bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Characteristics of Regional Value Chains in the Sector of Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Products in the EU
Authors: Kersan-Škabić Ines , Belullo Alen
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted trade flows, causing a trade drop in 2020 that was especially sensitive for pharmaceutical and medical products necessary to ensure public health. The production of pharmaceutical products is dispersed in a framework of global value chains. This study aimed to provide a detailed analysis of the EU situation in the sector of production of chemical and pharmaceutical products, to discover the fragmentation of production chains within the EU as well as globally. International inter-country input–output tables were employed to disaggregate the value-added created in EU member states. The GVC and RVC participation indexes, backward and forward participation, length of sourcing, and selling value chains were calculated and compared with the main global hubs.
Modern Technology in Geography Education—Attitudes of Pre-Service Teachers of Geography on Modern Technology
Authors: Bengel Phillip T. , Peter Carina
Published: November 2021

In this study, we focus on teachers’ attitudes to compare and evaluate their ability and readiness to implement technology education in geography lessons. First, the lack of suitable measuring instruments for our intent was identified, and we thus attempted to develop the Modern Technology Attitude Index (MTAI) for remedy. An exploratory factor analysis helped to identify three distinguishable dimensions that depict areas of intimidation (INT), loss of control (LOC), and benefits and easement (BAE), with or through modern technology. The scales were then applied to German university students (n = 357). As a result, the pre-service geography teachers (n = 72) showed higher scores on the affinity scale than on the two aversion scales. Their subject-specific interest correlated negatively with intimidation and positively with the perceived benefits and easements of modern technology, while the perceived loss of control showed no significant correlation. This allows for the conclusion that the subject’s technology-related interest has an influence on cognitive and behavioral attitudes, while this is not the case for affective ones. Further, there are indications that the much-discussed gender gap in technology topics might particularly be related to people’s affective attitudes, while cognitive and behavioral dimensions seem not to be affected. Differing results in other studies on whether the gender gap still exists or not could be due to the fact that, in addition to growing social awareness and a generational change, the measuring tools used may have not yet been able to depict a sufficiently diverse range of attitudes.
Performance Enhancement of Photoconductive Antenna Using Saw-Toothed Plasmonic Contact Electrodes
Authors: Zhang Xingyun , Zhan Fangyuan , Wei Xianlong , He Wenlong , Ruan Cunjun
Published: November 2021

A photoconductive logarithmic spiral antenna with saw-toothed plasmonic contact electrodes is proposed to provide a higher terahertz radiation compared with the conventional photoconductive antenna (PCA). The use of saw-toothed plasmonic contact electrodes creates a strong electric field between the anode and cathode, which generates a larger photocurrent and thereby effectively increases the terahertz radiation. The proposed PCA was fabricated and measured in response to an 80 fs optical pump from a fiber-based femtosecond laser with a wavelength of 780 nm. When the proposed antenna is loaded with an optical pump power of 20 mW and a bias voltage of 40 V, a broadband pulsed terahertz radiation in the frequency range of 0.1–2 THz was observed. Compared to the conventional PCA, the THz power measured by terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) increased by an average of 10.45 times.
Underground Imaging by Sub-Terahertz Radiation
Authors: Zheng Yuan , Domier Calvin , Gonzalez Michelle , Luhmann Neville C. , Gamzina Diana
Published: November 2021

Sub-terahertz ground-penetrating radar systems offer an alternative to radio wave-based systems in the airborne imaging of buried objects. Laboratory prototype systems operating in W-band (75–110 GHz) and F-band (90–140 GHz) are presented, detecting the distance between target and source and imaging metal objects buried in mixed soil. The experimental results show that imaging in the 100–150 GHz frequency range is feasible for underground applications but significantly restricted by the attenuation characteristics of the medium covering the targets. A higher power source and more sensitive receiving components are essential to increase the penetration capability and expand the application settings of this approach.
Comparative Analysis of Performance between Multimodal Implementation of Chatbot Based on News Classification Data Using Categories
Authors: Anki Prasnurzaki , Bustamam Alhadi , Buyung Rinaldi Anwar
Published: November 2021

In the modern era, the implementation of chatbot can be used in various fields of science. This research will focus on the application of sentence classification using the News Aggregator Dataset that is used to test the model against the categories determined to create the chatbot program. The results of the chatbot program trial by multimodal implementation applied four models (GRU, Bi-GRU, 1D CNN, 1D CNN Transpose) with six variations of parameters to produce the best results from the entire trial. The best test results from this research for the chatbot program using the 1D CNN Transpose model are the best models with detailed characteristics in this research, which produces an accuracy value of 0.9919. The test results on both types of chatbot are expected to produce sentence prediction results and precise and accurate detection results. The stages in making the program are explained in detail; therefore, it is hoped that program users can understand not only how to use the program by entering an input and receiving program output results that are explained in more detail in each sub-topic of this study.
Performance Evaluation of Offline Speech Recognition on Edge Devices
Authors: Gondi Santosh , Pratap Vineel
Published: November 2021

Deep learning–based speech recognition applications have made great strides in the past decade. Deep learning–based systems have evolved to achieve higher accuracy while using simpler end-to-end architectures, compared to their predecessor hybrid architectures. Most of these state-of-the-art systems run on backend servers with large amounts of memory and CPU/GPU resources. The major disadvantage of server-based speech recognition is the lack of privacy and security for user speech data. Additionally, because of network dependency, this server-based architecture cannot always be reliable, performant and available. Nevertheless, offline speech recognition on client devices overcomes these issues. However, resource constraints on smaller edge devices may pose challenges for achieving state-of-the-art speech recognition results. In this paper, we evaluate the performance and efficiency of transformer-based speech recognition systems on edge devices. We evaluate inference performance on two popular edge devices, Raspberry Pi and Nvidia Jetson Nano, running on CPU and GPU, respectively. We conclude that with PyTorch mobile optimization and quantization, the models can achieve real-time inference on the Raspberry Pi CPU with a small degradation to word error rate. On the Jetson Nano GPU, the inference latency is three to five times better, compared to Raspberry Pi. The word error rate on the edge is still higher, but it is not too far behind, compared to that on the server inference.
Real Driving Emissions in Extended Driving Conditions
Authors: Engelmann Danilo , Zimmerli Yan , Czerwinski Jan , Bonsack Peter
Published: November 2021

The real driving emission (RDE) testing for certification of vehicles is performed in conditions that are well defined in legislation. For emissions inventories and for research, the influences of some extended driving conditions on emissions are an interesting issue. In the present work, some examples of RDE results from two common passenger cars with gasoline and diesel propulsion are given. The varying driving conditions were “winter/summer”, “mild/aggressive”, and “higher altitude/slop”. The driving conditions: “winter”, “aggressive”, and “higher slope/altitude” generally require more energy, cause higher fuel consumption, and therefore, higher CO2-emissions. The condition of “winter driving”, especially in the urban type of operation, may cause some longer phases with not enough warmed-up exhaust aftertreatment and consequently some increased gaseous emissions. The DPF eliminates the nanoparticles (PN) independently on the driving conditions. Nevertheless, the DPF regeneration has an influence on the CO2-normality of the trip. The CO2-normality primary tolerance range can also be exceeded with aggressive driving. The elaborated results confirm the usefulness of the existing legal limits for the driving conditions of RDE homologation tests.
Vibration Characteristics of a Hydroelectric Generating System with Different Hydraulic-Mechanical-Electric Parameters in a Sudden Load Increasing Process
Authors: Guo Yixuan , Liang Xiao , Niu Ziyu , Cao Zezhou , Lei Liuwei , Xiong Hualin , Chen Diyi
Published: November 2021

In a sudden load increasing process (SLIP), the hydroelectric generating system (HGS) experiences a severe vibration response due to the sudden change of the hydraulic-mechanical-electric parameters (HMEPs). The instability of HGS limits the ability of sudden load increase, and its flexibility and reliability are reduced. Thus, in this study, a new transient nonlinear coupling model of HGS is proposed, which couples the hydro-turbine governing system (HTGS) and the hydro-turbine generator shafting system (HGSS) with the hydraulic-mechanical-electric coupling force, rotating speed, flow rate, hydro-turbine torque, electromagnetic torque, and guide vane opening. By using numerical simulation, the influences of different HMEPs on the vibration characteristics of HGS in SLIP are analyzed. The result shows that, compared with stable operating conditions, the vibration amplitude of HGS increases sharply in SLIP. The increase of the sudden load increasing amount, blade exit flow angle, mass eccentricity and excitation current, and the decrease in guide bearing stiffness and average air gap between the stator and rotor cause abnormal vibration of different degrees in the HGS. Hydraulic factors have the greatest influence on the nonlinear dynamic behavior of HGS. The maximum vibration amplitude of HGS in SLIP is increased by 70.46%, compared with that under stable operating conditions. This study provides reasonable reference for the analysis of the nonlinear dynamic behavior of HGS in SLIP under the multiple vibration sources.
Calcium Ion Richness in Cornus hongkongensis subsp. elegans (W. P. Fang et Y. T. Hsieh) Q. Y. Xiang Could Enhance Its Salinity Tolerance
Authors: Lu Qiang , Yang Ling , Wang Haowei , Yuan Jiaqiu , Fu Xiangxiang
Published: November 2021

Cornus hongkongensis subsp. elegans (W. P. Fang et Y. T. Hsieh) Q. Y. Xiang has attracted much attention for its potential ornamental value and extensive adaptation to heterogeneous environments. In this study, seedlings were treated with four sea salt concentrations (0 (S0), 0.2 (S2), 0.3 (S3), and 0.4% (S4), w/w) by hydroponics. We determined that the degree of injury symptoms in the salinized seedlings increased with the rising salt concentration and with the extent of stress duration. Calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations reached peaks of 22.00, 17.05, and 12.77 mg g−1 in the leaves, stem, and root in the S4 treatment, respectively. As the salt concentration rose, calcium oxalate crystals in leaves were mainly enriched in the abaxial parenchyma of the main vein, as well as the palisade tissues and their junction with the spongy tissues of the mesophyll. The density of calcium oxalate crystals increased almost 1.6-fold in the leaves in the S4 treatment compared to the S0 treatment. Our results suggest that C. elegans could be cultivated in coastal areas with a salt concentration of 0.2%–0.3% in eastern China. In addition, a high Ca2+ supply in the field may be an effective strategy to enhance salinity tolerance in dogwoods.
Angle-Resolved Hollow-Core Fiber-Based Curvature Sensing Approach
Authors: Guimarães William M. , Cordeiro Cristiano M. B. , Franco Marcos A. R. , Osório Jonas H.
Published: November 2021

We propose and theoretically study a new hollow-core fiber-based curvature sensing approach with the capability of detecting both curvature radius and angle. The new sensing method relies on a tubular-lattice fiber that encompasses, in its microstructure, tubes with three different thicknesses. By adequately choosing the placement of the tubes within the fiber cross-section, and by exploring the spectral shifts of the fiber transmitted spectrum due to the curvature-induced mode field distributions’ displacements, we demonstrate a multi-axis curvature sensing method. In the proposed platform, curvature radii and angles are retrieved via a suitable calibration routine, which is based on conveniently adjusting empirical functions to the fiber response. Evaluation of the sensing method performance for selected cases allowed the curvature radii and angles to be determined with percentual errors of less than 7%. The approach proposed herein provides a promising path for the accomplishment of new curvature sensors able to resolve both the curvature radius and angle.
On the Characteristics of the Super-Critical Wake behind a Circular Cylinder
Authors: Rodriguez Ivette , Lehmkuhl Oriol
Published: November 2021

The flow topology of the wake behind a circular cylinder at the super-critical Reynolds number of Re=7.2×105 is investigated by means of large eddy simulations. In spite of the many research works on circular cylinders, there are no studies concerning the main characteristics and topology of the near wake in the super-critical regime. Thus, the present work attempts to fill the gap in the literature and contribute to the analysis of both the unsteady wake and the turbulent statistics of the flow. It is found that although the wake is symmetric and preserves similar traits to those observed in the sub-critical regime, such as the typical two-lobed configuration in the vortex formation zone, important differences are also observed. Owing to the delayed separation of the flow and the transition to turbulence in the attached boundary layer, Reynolds stresses peak in the detached shear layers close to the separation point. The unsteady mean flow is also investigated, and topological critical points are identified in the vortex formation zone and the near wake. Finally, time-frequency analysis is performed by means of wavelets. The study shows that in addition to the vortex shedding frequency, the inception of instabilities that trigger transition to turbulence occurs intermittently in the attached boundary layer and is registered as a phenomenon of variable intensity in time.
Investigation of the Effects of Nanoparticle Concentration and Cutting Parameters on Surface Roughness in MQL Hard Turning Using MoS2 Nanofluid
Authors: Tuan Ngo Minh , Ngoc Tran Bao , Thu Tran Le , Long Tran The
Published: November 2021

Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) has gained significant attention in various research fields and industrial applications for its advantages of being environmentally friendly and suitable for sustainable production. The effectiveness of MQL is increasing significantly by using nano cutting fluid, which can be produced by suspending nanoparticles in the based cutting fluid. This study aims to investigate the effects of MoS2 nanoparticle concentration, cutting speed, and feed rate on MQL hard turning of 90CrSi steel in terms of surface roughness and surface microstructure. The Box–Behnken experimental design was used to analyze the influence of input parameters and their interaction effects as well as to find the optimal set of variables. The obtained results prove the improvement of the machinability of carbide tools due to higher cooling and lubricating performance created by MoS2 nanofluid MQL, which contributes to improve the surface quality and reduce the manufacturing cost. There is an interaction effect between nanoparticle concentration and feed rate which has a strong influence on surface roughness.
Effect of Structurally Different Pectin on Dough Rheology, Structure, Pasting and Water Distribution Properties of Partially Meat-Based Sugar Snap Cookies
Authors: Nawaz Asad , Li Enpeng , Khalifa Ibrahim , Walayat Noman , Liu Jianhua , Nilofar  , Muhammad Ahsan Hafiz , Irshad Sana , Barakat Hassan , Lorenzo José M. , Pateiro Mirian , Siddiqui Shahida Anusha , Inam-Ur-Raheem Muhammad
Published: November 2021

Pectin has been widely used as a hydrocolloid in foods, but its effectiveness based on hydrodynamics radius (Rh), average side chain length (ACL) and degree of esterification (DE) has been less studied. This study investigated the effect of 4 types of pectin (with different molecular weight and structures) at a level of 1.5% w/w of wheat flour on functional, structural and water binding properties of sugar snap cookies partially substituted with fish meat. The results showed that pectin (CU-201 and CU-601) with higher ACL and Rh controlled excessive expansion, while the improved rheology of dough in terms of behavior as viscous matrix compared to control and other pectin. Texture was found to be highly dependent on Rh and ACL compared to DE of pectin. The pasting properties, especially peak viscosity and final viscosity, were significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing DE, as well as ACL, by entangling and increasing the interaction between starch and pectin. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis exhibited that control sample showed wide voids and more intercellular spaces, while samples prepared with CU-601, CU-201, and CUL displayed compact structure, which was also evidenced by controlled expansion and improved hardness of the cookies. Low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis showed that T21 relaxation time and amplitude were found to be shorter for CU-601 and CU-201 treatments, signifying the high amount of tightly bound water compared to control. The findings endorse the feasibility of adding CU-601, and CU-201 as an efficient hydrocolloid for the improved structural and functional properties of cookies.
Expanding the Biocatalytic Scope of Enzyme-Loaded Polymeric Hydrogels
Authors: Tan Zhongbiao , Bilal Muhammad , Raza Ali , Cui Jiandong , Ashraf Syed Salman , Iqbal Hafiz M. N.
Published: November 2021

In recent years, polymeric hydrogels have appeared promising matrices for enzyme immobilization to design, signify and expand bio-catalysis engineering. Therefore, the development and deployment of polymeric supports in the form of hydrogels and other robust geometries are continuously growing to green the twenty-first-century bio-catalysis. Furthermore, adequately fabricated polymeric hydrogel materials offer numerous advantages that shield pristine enzymes from denaturation under harsh reaction environments. For instance, cross-linking modulation of hydrogels, distinct rheological behavior, tunable surface entities along with elasticity and mesh size, larger surface-volume area, and hydrogels’ mechanical cushioning attributes are of supreme interest makes them the ideal candidate for enzyme immobilization. Furthermore, suitable coordination of polymeric hydrogels with requisite enzyme fraction enables pronounced loading, elevated biocatalytic activity, and exceptional stability. Additionally, the unique catalytic harmony of enzyme-loaded polymeric hydrogels offers numerous applications, such as hydrogels as immobilization matrix, bio-catalysis, sensing, detection and monitoring, tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery applications. In this review, we spotlight the applied perspective of enzyme-loaded polymeric hydrogels with recent and relevant examples. The work also signifies the combined use of multienzyme systems and the future directions that should be attempted in this field.
Infection Control Improvement of a Negative-Pressurized Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Wang Fujen , Permana Indra , Chaerasari Citra , Panigrahi Bivas , Rakshit Dibakar
Published: November 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus raises alarming concern around the healthcare facilities due to the significant increase in patient inflow. Negative-pressurized isolation rooms have been utilized in various health care facilities to isolate the patients from active community contact. Several studies have highlighted isolation rooms improvement. However, limited knowledge is available regarding the isolation room facilities for pediatric intensive care units (PICU) to accommodate more than one pediatric patient. In this aspect, this study investigates a negative-pressurized isolation facility in PICU with minimal design modifications with the possibility that it can accommodate more than one pediatric patient. The field measurement tests were conducted to ensure the design compliance of Taiwan CDC. Then, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was further utilized to numerically evaluate the HVAC system role and the ventilation performance towards infection control. A protected air-jet curtain system with a new ventilation layout was proposed through this study to enhance the protection for both pediatric patients and medical staff. The concentration decay was monitored and recorded within 900 s to evaluate the performance. The concentration can be reduced to 504 ppm for case 1, 620 ppm for case 2, 501 ppm for case 3, and 486 ppm for case 4. In addition, the injected bioaerosol particles could be well diluted dealing with two patients presents a good performance. The results revealed that this proposed configuration could feasibly accommodate two patients with a significant contamination control to protect the medical staff and patients.
Chemical Variability in the Composition of Zhumeria majdae (Rech. F. & Wendelbo) Essential Oil According to Storage Time and Temperature
Authors: Karami Akbar , Tashani Fatemeh , Tahmasebi Aminallah , Maggi Filippo
Published: November 2021

Zhumeria majdae (Rech. F. & Wendelbo) is an aromatic herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family, traditionally employed in the Persian medicine for the treatment of a wide number of diseases. In the present study, the chemical composition of Z. majdae essential oil obtained from the plant’s aerial features, and stored at various temperatures (refrigerator temperature 4 °C, freezer temperature −20 °C, and room temperature 20 ± 3 °C) and times (0, 3, 6, and 9 months) was studied. The essential oil was isolated through hydrodistillation, and its composition was evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed that the composition of essential oils changed as a function of the various storage temperatures and times. Linalool (34.85–48.45%), camphor (27.09–39.17%), limonene (1.97–4.88%), and camphene (1.6–4.84%) made up the main volatile compounds which showed differences in their concentrations according to the various storage conditions. Notably, when compared to a non-stored treatment sample (analyzed immediately after essential oil collection), the amount of linalool and camphor increased in all samples stored in all conditions of temperature and time, with the exception of the samples stored for nine months at room temperature. On the other hand, limonene and camphene contents decreased during the storage treatments, showing that the highest content of these compounds occurred in the non-stored treatment. Essential oil storage at the freezer temperature and for three months storage time resulted in the highest average value of the major constituents, highlighting these as the best conditions for obtaining the highest content of the major compounds.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Hardened ‘Suli’ Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) for Identification of Key Genes for Lignin Biosynthesis and Accumulation
Authors: Feng Xinxin , Liu Xiaofeng , Jia Yuxiu , Liu Huifang , Li Liulin
Published: November 2021

Fruit hardening, one of the physiological disorders influencing the quality of pear, is usually accompanied by fruit lignification. Nonetheless, the mechanism by which lignin accumulates in hardened pear fruit is still unknown. Here, Transcriptome analysis of normal fruits (NFs) and hardened fruits (HFs) of ‘Suli’ pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd) was used to examine the molecular mechanism of fruit hardening. We found that hardened fruits (HFs), especially those in the top region within 35–180 days after flowering (DAF), possessed a prominently higher lignin level than normal fruits (NFs). Subsequently, transcriptome sequencing of fruit at 35 DAF identified 4391 [HF shoulder region (HF_S) vs. NF top region (NF_T)], 3849 (HF_T vs. NF_T) and 408 (HF_T vs. HF_S) differentially expressed genes. Among them, we clarified 26 unigenes that encode 10 enzymes as candidate genes participating in lignin biosynthesis. Thus, high expression of the lignin biosynthetic gene impels lignin to accumulate in HFs. Some transcription factors were evaluated to link with lignin formation and subsequently analysed. In addition, the genes participating in flavonoid/proanthocyanidin biosynthesis dropped from the HF_T to the HF_S, suggesting that the flavonoid metabolic pathway was reduced to promote intermediate metabolites to be converted to the lignin biosynthetic pathway. To conclude, this study lays a solid theoretical foundation and provides reference data for investigating the mechanism by which lignin accumulates in hardened pear fruit.
Hydrogen Diffusivity in Different Microstructures of 42CrMo4 Steel
Authors: Imdad Atif , Zafra Alfredo , Arniella Victor , Belzunce Javier
Published: November 2021

It is well known that the presence of hydrogen decreases the mechanical properties of ferritic steels, giving rise to the phenomenon known as hydrogen embrittlement (HE). The sensitivity to HE increases with the strength of the steel due to the increase of its microstructural defects (hydrogen traps), which eventually increase hydrogen solubility and decrease hydrogen diffusivity in the steel. The aim of this work is to study hydrogen diffusivity in a 42CrMo4 steel submitted to different heat treatments—annealing, normalizing and quench and tempering—to obtain different microstructures, with a broad range of hardness levels. Electrochemical hydrogen permeation tests were performed in a modified Devanathan and Stachursky double-cell. The build-up transient methodology allowed the determination of the apparent hydrogen diffusion coefficient, Dapp, and assessment of its evolution during the progressive filling of the microstructural hydrogen traps. Consequently, the lattice hydrogen diffusion coefficient, DL, was determined. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to examine the steel microstructures in order to understand their interaction with hydrogen atoms. In general, the results show that the permeation parameters are strongly related to the steel hardness, being less affected by the type of microstructure.
Implementing Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis in Research: Principles, Practices and Lessons Learned
Authors: Sanchez-Pimienta Carlos E. , Masuda Jeffrey R. , Doucette Mary B. , Lewis Diana , Rotz Sarah ,   on behalf of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Neufeld Hannah Tait , Castleden Heather
Published: November 2021

Numerous tools for addressing gender inequality in governmental policies, programs, and research have emerged across the globe. Unfortunately, such tools have largely failed to account for the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples’ lives and lands. In Canada, Indigenous organizations have advanced gender-based analysis frameworks that are culturally-grounded and situate the understanding of gender identities, roles, and responsibilities within and across diverse Indigenous contexts. However, there is limited guidance on how to integrate Indigenous gender-based frameworks in the context of research. The authors of this paper are participants of a multi-site research program investigating intersectoral spaces of Indigenous-led renewable energy development within Canada. Through introspective methods, we reflected on the implementation of gender considerations into our research team’s governance and research activities. We found three critical lessons: (1) embracing Two-Eyed Seeing or Etuaptmumk while making space for Indigenous leadership; (2) trusting the expertise that stems from the lived experiences and relationships of researchers and team members; and (3) shifting the emphasis from ‘gender-based analysis’ to ‘gender-based relationality’ in the implementation of gender-related research considerations. Our research findings provide a novel empirical example of the day-to-day principles and practices that may arise when implementing Indigenous gender-based analysis frameworks in the context of research.
Willingness to Contribute to Bio-Larviciding in the Fight against Malaria: A Contingent Valuation Study among Rice Farmers in Rwanda
Authors: Rulisa Alexis , van Kempen Luuk , Mutesa Leon , Hakizimana Emmanuel , Ingabire Chantal M. , Kateera Fredrick , Koenraadt Constantianus J. M. , van Vugt Michèle , van den Borne Bart
Published: November 2021

There is broad consensus that successful and sustained larval source management (LSM) interventions, including bio-larviciding campaigns, require embeddedness in local community institutions. Ideally, these community structures should also be capable of mobilizing local resources to (co-)finance interventions. To date, farmer cooperatives, especially cooperatives of rice growers whose economic activity facilitates mosquito breeding, have remained under the radar in designing community-based bio-larviciding campaigns. This study explores the potential of rice farmer cooperatives in Bugesera district, Rwanda, to take up the aforementioned roles. To this purpose, we surveyed 320 randomly selected rice farmers who belonged to one of four rice cooperatives in the area and elicited their willingness-to-pay (WTP) for application of Bti, a popular bio-larvicide, in their rice paddies. Results from a (non-incentivized) bidding game procedure, which tested two alternative contribution schemes showed that financial contributions would be significantly different from zero and sufficient to carry a co-financing share of 15–25 per cent. A strong heterogeneity in mean WTP is revealed across cooperatives, in addition to variation among individual farmers, which needs to be anticipated when engaging farmer cooperatives in LSM.
Work along Both Lines: The Positive Impact of Work-Based Social Media Use on Job Performance
Authors: Zhao Junzhe , Guo Tengfei , Shang Sudong , Wang Minghui
Published: November 2021

Social media has rapidly become an important tool in organizations and has a significant impact on employees’ work and organizational operations. By applying social media to their daily work, employees gain access to important information resources that can help them get things done. Using the conservation of resources theory, this study examines the impact of work resources generated by employees’ work-based social media use on work status, as well as job performance. Data were collected from the employees of Internet companies in Henan Province and Shanghai, China. We distributed 519 pairs of questionnaires, and 369 pairs of valid paired questionnaires were returned. To estimate the proposed relationships in the theoretical framework, we used SPSS and MPLUS. The results show that work-based social media use can increase employees’ work engagement, which in turn increases task performance, job dedication and interpersonal facilitation. It also reduces the negative effects of work interruptions on task performance and job dedication. Therefore, we conclude the positive effects of work-based social media use on job performance can be achieved by increasing work engagement and by reducing work interruptions.
Application of Single-Particle Mass Spectrometer to Obtain Chemical Signatures of Various Combustion Aerosols
Authors: Cho Hee-joo , Kim Joonwoo , Kwak Nohhyeon , Kwak Heesung , Son Taewan , Lee Donggeun , Park Kihong
Published: November 2021

A single-particle mass spectrometer (SPMS) with laser ionization was constructed to determine the chemical composition of single particles in real time. The technique was evaluated using various polystyrene latex particles with different sizes (125 nm, 300 nm, 700 nm, and 1000 nm); NaCl, KCl, MgCO3, CaCO3, and Al2O3 particles with different chemical compositions; an internal mixture of NaCl and KCl; and an internal mixture of NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2 with different mixing states. The results show that the SPMS can be useful for the determination of chemical characteristics and mixing states of single particles in real time. The SPMS was then applied to obtain the chemical signatures of various combustion aerosols (diesel engine exhaust, biomass burning (rice straw), coal burning, and cooking (pork)) based on their single-particle mass spectra. Elemental carbon (EC)-rich and EC-organic carbon (OC) particles were the predominant particle types identified in diesel engine exhaust, while K-rich and EC-OC-K particles were observed among rice straw burning emissions. Only one particle type (ash-rich particles) was detected among coal burning emissions. EC-rich and EC-OC particles were observed among pork burning particles. The single-particle mass spectra of the EC or OC types of particles differed among various combustion sources. The observed chemical signatures could be useful for rapidly identifying sources of atmospheric fine particles. In addition, the detected chemical signatures of the fine particles may be used to estimate their toxicity and to better understand their effects on human health.
Inputs of Total and Labile Dissolved Metals from Six Facilities Continuously Discharging Treated Wastewaters to the Marine Environment of Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands, Spain)
Authors: Rodrigo Sanz Marta , Millán Gabet Vanessa , Gonzalez Jean-Louis
Published: November 2021

The presence of ten metals (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Al, Fe, Mn, and Co) was investigated in the final discharge of six facilities, including four wastewater treatment plants, which were continuously discharging treated wastewater to the coastal environment in Gran Canaria Island. A four-day sampling campaign was carried out at each facility in July 2020, in which both the spot samplings technique and the diffusive gradient in thin-film technique (DGT) were carried out to measure total dissolved metals and the in situ labile metal fraction, respectively. After the necessary sample preparation steps, measurements were carried out by ICP-MS for both samplings. Raw data referred to the spot total dissolved and DGT-labile metal concentrations were reported. In general, the average metal concentrations were dispersed in a broad range. As expected, the highest metal contents were found in those facilities with larger industrial contributions. The values of annual average environmental quality standards (AA-EQS) were used to assess the total dissolved metal concentrations for every metal in every final discharge. In only one of the studied facilities, some metals (Ni and Zn) exceeded these EQS within the receiving waterbody, highlighting the need for more efficient treatment targeted towards a specific discharging-water quality. In addition, the total dissolved and labile metal daily fluxes of discharge were calculated to estimate the contribution of every effluent to the receiving water bodies.
Health Related Values and Preferences Regarding Meat Intake: A Cross-Sectional Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Valli Claudia , Santero Marilina , Prokop-Dorner Anna , Howatt Victoria , Johnston Bradley C. , Zajac Joanna , Han Mi-Ah , Pereira Ana , Kenji Nampo Fernando , Guyatt Gordon H. , Bala Malgorzata M. , Alonso-Coello Pablo , Rabassa Montserrat
Published: November 2021

Background. In addition to social and environmental determinants, people’s values and preferences determine daily food choices. This study evaluated adults’ values and preferences regarding unprocessed red meat (URM) and processed meat (PM) and their willingness to change their consumption in the face of possible undesirable health consequences. Methods. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study including a quantitative assessment through an online survey, a qualitative inquiry through semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up assessment through a telephone survey. We performed descriptive statistics, logistic regressions, and thematic analysis. Results. Of 304 participants, over 75% were unwilling to stop their consumption of either URM or PM, and of those unwilling to stop, over 80% were also unwilling to reduce. Men were less likely to stop meat intake than women (odds ratios < 0.4). From the semi-structured interviews, we identified three main themes: the social and/or family context of meat consumption, health- and non-health-related concerns about meat, and uncertainty of the evidence. At three months, 63% of participants reported no changes in meat intake. Conclusions. When informed about the cancer incidence and mortality risks of meat consumption, most respondents would not reduce their intake. Public health and clinical nutrition guidelines should ensure that their recommendations are consistent with population values and preferences.
Food Losses and Waste: A Needed Assessment for Future Policies
Authors: Campoy-Muñoz Pilar , Cardenete Manuel Alejandro , Delgado María del Carmen , Sancho Ferran
Published: November 2021

About one third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. For this reason, food losses and waste has become a key priority within worldwide policy circles. This is a major global issue that not only threatens the viability of a sustainable food system but also generates negative externalities in environmental terms. The avoidance of this forbidding wastage would have a positive economic impact on national economies in terms of resource savings. In this paper we look beyond this somewhat traditional resource savings angle and we shift the focus to explore the distributional consequences of food losses and waste reduction using a resource constrained modeling perspective. The impact due to the behavioral shift of each household is therefore explained by two factors. One is the amount of resources saved when the behavioral shift takes place, whereas the other one has to do with the position of households in the food supply chain. By considering the whole supply chain, instead of the common approach based only in reducing waste by consumers, we enrich the empirical knowledge of this issue and improve the quantification of its economic impact. We examine data for three EU countries that present different economic structures (Germany, Spain and Poland) so as to have a broader and more robust viewpoint of the potential results. We find that distributional effects are different for consumers and producers and also across countries. Our results could be useful for policymakers since they indicate that policies should not be driven merely by the size waste but rather on its position within the food supply chain.
A Comprehensive Assessment of Informal Caregivers of Patients in a Primary Healthcare Home-Care Program
Authors: Rodrigo-Baños Virginia , Moral-Pairada Marta del , González-de Paz Luis
Published: November 2021

Studies of the characteristics of informal caregivers and associated factors have focused on care-receiver disease or caregiver social and psychological traits; however, an integral description may provide better understanding of informal caregivers’ problems. A multicenter cross-sectional study in primary healthcare centers was performed in Barcelona (Spain). Participants were a random sample of informal caregivers of patients in a home-care program. Primary outcomes were health-related quality of life and caregiver burden, and related factors were sociodemographic data, clinical and risk factors, social support and social characteristics, use of healthcare services, and care receivers’ status. In total, 104 informal caregivers were included (mean age 68.25 years); 81.73% were female, 54.81% were retired, 58.65% had high comorbidity, and 48.08% of care receivers had severe dependence. Adjusted multivariate regression models showed health-related quality of life and the caregivers’ burden were affected by comorbidity, age, time of care, and dependency of care receiver, while social support and depression also showed relative importance. Aging, chronic diseases, and comorbidity should be included when explaining informal caregivers’ health status and wellbeing. The effectiveness of interventions to support informal caregivers should comprehensively evaluate caregivers when designing programs, centering interventions on informal caregivers and not care receivers’ conditions.
Modification of Apremilast from Pills to Aerosol a Future Concept
Authors: Zarogoulidis Paul , Kosmidis Christoforos , Kougkas Nikolaos , Lallas Aimilios , Petridis Dimitris , Hohenforst-Schmidt Wolfgang , Huang Haidong , Freitag Lutz , Sardeli Chrisanthi
Published: November 2021

Background: Inhaled drugs have been available in the market for several years and for several diseases. Drugs for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and diabetes have been used for several years. In the field of drug modification, these drugs range from tablets to aerosol. Methods: Milling as used to break down the tablets to powder and nebulisers are used to produce aerosol droplets. A mastersizer was used to measure the mass median aerodynamic diameter of the aerosol droplets. Results: Apremilast produced mmad diameters (2.43 μm) without any statistical difference between the different jet-nebulizers. The residual cup B contributed to greater mmad diameters as the 95% interval of mean values, based on those the ANOVA mean square clearly indicated, followed by cups C and F. The previous interval plot is much better clarified when the interaction means between drug and residual cap are plotted. The residual cups B, C and F produce mmad between (2.0–3.2). Conclusion: In the current research study we demonstrated our methodology to create apremilast powder and produce apremilast aerosol droplets with different nebulisers and residual cups.
Heterogeneity Analysis of the Effects of Haze Pollution on the Health of Left-Behind Children in Urban and Rural Areas in China
Authors: Wang Juan , Wei Qiuhe , Wan Qing , Li Hai
Published: November 2021

Differences in economic development, public services, production, and lifestyle between urban and rural areas lead to significant differences in people’s attitudes and abilities to cope with environmental pollution. Furthermore, environmental pollution has heterogeneous effects on the health of individuals in urban and rural areas. The article takes the health of left-behind children as an entry point to analyze the impact of haze pollution on the health of urban and rural left-behind children. Using children’s survey data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the urban and rural raster PM2.5 data from 2000 to 2015, this study applies a logit model to analyze the heterogeneity of the impact of haze pollution on the health of left-behind children. This research finds that, first, the health effects of haze pollution on rural left-behind children are more severe than those on rural children not left behind. Moreover, the same results are not present in the sample of urban left-behind children. Second, the health of left-behind children is more vulnerable to haze pollution than the others when neither parent is at home in rural areas. Third, no evidence proves that haze pollution has more severe health effects on rural children aged 0–6 years with parents away from home. Meanwhile, haze pollution will more easily influence the health status of left-behind children aged 7 years and above in rural areas due to their parents’ absence. Fourth, the finding that haze pollution significantly affects the health of left-behind children with parents away from home only applies to the central and western rural samples in China.
Exploring the Use of Fitbit Consumer Activity Trackers to Support Active Lifestyles in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Hodgson William , Kirk Alison , Lennon Marilyn , Paxton Gregor
Published: November 2021

Background: People with type 2 diabetes are less active than those without the condition. Physical activity promotion within diabetes health care is limited. This project explored the use of Fitbit activity trackers (Fitbit, San Francisco, CA, USA) to support active lifestyles in adults with type 2 diabetes through a mixed-methods study. Methods: Two stages were conducted. In stage 1, adults with type 2 diabetes used a Fitbit Charge 4 (Fitbit, San Francisco, CA, USA) for 4 weeks. Fitbit and self-reported physical activity data was examined through quantitative analysis. Qualitative analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of participants. In stage 2, health professionals were interviewed to examine their views on using Fitbit activity trackers within type 2 diabetes care. Results: Adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited for stage 1 and adult health care and fitness professionals were recruited for stage 2. Stage 1 participants’ self-reported increases in physical activity (mean weekly minutes of walking increased from 358.75 to 507.50 min, p = 0.046) and a decrease in sedentary behaviour (mean daily hours of sedentary behaviour decreased from 10.65 to 10.05 h, p = 0.575). Fitbit activity data ranges identified individuals who led inactive and sedentary lifestyles below levels recommended and in need of physical activity support to reduce the risk to their health. During interviews, participants stated that the Fitbit activity tracker motivated them to be more active. Stage 2 participants intimated that Fitbit activity trackers could improve the promotion of physical activity within type 2 diabetes care. Interventions involving the Fitbit premium service, community prescription and combined use of Fitbits with physical activity behaviour change models were recommended by stage 2 participants. Conclusions: This study found that there is future scope for using Fitbit activity trackers to support active lifestyles in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
ADHD and Mental Health Symptoms in the Identification of Young Adults with Increased Risk of Alcohol Dependency in the General Population—The HUNT4 Population Study
Authors: Lauvsnes Anders Dahlen Forsmo , Langaas Mette , Olsen Alexander , Vassileva Jasmin , Spigset Olav , Gråwe Rolf W.
Published: November 2021

Symptoms of ADHD are strongly associated with alcohol use disorders, and mental health symptoms attenuate this relationship. There is limited knowledge about how specific symptoms of inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity can explain this association. We aimed to identify self-reported executive cognitive functioning and mental health and variables that may help identify subjects with an elevated risk of alcohol dependence in the general population. Data included 3917 subjects between 19 and 30 years old in the 4th Trøndelag Health Study. The Adult ADHD Self report Scale—Screener, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and demographic variables were used as input variables. The alcohol screening instrument CAGE was used as the response variable for binary alcohol dependence risk. We used logistic regression and automated model selection to arrive at our final model that identified sex, age, inattentiveness, hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms, and anxiety as predictors of having a CAGE score ≥2, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.692. A balanced accuracy approach indicated an optimal cut-off of 0.153 with sensitivity 0.55 and specificity 0.74. Despite attrition in the data, our findings may be important in the assessment of individual risk for alcohol dependency and when developing algorithms for risk triage in public health.