A Participatory Design Approach for Energy-Aware Mobile App for Smart Home Monitoring

It is generally recognized that our behaviours affect the environment. However, it is difficult to correlate behaviour of an individual person to large-scale problems. This is usually due to insufficient ergonomy of available tools. The main cause is that most of user-awareness tools available are technology-centered instead of user-centered. In this paper, we present a participatory design approach we followed to design and develop an energy-aware mobile application for user-awareness on energy consumption for Smart Home monitoring. To engage end-users from the early design stages, we conduct two on-line surveys and a focus group involving about 630 people. Results allowed on identifying functional requirements and guidelines for mobile app design. The purpose of this research is to increase user-awareness on energy consumption using tools and methods required by users themselves. Furthermore in this paper, we present the technological choices that drove our implementation of an energy-aware application based on prosumers’ requirements

La inmersión del espectador en Audioguías para supermercados en tiempos de pandemia

El teatro inmersivo es un género que viene desarrollándose desde finales del siglo XX, con referentes como Punchdrunk, De La Guarda o La fura dels Baus. Sin embargo, en la pandemia del COVID-19, lo inmersivo se perfiló como una opción de teatralidad posible en el contexto del distanciamiento y el confinamiento. A su vez, la gran mayoría de exponentes del teatro inmersivo, así como las investigaciones al respecto, son de Europa y Estados Unidos. De esta manera, la presente investigación busca analizar la manera en la que se genera la inmersión del espectador en la obra Audioguías para supermercados en tiempos de pandemia, obra catalana que tuvo lugar en Lima en febrero del 2021 en el contexto de la pandemia. Para ello, se toma como referencia central el libro Immersive Theatres, de Josephine Machon, para establecer las características e indicadores de lo que es la inmersión en el teatro. Asimismo, se toma de referencia ideas de Danan y Batlle para hacer un análisis dramatúrgico de la obra en función de la inmersión. Finalmente, esta investigación concluye que dicha obra genera la inmersión del espectador gracias a su propuesta de participación del mismo, de priorización del mundo sensorial y la importancia que le da al espacio y al lugar. Finalmente, se concluye que la obra utiliza recursos inmersivos para proponer una teatralidad acorde al contexto de la pandemia, reformulando las características que lo definen como acontecimiento. De igual manera la obra trata la pandemia a través del miedo generalizado que esta ocasionó en la sociedad. Para ello utiliza el miedo ficcional del relato de misterio y las explicitaciones de violencia y los hace dialogar con el uso de las mascarillas

Morphometric and hydraulic geometry assessment of a gully in SW Spain

Gully erosion represents one of the most significant types of land degradation in the Mediterranean areas, giving place to important on- and off-site effects. In this paper, a second-order gully located in SW Spain is analyzed. Along the gully, 28 cross-sections were established and measured with a Leica TCRM1102 laser total station, approximately every 6 months from 2001 to 2007. The sections were located at variable distance, placing them in areas where active erosion was evident. In total, 13 field measurements were carried out, and the geometric characteristics of 28 cross-sections were obtained. Morphometric analyses were carried out in both the main gully and a tributary reach by applying an empirical relationship between channel length and eroded volume. Morphometric variables of the gully sections were combined into two dimensionless groups, and a morphological similarity between different linear erosion landforms (rills, ephemeral and permanent gullies) was obtained. Then, the coefficient of variation of the calculated volumes was used to compare the instability between the main gully and the tributary reach. Finally, the hydraulic geometry of the gully was assessed by calibrating three empirical power equations, which relate bankfull discharge with mean flow velocity, cross-sectional depth and width. The hydraulic characterization of the main gully and the tributary reach was investigated for each field survey and a different behavior was detected. The hydraulic analysis also demonstrated that higher values of discharge provide better predictions of flow velocity; the size of the main and tributary gullies affects the discharge–width relationship; and that gully depth is the variable which can be predicted with the highest accuracy

Experimental Investigation on Use of Wheat Straw Ash and Bentonite in Self-Compacting Cementitious System

In this research, we evaluated the feasibility of wheat straw ash and bentonite (raw and heated at 150°C for 8 hrs) as secondary raw materials in self-compacting paste (SCP). The fresh and hardened properties of SCP formulations including water and superplasticizer demand, flow behavior, compressive and flexural strength development, water absorption, and acid attack resistance were evaluated. Moreover, porosity, microstructural, and mineralogical investigations were also carried out on SCP formulations. Test results showed that the properties of SCP formulations in fresh state depend on the morphology of secondary raw materials. For heated bentonite and wheat straw ash formulations, the 28 days of compressive and flexural strength were higher or almost similar to reference SCP formulation. Among SCP formulations, wheat straw ash formulation was found to be more effective in consuming free lime and showed significant decrease in porosity with time, which in turn improved the resistance of this SCP formulation against water absorption and acid attack. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that the successful utilization of wheat straw ash and bentonite SCP formulations will offer durable and environmental friendly option to construction industry

Study of hydrogen isotopes behavior in tungsten by a multi trapping macroscopic rate equation model

International audienceDensity functional theory (DFT) studies show that in tungsten a mono vacancy can contain up to six hydrogen isotopes (HIs) at 300 K with detrapping energies varying with the number of HIs inthe vacancy. Using these predictions, a multi trapping rate equation model has been built and used to model thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) experiments performed on single crystaltungsten after deuterium ions implantation. Detrapping energies obtained from the model to adjust temperature of TDS spectrum observed experimentally are in good agreement with DFTvalues within a deviation below 10%. The desorption spectrum as well as the diffusion of deuterium in the bulk are rationalized in light of the model results

Diseño de pavimento rígido incorporando fibra de plástico reciclado, Chilca, Cañete 2022

En la presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar los efectos del diseño de pavimento rígido incorporando fibra de plástico reciclado, Chilca, Cañete 2022, siguiendo una metodología de tipo aplicada y de diseño cuasiexperimental. Se elaboraron un total de 48 muestras, compuestas por 36 probetas cilíndricas y 12 viguetas para un concreto con la incorporación de fibra de plástico reciclado (F.P.R) de 0%, 10%, 15% y 20% con respecto al peso del concreto, dichas muestras fueron ensayadas a resistencia a compresión y flexión, asimismo, se realizó el diseño de pavimento rígido con el concreto patrón y con el mejor comportamiento para obtener el espesor de losa y analizar el costo-beneficio. Previamente para el diseño de pavimento se realizó un estudio de tráfico y de suelos obteniendo un valor ESALs de 811,570.46 y un suelo predominante de arcilla con arena (SP) según SUCS y A- 2-4 (0) según AASHTO y con un CBR al 95% de 7.2%. Los resultados mostraron que la incorporación optima de F.P.R en el concreto era del 15%, obteniendo un incremento en resistencia a la flexión y compresión con respecto a la resistencia de diseño del 24.76% y 9.40% respectivamente, asimismo, se observó que el espesor de pavimento disminuyo en 9.52% logrando obtener un costo-beneficio del 4.83% en comparación del diseño con concreto convencional. Se concluyo que la incorporación de la fibra en 15% mejora significativamente el comportamiento mecánico del concreto y a su vez genera menores costos de elaboración y puesta en obra

Effect of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists on proteinuria and progression of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hypertension and proteinuria are critically involved in the progression of chronic kidney disease. Despite treatment with renin angiotensin system inhibition, kidney function declines in many patients. Aldosterone excess is a risk factor for progression of kidney disease. Hyperkalaemia is a concern with the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. We aimed to determine whether the renal protective benefits of mineralocorticoid antagonists outweigh the risk of hyperkalaemia associated with this treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis investigating renoprotective effects and risk of hyperkalaemia in trials of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in chronic kidney disease. Trials were identified from MEDLINE (1966–2014), EMBASE (1947–2014) and the Cochrane Clinical Trials Database. Unpublished summary data were obtained from investigators. We included randomised controlled trials, and the first period of randomised cross over trials lasting ≥4 weeks in adults. Results: Nineteen trials (21 study groups, 1 646 patients) were included. In random effects meta-analysis, addition of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to renin angiotensin system inhibition resulted in a reduction from baseline in systolic blood pressure (−5.7 [−9.0, −2.3] mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (−1.7 [−3.4, −0.1] mmHg) and glomerular filtration rate (−3.2 [−5.4, −1.0] mL/min/1.73 m2). Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduced weighted mean protein/albumin excretion by 38.7 % but with a threefold higher relative risk of withdrawing from the trial due to hyperkalaemia (3.21, [1.19, 8.71]). Death, cardiovascular events and hard renal end points were not reported in sufficient numbers to analyse. Conclusions: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism reduces blood pressure and urinary protein/albumin excretion with a quantifiable risk of hyperkalaemia above predefined study upper limit

Hyponatremia as a leading sign of hypopituitarism

We report the case of a 67-year-old man admitted to our hospital in an obtunded state. We found that a severe hyponatremia (115 mEq/L) was the cause of patient's status. In turn, hyponatremia was due to hypopituitarism (nonfunctioning macroadenoma). Mild to moderate hyponatremia had been previously detected in this patient, but it was overlooked. Correction of hyponatremia and treatment replacement therapy for central hypothyroidism and hypocortisolism restored a satisfactory clinical condition before discharge. The clinical onset of hypopituitarism is often characterized by mild nonspecific symptoms especially in older people, and it is often overlooked. Hypoglycemia can be another clue to undiagnosed hypopituitarism, and in the reported case, suspicious episodes of hypoglycemia occurred in the months preceding admission. Furthermore, several physicians consider hyponatremia as a normal consequence of aging. Although hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder in the elderly, physicians should not forget that it could be the leading manifestation of hypopituitarism. Hypopituitarism may be easily diagnosed, but clinical suspicion is needed. Because of the excess mortality associated with hypopituitarism, hormone assays should be included in the initial diagnostic work-up of hyponatremia. Keywords: Electrolyte balance, Hyponatremia, Hypopituitarism, Adrenal insufficiency, Elderl