This work aimed to perform bioclimatic zoning based on the temperature and humidity index (THI) for quails from the 3rd to the 5th week of life during the rainy season in the state of Paraíba, ...Brazil, in order to identify the most suitable mesoregions among the Zona da Mata, Agreste, Borborema and Sertão for the breeding of these birds and to propose mitigating measures for the thermal comfort of the animals. The monthly air temperature and relative humidity data for calculating the THI were obtained from conventional meteorological stations of the National Meteorological Institute of the Brazilian federal government from 1961 to 2015, in turn making maps with the spatial distribution of the index. The index ranged from 71 to 76 in the various mesoregions of Paraíba, with Agreste being the best mesoregion for breeding quails from the 3rd to the 5th week of life, thus providing a thermal comfort zone for birds and only requiring a few corrective measures in their facilities, when necessary, followed by the Sertão, Zona da Mata and Borborema mesoregions.
Causal thinking emphasizes the understanding of asymmetric causal relationships between variables, requiring us to specify which variable is the cause (independent variable) and which is the effect ...(dependent variable). Reversing the causal relationship direction can lead to profoundly different assumptions and interpretations. We demonstrate this by comparing two linear regression approaches used in thermal comfort research: Approach (a), which regresses thermal sensation votes (y-axis) on indoor temperature (x-axis); Approach (b), which does the reverse, regressing indoor temperature (y-axis) on thermal sensation votes (x-axis). From a correlational perspective, they may appear interchangeable, but causal thinking reveals substantial and practical differences between them. Approach (a) represents occupants’ thermal sensations as responses to indoor temperature. In contrast, Approach (b), rooted in adaptive comfort theory, suggests that thermal sensations can trigger behavioral changes, which in turn alter indoor temperature. Using the same data, we found that two approaches lead to different neutral temperatures and comfort zones. Approach (b) leads to what we call a ‘preferred zone’, which is 10 °C narrower than the conventionally derived comfort zone using Approach (a). We hypothesize that the ‘preferred zone’ might be interpreted as thermal conditions that occupants are likely to choose when they have significant control over their personal and environmental thermal settings. This finding has important implications for occupant comfort and building energy efficiency. We highlight the importance of integrating causal thinking into correlation-based statistical methods, which have been prevalent in building science research, especially given the increasing volume of data in the built environment.
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•Causal thinking is important for statistical data analysis in building science.•Distinct causal relationships underpin two regression approaches in field studies.•Approach (a) is more consistent with lab studies without adaptive opportunities.•Approach (b) is more consistent with adaptive theory but overlooked in field studies.•The two approaches yield different neutral temperatures and comfort zones.
One of the most challenging problems associated with operation of smart micro-grids is the optimal energy management of residential buildings with respect to multiple and often conflicting ...objectives. In this paper, a multiobjective mixed integer nonlinear programming model is developed for optimal energy use in a smart home, considering a meaningful balance between energy saving and a comfortable lifestyle. Thorough incorporation of a mixed objective function under different system constraints and user preferences, the proposed algorithm could not only reduce the domestic energy usage and utility bills, but also ensure an optimal task scheduling and a thermal comfort zone for the inhabitants. To verify the efficiency and robustness of the proposed algorithm, a number of simulations were performed under different scenarios using real data, and the obtained results were compared in terms of total energy consumption cost, users' convenience rates, and thermal comfort level.
Comfort has been a staple of outcome measures in Human Factors / Ergonomics (HFE) for generations. We have theories of comfort and validated measures. But HFE is not alone in studying comfort. Here ...we review two adjacent applications of comfort: In patient outcomes and in management’s idea of comfort zones. We find some but not much overlap between these three fields and the ability for HFE to learn positive and negative lessons from each.
Thermophysiological functions should be considered in the age segmentation of elderly people for thermal comfort differentiation. This paper aims to establish a scientific age segmentation criterion ...for elderly people based on thermal physiological demands. Firstly, field measurements and questionnaires are conducted in two pensioners’ buildings, and hierarchical cluster analysis is adopted to segment the age of elderly people based on thermophysiological functions in summer. Secondly, the effects of the basal metabolic rate (BMR), body fat percentage (BF%) and cardiac output (CO) on the physiological indexes are analyzed, then the thermal sensation deviation degree and the environmental sensitivity of the elderly people at different ages are analyzed. Finally, subjective perception and physiological parameter are combined to explore summer indoor environmental comfort zones for elderly people at different ages. The results show that the age of elderly people is segmented into 60, 69, 70, 89 and 90, 99. With the increase of age, BMR and CO decrease, and BF% increases; the sensitivity of subjective perception to temperature, relative humidity and air speed decreases, and the sensitivity of MST to temperature and relative humidity also decreases. For the three age groups, the air temperature comfort zones are 23.25–27.41°C, 19.50–28.67°C and 20.72–30.73°C, respectively; the humidity comfort zones are 42.50–60.83%, 40.50–68.00% and 35.00–71.67%, respectively; and the air speed comfort zones are 0.02–0.31 m/s, 0–0.27 m/s and 0–0.29 m/s, respectively. This study can provide theoretical support for thermophysiological age segmentation criteria and differentiated environment design for elderly people in summer.
•The age of elderly people is segmented by hierarchical cluster analysis method.•Environment-physiology characteristics are considered in age segmentation.•Sensitivities of elderly to temperature and relative humidity decrease with age.•Subjective sensation and physiological response are combined to obtain comfort zone.•Comfort zone results provide support for differentiated environment design.
Influence of oncoming traffic on drivers’ overtaking of cyclists Bianchi Piccinini, Giulio Francesco; Moretto, Claudia; Zhou, Huiping ...
Transportation research. Part F, Traffic psychology and behaviour,
11/2018, Letnik:
59, Številka:
Part A
Journal Article
Recenzirano
•A diving simulator was used to study overtaking of cyclists with oncoming traffic.•The TTC between subject and oncoming vehicle affected drivers’ overtaking strategy.•The TTC between subject and ...oncoming vehicle influenced safety margins to cyclists.•Safer margins of 0.93 m were found for drivers not waiting for oncoming traffic.•Different speeds were adopted by drivers depending on the overtaking strategy.
Active transportation - such as cycling - can provide health benefits to the population. However, cycling safety remains a major threat to favour the use of bicycles and, for this reason, more efforts are needed to reduce the number of crashes involving cyclists. One crash scenario which deserves special attention is driver’s overtaking of cyclists since it has an increased likelihood to lead to severe injuries. During the overtaking manoeuvre, the monitoring of subjective risk can influence the decision-making process and lead to different outcomes. In this context, the present driving simulator study aims to investigate how the time to collision between oncoming traffic and subject vehicle affected the overtaking strategy, and the minimum safety margins towards the overtaken cyclist. The results show that a decrease in time to collision against the oncoming vehicle significantly affects the drivers’ overtaking strategy (accelerative vs. flying), inducing more drivers to choose an accelerative overtaking manoeuvre. The decrease in time to collision also produces a decrease in minimum safety margins to the cyclists for drivers who opt for a flying overtaking strategy. Finally, the current research shows that the minimum lateral safety margins were smaller and the mean speed higher in flying manoeuvres compared to accelerative manoeuvres. Overall, the combination of lower safety margins and higher mean speeds in flying overtaking manoeuvres seems to pose a risk for cyclists’ safety. The findings of the study provide some implications for the design of automated driving.
Abstract
The metabolic heat production of modern pigs has increased by an average of 16%, compared with sows of 30 years ago. Therefore, it is likely that temperature recommendations require updating ...to meet the needs of modern pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether different reproductive stages of sows altered thermal preference and if current recommendations required updating. Twenty multiparous sows (3.4 ± 1.2 parity) in different reproductive stages (nonpregnant: n = 7; mid-gestation: 58.5 ± 5.68 d, n = 6; and late-gestation: 104.7 ± 2.8 d, n = 7) were tested. Thermal preference was individually tested, and sows could freely choose a temperature, using a thermal gradient between 10.4 and 30.5 °C. Sows were given 24 h to acclimate to the thermal apparatus. Before testing began, sows were given daily feed allotment and returned to the apparatus. Video from the 24-h test period was used to record sow behavior (time spent inactive), posture (upright and sternal and lateral lying), and location using instantaneous scan samples every 15 min. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED procedure in SAS 9.4. A cubic regression model was used to calculate the sow’s most preferred temperature based on the location, or temperature, in which they spent the most time. The preference range was calculated using peak temperature preference ±SE for each sow. The reproductive stage altered where sows spent their time within the thermal gradient (P < 0.01). Late-gestation sows preferred cooler temperatures (14.0 °C) than mid-gestation (14.8 °C; P < 0.01) and nonpregnant sows (14.8 °C; P < 0.01). In summary, sow thermal preferences were within the lower half of the current recommended range (10 to 25 °C). This indicates that temperatures at the higher end of the recommended range could be uncomfortable to sows and that the thermal comfort zone of sows may be narrower than recommendations indicate.
Three studies examined the degree to which people value doing things that push them out of their comfort zone. Study 1 showed that the boundaries of people's comfort zones are related to their ...motives for engaging in a behavior and how they expect to feel if they perform it. Study 2 involved the development of a measure of comfort zone orientation (CZO), the degree to which people value doing things outside of their comfort zone. Predictors of CZO reflected psychological influences on the value people place on stepping outside their comfort zone, including a desire for new and stimulating experiences, low anxiety, and self-efficacy. Study 3 was a laboratory experiment that examined the relationship between CZO and responses to an anxiety-producing task. Participants who valued pushing themselves out of their comfort zone were more confident that they could make themselves perform tasks that fell outside their comfort zone.
•Comfort zone orientation is the value placed on going outside one's comfort zone.•Comfort zone orientation is predicted by neophilia, self-efficacy, and low anxiety.•Comfort zone orientation is related to behavioral confidence but not to distress.•Comfort zone orientation scores predicted reactions in a laboratory experiment.
In recent years, the interest in riding in cities using the two-wheeler (e.g., bicycles, electric bicycles, electric mopeds, etc.) increases. Mixed-traffic road segments are one of the most common ...traffic scenes where the mixed two-wheeler flows exist. Because the movements are often not restricted by lanes, the two-wheeler uses lateral road space more freely and shows obvious multilateral interactions (i.e. multi-interaction) with others, bringing issues that endanger traffic safety. A precise estimation of its impacts on traffic operation and safety is necessary, while the microscopic simulation model can satisfy the need as a helpful tool. However, most existing simulation models of these three types of two-wheelers are essentially focusing on handling the one-on-one interaction. The capability to deal with the two-wheeler multi-interaction in mixed traffic is still rare, and the description of what endogenous tasks are contained by the multi-interaction has also not given by literature. To this end, this paper first defines what the multi-interaction entails on the operational behaviour level, claiming that it contains three intertwined processes, namely a (mental) perception, a (mental) decision, and a physical process. The (mental) perception and decision processes represent the recognition of interactions and the response to traffic conditions, while the physical process refers to the execution of these mental activities. A three-layer simulation framework has then been developed, where each layer sequentially corresponds to one of the operational behaviour tasks. Integrated component models are also proposed in each layer to cover these operational tasks. A Comfort Zone model is hence put forward to dynamically perceive the multiple interactive road users, while a Bayesian network model is developed to deal with the decision-making process under multi-interaction situations. Meanwhile, a behaviour force model is also proposed to capture the non-lane based movements following the selected behaviour and current interaction states. Finally, we face validate the proposed models by the comparison between simulation results and observations obtained from trajectory dataset. Results indicate the model performance matches the observed interaction and motion well.
•Defining the tasks of the multi-interaction on the operational mental and physical levels.•Proposing an operational simulation framework to depict two-wheeler multi-interactions.•Developing component models within the framework to cover the operational behaviour.•Estimating and validating the model in a case study in Shanghai, China.•Providing foundations for simulation tools to assess two-wheeler flows on road segments.
