bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concepts of Hyperloop Wireless Communication at 1200 km/h: 5G, Wi-Fi, Propagation, Doppler and Handover
Authors: Tavsanoglu Ali , Briso César , Carmena-Cabanillas Diego , Arancibia Rafael B.
Published: February 2021

The new generation of capsules that circulate through vacuum tubes at speeds up to 1200 km/h, which is being developed, demands communication systems that can operate at these speeds with high capacity and quality of service. Currently, the two technologies available are the new generation of 802.11ax networks and 5G NR. Using these technologies at such high speeds in a confined environment requires a careful study and design of the configuration of the network and optimization of the physical interface. This paper describes the requirements for critical and business communications, proposing a WLAN and 5G network design based on the analysis of the propagation characteristics and constraints of vacuum tubes and using propagation measurements and simulations made in similar environments at frequencies of 2.5/5.7/24 GHz. These measurements and simulations show that propagation losses in this environment are low (4–5 dB/100 m), as a consequence of the guided propagation, so that the use of bands is preferred. Finally, considering the propagation constraints and requirements of a Hyperloop system, a complete wireless communication system is proposed using two networks with 802.11 and 5G technology.
Dimensioning Methodology of an Energy Storage System Based on Supercapacitors for Grid Code Compliance of a Wave Power Plant
Authors: Navarro Gustavo , Blanco Marcos , Torres Jorge , Nájera Jorge , Santiago Álvaro , Santos-Herran Miguel , Ramírez Dionisio , Lafoz Marcos
Published: February 2021

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for dimensioning an energy storage system (ESS) to the generation data measured in an operating wave energy generation plant connected to the electric grid in the north of Spain. The selection criterion for the ESS is the compliance of the power injected into the grid with a specific active-power ramp-rate limit. Due to its electrical characteristics, supercapacitor (SC) technology is especially suitable for this application. The ESS dimensioning methodology is based on a mathematical model, which takes into account the power generation system, the chosen ramp-rate limit, the ESS efficiency maps and electrical characteristics. It allows one to evaluate the number of storage cabinets required to satisfy the needs described, considering a compromise between the number of units, which means cost, and the reliability of the storage system to ensure the grid codes compliance. Power and energy parameters for the ESS are obtained from the calculations and some tips regarding the most efficient operation of the SC cabinets, based on a stepped switching strategy, are also given. Finally, some conclusions about the technology selection will be updated after the detailed analysis accomplished.
Assessing the Influence of Different Goals in Energy Communities’ Self-Sufficiency—An Optimized Multiagent Approach
Authors: Reis Inês F. G. , Gonçalves Ivo , Lopes Marta A. R. , Antunes Carlos Henggeler
Published: February 2021

Understanding to what extent the emergence of prosumers and prosumagers organized in energy communities can impact the organization and operation of power grids has been one of the major recent research avenues at the European level. In renewable-based communities aiming to reach some level of energy self-sufficiency, a key issue to be addressed is assessing how the presence of end-users playing different roles in the system (self-consuming, producing and trading, performing demand management, etc.) can influence the overall system performance. In this setting, this paper combines Distributed Artificial Intelligence and optimization approaches to assess how prosumagers and consumers pursuing different goals can influence the energy self-sufficiency of a local energy community. The residential demand is accurately modeled, and the agents’ preferences are considered in the modeling to represent a smart community. The results show that although energy community members may have conflicting individual goals, the overall system self-sufficiency can be maximized with economic benefits for all stakeholders, thus illustrating the advantages of energy communities.
Design and Position Control of Overhang-Type Rail Mover Using Dual BLAC Motor
Authors: Cho Kiwan , Lee Dong-Hee
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the design and position control scheme of an overhang-type rail mover system driven by a dual Brushless AC (BLAC) motor with a simple Hall position sensor inside each motor. The overhang-type roller is chosen to reduce the slip between the roller and rail surface due to gravity. The BLAC motors are used to provide smooth translation along the rail and effective turning. Imbalances on any part of the motor and the simplicity of the Hall position sensor can create additional disturbance load, unsteady movement, and position errors. To reduce the sudden moving position error between the two motors, a balancing compensator with a Proportional-Differential (PD) position controller, which is based on the instantaneous speed and position trajectories, is presented. Furthermore, speed and position reference models are designed to compensate for the low Hall sensor resolution in the low-speed range. Therefore, steady-state position errors can then be regulated simply by using the instantaneous speed and position information. Experiments were performed to verify the viability of the proposed system and control. The results show a significant improvement in roller translation along the rail and stopping position accuracy.
Robust Digital Control Strategy Based on Fuzzy Logic for a Solar Charger of VRLA Batteries
Authors: Seguel Julio López , Seleme Seleme I.
Published: February 2021

This paper presents the design and implementation of a digital control strategy for a Buck converter, used as a solar charger of valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries. The control system consists of two fuzzy logic controllers (FLCs), which adjust the appropriate increment of the converter duty cycle based on battery state of charge according to a three-stage charging scheme. One FLC works as a maximum power point tracker (FLC-MPPT), while the other regulates the battery voltage (FLC-VR). This approach of using two different set of membership functions overcomes the limitations of the battery chargers with a single control function, where the voltage supplied to the battery is either not constant due to the operation of the MPPT algorithm (possibly damaging the battery) or is constant due to the operation of the voltage control (hence, MPP cannot be achieved). In this way, the proposed control approach has the advantage of extracting the maximum energy of the PV panel, preventing battery damage caused by variable MPPT voltage, thereby extending the battery’s lifetime. Moreover, it allows overcoming of the drawbacks of the conventional solar chargers, which become slow or inaccurate during abrupt changes in weather conditions. The strategy is developed to be implemented in a low-cost AT91SAM3X8E Arduino Due microcontroller. Simulations by MATLAB/Simulink and experimental results from hardware implementation are provided and discussed, which validate the reliability and robustness of the control strategy.
Energy Consumption in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Households in the Platform Economics
Authors: Poniatowska-Jaksch Małgorzata
Published: February 2021

The ongoing digitization of the economy has led to the creation and functioning of platform model socio-economic systems. It is also reflected in the changes in patterns of energy consumption in households. In the first cross-section, it is an industrial revolution, with environmental benefits. However, platforms are primarily a revolution in the consumption sphere, and here, the effects of digitization are not fully recognized. Our social needs are increasingly met “through accessibility” without us leaving our home. Due to the home’s multifunctionality, based on the availability of platform services, household energy consumption should be viewed differently today than before. The article aims to show the changes in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) household energy consumption between 2008–2018 and their assessment through the prism of the economy’s platformization methods. The study presents the changes in energy consumption in households and determines the correlations between platformization (the author’s index) and changes in energy consumption in households with the use of taxonomic methods. The platformization leaders—Estonia and Lithuania—were subjected to a more detailed analysis. The presented method(s) may be useful in predicting the changes in households’ energy consumption caused by the digitization of other countries in the region (countries under transformation and outsiders-Bulgaria, Romania), in implementing household energy management systems, and in a better adjustment of regulations directed at these consumers.
Heat Transfer in Highly Turbulent Separated Flows: A Review
Authors: Terekhov Viktor I.
Published: February 2021

The study of flows with a high degree of turbulence in boundary layers, near-wall jets, gas curtains, separated flows behind various obstacles, as well as during combustion is of great importance for increasing energy efficiency of the flow around various elements in the ducts of gas-dynamic installations. This paper gives some general characteristics of experimental work on the study of friction and heat transfer on a smooth surface, in near-wall jets, and gas curtains under conditions of increased free-stream turbulence. Taking into account the significant effect of high external turbulence on dynamics and heat transfer of separated flows, a similar effect on the flow behind various obstacles is analyzed. First of all, the classical cases of flow separation behind a single backward-facing step and a rib are considered. Then, more complex cases of the flow around a rib oriented at different angles to the flow are analyzed, as well as a system of ribs and a transverse trench with straight and inclined walls in a turbulent flow around them. The features of separated flow in a turbulized stream around a cylinder, leading to an increase in the width of the vortex wake, frequency of vortex separation, and increase in the average heat transfer coefficient are analyzed. The experimental results of the author are compared with data of other researchers. The structure of separated flow at high turbulence—characteristic dimensions of the separation region, parameters of the mixing layer, and pressure distribution—are compared with the conditions of low-turbulent flow. Much attention is paid to thermal characteristics: temperature profiles across the shear layer, temperature distributions over the surface, and local and average heat transfer coefficients. It is shown that external turbulence has a much stronger effect on the separated flow than on the boundary layer on a flat surface. For separated flows, its intensifying effect on heat transfer is more pronounced behind a rib than behind a step. The factor of heat transfer intensification by external turbulence is most pronounced in the transverse cavity and in the system of ribs.
Edible Energy Production and Energy Return on Investment—Long-Term Analysis of Global Changes
Authors: Bajan Bartłomiej , Łukasiewicz Joanna , Poczta-Wajda Agnieszka , Poczta Walenty
Published: February 2021

The projected increase in the world’s population requires an increase in the production of edible energy that would meet the associated increased demand for food. However, food production is strongly dependent on the use of energy, mainly from fossil fuels, the extraction of which requires increasing input due to the depletion of the most easily accessible deposits. According to numerous estimations, the world’s energy production will be dependent on fossil fuels at least to 2050. Therefore, it is vital to increase the energy efficiency of production, including food production. One method to measure energy efficiency is the energy return on investment (EROI), which is the ratio of the amount of energy produced to the amount of energy consumed in the production process. The literature lacks comparable EROI calculations concerning global food production and the existing studies only include crop production. The aim of this study was to calculate the EROI of edible crop and animal production in the long term worldwide and to indicate the relationships resulting from its changes. The research takes into account edible crop and animal production in agriculture and the direct consumption of fossil fuels and electricity. The analysis showed that although the most underdeveloped regions have the highest EROI, the production of edible energy there is usually insufficient to meet the food needs of the population. On the other hand, the lowest EROI was observed in highly developed regions, where production ensures food self-sufficiency. However, the changes that have taken place in Europe since the 1990s indicate an opportunity to simultaneously reduce the direct use of energy in agriculture and increase the production of edible energy, thus improving the EROI.
A Forest Fire Detection System Based on Ensemble Learning
Authors: Xu Renjie , Lin Haifeng , Lu Kangjie , Cao Lin , Liu Yunfei
Published: February 2021

Due to the various shapes, textures, and colors of fires, forest fire detection is a challenging task. The traditional image processing method relies heavily on manmade features, which is not universally applicable to all forest scenarios. In order to solve this problem, the deep learning technology is applied to learn and extract features of forest fires adaptively. However, the limited learning and perception ability of individual learners is not sufficient to make them perform well in complex tasks. Furthermore, learners tend to focus too much on local information, namely ground truth, but ignore global information, which may lead to false positives. In this paper, a novel ensemble learning method is proposed to detect forest fires in different scenarios. Firstly, two individual learners Yolov5 and EfficientDet are integrated to accomplish fire detection process. Secondly, another individual learner EfficientNet is responsible for learning global information to avoid false positives. Finally, detection results are made based on the decisions of three learners. Experiments on our dataset show that the proposed method improves detection performance by 2.5% to 10.9%, and decreases false positives by 51.3%, without any extra latency.
Reduced Organic Carbon Content during the Evolvement of Calcareous Soils in Karst Region
Authors: Yang Hui , Xie Yincai , Zhu Tongbin , Zhou Mengxia
Published: February 2021

Understanding the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is important for accurately predicting ecosystem C sequestration and/or potential C losses, but the relevant information, especially for the evolvement of calcareous soil is limited in karst regions. Three calcareous soils with different evolvement intensities were sampled from an evergreen broadleaved forest in the subtropical region of southwest of China to investigate the changes in different SOC fractions and microbial communities. The results showed that: (1) The contents of SOC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), mineral protected organic carbon (MOC), and recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC) significantly decreased with increasing evolvement intensity of calcareous soil, but pH and the chemical composition of SOC, including Alkyl C, O-alkyl C, Aromatic C, and Carbonyl C, did not significantly change, suggesting that various SOC fractions synergistically decrease with the evolvement of calcareous soil. (2) The evolvement of calcareous soil had a substantial negative effect on total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), bacteria (i.e., Gram positive bacteria and Gram negative bacteria), fungi, and actinomycetes, but did not affect the ratio of fungi to bacteria. This result supported the conclusion that various SOC fractions were synchronously loss with the evolvement of calcareous soil. (3) Results from the multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between SOC fractions (including SOC, DOC, MOC, and ROC) and soil base cations, mainly calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al). This strengthens the fact that SOC stability largely depends on the complex relationship between organic matter and mineral composition in soil. Taken together, the reduction of SOC during the evolvement of soil in the karst areas accords with some mechanisms of previous studies (e.g., microbial composition and soil geochemistry), and also has its own unique characteristics (e.g., the relative contribution of carbons to chemical shift regions of CPMAS 13C-NMR spectra and F:B ratio).
β-Glucosidase Activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum UNQLp 11 in Different Malolactic Fermentations Conditions: Effect of pH and Ethanol Content
Authors: Brizuela Natalia S. , Arnez-Arancibia Marina , Semorile Liliana , Pozo-Bayón María Ángeles , Bravo-Ferrada Bárbara M. , Tymczyszyn E. Elizabeth
Published: February 2021

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain UNQLp 11 is a lactic acid bacterium with the potential to carry out malolactic fermentation (MLF) in red wines. Recently, the complete genome of UNQLp 11 was sequenced and this strain possesses four loci of the enzyme β-glucosidase. In order to demonstrate that these glucosidase enzymes could be functional under harsh wine conditions, we evaluated the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (p-NPG) in synthetic wine with different ethanol contents (0%, 12%, and 14% v/v) and at different pH values (3.2, 3.5, and 3.8). Then, the hydrolysis of precursor n-octyl β-D-glucopyranoside was analyzed in sterile Pinot Noir wine (containing 14.5% v/v of ethanol, at different pH values) by headspace sorptive extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HSSE-GC/MS). The hydrolysis of p-NPG showed that β-glucosidase activity is very susceptible to low pH but induced in the presence of high ethanol content. Furthermore, UNQLp 11 was able to release the glycosilated precursor n-octyl, during MLF to a greater extent than a commercial enzyme. In conclusion, UNQLp 11 could improve the aromatic profile of the wine by the release of volatile precursors during MLF.
Doing Work on the Land of Our Ancestors: Reserved Treaty Rights Lands Collaborations in the American Southwest
Authors: Russell Gregory , Champ Joseph G. , Flores David , Martinez Michael , Hatch Alan M. , Morgan Esther , Clarke Paul
Published: February 2021

The intent of this article is to raise awareness about an underutilized funding mechanism that possesses the capacity to help tribal and federal land management agencies meet their goal of restoring fire-adapted ecosystems to historic conditions in the American Southwest. We attempt to achieve this through an exploration of the Reserved Treaty Rights Lands (RTRL) program and how it has been used to implement collaborative fuel management projects on National Forest lands. RTRL is a funding program administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) that is designed to protect natural and cultural resources important to tribes on non-tribal lands that are at high risk from wildfire. Over the last year, our research team has studied the RTRL program in the Southwest by conducting in-depth, face-to-face interviews with tribal land managers as well as U.S. Forest Service tribal liaisons and other personnel who work with tribes. Our interviews revealed enthusiasm and support for RTRL but also concern about the fairness of the program as well as insufficient outreach efforts by the U.S. Forest Service. In response, we propose a policy alteration that (we contend) would incentivize the BIA to increase funding allocations to the RTRL program without losing the support of partnering agencies. The aim is to strengthen and expand shared stewardship efforts between tribes and federal land management agencies. We situate these implications against the backdrop of the Pacheco Canyon Prescribed Burn, an RTRL funded project that was instrumental in containing the Medio Fire that broke out in the Santa Fe National Forest in the summer of 2020.
Establishment of an Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Method for the Detection of Heavy Metal Cadmium in Food Packaging Materials
Authors: Fu Xianshu , Chen Erjing , Ma Biao , Xu Ying , Hao Peiying , Zhang Mingzhou , Ye Zihong , Yu Xiaoping , Li Chaofeng , Ji Qingge
Published: February 2021

Heavy metals in food packaging materials have been indicated to release into the environment at slow rates. Heavy metal contamination, especially that of cadmium (Cd), is widely acknowledged as a global environment threat that leads to continuous growing pollution levels in the environment. Traditionally, the detection of the concentration of Cd relies on expensive precision instruments, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). In this study, an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) based on a specific monoclonal antibody was proposed to rapidly detect Cd. The half-inhibitory concentration and detection sensitivity of the anti-cadmium monoclonal antibody of the ic-ELISA were 5.53 ng mL−1 and 0.35 ng mL−1, respectively. The anti-Cd monoclonal antibody possessed high specificity while diagnosising other heavy metal ions, including Al (III), Ca (II), Cu (II), Fe (III), Hg (II), Mg (II), Mn (II), Pb (II), Zn (II), Cr (III) and Ni (II). The average recovery rates of Cd ranged from 89.03–95.81% in the spiked samples of packing materials, with intra- and inter-board variation coefficients of 7.20% and 6.74%, respectively. The ic-ELISA for Cd detection was applied on 72 food packaging samples that consisted of three material categories—ceramic, glass and paper. Comparison of the detection results with ICP-AES verified the accuracy of the ic-ELISA. The correlation coefficient between the ic-ELISA and the ICP-AES methods was 0.9634, demonstrating that the proposed ic-ELISA approach could be a useful and effective tool for the rapid detection of Cd in food packaging materials.
The Occurrence of Skeletons of Silicoflagellata and Other Siliceous Bioparticles in Floral Honeys
Authors: Magyar Donát , Dumitrica Paulian , Mura-Mészáros Anna , Medzihradszky Zsófia , Leelőssy Ádám , Saint Martin Simona
Published: February 2021

Siliceous marine microfossils were unexpectedly discovered during the analysis of flower honey samples from Poland and Tunisia. The microfossils were represented by protist with siliceous skeletons: silicoflagellates, diatoms, and endoskeletal dinoflagellates. This is the first record of such microfossils in honeys. Based on the high percent of anemophilous pollen grains and spores in the sample, it was hypothesized that silicoflagellates were deposited from the air onto the nectariferous flowers, then bees harvested them with the nectar. Based on the comparison of pollen content of honeys and flowering calendar of Tunisia, the harvest time of honey was identified as a period between 1 April and 31 May 2011. Trajectory analysis of air masses in this period confirmed that siliceous microfossils could be aerosolized by wind from the rocks of the so-called Tripoli Formation of Messinian age (6–7 Ma). Similar to the Tunisian case, the Polish trajectory simulation also supports the hypothesis of atmospheric transport of silicoflagellates from outcrops of Oligocene age in the Polish Outer Carpathians. In the case of diatom content of honey, however, the source can be both natural (wind) and artificial (diatomaceous earth filters). For a correct determination, natural sources of siliceous bioparticles, such as wind transport from nearby outcrops should be also considered. Silicoflagellates could be used as complementary indicators of the geographical origin of honeys collected in areas characterized by diatomite outcrops, supporting the results obtained with other methods; thus, such indicators merit further studies within the area of honey authenticity.
Effects of Gene-Environment Interaction on Obesity among Chinese Adults Born in the Early 1960s
Authors: Gong Weiyan , Li Hui , Song Chao , Yuan Fan , Ma Yanning , Chen Zheng , Wang Rui , Fang Hongyun , Liu Ailing
Published: February 2021

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing sharply and has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Gene–environment interaction in obesity is a relatively new field, and little is known about it in Chinese adults. This study aimed to provide the effects of gene–environment interaction on obesity among Chinese adults. A stratified multistage cluster sampling method was conducted to recruit participants from 150 surveillance sites. Subjects born in 1960, 1961 and 1963 were selected. An exploratory factor analysis was used to classify the environmental factors. The interaction of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and environmental factors on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were analyzed using a general linear model. A multiple logistic regression model combined with an additive model was performed to analyze the interaction between SNPs and environmental factors in obesity and central obesity. A total of 2216 subjects were included in the study (mean age, 49.7 years; male, 39.7%, female, 60.3%). Engaging in physical activity (PA) could reduce the effect of MC4R rs12970134 on BMI (β = −0.16kg/m2, p = 0.030), and also reduce the effect of TRHR rs7832552 and BCL2 rs12454712 on waist circumference (WC). Sedentary behaviors increased the effects of SNPs on BMI and WC, and simultaneously increased the effects of FTO rs9939609 and FTO rs8050136 on obesity and central obesity. A higher socioeconomic status aggravated the influence of SNPs (including FTO rs9939609, BNDF rs11030104, etc.) on BMI and WC, and aggravated the influence of SEC16B rs574367 on central obesity. The MC4R rs12970134 association with BMI and the FTO rs8050136 association with central obesity appeared to be more pronounced with higher energy intake (β = 0.140 kg/m2, p = 0.049; OR = 1.77, p = 0.004, respectively). Engaging in PA could reduce the effects of SNPs on BMI and WC; nevertheless, a higher socioeconomic status, higher dietary energy intake and sedentary behaviors accentuated the influences of SNPs on BMI, WC, obesity and central obesity. Preventative measures for obesity should consider addressing the gene–environment interaction.
Thoracic Fraction (PM10) of Resuspended Urban Dust: Geochemistry, Particle Size Distribution and Lung Bioaccessibility
Authors: Levesque Christine , Wiseman Clare L. S. , Beauchemin Suzanne , Rasmussen Pat E.
Published: February 2021

A fluidized bed aerosol generator was connected to a 13-stage cascade impactor (nanoMOUDI) for the size fractionation of urban dust (<10 µm), followed by the gravimetric analysis of loaded PTFE filter samples. This method was used to characterize the PM10 (thoracic) fraction of road dust sampled from expressways, arterial roads and local roads in Toronto, Canada. The fine particle fractions (<1.8 µm) of all the studied samples accounted for 51–72% of the resuspended PM10 (by weight). Elemental analysis using ICP-MS and ICP-OES revealed an overall trend of element enrichment in the <1.8 µm fraction compared to the coarse fraction (1.8–10 µm) of the road dust. By contrast, archived house dust samples displayed the reverse trend for most elements. The lung bioaccessibility of target elements (Al, B, Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, La, Mn, Mo, Sb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn) was assessed for each road dust fraction using 0.1 M ammonium citrate (pH 4.4) to simulate intracellular fluid and Gamble solution (pH 7.2) to simulate interstitial lung fluid. The <1.8 µm fraction of local road dust displayed significantly higher bioaccessibility (p < 0.05) for Zn when using Gamble solution, and for seven out of the 14 target elements when using ammonium citrate. These results show the importance of characterizing the fine fraction of road dust.
Flume Experiments on Flow Analysis and Energy Reduction through a Compound Tsunami Mitigation System with a Seaward Embankment and Landward Vegetation over a Mound
Authors: Rahman Md Abedur , Tanaka Norio , Rashedunnabi A. H. M.
Published: February 2021

As a countermeasure against tsunami inundation, the present study conducted a series of laboratory experiments using a compound mitigation system in which a seaward embankment (E) followed by landward coastal vegetation (V) over a mound (M) (EMV) was investigated in supercritical flow conditions. The changes of flow around the mitigation system and energy reduction were clarified under varying conditions of mound height and vegetation density. Cases of an embankment followed by only a mound (EMNV) were also considered for comparison. Experimental results showed that three basic types of flow structures were observed within the mitigation system in EMV cases. A water cushion was created within the mitigation system mainly due to the combined effects of the mound and vegetation. It significantly reduced the maximum total energy in EMV cases by approximately 41–66%, whereas in EMNV cases, the maximum energy reduction was found to be 23–65%. Increments in both mound height and vegetation density increased the intensity of the water cushion within the mitigation system by offering more drag and reflecting the flow, and hence, significantly reduced the energy of the flow.
The Political Legitimacy of the Healthcare System in Portugal: Insights from the European Social Survey
Authors: Asensio Maria
Published: February 2021

This article investigates the political legitimacy of the health care system and the effects of austerity on the population’s welfare, paying particular attention to Portugal, a country severely harmed by the economic crisis. Based on analysis of data collected from the European Social Survey on 14,988 individuals living in private households during the years between 2002 and 2018, the findings of this study aim to analyze the social and political perception of citizens on the state of health services in two distinctive periods—before and after the economic crisis, according to self-interest, ideological preferences, and institutional setup as predictors of the satisfaction with the health system. The results demonstrate a negative attitude towards the health system over the years, a consistent drop during the financial crisis period, and a rapid recovery afterward. The research also shows that healthcare evaluations depend on the perceived institutional effectiveness in the citizenry’s eyes. The more the citizens perceive the government as effective and trust-worthy, the more they are satisfied with the health system. Also, differences in healthcare evaluations among social groups were felt unequally: while vulnerable citizens were more affected by the Government’s plan of austerity measures for health reform, healthcare evaluations of better-off social groups—younger individuals, those with higher incomes, higher education, and better health status—did not decline. This study contributes to the academic debate on the effects of austerity on the population’s welfare attitudes and highlights the need to examine the different impacts of reforms introduced by the crisis on social groups.
Communication on Safe Caregiving between Community Nurse Case Managers and Family Caregivers
Authors: Macías-Colorado María Eulalia , Rodríguez-Pérez Margarita , Rojas-Ocaña María Jesús , Teresa-Morales Cristina
Published: February 2021

Dependent elderly individuals are usually cared for at home by untrained family members who are unaware of the risks involved. In this setting, communication on safe caregiving is key. The aim of this study is to describe the factors influencing the process followed by community nurse case managers to provide communication on safe caregiving to family members caring for dependent elderly individuals. A phenomenological study, by focus group, was done in urban healthcare facilities. Key informants were seven community nurses, case managers with more than 12 years’ experience. We did a thematic analysis and we identified the units of meaning to which the most relevant discourses were assigned. The concepts expressed were grouped until subcategories were formed, which were then condensed into categories. Four categories of analysis emerged: communication-related aspects; professional skills of nurse case managers; communication on safety and the caregiving role. To planner interventions, for the prevention of adverse events at home, is essential to consider these aspects: nurses’ professional communication skills, factors inherent to safe caregiving, the characteristics of the home where care is provided, the personal and family circumstances of the caregiver, and whether or not the caregiver’s role has been assumed by the family caregivers.
Total Health Expenditure and Its Driving Factors in China: A Gray Theory Analysis
Authors: Jia Huanhuan , Jiang Hairui , Yu Jianxing , Zhang Jingru , Cao Peng , Yu Xihe
Published: February 2021

The continuous growth in total health expenditure (THE) has become a social issue of common concern in most countries. In China, the total health expenditure (THE) is maintaining a rapid growth trend that is higher than that of the economy, which has become increasingly obvious in the 21st century and has brought a heavy burden to the government and residents. To analyze the main driving factors of THE in China in the 21st century and establish a predictive model, gray system theory was employed to explore the correlation degree between THE and nine hot topics in the areas of the economy, population, health service utilization, and policy using national data from 2000 to 2018. Additionally, a New Structure of the Multivariate Gray Prediction Model of THE was established and compared with the traditional grey model and widely used BP neural network to evaluate the prediction effectiveness of the model. We concluded that the Chinese government and society have played a crucial role in reducing residents’ medical burden. Besides this, the improved economy and aging population have increased the demand for health services, leading to the continual increase in THE. Lastly, the improved NSGM(1,N) model achieved good prediction accuracy and has unique advantages in simulating and predicting THE, which can provide a basis for policy formulation.
Evaluating the Drought Endurance of Landscaping Ground Cover Plants in a Roof Top Model
Authors: Pichakum Nath , Pichakum Aussanee
Published: February 2021

Vegetative ground covers are commonly used in urban, tropical roadside gardens. Such landscaping ground covers usually encounter extreme water-deficits and high temperatures from vehicles and urban infrastructures. However, information about the plant species that are appropriate for low maintenance gardens is not available, especially in tropical areas. This study aimed to investigate potential indicators for evaluating plant tolerance to water-deficit situations. A non-irrigated rooftop model was used to test 25 commercial ground cover species in a greenhouse at Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. Each of these 25 species was potted and subjected to one of two conditions: with or without irrigation for 7 days. Physiological responses relevant to plant endurance during water-deficits were monitored, including changes in leaf relative water content (RWC), percent stomatal opening, leaf surface temperature, leaf total chlorophyll content, leaf greenness, maximum quantum yield, and light quantum yield. Moreover, an additional indicator of landscape utility was evaluated, where each species was judged by trained panelists for their esthetic appeal. Diverse responses were observed based on the type of physiological parameter measured, plant species, and duration of drought conditions. Water withdrawal for three days was deemed an appropriate time to determine plant tolerance to water-deficit conditions, as signs of stress were clearly observed in three parameters, i.e., changes in leaf RWC, percent stomatal opening, and esthetic score. Lastly, cluster analysis revealed that seven plant species were appropriate for tropical, urban ground covers, as they had high endurance under water-deficit conditions, namely, Allium schoenoprasum,Liriope muscari, Aloe sp., Sedum x rubrotinctum, Alternanthera ficoidea, Pilea libanensis and Plectranthus scutellarioides.
Sustainable Production of Reclaimed Water by Constructed Wetlands for Combined Irrigation and Microalgae Cultivation Applications
Authors: Pinho Henrique J. O. , Mateus Dina M. R.
Published: February 2021

Considering the increasing pressure on freshwater resources due to the constant increase in water consumption and insufficient wastewater control and treatment, recovering wastewater is a path to overcoming water scarcity. The present work describes the potential of reusing treated wastewater (reclaimed water) for irrigation and production of microalgae biomass in an integrated way, through experimental evaluation of plant and microalgae growth, and creation of an application model. First, two parallel experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of reclaimed water produced by a constructed wetland filled with a mix of solid waste: the irrigation of a set of small pots filled with soil and planted with Tagetes patula L., and the cultivation of microalgae Chlorella sp. and a mixed microalgae population with predominant species of the genus Scenedesmus sp. in shaken flasks and tubular bubble column photobioreactors. Results indicated no negative effects of using the reclaimed water on the irrigated plants and in the cultivated microalgae. The growth indicators of plants irrigated with reclaimed water were not significantly different from plants irrigated with fertilized water. The growth indicators of the microalgae cultivated with reclaimed water are within the range of published data. Second, to apply the results to a case study, the seasonal variability of irrigation needs in an academic campus was used to propose a conceptual model for wastewater recovery. The simulation results of the model point to a positive combination of using reclaimed water for the irrigation of green spaces and microalgae production, supported by a water storage strategy. Water abstraction for irrigation purposes can be reduced by 89%, and 2074 kg dry weight microalgae biomass can be produced annually. Besides the need for future work to optimize the model and to add economical evaluation criteria, the model shows the potential to be applied to non-academic communities in the perspective of smarter and greener cities.
A Critical Review of Water Resources and Their Management in Bhutan
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Wangchuk Kelden , Muttil Nitin
Published: February 2021

Bhutan is a small yet water-abundant country. The country suffers from frequent flooding and is lately experiencing a growing risk of localized droughts due to inappropriate water resource management and climate change. Such a situation calls for much more efficient use and management of water in Bhutan. This paper undertakes an extensive analysis of the country’s water resources for better planning and management of the available water resources. Bhutan can be divided into three zones, the Southern Foothills, the Central Inner Himalayas, and the Higher Himalayas. The top four leading industries of Bhutan are related to water, either directly or indirectly. The country at present is at a very early stage of development. The government has prioritized water resources management over recent years. Water for hydropower in Bhutan has been in focus as compared to that allocated for irrigation, industries, and environmental demand. The demand for water in Bhutan has also increased in the last decade due to population increase, changes in lifestyle, and economic advancements through tourism and hydropower projects. Climate variation, deteriorating water quality, frequent floods, and increasing urbanization threaten the sustainability of water resources. Water accessibility issues for settlements due to the country’s harsh geographical landscape is leading towards localized water scarcity. Serious attention to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge is required to address localized water scarcity issues.
Academic Achievement in Spanish Secondary School Students: The Inter-Related Role of Executive Functions, Physical Activity and Gender
Authors: Escolano-Pérez Elena , Bestué Marta
Published: February 2021

There is a growing interest in determining which variables contribute to students’ academic performance, since this performance is associated with their wellbeing and with the progress of the nation. This study analyzed whether different variables (executive functions and physical activity levels, gender and academic year) of 177 Spanish Compulsory Secondary School students contributed to their academic performance. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2 (BRIEF-2), Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and an ad hoc questionnaire were used to determine the students’ executive functioning, physical activity level, gender and academic year, respectively. Students’ grades were considered to be indicators of their academic achievement. Seven multiple linear regression models were constructed using the R computing language to examine the association between academic achievement (considered in each of the 5 subjects: Language, Mathematics, Geography and History, English and Physical Education; the mean of the instrumental subjects—Language and Mathematics—and the mean of all the subjects) and the independent variables. The results indicated that executive functions, physical activity and gender contributed to academic performance, but academic year did not. This suggests that students with good executive functions, who perform physical activity and are female, would have better academic achievement. This information should be considered when designing interventions to improve student academic achievement.
Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers Affect the Active Commuting to University in Chilean Students
Authors: Castillo-Paredes Antonio , Inostroza Jiménez Natalia , Parra-Saldías Maribel , Palma-Leal Ximena , Felipe José Luis , Págola Aldazabal Itziar , Díaz-Martínez Ximena , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Fernando
Published: February 2021

Biking and walking are active commuting, which is considered an opportunity to create healthy habits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the main environmental and psychosocial barriers perceived by students, leading to less Active Commuting (AC) to university and to not reaching the Physical Activity (PA) recommendations. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1349 university students (637 men and 712 women) were selected. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to assess the mode of commuting, PA level and barriers to the use of the AC. Results: Women presented higher barriers associated with passive commuting than men. The main barriers for women were “involves too much planning” (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 3.14–8.78), “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 3.05–6.99) and “It takes too much physical effort “ (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.05–4.94). In men, the main barriers were “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.97–5.99), “involves too much planning” (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67–3.70) and “too much traffic along the route” (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.47–2.93). Psychosocial barriers were found in both sexes. Conclusions: Psychosocial and personal barriers were more positively associated with passive commuting than environmental barriers. Interventions at the university are necessary to improve the perception of AC and encourage personal organization to travel more actively.
Go Virtual to Get Real: Virtual Reality as a Resource for Spinal Cord Treatment
Authors: Leemhuis Erik , Esposito Rita Maria , De Gennaro Luigi , Pazzaglia Mariella
Published: February 2021

Increasingly, refined virtual reality (VR) techniques allow for the simultaneous and coherent stimulation of multiple sensory and motor domains. In some clinical interventions, such as those related to spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the impact of VR on people′s multisensory perception, movements, attitudes, and even modulations of socio-cognitive aspects of their behavior may influence every phase of their rehabilitation treatment, from the acute to chronic stages. This work describes the potential advantages of using first-person-perspective VR to treat SCIs and its implications for manipulating sensory-motor feedback to alter body signals. By situating a patient with SCI in a virtual environment, sensorial perceptions and motor intention can be enriched into a more coherent bodily experience that also promotes processes of neural regeneration and plasticity. In addition to the great potential of research, the most significant areas of interest concern is managing neuropathic pain, motor rehabilitation, and psychological well-being.
Stress and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk for Indigenous Populations throughout the Lifespan
Authors: Lewis Melissa E. , Volpert-Esmond Hannah I. , Deen Jason F. , Modde Elizabeth , Warne Donald
Published: February 2021

Background: Indigenous people experience the greatest cardiometabolic disease disparity in the Unites States, yet high cardiometabolic disease risk factors do not fully explain the extent of the cardiometabolic disease disparity for Indigenous people. Stress, trauma, and racism occur at high rates within Indigenous communities and have not been well explored as significant contributors to cardiometabolic disease disparities despite emerging literature, and therefore will be described here. Methods: This descriptive study explores the relationship between cardiometabolic disease risks and Indigenous-specific stressors (e.g., early childhood stress and trauma, adulthood stress and trauma, and historical and intergenerational trauma) using current literature. Indigenous-specific protective factors against cardiometabolic disease are also reviewed. Results. Increasing research indicates that there is a relationship between Indigenous-specific stressful and traumatic life experiences and increased cardiometabolic disease risk. Mental health and psychophysiology play an important role in this relationship. Effective interventions to reduce cardiometabolic disease risk in Indigenous communities focus on ameliorating the negative effects of these stressors through the use of culturally specific health behaviors and activities. Conclusions: There is increasing evidence that cultural connection and enculturation are protective factors for cardiometabolic disease, and may be galvanized through Indigenous-led training, research, and policy change.