Integrated Daylighting Design by Combining Passive Method with DaySim in a Classroom

This paper suggests a daylighting design method by combining a passive approach and advanced software to design external shading devices for daylighting in a classroom. A simplified method to predict and assess the indoor natural illuminance is a prerequisite for designers to design schools with better performance. Recently there has been growing demand for school refurbishment; mainly environmental improvement of classrooms in Korea. However, the passive approach of design has been neglected while the use of advanced simulation software has increased, requiring additional time and cost. Combining passive design methods with up-to-date numerical simulation is explored with shading devices to verify the daylighting distribution and daylight autonomy in classrooms with different orientations and shading forms. Weather tool Autodesk Ecotect, for the shading coefficient, and DaySim software (v3.0), for daylight autonomy, were adopted for the initial and the detail design stage, respectively. The findings support the linked design approaches of passive and advanced software would benefit designers in the strategic design process with further potential for design options and lighting electricity reduction

Outdoor Thermal Comfort in a Transitional Space of Canopy in Schools in the UK

There has been a significant increase in opportunities to improve school environments in the UK. There has, however, been little study on the design of sheltered transitional spaces, despite growing architectural demand for this, examples of which can be easily found in most primary schools in the UK. Computer simulations (Rayman, Ecotect and Winair4) were performed to identify the influence of different parameters: that of having a canopy; the effect of the transmissivity of the canopy material (three transparencies 0%, 50% and 90% were considered); orientation (four orientations—north, east, south and west—were considered); and location (three cities: London, Manchester and Glasgow). The combined effects of canopy transparency and orientation were shown to be critical design considerations in affecting comfort conditions in outdoor spaces. It was found that outdoor comfort conditions in the transitional space can be enhanced by 41.5% in August by choosing a canopy of 0% transparency, compared with a canopy of 90% transparency in London. The fixed canopy with a higher transparency helped to increase outdoor thermal comfort in Glasgow, while one with a lower transparency showed better performance during summer in London. This research will help design environmentally sophisticated transitional spaces in schools

Numerical Study of Balancing between Indoor Building Energy and Outdoor Thermal Comfort with a Flexible Building Element

This study analyzed the environmental role of a flexible canopy as a microclimate modifier in balancing indoor energy demands and outdoor thermal comfort. Flexible building elements are often installed in traditional buildings, depending on the local climate in southern Europe. The architectural performance of a canopy was analyzed using several environmental software packages (Ecotect, Rayman, WinAir, DaySim, and EDSL TAS). Coupling methods were applied to determine the environmental influence of the attached building element, a canopy with fixed and operable panes in different orientations and locations. The results showed that the flexible canopy played a crucial role in reducing indoor energy demands (heating and electricity for lighting) and increasing outdoor thermal comfort under the canopy area. Outdoor thermally comfortable conditions ranging between 13 and 29 °C in the canopy space could be enhanced by 56.3% over the entire year by manipulating a flexible canopy, compared with a fixed canopy with 90% transparency in London. The flexible canopy with higher transparency helped increase outdoor thermal comfort in Glasgow, while one with lower transparency showed better performance during summer in London. The findings of this research will help broaden the range of architectural elements used in buildings

Changes in Soluble Serum CD81 Concentration during an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Individuals with Normal Glucose Tolerance

Aim: Cluster of differentiation 81 (CD81) is a cell surface protein involved in cell development, activation, growth, and motility. Recent studies have suggested that CD81 is a marker of dedifferentiated β-cells under conditions of metabolic stress, such as progressive diabetes. However, the clinical significance of changes in soluble serum CD81 (sCD81) in diabetic individuals remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum sCD81 concentrations differ between subjects with diabetes and normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and whether sCD81 changes during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Materials and methods: We recruited 101 subjects who had completed an OGTT. According to the test results, the participants were divided into diabetes mellitus (DM) and NGT groups. Participants with prediabetes were excluded from the analysis. During the OGTT, sCD81 levels were measured at 0 and 120 min. We compared changes in sCD81 between the groups. Results: In the DM group, soluble sCD81 levels were significantly higher at baseline and 120 min in the OGTT compared with the normal group (0.59 (0.22–1.05) ng/mL vs. 0.25 (0.81–0.67) ng/mL, 0.55 (0.17–0.96) ng/mL vs. 0.21 (0.92–0.78) ng/mL, p = 0.006 and 0.029, respectively). The soluble sCD81 levels in the NGT group remained unchanged (p = 0.658), while those in the DM group were significantly decreased during the OGTT (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Soluble sCD81 levels were elevated in individuals with type 2 diabetes, such that changes in sCD81 were only observed during the OGTT in the DM group. Soluble sCD81 may have potential as a new diagnostic marker for type 2 diabetes

Frontal dysfunction underlies depressive syndrome in Alzheimer disease: a FDG-PET study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the regional cerebral dysfunction associated with depressive syndrome in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). METHOD: Twelve patients with AD with depressive syndrome (ADD) and 12 age-, gender-, and severity-matched patients with AD without depressive syndrome (ADND) underwent FDG-PET scanning. The regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the two groups was compared using a voxel-based method. RESULTS: The ADD group showed lower glucose metabolism in the right superior frontal gyrus than the ADND group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that frontal dysfunction, known to be associated with primary or other secondary depressive syndromes, underlies the depressive syndrome of patients with AD patients as well

Performance on the Benton Visual Retention Test in an educationally diverse elderly population

In this study, we investigated the effects of demographic variables on the performances of Administrations A and C of the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) in a geriatric population with a wide range of educational achievement. We administered the test to 554 nondemented elders aged 60-90 years with an educational history of from zero to 25 years. Age and education significantly influenced Administrations A and C, although gender had no main effect. We observed significant Education x Gender interactions for Administrations A and C, Age x Gender interactions for Administration A, and Age x Education interactions for Administration C. Our results suggest that both nonverbal memory and constructional ability are influenced by age and education. Although there is no overall gender effect, men seem to outperform women in a poorly educated (for Administrations A and C) or relatively older (for Administration A) elderly population