bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling the Effects of Anthropogenic Land Cover Changes to the Main Hydrometeorological Factors in a Regional Watershed, Central Greece
Authors: Mentzafou Angeliki , Varlas George , Dimitriou Elias , Papadopoulos Anastasios , Pytharoulis Ioannis , Katsafados Petros
Published: November 2019

In this study, the physically-based hydrological model MIKE SHE was employed to investigate the effects of anthropogenic land cover changes to the hydrological cycle components of a regional watershed in Central Greece. Three case studies based on the land cover of the years 1960, 1990, and 2018 were examined. Copernicus Climate Change Service E-OBS gridded meteorological data for 45 hydrological years were used as forcing for the model. Evaluation against observational data yielded sufficient quality for daily air temperature and precipitation. Simulation results demonstrated that the climatic variabilities primarily in precipitation and secondarily in air temperature affected basin-averaged annual actual evapotranspiration and average annual river discharge. Nevertheless, land cover effects can locally outflank the impact of climatic variability as indicated by the low interannual variabilities of differences in annual actual evapotranspiration among case studies. The transition from forest to pastures or agricultural land reduced annual actual evapotranspiration and increased average annual river discharge while intensifying the vulnerability to hydrometeorological-related hazards such as droughts or floods. Hence, the quantitative assessment of land cover effects presented in this study can contribute to the design and implementation of successful land cover and climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.
National Open Data Cubes and Their Contribution to Country-Level Development Policies and Practices
Authors: Dhu Trevor , Giuliani Gregory , Juárez Jimena , Kavvada Argyro , Killough Brian , Merodio Paloma , Minchin Stuart , Ramage Steven
Published: November 2019

The emerging global trend of satellite operators producing analysis-ready data combined with open source tools for managing and exploiting these data are leading to more and more countries using Earth observation data to drive progress against key national and international development agendas. This paper provides examples from Australia, Mexico, Switzerland, and Tanzania on how the Open Data Cube technology has been combined with analysis-ready data to provide new insights and support better policy making across issues as diverse as water resource management through to urbanization and environmental–economic accounting.
Embedding Learning with Triple Trustiness on Noisy Knowledge Graph
Authors: Zhao Yu , Feng Huali , Gallinari Patrick
Published: November 2019

Embedding learning on knowledge graphs (KGs) aims to encode all entities and relationships into a continuous vector space, which provides an effective and flexible method to implement downstream knowledge-driven artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) tasks. Since KG construction usually involves automatic mechanisms with less human supervision, it inevitably brings in plenty of noises to KGs. However, most conventional KG embedding approaches inappropriately assume that all facts in existing KGs are completely correct and ignore noise issues, which brings about potentially serious errors. To address this issue, in this paper we propose a novel approach to learn embeddings with triple trustiness on KGs, which takes possible noises into consideration. Specifically, we calculate the trustiness value of triples according to the rich and relatively reliable information from large amounts of entity type instances and entity descriptions in KGs. In addition, we present a cross-entropy based loss function for model optimization. In experiments, we evaluate our models on KG noise detection, KG completion and classification. Through extensive experiments on three datasets, we demonstrate that our proposed model can learn better embeddings than all baselines on noisy KGs.
Truncated Inverted Kumaraswamy Generated Family of Distributions with Applications
Authors: Bantan Rashad A. R. , Jamal Farrukh , Chesneau Christophe , Elgarhy Mohammed
Published: November 2019

In this article, we introduce a new general family of distributions derived to the truncated inverted Kumaraswamy distribution (on the unit interval), called the truncated inverted Kumaraswamy generated family. Among its qualities, it is characterized with tractable functions, has the ability to enhance the flexibility of a given distribution, and demonstrates nice statistical properties, including competitive fits for various kinds of data. A particular focus is given on a special member of the family defined with the exponential distribution as baseline, offering a new three-parameter lifetime distribution. This new distribution has the advantage of having a hazard rate function allowing monotonically increasing, decreasing, and upside-down bathtub shapes. In full generality, important properties of the new family are determined, with an emphasis on the entropy (Rényi and Shannon entropy). The estimation of the model parameters is established by the maximum likelihood method. A numerical simulation study illustrates the nice performance of the obtained estimates. Two practical data sets are then analyzed. We thus prove the potential of the new model in terms of fitting, with favorable results in comparison to other modern parametric models of the literature.
The Effects of Labor Market Characteristics on Women’s Poverty in Korea
Authors: Park Yhesaem , Heshmati Almas
Published: November 2019

Background: Poverty in Korea is not gender neutral. Both male headed and female headed households experience poverty in distinct ways. This research discusses poverty and how it has evolved in Korea from a gender perspective. Methods: It describes the characteristics of poverty among the working population based on gender and other household attributes. It measures poverty relative to the mean and median incomes of the population in three ways: headcount, poverty gap, and poverty severity. The study uses the probit model to estimate the incidence of poverty and the Heckman sample selection model to analyze poverty’s gap and severity. Our empirical results are based on an unbalanced household level panel covering the period 2006–2016. Results: Our results indicate that multiple factors including issues related to the labor market and demographic characteristics contribute to women’s poverty. Within the working population, women are less likely to be poor than men because they share their partners’ incomes. However, single female workers with children are the poorest demographic group. Conclusion: “Part-time jobs” are a critical factor in determining women’s poverty status, while “work years” and “the quality of occupation” have a crucial impact on the incidence and severity of poverty.
Effect of Shale Anisotropy on Hydration and Its Implications for Water Uptake
Authors: Lu Yunhu , Zeng Lingping , Jin Yan , Chen Guanglei , Ren Junfan , Lau Hon Chung , Xie Quan
Published: November 2019

Water uptake induced by fluid–rock interaction plays a significant role in the recovery of flowback water during hydraulic fracturing. However, the existing accounts fail to fully acknowledge the significance of shale anisotropy on water uptake typically under in situ reservoir temperature. Thus we investigated the shale-hydration anisotropy using two sets of shale samples from the Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin, China, which are designated to imbibe water parallel and perpendicular to shale bedding planes. All the samples were immersed in distilled water for one to five days at 80 °C or 120 °C. Furthermore, samples’ topographical and elemental variations before and after hydration were quantified using energy-dispersive spectroscopy–field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that shale anisotropy and imbibition time strongly affect the width of pre-existing micro-fracture in hydrated samples. For imbibition parallel to lamination, the width of pre-existing micro-fracture initially decreases and leads to crack-healing. Subsequently, the crack surfaces slightly collapse and the micro-fracture width is enlarged. In contrast, imbibition perpendicular to lamination does not generate new micro-fracture. Our results imply that during the flowback process of hydraulic fracturing fluid, the shale permeability parallel to bedding planes likely decreases first then increases, thereby promoting the water uptake.
Integrative Effects of Sonication and Particle Size on Biomethanation of Tropical Grass Pennisetum purpureum Using Superior Diverse Inocula Cultures
Authors: Phuttaro Chettaphong , Reungsang Alissara , Boonsawang Piyarat , Chaiprapat Sumate
Published: November 2019

Biogas from the fast growing crop, Pennisetum purpureum, has received considerable attention in Southeast Asia since wastewater and bio-waste materials are almost completely utilized. To overcome slow hydrolysis, a rate-limiting step in anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass, superior microorganism culture, size reduction, and sonication pretreatment were co-applied. In the first experiment, the selection of anaerobic microbial culture to be used in digestion, so-called inoculum, was carried out. Specific anaerobic activities for hydrolysis and methanogenesis of sludge from different sources, a slurry digester of cattle farm (CF) and a wastewater digester of rubber latex factory (RL) were assessed. Results revealed a remarkable synergistic capability in the combined sludge, adding 10% and 49% to the overall biomethanation efficiency over the individual CF and RL sludges. In the second part, interactive effects of size reduction and sonication intensity were studied. Biomethanation efficiency as methane yield increased by 62% by size and 115% by sonication variation, but when optimally combined an additional gain of 40% was recorded. The regression model generated could estimate the energy yield increase as a function of size and sonication intensity with a satisfactory statistical precision R2 of 0.945.
Clean Poultry Energy System Design Based on Biomass Gasification Technology: Thermodynamic and Economic Analysis
Authors: Zang Guiyan , Zhang Jianan , Jia Junxi , Weger Nathaniel , Ratner Albert
Published: November 2019

Despite growing attention has been paid to waste material gasification for high-efficiency energy conversion, the application of gasification technology in meat waste management is still limited. To fill this gap, this study designed two systems which evaluated the potential of using gasification technology to manage the poultry waste that has been exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Two systems are simulated by using Aspen plus combined with a one-dimensional kinetics control gasification model, and wood or dried poultry is selected as the feedstock for the gasifier. The results show that the energy efficiency of the poultry drying system (wood gasification) is 14.5%, which is 12% lower than that of the poultry gasification system when the poultry energy is accounted as energy input. Even though the economic analysis indicates the poultry elimination cost of the poultry gasification system is only 30 $/tonne lower than the poultry drying system, taking the absence of dried poultry burial into consideration, the poultry gasification system has development potentials. The sensitivity analysis shows that labor fee and variable factor has larger effects on the poultry elimination cost, while the uncertainty analysis determines the uncertainty level of the economic analysis results.
Sliding Mode Based Control of Dual Boost Inverter for Grid Connection
Authors: Lopez-Caiza Diana , Flores-Bahamonde Freddy , Kouro Samir , Santana Victor , Müller Nicolás , Chub Andrii
Published: November 2019

Single-stage voltage step-up inverters, such as the Dual Boost Inverter (DBI), have a large operating range imposed by the high step-up voltage ratio, which together with the converter of non-linearities, makes them a challenge to control. This is particularly the case for grid-connected applications, where several cascaded and independent control loops are necessary for each converter of the DBI. This paper presents a global current control method based on a combination of a linear proportional resonant controller and a non-linear sliding mode controller that simplifies the controller design and implementation. The proposed control method is validated using a grid-connected laboratory prototype. Experimental results show the correct performance of the controller and compliance with power quality standards.
Sustainable Water Generation on a Mediterranean Island in Greece
Authors: Fernández-Gil Guillermo , Petrakopoulou Fontina
Published: November 2019

Population growth, increasing droughts, and high irrigation needs are all factors that create freshwater shortage problems on islands. The pressing needs of remote islands usually call for water transport from the mainland or other neighboring islands, at a high cost. This study evaluates the design and economic viability of an alternative, sustainable water supply network on the Mediterranean island of Skyros in Greece. The proposed water supply system provides the island with potable water from desalination units, as well as water for agricultural use from a wastewater treatment plant. The total investment cost of the project is found to be €9.8 million, accounting for the cost of transportation of the water between the different settlements (installation, operations, and maintenance), as well as for the required energy of the involved methods. It is found that 44% of the expenses are related to the transport of potable and residual water, and 52% of the cost corresponds to the production of the required desalinated water. As part of a sustainable water and energy network, all energy needs of water generation are assumed to be covered by a renewable power plant. The total cost of water generation on the island with the proposed system is estimated at 2.49 €/m3, constituting a competitive and more sustainable solution, when compared to current practices.
Bioprospecting for Bioactive Peptide Production by Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Fermented Dairy Food
Authors: Tagliazucchi Davide , Martini Serena , Solieri Lisa
Published: November 2019

With rapidly ageing populations, the world is experiencing unsustainable healthcare from chronic diseases such as metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and cancer disorders. Healthy diet and lifestyle might contribute to prevent these diseases and potentially enhance health outcomes in patients during and after therapy. Fermented dairy foods (FDFs) found their origin concurrently with human civilization for increasing milk shelf-life and enhancing sensorial attributes. Although the probiotic concept has been developed more recently, FDFs, such as milks and yoghurt, have been unconsciously associated with health-promoting effects since ancient times. These health benefits rely not only on the occurrence of fermentation-associated live microbes (mainly lactic acid bacteria; LAB), but also on the pro-health molecules (PHMs) mostly derived from microbial conversion of food compounds. Therefore, there is a renaissance of interest toward traditional fermented food as a reservoir of novel microbes producing PHMs, and “hyperfoods” can be tailored to deliver these healthy molecules to humans. In FDFs, the main PHMs are bioactive peptides (BPs) released from milk proteins by microbial proteolysis. BPs display a pattern of biofunctions such as anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, immuno-modulatory, and anti-microbial activities. Here, we summarized the BPs most frequently encountered in dairy food and their biological activities; we reviewed the main studies exploring the potential of dairy microbiota to release BPs; and delineated the main effectors of the proteolytic LAB systems responsible for BPs release.
Comparative Studies of Hyaluronic Acid Concentration in Normal and Osteoarthritic Equine Joints
Authors: Matisioudis Nikolaos , Rizos Eleftherios , Tyrnenopoulou Panagiota , Papazoglou Lysimachos , Diakakis Nikolaos , Aggeli Amalia
Published: November 2019

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common major disabling disease in humans and horses. Hyaluronic acid (HA), naturally abundantly present in synovial fluid (SF), is thought to have crucial impact on the functional rheological and biochemical features of SF in healthy and osteoarthritic joints. Here we present comparative measurements of HA concentration in SF from 35 normal and osteoarthritic equine joints, between two different approaches. On the one hand, an established biochemical HA-specific Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) assay was employed, which determined that SF in healthy and osteoarthritic equine joints is characterized by HA concentration of ca 0.3–2 mg/mL and 0.1–0.7 mg/mL respectively. On the other hand the same SF samples were also examined with a new exploratory approach of finding out HA concentration, which is based on SF rheology. This was done following “calibration” using appropriate model HA solutions. Comparative analysis of the results obtained by both the biochemical and the rheological approaches, revealed that in most cases the rheological approach greatly overestimates HA concentration in SF, by ca 3 to 8 times and 6 to 11 times, in healthy and diseased SF respectively. Overall these findings support the notion that, contrary to the established view, HA may not be the major contributor of equine SF rheology. This should be taken into account for the development of new more effective preventive strategies, as well as more effective early-stage interventions in osteoarthritis.
Effect of Wheat Bran Incorporation on the Physical and Sensory Properties of a South African Cereal Fried Dough
Authors: Ndlala Fortunate N. , Onipe Oluwatoyin O. , Mokhele Tabea M. , Anyasi Tonna A. , Jideani Afam I. O.
Published: November 2019

This study investigated the effect of wheat bran (WB) supplementation on the physical and sensory properties of a South African cereal fried dough (magwinya). The physical properties, instrumental texture, and sensory profile were determined for magwinya (100:0, control) and for wheat flour to wheat-bran ratios of 95:5 (MWB5), 90:10 (MWB10), 85:15 (MWB15), and 80:20 (MWB20). An increase in the proportion of WB in the fried dough showed no significant difference on the specific volume (1.47–1.54) of samples. The chroma value (30.19–22.29), lightness (35.92–28.98), and hue angle (55.03–47.77) decreased, while ∆E increased distinctly with the addition of WB. Magwinya supplemented with WB was less cohesive and easy to chew. Significant correlations were found between instrumental hardness and sensory springiness (r = −0.63; p < 0.05), as well as between instrumental cohesiveness and sensory springiness (r = −0.71; p < 0.01). Two principal components were identified, which accounted for 85.1% of the variance in the instrumental data. A substitution level of 5 and 10% WB was similar to the sensory properties of the control in taste, texture, and overall acceptability and can replace part of the wheat flour in the cereal fried dough production.
Education and Protein Supplementation Improve Nutritional Biomarkers among Hypoalbuminemic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Design
Authors: Duong Tuyen Van , Tsao Chang-An , Yang Evelyn , Peng Ching-Hsiu , Hou Yi-Cheng , Su Yan-Chen , Chang Jui-Ting , Yang Shwu-Huey
Published: November 2019

Protein-energy wasting is prevalent in peritoneal dialysis patients, which causes a heavy burden for individuals and healthcare systems. We aimed to investigate the effect of nutritional education, and/or protein supplementation on nutritional biomarkers in hypoalbuminemic peritoneal dialysis patients. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two dialysis centers at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital and Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Patients were allocated in three groups including control (n = 12), milk protein (n = 21) and soy protein (n = 20). All patients received dietary guidelines from dietitians and completed 3-day dietary records during monthly visits for consecutive three months. Nutrients were analyzed using Nutritionist Professional software. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, albumin, total protein, hemoglobin, serum calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium were assessed monthly. Total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured every three months. After three-month intervention, protein intake (percent of total calories), and serum albumin were significantly increased in three groups. Protein, phosphorus intake, and BUN were increased in two intervention groups. Total serum protein increased in control and milk protein groups, and creatinine increased the control group. Serum phosphorus was not significantly changed. Nutritional education alone, or combined with protein supplementation, significantly improve protein intake, and nutritional status by increasing serum albumin, but not serum phosphorus in hypoalbuminemic peritoneal dialysis patients.
N-of-1 Trials as a Decision Support Tool in Clinical Practice: A Protocol for a Systematic Literature Review and Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Samuel Joyce , Holder Travis , Molony Donald
Published: November 2019

The n-of-1 trial can utilized in clinical practice as a decision support tool, which may improve patient outcomes by providing both the patient and the clinician with objective evidence to inform personalized treatment decisions. As its use broadens, it will be important to study whether the added time and effort of an n-of-1 trial results in measurable improvements in important patient outcomes compared to usual clinical practice. Parallel-group randomized clinical trials testing the n-of-1 approach versus usual care have been undertaken in a number of medical settings. A systematic review will be performed according to PRISMA guidelines, using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science to search for randomized clinical trials in humans, without date or language restriction. Reports from the gray literature and ongoing studies in trial registries will be included. Articles will be screened by two independent reviewers with a third reviewer consulted to adjudicate disagreement. The quality of included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias. A narrative synthesis will explore the differing methodological approaches of the included studies. The protocol will be registered in the PROSPERO registry, and the results of the review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. To our knowledge, this systematic review will be the first to comprehensively assess the existing research on randomized trials testing the n-of-1 trial approach in clinical practice.
Alcohol Consumption Among Spanish Female Adolescents: Related Factors and National Trends 2006–2014
Authors: Alonso-Fernández Nazaret , Jiménez-Trujillo Isabel , Hernández-Barrera Valentín , Palacios-Ceña Domingo , Carrasco-Garrido Pilar
Published: November 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was: (a) to estimate trends over time in the prevalence of alcohol consumption among female adolescents between 2006 and 2014; (b) to identify the factors associated with the probability of consuming alcohol during this period for Spanish female adolescents (14–18 years old). Methods: Spanish nationwide, epidemiological, cross-sectional study on alcohol consumption by adolescent women. We used individualized secondary data retrieved from the 2006 and 2014 Spanish state survey on drug use in secondary education, for a total of 48,676 survey respondents aged 14 to 18 years. Alcohol use was the dependent variable. We also analyzed sociodemographic and educational features, lifestyle habits, perceived health risk for consumption, and perceived availability of substance using logistic regression models. Results: The prevalence of alcohol consumption among female adolescents was 62.35% during the study period. Alcohol consumption increased with age and was more frequent on weekends than on school days. The variables associated with a greater probability of alcohol consumption were tobacco, marijuana (aOR = 2.37; 95% CI: 2.08–2.72), and alcohol consumption by friends (aOR = 7.24; 95% CI: 6.42–8.16). Conclusions: Alcohol consumption by female adolescents in Spain significantly increased from 2006 to 2014. Marijuana and alcohol consumption by friends were associated factors.
Air Pollution as a Cause of Obesity: Micro-Level Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Yang Zhiming , Song Qianhao , Li Jing , Zhang Yunquan
Published: November 2019

Chinese air pollution is obviously increasing, and the government makes efforts to strengthen air pollution treatment. Although adverse health effects gradually emerge, research determining individual vulnerability is limited. This study estimated the relationship between air pollution and obesity. Individual information of 13,414 respondents from 125 cities is used in the analysis. This study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) and multinomial logit model (m-logit) to estimate the impact of air pollution on obesity. We choose different air pollution and Body Mass Index (BMI) indicators for estimation. Empirical results show Air Quality Index (AQI) is significantly positively associated with the BMI score. As AQI adds one unit, the BMI score increases 0.031 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001). The influence coefficients of particle size smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particle size smaller than 10 μm (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the BMI score are 0.034 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.023 (SE = 0.001; p < 0.001), 0.52 (SE = 0.095; p < 0.001), 0.045 (SE = 0.004; p < 0.001), 0.021 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.008 (SE = 0.003; p = 0.015), respectively. Generally, air pollution has an adverse effect on body weight. CO is the most influential pollutant, and female, middle-aged, and low-education populations are more severely affected. The results confirm that the adverse health effects of air pollution should be considered when making the air pollution policies. Findings also provide justification for health interventions, especially for people with obesity.
Linkages between Trade, CO2 Emissions and Healthcare Spending in China
Authors: Ullah Irfan , Ali Sher , Shah Muhammad Haroon , Yasim Farrah , Rehman Alam , Al-Ghazali Basheer M.
Published: November 2019

China has remained top among the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitting countries in the world, while it has a significant contribution to world trade after World Trade Organization (WTO) reforms in China. The dramatic increase in CO2 emissions has been witnessed. This study examines the linkages between trade openness, CO2 emissions, and healthcare expenditures in China using time series data for the period 1990–2017. The study extended a theoretical model by adding healthcare expenditures, CO2 emissions, and trade openness with some constraints. We used simultaneous equation method for the analysis, and the outcomes suggest that trade is significantly affecting the CO2 emissions in the country, resulting in an increase of healthcare expenditures. The government needs reforms and trade policy embodied green energy consumption in the industrial sector, especially in export sector industries. In addition, carbon tax may be an important tool to reduce CO2 emissions and it may compensate the healthcare spending in the country.
Eighth Annual Conference of inVIVO Planetary Health: From Challenges to Opportunities
Authors: Prescott Susan L. , Hancock Trevor , Bland Jeffrey , van den Bosch Matilda , Jansson Janet K. , Johnson Christine C. , Kondo Michelle , Katz David , Kort Remco , Kozyrskyj Anita , Logan Alan C. , Lowry Christopher A. , Nanan Ralph , Poland Blake , Robinson Jake , Schroeck Nicholas , Sinkkonen Aki , Springmann Marco , Wright Robert O. , Wegienka Ganesa
Published: November 2019

inVIVO Planetary Health (inVIVO) is a progressive scientific movement providing evidence, advocacy, and inspiration to align the interests and vitality of people, place, and planet. Our goal is to transform personal and planetary health through awareness, attitudes, and actions, and a deeper understanding of how all systems are interconnected and interdependent. Here, we present the abstracts and proceedings of our 8th annual conference, held in Detroit, Michigan in May 2019, themed “From Challenges, to Opportunities”. Our far-ranging discussions addressed the complex interdependent ecological challenges of advancing global urbanization, including the biopsychosocial interactions in our living environment on physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, together with the wider community and societal factors that govern these. We had a strong solutions focus, with diverse strategies spanning from urban-greening and renewal, nature-relatedness, nutritional ecology, planetary diets, and microbiome rewilding, through to initiatives for promoting resilience, positive emotional assets, traditional cultural narratives, creativity, art projects for personal and community health, and exploring ways of positively shifting mindsets and value systems. Our cross-sectoral agenda underscored the importance and global impact of local initiatives everywhere by contributing to new normative values as part of a global interconnected grass-roots movement for planetary health.
A Proposal for a Comprehensive Human–Animal Approach of Evaluation for Animal-Assisted Interventions
Authors: Lerner Henrik
Published: November 2019

Background: An important field of human–animal interactions is animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), which refers to research on human–animal interactions in order to promote or facilitate health or education in humans. Very few studies among the rich literature on AAIs seem to include aspects of animal welfare and/or animal ethics. Also, very few studies on AAIs have a comprehensive human–animal approach that studies animals, humans, and the relations between them at the same time. This paper tries to argue for and present a possible comprehensive human–animal approach to evaluate AAIs. Methods: A combination of the species and role approach proposed by Lerner, the capability approach proposed by Nussbaum, and a modified comprehensive human–animal approach to evaluate AAIs proposed by Lerner and Silfverberg was philosophically analyzed. Results: This paper shows that the combination is the modified role and species version of the capabilities approach, and by following it one could do a comprehensive human–animal approach of an evaluation of AAIs. Conclusion: Although the aim was reached for horses and animal-assisted therapy, further work needs to be done for all species suggested in the IAHAIO (International Association of Human–Animal Interaction Organizations) White Paper as well as for all branches of AAIs in order to establish this comprehensive human–animal approach.
Addressing Profound Disadvantages to Improve Indigenous Health and Reduce Hospitalisation: A Collaborative Community Program in Remote Northern Territory
Authors: Quilty Simon , Wood Lisa , Scrimgeour Sophie , Shannon Geordan , Sherman Elisha , Lake Bruce , Budd Richard , Lawton Paul , Moloney Mary
Published: November 2019

Background: Aboriginal people in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory of Australia have suffered longstanding issues of homelessness and profound health and social inequities. The town and region of Katherine are particularly impacted by such inequities and have the highest rates of homelessness in Australia, composed almost entirely of Aboriginal people who represent 51% of the total population of 24,000 people. The region is serviced by a 60-bed hospital, and a small cohort of frequent attenders (FAs) represent 11% of the Emergency Department (ED) case load. The vast majority of FAs are Aboriginal and have very high burdens of social inequity and homelessness. FAs are a challenge to efficient and effective use of resources for most hospitals around the world, and investment in programs to address underlying social and chronic health issues contributing to frequent attendance have been demonstrated to be effective. Methods: These are the interim findings of a prospective cohort study using five sources of linked health and related data to evaluate a community-based case management pilot in a culturally competent framework to support frequent attenders to the Katherine Hospital ED. FAs were defined as people with six or more presentations in 12 preceding months. The intervention composed of a community-based case management program with a multi-agency service delivery addressing underlying vulnerabilities contributing to ED presentations. Results: Among this predominantly Aboriginal cohort (91%), there were high rates of homelessness (64%), food insecurity (60%) and alcohol misuse (64%), limited access to transport, and complex comorbidities (average of 2.8 chronic conditions per client). Following intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in ED presentations (IRR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69–0.85), increased engagement with primary health care (IRR 1.90, 95% CI 1.78–2.03), and ambulance utilisation (IRR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07–1.38). Reductions in hospital admissions (IRR 0.93, 95% CI 0.77–1.10) and aeromedical retrievals (IRR 0.67, 95% CI 0.35–1.20) were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the short-term impacts of community-led case management extending beyond the hospital setting, to address causes of recurrent ED presentations among people with complex social and medical backgrounds. Improving engagement with primary care is a particularly important outcome given the national impetus to reduce preventable hospital admissions.
‘A Healthy CIT’: An Investigation into Student Health Metrics, Lifestyle Behaviours and the Predictors of Positive Mental Health in an Irish Higher Education Setting
Authors: Bickerdike Andrea , Dinneen Joan , O’Neill Cian
Published: November 2019

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are potent health promotion settings, uniquely positioned to aid societal efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). International evidence suggests that health metrics and lifestyle behaviours of higher education students are sub-optimal, yet a dearth of contemporary Irish data exists. This study aimed to examine sex differences in student lifestyle behaviours and identify significant predictors of positive mental health in an Irish HEI setting. An online questionnaire instrument distributed to all registered students (n = 11,261) gathered data regarding a multitude of health and lifestyle domains. Many items were adapted from previous Irish research. Further validated scales included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Mental-Health Index 5 (MHI-5) and the Energy and Vitality Index (EVI). Self-reported height/body mass were also recorded. In total, 2267 responses were analysed (51.7% female, 48.3% male). Both sexes demonstrated poor sleeping patterns, hazardous drinking and sub-optimal fruit and vegetable intake. The calculated prevalence of overweight/obesity was 38.2%. Both sexes underestimated obesity. Males underestimated and females overestimated overweight. Males displayed riskier behavioural patterns with regard to illicit substances, drinking, and sexual partners. Females reported greater psychological distress. Multivariate linear regression identified 8 variables as predictors of positive mental health, accounting for 37% of the variance in EVI scores. In conclusion, HEI students would benefit from sex-specific multi-level health promotion initiatives to remove macro-level barriers to healthier lifestyles.
Factors Affecting Discharge to Home of Medical Patients Treated in an Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Shimogai Takayuki , P. Izawa Kazuhiro , Kawada Minoru , Kuriyama Akira
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting the discharge to home of medical patients treated in an intensive care unit, including elements of in-hospital rehabilitation and prehospital movement ability. The participants of this retrospective cohort study were medical patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) and who began rehabilitation in ICU. We assessed the participants in the ICU and analyzed data on patient background, hospitalization, and rehabilitation status. There were 155 ICU patients available for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression model identified the four variables of age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.09), APACHE II score (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04–1.24), independence in home life before admission (OR 7.10, 95% CI 1.65–30.44), and standing within 5 days of admission (OR 6.58, 95% CI 2.60–16.61) as factors significantly related to discharge from hospital to home. Independence of home life before admission and early start of standing were identified as factors strongly related to discharge to home. The degree of independence in living before hospital admission and progress toward early mobilization are helpful when considering an ICU patient’s discharge destination.
Patient Evaluation of Food Waste in Three Hospitals in Southern Italy
Authors: Schiavone Sara , Pelullo Concetta Paola , Attena Francesco
Published: November 2019

In recent years, food waste has received great attention and is now considered the cause of many negative effects, including health, economic, social and environmental issues. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 762 inpatients at three hospitals of Campania region in Italy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amount of food waste occurring in these hospitals using a structured questionnaire and asking inpatients about the average percentage of food they had disposed of in the previous three days. The overall food wasted amounted to 41.6%. The main plates, first (pasta or rice), second plate (meat or fish), resulted in similar amounts of waste (38.5% and 39.7%, respectively). The side plate (vegetable or potatoes), however, generated the greatest amount of waste (55.0%); 40.7% of patients totally discarded this part of their meals. The type of food wastage among the three hospitals reflected similar patient behaviours, with the amount of food wasted never falling below 30%. Females tended to waste more food than males (59.1% vs. 38.2%; p = 0.000). Other variables were correlated with less food waste, such as having a good opinion of the food’s quality (RR = 1.91; 95% C.I. = 1.68–2.17) and satisfaction with the foodservice in general (RR = 1.86; 95% C.I. = 1.64–2.10). Poor quality, different eating habits and the feeling of satiety were the main reasons patients gave for food waste. Our study suggests that the most promising way to reduce food waste in hospitals is to improve the quality of meals and to establish an individual, simplified and flexible meal reservation process based on specific needs and preferences.
Analysis of Small Area Environmental, Socioeconomic and Health Data in Collaboration with Local Communities to Target and Evaluate ‘Triple Win’ Interventions in a Deprived Community in Birmingham UK
Authors: Saunders Patrick , Campbell Paul , Webster Mark , Thawe Michael
Published: November 2019

The contemporary environment is a complex of interactions between physical, biological and socioeconomic systems with major impacts on public health. It is well understood that deprived communities are more exposed to negative environmental and social factors, more susceptible to the effects of those exposures, more excluded from access to positive factors, less able to change their circumstances and consequently experience worse health, economic and social outcomes compared to the more affluent. Welsh House Farm estate in Birmingham is one of the most deprived areas in Europe. An alliance between a local charity, City Council Public Health and a University in collaboration with the local community has accessed, analysed and mapped a range of health, social and economic factors at small area level, identifying areas where the community experience is unacceptably worse than other parts of Birmingham and therefore requiring targeted interventions. We make specific recommendations for coordinated action addressing the living, moving and consuming domains of residents’ lives and have also identified positive aspects of life on the estate to celebrate. This pilot demonstrates the utility and cost-effectiveness of local collaboration to identify and target health, environmental and social inequalities informed by local concerns.
Can FinTech Development Curb Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution?
Authors: Jiang Song , Qiu Shuang , Zhou Hong , Chen Meilan
Published: November 2019

The green development of FinTech empowerment has become a compelling theme in economic development. In this study, based on the weighted least squares (WLS) and threshold regression methods of cross-sectional data, we empirically examine the impact of FinTech development on agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, a major cause of impaired surface water quality. Our results show that there is an inverted “U” shape relationship between the development of FinTech and agricultural NPS pollution. That is, after crossing a “threshold value”, the level of FinTech development can curb agricultural NPS pollution. At the structural level, the availability of FinTech services, the FinTech infrastructure, and the agricultural NPS pollution also have an inverted “U” shape relationship. At the threshold effect, in the developing stage of an agricultural economy, the overall level of FinTech development, the use of FinTech services, the availability of FinTech services, and the FinTech infrastructure have an inverted “U” shape relationship with agricultural NPS pollution. On the other hand, in the developed stage of an agricultural economy, the impact of FinTech development and its structure on agricultural NPS pollution is insignificant. Hence, we can conclude that FinTech development can help reduce agricultural NPS pollution in under-developed regions. However, due to the fact that a “U” shape relationship always exists between FinTech service quality and agricultural NPS pollution, the quality of FinTech service should be the main focus to reduce agricultural NPS pollution more effectively.
Sexual Exploitation as a Minor, Violence, and HIV/STI Risk among Women Trading Sex in St. Petersburg and Orenburg, Russia
Authors: Urada Lianne A. , Rusakova Maia , Odinokova Veronika , Tsuyuki Kiyomi , Raj Anita , Silverman Jay G.
Published: November 2019

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a major risk factor for acquiring human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infections (HIV/STI), violence and other health concerns, yet few studies have examined these associations in Russia until now. This study examines the prevalence of CSE (those entering the sex trade as a minor) among women in the sex trade in Russia and how exposures and behaviors related to violence and HIV/STI structural risks differ from those who entered the sex trade as an adult. Women in the sex trade (N = 896) in St. Petersburg and Orenburg, Russia were recruited via time-location sampling and completed structured surveys. Adjusted logistic regression analyses assessed associations between CSE victimization and HIV risk-related exposures. Of the 654 participants who provided their age at first sexual exploitation, 11% reported CSE prior to age 18. Those who reported CSE were more likely to be organized by others and to be prohibited from leaving a room or house and from using condoms; three-quarters experienced rape when trading sex; a third were involved in pornography before age 18 and they had less education if they entered the sex trade as a minor. In adjusted analyses, those entering the sex trade as a minor were significantly more likely than those entering the sex trade as an adult to report drug use prior to age 18 (AOR = 5.75, 95% CI = 2.53–13.09) to have ≥5 clients/day (past 12 months; AOR = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.56–8.08), to report receiving police assistance (AOR: 3.10, 95% CI = 1.26–7.54), and to have fewer experiences of police extortion (AOR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.10–1.24). They were four times more likely to participate in pornography before the age of 18 (AOR = 4.08, 95% CI = 1.32, 12.60) and three times more likely to have been sexually abused as child (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.27, 7.54). Overall, entry as a minor was related to greater risk for victimization and an inability to protect oneself from STI/HIV.
A Cross-Reconstruction Method for Step-Changed Runoff Series to Implement Frequency Analysis under Changing Environment
Authors: Yang Jiantao , Zhang Hongbo , Ren Chongfeng , Nan Zhengnian , Wei Xiaowei , Li Ci
Published: November 2019

The stationarity of observed hydrological series has been broken or destroyed in many areas worldwide due to changing environments, causing hydrologic designs under stationarity assumption to be questioned and placing designed projects under threat. This paper proposed a data expansion approach—namely, the cross-reconstruction (CR) method—for frequency analysis for a step-changed runoff series combined with the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method. The purpose is to expand the small data on each step to meet the requirements of data capacity for frequency analysis and to provide more reliable statistics within a stepped runoff series. Taking runoff records at three gauges in western China as examples, the results showed that the cross-reconstruction method has the advantage of data expansion of the small sample runoff data, and the expanded runoff data at steps can meet the data capacity requirements for frequency analysis. In addition, the comparison of the expanded and measured data at steps indicated that the expanded data can demonstrate the statistics closer to the potential data population, rather than just reflecting the measured data. Therefore, it is considered that the CR method ought to be available in frequency analysis for step-changed records, can be used as a tool to construct the hydrological probability distribution under different levels of changing environments (at different steps) through data expansion, and can further assist policy-making in water resources management in the future.
Excess Mortality in Istanbul during Extreme Heat Waves between 2013 and 2017
Authors: Can Günay , Şahin Ümit , Sayılı Uğurcan , Dubé Marjolaine , Kara Beril , Acar Hazal Cansu , İnan Barış , Aksu Sayman Özden , Lebel Germain , Bustinza Ray , Küçükali Hüseyin , Güven Umur , Gosselin Pierre
Published: November 2019

Heat waves are one of the most common direct impacts of anthropogenic climate change and excess mortality their most apparent impact. While Turkey has experienced an increase in heat wave episodes between 1971 and 2016, no epidemiological studies have examined their potential impacts on public health so far. In this study excess mortality in Istanbul attributable to extreme heat wave episodes between 2013 and 2017 is presented. Total excess deaths were calculated using mortality rates across different categories, including age, sex, and cause of death. The analysis shows that three extreme heat waves in the summer months of 2015, 2016, and 2017, which covered 14 days in total, significantly increased the mortality rate and caused 419 excess deaths in 23 days of exposure. As climate simulations show that Turkey is one of the most vulnerable countries in the Europe region to the increased intensity of heat waves until the end of the 21st century, further studies about increased mortality and morbidity risks due to heat waves in Istanbul and other cities, as well as intervention studies, are necessary.