Environmental Conditioning Research Articles

Adaptive Temperature And Humidity Control System on Kumbung Mushroom using Fuzzy Neural Network Algorithm

National mushroom production in 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were: 31052, 3702, 40915 and 33485 tons. Mushroom cultivation, especially oyster mushrooms, has the potential to be developed more widely in Indonesia because it has economic value and is environmentally friendly. However, the cultivation of oyster mushrooms has challenges. The challenge that arises in the cultivation of oyster mushrooms is to grow well at a temperature of 16 – 30 °C and a relative humidity of 80 – 95%. Environmental conditioning carried out by farmers on average through spraying water in mushroom kumbung manually. The use of manual methods requires high human resources, besides that it is not effective and efficient. This study aims to develop an Adaptive Temperature and Humidity Control System on Kumbung using Backpropagation Neural Network, where to determine the temperature and humidity the system will evaluate the readings of several sensors at once. The system developed is an adaptive system with an accuracy of 97%, so it is can be used to increase the precision of mushroom cultivation, so that production efficiency and increase in mushroom production can be achieved.

Mechanical characterization of advanced carbon fibre reinforced polymers for down selection of aero-structural materials

Carbon fibre reinforced polymers are widely used in primary and secondary aircraft structures, mainly due to their excellent fatigue endurance and specific strength. Nowadays, improvements related to their manufacturing costs, impact resistance and fracture toughness are pursued through the investigation of new matrix-fibre combinations and the application of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. This work presents the results of the coupons test campaign that has been conducted to assess the mechanical properties of different advanced carbon fibre reinforced polymers, being compared with those obtained for a composite material traditionally used in aero-structures. The effect of the introduction of innovative elements such as reinforcing-matrix Carbon Nanotubes or acoustic damping veil is evaluated. Moreover, the influence of ageing is assessed through the evaluation of the mechanical properties after specimen environmental conditioning. From the execution of this test campaign, a comprehensive knowledge base of mechanical properties has been generated, enabling the comparative analysis with reference composite and down selection of the materials that will be applied in the regional aircraft fuselage concept developed in Clean Sky 2 JU. The study shown here belongs to the scope of SHERLOC project. The purpose of the project is to perform a down selection of the most advanced composite materials, manufacturing processes and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems that contribute moving towards a Condition-Based Maintenance.

Influence of out-of-plane fiber waviness and different environmental conditionings on mechanical and morphological characteristics of fiber glass/epoxy laminates

The use of structural polymeric composites constitutes an interesting option in the area of wind turbine blade manufacturing. Nevertheless, thick composite components may present out-of-plane waviness in their fibers, compromising the service life of the wind blades. In this context, the present study aims to study the influence of out-of-plane waviness in the fibers with different degrees of severity as well as to verify the effect of fiber glass/epoxy resin composites immersion in distilled water and saline solution in their tensile strength (σmax), modulus of elasticity (E), and deformation at break (єrup), analyzing the reinforcement/matrix interface changes. The results showed that the increase in severity promoted, in general, a statistically significant deterioration in σmax of the samples exposed to the same environmental conditioning. The conditioning led to a decrease in E and an increase in єrup, attributed to the deterioration of the interface and the plasticization of the polymeric matrix, respectively, as evidenced by fractographic analysis. The effect of severity on the єrup and σmax properties was only noticed in laminates exposed to environmental conditioning, due to water sorption favoring the deterioration of the matrix/reinforcement interface, intensifying the deleterious effect of out-of-plane waviness of fibers.

Systematic experimental comparison of particle filtration efficiency test methods for commercial respirators and face masks

Respirators, medical masks, and barrier face coverings all filter airborne particles using similar physical principles. However, they are tested for certification using a variety of standardized test methods, creating challenges for the comparison of differently certified products. We have performed systematic experiments to quantify and understand the differences between standardized test methods for N95 respirators (NIOSH TEB-APR-STP-0059 under US 42 CFR 84), medical face masks (ASTM F2299/F2100), and COVID-19-related barrier face coverings (ASTM F3502-21). Our experiments demonstrate the role of face velocity, particle properties (mean size, size variability, electric charge, density, and shape), measurement techniques, and environmental preconditioning. The measured filtration efficiency was most sensitive to changes in face velocity and particle charge. Relative to the NIOSH method, users of the ASTM F2299/F2100 method have commonly used non-neutralized (highly charged) aerosols as well as smaller face velocities, each of which may result in approximately 10% higher measured filtration efficiencies. In the NIOSH method, environmental conditioning at elevated humidity increased filtration efficiency in some commercial samples while decreasing it in others, indicating that measurement should be performed both with and without conditioning. More generally, our results provide an experimental basis for the comparison of respirators certified under various international methods, including FFP2, KN95, P2, Korea 1st Class, and DS2.

Centralized on-line monitoring system for pipeline and cable environment and fresh air of air conditioning

Aiming at the problem of on-line centralized monitoring error of pipeline and cable environment and fresh air of air conditioning, a utility model is designed, a centralized monitoring system of pipeline and cable environment and fresh air of air conditioning is disclosed, the system structure configuration is optimized, and the system performance is improved by combining multiple central air conditioning controllers, data processors, acquisition servers and other equipment, combined with LabVIEW technology, the system software function and operation process are improved. Finally, the experiment proves that the centralized online monitoring system for pipeline and cable environment and air conditioning fresh air can better reduce the monitoring error and ensure the real-time monitoring quality of pipeline and cable environment and air conditioning fresh air.

Indoor occupancy measurement by the fusion of motion detection and static estimation

The human dimension information in buildings is crucial for energy saving, environment conditioning, human health, and security management. Indoor occupancy information measurement methods based on cameras mainly consist of cameras at the room entrance and interior. However, each method has particular advantages and limitations. In this paper, we propose a four-step occupancy detection and estimation system based on cameras. Firstly, we develop an occupancy detection method to filter the non-occupied frames and provide the switching value. Secondly, we design a motion detection method to detect entering or leaving events at the room entrance. Thirdly, Fully Convolutional Head Detector (FCHD) is used to detect indoor human heads. Finally, considering the occupancy number information depends on the previous results, we propose a fusion estimation method that combines motion detection and static estimation by calculating the Kalman filter and Occupancy Frequency Histogram (OFH). The novel fusion method takes the advantages of two methods and overcomes its own limitations, so that it can compensate each other to reach the high-accuracy results. The accumulative error and the shaking results are cleared, and then some headlike objects are filtered. The proposed fusion method reaches an occupancy detection accuracy of 97.8%; reaches an occupancy estimation Score of 78.52% and 79.18%; reaches an occupancy estimation the Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.21 and 0.23. The proposed method is novel and effective for fusing these two vision situations through practical experimental verification. The proposed method has a significant potential to save energy and prevent the spreading of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in buildings.

Effects of conditioning on the welfare of jaguars (Panthera onca) in captivity

ABSTRACT The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and in the face of the threat of extinction and the reduction of natural areas, keeping the species in captivity may be important for its conservation. This condition can lead to a reduction in well-being, especially due to spatial limitation and lack of environmental stimulus. In recent decades, techniques have been sought to minimize the negative impacts of captivity, with an increase in the use of environmental enrichment and operational conditioning in order to facilitate routine procedures for the animal management. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of conditioning on the welfare of jaguars in captivity, analyzing behavioral and physiological effects through salivary cortisol. Seven jaguars were studied in a Scientific Breeder. There was an increase in behaviors associated with welfare and cortisol during conditioning, possibly related to learning. The increase in behaviors associated with welfare suggests that the technique can contribute to improve the quality of life of these animals in captivity.

Assessing Urban Landslide Dynamics through Multi-Temporal InSAR Techniques and Slope Numerical Modeling

Landslides threaten more than before the urbanized areas and are a worldwide growing problem for the already affected communities and the local authorities committed to landslide risk management and mitigation. For this reason, it is essential to analyze landslide dynamics and environmental conditioning factors. Various techniques and instruments exist for landslide investigation and monitoring. Out of these, Multi-temporal Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (MT-InSAR) techniques have been widely used in the last decades. Their capabilities are enhanced by the availability of the active Sentinel-1 mission, whose 6-day revisiting time enables near real-time monitoring of landslides. Interferometric results, coupled with ground measurements or other approaches such as numerical modeling, significantly improve the knowledge of the investigated surface processes. In this work, we processed the C-band SAR images of the available European Space Agency (ESA) satellite missions, using MT-InSAR methods to identify the surface deformations related to landslides affecting the Iași Municipality (Eastern Romania). The results (i.e., velocity maps) point out the most active landslides with velocities of up to 20 mm/year measured along the satellite Line of Sight (LOS). Following, we focused on the most problematic landslide that affects the Țicău neighborhood and is well-known for its significant implications that it had. To better understand its behavior and the sensitivity of the displacements to the environmental factors (i.e., rainfall), we carried out 2D numerical modeling using a finite difference code. The simulated displacement field is consistent with the InSAR displacements and reveals the most active sectors of the landslide and insights about its mechanism.

Environmental conditioning of clams to low pH enhances robustness to environmental stress through acclimatory gene expression

Environmental conditioning of clams to low pH enhances robustness to environmental stress through acclimatory gene expression

A theoretical study of the effects of different heating loads on the exergy performance of water-based and air-based space heating systems in buildings

The present study investigated theoretically the exergy performance of floor heating, radiators, and air heating under three different space heating loads of 10, 30 and 50 W/m2. The effects of different supply and return water temperatures were studied for the radiators, and the effects of different supply air temperatures were studied for the air heating system. All systems were assumed to be connected to a boiler. The floor heating system was further analyzed assuming an air-to-water heat pump, and a ground-source heat pump.Floor heating was the optimal heating system due to its low exergy demand. The separation of thermal environmental conditioning and ventilation was an efficient solution. The results prove thermodynamically that renewables (i.e., ground source heat in the present study) and low temperature heating systems (i.e., floor heating in the present study) are a resource- and exergy-efficient combination proven by their exergy efficiencies up to 10.5%. The critical COP concept was validated (2.57 in this study).The power use of auxiliary components might seem negligible in terms of energy; however, it is critical in terms of exergy as it affects the exergy performance drastically. The relative importance of auxiliary power becomes more critical at low space heating loads.

Identification of the blue light intensity administered to one eye required to suppress bovine plasma melatonin and investigation into effects on milk production in grazing dairy cows

Long-day photoperiod is known to positively affect milk production in confinement dairy systems, and it has been hypothesized that pineal melatonin (MT) secretion plays a substantial role in this process. Specialized mammalian photoreceptors that regulate MT secretion are optimally stimulated by short wavelength blue light. We investigated the blue light intensity administered to one eye required to suppress MT secretion in nonlactating dairy cows, and subsequently examined effects on milk production in grazing dairy cows. Following a 14-d light-dark 8:16 h environmental conditioning period, 5 nonlactating Holstein-Friesian cows were exposed to treatments of <1, 70, 125, 175, and 225 lx for 8 additional hours using a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Light was administered via headpieces fitted with light-emitting diodes emitting blue light (465 nm) to the right eye. All cows were then exposed to a light-dark 16:8 h cycle for one night via the indoor lighting system (>200 lx white light). Plasma samples collected at regular intervals were assayed for MT. A dose-dependent effect of light treatment on mean circulating MT concentrations (and 95% CI) was observed [9.4 (7.2, 12.3), 5.0 (3.8, 6.6), 4.4 (3.3, 5.7), 3.3 (2.5, 4.3) and 1.7 (1.3, 2.3) pg/mL for treatments of 0, 70, 125, 175, and 225 lx, respectively. Only the 225 lx treatment acutely suppressed plasma melatonin concentration to levels similar to the light-dark 16:8 h treatment [1.9 (1.4, 2.5) pg/mL]. Forty spring-calving cows were blocked on parity, calving date and Economic Breeding Index for milk production and assigned to the control treatment or blue light to a single eye (LT) treatment from calving through 32 wk of lactation. The cows assigned to LT treatment were fitted with headpieces providing 225 lx of blue light to the right eye from 1700 until 0000 h. Mean milk production (and 95% CI) during 32 wk of lactation was not affected by treatment [20.3 (19.3, 21.3) vs. 20.9 (19.8, 22.0) kg/d, control and LT, respectively]. Within multiparous cows, a treatment by week interaction was detected, whereby LT treatment increased milk production during the first 12 wk of lactation [25.8 (24.3, 27.3) vs. 28.0 (26.5, 29.5) kg/d; +8.5%], but had no effect thereafter. Treatment did not affect plasma insulin-like growth factor 1. We identified the blue light intensity to one eye required to acutely suppress MT concentrations. Transient favorable effects on milk production were observed in multiparous cows. It remains unclear how single-eye blue light treatment affects galactopoiesis in grazing dairy cows, and further research is needed to explore whether this modality of light delivery represents a useful means to aid productivity in pasture-based dairy systems.

A distributed control wireless system for environmental humidity determination based on adaptive controller model

Environmental conditioning is a major research application area in the concept of control theory. The parameter of interest is mostly measured and evaluated against a reference in determining the initialisation threshold for the designed systems. This paper has implemented a system for controlling the heat parameters of a dwelled environment based on the integration of Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) features into a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) system. A model is developed to describe the temperature evolution in the constituent electronic units of the thermally active system, as a function for determining the environmental humiture impact. The generated heat and the forced cooled air by convective flow across the neighbouring devices, and consequently, the networked wireless nodes within the defined space are also modelled and analysed for adaptive control implementation. Both linear and non-linear terms are presented in the discrete set of equations representing the mathematically modelled system. Two scenarios were simulated and analysed: centralized model adaptive control (CMAC) and decentralized model adaptive control (DMAC). The evaluation of the control methods is ascertained by comparing with classic P/PI and on/off controllers, using a very low inoccupation temperature reference while increasing the occupation period in the adaptive control prediction horizon. The decentralized model adaptive controller provides improved performance in the reduction of the consumption index by about 7.2%, while the distributed and centralized schemes show an improvement in the thermal comfort with about 39.2% and reduction in the consumed energy by about 12.2%. A suitable conclusion is being made on the optimal placement of the nodes to ensure maximum convective cooling of the space, derived from the simulated results of the models and the adjourning tempering algorithm. The uniqueness and existence of the solutions are established through the convergence of the steady-state coefficients. The research has introduced a novel designer-friendly relative humidity-enabled adaptive control with significant range extension for acceptable indoor conditions in the design of low-energy naturally-conditioned facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Assessment of creep rupture and long-term performance of GFRP bars subjected to different environmental exposure conditions under high sustained loads

This paper presents an experimental investigation and statistical approach to assess the long-term performance and to determine a safe creep-rupture strength value for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars subjected to different types of environmental exposure. The study sample consisted of 160 bars of various sizes (10 mm, 12 mm, and two types of 15 mm) subjected to different levels of environmental conditioning (unconditioned and exposed to an alkaline solution at 23 °C and 60 °C) and a range of sustained load levels (40% to 90% of the ultimate tensile strength). The test results were analyzed with Weibull statistical analysis to determine the mean and characteristic creep-rupture strengths, and consequently, a safe design value was calculated. Limitations and variations of the strength degradation model for the life-span prediction are discussed. The impact of sustained load on strength reduction was more pronounced than the combined effect of the alkaline solution and high temperature. The GFRP bars with smaller diameters were more susceptible to creep rupture than the larger ones, while the conditioning had more effect on the bars with larger diameters than the smaller ones. The creep-rupture reduction factors prescribed in current design codes are conservative for the GFRP bars in this study.

NOP receptor antagonism attenuates reinstatement of alcohol-seeking through modulation of the mesolimbic circuitry in male and female alcohol-preferring rats.

In patients suffering from alcohol use disorder (AUD), stress and environmental stimuli associated with alcohol availability are important triggers of relapse. Activation of the nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor by its endogenous ligand Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) attenuates alcohol drinking and relapse in rodents, suggesting that NOP agonists may be efficacious in treating AUD. Intriguingly, recent data demonstrated that also blockade of NOP receptor reduced alcohol drinking in rodents. To explore further the potential of NOP antagonism, we investigated its effects on the reinstatement of alcohol-seeking elicited by administration of the α2 antagonist yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.) or by environmental conditioning factors in male and female genetically selected alcohol-preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) rats. The selective NOP receptor antagonist LY2817412 (0.0, 3.0, 10.0, and 30.0 mg/kg) was first tested following oral (p.o.) administration. We then investigated the effects of LY2817412 (1.0, 3.0, 6.0 μg/μl/rat) microinjected into three candidate mesolimbic brain regions: the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We found that relapse to alcohol seeking was generally stronger in female than in male rats and oral administration of LY2817412 reduced yohimbine- and cue-induced reinstatement in both sexes. Following site-specific microinjections, LY2817412 reduced yohimbine-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking when administered into the VTA and the CeA, but not in the NAc. Cue-induced reinstatement was suppressed only when LY2817412 was microinjected into the VTA. Infusions of LY2817412 into the VTA and the CeA did not alter saccharin self-administration. These results demonstrate that NOP receptor blockade prevents the reinstatement of alcohol-seeking through modulation of mesolimbic system circuitry, providing further evidence of the therapeutic potential of NOP receptor antagonism in AUD.

Investigating putative psychoactive compounds using planarians as an animal model using the environmental place conditioning protocol

Investigating putative psychoactive compounds using planarians as an animal model using the environmental place conditioning protocol

Influence of environmental conditioning on mechanical properties of carbon dry fibre preformed thermoplastic matrix composites manufactured via automated placement-resin infusion process

In the present work, dry fibre placement (DFP) of co-polyamide based carbon fibre spreadtow bindered tape for fabrication of thermoplastic acrylic resin composites was explored. The DFP followed by vacuum assisted liquid resin infusion (LRI) is expected to be an alternative process to traditional preforming approaches. This research work looks at the influence of water immersion on the performance of the composites was studied. The thermo-mechanical behaviour of the aged and unaged samples were carried out as a function of temperature. The flexural strength of aged samples dropped by 4 and 17% after one and three months respectively. However, no significant changes were observed in flexural modulus compared to unaged. The interlaminar shear strength decreased by 19% and 35% after one month immersion and three months immersion. The results were complimented by fractographic and morphological studies.

Durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer bars in water and simulated concrete pore solution

In this study, the durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars in alkaline environments was studied. The GFRP bars were immersed in distilled water and alkaline solutions of various pH values at temperatures of 21 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. The water absorption and interlaminar shear strength of the GFRP bars were measured concerning conditioning time. The equilibrium water absorption of the GFRP bars in an alkaline solution of pH 13.0 was one order of magnitude higher than that of GFRP bars in distilled water and an alkaline solution of pH 10.0. Compared with samples conditioned in distilled water or the alkaline solution of pH 10.0, those aged in the alkaline solution of pH 13.0 showed a greater reduction in interlaminar shear strength. This reduction increased with increasing environmental temperature and conditioning time. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the deterioration of GFRP bars aged in the alkaline solution of pH 13.0 was mainly caused by interfacial debonding between glass fibers and resin matrices. Equations were proposed for predicting the long-term interlaminar shear strength of GFRP bars as a function of water absorption and adopted to predict the interlaminar shear strength of GFRP bars in fields. The prediction results roughly match the measurement results.

Penerapan Pendidikan Karakter Gemar Membaca Melalui Program Literasi di Sekolah Dasar

This study aims to find a model for the application of character education for reading fondness through literacy programs. This research is a type of qualitative research with a case study approach. The research subjects consisted of the principal, teachers, and students at SD Negeri Sidareja 01 Cilacap. In collecting data, researchers used instruments in the form of interview guidelines, observation guidelines, and document analysis guidelines. The data analysis technique used is the interactive data analysis technique of Miles and Huberman which consists of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results showed that character education for reading fondness through the School Literacy Program at SD Negeri Sidareja 01 was carried out through: 1) The habituation phase which includes reading habit for 10-15 minutes and other activities that can build literacy culture and literacy-friendly physical environment conditioning. 2) The development phase which includes the development of literacy skills through various non-academic activities as well as the promotion of the social and affective environment as a model of literate communication and interaction. 3) The learning phase which includes the implementation of learning using a variety of literacy strategies and making schools a literate academic environment through professional development.

Reimagining Li-Ion Electrode Fabrication Via Cold Plasma Deposition

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have arguably represented one of the most transformative technologies for electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications over the past 3+ decades. Since the inception of the concept in the 1970s, the LIBs have served a wide swath of electrochemical energy storage and conversion fields covering consumer to industrial applications. Continual improvements of the materials/chemistry have resulted in high energy densities unimaginable a mere 10 years ago.Further economic integration of LIBs continues to suffer from a major bottleneck: large-scale LIB manufacturing still relies upon slurry-based production methods to produce electrodes.[1] Regardless of the electrode chemistries Just the electrode drying process (and subsequent solvent evaporation/recovery) is a major expenditure with respect to footprint (+80 m long drying ovens), environmental conditioning, and energy costs. The realization of higher pack energy densities is severely constrained by the current manufacturing process; cathodes are too thin. They are constrained by the wet slurry casting/drying processes to ~100 µm thick. Even so-called “low capacity”, economically low-cost cathode materials such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP + carbon coating, ~170 mAh g-1 theoretical capacity) would become extremely attractive at +250 µm thicknesses.[2] Indeed, the capability to increase LFP cathode layer thicknesses to these levels presents an immediate opportunity to realize areal current densities well exceeding 6 mAh cm-2.INTECELLS, Inc., a Michigan-based, VC-backed startup, proposes that a solution to this bottleneck is to leverage cold plasma-based[3] deposition for electrode layer fabrication. Nitrogen gas-based cold plasma-powder coating (CPC, conducted in open air environments at room temperature and atmospheric pressure) allows for the solvent-free deposition of electrode layers beyond 200 µm. Plasma processing is not a pyrolytic process: neither the raw electrode powders nor the substrates are subjected to high temperatures that result in adverse chemical and/or structural changes to the starting materials. Significantly, CPC is essentially a solid-state process. Ergo, solvents and polymeric binders are no longer required. With respect to LFP, only conductive additives must be incorporated into the coating.An important advantage of cold plasma processing is the inherent property of modifying the surface energies of materials. Indeed, this has been the main thrust of CP technologies in Europe and Asia over the past several decades: to prepare a variety of targeted surfaces for bonding, increased hydrophilicity, and solvent-free surface cleaning. When this phenomenon is applied to LIB electrode materials, not only can dense, ultrathick electrode layers be deposited in a single step, but the very nature of plasma processing modifies the surface energy of the electrode particles. The deposited electrode layers exhibit an enhanced degree of hydrophilicity; thoroughly wetting the electrode layer becomes very simplified. In short, the deposition of electrode layers via CPC collapses several traditional manufacturing steps (slurry mixing, coating, drying/recovery, and calendering) into one step, and concomitantly reduces the cell filling/wetting step to a matter of minutes sans vacuum.This presentation will introduce the key concepts behind CPC-deposition of LIB electrode materials. Plasma-driven effects on the electrode layers such as enhanced surface energies, layer thicknesses, and densities will be discussed. Analysis of the electrode layers by techniques such as SEM, STEM, XPS, and others, will be leveraged to explore the compositions and qualities of the electrodes. Preliminary electrochemical evaluations (e.g., coin cell-level) will be presented to exhibit the effects of continuous process development and improvements. The CPC process represents an entirely new scalable manufacturing technique by which to realize performance goals necessary to further market penetration of LIBs into a variety of fields. The reduced plant footprints and material costs offered by CPC has the potential to re-define LIB manufacturing in the global marketplace. Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge Dr. Kai Sun and the University of Michigan College of Engineering for financial support at the Michigan Center for Materials Characterization for use of the instruments and staff assistance.

Influence of aging on the physicochemical behavior of photocatalytic asphalt cements subjected to the natural environment

This investigation evaluates aging characteristics and photocatalytic performance of asphalt cements modified with titanium dioxide (TiO2) at different percentages (3, 5, and 7% by weight of the asphalt binder). Conventional and photocatalytic asphalt cements were used to manufacture specimens of hot mix asphalt (HMA) compacted in the laboratory with a Gyratory Compactor and subjected to environmental conditioning for 6, 12, or 18 months in which they were exposed to temperature changes, rain, and sunlight. FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), MSCR (Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery), and degradation of methylene blue (MB) tests were carried out to evaluate the influence of aging on the chemical and mechanical properties. Besides, the photocatalytic efficiency of asphalt cements extracted from aged asphalt concrete specimens by the reflux method was also studied. FTIR results indicated that photocatalytic asphalt cements exhibit greater aging resistance over time than conventional asphalt binders. MSCR results showed that mechanical properties represented by deformation recovery and non-recoverable creep compliance parameters improved with TiO2 content and environmental conditioning time. On the other hand, the MB degradation tests indicated that the photocatalytic efficiency of modified asphalt cements increases with the TiO2 content and remains between 20 and 25% for all environmental conditions assessed in this study.