A probabilistic-based methodology for predicting mould growth in façade constructions

Predicting mould growth on façade constructions during design is important for preventing financial loss, and ensuring a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Uncertainties in predicting mould growth are related to the representation of the biological phenomenon, the climate exposure and the material uncertainties. This paper proposes a probabilistic-based methodology that assesses the performance of façade constructions against mould growth and accounts for the aforementioned uncertainties. A comprehensive representation of mould growth is ensured by integrating several mould models in a combined outcome. This approach enables a more comprehensible and useful illustration between continuous mould growth intensities and their corresponding likelihoods. The outdoor climate exposure is represented by stochastic models derived by real time-series analysis according to autoregressive–moving-average models. The methodology is applied to investigate the influence of several parameters and the performance of several construction assemblies. This paper proposes a method to evaluate the façade performance that can facilitate reliability-based design and optimisation of façade construction.The work was supported by TallFaçades project that is funded by the Research Council of Norway under the fourth joint call of the European WoodWisdomNet research programme.acceptedVersio

A probabilistic-based approach for predicting mould growth in timber building envelopes: Comparison of three mould models

This paper applies a probabilistic-based approach as a methodology to analyze and compare the mould growth computations’ results from three different mould models. This approach, instead of the conventional deterministic ones, offers the advantage of accounting for uncertainties concerning prediction of mould growth. The results are able to demonstrate more realistic and conclusive outcomes that can be applicable to real-life situations.publishedVersio

Evaluating highly insulated walls to withstand biodeterioration: A probabilistic-based methodology

The performance to withstand biodeterioration of highly insulated walls is evaluated by applying a probabilistic-based methodology that accounts for the involved uncertainties and investigates their significance. Three approaches to representing the outdoor climate are investigated by varying the method and time duration. The temperature-dependent thermal conductivity of the insulation material is measured, and subsequently, a stochastic model is proposed to represent this property. Deficiencies, considering penetration of wind-driven rain, are accounted for and represented by moisture sources in a parametric way. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the influential parameters, and subsequently, simplify the system representation by reducing the number of input variables in order to reduce the computational efforts. The timber ventilated walls show satisfactory performance to withstand biodeterioration unless potential deficiencies are considered. The study demonstrates that the probabilistic-based methodology enables a more systematic approach to evaluate wall constructions. It accounts for the involved uncertainties, provides a clear association of the microbial growth to its likelihood, and enables the identification and significance of the dominant parameters; hence, it delivers a more comprehensive conclusion regarding the performance of constructions.acceptedVersio

Mould Models Applicable to Wood-Based Materials – A Generic Framework

This paper systematically reviews mould models that are applicable to wood-based materials. Both similarities and differences are observed with respect to governing factors and their interrelations, methodology, experimental set-ups, substrate and extensiveness, and how the result is communicated. Therefore, a generic framework, representing the general computation procedure of all models, is developed considering the factors that govern mould behaviour. This framework, adapted to each model, is used to structure, evaluate and compare current models. This outline supplemented with a comparison table, revealing the models’ extensiveness and differences, establishes a basis to ensure better adequate application of the selected mould model for the case at handdpublishedVersio

Hva kan vi lære fra gjennomførte vilkårsrevisjoner av vannkraftkonsesjoner i Norge? En dokumentanalyse av resultater, prosess og kunnskapsgrunnlag

The terms of more than 400 licenses for the production of hydropower in Norwegian watercourses can come up for revision by 2022. These revisions of terms open up for a weighting of the societal benefit of hydropower production against the regulation’s effect on the environment and public interests, such as recreational use and landscape experiences. At the same time, they are the principal instrument to improve the environmental conditions in regulated watercourses, and thus to implement the European Water Framework Directive in Norway. This article analyses by means of the relevant documents the results, processes and knowledge base of four of the licence revisions that have been conducted so far. We ask what one can learn from these first revisions, whether they fulfil the objectives as stated in the guidelines of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (OED), and whether they represent only incremental or more substantial changes in the management of regulated watercourses. Our study shows i.a. that these first revisions have been long-lasting processes with a relatively low impact on hydropower production, and that they only partially fulfil the objectives of the OED guidelines. We conclude that future revisions could be improved by applying more systematic and structured decision-making processes

Institutional challenges in putting ecosystem service knowledge in practice

The promise that ecosystem service assessments will contribute to better decision-making is not yet proven. We analyse how knowledge on ecosystem services is actually used to inform land and water management in 22 case studies covering different social-ecological systems in European and Latin American countries. None of the case studies reported instrumental use of knowledge in a sense that ecosystem service knowledge would have served as an impartial arbiter between policy options. Yet, in most cases, there was some evidence of conceptual learning as a result of close interaction between researchers, practitioners and stakeholders. We observed several factors that constrained knowledge uptake, including competing interests and political agendas, scientific disputes, professional norms and competencies, and lack of vertical and horizontal integration. Ecosystem knowledge played a small role particularly in those planning and policy-making situations where it challenged established interests and the current distribution of benefits from ecosystems. The factors that facilitated knowledge use included application of transparent participatory methods, social capital, policy champions and clear synergies between ecosystem services and human well-being. The results are aligned with previous studies which have emphasized the importance of building local capacity, ownership and trust for the long-term success of ecosystem service research. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

The provisional OMERACT ultrasonography score for giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVES To develop an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasonography score for monitoring disease activity in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and evaluate its metric properties. METHODS The OMERACT Instrument Selection Algorithm was followed. Forty-nine members of the OMERACT ultrasonography large vessel vasculitis working group were invited to seven Delphi rounds. An online reliability exercise was conducted using images of bilateral common temporal arteries, parietal and frontal branches as well as axillary arteries from 16 patients with GCA and 7 controls. Sensitivity to change and convergent construct validity were tested using data from a prospective cohort of patients with new GCA in which ultrasound-based intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24. RESULTS Agreement was obtained (92.7%) for the OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography Score (OGUS), calculated as follows: sum of IMT measured in every segment divided by the rounded cut-off values of IMTs in each segment. The resulting value is then divided by the number of segments available. Thirty-five members conducted the reliability exercise, the interrater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the OGUS was 0.72-0.84 and the median intrareader ICC was 0.91. The prospective cohort consisted of 52 patients. Sensitivity to change between baseline and each follow-up visit up to week 24 yielded standardised mean differences from -1.19 to -2.16, corresponding to large and very large magnitudes of change, respectively. OGUS correlated moderately with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (corrcoeff 0.37-0.48). CONCLUSION We developed a provisional OGUS for potential use in clinical trials

The provisional OMERACT ultrasonography score for giant cell arteritis

Objectives: To develop an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasonography score for monitoring disease activity in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and evaluate its metric properties. Methods: The OMERACT Instrument Selection Algorithm was followed. Forty-nine members of the OMERACT ultrasonography large vessel vasculitis working group were invited to seven Delphi rounds. An online reliability exercise was conducted using images of bilateral common temporal arteries, parietal and frontal branches as well as axillary arteries from 16 patients with GCA and 7 controls. Sensitivity to change and convergent construct validity were tested using data from a prospective cohort of patients with new GCA in which ultrasound-based intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24. Results: Agreement was obtained (92.7%) for the OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography Score (OGUS), calculated as follows: sum of IMT measured in every segment divided by the rounded cut-off values of IMTs in each segment. The resulting value is then divided by the number of segments available. Thirty-five members conducted the reliability exercise, the interrater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the OGUS was 0.72-0.84 and the median intrareader ICC was 0.91. The prospective cohort consisted of 52 patients. Sensitivity to change between baseline and each follow-up visit up to week 24 yielded standardised mean differences from-1.19 to-2.16, corresponding to large and very large magnitudes of change, respectively. OGUS correlated moderately with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (corrcoeff 0.37-0.48). Conclusion: We developed a provisional OGUS for potential use in clinical trials

The provisional OMERACT ultrasonography score for giant cell arteritis

Objectives: To develop an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) ultrasonography score for monitoring disease activity in giant cell arteritis (GCA) and evaluate its metric properties. Methods: The OMERACT Instrument Selection Algorithm was followed. Forty-nine members of the OMERACT ultrasonography large vessel vasculitis working group were invited to seven Delphi rounds. An online reliability exercise was conducted using images of bilateral common temporal arteries, parietal and frontal branches as well as axillary arteries from 16 patients with GCA and 7 controls. Sensitivity to change and convergent construct validity were tested using data from a prospective cohort of patients with new GCA in which ultrasound-based intima-media thickness (IMT) measurements were conducted at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24. Results: Agreement was obtained (92.7%) for the OMERACT GCA Ultrasonography Score (OGUS), calculated as follows: sum of IMT measured in every segment divided by the rounded cut-off values of IMTs in each segment. The resulting value is then divided by the number of segments available. Thirty-five members conducted the reliability exercise, the interrater intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the OGUS was 0.72-0.84 and the median intrareader ICC was 0.91. The prospective cohort consisted of 52 patients. Sensitivity to change between baseline and each follow-up visit up to week 24 yielded standardised mean differences from -1.19 to -2.16, corresponding to large and very large magnitudes of change, respectively. OGUS correlated moderately with erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (corrcoeff 0.37-0.48). Conclusion: We developed a provisional OGUS for potential use in clinical trials