bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology Innovation System Analysis of Electricity Smart Metering in the European Union
Authors: Kochański Maksymilian , Korczak Katarzyna , Skoczkowski Tadeusz
Published: February 2020

Between 2018 and 2023 the penetration rate of electricity smart meters in the European Union (EU) is expected to grow from approximately 44% to 71%. The unprecedently rapid development of smart metering (SM) as an ICT-enabled technological novelty is progressing in a complex, multi-actor innovation system, which is strongly driven by EU-level institutions and policies. This paper presents the comprehensive Technology Innovation System (TIS) analysis of electricity SM development in the EU, with a focus placed on regulatory aspects. The article identifies the key elements of the SM innovation system (technologies and infrastructures; actors and networks; institutions and policies) and characterises their interaction based on an in-depth desk research and a critical assessment of regulations, statistics and primary and grey literature sources (e.g., market reports). The main enablers and barriers for EU-level SM TIS development are studied. The major driving force for EU-level SM TIS is the clear, yet evolving vision of EU-level actors for the SM deployment, founded on the grounds of energy conservation and empowerment of customers. On the other hand, the major inhibitor is the insufficient regulatory framework for roll-outs at the level of a Member State, which does not fully ensure interoperability, data protection and security standards or organisational effectiveness.
Ancillary Services Market Design in Distribution Networks: Review and Identification of Barriers
Authors: Oureilidis Konstantinos , Malamaki Kyriaki-Nefeli , Gallos Konstantinos , Tsitsimelis Achilleas , Dikaiakos Christos , Gkavanoudis Spyros , Cvetkovic Milos , Mauricio Juan Manuel , Maza Ortega Jose Maria , Ramos Jose Luis Martinez , Papaioannou George , Demoulias Charis
Published: February 2020

The high proliferation of converter-dominated Distributed Renewable Energy Sources (DRESs) at the distribution grid level has gradually replaced the conventional synchronous generators (SGs) of the transmission system, resulting in emerging stability and security challenges. The inherent characteristics of the SGs are currently used for providing ancillary services (ASs), following the instructions of the Transmission System Operator, while the DRESs are obliged to offer specific system support functions, without being remunerated for these functions, but only for the energy they inject. This changing environment has prompted the integration of energy storage systems as a solution for transfusing new characteristics and elaborating their business in the electricity markets, while the smart grid infrastructure and the upcoming microgrid architectures contribute to the transformation of the distribution grid. This review investigates the existing ASs in transmission system with the respective markets (emphasizing the DRESs’ participation in these markets) and proposes new ASs at distribution grid level, with emphasis to inertial response, active power ramp rate control, frequency response, voltage regulation, fault contribution and harmonic mitigation. The market tools and mechanisms for the procurement of these ASs are presented evolving the existing role of the Operators. Finally, potential barriers in the technical, regulatory, and financial framework have been identified and analyzed.
Collaborative Optimization of Multi-Energy Complementary Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems Considering Schedulable Loads
Authors: Gong Xiao , Li Fan , Sun Bo , Liu Dong
Published: February 2020

Combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems are a promising energy-efficient and environment-friendly technology. However, their performance in terms of energy, economy, and environment factors depends on the operation strategy. This paper proposes a multi-energy complementary CCHP system integrating renewable energy sources and schedulable heating, cooling, and electrical loads. The system uses schedulable loads instead of energy storage, at the same time, a collaborative optimization scheduling strategy, which integrates energy supply and load demand into a unified optimization framework to achieve the optimal system performance, is presented. Schedulable cooling and heating load models are formulated using the relationship between indoor and outdoor house temperatures. A genetic algorithm is employed to optimize the overall performance of energy, economy, and environment factors and obtain optimal day-ahead scheduling scheme. Case studies are conducted to verify the efficiency of the proposed method. Compared with a system involving thermal energy storage and demand response (DR), the proposed method exhibits a higher primary energy saving rate, greenhouse gas emission reduction rate, and operation costs saving rate of 7.44%, 6.59%, and 4.73%, respectively, for a typical summer day, thereby demonstrating the feasibility and superiority of the proposed approach.
Modeling and Experimental Study on Motion States of Laboratory-Scale Bottom Hole Assembly in Horizontal Wells
Authors: Li Wei , Huang Genlu , Ni Hongjian , Yu Fan , Jiang Wu
Published: February 2020

Motion states of bottom hole assembly (BHA) have a great effect on the trajectory control and drilling efficiency while rotary drilling. In order to study the motion states of BHA in horizontal wells, a BHA dynamic model with the finite element method was established. Meanwhile, an indoor experimental setup based on similarity criterion was designed and built to verify the numerical simulation results. Finally, the effects of measuring positions, rotate speeds, weight on bit (WOB), and friction coefficients on the motion states were analyzed in numerical simulation and experiment. The results show that the experimental results can match well with the numerical simulation results. The motion states of BHA in horizontal wells can be divided into three kinds, including circular arc swing, "8" shape swing, and dot-like circular motion. The circular arc swing mainly appears at middle section of BHA and occurs through the collective result of gravity and tangential friction. The dot-like circular motion mainly appears at near-bit or near-stabilizer area because drill bit and stabilizer can steady the BHA at the center part of the wellbore. The "8" shape swing mainly appears at the crossed area and occurs through collective disturbance of the other two motions. Moreover, rotate speed and friction coefficient have promotions on the lateral vibration while WOB have a much smaller effect. Through analyses, related suggestions are given for the drilling engineering. The related conclusions and suggestions in this paper can help to further understand the lateral dynamic characteristics of BHA in horizontal wells and select suitable parameters for drilling engineering.
Experimental and CFD Analysis of Impact of Surface Roughness on Hydrodynamic Performance of a Darrieus Hydro (DH) Turbine
Authors: Khanjanpour Mohammad Hassan , Javadi Akbar A.
Published: February 2020

Although improving the hydrodynamic performance is a key objective in the design of ocean-powered devices, there are some factors that affect the efficiency of the device during its operation. In this study, the impacts of a wide range of surface roughness as a tribological parameter on stream flow around a hydro turbine and its power loss are studied. A comprehensive program of 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling, as well as an expansive range of experiments were carried out on a Darrieus Hydro (DH) turbine in order to measure reduction in hydrodynamic performance due to surface roughness. The results show that surface roughness of turbine blades plays an important role in the hydrodynamics of the flow around the turbine. The surface roughness increases turbulence and decreases the active fluid energy that is required for rotating the turbine, thereby reducing the performance of the turbine. The extent of the negative impact of surface roughness on the drag coefficient, pressure coefficient, torque, and output power is evaluated. It is shown that the drag coefficient of a turbine with roughness height of 1000 μm is about 20% higher than a smooth blade (zero roughness height) and the maximum percentage of reduction of output power could be up to 27% (numerically) and 22% (experimentally).
An Interval-Arithmetic-Based Approach to the Parametric Identification of the Single-Diode Model of Photovoltaic Generators
Authors: Orozco-Gutierrez Martha Lucia
Published: February 2020

Parametric identification of the single diode model of a photovoltaic generator is a key element in simulation and diagnosis. Parameters’ values are often determined by using experimental data the modules manufacturers provide in the data sheets. In outdoor applications, the parametric identification is instead performed by starting from the current vs. voltage curve acquired in non-standard operating conditions. This paper refers to this latter case and introduces an approach based on the use of interval arithmetic. Photovoltaic generators based on crystalline silicon cells are considered: they are modeled by using the single diode model, and a divide-and-conquer algorithm is used to contract the initial search space up to a small hyper-rectangle including the identified set of parameters. The proposed approach is validated by using experimental data measured in outdoor conditions. The information provided by the approach, in terms of parametric sensitivity and of correlation between current variations and drifts of the parameters values, is discussed. The results are analyzed in view of the on-site application of the proposed approach for diagnostic purposes.
Application of VMD and Hilbert Transform Algorithms on Detection of the Ripple Components of the DC Signal
Authors: Luo Derong , Wu Ting , Li Ming , Yi Benshun , Zuo Haibo
Published: February 2020

Accurate detection of ripple components of the direct-current (DC) signals is essential for evaluating DC power quality. In this study, the combination algorithm based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and Hilbert transform (HT) is applied to detect and analyze the characteristics of the ripple components of the DC disturbance signals. Firstly, the optimal modal number of VMD algorithms is comprehensively determined by observing the center frequencies of the mode components and the Index of Orthogonality (IO) of mode components. Through utilizing the VMD algorithm, the DC disturbance signal is accurately decomposed into a series of amplitude modulation-frequency modulation (AM-FM) functions. Then, the HT algorithm is applied to each AM-FM function to obtain the corresponding instantaneous amplitude and frequency, and the characteristics of DC disturbance signal are determined. Some case studies are implemented to analyze the ripple components of the DC disturbance signal with the VMD-HT and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm. Finally, the experiment results of Gree Photovoltaic Cabin have verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed combination VMD-HT algorithm by comparison with EMD and the window interpolation fast Fourier transform (WIFFT) algorithms.
Construction Diversion Risk Assessment for Hydropower Development on Sediment-Rich Rivers
Authors: Song Zida , Liu Quan , Hu Zhigen , Zhang Chunsheng , Ren Jinming , Wang Zhexin , Tian Jianhai
Published: February 2020

Hydropower is an important renewable energy, and Construction Diversion Risk (CDR) should be highlighted and assessed during hydropower development. Since sediment-rich rivers are widely existing around the world and have great hydro-energy potential, assessing CDR for hydropower development on sediment-rich rivers in terms of engineering feasibility is of significance. This paper proposes a CDR assessment method for the sediment-rich hydropower development environment. The method is concise and practical, reflects diversion uncertainties and correlation, and mainly adopts the Gumbel–Hougaard Copula and the Monte Carlo Simulation. Through simulating flood evolution and sediment impact during diversion, the method can assess CDR basing on the cofferdam overtopping probability. Case results show that the proposed method can achieve CDR assessment on a sediment-rich river and highlights sediment impact on the diversion risk. Through results discussion, the risk feature of construction diversion on sediment-rich rivers is revealed, that sediment impact causes the dynamic and yearly-risen CDR. Hence, our conclusions are: (1) the proposed method is feasible, effective and has industrial potential, and (2) a diversion scheme on sediment-rich rivers is suggested that adopts the design with high or yearly-heightening cofferdams, based on the advanced CDR assessment to cope with the risk features of sediment-rich diversion environments.
The Potential of Pressurised Water Reactors to Provide Flexible Response in Future Electricity Grids
Authors: Peakman Aiden , Merk Bruno , Hesketh Kevin
Published: February 2020

The electricity market is undergoing significant change with the increasing deployment of Variable Renewable Energy Sources (VRES) and the adoption of policies to electrify transport, heating and industry, which will continue to increase demands on all conventional power plants including nuclear. The increase in VRES also puts additional emphasis on services such as inertia and frequency response that only conventional plants, including nuclear, are readily able to meet. This study discusses what factors limit the ability of nuclear power plants to provide flexible response and how the UK nuclear power plants might be affected by the changes in future demand profiles. The study focuses on what impact there will be on current Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) plants, though it also considers Small Modular Pressurised Water Reactor plants which might offer benefits with respect to improved power manoeuvrability. The main finding is that the most important attribute is the minimum power level for long-term operation, followed by the speed at which the plants can be brought online (that is, both start-up rate and ramp rate during power operation). With respect to both of these attributes, new build future PWR plants could potentially achieve large and rapid power changes by dumping part of the steam directly into the condenser, bypassing the steam turbine. Discussions with plant operators highlighted that there is currently limited demand for flexible operation in the UK from nuclear plants when other power plants are readily available to partake in flexible operation. The lack of any requirement for nuclear plants to operate flexibly means that the UK lags behind France, for example, which has much more experience in nonstationary operation of nuclear power plants. The paper also draws attention to the fact that with increasing VRES, there will be fewer plants able to provide rotational inertia and therefore more emphasis on the role the remaining plants (which include nuclear) can play in maintaining grid stability.
Object Detection of Ground-Penetrating Radar Signals Using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Wu Xi , Senalik Christopher Adam , Wacker James , Wang Xiping , Li Guanghui
Published: February 2020

An object detection method of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) signals using empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and dynamic time warping (DTW) is proposed in this study. Two groups of timber specimens were examined. The first group comprised of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) timber sections prepared in the laboratory with inserts of known internal characteristics. The second group comprised of timber girders salvaged from the timber bridges on historic Route 66 over 80 years. A GSSI Subsurface Interface Radar (SIR) System 4000 with a 2 GHz palm antenna was used to scan these two groups of specimens. GPR sensed differences in dielectric constants (DC) along the scan path caused by the presence of water, metal, or air within the wood. This study focuses on the feature identification and defect classification. The results show that the processing methods were efficient for the illustration of GPR information.
Soil Available Phosphorus Loss Caused by Periodical Understory Management Reduce Understory Plant Diversity in a Northern Subtropical Pinus massoniana Plantation Chronosequence
Authors: Dai Dong , Ali Ashfaq , Huang Xin , Teng Mingjun , Wu Changguang , Zhou Zhixiang , Liu Yu
Published: February 2020

Clearing of understory plants is a common management method in plantation forests, but its long-term impact on soil properties and understory plant diversity is still poorly understood. In order to uncover the potential relationship between understory diversity and soil properties, we categorized understory plants into herbs and shrubs, and took soil depth into consideration. We measured the soil variables and investigated the understory plant diversity in four stand age-classes (9-year-old for young, 18-year-old for intermediate, 28-year-old for near-mature, and 48-year-old for mature) in a Pinus massoniana plantation. We aimed to examine how the diversity of herbs and shrubs changed with stand succession and to determine which of the three soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm) had the strongest explanation for the understory plant diversity. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to assess the direct and indirect effect of understory clearing and stand age on understory diversity. We found that understory clearing influenced the trend of diversity of herbs and shrubs with stand age, and understory diversity showed a strong correlation with soil physical properties in all three soil layers. The soil properties in the 10–20 cm soil layer related with the diversity of herbs and shrubs most, while the 20–40 cm soil layer properties related with them the least. Understory clearing reduced soil available phosphorus (AP). Understory clearing and stand age were found to benefit understory plant diversity directly and decreased the understory diversity indirectly via AP. Consequently, to improve our understanding of the impact of understory clearing and stand age on biodiversity, we should take into account its direct and indirect effects.
Three-Dimensional Response of the Supported-Deep Excavation System: Case Study of a Large Scale Underground Metro Station
Authors: Hefny Ashraf , Al-Atroush Mohamed Ezzat , Abualkhair Mai , Alnuaimi Mariam Juma
Published: February 2020

The complexities and the economic computational infeasibility associated in some cases, with three-dimensional finite element models, has imposed a motive for many investigators to accept numerical modeling simplification solutions such as assuming two-dimensional (2D) plane strain conditions in simulation of several supported-deep excavation problems, especially for cases with a relatively high aspect ratio in plan dimensions. In this research, a two-dimensional finite element model was established to simulate the behavior of the supporting system of a large-scale deep excavation utilized in the construction of an underground metro station Rod El Farrag project (Egypt). The essential geotechnical engineering properties of soil layers were calculated using results of in-situ and laboratory tests and empirical correlations with SPT-N values. On the other hand, a three-dimensional finite element model was established with the same parameters adopted in the two-dimensional model. Sufficient sensitivity numerical analyses were performed to make the three-dimensional finite element model economically feasible. Results of the two-dimensional model were compared with those obtained from the field measurements and the three-dimensional numerical model. The comparison results showed that 3D high stiffening at the primary walls’ corners and also at the locations of cross walls has a significant effect on both the lateral wall deformations and the neighboring soil vertical settlement.
HIV Testing and Risks of Sexual Behavior among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ningbo, China
Authors: Jiang Haibo , Hong Hang , Dong Hongjun , Jiang Jun , He Lin
Published: February 2020

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is confirmed as a preventive strategy for HIV control. However, the testing rate and risk behaviors of HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) remain unclear. We aimed to examine factors associated with HIV testing and high-risk behaviors among HIV-negative MSM. From July 2016 to June 2017, participants were recruited by snowball sampling from WeChat groups, bars, and other venues. HIV testing was performed to exclude HIV-positive MSM. Face-to-face questionnaires regarding HIV testing and high-risk behaviors were conducted; 988 MSM were included, and 57.1% of participants underwent HIV testing in the past year. The proportion of high-risk behaviors was 49.9%. Factors associated with HIV testing were bisexual orientation, substance use to adjust psychiatric disorders, and receiving acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) interventions. Being married, bisexual orientation, and receiving AIDS interventions were risk factors for high-risk sexual behaviors, while college or higher degree was a protective factor. We determined that HIV transmission factors are widespread, and the rate of HIV testing is relatively low. Attention should be given to marital status, using substances to adjust psychiatric disorders, or bisexual HIV-negative MSM, and AIDS interventions should be strengthened to promote HIV testing and reduce high-risk behaviors.
A Gated Dilated Convolution with Attention Model for Clinical Cloze-Style Reading Comprehension
Authors: Wang Bin , Zhang Xuejie , Zhou Xiaobing , Li Junyi
Published: February 2020

The machine comprehension research of clinical medicine has great potential value in practical application, but it has not received sufficient attention and many existing models are very time consuming for the cloze-style machine reading comprehension. In this paper, we study the cloze-style machine reading comprehension in the clinical medical field and propose a Gated Dilated Convolution with Attention (GDCA) model, which consists of a gated dilated convolution module and an attention mechanism. Our model has high parallelism and is capable of capturing long-distance dependencies. On the CliCR data set, our model surpasses the present best model on several metrics and obtains state-of-the-art result, and the training speed is 8 times faster than that of the best model.
Fenton-Like Oxidation of Antibiotic Ornidazole Using Biochar-Supported Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron as Heterogeneous Hydrogen Peroxide Activator
Authors: Zhang Yanchang , Zhao Lin , Yang Yongkui , Sun Peizhe
Published: February 2020

Biochar (BC)-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI-BC) was investigated as a heterogeneous Fenton-like activator to degrade the antibiotic ornidazole (ONZ). The characterization of nZVI-BC indicated that BC could enhance the adsorption of ONZ and reduce the aggregation of nZVI. Thus, nZVI-BC had a higher removal efficiency (80.1%) than nZVI and BC. The effects of parameters such as the nZVI/BC mass ratio, pH, H2O2 concentration, nZVI-BC dose, and temperature were systematically investigated, and the removal of ONZ followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Finally, possible pathways of ONZ in the oxidation process were proposed. The removal mechanism included the adsorption of ONZ onto the surface of nZVI-BC, the generation of •OH by the reaction of nZVI with H2O2, and the oxidation of ONZ. Recycling experiments indicated that the nZVI-BC/H2O2 system is a promising alternative for the treatment of wastewater containing ONZ.
Exploring the Effect of Market Conditions on Price Premiums in the Online Health Community
Authors: Li Chaoran , Zhang E. , Han Jingti
Published: February 2020

Online health communities allow doctors to fully use existing medical resources to serve remote patients. They broaden and diversify avenues of interaction between doctors and patients using Internet technology, which have built an online medical consultation market. In this study, the theory of supply and demand was adopted to explore how market conditions of online doctor resources impact price premiums of doctors’ online service. Then, we investigated the effect of the stigmatized diseases. We used resource supply and resource concentration to characterize the market conditions of online doctor resources and a dummy variable to categorize whether the disease is stigmatized or ordinary. After an empirical study of the dataset (including 68,945 doctors), the results indicate that: (1) the supply of online doctor resources has a significant and negative influence on price premiums; (2) compared with ordinary diseases, doctors treating stigmatized diseases can charge higher price premiums; (3) stigmatized diseases positively moderate the relationship between resource supply and price premiums; and (4) the concentration of online doctor resources has no significant influence on price premiums. Our research demonstrates that both the market conditions of online doctor resources and stigmatized diseases can impact price premiums in the online medical consultation market. The findings provide some new and insightful implications for theory and practice.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Cancer Treatment, Service Utilization and Catastrophic Health Expenditure in China: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yang , Zhang Lin , Fu Yu , Wang Minyu , Zhang Luwen
Published: February 2020

Background: This study aims (1) to assess socioeconomic disparities in healthcare use and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) among cancer patients in China, which is defined as the point at which annual household health payments exceeded 40% of non-food household consumption expenditure, and (2) to examine the association of different treatments for cancers with health service utilization and CHE. Methods: We used nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2015 with 17,018 participants in which 381 with doctor-diagnosed cancer. The main treatments for cancer included the Chinese traditional medicine (TCM), western modern medicine (refers to taking western modern medications excluding TCM and other treatments for cancers), surgery, and radiation/chemotherapy. Concentration curve was used to assess economic-related disparities in healthcare and CHE. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the impact of the cancer treatment on health service use and incidence of CHE. Results: The main cancer treatments and health service use were more concentrated among the rich patients than among the poor patients in 2015. There was a positive association between the treatment of cancer and outpatient visit (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.492, 95% CI = 1.506, 4.125), inpatient visit (AOR = 1.817, 95% CI = 1.098, 3.007), as well as CHE (AOR = 2.744, 95% CI = 1.578, 4.772). All cancer therapies except for medication treatments were associated with a higher incidence of CHE, particularly the surgery therapy (AOR = 6.05, 95% CI = 3.393, 27.866) in urban areas. Conclusion: Disparities in treatment and health service utilization among Chinese cancer patients was largely determined by financial capability. The current insurance schemes are insufficient to address these disparities. A comprehensive health insurance policy of expanding the current benefits packages and strengthening the Public Medical Assistance System, are essential for Chinese adults with cancer.
Mobile Phone Use in a Car-Following Situation: Impact on Time Headway and Effectiveness of Driver’s Rear-End Risk Compensation Behavior via a Driving Simulator Study
Authors: Chen Yunxing , Fu Rui , Xu Qingjin , Yuan Wei
Published: February 2020

Mobile phone use while driving has become one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and poses a significant threat to public health. This study investigated the impact of speech-based texting and handheld texting (two difficulty levels in each task) on car-following performance in terms of time headway and collision avoidance capability; and further examined the relationship between time headway increase strategy and the corresponding accident frequency. Fifty-three participants completed the car-following experiment in a driving simulator. A Generalized Estimating Equation method was applied to develop the linear regression model for time headway and the binary logistic regression model for accident probability. The results of the model for time headway indicated that drivers adopted compensation behavior to offset the increased workload by increasing their time headway by 0.41 and 0.59 s while conducting speech-based texting and handheld texting, respectively. The model results for the rear-end accident probability showed that the accident probability increased by 2.34 and 3.56 times, respectively, during the use of speech-based texting and handheld texting tasks. Additionally, the greater the deceleration of the lead vehicle, the higher the probability of a rear-end accident. Further, the relationship between time headway increase patterns and the corresponding accident frequencies showed that all drivers’ compensation behaviors were different, and only a few drivers increased their time headway by 60% or more, which could completely offset the increased accident risk associated with mobile phone distraction. The findings provide a theoretical reference for the formulation of traffic regulations related to mobile phone use, driver safety education programs, and road safety public awareness campaigns. Moreover, the developed accident risk models may contribute to the development of a driving safety warning system.
Identification of Priority Areas for Soil and Water Conservation Planning Based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Using Choquet Integral
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Zhang Jianjun , Zhang Shouhong , Yu Chunxue , Sun Ruoxiu , Wang Dandan , Zhu Chunzhu , Zhang Jianan
Published: February 2020

Soil erosion risk assessment is an essential foundation for the planning and implementation of soil and water conservation projects. The commonality among existing studies is that they considered different indicators (e.g., rainfall and slope) in order to determine the soil erosion risk; however, the majority of studies in China neglect one important indicator, namely the slope aspect. It is widely accepted that the vegetation and distribution of rainfall differs according to the different slope aspects (such as sunny slope and shady slope) and these attributes will accordingly influence the soil erosion. Thus, existing studies neglecting this indicator cannot reflect the soil erosion well. To address this problem, a flexible soil erosion risk assessment method that supports decision makers in identifying priority areas in soil and water conservation planning was developed in the present study. Firstly, in order to verify the impact of the slope aspect on soil erosion, field investigations were conducted, and its impact on the characteristics of the community in the study area was analyzed. Secondly, six assessment indicators were selected, including slope gradient, precipitation, NDVI, land use, soil texture and slope aspect. Next, a developed multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method based on the Choquet integral was adopted to assess the soil erosion risk. The MCDA method, combining objective data with subjective assessment based on Choquet integral, could solve the weight problem encountered when using the quantitative method. The parameters required can be modified according to the soil erosion types, assessment scales, and data availability. The synergistic and inhibitory effects among the soil erosion parameters were also considered in the assessment. Finally, the soil erosion risk results in the Xinshui River watershed revealed that more attention should be paid to the slope of farmland and grassland during the planning and management of soil and water conservation projects. The methodology used in the current study can support decision makers in planning and implementing soil and water conservation measures in regions with different erosion types.
Breast Cancer in a Caribbean Population in Transition: Design and Implementation of the Atabey Population-Based Case-Control Study of Women in the San Juan Metropolitan Area in Puerto Rico
Authors: Rosario-Rosado Rosa V. , Nazario Cruz M. , Hernández-Santiago Johan , Schelske-Santos Michelle , Mansilla-Rivera Imar , Ramírez-Marrero Farah A. , Ramos-Valencia Gilberto , Climent Consuelo , Nie Jing , Freudenheim Jo L.
Published: February 2020

Global breast cancer incidence varies considerably, particularly in comparisons of low- and high-income countries; rates may vary even within regions. Breast cancer rates for Caribbean countries are generally lower than for North America and Europe. Rates in Puerto Rico are in the middle of the range between the highest and the lowest Caribbean countries. Populations in transition, with greater variability in risk factor exposures, provide an important opportunity to better understand breast cancer etiology and as potential sources of variation in rates. Understanding of exposures across the life span can potentially contribute to understanding regional differences in rates. We describe here the design and implementation of a population-based, case-control study in the San Juan Metropolitan Area (SJMA) of Puerto Rico, the Atabey Epidemiology of Breast Cancer Study. We describe steps taken to ensure that the study was culturally appropriate, leveraging the Atabey researchers’ understanding of the culture, local health system, and other required resources to effectively recruit participants. A standardized, in-person interview was developed, with attention to life course events customized to the study population. In order to understand variation in global breast cancer rates, studies customized to the populations outside of North America and Europe are required.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Drug Abuse and Misuse among Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mobrad Abdulmajeed M. , Alghadeer Sultan , Syed Wajid , Al-Arifi Mohamed N. , Azher Arafah , Almetawazi Mansour S , Babelghaith Salmeen D.
Published: February 2020

Background and Objective: Several over-the-counter drugs have been documented as an essential issue in the community pharmacy setting owing to their liability to abuse. Pharmacists act as a critical monitor for these concerns and evaluate the seriousness of the patients’ condition. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding drug abuse and misuse among pharmacists at a community pharmacy in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using a validated self-administered questionnaire was carried out among community pharmacists over three months April to June 2019. The survey had 25 items on the experience, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, strategies, and opinions of participants toward drug abuse and misuse. Results: A total of 239 community pharmacists responded to the survey. About 84% of them had received training on drug misuse or abuse. The majority of community pharmacists (85.8%) would like to be provided educational programs on drug abuse in the future. Nearly all the pharmacists (94.9%) reported providing suitable advice to suspected drug misusers either in written or oral form at their pharmacies. Approximately 31% agreed or strongly agreed to dispense controlled drugs through a pharmacy. Regarding the ethical matter of selling misusers controlled drugs, 93.7% of the respondents believed that it is deceptive to offer misusers controlled medications. A comparison of knowledge and beliefs (univariate analysis) showed that the results were significant only for respondents who had graduated from Yemen (p = 0.007) and respondents who had an experience of four to six years or more (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings revealed that the majority of community pharmacists had been trained in recognizing drug abuse or dependence during their pharmacy college education. In addition, majority of them reported that they warned or counseled patients about the occurrence of adverse drug reactions to specific medications. However, majority of them agreed that selling controlled drugs is unethical in a community pharmacy. Thus, effective implementation of pharmaceutical rules and laws is a fundamental need in the Saudi Arabian health care system and we suggest stringent execution of the regulations by the Saudi health care authorities.
Early Discharged Lumbar Spine Fusion Reduced Postoperative Readmissions: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Huang Wen-Cheng , Wu Jau-Ching , Chang Hsuan-Kan , Chen Yu-Chun
Published: February 2020

Early discharge (ED) has emerged and gained popularity in spine surgery. However, the benefits of ED in lumbar fusion have not yet been validated by large cohort studies. To evaluate the effects of ED on readmissions and reoperations in lumbar fusion, this study utilized a national database to enroll patients who had undergone lumbar fusion surgery at age 50–70 years, and grouped them into an ED group or a comparison group. In the comprehensive follow-up of 180 days post-operation, the two groups were compared. There were 18,008 patients in the cohort, including 2172 in the ED group and 15,836 in the comparison group. The ED group was slightly younger (59.9 vs. 60.7 years, p < 0.001), more male predominant (44.9% vs. 36.9%, p < 0.001), and had fewer medical comorbidities. The ED group had less incidences of readmission than the comparison group. (Crude hazard ratio = 0.73, and adjusted HR = 0.75, both p < 0.001). Overall, the cumulative incidences of readmission in the ED group (9.5%) were lower than those in the comparison group (12.8%, p < 0.001), whereas reoperations were insignificantly different (1.5% vs. 1.2%, p = 0.189). For patients aged 50–70 years and who require lumbar fusion surgery, ED could yield a 25% reduced risk of readmission for any cause within 180 days post-operation. Since the reoperation rates remained similar, our results suggest that ED may be a promising option for elderly patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery.
Is Less Sedentary Behavior, More Physical Activity, or Higher Fitness Associated with Sleep Quality? A Cross-Sectional Study in Singapore
Authors: Sloan Robert A. , Kim Youngdeok , Sawada Susumu S. , Asakawa Akihiro , Blair Steven N. , Finkelstein Eric A.
Published: February 2020

Objectives: To examine the independent, joint, and fully combined associations of sedentary behavior (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with the odds of poor sleep quality (SQ). Methods: We performed a secondary data analysis on 757 working adults (male = 345) in Singapore, with an average age of 35.2 years. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess SQ. Objectively measured MVPA and SB were each obtained using an accelerometer. A non-exercise prediction equation was used to estimate CRF. Logistic regression models were used to determine associations. Results: In total, 13.2% of the sample (n = 100) was identified as having poor SQ. After adjusting for study covariates, independent analyses revealed a clear inverse association for higher CRF and lower odds of poor SQ (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.28–0.91). SB and MVPA demonstrated no independent associations. Joint associations revealed that odds of having poor SQ for those with low CRF was higher regardless of SB level and was further deteriorated by lower MVPA in the fully combined model. The fully combined model also demonstrated that those with lower SB, higher MVPA, and higher CRF had the lowest odds of having poor SQ (OR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.10–0.78). Conclusions: Physical activity/exercise training programs that aim to improve CRF may be useful in lowering the odds or poor SQ in working adults.
Levels, Sources and Toxicity Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at an Island Site in the Gulf of Tonkin
Authors: Yang Xiaoyang , Liu Shijie , Gao Yuanguan , Zhao Wenjuan , Liu Yu , Mao Jingying , Mo Zhaoyu
Published: February 2020

The varying concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at remote islands is an important indicator, demonstrating the contributions from different regional combustion sources. In this study, gaseous and particulate PAHs were measured at Weizhou Island in the Gulf of Tonkin from 15th March to 14th April, 2015. The concentrations of PAHs ranged from 116.22 to 186.74 ng/m3 and from 40.19 to 61.86 ng/m3 in gas and particulate phase, respectively, which were much higher than those of some remote sites in Asia. Phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene, which were mainly found in diesel vehicle emissions, had relatively high concentrations in both gas and particulate phases. According to the comprehensive results of back trajectory cluster analysis and diagnostic ratios, the local vessel emission was probably the main source of PAHs, which was much more important than the coal and biomass combustion sources from remoter regions. The toxicities represented by ∑PAH7, benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent carcinogenic power, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-based total toxicity potency are much higher in particulate phase than those in gas phase. However, the toxicities of gas phase should not be neglected from the point of view of indirect-acting mutagenicities due to the high contribution of fluoranthene.
Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Development of the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis Type A
Authors: Sekiguchi Toshio , Akitaya Hiroshi , Nakayama Satoshi , Yazawa Takashi , Ogasawara Michio , Suzuki Nobuo , Hayakawa Kazuichi , Wada Shuichi
Published: February 2020

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants that exert harmful effects on marine invertebrates; however, the molecular mechanism underlying PAH action remains unclear. We investigated the effect of PAHs on the ascidian Ciona intestinalis type A (Ciona robusta). First, the influence of PAHs on early Ciona development was evaluated. PAHs such as dibenzothiophene, fluorene, and phenanthrene resulted in formation of abnormal larvae. PAH treatment of swimming larva induced malformation in the form of tail regression. Additionally, we observed the Ciona aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ci-AhR) mRNA expression in swimming larva, mid body axis rotation, and early juvenile stages. The time correlation between PAH action and AhR mRNA expression suggested that Ci-AhR could be associated with PAH metabolism. Lastly, we analyzed Ci-AhR mRNA localization in Ciona juveniles. Ci-AhR mRNA was localized in the digestive tract, dorsal tubercle, ganglion, and papillae of the branchial sac, suggesting that Ci-AhR is a candidate for an environmental pollutant sensor and performs a neural function. Our results provide basic knowledge on the biological function of Ci-AhR and PAH activity in marine invertebrates.
Problem Gambling in the Fitness World—A General Population Web Survey
Authors: Håkansson Anders , Entezarjou Artin , Kenttä Göran , Fernández-Aranda Fernando , Jiménez-Murcia Susana , Gunnarsson Björn
Published: February 2020

The world of sports has a complex association to problem gambling, and the sparse research examining problem gambling in athletes has suggested an increased prevalence and particularly high male predominance. The present study aimed to study frequency and correlates of problem gambling in populations with moderate to high involvement in fitness or physical exercise. This is a self-selective online survey focusing on addictive behaviors in physical exercise distributed by ‘fitness influencers’ on social media and other online fitness forums to their followers. Respondents were included if they reported exercise at least thrice weekly, were above 15 years of age, and provided informed consent (N = 3088). Problem gambling, measured with the Lie/Bet, was studied in association with demographic data, substance use, and mental health variables. The occurrence of lifetime problem gambling was 8 percent (12 percent in men, one percent in women). In logistic regression, problem gambling was associated with male gender, younger age, risky alcohol drinking, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and less frequent exercise habits. In conclusion, in this self-recruited population with moderate to high fitness involvement, problem gambling was moderately elevated. As shown previously in elite athletes, the male predominance was larger than in the general population. The findings strengthen the link between problem gambling and the world of sports.
The Association between the Australian Alcopops Tax and National Chlamydia Rates among Young People—an Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Authors: Gilmore William , Chikritzhs Tanya , McManus Hamish , Kaldor John , Guy Rebecca
Published: February 2020

A national tax increase, which became known as the “alcopops tax”, was introduced in Australia on the 27th April 2008 on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, which are consumed predominantly by young people. The affordability of alcohol has been identified as the strongest environmental driver of alcohol consumption, and alcohol consumption is a well-known risk factor in the spread of sexually transmitted infections via its association with sexual risk-taking. We conducted a study to investigate whether there was any association between the introduction of the tax and changes in national chlamydia rates: (i) notification rates (diagnoses per 100,000 population; primary outcome and standard approach in alcohol taxation studies), and (ii) test positivity rates (diagnoses per 100 tests; secondary outcome) among 15–24 and 25–34-year-olds, using interrupted time series analysis. Gender- and age-specific chlamydia trends among those 35 and older were applied as internal control series and gender- and age-specific consumer price index-adjusted per capita income trends were controlled for as independent variables. We hypothesised that the expected negative association between the tax and chlamydia notification rates might be masked due to increasing chlamydia test counts over the observation period (2000 to 2016). We hypothesised that the association between the tax and chlamydia test positivity rates would occur as an immediate level decrease, as a result of a decrease in alcohol consumption, which, in turn, would lead to a decrease in risky sexual behaviour and, hence, chlamydia transmission. None of the gender and age-specific population-based rates indicated a significant immediate or lagged association with the tax. However, we found an immediate decrease in test positivity rates for 25–34-year-old males (27% reduction—equivalent to 11,891 cases prevented post-tax) that remained detectable up to a lag of six months and a decrease at a lag of six months for 15–24-year-old males (31% reduction—equivalent to 16,615 cases prevented) following the tax. For no other gender or age combination did the change in test positivity rates reach significance. This study adds to the evidence base supporting the use of alcohol taxation to reduce health-related harms experienced by young people and offers a novel method for calculating sexually transmitted infection rates for policy evaluation.