Ventilation Rate Research Articles

Abstract 4139144: "Comparative Analysis of Inpatient Outcomes: Decompensated Systolic Heart Failure (HFrEF) with and without Iron Deficiency Anemia, Propensity-Matched Nationwide Study (2017-2021)."

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects approximately one-third of patients with systolic heart failure, yet comprehensive population-based analyses of its impact on in-hospital outcomes remain limited. This study seeks to examine how IDA influences in-hospital outcomes among individuals with decompensated systolic congestive heart failure (HFrEF). Methods: Using data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database spanning from 2017 to 2021, this study identified patients hospitalized for decompensated systolic congestive heart failure (HFrEF) with a secondary diagnosis of IDA using ICD-10 codes such as I5020-23 and D500, D501, D508, D509. Propensity score matching (PSM) was then employed to create cohorts without and with IDA at a 1:3 ratio. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to evaluate various outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, cardiogenic shock (CS), acute myocardial injury (AMI), cardiac arrest, ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), length of stay (LOS), and total hospitalization charges. Furthermore, the utilization rate of mechanical ventilation and circulatory support, including intra-aortic balloon pump and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, was evaluated in both cohorts. Results: Among 253,034 HFrEF hospitalizations, 16,200 (6.4%) had a secondary diagnosis of IDA. After PSM, multivariate regression analyses revealed no significant differences in the odds of cardiogenic shock (10% vs. 10%, p=0.86), in-hospital mortality (2.6% vs. 2.8%, p=0.71), and LOS (7.19 vs. 7.27 days) between the two groups. Additionally, the likelihood of cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmias, AMI, and utilization of mechanical ventilation and circulatory support did not reach statistical significance. However, patients with IDA and HFrEF had higher hospitalization charges ($85,516 vs. $93,000). Conclusion: HFrEF patients, with or without IDA, had similar odds of cardiogenic shock, in-hospital mortality, mechanical circulatory support utilization, as well as LOS. However, IDA with HFrEF correlated with higher hospitalization charges.

Abstract 4130622: Neonatal Outcomes of Hypertensive Women Across US Races: 2016-2022

Background: Maternal hypertension, a major pregnancy complication, can adversely affect newborn health. We aim to evaluate the racial and ethnic disparities in neonatal outcomes among hypertensive pregnant women in the United States. Methods: Using data from the CDC WONDER Natality database, we conducted a retrospective cohort study focusing on live births to hypertensive mothers from 2016 to 2022. Neonatal outcomes, including NICU admissions, low birth weight, infant mortality, and assisted ventilation, were analyzed by calculating rates [95% CIs] per 1000 live births across maternal racial/ethnic groups and the US Census Bureau's regional classification: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Results: We analyzed 2,336,679 live births to hypertensive women (23% pre-pregnancy; 77% gestational). This cohort comprised: 0.2% infants born to Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander women (NH/PI), 0.9% to American Indian/Alaska Native women (AI/AN), 3.8% to Asian American women (AA), 19.6% to Hispanic/Latino women (H/L), 20.0% to Black/African American women (BA), and 55.4% to White American women (WA). Infant mortality rates were highest in BA (3.6 [3.5, 3.8]), followed by AA (2.1 [1.8, 2.4]), AI/AN (2.1 [1.6, 2.7]), H/L (1.9 [1.8, 2.0]), NH/PI (1.9 [1.0, 3.3]), and lowest in WA (1.5 [1.4, 1.6]). Similarly, NICU admission rates were highest in BA (217.2 [216.1, 218.4]) and lowest in WA (156 [155.4, 156.6]). Assisted ventilation rates were highest in NH/PI (131.8 [123.4, 140.7]) and lowest in AA (87.8 [86.0, 89.7]). Low birth weight rates were highest in BA (235.1 [233.9, 236.3]) and lowest in WA (121.8 [121.2, 122.4]). The Midwest had the highest rates for NICU admissions in NH/PI (254.2 [217.2, 295.2]), assisted ventilation in AI/AN (143.8 [133.2, 155.1]), and mortality in BA (4.1 [3.7, 4.5]). The South had the highest rate of low birth weight for BA (244.4 [242.9, 246.0]). Conclusion: Significant racial and regional disparities exist in neonatal outcomes among hypertensive women in the US. BA mothers consistently experienced the poorest outcomes, while WA mothers had the best. Further research is crucial to understand the reasons behind these disparities and develop targeted interventions for high-risk populations.

The Effects of an Adaptive Ventilation Control System on Indoor Air Quality and Energy Consumption

Indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy consumption (Q) are well-known building estimators, but they are used separately. Energy consumption is used during the design stage, while IAQ is used during operation. The novelty of our approach is that we propose using both estimators simultaneously during building operations. The purpose of this study was to find an adaptive ventilation strategy that maintained good indoor air quality with minimal energy consumption. The second novelty of our approach consists of IAQ estimation. While the operation of ventilation systems depends only on the indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration at present, our novel approach uses a more global IAQ index that includes four different air pollutants. Physical models are used for the hourly prediction of the two indices: global IAQ and Q. This study presents a comparative analysis of several ventilation operations strategies: fixed versus adaptive. The main findings show that a decrease in the ventilation rate, na, from 3.5 h−1 to 2.0 h−1 leads to a diminishment in energy consumption of 42.9%, maintaining the global IAQ index under the limited health risk value (VRL). Moreover, an adaptive ventilation strategy of na, maintaining the global IAQ index value under VRL, achieves a further reduction in energy consumption of 72.9%, highlighting its efficiency.

Experimental investigation of natural gas leakage and dispersion characteristics in utility tunnels under the effects of real facility layout and forced ventilation

Natural gas leakage occurring in underground utility tunnels usually poses a significant threat to public safety. In order to prevent unexpected fires and explosions, the evolution mechanism of natural gas leakage and dispersion in utility tunnels is urgently needed. In this study, an experimental apparatus was built to facilitate the understanding of leakage and dispersion dynamics in utility tunnels. Methane with a purity of 99.9% is used as a surrogate for natural gas. A schlieren imaging system with a Z-shaped optical path was designed to visualize the high-speed gas jet. The concentration distribution, alarm time, dilution efficiency, and gas jet image were analyzed under the effect of various facility layouts, ventilation, and leakage rates. The results show that the gas leakage and dispersion process can be divided into three zones: upwind zone, leak zone, and downwind zone, characterized by complicated airflow collision, high-speed get jets, and stable dilution dispersion respectively. Scenario analysis highlights the significance of key facilities, such as cable brackets, in experimental and numerical modeling due to their impact on dispersion trajectories. Higher ventilation rates prove beneficial in reducing peak concentration, hazardous areas, and enhancing purge efficiency. Conversely, higher leakage rates exacerbate the likelihood and severity of gas explosions. Alarm time exhibits a V-shaped distribution relative to the leak point, while purge time correlates positively with sensor positions. These findings are of practical importance in enhancing quantitative risk assessment and designing mitigation strategies for gas leakage accidents, which helps to improve the safety-risk-control capabilities of utility tunnels.

A framework for assessing the current and future capability of mechanical night ventilation in the context of climate change

Night ventilation is a technique in which the indoor air and the building’s thermal mass is cooled down during nighttime to provide a heat sink available during the next day to help mitigating overheating and reducing the daytime space cooling demand. This paper proposes a framework on evaluating the use of mechanical night ventilation today and in the future. It considers analysis of the ventilative cooling system, including mechanical night ventilation, by means of key performance indicators that involve thermal comfort, energy use and resiliency criteria as suggested by IEA Annex 80. It, additionally, introduces an economic parameter in form of diurnal and nocturnal price ratio of electricity as economic trade-off between nighttime fan- and daytime fan and chiller use in terms of electricity. A historic office building in north-central Sweden is presented as a detailed case as to illustrate the use of the framework. The investigation was done using a validated model of the building in IDA-ICE building simulation program at both current climate and future climate in 2050s. It was revealed that an upgraded ventilative cooling system with three times larger capacity is required to fulfill thermal comfort. Even though mechanical night ventilation could result in the annual cooling source electricity saving intensity up to 0.9 kWh/(m²∙a) at extreme current climate (2018), it could just insignificantly reduce the total electricity use for space cooling (up to 2 %) and only at some night ventilation rates at all mentioned climates. Mechanical night ventilation, however, could be applied in an economically beneficial way if the electricity network has different nocturnal and diurnal electricity prices. A unitless index of maximum nighttime over daytime electricity price ratio was proposed representing the maximum tolerable price for nighttime electricity, given a daytime electricity price, based on night- and daytime ventilation electricity demand. For economically justified application of mechanical night ventilation, lower nighttime over daytime electricity price ratios were required for higher night ventilation rates. For the typical future climate with night ventilation rates larger than 2.6 ACH, it will be necessary to have nighttime prices that are lower than daytime if mechanical night ventilation is to be economical. The approach used in the framework can be applied to future research and practice, regardless of the case-specific parameters such as building type, climate zone, location, etc.

Flow characteristics analysis and application research of multi-branch piping

Abstract This study examines the flow characteristics of multi-branch piping and provides production guidance for tobacco-specific ventilation rate standard rods (VRSRs), focusing on VRSRs within a multi-branch pipeline structure as the research subject. The present work analyses the flow resistance, and flow distribution on the influence of each piping section volume flow. By adopting the iterative method to appropriately construct the mathematical model of the VRSR, an effective technique is developed for thoroughly examining specific VRSRs. The performance of these customized VRSRs is then methodically assessed through repeatability and stability tests, and their suitability is further analyzed by employing five types of ventilation rate test equipment. The main findings reveal: (1) Customized VRSRs exhibit high repeatability and stability; (2) Customized VRSRs are compatible with five common types of ventilation rate testing equipment. Consequently, the model offers scientific theoretical guidance for the production of tobacco-specific VRSRs. Additionally, the study serves as a practical case reference for the production of multi-branch piping systems.

Catalytic ozone oxidation performance of Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 in reverse osmosis concentrate treatment

The reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) produced in the process of textile wastewater treatment has a high salt content, posing a significant environmental threat. In this study, catalytic ozone oxidation was used to treat ROC, which initially had a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 127.38 mg/L. The Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalysts had the best performance under the Fe/Ce doping ratio of 3:1, calcination temperature of 500 °C with calcination time of 4 h. SEM and XRD analyses confirmed the successful loading of Fe and Ce on γ-Al2O3. The catalytic ozone oxidation conditions were optimized by the response surface method (RSM). Under the optimal reaction conditions (catalyst dosage of 139.07 g/L, ozone ventilation rate of 1.65 L/min, and initial pH of 9.86), the actual COD removal rate reached 89.21 %. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy was used to analyze the degradation mechanism of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during the treatment of ROC. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum (3DEEM) results demonstrated the obvious degradation of DOM in ROC after the catalytic ozone oxidation treatment. The COD removal rate remained at approximately 80 % after 10 recycles, indicating that the Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalyst had good catalytic stability and reusability. In summary, the Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalysts demonstrate sustained practical effectiveness and high catalytic efficiency, making them suitable for the treatment of ROC.

Investigation of Prognosis and Related Factors of Premature Neonates

The birth of premature infants remains a challenge in many societies. This cross-sectional study investigates prenatal care and influential factors in preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Fatemieh Educational-Medical Center in Hamadan, Iran, from March 2018 to March 2019. We examined premature infants with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks who were admitted to the NICU. Data on demographic and maternal characteristics, length of hospital stay, maternal underlying diseases, probable causes of preterm birth, neonatal complications, treatment types, treatment-related complications, resuscitation needs, ventilation, and mortality rates were extracted from patient records. Among 388 preterm infants studied, 204 (52.6%) were female. The mean gestational age was 31.8±2.8 weeks, birth weight was 1647.4±625.6 grams, and average hospital stay was 10.2±9.3 days. The most common maternal underlying disease was pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia (22.2%), respiratory distress syndrome, jaundice, and low birth weight were the leading reasons for hospitalization (84%). Neonatal outcomes included 92 (23.7%) deaths, 25 (6.4%) intraventricular hemorrhages, 39 (10.1%) patent ductus arteriosus cases, 20 (5.2%) bronchopulmonary dysplasia cases, and 41 (10.6%) retinopathy of prematurity cases. Regression analysis revealed significant predictors of neonatal mortality, including male gender, maternal underlying diseases, need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, low Apgar score at one-minute, lower birth weight, shorter gestational age, and NICU stay duration. This study underscores the high neonatal mortality rate among preterm infants. Implementing preventive measures, particularly addressing maternal underlying diseases and low birth weight, can significantly reduce neonatal mortality.

Building performance optimization through sensitivity Analysis, and economic insights using AI

Optimizing building designs for energy efficiency and occupant comfort presents significant challenges due to the complex and often conflicting requirements of various stakeholders. Consequently, this study conducts a multifaceted sensitivity and economic impact analysis that aims to improve building performance in terms of energy efficiency and occupant comfort by implementing machine learning techniques. Using a broad dataset comprising of 12,000 energy simulation runs for Tvedestrand Upper Secondary School in Norway, several machine learning models were employed with Multi-Layer Perceptron outperforming the others. In addition, several sensitivity analysis methods were used to explore the influence of individual parameters on building performance. The analysis reveals that ventilation rate, room depth, U-value of the facade, and heat gains significantly affect energy consumption. Economic impact analysis was also carried out to compare the cost-effectiveness of traditional HVAC systems with Building Management System (BMS) HVAC solutions. The BMS HVAC system shows significantly lower operational costs over time, with investment costs averaging around 1200 Norwegian kroner (NOK)/m2 and operational costs of approximately 150 NOK/m2 per year. Sensitivity analysis under different economic scenarios highlights the economic viability of the BMS HVAC system. This study identifies optimal building parameters that balance energy efficiency and thermal comfort, achieving total energy consumption between 11.05 and 22.51 kWh/m2 and zero discomfort hours (h > 26 °C). In sum, the findings offer valuable insights for stakeholders, enabling informed decisions about sustainable building design and energy efficiency improvements, ensuring both technical soundness and financial viability under a wide range of conditions, while using the tested tools.

Role Of Expanded Curb-65 Score In Predicting The Severity Of Community Acquired Pneumonia

Introduction: Assessment of severity and site of care decisions for community-acquired pneumonia patients (CAP) are very important for patients’ safety and optimal use of resources. Late admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) leads to increase the rate of mortality in CAP. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the new expanded CURB-65 score in comparison with CURB-65 in predicting CAP patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study which includes 90 patients presented with CAP in Government hospital for chest and communicable disease, AMC, Visakhapatnam Results: The study included 90 patients hospitalized with CAP of which mean (SD) age distribution is 51.49±16.63 years, with 64.4% being men and 83.3% of CAP patients had associated comorbidities. All patients (100%) had elevated serum LDH (> 230U/L), 87.8% had hypoalbuminemia, 8.9% had thrombocytopenia, and 4.44% had elevated BUN values within 24 hours of admission. Regarding outcomes, the ICU admission rate was 36.7%, the 30-day mortality rate was 14.4%, and 35.6% required mechanical ventilation. There was a significant association between tachypnea (respiratory rate >30/min), confusion, and thrombocytopenia (Platelet Count < 100×103/mm3) with 30-day mortality, according to univariate analysis. The current study found that as 30-day mortality for Expanded CURB score of (0-2), (3-4) and (5-8) is 0,4%and 9% respectively, requirement of mechanical ventilation and ICU admission rate were 2%,22%, 8% and2%,23%,8% respectively. Length of hospital stay increase as the score increase with median length of hospital stay being 7 days. Conclusion: Compared to CURB-65 and other assessment tools, the Expanded-CURB-65 score, which extends independent risk factors to 8 variables in assessing CAP severity, significantly improves identifying high-risk patients and thereby helps in early institution of appropriate therapy

Human exposure to respiratory aerosols: Impact of ventilation rates, mixing ventilation configuration, and breathing patterns

This study investigates airborne transmission dynamics between occupants in office rooms equipped with mixing ventilation (MV). The primary aim was to assess how different ventilation configurations, air change rates (ACH), breathing patterns, and supply air temperatures influence cross-exposure and infection risks. The experimental setup involved two thermal manikins simulating an infected and an exposed occupant within a climate chamber. The investigated parameters included four ACH levels (1.2, 2, 4 and 6.6 h⁻1, representing four EN 16798-1 ventilation categories), two MV configurations (near-ceiling and near-floor inlets), two breathing patterns (nose and mouth breathing), and two supply air temperatures (19°C and 21°C). Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was used as a tracer gas to simulate exhaled aerosols, enabling precise measurements of effectiveness (), intake fraction (IF), and infection probability (P). The findings indicate that higher ACH do not uniformly improve but are linked to reduced cross-exposure risk. The near-floor inlet MV configuration significantly outperformed the near-ceiling configuration in reducing IF and P by 15-41% under most investigated scenarios. Additionally, mouth breathing increased IF and P compared to nose breathing, especially at higher ACH (2, 4, and 6.6 h⁻1). The results also showed that lower supply temperatures do not always correlate with higher IF and P, as MV configuration and breathing patterns significantly influence outcomes. This research provides insights into optimizing ventilation strategies for safer indoor environments, emphasizing the importance of airflow dynamics, breathing patterns, and supply temperature in ventilation design.

IAQ and ventilation measurements at the “ZEB Laboratory” office building in Norway

This study aims to assess indoor environmental quality (IEQ) within a Zero Emission Building (ZEB) office in Norway, focusing on occupant impact (CO2, temperature, humidity) and materials/substances influence (formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM2.5), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)). It presents a detailed data collection spanning 14 months from March 30th, 2022, to June 1st, 2023.Occupancy varied significantly, affecting measured indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters, with the lowest temperatures recorded on the second floor and specific areas like the canteen experiencing temperature drops during low usage times. Relative humidity levels remained over 20% in winter despite the building's low occupancy, a notable aspect given Norway's dry winters. PM2.5 levels stayed below World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, indicating effective pollution management.The study also evaluates the impact of reducing the ventilation rates on IAQ, noting no significant IAQ compromise. An analysis correlating IAQ measurements with building occupants' satisfaction post-intervention revealed that temperature is the most significant factor affecting satisfaction levels, excluding acoustic satisfaction. Occupants generally reported satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ), with specific dissatisfaction tied to thermal environment and IAQ, suggesting the importance of temperature control in occupant perception.This research not only provides valuable insights into IEQ management in Zero Energy and Zero Emission office buildings but also emphasizes the critical role of indoor temperature and the potential of wooden structures to stabilize humidity levels, contributing to occupant comfort and satisfaction.

Analysis of ventilation and infiltration rates using physics-informed neural networks: Impact of space operation and meteorological factors

This study presents the development and application of a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) model to estimate ventilation and infiltration rates using long-term observation data, addressing the challenge of dynamically varying space operations and meteorological conditions. A central research equestion is: How can we accurately estimate ventilation rates while accounting for these time-varying factors? Traditional tracer gas methods require numerous measurements to accurately characterize air change rates (ACR) under dynamic space operations and varying meteorological conditions. Our PINN model integrates these fluctuating factors, providing a more precise analysis of their transient effects on ACR. We employed Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) to interpret the sensitivity and contributions of each influencing factor. Our findings indicate that the state of windows and doors significantly affects spatial operations, while wind speed and direction are the most impactful meteorological factors. The interaction between open windows and doors results in higher ventilation rates compared to their individual effects. Wind-related factors cause ACR variations exceeding 200 %, with the wind direction relative to the office window playing a crucial role. Additionally, external temperature and indoor-outdoor temperature differences show a strong correlation with ACR. However, limitations include the lack of outdoor CO2 measurements and the assumption of uniform indoor CO2 levels, which may affect accuracy. Generalizability is also limited due to the specificity of the space studied. Future work should incorporate outdoor CO2 data and multiple spaces to enhance model applicability. This study contributes to optimizing ventilation strategies for better indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Sociodemographic Disparities in 1-Year Outcomes of Children With Community-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury

Racial disparities have been identified in pediatric community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI), and they are associated with increased risk of child mortality, morbidity, and progression of kidney disease. To assess clinical outcomes at 1 year among children with CA-AKI, stratified by age, race, and ethnicity. This retrospective cohort study is a population-based analysis of deidentified, aggregated electronic health record data collected by 61 large health care organizations from 2003 to 2023 and accessed through the TriNetX platform. Outcomes were assessed at 1 year after a CA-AKI episode. Participants included pediatric patients (aged <18 years) with AKI. Data were accessed in January 2024. A diagnosis of CA-AKI and sociodemographic factors such as race, ethnicity, and age, as reported in electronic health records. The primary end point of this study was to assess differences in clinical outcomes within 1 year of an episode of CA-AKI, including all-cause emergency department (ED) visits, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, mechanical intubation and ventilation, and mortality. Risk was compared between White children and Asian (including Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander), Black, and Hispanic children, stratified by age group. Measures of association, Cox proportional hazard analyses, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were performed within the TriNetX Advanced Analytics Platform between racial and ethnic groups for each analysis. From the total sample of 18 152 children, those with hospital-acquired AKI, chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney failure, or dialysis dependence were excluded, leaving a final cohort of 17 125 children (mean [SD] age, 11.2 [5.2] years; 9424 male [55.3%]). Eligible patients were divided into racial and ethnic groups as follows: non-Hispanic Asian, 1169 children (6.5%); non-Hispanic Black, 4636 children (27.3%); Hispanic, 1786 children (10.2%); and non-Hispanic White, 9534 children (55.9%). Patients were further subdivided into groups aged 0 to 9 years (546 Asian children, 1675 Black children, 689 Hispanic children, and 3340 White children) and 10 to 18 years (623 Asian children, 2961 Black children, 1091 Hispanic children, and 6104 White children). Within 1 year of CA-AKI diagnosis, compared with White children, Black children experienced greater rates of ED visits (hazard ratio [HR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.40-1.67), ICU admissions (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.16-1.47), mechanical ventilation (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.56), and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.09-1.48), as well as the greatest risk for composite outcomes (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.33-1.53). Hispanic children experienced greater rates of ED visits (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.21-1.62) and the greatest risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.31-2.09), whereas Asian children experienced greater rates of mechanical ventilation (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.26-2.27), compared with White children. Black and Hispanic children aged 0 to 9 years were at greatest risk of experiencing poor clinical outcomes. Black children had a 11.41% lower survival probability and Hispanic children had a 7.14% lower survival probability compared with White children after an initial ED encounter. Among children with an identified episode of CA-AKI diagnosed in an ED, within 1 year, Black and Hispanic children had a poorer survival probability compared with White children. Future studies are needed to understand these disparities and improve awareness and follow-up after emergency care.

Assessment of controlled assistance from e-bikes as a mitigation strategy for individual PM exposure

Abstract Background While promoting active mobility and outdoor activities can benefit health (HLT), it also increases Exposure (EXP) to air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), due to the increased ventilation rate (VR) under physical activity. Traditional assessments of individual (IND) PM EXP involve costly equipment inaccessible to the public, but real-time low-cost sensors (LCS) are now emerging. This study presents a proof of concept to demonstrate the use of LCS for examining the real-time IND respiratory dose deposited (RDD) to PM cycling across the Brescia province. Methods An e-bike was ridden 33 times between 2022 and 2023 wearing a LCS for PM concentration [PM] linked to a GPS. Respiratory dose deposited(RDD) was calculated for six different locations within each route based on experimental PM and various VR. Results The LCS allows for the study of the spatial and temporal variability of [PM], revealing a significant difference (p &amp;lt; 0.01) according to the heating system operation and no significant difference (p &amp;gt; 0.05) depending on the location. RDD increases with [PM] and VR. Real-time and integrated RDD is calculated for routes with high (&amp;gt; 50 µg/m3), medium (25 µg/m3), and low (&amp;lt;10 µg/m3) [PM2.5]. The e-bike assistance is activated when the WHO interim target 4 of [PM] is reached to reduce VR, which corresponds to a shift to a lower physical activity intensity. The RDD calculated using the e-bike assistance over the path reduces RDD by about 23% and 11% over the high and medium [PM], while it never activates for the low [PM]. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the use of LCS allows the estimation of IND RDD, and the implementation of mitigation strategies based on controlled assistance from e-bikes would enable the reduction of PM individual EXP. Key messages • The integration of HLT data from wearable and air quality LCS enables the promotion of active mobility and outdoor activities controlling the EXP to air pollutants. • Establishing generalized guidelines based on this mitigation strategies for individual exposure reduction may also inform policy recommendations for promoting active and green mobility.

How vaccination affects clinical outcomes of COVID-19 positive revascularized patients?

Abstract Background/Introduction Several vaccines are now available under emergency use authorization in globe and have demonstrated efficacy against COVID-19 positive patients. Our investigation centers on understanding the correlation between COVID-19 vaccine status and an extensive spectrum of risk factors, clarifying their impact on clinical outcomes in COVID-positive revascularized populations. Purpose This study clarified the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on individuals with a history of revascularization, highlighting the relationship between vaccination status and clinical outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective a cohort study COVID-19 positive (n=620) patients with revascularized two years prior to the pandemic, was categorized into unvaccinated (n=359) and vaccinated (n=261) groups. Comprehensive retrospective data on various risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, smoking, stroke history, family history were collected. Clinical outcomes, intently documented, encompassed hospitalization, mortality, stroke and mechanical ventilation. Statistical analyses, including correlation assessments, were conducted, focusing on the COVID-positive subgroup. Results During the analysis of risk factors, between the unvaccinated and vaccinated groups the prevalence of smoking (32% vs. 31.4%, p=0.871), hypertension (81.3% vs. 78.2%, p=0.329), DM (42 .9% vs. 43.3%, p=0.921), HLP (14.8% vs. 13%, p=0.539), family history (21.7% vs. 17.6%, p=0.208)were not significantly different (Table 1). It showed a significant association with increased hospitalization(14.6% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.002) and death (2.3% vs. 8.1%, p = 0.002)rates in the unvaccinated group. In addition, it was associated with higher rate of mechanical ventilation in the unvaccinated group (2.6% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.153).Also, no significant difference was found between the two groups according to the type of revascularization, PCI (70.2% vs. 75.1%, p = 0.179), CABG (29.8% vs. 24.9%, p = 0.179) (Table 2). Conclusion(s) Our analysis within the COVID-positive subgroup of 620 revascularized patients revealed a significant correlation between COVID-19 vaccination status and clinical outcomes. Thus, a significant reduction in hospitalizations and deaths was recorded in the vaccinated group. This supports a potential positive effect of the vaccine on cardiovascular events in patients with COVID-19.Table 1Table 2

Comparative study of the effects of preferential left ventricular and biventricular pacing on echocardiographic and cardiorespiratory indices and clinical status of heart failure patients: preliminary

Abstract Introduction Nonresponse to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been related with right ventricular dysfunction. Preferential left ventricular pacing (pLV-P) can achieve left ventricle resynchronization allowing for intrinsic activation of the right side, and benefit cardiac output while reducing atrial fibrillation occurrence. Moreover, the AdaptivCRT® algorithm also automatically adjusts interventricular (V-V) delay every minute. Methods We evaluated the effects of a pLVP algorithm on 100 systolic heart failure patients ( all Caucasians, 49% male; 67 +/- 8 years old; 51% ischemic cardiomyopathy; 44% diabetics; NYHA II-III) following randomization to standard biventricular pacing and pLVP, on echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary exercise test indices of functional status. Device programming was based on echocardiography-evaluated maximization of stroke volume and subsequent interventricular and atrioventricular delay adjustments delegated to the device. The follow-up consisted of 6 and 12-months visits; after the 1rst month of optimizing maximum CRT response. Results Significant comparative effects of pLV-P over optimized CRT were noted regarding right ventricle systolic velocity in TDI at 12-months from baseline (mean (SE); 4.5(0.8), p=0.035); decrease in end-diastolic volume of left ventricle (mean (SE); 11.33(7), p=0.035); decrease in right ventricle strain mean ((SE); 9.2(2.1), p=0.03). According to other echocardiographic indices, again taking into account baseline levels, patients in pLV-P group exhibited lower E/e value at 6-months (mean (SE); 8.390(4,3), p=0.04), and at 12 -months (mean (SE); 7.45(3.9), p=0.035); improved values in left atrium contractility strain at 12-months (mean (SE); 8.390(0.8), p=0.04); a borderline improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (mean (SE); 8.7(433), p=0.05) at 12-months; and borderline improvement in left ventricular longitudinal strain at 6-months (mean (SE); 4.9(2.6), p=0.035), compared to optimized CRT. In CPET, taking into account baseline levels, patients in the pLVP group showed higher METs at 12-months (mean (SE); 1,16(0.8), p=0.03) compared to opt CRT group; higher predicted Ventilation rate (%) even from 6-months (mean (SE); 8.167(5,7), p=0.03) and higher predicted peak VO2 (%) at 6 months (mean (SE); 34,13(14), p=0.03) and borderline significance at 12 months (mean (SE); 4.88(3), p=0.08), compared to opt CRT. Conclusions In the preliminary findings of READAPT study, it seems that pLVP optimized by a standardized echocardiographic protocol in patients with preserved AV conduction and LBBB, can achieve improvement in parameters of right ventricular and left atrium structure and function, as well as in survival-predictive parameters of CPET compared to optimized CRT during the 12-months of follow-up.

Quantifying particulate matter emission rates from naturally ventilated dairy buildings by considering roof opening contributions

Roof openings are typically fitted to naturally ventilated dairy building (NVDB) for better ventilation but their impact on air pollutant emission calculations has not been fully considered. Particulate matter (PM) emission rate (ER) for NVDB rely on the total ventilation rate (VR), outdoor PM concentration and average indoor PM concentration sampled either under the roof (Roof Sampling) or in the cubicle area (Cubicle Sampling), which may show large deviations due to its spatiotemporal variation of PM concentrations and complex airflow patterns. This study utilised a novel ER calculation method (Joint Sampling) that computes the respective emission from the roof and sidewall openings by matching each outlet's VR and PM concentration. By year-round field measurements of PM2.5 and the total suspended particulates (TSP), results showed that annual average ERs of PM2.5 and TSP were 10.8 mg h−1 cow−1 and 45.7 mg h−1 cow−1 for Roof Sampling, 12.7 mg h−1 cow−1 and 40.7 mg h−1 cow−1 for Cubicle Sampling, and 11.7 mg h−1 cow−1 and 45.9 mg h−1 cow−1 for Joint Sampling. Considering the Joint Sampling results were relatively true, Roof Sampling exhibited a maximum underestimate of PM2.5 emissions of 20.8% when sidewall curtains were fully opened, whilst Cubicle Sampling demonstrated a maximum overestimate of TSP of 10.2% when the aperture was closed. Using Joint Sampling, the roof opening contributed 39.3% and 24.4% of the annual PM2.5 and TSP emissions. When sidewall openings are partially or fully closed, the Joint Sampling calculation is preferable to estimate the ER of PM.

Energy-Efficient Architectural Design of a Banquet Hall with Integrated Tunnel Ventilation: Monitoring Performance During the Transitional Season in China

The construction industry, a significant contributor to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, is under considerable pressure to adopt transformative approaches. Public buildings, which account for a substantial portion of total energy usage, must balance high standards of thermal comfort with ventilation efficiency. In China, many public buildings are part of urban landscapes, where façade designs often limit natural ventilation. Consequently, technologies like earth-to-air heat exchangers and wind towers are increasingly essential for enhancing natural ventilation. However, research on the efficacy of these systems remains sparse. This study examines the transitional seasonal environment by evaluating the thermal-humidity index of a banquet hall equipped with an earth-to-air heat exchanger system. Using DeST software [DeST 2.0], the study simulates indoor natural ventilation, calculates ventilation rates, and assesses residual heat removal efficiency. The system’s performance is also modeled under various thermal design zones. Results demonstrate that under natural ventilation, the system can achieve a residual heat removal efficiency of up to 490%. Simulations across different climate zones indicate that the system performs best in regions with extreme temperature fluctuations, particularly those with hot summers and warm winters. In these areas, the system reduces the annual temperature difference by up to 56.7%, significantly improving thermal comfort and reducing dependency on air conditioning. In contrast, performance in milder regions like Kunming achieves only a 37.5% reduction in temperature difference. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into energy-efficient design strategies and thermal optimization for banquet halls, with significant potential for energy savings and enhanced occupant comfort.

A study on indoor air quality at daycare centers using IoT environmental sensors

ABSTRACT Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major concern at daycare centers, due to the weaker immune system of children. Although IAQ is typically measured in accordance with the ISO-16000 standard, environmental sensors have recently become widely used due to their ability to consistently monitor air quality at a lower cost. In this study, We installed IoT sensors indoors and outdoors at ten daycare centers to measure PM(PM2.5, PM10), CO2, temperature, and humidity, as well as window opening-closing sensors to identify ventilation behavior. Indoor PM concentrations were consistently lower than outdoor levels, increasing from 7:00 AM, peaking between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and decreasing during nap time (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM). CO2 levels were generally higher indoors than outdoors, peaking at 2:00 PM before decreasing. Windows were opened more frequently at 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, and 3:00 PM. The correlation analysis revealed that significant factors influencing CO2 concentration were window opening duration. Ventilation rates per person at the daycare centers ranged from 1.77 to 10.69 m3/h, below both Korean and ASHRAE guidelines. The results of this study can provide valuable insights for developing strategies to improve indoor air quality in daycare centers that depend on window ventilation.