Search Results (199)

Motor vehicle crashes are a persistent cause of unintentional deaths in the United States. Scholarship on how manmade interventions and natural phenomena interact to effectuate such calamitous outcomes is longstanding. One manmade intervention of interest in the literature is daylight saving time (DST). Unfortunately, results on how the natural phenomena attributable to DST interact with driver behavior are inconsistent. To advance knowledge on DST-safety interactions, this study adopts a multilevel model approach to fatal motor vehicle crash outcomes in the contiguous United States. Results from a national analysis contextualize results from zonal analyses to unmask within- and between-time zone differences in DST-safety interactions. In the national analysis, motor vehicle crash fatalities decrease somewhat during DST (−0.10%). In the zonal analyses, motor vehicle crash fatalities decrease more so in the Central and Eastern time zones (−2.00% and −2.00%, respectively), but increase somewhat in the Pacific and Mountain time zones (+0.30%) during DST. The spatiotemporal context of the national analysis highlights specific policy implications from the zonal analyses to decrease the lethality of motor vehicle crashes. Specifically, interdictions to target alcohol and/or drug involvement in the northern latitudes of the Pacific and Mountain time zones during DST, the Central time zone at dawn or dusk before or after DST, and the northern latitudes in the Eastern time zone before or after DST are important. Generally, national DST-safety benefits mask zonal DST-safety costs in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Full article

Under the dual challenges of global energy crisis and climate change, the building sector, as a major carbon emitter consuming 33% of global primary energy, has seen its energy efficiency optimization become a critical pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality goals. The Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), serving as a core parameter in building envelope design, directly influences building energy consumption, with its optimized design playing a decisive role in balancing natural daylighting, ventilation efficiency, and thermal comfort. This study focuses on the traditional One-Seal dwellings (Yikeyin) in Kunming, China, establishing a dynamic wind field-thermal environment coupled analysis framework to investigate the impact mechanism of window dimensions (WWR and aspect ratio) on indoor thermal comfort under natural wind conditions in transitional climate zones. Utilizing the Grasshopper platform integrated with Ladybug, Honeybee, and Butterfly plugins, we developed parametric models incorporating Kunming’s Energy Plus Weather meteorological data. EnergyPlus and OpenFOAM were employed, respectively, for building heat-moisture balance calculations and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations, with particular emphasis on analyzing the effects of varying WWR (0.05–0.20) on temperature-humidity, air velocity, and ventilation efficiency during typical winter and summer weeks. Key findings include, (1) in summer, the baseline scenario with WWR = 0.1 achieves a dynamic thermal-humidity balance (20.89–24.27 °C, 65.35–74.22%) through a “air-permeable but non-ventilative” strategy, though wing rooms show humidity-heat accumulation risks; increasing WWR to 0.15–0.2 enhances ventilation efficiency (2–3 times higher air changes) but causes a 4.5% humidity surge; (2) winter conditions with WWR ≥ 0.15 reduce wing room temperatures to 17.32 °C, approaching cold thresholds, while WWR = 0.05 mitigates heat loss but exacerbates humidity accumulation; (3) a symmetrical layout structurally constrains central ventilation, maintaining main halls air changes below one Air Change per Hour (ACH). The study proposes an optimized WWR range of 0.1–0.15 combined with asymmetric window opening strategies, providing quantitative guidance for validating the scientific value of vernacular architectural wisdom in low-energy design. Full article

The innovation of multi-material offers significant benefits to architectural systems. The fusion of multiple materials, transitioning from one to another in a graded manner, enables the creation of fused space without the need for mechanical connections. Given that plastic is a major contributor to ecological imbalance, this research on fused space aims to recycle plastic and use it as a multi-material for building applications, due to its capacity for being 3D printed and fused with other materials. Furthermore, to generate diverse properties for the fused space, several nature-inspired forming algorithms are employed, including Swarm Behavior, Voronoi, Game of Life, and Shortest Path, to shape the building enclosure. Subsequently, digital analyses, such as daylight analysis, structural analysis, porosity analysis, and openness analysis, are conducted on the enclosure, forming the color mapping digital diagram, which determines the distribution of varying thickness, density, transparency, and flexibility gradation parameters, resulting in spatial diversity. During the fabrication process, Dual Force V1 and Dual Force V2 were developed to successfully print multi-material gradations with fused plastic following an upgrade to the cooling system. Finally, three test sites in London were chosen to implement the fused space concept using multi-material. Full article

This review investigates the role of building windows in supporting occupant well-being through access to natural views and daylight. This review synthesizes recent interdisciplinary research from environmental psychology, building science, and human physiology to examine how windows impact cognitive performance, psychological restoration, and circadian health. Drawing on 304 peer-reviewed studies from 2000 to 2024, the review identifies two core pathways: visual effects—related to daylight availability, glare control, and view quality—and non-visual effects—linked to circadian entrainment and neuroendocrine regulation via ipRGCs. These effects interact yet compete, necessitating a multi-objective optimization approach. This paper evaluates commonly used metrics for visual comfort, circadian-effective lighting, and view quality and discusses their integration in design frameworks. The review also highlights the potential of adaptive facade technologies and artificial window systems to balance human-centered lighting goals with energy efficiency. A research roadmap is proposed to support future integrative design strategies that optimize both visual and non-visual outcomes in diverse architectural contexts. Full article

Accurate pig counting is crucial for precision livestock farming, enabling optimized feeding management and health monitoring. Detection-based counting methods face significant challenges due to mutual occlusion, varying illumination conditions, diverse pen configurations, and substantial variations in pig densities. Previous approaches often struggle with complex agricultural environments where lighting conditions, pig postures, and crowding levels create challenging detection scenarios. To address these limitations, we propose EAPC-YOLO (enhanced adaptive pig counting YOLO), a robust architecture integrating density-aware processing with advanced detection optimizations. The method consists of (1) an enhanced YOLOv8 network incorporating multiple architectural improvements for better feature extraction and object localization. These improvements include DCNv4 deformable convolutions for irregular pig postures, BiFPN bidirectional feature fusion for multi-scale information integration, EfficientViT linear attention for computational efficiency, and PIoU v2 loss for improved overlap handling. (2) A density-aware post-processing module with intelligent NMS strategies that adapt to different crowding scenarios. Experimental results on a comprehensive dataset spanning diverse agricultural scenarios (nighttime, controlled indoor, and natural daylight environments with density variations from 4 to 30 pigs) demonstrate our method achieves 94.2% mAP@0.5 for detection performance and 96.8% counting accuracy, representing 12.3% and 15.7% improvements compared to the strongest baseline, YOLOv11n. This work enables robust, accurate pig counting across challenging agricultural environments, supporting precision livestock management. Full article

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its resistance to conventional treatments. Natural compounds with photodynamic properties, such as chlorophyll derivatives, offer potential for novel interventions. This study investigates the apoptotic effects of a chlorophyll-enriched green propolis compound activated by daylight-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) on RCC cells. A novel compound formulated from standardized ethanol extracts of Taiwanese green propolis, wheatgrass, and mulberry leaves was characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Human RCC 786-O cells were treated with varying concentrations of the compound, with or without daylight PDT (570 nm). Cell viability was assessed via MTT assay, and median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) were calculated. HPLC analysis identified Artepillin C as the major constituent. The compound induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity, which was significantly enhanced by daylight PDT. EC₅₀ values dropped from 3.027 µL (compound alone) to 1.728 µL (with PDT), indicating synergistic efficacy. Cell viability significantly decreased in PDT-treated cells compared to non-treated controls (p < 0.05) indicating apoptosis. Daylight-activated PDT significantly amplifies the anticancer efficacy of the compound against RCC cells. Preliminary data suggest the potential of chlorophyll-enriched green propolis photodynamic activation (GPDT) as a natural adjunctive strategy for RCC, warranting further in vivo investigation. Full article

With the rapid advancement of urbanization in China, the demand for community-based elderly care facilities (CECFs) has been increasing. One pressing challenge is the question of how to provide CECFs that not only meet the health needs of the elderly but also make efficient use of limited urban land resources. This study addresses this issue by adopting an integrated multi-method research framework that combines multi-objective optimization (MOO) algorithms, Spearman rank correlation analysis, ensemble learning methods (Random Forest combined with SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), where SHAP enhances the interpretability of ensemble models), and Self-Organizing Map (SOM) neural networks. This framework is employed to identify optimal building configurations and to examine how different architectural parameters influence key daylight performance indicators—Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) and Daylight Factor (DF). Results indicate that when UDI and DF meet the comfort thresholds for elderly users, the minimum building area can be controlled to as little as 351 m² and can achieve a balance between natural lighting and spatial efficiency. This ensures sufficient indoor daylight while mitigating excessive glare that could impair elderly vision. Significant correlations are observed between spatial form and daylight performance, with factors such as window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and wall thickness (WT) playing crucial roles. Specifically, wall thickness affects indoor daylight distribution by altering window depth and shading. Moreover, the ensemble learning models combined with SHAP analysis uncover nonlinear relationships between various architectural parameters and daylight performance. In addition, a decision support method based on SOM is proposed to replace the subjective decision-making process commonly found in traditional optimization frameworks. This method enables the visualization of a large Pareto solution set in a two-dimensional space, facilitating more informed and rational design decisions. Finally, the findings are translated into a set of practical design strategies for application in real-world projects. Full article

In the present study, we examine the possibilities of planned generation in snakes by controlling the two most important factors for their estrus—ambient temperature and daylight hours. As a result of controlling these environmental parameters in an increasing gradient until reaching optimal values for the species, we observed copulations in late March and early April between a female Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana and a male V. a. ammodytes. After three months of “pregnancy”, we obtained viable offspring in early July, which is about two months earlier compared to wild populations. The species used in the experimental setup, in natural conditions, usually produce offspring in late August to early October. Another aspect considered in the publication and followed in the experimental setup was to possibly test if in evolutionary and developmental aspect, both subspecies are closely related and interspecies breeding is possible (which might indicate mutual ancestry). The hybrid individuals were monitored during their entire development from newborns to subadults for pathological traits during development to roll-out crossbreeding incompatibility. In our pilot investigation, no acquired or inherited pathological traits have been observed. The individuals were consistent with feeding and exhibited excellent individual development. Future research coupled with genetic investigation can give valuable insight in the field, whether it is valid to regard the genera as a Vipera ammodytes complex or as different subspecies groups. Full article

The Peruvian grunt, Anisotremus scapularis, is a commercially valuable coastal fish in the southeastern Pacific that is facing overexploitation. To support its aquaculture development, this study evaluated the spontaneous reproductive dynamics of a captive broodstock held under natural photoperiod and temperature conditions in a flow-through system. Eleven wild adult specimens (3 females and 8 males) with an average size of 34.9 ± 5.4 cm and a weight of 986 ± 470 g were housed in a 9 m³ tank and monitored over five consecutive spawning seasons (2016–2021). Fish were fed a semi-moist, animal-protein-based diet (37% protein and 6.6% lipid) at 2% body weight/day. A total of 214 spontaneous spawning events produced over 83 million eggs. The highest reproductive output occurred in the first season (2016–2017) with 94 spawnings and 23.3 million eggs. Fertilization, hatching, and larval survival rates averaged 94.7%, 89.7%, and 75%, respectively, but declined in later years. Spawning showed marked seasonality from October to May, with a major reproductive pause in late January. The temperature (16–20 °C) and photoperiod (>12 h daylight) appeared to influence reproductive timing, alongside diet and broodstock handling. The findings reported herein are observational in nature and provide valuable baseline data for future experimental designs aimed at optimizing broodstock management in A. scapularis aquaculture. Full article

With the growing global demand for energy optimization, particularly in the building sector, accurate daylight illuminance prediction plays a key role in enhancing energy efficiency through natural lighting and intelligent lighting systems. This study proposes a novel prediction model that integrates Meteorological Analog Intervals with a hybrid TCN-Transformer-BILSTM architecture to address the issue of insufficient prediction accuracy caused by the influence of various complex factors on daylight illuminance, as well as sudden weather changes, fluctuating meteorological conditions, and short-term variations. The model uses Grey Relational Analysis and Cosine Similarity to select historical data similar to the target moment in terms of meteorological conditions and time attributes, and constructs Meteorological Analog Intervals by combining the preceding and following time steps, providing high-quality data for the subsequent model development. The model effectively combines the multi-scale feature extraction capability of TCN, the global correlation-capturing advantage of Transformer, and the bidirectional temporal modeling characteristic of BILSTM to predict the temporal dynamics of daylight illuminance. Based on the measured data from Xi’an in 2023, experiments show that the proposed MAIL-TCN-Trans-BILSTM model achieves RMSEs of 1425.83 Lux and 2581.45 Lux under optimal and suboptimal daylight conditions, respectively, with MAPE reductions of 9–12% and 4–6% compared to baseline models. The proposed Meteorological Analog Intervals method significantly enhances the prediction accuracy and robustness of the model, especially in scenarios with complex and variable meteorological conditions, providing data support for intelligent lighting control systems. Full article

In southern Hunan province, a vital element of China’s architectural cultural legacy, the quality of the indoor lighting environment influences physical performance and the transmission of spatial culture. The province encounters minor environmental disparities and diminishing liveability attributed to evolving construction practices and cultural standards. The three varieties of traditional residences in Shanggantang Village are employed to assess the daylight factor (DF), illumination uniformity (U0), daylight autonomy (DA), and useful daylight illumination (UDI). We subsequently integrate field measurements with static and dynamic numerical simulations to create a multi-dimensional analytical framework termed “measured-static-dynamic”. This method enables the examination of the influence of floor plan layout on light, as well as the relationship between window size, building configuration, and natural illumination. The lighting factor (DF) of the core area of the central patio-type residence reaches 27.7% and the illumination uniformity (U0) is 0.62, but the DF of the transition area plummets to 1.6%; the composite patio type enhances the DF of the transition area to 1.2% through the alleyway-assisted lighting, which is a 24-fold improvement over the offset patio type. Parameter optimization showed that the percentage of all-natural daylighting time (DA) in the edge zone of the central patio type increased from 21.4% to 58.3% when the window height was adjusted to 90%. The results of the study provide a quantitative basis for the optimization of the light environment and low-carbon renewal of traditional residential buildings. Full article

Urbanisation has significantly transformed human settlements, presenting sustainability challenges, particularly in hot-dry and humid climates. The urban heat island effect and increased energy consumption exacerbate reliance on mechanical cooling and fossil fuels. As climate change escalates, developing sustainable architectural solutions that improve thermal performance and energy efficiency becomes crucial. This study examines the effects of various multilevel courtyard designs on building performance in Abuja, Nigeria, highlighting gaps in applying traditional principles to these models. A mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, assesses user perceptions, thermal performance, energy efficiency, and daylighting in multilevel courtyards. Findings indicate that optimised multilevel courtyard configurations yield a 2.15 °C reduction in temperature, enhancing indoor thermal comfort and improving natural ventilation. Users favour multilevel courtyard housing; however, challenges include inadequate daylighting on lower levels and the need for shading solutions. Compressed earth blocks exhibit better thermal performance, reducing peak temperatures by 1.19 °C compared to hollow concrete blocks. Guidelines for architects and urban planners are provided, as well as recommendations for future research on policy incentives to promote multilevel courtyard models. Full article

Effective natural lighting in university library reading areas significantly influences users’ visual comfort, task performance, and energy efficiency. However, existing library lighting designs often exhibit problems such as uneven illumination, excessive glare, and underutilization of natural daylight. To address these challenges, this study proposes a multi-objective optimization framework for library lighting design based on the NSGA-II algorithm. The framework targets the following three key objectives: improving illuminance uniformity, enhancing visual comfort, and reducing lighting energy consumption. The optimization process incorporates four critical visual comfort parameters—desktop illuminance, correlated color temperature, background reflectance, and screen luminance—whose weights were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with input from domain experts. A parametric building information model (BIM) was developed in Revit, and lighting simulations were conducted in DIALux Evo to evaluate different design alternatives. Experimental validation was carried out in an actual library setting, with illuminance data collected from five representative measurement points. The results showed that after optimization, lighting uniformity improved from less than 0.1 to 0.6–0.75, glare values (UGR) remained below 22, and daylight area coverage increased by 25%. Moreover, lighting energy consumption was reduced by approximately 20%. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of the improvements (p < 0.001). This study provides a systematic and reproducible method for optimizing natural lighting in educational spaces and offers practical guidance for energy-efficient and user-centered library design. Full article

Architectural design influences both environmental outcomes and occupant behaviors. Green buildings convey environmental responsibility through formal (e.g., signage, tours) and informal means, including natural materials, daylighting, and energy-efficient features. These choices contribute to overall building “atmospherics” that can foster occupant awareness of sustainability. To explore how atmospherics contribute to occupant perception of building sustainability, we surveyed (n = 250) and interviewed (n = 16) occupants of two LEED-certified university buildings—the Green Building and the Green and Biophilic Building—focusing on their awareness of sustainable features and sources of this awareness. The results showed that occupants of the Green and Biophilic Building were significantly more likely to recognize its sustainable features. The diversity and frequency of features identified varied significantly between buildings, with the broader range in the Green and Biophilic Building. Content analysis revealed occupant misconceptions about the sustainability of features like automatic toilets, aesthetic elements, and biophilic patterns, with some assumptions based solely on appearance. These findings highlight how occupants develop green building awareness without formal instruction, underscoring the value of visible design elements in fostering engagement. This study offers practical recommendations for architects and designers to enhance green messaging through non-verbal cues and interpretative educational features. Full article

The absence of standardized time zones has profound implications, influencing social, economic, and energy dynamics. It also disrupts personal aspects, such as sleep patterns and family routines. One specific dimension of this issue is the transition to daylight saving time (DST), which entails shifting between standard time (winter) and daylight saving time (summer). This practice has sparked global debates due to its varying impacts across regions and sectors. Although DST primarily aims to optimize energy consumption by leveraging natural daylight, much attention has focused on its broader societal effects. However, the energy performance of commercial buildings under DST remains an underexplored yet equally significant area. This article presents a literature review to critically evaluate the effects of the winter-to-summer time shift on commercial buildings, concentrating on three key factors: energy consumption, where seasonal variations in lighting, heating, and cooling demands may alter anticipated energy savings; occupant thermal comfort, as time changes can disrupt the circadian rhythms of building occupants, impacting productivity and well-being; and operational considerations, as building systems like HVAC and automated controls must adjust to shifting daylight schedules. Accordingly, this review seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of how the winter–summer time transition affects commercial buildings by analyzing energy consumption patterns, occupant comfort levels, and operational challenges. In doing so, it contributes to optimizing building management practices under varying daylight conditions to enhance energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction. Full article