bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A CFD-Based Optimization of Building Configuration for Urban Ventilation Potential
Authors: Lim Jongyeon , Ooka Ryozo
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we present a performance-based approach to building configuration design to improve the urban ventilation potential at the conceptual design stage, and we demonstrate its application through a case study. The target performance optimized was the ventilation potential of a district, including a region of interest at a spatial scale of hundreds of meters. To estimate this performance, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD), coupled with an evolutionary algorithm, to optimize the design alternatives to produce the building configuration most suitable for a given set of site conditions. Three calculation components must be assembled for a CFD-based design optimization: an optimizer, a geometry/mesh generator, and a CFD solver. To provide links between the calculation components, we utilized an in-house parametric design program. A case study was conducted to test the applicability of the proposed design method to identify the optimal solutions that minimize adverse effects on the ventilation potential of the surrounding area. For a configuration of buildings in a dense urban area, the proposed design method successfully improved the design alternatives. The results show that the urban ventilation potential in the case of the optimized building configuration is 16% greater than that of the initial building configuration.
Enhanced Model Reference Adaptive Control Scheme for Tracking Control of Magnetic Levitation System
Authors: Gopi Rahul Sanmugam , Srinivasan Soundarya , Panneerselvam Kavitha , Teekaraman Yuvaraja , Kuppusamy Ramya , Urooj Shabana
Published: March 2021

Magnetic Levitation is a process in which an object is suspended with the support of the magnetic field. Despite being an unstable system, Magnetic Levitation Systems (MAGLEV) have profound applications in various fields of engineering. MAGLEV systems are sensitive, unstable, and nonlinear and uncertainties always pose a challenge in Controller Design. As a solution, adaptive controllers came into existence with adaptation mechanisms to cover the system uncertainties. In this study, a simple, novel, and an effective approach to the Enhanced Adaptive Control scheme is proposed for the ball position control and tracking of an unstable Magnetic Levitation System. The proposed Enhanced Model Reference Adaptive Scheme (EMRAC) follows the same phenomenon of the Model Reference Adaptive Scheme (MRAC) with a slight difference in its control strategy. The proposed scheme consists of Proportional-Integral-Velocity plus Feed Forward as the control structure and a modified version of the standard tuning rule is used as the adaptation mechanism. The control scheme is applied to a standard benchmark Magnetic Levitation System and the tracking performance of the scheme is tested by applying square and multi-sine pattern trajectories to the Magnetic Levitation System. The performance of the developed Enhanced MRAC performance is compared with that of the Proportional Integral Velocity with Feedforward Control (PIV+FF) scheme and the proposed control scheme is proven to be more suitable. The performance of the proposed scheme is also analyzed with Power Spectral Density and Root Mean Square Error to evaluate the ball position tracking control. It is inferred from the experimental results that Enhanced MRAC accommodates the changes and makes the system more reliable with good tracking ability.
Hydrothermal Treatment of Empty Fruit Bunches to Enhance Fuel Characteristics
Authors: Kim Hyeok Jin , Park Chan , Nepal Rabin , Oh Sea Cheon
Published: March 2021

Hydrothermal pretreatment of biomass can improve fuel characteristics based on the decomposition properties of subcritical water. Thus, this study used a hydrothermal treatment to improve the fuel characteristics of empty fruit bunches (EFBs), which are generated as waste after palm oil extraction. The experimental reaction temperature was increased from 180 °C to 250 °C at an interval of 10 °C and the mass ratios between the dry sample and water content were set to 1:8 and 1:16 so that the sample was sufficiently immersed. Additionally, the material properties of EFB under hydrothermal treatment conditions were investigated using mass and energy yields, elemental analysis, proximate analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the reaction products. As the reaction temperature increased, the fixed carbon content and heating value increased because volatile matter, including oxygen, was removed first, which is similar characteristics to coal. All analyses revealed that the water content exhibited little influence on EFB material properties since the samples were sufficiently immersed in water. Thus, it is not necessary to add more water that required for sample immersion for the hydrothermal treatment of EFB.
Varying Ignition Quality of a Fuel for a HCCI Engine Using a Photochemically-Controlled Additive: The Development of a ‘Smart’ Fuel
Authors: Emberson David , Sandquist Judit , Løvås Terese , Schönborn Alessandro , Saanum Inge
Published: March 2021

This study examines the possibility to provide control over ignition timing in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI) using a fuel additive whose molecular structure can be adapted upon exposure to UV light. The UV adapted molecule has a greater influence on retarding ignition than the original molecule, hence the ignition time can be modulated upon expose to UV light. The new fuel is referred to as a ‘smart fuel’. The fuel additive is in the form of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD), upon UV exposure it undergoes electro-cyclic ring opening to form 1,3,5-hexatriene (HT). Various solutions of iso-octane, n-heptane and CHD have been irradiated by UV light for different amounts of time. CHD to HT conversion was examined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. A primary reference fuel (PRF) mixture of 90% iso-octane and 10% n-heptane was used as a baseline in an optically accessible combustion chamber in a large bore, single cylinder compression ignition engine. The engine was operated in HCCI mode, using early injection to provide homogeneous mixture and utilized heated and compressed air intake. Following this a PRF with 5% CHD was used in the engine. A PRF with 5% CHD was then irradiated with UV light for 240 min, resulting in a PRF mixture containing 1.72% HT, this was then used in the engine. The HT containing PRF had a much later start of combustion compared with the CHD containing PRF, which in turn had a later start of combustion compared with the PRF baseline. This study has successfully validated the concept of using a photo-chemical ‘smart’ fuel to significantly change the ignition quality of a fuel in HCCI mode combustion and demonstrated the concept of on-board ‘smart fuel’ applications for ICE.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Biodiesel Production from Microbial Oil Using Cardoon Stalks as Carbon Source
Authors: Castellini Marco , Ubertini Stefano , Barletta Diego , Baffo Ilaria , Buzzini Pietro , Barbanera Marco
Published: March 2021

Today one of the most interesting ways to produce biodiesel is based on the use of oleaginous microorganisms, which can accumulate microbial oil with a composition similar to vegetable oils. In this paper, we present a thermo-chemical numerical model of the yeast biodiesel production process, considering cardoon stalks as raw material. The simulation is performed subdividing the process into the following sections: steam explosion pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, lipid production, lipid extraction, and alkali-catalyzed transesterification. Numerical results show that 406.4 t of biodiesel can be produced starting from 10,000 t of lignocellulosic biomass. An economic analysis indicates a biodiesel production cost of 12.8 USD/kg, thus suggesting the need to increase the capacity plant and the lipid yield to make the project economically attractive. In this regard, a sensitivity analysis is also performed considering an ideal lipid yield of 22% and 100,000 t of lignocellulosic biomass. The biodiesel production costs related to these new scenarios are 7.88 and 5.91 USD/kg, respectively. The large capacity plant combined with a great lipid yield in the fermentation stage shows a biodiesel production cost of 3.63 USD/kg making the product competitive on the current market of biofuels by microbial oil.
Pyrolysis of Municipal Sewage Sludge to Investigate Char and Phosphorous Yield together with Heavy-Metal Removal—Experimental and by Thermodynamic Calculations
Authors: Vali Naeimeh , Åmand Lars-Erik , Combres Aurélie , Richards Tobias , Pettersson Anita
Published: March 2021

Sewage sludge is regarded as a potential source for soil fertilizer However, the direct utilization of sewage sludge in agricultural land is restricted since it also contains heavy metals, pathogens, and toxic compounds. Pyrolysis of the sewage sludge destroys the organic pollutants and partly volatilizes the heavy metals. In this study, pyrolysis of sewage sludge was carried out in order to determine the optimum residence time and temperature to recover the phosphorous and remove heavy metals from the resultant sewage sludge char (SSC). Pyrolysis was conducted on dried sewage sludge (DSS) by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and high-temperature oven with an N2-atmosphere. Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) was used to determine the concentration of P and trace elements in the resulting solid char fraction. A combination of chemical fractionation (step-by-step leaching) of the DSS and thermodynamic equilibrium calculations were utilized to estimate the availability of phosphorous and removal of heavy metals in the SSC fraction at different temperatures. The results from the thermodynamics calculation were in line with the measured chemical composition of the SSC. Furthermore, the energy contents of the SSC obtained at different temperatures were measured. The pyrolysis evaluation results indicate that phosphorous was enriched in the char, while lead, zinc, and cadmium were significantly removed.
Comparison of Diesel Engine Vibroacoustic Properties Powered by Bio and Standard Fuel
Authors: Wrobel Radoslaw , Sierzputowski Gustaw , Sroka Zbigniew , Dimitrov Radostin
Published: March 2021

Alternative fuels appeared soon after the first internal combustion engines were designed. The history of alternative fuels is basically as long as the history of the automotive industry. Initially, fuels whose physicochemical properties allowed for a change in parameters of the combustion process in order to achieve greater efficiency and reliability were searched for. Nowadays, there are significantly more variables; in addition to the above mentioned parameters, alternative fuels are being sought that will ensure environmental protection during vehicle operation and improve the ergonomics of use. This article outlines the results of the authors’ own comparative tests of vibrations of a vibroacoustic character. Based on a popular engine model, the vibration–acoustic responses of a system powered by two types of fuel, namely, diesel and biodiesel (B10), are compared. The research consists of comparing vibrations in both time and frequency domains. In the case of the time domain, the evaluation was performed with vibrations as a function of engine torque and speed. In the case of frequency analysis, the focus was on changes in the frequency response for the tested fuels. The research shows that the profile of vibroacoustic vibrations changes in the case of biodiesel power supply in relation to standard fuel. The vibration profile changes significantly as a function of speed and only slightly in relation to the engine load. The results presented in this article show different vibroacoustic responses of an engine powered by diesel and biodiesel; the change is minor for lower speeds but significant (other harmonics are dominant) for higher speeds (changes in the dominant harmonic magnitude of up to 10% at a crankshaft speed of 3000 rpm).
Tidal Energy Hosting Capacity in Australia’s Future Energy Mix
Authors: Abad Mohammad Seydali Seyf , Hayward Jennifer A. , Sayeef Saad , Osman Peter , Ma Jin
Published: March 2021

This paper outlines a methodology to determine the amount of renewable energy that can be accommodated in a power system before adverse impacts such as over-voltage, over-loading and system instability occur. This value is commonly known as hosting capacity. This paper identifies when the transmission network local hosting capacity might be limited because of static and dynamic network limits. Thus, the proposed methodology can effectively be used in assessing new interconnection requests and provides an estimation of how much and where the new renewable generation can be located such that network upgrades are minimized. The proposed approach was developed as one of the components of the AUSTEn project, which was a three-year project to map Australia’s tidal energy resource in detail and to assess its economic feasibility and ability to contribute to the country’s energy needs. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, two wide area networks were developed in DIgSILENT PowerFactory based on actual Australian network data near two promising tidal resource sites. Then, the proposed approach was used to assess the local tidal hosting capacity. In addition, a complementary local hosting capacity analysis is provided to show the importance of future network upgrades on the locational hosting capaity.
The Effect of Thickness-Based Dynamic Matching Mechanism on a Hyperledger Fabric-Based TimeBank System
Authors: Lin Jhan-Jia , Lee Yu-Tse , Wu Ja-Ling
Published: March 2021

In a community with an aging population, helping each other is a must society function. Lacking mutual trust makes the need for a fair and transparent service exchange platform on top of the public service administration’s list. We present an efficient blockchain-based TimeBank realization with a newly proposed dynamic service matching algorithm (DSMA) in this work. The Hyperledger Fabric (or Fabric in short), one of the well-known Consortium Blockchains, is chosen as our system realization platform. It provides the identity certification mechanism and has an extendable network structure. The performance of a DSMA is measured by the waiting time for a service to get a match, called the service-matching waiting time (SMWT). In our DSMA, the decision as to whether a service is to get a match or wait for a later chance depends dynamically on the total number of contemporarily available services (i.e., the thickness of the service market). To better the proposed TimeBank system’s service quality, a Dynamic Tuning Strategy (DTS) is designed to thicken the market size. Experimental results show that a thicker market makes on-chain nodes have more links, and in turn, they find a match easier (i.e., consume a shorter SMWT).
Trust and Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors during the Pandemic
Authors: Ayalon Liat
Published: March 2021

This study examined the role of trust in lay people’s health behaviors related to the current pandemic. A total of 376 Israelis completed an online questionnaire during the second lockdown. A latent profile analysis was conducted to identify profiles of individuals based on their levels of trust in the various institutions and stakeholders examined in this study. A three-profile solution was deemed most appropriate. The largest profile (N = 178) was characterized by low levels of trust in the government, but high levels of trust in science and one’s primary care provider. Next, was the generally low trust profile (N = 108), characterized by low levels of trust directed towards all stakeholders and institutes. The third profile (N = 79) was characterized by high levels of trust. Results are discussed in relation to the important role of trust in determining people’s response to the current pandemic and the unique features of Israeli society.
Lower Extremity Rehabilitation in Patients with Post-Stroke Sequelae through Virtual Reality Associated with Mirror Therapy
Authors: Miclaus Roxana Steliana , Roman Nadinne , Henter Ramona , Caloian Silviu
Published: March 2021

More innovative technologies are used worldwide in patient’s rehabilitation after stroke, as it represents a significant cause of disability. The majority of the studies use a single type of therapy in therapeutic protocols. We aimed to identify if the association of virtual reality (VR) therapy and mirror therapy (MT) exercises have better outcomes in lower extremity rehabilitation in post-stroke patients compared to standard physiotherapy. Fifty-nine inpatients from 76 initially identified were included in the research. One experimental group (n = 31) received VR therapy and MT, while the control group (n = 28) received standard physiotherapy. Each group performed seventy minutes of therapy per day for ten days. Statistical analysis was performed with nonparametric tests. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test showed that both groups registered significant differences between pre-and post-therapy clinical status for the range of motion and muscle strength (p < 0.001 and Cohen’s d between 0.324 and 0.645). Motor Fugl Meyer Lower Extremity Assessment also suggested significant differences pre-and post-therapy for both groups (p < 0.05 and Cohen’s d 0.254 for the control group and 0.685 for the experimental group). Mann-Whitney results suggested that VR and MT as a therapeutic intervention have better outcomes than standard physiotherapy in range of motion (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d 0.693), muscle strength (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d 0.924), lower extremity functionality (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d 0.984) and postural balance (p < 0.05, Cohen’s d 0.936). Our research suggests that VR therapy associated with MT may successfully substitute classic physiotherapy in lower extremity rehabilitation after stroke.
SEAHIR: A Specialized Compartmental Model for COVID-19
Authors: Leontitsis Alexandros , Senok Abiola , Alsheikh-Ali Alawi , Al Nasser Younus , Loney Tom , Alshamsi Aamena
Published: March 2021

The SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed) model is widely used in epidemiology to mathematically model the spread of infectious diseases with incubation periods. However, the SEIR model prototype is generic and not able to capture the unique nature of a novel viral pandemic such as SARS-CoV-2. We have developed and tested a specialized version of the SEIR model, called SEAHIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Asymptomatic-Hospitalized-Isolated-Removed) model. This proposed model is able to capture the unique dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak including further dividing the Infected compartment into: (1) “Asymptomatic”, (2) “Isolated” and (3) “Hospitalized” to delineate the transmission specifics of each compartment and forecast healthcare requirements. The model also takes into consideration the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as physical distancing and different testing strategies on the number of confirmed cases. We used a publicly available dataset from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a case study to optimize the main parameters of the model and benchmarked it against the historical number of cases. The SEAHIR model was used by decision-makers in Dubai’s COVID-19 Command and Control Center to make timely decisions on developing testing strategies, increasing healthcare capacity, and implementing interventions to contain the spread of the virus. The novel six-compartment SEAHIR model could be utilized by decision-makers and researchers in other countries for current or future pandemics.
Evaluating Consumer Nutrition Environment in Food Deserts and Food Swamps
Authors: Jin He , Lu Yongmei
Published: March 2021

This research examines the consumer nutrition environment in the selected neighborhoods identified as food deserts, food swamps, and food oases in Austin, Texas, by considering food availability, food price, food quality, and food labeling. A food auditing instrument M-TxNEA-S (He Jin, San Marcos, TX, USA) was developed to capture the unique dietary culture and food preferences in Texas. A total of 93 food items in 14 grocery stores and supermarkets (GS) and 32 convenience stores (CS) were surveyed. The GS in food swamps and food oases were found to offer significantly more healthy foods than the CS. The availability of healthy food in the GS in the food swamps and food oases is significantly higher than that of the GS from the food deserts; CS in the three neighborhoods did not exhibit a significant difference in healthy food availability. There was no significant difference between the price for the healthy items (lower fat, lower calorie, and whole grain) and that for the regular food options. No significant difference was found for food quality or food labeling between the stores from the different types of neighborhoods. The GS in food deserts are small grocery stores carrying limited ranges of foods. The establishment of larger food stores in the food deserts might not be very rewarding, but opening more small grocery stores with healthier options may alleviate food issues.
Effect of Ball Screen and One-on-One on the Level of Opposition and Effectiveness of Shots in the ACB
Authors: Serna Jorge , Muñoz-Arroyave Verónica , March-Llanes Jaume , Anguera M. Teresa , Prat Queralt , Rillo-Albert Aaron , Falcón David , Lavega-Burgués Pere
Published: March 2021

In light of the importance of shots on the final result in basketball matches, this research aims to reveal the predictive ability of variables associated with different game actions (ball screen, one-on-one near the basket and one-on-one far away from the basket), shot zone (near to or far from the basket) and players’ position (outside or inside) of the success of shots and of the type of shot, defended or not defended, in three seasons (2014 to 2016) of the Copa del Rey in the ACB (Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto) League in Spain. Observational methodology was used, and an ad hoc instrument was created using Lince software. The study was conducted on a total of 7695 game actions, of which an analysis of 877 shots was made using CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection) classification trees. The results obtained in this research have led us to the following conclusions: (a) the most important variable in the success of shots is to find “open shots”, regardless of the game action, (b) one-on-one actions outside and inside the zone have a clear connection to the finishes of the plays and end up in defended shots, (c) shots by ball screen lead to more open shots than in one-on-one and (d) play with passes may facilitate to find “open shots”. These results can be of interest for coaches to prepare their teams in the best possible way, but they must be interpreted with caution as the sample was very specific (Copa del Rey in the ACB League) and, therefore, it is necessary to continue investigating this topic in other competition contexts.
Large Questionnaire Survey on Sleep Duration and Insomnia Using the TV Hybridcast System by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK)
Authors: Ito Kazuki , Kadotani Hiroshi , Okajima Isa , Ubara Ayaka , Ichikawa Mamoru , Omichi Chie , Miyamoto Towa , Matsuda Arichika , Sumi Yukiyoshi , Kitagawa Hirotoshi
Published: March 2021

Background: Japanese people are known to have the shortest sleep duration in the world. To date, no study has assessed a large Japanese population for insomnia and sleep duration. Methods: We performed an Ιnternet-based survey in association with a national television (TV) program. Questionnaire data were collected not only through personal computers, tablets, and smartphones, but also through the Hybridcast system, which combines broadcasts over airwaves with broadband data provided via the Internet using the TV remote controller. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to assess insomnia. Results: A total of 301,241 subjects participated in the survey. Participants slept for an average of 5.96 ± 1.13 h; the average AIS score was 6.82 ± 3.69. A total of 26.1% of male and 27.1% of female participants had both insomnia (AIS ≥ 6) and short sleep duration (<6 h). Responses were recorded through the Hybridcast system for 76.4% of the elderly (age ≥ 65 years) subjects and through personal computers, tablets, or smartphones for 59.9–82.7% of the younger subjects (age ≤ 65 years). Conclusions: Almost a quarter of the Japanese participants presented short sleep duration and insomnia. Furthermore, the Hybridcast system may be useful for performing large internet-based surveys, especially for elderly individuals.
Perspectives of Multidisciplinary Professional Teams during Assessment Processes for ATD Selection in the Japanese Public Provision System
Authors: Suzurikawa Jun , Sawada Yuki , Sakiyama Miwa , Suwa Motoi , Inoue Takenobu , Kondo Tomoko
Published: March 2021

Selection of assistive technology devices (ATDs), which are imperative for persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life, requires collaboration of users and multidisciplinary professionals. However, it is still unknown how to design and implement an adequate collaborative work flow and a professional team. Under Japanese governmental ATD provision system, based on the application by clients, ATDs are mainly selected through collaborative processes with the clients and health professionals in public organizations, rehabilitation counseling centers (RCCs). By employing qualitative study methods in this study, we investigated the ATD selection process in which health professionals in RCCs collaboratively assess clients with physical disabilities so as to support them in selecting the adequate ATDs. To identify the perspectives required for ATD selection completely, the assessment processes were recorded and analyzed with a pseudo setting in two RCCs. Content analysis of the conversations between the client and professionals revealed the characteristics of the information exchanged in the assessment processes. A total of 760 assessment items were identified, thus indicating a broad array of interest. Despite the richness of information collected for the assessment, half of the assessment items did not have corresponding items in the documents that were employed during the prescription process. Thematic analysis of the interviews that followed revealed the common values and collaborative processes in ATD selection, which were shared and elaborated among the staff in daily social interactions. To facilitate implementation of ATD provision in various areas with few resources, it may be effective to convert this tacit-to-tacit knowledge sharing into a more explicit sharing by promoting analyses of good practices.
Musculoskeletal Disorders among Italian Dentists and Dental Hygienists
Authors: Gandolfi Maria Giovanna , Zamparini Fausto , Spinelli Andrea , Risi Alessandro , Prati Carlo
Published: March 2021

Dental professionals often perform physically and mentally demanding therapeutical procedures. They work maintaining muscular imbalance and asymmetrical positions for a long time. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and the factors associated to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) among Italian dental professionals and the most affected body regions. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between March 2019 and February 2020. The Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was implemented with questions related to working habits (dental occupation, working hours per week and per days, years of work) and lifestyle (practiced physical activity, including frequency and duration, mobilization activities, and knowledge of ergonomic guidelines) was used. The-chi square test was carried out to detect any statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Logistic regression was carried out to detect the most significant factors associated to WMSD occurrence. A total of 284 questionnaires have been used for the analysis. A high proportion of dental professionals (84.6%) were affected by WMSD in the last 12 months. A higher prevalence was found in females (87%) when compared to males (80%). The prevalence of WMSD was correlated to the working hours/day and hour/week, with a higher risk for operators working >5 h/day and >30 h/week. In addition, a high prevalence was found in operators working for 2–5 years after graduation. Most of the surveyed dental professionals practiced physical activity (70.1%) but only a few had satisfactorily knowledge of ergonomic guidelines (12.7%). Interestingly, participants who practiced yoga or stretching as physical activities demonstrated lower WMSD (77%) when compared to other physical activities (84%). We can highlight that generic physical activities have no functional effect on WMSD for dental professionals. The most affected body areas were neck (59.9%), shoulders (43.3%), lumbar region (52.1%), dorsal region (37.7%) and wrists (30.6%). Considering the magnitude of the problem, there is an urgent need to implement the education in ergonomics among dental professionals, that may be achieved by teaching biomechanics, posturology and integrative functional therapies (such as yoga) during the university education and by promoting holistic health of dental operators.
Patterns of Sedentary Behavior among Older Adults in Care Facilities: A Scoping Review
Authors: Leung Kin-Chung Wilson , Sum Kim-Wai Raymond , Yang Yi-Jian
Published: March 2021

Understanding the sedentary patterns can guide the design of strategies to engage older adults in physical activity. This scoping review aimed to synthesize available evidence on sedentary behaviors in care facilities. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science for studies published from inception through October 2020. Eighteen studies were included and reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data obtained were analyzed based on levels of care provided. Overall, daily sedentary time was higher among residents in high level care facilities (e.g., nursing homes) (11.6 h/day) than intermediate/mixed level care facilities (e.g., assisted living) (9.5 h/day). In intermediate/mixed level care facilities, television (TV) viewing was the most common sedentary activity (2.5–2.9 h/day; 26% of daily sedentary time), while napping was the most favorite sedentary activity (4.7 h/day; 36% of waking hours) in high level care facilities. Sex differences in daily patterns of sedentary behavior (sedentary time, uninterrupted bouts, and bout durations) were commonly observed in intermediate/mixed level care facilities, as exemplified by men being more sedentary by 0.7–1.1 h/day. In summary, this study highlights distinctive sedentary patterns among older adults residing in different levels of care facilities, addressing a pressing need for customized interventions to engage care facility residents in physical activity.
Influence of the Use of Wii Games on Physical Frailty Components in Institutionalized Older Adults
Authors: González-Bernal Jerónimo J. , Jahouh Maha , González-Santos Josefa , Mielgo-Ayuso Juan , Fernández-Lázaro Diego , Soto-Cámara Raúl
Published: March 2021

Aging is a multifactorial physiological phenomenon in which cellular and molecular changes occur. These changes lead to poor locomotion, poor balance, and an increased falling risk. This study aimed to determine the impact and effectiveness of the use of the Wii® game console on improving walking speed and balance, as well as its influence on frailty levels and falling risk, in older adults. A longitudinal study was designed with a pretest/post-test structure. The study population comprised people over 75 years of age who lived in a nursing home or attended a day care center (n = 80; 45 women; 84.2 ± 8.7 years). Forty of them were included in the Wii group (20 rehabilitation sessions during 8 consecutive weeks), and the other 40 were in the control group. Falling risk and frailty were evaluated using the Downton scale and Fried scale; balance and walking speed were assessed with the Berg Balance scale and the Gait Speed Test, respectively, as well as the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The results showed that there was no significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups in baseline. However, there was significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups at the end of study. Moreover, a significantly higher and negative percentage change (Δ) in the Wii group with respect to the control group on the in falling risk (−20.05 ± 35.14% vs. 7.92 ± 24.53%) and in walking speed (−6.42 ± 8.83% vs. −0.12 ± 4.51%) during study, while there was a higher and positive significant percent change in static balance (6.07 ± 5.74% vs. 2.13 ± 4.64%) and on the SPPB (20.28 ± 20.05% vs. 0.71 ± 7.99%) after 8 weeks of study. The main conclusion of this study was that the use of the Wii® video console for 8 weeks positively influenced walking speed, falling risk, static balance, and frailty levels in older adults. Through a rehabilitation program with the Wii® game console in the older adults, frailty levels are reduced, accompanied by a reduction in falling risk and an increase in static balance and walking speed.
Nurse Motivation, Engagement and Well-Being before an Electronic Medical Record System Implementation: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Jedwab Rebecca M. , Hutchinson Alison M. , Manias Elizabeth , Calvo Rafael A. , Dobroff Naomi , Glozier Nicholas , Redley Bernice
Published: March 2021

Implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) is a significant workplace event for nurses in hospitals. Understanding nurses’ key concerns can inform EMR implementation and ongoing optimisation strategies to increase the likelihood of nurses remaining in the nursing workforce. This concurrent mixed-methods study included surveys from 540 nurses (response rate 15.5%), and interviews with 63 nurses to examine their perceptions of using a new EMR prior to implementation at a single healthcare organisation. Survey findings revealed 32.2% (n = 174) of nurses reported low well-being scores and 28.7% (n = 155) were experiencing burnout symptoms. In contrast, 40.3% (n = 216) of nurses reported high work satisfaction, 62.3% (n = 334) had high intentions of staying in their role, and 34.3% (n = 185) were engaged in their work. Nearly half (n = 250, 46.3%) reported intrinsic motivation towards EMR use. Thematic analysis of focus group interviews revealed two themes, each with three subthemes: (1) Us and Them, detailed the juxtaposition between nurses’ professional role and anticipated changes imposed on them and their work with the EMR implementation; and (2) Stuck in the middle, revealed nurses’ expectations and anticipations about how the EMR may affect the quality of nurse-patient relationships. In conclusion, anticipation of the EMR implementation emerged as a stressor for nursing staff, with some groups of nurses particularly vulnerable to negative consequences to their well-being.
Advances, Norms, and Perspectives in Product Chemical Footprint Research
Authors: Li Yi , Cheng Yiman , Zhou Luyao , Yang Yongliang
Published: March 2021

The chemical footprint of a product is an important factor for evaluating human toxicity and determining ecotoxic effects caused by chemical pollutants in the entire production cycle and is the premise and effective means to carry out the identification, assessment, and control of chemical, environmental risk. The study reviewed the progress of research on chemical and product chemical footprints. It unified the key issues such as accounting boundaries, data lists, accounting methods, and result evaluation of product chemical footprint calculation. On this basis, we propose methods for evaluating product chemical footprints, providing a normative reference for enterprises and relevant research institutions. The future research is likely to obtain innovative results in the research and application of chemical footprint labels, research on characterization factor calculation methods for chemical substances, construction and standardization of chemical use, and emission database and promotion of a chemical-based guarantee mechanism for environmental management.
Physical Activity and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Spanish Employees in a Health-Promotion Program before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Sanitas-Healthy Cities Challenge
Authors: Franco Evelia , Urosa Jesús , Barakat Rubén , Refoyo Ignacio
Published: March 2021

Physical activity and a healthy diet are key factors for avoiding major noncommunicable diseases. The aim of the present study was to analyze how physical activity (PA) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among employees participating in the Healthy Cities program have been affected during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample was composed of 297 employees from 40 leading companies based in Spain, who participated in the 5th edition of the Sanitas “Healthy Cities” challenge. The participants (148 women and 149 men), aged between 24 and 63 years old (M = 42.76; SD = 7.79) completed the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the PREDIMED (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) questionnaire to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet before and during the pandemic. Pearson χ2 tests revealed that workers were more likely to show sedentary behaviors during the pandemic than before (83.5% vs. 66.7%). Additionally, they were more likely to reach high levels of PA (51.2% vs. 64%), and Wilcoxon tests revealed that energy expenditure measured in Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) was higher during the pandemic (4199.03 METs) than before (3735.32 METs), due to an increase in moderate PA. Lastly, a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet during the pandemic (76.4%) than before (54.5%) was reported. The findings of this investigation suggest a positive effect of working from home for employees involved in a health-promotion program, and highlight the relevance of this kind of action among this population.
The Spanish Labor Market: A Gender Approach
Authors: Dancausa Millán Mª Genoveva , Millán Vázquez de la Torre Mª Genoveva , Hernández Rojas Ricardo , Jimber del Río Juan Antonio
Published: March 2021

The massive incorporation of Spanish women into the labor market is a phenomenon that began in the second half of the 20th century, being many the obstacles that this group has had to overcome to reach the current situation, where getting a job can be an achievement that, in many cases, does not correspond to the capacity and academic training of the worker, creating a labor and economic imbalance (the cost in training is not rewarded with the work done). In this work, the Spanish labor market was analyzed through the labor force survey (EPA) from a gender perspective, demonstrating the existing inequalities at the labor level, both of employment and unemployment rates, and of jobs where the glass ceiling is evident and of economic remuneration where the salary gap continues to be important. In addition, through an ARIMA model, the evolution of the number of Spanish working women was analyzed, and how the economic crisis of 2009 and the sanitaria have affected their employment in the various crises (COVID-19). Measures to solve the problem as well as laws and active policies in favor of the creation of female jobs and a greater awareness of empowerment on the part of the female collective are proposed.
Heat-Inactivation of Human Serum Destroys C1 Inhibitor, Pro-motes Immune Complex Formation, and Improves Human T Cell Function
Authors: Fante Matthias A. , Decking Sonja-Maria , Bruss Christina , Schreml Stephan , Siska Peter J. , Kreutz Marina , Renner Kathrin
Published: March 2021

Heat-inactivation of sera is used to reduce possible disturbing effects of complement factors in cell-culture experiments, but it is controversially discussed whether this procedure is appropriate or could be neglected. Here, we report a strong impact of heat-inactivation of human sera on the activation and effector functions of human CD4+ T cells. While T cells cultured with native sera were characterized by a higher proliferation rate and higher expression of CD28, heat-inactivated sera shaped T cells towards on-blast formation, higher cytokine secretion (interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-17), stronger CD69 and PD-1 expression, and increased metabolic activity. Heat-inactivated sera contained reduced amounts of complement factors and regulators like C1 inhibitor, but increased concentrations of circulating immune complexes. Substitution of C1 inhibitor reduced the beneficial effect of heat-inactivation in terms of cytokine release, whereas surface-molecule expression was affected by the addition of complex forming anti-C1q antibody. Our data clearly demonstrate a beneficial effect of heat-inactivation of human sera for T cell experiments but indicate that beside complement regulators and immune complexes other components might be relevant. Beyond that, this study further underpins the strong impact of the complement system on T cell function.
Indole-3-Acetic Acid Is Synthesized by the Endophyte Cyanodermella asteris via a Tryptophan-Dependent and -Independent Way and Mediates the Interaction with a Non-Host Plant
Authors: Jahn Linda , Hofmann Uta , Ludwig-Müller Jutta
Published: March 2021

The plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is one of the main signals playing a role in the communication between host and endophytes. Endophytes can synthesize IAA de novo to influence the IAA homeostasis in plants. Although much is known about IAA biosynthesis in microorganisms, there is still less known about the pathway by which IAA is synthesized in fungal endophytes. The aim of this study is to examine a possible IAA biosynthesis pathway in Cyanodermella asteris. In vitro cultures of C. asteris were incubated with the IAA precursors tryptophan (Trp) and indole, as well as possible intermediates, and they were additionally treated with IAA biosynthesis inhibitors (2-mercaptobenzimidazole and yucasin DF) to elucidate possible IAA biosynthesis pathways. It was shown that (a) C. asteris synthesized IAA without adding precursors; (b) indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), indole-3-acetamide (IAM), and indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAD) increased IAA biosynthesis; and (c) C. asteris synthesized IAA also by a Trp-independent pathway. Together with the genome information of C. asteris, the possible IAA biosynthesis pathways found can improve the understanding of IAA biosynthesis in fungal endophytes. The uptake of fungal IAA into Arabidopsis thaliana is necessary for the induction of lateral roots and other fungus-related growth phenotypes, since the application of the influx inhibitor 2-naphthoxyacetic acid (NOA) but not the efflux inhibitor N-1-naphtylphthalamic acid (NPA) were altering these parameters. In addition, the root phenotype of the mutation in an influx carrier, aux1, was partially rescued by C. asteris.
Functional Characterization of PsnNAC036 under Salinity and High Temperature Stresses
Authors: Zhang Xuemei , Cheng Zihan , Yao Wenjing , Zhao Kai , Wang Xueyi , Jiang Tingbo
Published: March 2021

Plant growth and development are challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses including salinity and heat stresses. For Populus simonii × P. nigra as an important greening and economic tree species in China, increasing soil salinization and global warming have become major environmental challenges. We aim to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying tree tolerance to salt stress and high temprerature (HT) stress conditions. Transcriptomics revealed that a PsnNAC036 transcription factor (TF) was significantly induced by salt stress in P. simonii × P. nigra. This study focuses on addressing the biological functions of PsnNAC036. The gene was cloned, and its temporal and spatial expression was analyzed under different stresses. PsnNAC036 was significantly upregulated under 150 mM NaCl and 37 °C for 12 h. The result is consistent with the presence of stress responsive cis-elements in the PsnNAC036 promoter. Subcellular localization analysis showed that PsnNAC036 was targeted to the nucleus. Additionally, PsnNAC036 was highly expressed in the leaves and roots. To investigate the core activation region of PsnNAC036 protein and its potential regulatory factors and targets, we conducted trans-activation analysis and the result indicates that the C-terminal region of 191–343 amino acids of the PsnNAC036 was a potent activation domain. Furthermore, overexpression of PsnNAC036 stimulated plant growth and enhanced salinity and HT tolerance. Moreover, 14 stress-related genes upregulated in the transgenic plants under high salt and HT conditions may be potential targets of the PsnNAC036. All the results demonstrate that PsnNAC036 plays an important role in salt and HT stress tolerance.
Magic Peptide: Unique Properties of the LRR11 Peptide in the Activation of Leukotriene Synthesis in Human Neutrophils
Authors: Viryasova Galina M. , Golenkina Ekaterina A. , Hianik Tibor , Soshnikova Nataliya V. , Dolinnaya Nina G. , Gaponova Tatjana V. , Romanova Yulia M. , Sud’ina Galina F.
Published: March 2021

Neutrophil-mediated innate host defense mechanisms include pathogen elimination through bacterial phagocytosis, which activates the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) product synthesis. Here, we studied the effect of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs), which mimic the receptor-recognized sites of bacterial (CpG-ODNs) and genomic (G-rich ODNs) DNAs released from the inflammatory area, on the neutrophil functions after cell stimulation with Salmonella typhimurium. A possible mechanism for ODN recognition by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and RAGE receptor has been proposed. We found for the first time that the combination of the magic peptide LRR11 from the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) of TLR9 with the CpG-ODNs modulates the uptake and signaling from ODNs, in particular, dramatically stimulates 5-LOX pathway. Using thickness shear mode acoustic method, we confirmed the specific binding of CpG-ODNs, but not G-rich ODN, to LRR11. The RAGE receptor has been shown to play an important role in promoting ODN uptake. Thus, FPS-ZM1, a high-affinity RAGE inhibitor, suppresses the synthesis of 5-LOX products and reduces the uptake of ODNs by neutrophils; the inhibitor effect being abolished by the addition of LRR11. The results obtained revealed that the studied peptide-ODN complexes possess high biological activity and can be promising for the development of effective vaccine adjuvants and antimicrobial therapeutics.
Manipulation of the Glass Transition Properties of a High-Solid System Made of Acrylic Acid-N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide Copolymer Grafted on Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose
Authors: Nassar Nazim , Whitehead Felicity , Istivan Taghrid , Shanks Robert , Kasapis Stefan
Published: March 2021

Crosslinking of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and acrylic acid (AAc) was carried out at various compositions to develop a high-solid matrix with variable glass transition properties. The matrix was synthesized by the copolymerisation of two monomers, AAc and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and their grafting onto HMPC. Potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) was used to initiate the free radical polymerization reaction and tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) to accelerate radical polymerisation. Structural properties of the network were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), small-deformation dynamic oscillation in-shear, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show the formation of a cohesive macromolecular entity that is highly amorphous. There is a considerable manipulation of the rheological and calorimetric glass transition temperatures as a function of the amount of added acrylic acid, which is followed upon heating by an extensive rubbery plateau. Complementary TGA work demonstrates that the initial composition of all the HPMC-AAc networks is maintained up to 200 °C, an outcome that bodes well for applications of targeted bioactive compound delivery.