Urban microclimate and thermal comfort modelling: strategies for urban renovation

The urban microclimate plays an important role in building energy consumption and thermal comfort in outdoor spaces. Nowadays, cities need to increase energy efficiency, reduce pollutant emissions and mitigate the evident lack of sustainability. In light of this, attention has focused on the bioclimatic concepts use in the urban development. However, the speculative unsustainability of the growth model highlights the need to redirect the construction sector towards urban renovation using a bioclimatic approach. The public space plays a key role in improving the quality of today’s cities, especially in terms of providing places for citizens to meet and socialize in adequate thermal conditions. Thermal comfort affects perception of the environment, so microclimate conditions can be decisive for the success or failure of outdoor urban spaces and the activities held in them. For these reasons, the main focus of this work is on the definition of bioclimatic strategies for existing urban spaces, based on morpho-typological components, urban microclimate conditions and comfort requirements for all kinds of citizens. Two case studies were selected in Madrid, in a social housing neighbourhood constructed in the 1970s based on Rational Architecture style. Several renovation scenarios were performed using a computer simulation process based in ENVI-met and diverse microclimate conditions were compared. In addition, thermal comfort evaluation was carried out using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) in order to investigate the relationship between microclimate conditions and thermal comfort perception. This paper introduces the microclimate computer simulation process as a valuable support for decision-making for neighbourhood renovation projects in order to provide new and better solutions according to the thermal quality of public spaces and reducing energy consumption by creating and selecting better microclimate areas.

SÍNDROME DE BURNOUT ENTRE OS PASTORES ADVENTISTAS DA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO: CAUSAS POTENCIAIS E MEDIDAS PREVENTIVAS

A prevalência de stress e burnout tem-se tornado um problema comum nas profissões assistenciais. Os ministros religiosos não são uma exceção. Evidências disponíveis derivadas de reflexões pessoais e pesquisas científicas demonstram que o trabalho pastoral hoje é uma ocupação com elevados índices de burnout; entretanto, pouca atenção tem sido dada a este assunto. O presente estudo tem como objetivo contribuir para o desenvolvimento de pré-condições e recursos individuais de forma a prevenir e controlar os efeitos da síndrome entre os pastores adventistas da cidade de São Paulo. Inicialmente o trabalho apresentará uma análise do burnout, a partir de referências selecionadas, incluindo informações gerais sobre os sintomas, antecedentes, instrumentos de medida; intervenções e métodos preventivos. Os ministros religiosos geralmente são tratados como outros profissionais de ajuda nas pesquisas de burnout, com pouca consideração para com a dimensão espiritual, o que é prioritário ou mesmo vital para o clero. Para este estudo, em particular, o burnout pastoral será considerado como um fator resultante de um relacionamento deficiente com Deus. Somam-se a isso as condições ambientais do trabalho e as características pessoais. Finalmente, o estudo pretende sugerir estratégias para ajudar na redução e na prevenção última da síndrome entre os pastores em foco.(AU)

SÍNDROME DE BURNOUT ENTRE OS PASTORES ADVENTISTAS DA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO: CAUSAS POTENCIAIS E MEDIDAS PREVENTIVAS

A prevalência de stress e burnout tem-se tornado um problema comum nas profissões assistenciais. Os ministros religiosos não são uma exceção. Evidências disponíveis derivadas de reflexões pessoais e pesquisas científicas demonstram que o trabalho pastoral hoje é uma ocupação com elevados índices de burnout; entretanto, pouca atenção tem sido dada a este assunto. O presente estudo tem como objetivo contribuir para o desenvolvimento de pré-condições e recursos individuais de forma a prevenir e controlar os efeitos da síndrome entre os pastores adventistas da cidade de São Paulo. Inicialmente o trabalho apresentará uma análise do burnout, a partir de referências selecionadas, incluindo informações gerais sobre os sintomas, antecedentes, instrumentos de medida; intervenções e métodos preventivos. Os ministros religiosos geralmente são tratados como outros profissionais de ajuda nas pesquisas de burnout, com pouca consideração para com a dimensão espiritual, o que é prioritário ou mesmo vital para o clero. Para este estudo, em particular, o burnout pastoral será considerado como um fator resultante de um relacionamento deficiente com Deus. Somam-se a isso as condições ambientais do trabalho e as características pessoais. Finalmente, o estudo pretende sugerir estratégias para ajudar na redução e na prevenção última da síndrome entre os pastores em foco.(AU)

Sustainable Development and Collective Learning: Theory and a European Case Study. Bruges European Economic Policy (BEEP) Briefing 7/2004

Network governance of collective learning processes is an essential approach to sustainable development. The first section of the article briefly refers to recent theories about both market and government failures that express scepticism about the way framework conditions for market actors are set. For this reason, the development of networks for collective learning processes seems advantageous if new solutions are to be developed in policy areas concerned with long-term changes and a stepwise internalisation of externalities. With regard to corporate actors’ interests, the article shows recent insights from theories about the knowledge-based firm, where the creation of new knowledge is based on the absorption of societal views. This concept shifts the focus towards knowledge generation as an essential element in the evolution of sustainable markets. This involves at the same time the development of new policies. In this context innovation-inducing regulation is suggested and discussed. The evolution of the Swedish, German and Dutch wind turbine industries are analysed based on the approach of governance put forward in this article. We conclude that these coevolutionary mechanisms may take for granted some of the stabilising and orientating functions previously exercised by basic regulatory activities of the state. In this context, the main function of the governments is to facilitate learning processes that depart from the government functions suggested by welfare economics.

HUD guarantee of tax-exempt hospital financing : hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, May 17, 1979.

"Serial no. 96-21."

Disapproving and invalidating HUD regulations concerning section 8 : hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, on H.J. Res. 424 ... October 30, 1979.

"Serial no. 96-36."

Urban homesteading and HUD-owned abandoned homes : hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, June 24, 1982.

Mode of access: Internet.

Disposition of HUD-held properties : hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, June 2, 1982.

Mode of access: Internet.

HUD field reorganization, RIF's and pending legislation : hearing before the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, September 21, 1982.

Item 1013-A, 1013-B (microfiche)

Hybrid knowledge representation in a blackboard KBS for liquid retaining structure design

This paper highlights the importance of design expertise, for designing liquid retaining structures, including subjective judgments and professional experience. Design of liquid retaining structures has special features different from the others. Being more vulnerable to corrosion problem, they have stringent requirements against serviceability limit state of crack. It is the premise of the study to transferring expert knowledge in a computerized blackboard system. Hybrid knowledge representation schemes, including production rules, object-oriented programming, and procedural methods, are employed to express engineering heuristics and standard design knowledge during the development of the knowledge-based system (KBS) for design of liquid retaining structures. This approach renders it possible to take advantages of the characteristics of each method. The system can provide the user with advice on preliminary design, loading specification, optimized configuration selection and detailed design analysis of liquid retaining structure. It would be beneficial to the field of retaining structure design by focusing on the acquisition and organization of expert knowledge through the development of recent artificial intelligence technology. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Review of the ecology of Australian urban fauna: A focus on spatially explicit processes

Cities have a major impact on Australian landscapes, especially in coastal regions, to the detriment of native biodiversity. Areas suitable for urban development often coincide with those areas that support high levels of species diversity and endemism. However, there is a paucity of reliable information available to guide urban conservation planning and management, especially regarding the trade-off between investing in protecting and restoring habitat at the landscape level, and investing in programmes to maintain the condition of remnant vegetation at the local (site) level. We review the literature on Australian urban ecology, focusing on urban terrestrial and aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate fauna. We identify four main factors limiting our knowledge of urban fauna: (i) a lack of studies focusing at multiple ecological levels; (ii) a lack of multispecies studies; (iii) an almost total absence of long-term (temporal) studies; and (iv) a need for stronger integration of research outcomes into urban conservation planning and management. We present a set of key principles for the development of a spatially explicit, long-term approach to urban fauna research. This requires an understanding of the importance of local-level habitat quality and condition relative to the composition, configuration and connectivity of habitats within the larger urban landscape. These principles will ultimately strengthen urban fauna management and conservation planning by enabling us to prioritize and allocate limited financial resources to maximize the conservation return.

SÍNDROME DE BURNOUT ENTRE OS PASTORES ADVENTISTAS DA CIDADE DE SÃO PAULO: CAUSAS POTENCIAIS E MEDIDAS PREVENTIVAS

A prevalência de stress e burnout tem-se tornado um problema comum nas profissões assistenciais. Os ministros religiosos não são uma exceção. Evidências disponíveis derivadas de reflexões pessoais e pesquisas científicas demonstram que o trabalho pastoral hoje é uma ocupação com elevados índices de burnout; entretanto, pouca atenção tem sido dada a este assunto. O presente estudo tem como objetivo contribuir para o desenvolvimento de pré-condições e recursos individuais de forma a prevenir e controlar os efeitos da síndrome entre os pastores adventistas da cidade de São Paulo. Inicialmente o trabalho apresentará uma análise do burnout, a partir de referências selecionadas, incluindo informações gerais sobre os sintomas, antecedentes, instrumentos de medida; intervenções e métodos preventivos. Os ministros religiosos geralmente são tratados como outros profissionais de ajuda nas pesquisas de burnout, com pouca consideração para com a dimensão espiritual, o que é prioritário ou mesmo vital para o clero. Para este estudo, em particular, o burnout pastoral será considerado como um fator resultante de um relacionamento deficiente com Deus. Somam-se a isso as condições ambientais do trabalho e as características pessoais. Finalmente, o estudo pretende sugerir estratégias para ajudar na redução e na prevenção última da síndrome entre os pastores em foco.(AU)

Improving the use of visual interactive simulation as a knowledge elicitation tool

Knowledge elicitation is a well-known bottleneck in the production of knowledge-based systems (KBS). Past research has shown that visual interactive simulation (VIS) could effectively be used to elicit episodic knowledge that is appropriate for machine learning purposes, with a view to building a KBS. Nonetheless, the VIS-based elicitation process still has much room for improvement. Based in the Ford Dagenham Engine Assembly Plant, a research project is being undertaken to investigate the individual/joint effects of visual display level and mode of problem case generation on the elicitation process. This paper looks at the methodology employed and some issues that have been encountered to date. Copyright © 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Benchmarking the knowledge competitiveness of the globe's high performing regions:a review of the World Knowledge Competitiveness Index

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the way in which the knowledge competitiveness of regions is measured and further introduces the World Knowledge Competitiveness Index (WKCI) benchmarking tool. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology consists of an econometric analysis of key indicators relating to the concept of knowledge competitiveness for 125 regions from across the globe consisting of 55 representatives from North America, 45 from Europe and 25 from Asia and Oceania. Findings – The key to winning the super competitive race in the knowledge-based economy is investment in the future: research and development, and education and training. It is found that the majority of the high-performing regional economies in the USA have a knowledge competitive edge over their counterparts in Europe and Asia. Research limitations/implications – To an extent, the research is limited by the availability of comparable indicators and metrics at the regional level that extend across the globe. Whilst comparative data are often accessible at the national level, regional data sources remain underdeveloped. Practical implications – The WKCI has become internationally recognized as an important instrument for economic development policymakers and regional investment promotion agents as they create and refine their strategies and targets. In particular, it has provided a benchmark that allows regions to compare their knowledge competitiveness with other regions for around the world and not only their own nation or continent. Originality/value – The WKCI is the first composite and relative measure of the knowledge competitiveness of the globe's best performing regions.