bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Efficacious Utilization of Fuzzy-Logic Controller-Based Two-Quadrant Operation of PMBLDC Motor Drive Systems for Multipass Hot-Steel Rolling Processes
Authors: Nandakumar Mohanraj , Ramalingam Sankaran , Nallusamy Subashini , Rangarajan Shriram Srinivasarangan
Published: June 2020

This study investigates the rough steel-rolling process, which requires repeated and rapid bidirectional hot-rolling operations and proposes a fuzzy-logic-controller-based brushless electric DC (BLDC) motor drive system for the same. We present a modeling of the hot-steel rough-rolling process using a set of metallurgical parameters and mechanical equations based on their operating conditions, specific features and characteristics, all obtained from actual data. The above equations and related parameters were modeled in MATLAB/Simulink schematic under variations in temperature and slab thickness corresponding using three different hot-rolled (HR) steel specimens. This led to the creation of a pair of speed and torque- profiles with alternate polarities for successive passes covering the entire rolling process for each steel specimen. A fuzzy logic controller utilized the above profiles on the motor shaft by incorporating speed and current feedback loops to attain reference speed and calculation of instantaneous stator currents of the BLDC motor with respective phase sequences, so as to satisfy the torque-profile. Simulation results showing the detailed performance of the drive system are presented. Further, experimental work on a BLD-motor-drive system is presented, along with loading arrangements and an arm controller embedded with control algorithm for the multi-loop feedback system used for the closed loop speed control. The efficacy of the new applications proposed in this study for the first time can be seen from the validation of the results from the BLDC motor with its fuzzy-based controller in terms of simulation and hardware, thereby serving to be an attractive alternative to conventional induction motor drive systems for steel rolling.
Cascade of One Class Classifiers for Water Level Anomaly Detection
Authors: Tan Fabian Hann Shen , Park Jun Ryeol , Jung Kyuil , Lee Jun Seoung , Kang Dae-Ki
Published: June 2020

Intelligent anomaly detection is a promising area to discover anomalies as manual processing by human are generally labor-intensive and time-consuming. An effective approach to deal with is essentially to build a classifier system that can reflect the condition of the infrastructure when it tends to behave abnormally, and therefore the appropriate course of action can be taken immediately. In order to achieve aforementioned objective, we proposed to build a dual-staged cascade one class SVM (OCSVM) for water level monitor systems. In the first stage of the cascade model, our OCSVM learns directly on single observation at a time, 1-g to detect point anomaly. Whereas in the second stage, OCSVM learns from the constructed n-gram feature vectors based on the historical data to discover any collective anomaly where the pattern from the n-gram failed to conform to the expected normal pattern. The experimental result showed that our proposed dual-staged OCSVM is able to detect anomaly and collective anomalies effectively. Our model performance has attained remarkable result of about 99% in terms of F1-score. We also compared the performance of our OCSVM algorithm with other algorithms.
Enhancing Performance of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester System for Concurrent Flutter and Vortex-Induced Vibration
Authors: Shan Xiaobiao , Tian Haigang , Cao Han , Xie Tao
Published: June 2020

This paper proposes a novel and efficient energy harvester (EH) system, for capturing simultaneously flutter and vortex-induced vibration. There exists a coupling effect between flexible spring energy harvester (FSEH) and cantilever beam energy harvester (CBEH) in aerodynamic response and output characteristic. Many prototypes of the harvester were manufactured to explore the coupling effect in a wind tunnel. The experimental results demonstrate that FSEH is mainly subjected to flutter-induced vibration and CBEH undergoes vortex-induced vibration. Disturbance of FSEH first takes place, a limited oscillation cycle then occurs, and chaos ultimately happens as airflow velocity increase. Root mean square voltages are more than 11 V for FSEH at beyond 10.52 m/s, which shows the better output performance over the existing harvesters. Vibration response and output voltage of various harvesters are mutually enhanced with each other. An enhancing ratio for FSEH-130-25 is up to 69.6% over FSEH-130-0, while the enhancing ratio for CBEH-130-30 is 198.3% compared to CBEH-0-30. Field application testing manifests that discharging time to power the pedometer is almost twice as long as the charging one for FSEH-130-25 at 14.48 m/s. The current research offers a suggestive guidance for promoting future practical application in micro airfoil aircrafts.
An Autonomic Cycle of Data Analysis Tasks for the Supervision of HVAC Systems of Smart Building
Authors: Aguilar Jose , Ardila Douglas , Avendaño Andrés , Macias Felipe , White Camila , Gomez-Pulido José , Gutierrez de Mesa José , Garces-Jimenez Alberto
Published: June 2020

Early fault detection and diagnosis in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems may reduce the damage of equipment, improving the reliability and safety of smart buildings, generating social and economic benefits. Data models for fault detection and diagnosis are increasingly used for extracting knowledge in the supervisory tasks. This article proposes an autonomic cycle of data analysis tasks (ACODAT) for the supervision of the building’s HVAC systems. Data analysis tasks incorporate data mining models for extracting knowledge from the system monitoring, analyzing abnormal situations and automatically identifying and taking corrective actions. This article shows a case study of a real building’s HVAC system, for the supervision with our ACODAT, where the HVAC subsystems have been installed over the years, providing a good example of a heterogeneous facility. The proposed supervisory functionality of the HVAC system is capable of detecting deviations, such as faults or gradual increment of energy consumption in similar working conditions. The case study shows this capability of the supervisory autonomic cycle, usually a key objective for smart buildings.
Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in North America’s Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Countries
Authors: Arango Miranda Raul , Hausler Robert , Romero Lopez Rabindranarth , Glaus Mathias , Pasillas-Diaz Jose Ramon
Published: June 2020

In force since 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is still the most comprehensive agreement ever developed, conforming to the world’s largest trade market. However, the environmental impacts cannot be neglected, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is revisited, studying Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.A. in relation to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, gross domestic product (GDP), energy, and exergy consumption. Ordinary least squares, vector autoregression, and Granger causality tests are conducted. Additionally, exergy indicators and the human development index (HDI) are proposed. Results for Mexico and the U.S.A. describe similar and interesting outcomes. In the search of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC), the EKC hypothesis is confirmed for Mexico and the U.S.A. However, for Canada, the EKC hypothesis does not stand. The Granger causality test displays the existence of a uni-directional causality running from CO2 emissions to economic growth; a similar behavior was observed while testing the for the exergetic control variables. The most intriguing Granger causal results are those from the U.S.A. A bidirectional relation was observed between exergy intensity and CO2 emissions. Moreover, the EKC curve was plotted by both variables. Furthermore, Mexico’s outcomes reveal that increasing renewable exergy share will decrease CO2 emissions. On the contrary, increasing HDI will grow CO2 emissions. Policy implications arise for NAFTA countries to minimize CO2 emissions by means of the growing renewable energy share. Exergy tools offer an appealing insight into energetic and environmental strategies.
Towards Rural Revitalization Strategy for Housing in Gully Regions of the Loess Plateau: Environmental Considerations
Authors: Zhang Tao , Ding Qi , Hu Qinian , Liu Bin , Gao Weijun , Zhou Dian , Fukuda Hiroatsu
Published: June 2020

Under the background of Chinese Rural Revitalization Strategy, how to improve rural regional environment and living quality is very important and urgent. At present, residential buildings in gully regions of the Loess Plateau have poor insulation and high-energy consumption. Thus, better ecological design can largely save energy and improve living comfort. The findings of this paper provide an insight into the ecological design potentials for reducing energy demand across rural regions in China. In this paper, we select three main types of residential buildings in gully regions and build energy demand models based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. The results show that the energy demand in the building use stage is extremely high in all three typical buildings, which account for around 90% of the whole life cycle. The energy demand of the traditional adobe residential building is lower than the brick-concrete structure buildings. The LCA method used in this paper can quantify the energy demand in each stage of life cycle, which helps to put forward the corresponding ecological design strategy. The research results can be used as a reference in the future development of this region and other rural regions in China.
Revisiting Electricity Network Tariffs in a Context of Decarbonization, Digitalization, and Decentralization
Authors: Morell Dameto Nicolás , Chaves-Ávila José Pablo , Gómez San Román Tomás
Published: June 2020

The electricity system is evolving due to three driven forces: decarbonization, digitalization, and decentralization (3 Ds). Should these three forces occur, electricity network tariffs must be revisited. In most countries, actual network charges incentivize inefficient network usage when volumetric or low granular (temporal and locational) charges are applied. This paper analyses the effect of 3 Ds on tariff design principles and proposes an efficient methodology for network tariff design that promotes efficient usage of the network as well as an equitable share of the costs for network users. The proposed network tariff consists of two components: a peak-coincident and a fixed charge. The peak-coincident forward-looking charge considers the cost of future network reinforcements required, calculated element-by-element, and assigned to customers during the peak utilization hours of each network element. Fixed charges allocate the residual part of the total network costs following equity principles. A simplified network model is used to compare the charges faced by consumers through three tariff structures: (1) a volumetric tariff, (2) a simplified version of the Spanish tariff, and (3) the proposed efficient tariff. This case study highlights the economic benefits of applying a highly granular and peak-coincident tariff structure.
Biocrude Production from Wheat Straw at Sub and Supercritical Hydrothermal Liquefaction
Authors: Seehar Tahir H. , Toor Saqib S. , Shah Ayaz A. , Pedersen Thomas H. , Rosendahl Lasse A.
Published: June 2020

In this study, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wheat straw (WS) in sub (350 °C) and supercritical (400 °C) water with and without alkali catalyst was performed to investigate the potential of WS for the production of biocrude. The influences of temperature and catalyst were studied for the HTL products. Results showed that maximum biocrude yield (32.34 wt. %) with least solid residue (4.34 wt. %) was obtained at subcritical catalytic condition, whereas the carbon content was slightly higher in biocrude at supercritical. The higher heating value (HHV) for biocrude is around 35 MJ/kg for all four conditions. The major compounds in biocrude were observed as ketones, alcohols, acids, and hydrocarbons. At 350 °C, 44–55% of the carbon recovered into biocrude. The products were characterized in terms of elemental composition, higher heating values, organics, and inorganic compounds in different phases. To keep in consideration the scale-up of HTL process for continuous plant, aqueous phase from HTL was also recirculated which showed the fruitful outcomes by increasing the biocrude yield at each cycle.
Evaluation of a Modified Equivalent Fuel-Consumption Minimization Strategy Considering Engine Start Frequency and Battery Parameters for a Plugin Hybrid Two-Wheeler
Authors: Kommuri Naga Kavitha , McGordon Andrew , Allen Antony , Quang Truong Dinh
Published: June 2020

An appropriate energy management strategy is essential to enhance the performance of hybrid electric vehicles. A novel modified equivalent fuel-consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is developed considering the engine operating point deviation from the optimum operating line. This paper focuses on an all-inclusive evaluation of this modified ECMS with other state-of-art energy management strategies concerning battery ageing, engine switching along with fuel economy and charge sustenance. The simulation-based results of a hybrid two-wheeler concept are analysed, which shows that the modified ECMS offers the highest benefit compared to rule-based controllers concerning fuel economy and reduction in engine switching events. However, the improvement in fuel economy using modified ECMS has significant negative potential effects on critical battery parameters influencing battery ageing. The results are analysed and found consistent for two different drive cycles and three different powertrain component configurations. The results show a significant reduction in fuel consumption of up to 21.18% and a reduction in engine switching events of up to 55% with modified ECMS when compared with rule-based strategies. However, there is a significant increase in battery temperature by 31% and battery throughput by 378%, which plays a major role in accelerating battery ageing. This paper emphasizes the need to consider battery-ageing parameters along with other control objectives for a robust assessment of energy management strategies. This study helps in laying down a foundation for future improvements in energy management development and it also aids in establishing a basis for comparing energy management controllers.
Performance Assessment of Data-Driven and Physical-Based Models to Predict Building Energy Demand in Model Predictive Controls
Authors: Mugnini Alice , Coccia Gianluca , Polonara Fabio , Arteconi Alessia
Published: June 2020

The implementation of model predictive controls (MPCs) in buildings represents an important opportunity to reduce energy consumption and to apply demand side management strategies. In order to be effective, the MPC should be provided with an accurate model that is able to forecast the actual building energy demand. To this aim, in this paper, a data-driven model realized with an artificial neural network is compared to a physical-based resistance–capacitance (RC) network in an operative MPC. The MPC was designed to minimize the total cost for the thermal demand requirements by unlocking the energy flexibility in the building envelope, on the basis of price signals. Although both models allow energy cost savings (about 16% compared to a standard set-point control), a deterioration in the prediction performance is observed when the models actually operate in the controller (the root mean square error, RMSE, for the air zone prediction is about 1 °C). However, a difference in the on-time control actions is noted when the two models are compared. With a maximum deviation of 0.5 °C from the indoor set-point temperature, the physical-based model shows better performance in following the system dynamics, while the value rises to 1.8 °C in presence of the data-driven model for the analyzed case study. This result is mainly related to difficulties in properly training data-driven models for applications involving energy flexibility exploitation.
Comparison of Laboratory and Computational Models of Selected Thermal-Technical Properties of Constructions Systems Based on Wood
Authors: Švajlenka Jozef , Kozlovská Mária , Vranay František , Pošiváková Terézia , Jámborová Miroslava
Published: June 2020

Energy-efficient buildings, sustainable buildings, smart buildings, nearly zero-energy buildings, passive and active buildings are construction concepts widely recognised as setting the latest trends. The purpose of their design is to create an optimal thermal microclimate by means of heat flows that are either formed within it or enter into it. This research paper presents an analysis of the measurements of the density of heat flows, their spread in building constructions, all of which is examined in laboratory conditions and confronted with calculation models. The hypothesis of this research is to confirm or refute whether the computational models match the laboratory simulations in terms of thermal-technical parameters. The research uses a methodology designed for examining building constructions under virtually stable conditions. Two variants of external sandwich walls based on prefab cross laminated timber panels (variant A) and structural insulated panel (variant B) were proposed as the subject of the study. Both variants were subjected to research in laboratory conditions and computational simulations. For the sake of comparison, the calculation simulations that manufacturers of wood construction systems typically declare were also performed. The results of the analyses show significant differences between the theoretical or declared parameters and the values measured in laboratory conditions (7.5–32.6%). The deviations of the experimental measurements from the calculated or declared parameters were not as significant for variant A as they were for variant B. These findings show that for these analysed sandwich structures based on wood, it is not always possible to reliably declare calculated values of thermal-technical parameters. The publication is also a contribution to the current needs in the field of heating technology in terms of sustainability and the quality of internal environments.
Numerical Simulation of the Flow in a Kaplan Turbine Model during Transient Operation from the Best Efficiency Point to Part Load
Authors: Iovănel Raluca G. , Dunca Georgiana , Bucur Diana M. , Cervantes Michel J.
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study is to develop a reliable numerical model that provides additional information to experimental measurements and contributes to a better exploitation of hydraulic turbines during transient operation. The paper presents a numerical analysis of the flow inside a Kaplan turbine model operated at a fixed runner blade angle during load variation from the best efficiency point (BEP) to part load (PL) operation. A mesh displacement is defined in order to model the closure of the guide vanes. Two different types of inlet boundary conditions are tested for the transient numerical simulations: linear flow rate variation (InletFlow) and constant total pressure (InletTotalPressure). A time step analysis is performed and the influence of the time discretization over the fluctuating quantities is discussed. Velocity measurements at the corresponding operating points are available to validate the simulation. Spectrogram plots of the pressure signals show the times of appearance of the plunging and rotating modes of the rotating vortex rope (RVR) and the stagnation region developed around the centerline of the draft tube is captured.
New Insights into Cellular Impacts of Metals in Aquatic Animals
Authors: Le Saux Aimie , David Elise , Betoulle Stéphane , Bultelle Florence , Rocher Béatrice , Barjhoux Iris , Cosio Claudia
Published: June 2020

Toxic metals remain a current important threat to aquatic ecosystems, despite regulatory efforts to reduce their release. Several toxic metals already appear in the list of priority substances polluting surface waters, while concerns arise from the increasing use of technology-critical metals such as metallic nanoparticles, rare-earth, and platinum group metals. In aquatic environments, various chemical, biological and physical processes determine the impact of metals on the biota. This review provides insights into responses to toxic metals recently reported in freshwater and marine animals. The specific emphasis is on: (i) common cellular and molecular responses; (ii) stress proteins; (iii) redox homeostasis; (iv) cytoskeleton rearrangement; (v) metabolism reshuffle; (vi) free cellular energy and mitochondrial metabolism; and (vi) immunity. These endpoints are promising, notably in multi-biomarker approaches to identify precise cellular toxicity pathways and anticipate the impact of environmental metal pollution.
SOLIOT—Decentralized Data Control and Interactions for IoT
Authors: Bader Sebastian R. , Maleshkova Maria
Published: June 2020

The digital revolution affects every aspect of society and economy. In particular, the manufacturing industry faces a new age of production processes and connected collaboration. The underlying ideas and concepts, often also framed as a new “Internet of Things”, transfer IT technologies to the shop floor, entailing major challenges regarding the heterogeneity of the domain. On the other hand, web technologies have already proven their value in distributed settings. SOLID (derived from “social linked data”) is a recent approach to decentralize data control and standardize interactions for social applications in the web. Extending this approach towards industrial applications has the potential to bridge the gap between the World Wide Web and local manufacturing environments. This paper proposes SOLIOT—a combination of lightweight industrial protocols with the integration and data control provided by SOLID. An in-depth requirement analysis examines the potential but also current limitations of the approach. The conceptual capabilities are outlined, compared and extended for the IoT protocols CoAP and MQTT. The feasibility of the approach is illustrated through an open-source implementation, which is evaluated in a virtual test bed and a detailed analysis of the proposed components.
Population Genetic Analysis for Stock Enhancement of Silver Sea Bream (Rhabdosargus sarba) in Taiwan
Authors: Hsu Te-Hua , Huang Chang-Wen , Lee Hung-Tai , Kuo Yi-Hsuan , Liu Kwang-Ming , Lin Cheng-Hui , Gong Hong-Yi
Published: June 2020

Stock enhancement is a method for replenishing depleted wild finfish populations by supplementing them with hatchery-raised fish. In Taiwan, silver sea bream (Rhabdosargus sarba) is a predominant commercial species involved in stock enhancement projects. Although management agencies conduct stock enhancement projects, there are a lot of private releases without records. Stock enhancement is performed by the private aquaculture sector without accurate genetic records, potentially leading to unintended consequences for wild populations. We analyzed the genetics of 459 wild and 701 hatchery-reared specimens from nine batches produced by various hatcheries. Wild and hatchery-reared samples could be considered two separate clades by using a set of stable and informative microsatellite markers including type I (from gene introns and 3′UTR) and type II markers (randomly picked up from genome). Type I microsatellite markers could more sensitively reflect the loss of genetic diversity more than type II markers in the domestication process. All specimens were considered native by using mtDNA COI and microsatellites. The genetic composition of the wild population is relatively simple, and the estimated low contribution rate of the hatchery stock (1.3–10.9%; 6–50/459) indicated a weak but significant genetic effect of stock enhancement. Therefore, establishing standards for the stock enhancement of silver sea bream for more effective supplementation of wild populations is imperative.
Numerical Simulation of Breathing Mode Oscillation on Bubble Detachment
Authors: Oku Takao , Hirahara Hiroyuki , Akimoto Tomohiro , Tsuchida Daiki
Published: June 2020

When a bubble detaches from a nozzle immersed in water, a sound is emitted owing to the detachment. The bubble deformation and sound emission generated after detachment has been investigated in many studies, in which the breathing mode with a natural frequency was discussed based on the dynamics of the interface between the air and water. In this study, the deformation of a bubble was observed, and the sound emitted upon detachment was measured experimentally. To analyze the bubble deformation process, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was conducted using the volume of fluid (VOF) method to predict the sound emission. In the analysis, the deformation behavior, the oscillation frequencies, sound pressure, and radius variation were discussed by comparing the numerical and experimental data. Furthermore, the natural frequency and low frequency vibrations were discussed based on the interference between the detached bubbles and the air column vibrations.
Advances in Production, Properties and Applications of Sprouted Seeds
Authors: Peñas Elena , Martínez-Villaluenga Cristina
Published: June 2020

Sprouted grains are widely appreciated food ingredients due to their improved, nutritional, functional, organoleptic and textural properties compared with non-germinated grains. In recent years, sprouting has been explored as a promising green food engineering strategy to improve the nutritional value of grains and the formation of secondary metabolites with potential application in the functional foods, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of sprouting on the chemical composition, safety aspects, techno-functional and chemopreventive properties of sprouted seeds and their derived flours and by-products. The six articles included in this Special Issue provide insightful findings on the most recent advances regarding new applications of sprouted seeds or products derived thereof, evaluations of the nutritional value and phytochemical composition of sprouts during production or storage and explorations of their microbiological, bioactive and techno-functional properties.
Product Quality during the Storage of Foods with Insects as an Ingredient: Impact of Particle Size, Antioxidant, Oil Content and Salt Content
Authors: Wendin Karin , Mårtensson Lennart , Djerf Henric , Langton Maud
Published: June 2020

To increase the acceptability of insects as food in Western culture, it is essential to develop attractive, high-quality food products. Higher acceptability of insect-based food has been shown if the insects are “invisible”. Mincing or chopping the insect material could be a first processing step to reduce the visibility of the insects. In this work, we processed yellow mealworms by using traditional food techniques: chopping, mixing and heat treatment in a retort. The results show that all factors in the experimental design (particle size, oil content, salt content and antioxidant) influenced the products to a larger extent than the storage time. The results, measured by sensory analysis, TBAR values (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), colourimetry and viscosity, show clearly that the food products packaged in TRC (Tetra recart cartons) 200 packages and processed in a retort stayed stable during a storage time of 6 months at room temperature.
Transcriptional Basis for Differential Thermosensitivity of Seedlings of Various Tomato Genotypes
Authors: Hu Yangjie , Fragkostefanakis Sotirios , Schleiff Enrico , Simm Stefan
Published: June 2020

Transcriptional reprograming after the exposure of plants to elevated temperatures is a hallmark of stress response which is required for the manifestation of thermotolerance. Central transcription factors regulate the stress survival and recovery mechanisms and many of the core responses controlled by these factors are well described. In turn, pathways and specific genes contributing to variations in the thermotolerance capacity even among closely related plant genotypes are not well defined. A seedling-based assay was developed to directly compare the growth and transcriptome response to heat stress in four tomato genotypes with contrasting thermotolerance. The conserved and the genotype-specific alterations of mRNA abundance in response to heat stress were monitored after exposure to three different temperatures. The transcripts of the majority of genes behave similarly in all genotypes, including the majority of heat stress transcription factors and heat shock proteins, but also genes involved in photosynthesis and mitochondrial ATP production. In turn, genes involved in hormone and RNA-based regulation, such as auxin- and ethylene-related genes, or transcription factors like HsfA6b, show a differential regulation that associates with the thermotolerance pattern. Our results provide an inventory of genes likely involved in core and genotype-dependent heat stress response mechanisms with putative role in thermotolerance in tomato seedlings.
Extreme Low Cytosolic pH Is a Signal for Cell Survival in Acid Stressed Yeast
Authors: Lucena Rodrigo Mendonça , Dolz-Edo Laura , Brul Stanley , de Morais Marcos Antonio , Smits Gertien
Published: June 2020

Yeast biomass is recycled in the process of bioethanol production using treatment with dilute sulphuric acid to control the bacterial population. This treatment can lead to loss of cell viability, with consequences on the fermentation yield. Thus, the aim of this study was to define the functional cellular responses to inorganic acid stress. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with mutation in several signalling pathways, as well as cells expressing pH-sensitive GFP derivative ratiometric pHluorin, were tested for cell survival and cytosolic pH (pHc) variation during exposure to low external pH (pHex). Mutants in calcium signalling and proton extrusion were transiently sensitive to low pHex, while the CWI slt2Δ mutant lost viability. Rescue of this mutant was observed when cells were exposed to extreme low pHex or glucose starvation and was dependent on the induced reduction of pHc. Therefore, a lowered pHc leads to a complete growth arrest, which protects the cells from lethal stress and keeps cells alive. Cytosolic pH is thus a signal that directs the growth stress-tolerance trade-off in yeast. A regulatory model was proposed to explain this mechanism, indicating the impairment of glucan synthesis as the primary cause of low pHex sensitivity.
The Effect of Loving-Kindness Meditation on Flight Attendants’ Spirituality, Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Liu Chao , Chen Hao , Liu Chia-Yi , Lin Rung-Tai , Chiou Wen-Ko
Published: June 2020

Background: This study investigated: (1) the effects of the loving-kindness meditation (LKM) on mindfulness, subjective well-being (SWB), and spirituality and (2) the relationships between mindfulness, spirituality, and SWB. Methods: 98 flight attendants from Xiamen Airlines in China were recruited and randomly assigned to the LKM training group (n = 49) or the waiting control group (n = 49). The LKM training group underwent an 8-week LKM training intervention, and the control group did not undergo intervention. The three main variables (SWB, mindfulness, and spirituality) were measured both before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the LKM training intervention. Results: In the experimental group, SWB and spirituality increased significantly. In the control group, no significant differences were observed for the three variables between the pre-test and post-test. Conclusions: Our results indicated that LKM may help to improve SWB and spirituality. However, the mechanisms which underlie the effects of the LKM on mindfulness, spirituality, SWB, and other psychological constructs require further elucidation.
Mainstream Preschool Teachers’ Skills at Identifying and Referring Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Authors: Mohammed Taresh Sahar , Aniza Ahmad Nor , Roslan Samsilah , Ma’rof Aini Marina , Mohammed Zaid Sumaia
Published: June 2020

Background: Early intervention will help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to attain early learning reinforcement. This study focuses on exploring the ability of preschool teachers to identify children with ASD and their referral decision-making process. Method: This is a mixed-method study (qualitative and quantitative methods) involving 20 respondents. The qualitative study is based on an open question case study, while the quantitative study consists of questionnaire with demographic variables to identify the effect of the demographic variables on the preschool teachers’ ability to identify children with ASD. Sample: The sample was selected via convenience sampling among mainstream preschool teachers. The data was analyzed using SPSS software and thematic analysis. Results: The findings show that preschool teachers did not have skills at identifying children with ASD, and the majority of them labelled children with ASD as spoilt or hyperactive children. They also viewed children with ASD as having other disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or communication disorders such as introversion. Moreover, preschool teachers expressed that the reason for the child’s behaviour could be due to the parents’ inability to properly educate their child. Additionally, the demographic variables of the preschool teachers, such as age, education level and teaching experience, were found not to affect their ASD identification skills. Conclusion: Preschool teachers need to improve their skills in identifying ASD among children via training.
Exploring Behavioral Readiness and Program Strategies to Engage Older Community Residents in Advance Care Planning: A Pilot Mixed-Method Study in Taiwan
Authors: Chan Hsin-Lung , Li In-Fun , Tseng Ling-Chun , Hsiung Yvonne
Published: June 2020

Taiwan was the first Asian country to endorse patient autonomy, and advance care planning (ACP) has been highly promoted to improve quality of end-of-life (EOL). A mixed-methods pilot survey was conducted in northwestern Taiwan to investigate older community-dwelling residents’ (N = 52) ACP behavioral engagement, socio-demographical correlates, and their preferred intervention strategies. An interview subset (25%, N = 13) was purposely chosen for in-depth feedback and rationales behind their ACP decision-making. Rich information was obtained about perceived facilitators and inhibitors to initiate ACP and preferred intervention strategies in ACP programs. Consistent with previous literature, carefully designed ACP programs that incorporated family decision-making and met older subjects’ multiple needs would increase program acceptability and foster ACP engagement among older Taiwanese in the community setting.
Effects of a Physical Education Intervention on Academic Performance: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Lima Rodrigo Antunes , Soares Fernanda Cunha , Bezerra Jorge , de Barros Mauro Virgílio Gomes
Published: June 2020

Background: We investigated the effects of three different interventions on academic performance in students enrolled in the first year of high school. Methods: This was a cluster randomised controlled trial conducted with 1200 students enrolled in the first year of high school. Schools were randomly assigned to: 1. Doubling physical education (PE) classes (3:20 h of PE/week); 2. workshop with the PE teachers; 3. workshop with the PE teachers and doubling the PE classes; and 4. control group (1:40 h of PE/week). We assured that the schools within the groups were equal regarding: The structural condition of the sports court; number of PE teachers; number of school classes; and the average number of students per classroom. Results: Overall, the intervention was not effective in improving the students’ academic performance. However, the subgroup analysis showed that the workshop intervention group increased the academic performance of students who had failed an academic year (from 16 years of age), compared to their peers in the doubling the PE classes (1.3 points on average) and the control groups (1.4 points on average). Conclusions: Enhancing the pedagogical skills of the teachers is a promising approach in improving the academic performance of students who failed an academic year.
The Impact of Thyroid Diseases on the Working Life of Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Leso Veruscka , Vetrani Ilaria , De Cicco Luigi , Cardelia Alessandro , Fontana Luca , Buonocore Gaetano , Iavicoli Ivo
Published: June 2020

Thyroid diseases are characterized by a wide range of physical and mental symptoms that can affect biological function, emotional and social life of patients. However, their impact on work functioning is not yet fully understood. Therefore, this review aims to address the way in which thyroid diseases can affect occupational outcomes, i.e., the employment rate, sick leave, working capacity and work income of patients. A systematic review of Pubmed, Scopus and ISI Web of Knowledge databases has been performed. Although it is not possible to extrapolate precise data for benign pathologies, about a third of the survivors of thyroid cancer could be unemployed. Hyperthyroid and hypothyroid patients presented a greater risk of long-term sick leave than controls, depending on the severity of the disease. Hyperthyroidism impaired working ability in about a third of affected patients, particularly in cases complicated by orbitopathy with diplopia. A possible influence of thyroid diseases on various occupational outcomes emerged from our review, however further research seems necessary to understand the relationship between work problems, specific pathological characteristics over time and risk factors in the workplace. This may support a comprehensive, interdisciplinary management of thyroid disorders, with benefits for patients’ personal, social and professional life.
Role of Area-Level Access to Primary Care on the Geographic Variation of Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Distribution: A Multilevel Analysis of the Adult Residents in the Illawarra—Shoalhaven Region of NSW, Australia
Authors: Toms Renin , Feng Xiaoqi , Mayne Darren J , Bonney Andrew
Published: June 2020

Background: Access to primary care is important for the identification, control and management of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs). This study investigated whether differences in geographic access to primary care explained area-level variation in CMRFs. Methods: Multilevel logistic regression models were used to derive the association between area-level access to primary care and seven discrete CMRFs after adjusting for individual and area-level co-variates. Two-step floating catchment area method was used to calculate the geographic access to primary care for the small areas within the study region. Results: Geographic access to primary care was inversely associated with low high density lipoprotein (OR 0.94, CI 0.91–0.96) and obesity (OR 0.91, CI 0.88–0.93), after adjusting for age, sex and area-level disadvantage. The intra-cluster correlation coefficient (ICCs) of all the fully adjusted models ranged between 0.4–1.8%, indicating low general contextual effects of the areas on CMRF distribution. The area-level variation in CMRFs explained by primary care access was ≤10.5%. Conclusion: The findings of the study support proportionate universal interventions for the prevention and control of CMRFs, rather than any area specific interventions based on their primary care access, as the contextual influence of areas on all the analysed CMRFs were found to be minimal. The findings also call for future research that includes other aspects of primary care access, such as road-network access, financial affordability and individual-level acceptance of the services in order to gain an overall picture of the area-level contributing role of primary care on CMRFs in the study region.
Core Muscle Activity during Physical Fitness Exercises: A Systematic Review
Authors: Oliva-Lozano José M. , Muyor José M.
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of six core muscles (the rectus abdominis, the internal and external oblique, the transversus abdominis, the lumbar multifidus, and the erector spinae) during core physical fitness exercises in healthy adults. A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the Cochrane, EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases for studies from January 2012 to March 2020. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) the full text available in English; (b) a cross-sectional or longitudinal (experimental or cohorts) study design; (c) the reporting of electromyographic activity as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (% MVIC), millivolts or microvolts; (d) an analysis of the rectus abdominis (RA), transversus abdominis (TA), lumbar multifidus (MUL), erector spinae (ES), and the internal (IO) or external oblique (EO); (e) an analysis of physical fitness exercises for core training; and (f) healthy adult participants. The main findings indicate that the greatest activity of the RA, EO, and ES muscles was found in free-weight exercises. The greatest IO activity was observed in core stability exercises, while traditional exercises showed the greatest MUL activation. However, a lack of research regarding TA activation during core physical fitness exercises was revealed, in addition to a lack of consistency between the studies when applying methods to measure EMG activity.
Predictive Variables of Adolescents’ Intention to Be Physically Active after Graduation. Is Gender a Conditioning Factor?
Authors: González-Serrano María Huertas , Gómez-Tafalla Ana , Calabuig-Moreno Ferran
Published: June 2020

The acquisition of physical activity habits during adolescence is fundamental to guarantee its adherence throughout life. However, these levels decrease during this stage, with women experimenting a more significant decrease. This paper aims to analyze if there are significant differences in the variables related to the intention to be physically active between men and women and if there is a moderating effect of gender on the variables that predict this intention. The sample is composed of 256 adolescents, aged between 16 and 19 years, 55.50% of whom are men, and 44.50% women. The results show that there are statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), with boys showing higher scores in the intention, athletic identity, and in the strength, condition, and attractiveness. About the predictive variables of the intention, the gender moderates the relationships between the physical attractiveness, condition and strength with the perceived behavioral control (pcfmale-pcfmale = 0.44; −0.48 p < 0.001; 0.27, p < 0.05, respectively), and between the subjective norm and the intention to be physically active (pcmale-female = 0.33, p < 0.01). These results highlight the importance of considering gender when designing specific policies for the promotion of physical-sports practice among adolescents to reduce the existing gender gap.
Mapping Submerged Aquatic Vegetation along the Central Vietnamese Coast Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing
Authors: Khanh Ni Tran Ngoc , Tin Hoang Cong , Thach Vo Trong , Jamet Cédric , Saizen Izuru
Published: June 2020

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Khanh Hoa (Vietnam) coastal area plays an important role in coastal communities and the marine ecosystem. However, SAV distribution varies widely, in terms of depth and substrate types, making it difficult to monitor using in-situ measurement. Remote sensing can help address this issue. High spatial resolution satellites, with more bands and higher radiometric sensitivity, have been launched recently, including the Vietnamese Natural Resources, Environment, and Disaster Monitoring Satellite (VNREDSat-1) (V1) sensor from Vietnam, launched in 2013. The objective of the study described here was to establish SAV distribution maps for South-Central Vietnam, particularly in the Khanh Hoa coastal area, using Sentinel-2 (S2), Landsat-8, and V1 imagery, and then to assess any changes to SAV over the last ten years, using selected historical data. The satellite top-of-atmosphere signals were initially converted to radiance, and then corrected for atmospheric effects. This treated signal was then used to classify Khanh Hoa coastal water substrates, and these classifications were evaluated using 101 in-situ measurements, collected in 2017 and 2018. The results showed that the three satellites could provide high accuracy, with Kappa coefficients above 0.84, with V1 achieving over 0.87. Our results showed that, from 2008 to 2018, SAV acreage in Khanh Hoa was reduced by 74.2%, while gains in new areas compensated for less than half of these losses. This is the first study to show the potential for using V1 and S2 data to assess the distribution status of SAV in Vietnam, and its outcomes will contribute to the conservation of SAV beds, and to the sustainable exploitation of aquatic resources in the Khanh Hoa coastal area.
Sustainable Spatial and Temporal Development of Land Prices: A Case Study of Czech Cities
Authors: Burian Jaroslav , Macků Karel , Zimmermannová Jarmila , Nétek Rostislav
Published: June 2020

Only a limited number of studies have examined land price issues based on official land price maps. A very unique timeline of official land price maps (2006–2019) allowed research to be conducted on four Czech cities (Prague, Olomouc, Ostrava, and Zlín). The main aim of the research was to describe the links between land price, land use types, and macroeconomic indicators, and to compare temporal changes of these links in four cities of different size, type, and structure by using spatial data processing and regression analysis. The results showed that the key statistically significant variable in all cities was population size. The effect of this variable was mostly positive, except for Ostrava, as an example of a developing city. The second statistically significant variable affecting land prices in each city was discount rate. The effect of other variables differed according to the city, its characteristics, and stage of economic development. We concluded that the development of land prices over time was slightly different between the studied cities and partially dependent on local spatial factors. Nevertheless, stagnation in 2010–2011, probably as a consequence of the global economic crisis in 2009, was observed in each city. Changes in the monitored cities could be seen from a spatial point of view in similar land price patterns. The ratio of land area with rising prices was very similar in each city (85%–92%). The highest land prices were typically in urban centers, but prices rose only gradually. A much more significant increase in prices occurred in each city in their peripheral residential areas. The results of this study can improve understanding of urban development and the economic and spatial aspects of sustainability in land price changes.