Search Results (270)

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

This study was conducted in the context of China’s latest “double carbon” policy. The objective of this study was twofold: firstly, to examine the characteristics of traditional Chinese residential skywell; and secondly, to investigate and develop climate-adaptive technologies for these structures. To this end, a study was conducted on the Huizhou skywell architecture in China. Firstly, we obtained a large amount of basic data, such as traditional buildings and skywell parameters in Huizhou through field research and on-site mapping. Second, we combined a large number of parameters and typical cases to analyze the data and determine a more scientifically typical model of Huizhou architecture and experimental coverage of skywell data. Different shapes and sizes of skywell were formed by changing the combination of skywell length and width, and the indoor wind environments of these skywell dwelling models were simulated one by one using PHOENIX (v2016) software. Finally, the data obtained from these simulations are analyzed using the variable control method, and the simulated indoor wind environments of skywells under different scale combinations in terms of skywell length, width, and length–width coupling effects are summarized and compared. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The length of the skywell has a certain effect on all indoor wind environments, and the variation in indoor wind speed is smallest when the length of the skywell is 7.5 m. When selecting the design size of the skywell, the length of the skywell can be increased accordingly. (2) The width of the skywell for the indoor wind environment is divided into two cases, when the length of the skywell is less than 3.75 m, increasing the width of the skywell will make the indoor wind environment more unstable. However, when the length of the skywell is greater than 3.75 m, the width of the skywell is positively related to the comfort of the indoor wind environment. (3) The area of the skywell should not be too large, usually between 11.25 m² and 18.75 m². A slender skywell is more likely to provide a comfortable indoor wind environment. (4) After extensive evaluation, we found that the comfort of the indoor wind environment is high when the width of the skywell is 2 m. The optimum dimensions for the ventilation performance of the skywell are 7.5 m in length and 2 m in width. Full article

In the context of the growing emphasis on sustainable development and building safety performance, wooden architecture will attract increasing attention due to its low-carbon characteristics and excellent seismic resistance. In this study, the bibliometric software Citespace is used for data visualization analysis based on the literature related to Chinese wooden architecture in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the Web of Science (WOS) databases, aiming to construct an analytical framework that integrates quantitative visualization and qualitative thematic interpretation which could reveal the current status, hotspots, and frontier trends of research in this field. The results show the following: Research on Chinese wooden architecture has shown a steady growth trend, indicating that it has received attention from an increasing number of scholars. Researchers and institutions are mainly concentrated in higher learning and research institutions in economically developed regions. Research hotspots cover subjects such as seismic performance, mortise–tenon structures, imitation wood structures, Dong architecture, Liang Sicheng, and the Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture. The research process of Chinese wooden architecture can be divided into three stages: the macro stage, the specific deepening stage, and the inheritance application and interdisciplinary integration stage. In the future, the focus will be on interdisciplinary research on wooden architecture from ethnic minority cultures and traditional dwellings. Full article

Integrating bioenergy crops into existing agricultural systems may influence soil biodiversity, yet evidence remains limited for second-generation bioenergy crops such as energycane. This study examined the impact of energycane integration on soil arthropod communities in the Everglades Agricultural Area, Florida, compared to traditional sugarcane and sweetcorn cropping systems. Over two crop cycles (plant cane and first ratoon), soil arthropod abundance and diversity were assessed using pitfall traps. Energycane and sugarcane, both perennial crops, showed no significant differences in order richness or Shannon diversity. Similarly, when energycane was compared with sugarcane and sweetcorn (during the first sampling), it had similar arthropod abundance. However, sweetcorn remained fallow in the second and third samplings, attracting arthropods like fire ants and earwigs, particularly due to pigweed. Diversity metrics based on Hill numbers revealed a decline in the effective abundance of ground-dwelling arthropods with increasing diversity order, influenced by differences in sampling duration. Importantly, no previous studies have been found that have reported on the effects of energycane integration into the existing cropping system on soil arthropod biodiversity. These findings highlight that energycane supports biodiversity levels comparable to sugarcane cropping systems with no negative impacts on soil arthropod abundance. This study underscores the need to consider soil biodiversity impacts when evaluating sustainable bioenergy crop transitions and the potential ecological trade-offs of perennial cropping systems. Full article

In this paper we propose a novel set of techniques for real-time Multi-Target Multi-Camera (MTMC) tracking of vehicles in congested, low speed environments, such as those of drive-thru scenarios, where metrics such as the number of vehicles, time of stay, and interactions between vehicles and staff are needed and must be highly accurate. Traditional methods of tracking based on Intersection over Union (IoU) and basic appearance features produce fragmented trajectories of misidentifications under these conditions. Furthermore, detectors, such as YOLO (You Only Look Once) architectures, exhibit different types of errors due to vehicle proximity, lane changes, and occlusions. Our methodology introduces a new tracker algorithm, Multi-Object Tracker based on Corner Displacement (MTCD), that improves the robustness against bounding box deformations by analysing corner displacement patterns and several other factors involved. The proposed solution was validated on real-world drive-thru footage, outperforming standard IoU-based trackers like Nvidia Discriminative Correlation Filter (NvDCF) tracker. By maintaining accurate cross-camera trajectories, our framework enables the extraction of critical operational metrics, including vehicle dwell times and person–vehicle interaction patterns, which are essential for optimizing service efficiency. This study tackles persistent tracking challenges in constrained environments, showcasing practical applications for real-world surveillance and logistics systems where precision is critical. The findings underscore the benefits of incorporating geometric resilience and delayed decision-making into MTMC architectures. Furthermore, our approach offers the advantage of seamless integration with existing camera infrastructure, eliminating the need for new deployments. Full article

This paper explores how the interpretations of the phrase “tian you qi zhong 天誘其衷” in the Zuozhuan 左傳 (The Zuo Commentary) have changed over time. These changes reflect early Confucian perspectives on the relationship between Heaven and humanity. By examining the polysemous terms (you 誘 and zhong 衷) and by comparing transmitted texts with excavated manuscripts (e.g., Guodian 郭店, Shangbo 上博, and Tsinghua corpora), the paper demonstrates a vital dilemma in early Chinese philosophy: whether Heaven endows moral qualities or simply awakens the innate dispositions of human beings. The paper traces the moralization of tian 天 (Heaven) from the Shang 商 dynasty’s theocentric worldview to the Zhou’s 周 focus on ethical responsibility, showing how the Zuozhuan bridges archaic religious beliefs and emerging Confucian humanism. Traditional commentaries read tian you qi zhong as Heaven “bestowing goodness” or “guiding moral intention,” while the manuscript evidence suggests that the phrase actually meant Heaven “descending its heart or will” to attune human affairs to the cosmos. Han exegetes redefined the term you as pedagogical guidance due to Confucianism’s growing emphasis on self-cultivation. By contextualizing the phrase at a larger backdrop of discussions of the Mandate of Heaven (tianming 天命) and moral cultivation, the study contends that early Confucians transformed tian from a deity figure to a moral principle dwelling in the human capacity, integrating religious reverence and ethical emancipation. This interdisciplinary approach studies ongoing scholarly discussions on the interrelationship between religion, ethics, and philosophy in early China. Full article

Objective: What types of multilevel interventions exist to improve blood pressure among community-dwelling adults aged 18+ in the United States? What is the treatment efficacy? Data Source: Peer-reviewed articles from Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PubMed. The search strategy was pre-registered on Open Science Framework. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria were community-dwelling adults in the United States aged 18 or older; interventions involving at least two levels; at least one blood pressure outcome measured; and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Data Extraction: Intervention activities, blood pressure outcomes, and moderation/subgroup analyses, when available, were extracted. Data Synthesis: Qualitative synthesis and summary statistics. Results: Ninety-five papers covering 89 RCTs were included. Multilevel interventions involving the individual and healthcare team (without health policies = 49 studies; with health policies = 15 studies) tended to show the most consistent saltatory effects on blood pressure (systolic: 46% of studies showed statistical improvement; diastolic: 47% of studies showed statistical improvement). Interventions involving families or communities outside of healthcare settings were promising but were less frequently reported (19% of studies). Conclusions: There was mixed evidence that multilevel interventions targeting cardiovascular health improved blood pressure among U.S.-based adults. Future research should continue evaluating interventions that improve the individual as well as the environments in which individuals work and play, especially those levels outside of traditional healthcare settings. Full article

Friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a solid-state joining technique increasingly favored in industries requiring high-quality, defect-free welds in lightweight and durable structures, such as the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries. This review examines the current advancements in FSSW, focusing on the relationships between microstructure, properties, and performance under load. FSSW offers numerous benefits over traditional welding, particularly for joining both similar and dissimilar materials. Key process parameters, including tool design, rotational speed, axial force, and dwell time, are discussed for their impact on weld quality. Innovations in robotics are enhancing FSSW’s accuracy and efficiency, while numerical simulations aid in optimizing process parameters and predicting material behavior. The addition of nano/microparticles, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, has further improved weld strength and thermal stability. This review identifies areas for future research, including refining robotic programming, using artificial intelligence for autonomous welding, and exploring nano/microparticle reinforcement in FSSW composites. FSSW continues to advance solid-state joining technologies, providing critical insights for optimizing weld quality in sheet material applications. Full article

Tribals are known as the torchbearers of ethnobotany. Traditional plant-derived utility products (PUPs) are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and easy to handle, and are extensively used by the forest-dwelling Gaddi and Sippi tribes of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir for their subsistence. The present study is an attempt to document the invaluable traditional knowledge on wild plants and PUPs possessed by the Gaddi and Sippi tribes before it perishes completely, as this knowledge is transmitted orally to the next generation. Semi-structured schedules were used for the collection of data regarding the method of making and usage of PUPs and the plant species used for making such products. The cultural importance index (CI) and factor informant consensus (F_ic) were calculated to find the predominant plant species and the consensus among informants for species used in making PUPs, respectively. A total of 52 plant species from 28 families and 46 genera are used in the study area for making 93 PUPs. Tools, with a 55.9% contribution, were the major PUP category. Cedrus deodara, used for making 36 PUPs and having a 4.9 CI value, was the most utilized and important tree species for the Gaddi and Sippi tribes. The values of F_ic ranged between 0.97 (miscellaneous PUPs) and 0.99 (containers/storage PUPs). The present study documented 43 plant species as new ethnobotanical records from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir for their use in traditional plant products. The Gaddi and Sippi tribes in the study area have extensive knowledge about forest-based PUPs and the associated plant species. This invaluable knowledge can be exploited for developing new resources for some value-added traditional plant products and agro-based cottage industries, which could play an important role in socio-economic upliftment and livelihood promotion of tribals. Full article

The rural landscape serves as a window to showcase regional culture and can drive the development of the rural cultural tourism industry. However, driven by the rural revitalization strategy, the construction of rural landscapes in the Yangtze River Delta region faces the challenges of homogeneity and lack of authenticity. A regional evaluation of the rural landscape and strategic suggestions are key to solving this problem. Therefore, this study selected three representative villages in the Yangtze River Delta region and established a regional evaluation model of the rural landscape in the Yangtze River Delta from the perspective of the ecological–production–living concept, utilizing the analytic hierarchy process, a tourist questionnaire survey, IPA, and Munsell color analysis. The results show that (1) the core indicator of the rural landscape regionality is the life landscape, followed by the production landscape, and finally, the ecological landscape; (2) the overall satisfaction of the rural landscape is high, and the satisfaction of the water network landscape is significantly higher than other indicators; (3) the results of IPA show that what needs to be maintained are traditional dwellings and historical relics, and what needs to be improved are sign design and rural public art design; (4) Munsell color analysis shows that the characteristics the of rural landscape in the Yangtze River Delta region are diverse and inclusive. This study is of great significance for maintaining the characteristics of the rural landscape in the Yangtze River Delta region and promoting the protection of rural landscape style under different regional conditions. Full article

Portuguese society has evolved and transformed, and with it, social models: family structures have changed, with smaller households replacing the traditional nuclear family; labor models have shifted, with a significant increase in telecommuting and a surge of digital nomadism; and consumption patterns have altered, with some domestic activities being transferred from the home to the city. In light of these transformations, this article proposes a critical examination of housing models developed in Lisbon over recent decades, comparing them with dwellings built since the mid-20th century. Through selected case studies, it questions the adequacy of contemporary housing programs in addressing present-day social structures and living patterns. Methodologically, the paper firstly proposes an analysis of Portuguese social models and their transformation through census data and social sciences studies, followed by a critical review of contemporary urban housing models through spatial analysis of selected urban dwellings of the last 70 years, through the redrawing and visual comparison of the plans. The study adopts a spatial analysis of representative collective dwellings built in Lisbon since the 1950s, chosen for their prevalence, sectoral diversity, data availability, and the city’s central role in Portuguese housing development and research. The research concludes that there has been a perpetuation of anachronistic dwelling models in Lisbon, limiting adaptability to diverse living modes, and suggests a new approach to dwelling design, promoting undetermined and ambiguous spatial configurations that allow for greater adaptability to an evolving society, changing practices, and living arrangements. Full article

A typical county for traditional village conservation in China is Songyang County. It is renowned for its ancient rammed earth dwellings, which exhibit a unique microclimate and possess significant historical value. However, high precipitation and acid rain under the subtropical monsoon climate have caused severe surface erosion, including cracking and spalling. This study focuses on traditional rammed earth dwellings in Chenjiapeng Village, Songyang County, combining field surveys, experimental analysis, and microscopic characterization to systematically investigate erosion mechanisms and protection strategies. Techniques, such as drone aerial photography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and microbial diversity detection, were employed to elucidate the anti-erosion mechanisms of gray–green biological crusts on rammed earth surfaces. The results indicate that algal crusts enhance surface compressive strength and shear resistance through macroscopic coverage (reducing raindrop kinetic energy and moisture retention) and microscopic extracellular polysaccharide-cemented soil particles forming a three-dimensional network. However, acidic environments induce metabolic acid release from algae, dissolving cementing materials and creating a “surface protection-internal damage” paradox. To address this, a “transparent film-biofiber-acid inhibition layer” composite biofilm design is proposed, integrating a biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) mesh, algal attachment substrates, and calcium carbonate microparticles to dynamically neutralize acidic substances, achieving synergistic ecological protection and cultural heritage authenticity. This study provides innovative solutions for the anti-erosion protection of traditional rammed earth structures, emphasizing environmental compatibility and sustainability. Full article

During the Modern Age, Seville was known as the Port of the Indies due to its key role in transatlantic trade, although the actual port was located in Triana, a riverside quarter outside the city walls along the Guadalquivir River. This area was essential for maritime and commercial activities, shaping Seville’s economic and social development. This study analyses Triana’s urban layout, social composition, and architecture in the 16th century using historical sources and graphic representations. The quarter combined defensive structures, religious buildings, and residential complexes, reflecting both its strategic importance and distinct identity. Its streets and architecture supported defense, commerce, and daily life, while its diverse community (including sailors, merchants, craftsmen, and dockworkers) was central to its mercantile and manufacturing activity. Architecturally, Triana featured traditional dwellings, corrales de vecinos, mesones, and posadas, that facilitated trade and travel. Examining these elements reveals Triana’s adaptability to economic and social conditions, highlighting its resilience, diverse population, and rich architectural heritage within Seville’s historical context and Atlantic trade. Full article

This study examines the climate adaptability of traditional Hani ‘Mushroom Houses’ located in the rice terrace region of Honghe Hani Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China. By analyzing 30 years of meteorological data, the study identifies the local climatic characteristics of high temperatures, high humidity, and significant diurnal temperature variations. The thermal comfort voting method was used to establish a quantitative relationship between the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index and residents’ subjective thermal perceptions, thereby assessing seasonal variations in thermal comfort. Field measurements of indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, and wind speed were conducted in May and December 2023 to evaluate thermal interactions between rooms. This study demonstrated: (1) the critical roles of building orientation (e.g., northwest-facing design), functional layout (e.g., multi-story zoning), and structural forms (e.g., thick walls, thatched roofs) in regulating temperature and humidity. (2) Confirmed that Hani ‘Mushroom Houses’ stabilize indoor environments through passive strategies, including material selection (wood, rammed earth), natural ventilation (cross-draft design), and spatial organization (climate-buffering storage layers). (3) Provided empirical evidence for optimizing traditional dwellings (e.g., enhanced insulation, ventilation improvements) and advancing sustainable practices in similar climatic regions. Full article

Traditional Japanese architecture is known for its open, ambiguous spatial boundaries (“kyokai”), which integrate nature and dwelling through Zen/Shinto philosophies. Yet modern urban housing, driven by high-density minimalism, flattens spatial hierarchies and erodes these rich boundary concepts. This study aims to explore how Japanese architect Yoshiji Takehara reinterprets traditional spatial principles to reconstruct the interior–exterior relationships in modern housing through a mixed-methods approach—including a literature review, case studies, and semi-structured interviews—verifying the hypothesis that he achieves the modern translation of traditional “kyokai” through strategies of boundary expansion and ambiguity. Analyzing 78 independent residential projects by Takehara and incorporating his interview texts, the research employs spatial typology and statistical methods to quantify the characteristics of boundary configurations, such as building contour morphology, opening orientations, and transitional space types, to reveal the internal logic of his design strategies. This study identifies two core strategies through which Takehara redefines spatial boundaries: firstly, clustered building layouts, multi-directional openings, and visual connections between courtyards and private functional spaces extend interface areas, enhancing interactions between nature and daily life; secondly, in-between spaces like corridors and doma (earthen-floored transitional zones), double-layered fixtures, and floor-level variations blur physical and psychological boundaries, creating multilayered permeability. Case studies demonstrate that his designs not only inherit traditional elements such as indented plans and semi-outdoor buffers but also revitalize the essence of “dwelling” through contemporary expressions, achieving dynamic visual experiences and poetic inhabitation within limited sites via complex boundary configurations and fluid thresholds. This research provides reusable boundary design strategies for high-density urban housing, such as multi-directional openings and buffer space typologies, and fills a research gap in the systematic translation of traditional “kyokai” theory into modern architecture, offering new insights for reconstructing the natural connection in residential spaces. Full article