Anatomical and Surgical Principles of Ventral Hernia Repairs

Hernias comprise a growing problem in surgical science. The most recent classification scheme for hernias emphasizes on the size of defect as well as on whether it is an incisional hernia. The latter group includes complex hernias, namely hernias that can not be managed with simple surgical techniques. This can be accomplished with retromuscular repairs or the more complex anterior and posterior component separation techniques. An anatomic repair is usually reinforced with interposition of mesh. Newest techniques, such as the use of botulinum toxin to induce temporary paralysis of the lateral abdominal wall musculature, referred to as chemical component separation, now present new tools in the restoration of anatomy-based repairs. The chapter entitled “Anatomical and surgical principles of ventral hernia repairs” aims to describe the anatomical and surgical principles of current practice regarding the repair of ventral -primary and incisional-hernias

IEQ and energy improvement of existing buildings by prefabricated facade additions: the case of a student house in Athens

The aim of this paper is to evaluate and illustrate the energy saving potential and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) performances of a fa\ue7ade addition on existing and low energy performing buildings. Different technical solutions are proposed and all IEQ indicators\u2019 simulation results are presented for the case of a students\u2019 building block of the 80\u2019s located in Athens. The building is the demonstrator of the \u201cPro-GET-onE\u201d Horizon 2020 project, that aims to demonstrate the attractiveness and the energy efficiency of a renovation strategy based on new fa\ue7ade additions combining inteGrated Efficient Technologies (GETs). The research project proposes the highest transformation of the existing building\u2019s shell with external added volumes, which generate energy efficient buffer zones and at the same time increase the building\u2019s volume (with balconies, sunspaces and extra rooms). This strategy gives also the possibility to increase IEQ performance, in different ways depending on the architectural solutions, the selected materials and the adopted technological solutions. As a general statement, the facade addition solution leads to an increase of the thermo-hygrometric conditions (both for the cold winter season and the summer period), of the facade sound insulation and consequently the acoustic comfort, and of the indoor air quality. The lighting and the visual comfort are a critical point due to the enlargement of the existing surface of the rooms: specific light enhancement techniques have been studied to optimize indoor light, therefore minimizing the drawbacks of fa\ue7ade expansions, and will be suggested for the final design of the case study. The detailed analysis of individual units (additions) led to the formulation of hypotheses for targeted energy retrofitting interventions in different options; with different scenarios of integrated RES technologies, these options have been analysed both separately and in combination, to assess the technical, the energy feasibility and the IEQ performance in each scenario

Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation Strategy as an Upgrade (Renovation) Measure in a Historic Building Located in the Mediterranean Zone (Athens, Greece)

The assessment of indoor environmental quality in historic buildings converted to museums is a significant tool in deep energy renovation processes, as it provides insights for the microclimatic conditions in the interiors of the building where vast numbers of visitors walk every year and where artifacts that are vulnerable to pollution are exhibited. In this work, aiming to contribute to the development of an energy retrofitting protocol applied in the Mediterranean region (HAPPEN MedZeb protocol) for museums hosted in historic buildings by providing useful data, an experimental campaign to evaluate the indoor environmental quality of a museum housed in a historic building located in Athens took place from February 2019 to April 2021 and was divided into two periods. The findings revealed high concentrations of volatile organic compounds as well as poor thermal comfort levels since the sensors recorded low acceptable percentages of T values within the limits from 7 to 33% for the entire experimental period. Based on the findings, recommendations for retrofitting interventions are made.Unión Europea 78507

Indoor Environmental Quality Evaluation Strategy as an Upgrade (Renovation) Measure in a Historic Building Located in the Mediterranean Zone (Athens, Greece)

The assessment of indoor environmental quality in historic buildings converted to museums is a significant tool in deep energy renovation processes, as it provides insights for the microclimatic conditions in the interiors of the building where vast numbers of visitors walk every year and where artifacts that are vulnerable to pollution are exhibited. In this work, aiming to contribute to the development of an energy retrofitting protocol applied in the Mediterranean region (HAPPEN MedZeb protocol) for museums hosted in historic buildings by providing useful data, an experimental campaign to evaluate the indoor environmental quality of a museum housed in a historic building located in Athens took place from February 2019 to April 2021 and was divided into two periods. The findings revealed high concentrations of volatile organic compounds as well as poor thermal comfort levels since the sensors recorded low acceptable percentages of T values within the limits from 7 to 33% for the entire experimental period. Based on the findings, recommendations for retrofitting interventions are made

On the development, testing and performance evaluation of energy efficient coatings for buildings

Coatings used in the indoor or outdoor facade of buildings seriously affect the flow of heat through the opaque elements and determine its energy performance. Sixteen envelope coatings for building facades presenting advanced thermal and optical properties, like low thermal conductivity, high solar reflectance, high emissivity and increased thermal capacity have been developed and tested. The expected energy conservation has been assessed considering different scenarios regarding coating’s thickness and position for thermostatically controlled and free floating insulated and non-insulated buildings, located in heating and cooling dominated climates. Based on the results of this study, it was found that in average the energy saving for the cooling loads is up to 48.4% for Athens and 76.2% for Warsaw, while for heating loads is up to 17.2% and 11.8% respectively. Moreover, a proportional decrease was observed in the cooling degree hours (up to 36.8% for Athens and 74.3% for Warsaw) and in the heating degree hours (up to 11.8% and 8.5% respectively). It is concluded that the use of advanced coatings may considerably decrease the heating and cooling energy in buildings and significantly improve indoor thermal comfort conditions

Identification of Reference Buildings in Mediterranean Countries: The HAPPEN Project Approach

This study’s scope is to collect and analyze all the needed information related to the residential building stocks in Mediterranean countries, especially those that participated in the framework of the HAPPEN project (Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and France). A specific procedure was followed in order to conduct a coordinated evaluation of the residential building stock. The most important variables for a statistical examination of the building stock are outlined, as well as an approach for establishing reference buildings. National data for the seven participating nations were collected and evaluated using the prescribed methodology. The research findings identify six distinct reference buildings in each nation. More specifically, the most representative buildings were distinguished through a cross-country comparison of the obtained data, after classifying the buildings into different classes to which the same approach for deep renovation/refurbishment can be applied

Identification of Reference Buildings in Mediterranean Countries: The HAPPEN Project Approach

This study’s scope is to collect and analyze all the needed information related to the residential building stocks in Mediterranean countries, especially those that participated in the framework of the HAPPEN project (Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, and France). A specific procedure was followed in order to conduct a coordinated evaluation of the residential building stock. The most important variables for a statistical examination of the building stock are outlined, as well as an approach for establishing reference buildings. National data for the seven participating nations were collected and evaluated using the prescribed methodology. The research findings identify six distinct reference buildings in each nation. More specifically, the most representative buildings were distinguished through a cross-country comparison of the obtained data, after classifying the buildings into different classes to which the same approach for deep renovation/refurbishment can be applied

Development and testing of photovoltaic pavement for heat island mitigation

Summarization: The phenomenon of heat island increases the urban temperature and the energy demand for cooling, as well as worsens the comfort and environmental conditions in the urban environment. In order for the consequences of the phenomenon to be counterbalanced, important mitigation techniques have been proposed.The pavements cover a very high percentage of the urban surface and contribute to a significant degree to heat island's growth in cities and towns. The use of cool pavements achieves significant decrease in the surface temperature as well as in the flow of sensible heat towards the atmosphere. Therefore, it seems to be one of the most important proposed areas of mitigation as far as the aforementioned phenomenon is concerned.This assignment deals with the development and experimental testing of a new technique for the mitigation of the urban heat island, this of the corporation of photovoltaics in pavements. The objective of this assignment is to evaluate their contribution in the mitigation of the phenomenon. The experimental procedure was divided in two time periods: the one took place during the summer-autumn 2012 and the second during the summer 2013. The measurements were done on a daily basis in different weather conditions. In addition, the results were checked by a theoretical mathematical model. The whole measuring campaign indicated that lower temperatures were measured on the PV pavement than those measured on the other two materials (soil, asphalt).The numerical predictions are compared with the experimental data where similar results are found. In order for the contribution of these pavements to the improvement of urban microclimate to be measured, a simulation of an appropriate model took place. More specifically, the model Envimet 3.1 was applied in one particular area of Athens with and without the (incorporation) of the photovoltaic pavement.The outcome of the aforementioned experiment proved that the incorporation of the photovoltaic pavement can achieve a surface temperature decrease of 5 K as well as a decrease in the ambient temperature of almost 1 K.Presented on: Solar Energ