bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Transient Modeling of the Thermoelectric Generators for Application in Wireless Sensor Network Nodes
Authors: Marjanović Miloš , Prijić Aneta , Randjelović Branislav , Prijić Zoran
Published: June 2020

This paper reports results of the transient modeling of thermoelectric cooling/heating modules as power generators with the aim to select preferable ones for use in thermal energy harvesting wireless sensor network nodes. A study is conducted using the selected commercial thermoelectric generators within the node of a compact design with aluminum PCBs. Their equivalent electro-thermal models suitable for SPICE-like simulators are presented. Model components are extracted from the geometrical, physical and thermo-electrical parameters and/or experimentally. SPICE simulation results mismatch within 7% in comparison with the experimental measurements. The presented model is used for the characterization of different thermoelectric generators within the wireless sensor network node from the aspects of harvesting efficiency, cold boot time, node dimensions and compactness, and maximum applicable temperature. The choice of the preferred generator is determined by its electrical resistance, the number of thermoelectric pairs, external area and thermoelectric legs length, depending on the primary design goal and imposed thermal operating conditions. The node can provide load power of 1.3 m W and the cold boot time of 66 s for generator with 31 thermoelectric pairs at a temperature difference of 15 ° C with respect to the ambient, and 7.6 m W of load power and the cold boot time of 40 s for generator with 71 thermoelectric pairs at a temperature difference of 25 ° C .
Investigating the Interrelationships among Occupant Attitude, Knowledge and Behaviour in LEED-Certified Buildings Using Structural Equation Modelling
Authors: Gul Mehreen Saleem , NezamiFar Elmira
Published: June 2020

The proliferation of residential building energy consumption and CO2 emissions has led many countries to develop buildings under the green rating systems umbrella. Many such buildings, however, fail to meet their designed energy performance, which is possibly attributable to occupant behaviour and unforeseen building usages. The research problem lies in the fact that occupant environmental behaviour is a complex socio-cultural-technical issue that needs to be addressed to achieve the desired energy savings. This study is novel as it investigates complex interrelationships between many observed and unobserved variables using data from four LEED-certified multi-residential buildings in the United Arab Emirates. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the impact of three unobserved/latent variables: occupant environmental Attitude, Knowledge and Behaviour (AKB) with respect to occupant energy consumption, based on measured/observed variables. Although our Goodness-of-Fit values indicated that we achieved a good model fit, the interrelationship between Knowledge and Behaviour (p = 0.557) and between Attitude and Behaviour (p = 0.931) was insignificant, as the p-values > 0.05. The key study outcomes were: (i) providing information alone could not motivate people towards environmentally friendly behaviour; (ii) even changes in their attitude, belief and lifestyle were not significantly related to their behaviour, as the interrelationships among occupant environmental AKB were not significant; and (iii) knowledge and attitude change should be combined with other motivational factors to trigger environmentally friendly actions and influence behaviour.
Climate Change Effect on Building Performance: A Case Study in New York
Authors: Fabbri Kristian , Gaspari Jacopo , Felicioni Licia
Published: June 2020

The evidences of the influence of climate change (CC) in most of the key sectors of human activities are frequently reported by the news and media with increasing concern. The building sector, and particularly energy use in the residential sector, represents a crucial field of investigation as demonstrated by specific scientific literature. The paper reports a study on building energy consumption and the related effect on indoor thermal comfort considering the impacts of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2018 report about temperature increase projection. The research includes a case study in New York City, assuming three different scenarios. The outcomes evidence a decrease in energy demand for heating and an increase in energy demand for cooling, with a relevant shift due to the summer period temperature variations. The challenge of the last decades for sustainable design was to increase insulation for improving thermal behavior, highly reducing the energy demand during winter time, however, the projections over the next decades suggest that the summer regime will represent a future and major challenge in order to reduce overheating and ensure comfortable (or at least acceptable) living conditions inside buildings. The growing request of energy for cooling is generating increasing pressure on the supply system with peaks in the case of extreme events that lead to the grid collapse and to massive blackouts in several cities. This is usually tackled by strengthening the energy infrastructure, however, the users’ behavior and lifestyle will strongly influence the system capacity in stress conditions. This study focuses on the understanding of these phenomena and particularly on the relevance of the users’ perception of indoor comfort, assuming the IPCC projections as the basis for a future scenario.
Waste to Energy: Solid Fuel Production from Biogas Plant Digestate and Sewage Sludge by Torrefaction-Process Kinetics, Fuel Properties, and Energy Balance
Authors: Świechowski Kacper , Hnat Martyna , Stępień Paweł , Stegenta-Dąbrowska Sylwia , Kugler Szymon , Koziel Jacek A. , Białowiec Andrzej
Published: June 2020

Sustainable solutions are needed to manage increased energy demand and waste generation. Renewable energy production from abundant sewage sludge (SS) and digestate (D) from biogas is feasible. Concerns about feedstock contamination (heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria) in SS and D limits the use (e.g., agricultural) of these carbon-rich resources. Low temperature thermal conversion that results in carbonized solid fuel (CSF) has been proposed as sustainable waste utilization. The aim of the research was to investigate the feasibility of CSF production from SS and D via torrefaction. The CSF was produced at 200~300 °C (interval of 20 °C) for 20~60 min (interval 20 min). The torrefaction kinetics and CSF fuel properties were determined. Next, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of SS and D torrefaction were used to build models of energy demand for torrefaction. Finally, the evaluation of the energy balance of CSF production from SS and D was completed. The results showed that torrefaction improved the D-derived CSF’s higher heating value (HHV) up to 11% (p < 0.05), whereas no significant HHV changes for SS were observed. The torrefied D had the highest HHV of 20 MJ∙kg−1 under 300 °C and 30 min, (the curve fitted value from the measured time periods) compared to HHV = 18 MJ∙kg−1 for unprocessed D. The torrefied SS had the highest HHV = 14.8 MJ∙kg−1 under 200 °C and 20 min, compared to HHV 14.6 MJ∙kg−1 for raw SS. An unwanted result of the torrefaction was an increase in ash content in CSF, up to 40% and 22% for SS and D, respectively. The developed model showed that the torrefaction of dry SS and D could be energetically self-sufficient. Generating CSF with the highest HHV requires raw feedstock containing ~15.4 and 45.9 MJ∙kg−1 for SS and D, respectively (assuming that part of feedstock is a source of energy for the process). The results suggest that there is a potential to convert biogas D to CSF to provide renewable fuel for, e.g., plants currently fed/co-fed with municipal solid waste.
Cost Efficient Real Time Electricity Management Services for Green Community Using Fog
Authors: Bukhsh Rasool , Javed Muhammad Umar , Fatima Aisha , Javaid Nadeem , Shafiq Muhammad , Choi Jin-Ghoo
Published: June 2020

The computing devices in data centers of cloud and fog remain in continues running cycle to provide services. The long execution state of large number of computing devices consumes a significant amount of power, which emits an equivalent amount of heat in the environment. The performance of the devices is compromised in heating environment. The high powered cooling systems are installed to cool the data centers. Accordingly, data centers demand high electricity for computing devices and cooling systems. Moreover, in Smart Grid (SG) managing energy consumption to reduce the electricity cost for consumers and minimum rely on fossil fuel based power supply (utility) is an interesting domain for researchers. The SG applications are time-sensitive. In this paper, fog based model is proposed for a community to ensure real-time energy management service provision. Three scenarios are implemented to analyze cost efficient energy management for power-users. In first scenario, community’s and fog’s power demand is fulfilled from the utility. In second scenario, community’s Renewable Energy Resources (RES) based Microgrid (MG) is integrated with the utility to meet the demand. In third scenario, the demand is fulfilled by integrating fog’s MG, community’s MG and the utility. In the scenarios, the energy demand of fog is evaluated with proposed mechanism. The required amount of energy to run computing devices against number of requests and amount of power require cooling down the devices are calculated to find energy demand by fog’s data center. The simulations of case studies show that the energy cost to meet the demand of the community and fog’s data center in third scenario is 15.09% and 1.2% more efficient as compared to first and second scenarios, respectively. In this paper, an energy contract is also proposed that ensures the participation of all power generating stakeholders. The results advocate the cost efficiency of proposed contract as compared to third scenario. The integration of RES reduce the energy cost and reduce emission of CO 2 . The simulations for energy management and plots of results are performed in Matlab. The simulation for fog’s resource management, measuring processing, and response time are performed in CloudAnalyst.
Direct Power Control of a Single Stage Current Source Inverter Grid-Tied PV System
Authors: Youssef Erhab , Costa Pedro B. C. , Pinto Sonia F. , Amin Amr , El Samahy Adel A.
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a direct power predictive controller (DPPC) is derived for a current source inverter (CSI) based single stage photovoltaic (PV) system. The equations of the dynamics, including AC and DC filters, are formulated directly for the PV power and for the active and reactive power injected in the grid. Then, the prediction equations are synthesized straight for the power, and, at each time instant, the optimal switching vector that guarantees simultaneously the control of the power generated by the PV arrays, and the control of the reactive power in the connection to the grid is chosen. This approach aims to guarantee fast and accurate tracking of the power. The proposed system is then validated through simulation and experimental results, showing that the PV system is able to follow the power references, guaranteeing a fast response to a step in the power, and decoupled active and reactive power control, with minimum total harmonic distortion (<5%) of the currents injected in the grid.
On-Load Characteristics of Local and Global Forces in Co-Axial Magnetic Gear with Reference to Additively Manufactured Parts of Modulator
Authors: Kowol Marcin , Kołodziej Janusz , Gabor Rafał , Łukaniszyn Marian , Jagieła Mariusz
Published: June 2020

The paper presents an analysis of local and global forces acting on the ferromagnetic material of a modulator in a co-axial magnetic gear, taking several design variants and the impact of loading into account. The analyses include a modulator with cores manufactured from a soft-magnetic composite material and two variants made from electrical steel with laminations stacked in different directions. Variations of local forces acting on individual pole pieces of the modulator are analyzed at different loads, showing that the force spectra are subject to significant variation with an increasing load. The presented magnetostatic analyses are extended by structural analysis that provides estimation of stress and displacement for the modulator assembled from additively manufactured acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-plastic parts. The analysis carried out for the least favorable design case of the magnetic circuit of the modulator shows that an application of the technology is significantly restricted by the magnetic gear torque volumetric density. Some changes to the modulator mechanical design are proposed in the paper to mitigate the drawbacks of this technology.
Effect of Soil Resistivity Measurement on the Safe Design of Grounding Systems
Authors: Androvitsaneas Vasilios P. , Damianaki Katerina D. , Christodoulou Christos A. , Gonos Ioannis F.
Published: June 2020

A prerequisite for the proper and safe designing of a grounding system is the full knowledge of the ground structure in the terrain of installation. Through soil resistivity measurements, engineers are able to illustrate the ground profile, which constitutes the most significant parameter for the design of a grounding system and for determining the maximum permissible limits of step and touch voltages. This paper highlights the high importance and necessity for engineers to choose the proper measurement axes of soil resistivity in the terrain of interest and to choose suitable measurement depths, as well the combination of axes for the final determination of the ground profile. The variance of soil resistivity values, as a function of axis distance and the impact of axis placement on determining the uncertainty of measurements, is also analyzed in detail in this study. Furthermore, this work studies the value variance of step and touch voltages as a function of measurement axes, considering two- and three-layer soil models, based on soil resistivity field measurements performed at the university campus. Therefore, the proper and premeditated measurement of soil resistivity, particularly in anisotropic ground, is proved to be of major importance for the full designing of a safe grounding system.
Are Household Potato Frying Habits Suitable for Preventing Acrylamide Exposure?
Authors: Mesias Marta , Delgado-Andrade Cristina , Morales Francisco J.
Published: June 2020

A survey was conducted of 730 Spanish households to identify culinary practices which might influence acrylamide formation during the domestic preparation of french fries and their compliance with the acrylamide mitigation strategies described in the 2017/2158 Regulation. Spanish household practices conformed with the majority of recommendations for the selection, storing and handling of potatoes, with the exception of soaking potato strips. Olive oil was the preferred frying oil (78.7%) and frying pans were the most common kitchen utensils used for frying (79.0%), leading to a higher oil replacement rate than with a deep-fryer. Although frying temperature was usually controlled (81.0%), participants were unaware of the maximum temperature recommended for preventing acrylamide formation. For french fries, color was the main criteria when deciding the end-point of frying (85.3%). Although a golden color was preferred by respondents (87.3%), color guidelines are recommended in order to unify the definition of “golden.” The results conclude that habits of the Spanish population are in line with recommendations to mitigate acrylamide during french fry preparation. Furthermore, these habits do not include practices that risk increasing acrylamide formation. Nevertheless, educational initiatives tailored towards consumers would reduce the formation of this contaminant and, consequently, exposure to it in a domestic setting.
Potential Hepatoprotective Activity of Super Critical Carbon Dioxide Olive Leaf Extracts against CCl4-Induced Liver Damage
Authors: Taamalli Amani , Feriani Anouar , Lozano-Sanchez Jesús , Ghazouani Lakhdar , El Mufti Afoua , Allagui Mohamed Salah , Segura-Carretero Antonio , Mhamdi Ridha , Arráez-Roman David
Published: June 2020

Virgin olive oil has demonstrated its effective activity against oxidative stress. However, data on the bioactive effect of olive leaves or their major constituents on the liver are scarce. The present research work was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extracts from fresh and dried olive leaves on hepatotoxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rat models. For this purpose, healthy albino rats of 180–250 g weight were used. The assessment of biochemical markers was carried out on blood and liver tissue. Then, a histopathological study was carried out on liver tissue. The obtained results showed that fresh and dried olive leaf extracts ameliorate the perturbed biochemical parameters caused by CCl4 treatment. Furthermore, the results registered for the histopathological study are in accordance with the biochemical parameters and the protective capacity of SC-CO2 extracts against DNA damage, indicating that olive leaf extracts helped to improve liver fibrosis caused by CCl4 treatment.
Neutron-Capture Element Abundances in Planetary Nebulae
Authors: Sterling N. C.
Published: June 2020

Nebular spectroscopy is a valuable tool for assessing the production of heavy elements by slow neutron(n)-capture nucleosynthesis (the s-process). Several transitions of n-capture elements have been identified in planetary nebulae (PNe) in the last few years, with the aid of sensitive, high-resolution, near-infrared spectrometers. Combined with optical spectroscopy, the newly discovered near-infrared lines enable more accurate abundance determinations than previously possible, and provide access to elements that had not previously been studied in PNe or their progenitors. Neutron-capture elements have also been detected in PNe in the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy and in the Magellanic Clouds. In this brief review, I discuss developments in observational studies of s-process enrichments in PNe, with an emphasis on the last five years, and note some open questions and preliminary trends.
PlantMirP-Rice: An Efficient Program for Rice Pre-miRNA Prediction
Authors: Zhang Huiyu , Wang Hua , Yao Yuangen , Yi Ming
Published: June 2020

Rice microRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional regulation factors and play vital roles in many biological processes, such as growth, development, and stress resistance. Identification of these molecules is the basis of dissecting their regulatory functions. Various machine learning techniques have been developed to identify precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). However, no tool is implemented specifically for rice pre-miRNAs. This study aims at improving prediction performance of rice pre-miRNAs by constructing novel features with high discriminatory power and developing a training model with species-specific data. PlantMirP-rice, a stand-alone random forest-based miRNA prediction tool, achieves a promising accuracy of 93.48% based on independent (unseen) rice data. Comparisons with other competitive pre-miRNA prediction methods demonstrate that plantMirP-rice performs better than existing tools for rice and other plant pre-miRNA classification.
Rapid Direct Nucleic Acid Amplification Test without RNA Extraction for SARS-CoV-2 Using a Portable PCR Thermocycler
Authors: Wee Soon Keong , Sivalingam Suppiah Paramalingam , Yap Eric Peng Huat
Published: June 2020

There is an ongoing worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At present, confirmatory diagnosis is by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), typically taking several hours and requiring a molecular laboratory to perform. There is an urgent need for rapid, simplified, and cost-effective detection methods. We have developed and analytically validated a protocol for direct rapid extraction-free PCR (DIRECT-PCR) detection of SARS-CoV-2 without the need for nucleic acid purification. As few as six RNA copies per reaction of viral nucleocapsid (N) gene from respiratory samples such as sputum and nasal exudate can be detected directly using our one-step inhibitor-resistant assay. The performance of this assay was validated on a commercially available portable PCR thermocycler. Viral lysis, reverse transcription, amplification, and detection are achieved in a single-tube homogeneous reaction within 36 min. This minimizes hands-on time, reduces turnaround-time for sample-to-result, and obviates the need for RNA purification reagents. It could enable wider use of Covid-19 testing for diagnosis, screening, and research in countries and regions where laboratory capabilities are limiting.
Differential SAR Interferometry Using Sentinel-1 Imagery-Limitations in Monitoring Fast Moving Landslides: The Case Study of Cyprus
Authors: Tzouvaras Marios , Danezis Chris , Hadjimitsis Diofantos G.
Published: June 2020

Cyprus, being located on the Mediterranean fault zone, exhibits a unique geodynamic regime since its tectonic evolution is driven by the interaction of the Eurasian and African plate. Besides its seismological interest, many active landslides and slope instabilities in areas of steep topography occur in Cyprus, having substantial impact on the built environment, by posing an imminent threat for entire settlements and critical infrastructure. Moreover, extreme meteorological events occur rarely, like severe rainfall and thunderstorms, that combined with the geological properties in some areas and the seismically stressed ground, can lead to landslides, causing severe damages to critical infrastructure. In the present study, the DInSAR methodology is applied for the detection of two individual landslide events that were triggered by heavy rainfall in Limassol and Paphos Districts in February 2019. Six co-event interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) pairs were used to produce displacement maps in vertical and east-west directions to study the resulting slope deformations. The above are carried out using Sentinel-1 imagery that are freely provided under the Copernicus umbrella. The limitations that arise from the speed and complexity of the deformations under study and the adverse residing meteorological conditions that caused these phenomena are investigated, as found in literature. Indeed, the sparse vegetation at the slopes affected by the landslides, the residing meteorological conditions, the heavy rainfall that triggered the two landslides, and the temporal phase aliasing effect due to the speed of the ground deformation were found to be the main limitations for the application of DInSAR methodology, resulting in the underestimation of the ground deformation that occurred.
Nature Does the Averaging—In-Situ Produced 10Be, 21Ne, and 26Al in a Very Young River Terrace
Authors: Gärtner Andreas , Merchel Silke , Niedermann Samuel , Braucher Régis ,   ASTER-Team, Steier Peter , Rugel Georg , Scharf Andreas , Le Bras Loic , Linnemann Ulf
Published: June 2020

The concentrations of long-lived in-situ produced cosmogenic nuclides (10Be, 21Ne, 26Al) in quartz obtained from a very recent (~200 a; based on 14C data on organic material) terrace of the Swakop River in Namibia are nearly constant throughout a 322 cm-long depth profile. These findings corroborate earlier hypotheses postulating a homogeneous distribution of these nuclides in freshly deposited river terrace sediments. An averaged nuclide concentration is a crucial and generally assumed prerequisite for the determination of numerical ages of old sediments.
Erratum: Sánchez-Sánchez, B., et al. The Female Sexual Function Index: Transculturally Adaptation and Psychometric Validation in Spanish Women. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 994
Authors: Sánchez-Sánchez Beatriz , Navarro-Brazález Beatriz , Arranz-Martín Beatriz , Sánchez-Méndez Óscar , de la Rosa-Díaz Irene , Torres-Lacomba María
Published: June 2020

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [...]
Acute Effects of a Whole Body Vibration Session on the Vibration Perception Threshold in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Dominguez-Muñoz Francisco Javier , Hernandez-Mocholi Miguel Angel , Villafaina Santos , García-Gordillo Miguel Angel , Collado-Mateo Daniel , Gusi Narcis , Adsuar Jose Carmelo
Published: June 2020

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease that affects millions of people, and according to the International Diabetes Federation, 46.5% of people have undiagnosed diabetes. One of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus is loss of peripheral sensation. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a therapy, and it would be interesting to know if it can be considered as a training method to improve the Vibration Perception Threshold (VPT). The aim of the study is to verify whether there are really acute effects on the VPT after a WBV training session in people with T2DM. Methods: Ninety people with T2DM (56 men and 34 women) were randomly allocated to two groups: the WBV group and the placebo group. The ninety subjects went through a VPT training test before receiving the assigned intervention, and they performed the VPT test using the Vibratron II device. Results: After one session of WBV, an increase of the VPT in the WBV group was found, with respect to the placebo group. Conclusions: Vibration perception threshold is increased after a WBV training session in people with T2DM, compared to a placebo group.
Photovoice-Based Assessment of Weight Management Experiences of Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Tamoxifen
Authors: Park Jung Suk , Han Jeong-Won , Choi Jin Hyuk , Lee Kyoung Chun
Published: June 2020

In this study, an in-depth analysis of weight management experiences of breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen is conducted, thereby providing basic data to help develop a multidimensional strategy to reduce recurrence and increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. Study participants included nine breast cancer patients who were treated with tamoxifen at Kosin University Hospital and Saegyero Hospital in Busan Metropolitan City, Korea. This study employed the photovoice methodology. Participants described the need for family support and cooperation with weight management, provision of personalized weight management programs by medical institutions, provision of information on weight management programs by the community, and financial support for the weight management programs for breast cancer patients at the national level. This study emphasized the importance of weight management for breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen and collected and analyzed vivid opinions of these patients using photos taken by them.
“Resource Conservation” or “Environmental Friendliness”: How do Urban Clusters Affect Total-Factor Ecological Performance in China?
Authors: Chen Peirong , Xie Ruhe , Lu Mingxuan
Published: June 2020

Urban clusters are important carriers for cities to participate in international competition and cooperation, and a booster for urban sustainable development. This study measured the degree of urban clusters by utilizing the panel data of 278 cities in China during 2004–2016. Then, an extended meta-frontier data envelopment analysis (EM-DEA) model was applied to estimate the total-factor ecological performance (UTEP) and decompose it into two sub-index from the perspective of “resource conservation” and “environmental friendliness”. On these bases, we employed a dynamic panel data approach to examine and demonstrate the relationship between urban cluster and UTEP in two dimensions, and further explored transmission channels of urban clusters on UTEP by adding the mediating effect. The results show that resource conservation increases first and then decreases with the increasing of urban clustering level, while environmental friendliness showed the opposite trend, making the latter become the main way for urban clusters to improve the UTEP. Industrial structure supererogation and rationalization are transmission channels for environmental friendliness rather than resource conservation in the way of improvement of UTEP. Technology innovation, as well as technology diffusion, also improves UTEP to some extent. In addition, urban clusters in eastern and central China have the greatest improvement in UTEP, while such effects are not the case in western China. Urban clusters in the second half sample period are more conducive to the improvement of the UTEP, with these potentially being the gains from the improvement of the level and quality of urban clusters.
Associations between Pretend Play, Psychological Functioning and Coping Strategies in Pediatric Chronic Diseases: A Cross-Illness Study
Authors: Di Riso Daniela , Cambrisi Elena , Bertini Simone , Miscioscia Marina
Published: June 2020

Children with chronic illnesses are called to undertake complicated processes of adjustment and re-organization in their daily lives; as a result, they could experience several internalizing problems. Symbolic play could be a useful way to cope with these difficulties. The main aim of this paper is to assess pretend play, coping, and psychological symptoms in three groups of school-aged children with pediatric chronic diseases. The study involved 44 Italian school-aged, chronically ill children: 16 with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), 12 with cystic fibrosis (CF), and 15 with Leukemia. All patients were assessed by the Affect in Play Scale–Brief version (APS-Br), and the Children’s Coping Strategies Checklist–Revision1 (CCSC-R1). Children with T1DM and CF also completed the Separation Anxiety Symptom Inventory for Children (SASI-C) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)–children’s version. Cohen’s d (effect size) was applied between clinical and normative samples, and it showed a more organized play (APS-BR), but a more negative affect tone, comfort, and frequency of affect expression. Comparing APS-BR and CCSC-R1 rates between the three groups, significant differences were found for all the APS-BR dimensions, except for tone, and for CCSC-R1 seeking understanding. Comparing SASI-C score between T1DM and CF, higher scores were found for children with CF. In the end, correlations between all dimensions highlighted several relationships between play, coping, and adjustment problems for children with T1DM, and relationship between affect play and all variables for children with CF. Symbolic play helps chronically ill children to express emotions; helping them, as well as clinicians, to understand the difficulties caused by chronic conditions, and to cope with them.
Predicting Professional Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction in Spanish Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sansó Noemí , Galiana Laura , Oliver Amparo , Tomás-Salvá Macià , Vidal-Blanco Gabriel
Published: June 2020

Background: Dealing with suffering, grief, and death on a daily basis, together with the particular working conditions, may produce high levels of burnout in nurses, and hinder their well-being. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of self-care and self-compassion on nurses’ professional quality of life and well-being. Methods: The research had a cross-sectional design, used correlational methodology and a structural equation model was hypothesized. Along the study, 210 nurses from the Healthcare Public System of the Balearic Islands, participated. The study took place from June to September 2018. Results: The hypothesized model showed an overall adequate fit. Practice environment predicted both self-care and self-compassion, whereas nursing stress did not. Self-care and self-compassion predicted nurses’ professional quality of life, whereas the practice environment and nursing stress were not predictors. Finally, professional quality of life showed a positive relationship with life satisfaction. Conclusions: The study presents a comprehensive structural equation model in which self-care and self-compassion are the best predictors of nurses’ professional quality of life. A direct relation of professional quality of life and nurses’ well-being has also been found, while controlling for the effects of nurses’ practice environment and stress.
Study on the Impact of Historic District Built Environment and Its Influence on Residents’ Walking Trips: A Case Study of Zhangzhou Ancient City’s Historic District
Authors: Zeng Fen , Shen Zhenjiang
Published: June 2020

Walking maintains an indisputable advantage as a simple transport mode over short distances. Various situations have shown that when staying in a walk-friendly built environment, people are more likely to walk and interact with their surroundings. Scholars have reported some evidence of the influence of neighbourhood environments on personal walking trips. Most existing studies of the correlation between the built environment and walking, however, have been conducted in the West and are cross-sectional, which leaves a gap in addressing the causality between built environments and walking under the intervention of regeneration measures. This study takes a historic district of a mid-sized city in China as the research area and reports the changes in the traditional residential district’s built environment caused by the implementation of urban regeneration. In this paper, we use physical and perceptual indicators to measure the walkability of the built environment. We identify the changed content of the built environment’s walkability and the change of residents’ walking behaviour through longitudinal and quasi-longitudinal methods. The conclusion shows that the implementation of a regeneration project of the historic district has greatly changed perceived walkability, which has significantly promoted residents’ recreational walking trips, especially among the population of middle-aged and elderly people in the district. The conclusion that the built environment’s change promotes recreational walking is contrary to the research performed in sprawling Western contexts such as in the US, and it provides a meaningful supplement for research on the topic in an Asian context.
Cyberbullying Victimization and Adolescent Depression: The Mediating Role of Psychological Security and the Moderating Role of Growth Mindset
Authors: Niu Gengfeng , He Jing , Lin Shanyan , Sun Xiaojun , Longobardi Claudio
Published: June 2020

The objective of this study was to examine the mechanisms (the mediating role of psychological security and the moderating role of growth mindset) underlying the association between cyberbullying victimization and depression among adolescents. A sample of 755 adolescents (Mage = 13.35 ± 1.02; 373 boys) was recruited from two junior high schools, and the participants were asked to voluntarily complete a set of measures, including the cyberbullying victimization subscale in the Chinese version of the Cyberbullying Inventory, the Chinese version of the Security Questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Growth Mindset Inventory. The results indicated that: (1) cyberbullying victimization was positively associated with depression through the mediating effect of psychological security and (2) both the direct association between cyberbullying victimization and depression and the indirect association through the mediating effect of psychological security were moderated by growth mindset. Specifically, growth mindset could significantly alleviate the adverse effects of cyberbullying victimization on psychological security and on depression. These findings not only shed light on the mechanisms linking cyberbullying victimization to depression among adolescents, but also provide an empirical basis for formulating prevention and/or intervention programs aimed at reducing depression levels and the negative influences of cyberbullying victimization among adolescents.
Risk Factors for Collisions and Near-Miss Incidents Caused by Drowsy Bus Drivers
Authors: Miyama Genta , Fukumoto Masakatsu , Kamegaya Ritsuko , Hitosugi Masahito
Published: June 2020

Serious accidents have been caused by drowsy bus drivers and have necessitated an examination of the risk factors involved. A questionnaire survey among employees of a bus company was conducted in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in September 2014. Respondents were asked to report details of their work and life over the preceding month. The 301 valid responses by bus drivers (295 men and 6 women) with a mean age of 51.6 years (range: 24–73 years) were used for analysis. Univariable logistic regression showed that factors affecting the incidence of collisions and near-miss incidents by drowsy drivers were continued driving when feeling sick, reporting a physical condition, number of sleep hours, time spent with family, working hours, and nutritional balance. According to a multiple regression analysis, continued driving when feeling sick (odds ratio: 3.421, 95% confidence interval: 1.618–7.231) was the only significant risk for the event. Managers should encourage drivers to voluntarily report poor health and should provide opportunities to stop driving if drivers experience physical discomfort or sleepiness. To improve road safety, educational measures are required for both drivers and managers to prevent driving under poor health conditions, although the decision to stop driving depends on drivers’ subjective judgment.
Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review
Authors: Wolf Kathleen L. , Lam Sharon T. , McKeen Jennifer K. , Richardson Gregory R.A. , van den Bosch Matilda , Bardekjian Adrina C.
Published: June 2020

The urban forest is a green infrastructure system that delivers multiple environmental, economic, social and health services, and functions in cities. Environmental benefits of urban trees are well understood, but no review to date has examined how urban trees affect human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of existing literature on the health impacts of urban trees that can inform future research, policy, and nature-based public health interventions. A systematic search used keywords representing human health, environmental health, and urban forestry. Following screening and appraisal of several thousand articles, 201 studies were conceptually sorted into a three-part framework. Reducing Harm, representing 41% of studies, includes topics such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, heat exposure, and pollen. Restoring Capacities, at 31%, includes attention restoration, mental health, stress reduction, and clinical outcomes. Building Capacities, at 28%, includes topics such as birth outcomes, active living, and weight status. The studies that were reviewed show substantial heterogeneity in purpose and method yet indicate important health outcomes associated with people’s exposure to trees. This review will help inform future research and practice, and demonstrates why urban forest planning and management should strategically promote trees as a social determinant of public health.
Unusual Domestic Source of Lead Poisoning
Authors: Nicolli Annamaria , Mina Grazia Genga , De Nuzzo Davide , Bortoletti Isabella , Gambalunga Alberto , Martinelli Andrea , Pasqualato Fabiola , Cacciavillani Mario , Carrieri Mariella , Trevisan Andrea
Published: June 2020

Non-occupational lead poisoning is not rare, mainly occurring in domestic situations in children, but also in adults. Lead poisoning was observed in a 65 years-old woman non-exposed to risk that caught our attention with a diagnostic suspicion of acute intermittent porphyria according to recurrent episodes of abdominal pain and neuropathy of upper limbs. Acute intermittent porphyria was excluded by a laboratory investigation that showed instead severe lead poisoning. After several thorough examinations of the domestic environment, the source of intoxication has been detected in some cooking pots that released high concentrations of lead. Ethylenediamine tetracetic acid disodium calcium therapy (three cycles) reduced consistently blood lead concentration and, after one year, neuropathy was almost entirely recovered.
Gender Differences in the Impact of Intergenerational Support on Depressive Symptoms among Older Adults in Korea
Authors: Choi Kyungwon , Jeon Gyeong-Suk , Jang Kwang-Sim
Published: June 2020

Background: This study examined the relationship between intergenerational support patterns and depressive symptoms among older men and women in Korea. Methods: A nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized, community-dwelling older adults in Korea was used. A total of 7531 older adults (3592 men and 3939 women) was included in the analysis. Results: We observed gender differences in the impact of financial support exchanges on depressive symptoms. A lack of mutual financial support significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms by 3.83 times (95% CI 2.34–6.24) in men and 1.73 times (95% CI 1.06–2.83) in women. Men who received financial support were more likely to experience depressive symptoms (OR (Odds Ratio), 1.81, 95% CI 1.36–2.42), whereas women who provided financial support were more likely to experience depressive symptoms (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.21–6.56). The lack of an exchange of emotional support was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in both men (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17–1.90) and women (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.50–2.34). Conclusions: We discuss the evidence of gender differences in intergenerational support exchange patterns and their impact on depressive symptoms within the context of Korean cultures and suggest that future research should be conducted on gender differences in the impact of intergenerational support on mental health across diverse societies.
How Much Support Is There for the Recommendations Made to the General Population during Confinement? A Study during the First Three Days of the COVID–19 Quarantine in Spain
Authors: Suso-Ribera Carlos , Martín-Brufau Ramón
Published: June 2020

Background: Recommendations on lifestyles during quarantine have been proposed by researchers and institutions since the COVID–19 crisis emerged. However, most of these have never been tested under real quarantine situations or derive from older investigations conducted mostly in China and Canada in the face of infections other than COVID–19. The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between a comprehensive set of recommended lifestyles, socio–demographic, and personality variables and mood during the first stages of quarantine. Methods: A virtual snow–ball recollection technique was used to disseminate the survey across the general population in Spain starting the first day of mandatory quarantine (15 March 2020) until three days later (17 March). In total, 2683 Spanish adults (mean age = 34.86 years, SD = 13.74 years; 77.7% women) from the general population completed measures on socio–demographic, COVID–related, behavioral, personality/cognitive, and mood characteristics. Results: In the present study, depression and anger were higher than levels reported in a previous investigation before the COVID–19 crisis, while vigor, friendliness, and fatigue were lower. Anxiety levels were comparable. The expected direction of associations was confirmed for the majority of predictors. However, effect sizes were generally small and only a subset of them correlated to most outcomes. Intolerance of unpleasant emotions, neuroticism, and, to a lesser extent, agreeableness, sleep quality, young age, and time spent Internet surfing were the most robust and strongest correlates of mood states. Conclusions: Some recommended lifestyles (i.e., maintaining good quality of sleep and reducing Internet surfing) might be more important than others during the first days of quarantine. Promoting tolerance to unpleasant emotions (e.g., through online, self–managed programs) might also be of upmost importance. So far, recommendations have been made in general, but certain subgroups (e.g., certain personality profiles and young adults) might be especially vulnerable and should receive more attention.
Impact of Social Jetlag on Weight Change in Adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017
Authors: Kim Jin Hwa , Lyu Young Sang , Kim Sang Yong
Published: June 2020

Social jetlag, the circadian misalignment reflecting the discrepancy between the circadian clock and social clock, has been implicated in weight-related issues. The objective of the present study was to determine whether there was an association between social jetlag and body weight change among adults in a large, nationally representative general population. This study was based on data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted during 2016–2017 by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Of the 16,277 participants, data from 8295 adults were included in the analysis. Men with social jetlag > 2 h had a significantly higher risk of weight gain (odd ratios (OR): 1.787; 95% confident interval (CI): 1.192–2.679) than those with social jetlag < 1 h, after adjustment for age, sociodemographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, chronic disease, obesity and average sleep duration. Women with weight gain had a higher social jetlag (>2 h), and women with social jetlag > 2 h had a higher proportion of weight gain. However, we did not find a significant association of social jetlag with weight gain after adjusting for confounding factors in women. There was no significant association between social jetlag and weight loss in men and women. Higher social jetlag was independently associated with an increased risk of weight gain in men. We propose that social jetlag may contribute to the obesogenic tendency in men, and that there is a potential for body weight to be managed with a circadian approach.
A Pragmatic Feasibility Trial Examining the Effect of Job Embedded Professional Development on Teachers’ Capacity to Provide Physical Literacy Enriched Physical Education in Elementary Schools
Authors: Wright Chris , Buxcey John , Gibbons Sandy , Cairney John , Barrette Michelle , Naylor Patti-Jean
Published: June 2020

A gap in physical literacy (PL) oriented professional development (PD) for generalist teachers exists and thus their capacity to develop PL and maximize student health is potentially limited. We explored the feasibility of a novel job-embedded professional development (JEPD) program (10 weeks) and its impact on teachers’ capacity to deliver PL-enriched physical education (PE) and student PL. A pragmatic feasibility trial with mixed methods included quantitative measurements of teacher PL, knowledge and confidence (pre), and knowledge, confidence, satisfaction and intention (post), as well as self-reported change, to evaluate the impact on teacher capacity and practices. A pre–post comparison of student PL outcomes (motor skills using PLAYbasic, Sport for Life, Victoria, BC, Canada) during the JEPD and teacher implementation phase explored the impact on student PL. In total, 15/44 teachers participated in surveys and 11/44 completed interviews (87% female, mean age bracket = 25–44 years). Confidence to deliver PL enhancing PE increased significantly after JEPD (p < 0.0001). Teachers were highly satisfied with the JEPD (X = 4.67/5) and intended to change their practices (X = 4.09/5). At three months, teachers reported changes including enhanced lesson planning, increased activity variety (often from the JEPD), intentional skill development, student-focused discussions, introductory, transition, and closing activities, and more equipment adaptations. During JEPD, with the exception of throwing (p < 0.0001), children’s (47% female, mean age = 7.9 (1.7)) change in running, jumping, kicking and balance walking backwards did not differ from usual practice (UP). During teacher implementation, motor skill competence regressed; confounding factors could not be ruled out. JEPD appears feasible and effective for changing teacher capacity to deliver PL and enhancing PE; however, post-JEPD teacher implementation and outcomes need further exploration.