Time-series Luminance Distribution Maps: implementation of annual daylight simulation methods for occupant visual comfort analysis

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Enhancing well-being in Iranian residential dwellings by exploring traditional techniques for using daylight in Iranian courtyard houses

Dans les dernières décennies, les changements morphologiques des maisons iraniennes, l’arrivage de l'éclairage artificiel et le manque de connaissance suffisante de la valeur de la lumière du jour pour le bien-être des occupants ont résulté une diminution de l'utilisation de la lumière du jour dans les habitations iraniennes contemporaines. En conséquence, le niveau du bien-être des occupants a décru ce qui peut être corrélée avec la diminution de l'utilisation de la lumière du jour. Considérant l'architecture traditionnelle iranienne et l'importance de la lumière du jour dans les habitations traditionnelles, cette recherche étudie l’utilisation de la lumière du jour dans les habitations traditionnelles et explore comment extrapoler ces techniques dans les maisons contemporaines pourrait augmenter l'utilisation de la lumière du jour et par conséquence améliorer le bien-être des occupants. Une revue de littérature, une enquête des experts iraniens et une étude de cas des maisons à cour traditionnelles à la ville de Kashan ont permis de recueillir les données nécessaires pour cette recherche. De par le contexte de recherche, la ville de Kashan a été choisie particulièrement grâce à sa texture historique intacte. L’analyse de la lumière du jour a été faite par un logiciel de simulation pour trois maisons à cour de la ville de Kashan ayant les mêmes caractéristiques de salon d’hiver. Cette étude se concentre sur l’analyse de la lumière du jour dans les salons d'hiver du fait de la priorité obtenue de l'enquête des experts et de la revue de littérature. Les résultats de cette recherche montrent que l’extrapolation des techniques traditionnelles de l'utilisation de lumière du jour dans les habitations modernes peut être considéré comme une option de conception alternative. Cette dernière peut optimiser l'utilisation de lumière du jour et par conséquence améliorer le bien-être des occupants. L'approche utilisée dans cette recherche a fourni une occasion d’étudier l'architecture du passé et d’évaluer plus précisément son importance. Cette recherche contribue ainsi à définir un modèle en tirant les leçons du passé pour résoudre les problèmes actuels.

Environmental and Occupational Optometry. Lesson 6 (Course 2013-2014)

Tema 6: Diseño del entorno visual. Actividad propuesta no. 3.

Reading performance with various lamps in age-related macular degeneration

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an objective difference in reading between four commonly available lamps, of varying spectral radiance, for 13 subjects with age-related maculopathy (ARM) or non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - logMAR visual acuity between 0.04 and 0.68. At a constant illuminance of 2000 lux, there was no interaction between ARM and AMD subgroups and no statistically significant difference between the lamps: standard (clear envelope) incandescent, daylight simulation (blue tint envelope) incandescent, compact fluorescent and halogen incandescent, for any reading outcome measure (threshold print size p = 0.67, critical print size p = 0.74, acuity reserve p = 0.84 and mean reading rate p = 0.78). For lamps typically used in low-vision rehabilitation, a clinically significant effect of spectral radiance on reading for people with ARM or non-exudative AMD is unlikely. © 2007 The College of Optometrists.

Effects of several coloured interventions on reading performance in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)

A literature review revealed that very little work has been conducted to investigate the possible benefits of coloured interventions on reading performance in low vision due to ARMD, under conditions that are similar to the real world reading environment. Further studies on the use of colour, as a rehabilitative intervention in low vision would therefore be useful. A series of objective, subject based, age-similar controlled experiments were used to address the primary aims. Trends in some of the ARMD data suggested better reading performance with blue or green illuminance but there were also some individuals who performed better with yellow, or with illuminance of reduced intensity. Statistically, better reading in general occurred with a specialised yellow photochromic lens and also a clear lens than with a fixed lens or a neutral density filter. No reading advantage was gained from using the coloured screen facility of a video-magnifier. Some subjects with low vision were found to have co-existent binocular vision anomalies, which may have caused reading difficulties similar to those produced by ARMD. Some individuals with ARMD benefited from the use of increased local illuminance produced by either a standard tungsten or compact fluorescent lamp. No reading improvement occurred with a daylight simulation tungsten lamp. The Intuitive Colorimeter® can be used to detect and map out colour vision discrimination deficiency in ARMD and the Humphrey 630 Visual Field Analyser can be used to analyse the biocular visual field in subjects with ARMD. Some experiments highlighted a positive effect of a blue intervention in reading with ARMD.

Urban microclimates and simulation

This chapter examines the workings of urban microclimates and looks at the associated causes and effects of the urban heat island (UHI). It also clarifies the relationship between urban form and the key climatic parameters (sun, daylight, wind, temperature). A particular section is devoted to the concepts of UHI intensity and sky view factor (SVF); these are useful indicators for researchers in this area. The challenge of how to model urban microclimates is covered, featuring the six archetypal urban forms familiar to analysts involved in using simulation software. The latter sections address the issue of urban thermal comfort, the importance of urban ventilation and finally what mitigating strategies can be implemented to curb negative UHI effects.

Monte Carlo Simulation Of The Response Functions Of Cdte Detectors To Be Applied In X-ray Spectroscopy.

In this work, the energy response functions of a CdTe detector were obtained by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation in the energy range from 5 to 160keV, using the PENELOPE code. In the response calculations the carrier transport features and the detector resolution were included. The computed energy response function was validated through comparison with experimental results obtained with (241)Am and (152)Eu sources. In order to investigate the influence of the correction by the detector response at diagnostic energy range, x-ray spectra were measured using a CdTe detector (model XR-100T, Amptek), and then corrected by the energy response of the detector using the stripping procedure. Results showed that the CdTe exhibits good energy response at low energies (below 40keV), showing only small distortions on the measured spectra. For energies below about 80keV, the contribution of the escape of Cd- and Te-K x-rays produce significant distortions on the measured x-ray spectra. For higher energies, the most important correction is the detector efficiency and the carrier trapping effects. The results showed that, after correction by the energy response, the measured spectra are in good agreement with those provided by a theoretical model of the literature. Finally, our results showed that the detailed knowledge of the response function and a proper correction procedure are fundamental for achieving more accurate spectra from which quality parameters (i.e., half-value layer and homogeneity coefficient) can be determined.

Influence of intrapulpal pressure simulation on the bond strength of adhesive systems to dentin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of intrapulpal pressure simulation on the bonding effectiveness of etch & rinse and self-etch adhesives to dentin. Eighty sound human molars were distributed into eight groups, according to the permeability level of each sample, measured by an apparatus to assess hydraulic conductance (Lp). Thus, a similar mean permeability was achieved in each group. Three etch & rinse adhesives (Prime & Bond NT - PB, Single Bond -SB, and Excite - EX) and one self-etch system (Clearfil SE Bond - SE) were employed, varying the presence or absence of an intrapulpal pressure (IPP) simulation of 15 cmH2O. After adhesive and restorative procedures were carried out, the samples were stored in distilled water for 24 hours at 37°C, and taken for tensile bond strength (TBS) testing. Fracture analysis was performed using a light microscope at 40 X magnification. The data, obtained in MPa, were then submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis test ( a = 0.05). The results revealed that the TBS of SB and EX was significantly reduced under IPP simulation, differing from the TBS of PB and SE. Moreover, SE obtained the highest bond strength values in the presence of IPP. It could be concluded that IPP simulation can influence the bond strength of certain adhesive systems to dentin and should be considered when in vitro studies are conducted.

Evaluation of thermal simulation of households in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract This paper aims at assessing the performance of a program of thermal simulation (Arquitrop) in different households in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The households were selected for the Wheezing Project which followed up children under 2 years old to monitor the occurrence of respiratory diseases. The results show that in all three study households there is a good approximation between the observed and the simulated indoor temperatures. It was also observed a fairly consistent and realistic behavior between the simulated indoor and the outdoor temperatures, describing the Arquitrop model as an efficient estimator and good representative of the thermal behavior of households in the city of Sao Paulo. The worst simulation is linked to the poorest type of construction. This may be explained by the bad quality of the construction, which the Architrop could not simulate adequately

The Process of Simulation Authoring/Creation by Chemistry Teachers: A Service Learning Experience

Two case studies are presented to describe the process of public school teachers authoring and creating chemistry simulations. They are part of the Virtual Didactic Laboratory for Chemistry, a project developed by the School of the Future of the University of Sao Paulo. the documental analysis of the material produced by two groups of teachers reflects different selection process for both themes and problem-situations when creating simulations. The study demonstrates the potential for chemistry learning with an approach that takes students' everyday lives into account and is based on collaborative work among teachers and researches. Also, from the teachers' perspectives, the possibilities of interaction that a simulation offers for classroom activities are considered.

Study of the antimicrobial peptide indolicidin and a mutant in micelle medium by molecular dynamics simulation

The antimicrobial peptide indolicidin (IND) and the mutant CP10A in hydrated micelles were studied using molecular dynamics simulations in order to observe whether the molecular dynamics and experimental data could be sufficiently correlated and a detailed description of the interaction of the antimicrobial peptides with a model of the membrane provided by a hydrated micelle system could be obtained. In agreement with the experiments, the simulations showed that the peptides are located near the surface of the micelles. Peptide insertions agree with available experimental data, showing deeper insertion of the mutant compared with the peptide IND. Major insertion into the hydrophobic core of the micelle by all tryptophan and mutated residues of CP10A in relation to IND was observed. The charged residues of the terminus regions of both peptides present similar behavior, indicating that the major differences in the interactions with the micelles of the peptides IND and CP10A occur in the case of the hydrophobic residues.

Fossil groups in the Millennium Simulation Evolution of the brightest galaxies

Aims. We create a catalogue of simulated fossil groups and study their properties, in particular the merging histories of their first-ranked galaxies. We compare the simulated fossil group properties with those of both simulated non-fossil and observed fossil groups. Methods. Using simulations and a mock galaxy catalogue, we searched for massive (>5 x 10(13) h(-1) M-circle dot) fossil groups in the Millennium Simulation Galaxy Catalogue. In addition, we attempted to identify observed fossil groups in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 6 using identical selection criteria. Results. Our predictions on the basis of the simulation data are: (a) fossil groups comprise about 5.5% of the total population of groups/clusters with masses larger than 5 x 10(13) h(-1) M-circle dot. This fraction is consistent with the fraction of fossil groups identified in the SDSS, after all observational biases have been taken into account; (b) about 88% of the dominant central objects in fossil groups are elliptical galaxies that have a median R-band absolute magnitude of similar to-23.5-5 log h, which is typical of the observed fossil groups known in the literature; (c) first-ranked galaxies of systems with M > 5 x 10(13) h(-1) M-circle dot, regardless of whether they are either fossil or non-fossil, are mainly formed by gas-poor mergers; (d) although fossil groups, in general, assembled most of their virial masses at higher redshifts in comparison with non-fossil groups, first-ranked galaxies in fossil groups merged later, i.e. at lower redshifts, compared with their non-fossil-group counterparts. Conclusions. We therefore expect to observe a number of luminous galaxies in the centres of fossil groups that show signs of a recent major merger.

Fossil groups in the Millennium simulation Their environment and its evolution

Context. Fossil systems are defined to be X- ray bright galaxy groups ( or clusters) with a two- magnitude difference between their two brightest galaxies within half the projected virial radius, and represent an interesting extreme of the population of galaxy agglomerations. However, the physical conditions and processes leading to their formation are still poorly constrained. Aims. We compare the outskirts of fossil systems with that of normal groups to understand whether environmental conditions play a significant role in their formation. We study the groups of galaxies in both, numerical simulations and observations. Methods. We use a variety of statistical tools including the spatial cross- correlation function and the local density parameter Delta(5) to probe differences in the density and structure of the environments of "" normal"" and "" fossil"" systems in the Millennium simulation. Results. We find that the number density of galaxies surrounding fossil systems evolves from greater than that observed around normal systems at z = 0.69, to lower than the normal systems by z = 0. Both fossil and normal systems exhibit an increment in their otherwise radially declining local density measure (Delta(5)) at distances of order 2.5 r(vir) from the system centre. We show that this increment is more noticeable for fossil systems than normal systems and demonstrate that this difference is linked to the earlier formation epoch of fossil groups. Despite the importance of the assembly time, we show that the environment is different for fossil and non- fossil systems with similar masses and formation times along their evolution. We also confirm that the physical characteristics identified in the Millennium simulation can also be detected in SDSS observations. Conclusions. Our results confirm the commonly held belief that fossil systems assembled earlier than normal systems but also show that the surroundings of fossil groups could be responsible for the formation of their large magnitude gap.

Combining Monte Carlo simulation and density-functional theory to describe the spectral changes of Na(2) in liquid helium

Spectral changes of Na(2) in liquid helium were studied using the sequential Monte Carlo-quantum mechanics method. Configurations composed by Na(2) surrounded by explicit helium atoms sampled from the Monte Carlo simulation were submitted to time-dependent density-functional theory calculations of the electronic absorption spectrum using different functionals. Attention is given to both line shift and line broadening. The Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE1PBE, also known as PBE0) functional, with the PBE1PBE/6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set, gives the spectral shift, compared to gas phase, of 500 cm(-1) for the allowed X (1)Sigma(+)(g) -> B (1)Pi(u) transition, in very good agreement with the experimental value (700 cm(-1)). For comparison, cluster calculations were also performed and the first X (1)Sigma(+)(g) -> A (1)Sigma(+)(u) transition was also considered.

Bilayer graphene dual-gate nanodevice: An ab initio simulation

We study the electronic transport properties of a dual-gated bilayer graphene nanodevice via first-principles calculations. We investigate the electric current as a function of gate length and temperature. Under the action of an external electrical field we show that even for gate lengths up 100 angstrom, a nonzero current is exhibited. The results can be explained by the presence of a tunneling regime due the remanescent states in the gap. We also discuss the conditions to reach the charge neutrality point in a system free of defects and extrinsic carrier doping.