AGEING AND AGEING CITIES: HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONAL

By 2050, 70% of the population will live in cities. The majority of the persons living in cities will be 60 plus years old. Ageing cities demands for cities environments to adapt to an ageing population. Modern cities though, don’t anticipate fast enough and in an adequate manner to face the challenges due to population-related transitions. Modifying and adapting the built environment with a focus on the aged population could help to support older people facing functional and cognitive decline

The influence of indoor air quality in classrooms on the short-term academic performance of students in higher education; a field study during a regular academic course

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms in higher education can influence in-class activities positively. In this context, the actual IAQ and students’ perceived IAQ (PIAQ), perceived cognitive performance (PCP), and short-term academic performance (SAP) were examined in two identical classrooms during regular academic courses. During the lecture, key performance indicators (KPI) for the IAQ, i.e. carbon dioxide concentration, particulate matter 2.5, and total volatile organic compounds, were measured. After the lecture, responses of 163 students were collected with a validated self-composed questionnaire and a cognitive test, which covered topics discussed during the lecture. A significant association between the IAQ KPI and the PIAQ was found (p < .000). The PIAQ significantly predicted the PCP (p < .05) and the PCP significantly predicted the SAP score (p < .01). These results indicate that the IAQ in classrooms is associated with the PIAQ and PCP, and therefore is associated with students’ SAP.publishedVersio

The influence of indoor air quality in classrooms on the short-term academic performance of students in higher education; a field study during a regular academic course

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms in higher education can influence in-class activities positively. In this context, the actual IAQ and students’ perceived IAQ (PIAQ), perceived cognitive performance (PCP), and short-term academic performance (SAP) were examined in two identical classrooms during regular academic courses. During the lecture, key performance indicators (KPI) for the IAQ, i.e. carbon dioxide concentration, particulate matter 2.5, and total volatile organic compounds, were measured. After the lecture, responses of 163 students were collected with a validated self-composed questionnaire and a cognitive test, which covered topics discussed during the lecture. A significant association between the IAQ KPI and the PIAQ was found (p < .000). The PIAQ significantly predicted the PCP (p < .05) and the PCP significantly predicted the SAP score (p < .01). These results indicate that the IAQ in classrooms is associated with the PIAQ and PCP, and therefore is associated with students’ SAP.publishedVersio

Filtration &amp; Energy:Is demand controlled filtration in cleanrooms interesting from an energy point-of-view

Ten behoeve van de luchtkwaliteit worden grote ventilatiedebieten gehanteerd in cleanrooms; dit vaak 24/7. Om het energiegebruik te reduceren zijn mogelijkheden onderzocht om het debiet te reduceren bij gelijkblijvende prestaties op luchtkwaliteitgebied; nachtreductie, sturing op deeltjesconcentratie en op basis van bezetting. Metingen zijn uitgevoerd en simulaties zijn ingezet om de mogelijkheden te beoordelen. Uit de metingen en simulaties blijkt dat voor de onderzochte farmaceutische cleanrooms tot 90% energiebesparing mogelijk is. Overdimensionering en beperkt gebruikt zijn de oorzaak hiervan. Sturing op bezetting wordt als meest praktisch en effectief beoordeeld voor de onderzochte situaties.Dutch: De noodzaak van grote debieten in cleanrooms is mede afhankelijk van het type gebruik (de belasting) en de tijdsduur. Resultaat op dit moment is echter dat, bijvoorbeeld, een GMP B ruimte tot meer dan 25 keer meer energie gebruikt dan een niet-geclassificeerde ruimte [2]. Of het gehanteerde ventilatievoud daarbij representatief is? Dat is vaak nog een vraag. In de ontwerpfase is het veelal nog onduidelijk wat de exacte belasting (deeltjesproductie) zal zijn [3]. Als ontwerper zullen dan normaal gesproken, en noodgedwongen, wat zekerheden worden ingebouwd ten aanzien van de capaciteit

Contaminant removal efficiency, design parameter in cleanrooms

In cleanrooms worden hoge ventilatievouden gehanteerd. Dit is in lijn met de beschikbare richtlijnen [1]. Normaal gesproken worden de daarvoor benodigde debieten 24/7 gerealiseerd zodat de cleanroom continu op het gewenste niveau presteert. Dit is daarmee een energie-intensieve activiteit. In twee deelonderzoeken is onderzocht wat de mogelijkheden zijn om het ventilatie-energiegebruik van cleanrooms te reduceren, bij een gelijkblijvende prestatie. In dit deelonderzoek is de focus op de efficiency waarmee geventileerd wordt om verontreinigingen af te voeren

Age Related Visual Pathologies among Nursing Home Residents: An Evaluation of Light Conditions and Recording in Client Files

Objective: Reflection on visual problems in nursing homes. Data Sources: Eye examinations, documented visual problems and illuminance levels. Study design: The optometric examinations and recorded visual problems were combined with illuminance data. Data collection: In seven nursing homes, 259 residents underwent an optometric examination. Their client records were analyzed for information regarding visual functioning. The illuminance data were ranked to set the quality of the lighting conditions. Principal findings: 50% of the referred residents had problems with cataracts, retinal problems (21%), suspected glaucoma (13%), and other pathologies (16%). The information was not current in 56% of the records. The quality of lighting conditions was low or moderate. Conclusion: The finding of poor lighting conditions in nursing homes in combination with a high prevalence of visual problems (with cataract found to be the most common age related pathology), stretches the need of enhanced awareness of eye care by professional caregivers

Contaminant removal efficiency, design parameter in cleanrooms

In cleanrooms worden hoge ventilatievouden gehanteerd. Dit is in lijn met de beschikbare richtlijnen [1]. Normaal gesproken worden de daarvoor benodigde debieten 24/7 gerealiseerd zodat de cleanroom continu op het gewenste niveau presteert. Dit is daarmee een energie-intensieve activiteit. In twee deelonderzoeken is onderzocht wat de mogelijkheden zijn om het ventilatie-energiegebruik van cleanrooms te reduceren, bij een gelijkblijvende prestatie. In dit deelonderzoek is de focus op de efficiency waarmee geventileerd wordt om verontreinigingen af te voeren