direct association of post-NA and POE (aOR 4.39; 95% CI 4.04–4.78, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pre- and postinterventional specialist NA is strongly associated with the risk of any in-hospital stroke or death after CEA or CAS in Germany. A relevant confounding by indication or reversed causation cannot be ruled out. Nevertheless, to improve the quality assurance of treatment, the NA recommended in the guideline should be carried out consistently. Full article

In the context of intensive urban development, urban complexes have emerged as crucial public spaces that address the needs of urban populations. However, current research on urban complexes is predominantly qualitative and lacks a rigorous scientific and quantitative analysis. Therefore, this study employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to construct a standardized system encompassing five dimensions: spatial function, spatial perception, architectural style, surrounding environment, and energy-saving technology. The objective is to determine the weights of the indices that influence people’s use of urban complexes under the goal of “humanization”. Additionally, the study quantitatively analyzes key indices using spatial syntax and other analytical methods. Subsequently, we employ multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) analysis to examine three real-world cases in China, aiming to validate further the importance of the AHP + MCDM approach, which incorporates the TOPSIS method based on grey correlation. This methodology considers both the subjective factors of crowd evaluations of urban complex usage and the interrelationships among indicators, ensuring that the statistical calculations of the indicators remain objective and scientifically robust. The results indicate that (1) the degree of facility improvement has the greatest impact on the crowd’s use of urban complexes; (2) there is a discrepancy between the results of the TOPSIS method and the MCDM evaluation model, with the MCDM evaluation method aligning more closely with real-world scenarios; and (3) the Shanghai MOSCHINO received the highest evaluation score, while the Nanjing Central Emporium received the lowest. Finally, we discuss the experimental results and propose targeted strategies for optimizing the design of urban complexes to achieve the goal of “humanization”. Full article

This paper describes an empirical experiment of Internet of Things (IoT)’s integration in the Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) process. The experiment aimed to trial a novel IoT approach to enabling building user responsiveness to prevalent IEQ for individualised comfort. The purpose is to provide a system that mitigates a common issue of centralised air conditioning that limits occupants’ control over their immediate environment. To achieve this, an IoT platform was developed with smart IEQ monitoring sensors and wearable devices and trialled with PhD researchers in a shared university workspace. The findings provided empirical evidence of IoT’s enhanced benefits to improving user control over their individual comfort and enabling positive energy behaviour in buildings. Specifically, the IoT system provided real-time insight into CO₂ concentration data while enabling responsive occupant interaction with their immediate environment and at-the-moment mitigation actions. Outputs of the experiment showed that the perceptions of participants about the stuffiness of the air, productivity, and healthy environment were significantly better after taking the mitigation action compared to before. Also, we found a significant relationship between measured CO₂ concentration readings and perceived air stuffiness (p = 0.004) and productivity (p = 0.006) and a non-significant relationship between CO₂ concentration readings and perceived healthy environment (p = 0.058). Interestingly, we observed that irrespective of the similarities in recorded CO₂ concentration readings being within acceptable ranges (632–712 ppm), the perception of air stuffiness significantly differed (p = 0.018) before and after the mitigation actions. The effectiveness of the developed IoT platform was evidenced as most of the participants found the process very easy to participate in with little interruptions to their work as little time was consumed. The results are useful in modifying approaches to building occupant comfort and energy behaviour in commercial and residential settings. Full article

The utilization of polyamide 10,12 (PA10,12) composites in various industries has been limited constrained by their inherent low toughness, making it a challenge to achieve a balance between toughness and structural integrity through conventional elastomer addition strategies. Herein, we introduce a straightforward method for the concurrent toughening and reinforcement of PA10,12 composites. This is accomplished by blending polyolefin elastomer (POE) and 3-pentadecylphenol (PDP) with the PA10,12 matrix. The incorporation of 5 wt% PDP effectively blurred the PA10,12/POE interface due to PDP’s role as a compatibilizer. This phenomenon is attributed to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, as evidenced by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Further investigation, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elucidated the crystallization thermodynamics and kinetics of the resulting binary PA10,12/POE and ternary PA10,12/POE/PDP composites. Notably, the crystallization temperature (T_c) was observed to decrease from 163.1 °C in the binary composite to 161.5 °C upon the addition of PDP. Increasing the PDP content to 10% led to a further reduction in T_c to 159.5 °C due to PDP’s capacity to slow down crystallization. Consequently, the ternary composite of PA10,12/POE/PDP (92/3/5 wt%) demonstrated a synergistic improvement in mechanical properties, with an elongation at break of 579% and a notch impact strength of 61.54 kJ/m². This represents an approximately eightfold increase over the impact strength of unmodified PA10,12. Therefore, our work provides the potential of PDP as a compatibilizer to develop nylon composites with enhanced stiffness and toughness. Full article

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory cutaneous disease characterized by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and adipokine Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2). Recently, natural plant-based products have been studied as new antipsoriatic compounds. We investigate the ability of a leaf extract of the marine plant Posidonia oceanica (POE) to inhibit psoriatic dermatitis in C57BL/6 mice treated with Imiquimod (IMQ). One group of mice was topically treated with IMQ (IMQ mice) for 5 days, and a second group received POE orally before each topical IMQ treatment (IMQ-POE mice). Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score, thickness, and temperature of the skin area treated with IMQ were measured in both groups. Upon sacrifice, the organs were weighed, and skin biopsies and blood samples were collected. Plasma and lesional skin protein expression of IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α and plasma LCN-2 concentration were evaluated by ELISA. PASI score, thickness, and temperature of lesional skin were reduced in IMQ-POE mice, as were histological features of psoriatic dermatitis and expression of inflammatory cytokines and LCN-2 levels. This preliminary study aims to propose P. oceanica as a promising naturopathic anti-inflammatory treatment that could be introduced in Complementary Medicine for psoriasis. Full article

The pivotal role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the emotional modulation of hippocampal plasticity and memory consolidation is well-established. Specifically, multiple studies have demonstrated that the activation of the noradrenergic (NA) system within the BLA governs these modulatory effects. However, most current evidence has been obtained by direct infusion of synthetic NA or beta-adrenergic agonists. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of endogenous NA release in the BLA, induced by a natural aversive stimulus (coyote urine), on memory consolidation for a low-arousing, hippocampal-dependent task. Our experiments combined a weak object location task (OLT) version with subsequent mild predator odor exposure (POE). To investigate the role of endogenous NA in the BLA in memory modulation, a subset of the animals (Wistar rats) was treated with the non-selective beta-blocker propranolol at the end of the behavioral procedures. Hippocampal tissue was collected 90 min after drug infusion or after the OLT test, which was performed 24 h later. We used the obtained samples to estimate the levels of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc)—two molecular markers of experience-dependent changes in neuronal activity. The result suggests that POE has the potential to become a valuable behavioral paradigm for studying the interaction between BLA and the hippocampus in memory prioritization and selectivity. Full article

Community green spaces (CGSs) constitute a crucial element of urban land use, playing a pivotal role in maintaining the stability of urban ecosystems and enhancing the overall quality of the urban environment. Through the post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of green spaces, we can gain insights into residents’ actual needs and usage habits, providing scientific evidence for the planning, design, and management of green spaces. This ensures that CGSs better meet residents’ needs and improve their quality of life. The POE of CGSs relies heavily on high-precision data support. However, the current POE system for CGSs faces challenges, such as limited data collection methods, incomplete indicator systems, and excessive manual involvement. To address these limitations in data collection, this study proposes a comprehensive, dynamically monitored, objective, and sustainable POE system for CGSs. This system incorporates a multi-dimensional perception system that integrates the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors to collect data from various sources. It establishes an evaluation framework from the perspectives of policy guidance and usage needs for CGSs, utilizing neural network systems and artificial intelligence techniques to compute the evaluation results. Using the Jiayuan Sanli Community in Beijing as a case study, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed system. A comparison between the POE results obtained using the multi-dimensional perception technique and those obtained manually reveals an 87% improvement in the accuracy of the evaluation results based on the multi-dimensional perception system. This system bridges the gap between planning perspectives and user experiences, contributing significantly to future urban land planning and land policy formulation. Full article

In recent decades, there has been a dramatic rise in the rates of children being born after in utero exposure to drugs of abuse, particularly opioids. Opioids have been shown to have detrimental effects on neurons and glia in the central nervous system (CNS), but the impact of prenatal opioid exposure (POE) on still-developing synaptic circuitry is largely unknown. Astrocytes exert a powerful influence on synaptic development, secreting factors to either promote or inhibit synapse formation and neuronal maturation in the developing CNS. Here, we investigated the effects of the partial µ-opioid receptor agonist buprenorphine on astrocyte synaptogenic signaling and morphological development in cortical cell culture. Acute buprenorphine treatment had no effect on the excitatory synapse number in astrocyte-free neuron cultures. In conditions where neurons shared culture media with astrocytes, buprenorphine attenuated the synaptogenic capabilities of astrocyte-secreted factors. Neurons cultured from drug-naïve mice showed no change in synapses when treated with factors secreted by astrocytes from POE mice. However, this same treatment was synaptogenic when applied to neurons from POE mice, indicating a complex neuroadaptive response in the event of impaired astrocyte signaling. In addition to promoting morphological and connectivity changes in neurons, POE exerted a strong influence on astrocyte development, disrupting their structural maturation and promoting the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs), suggestive of a maladaptive stress response in the developing CNS. Full article