A geographic information method for managing urban energy use

This paper presents a geographical information method to support urban-level energy policies. It proposes using a geographical information system to store, display, edit, share and analyse geographical information for territorial decision-making. The method was used to help develop a sustainable energy action plan for the municipality of Randazzo in Sicily, Italy, by providing an accurate representation of actual energy consumption. Based on this case study, the use of a geographical information system appears to be a suitable support tool for both developing and managing sustainable energy action plans, regardless of the geographical area or context. This method will help municipalities estimate and monitor the energy consumption of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and, by taking into account the approaches of different stakeholders, help develop more accurate models for reducing urban carbon dioxide emissions

Effectiveness of VIPs and PCMs on the energy performance and thermal comfort in buildings

none6noA strategy for improving the buildings energy efficiency is to diminish the energy demand for space heating and cooling. The European Directive has established a high standard of thermal insulation, involving stringent limits for building energy performance. However, such approach determines an increase of the cooling energy demand and noteworthy overheating of indoor spaces in the summer period. This study investigates through dynamic thermal simulations the effectiveness of new thermal insulation materials, such as Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) and Phase Change Materials (PCMs), on reducing heating and cooling energy demands, as well as guaranteeing the thermal comfort into a test room located in three different locations (Catania, Rome and Wien). The energy demand for space cooling and heating have been evaluated for the different facade configurations, as well as the attainable indoor thermal comfort. The outcomes of the simulations in air-conditioned spaces highlight that the wall configurations that adopt VIPs allow reducing the heating energy needs but may increase the cooling energy needs. Remarkable differences are not detected for the heating and cooling energy demands when the PCMs are used. The daily fluctuation of the indoor operative temperature and the adaptive comfort model suggest that the PCM placed on the inner side of the walls shows a good thermal performance. The outcomes of the study outline the strengths and weakness of the analyzed facade configurations, which may help designers in the search for suitable solutionsopenDetommaso M, Gagliano A., Marletta L., Nocera F., Bisegna F., Tronchin LDetommaso M, Gagliano A., Marletta L., Nocera F., Bisegna F., Tronchin

Event-Related Potentials to Emotional Stimuli in Migrainous Children

The present preliminary study was aimed at investigating the electrocortical correlates of attentional allocation toward emotional stimuli in children and adolescents with migraine by means of the event-related potentials. The electroencephalogram was continuously recorded in 7 migrainous children and 8 healthy controls while they were looking at a series of pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures. The mean amplitude of the Negative Central component of the event-related potentials was computed as an index of the allocation of attentional resources to the presented stimuli. Relative to controls, children with migraine displayed reduced fronto-central negativity and larger posterior positivity in response to emotional pictures. This effect was already evident, overall, in a time window preceding the Negative Central component. The smaller cortical negativity in response to emotional stimuli suggests reduced attentional engagement toward emotionally relevant stimuli, or might be interpreted in terms of advanced brain maturation in migraine children

Observing pain in individuals with cognitive impairment: A pilot comparison attempt across countries and across different types of cognitive impairment

Facial expression is a key aspect in observational scales developed to improve pain assessment in individuals with cognitive impairments. Although these scales are used internationally in individuals with different types of cognitive impairments, it is not known whether observing facial expressions of pain might differ between regions or between different types of cognitive impairments. In a pilot study, facial responses to standardized experimental pressure pain were assessed among individuals with different types of cognitive impairments (dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Huntington’s disease, and intellectual disability) from different countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, Israel, and Spain) and were analyzed using facial descriptors from the PAIC scale (Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition). We found high inter-rater reliability between observers from different countries. Moreover, facial responses to pain did not differ between individuals with dementia from different countries (Denmark, Germany, and Spain). However, the type of cognitive impairment had a significant impact; with individuals with intellectual disability (all being from Israel) showing the strongest facial responses. Our pilot data suggest that the country of origin does not strongly affect how pain is facially expressed or how facial responses are being scored. However, the type of cognitive impairment showed a clear effect in our pilot study, with elevated facial responses in individuals with intellectual disability

Observing pain in individuals with cognitive impairment : A pilot comparison attempt across countries and across different types of cognitive impairment

Funding: This research was funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology; funding number: EU COST-Action TD1005.Facial expression is a key aspect in observational scales developed to improve pain assessment in individuals with cognitive impairments. Although these scales are used internationally in individuals with different types of cognitive impairments, it is not known whether observing facial expressions of pain might differ between regions or between different types of cognitive impairments. In a pilot study, facial responses to standardized experimental pressure pain were assessed among individuals with different types of cognitive impairments (dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Huntington's disease, and intellectual disability) from different countries (Denmark, Germany, Italy, Israel, and Spain) and were analyzed using facial descriptors from the PAIC scale (Pain Assessment in Impaired Cognition). We found high inter-rater reliability between observers from different countries. Moreover, facial responses to pain did not differ between individuals with dementia from different countries (Denmark, Germany, and Spain). However, the type of cognitive impairment had a significant impact; with individuals with intellectual disability (all being from Israel) showing the strongest facial responses. Our pilot data suggest that the country of origin does not strongly affect how pain is facially expressed or how facial responses are being scored. However, the type of cognitive impairment showed a clear effect in our pilot study, with elevated facial responses in individuals with intellectual disability