Comfort Of People Research Articles

Effect of the ischial support on muscle force estimation during transfemoral walking.

Transmission of loads between the prosthetic socket and the residual limb is critical for the comfort and walking ability of people with transfemoral amputation. This transmission is mainly determined by the socket tightening, muscle forces, and socket ischial support. However, numerical investigations of the amputated gait, using modeling approaches such as MusculoSkeletal (MSK) modeling, ignore the weight-bearing role of the ischial support. This simplification may lead to errors in the muscle force estimation. This study aims to propose a MSK model of the amputated gait that accounts for the interaction between the body and the ischial support for the estimation of the muscle forces of 13 subjects with unilateral transfemoral amputation. Contrary to previous studies on the amputated gait which ignored the interaction with the ischial support, here, the contact on the ischial support was included in the external loads acting on the pelvis in a MSK model of the amputated gait. Including the ischial support induced an increase in the activity of the main abductor muscles, while adductor muscles' activity was reduced. These results suggest that neglecting the interaction with the ischial support leads to erroneous muscle force distribution considering the gait of people with transfemoral amputation. Although subjects with various bone geometries, particularly femur lengths, were included in the study, similar results were obtained for all subjects. Eventually, the estimation of muscle forces from MSK models could be used in combination with finite element models to provide quantitative data for the design of prosthetic sockets.

Transparent Nanofibrous Membranes with Optimized Optical Channel Structure for Window Screens

AbstractNanofibrous membranes, characterized by their flexibility, high porosity, and tunable structure, are emerging as a promising contender for advanced transparent materials with sufficient breathability and pliability. However, the considerable surface light reflection and internal light scattering of nanofibrous membranes pose a challenging task in achieving transparency. In this study, transparent nanofibrous membranes are fabricated by constructing a topological structure with optimized optical transmission channels, which provide the minimum equivalent thickness to minimize light loss in nanofibrous membranes. The resultant fabricated membrane exhibits a high light transmittance of up to 81%, along with a sufficient porosity of 84% and flexibility. Additionally, the membrane demonstrated effective PM0.3–10 removal efficiency (>91%), low air pressure drops (<110 Pa), high air permeability (≈104 mm s−1), and good waterproof performance. Therefore, the prepared transparent nanofibrous membrane may serve as a transparent air filtration window screen to enhance indoor comfort for people.

A study of acoustic-light-thermal effects on pedestrians’ overall comfort in a Cfa-climate campus during the summer

The environmental quality, in terms of acoustic, visual, and thermal environments, significantly affects people's comfort levels. Along these lines, in this work, their comprehensive impact on people's overall comfort was systematically explored. Pedestrians' outdoor neutral points on various environmental parameters were found by performing linear regressions. Similarly, people's thermal perceptions (indicated by neutral temperatures, NT) were found to vary for both acoustic and light environments. They would be increasingly heat sensitive (R2 increases) in a noisier environment while the NTs varied for either sound or light intensity levels. From our analysis, it was demonstrated that people's overall comforts were negatively correlated with these parameters in different degrees. This work provides valuable insights for future urban design and planning studies to create better outdoor environments.

Impact of lighting environment on human performance and prediction modeling of personal visual comfort in enclosed cabins

Enclosed cabins are of great significance in various fields, including national defense, scientific research, and industrial applications. It is important to clarify the impact of the lighting environment in these cabins on the people operating within them. This study investigated the effects of the lighting environment in enclosed cabins on the physiological, operational, and comfort performance of operators through simulated experiments. In Addition, using the Random Forest Algorithm and ExpandNet technique, we developed a prediction model to evaluate the comfort level of the lighting environment for personnel in enclosed cabins. The results indicated that pupil diameter exhibited the highest sensitivity to ambient light. The appropriate luminance combination of the screen and the ambient scene have a positive effect on human performance. In particular, it was observed that the average cognitive performance and comfort of participants tended to be relatively high in the luminance combinations 13, 14, and 15 at CCT 5500 K. The screen luminance of these combinations are all 284.75 cd/m2. Although no statistically significant relationship was found between the cognitive performance of the participants and their comfort, the comfort of the participants tended to decrease after the cognitive operations was completed. According to the proposed personal comfort prediction model, the visual comfort of different people varies even under the same lighting conditions. This study provides a solid theoretical basis for improving the design of lighting environments in enclosed spaces and contributes to developing a pleasant and productive working environment within limited cabins.

“I Saw Her With My Heart”: Supernatural Experiences and Continuing Bonds After the Death of a Dog

ABSTRACT Experiencing the ghosts of the departed is a common, cross-cultural experience of grief; such interactions are part of so-called externalized continuing bonds and represent an ongoing relationship with the departed. This paper characterizes people's reported supernatural experiences with the spirits of their deceased dogs and analyzes them in the context of bereavement, externalized continuing bonds, and disenfranchised grief. Using a thematic analysis, 544 candid online comments from social media where people shared their supernatural experiences were studied. These comments fell into two major themes with six subthemes: physical experiences (hearing, seeing, and touching the ghost of a dog) and interpreted experiences (seeing signs in nature, receiving visits from the deceased dog in dreams, and attributing feelings and phenomena to the spirit of the dog). How people described the feelings associated with these supernatural visits were also studied; three themes were found: Positive Feelings, Mixed to Sad Feelings, and Messages. The vast majority of reported feelings (74.6%) were positive, bringing people comfort, reassurance, and a sense of protection. While psychology largely characterizes externalized continuing bonds – particularly seeing ghosts – as negative and even maladaptive, this is in conflict with the findings. These supernatural experiences may serve a different role for grieving dog guardians. Given that disenfranchised grief is common due to the lack of cultural support for people mourning their dogs, and grief over companion animals is often complicated by guilt, these supernatural experiences may serve as an important source of comfort and a way for the bereaved to engage with loss.

GEDUNG OLAHRAGA PENYANDANG TUNANETRA PADA KAWASAN KOMPLEK PERTUNI BANJARBARU

Sports are very necessary for everyone's sports needs, including the blind. Blind people have limitations in their activities which is a problem in this writing. A special building was created for blind people to exercise in the PERTUNI Banjarbaru complex area using methods that can facilitate independence, comfort and safety when exercising. A design with the concept of orientation and mobility was chosen because this concept can prioritize comfort, comfort and safety for blind people. With this concept, it is hoped to produce a plan that suits the needs of blind people in carrying out sports activities.

Exploring the Land Cover Material Interaction of Urban Open Space on the Thermal Comfort of Crowds in High-Temperature Environments and Retrofit Strategies: Two Case Studies in the Nanjing Xinjiekou District

The increased frequency of extreme hot weather events in recent years poses a significant threat to the lives and health of urban residents. Consequently, the thermal comfort of urban open areas has garnered growing attention. The ground material in these urban open areas directly impacts the thermal environment, which significantly influences the comfort of crowds. This study aimed to assess the effect of land cover materials in urban center squares on the thermal comfort of people in high-temperature conditions. Eight types of land cover materials were selected from the two urban squares in the central district of Nanjing Xinjiekou. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) calculations were performed by measuring the surface temperature, the air temperature, the humidity, and other relevant data to evaluate population thermal comfort. The findings indicated that grass provided the highest thermal comfort, with PET scores ranked as follows, from low to high: grass, permeable bricks, granite, concrete, basalt, bluestone, andesite, and asphalt. Additionally, factors such as color, roughness, and shade within the same material also impacted thermal comfort. Subsequently, using the ENVI-met 5.1 software, surface materials exhibiting superior thermal comfort were simulated for replacement, aiming to confirm the experimental results and propose retrofit strategies for improving urban square thermal comfort by optimizing material selection. The outcomes of this study hold significant implications for urban open space design and the overall well-being of city dwellers. The thermal environment in urban centers during high-temperature conditions can be improved by optimizing the choice of land cover materials in urban open areas, thereby enhancing the comfort of the population.

Managing rapport through persuasion

This study analyses COVID-19 persuasive communication in the context of Chinese Weibo. Although COVID-19 has been investigated by linguistics scholars, little attention has been paid to how communication can help persuade and comfort people during the pandemic. Considering the exponentially augmented impact of digital platforms and their obvious public utility in the handling of future pandemics, it is worth studying the social media persuasive communication about COVID-19. Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, is an immensely popular platform where celebrity “influencers” shape views of the pandemic. From perspectives of relational acts and rapport management, this analysis of Chinese celebrity Weibo posts identifies persuasion at the lexical, syntactic and discursive levels to elucidate how celebrities reassure the public and manage relationships with their audience during the pandemic. The findings reveal that the celebrities use interactional metadiscourse lexicons, syntactic rhetorical devices and discursive framing strategies to maximise persuasion. This study broadens data sets of COVID-19 communications pertaining to the Chinese social media context, offers novel insights into rationales and frameworks of persuasion, and sheds light on the research of rapport management in celebrity discourse. Ultimately, it suggests that creating positive social media communication is an important goal during the pandemic.

Public Service Quality in Banyuwangi District: A Study in Welfare Perspective

Administration Public service innovation must have a welfare impact on bureaucrats and citizens. Welfare for bureaucrats purpose to increase discipline and comply with the principles and objectives of public service. The habit of bureaucrats requesting something for the sake of accelerating stimulus in service is an example of how it is not easy for citizens to get their rights in public services, thus distancing citizens from aspects of welfare. This research aims to describe, analyze, and interpret welfare in the delivery of public services in Banyuwangi Regency. Researchers use a qualitative approach based on constructive and participatory patterns. Primary data was obtained from interviews, and secondary data was obtained from literature studies and government policies that were relevant to the research topic. Data analysis utilizes the Atlas Ti 8.4.23 application, 2018. The results obtained in this study: (1) Receiving awards is not commensurate with people's comfort in public services; (2) The Banyuwangi Regency Government needs to establish a policy so that additional grants to the welfare of the freelance worker bureaucrat do not violate existing policies; (3) Prosperity for citizens can be realized if service is fast, precise, non-discriminatory, and not connected to brokers; (4) It is necessary to internalize and implement systems and ways of working services from the perspective of the new administrative paradigm and Pancasila ideology.

Analisa Penilaian Kondisi Jembatan Sarolangun Batang Tembesi Dengan Metode Bridge Manajemen System (BMS)

Bridges are an important part of a road network system because they have a significant impact if the bridge collapses or if it does not function properly. A bridge is a structure that crosses a river or other traffic barrier, so the collapse of the bridge will reduce or hold back traffic, which as a result will disrupt the comfort of the public in traffic and disrupt economic relations. A bridge is a structure that crosses a river or other traffic barrier, which as a result disrupts people's comfort in traffic and disrupts economic relations (Bridge Inspection Guidelines 2012). Bridges are built so that pedestrians, vehicle or train drivers can cross these obstacles. However, it turns out that there are many types of bridges which of course vary both in terms of structure, strength and even construction costs. The main components of a bridge are the unity of the road embankment structure approaching the bridge, the sub-bridge structure and the bridge super-structure (BMS, 1993). The main objective of this research is to analyze the condition of the Sarolangun Batang Tembesi Bridge by observing it visually, assessing the technical condition of the bridge, and determining the priority order for bridge maintenance based on its condition value. However, the database results produced in this bridge management system are only limited to screening and ranking results in preparing bridge management programs (Directorate General of Highways, Bridge Management Systems, (1993), "IBMS General Procedure Guide", BMS, Department of Public Works of the Republic of Indonesia.

Evaluating thermal response when elderly people using local cooling devices: Correlation among overall and local thermal sensation with skin temperature

The thermal comfort of elderly people in warm indoor environments is important because of their higher risk of heat stress. The use of local cooling devices may help alleviate heat stress. In this study, 26 elderly participants were recruited for climate chamber experiments in neutral (26 °C, 40 % relative humidity (RH)), slightly warm (29 °C, 40 % RH; 28 °C, 60 % RH), and warm (33 °C, 40 % RH; 32 °C, 50 % RH) environments. Three local cooling devices were tested: a table fan, evaporative cooling device, and air-cooled jacket. This study found, in different warm environments, the use of local cooling devices by the elderly results in an mean skin temperature decrease of no more than 0.5 °C. The thermal sensation in the head and torso has the most significant impact on overall thermal sensation. The mean skin temperature (MST) remains an effective physiological indicator for estimating overall thermal sensation after using local cooling devices. The skin temperature in the head, limbs, and extremities plays a substantial role in predicting overall thermal sensation. The thermosensory mean skin temperature (TMST) proposed based on the skin temperature of these parts can more accurately predict overall thermal sensation than MST. This study provides a reference for the development of future local cooling devices. This study has implications for guiding the selection of devices for nursing homes or residential environments for the elderly, and it can be utilized to formulate recommendations for improving device design.

Association between network characteristics and bicycle ridership across a large metropolitan region

Numerous studies have explored associations between bicycle network characteristics and bicycle ridership. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in inner metropolitan regions and as such, there is limited knowledge on how various characteristics of bicycle networks relate to bicycle trips within and across entire metropolitan regions, and how the size and composition of study regions impact on the association between bicycle network characteristics and bicycle ridership. We conducted a retrospective analysis of household travel survey data and bicycle infrastructure in the Greater Melbourne region, Australia. Seven network metrics were calculated (length of the bicycle network, betweenness centrality, degree centrality, network density, network coverage, intersection density and average weighted slope) and Bayesian spatial models were used to explore associations between these network characteristics and bicycle ridership. We demonstrated that bicycle ridership was associated with several network characteristics, and that these characteristics varied according to the outcome (count of the number of trips made by bike or the proportion of trips made by bike) and the size and characteristics of the study region. These findings challenge the utility of approaches based on spatially modeling network characteristics and bicycle ridership when informing the monitoring and evaluation of bicycle networks. Further efforts are required to be able to quantify network characteristics that reflect the myriad of factors that influence comfort and safety for people of all ages and abilities.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ВЕТРОВОГО РЕЖИМА СУЩЕСТВУЮЩЕЙ ЖИЛОЙ ЗАСТРОЙКИ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЖАРКОГО КЛИМАТА

The article focuses on the microclimate of dense residential buildings in a hot climate and ensuring the wind comfort of people there. It considers the aeration of a complex built up with high-rise and low-rise residential and public buildings. The numerical simulation method is used in the ANSYS Discovery Live software package. The paper presents the analysis of the comfort of the wind regime on the territory of the residential complex with the allocation of aeration zones according to wind speed and gives recommendations to reduce stagnant aeration zones. It also considers the aeration of a residential complex improved by the installation of wind screens. The results obtained and the revealed patterns will help to better assess the architectural and planning solutions of residential buildings, including buildings within existing districts, in terms of the comfort of people staying in these territories.

Assessment of indoor environmental comfort in a recently renovated office building in Messina city

In recent decades, the construction industry has made significant progress in promoting sustainable buildings, with a particular emphasis on reducing environ-mental impact and energy efficiency. However, human well-being and occupant health have become increasingly central themes in this field. Awareness of the fact that the quality of buildings can significantly influence people’s health and psychophysical well-being has grown, leading to the adoption of a new approach in building design and evaluation. The main objective of this work is to explore the foundations for defining a “Healthy Building,” present a measurement model that takes into account various key aspects - thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, biophilia, functional efficiency of the workspace, perception of air quality, lighting quality, light colour and rendering, cleanliness, personal control of systems, privacy, emergency situations, and occupational safety prevention measures, among others that contribute to the well-being of building occupants, and propose design rules/hypotheses through a case study office building located in the city of Messina. This approach is based on sustainability principles, but it goes beyond, focusing on the comfort, health, and well-being of people living and working in these spaces, examining the various aspects of a “Healthy Building” and how they can be measured and properly certified.

Calculating Comfort Indexes and Applying Comfort Models to Predict Thermal Sensation Vote in Sports Centres

Predicting the indoor thermal comfort of people while doing sports might pose challenges, as the combination of high metabolic rate, increased humidity of the space due to physical exercise, and the alternate of more and less intense tasks influence perception. This paper is aimed at comparing environmental data (temperature and relative humidity) and calculating comfort indexes (heat index) and two comfort models (Fanger’s predicted mean value and the adaptive thermal comfort model) with people’s perceptions of the environment. Indoor environmental data for the analysis were collected by monitoring several rooms in eight sports centres in a Mediterranean climate. The thermal sensation votes (TSVs) of the occupants were obtained through an online survey. A detailed explanation of the methodology of the monitoring, creation, and management of the survey and the tools used to analyse the data is provided. Results compare the relation between the TSV and the parameters or indexes calculated. Fanger’s predicted mean vote (PMV) model is not able to correctly predict people’s sensations, neither for low nor for high metabolic rates. Finally, the neutral temperature of the adaptive model for the studied conditions is calculated. Among the studied parameters and indices, temperature exhibits the strongest correlation with the thermal sensation of the occupants. However, occupants did not report a significant sensation regarding humidity in accordance with the objective conditions of the rooms. The heat index also did not show any significant correlation with the TSV. Nevertheless, across a wide range of conditions, including variations in metabolic activities, temperature, and relative humidity, the percentage of thermal dissatisfaction (indicated by “very hot” responses) remains consistently high. Notably, the temperature at which a peak in neutral sensation can be achieved is less than 21° for low metabolic rate activities.

Analysis of the Thermal Regime of a Residential Building Premises after an Emergency Shutdown of the Heating System

Maintaining favorable microclimatic conditions in a residential dwelling is directly related to the stable operation of the heating system. An emergency shutdown of the heating system, especially in the winter season, can lead to serious negative consequences: disruption of thermal comfort for people in the residential building, rupture of pipelines and heating devices, flooding of adjacent premises, etc. Thus, the issue of predicting the thermal regime of a residential dwelling after the termination of heat supply is of practical relevance. The object of study: Residential premises in buildings. Subject of study: Patterns of change in the temperature of the indoor air (in dimensional and dimensionless forms), the rate of temperature drop, and the loss of thermal energy during an emergency shutdown of the heating system. Objective of the study: To forecast the thermal regime of a room in a residential building after an emergency shutdown of the heating system. Research methods: Classical theory of thermal stability of building enclosures; theory of regular thermal regime, according to which the temperature field at all points of the cooled body (in this case, the heating system) changes in the same way, obeying the exponential law; software computer calculations. Research results: In a room of a residential building, the indoor air temperature will reach the dew point (12.5 ℃) within 8 hours 42 minutes after an emergency shutdown of the heating system and zero value - after 23 hours 42 minutes. Based on the conducted scientific research, it can be stated that the thermal storage capacity of external enclosures, due to their design features, plays a primary role in preserving the thermal regime of a residential dwelling after the heating system is turned off.

Towards environmental sustainability of non-residential buildings: An integrated approach to combine thermal comfort of people with energy saving strategies for heating system management

Buildings are constructed and operated to satisfy human needs and improve quality of life. Good indoor air quality and thermal comfort are prerequisites for human health and well-being. At the same time, these aspects are strictly linked to the buildings’ energy consumption, with a direct impact on energy efficiency global goals and climate changes. Global technical regulations and guidelines aim at increasing the energy performance of buildings, with targets of NZEB and ZEB, both for new and existing buildings. In this context the research was carried out in order to investigate energy saving strategies related to heating systems, combining with indoor comfort analyses. The case study is an existing building, located in Perugia (Italy), which is the main seat of Arpa Umbria. The recent energy crisis has imposed strict measures to contain energy consumption, especially for heating; for this reason, the study aims to identify optimal management of the heating, based on a thermal calibrated model of the building and thermo-hygrometric monitoring. With the model, different management strategies were defined and simulated in order to develop schedules to set switch-on/off systems based on indoor and outdoor weather conditions. The results are presented in an integrated approach, combining the estimated reduction of energy consumption with human well-being.

Acoustic performance analysis of wooden structure building wall by integrating BIM technology and impedance tube method.

With the increasing demand for building acoustic performance, accurately evaluating the acoustic performance of building walls has become an important research topic. However, existing research has mostly focused on general building materials such as concrete, iron and steel, and glass. For wooden structure wall, due to the sound absorption performance of the materials themselves and the complexity of structural design, the analysis of their acoustic performance is still relatively weak. Moreover, there is a lack of quantitative description of their spectral characteristics and acoustic impedance. To analyze the acoustic performance of wooden structure building walls, Building Information Model (BIM) and impedance tube method were integrated to construct a building wall performance testing system with BIM technology. The impedance tube method was applied and testing functions for sound absorption and insulation performance were designed. The outcomes indicated that in the error test, the error range between the experimental group and the control group was [0.01, 0.18], indicating a high reliability of the experimental results. In the calculation of sound insulation of different specimens at different sound frequencies, when the frequency was 1600Hz, the sound insulation of the control group and experimental group was 65.30dB and 70.14dB, proving the effectiveness of the design method. The above results demonstrate the practicality of integrating BIM technology and impedance tube method in the acoustic performance analysis of wooden structure building walls. This study provides strong technical support for reducing the indoor environment of wooden buildings and improving the comfort of people's living environment.

Rancangan Pembuatan Meja Laptop Portebel yang Ergonomis menggunakan Pengukuran Antropometri

A work desk is a space that people use for working and studying, especially writing and reading, the idea is to create an ergonomic and modern work desk. Ergonomics studies the limitations, strengths and characteristics of people and uses them in the design of products, machines, devices, environments and even work systems so that they function at the highest quality without sacrificing people's comfort. Health and Safety Considerations. This research is included in the applied research category using analytical descriptive methods. The purpose of this research is to find out which portable laptop desktop criteria meet student expectations in the baseline and research samples. Based on these criteria, the portable laptop table is designed by considering anthropometric aspects. Data collection was carried out using several techniques, namely library research, interviews, observation (direct observation), and documentation. Interviews were conducted with 20 (twenty) students who use laptops. The results of interviews with 20 students who use laptops show that the criteria for a portable laptop table that they expect are as follows: Lightweight, easy to carry, doesn't take up space when stored/not used, can hold the weight of the laptop, can be used anywhere, can be used while sitting straight. (stretches his legs under the table), Strong.

Implementasi Resiko Kepatuhan Pada Karyawan Dinas Perdagangan Sumatera Selatan

This research discusses the implementation of compliance for trade service employees which is being re-implemented for the community in connection with the rise of street vendors in the South Sumatra province. The research method used in this research is a qualitative research method. Qualitative research methods are research methods that prioritize social phenomena and provide evidence that is socially coherent and specific in relation to the cases or phenomena that occur. The problems studied in qualitative research are relatively clearer and easier to understand because case studies prioritize real events that occur in the community. The research results show that the implementation of the level of compliance among trade service employees is still relatively lacking. This is because the trade department is still not specific and active enough to remind the public regarding the trading process within the South Sumatra provincial department which still trades anywhere. The follow-up carried out by the trade service is still relatively in the form of a warning. Apart from that, employees in the area or environment of the South Sumatra provincial trade office are still lacking in implementation regarding the prohibition on carrying out trading actions that can damage public facilities, trade on the street, fill sidewalks and also eliminate the comfort of other people regarding pedestrians.