Properties Of Envelope Research Articles

Application of a decision tree approach to predict energy consumption in lightweight buildings under subtropical climate

PurposeLightweight building systems have emerged as alternatives to reduce the high environmental impact of conventional masonry. However, in subtropical climates, the low thermal inertia of lightweight envelopes negatively affects energy performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the thermophysical parameters that influence heating and cooling energy consumption in lightweight residential buildings under subtropical climates and develop a model to predict these parameters using statistical and machine learning tools.Design/methodology/approachA database was created with computer simulation data on the energy performance of 2048 building conditions generated by factorial combination of 10 parameters. Sensitivity analysis was performed to identify which parameters contribute most to energy performance indicators. Subsequently, decision trees were created using a classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm to visualize parameters and improve energy performance indicators, particularly cooling energy consumption.FindingsLow thermal transmittance and ground contact are interesting strategies for low thermal capacity buildings. Furthermore, the findings showed that relying only on the most influential properties does not ensure good energy performance; rather, it is the adequate combination of envelope properties that leads to good energy efficiency. The tree developed by CART can be used as a guide to assist designers and researchers in the initial selection of building envelopes, demonstrating the impact of each choice on electrical energy consumption for indoor climate control.Originality/valueBy adopting a global approach to assess the thermal performance of lightweight buildings, this study makes a significant contribution to synthesizing the results of a complex and time-consuming methodology into a guide for optimizing envelope design decisions and directing efforts and resources toward efficient strategies.

Insight into the outer membrane asymmetry of P. aeruginosa and the role of MlaA in modulating the lipidic composition, mechanical, biophysical, and functional membrane properties of the cell envelope.

In Gram-negative bacteria, the outer membrane (OM) is asymmetric, with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the outer leaflet and glycerophospholipids (GPLs) in the inner leaflet. The asymmetry is maintained by the Mla system (MlaA-MlaBCDEF), which contributes to lipid homeostasis by removing mislocalized GPLs from the outer leaflet of the OM. Here, we ascribed how Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 coordinately regulates pathways to provide defense against the threats posed by the deletion of mlaA. Especially, we explored (i) the effects on membrane lipid composition including LPS, GPLs, and lysophospholipids, (ii) the biophysical properties of the OM such as stiffness and fluidity, and (iii) the impact of these changes on permeability, antibiotic susceptibility, and membrane vesicles (MVs) generation. Deletion of mlaA induced an increase in total GPLs and a decrease in LPS level while also triggering alterations in lipid A structures (arabinosylation and palmitoylation), likely to be induced by a two-component system (PhoPQ-PmrAB). Altered lipid composition may serve a physiological purpose in regulating the mechanobiological and functional properties of P. aeruginosa. We demonstrated an increase in cell stiffness without alteration of turgor pressure and inner membrane (IM) fluidity in ∆mlaA. In addition, membrane vesiculation increased without any change in OM/IM permeability. An amphiphilic aminoglycoside derivative (3',6-dinonyl neamine) that targets P. aeruginosa membranes induced an opposite effect on ∆mlaA strain with a trend toward a return to the situation observed for the WT strain. Efforts dedicated to understanding the crosstalk between the OM lipid composition, and the mechanical behavior of bacterial envelope, is one needed step for designing new targets or new drugs to fight P. aeruginosa infections.IMPORTANCEPseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium responsible for severe hospital-acquired infections. The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria acts as an effective barrier against toxic compounds, and therefore, compromising this structure could increase sensitivity to antibiotics. The OM is asymmetric with the highly packed lipopolysaccharide monolayer at the outer leaflet and glycerophospholipids at the inner leaflet. OM asymmetry is maintained by the Mla pathway resulting in the retrograde transport of glycerophospholipids from the OM to the inner membrane. In this study, we show that deleting mlaA, the membrane component of Mla system located at the OM, affects the mechanical and functional properties of P. aeruginosa cell envelope. Our results provide insights into the role of MlaA, involved in the Mla transport pathway in P. aeruginosa.

Gas dynamics around a Jupiter-mass planet

Context. Giant planets grow and acquire their gas envelope during the disk phase. At the time of the discovery of giant planets in their host disk, it is important to understand the interplay between the host disk and the envelope and circum-planetary disk properties of the planet. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the dynamical and physical structure of the gas in the vicinity of a Jupiter-mass planet and study how protoplanetary disk properties, such as disk mass and viscosity, determine the planetary system as well as the accretion rate inside the planet’s Hill sphere. Methods. We ran global 3D simulations with the grid-based code fargOCA, using a fully radiative equation of state and a dust-to-gas ratio of 0.01. We built a consistent disk structure starting from vertical thermal equilibrium obtained by including stellar irradiation. We then let a gap open with a sequence of phases, whereby we deepened the potential and increased the resolution in the planet’s neighbourhood. We explored three models. The nominal one features a disk with surface density, ∑, corresponding to the minimum mass solar nebula at the planet’s location (5.2 au), characterised by an α viscosity value of 4 10−3 at the planet’s location. The second model has a surface density that is ten times smaller than the nominal one and the same viscosity. In the third model, we also reduced the viscosity value by a factor of 10. Results. During gap formation, giant planets accrete gas inside the Hill sphere from the local reservoir. Gas is heated by compression and cools according to opacity, density, and temperature values. This process determine the thermal energy budget inside the Hill sphere. In the analysis of our disks, we find that the gas flowing into the Hill sphere is approximately scaled as the product ∑ν, as expected from viscous transport. The accretion rate of the planetary system (envelope plus circum-planetary disk) is instead scaled as √Σv, with its efficiency depending on the thermal energy budget inside the Hill sphere. Conclusions. Previous studies have shown that pressure-supported or rotationally supported structures are formed around giant planets, depending on the equation of state (EoS) or on the opacity; namely, on the dust content within the Hill sphere. In the case of a fully radiative EoS and a constant dust to gas ratio of 0.01, we find that low-mass and low-viscosity circum-stellar disks favour the formation of a rotationally supported circum-planetary disk. Gas accretion leading to the doubling time of the planetary system of > 105 years has only been found in the case of a low-viscosity disk.

A membrane localized RTX-like protein mediates physiochemical properties of the Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii cell envelope that impact surface adhesion, cell surface hydrophobicity and plant colonization

Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii (Pnss), is the bacterial causal agent of Stewart’s wilt of sweet corn. Disease symptoms include systemic wilting and foliar, water-soaked lesions. A Repeat-in-toxin (RTX)-like protein, RTX2, causes cell leakage and collapse in the leaf apoplast of susceptible corn varieties and is a primary mediator of water-soaked lesion formation in the P. stewartii-sweet corn pathosystem. RTX toxins comprise a large family of proteins, which are widely distributed among Gram-negative bacteria. These proteins are generally categorized as cellulolysins, but the Biofilm-Associated Proteins (Bap) subfamily of RTX toxins are implicated in surface adhesion and other biofilm behaviors. The Pnss RTX2 is most phylogenetically related to other Bap proteins suggesting that Pnss RTX2 plays a dual role in adhesion to host surfaces in addition to mediating the host cell lysis that leads to water-soaked lesion formation. Here we demonstrated that RTX2 localizes to the bacterial cell envelope and influences physiochemical properties of the bacterial cell envelope that impact bacterial cell length, cell envelope integrity and overall cellular hydrophobicity. Interestingly, the role of RTX2 as an adhesin was only evident in absence of exopolysaccharide (EPS) production suggesting that RTX2 plays a role as an adhesin early in biofilm development before EPS production is fully induced. However, deletion of rtx2 severely impacted Pnss’ colonization of the xylem suggesting that the dual role of RTX2 as a cytolysin and adhesin is a mechanism that links the apoplastic water-soaked lesion phase of infection to the wilting phase of the infection in the xylem.

Full-Scale Comparison of Two Envelope Systems for Lightweight Wooden Framing in Cold Climates

Residential homes and apartments’ cooling and heating needs account for 63% of total building energy consumption. Improvements in the properties of building envelopes are among the best ways to reduce their energy consumption. The project’s general objective was to compare the performance of externally insulated and traditional envelopes of light wooden frame buildings at full scale. Two houses were constructed and equipped with relative humidity sensors and temperature probes to assess the physical properties of the building envelope. The first house was built according to the conventional method (insulation between the studs), and the second house was built according to the method with the insulation outside the wall (also known as the perfect wall). The results showed that external insulation effectively mitigates internal condensation risks by relocating dew points to the exterior surface, thereby enhancing structural durability and thermal stability. Thermographic imaging confirmed reduced thermal bridging and improved thermal performance in the externally insulated walls. Overall, this study supports, with a full-scale experiment, the adoption of external insulation as a viable strategy for enhancing energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and durability in residential buildings.

The role of passive, active, and operational parameters in the relationship between urban heat island effect (UHI) and building energy consumption

The energy performance of buildings located in urban areas is strongly influenced by the UHI phenomenon, which usually leads to higher cooling energy consumption and lower heating energy consumption. Despite the known effects of UHI on building energy consumption, there is a lack of detailed knowledge on the role of building design and operational parameters in determining the effects of UHI on building energy use. To address this knowledge gap, this study analyzes the impacts of UHI on annual, heating, and cooling energy consumption of 16 prototype buildings located in 16 climate zones in the United States. The objective is to determine the relative relevance of building types (e.g., residential, commercial, healthcare facilities etc.), occupancy parameters (e.g., occupancy schedule) and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in governing the impact of UHI on the building energy use matrices. Additionally, the thermal properties of the building envelope were evaluated to determine their relative importance in mitigating the effects of UHI on building energy performance. We found that, among the studies building types, while the cooling energy use of restaurant and outpatient healthcare buildings was most affected by UHI (higher cooling energy demands), the outpatient healthcare buildings were most impacted by UHI in terms of their heating energy use (lower heating energy use). The selection of HVAC systems type was found to have negligible influence on the energy impacts of UHI. Lastly, with regard to the thermal properties of the building envelope, window insulation was noted to be the most influential thermal property, followed by roof and wall insulation. Also, the role of insulation as well as other thermal properties was higher in the context of UHI’s impact on heating energy consumption as compared to cooling energy consumption. Not only are the results of this study useful for urban planning purposes to determine the vulnerability of different buildings to UHI, but they also are beneficial to UHI-resilient building designs.

Building and system design's impact on thermal resilience to overheating during heatwaves: An uncertainty and sensitivity analysis

Rising heatwaves necessitate thermally resilient buildings to mitigate occupant heat-stress and mortality, ensuring habitable conditions during thermal shocks. This study's aim and novelty is to identify key design parameters affecting three thermal resilience aspects -(i) shock impact or SET-Dh i.e., degree hours above standard effective temperature threshold of 28 °C (ii) absorptivity time (tabs) and (iii) recovery time (trec) across varying degrees of shock intensities (doS-low, medium and high). A reference Belgian apartment is simulated with varying design parameters (building orientation, envelope and glazing properties, glazing percentage, airtightness, operation and control of passive strategies, cooling systems) during three types of heatwaves. Uncertainty analysis quantified the impact of design variations on thermal resilience, while global sensitivity analysis pinpointed key parameters affecting resilience during different shocks. The study shows that while 87 % of design variations remain thermally resilient during shorter shocks, only 21 % do so during longer shocks and that WWR, cooling capacity, and passive strategies (operation of natural night ventilation and solar shading) have twice the impact on thermal resilience compared to building orientation and glazing properties. While tabs is affected by heat build-up factors (e.g., WWR, solar shading), trec is influenced by heat removal factors (e.g., cooling capacity, NNV). Parameters such as heavy thermal mass extend heat absorption but also delays heat dissipation during prolonged heatwaves. This study guides designers and architects to focus on interventions that enhance buildings' thermal resilience during both short and long heatwaves, aiding in climate adaptation and the ability to withstand future extreme heat periods.

Insights on the Mechanical Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Particles and the Effects of the Photosensitizer Hypericin.

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. It belongs to the Coronaviridae family, characterized by a phospholipid envelope, which is crucial for viral entry and replication in host cells. Hypericin, a lipophilic, naturally occurring photosensitizer, was reported to effectively inactivate enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, upon light irradiation. In addition to its photodynamic activity, Hyp was found to exert an antiviral action also in the dark. This study explores the mechanical properties of heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viral particles using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Results reveal a flexible structure under external stress, potentially contributing to the virus pathogenicity. Although the fixation protocol causes damage to some particles, correlation with fluorescence demonstrates colocalization of partially degraded virions with their genome. The impact of hypericin on the mechanical properties of the virus was assessed and found particularly relevant in dark conditions. These preliminary results suggest that hypericin can affect the mechanical properties of the viral envelope, an effect that warrants further investigation in the context of antiviral therapies.

Inverse problem method application in building physics numerical optimization: new insight into ideal envelope properties determination

ABSTRACT Building thermal design optimization is pivotal for energy efficiency and built environment improvement. The optimal thermophysical properties for building walls remain ambiguous. This ambiguity stems from the constraints of traditional building physics, which: (1) disjoins the enhancement of wall thermal performance from the building service system management; and (2) relies on the forward method that fails to identify the ideal variable thermophysical property, the solution to which is inherently a function. This study elucidates the optimal temperature-dependent volumetric specific heat ( ρ c p ( t ) ) and thermal conductivity ( k ( t ) ) through the inverse problem and variation method. Illustrative example indicates that the optimal ρ c p ( t ) closely resembles a combination of two ‘ δ ’ functions, while the optimal k ( t ) mirrors a square wave function. Utilizing these ideal thermophysical properties, the building energy consumption can be significantly reduced by 77.1% with the optimized ρ c p ( t ) and 79.9% with the optimized k ( t ) . The ideal thermophysical properties for active buildings differ significantly from those recommended for passive buildings, underscoring that minimal energy consumption does not necessarily imply minimal discomfort. Therefore, the thermophysical properties of active and passive buildings should be optimized distinctly. This research offers valuable insights for defining ideal thermophysical properties of active building walls and construction materials.

Specific and Sensitive Visual Proviral DNA Detection of Major Pathogenic Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroups Using CRISPR-Associated Nuclease Cas13a.

Avian leukosis viruses (ALVs) include a group of avian retroviruses primarily associated with neoplastic diseases in poultry, commonly referred to as avian leukosis. Belonging to different subgroups based on their envelope properties, ALV subgroups A, B, and J (ALV-A, ALV-B, and ALV-J) are the most widespread in poultry populations. Early identification and removal of virus-shedding birds from infected flocks are essential for the ALVs' eradication. Therefore, the development of rapid, accurate, simple-to-use, and cost effective on-site diagnostic methods for the detection of ALV subgroups is very important. Cas13a, an RNA-guided RNA endonuclease that cleaves target single-stranded RNA, also exhibits non-specific endonuclease activity on any bystander RNA in close proximity. The distinct trans-cleavage activity of Cas13 has been exploited in the molecular diagnosis of multiple pathogens including several viruses. Here, we describe the development and application of a highly sensitive Cas13a-based molecular test for the specific detection of proviral DNA of ALV-A, B, and J subgroups. Prokaryotically expressed LwaCas13a, purified through ion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography, was combined with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and T7 transcription to establish the SHERLOCK (specific high-sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking) molecular detection system for the detection of proviral DNA of ALV-A/B/J subgroups. This novel method that needs less sample input with a short turnaround time is based on isothermal detection at 37 °C with a color-based lateral flow readout. The detection limit of the assay for ALV-A/B/J subgroups was 50 copies with no cross reactivity with ALV-C/D/E subgroups and other avian oncogenic viruses such as reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) and Marek's disease virus (MDV). The development and evaluation of a highly sensitive and specific visual method of detection of ALV-A/B/J nucleic acids using CRISPR-Cas13a described here will help in ALV detection in eradication programs.

Energy Consumption at Accommodation Buildings: A Case Study of a Boutique Hotel-Abdera

Global environmental problems such as decreasing biodiversity, natural disasters, climate change, and energy consumption are among the main concerns of the countries. Approximately 50% of the energy consumed worldwide is spent on architectural construction, use, and operation. The increase in energy consumption in buildings especially has taken the reduction of carbon footprint and the importance of energy efficiency to the fore. Physical environment, climate, orientation, envelope, and material properties are among the different factors in determining energy consumption in buildings. The share of tourism activities in total emissions is estimated to be 5%. However, it is also stated that tourism buildings have a share of 21 % of C02 emissions. This work aimed to research the energy consumption of a boutique hotel in Abdera, Greece. ArchiCAD, Graphisoft, and EcoDesigner software were used in the analysis of findings, and suggestions were put forward. Energy consumption and environmental effects were investigated when active solar systems (Solar Thermal Panel /STP (30 m2), Photovoltaic Panel/PV (30 m2)) were added to the roof surface (total 60 m2 Panel) of the building. The analysis showed that the addition of active solar systems by 30% could reduce emissions. In Greece, which is located in a very favorable region in terms of geographical features, it is very important to use solar potential with integrated systems in buildings to provide energy needs.

Towards a bio-inspired design of a photovoltaic facade

Facing the challenges of climate change, energy sovereignty and urban densification, operation of local resources and available areas remains an important issue. Integration of photovoltaic components on building envelope is therefore an essential solution to produce manage energy flexibility and obtain Nearly Zero Energy Building. In order to optimize permanently their electrical and thermal performances facing building needs, photovoltaic facades functionalities should adapt and evolve with weather conditions. Bio-inspired design is a breakthrough approach to provide adaptability to physical, mechanical and optical properties of photovoltaic envelope. Therefore, this paper presents the thermal modelling and numerical parametric studies in the case of a photovoltaic bifacial ventilated facade realized with the purpose to identify properties that should acquire adaptive features. Physics related to the identified parameters allow paving the way for the search and the selection of suitable biological adaptive mechanisms. The results of this study indicate that radiative and optical properties of the photovoltaic ventilated facade are the most influential and conflict-inducing parameters on both its electrical and thermal performances. Thus, to provide adaptability to those properties, biological search should be led on live species dealing with extreme heat and radiation and developing adaptive functions aiming to control solar radiation intake.

Multi-Objective Optimization for Winter Heating Retrofit in Rural Houses of Cold Regions: A Case Study in the Wusu Area

In regions of China experiencing severe cold, the duration of the winter heating season significantly contributes to elevated heating energy consumption in rural dwellings. This study focuses on typical brick-and-concrete rural homes in the Wusu area. Utilizing the Rhino–Grasshopper parametric modeling platform, it aims to minimize heating-related carbon emissions and the overall costs associated with retrofitting. The approach involves improving the insulation properties of the building envelope to reduce energy requirements. Additionally, the study incorporates solar photovoltaic systems atop rural homes, building upon low-carbon, passive, energy-efficient design principles. By examining the influence of various factors on rural housing energy consumption, the research employs the entropy weight method to identify the most effective design solutions. The goal is to explore strategies for the energy-efficient retrofitting of rural dwellings in areas faced with harsh winter conditions, aligning with the objectives and preferences of Applied Sciences. The simulation results reveal the following: (1). In comparison with the baseline scenario, 42.2% of the optimized solutions within the Pareto frontier satisfy the current standards for 75% energy savings in energy-efficient residential design. (2). The lowest recorded thermal consumption index for the buildings can reach 12.427 W/m2, at which point the rate of energy savings is elevated to 79.5%. (3). Within the solutions identified by the Pareto frontier, 80% exhibit initial investments that are lower than the cost savings over the lifecycle due to reduced energy consumption (dCg < 0), demonstrating the economic feasibility of the proposed retrofitting strategies.

Determining the Young's Modulus of the Bacterial Cell Envelope.

Bacteria experience substantial physical forces in their natural environment, including forces caused by osmotic pressure, growth in constrained spaces, and fluid shear. The cell envelope is the primary load-carrying structure of bacteria, but the mechanical properties of the cell envelope are poorly understood; reports of Young's modulus of the cell envelope of Escherichia coli range from 2 to 18 MPa. We developed a microfluidic system to apply mechanical loads to hundreds of bacteria at once and demonstrated the utility of the approach for evaluating whole-cell stiffness. Here, we extend this technique to determine Young's modulus of the cell envelope of E. coli and of the pathogens Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus. An optimization-based inverse finite element analysis was used to determine the cell envelope Young's modulus from observed deformations. The Young's modulus values of the cell envelope were 2.06 ± 0.04 MPa for E. coli, 0.84 ± 0.02 MPa for E. coli treated with a chemical (A22) known to reduce cell stiffness, 0.12 ± 0.03 MPa for V. cholerae, and 1.52 ± 0.06 MPa for S. aureus (mean ± SD). The microfluidic approach allows examination of hundreds of cells at once and is readily applied to Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms as well as rod-shaped and cocci cells, allowing further examination of the structural causes behind differences in cell envelope Young's modulus among bacterial species and strains.

CO emission survey of asymptotic giant branch stars with ultraviolet excesses

Context. The transition from the spherically symmetric envelopes around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars to the asymmetric morphologies observed in planetary nebulae is still not well understood, and the shaping mechanisms are a subject of debate. Even though binarity is widely accepted as a promising option, it is limited by the complication of identifying binary AGB stars observationally. Recently, the presence of ultraviolet excesses in AGB stars has been suggested as a potential indicator of binarity. Aims. Our main goals are to characterise the properties of the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) around candidate AGB binary stars, specifically those selected based on their UV excess emission, and to compare these properties with those derived from previous CO-based studies of AGB stars. Methods. We observed the 12CO (J=1–0) and 12CO (J=2–1) millimetre-wavelength emission in a sample of 29 AGB binary candidates with the IRAM-30 m antenna. We measured the systemic velocities and the terminal expansion velocities from their line profiles. Population diagrams were used to interpret the results, enabling the estimation of excitation temperatures (Tex), mass-loss rates (Ṁ), and the characteristic sizes of the envelope layers where the CO millimetre emission originates (Rs). We explored different trends between the envelope parameters deduced, multiwavelength flux measurements, and other properties of our sample, and compared them with those previously derived from larger samples of AGB stars found in the literature. Results. We detected 12CO emission in 15 sources, of which 5 are first detections. We found relatively low expansion velocities (3 km s−1 ≲ Vexp ≲ 20 km s−1) in our sample. We derived the average excitation temperature and column density of the CO-emitting layers, which we used to estimate self-consistently the average mass-loss rate (10−8 M⊙ yr−1 ≲ Ṁ ≲ 10−5 M⊙ yr−1) and the CO pho-todissociation radius (5 × 1015 cm ≲ RCO ≲ 2 × 1017 cm) of our targets. We find a correlation between CO intensity and IRAS 60 µm fluxes, revealing a CO-to-IRAS 60 µm ratio lower than for AGB stars and closer to that found for pre-planetary nebulae (pPNe). An anti-correlation is observed between 12CO (and IRAS 60 µm) and the near-ultraviolet (NUV), but no such correlation is observed with the far-ultraviolet (FUV). It is also worth noting that there is no correlation between bolometric luminosity and NUV or FUV. Conclusions. For the first time we have studied the mass-loss properties of UV-excess AGB binary candidates and estimated their main CSE parameters. Our sample of uvAGB stars shows similarities with the broader category of AGB stars, except for a distinct CO-to-IRAS 60 µm trend suggesting enhanced CO photodissociation. Our findings, based on single-dish low-J CO line emission observations, support the dust-driven wind scenario and indicate that alternative mass-loss mechanisms are not necessary (in principle) to explain the ~200–2000 yr old mass-loss ejecta in uvAGBs. The different relationships between 12CO and IRAS 60 µm, with NUV and FUV are consistent with an intrinsic origin of NUV emission, but potential dominance of an extrinsic process (e.g. presence of a binary companion) in FUV emission.

Incorporation of Waste in Thermal Mortars—A Literature Review

Innovation in construction plays a fundamental role in helping us face current challenges, namely the reduction in energy consumption, the mitigation of the effects of climate change, the depletion of resources, and the generation of waste. Regarding the built environment, improving the thermal properties of the building envelope is one of the growing needs to reduce energy consumption in the building sector. In this context, thermal mortars have been a trend in the construction industry in recent years due to their ability in reducing heat transfer through the building envelope. On the other hand, the addition of waste has been studied as an alternative to improve the thermal properties of mortars and reduce the consumption of primary materials in the construction sector. This work aims to carry out a detailed review regarding the incorporation of waste in thermal mortars through the application of scientometric data analysis and a systematic literature review. To this end, the different residues incorporated into thermal mortars and the various percentages and forms of incorporation were identified throughout the publications gathered in this review. The most studied properties regarding the thermal mortars with the addition of waste were also the subject of study. A comprehensive database of thermal mortars with the incorporation of waste is presented, in which the objectives of the studies, the wastes and forms of incorporation and the measured properties are highlighted. The main results of the analysed researches are deeply discussed and the gaps in this area of the knowledge are identified to point out new directions and possible perspectives for future studies in the field of thermal mortars incorporating waste.

Towards zero-carbon solar heating in severe cold and cold regions of China by building integrated heat pipes

As a climate-responsive building, the building integrated heat pipes (BIHP) can greatly improve the indoor thermal environment during the local heating season, utilizing the thermal diode characteristic and ultrahigh equivalent thermal conductivity of the L-shaped flat gravity heat pipe. The thermophysical properties of the internal envelope greatly influence the heating effect, and the utilization potentiality of BIHP varies in locations with diverse climate resources. In this paper, the utilization effects of BIHP at 61 locations in severe cold and cold regions of China are investigated. Improved backtracking search and particle swarm optimization are used to obtain the optimal heating effect and the corresponding thermophysical properties of the internal envelope at zero-carbon heating locations and non-zero-carbon heating locations, respectively. The relationship between the improvement degree of thermal discomfort and the solar radiation over temperature difference is studied, and the utilization potentiality map and zoning of BIHP are obtained. This study is of great significance for promoting the application of climate-responsive BIHP to effectively and efficiently utilize solar energy to reach zero-carbon heating.

Light curve and spectral modelling of the type IIb SN 2020acat

We use the light-curve and spectral synthesis code JEKYLL to calculate a set of macroscopically mixed type IIb supernova (SN) models, which are compared to both previously published and new late-phase observations of SN 2020acat. The models differ in the initial mass, in the radial mixing and expansion of the radioactive material, and in the properties of the hydrogen envelope. The best match to the photospheric and nebular spectra and light curves of SN 2020acat is found for a model with an initial mass of 17 M⊙, strong radial mixing and expansion of the radioactive material, and a 0.1 M⊙ hydrogen envelope with a low hydrogen mass fraction of 0.27. The most interesting result is that strong expansion of the clumps containing radioactive material seems to be required to fit the observations of SN 2020acat both in the diffusion phase and in the nebular phase. These Ni bubbles are expected to expand due to heating from radioactive decays, but the degree of expansion is poorly constrained. Without strong expansion, there is a tension between the diffusion phase and the subsequent evolution, and models that fit the nebular phase produce a diffusion peak that is too broad. The diffusion-phase light curve is sensitive to the expansion of the Ni bubbles because the resulting Swiss-cheese-like geometry decreases the effective opacity and therefore the diffusion time. This effect has not been taken into account in previous light-curve modelling of stripped-envelope SNe, which may lead to a systematic underestimate of their ejecta masses. In addition to strong expansion, strong mixing of the radioactive material also seems to be required to fit the diffusion peak. It should be emphasized, however, that JEKYLL is limited to a geometry that is spherically symmetric on average, and large-scale asymmetries may also play a role. The relatively high initial mass found for the progenitor of SN 2020acat places it at the upper end of the mass distribution of type IIb SN progenitors, and a single-star origin cannot be excluded.

On the Magnetic Field Properties of Protostellar Envelopes in Orion

We present 870 μm polarimetric observations toward 61 protostars in the Orion molecular clouds with ∼400 au (1″) resolution using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. We successfully detect dust polarization and outflow emission in 56 protostars; in 16 of them the polarization is likely produced by self-scattering. Self-scattering signatures are seen in several Class 0 sources, suggesting that grain growth appears to be significant in disks at earlier protostellar phases. For the rest of the protostars, the dust polarization traces the magnetic field, whose morphology can be approximately classified into three categories: standard-hourglass, rotated-hourglass (with its axis perpendicular to outflow), and spiral-like morphology. A total of 40.0% (±3.0%) of the protostars exhibit a mean magnetic field direction approximately perpendicular to the outflow on several × 102–103 au scales. However, in the remaining sample, this relative orientation appears to be random, probably due to the complex set of morphologies observed. Furthermore, we classify the protostars into three types based on the C17O (3–2) velocity envelope’s gradient: perpendicular to outflow, nonperpendicular to outflow, and unresolved gradient (≲1.0 km s−1 arcsec−1). In protostars with a velocity gradient perpendicular to outflow, the magnetic field lines are preferentially perpendicular to outflow, with most of them exhibiting a rotated hourglass morphology, suggesting that the magnetic field has been overwhelmed by gravity and angular momentum. Spiral-like magnetic fields are associated with envelopes having large velocity gradients, indicating that the rotation motions are strong enough to twist the field lines. All of the protostars with a standard-hourglass field morphology show no significant velocity gradient due to the strong magnetic braking.

BIM and Sustainable Design: A Review of Strategies and Tools for Green Building Practices

Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a robust foundation for driving sustainability across architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) practices. This paper presents a systematic review of literature elucidating the confluence of BIM tools and processes with accelerated performance simulations and green building certification systems needed to guide environmentally sensitive design. Integrated Revit-Insight 360 is shown to enable 21% lower energy use intensity (EUI) and 8.5% reduced lifecycle costs over baseline for an office building through rapid multi-objective optimization spanning orientation, envelope and HVAC properties. Enhanced integrated platforms perform detailed thermal zoning analysis capturing realistic solar gains and heat storage effects, right-sizing heating equipment by 7.2% over conventional workflows. Further, BIM automation mitigates nearly 50-80% of manual calculations for BEAM Plus, LEED prerequisites and accelerates documentation for certification. However, interoperability issues inhibiting holistic sustainability evaluations persist due to lack of modeling standards. Emerging tools exemplify modular green assessment connecting multi-vendor engines to resolve underlying technical barriers. As BIM object definitions and seamless analytical integration matures, widespread mainstreaming for sustainability is foreseeable. While current measured metrics revolve around energy use, emissions and green certification, future work needs to address social and economic indicators also enabled by data-rich BIMs. Nevertheless, coupled with continuous monitoring for validation, BIM provides the foundation for the AEC industry to progress towards comprehensive sustainable building lifecycles.