The potential of harnessing real-time occupancy data for improving energy performance of activity-based workplaces

Currently, the available studies on the prediction of building energy performance and real occupancy data are typically characterized by aggregated and averaged occupancy patterns or large thermal zones of reference. Despite the increasing diffusion of smart energy management systems and the growing availability of longitudinal data regarding occupancy, these two domains rarely inform each other. This research aims at understanding the potential of employing real-time occupancy data to identify better cooling strategies for activity-based-working (ABW)-supportive offices and reduce the overall energy consumption. It presents a case study comparing the energy performance of the office when different resolutions of occupancy and thermal zoning are applied, ranging from the standard energy certification approach to real-time occupancy patterns. For the first time, one year of real-time occupancy data at the desk resolution, captured through computer logs and Bluetooth devices, is used to investigate this issue. Results show that the actual cooling demand is 9% lower than predicted, unveiling the energy-saving potential to be achieved from HVAC systems for non-assigned seating environments. This research demonstrates that harnessing real-time occupancy data for demand-supply cooling management at a fine-grid resolution is an efficient strategy to reduce cooling consumption and increase workers’ comfort. It also emphasizes the need for more data and monitoring campaigns for the definition of more accurate and robust energy management strategies

Overlaps in space utilisation patterns and IEQ conditions observed in Activity-Based Working supportive office

One of the potential positive aspects of spaces designed to support Activity-Based Working (ABW) concept is to allow people to choose to work from zones that suit their Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) preferences. The vast majority of studies reporting findings relevant to IEQ performance of ABW spaces rely on spot measurements and/or subjective surveys and as such it is difficult to map longitudinal actual utilisation patterns and IEQ performance. This study contributes to this topic by analyzing a longitudinal dataset of space utilisation of an ABW over a twelve-month period. Analysis aims to identify overlaps between space utilisation patterns and expected IEQ performance in order to understand which types of zones occupants seem to prefer to work from. Occupants’ demographics (age and gender) were also analyzed with respect to the use of space. Further, specific physical markers were investigated, namely proximity to window, air-conditioning outlets, and high-low noise locations. The impact of physical markers on workplace choice was classified and predicted during a day using a decision-tree diagram developed on the basis of the CHAID algorithm. Overall, workers tended to choose to work within the inner zones (after 11 a.m.) during winter. Findings show that female workers moved away from air-conditioning outlets. Additionally, female workers worked from workstations situated in high and medium noise zones. Results illustrated the potential to use utilisation datasets to understand how workers move away or towards zones in response to expected IEQ performance - thermal comfort (cold/warm), acoustics (noisy/quiet), and access to the outdoor environment/view (window) proximity

Occupants’ satisfaction and perceived productivity in open-plan offices designed to support activity-based working: findings from different industry sectors

Purpose: In the rise of offices designed to support activity-based working (ABW), parts of industry have fully transitioned to open-plan environments and then later to unassigned seating, whereas other parts, such as tertiary education, are still in the process of moving away from individual offices. There are a few relevant studies to understand how occupants from industry sectors with different levels of adoption of ABW perceived environments designed to support this way of working. This paper aims to contribute to the knowledge gap by providing insight into workers’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction from open-plan offices designed to support ABW along with the key predictors of perceived productivity. Design/methodology/approach: A data set of 2,090 post-occupancy evaluation surveys conducted in five sectors – tertiary education, finance, construction, property/asset management and design/engineering – was analyzed. ANOVA and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted for the survey questionnaires. First, ANOVA tests were conducted for the whole sample with perceived productivity as the dependent variable. A seven-point Likert scale with five theoretical factors was generated with all survey questionnaires. CFA was performed to show the factor loadings. In addition, regression analyses were carried out for each of factor item taken as the independent variable, where perceived productivity was the dependent variable. Key sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction per sector were analyzed and differences between occupants reporting a negative or positive impact on their productivity were also investigated. Finally, open-ended comments were analyzed to show the key sources of dissatisfaction based on open-ended comments. Findings: Workers from construction were the most satisfied, followed by finance and tertiary education. Occupants from all industry sectors consistently rated their workspaces highly on biophilic and interior design. Distraction and privacy received the lowest scores from all sectors. Open-ended comments showed mismatches between spatial and behavioral dimensions of ABW both for satisfaction and perceived productivity. Interior design was the strongest predictor for perceived productivity for all sectors. Findings dispel the notion that ABW implementation may not be suitable for certain industries, as long as the three key pillars of ABW are fully implemented, including design, behavior and technology. Originality/value: This paper provides insight into workers’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction from open-plan offices designed to support ABW in different industry sectors along with the key predictors of perceived productivity

The evaluation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene polymorphism in glioblastoma patients

PubMedID: 30984996AIM: To assess the distribution of genetic polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) to predict the clinical course of glioblastoma, report on the genetic mechanisms, and provide guidance on potential therapeutic methods. MATERIAL and METHODS: Our study included 31 adult patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at our institution and diagnosed with glioblastoma between October 2013 and January 2014 together with 50 control subjects. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 vs. 53.9 years, respectively, and the gender distribution (male/female: 64.5/35.5% vs. 64/36%, respectively) was comparable among patients and controls (p>0.05). Sixteen different KIR genes including inhibitory, activating, and pseudogenes were investigated for each sample, and the framework genes including KIR2DL4, 3DL2, 3DL3, and 3DP1 were present in all patients and controls. In addition, the inhibitory KIR genes and the 2DL3 gene were significantly more common in patients compared to controls (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the inhibitory KIR gene 2DL3 has a predisposition for glioblastoma. Identifying the potential link between glioblastoma cells and immune system genetics is critical in predicting familial predisposition and early diagnosis. In addition, this clue may be a key factor in developing post-surgery individual immunotherapy models in the future. © 2019 Turkish Neurosurgical Society.Preparation for publication of this article is partly supported by Turkish Neurosurgical Society

The effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on the experimental carbon dioxide laser brain lesion: Ultrastructural and biochemical study

Although the main advantage of the CO2 laser lies in the possibility of a less traumatic effect on the surrounding tissue, its use in neurosurgery still necessitates a thorough and detailed evaluation of the effect on surrounding normal central nervous system (CNS) tissue, Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural and biochemical effects of the CO2 laser on the application area and the surrounding normal central nervous system tissue. Sodium-potassium activated and magnesium-dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na+-K+/Mg2+ ATPase E.C.3.6.3.1), magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Mg2+ ATPase E.C.3.6.1.3) and calcium activated magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase E.C.3.6.1.3) enzymes, superoxide dismutase, light microscopic and ultrastructural findings were determined in dog brain following laser application with and without thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) treatment. Laser lesions were created by a CO2 laser in the cerebrum. Fifteen days later, after thyrotropin releasing hormone injection, ultrastructural and biochemical investigations were undertaken to evaluate the effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone on the laser induced lesion and particularly surrounding cerebral tissue. Ultrastructural findings, showed that thyrotropin releasing hormone reduced degeneration on the CO2 laser-applied lesion

Effect of thyrotropin releasing hormone on the cerebral artery after CO2 laser induced lesion

[No abstract available