bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limestone Sorbents Market for Flue Gas Desulphurisation in Coal-Fired Power Plants in the Context of the Transformation of the Power Industry—A Case of Poland
Authors: Szlugaj Jarosław , Galos Krzysztof
Published: July 2021

Since the beginning of the 1990s, due to international regulations on air quality, a large number of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) installations have been constructed in the Polish coal-fired power industry. Thanks to that, SO2 capture in this industry increased to ca. 90%. Since wet lime or fluidized bed boilers were mostly used for FGD purposes, a significant increase in the domestic demand for lime sorbents has been reported. Between 1994 and 2019, it has increased from virtually zero before 1994 to about 3.3–3.4 million tpy (tonnes per year) today. On the basis of official governmental data and completed surveys of the Polish power companies, the paper analyses the process of the implementation of FGD in Poland along with limestone sorbents consumption and FGD gypsum production in the Polish coal-fired power plants. It also presents the current and potential limestone resource base for production of limestone sorbents applied in FGD. Electric energy mix in Poland is expected to be changed radically in the coming 30 years. Share of coal-based electricity is still very high—ca. 80%—and it will remain dominant for at least next decade. With the next coming FGD installations, further moderate increase of limestone sorbents consumption is expected, up to 3.7 million tpy in 2030. After 2030, a significant, quick decrease of share of coal-fired electricity is expected in Poland, down to max. 30% just before 2050. This will result in a gradual decrease in limestone sorbent demand, to max. 1.3 million tpy before 2050 and virtually zero after 2050, which will be followed by collapse of FGD gypsum production.
Dynamic Performance Enhancement of Power Grids by Operating Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System as Supercapacitor Energy Storage
Authors: Keshavarzi Morteza Daviran , Ali Mohd Hasan
Published: July 2021

Energy storage devices are collocated with conventional solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to tackle the intermittency of solar irradiance and maintain the power quality of supplied energy. The energy storage system usually has its own conversion devices that may incur an extra capital cost of installation. This paper proposes an integrated and cost-effective photovoltaic-supercapacitor (PVSC) system in which the energy storage functionality of the supercapacitor (SC) is merged into the PV array where the power flow bidirectionally takes place to maintain the system stability under grid disturbances during the daytime, nighttime, and cloudy weather. A nonlinear mathematical model (NMM) was developed to conduct the stability analyses and to design the controller parameters, which facilitates a faster and more accurate numerical analysis compared to existing average models. The effectiveness of the proposed system was evaluated by simulation analysis and compared to that of the basic PV and a conventional SC system in which full energy storage is connected in parallel with the PV. The results demonstrate that the proposed PVSC system is effective in improving the dynamic performance of the connected power grid system. In addition, the proposed PVSC system fulfills the functionality of the conventional SC with merged conversion devices; that is, the performance of the proposed PVSC system is comparable to the conventional SC system.
A Review of the Degradation of Photovoltaic Modules for Life Expectancy
Authors: Kim Jaeun , Rabelo Matheus , Padi Siva Parvathi , Yousuf Hasnain , Cho Eun-Chel , Yi Junsin
Published: July 2021

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are generally considered to be the most reliable components of PV systems. The PV module has a high probability of being able to perform adequately for 30 years under typical operating conditions. In order to evaluate the long-term performance of a PV module under diversified terrestrial conditions, outdoor-performance data should be used. However, this requires a wait of 25 years to determine the module reliability, which is highly undesirable. Thus, accelerated-stress tests performed in the laboratory by mimicking different field conditions are important for understanding the performance of a PV module. In this paper, we discuss PV-module degradation types and different accelerated-stress types that are used to evaluate the PV-module reliability and durability for life expectancy before using them in the real field. Finally, prevention and correction measures are described to minimize economic losses.
Crop Residue Management in India: Stubble Burning vs. Other Utilizations including Bioenergy
Authors: Porichha Gaurav Kumar , Hu Yulin , Rao Kasanneni Tirumala Venkateswara , Xu Chunbao Charles
Published: July 2021

In recent studies, various reports reveal that stubble burning of crop residues in India generates nearly 150 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), more than 9 million tons of carbon monoxide (CO), a quarter-million tons of sulphur oxides (SOX), 1 million tons of particulate matter and more than half a million tons of black carbon. These contribute directly to environmental pollution, as well as the haze in the Indian capital, New Delhi, and the diminishing glaciers of the Himalayas. Although stubble burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Air and Pollution Control Act (APCA) of 1981, a lack of implementation of these government acts has been witnessed across the country. Instead of burning, crop residues can be utilized in various alternative ways, including use as cattle feed, compost with manure, rural roofing, bioenergy, beverage production, packaging materials, wood, paper, and bioethanol, etc. This review article aims to present the current status of stubble-burning practices for disposal of crop residues in India and discuss several alternative methods for valorization of crop residues. Overall, this review article offers a solid understanding of the negative impacts of mismanagement of the crop residues via stubble burning in India and the other more promising management approaches including use for bioenergy, which, if widely employed, could not only reduce the environmental impacts of crop residue management, but generate additional value for the agricultural sector globally.
Energy Dissipation during Surface Interaction of an Underactuated Robot for Planetary Exploration
Authors: Wiśniewski Łukasz , Grygorczuk Jerzy , Zajko Paweł , Przerwa Mateusz , Wasilewski Gordon , Gurgurewicz Joanna , Mège Daniel
Published: July 2021

The article summarizes research on essential contributors to energy dissipation in an actuator for an exemplary planetary exploration hopping robot. It was demonstrated that contact dynamics could vary significantly depending on the surface type. As a result, regolith is a significant uncertainty factor to the control loop and plays a significant contribution in the control system development of future planetary exploration robots. The actual prototype of the actuating mechanism was tested on a reference surface and then compared with various surfaces (i.e., Syar, quartz sand, expanded clay, and quartz aggregate) to estimate the dissipation of the energy in the initial phase of hopping. Test outcomes are compared with multibody analysis. The research enhances trajectory planning and adaptive control of future hopping robots by determining three significant types of energy losses in the system and, most importantly, determining energy dissipation coefficients in contact with the various surfaces (i.e., from 4% to 53% depending on the surface type). The actual step-by-step methodology is proposed to analyze energy dissipation aspects for a limited number of runs, as it is a case for space systems.
Impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services in Cat Tien National Park
Authors: Pham Thuy T. , Nguyen Thao D. , Dao Chi T. L. , Hoang Long T. , Pham Luong H. , Nguyen Long T. , Tran Bien K.
Published: July 2021

This paper assesses the impacts of Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. We analyze the impacts and additionality of PFES on local livelihoods by comparing the socio-economic situations in four pairs of villages before and after its implementation, and between places where PFES is and is not applied. In total, 149 people participated in focus group discussions, while 244 households (123 in areas with PFES and 121 in areas without) took part in household surveys. Our research shows that 92% of the people interviewed are from ethnic minorities participating and benefiting directly from PFES. In villages with PFES, the numbers of participating households ranged from 45% to 88% of all poor households in those villages. Of the poor households participating in PFES in the studied villages, 22% have no source of cash income other than their forest protection contracts, while 81.4% have escaped poverty, based on self-defined poverty criteria, through additional income from forest protection. Since the implementation of PFES, the area of forests allocated for community and household management is estimated to be three to 3.64 times higher than it had been previously. Although the number of communities under PFES contracts has not changed, the number of households participating in forest protection contracts is now much lower than before PFES started. On average, PFES contributes 16% to 74% of total household income in villages with PFES. Incomes in places with PFES are significantly higher than in places without. Although our research demonstrates immediate positive socio-economic impacts on livelihoods, it also highlights weaknesses in the current monitoring and evaluation system and a lack of reliable data for measuring PFES impacts in Cat Tien National Park.
Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production Efficiency, and Nutrient Digestibility of Lactating Dairy Cows Receiving Fresh Cassava Root and Solid Feed-Block Containing High Sulfur
Authors: Dagaew Gamonmas , Cherdthong Anusorn , Wanapat Metha , So Sarong , Polyorach Sineenart
Published: July 2021

This study evaluates the effects of fresh cassava root (CR) and a solid feed-block containing sulfur (S-FB) on fermentation in the rumen, feed utilization, milk yield, and milk composition in lactating dairy cows. Four Holstein-Friesian cows with 470 ± 50.0 kg body weight (BW), 10 ± 2 kg day−1 average milk yield, and 112 ± 15 days-in-milk were studied. A 2 × 2 factorial combination was arranged in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to evaluate the treatment-related effects. The treatments were obtained from a combination of two factors: (1) levels of CR at 10 g kg−1 BW (CR-1) and 15 g kg−1 (CR-1.5) and (2) levels of sulfur supplementation in solid feed-block at 20 g kg−1 (S-FB-2) and 40 g kg−1 (S-FB-4). The results showed that CR and S-FB had no interaction effect on feed intake, digestibility, fermentation, blood metabolites, milk yield, or its composition. Feeding CR up to 15 g kg−1 of the BW significantly increased (p < 0.05) the milk fat concentration while it decreased (p < 0.05) the somatic cell count. The S-FB-4 of the sulfur significantly (p < 0.05) increased the acid detergent fiber when compared with the S-FB-2 of the sulfur. CR could be fed up to 15 g kg−1 of BW with S-FB containing high sulfur (40 g kg−1) in dairy cows without a negative impact.
Quinoa Flour, the Germinated Grain Flour, and Sourdough as Alternative Sources for Gluten-Free Bread Formulation: Impact on Chemical, Textural and Sensorial Characteristics
Authors: Franco Wendy , Evert Katherine , Van Nieuwenhove Carina
Published: July 2021

The demand for gluten-free breads has increased in the last years, but important quality and nutritional challenges remain unsolved. This research evaluated the addition of quinoa in whole quinoa grain flour, germinated quinoa flour, and quinoa sourdough, as a functional ingredient in the formulation of a rice flour-based bread. Twenty percent (w/w) of the rice flour was replaced with quinoa flour alternatives in bread formulations. The chemical composition, shelf-life, and sensory attributes of the rice-quinoa breads were analyzed. The addition of quinoa in sourdough resulted in breads with a significantly improved protein content at 9.82%, relative to 2.70% in the control breads. The amino acid content in quinoa sourdough breads also was also 5.2, 4.4, 2.6, 3.0, and 2.1 times higher in arginine, glutamic acid, leucine, lysine, and phenylalanine, respectively, relative to control breads with rice flour only. The addition of quinoa sourdough in rice breads also improved the texture, color, and shelf-life (up to 6 days), and thus they became moderately accepted among consumers. Although the germinated quinoa flour addition also resulted in a higher protein (9.77%) and amino acid content, they had a reduced shelf-life (4 days). Similarly, the addition of quinoa flour resulted in a higher protein content (9.61%), but the breads had poor texture attributes and were the least preferred by the consumers.
Mixing Oil-Based Microencapsulation of Garlic Essential Oil: Impact of Incorporating Three Commercial Vegetable Oils on the Stability of Emulsions
Authors: Zhao Yunjiao , Liu Rui , Qi Cuiping , Li Wen , Rifky Mohamed , Zhang Min , Xiao Ping , Wu Tao , Sui Wenjie
Published: July 2021

The active components in garlic essential oil are easily degradable, which limits its application in the food industry. Vegetable oils (VOs) were used to improve the stability of garlic essential oil (GEO) emulsion. The volatile compounds of GEO and its mixtures with vegetable oils (VOs), including corn oil (CO), soybean oil (SO), and olive oil (OO) indicated that GEO-VO mixtures had a higher percentage of Diallyl disulfide and Diallyl trisulfide than pure GEO. Adding an appropriate amount of VOs promoted the GEO emulsion (whey protein concentrate and inulin as the wall materials) stability in order of CO > SO > OO. Evaluation of the encapsulation efficiency, controlled release, and antimicrobial activity of GEO-VO microcapsules showed that the GEO was successfully entrapped and slowly released with active antibacterial activities on both E. coli and S. aureus. Collectively, these results implied that VOs, especially for 20% CO, improved the stability of GEO emulsions and the encapsulation efficiency of GEO microcapsules. The mechanism might be related to (1) the regulating effect of density difference between oil and water phases on prevention to gravitational separation, (2) the promotion to the compatibility of GEO and VOs to inhibit the phase separation caused by Ostwald ripening.
Fermentation as a Tool to Revitalise Brewers’ Spent Grain and Elevate Techno-Functional Properties and Nutritional Value in High Fibre Bread
Authors: Neylon Emma , Arendt Elke K. , Zannini Emanuele , Sahin Aylin W.
Published: July 2021

Recycling of by-products from the food industry has become a central part of research to help create a more sustainable future. Brewers’ spent grain is one of the main side-streams of the brewing industry, rich in protein and fibre. Its inclusion in bread, however, has been challenging and requires additional processing. Fermentation represents a promising tool to elevate ingredient functionality and improve bread quality. Wheat bread was fortified with spray-dried brewers’ spent grain (BSG) and fermented brewers’ spent grain (FBSG) at two addition levels to achieve “source of fibre” and “high in fibre” claims according to EU regulations. The impact of BSG and FBSG on bread dough, final bread quality and nutritional value was investigated and compared to baker’s flour (BF) and wholemeal flour (WMF) breads. The inclusion of BSG and FBSG resulted in a stronger and faster gluten development; reduced starch pasting capacity; and increased dough resistance/stiffness. However, fermentation improved bread characteristics resulting in increased specific volume, reduced crumb hardness and restricted microbial growth rate over time. Additionally, the inclusion of FBSG slowed the release in reducing sugars over time during in vitro starch digestion. Thus, fermentation of BSG can ameliorate bread techno-functional properties and improve nutritional quality of breads.
Extrusion-Based 3D Printing for Highly Porous Alginate Materials Production
Authors: Menshutina Natalia , Abramov Andrey , Tsygankov Pavel , Lovskaya Daria
Published: July 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a promising technology for solving a wide range of problems: regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, chemistry, etc. One of the potential applications of additive technologies is the production of highly porous structures with complex geometries, while printing is carried out using gel-like materials. However, the implementation of precise gel printing is a difficult task due to the high requirements for “ink”. In this paper, we propose the use of gel-like materials based on sodium alginate as “ink” for the implementation of the developed technology of extrusion-based 3D printing. Rheological studies were carried out for the developed alginate ink compositions. The optimal rheological properties are gel-like materials based on 2 wt% sodium alginate and 0.2 wt% calcium chloride. The 3D-printed structures with complex geometry were successfully dried using supercritical drying. The resulting aerogels have a high specific surface area (from 350 to 422 m2/g) and a high pore volume (from 3 to 3.78 cm3/g).
Cornelia de Lange Syndrome: From a Disease to a Broader Spectrum
Authors: Selicorni Angelo , Mariani Milena , Lettieri Antonella , Massa Valentina
Published: July 2021

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a genetic disease that exemplifies the evolution of knowledge in the field of rare genetic disorders. Originally described as a unique pattern of major and minor anomalies, over time this syndrome has been shown to be characterized by a significant variability of clinical expression. By increasing the number of patients described, knowledge of the natural history of the condition has been enriched with the demonstration of the relative frequency of various potential comorbidities. Since 2006, the discovery of CdLS’s molecular basis has shown an equally vast genetic heterogeneity linked to the presence of variants in genes encoding for the cohesin complex pathway. The most recent clinical-genetic data led to the classification of the “original syndrome” into a “clinical spectrum” that foresees the presence of classic patients, of non-classic forms, and of conditions that show a modest phenotypic overlapping with the original disease. Finally, the knowledge of the molecular basis of the disease has allowed the development of basic research projects that could lay the foundations for the development of possible innovative pharmacological treatments.
Recapture Lysosomal Enzyme Deficiency via Targeted Gene Disruption in the Human Near-Haploid Cell Line HAP1
Authors: Brown Annie , Zhang Jiayi , Lawler Brendan , Lu Biao
Published: July 2021

Background: Advancement in genome engineering enables rapid and targeted disruption of any coding sequences to study gene functions or establish human disease models. We explored whether this approach can be used to study Gaucher disease, one of the most common types of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) in a near-haploid human cell line (HAP1). Results: CRISPR-Cas9 targeting to coding sequences of β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA), the causative gene of Gaucher disease, resulted in an insertional mutation and premature termination of GBA. We confirmed the GBA knockout at both the gene and enzyme levels by genotyping and GBA enzymatic assay. Characterization of the knockout line showed no significant changes in cell morphology and growth. Lysosomal staining revealed more granular lysosomes in the cytosol of the GBA-knockout line compared to its parental control. Flow cytometry analysis further confirmed that more lysosomes accumulated in the cytosol of the knockout line, recapturing the disease phenotype. Finally, we showed that this knockout cell line could be used to evaluate a replacement therapy by recombinant human GBA. Conclusions: Targeted gene disruption in human HAP1 cells enables rapid establishment of the Gaucher model to capture the key pathology and to test replacement therapy. We expect that this streamlined method can be used to generate human disease models of other LSDs, most of which are still lacking both appropriate human disease models and specific treatments to date.
Biopolymers as Green Binders for Soil Improvement in Geotechnical Applications: A Review
Authors: Fatehi Hadi , Ong Dominic E. L. , Yu Jimmy , Chang Ilhan
Published: July 2021

Soil improvement using biopolymers has attracted considerable attention in recent years, with the aim to reduce the harmful environmental effects of traditional materials, such as cement. This paper aims to provide a review on the environmental assessment of using biopolymers as binders in soil improvement, biopolymer-treated soil characteristics, as well as the most important factors affecting the behavior of the treated soil. In more detail, environmental benefits and concerns about the use of biopolymers in soil improvement as well as biopolymer–soil interaction are discussed. Various geotechnical properties are evaluated and compared, including the unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, erosion resistance, physical properties, and durability of biopolymer-treated soils. The influential factors and soil and environmental conditions affecting various geotechnical characteristics of biopolymer-treated soils are also discussed. These factors include biopolymer concentration in the biopolymer–soil mixture, moisture condition, temperature, and dehydration time. Potential opportunities for biopolymers in geotechnical engineering and the challenges are also presented.
Alexis Wright’s The Swan Book: Indigenous-Australian Swansong or Songline?
Authors: Renes Cornelis M. B.
Published: July 2021

The Swan Book (pub. 2013) by the Indigenous-Australian author Alexis Wright is an eco-dystopian epic about the Indigenous people’s tough struggle to regain the environmental balance of the Australian continent and recover their former habitat. The book envisions a dire future in which all Australian flora and fauna—humans included—are under threat, suffering, displaced, and dying out as the result of Western colonization and its exploitative treatment of natural resources. The Swan Book goes beyond the geographical and epistemological scope of Wright’s previous two novels, Plains of Promise (pub. 1997) and Carpentaria (pub. 2006) to imagine what the Australian continent at large will look like under the ongoing pressure of the Western, exploitative production mode in a foreseeable future. The occupation of Aboriginal land in Australia’s Northern Territory since 2007 has allowed the federal government to intervene dramatically in what they term the dysfunctional remote Aboriginal communities; these are afflicted by transgenerational trauma, endemic domestic violence, alcoholism, and child sexual and substance abuse—in themselves the results of the marginal status of Indigeneity in Australian society—and continued control over valuable resources. This essay will discuss how Wright’s dystopian novel exemplifies an Indigenous turn to speculative fiction as a more successful way to address the trials and tribulations of Indigenous Australia and project a better future—an enabling songline rather than a disabling swansong.
Clinical Factors Associated with COVID-19 Severity in Mexican Patients: Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Multicentric Hospital Study
Authors: Monárrez-Espino Joel , Zubía-Nevárez Carolina Ivette , Reyes-Silva Lorena , Castillo-Palencia Juan Pablo , Castañeda-Delgado Julio Enrique , Herrera van-Oostdam Ana Sofía , López-Hernández Yamilé
Published: July 2021

(1) Background: Latin America has been harshly hit by SARS-CoV-2, but reporting from this region is still incomplete. This study aimed at identifying and comparing clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 at different stages of disease severity. (2) Methods: Cross-sectional multicentric study. Individuals with nasopharyngeal PCR were categorized into four groups: (1) negative, (2) positive, not hospitalized, (3) positive, hospitalized with/without supplementary oxygen, and (4) positive, intubated. Clinical and laboratory data were compared, using group 1 as the reference. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression was used to compare adjusted odds ratios. (3) Results: Nine variables remained in the model, explaining 76% of the variability. Men had increased odds, from 1.90 (95%CI 0.87–4.15) in the comparison of 2 vs. 1, to 3.66 (1.12–11.9) in 4 vs. 1. Diabetes and obesity were strong predictors. For diabetes, the odds for groups 2, 3, and 4 were 1.56 (0.29–8.16), 12.8 (2.50–65.8), and 16.1 (2.87–90.2); for obesity, these were 0.79 (0.31–2.05), 3.38 (1.04–10.9), and 4.10 (1.16–14.4), respectively. Fever, myalgia/arthralgia, cough, dyspnea, and neutrophilia were associated with the more severe COVID-19 group. Anosmia/dysgeusia were more likely to occur in group 2 (25.5; 2.51–259). (4) Conclusion: The results point to relevant differences in clinical and laboratory features of COVID-19 by level of severity that can be used in medical practice.
Prediction of Cardiovascular Risk Using Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Scoring Systems
Authors: Kweon Ye-Na , Ko Hae-Jin , Kim A-Sol , Choi Hye-In , Song Ji-Eun , Park Ji-Yeon , Kim Sung-Min , Hong Hee-Eun , Min Kyung-Jin
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to determine whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor for CVD and to identify the most useful NAFLD diagnostic tool for predicting CVD. Data from a total of 23,376 Korean adults without established CVD were analyzed. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) 2008. The presence of NAFLD was defined as moderate-to-severe fatty liver disease diagnosed by ultrasonography. Scores for fatty liver were calculated using four NAFLD scoring systems (Fatty Liver Index, FLI; Hepatic Steatosis Index, HSI; Simple NAFLD Score, SNS; Comprehensive NAFLD Score, CNS), and were compared and analyzed according to cardiovascular risk group. Using the FRS, 67.4% of participants were considered to be at low risk of CVD, 21.5% at intermediate risk, and 11.1% at high risk. As the risk of CVD increased, both the prevalence of NAFLD and the score from each NAFLD scoring system increased significantly (p < 0.001). In the unadjusted analysis, the CNS had the strongest association with high CVD risk; in the adjusted analysis, the FLI score was most strongly associated with high CVD risk. Fatty liver is an important independent risk factor for CVD. Therefore, the available NAFLD scoring systems could be utilized to predict CVD.
Investigating the Association between Outdoor Environment and Outdoor Activities for Seniors Living in Old Residential Communities
Authors: Yu Shiwang , Guo Na , Zheng Caimiao , Song Yu , Hao Jianli
Published: July 2021

Many seniors live in old residential communities (ORCs) with low-quality outdoor environment (OE), which hinders the residents’ outdoor daily activities (ODAs). This paper empirically investigates the association of OE on ODAs for seniors living in ORCs. A questionnaire was designed and distributed in six central districts of Nanjing city. A total of 258 questionnaires was finally collected, of which 60.08%, 29.46%, 9.69%, and 0.78% respondents were scattered into four age groups (61–69, 70–79, 80–89, and ≥90), respectively. Based on reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis, the results show that: (1) social activities are mainly associated with noise; (2) leisure activities are significantly associated with road accessibility, slip-resistance measures, greenery, and staff; (3) utilitarian-type activities are significantly associated with stairway accessibility, slip-resistance measures, greenery, and seating; (4) there is a significant association between nature-exposure activities and layout, greenery, and poor air quality. The findings could guide Chinese officials when renewing ORCs by addressing the most important outdoor environmental factors associated with ODAs.
Identifying the Key Risk Factors of Mega Infrastructure Projects from an Extended Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Li Yuanli , Xiang Pengcheng , You Kairui , Guo Jin , Liu Zhaowen , Ren Hong
Published: July 2021

Mega infrastructure projects (MIPs) have become increasingly important to the realization of sustainable development in China. Sustainable development is a process of dynamic balance, and coordinating the triple bottom line (the environmental, social, and economic dimensions) will enable more sustainable development of MIPs. However, previous studies have lacked consideration of coordination when applying sustainable development principles to the systematic identification of risks to MIPs. The goals of this study were to clarify the definition and dimensions of the sustainable development of MIPs and to identify the key risks of MIPs. A literature review was performed to extend the definition of sustainable development of MIPs by combining the triple bottom line with a fourth coordination dimension. A conceptual model of MIP risk identification was then proposed from an extended sustainable development perspective, 22 sustainability elements and 75 risk factors were identified, and the key risk factors were determined based on the interview responses and fuzzy set theory. The results show that economic risks have a high probability, social risks have a high loss, environmental risks have an intermediate probability and loss, and coordination risks have the greatest impact. In addition, the three most important key risk factors were found to be construction and installation cost overruns, land acquisition and resettling cost overruns, and information sharing with the public. Identifying key risk factors can provide information to help stakeholders understand the risk factors associated with MIPs and formulate reasonable risk response strategies.
Are Perceptions of Health Dependant on Social Class? Studying Soft Power and Symbolic Violence in a Health Promotion Program among Young Men at Vocational Schools
Authors: Mikkelsen Bent Egberg , Sudzina Frantisek , Botek Marek , Romani Annette Quinto , Larsen Kristian
Published: July 2021

Health behaviour among young people has a social gradient, and tends to be skewed in terms of gender as well. Young men in vocational educational settings are an example where the inequality in health is apparent. Addressing this problem requires an understanding of health behaviour and its determinants in the target group in order to be able to develop interventions that can address the problem. The aim of the paper is to investigate to what extent a multicomponent intervention based on the Whole School Approach, targeting the risk behaviours, smoking, eating and physical activity that have an impact on health behaviour among male students in a disadvantaged educational setting. The paper uses self-reported longitudinal data on risk behaviours from the “Gearing up the Body” 1-year intervention program that was implemented among students at a Danish vocational school. For the analysis, we created a score model to categorise students and behaviour. Analyses suggest that interventions had only a modest impact and what evidence there is shows that the interventions reduced the health behaviour scores by 0.03 points. More specifically, we find that symbolic violence reduces the health behaviour score of the healthy types by 0.20 points, whereas soft power increases the health behaviour of the unhealthy type by 0.05 points. An explanation for the disappointing results of the “Gearing up the Body” program is tension between different understanding of what is “right” and “wrong” health behaviour. We find that the ideas of soft power and symbolic violence can contribute to a better understanding of why health and health behaviour is understood differently among vocational students. Thus, the finding demonstrates that one needs to apply a participatory approach rather than a normative approach addressing the health behaviour of disadvantaged individuals.
Impact of Activity Monitoring on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Body Weight during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Barkley Jacob E. , Farnell Gregory , Boyko Brianna , Turner Brooke , Wiet Ryan
Published: July 2021

Decreases in individuals’ physical activity and increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study assessed the ability of physical activity monitoring, which may promote physical activity and discourage sedentary behavior, to mitigate these negative outcomes. An evaluation of university samples (N = 404, 40.5 ± 15.4 years) of self-reported physical activity, sedentary behavior, and bodyweight prior to the closure of campus due to the pandemic in March of 2020 and again at the time of the survey administration (May–June 2020) during pandemic-related restrictions was performed. Participants also reported whether they did (n = 172) or did not (n = 232) regularly use physical activity monitoring technology. While physical activity was unchanged during the pandemic (p ≥ 0.15), participants significantly increased sitting by 67.8 ± 156.6 min/day and gained 0.64 ± 3.5 kg from pre-campus to post-campus closure (p < 0.001). However, the use of activity monitoring did not moderate these changes. In conclusion, while physical activity was not affected, participants reported significant increases in sedentary behavior and bodyweight during the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes occurred regardless of whether participants regularly used physical activity monitoring or not.
Increased Risk of Gastric Cancer in Asbestos-Exposed Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Taiwan Cancer Registry 1980–2015
Authors: Fang Yi-Jen , Chuang Hung-Yi , Pan Chih-Hong , Chang Yu-Yin , Cheng Yawen , Lee Lukas Jyuhn-Hsiarn , Wang Jung-Der
Published: July 2021

Asbestos has been recognized as a human carcinogen associated with malignant mesothelioma, cancers of lung, larynx, and ovary. However, a putative association between gastric cancer and asbestos exposure remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to explore gastric cancer risk of workers potentially exposed to asbestos in Taiwan. The asbestos occupational cohort was established from 1950 to 2015 based on the Taiwan Labor Insurance Database, and Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency regulatory datasets, followed by the Taiwan Cancer Registry for the period 1980–2015. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer were computed for the whole cohort using reference rates of the general population, and also reference labor population. Compared with the general population, SIR of the asbestos occupational cohort for the gastric cancer increased both in males (1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.09) and females (1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.18). A total of 123 worksites were identified to have cases of malignant mesothelioma, where increased risk for gastric cancer was found with a relative risk of 1.76 (95% CI: 1.63–1.90). This 35-year retrospective cohort study of asbestos-exposed workers in Taiwan may provide support for an association between occupational exposure to asbestos and gastric cancer.
Newly Arrived Migrant Women’s Experience of Maternity Health Information: A Face-to-Face Questionnaire Study in Norway
Authors: Bains Sukhjeet , Sundby Johanne , Lindskog Benedikte V. , Vangen Siri , Sørbye Ingvil K.
Published: July 2021

Limited understanding of health information may contribute to an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes among migrant women. We explored factors associated with migrant women’s understanding of the information provided by maternity staff, and determined which maternal health topics the women had received insufficient coverage of. We included 401 newly migrated women (≤5 years) who gave birth in Oslo, excluding migrants born in high-income countries. Using a modified version of the Migrant Friendly Maternity Care Questionnaire, we face-to-face interviewed the women postnatally. The risk of poor understanding of the information provided by maternity staff was assessed in logistic regression models, presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The majority of the 401 women were born in European and Central Asian regions, followed by South Asia and North Africa/the Middle East. One-third (33.4%) reported a poor understanding of the information given to them. Low Norwegian language proficiency, refugee status, no completed education, unemployment, and reported interpreter need were associated with poor understanding. Refugee status (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.01–4.91), as well as a reported interpreter need, were independently associated with poor understanding. Women who needed but did not get a professional interpreter were at the highest risk (aOR 2.83, 95% CI 1.59–5.02). Family planning, infant formula feeding, and postpartum mood changes were reported as the most frequent insufficiently covered topics. To achieve optimal understanding, increased awareness of the needs of a growing, linguistically diverse population, and the benefits of interpretation services in health service policies and among healthcare workers, are needed.
Patient Safety in the Eyes of Aspiring Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of Their Attitudes
Authors: Tocco Tussardi Ilaria , Benoni Roberto , Moretti Francesca , Tardivo Stefano , Poli Albino , Wu Albert W. , Rimondini Michela , Busch Isolde Martina
Published: July 2021

A culture of safety is important for the delivery of safe, high-quality care, as well as for healthcare providers’ wellbeing. This systematic review aimed to describe and synthesize the literature on patient safety attitudes of the next generation of healthcare workers (health professional students, new graduates, newly registered health professionals, resident trainees) and assess potential differences in this population related to years of study, specialties, and gender. We screened four electronic databases up to 20 February 2020 and additional sources, including weekly e-mailed search alerts up to 18 October 2020. Two independent reviewers conducted the search, study selection, quality rating, data extraction, and formal narrative synthesis, involving a third reviewer in case of dissent. We retrieved 6606 records, assessed 188 full-texts, and included 31 studies. Across articles, healthcare students and young professionals showed overwhelmingly positive patient safety attitudes in some areas (e.g., teamwork climate, error inevitability) but more negative perceptions in other domains (e.g., safety climate, disclosure responsibility). Women tend to report more positive attitudes. To improve safety culture in medical settings, health professions educators and institutions should ensure education and training on patient safety.
Alcohol Consumption and Behavioral Consequences in Romanian Medical University Students
Authors: Nasui Bogdana Adriana , Popa Monica , Buzoianu Anca Dana , Pop Anca Lucia , Varlas Valentin Nicolae , Armean Sebastian Mihai , Popescu Codruta Alina
Published: July 2021

Alcohol consumption is a major public health problem facing universities. The objectives of the present study were to investigate alcohol consumption and the behaviors associated with it among Romanian university medical students, with particular reference to sex differences, behavioral consequences, and lifestyle patterns. We performed a cross-sectional study on 722 medical students (60.4% females; 39.6% males); the participants filled out a validated questionnaire containing the following items co-occurring with alcohol consumption: smoking, illicit drug use, energy drink consumption, and other behavioral drinking consequences. Physical activity was estimated using the IPAQ questionnaire. We statistically analyzed the interrelation between alcohol consumption and target factors. The present study showed a high percentage of at-risk drinkers among male (15.0%) and female medical students (14.9%) in the studied group. Male students reported higher illicit drug use and physical activity than female students, but the at-risk female drinkers’ group consumed more drugs than the low-risk female drinkers. Both male and female drinkers engaged in other risky behaviors correlated with drinking (e.g., smoking, low academic performance, and driving a car after drinking). Public health policies, strategies, and interventions should be initiated to reduce alcohol consumption and associated behaviors in medical students.
Did Affiliate Stigma Predict Affective and Behavioral Outcomes in Caregivers and Their Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?
Authors: Chang Chih-Cheng , Chen Yu-Min , Hsiao Ray C. , Chou Wen-Jiun , Yen Cheng-Fang
Published: July 2021

The aim of this follow-up study was to examine the predictive values of caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline for depression in caregivers and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 1 year later. The Study on Affiliate Stigma in Caregivers of Children with ADHD surveyed the levels of affiliate stigma and depression in 400 caregivers and the behavioral problems of their children with ADHD. The levels of the caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems were assessed 1 year later. The associations of caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline with depression in caregivers and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children with ADHD at follow-up were examined using stepwise multiple regression. The results indicated that before caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems at baseline were controlled, caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline positively predicted caregivers’ depression and all children’s behavioral problems. After caregivers’ depression and children’s behavioral problems at baseline were controlled, caregivers’ affiliate stigma at baseline still positively predicted children’s affective and somatic problems. Parenting training and cognitive behavioral therapy should be provided to caregivers with intense affiliate stigma to prevent emotional problems and difficulties in managing their children’s behavioral problems.
The Effect of Flow Rate on a Third-Generation Sub-Ohm Tank Electronic Nicotine Delivery System—Comparison of CORESTA Flow Rates to More Realistic Flow Rates
Authors: Floyd Evan , Greenlee Sara , Oni Toluwanimi , Sadhasivam Balaji , Queimado Lurdes
Published: July 2021

Many types of electronic cigarettes (ECs) are currently in use, but the default flow rate used to simulate puffing is centered on tobacco cigarette flow rates. CORESTA offers several methods and technical guides for evaluation of ECs but there are few puffing topography studies focusing on sub-ohm ECs; differences between real-world usage and that found in the literature appear large. This study focuses on how power and flow rate affect the nicotine yield of a sub-ohm EC. A puffing system (Puff3rd) has been designed and used to produce and collect EC aerosol. Nicotine yield was measured by GC–MS at three power levels and four flow rates. Data analysis was conducted in SAS using the MIXED procedure. Power, flow rate, and their interaction were all significant predictors of nicotine yield. Nicotine yield increased with both the vaping power and the puff flow rate with significant interaction of the two. Findings indicate that using the current CORESTA flow rate (1100 mL/min) to evaluate third-generation ECs underestimates nicotine yield and likely overestimates pyrolysis products. Real users are expected to have 2–3× the nicotine dose measured at 1100 mL/min, which could confound epidemiological studies seeking to link nicotine delivery to product satisfaction and acceptability.
Independence in Daily Activities after Stroke among Occupational Therapy Patients and Its Relationship with Unilateral Neglect
Authors: De-Rosende-Celeiro Iván , Rey-Villamayor Alba , Francisco-de-Miguel Isabel , Ávila-Álvarez Adriana
Published: July 2021

More research is needed to better understand the impact of occupational therapy (OT) in stroke patients and syndromes of unilateral neglect (UN) and anosognosia. A prospective, observational, longitudinal design was conducted on a sample of 27 OT patients. The objectives were to examine: (1) the presence of UN and anosognosia; (2) the functional outcomes; and (3) the association of UN at baseline with functional status at discharge from OT. The outcomes were Barthel (functional independence) and the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI). The baseline proportion of participants with UN was 33% according to the Star Cancellation Test (STC), and 48.1% according to the Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS) therapist-version. There was a significant difference between the therapist and participant-rated CBS scores (p = 0.004). Functional independence improved significantly between the initial and final assessments (p < 0.001); the effect size (r) was large (r = 0.61). There was a significant improvement in RMI scores (p < 0.001), which was large in size (r = 0.59). Both the STC and CBS-therapist scores were significantly correlated with the Barthel (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively) and with the RMI (p = 0.004, p = 0.028, respectively). The participants substantially enhanced their functional status skills. UN and anosognosia were common problems, and neglect was associated with worse OT program outcomes.
Multi-System Urban Waste-Energy Self-Circulation: Design of Urban Self-Circulation System Based on Emergy Analysis
Authors: Xu Xiaoyu
Published: July 2021

The current worldwide state of energy scarcity and low waste utilization has led to a decrease in the supply of ecological services, something that seriously affects the development of cities. In this study, we propose an urban self-circulation design based on multiple systems within the traditional biogas, wetland, rainwater, solar power, and urban farm systems framework to achieve effective improvements in urban waste utilization and the optimization of the urban waste–energy flow cycle. Emergy conversion is used to evaluate system optimization, and the simulation results show that the novel proposed system can effectively improve urban waste utilization with an energy output rate of 3.18 × 10, an environmental load of 4.27 × 10−2, and a sustainability index of 7.45 × 102 in the core system; additionally, it can improve resource utilization of small-scale cities with an energy output rate of 1.85 × 100, an environmental load of 1.20 × 100, and a sustainability index of 1.54 × 100 in the total system. The inter-system energy flow model can significantly optimize urban energy systems based on ecological models with low-emergy resource input, including biogas systems and urban farm systems. This model can reduce the environmental load and effectively compensate for the reduced supply capacity of ecosystem services caused by urbanization, making it suitable for extension to other small-scale built environments that are relatively independent and rich in natural resources.