bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negotiating academic conflict in discussion sections of doctoral dissertations
Authors: Esmaili F. , Abdollahzadeh Esmaeel 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study explores how doctoral students negotiated academic conflict (AC) in discussion section of their dissertations and what engagement resources they utilized to convey academic conflict. To this end, discussion chapters of 30 doctoral dissertations in Applied Linguistics (15 samples by each writer group) were analyzed using Huston’s (1991) academic conflict framework and Martin and White’s (2005) engagement system of Appraisal Theory. The functional analysis constituted discovering components of academic conflict and engagement resources in the discussions. We found that components of academic conflict determined engagement values used to convey them. The linguistic background of the authors was less of an issue in resolving conflicts. The two writer groups managed academic conflict and related engagement resources more or less similarly in different components of academic conflict. They mainly expressed their novel contribution readily and identified the flaws of previous research; however, both writer groups showed little tendency to explain controversial points. The findings have pedagogical implications for academic writing courses highlighting the importance of developing awareness of AC and resolving the conflicts.
Using intraspecific molecular and phenotypic variation to promote multi-functionality of reforestation during climate change – A review of tropical forest case studies in South-east Asia
Authors: Grady K.C. , Axelsson E.P. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe study of intraspecific genetic variation in plant traits for use in tropical forest restoration has broad potential for increasing our ability to achieve multi-functional objectives during this era of climate change. Developing seed-sourcing guidelines that optimize phenotypic characteristics best suited to a particular planting site as well as to future conditions imposed by environmental change could be useful for effective reforestation. Because evolution operates differently across tree species, this is an especially cumbersome task in tropical forests that contain thousands of species. Partially due to this high plant diversity, research and application of intraspecific variation in genetics, plant traits, and plant function in tropical forests wane far behind less diverse forest biomes. To examine the potential for improving reforestation efforts in tropical forests by considering intraspecific variation in plant traits and functions, we review the state of knowledge on intraspecific variation in South-east Asia as a case study. We focus on the dipterocarp family (Dipterocarpaceae), a highly diverse family of 16 genera with approximately 695 known species that often dominate lowland tropical rainforests of South-east Asia with many of these forests in a degraded state and in need of restoration. We found that there is research accumulating to understand genetic variation in approximately 10% of these 695 species. Intraspecific molecular variation exists at different spatial scales among species with 74% of species having moderate to high population differentiation (Fst > 0.10) and 92% of species with evidence of fine-scale genetic structure. Although this suggests a high potential for trait variation, few studies associated molecular with phenotypic variation. Seventeen tree species across 11 studies revealed intraspecific variation in traits or functions. Research indicates that intraspecific variation in growth may vary two-fold and drought tolerance four-fold among genotypes highlighting the possibility to pre-adapt trees to climate change during reforestation and to use intraspecific variation to promote the use of native species in commercial forestry. Our review presents opportunities and ideas for developing seed-sourcing guidelines to take advantage of intraspecific variation in traits and function by identifying how to locate this variation, which species would benefit, and how to test for trait variation. We also highlight an emerging area of research on local adaptation, common garden studies, and adaptive drought conditioning to improve reforestation during climate change.
The development of a 1.25 MHz 1024-channel sparse array for human transcranial imaging: in vitro characterization
Authors: McCall J R , Jones R M , Santibanez F , Latham K , Zou J , Dayton P A , Pinton G F 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Ultrasound imaging is overwhelmingly used as 2D modality even though 3D imaging capabilities have existed for decades. Recent generational shifts toward super-resolution ultrasound imaging and functional ultrasound imaging, especially in the brain, have generated renewed and sustained interest in acquiring truly volumetric, 4D data. However, volumetric imaging approaches are currently limited to small animals, due in part to the difficulty of imaging transcranially in humans and due to a lack of imaging arrays designed for this purpose. Clinical translation of these recent techniques as well as conventional diagnostic B-mode imaging may thus benefit from array designs that capitalize on large channel count imaging systems. We have designed and developed a 1024-channel sparse array with a 65 mm circular aperture and a 1–2 MHz bandwidth. This unique transducer achieves an aperture that is far larger than conventional matrix probes using a sparse arrangement of elements ordered in a density-tapered spiral design. This design has significantly decreased grating lobes compared to a matrix array probe. The large aperture of this probe also enables acquisition over a large field of view with a significant depth of more than 100 mm. Simulations, acoustic characterization, and in vitro tests demonstrate that this transducer achieves a high focal gain that enables ultrasonic visualization beneath the human skull and at large depths due to its low F-number capabilities. Furthermore, we show that this transducer is capable of high point target contrast and high soft tissue contrast, with contrast-to-noise ratios up to 1.9 when imaging transcranially through a 3 mm thick section of human skull. Because of the large surface area of this probe, it can capture over 3 coherence lengths in each dimension and is, therefore, able to able to ‘average out’ the aberration over a large surface area. This transducer is poised to have a significant clinical impact in transcranial human imaging.
Evaluation of the impact of ventilation system daily operation on air quality, comfort and well-being in primary schools
Authors: Rey J F , Cesari M , Brunner C. , Muller Y. , Roulet C.-A. , Pernot J Goyette 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The Scol’air-FR project is issued from the need to establish an inventory of indoor air quality conditions in primary schools of the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland. In Fribourg, the official trend is to promote mechanical ventilation systems in schools to ensure a good air quality. A properly designed, built, commissioned, and operated mechanical ventilation system should be able to deliver the anticipated flow rate, regardless of who uses it - the only person involved being the person responsible for ventilation system operation. In some cases, however, the expected objectives are not achieved. This similar observation applies to natural ventilation. A good ventilation concept, properly implemented and operated, should also achieve the same objective if the outdoor air quality is good. The aim of this article is to identify differences, in terms of indoor air quality and well-being, between naturally and mechanically ventilated schools. Moreover, we expect to identify if trends are attributable to the operation of ventilation systems or to occupant behaviours. We observed lower carbonic gas levels in building equipped with mechanical ventilation systems. This finding can be extended to VOCs and relative humidity. We also identified different and recurrent issues among the different mechanical ventilation systems. Our results highlight issues measured in buildings equipped by mechanical ventilation systems are mostly related to the balance of the system, while in natural ventilation systems, IAQ related issues are mainly due to the present context and its influences on occupants’ behaviour.
A numerical study on urban-like block arrays’ drag force and its correlation with ventilation efficiency
Authors: Zhang M , Palusci O , Buccolieri R , Gao Z , Guo X , Zhang J 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This work conducted Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to investigate the drag force (F) and its relation to ventilation of four groups of urban-like block arrays with planar area index (λP
) ranging from 0.0625 to 0.56. Simulations were performed employing the standard k-ε turbulence model after conducting a grid sensitivity test and validating the computational settings against wind tunnel data. The results showed that cases with larger λp
, slab-shaped buildings, and staggered layout have higher values of F. As for the subcases within each group, F shows a significant increase for 0.0625 < λp
< 0.25, and then only a slight increase for 0.25 < λp
< 0.56; while the drag coefficient (Cd
) shows a linear increase along with λp
. The further linear regression analysis showed that the spatially averaged velocity and air change rate are strongly negatively correlated with F, which supports the effectiveness of F in reflecting ventilation efficiency, particularly for evaluating urban block-scale ventilation.
Low-cost carbon dioxide concentration sensors for assessing air quality in the built environment: an on-site evaluation of their measurement performance
Authors: Salamone F , Sibilio S , Masullo M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is commonly used to determine indoor air quality. However, wearable environmental monitoring devices have not considered CO2 content, because they have mainly focused on the outdoor environment. Our goal is to develop a new wearable monitoring system for indoor research purposes that also incorporates a CO2 concentration sensor. We evaluated the performance of two low-cost CO2 sensors, the Senseair K30 and the Sensirion SCD30, by comparing them with a professional reference sensor in two different environments: a Test Cell and the LabZEB of ITC-CNR. A first result shows that both low-cost sensors have acceptable performance, with the K30 showing a trend closer to that of the professional reference sensor and better overall performance. For this reason, we conducted a third test in which we encapsulated the selected K30 low-cost sensor in a 3D-printed, wearable housing that supports the sensor and control unit to see if the 3D-printed part could affect measurement performance. The result shows no interference in measurement performance. This suggests that low-cost sensors can be used in a wearable system to assess indoor air quality for environmental and human-centered research in the built environment.
Towards multi-domain user archetypes for user-centred façade design
Authors: Luna-Navarro A , Khandhachani P , Brembilla E , Barra P de la , Andriotis C 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
User experience and satisfaction with the facade play a significant role in user comfort and energy efficiency of buildings. This paper explores the concept of User-Facade archetypes to inform the user-centred design of shading devices based on the perceived level of importance of different environmental domains at the workplace. A questionnaire was developed to collect data on users’ perceived level of importance of different environmental domains, user characteristics and other preferences. Based on the associated level of importance of the domains affected by shading devices (thermal conditions, access to daylight, access to outdoor view, privacy and glare mitigation), users were then clustered into eight different archetypes, which associated different “weights” to each comfort domain. The study also found a significant correlation between the associated level of importance and the reported frequency of interaction with shadings because of thermal comfort, glare mitigation or privacy. Overall, users that associated high levels of importance to several environmental domains also reported high perceived levels of importance for personal control at the workplace. Only one archetype reported low importance for personal control at the workplace. Further work is required to validate these archetypes by capturing actual user behaviour and preferences in real workplaces. However, these findings provide preliminary and valuable insights into the possibility of clustering users on their preferences and using this for informing a more user-centred design or operation of shading devices.
Assessing the self-rated sleep quality in UK homes, based on an online survey
Authors: Bhadra J , Beizaee A , Lomas K J , Hartescu I 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The aim of this study was to understand the self-rated sleep quality of occupants in UK homes and their association with bedroom condition. An online survey questionnaire was designed to understand the thermal comfort while sleeping, sleep quality and the physiological factors that affect sleep. The survey was administered for a period of two months (June-July 2022) in the UK. The survey asked particularly about the sleep disorder symptoms, sleep quality in summers, and thermal sensations and preferences while sleeping in summers. The study is observational and based on subjective responses of the occupants living in the UK homes. Analysis of SDS-CL-25 shows that only 22% (35 out of 158) respondents had no positive endorsements for any of the 13 sleep disorders. 41% respondents have a sleep efficiency less than 85% which is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleep disturbance in majority was reported due to heat/warm bedroom conditions followed by noise and dryness in the air. More than 50% of respondents expressed poor satisfaction with sleep and bedroom temperature during summers. The study highlights the prevalence of sleep disorders, and dissatisfaction with sleep quality in UK homes.
Theoretical framework to develop an urban health index using built environment variables: the case of Ferrara, Italy
Authors: Mahakalkar Amruta Umakant , Morello Eugenio , Makki Farah , Eldesoky Ahmed Hazem , Caiani Enrico 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The quality of our habitat strongly determines the well-being of both our society and us as individuals. The Urban Health (UH) index is an emerging tool for decision-makers to bridge the disparities in the quality of life in cities. Our study assesses the quality of the built environment as a proxy for urban health and proposes a theoretical framework for constructing a UH index. We first conducted a literature review and statistical analyses to select and screen a comprehensive array of urban health indicators, and then used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to obtain the indicators’ weights and build the UH index. On applying the framework on the city of Ferrara, Italy, we obtained promising results with four interpretable principal components explaining the contextual conditions. The autocorrelation of the UH index (Moran’s I = 0. 795) demonstrated strong clustering, with very healthy urban census tracts located within the city centre and decreasing overall urban health in peripheral census tracts.
Utilizing wearable technology to characterize and facilitate occupant collaborations in flexible workspaces
Authors: Maisha Kristi , Frei Mario , Quintana Matias , Chua Yun Xuan , Jain Rishee , Miller Clayton 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Hybrid working strategies have become, and will continue to be, the norm for many offices. This raises two considerations: newly unoccupied spaces needlessly consume energy, and the occupied spaces need to be effectively used to facilitate meaningful interactions and create a positive, sustainable work culture. This work aims to determine when spontaneous, collaborative interactions occur within the building and the environmental factors that facilitate such interactions. This study uses smartwatch-based micro-surveys using the Cozie platform to identify the occurrence of and spatially place interactions while categorizing them as a collaboration or distraction. This method uniquely circumvents pitfalls associated with surveying and qualitative data collection: occupant behaviors are identified in real-time in a non-intrusive manner, and survey data is corroborated with quantitative sensor data. A proof-of-concept study was deployed with nine hybrid-working participants providing 100 micro-survey cluster responses over approximately two weeks. The results show the spontaneous interactions occurring in hybrid mode are split evenly among the categories of collaboration, wanted socialization, and distraction and primarily occur with coworkers at one’s desk. From these data, we can establish various correlations between the occurrence of positive spontaneous interactions and different factors, such as the time of day and the locations in the building. This framework and first deployment provide the foundation for future large-scale data collection experiments and human interaction modeling.
Carbon budgets at the component scale and their impacts on design choices: the façade as a case study
Authors: Oghazi N Rezaei , Jusselme T , Andersen M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In accordance with the Paris agreement, the Swiss Climate Strategy (SCS) defines the net-zero target to be reached before 2050, which demands for a thoughtful carbon budget allocation between the different contributors. Ongoing normalization tasks are currently defining life cycle carbon budgets at the building scale aligned with the SCS. While recent research has provided promising methodologies to break down a whole building’s carbon budget, SCS-aligned budgets cannot be calculated at the component scale yet. Having the ability to define carbon budgets at the components’ level could support a carbon-responsible design process by reducing the scope of the design problem: the idea is to ensure that the cumulative impact of all the building components (calculated per building energy reference area) remains below the allowed building carbon budget based on SCS targets. This would provide a straightforward link between SCS and carbon budgets at the component scale, a scale at which many decisions need to be taken during the design process. Moreover, based on the set SCS net-zero objectives to be reached by 2050, the carbon budget, whether for buildings or for their components, will have to decrease annually, thereby affecting design flexibility, i.e. the number of design solutions that can still comply with the building’s carbon budget on any specific year. The research presented in this paper aims to provide a framework able to set carbon budgets at the components’ scale and start discussing the consequences of such carbon budgets on façade design flexibility until 2050.
Environmental assessment of several scenarios of active and passive radon control measures
Authors: Felicioni L , Jiránek M , Lupíšek A 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In buildings, radon gas mainly enters through cracks in the floors and gaps around pipes and cables in contact with the soil, thereby increasing indoor radon levels. Like other building components or systems, the radon control measures have embodied and operational environmental impacts that have been neglected to a certain extent. While many actions have been taken recently to achieve carbon-neutral yet energy-efficient buildings, even radon control measures should be investigated not only for protecting human health since radon gas is the major source of ionising radiation for humans but also for the environment. This paper aims to undertake a comparative analysis of the embodied and operational impacts of variant radon-protective measures installed at the floor foundation level (both active and passive solutions) for new and existing buildings. In particular, this analysis includes four different measures based on radon venting from i) floor air gap created from plastic components, ii) flexible perforated pipes embedded in the gravel layer under the floor, iii) radon sump placed in the sub-floor layer, and iv) perforated tubes drilled horizontally into the subsoil under the house. In all cases, radon will be removed through a vertical exhaust pipe terminated above the roof or by a roof fan. The impacts are calculated for the life cycle assessment (LCA) stages A1-A3 (production phase) and B6 (operational energy) to determine whether future research should be focused on the reduction of environmental impacts on the production stages or the operational ones.
How to build green substations? An LCA comparison of different sustainable design strategies for substations
Authors: Mohtashami Negar , Karuvingal Rahul , Droste Kai , Schreiber Thomas , Streblow Rita , Müller Dirk 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The growing industry of Information and Communication technology necessitates an increase in the construction of data centers and substations that supply them with electricity at high voltage levels. The increase in the construction of data centers and therefore substations on the one hand, and their high energy consumption on the other hand, makes sustainable substation design of utmost importance to prevent environmental degradation. However, current studies often consider only the operation phase of the building and neglect other life cycle stages, resulting in biased decisions that shift the environmental problems from one stage to another that were not included in the scope of these studies. This paper investigates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a typical substation located in Germany, and applies three sustainable design strategies by creating scenarios, each varying in building material composition, waste heat utilization from data centers, and incorporation of green electricity from the grid. The environmental performance of these scenarios was evaluated using the One-Click LCA. Results indicate that switching to green electricity is the most impactful strategy that reduces the Global Warming Potential (GWP) to approximately 33 % compared to the base case. In the best solution which mixed all strategies, sharp reduction of GWP to 17.5 % was achieved. The highest impactful element of the building was its structure where the major building weight and a considerable amount of concrete cause the most GWP. Furthermore, the choice of materials is mainly important because of their embodied emissions, rather than their energetic values.
Quantification and specification of agricultural by-products as local resources for mycelium-bound composites
Authors: Yoo J G , Heath K , Wisniewska M H , Heisel F 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The research focuses on Upstate New York and quantifies the available agricultural wastes and by-products to identify their application as substrates for mycelium-bound composites (hereinafter MBC) functioning as nutrient, aggregate, and reinforcement in the production of local biological building materials. The literature review indicates that the biggest contributor to the mechanical strength of MBC is the substrate’s ability to support strong and dense mycelial growth. To estimate the locally available agricultural wastes in the Finger Lakes region of New York, yield data, residue-to-grain ratio, moisture content, and weight are used to determine the dry tons of residue produced in 2021 in New York. Reports suggest that agricultural residues, particularly corn stover, are widespread and underutilized in the United States, representing a major potential resource. This research explores the potential of using corn stover, especially cobs as a material resource for new circular construction paradigms in the Finger Lakes region’s circular economy. Further research aims to increase control of growth parameters and material specification in the production of local biological building materials.