Lighting, well-being and work performance: A review of the literature

Commissioned White Paper Report for Philips International

Nexus of thermal resilience and energy efficiency in buildings: A case study of a nursing home

Extreme weather events become more frequent and severe due to climate change. Although energy efficiency technologies can influence thermal resilience of buildings, they are traditionally studied separately, and their interconnections are rarely quantified. This study developed a methodology of modeling and analysis to provide insights into the nexus of thermal resilience and energy efficiency of buildings. We conducted a case study of a real nursing home in Florida, where 12 patients died during Hurricane Irma in 2017 due to HVAC system power loss, to understand and quantify how passive and active energy efficiency measures (EEMs) can improve thermal resilience to reduce heat-exposure risk of patients. Results show that passive measures of opening windows and doors for natural ventilation, as well as miscellaneous load reduction, are very effective in eliminating the extreme dangerous occasions. However, to maintain safe conditions, active measures such as on-site power generators and thermal storage are also needed. The nursing home was further studied by changing its location to two other cities: San Francisco (mild climate) and Chicago (cold winter and hot summer). Results revealed that the EEMs' impacts on thermal resilience vary significantly by climate and building characteristics. The study also estimated the costs of EEMs to help stakeholders prioritize the measures. Passive measures that may not save energy may greatly improve thermal resilience, and thus should be considered in building design or retrofit. Findings from this study indicate energy efficiency technologies should be evaluated not only by their energy savings performance but also by their influence on a building's resilience to extreme weather events

Estonian University of Life Sciences Institute of Technology XI Master Students Conference 20.04.2017

Estonian University of Life Sciences Institute of Technology XI Master Students Conference 20.04.201

The Influence of Spectral Quality on Primary and Secondary Metabolism of Hydroponically Grown Basil

This dissertation explores the influence of spectral quality from supplemental lighting and seasonal changes on primary and secondary metabolism in hydroponically grown greenhouse basil. It aims to enhance understanding of plant/light interactions and provide practical insights for light emitting diode (LED) manufacturers and commercial growers. The research is premised on the hypothesis that altering spectral quality can significantly impact primary and secondary metabolism, potentially improving flavor and increasing phytonutrients with health benefits. This project involved four phases, each building on the results of the previous ones. In Phase 1, different basil varieties were evaluated to determine aroma volatile profiles and concentrations of key secondary metabolites. In Phase 2, discrete narrow-band blue/red (B/R) wavelengths were used to investigate their impact on aroma volatile concentrations and secondary metabolic resource partitioning in basil, revealing the influence of both seasonal and supplemental lighting effects on plant metabolism. Phase 3 explored the impacts of full spectrum white LEDs and high pressure sodium (HPS) on yield and nutrient accumulation, comparing these to the optimal narrowband B/R identified in Phase 2. The final phase connected all phases, comparing the best narrowband and full spectrum treatments to a traditional HPS treatment and natural light control. These treatments were tested across various parameters, with photosynthesis and primary metabolic data recorded, yields and biometric data taken, aroma compound concentrations, and other secondary metabolic data collected. A sensory panel was conducted, and mRNA sequencing performed to determine differences in metabolic pathway expression based on lighting treatment. Analytical data from the different light treatments, sensory panel, and mRNA data were evaluated to determine which lighting regime had the most positive impact on plant physiology and biochemistry. Variation in spectral quality across seasons influences primary and secondary metabolism, in addition to the spectral qualities of different types of supplemental lighting treatments. This holistic, interdisciplinary approach revealed a light treatment that balances yield, nutrient content, and flavor preference, providing a superior product highly preferred by consumers. The research presented in this document significantly expands our understanding of the complex interplay between light conditions and plant physiology, with implications for improving crop yield and quality in controlled environment agriculture

Non-Monetary Motivation Strategies and Growth of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Ogun State, Nigeria

The challenge facing managers in the banking sector is how to get employees committed to their work and put in their best towards the accomplishment of banks’ goals and objectives. There was gradual and consistent decline in the performance of banks due to low level of motivation within and outside the banking organizations. It is therefore imperative for managers in the banking sector to design and implement strategies and policies that will adequately address issues relating to employees’ welfare so that it will help in achieving industrial peace which is a panacea to organizational growth. The general objective of this study was to establish the effect of non-monetary motivational strategies on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey and target population was 800 staff of the selected commercial banks in Ogun State and sample of 481 employees was used in this study. A stratified sampling technique method was used and data was collected through the use of questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to pretest the validity and reliability of instruments for data collection. The data was analyzed by use of quantitative method with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The study established that work environment, leadership style, training and career advancement have positive and significant effect on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State, Nigeria. The regression analysis showed that work environment plays the most significant role on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State at 5% level of significance. Based on these findings, the study recommended that management of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State should plan very well when considering motivational strategies aimed at increasing overall productivity of the workers so as to achieve growth. Keywords: Motivation strategies, Leadership style, Training, Work environment, Growt

Risk Exposure to Particles – including Legionella pneumophila – emitted during Showering with Water-Saving Showers

The increase in legionellosis incidence in the general population in recent years calls for a better characterization of the sources of infection, such as showering. Water-efficient shower systems that use water atomization technology may emit slightly more inhalable bacteria-sized particles than traditional systems, which may increase the risk of users inhaling contaminants associated with these water droplets. To evaluate the risk, the number and mass of inhalable water droplets emitted by twelve showerheads—eight using water-atomization technology and four using continuous-flow technology— were monitored in a shower stall. The water-atomizing showers tested not only had lower flow rates, but also larger spray angles, less nozzles, and larger nozzle diameters than those of the continuous-flow showerheads. A difference in the behavior of inhalable water droplets between the two technologies was observed, both unobstructed or in the presence of a mannequin. The evaporation of inhalable water droplets emitted by the water-atomization showers favored a homogenous distribution in the shower stall. In the presence of the mannequin, the number and mass of inhalable droplets increased for the continuous-flow showerheads and decreased for the water-atomization showerheads. The water-atomization showerheads emitted less inhalable water mass than the continuous-flow showerheads did per unit of time; however, they generally emitted a slightly higher number of inhalable droplets—only one model performed as well as the continuous-flow showerheads in this regard. To specifically assess the aerosolisation rate of bacteria, in particular of the opportunistic water pathogen Legionella pneumophila, during showering controlled experiments were run with one atomization showerhead and one continuous-flow, first inside a glove box, second inside a shower stall. The bioaerosols were sampled with a Coriolis® air sampler and the total number of viable (cultivable and noncultivable) bacteria was determined by flow cytometry and culture. We found that the rate of viable and cultivable Legionella aerosolized from the water jet was similar between the two showerheads: the viable fraction represents 0.02% of the overall bacteria present in water, while the cultivable fraction corresponds to only 0.0005%. The two showerhead models emitted a similar ratio of airborne Legionella viable and cultivable per volume of water used. Similar results were obtained with naturally contaminated hoses tested in shower stall. Therefore, the risk of exposure to Legionella is not expected to increase significantly with the new generation of water-efficient showerheads

An Overview of the Origins and Effectiveness of Commercial Fitness Equipment and Sectoral Corporate Settings: A Critical Review of Literature

Research Question: Fitness equipment is a worldwide ever-growing phenomenon and its usage is nowadays popular both in human routines and academic investigations. Research Methods: This paper is a literature review aiming fitness equipment in relation to all the available findings connected to the complete product life-cycle phases. Results and Findings: Manufacturing industries, which are active realities of the sector, have not been a major concern for sport researchers within the production applicability sub-field. Past root hypotheses, the current state of the art and future guideline applications are addressed. Selected articles were categorised chronologically, by journal, by geographic area and, extensively, by content. Five thematic areas were included: (1)historicalbackground,(2)creationstages,(3)productfeatures,(4)innovationpathsand(5)sectoral environments and marketing processes. Implications: By means of the provided findings, there is an opportunity to widen approaches to study fitness equipment that could be extended to the sector’s enterprise applications and methods of work