Optimum insulation thickness of external walls by integrating indoor moisture buffering effect: a case study in the hot-summer-cold-winter zone of China

In the high-humidity, hot-summer-cold-winter(HSCW) zone of China, the moisture buffering effect in the envelope is found to be significant in optimum insulation thickness. However, few studies have considered the effects of indoor moisture buffering on the optimum insulation thickness and energy consumption. In this study, we considered the energy load of an exterior wall under moisture transfer from the outdoor to the indoor environment. An optimum insulation thickness was obtained by integrating the P1-P2model. A residential building was selected for the case study to verify the proposed method. Finally, a comparison was made with two other widely used methods, namely the transient heat transfer model(TH) and the coupled heat and moisture transfer model(CHM). The results indicated that the indoor moisture buffering effect on the optimum insulation thickness is 2.54 times greater than the moisture buffering effect in the envelope, and the two moisture buffering effects make opposing contributions to the optimum insulation thickness. Therefore, when TH or CHM was used without considering the indoor moisture buffering effect, the optimum insulation thickness of the southern wall under one air change per hour(1 ACH) and 100% normal heat source may be overestimated by 2.13% to 3. 59%, and the annual energy load on a single wall may be underestimated by 10.10% to 11.44%. The decrease of airtightness and the increase of indoor heat sources may result in a slight reduction of optimum insulation thickness. This study will enable professionals to consider the effects of moisture buffering on the design of insulation thickness.

Impact resistance performance and optimization of the sand-EPE composite cushion in rock sheds

Rock sheds are widely used to prevent rockfall disasters along roads in mountainous areas.To improve the capacity of rock sheds for resisting rockfall impact,a sand and expandable polyethylene(EPE)composite cushion was proposed.A series of model experiments of rockfall impact on rock sheds were conducted,and the buried depth of the EPE foam board in the sand layer was considered.The impact load and dynamic response of the rock shed were investigated.The results show that the maximum impact load and dynamic response of the rock shed roof are all significantly less than those of the sand cushion.Moreover,as the distance between the EPE foam board and rock shed roof decreases,the maximum rockfall impact force and impact pressure gradually decrease,and the maximum displacement,acceleration and strain of the rock shed first decrease and then change little.In addition,the vibration acceleration and vertical displacement of the rock shed roof decrease from the centre to the edge and decrease faster along the longitudinal direction than that along the transverse direction.In conclusion,the buffering effect of the sand-EPE composite cushion is better than that of the pure sand cushion,and the EPE foam board at a depth of 1/3 the thickness of the sand layer is appropriate.

Reformulation of traditional Iranian food(Doeeneh)using probiotics:Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis BB-12,Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5,Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG,and inulin and its effect on diabetic and non-diabetic rats

Objectives:The purposes of this study were to produce novel formulations of Doeeneh using three probiotic strains and different inulin ratios and to investigate the survival of probiotics.Likewise,the effect of Doeeneh on the biological properties of non-diabetic and diabetic rats was also evaluated.Materials and Methods:Doeeneh,composed of milk and wheat bulgur,was enriched with different proportions of inulin and fermented by Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.lactis BB-12(B),Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5(A),Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LGG(R),and their co-cultures.The physicochemical and sensory properties and probiotics viability were investigated for 14 d.Diabetes was induced in albino rats by administration of alloxan monohydrate(150 mg/kg i.p.).Changes in weight and blood glucose were measured weekly,and food and water consumption were measured daily;total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured after 35 d by a biochemical kit.Results:The increased proportion of high-degree of polymerization inulin decreased pH and increased acidity.However,a higher concentration of inulin applied to Doeeneh resulted in a slower decrease in pH value.This result can show the buffering effect of inulin in Doeeneh as well;changes in pH were slow over time due to the presence of the buffering compounds.Therefore,the probiotics’survival was in the standard range even in the inulin-free sample.Likewise,the Doeeneh sample containing 5%inulin(SABR3)considerably reduced the levels of blood glucose,total cholesterol,and triglyceride in diabetic rats.Moreover,the diabetic rats fed Doeeneh demonstrated less weight loss and food/water intake than the control.Conclusions:Traditional foods and their preparation methods are a suitable target for the development of health-oriented products,and functional food with nutraceutical capabilities can be designed and produced based on them.

Soil properties and habitats determine the response of bacterial communities to agricultural wastewater irrigation

Increasing temperatures and variability of precipitation events due to climate change will lead in the future to higher irrigation demands in agroecosystems.However,the use of secondary treated wasterwater(TWW)could have consequences for the receiving soil environment and its resident microbial communities.The objective of this study was to characterize the importance of soil properties and habitats to the response of soil bacteria and archaea to irrigation with TWW.Two agricultural soils with contrasting textures(loamy sand or silt loam)and,for each,three variants differing in soil organic carbon and nitrogen,as generated by long-term fertilization,were analyzed.For each of these six soils,prokaryotic communities from two habitats,i.e.,root-free bulk soil and the rhizosphere of developing cucumber plants in the greenhouse,were characterized.Communities were analyzed by the quantity and diversity of their polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-amplified 16S rRNA genes.To account for TWW-associated nutrient effects,potable water(PW)served as a control.Amplicon sequence analysis showed that prokaryotic communities mainly consisted of bacteria(99.8%).Upon irrigation,regardless of the water quality,prokaryotic diversity declined,p H increased,and no bacterial growth was detected in bulk soil.In contrast,the growth of cucumbers was stimulated by TWW,indicating that plants were the main beneficiaries.Moreover,strong responses were seen in the rhizosphere,suggesting an indirect effect of TWW by altered rhizodepositions.The main bacterial responders to TWW were Proteobacteria,Bacteroidetes,Actinobacteria,and Planctomycetes.Changes in bacterial communities due to TWW were less pronounced in all variants of the silt loam,indicating the importance of clay and soil organic carbon for buffering effects of TWW on soil bacterial communities.Hence,soil organic carbon and soil texture are important parameters that need to be considered when applying TWW in agriculture.

Woolly and overlapping leaves dampen temperature fluctuations in reproductive organ of an alpine Himalayan forb

Aims studying the ecological significance of highly specialized morpho-logical traits evolved by alpine plants could help us to understand the adaptation and evolution of these plants under severe alpine environ-ment.We explored the adaptive significance of woolly and overlap-ping leaves for reproduction in Eriophyton wallichii,a perennial herb native to the subnival belt of the Himalaya-Hengduan mountains.Methods We examined whether the trichomes could influence the leaf wet-tability,temperature and leaf reflectance spectra in the lab.and we investigated the thermal benefits of the woolly and overlapping leaves for flowers and fruits in the field.Pollen viability and seed germination were also examined in the lab to assess whether these leaves enhance reproductive fitness.Important Findingsour results showed that dense trichomes impart good water repel-lency,absorption of solar radiation and accumulation of leaf heat.The woolly and overlapping leaves increased the interior tempera-ture of flowers and fruits to an optimal level on sunny hours,but prevented them from overheating when transient intense solar radi-ation occurs.This kept optimal temperatures in plants’reproduc-tive organs,thus promoting the development of pollen and seed in alpine environment.