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Engineering sciences. Technology --- Technical drawing --- freehand drawing [technique] --- sketching --- engineering --- modeling [shading] --- visualization [computer]

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QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS --- BIOCENOSES --- DYNAMICS --- POLLINATION --- SEEDS --- PROPAGATION --- VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION --- SHADING --- COMPETITION --- SOILS --- HABITATS --- ADAPTATION (PHYSIOLOGY) --- MANUALS --- DYNAMICS --- PROPAGATION --- ADAPTATION --- QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS --- BIOCENOSES --- DYNAMICS --- POLLINATION --- SEEDS --- PROPAGATION --- VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION --- SHADING --- COMPETITION --- SOILS --- HABITATS --- ADAPTATION (PHYSIOLOGY) --- MANUALS --- DYNAMICS --- PROPAGATION --- ADAPTATION

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The Building sector requires a conspicuous considerable amount of energy for services related to annual air-conditioning and the thermal comfort of indoor spaces. The design of highly efficient low-energy buildings is often a challenging task, especially in the mediterranean area, where the balanced requirement for heating and cooling energy does not usually permit a high level of envelope insulation in order to avoid summer overheating. This topical Special Issue of Energies is dedicated to “High Efficient Buildings in Mediterranean Area: Challenges and Perspectives” and collects studies related to the assessment and evaluation of systems and technologies for building energy management and control in the Mediterranean climate, with the aim of optimizing the building–plant system and reducing energy use. This collection of papers presents the latest research results related to the topic; these articles offer valuable insights into the energy simulation of highly efficient buildings, propose innovative envelope solutions, such as green roofs, Trombe walls, and PCM, and investigate the use of renewable sources such as photovoltaic systems. The topics also include the innovative use and control of Venetian blinds and fixed solar shades in order to reduce energy consumption and preserve visual comfort, as well as an interesting economic analysis based on the cost-optimal approach.

Research & information: general --- Technology: general issues --- nZEB --- photovoltaics --- geothermal energy system --- energy storage units --- energy transactions --- life cycle cost assessment --- payback period --- building design --- cost-optimal analysis --- BEopt --- economic projections --- smart solar shading --- energy saving --- venetian blinds --- trombe wall --- experimental analysis --- solar gains --- PCM thermal storage --- bioclimatic strategy --- traditional constructive technology --- wine vinification --- energetic retrofit --- shading systems --- multi-objective optimization --- energy savings --- visual comfort --- renewable energy sources --- PV systems configurations --- energy storage --- net present value --- emission reduction --- weather data --- typical weather year --- building energy simulations --- residential building --- energy demand --- energy efficiency policy --- nearly zero energy building --- Positive Energy Building --- energy performance of buildings --- thermal behaviour --- thermal dynamic simulation --- prefabricated buildings --- SUPRIM --- EnergyPlus --- building energy performance --- phase change materials --- green roof --- measurements --- thermal behavior --- monitoring --- dynamic model --- nZEB --- photovoltaics --- geothermal energy system --- energy storage units --- energy transactions --- life cycle cost assessment --- payback period --- building design --- cost-optimal analysis --- BEopt --- economic projections --- smart solar shading --- energy saving --- venetian blinds --- trombe wall --- experimental analysis --- solar gains --- PCM thermal storage --- bioclimatic strategy --- traditional constructive technology --- wine vinification --- energetic retrofit --- shading systems --- multi-objective optimization --- energy savings --- visual comfort --- renewable energy sources --- PV systems configurations --- energy storage --- net present value --- emission reduction --- weather data --- typical weather year --- building energy simulations --- residential building --- energy demand --- energy efficiency policy --- nearly zero energy building --- Positive Energy Building --- energy performance of buildings --- thermal behaviour --- thermal dynamic simulation --- prefabricated buildings --- SUPRIM --- EnergyPlus --- building energy performance --- phase change materials --- green roof --- measurements --- thermal behavior --- monitoring --- dynamic model

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Description of the subject: For a long time, viruses have only been seen as disease-causing agents for plants, particularly for crops. However, recent results showing the ubiquity of plant viruses in symptomless wild plants but also crops are changing this perception. Many viruses do not cause symptoms on most of their hosts, and some can even be beneficial. In the case of plant viruses, it can be considered a conditional mutualism, with viruses providing tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought. Among the viruses affecting banana plants, the banana mild mosaic virus (BanMMV) is one of the most common. It is found in almost half of wild banana species and typically has no visible or only mild effects on cultivated bananas. Banana plants originate from tropical forests in South-East Asia, where limited light is a crucial environmental factor. 

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the possible impact of BanMMV on the growth of banana plants under shading stress, simulating natural forest conditions. The cultivar Ndingo Liko (ITC0199) was used for in vitro testing. Additionally, the study included a preliminary examination of the effect of drought on such in vitro banana plants. 

Method: An in vitro bioassay was utterly set up for the study, evaluating, measuring, and optimizing different factors, such as RNA extraction protocol, shading intensity and homogeneity, and adaptation of measures for in vitro plants. The study involved 24 BanMMV-infected plants and 24 BanMMV-free plants. Half of each group was placed under individual handmade shading nets (85% shade), while the rest were left in full light conditions. An additional 12 BanMMV-negative plants were subjected to a drought simulation using a regeneration culture medium with 0.2 M of sorbitol. Data collection encompassed virus detection and seven plant biomass and morphology measurements. 

Results: BanMMV infection and shading did not show any significant interaction. Nevertheless, this allowed for a separate analysis. BanMMV negatively affected plant height and led to an increase in the number of shoots. The shading treatment only led to a significant increase in height under shade, likely due to etiolation. Regarding the separate drought simulation, it showed multiple impacts on the banana plants, including reduced height, increased shoot numbers, and increased dry aerial weight. 

Conclusions: In the shade and full light conditions explored, BanMMV only had a detrimental effect on the plants, altering resource allocation and possibly promoting virus replication through increased shoots rather than height. Regarding the observed somewhat limited impact of shading on the plants, complementary studies could explore using even denser shading nets. The preliminary results obtained on the impact of drought warrant further investigation into the potential effect of the virus, this time on the plant tolerance to drought. Description du sujet : Pendant longtemps, les virus ont été considérés uniquement comme des agents pathogènes pour les plantes, en particulier pour les cultures. Cependant, des résultats récents montrant l'omniprésence des virus végétaux dans les plantes sauvages asymptomatiques, mais aussi dans les cultures, sont en train de modifier cette perception. De nombreux virus ne provoquent pas de symptômes chez la plupart de leurs hôtes, et certains peuvent même être bénéfiques. Dans le cas des virus des plantes, on peut parler d'un mutualisme conditionnel, les virus apportant une tolérance aux stress environnementaux tels que la sécheresse. Parmi les virus affectant les bananiers, le virus de la mosaïque douce du bananier (BanMMV) est l'un des plus courants. Il est présent dans près de la moitié des espèces de bananiers sauvages et n'a généralement pas d'effets visibles sur les bananiers cultivés, ou seulement de légers effets. Les bananiers sont originaires des forêts tropicales de l'Asie du Sud-Est, où le manque de lumière est un facteur environnemental considérable. 

Objectifs : Cette étude visait à étudier l'impact du BanMMV sur la croissance des bananiers dans des conditions de stress d’ombrage, simulant les conditions naturelles de la forêt. Le cultivar Ndingo Liko (ITC0199) a été utilisé comme plante in vitro. En outre, l'étude incluait un examen préliminaire de l'effet de la sécheresse sur de tels bananiers in vitro. 

Méthode : Un essai biologique in vitro a été entièrement mis en place dans le cadre de l'étude, en évaluant, mesurant et optimisant différents facteurs tels que, le protocole d'extraction de l'ARN, l’intensité et l’homogénéité de l'ombrage, et l’adaptation des mesures sur les plantes in vitro. L'étude a impliqué 24 plantes infectées par le BanMMV et 24 plantes exemptes de BanMMV. La moitié de chaque groupe a été placée sous des filets d'ombrage individuels faits à la main (85 % d'ombre), tandis que le reste a été laissé en pleine lumière. Douze autres plantes supplémentaires négatives au BanMMV ont été soumises à des conditions de simulation de sécheresse en utilisant un milieu de culture de régénération avec 0.2 M de sorbitol. L’acquisition de données couvrait la détection de virus et sept mesures physiques concernant la biomasse et la morphologie des plantes. 

Résultats : L'ombrage et l’infection par le BanMMV n'ont pas montré d'interaction significative, ceci permettant néanmoins des analyses séparées. Le BanMMV a eu un effet négatif sur la hauteur des plantes et a entraîné une augmentation du nombre de rejets. Le traitement par ombrage n’a eu comme effet qu’une augmentation significative de la hauteur des plantes, probablement dû à l'étiolement. Quant à la simulation de sécheresse, celle-ci a eu de multiples impacts sur les bananiers, notamment une réduction de la hauteur, une augmentation du nombre de pousses, ainsi qu’une augmentation du poids total et du poids sec aérien. 

Conclusions : Dans les conditions explorées d’ombrage et de pleine lumière, le BanMMV a uniquement eu un effet néfaste sur les plantes, modifiant l'allocation des ressources et promouvant éventuellement la réplication du virus à travers une augmentation des rejets plutôt que de la hauteur. Concernant l’influence limitée de l’ombrage sur les bananiers qui a été observée, des études futures pourraient explorer l'utilisation de filets d'ombrage encore plus denses. Les résultats préliminaires obtenus concernant l'impact de la sécheresse justifient une étude plus approfondie de l'effet potentiel du virus, cette fois-ci sur la tolérance des plantes à la sécheresse.

Banana mild mosaic virus (BanMMV) --- Conditional mutualism --- Environmental stress --- In vitro plants --- Simulated shading --- Simulated drought --- RNA extraction --- Resource allocation. --- Virus de la mosaïque douce du bananier (BanMMV)  --- Mutualisme conditionnel  --- Stress environnemental  --- Plantes in vitro  --- Ombrage simulé  --- Sécheresse simulée  --- Extraction d'ARN  --- Allocations des ressources --- Sciences du vivant > Multidisciplinaire, généralités & autres

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This is the first book to describe the development of and state of the art in solar shading devices in buildings, detailing all methods of evaluating shading systems according to thermal and visual comfort. The issue of energy balance in buildings is gaining importance as conventional energy sources dwindle and become more expensive. As such, environmental concerns should be considered in overall design decisions. The book discusses the role sun control “machines” play in controlling solar and thermal radiation. It examines their geometry, their position in relation to glazing and their operation (in the cases of movable systems) to control the heat and light entering a building, as well as how their material and color influence their performance. This book appeals to architects and designers who are interested in efficient energy facade design.

Optoelectronics. --- Office buildings --- Shading. --- Sustainable architecture. --- Renewable energy sources. --- Sustainable Architecture/Green Buildings. --- Renewable and Green Energy. --- Building Physics, HVAC. --- Energy Efficiency. --- Alternate energy sources --- Alternative energy sources --- Energy sources, Renewable --- Sustainable energy sources --- Power resources --- Renewable natural resources --- Agriculture and energy --- Eco-architecture --- Environmentally conscious architecture --- Environmentally friendly architecture --- Green architecture --- Green building design --- Green design (Buildings) --- Sustainable design (Buildings) --- Architecture --- Sustainable design --- Renewable energy resources. --- Building construction. --- Energy efficiency. --- Consumption of energy --- Energy efficiency --- Fuel consumption --- Fuel efficiency --- Energy conservation