bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ansiedade, depressão e estresse em clientes com excesso peso
Authors: Rabello Marina Amorim do Espírito Santo , Amorim Maria Marta Amancio , Franco Mariana Pereira da Silva , Souza Warley Alisson , Monteze Nayara Mussi
Published: August 2020

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a presença dos sintomas de ansiedade, depressão e estresse em pacientes com excesso de peso ansiedade na Clínica de Atenção Integrada à Saúde do Centro Universitário Una, Belo Horizonte. Foram incluídos homens e mulheres, idade entre 19 e 52 anos, Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) > 25 kg/m², Beck Depression Inventory - BDI, Beck Anxiety Inventory – BAI e Perceived Stress Scale – PSS14 foram preenchidos pelos clientes. O estudo foi submetido e aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa do Centro Universitário Una. Participaram 63 indivíduos com sobrepeso e obesidade, 83% (n = 52) mulheres e 17% (n =11) homens, mediana de idade 34 anos, mediana do IMC 31,2 kg/m². 63% dos indivíduos indicaram sintoma de depressão, 73% ansiedade e 97% estresse. Os pacientes com excesso de peso atendidos na Clínica apresentam sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse. Quanto maior o IMC mais sintomas de depressão e ansiedade o indivíduo com excesso de peso apresenta. Essa situação se agrava nos pacientes com sintomas de depressão, pois também apresentam sintomas para ansiedade e nos pacientes com sintomas de ansiedade que possuem também sintomas de estresse. Uma abordagem em conjunto do nutricionista com o psicólogo é necessária para avaliar o indivíduo por completo, visto que a obesidade pode ser um fator causador de transtornos comportamentais e vice e versa.
Estrutura de controle plantwide simplificada para a planta de Williams-Otto: otimização descentralizada coordenada com IBMF
Authors: Cardoso Anamaria de Oliveira , Kwong Wu Hong
Published: August 2020

Os sistemas de controle de plantas inteiras, também conhecido como controle plantwide, podem ter centenas de variáveis e isso resulta em um complexo problema de otimização, exigindo técnicas eficazes para resolver problemas de grande escala. Este artigo investiga a aplicação de uma abordagem descentralizada coordenada pelo Método do Balanceamento de Interações (IBMF) para a camada de otimização de sistemas de controle hierárquico. Essa camada é baseada na decomposição do problema matemático original em problemas menores de otimização local.  A camada de coordenação tem a tarefa de garantir que as soluções do problema de otimização local também atendam às restrições dos demais subsistemas. Essa técnica é aplicada a planta de Williams-Otto com a coordenação IBMF. Os resultados são satisfatórios e apresentam uma solução razoável para o problema de otimização, obtendo o valor da função objetivo em torno de 95-105% daquele para obtido para o mesmo problema quando resolvido pela abordagem centralizada. Há uma redução de até 30% nas alterações das variáveis manipuladas na presença de uma perturbação no processo.
Perfil sociodemográfico de idosos que convivem com HIV/Aids: um estudo em dois serviços na Região dos Lagos, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Alóchio Kyra Vianna , Sá Selma Petra Chaves , Mello Vangelina Lins , Christovam Bárbara Pompeu
Published: August 2020

Objetivou-se analisar o perfil sociodemográfico de idosos que convivem com HIV/Aids em dois serviços de Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis da Região dos Lagos-RJ. Pesquisa de campo com abordagem qualitativa, descritivo-exploratória, com 30 idosos cadastrados nesses serviços. As entrevistas foram realizadas mediante aplicação de formulário semiestruturado, contendo questões abertas e fechadas. Os dados foram tratados por meio da formulação de planilhas e gráficos no Software Microsoft Office Excel 2010©, com cálculos de frequências simples e percentuais, além de comparações de achados. Foram respeitados os processos ético-legais, sendo a pesquisa apreciada pelo Comitê de ética da Faculdade de Medicina do Hospital Antônio Pedro, segundo o parecer nº 3.013.119. A análise do perfil sociodemográfico dos participantes resultou em predomínio do gênero feminino, idade média de 66 anos, heterossexuais, de baixa escolaridade, com rendas de 1 a 2 salários mínimos, raça parda/negra, religião católica, aposentados, com mais de 10 anos de convivência com o HIV, viúvos e divorciados. Entre os entrevistados, houve participação de casais sorodiscordantes, sendo esboçadas dificuldades na adesão ao preservativo, em detrimento daqueles que afirmaram cessação das atividades sexuais pós-diagnóstico. Concluiu-se que essas dificuldades de entendimento e de aceitação do uso do preservativo, dentre outros fatores influentes no quesito exposição, tais como raciais e educacionais, aliados à dificuldade de a sociedade vislumbrá-los dentro do escopo de vulnerabilidade às infecções sexualmente transmissíveis, tornam-lhes mais suscetíveis à contração do vírus HIV e a um diagnóstico tardio da infecção.
BÜROKRATİK OLİGARŞİ: TÜRK KAMU YÖNETİMİ SİSTEMİ EKSENİNDE BİR ANALİZ
Authors: ATMACA Yıldız , GÜNAY Muhammed Cihat
Published: August 2020

Dünya üzerindeki birçok devletin kamu yönetimi sistemini etkileyen çok sayıda yönetim eksenli kavram mevcuttur. Bu kavramların ne anlam ifade ettiğini bilmeden kullanılmasının önüne geçmek ve kamu yönetimi açısından taşıdığı öneme dikkat çekmek gereklidir. Bu kapsamda, bürokrasi, oligarşi ve bürokratik oligarşi ele alınması gereken önemli kavramlardır. Oligarşi, siyasal gücü elinde bulunduran, ayrıcalıklı ve çıkarcı bir grup anlamını taşımaktadır. Devletlerin bürokratik yapılarını tahakkümü altına alan kaçınılmaz bir son olarak öngörülmektedir. Oligarşinin bu boyutu, devlet yönetimlerini bürokratik oligarşi olgusu ile karşılaştırmıştır. Bürokratik oligarşi, devletlerin yönetim sistemlerini olumsuz yönde etkileyen bir tehdit olma özelliği taşımaktadır.Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma ile devletlerin bekasına bir tehdit olarak öngörülen bürokratik oligarşinin Türk kamu yönetimi sistemine olan etkisi analiz edilmektedir. Kavramsal bir analiz sonrası bürokratik oligarşinin bürokrasi ve oligarşi ile arasındaki ilişki incelenmektedir. Çalışma sonucunda, bürokratik oligarşinin kamu yönetiminin yapısında önemli ölçüde etkiler oluşturduğu, bu doğrultuda yeni idari düzenlemeler gerçekleştirildiği anlaşılmıştır.
A comparative analysis of the lockdown and unlock policies on the COVID-19 situation in India
Authors: Mukherjee Kanchan
Published: August 2020

India implemented a ‘complete national lock down’ (which lasted 68 days) in an attempt to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2. This study provides a comparative analysis of the COVID-19 situation in India during the lockdown and first 68 days of the unlock phase. The study finds that the test positivity rate and incremental increase in cases/testing rate has nearly doubled in the unlock phase indicating a much higher spread of infection; but speed of testing has decreased significantly, in spite of use of rapid antigen testing. Improper implementation of testing protocol by using the rapid test as an alternate to the RT-PCR test (gold standard) is resulting in a serious underestimation of the actual cases. Unless urgent measures are taken to rectify the current situation, the data from India will be remain an artifact of a ‘created’ situation rather than a reflection of the ‘actual’ situation.
The Effects of Multiple Delayed National Regulatory Actions on the Number of COVID-19 Infections in the European Union and the United Kingdom
Authors: Von Batten Karl
Published: August 2020

There is a noticeable difference in the amount of time it took European Union (EU) member states and the United Kingdom (UK) to enact nationwide stay-at-home orders and mandatory face mask provisions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some EU member states enacted nationwide stay-at-home orders and mandatory face mask provisions shortly after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection within their respective jurisdiction. In contrast, other EU member states and the UK took much longer to initiate similar regulatory measures. This study’s findings indicate that there is a statistically significant difference in the number of COVID-19 infections between these two groups of countries, with a higher number of COVID-19 infections in the group of countries that took longer to enact nationwide stay-at-home orders and mandatory face mask provisions.
Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization Impacts on Soil Bacteria, Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wheat in Semiarid Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Xu Aixia , Li Lingling , Coulter Jeffrey A. , Xie Junhong , Gopalakrishnan Subramaniam , Zhang Renzhi , Luo Zhuzhu , Cai Liqun , Liu Chang , Wang Linlin , Khan Shahbaz
Published: August 2020

Soil bacteria are key components of the soil microbial community contributing to soil health. Nitrogen (N) fertilization is an important factor that affects soil microbial community and cereal production. This study aims to explore the impact of long-term N fertilization on soil bacterial diversity, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and the grain yield of wheat in the semiarid region of Loess Plateau, China. The field experiment was conducted from 2003 to 2018 including five N treatments: 0 (N0), 52.5 (N52.5), 105 (N105), 157.5 (N157.5), and 210 (N210) kg N ha−1 yr−1. The soil pH was decreased by the N fertilization, while the soil ammonium, nitrate, and available phosphorus were increased. The N uptake and grain yield of wheat were significantly increased with N and the highest NUE (28%) and grain yield (44% higher than control) were observed at 105 kg N ha−1, but no significant increase in yield was observed by further increasing N rate. The bacterial diversity was significantly increased at N105. Soil bacteria community was strongly related to soil chemical properties and ammonium content was the most important contributor. The dominant soil bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteroidetes, Nitrospirae, Verrucomicrobia, and Planctomycetes. The higher grain yield of wheat was related to the higher class Gammaproteobacteria and Sphingobacteriia abundance, and lower class Acidobacteria and Chloroflexia abundance. In summary, 105 kg ha−1 yr−1 was the optimum rate of N for diversified soil bacterial community and wheat yield for sustainable wheat production in semiarid Loess Plateau of China, whose higher N use efficiency was attributed to the higher phyla Verrucomicrobia and Planctomycetes, and lower Proteobacteria abundance.
Diurnal Body Temperature and Rate of Passage of Loggers in Lions
Authors: Friend Ted , Corsini Giulia , Manero Vincent , Cocco Raffaella
Published: August 2020

The documentation of diurnal patterns in body temperature in lions could be important because disruption of circadian patterns can be a useful measure of distress. This study quantified changes in body temperature of seven African lions (Panthera leo) at 5 min intervals during cold conditions from noon until the ingested body temperature loggers were expelled the next day. Thirteen loggers were fed to 11 lions during their daily noon feeding, while ambient temperatures were also recorded using six data loggers. The lions had continuous access to their dens and exercise pens during the day but were restricted to their heavily bedded dens that also contained a heat lamp from 23:00 until 08:00 the next day. Body temperatures averaged 37.95 ± 0.42 °C at 15:50, and 36.81 ± 0.17 °C at 06:50 the next day, 30 min before the first loggers passed from a lion, and were significantly different (t-test, t = 8.09, df = 6, p < 0.0003). The mean duration for the time of passage was 22 ± 2.69 (h ± SD), so future studies using the noninvasive feeding of temperature loggers need to consider that time frame.
The 13th International Colloquium on Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas
Authors: Xiao Jun , Brage Tomas , Hutton Roger
Published: August 2020

The 13th International Colloquium on Atomic Spectra and Oscillator Strengths for Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas (ASOS2019), co-hosted by Fudan and Lund Universities, was held at Fudan University from 23–27 June 2019 [...]
Genistein Combined Polysaccharide (GCP) Can Inhibit Intracrine Androgen Synthesis in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Batra Neelu , Sam Anhao , Woldemariam Tibebe , Talbott George , de Vere White Ralph W. , Ghosh Paramita M. , Gaikwad Nilesh W. , Kotchoni Simeon O. , Vinall Ruth L.
Published: August 2020

Our group and others have previously shown that genistein combined polysaccharide (GCP), an aglycone isoflavone-rich extract with high bioavailability and low toxicity, can inhibit prostate cancer (CaP) cell growth and survival as well as androgen receptor (AR) activity. We now elucidate the mechanism by which this may occur using LNCaP and PC-346C CaP cell lines; GCP can inhibit intracrine androgen synthesis in CaP cells. UPLC-MS/MS and qPCR analyses demonstrated that GCP can mediate a ~3-fold decrease in testosterone levels (p < 0.001) and cause decreased expression of intracrine androgen synthesis pathway enzymes (~2.5-fold decrease of 3βHSD (p < 0.001), 17βHSD (p < 0.001), CYP17A (p < 0.01), SRB1 (p < 0.0001), and StAR (p < 0.01)), respectively. Reverse-phase HPLC fractionation and bioassay identified three active GCP fractions. Subsequent NMR and LC-MS analysis of the fraction with the highest level of activity, fraction 40, identified genistein as the primary active component of GCP responsible for its anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-AR activity. GCP, fraction 40, and genistein all mediated at least a ~2-fold change in these biological activities relative to vehicle control (p < 0.001). Genistein caused similar decreases in the expression of 17βHSD and CYP17A (2.5-fold (p < 0.001) and 1.5-fold decrease (p < 0.01), respectively) compared to GCP, however it did not cause altered expression of the other intracrine androgen synthesis pathway enzymes; 3βHSD, SRB1, and StAR. Our combined data indicate that GCP and/or genistein may have clinical utility and that further pre-clinical studies are warranted.
Evaluation of Anti-Convulsive Properties of Aqueous Kava Extract on Zebrafish Using the PTZ-Induced Seizure Model
Authors: Jaiswal Yogini , Shaikh Mohd. , Wang Ilya , Yong Yanning , Lin Lin Lee Vanessa , Williams Leonard
Published: August 2020

Kava roots have been extensively studied in clinical trials as potential candidate anti-anxiety drugs. However, anti-convulsive properties of various tissues of stems of Kava have not been reported to date. The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-convulsive potential of aqueous extracts prepared from specific tissues of Kava (Piper methysticum) stems in zebrafish, using the PTZ-induced seizure model. The potency of each extract was compared in terms of the intensity of seizure scores and onset time after pre-treating the zebrafish before the PTZ challenge. The results indicate that aqueous extract of Kava stems without peel after 45 min of pre-treatment exhibited anti-convulsive potential at the dose of 50 mg/L. This study provides evidence to the anti-convulsive properties of peeled Kava stems and its potential for investigation and design of candidate anti-convulsive drugs.
Reduced Attentional Control in Older Adults Leads to Deficits in Flexible Prioritization of Visual Working Memory
Authors: Henderson Sarah E. , Lockhart Holly A. , Davis Emily E. , Emrich Stephen M. , Campbell Karen L.
Published: August 2020

Visual working memory (VWM) resources have been shown to be flexibly distributed according to item priority. This flexible allocation of resources may depend on attentional control, an executive function known to decline with age. In this study, we sought to determine how age differences in attentional control affect VWM performance when attention is flexibly allocated amongst targets of varying priority. Participants performed a delayed-recall task wherein item priority was varied. Error was modelled using a three-component mixture model to probe different aspects of performance (precision, guess-rate, and non-target errors). The flexible resource model offered a good fit to the data from both age groups, but older adults showed consistently lower precision and higher guess rates. Importantly, when demands on flexible resource allocation were highest, older adults showed more non-target errors, often swapping in the item that had a higher priority at encoding. Taken together, these results suggest that the ability to flexibly allocate attention in VWM is largely maintained with age, but older adults are less precise overall and sometimes swap in salient, but no longer relevant, items possibly due to their lessened ability to inhibit previously attended information.
Characteristics of Shannon’s Information Entropy of Atomic States in Strongly Coupled Plasma
Authors: Lee Myoung-Jae , Jung Young-Dae
Published: August 2020

The influence of shielding on the Shannon information entropy for atomic states in strong coupled plasma is investigated using the perturbation method and the Ritz variational method. The analytic expressions for the Shannon information entropies of the ground (1s) and the first excited states (2p) are derived as functions of the ion-sphere radius including the radial and angular parts. It is shown that the entropy change in the atomic state is found to be more significant in the excite state than in the ground state. It is also found that the influence of the localization on the entropy change is more significant for an ion with a higher charge number. The variation of the 1s and 2p Shannon information entropies are discussed.
Use of Stirling Engine for Waste Heat Recovery
Authors: Durcansky Peter , Nosek Radovan , Jandacka Jozef
Published: August 2020

Even though this discovery dates back to 1816, the greatest advancement in technology and understanding of Stirling-cycle devices has occurred in the last 50 years. Although their mass production is currently limited to special-purpose machines, its prospective use is in combination with renewable sources and indicates a potential for commercial purposes. The lack of commercial success, despite obvious advantages, is probably due to a lack of appropriate modeling techniques and theoretical predictions of what these devices can achieve. Nowadays the Stirling engine has found its use mainly in solar power plants, where it represents the only piston engine converting solar energy into mechanical and then electricity with relatively high efficiency. The Stirling engine also appears to be suitable for recovering waste heat, especially in heavy industry. The numerical model was adapted for the existing Cleanergy Stirling engine, to evaluate the possibilities of this one engine for waste heat recovery. This paper also deals with application options and individual parameters that affect the efficiency of this Stirling engine for waste heat recovery. The analysis showed that this kind of engine is capable of recovering and utilizing heat above 300 °C, which determines its possible use with solar energy.
Roadmap for Decarbonization of the Building and Construction Industry—A Supply Chain Analysis Including Primary Production of Steel and Cement
Authors: Karlsson Ida , Rootzén Johan , Toktarova Alla , Odenberger Mikael , Johnsson Filip , Göransson Lisa
Published: August 2020

Sweden has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by 2045. Around 20% of Sweden’s annual CO2 emissions arise from manufacturing, transporting, and processing of construction materials for construction and refurbishment of buildings and infrastructure. In this study, material and energy flows for building and transport infrastructure construction is outlined, together with a roadmap detailing how the flows change depending on different technical and strategical choices. By matching short-term and long-term goals with specific technology solutions, these pathways make it possible to identify key decision points and potential synergies, competing goals, and lock-in effects. The results show that it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions associated with construction of buildings and transport infrastructure by 50% to 2030 applying already available measures, and reach close to zero emissions by 2045, while indicating that strategic choices with respect to process technologies and energy carriers may have different implications on energy use and CO2 emissions over time. The results also illustrate the importance of intensifying efforts to identify and manage both soft and hard barriers and the importance of simultaneously acting now by implementing available measures (e.g., material efficiency and material/fuel substitution measures), while actively planning for long-term measures (low-CO2 steel or cement).
Full Surface Heat Transfer Characteristics of Stator Ventilation Duct of a Turbine Generator
Authors: Jeon Shinyoung , Son Changmin , Yang Jangsik , Ha Sunghoon , Hwang Kyeha
Published: August 2020

Turbine generators operate with complex cooling systems due to the challenge in controlling the peak temperature of the stator bar caused by Ohm loss, which is unavoidable. Therefore, it is important to characterize and quantify the thermal performance of the cooling system. The focus of the present research is to investigate the heat transfer and pressure loss characteristics of a typical cooling system, the so-called stator ventilation duct. A real scale model was built at its operating conditions for the present study. The direction of cooling air was varied to consider its operation condition, so that there are: (1) outward flow; and (2) inward flow cases. In addition, the effect of (3) cross flow (inward with cross flow case) was also studied. The transient heat transfer method using thermochromic liquid crystals is implemented to measure full surface heat transfer distribution. A series of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses were also conducted to support the observation from the experiment. For the outward flow case, the results suggest that the average Nusselt numbers of the 2nd and 3rd ducts are at maximum 100% and 30% higher, respectively, than the inward flow case. The trend was similar with the effect of cross flow. The CFD results were in good agreement with the experimental data.
Network and Reserve Constrained Economic Analysis of Conventional, Adjustable-Speed and Ternary Pumped-Storage Hydropower
Authors: Nag Soumyadeep , Lee Kwang Y.
Published: August 2020

With increasing renewable penetration and projected increase in natural disasters, the reliability and resiliency of a power system become crucial issues. As network inertia drops with increasing penetration of renewables, operators search for flexible resources that can help cope with a disruptive event or manage renewable intermittency. Energy storage is a solution, but the type of storage solution needs to be profitable to exist in the current and upcoming power markets. Advanced pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) is one solution that can help cope with such requirements, which will in turn help to increase the renewable penetration in the system. This paper qualitatively compares the revenue earning potential of PSH configurations, including, adjustable-speed PSH (AS-PSH) and ternary PSH (T-PSH) in comparison to conventional PSH (C-PSH) from the arbitrage and regulation markets, with and without the presence of wind penetration. In addition, a framework for quantitative analysis of any energy storage system has been proposed. A 24-bus RTS system is studied with summer and winter variations in load and wind power. Through revenue and operational mode analysis, this paper reveals that T-PSH has the highest revenue earning potential, which is mainly due to its ability to operate with a hydraulic short circuit.
Video Analysis of Pedestrian Movement (VAPM) under Different Lighting Conditions—Method Exploration
Authors: Johansson Maria , Laureshyn Aliaksei , Nilsson Mikael
Published: August 2020

When daylight hours are limited, pedestrians are dependent on appropriate outdoor lighting. Although new city lighting applications must consider both energy usage and pedestrian responses, current methods used to capture pedestrian walking behaviour during dark conditions in real settings are limited. This study reports on the development and evaluation of a video-based method that analyses pedestrians’ microscopic movements (VAPM—video analysis of pedestrian movements), including placement and speed, in an artificially lit outdoor environment. In a field study utilising between-subjects design, 62 pedestrians walked along the same path under two different lighting applications. VAPM accurately discriminated pedestrians’ microscopic movements in the two lighting applications. By incorporating methodological triangulation, VAPM successfully complemented observer-based assessments of pedestrians’ perceptions and evaluations of the two lighting applications. It is suggested that in evaluations of pedestrian responses to city lighting applications, observer-based assessments could be successfully combined with an analysis of actual pedestrian movement while walking in the lit environment. However, prior to employing a large-scale application of VAPM, the methodology needs to be further adapted for use with drones and integration into smart city lighting systems.
Thermo-Fluid Dynamic and Kinetic Modeling of Hydrothermal Carbonization of Olive Pomace in a Batch Reactor
Authors: Mendecka Barbara , Di Ilio Giovanni , Lombardi Lidia
Published: August 2020

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) represents one of the emerging and most promising technologies for upgrading biomass. Among the residual biomass waste, olive pomace and olive mill wastewater may be seen as valuable energy sources, especially for the Mediterranean countries, given the key role of the olive oil industry in those regions. This paper deals with the thermo-fluid dynamic performance of the HTC process of olive pomace. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling is employed in this study to numerically simulate such a process in batch reactor with the aim of understanding the complex fluid dynamics, heat transfer and reaction kinetics phenomena occurring under hydrothermal conditions. A parametric analysis is performed to evaluate the temperature fields inside the reactor and the output mass yields as a function of the power input required by the process. Velocity flow fields and the spatial distribution of the mixture during the process are also investigated to understand the change in feed conversion at different regions within the tubular reactor under different reaction times. The numerical results are validated and compared with experimental measurements conducted previously on a similar batch reactor. The model predictions are found to be in line with the experimental findings, thus laying the foundations for further modeling improvements towards the design optimization and scale-up of HTC reactors.
Life-Cycle Assessment of Alternative Envelope Construction for a New House in South-Western Europe: Embodied and Operational Magnitude
Authors: Monteiro Helena , Freire Fausto , Fernández John E.
Published: August 2020

The building envelope is critical to reducing operational energy in residential buildings. Under moderate climates, as in South-Western Europe (Portugal), thermal operational energy may be substantially reduced with an adequate building envelope selection at the design stage; therefore, it is crucial to assess the trade-offs between operational and embodied impacts. In this work, the environmental influence of building envelope construction with varying thermal performance were assessed for a South-Western European house under two operational patterns using life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Five insulation thickness levels (0–12 cm), four total ventilation levels (0.3–1.2 ac/h), three exterior wall alternatives (double brick, concrete, and wood walls), and six insulation materials were studied. Insulation thickness tipping-points were identified for alternative operational patterns and wall envelopes, considering six environmental impact categories. Life-cycle results show that, under a South-Western European climate, the embodied impacts represent twice the operational impact of a new Portuguese house. Insulation played an important role. However, increasing it beyond the tipping-point is counterproductive. Lowering ventilation levels and adopting wood walls reduced the house life-cycle impacts. Cork was the insulation material with the lowest impact. Thus, under a moderate climate, priority should be given to using LCA to select envelope solutions.
Optimal Integration of Hydrogen-Based Energy Storage Systems in Photovoltaic Microgrids: A Techno-Economic Assessment
Authors: Serra Fabio , Lucariello Marialaura , Petrollese Mario , Cau Giorgio
Published: August 2020

The feasibility and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen-based microgrids in facilities, such as public buildings and small- and medium-sized enterprises, provided by photovoltaic (PV) plants and characterized by low electric demand during weekends, were investigated in this paper. Starting from the experience of the microgrid being built at the Renewable Energy Facility of Sardegna Ricerche (Italy), which, among various energy production and storage systems, includes a hydrogen storage system, a modeling of the hydrogen-based microgrid was developed. The model was used to analyze the expected performance of the microgrid considering different load profiles and equipment sizes. Finally, the microgrid cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a preliminary economic analysis. The results demonstrate that an effective design can be achieved with a PV system sized for an annual energy production 20% higher than the annual energy requested by the user and a hydrogen generator size 60% of the PV nominal power size. This configuration leads to a self-sufficiency rate of about 80% and, without public grants, a levelized cost of energy comparable with the cost of electricity in Italy can be achieved with a reduction of at least 25–40% of the current initial costs charged for the whole plant, depending on the load profile shape.
Design, Selection and Application of Energy Recovery Device in Seawater Desalination: A Review
Authors: Huang Bin , Pu Kexin , Wu Peng , Wu Dazhuan , Leng Jianxing
Published: August 2020

In the seawater desalination system, the energy recovery system is a crucial part, as it consumes a lot of energy and plays a guiding role in the recovery efficiency. Therefore, in the energy recovery system, the recovery rate and energy consumption are the key factors to guide the system design. In order to make the energy recovery device achieve a high recovery rate under conditions of low energy consumption, the design and selection of each device in the system are particularly important. At the current stage, system matching optimization, device design optimization, and function objective optimization are widely used to improve the energy recovery system. In this paper, the design principle of the energy recovery integration system is analyzed, methods of reducing energy consumption and improving recovery efficiency are presented. The study provides guidance for the design and selection of energy recovery devices under different operating conditions.
Advanced Variable Step Size Incremental Conductance MPPT for a Standalone PV System Utilizing a GA-Tuned PID Controller
Authors: Feroz Mirza Adeel , Mansoor Majad , Ling Qiang , Khan Muhammad Imran , Aldossary Omar M.
Published: August 2020

In this article, a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller for the fast-changing irradiance of photovoltaic (PV) systems is introduced. Our technique utilizes a modified incremental conductance (IC) algorithm for the efficient and fast tracking of MPP. The proposed system has a simple implementation, fast tracking, and achieved steady-state oscillation. Traditional MPPT techniques use a tradeoff between steady-state and transition-state parameters. The shortfalls of various techniques are studied. A comprehensive comparative study is done to test various existing techniques against the proposed technique. The common parameters discussed in this study are fast convergence, efficiency, and reduced oscillations. The proposed method successfully addresses these issues and improves the results significantly by using a proportional integral deferential (PID) controller with a genetic algorithm (GA) to predict the variable step size of the IC-based MPPT technique. The system is designed and tested against the perturbation and observation (P&O)-based MPPT technique. Our technique effectively detects global maxima (GM) for fast-changing irradiance due to the adopted GA-based tuning of the controller. A comparative analysis of the results proves the superior performance and capabilities to track GM in fewer iterations.
Complementarity between Combined Heat and Power Systems, Solar PV and Hydropower at a District Level: Sensitivity to Climate Characteristics along an Alpine Transect
Authors: Puspitarini Handriyanti Diah , François Baptiste , Baratieri Marco , Brown Casey , Zaramella Mattia , Borga Marco
Published: August 2020

Combined heat and power systems (CHP) produce heat and electricity simultaneously. Their resulting high efficiency makes them more attractive from the energy managers’ perspective than other conventional thermal systems. Although heat is a by-product of the electricity generation process, system operators usually operate CHP systems to satisfy heat demand. Electricity generation from CHP is thus driven by the heat demand, which follows the variability of seasonal temperature, and thus is not always correlated with the fluctuation of electricity demand. Consequently, from the perspective of the electricity grid operator, CHP systems can be seen as a non-controllable energy source similar to other renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or hydro. In this study, we investigate how ‘non-controllable’ electricity generation from CHP systems combines with ‘non-controllable’ electricity generation from solar photovoltaic panels (PV) and run-of-the river (RoR) hydropower at a district level. Only these three energy sources are considered within a 100% renewable mix scenario. Energy mixes with different shares of CHP, solar and RoR are evaluated regarding their contribution to total energy supply and their capacity to reduce generation variability. This analysis is carried out over an ensemble of seventeen catchments in North Eastern Italy located along a climate transect ranging from high elevation and snow dominated head-water catchments to rain-fed and wet basins at lower elevations. Results show that at a district scale, integration of CHP systems with solar photovoltaic and RoR hydropower leads to higher demand satisfaction and lower variability of the electricity balance. Results also show that including CHP in the energy mix modifies the optimal relative share between solar and RoR power generation. Results are consistent across the climate transect. For some districts, using the electricity from CHP might also be a better solution than building energy storage for solar PV.
Hyperspectral Imaging Coupled with Multivariate Analysis and Image Processing for Detection and Visualisation of Colour in Cooked Sausages Stuffed in Different Modified Casings
Authors: Feng Chao-Hui , Makino Yoshio , García Martín Juan F.
Published: August 2020

A hyperspectral imaging system was for the first time exploited to estimate the core colour of sausages stuffed in natural hog casings or in two hog casings treated with solutions containing surfactants and lactic acid in slush salt. Yellowness of sausages stuffed in natural hog casings (control group, 20.26 ± 4.81) was significantly higher than that of sausages stuffed in casings modified by submersion for 90 min in a solution containing 1:30 (w/w) soy lecithin:distilled water, 2.5% wt. soy oil, and 21 mL lactic acid per kg NaCl (17.66 ± 2.89) (p < 0.05). When predicting the lightness and redness of the sausage core, a partial least squares regression model developed from spectra pre-treated with a second derivative showed calibration coefficients of determination (Rc2) of 0.73 and 0.76, respectively. Ten, ten, and seven wavelengths were selected as the important optimal wavelengths for lightness, redness, and yellowness, respectively. Those wavelengths provide meaningful information for developing a simple, cost-effective multispectral system to rapidly differentiate sausages based on their core colour. According to the canonical discriminant analysis, lightness possessed the highest discriminant power with which to differentiate sausages stuffed in different casings.
Food-Loss Control at the Macronutrient Level: Protein Inventory for the Norwegian Farmed Salmon Production System
Authors: Abualtaher Mohd , Bar Eirin Skjøndal
Published: August 2020

The growing world population and the growing need for food are raising the importance of more efficient and sustainable food production systems. Food loss is a significant global challenge and a major stressor on natural resources. True assessment of food loss is a precursor to its reduction. This study aimed to assess the actual food loss in the Norwegian farmed salmon production system in the year 2019 by quantifying the protein flows and stocks in the system. Protein served as an indicator substance of the true systemic food loss. This study highlights the system’s qualitative value-adding conversion of plant protein into higher quality marine animal protein, with deposited vital trace minerals harvested from the sea and carried to the human food chain. However, it takes a lot of protein from multiple sources to produce salmon. We found that the total invested feed protein is about four times more than the harvested salmon protein, and about 40% of that harvested protein in the salmon biomass departs the human food chain by flowing to other non-food industries. The current post-harvest practices, material trade-offs, and waste management solutions could be adjusted to a context that prioritizes human food security. An alternative scenario is presented in this study, based on a hypothetical new food product in parallel to the main salmon fillet product. The alternative scenario turned 99% of the harvested protein into food and adjusted the ratio between the invested marine protein and the human food product protein. The originality of this research is in its approach to food loss assessment at the industrial level by means of a systemic macronutrient (protein) inventory.
Thermal Transformation of Palm Waste to High-Quality Hydrocarbon Fuel
Authors: Kuan Chai , Neng Mark , Chan Yu-Bin , Sim Yoke-Leng , Strothers Joel , Pratt Lawrence
Published: August 2020

Empty fruit bunches (EFB) are waste products in the palm oil industry. Upon pressing of EFB, a liquor is produced which contains low grade fats, oils, and greases (FOG). These are the least valuable products of palm oil production, and are often discarded as waste. It is shown here that the EFB pressed liquor can be thermally transformed at or below 350 °C to produce a series of hydrocarbons in the range of kerosene and diesel fuel. This is distinctly different from other studies of biofuels from palm oil, which were based entirely on biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)) and biogas production. Furthermore, this transformation takes place without addition of an external catalyst, as was shown by comparison to reactions with the potential Lewis acid catalysts, ferric sulfate, and molecular sieves. The product distribution is similar to that obtained from brown grease, another waste FOG stream obtained from the sewage treatment industry, although the products from palm oil waste are less sensitive to reaction conditions.
Deficit Irrigation and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza as a Water-Saving Strategy for Eggplant Production
Authors: Badr M. A. , El-Tohamy W. A. , Abou-Hussein S. D. , Gruda N. S.
Published: August 2020

Crop production in arid regions requires continuous irrigation to fulfill water demand throughout the growing season. Agronomic measures, such as roots-soil microorganisms, including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, have emerged in recent years to overcome soil constraints and improve water use efficiency (WUE). Eggplant plants were exposed to varying water stress under inoculated (AM+) and non-inoculated (AM−) to evaluate yield performance along with plant physiological status. Plants grown under full irrigation resulted in the highest fruit yield, and there were significant reductions in total yield and yield components when applying less water. The decline in fruit yield was due to the reduction in the number of fruits rather than the weight of the fruit per plant. AM+ plants showed more favorable growth conditions, which translated into better crop yield, total dry biomass, and number of fruits under all irrigation treatments. The fruit yield did not differ between full irrigation and 80% evapotranspiration (ET) restoration with AM+, but a 20% reduction in irrigation water was achieved. Water use efficiency (WUE) was negatively affected by deficit irrigation, particularly at 40% ET, when the water deficit severely depressed fruit yield. Yield response factor (Ky) showed a lower tolerance with a value higher than 1, with a persistent drop in WUE suggesting a lower tolerance to water deficits. The (Ky) factor was relatively lower with AM+ than with AM− for the total fruit yield and dry biomass (Kss), indicating that AM may enhance the drought tolerance of the crop. Plants with AM+ had a higher uptake of N and P in shoots and fruits, higher stomatal conductance (gs), and higher photosynthetic rates (Pn), regardless of drought severity. Soil with AM+ had higher extractable N, P, and organic carbon (OC), indicating an improvement of the fertility status in coping with a limited water supply.
Maternal and Child Survival in Haor Region in Bangladesh. An Analysis of Fathers’ Capabilities to Save the Future
Authors: Chakraborty Barnali , Darak Shrinivas , Haisma Hinke
Published: August 2020

Maternal and child survival is a major public health problem in haor areas in Bangladesh. Fathers feel responsible as expressed by their capability “to save the future”. Using the Capability Framework for Child Growth, we aimed to identify what contextual factors underlie a father’s real opportunities to secure a safe delivery, including social norms and beliefs. Parents from households having children less than two years old were asked to participate in two rounds of qualitative research. In total, 25 focus group discussions and eight in-depth interviews were conducted. Late admission to health facilities emerged as the overarching disabling factor for fathers’ capability to save the lives of mothers and children. Poor communication about the mother’s health condition between spouses and fear for caesarean birth were underlying this late admission. In addition, inadequate advice by local doctors, underdeveloped infrastructure, and seasonal extremities contributed to late admission to health care facilities. The participants indicated that mother’s autonomy in haor to seek health care is a constraint. This capability analysis points towards relevant interventions. In addition to the need for an improved health infrastructure, programs to improve maternal and child survival in haor could focus on the gendered household responsibilities and poor communication between spouses.
Association between Personal Social Capital and Loneliness among Widowed Older People
Authors: Jiang Dongdong , Hou Yitan , Hao Jinwei , Zhou Jiayi , Jiang Junfeng , Wang Quan
Published: August 2020

To explore the association between the personal social capital and loneliness among the widowed older adults in China. Data from 1497 widowed older adults were extracted from China’s Health-Related Quality of Life Survey for Older Adults 2018. The Chinese version of the Personal Social Capital Scale (PSCS-16) was used to evaluate the participants’ status of bonding and bridging social capital (BOC and BRC). Loneliness was assessed by the short-form UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8). Multiple linear regression models were established to examine the relationship between social capital and loneliness. The BOC and BRC of rural widowed older people were significantly lower than those of widowed older people in urban areas, while loneliness of rural widowed older people was higher than that of widowed older people in urban areas. The result of the final model showed that loneliness of rural participants was significantly associated with both BOC (B = 0.141, p = 0.001) and BRC (B = −0.116, p = 0.003). The loneliness of the urban widowed sample had no association with both BOC and BRC (p > 0.05). These findings suggested that more social support and compassionate care should be provided to enrich the personal social capital and thus to reduce loneliness of widowed older adults, especially those in rural areas.
Health Services, Socioeconomic Indicators, and Primary Care Coverage in Mortality by Lower Genital Tract and Breast Neoplasias in Brazilian Women during Reproductive and Non-Reproductive Periods
Authors: Ramos José Lucas Souza , Figueiredo Francisco Winter dos Santos , Zuchelo Lea Tami Suzuki , Purcino Flávia Abranches Corsetti , Adami Fernando , Goncalves Rodrigo , Ruiz Carlos Alberto , Baracat Edmund Chada , Soares Junior José Maria , Sorpreso Isabel Cristina Esposito
Published: August 2020

Women’s health assistance at the low-complexity level is focused on the most common diseases and can be affected by primary health care coverage, particularly in areas far away from large urban centers. Thus, in this work, we aim to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic status, health care indicators, and primary care coverage in mortality from neoplasms of the lower genital tract and breast in Brazilian women during reproductive and non-reproductive periods. We conducted an ecological study at the Gynecology Discipline, Medicine School, University of São Paulo. Secondary data were collected from women according to reproductive periods and mortality data from the Mortality Information System based on International Classification of Disease—10th edition regarding breast and lower genital tract neoplasms in 2017. The health service and socioeconomic indicators were obtained from the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Our results showed that primary care coverage and health service indicators were not associated with mortality from breast cancer and the female lower genital tract, both in reproductive and non-reproductive periods. Sociodemographic indicators were found to be associated with mortality from breast cancer and the female lower genital tract, with income being associated with reproductive period (β = −0.4; 95% CI, −0.8 to −0.03) and educational level in the non-reproductive period (β = 9.7; 95% CI, 1.5 to 18.0).