Maintaining thermal comfort within the human body is crucial for optimal health and overall well-being.By merely broadening the setpoint of indoor temperatures,we could significantly slash energy usage in building hea...Maintaining thermal comfort within the human body is crucial for optimal health and overall well-being.By merely broadening the setpoint of indoor temperatures,we could significantly slash energy usage in building heating,ventilation,and air-conditioning systems.In recent years,there has been a surge in advancements in personal thermal management(PTM),aiming to regulate heat and moisture transfer within our immediate surroundings,clothing,and skin.The advent of PTM is driven by the rapid development in nano/micro-materials and energy science and engineering.An emerging research area in PTM is personal radiative thermal management(PRTM),which demonstrates immense potential with its high radiative heat transfer efficiency and ease of regulation.However,it is less taken into account in traditional textiles,and there currently lies a gap in our knowledge and understanding of PRTM.In this review,we aim to present a thorough analysis of advanced textile materials and technologies for PRTM.Specifically,we will introduce and discuss the underlying radiation heat transfer mechanisms,fabrication methods of textiles,and various indoor/outdoor applications in light of their different regulation functionalities,including radiative cooling,radiative heating,and dual-mode thermoregulation.Furthermore,we will shine a light on the current hurdles,propose potential strategies,and delve into future technology trends for PRTM with an emphasis on functionalities and applications.展开更多
Active suspension systems(ASSs)have been proposed and developed for a few decades,and have now once again become a thriving topic in both academia and industry,due to the high demand for driving comfort and safety and...Active suspension systems(ASSs)have been proposed and developed for a few decades,and have now once again become a thriving topic in both academia and industry,due to the high demand for driving comfort and safety and the compatibility of ASSs with vehicle electrification and autonomy.Existing review papers on ASSs mainly cover dynamics modeling and robust control;however,the gap between academic research outcomes and industrial application requirements has not yet been bridged,hindering most ASS research knowledge from being transferred to vehicle companies.This paper comprehensively reviews advances in ASSs for road vehicles,with a focus on hardware structures and control strategies.In particular,state-of-the-art ASSs that have been recently adopted in production cars are discussed in detail,including the representative solutions of Mercedes active body control(ABC)and Audi predictive active suspension;novel concepts that could become alternative candidates are also introduced,including series active variable geometry suspension,and the active wheel-alignment system.ASSs with compact structure,small mass increment,low power consumption,high-frequency response,acceptable economic costs,and high reliability are more likely to be adopted by car manufacturers.In terms of control strategies,the development of future ASSs aims not only to stabilize the chassis attitude and attenuate the chassis vibration,but also to enable ASSs to cooperate with other modules(e.g.,steering and braking)and sensors(e.g.,cameras)within a car,and even with high-level decision-making(e.g.,reference driving speed)in the overall transportation system-strategies that will be compatible with the rapidly developing electric and autonomous vehicles.展开更多
The landscape environment of urban blocks plays a significant role in improving the comfort of urban thermal environment and promoting green and high-quality development.The 342 papers related to the research on the i...The landscape environment of urban blocks plays a significant role in improving the comfort of urban thermal environment and promoting green and high-quality development.The 342 papers related to the research on the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort in China,collected by CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure)from 2002 to 2022,are used as the research object.Through bibliometric statistical analysis,LLR algorithm,and cluster analysis,the current research status of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort in China is analyzed and processed,and its external characteristics are identified.Using the information visualization software CiteSpace,the research topics in the field of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort are presented in the form of knowledge graphs.Through co-occurrence analysis of keywords and trend of word frequency changes,the development trends of research hotspots and cutting-edge fields of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort are determined,hoping to provide reference for future research in this field.展开更多
BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years.Therefore,the population that is≥50 years in age requires l...BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years.Therefore,the population that is≥50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies.Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies.The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)is effective but poorly tolerated.AIM To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients≥50 years in age.METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to group 1(2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a lowresidue diet)or group 2(4-L PEG).Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale(BBPS)score of≥6,with a score of≥2 for each segment.Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%.Additionally,the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire.RESULTS The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2,as demonstrated by intention-to-treat(91.2%vs 91.0%,P=0.953)and per-protocol(91.8%vs 91.0%,P=0.802)analyses.Furthermore,in patients≥75 years in age,the proportion of BBPS scores of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2(90.9%vs 97.0%,P=0.716).Group 1 had higher comfort scores(8.85±1.162 vs 7.59±1.735,P<0.001),longer sleep duration(6.86±1.204 h vs 5.80±1.730 h,P<0.001),and fewer awakenings(1.42±1.183 vs 2.04±1.835,P=0.026)than group 2.CONCLUSION For hospitalized patients≥50 years in age,the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.展开更多
There is a huge amount of energy savings potential in public building sector that has yet to be realized.By prioritizing energy efficiency in its own buildings and thus promoting the development of required knowledge ...There is a huge amount of energy savings potential in public building sector that has yet to be realized.By prioritizing energy efficiency in its own buildings and thus promoting the development of required knowledge in terms of new technology and construction methods,the public sector will lead the way in efforts to increase the rate of renovations.The low-cost insulation strategies and a comparison of cost with existing insulation materials has been described in this study.We have repeatedly faced energy crises and will continue to do so in the future if appropriate action is not taken in a timely manner.Properly implementing energy-saving initiatives in for achieving thermal comfort in buildings as well as reducing the energy costs would undoubtedly inspire the residential sector,resulting in significant reductions in energy usage.Simulations were carried out to study insulation layers on various building components like exterior walls,floor and roofs,generating different scenarios for a building as a base model,which were then compared and analysed to verify the literature used to develop the cases.The proposed recommendations,which have been validated,are certain to increase building energy efficiency,achieve thermal comfort in low cost than what is currently being used.展开更多
With the continuous advancement of science and technology,our lifestyles are undergoing significant changes,with wearable technology emerging as a captivating trend.In this digital era,there is a growing demand for so...With the continuous advancement of science and technology,our lifestyles are undergoing significant changes,with wearable technology emerging as a captivating trend.In this digital era,there is a growing demand for solutions that cater to people’s needs for health and comfort.The wearable inflatable massage chair represents one such innovation designed to meet these evolving needs.This project is focused on creating a“wearable and portable massage chair”that is both convenient and lightweight.It serves as a massage solution particularly beneficial for the elderly and sedentary individuals.This innovative chair can be used by the elderly during outings or errands,as well as by office workers on business trips,while driving,or commuting via subway.Users can simply lean against the seat or a wall,enjoying moments of relaxation amid the busy and fast-paced modern era.展开更多
The present study focuses on the formulation of new composite consisting of plaster and raffia vinifera particle (RVP) with the purpose to reducing energy consumption. The aim of this study is to test this new compoun...The present study focuses on the formulation of new composite consisting of plaster and raffia vinifera particle (RVP) with the purpose to reducing energy consumption. The aim of this study is to test this new compound as an insulating eco-material in building in a tropical climate. The composites samples were developed by mixing plaster with raffia vinifera particles (RVP) using three different sizes (1.6 mm, 2.5 mm and 4 mm). The effects of four different RVP incorporations rates (i.e., 0wt%, 5wt%;10wt%;15wt%) on physical, thermal, mechanicals properties of the composites were investigated. In addition, the use of the raffia vinifera particles and plaster based composite material as building envelopes thermal insulation material is studied by the habitable cell thermal behavior instrumentation. The results indicate that the incorporation of raffia vinifera particle leads to improve the new composite physical, mechanical and thermal properties. And the parametric analysis reveals that the sampling rate and the size of raffia vinifera particles are the most decisive factor to impact these properties, and to decreases in the thermal conductivity which leads to an improvement to the thermal resistance and energy savings. The best improvement of plaster composite was obtained at the raffia vinifera particles size between 2.5 and 4.0 mm loading of 5wt% (C95P5R) with a good ratio of thermo-physical-mechanical properties. Additionally, the habitable cell experimental thermal behavior, with the new raffia vinifera particles and plaster-based composite as thermal insulating material for building walls, gives an average damping of 4°C and 5.8°C in the insulated house interior environment respectively for cold and hot cases compared to the outside environment and the uninsulated house interior environment. The current study highlights that this mixture gives the new composite thermal insulation properties applicable in the eco-construction of habitats in tropical environments.展开更多
Compressed earth blocks (CEB) are an alternative to cement blocks in the construction of wall masonry. However, the optimal architectural construction methods for adequate thermal comfort for occupants in hot and arid...Compressed earth blocks (CEB) are an alternative to cement blocks in the construction of wall masonry. However, the optimal architectural construction methods for adequate thermal comfort for occupants in hot and arid environments are not mastered. This article evaluates the influence of architectural and constructive modes of buildings made of CEB walls and concrete block walls, to optimize and compare their thermal comfort in the hot and dry tropical climate of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Two identical pilot buildings whose envelopes are made of CEB and concrete blocks were monitored for this study. The thermal models of the pilot buildings were implemented in the SketchUp software using an extension of EnergyPlus. The models were empirically validated after calibration against measured thermal data from the buildings. The models were used to do a parametric analysis for optimization of the thermal performances by simulating plaster coatings on the exterior of walls, airtight openings and natural ventilation depending on external weather conditions. The results show that the CEB building displays 7016 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 80.1% of the time, and the concrete building displays 6948 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 79.3% of the time. The optimization by modifications reduced the discomfort to 2918 and 3125 hours respectively;i.e. equivalent to only 33.3% for the CEB building and 35.7% for the concrete building. More study should evaluate thermal optimizations in buildings in real time of usage such as residential buildings commonly used by the local middle class. The use of CEB as a construction material and passive means of improving thermal comfort is a suitable ecological and economical option to replace cementitious material.展开更多
Here's a surprising fact for you:Japanese people once made up the largest demographic of expats living in Shanghai;a peak of 57,000 in 2012 which has since declined dramatically.Luckily for us,there remains,a whol...Here's a surprising fact for you:Japanese people once made up the largest demographic of expats living in Shanghai;a peak of 57,000 in 2012 which has since declined dramatically.Luckily for us,there remains,a whole subculture of restaurants,not to mention delghtfully itelligent toilets,that still caters to Japanese expats out in the Gubei and Hongiao hinterlands-you need only know where to look.Here's a few we can't live without,but be warned-you II need to step out of your former French Concession comfort zone to find them.展开更多
The Place We first started hearing murmurs of a cozy new joint with small plates bearing the flavors of Taiwan about a year ago.Alas,before we got the chance to visit,they closed.It seems their popularity overran the ...The Place We first started hearing murmurs of a cozy new joint with small plates bearing the flavors of Taiwan about a year ago.Alas,before we got the chance to visit,they closed.It seems their popularity overran the original Bistro Bonbon's size.Now relocated within Julu 758 in a slightly larger space,the restaurant is back serving up the greatest hits of the island's cuisine.展开更多
The hub-driven virtual rail train is a novel urban transportation system that amalgamates the benefits of modern trams and buses.However,this system is plagued by issues such as decreased ride comfort and severe defor...The hub-driven virtual rail train is a novel urban transportation system that amalgamates the benefits of modern trams and buses.However,this system is plagued by issues such as decreased ride comfort and severe deformation of urban roads due to the increase in sprung mass and long-term rolling at the same position.To address these concerns and improve the human-vehicle-road friendliness of the virtual rail train,we propose an Improved Sky-Ground Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper control(Improved SH-GH-ADD control)strategy for the semi-active suspension system.This control monitors the vibration acceleration signal of the unsprung mass in real-time and selects the mixed Sky-Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper(SH-ADD)control or the mixed Ground-Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper(GH-ADD)control based on the positive and negative values of the vibration acceleration of the unsprung mass.The Improved SH-GH-ADD control combines the advantages of SH-ADD control and GH-ADD control to achieve control of the sprung mass and unsprung mass in the full fre-quency band.Finally,through simulation and comparative analysis with traditional SH-ADD,GH-ADD,and mixed SH-GH control,we demonstrate the exceptional performance of the proposed algorithm.展开更多
The optimization of multi-zone residential heating,ventilation,and air conditioning(HVAC)control is not an easy task due to its complex dynamic thermal model and the uncertainty of occupant-driven cooling loads.Deep r...The optimization of multi-zone residential heating,ventilation,and air conditioning(HVAC)control is not an easy task due to its complex dynamic thermal model and the uncertainty of occupant-driven cooling loads.Deep reinforcement learning(DRL)methods have recently been proposed to address the HVAC control problem.However,the application of single-agent DRL formulti-zone residential HVAC controlmay lead to non-convergence or slow convergence.In this paper,we propose MAQMC(Multi-Agent deep Q-network for multi-zone residential HVAC Control)to address this challenge with the goal of minimizing energy consumption while maintaining occupants’thermal comfort.MAQMC is divided into MAQMC2(MAQMC with two agents:one agent controls the temperature of each zone,and the other agent controls the humidity of each zone)and MAQMC3(MAQMC with three agents:three agents control the temperature and humidity of three zones,respectively).The experimental results showthatMAQMC3 can reduce energy consumption by 6.27%andMAQMC2 by 3.73%compared with the fixed point;compared with the rule-based,MAQMC3 andMAQMC2 respectively can reduce 61.89%and 59.07%comfort violation.In addition,experiments with different regional weather data demonstrate that the well-trained MAQMC RL agents have the robustness and adaptability to unknown environments.展开更多
In order to better meet the objective requirements of the use safety of the high-rise glulam building floor structure and the living comfort of the residents,the transient excitation,environmental excitation and frequ...In order to better meet the objective requirements of the use safety of the high-rise glulam building floor structure and the living comfort of the residents,the transient excitation,environmental excitation and frequency spectrum identification methods were used to carry out experimental modal test in-site on the three rooms numbered A,B and C of the same glulam structural building.The three rooms have different functions,different floor sizes and different floor supporting structures.The research results have shown that the first-order bending frequency of the floor structure of Room A is 27.50 Hz,the transverse second-order bending frequency is 34.75 Hz,the longitudinal second-order bending frequency is 53.25 Hz,and the first-order torsional frequency is 56.25 Hz.The reinforced wooden beam at the bottom of the floor of Room A increases the transverse stiffness of the floor structure,but does not offset the anisotropy caused by the longitudinally installed glulam floors.The fundamental frequency values of the floor structures of the three rooms numbered A,B,and C are 27.5,13 and 18 Hz,respectively.This has a relatively high innovation and reference significance for integrating the theory of structural dynamic characteristics with the dynamic testing technology,improving the design level of high-rise glulam structure buildings,and improving the living comfort of residents.展开更多
A study is conducted to optimize the geometry of a solar chimney equipped with a horizontal absorber in order to improve its performances in relation to the provision of ventilation.The problem is tackled through nume...A study is conducted to optimize the geometry of a solar chimney equipped with a horizontal absorber in order to improve its performances in relation to the provision of ventilation.The problem is tackled through numerical solution of the governing equations for mass,momentum and energy in their complete three-dimensional and unsteady formulation.The numerical framework also includes a turbulence model(k-ε)and a radiant heat transfer(DO)model.Moreover,a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm(MOGA)is employed to derive the optimal configuration of the considered solar chimney.It is shown that an air velocity of 0.2 m/s can be obtained.This value is the minimum allowed air velocity according to the ASHRAE’s(American Society of Heating,Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)adaptive comfort approach.展开更多
The work deals with the thermal behavior of a conventional partition wall incorporating a phase change material(PCM).The wall separates two environments with different thermal properties.The first one is conditioned,w...The work deals with the thermal behavior of a conventional partition wall incorporating a phase change material(PCM).The wall separates two environments with different thermal properties.The first one is conditioned,while the adjacent space is characterized by a temperature that changes sinusoidally in time.The effect of the PCM is assessed through a comparative analysis of the cases with and without PCM.The performances are evaluated in terms of dimensionless energy stored within the wall,comfort temperature and variations of these quantities as a function of the amount of PCM and its emplacement.展开更多
Phase change materials(PCMs)have the ability to store thermal energy and make it available at a later stage to keep indoor temperature within a specific range and achieve better thermal comfort in buildings.This study...Phase change materials(PCMs)have the ability to store thermal energy and make it available at a later stage to keep indoor temperature within a specific range and achieve better thermal comfort in buildings.This study focuses on the performances of materials obtained by combining a standard building material with a PCM.In particular,two different materials mixed with the same PCM are considered under the same climatic conditions.The related thermal behavior is assessed in the framework of numerical simulations conducted with ANSYS Fluent assuming parameters representative of a city located in Europe.The results show that the addition of PCM to concrete and bricks can improve the thermal inertia of the resulting material.展开更多
A study is presented on the feasibility of an approach based on the combination of Phase Change Materials(PCM)with metal walls in container-type houses.This line of research finds its motivations in recent trends in t...A study is presented on the feasibility of an approach based on the combination of Phase Change Materials(PCM)with metal walls in container-type houses.This line of research finds its motivations in recent trends in the energy and building sectors about energy consumption reduction.Another important objective concerns possible improvements in the comfort provided by such houses during the summer period.The results obtained through numerical solution of the governing equations accounting for heat transfer and latent heat effects associated with the PCM show that the indoor temperature can be reduced with a varying degree of success depending on the considered conditions.展开更多
Objective The popularization of gastroenteroscopy and the introduction of comfortable medical care have further promoted the growth of people's demand,especially the demand for painless endoscopy.This cross-sectio...Objective The popularization of gastroenteroscopy and the introduction of comfortable medical care have further promoted the growth of people's demand,especially the demand for painless endoscopy.This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the current situation and change in county people's demand for endoscopy to promote the development of endoscopy centers in county hospitals in southeast China.Methods From October to December 2021,patients and their family members who came to the Gastroenterology Department in Suichang County People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province were randomly selected to complete the questionnaire.A total of 838 valid questionnaires were collected.Additionally,the original software data of the Endoscopy Center were sampled and retrieved(from October to December every year from 2018 to 2021)for statistical analysis of real-world data.Those who would choose painless endoscopy the next time in the valid questionnaires were included in the painless endoscopy group,while those who would choose ordinary endoscopy the next time were included in the ordinary endoscopy group.Results The stepwise forward binary logistic regression model analysis showed that,patients with“secondhand smoke exposure”were more willing to choose painless endoscopy(OR=1.459,95%CI:1.050-2.028,p=0.025).However,patients with an education level of“primary and below”and“junior high school”,and patients who are suffering from“currently experiencing abdominal distension”,were more willing to choose ordinary endoscopy(OR=0.270,95%CI:0.149-0.488,p<0.001;OR=0.528,95%CI:0.330-0.845,p=0.008;OR=0.536,95%CI:0.334-0.861,p=0.010).Patients with previous experience in painless endoscopy tended to choose painless endoscopy the next time,while patients with previous experience in ordinary endoscopy tended to choose ordinary endoscopy the next time(χ^(2)=140.97,p<0.001).From 2018 to 2021,the proportion of painless endoscopy has increased yearly(p<0.001).Most patients indicated that they would“regularly review gastroenteroscopy”(477/838,56.9%).Conclusions With Suichang County of Zhejiang Province as the representative,the demand for painless endoscopy for people's gastrointestinal cancer detection in southeast China has been increasing yearly.The development of endoscopy centers in county-level hospitals can basically meet the demand growth.Meanwhile,advanced concepts such as comfortable medical care and regular follow-up are gradually popularized at the grassroots level in southeast China.展开更多
基金support from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China(PolyU152052/21E)Green Tech Fund of Hong Kong(Project No.:GTF202220106)+1 种基金Innovation and Technology Fund of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,China(ITP/018/21TP)PolyU Endowed Young Scholars Scheme(Project No.:84CC).
文摘Maintaining thermal comfort within the human body is crucial for optimal health and overall well-being.By merely broadening the setpoint of indoor temperatures,we could significantly slash energy usage in building heating,ventilation,and air-conditioning systems.In recent years,there has been a surge in advancements in personal thermal management(PTM),aiming to regulate heat and moisture transfer within our immediate surroundings,clothing,and skin.The advent of PTM is driven by the rapid development in nano/micro-materials and energy science and engineering.An emerging research area in PTM is personal radiative thermal management(PRTM),which demonstrates immense potential with its high radiative heat transfer efficiency and ease of regulation.However,it is less taken into account in traditional textiles,and there currently lies a gap in our knowledge and understanding of PRTM.In this review,we aim to present a thorough analysis of advanced textile materials and technologies for PRTM.Specifically,we will introduce and discuss the underlying radiation heat transfer mechanisms,fabrication methods of textiles,and various indoor/outdoor applications in light of their different regulation functionalities,including radiative cooling,radiative heating,and dual-mode thermoregulation.Furthermore,we will shine a light on the current hurdles,propose potential strategies,and delve into future technology trends for PRTM with an emphasis on functionalities and applications.
基金supported by the Imperial College Research Fellowship(ICRF 2022-2026)。
文摘Active suspension systems(ASSs)have been proposed and developed for a few decades,and have now once again become a thriving topic in both academia and industry,due to the high demand for driving comfort and safety and the compatibility of ASSs with vehicle electrification and autonomy.Existing review papers on ASSs mainly cover dynamics modeling and robust control;however,the gap between academic research outcomes and industrial application requirements has not yet been bridged,hindering most ASS research knowledge from being transferred to vehicle companies.This paper comprehensively reviews advances in ASSs for road vehicles,with a focus on hardware structures and control strategies.In particular,state-of-the-art ASSs that have been recently adopted in production cars are discussed in detail,including the representative solutions of Mercedes active body control(ABC)and Audi predictive active suspension;novel concepts that could become alternative candidates are also introduced,including series active variable geometry suspension,and the active wheel-alignment system.ASSs with compact structure,small mass increment,low power consumption,high-frequency response,acceptable economic costs,and high reliability are more likely to be adopted by car manufacturers.In terms of control strategies,the development of future ASSs aims not only to stabilize the chassis attitude and attenuate the chassis vibration,but also to enable ASSs to cooperate with other modules(e.g.,steering and braking)and sensors(e.g.,cameras)within a car,and even with high-level decision-making(e.g.,reference driving speed)in the overall transportation system-strategies that will be compatible with the rapidly developing electric and autonomous vehicles.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51708004)Beijing Youth Teaching Master Team Construction Project(108051360023XN261)Yuyou Talent Training Program of North China University of Technology(215051360020XN160/009).
文摘The landscape environment of urban blocks plays a significant role in improving the comfort of urban thermal environment and promoting green and high-quality development.The 342 papers related to the research on the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort in China,collected by CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure)from 2002 to 2022,are used as the research object.Through bibliometric statistical analysis,LLR algorithm,and cluster analysis,the current research status of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort in China is analyzed and processed,and its external characteristics are identified.Using the information visualization software CiteSpace,the research topics in the field of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort are presented in the form of knowledge graphs.Through co-occurrence analysis of keywords and trend of word frequency changes,the development trends of research hotspots and cutting-edge fields of the impact of urban block landscape environment on thermal comfort are determined,hoping to provide reference for future research in this field.
基金The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University(Approval No.TRECKY2021-227).
文摘BACKGROUND The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer progressively increase with age and become particularly prominent after the age of 50 years.Therefore,the population that is≥50 years in age requires long-term and regular colonoscopies.Uncomfortable bowel preparation is the main reason preventing patients from undergoing regular colonoscopies.The standard bowel preparation regimen of 4-L polyethylene glycol(PEG)is effective but poorly tolerated.AIM To investigate an effective and comfortable bowel preparation regimen for hospitalized patients≥50 years in age.METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to group 1(2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a lowresidue diet)or group 2(4-L PEG).Adequate bowel preparation was defined as a Boston bowel preparation scale(BBPS)score of≥6,with a score of≥2 for each segment.Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 10%.Additionally,the degree of comfort was assessed based on the comfort questionnaire.RESULTS The proportion of patients with a BBPS score of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2,as demonstrated by intention-to-treat(91.2%vs 91.0%,P=0.953)and per-protocol(91.8%vs 91.0%,P=0.802)analyses.Furthermore,in patients≥75 years in age,the proportion of BBPS scores of≥6 in group 1 was not significantly different from that in group 2(90.9%vs 97.0%,P=0.716).Group 1 had higher comfort scores(8.85±1.162 vs 7.59±1.735,P<0.001),longer sleep duration(6.86±1.204 h vs 5.80±1.730 h,P<0.001),and fewer awakenings(1.42±1.183 vs 2.04±1.835,P=0.026)than group 2.CONCLUSION For hospitalized patients≥50 years in age,the bowel preparation regimen comprising 2-L PEG+30-mL lactulose+a low-residue diet produced a cleanse that was as effective as the 4-L PEG regimen and even provided better comfort.
文摘There is a huge amount of energy savings potential in public building sector that has yet to be realized.By prioritizing energy efficiency in its own buildings and thus promoting the development of required knowledge in terms of new technology and construction methods,the public sector will lead the way in efforts to increase the rate of renovations.The low-cost insulation strategies and a comparison of cost with existing insulation materials has been described in this study.We have repeatedly faced energy crises and will continue to do so in the future if appropriate action is not taken in a timely manner.Properly implementing energy-saving initiatives in for achieving thermal comfort in buildings as well as reducing the energy costs would undoubtedly inspire the residential sector,resulting in significant reductions in energy usage.Simulations were carried out to study insulation layers on various building components like exterior walls,floor and roofs,generating different scenarios for a building as a base model,which were then compared and analysed to verify the literature used to develop the cases.The proposed recommendations,which have been validated,are certain to increase building energy efficiency,achieve thermal comfort in low cost than what is currently being used.
文摘With the continuous advancement of science and technology,our lifestyles are undergoing significant changes,with wearable technology emerging as a captivating trend.In this digital era,there is a growing demand for solutions that cater to people’s needs for health and comfort.The wearable inflatable massage chair represents one such innovation designed to meet these evolving needs.This project is focused on creating a“wearable and portable massage chair”that is both convenient and lightweight.It serves as a massage solution particularly beneficial for the elderly and sedentary individuals.This innovative chair can be used by the elderly during outings or errands,as well as by office workers on business trips,while driving,or commuting via subway.Users can simply lean against the seat or a wall,enjoying moments of relaxation amid the busy and fast-paced modern era.
文摘The present study focuses on the formulation of new composite consisting of plaster and raffia vinifera particle (RVP) with the purpose to reducing energy consumption. The aim of this study is to test this new compound as an insulating eco-material in building in a tropical climate. The composites samples were developed by mixing plaster with raffia vinifera particles (RVP) using three different sizes (1.6 mm, 2.5 mm and 4 mm). The effects of four different RVP incorporations rates (i.e., 0wt%, 5wt%;10wt%;15wt%) on physical, thermal, mechanicals properties of the composites were investigated. In addition, the use of the raffia vinifera particles and plaster based composite material as building envelopes thermal insulation material is studied by the habitable cell thermal behavior instrumentation. The results indicate that the incorporation of raffia vinifera particle leads to improve the new composite physical, mechanical and thermal properties. And the parametric analysis reveals that the sampling rate and the size of raffia vinifera particles are the most decisive factor to impact these properties, and to decreases in the thermal conductivity which leads to an improvement to the thermal resistance and energy savings. The best improvement of plaster composite was obtained at the raffia vinifera particles size between 2.5 and 4.0 mm loading of 5wt% (C95P5R) with a good ratio of thermo-physical-mechanical properties. Additionally, the habitable cell experimental thermal behavior, with the new raffia vinifera particles and plaster-based composite as thermal insulating material for building walls, gives an average damping of 4°C and 5.8°C in the insulated house interior environment respectively for cold and hot cases compared to the outside environment and the uninsulated house interior environment. The current study highlights that this mixture gives the new composite thermal insulation properties applicable in the eco-construction of habitats in tropical environments.
文摘Compressed earth blocks (CEB) are an alternative to cement blocks in the construction of wall masonry. However, the optimal architectural construction methods for adequate thermal comfort for occupants in hot and arid environments are not mastered. This article evaluates the influence of architectural and constructive modes of buildings made of CEB walls and concrete block walls, to optimize and compare their thermal comfort in the hot and dry tropical climate of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Two identical pilot buildings whose envelopes are made of CEB and concrete blocks were monitored for this study. The thermal models of the pilot buildings were implemented in the SketchUp software using an extension of EnergyPlus. The models were empirically validated after calibration against measured thermal data from the buildings. The models were used to do a parametric analysis for optimization of the thermal performances by simulating plaster coatings on the exterior of walls, airtight openings and natural ventilation depending on external weather conditions. The results show that the CEB building displays 7016 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 80.1% of the time, and the concrete building displays 6948 hours of discomfort, equivalent to 79.3% of the time. The optimization by modifications reduced the discomfort to 2918 and 3125 hours respectively;i.e. equivalent to only 33.3% for the CEB building and 35.7% for the concrete building. More study should evaluate thermal optimizations in buildings in real time of usage such as residential buildings commonly used by the local middle class. The use of CEB as a construction material and passive means of improving thermal comfort is a suitable ecological and economical option to replace cementitious material.
文摘Here's a surprising fact for you:Japanese people once made up the largest demographic of expats living in Shanghai;a peak of 57,000 in 2012 which has since declined dramatically.Luckily for us,there remains,a whole subculture of restaurants,not to mention delghtfully itelligent toilets,that still caters to Japanese expats out in the Gubei and Hongiao hinterlands-you need only know where to look.Here's a few we can't live without,but be warned-you II need to step out of your former French Concession comfort zone to find them.
文摘The Place We first started hearing murmurs of a cozy new joint with small plates bearing the flavors of Taiwan about a year ago.Alas,before we got the chance to visit,they closed.It seems their popularity overran the original Bistro Bonbon's size.Now relocated within Julu 758 in a slightly larger space,the restaurant is back serving up the greatest hits of the island's cuisine.
基金This research was funded by Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(2023NSFSC0395)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2022ZH CG0061)the SWJTU Science and Technology Innovation Project(2682022CX008).
文摘The hub-driven virtual rail train is a novel urban transportation system that amalgamates the benefits of modern trams and buses.However,this system is plagued by issues such as decreased ride comfort and severe deformation of urban roads due to the increase in sprung mass and long-term rolling at the same position.To address these concerns and improve the human-vehicle-road friendliness of the virtual rail train,we propose an Improved Sky-Ground Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper control(Improved SH-GH-ADD control)strategy for the semi-active suspension system.This control monitors the vibration acceleration signal of the unsprung mass in real-time and selects the mixed Sky-Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper(SH-ADD)control or the mixed Ground-Hook and Acceleration-Driven Damper(GH-ADD)control based on the positive and negative values of the vibration acceleration of the unsprung mass.The Improved SH-GH-ADD control combines the advantages of SH-ADD control and GH-ADD control to achieve control of the sprung mass and unsprung mass in the full fre-quency band.Finally,through simulation and comparative analysis with traditional SH-ADD,GH-ADD,and mixed SH-GH control,we demonstrate the exceptional performance of the proposed algorithm.
基金supported by Primary Research and Development Plan of China(No.2020YFC2006602)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.62072324,61876217,61876121,61772357)+2 种基金University Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.21KJA520005)Primary Research and Development Plan of Jiangsu Province(No.BE2020026)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20190942).
文摘The optimization of multi-zone residential heating,ventilation,and air conditioning(HVAC)control is not an easy task due to its complex dynamic thermal model and the uncertainty of occupant-driven cooling loads.Deep reinforcement learning(DRL)methods have recently been proposed to address the HVAC control problem.However,the application of single-agent DRL formulti-zone residential HVAC controlmay lead to non-convergence or slow convergence.In this paper,we propose MAQMC(Multi-Agent deep Q-network for multi-zone residential HVAC Control)to address this challenge with the goal of minimizing energy consumption while maintaining occupants’thermal comfort.MAQMC is divided into MAQMC2(MAQMC with two agents:one agent controls the temperature of each zone,and the other agent controls the humidity of each zone)and MAQMC3(MAQMC with three agents:three agents control the temperature and humidity of three zones,respectively).The experimental results showthatMAQMC3 can reduce energy consumption by 6.27%andMAQMC2 by 3.73%compared with the fixed point;compared with the rule-based,MAQMC3 andMAQMC2 respectively can reduce 61.89%and 59.07%comfort violation.In addition,experiments with different regional weather data demonstrate that the well-trained MAQMC RL agents have the robustness and adaptability to unknown environments.
文摘In order to better meet the objective requirements of the use safety of the high-rise glulam building floor structure and the living comfort of the residents,the transient excitation,environmental excitation and frequency spectrum identification methods were used to carry out experimental modal test in-site on the three rooms numbered A,B and C of the same glulam structural building.The three rooms have different functions,different floor sizes and different floor supporting structures.The research results have shown that the first-order bending frequency of the floor structure of Room A is 27.50 Hz,the transverse second-order bending frequency is 34.75 Hz,the longitudinal second-order bending frequency is 53.25 Hz,and the first-order torsional frequency is 56.25 Hz.The reinforced wooden beam at the bottom of the floor of Room A increases the transverse stiffness of the floor structure,but does not offset the anisotropy caused by the longitudinally installed glulam floors.The fundamental frequency values of the floor structures of the three rooms numbered A,B,and C are 27.5,13 and 18 Hz,respectively.This has a relatively high innovation and reference significance for integrating the theory of structural dynamic characteristics with the dynamic testing technology,improving the design level of high-rise glulam structure buildings,and improving the living comfort of residents.
文摘A study is conducted to optimize the geometry of a solar chimney equipped with a horizontal absorber in order to improve its performances in relation to the provision of ventilation.The problem is tackled through numerical solution of the governing equations for mass,momentum and energy in their complete three-dimensional and unsteady formulation.The numerical framework also includes a turbulence model(k-ε)and a radiant heat transfer(DO)model.Moreover,a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm(MOGA)is employed to derive the optimal configuration of the considered solar chimney.It is shown that an air velocity of 0.2 m/s can be obtained.This value is the minimum allowed air velocity according to the ASHRAE’s(American Society of Heating,Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)adaptive comfort approach.
文摘The work deals with the thermal behavior of a conventional partition wall incorporating a phase change material(PCM).The wall separates two environments with different thermal properties.The first one is conditioned,while the adjacent space is characterized by a temperature that changes sinusoidally in time.The effect of the PCM is assessed through a comparative analysis of the cases with and without PCM.The performances are evaluated in terms of dimensionless energy stored within the wall,comfort temperature and variations of these quantities as a function of the amount of PCM and its emplacement.
文摘Phase change materials(PCMs)have the ability to store thermal energy and make it available at a later stage to keep indoor temperature within a specific range and achieve better thermal comfort in buildings.This study focuses on the performances of materials obtained by combining a standard building material with a PCM.In particular,two different materials mixed with the same PCM are considered under the same climatic conditions.The related thermal behavior is assessed in the framework of numerical simulations conducted with ANSYS Fluent assuming parameters representative of a city located in Europe.The results show that the addition of PCM to concrete and bricks can improve the thermal inertia of the resulting material.
文摘A study is presented on the feasibility of an approach based on the combination of Phase Change Materials(PCM)with metal walls in container-type houses.This line of research finds its motivations in recent trends in the energy and building sectors about energy consumption reduction.Another important objective concerns possible improvements in the comfort provided by such houses during the summer period.The results obtained through numerical solution of the governing equations accounting for heat transfer and latent heat effects associated with the PCM show that the indoor temperature can be reduced with a varying degree of success depending on the considered conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82073160).
文摘Objective The popularization of gastroenteroscopy and the introduction of comfortable medical care have further promoted the growth of people's demand,especially the demand for painless endoscopy.This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the current situation and change in county people's demand for endoscopy to promote the development of endoscopy centers in county hospitals in southeast China.Methods From October to December 2021,patients and their family members who came to the Gastroenterology Department in Suichang County People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province were randomly selected to complete the questionnaire.A total of 838 valid questionnaires were collected.Additionally,the original software data of the Endoscopy Center were sampled and retrieved(from October to December every year from 2018 to 2021)for statistical analysis of real-world data.Those who would choose painless endoscopy the next time in the valid questionnaires were included in the painless endoscopy group,while those who would choose ordinary endoscopy the next time were included in the ordinary endoscopy group.Results The stepwise forward binary logistic regression model analysis showed that,patients with“secondhand smoke exposure”were more willing to choose painless endoscopy(OR=1.459,95%CI:1.050-2.028,p=0.025).However,patients with an education level of“primary and below”and“junior high school”,and patients who are suffering from“currently experiencing abdominal distension”,were more willing to choose ordinary endoscopy(OR=0.270,95%CI:0.149-0.488,p<0.001;OR=0.528,95%CI:0.330-0.845,p=0.008;OR=0.536,95%CI:0.334-0.861,p=0.010).Patients with previous experience in painless endoscopy tended to choose painless endoscopy the next time,while patients with previous experience in ordinary endoscopy tended to choose ordinary endoscopy the next time(χ^(2)=140.97,p<0.001).From 2018 to 2021,the proportion of painless endoscopy has increased yearly(p<0.001).Most patients indicated that they would“regularly review gastroenteroscopy”(477/838,56.9%).Conclusions With Suichang County of Zhejiang Province as the representative,the demand for painless endoscopy for people's gastrointestinal cancer detection in southeast China has been increasing yearly.The development of endoscopy centers in county-level hospitals can basically meet the demand growth.Meanwhile,advanced concepts such as comfortable medical care and regular follow-up are gradually popularized at the grassroots level in southeast China.