Environmental Design Issues Research Articles

NICU Nurses' Suggestions for Improving End-of-Life Care Obstacles

BackgroundNeonatal deaths (infants less than 28 days old) account for two thirds (66.7%) of all infant deaths with most occurring in an ICU setting. NICU nurses are frequently involved in end-of-life (EOL) care and face unique obstacles. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to obtain NICU nurses’ suggestions for improving obstacles in EOL care in NICUs. MethodsSuggestions were obtained through mailed survey research in qualitative study design. Returned surveys yielded 121 nurse respondents who gave a total of 138 suggestions. ResultsA total of 10 cohesive themes were identified: (1) environmental design issues, (2) improved communication between healthcare teams, (3) ending futile care earlier, (4) realistic and honest physician communications to families, (5) providing a “good death,” (6) improved nurse staffing, (7) need for EOL education, (8) earlier entry into hospice/palliative care, (9) availability of ancillary staff, and (10) allowing parents more time to prepare for death. ConclusionsDespite the variety of obstacles encountered in providing EOL care to dying infants and their families, NICU nurses can influence environmental factors, help improve communication, and use self-assessment tools to identify current EOL care practices.

A Study on the Design of Accessories through the Concept of Reincarnation

This study aims to explore the unethical issues in leather processing and to develop designs of leather products based on the concept of reincarnation by ecosystem circulation. The method used in this research include the review of previous literature and the design process for development fashion accessories using waste leather. The design process comprises collecting waste leather, classifying waste leather by type, color, and size, and developing leather products according to line carnation method. For this research, the material was limited to waste cowhide leather collected from leather workshops and leather product factories. The leather pieces were divided into typical and atypical types and developed leather accessories based on the leather piece’s color and size. A twill brooch, four-string bracelet, a brooch using the four-stringed leather strap and mini handbag designs were developed using regular type waste leather. An armband of abstract patterns and a cellphone case with graffiti pattern using irregular type over-splitting waste leather. The environmental issues in design are observed as part of understanding the significance of this study. Development of waste leather accessory can expand the usability of the waste leather as well as increase the product value by creating limited-line editions. By understanding the role and benefits of sustainable upcycling, this research suggests an efficient way to use waste materials in fashion to coexist with the natural environment.

The Conceptual Design of a Roadway SFT in Baja California, Mexico

The Submerged Floating Tunnel (SFT) is an innovative water crossing solution under development. It is considered convenient against conventional structures for wide and deep water crossings. SFT is environmentally friendly, as it is submerged, and cheap over long distances thanks to modularity. No SFT has been constructed yet, however many feasibility studies have been proposed worldwide. The improvement of offshore and tunnel engineering provides important tools for making SFT a reality in a near future.This paper describes the conceptual design of a SFT for crossing the Gulf of California linking the mainland of the northwest of Mexico to the Baja California peninsula. This represents a great challenge due to the severe environmental and territorial conditions, with distance longer than 100 km and sea depth up to 3 km. Together with structural and environmental design issues, leading to the selection of the location of the SFT, the cross section types, the anchorage and foundation systems, the access structures are defined also through a focus on the specific structural safety measures and safety equipment required for the tunnel service.

Rapid LEED evaluation performed with BIM based sustainability analysis on a virtual construction project

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of using 3D simulation transfer processes to streamline the environmental assessment of buildings that have been designed digitally using building information modelling (BIM). The case study presented relates to a competition (“Build Qatar Live”) in which one of the winning team’s objectives was to create a smart process for assessing the design against the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. The experience indicated that a rapid, concurrent and efficient LEED evaluation was possible within the BIM process. The study presents technological approaches that can be adopted within the BIM environment to simplify the environmental assessments and embrace practices that reduce environmental and ecological impacts.Design/methodology/approach– The methodology encompassed an overview of how rapid high-value data exchange occurs within BIM to achieve a sustainable building design as part of an international design competition. Achieving a LEED rating through sustainable design was a key requirement of the competition.Findings– The findings of this case study has revealed that key credits in LEED can be integrated within the BIM design process. Therefore, tackling such important environmental design issues in parallel to building design and providing key information on building elements needed to meet the sustainability criteria.Originality/value– This research highlights the benefits of streamlined, architectural and data software exchange through applying data interoperability of a building design; thus, skipping conventional 2D building and conventional documentation for environmental and energy designs simulations needed for LEED certifications and general low carbon design.

ON THE EFFICIENCY OF AC/DC: BON SCOTT VERSUS BRIAN JOHNSON

We use tools from experimental economics to address the age‐old debate regarding who was a better singer in the band AC/DC. Our results suggest that (using wealth maximization as a measure of “better”) listening to Brian Johnson (relative to listening to Bon Scott) resulted in “better” outcomes in an ultimatum game. These results may have important implications for settling drunken music debates and environmental design issues in organizations. (JEL C7, C9, D6, Z1)

Summertime heat island intensities in three high-rise housing quarters in inner-city Shanghai China: Building layout, density and greenery

Shanghai as the largest city in China has been suffering from the ever-worsening thermal environment due to the explosive urbanization rate. As an indication of urbanization impact, urban heat islands (UHI) can give rise to a variety of problems. This paper reports the results of an empirical study on the summertime UHI patterns in three high-rise residential quarters in the inner-city Shanghai. Site-means of UHI intensity are compared; case studies are carried out on strategically located measurement points; and regression analysis is followed to examine the significance of the on-site design variables in relation to UHI intensity. It is found that site characteristics in plot layout, density and greenery have different impacts on UHI-day and UHI-night patterns. Day-time UHI is closely related to site shading factor. Total site factor (TSF) as an integrated measure on solar admittance shows a higher explanatory power in UHI-day than sky view factor (SVF) does under a partially cloudy sky condition. Night-time UHI cannot be statistically well explained by the on-site variables in use, indicating influences from anthropogenic heat and other sources. Evaporative cooling by vegetation plays a more important role at night than it does at day. Considered diurnally, the semi-enclosed plot layout with a fairly high density and tree cover has the best outdoor thermal condition. Design implication based on the findings, with consideration on other important environmental design issues, is briefly discussed.

On the Efficiency of AC/DC: Bon Scott versus Brian Johnson

We use tools from experimental economics to address the age-old debate regarding who was a better singer in the band AC/DC. Our results suggest that (using wealth maximization as a measure of “better”) listening to Brian Johnson (relative to listening to Bon Scott) resulted in “better” outcomes in an ultimatum game. These results may have important implications for settling drunken music debates and environmental design issues in organizations.

Journal scan

A high proportion of nursing home residents with dementia receive major tranquillisers for behavioural symptoms despite only modest benefits and serious side effects. Good practice guidelines recommend that psychological or environmental management options should be the first line approach. Interventions should be based on identifying triggers to behavioural problems and use of a 'tool box' approach that is tailored to the needs of each individual. The researchers provided a training programme exploring the philosophy and application of person-centred care; positive care planning; awareness of environmental design issues; active listening and communication skills; reminiscence techniques and involvement of family carers. The percentage of residents who were prescribed neuroleptics at the end of 12 months was less than half that in the control homes. Levels of agitation and episodes of aggressive behaviour did not increase in homes with reduced prescribing of neuroleptics. This demonstrates that, given appropriate learning opportunities, nurses can maintain a good standard of care without automatically resorting to medication to control behaviour.

Designing for Good Indoor Air Quality in Hot,Humid Climates: Development of a Student Design Competition

Residential indoor air quality (IAQ) is an emerging issue that deserves attention by educators of interior design. This paper focuses on the development of a national student design competition and supporting materials to address residential design for good indoor air quality in hot, humid climates. Utilizing expertise from consultants in the fields of architecture, engineering, interior design, and medicine, an integrative model for teaching environmental design was developed and applied to a hypothetical residential design project. With expanded knowledge of IAQ design, coupled with instructional units aimed at developing student critical thinking and problem-solving skills for complex environmental design issues, educators can contribute to the “greening” of their interior design curricula.

Environmental and travel preferences of cyclists: Antonakos, Cathy L., Ph.D. The University of Michigan, 1993. 154 pp. Chair: John Nystuen

Current recommendations for designing bicycle facilities are most often based on experience rather than on findings from scientific inquiry. This study pools cyclists' opinions on environmental design issues, substantiating experts' knowledge about designs for cycling environments. The study examines the influence of personal characteristics, travel resources, and travel constraints on cyclists' environmental preferences, evaluations of cycling conditions, and decisions to bicycle for transportation. Questionnaires were distributed to 552 cyclists at four recreational bicycle tours in Michigan during the summer of 1992. Analysis of variance and correlations were used to investigate relationships of interest. Cyclists indicated their preferences for different types of cycling facilities and the importance that they placed on environmental factors such as traffic volume and surface quality when choosing cycling routes. Age was positively correlated with preference for on-road facilities (striped bike lanes, wide curb lanes), with importance placed on surface quality, scenery, and bike safety education. Age was negatively correlated with preference for bike paths separated from the roadway. Safety, scenery, terrain, and bike safety education were more important to women on average than to men. As expected, cycling experience was negatively correlated with preference for off-road facilities and concerns about safety, traffic, and terrain. Bike safety education was rated almost as high as the need for bike lanes, to improve community cycling conditions. Thirty-two percent of the cyclists surveyed commute by bicycle; 68 percent run errands by bicycle. Commute distance was strongly associated with the likelihood and frequency of commuting by bicycle.