bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction, comparison and analysis of comfort level and energy consumption of a passively remodeled dwelling based on BP neural network computation
Authors: Du Yiming , Huang Qiong , Zhang Anxiao , Zhang Qi , Jing Hao
Published: October 2019

Many ordinary dwellings are not well built in the vast rural areas of China, with poor comfort level and high energy consumption. The China Resources Charity Foundation funded the renovation of more than 200 farmhouses. Compared with the BP neural network model established with the measured data, the BP neural network model established with the simulated data can more quickly estimate the energy saved by the renovation measures of rural dwellings and the improved indoor environment, which is very necessary for the government and enterprises to make decisions to help. In this paper, one of the renovated houses (No. 285) was selected for tracking measurement before and after renovation to obtain real indoor environment and energy consumption data. Simulation software (DesignBuilder) was used to simulate the other 36 renovated houses in order to train the BP neural network model. The energy consumption of No. 285 was calculated by using the trained BP neural model, and the calculated results were compared and analyzed with the simulated data and measured data. Results show that the BP neural network model after training is better than the simple energy consumption simulation software in energy consumption prediction, but there are still errors from the actual measurement values. Regardless of software predictions or actual measurements, the results show that the renovation measures have indeed exerted a very positive impact. As to the overall trend, the software predictions are the same as of the actual measurements, and the variance of day and night temperature variance and the annual extreme values are greatly reduced.
Adapting Traditional Passive Strategies within Contemporary House to Decrease High energy consumption Impact in Nejd Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abdulmohsen Aldersoni Ali , Hou Chi Chow David
Published: October 2019

Saudi Arabia has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the strongest warming projected regions which indicates a serious future impact if no radical change is made in energy consumption [1]. The Saudi Electricity Company indicated that electricity consumption for 2017 is 204,597 GW [2]. Residential buildings have used 55% of the annual energy consumed in Saudi Arabia [3]. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the efforts that can be made to reduce this extreme consumption of energy by using simple traditional design techniques that were used in traditional buildings in the Nejd region, Saudi Arabia. The Nejd region was chosen because it represents the majority of Saudi’s topography and weather, and is recognized as the largest region in the country with the biggest population size [4]. Two houses were monitored during the summer of 2018. One represents a traditional old house while the other represents a contemporary house built by the Ministry of Housing (M.of.H) in Riyadh City. The two case studies provided valuable data for further analysis as the architectural design for the houses were analysed to distinguish the architectural features and weaknesses. Two models for the two cases were created using DesignBuilder and validated against measured data. The computational models were then used for dynamic thermal simulation, and used to estimate the energy consumption for the selected cases. The integrated passive strategies in traditional house were analysed, and compared it with a contemporary house. The result shows a 52.3% differences in annual energy consumption between the traditional house with contemporary house. In addition, the simulation result illustrates a 24.3% reduction in the annual energy consumption for the contemporary house is achieved by applying the passive strategies to the house design.
Analysing the benefits and challenges of retrofitting rural dwellings in Hunan, China to the Passivhaus EnerPHit standard
Authors: Liu C , Mohammadpourkarbasi H , Sharples S
Published: October 2019

Chinese rural housing largely consists of uninsulated reinforced-concrete apartment blocks with poor energy performance. These dwellings are structurally sound, costly to demolish and challenging to recycle. Retrofit is, therefore, potentially more worthwhile than new build. Currently, there is no Chinese standard for retrofitting dwellings. This research examined the viability of applying the German EnerPHit retrofit standard to Chinese rural dwellings in Hunan, southern China (hot summers and cold winters). Dwellings were evaluated in terms of building structure, materials and systems, and a common type of apartment was selected. The real-world thermal performance of the dwelling was monitored and then the dwelling was modelled using the dynamic thermal simulation software DesignBuilder and Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP). Monitoring data were used to validate the software’s predicted values. Next, energy-efficient EnerPHit retrofitting measures were incrementally applied to the dwelling model. Simulation results indicated that it was possible for the apartment to meet the EnerPHit standard if an optimised combination of thermal measures were applied. Good ventilation heat recovery was essential for winter comfort and minimum energy consumption; in summer, using adjustable shading and a high efficiency humidity recovery ventilation system was important. Appropriate natural ventilation schedules contributed in lowering cooling energy demand.
Preliminary Analysis on the Status Quo and Problems of Land Use of Educational Space in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Downtown Area, Tianjin- Results of data analysis based on information entropy and equilibrium
Authors: Zhang Shouren , Ye Qing , Du Yawei , Song Kun
Published: October 2019

In this article, in order to have a better understanding of the current situation and supply-demand challenges with regard to the land use of educational space in primary and secondary schools in the downtown area, Tianjin and address the related problems, the comparative analysis is conducted on the land-use layout of 30 ordinary primary and secondary schools. In addition, for these primary and secondary schools, based on the information entropy, balance and dominance of land-use structure, and in conjunction with the actual conditions, spatial location and time of construction, efforts are made to analyze the diversity and balance of educational space. Generally speaking, the land-use layout of the surveyed schools falls into three types: ring-shaped with a center, linear, and group-based. Besides, thus, the main factors which exert certain influence on the pattern of spatial layout and the land-use structure of educational space in primary and secondary schools in the downtown area, Tianjin are identified by data analysis. It provides reference for the intensive use of educational space in primary and secondary schools, and lays a solid foundation for formulating a series of land-use planning and management policies targeted at primary and secondary schools.
Study concerning the conception and construction of Long-Lasting Flexible Pavements
Authors: Condurat M , Ursanu C
Published: October 2019

The paper presents the current state of Long Lasting Flexible road pavement design, which is characterized by permanent development, both in terms of the calculation scheme that can reproduce as accurately as possible the actual operating behaviour and also in terms of more efficient materials usage. The research has shown that these types of flexible, well-designed and executed road pavements could have a longer lifetime than classical ones. In the same context, the energy performances and the Global Warming Potential, related to the construction and maintenance of Long-Lasting Flexible Pavements, calculated using a Life Cycle Assessment approach, are given, in order to substantiate their ecological advantages compared with a classical road pavement. This paper emphasizes the necessity to adopt appropriate constructions alternatives for road pavements, also within the initial construction phase, as well as within their maintenance and intervention stages, in order to have a sustainable build environment. In conclusion, roadwork and recent research have shown that Sustainable road pavements, known also as Long Lasting Pavements could be designed and built, resulting in significant material savings and, therefore, low maintenance costs with high performance and significantly longer service life compared to classical road pavements.
Guidelines for designing a sustainable neighbourhood based on TND theory in Egypt
Authors: Bondok A , Nasreldin R , Shalaby A
Published: October 2019

Neighbourhood is a particular geographic area that encloses a social network in which people interact socially. Therefore, the most appealing aspect of sustainable urbanism is certain to be the sustainable neighbourhood. This paper focusing on the urban development which contributes to the sustainable development of neighbourhood. Moreover, the problem of housing in Egypt is not a quantitative problem but lack of achieving the elements of sustainability and the new neighbourhoods are designed with the same basis as the Egyptian cities and thus will show the same results as in the existing cities. Consequently, there is absence of modern principles, lack of awareness for the importance of using new sustainable urban planning strategies in Egypt. This paper proposes a set of guidelines based on TND principles for the implementation of sustainable neighbourhood criteria of development. The methodology of this paper was literature review to analyse previous researches of sustainable neighbourhood development based on TND theory as well as, comparative analysis between national and international case studies. Furthermore, comparison between European and Egyptian case studies which used for presenting and analysing sustainable development criteria that used in real neighbourhood contexts. The outcome of this paper expected to influence decision-making in the area of sustainable urban development. Besides, helping to build a new and sustainable relationship between urban dwellers and urban space, and to increase the value of urban land and make our communities more sustainable.
Beyond Energy- efficient Built Environment – Examining the Relationship between the Users’ Cultural Values and Energy Consumption
Authors: Satish B K
Published: October 2019

Recent developments at the global level have forced responsible countries to take decisive actions to mitigate climate change. In the race to reduce energy consumption in the Built Environment, resource efficiency has been underpinned by low embodied energy (low carbon building) and consumption pattern. Recent expectations of energy reduction and energy efficiency have redefined the way buildings are insulated and spaces are utilised. This is particularly critical in the case of Passivhaus design, smart buildings etc, where the users are expected to align themselves to the building specification than the conventional practice of designing and building for the users’ requirements. There is a direct correlation between culture informed behaviour and sustainable built environment. Though there is considerable progress in energy efficiency in the built environment, further research is required to understand the individual perception and its implication on energy consumption pattern. Further, research relating ethnic background and their behaviour to energy consumption are scant. In this context, this paper reviews the prevailing research in the three broad areas of Thermal comfort, Ethnicity and Cultural Behaviour and its impact on Energy behaviour. Due to time and scope, this paper will not dwell deep into these topics, rather on the overlapping, interrelated aspects. In the process, it proposes a framework to analyse user energy behaviour while addressing the built environmental issues related to climate change. These topics present many opportunities for productive future research.
Potential shift of Integrated Design (ID) through BIM in Sustainable Building Renovation
Authors: Kamari A , Kirkegaard PH
Published: October 2019

Future building renovation concerns more holistic perspectives related to both integrations through the involvement of key stakeholders and fulfillment of sustainability in connection to a broader range of objectives and criteria facilitated by the renovation scenarios. This entails re-thinking, reviewing, and application of novel integrating methods and approaches through an integrated design (ID) schema, towards establishing a richer early design stage to deal with the multifaceted challenges in building renovation context. Through its technological capabilities (modeling techniques), shifting into Building Information Modelling (BIM) as a methodology for integration can be useful bringing more efficiency in (particularly the early design stage of) renovation projects by creating and adding values through the five strands of product, people, process, policy, and technology. On the basis of this underlying hypothesis, the aim of this paper is firstly to review the characteristics of ID, BIM, and their interactions on each other, and secondly to explore and address the potential shift of integrated design through BIM (ID+BIM) for sustainable building renovation. This contribution is relevant to building design researches and practitioners, who can use the resultant to better understanding and navigating the integrated design through BIM, and its potential shift in sustainable building renovation with multiple stakeholders.
The energy performance of dwellings of non-profit housing associations in the Netherlands 2017 - 2018
Authors: van der Bent H S , Visscher H J , Meijer A , Mouter N
Published: October 2019

Following regulation of the European Union, objectives were formulated to reduce energy consumption of the built environment in the Netherlands. For the stock of Dutch non-profit housing associations it was agreed to improve the average energy performance to an average energy index of 1.40 in 2020. This research assesses and gives insights in the progress to this objective for over 2.0 million dwellings of over 250 Dutch non-profit housing associations in 2017 and 2018. The assessment consists of an analysis of applied renovation measures, changes of the stock like new construction and demolishing, and clarifying characteristics of housing associations. It is concluded that large urban housing associations with adequate financial positions drive the improvement of the average sectoral energy performance. The improvement happens for a large part within the existing stock, mostly with traditional improvements like improved heating installations and improved insulation. Innovative solutions like: photovoltaic solar systems, combined heat and power systems, biomass systems, heat pumps and external heating, are responsible for a relative small part of the improvement within renovations. New construction and demolishing are also responsible for a relative small part of the annual improvement, but there is potential to improve this.
Retrofitting near to zero energy homes in a Mediterranean climate
Authors: De Marco S , Buhagiar V M
Published: October 2019

The present local built environment has a common thermal comfort problem namely that most dwellings have a great reliance on electricity for environmental control indoors. The main objective of this research work was to offer a practical and cost-effective working solution to this problem. The feasible energy–saving measures that can be retrofitted to an existing dwelling were designed and applied to an existing building; a top third floor flat in Birkirkara, Malta, thus converting it into a thermally comfortable minimum energy home. The indoor climate of the subject flat, its mirror image apartment and the Birkirkara microclimate were monitored for one year and the necessary tools to analyse this data were utilised: a psychrometric chart analysis with Malta’s defined thermal comfort zones. Compared to its microclimate and the mirror apartment, the results show that the subject flat managed to keep a constant and very comfortable indoor climate across both the hot and cold seasons. It is only for a small portion (a total of 9 out of 122 days – 7% in summer and 16 out of 121 days – 13% in winter) that the energy–saving retrofit measures did not fall within the thermal comfort zones limits. This case study also shows that the combined energy saving retrofit measures had a payback period of 15 years, which eventually pays off with a surplus of over €700.
Building monitoring protocol development for deep energy retrofit
Authors: Perisoglou E , Ionas M , Patterson J , Jones P
Published: October 2019

This paper presents the design of a monitoring protocol to support retrofit strategies and drive the evaluation of a low carbon house. Monitoring is used during pre-intervention stage to facilitate the decision-making process, as well as in the post-intervention to evaluate the performance of the building and systems. The first phase refers to monitoring as a diagnostic tool with a view to reduce the uncertainty of suggested low carbon solutions by providing real measurements and evidence on building conditions, comfort, systems and occupants behaviour and interactions. The second phase utilises monitoring as an evaluation tool to quantify benefits and challenges of the retrofitting by providing information and analysis on the supply and demand reduction, the difference in comfort and the effectiveness of each intervention. The study explains the protocol development and discuss different monitoring depths and requirements based on the performance indicators required. A typical pre-1919 Welsh end-terraced dwelling is used as a case study to demonstrate the two phases of the proposed protocol. The protocol was developed as part of the Low Carbon Built Environment (LCBE) project at Cardiff University and it was tested in various building types and research-led retrofit packages.
Envi-MET validation and sensitivity analysis using field measurements in a hot arid climate
Authors: Ayyad Y N , Sharples S
Published: October 2019

Envi-MET is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling software that analyses interactions between the microclimate and the built environment through simulation, predicting parameters such as wind speed, air temperature and thermal comfort indices. The large number of variables and calculations involved makes validating Envi-MET models difficult. This study focuses on the validation of Envi-MET through sensitivity and calibration testing. A site was chosen in a hot arid climate location. The testing involved measuring air temperature, relative humidity and wind speed at the site. For the sensitivity testing a hypothetical site was modelled with three scenarios for four variables (wind speed, relative humidity, albedo and grid size) set as low, base and high values. The monitoring study concluded that the accuracy of Envi-MET varied with the variable in question, showing a high correlation factor with wind speed and air temperature but a poor correlation with relative humidity, especially between 04:00 and 10:00. Envi-MET displayed different sensitivity levels, with a good response to variables change in wind speed and relative humidity, but little response to albedo changes.
Climate change and emerging risks. Innovative urban climate services as a strategy to improve resilience of human systems.
Authors: Bernardini Chiara , Paganin Giancarlo , Maria Luisa Talamo Cinzia
Published: October 2019

Climate change and extreme natural events are increasingly threatening human systems. Even if greenhouse gases emission were reduced to zero today, global warming and the consequent climate change would continue to affect future generations: as climate is changing, human systems must learn to adapt. This study focuses on the role, the use and the management of climate information to overcome the barriers to climate change adaptation action. The article first addresses the relationship between sustainable development and climate change, regarded as “two mutually reinforcing sides of the same coin”. After a short section on the complementarity of mitigation and adaptation strategies, it analyses the barriers to investments in climate adaptation action by public authorities: the uncertainty about the magnitude and the frequency of climate change-connected events, the common wrong perception of unlikelihood of global warming consequences and the intrinsic complexity characterizing human systems are identified as major constraints. These considerations lead to introduce the concepts of soft-resilience and low-regret adaptation strategies. The discipline of climate change adaptation based on soft-approach climate resilience strategies is closely linked to information management, information technologies, communications, logistics, geographic information services and good governance. Indeed, information management is here seen as the pillar of soft-approach strategies. Low-regret strategies are defined as measures that would generate net social and/or economic benefits both under current climate and a range of future climate change scenarios. Section 5 explores potential synergies between Climate Services (understood as any service, equipment, techniques, practical knowledge and skills that can be used to increase climate resilience of human system) and Urban Facility Management services. This study identifies Innovative Urban Climate Services, an integrated system of services addressing both climate and urban issues simultaneously, as an effective, soft-approach and low-regret strategy to overcome the barriers to adaptation action. These solutions provide a general framework allowing a flexible and customized support for human systems in adapting to unavoidable impacts of climate change.
A review on coal-to-electricity policies into practice in northern China
Authors: Li Zhaoyang , Xu Zhaowei , Sun Yuying , Wang Zhichao , Deng Shiming , Cui Yiming , Xu Wei , Wang Wei
Published: October 2019

China has been promoting clean energy heating in an all-around way since recent year to reduce air pollution and energy consumption as a result of using coal for winter heating. Supported by a series of Chinese government policies, a coal-to-electricity project become a significant measure for clean energy heating in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the surrounding areas, which has obviously improved air quality in northern China. The coal-to-electricity project can involve engagement from multiple levels of government and social companies, wherein government is uniquely positioned to provide leadership. However, factors contributing or hindering policies into practice are largely unexplored. This paper presents a review on coal-to-electricity policies into practice through summarizing government policies and practical investigation, including its planning, scope, funding, process, and technical types analysis. In addition, a prospect of coal-to-electricity project in northern China is also given. It is found that the coal-to-electricity project holds a meaningful contribution and promising potential of development given the urgent need for clean energy heating in large areas of northern China. Government financial subsidy is driving force and efficient technical types are carrier. It was further demonstrated that a large amount of government financial subsidy and the application of efficient technology will contribute to the implementation of coal-to-electricity project, which may provide reference for transition of other energy and low carbon policies into practice.
Bereaved Family Cancer Caregivers’ Unmet Needs: Measure Development and Validation
Authors: Kim Youngmee , Carver Charles S , Cannady Rachel S
Published: October 2019

Purpose/Background

Accumulating evidence shows that bereaved family caregivers report elevated distress for an extended period, which compromises their quality of life. A first step in the development of programs to enhance bereaved caregivers’ quality of life should be determining the needs they experience to manage the loss, and the needs that are not being satisfied. Thus, this study aimed to develop a new measure to assess unmet needs among bereaved family caregivers.

Method

The 20-item Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Bereaved to Cancer measure was developed and validated with bereaved cancer caregivers 5 (n = 159) and 8 (n = 194) years after the initial cancer diagnosis of the index patient, when stress in providing care to the patient was assessed.

Results

Exploratory factor analysis yielded two primary factors: unmet needs for reintegration and unmet needs for managing the loss. Bereaved caregivers who were younger and ethnic minority, and who had greater earlier perceived stress of caregiving, reported their needs were more poorly met (t > 2.33, p < .05). The extent to which bereaved caregivers’ needs to manage the loss were not perceived as being met was a consistent and strong predictor of poor adjustment to bereavement at both 5- and 8-year marks (t > 1.96, p < .05), beyond the effects of a host of demographic and earlier caregiving characteristics.

Conclusion

Findings support the validity of the Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Bereaved to Cancer and suggest that interventions to help bereaved caregivers manage the loss by assisting their transition to re-engagement in daily and social activities will benefit caregivers by mitigating bereavement-related distress years after the loss.
TIMP-2 suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in murine model of triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Peeney David , Jensen Sandra M , Castro Nadia P , Kumar Sarvesh , Noonan Silvia , Handler Chenchen , Kuznetsov Alex , Shih Joanna , Tran Andy D , Salomon David S , Stetler-Stevenson William G
Published: October 2019

Metastasis is the primary cause of treatment failures and mortality in most cancers. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is refractory to treatment and rapidly progresses to disseminated disease. We utilized an orthotopic mouse model that molecularly and phenotypically resembles human TNBC to study the effects of exogenous, daily tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) treatment on tumor growth and metastasis. Our results demonstrated that TIMP-2 treatment maximally suppressed primary tumor growth by ~36–50% and pulmonary metastasis by >92%. Immunostaining assays confirmed disruption of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotion of vascular integrity in primary tumor tissues. Immunostaining and RNA sequencing analysis of lung tissue lysates from tumor-bearing mice identified significant changes associated with metastatic colony formation. Specifically, TIMP-2 treatment disrupts periostin localization and critical cell-signaling pathways, including canonical Wnt signaling involved in EMT, as well as PI3K signaling, which modulates proliferative and metastatic behavior through p27 phosphorylation/localization. In conclusion, our study provides evidence in support of a role for TIMP-2 in suppression of triple-negative breast cancer growth and metastasis through modulation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, vascular normalization, and signaling pathways associated with metastatic outgrowth. Our findings suggest that TIMP-2, a constituent of the extracellular matrix in normal tissues, may have both direct and systemic antitumor and metastasis suppressor effects, suggesting potential utility in the clinical management of breast cancer progression.
Temporal profiles of cortisol accumulation and clearance support scale cortisol content as an indicator of chronic stress in fish
Authors: Laberge Frédéric , Yin-Liao Irene , Bernier Nicholas J
Published: October 2019

The development of chronic stress indicators for fish is of great interest, but appropriate non-invasive methods are lagging those used in terrestrial vertebrates. Here, we explore the possibility that levels of the stress hormone cortisol in scales could be used as a chronic stress indicator. Three experiments were conducted to assess the temporal profiles of cortisol rise and fall in plasma and scales of goldfish (Carassius auratus) in response to stressors of varying intensity and duration. Results show that a single acute air emersion stressor does not influence scale cortisol content. In contrast, relative to plasma levels, the fall in scale cortisol content following a high-dose cortisol implant is delayed by at least 8 days, and the rise and fall in scale cortisol content in response to unpredictable chronic stress are delayed by at least 7 days. Also, scale cortisol content is spatially heterogeneous across the body surface of goldfish. Overall, since high and sustained circulating cortisol levels are needed to influence scale cortisol content and the rates of cortisol accumulation and clearance are much slower in scales than in plasma, our results show that scales can provide an integrated measure of cortisol production and serve as a chronic stress indicator.
The cyber-resilience of financial institutions: significance and applicability
Authors: Dupont Benoît
Published: October 2019

The growing sophistication, frequency and severity of cyberattacks targeting financial sector institutions highlight their inevitability and the impossibility of completely protecting the integrity of critical computer systems. In this context, cyber-resilience offers an attractive complementary alternative to the existing cybersecurity paradigm. Cyber-resilience is defined in this article as the capacity to withstand, recover from and adapt to the external shocks caused by cyber risks. Resilience has a long and rich history in a number of scientific disciplines, including in engineering and disaster management. One of its main benefits is that it enables complex organizations to prepare for adverse events and to keep operating under very challenging circumstances. This article seeks to explore the significance of this concept and its applicability to the online security of financial institutions. The first section examines the need for cyber-resilience in the financial sector, highlighting the different types of threats that target financial systems and the various measures of their adverse impact. This section concludes that the “prevent and protect” paradigm that has prevailed so far is inadequate, and that a cyber-resilience orientation should be added to the risk managers’ toolbox. The second section briefly traces the scientific history of the concept and outlines the five core dimensions of organizational resilience, which is dynamic, networked, practiced, adaptive, and contested. Finally, the third section analyses three types of institutional approaches that are used to foster cyber-resilience in the financial sector (and beyond): (i) a thriving cybersecurity industry is promoting cyber-resilience as the future of security; (ii) standards bodies are embedding cyber-resilience into some of their cybersecurity standards; and (iii) regulatory agencies have developed a broad range of compliance tools aimed at enhancing cyber-resilience.
Changes in exercise frequency and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults
Authors: Kim Kyuwoong , Choi Seulggie , Hwang Seo Eun , Son Joung Sik , Lee Jong-Koo , Oh Juhwan , Park Sang Min
Published: October 2019

Aims

Little is known about the association of changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level with cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially in older adults whose ability to engage in frequent MVPA naturally wanes as they age. We aimed to examine the association of changes in MVPA and CVD in older adults.

Methods and results

In a nationwide cohort study of older adults aged 60 years or older, we identified more than 1.1 million subjects without previous history of CVD at baseline who underwent two consecutive national health screening from 2009 to 2012. We prospectively assessed the risk of CVD occurred between 2013 and 2016 according to changes in frequency of MVPA by initial MVPA status. Compared to those who were continuously physically inactive, those who increased their frequency of MVPA from physically inactive to 1–2 times per week [0.7/1000 person-years (PY) decrease in incidence rate (IR); adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92–0.99], 3–4 times per week (1.5/1000 PY decrease in IR; aHR 0.89; 95% CI 0.84–0.94), ≥5 times per week (0.4/1000 PY decrease in IR; aHR 0.91; 95% CI 0.85–0.97) had a significantly reduced risk for total CVD (P for trend <0.001). Older adults who became physically inactive from engaging in more than 1–2 times of MVPA per week had a higher CVD risk compared to those who maintained their frequency of MVPA.

Conclusion

Among older adults, engaging in higher frequency of MVPA or maintaining MVPA level was associated with reduced risk of CVD.
Differential interaction of the dark septate endophyte Cadophora sp. and fungal pathogens in vitro and in planta
Authors: Yakti Wael , Kovács Gábor M , Franken Philipp
Published: October 2019

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) present a group of widespread root-colonizing fungi. The role of these endophytes in ecosystems and their interactions with plant pathogens are not well understood. In the current study, we assessed the antagonistic potential of the model DSE Cadophora sp. against the tomato soilborne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium aphanidermatum and Verticillium dahliae. To investigate their interactions, we conducted in vitro assays followed by a greenhouse experiments in which tomato plants were inoculated with different combinations of the DSE and pathogens. RNA accumulation of selected tomato pathogenesis-related genes and of Cadophora sp. genes with putative antifungal function was analyzed. Cadophora sp. inhibited the growth of the fungal pathogens in vitro and vice versa; a negative impact of the pathogens on the growth of the DSE was also detected. In roots, however, this mutual negative interaction could not be observed. Expression analyses of plant genes could not explain this differential effect, but among the Cadophora sp. genes analyzed, a gene coding for a chalcone synthase was downregulated in planta. The data indicate that plants can change the interaction between fungi and, therefore, in vitro detected antagonism does not necessarily reflect the situation inside the plant.
Epigenetic Clocks and Allostatic Load Reveal Potential Sex-Specific Drivers of Biological Aging
Authors: McCrory Cathal , Fiorito Giovanni , McLoughlin Sinead , Polidoro Silvia , Cheallaigh Cliona Ni , Bourke Nollaig , Karisola Piia , Alenius Harri , Vineis Paolo , Layte Richard , Kenny Rose Anne
Published: October 2019

Allostatic load (AL) and epigenetic clocks both attempt to characterize the accelerated aging of biological systems, but at present it is unclear whether these measures are complementary or distinct. This study examines the cross-sectional association of AL with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in a subsample of 490 community-dwelling older adults participating in The Irish Longitudinal study on Aging (TILDA). A battery of 14 biomarkers representing the activity of four different physiological systems: immunological, cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, was used to construct the AL score. DNA methylation age was computed according to the algorithms described by Horvath, Hannum, and Levine allowing for estimation of whether an individual is experiencing accelerated or decelerated aging. Horvath, Hannum, and Levine EAA correlated 0.05, 0.03, and 0.21 with AL, respectively. Disaggregation by sex revealed that AL was more strongly associated with EAA in men compared with women as assessed using Horvath’s clock. Metabolic dysregulation was a strong driver of EAA in men as assessed using Horvath and Levine’s clock, while metabolic and cardiovascular dysregulation were associated with EAA in women using Levine’s clock. Results indicate that AL and the epigenetic clocks are measuring different age-related variance and implicate sex-specific drivers of biological aging.
Modelling health literacy on conceptualizations of scientific literacy
Authors: Ploomipuu Inga , Holbrook Jack , Rannikmäe Miia
Published: October 2019

This paper recognizes the need to promote health literacy as the goal of health education for all, at all educational levels. It particularly explores the meaning of health literacy, based on the literature and seeks to put forward a new meaning, applicable for the general public with further considerations for healthcare professionals. The vision and scope of health literacy is promoted as the goal for health education, reflecting on a comparison with scientific literacy (SL) and science education. A model is proposed interrelating health education, health literacy, science education and science literacy and discusses areas where health literacy is seen as having attributes beyond SL. A revised definition of health literacy is proposed.
Beyond Credible Commitments: (Investment) Treaties as Focal Points
Authors: Skovgaard Poulsen Lauge N
Published: October 2019

Why do states enter into treaties? In literature on the investment treaty regime, the dominant answer is that investment treaties provide credible commitments to foreign investors. This narrative provides valuable insights but cannot account for the historical origins of the treaties, where drafters explicitly decided to exclude “strong” dispute settlement provisions. Unlike modern-day investment treaties, the early investment treaty regime did not allow investors to file claims against host states through investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). Using historical evidence from three major capital-exporting states—the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany—the article shows that this was a conscious design choice. Rather than providing formal dispute settlement, sanctions, and penalties to make credible commitments, Western states intended investment treaties to serve as salient focal points for the informal resolution of investment disputes. The substantive obligations were expected to fulfil their coordinating role without the shadow of judicialized dispute settlement. The argument is not just of historical interest but has broader implications for literature on international economic law dominated by the credible commitment narrative, as well as the current political backlash against ISDS.
JEEA-FBBVA Lecture 2018: The Microeconomic Foundations of Aggregate Production Functions
Authors: Baqaee David Rezza , Farhi Emmanuel
Published: October 2019

Aggregate production functions are reduced-form relationships that emerge endogenously from input–output interactions between heterogeneous producers and factors in general equilibrium. We provide a general methodology for analyzing such aggregate production functions by deriving their first- and second-order properties. Our aggregation formulas provide nonparametric characterizations of the macroelasticities of substitution between factors and of the macrobias of technical change in terms of microsufficient statistics. They allow us to generalize existing aggregation theorems and to derive new ones. We relate our results to the famous Cambridge–Cambridge controversy.
Life-History Data of a Mexican Population of Triatoma nitida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Authors: Martínez-Ibarra J Alejandro , Meraz-Medina Tzintli , Nogueda-Torres Benjamin , Villagrán-Herrera María E , de Diego-Cabrera Jose A
Published: October 2019

This study reports the third collection of Triatoma nitida Usinger in Mexico, with a brief description of the collection area and an investigation of parameters related to its vectorial capacity. Whether a triatomine (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) species is a primary or secondary vector is determined by factors that include vectorial capacity, anthropophilic habits, geographic distribution, and capacity to invade and colonize human dwellings. However, when the primary vectors are removed, secondary vectors, such as T. nitida, can become important transmitters of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas to humans. To estimate the vectorial capacity of T. nitida, the egg-to-adult development time, number of blood meals required to molt to the adult stage, accumulative mortality, onset time for feeding, and feeding and defecation times were examined. Triatoma nitida (n = 100) required a median of 590 d to complete its development time, with a median of 31 blood meals. Almost half (46.5%) of the nymphs died during the cycle. The onset of feeding time exceeded 5 min in all nymphal instars (except on fourth-instar) and adults and feeding times exceeded 22 min in all instars, except on first-instar nymphs. No defecation was observed for 65.6% (n = 383) of the triatomines during a 30-min observation period. Based on the six parameters, the vectorial capacity of T. nitida should be considered as low. However, surveillance programs should include this species because the potential importance of T. nitida as a vector has been demonstrated in other countries.
Susceptibility Status of Bedbugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Against Pyrethroid and Organophosphate Insecticides in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Baraka Germana T , Nyundo Bruno A , Thomas Adelina , Mwang’onde Beda J , Kweka Eliningaya J
Published: October 2019

Cimex hemipterus resistance to residual insecticides is a growing public health concern worldwide. Herein, we report the susceptibility status of C. hemipterus against pyrethroid (permethrin) and organophosphate (dichlorvos) insecticides in Dar es Salaam. The knockdown efficacy of dichlorvos (99%) was greater than that of permethrin (43%), and mortality at the end of 24 h was also greater for dichlorvos than for permethrin. Mortality in recommended concentration of permethrin was lower than manufacturer’s expectations. In contrast, similar concentrations in dichlorvos resulted into mortality of 100% at the end of 24 h. LC50 and LC95 values for permethrin were 3.36 (2.356–4.364) and 2,887.39 (2,886.37–2,888.39), respectively, whereas those of dichlorvos were 7.91 (3.85–11.97) and 44.39 (40.33–48.45). Dar es Salaam city has high coverage and usage of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for prevent malaria. The resistance in bedbugs to permethrin may be related to the widespread use of the insecticide in LLINs. We recommend of the change from pyrethroids dichlorvos for the control of bedbugs.
Developing an Algorithm for Combining Race and Ethnicity Data Sources in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Hernandez Susan E , Sylling Philip W , Mor Maria K , Fine Michael J , Nelson Karin M , Wong Edwin S , Liu Chuan-Fen , Batten Adam J , Fihn Stephan D , Hebert Paul L
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Racial/ethnic disparities exist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), despite financial barriers to care being largely mitigated and Veterans Administration’s (VA) organizational commitment to health equity. Accurately identifying minority veterans is critical to monitoring progress toward equity as the VHA treats an increasingly racially and ethnically diverse veteran population. Although the VHA’s completeness of race and ethnicity data is generally better than its public sector and private counterparts, the accuracy of the race and ethnicity in the various databases available to VHA is variable, as is the accuracy in identifying specific minority groups. The purpose of this article was to develop an algorithm for constructing race and ethnicity variables from data sources available to VHA researchers, to present demographic differences cross the data sources, and to apply the algorithm to one study year.

Materials and Methods

We used existing VHA survey data from the Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients (SHEP) and three commonly used administrative databases from 2003 to 2015: the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW), VA Defense Identity Repository (VADIR), and Medicare. Using measures of agreement such as sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and Cohen kappa, we compared self-reported race and ethnicity from the SHEP and each of the other data sources. Based on these results, we propose an algorithm for combining data on race and ethnicity from these datasets. We included VHA patients who completed a SHEP and had race/ethnicity recorded in CDW, VADIR, and/or Medicare.

Results

Agreement between SHEP and other sources was high for Whites and Blacks and substantially lower for other minority groups. The CDW demonstrated better agreement than VADIR or Medicare.

Conclusions

We developed an algorithm of data source precedence in the VHA that improves the accuracy of the identification of historically under-identified minorities: (1) SHEP, (2) CDW, (3) Department of Defense’s VADIR, and (4) Medicare.
New observational constraints on interacting dark energy using galaxy clusters virial equilibrium states
Authors: Le Delliou M , Marcondes R J F , Lima Neto G B
Published: October 2019

The nature of the dark sector components of the Universe still remains one of the largest unknown. Among many possibilities, it has been speculated that dark matter and dark energy may be more tightly coupled than usually thought, one component interacting with the other. Here, we continue to explore the possible dark sector interaction through means of the Layzer–Irvine equation together with a model of an interacting dark sector applied to clusters of galaxies. We have selected galaxy clusters that have their mass profiles determined by gravitational lensing effect (optical observations) and have their intracluster gas temperatures measured from X-ray observations and spectral fit found in the literature. Using a simple model based on semi-analytical simulations, we derived a putative dynamical evolution of the clusters and used it to estimate the coupling parameter of the dark sector interaction. Through a Bayesian analysis, we obtain a 3σ detection of the interaction strength for 11 clusters at −0.027 ± 0.009 that translates in a compounded Universal equilibrium virial ratio, U/T, of $-0.61^{+0.04}_{-0.03}$. We note that the X-ray temperature determination is sometimes inconsistent, depending on the instrument and/or methodology used. The level of detection and these inconsistencies call for caution. We expect that future observations will give us a clearer indication of an eventual dark sector interaction.
Early multiwavelength analysis of the recurrent nova V745 Sco
Authors: Delgado L , Hernanz M
Published: October 2019

In recent years, several nova explosions have been detected by Fermi/LAT at E > 100 MeV, mainly early after the explosion and for a short period of time. The first evidence of particle acceleration in novae was found in the 2006 eruption of RS Oph to explain the faster than expected deceleration of the blast wave. As a consequence, emission of high-energy gamma-rays mainly from neutral pion decay and inverse Compton scattering is expected. We aim to understand the early shock evolution, when acceleration of particles can take place, in nova explosions. To achieve this goal, we perform a multiwavelength study of the 2014 outburst of V745 Sco, a symbiotic recurrent nova similar to RS Oph. The analysis of early Swift/XRT observations, simultaneous to the tentative Fermi detection, is combined with Chandra and NuStar data, to get a global picture of the nova ejecta and the red giant wind evolution. Early radio and IR data are also compiled, providing information about the forward shock velocity and its magnetic field. The comparison with the plasma properties of RS Oph shows striking similarities, such as the skipping of the adiabatic phase occurring in supernova remnants, a hint of particle acceleration. The multiwavelength study of V745 Sco provides new insights into the evolution of the hot plasma in novae and its interaction with the circumstellar material, a powerful tool to understand the nature of the high-energy gamma-ray emission from symbiotic recurrent novae.