bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of a Park and Ride System—A Case Study Based on the City of Cracow (Poland)
Authors: Macioszek Elżbieta , Kurek Agata
Published: July 2020

The park and ride (P&R) parking type is usually located near peripheral public transport stops. These parking places are dedicated to people who, after leaving their vehicle in the parking, continue their journey to the city center using some form of public transport such as bus, metro, rail or tram systems. This article aims to examine the features associated with P&R parking locations in use in Cracow (Poland). The analysis included the number of entries and exits to and from parking during particular periods of the day, week and year, parking time of vehicles, and parking space use. A parking peak hour factor was also calculated, which expresses the crowding degree of vehicle entries/exits in/out parking during a particular period. In addition, the paper presents an analysis of factors determining users to P&R parking use. In the modeling process, logit models were used, which, as stated after analyzing the literature on the subject, were already used in various countries around the world to describe the behavior of P&R parking users. However, so far, such research relating to Polish conditions has been not published in the available literature. The obtained results allowed to state that the most important factors determining the likelihood of using P&R parking in Cracow are age, number of years having a driving license, monthly income (gross), and an average number of trips made during a day. Other variables, which not included in the study, can influence the P&R parking use. However, the presented results are the basis for conducting furtherer, more in-depth analyses based on a larger number of independent variables that may determine the P&R parking use.
Lithium-Rich Cobalt-Free Manganese-Based Layered Cathode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries: Suppressing the Voltage Fading
Authors: Abdel-Ghany Ashraf , Hashem Ahmed M. , Mauger Alain , Julien Christian M.
Published: July 2020

Lithium-rich layered oxides are recognized as promising materials for Li-ion batteries, owing to higher capacity than the currently available commercialized cathode, for their lower cost. However, their voltage decay and cycling instability during the charge/discharge process are problems that need to be solved before their practical application can be envisioned. These problems are mainly associated with a phase transition of the surface layer from the layered structure to the spinel structure. In this paper, we report the AlF3-coating of the Li-rich Co-free layered Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 (LLNMO) oxide as an effective strategy to solve these problems. The samples were synthesized via the hydrothermal route that insures a very good crystallization in the layered structure, probed by XRD, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The hydrothermally synthesized samples before and after AlF3 coating are well crystallized in the layered structure with particle sizes of about 180 nm (crystallites of ~65 nm), with high porosity (pore size 5 nm) determined by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area method. Subsequent improvements in discharge capacity are obtained with a ~5-nm thick coating layer. AlF3-coated Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 delivers a capacity of 248 mAh g−1 stable over the 100 cycles, and it exhibits a voltage fading rate of 1.40 mV per cycle. According to the analysis from galvanostatic charge-discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the electrochemical performance enhancement is discussed and compared with literature data. Post-mortem analysis confirms that the AlF3 coating is a very efficient surface modification to improve the stability of the layered phase of the Li-rich material, at the origin of the significant improvement of the electrochemical properties.
A Review of the Power Converter Interfaces for Switched Reluctance Machines
Authors: Pires Vitor Fernão , Pires Armando José , Cordeiro Armando , Foito Daniel
Published: July 2020

The use of power electronic converters is essential for the operation of Switched Reluctance Machines (SRMs). Many topologies and structures have been developed over the last years considering several specific applications for this kind of machine, improving the control strategies, performance range, fault-tolerant operation, among other aspects. Thus, due to the great importance of power electronic converters in such applications, this paper is focused on a detailed review of main structures and topologies for SRM drives. The proposed study is not limited to the classic two-level power converters topologies dedicated to the SRMs; it also presents a review about recent approaches, such as multilevel topologies and based on impedance source network. Moreover, this review is also focused on a new class of topologies associated to these machines, namely the ones with fault-tolerant capability. This new category of topologies has been a topic of research in recent years, being currently considered an area of great interest for future research work. An analysis, taking into consideration the main features of each structure and topology, was addressed in this review. A classification and comparison of the several structures and topologies for each kind of converter, considering modularity, boost capability, number of necessary switches and phases, integration in the machine design, control complexity, available voltage levels and fault-tolerant capability to different failure modes, is also presented. In this way, this review also includes a description of the presented solutions taking into consideration the reliability of the SRM drive.
Comparison of Control Strategies to Realize Synthetic Inertia in Converters
Authors: Marchgraber Jürgen , Alács Christian , Guo Yi , Gawlik Wolfgang , Anta Adolfo , Stimmer Alexander , Lenz Martin , Froschauer Manuel , Leonhardt Michaela
Published: July 2020

The increasing amount of renewable energy sources in the electrical energy system leads to an increasing number of converter-based generators connected to the electrical power grid. Other than conventional power plants that are often connected to the grid via synchronous generators, converter-based generators do not provide mechanical inertia intrinsically. Therefore, ensuring frequency stability in the electrical power grid might become even more difficult in the future. With the concept of synthetic inertia, the converter-based generators partially imitate the behavior of conventional generators. By implementing such a concept in converters, they are capable of contributing to frequency stability as well. This paper compares two strategies to realize synthetic inertia by modeling converter-based generators in MATLAB/SIMULINK and simulating their behavior in a small Microgrid. The results prove that any kind of realization of synthetic inertia helps to improve frequency stability. Each of the two investigated strategies may have their scope of application in a future electrical energy system.
Distributed Machine Learning on Dynamic Power System Data Features to Improve Resiliency for the Purpose of Self-Healing
Authors: Karim Miftah Al , Currie Jonathan , Lie Tek-Tjing
Published: July 2020

Numerous online methods for post-fault restoration have been tested on different types of systems. Modern power systems are usually operated at design limits and therefore more prone to post-fault instability. However, traditional online methods often struggle to accurately identify events from time series data, as pattern-recognition in a stochastic post-fault dynamic scenario requires fast and accurate fault identification in order to safely restore the system. One of the most prominent methods of pattern-recognition is machine learning. However, machine learning alone is neither sufficient nor accurate enough for making decisions with time series data. This article analyses the application of feature selection to assist a machine learning algorithm to make better decisions in order to restore a multi-machine network which has become islanded due to faults. Within an islanded multi-machine system the number of attributes significantly increases, which makes application of machine learning algorithms even more erroneous. This article contributes by proposing a distributed offline-online architecture. The proposal explores the potential of introducing relevant features from a reduced time series data set, in order to accurately identify dynamic events occurring in different islands simultaneously. The identification of events helps the decision making process more accurate.
Location and Sizing of Micro-Grids to Improve Continuity of Supply in Radial Distribution Networks
Authors: Postigo Marcos Fernando , Mateo Domingo Carlos , Gómez San Román Tomás , Cossent Arín Rafael
Published: July 2020

The steady decline in the prices of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as distributed renewable generation and storage systems, together with more sophisticated monitoring and control strategies allow power distribution companies to enhance the performance of the distribution network, for instance improving voltage control, congestion management, or reliability. The latter will be the subject of this paper. This paper addresses the improvement of continuity of supply in radial distribution grids in rural areas, where traditional reinforcements cannot be carried out because they are located in secluded areas or in naturally protected zones, where the permits to build new lines are difficult to obtain. When a contingency occurs in such a feeder, protection systems isolate it, and all downstream users suffer an interruption until the service is restored. This paper proposes a novel methodology to determine the optimal location and size of micro-grid systems (MGs) used to reduce non-served energy, considering reliability and investment costs. The proposed model additionally determines the most suitable combination of DER technologies. The resulting set of MGs would be used to supply consumers located in the isolated area while the upstream fault is being repaired. The proposed methodology is validated through its application to a case study of an actual rural feeder which suffers from reliability issues due to the difficulties in obtaining the necessary permissions to undertake conventional grid reinforcements.
Flash Gas Chromatography in Tandem with Chemometrics: A Rapid Screening Tool for Quality Grades of Virgin Olive Oils
Authors: Barbieri Sara , Cevoli Chiara , Bendini Alessandra , Quintanilla-Casas Beatriz , García-González Diego Luis , Gallina Toschi Tullia
Published: July 2020

This research aims to develop a classification model based on untargeted elaboration of volatile fraction fingerprints of virgin olive oils (n = 331) analyzed by flash gas chromatography to predict the commercial category of samples (extra virgin olive oil, EVOO; virgin olive oil, VOO; lampante olive oil, LOO). The raw data related to volatile profiles were considered as independent variables, while the quality grades provided by sensory assessment were defined as a reference parameter. This data matrix was elaborated using the linear technique partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), applying, in sequence, two sequential classification models with two categories (EVOO vs. no-EVOO followed by VOO vs. LOO and LOO vs. no-LOO followed by VOO vs. EVOO). The results from this large set of samples provide satisfactory percentages of correctly classified samples, ranging from 72% to 85%, in external validation. This confirms the reliability of this approach in rapid screening of quality grades and that it represents a valid solution for supporting sensory panels, increasing the efficiency of the controls, and also applicable to the industrial sector.
Can Health Perceptions, Credibility, and Physical Appearance of Low-Fat Foods Stimulate Buying Intentions?
Authors: Küster-Boluda Inés , Vila Natalia
Published: July 2020

This study examines the influence of labelling and packaging strategies on perceived product health and overall attitudes to low-fat products in the field of healthy food claims among young consumers. The aim was to determine if these aspects can influence buying intentions. After a literature review, a quantitative study was carried out. With a sample of 300 young consumers (18–25 years old) and the use of partial least square methodology, this paper demonstrated that: (1) nutritional information and visual cues affect consumers’ perceptions (information credibility and physical appearance), (2) information credibility influences product health perceptions and attitudes toward a product, (3) physical appearance affects attitudes toward a product, and (4) overall attitude to the product influences purchase intentions The results achieved show that credibility and physical appearance could stimulate low-fat foods purchase intentions through a positive global attitude to the product. Additionally, nutritional information and visual cues play a more relevant role than nutritional information response and informative cues. These results and the conclusions that follow must be understood in the analysed context (low-fat foods) with the sample used (300 young consumers).
Seasonal Changes in Free Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Compositions of Sardines, Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792): Implications for Nutrition
Authors: Šimat Vida , Hamed Imen , Petričević Sandra , Bogdanović Tanja
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to clarify the seasonal variation in the proximate composition of the free amino acid (AA) and fatty acid (FA) profiles of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) from the Adriatic Sea and to better understand the nutritive value needed to organize more effective industrial processing, aquaculture use and to ensure the health benefits for consumers through available bioactive compounds such as omega-3 FA and essential AA. The lipid content ranged from 1.18 to 10.58% during the year, being the highest from July to September. For the first time, this paper reports the monthly variation in AA content in sardines. The highest total AA content was measured during the winter period, from January (843 mg/100 g fillet) to March (953 mg/100 g) with histidine, arginine and threonine being the most dominant. The total content of essential free AA (histidine, threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysine) ranged from 137 to 571 mg/100 g fillet (wet weight), recorded in May and March, respectively. The fatty acid profile analyses revealed the major saturated FA as palmitic (C16:0), followed by myristic (C14:0), and stearic (C18:0) acids, and the predominant monosaturated FA as oleic (C18:1n–9) and palmitoleic (C16:1n–7). The high concentrations of polyunsaturated FA in sardines were omega-3 FA, particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA; 20:6n-3) FA. From July to September, their content was the highest (>3.5 g/100 g of sardine fillets), confirming that these species are excellent sources of bioactive lipids.
Effect of Thermal Processing on Physico-Chemical and Antioxidant Properties in Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Powder
Authors: Anuduang Artorn , Loo Yuet Ying , Jomduang Somchai , Lim Seng Joe , Wan Mustapha Wan Aida
Published: July 2020

The mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is a common edible insect in many countries. However, the impact of thermal processing, especially regarding Thai silkworm powder, is poorly known. We, therefore, determined the optimum time for treatment in hot water and subsequent drying temperatures in the production of silkworm powder. The silkworms exposed to 90 °C water for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min showed values of Total Phenolic Compounds (TPCs), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging (DPPH) assay, 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay that were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at the 5 min exposure time compared with the other times. The reduction of microorganisms based on log CFU/g counts was ≥3 log CFU/g (99%) at the 5 min treatment. To determine the optimum drying temperature, the silkworms exposed to 90 °C water for 5 min were subjected to a hot-air dryer at 80, 100, 120, and 140 °C. The TPC value was the highest (p < 0.05) at 80 °C. The silkworm powder possessed significantly (p < 0.05) higher DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging ability, and ferric ion reducing capability (FRAP assay) at 80 °C compared with other drying temperatures. This study indicates that shorter exposure times to hot water and a low drying temperature preserve the antioxidant activities. High antioxidant activities (in addition to its known protein and fat content) suggest that silkworms and silkworm powder can make a valuable contribution to human health.
Milk Processing Affects Structure, Bioavailability and Immunogenicity of β-lactoglobulin
Authors: Broersen Kerensa
Published: July 2020

Bovine milk is subjected to various processing steps to warrant constant quality and consumer safety. One of these steps is pasteurization, which involves the exposure of liquid milk to a high temperature for a limited amount of time. While such heating effectively ameliorates consumer safety concerns mediated by pathogenic bacteria, these conditions also have an impact on one of the main nutritional whey constituents of milk, the protein β-lactoglobulin. As a function of heating, β-lactoglobulin was shown to become increasingly prone to denaturation, aggregation, and lactose conjugation. This review discusses the implications of such heat-induced modifications on digestion and adsorption in the gastro-intestinal tract, and the responses these conformations elicit from the gastro-intestinal immune system.
Oral Processing Studies: Why Multidisiciplinary?
Authors: Fiszman Susana , Tarrega Amparo
Published: July 2020

When food is ingested, it remains in the mouth for a short period of time. Although this period is brief compared to the total food nutrient digestion and absorption time, it is crucially important as it is the first step in digestion. It is also very important that, while the food is in the mouth, it is perceived by the senses and then a decision is made on swallowing. Oral sensory perception is an integrative response, which is generated in very short time (normally a few seconds) from complex information gathered from multiple sources during mastication and swallowing. Consequently, food oral processing studies include many orientations. This Special Issue brings together a small range of studies with a diversity of approaches that provide good examples of the complexity and multidisciplinarity of the subject.
HPLC-Based Chemometric Analysis for Coffee Adulteration
Authors: Cheah Wai Lok , Fang Mingchih
Published: July 2020

Coffee is one of the top ten most adulterated foods. Coffee adulterations are mainly performed by mixing other low-value materials into coffee beans after roasting and grinding, such as spent coffee grounds, maize, soybeans and other grain products. The detection of adulterated coffee by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is recognized as a targeted analytical method, which carbohydrates and other phenolic compounds are usually used as markers. However, the accurate qualitation and quantitation of HPLC analyses are time consuming. This study developed a chemometric analysis or called non-targeted analysis for coffee adulteration. The HPLC chromatograms were obtained by direct injection of liquid coffee into HPLC without sample preparation and the identification of target analytes. The distinction between coffee and adulterated coffee was achieved by statistical method. The HPLC-based chemometric provided more characteristic information (separated compounds) compared to photospectroscopy chemometric which only provide information of functional groups. In this study, green Arabica coffee beans, soybeans and green mung beans were roasted in industrial coffee bean roaster and then ground. Spent coffee ground was dried. Coffee and adulterants were mixed at different ratio before conducting HPLC analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) toward HPLC data (retention time and peak intensity) was able to separate coffee from adulterated coffee. The detection limit of this method was 5%. Two models were built based on PCA data as well. The first model was used to differentiate coffee sample from adulterated coffee. The second model was designed to identify the specific adulterants mixed in the adulterated coffee. Various parameters such as sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), reliability rate (RLR), positive likelihood (+LR) and negative likelihood (−LR) were applied to evaluate the performances of the designed models. The results showed that PCA-based models were able to discriminate pure coffee from adulterated sample (coffee beans adulterated with 5%–60% of soybeans, green mung beans or spent coffee grounds). The SE, SP, RLR, +LR and −LR for the first model were 0.875, 0.938, 0.813, 14.1 and 0.133, respectively. In the second model, it can correctly distinguish the adulterated coffee from the pure coffee. However, it had only about a 30% chance to correctly determine the specific adulterant out of three designed adulterants mixed into coffee. The SE, RLR and −LR were 0.333, 0.333 and 0.667, respectively, for the second model. Therefore, HPLC-based chemometric analysis was able to detect coffee adulteration. It was very reliable on the discrimination of coffee from adulterated coffee. However, it may need more work to tell discern which kind adulterant in the adulterated coffee.
Renewing Traditions: A Sensory and Chemical Characterisation of Mexican Pigmented Corn Beers
Authors: Romero-Medina Angélica , Estarrón-Espinosa Mirna , Verde-Calvo José Ramón , Lelièvre-Desmas Maud , Escalona-Buendía Héctor B.
Published: July 2020

This study was undertaken to explore how the use of pigmented corn as brewing ingredient influences the sensory profile of craft beers, by using both sensory and chemical analyses. Six pigmented corn and barley beers were brewed and then analysed to obtain their sensory characteristics, volatile composition and non-volatile (alcohol, bitterness, anthocyanins and polyphenol content) composition. ANOVAs, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Factor Analysis (MFA) were used to visualise these data for exploring the differences between beers based on the type of malt and to characterise corn beers considering the relationships between their sensory characteristics and their chemical parameters. The sensory attributes such as fermented fruits, cooked vegetables, tortillas, bread, dried fruits and dried chili characterised beers made 100% with pigmented corn. Over 100 volatiles were identified by head space-solid phase micro-extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Among them, phenols and terpenes were the groups of volatiles that better characterised beers containing corn. The content of anthocyanins in corn beers provide the ‘amber-red-cooper’ colours in beers and may prevent the development of off-aromas and tastes. The use of pigmented corn seems to be a good option to renew the traditional ‘Sendechó’ while preserving some of its sensory attributes.
Genetic Reconstruction and Forensic Analysis of Chinese Shandong and Yunnan Han Populations by Co-Analyzing Y Chromosomal STRs and SNPs
Authors: Yin Caiyong , Su Kaiyuan , He Ziwei , Zhai Dian , Guo Kejian , Chen Xueyun , Jin Li , Li Shilin
Published: July 2020

Y chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) have been widely harnessed for forensic applications, such as pedigree source searching from public security databases and male identification from male–female mixed samples. For various populations, databases composed of Y-STR haplotypes have been built to provide investigating leads for solving difficult or cold cases. Recently, the supplementary application of Y chromosomal haplogroup-determining single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for forensic purposes was under heated debate. This study provides Y-STR haplotypes for 27 markers typed by the Yfiler™ Plus kit and Y-SNP haplogroups defined by 24 loci within the Y-SNP Pedigree Tagging System for Shandong Han (n = 305) and Yunnan Han (n = 565) populations. The genetic backgrounds of these two populations were explicitly characterized by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) plots based on 27 Y-STRs. Then, population comparisons were conducted by observing Y-SNP allelic frequencies and Y-SNP haplogroups distribution, estimating forensic parameters, and depicting distribution spectrums of Y-STR alleles in sub-haplogroups. The Y-STR variants, including null alleles, intermedia alleles, and copy number variations (CNVs), were co-listed, and a strong correlation between Y-STR allele variants (“DYS518~.2” alleles) and the Y-SNP haplogroup QR-M45 was observed. A network was reconstructed to illustrate the evolutionary pathway and to figure out the ancestral mutation event. Also, a phylogenetic tree on the individual level was constructed to observe the relevance of the Y-STR haplotypes to the Y-SNP haplogroups. This study provides the evidence that basic genetic backgrounds, which were revealed by both Y-STR and Y-SNP loci, would be useful for uncovering detailed population differences and, more importantly, demonstrates the contributing role of Y-SNPs in population differentiation and male pedigree discrimination.
Strategies for the Prevention of the Intra-Hospital Transmission of COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chang Min Cheol , Hur Jian , Park Donghwi
Published: July 2020

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide. We aimed to review the strategies used by our university hospital in Daegu (South Korea) to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within our institution. We also investigated the actual situation at our hospital against the recommended guidelines. We conducted a survey among patients and staff in our hospital. Additionally, patients’ electronic medical records were reviewed along with closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings. Various strategies and guidelines developed by our hospital have been implemented. A total of 303 hospital staff and patients had exposure to 29 confirmed COVID-19 patients. Of them, three tested positive for COVID-19 without further transmission. The intra-hospital infection of the disease occurred when the recommended strategies and guidelines such as wearing a mask and isolating for 2 weeks were not followed. In conclusion, the implementation of robust guidelines for preventing the intra-hospital transmission of COVID-19 is essential.
Circadian Typology and Personality Dimensions of Croatian Students of Health-Related University Majors
Authors: Milić Jakov , Milić Vranješ Iva , Krajina Ivana , Heffer Marija , Škrlec Ivana
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between circadian preferences and personality dimensions among 712 students of three different majors from the Faculty of Medicine, Osijek: medical students (MD), nursing students (RN) and medical laboratory diagnostics students (MLD). For the measurement of personality dimensions, the IPIP50 Big-Five questionnaire was used. The circadian preference of students was assessed using the reduced morningness-eveningness questionnaire (rMEQ). Several significant results were observed and there was a significant difference in circadian preference among the three tested groups, with RN students scoring highest on the morningness scale and MLD students scoring the lowest. RN students scored significantly higher on agreeableness and conscientiousness than the other two groups. On the other hand, MD students scored higher on intellect than the MLD students. MLD students scored the lowest on emotional stability scales. Morning type students had higher conscientiousness and emotional stability scores. These results imply that circadian preference and personality traits are crucial elements of medical professionals’ wellbeing. With this paper, we would like to raise awareness about common personality traits and adherence to certain circadian orientations in medical professionals as a motivation to introduce a more flexible view towards strict time and task divisions in everyday practice.
Energy and Environment Performance of Resource-Based Cities in China: A Non-Parametric Approach for Estimating Hyperbolic Distance Function
Authors: Hu Yao , Yan Tai-Hua , Chen Feng-Wen
Published: July 2020

Scientific determination of energy and environmental efficiency and productivity is the key foundation of green development policy-making. The hyperbolic distance function (HDF) model can deal with both desirable output and undesirable output asymmetrically, and measure efficiency from the perspective of “increasing production and reducing pollution”. In this paper, a nonparametric linear estimation method of an HDF model including uncontrollable index and undesirable output is proposed. Under the framework of global reference, the changes of energy environmental efficiency and productivity and their factorization of 107 resource-based cities in China from 2003 to 2018 are calculated and analyzed. With the classification of resource-based cities by resource dependence (RD) and region, we discuss the feature in green development quality of those cities. The results show that: (1) On the whole, the average annual growth rate of energy and environmental productivity of resource-based cities in China is 2.6%, which is mainly due to technological changes. The backward of relative technological efficiency hinders the further growth of productivity, while the scale diseconomy is the main reason for the backward of relative technological efficiency. (2) For the classification of RD, the energy and environmental efficiency of the high-dependent group are significantly lower than the other two, and the growth of productivity of the medium-dependent group is the highest. (3) In terms of classification by region, the energy and environmental efficiency of the eastern region is the highest, and that of the middle and western regions is not as good as that of the eastern and northeastern regions. The middle region shows the situation of “middle collapse” in both static efficiency and dynamic productivity change, and the main reason for its low productivity growth is the retreat of relatively pure technical efficiency. This conclusion provides practical reference for the classification and implementation of regional energy and environmental policies.
Influence of an Aquatic Therapy Program on Perceived Pain, Stress, and Quality of Life in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Pérez-de la Cruz Sagrario
Published: July 2020

Pain and depressive states may have a negative impact on the quality of life of individuals with stroke. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a program of Ai Chi aquatic therapy on pain, depression, and quality of life in a sample of people with stroke. Forty-five participants received physiotherapy treatment on dry land (control group), an experimental group received aquatic Ai Chi therapy, and a combined therapy group received alternating sessions of physiotherapy on dry land and aquatic Ai Chi therapy. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scale for pain, the resilience scale, and the SF-36 quality of life scale were used as outcome measures. Statistically significant differences were found in the experimental group and the combined intervention group for post treatment pain and resilience (p < 0.001). Concerning the SF-36, statistically significant changes (p < 0.01) were found in the experimental group and the combined therapy group for all items except general health, vitality, and social function, where no between group differences were observed (p = 0.001). In conclusion, physical exercise performed in water has positive effects on several factors that contribute towards improving the mood and quality of life of people with acquired brain injury.
Comparison of Psychological and Cognitive Characteristics between Professional Internet Game Players and Professional Baseball Players
Authors: Kang Jin Oh , Kang Kyoung Doo , Lee Jea Woog , Nam Jae Jun , Han Doug Hyun
Published: July 2020

The esports industry is increasing in popularity and is now played at the professional level. We hypothesized that esports players may have a significant advantage over the general population in terms of psychological and cognitive characteristics, which may be similar to that of professional baseball players. We recruited three participant groups: esports players (n = 55), pro-baseball players (n = 57), and age- and sex-matched healthy comparison subjects (n = 60). We assessed psychological status using the Korean versions of Temperament and Character Inventory and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and cognitive functions using the modified Tower of London, Emotional Perception, and Mental Rotation tests. Esports players had similar psychological characteristics to pro-baseball players (higher novelty seeking [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.818], self-directedness [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.757], and self-transcendence scores [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.853], and decreased state anxiety scores [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.808]), which differed from those of the general population. However, esports players showed higher working memory [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.823] and slower emotional perception than pro-baseball players [p < 0.01 *, ŋ = 0.812]. In conclusion, esports and pro-baseball players had similar psychological but different cognitive characteristics.
Mapping the Structure of Food Waste Management Research: A Co-Keyword Analysis
Authors: Gorzeń-Mitka Iwona , Bilska Beata , Tomaszewska Marzena , Kołożyn-Krajewska Danuta
Published: July 2020

Food loss and waste represent a global problem in the ethical, social, environmental, and economic contexts. The aim of this article is to identify leading concepts in studies on food loss and waste in management research by network analysis of the co-occurrence of keywords, via mapping of knowledge domains, a method used in bibliometrics. We analyzed 2202 records from the Scopus database on food waste management with the aid of the VOSviewer software tool. In particular, keyword co-occurrence analysis was adopted to visually explore knowledge bases, topic distribution, and research fronts in the field of food waste management research. Ten representative areas were found concentrated in main keywords, namely, food waste, waste management, food, anaerobic digestion, waste disposal, recycling, waste treatment, municipal solid waste, solid waste, and refuse disposal.
Influence of Age on Partial Clinical Remission among Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Passanisi Stefano , Salzano Giuseppina , Gasbarro Albino , Urzì Brancati Valentina , Mondio Matilde , Pajno Giovanni Battista , Alibrandi Angela , Lombardo Fortunato
Published: July 2020

Partial clinical remission (PCR) is a transitory period characterized by the residual endogenous insulin secretion following type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis and introducing the insulin therapy. Scientific interest in PCR has been recently increasing, as this phase could be crucial to preserve functional beta cells after T1D onset, also taking advantage of new therapeutic opportunities. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, duration and associated factors of PCR in children newly diagnosed with T1D. Our cohort study included 167 pediatric patients aged 13.8 ± 4.1 years. The association of clinical and laboratory factors with the occurrence and duration of PCR was evaluated via logistic regression and multivariable generalized linear model, respectively. PCR occurred in 63.5% of the examined patients. Patients who achieved the remission phase were significantly older, and they had lower daily insulin requirement compared with non-remitters. PCR was positively associated to body mass index (OR = 1.11; p = 0.032), pH value (OR 49.02; p = 0.003) and c-peptide levels (OR 12.8; p = 0.002). The average duration of PCR was 13.4 months, and older age at diagnosis was the only predictor factor. Two years after diagnosis remitter patients had lower HbA1c and daily insulin requirement.
Assessment of Motor Activities of Daily Living: Spanish Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability and Construct Validity of the DCDDaily-Q
Authors: Delgado-Lobete Laura , Montes-Montes Rebeca , van der Linde Berdien W. , Schoemaker Marina M.
Published: July 2020

The DCDDaily-Q is an instrument that aims to comprehensively assess motor performance in a broad range of activities of daily living (ADL) and to identify risk of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in children. The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the DCDDaily-Q into European Spanish (DCDDaily-Q-ES) and to test its psychometric properties in Spanish 5 to 10 year old children. The DCDDaily-Q was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Spanish following international guidelines. Two-hundred and seventy-six parents of typically developing Spanish children completed the final version of the DCDDaily-Q-ES (M = 7.5 years, SD = 1.7; girls = 50%). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), internal consistency, and corrected item-total correlations were conducted to test construct validity, internal consistency, and homogeneity of the DCDDaily-Q-ES. The DCDDaily-Q-ES achieved good semantic, conceptual, and cultural equivalence. CFA supported construct validity of the DCDDaily-Q-ES. Reliability values were also good (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.703–0.843; corrected item-total correlations = 0.262–0.567). This is the first study to cross-culturally adapt and examine the DCDDaily-Q outside the Netherlands. The findings suggest that the DCDDaily-Q-ES is a reliable and valid measure to assess learning, participation, and performance in a broad range of ADL.
Everyday Pedelec Use and Its Effect on Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines
Authors: Stenner Hedwig T. , Boyen Johanna , Hein Markus , Protte Gudrun , Kück Momme , Finkel Armin , Hanke Alexander A. , Tegtbur Uwe
Published: July 2020

Pedelecs (e-bikes with electrical support up to 25 km·h−1) are important in active transportation. Yet, little is known about physiological responses during their everyday use. We compared daily pedelec (P) and bicycle (B) use to determine if pedelecs are a suitable tool to enhance physical activity. In 101 employees, cycling duration and intensity, heart rate (HR) during P and B were recorded via a smartphone app. Each recording period was a randomized crossover design and lasted two weeks. The ride quantity was higher in P compared to B (5.3 ± 4.3 vs. 3.2 ± 4.0 rides·wk−1; p < 0.001) resulting in a higher total cycling time per week for P (174 ± 146 min·wk−1) compared to B (99 ± 109 min·wk−1; p < 0.001). The mean HR during P was lower than B (109 ± 14 vs. 118 ± 17 bpm; p < 0.001). The perceived exertion was lower in P (11.7 ± 1.8 vs. 12.8 ± 2.1 in B; p < 0.001). The weekly energy expenditure was higher during P than B (717 ± 652 vs. 486 ± 557 metabolic equivalents of the task [MET]·min·wk−1; p < 0.01). Due to a sufficient HR increase in P, pedelecs offer a more active form of transportation to enhance physical activity.
Addendum: Kavian, F.; et al. Migration, Stress and the Challenges of Accessing Food: An Exploratory Study of the Experience of Recent Afghan Women Refugees in Adelaide, Australia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 1379; doi:10.3390/ijerph17041379
Authors: Kavian Foorough , Mehta Kaye , Willis Eileen , Mwanri Lilian , Ward Paul , Booth Sue
Published: July 2020

In the original version of our article [...]
The Reciprocal Association between Fitness Indicators and Sleep Quality in the Context of Recent Sport Injury
Authors: Stavrou Vasileios T. , Astara Kyriaki , Daniil Zoe , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos I. , Kalabakas Konstantinos , Karagiannis Dimitrios , Basdekis George
Published: July 2020

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether the oxygen uptake and heart rate at rest, in Greek professional soccer players, are affected by recent injuries, as well as how sleep quality is affected. Forty-two male professional soccer players were included in the study and divided into two groups: injurygroup (n = 22, age: 21.6 ± 5.4 years, body fat: 11.0 ± 3.9%, total body water: 64.0 ± 2.5%) and no-injurygroup (n = 20, age: 24.2 ± 5.6 years, body fat: 10.1 ± 2.8%, total body water: 64.3 ± 1.8%). The oxygen uptake at rest (VO2resting, mL/min/kg) and heart rate (HR, bpm) were recorded in the upright position for 3 min, and the predicted values were calculated. One hour before, the athletes answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. The results showed a difference between groups (injurygroup vs. no-injurygroup) in VO2resting (7.5 ± 1.4 vs. 5.5 ± 1.2 mL/min/kg, p < 0.001) and percent of predicted values (92.5 ± 17.2 vs. 68.3 ± 14.6%, p < 0.001) and HR, such as beats per min (100.6 ± 12.8 vs. 93.1 ± 4.6 bpm, p = 0.001), percent of predicted values (50.7 ± 6.4 vs. 47.6 ± 2.8%, p = 0.003) and sleep quality score (PSQI: 4.9 ± 2.2 vs. 3.1 ± 0.9, p = 0.005). Anthropometric characteristics were not different between groups. Oxygen consumption and heart rate at rest are affected by the systemic adaptations due to injury. These pathophysiological changes probably relate to increased blood flow in an attempt to restore the injury area.
Health Risk Evaluation of Trace Elements in Geophagic Kaolinitic Clays within Eastern Dahomey and Niger Delta Basins, Nigeria
Authors: Oyebanjo Olaonipekun , Ekosse Georges-Ivo , Odiyo John
Published: July 2020

The deliberate consumption of earthly materials is a universally recognised habit with health benefits and risks to those that practice it. Thirteen (13) samples comprising of six (6) Cretaceous and seven (7) Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic materials, respectively, were collected and analysed for trace element concentrations (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Fe), and possible risk on consumers’ health. The trace element compositions were obtained using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analytical methods. Based on their average concentrations, Fe > V > Cr > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu > Co and Fe > V > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co for the Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays, respectively. Iron concentrations were significantly higher in Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays than in Cretaceous geophagic clays. The nutritional value of Cu and Zn were lower whereas, Cr and Fe were higher than the recommended dietary intake. The index of geoaccumulation (0 < Igeo ≤ 1) showed that the geophagic materials were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by the trace elements. The overall hazard indices (HI) for non-carcinogenic effects showed that the geophagic clays pose threat to children (HI > 1) and no threat to adults (HI < 1) health. However, the carcinogenic risk indices (CRI) for Cr, Ni, and Pb were within acceptable cancer risks (10−6 < CRI < 10−4) for children and adults. Hence, based on the trace element s HI and CRI, this study concluded that the consumption of Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic clays poses no risks to adult health but children might suffer health risk if the geophagic clays are not beneficiated before ingestion.
Climate Change and Human Health: A Review of Allergies, Autoimmunity and the Microbiome
Authors: Ray Carly , Ming Xue
Published: July 2020

The impact of climate change on human health is a topic of critical importance. While only recently beginning to gain attention, it is clear that immediate action is necessary to minimize this impact. In our review, we will outline a subset of these effects in detail. We will examine how climate change has worsened respiratory allergic disease. We will discuss how climate change has altered antigen exposure, possibly disrupting antigen-specific tolerance by the immune system, leading, in turn, to an increase in the prevalence of immunologic diseases. Finally, we will explore how the loss of biodiversity related to climate change may affect the microbiome, potentially leading to dysbiosis, inflammatory, autoimmune and neurologic diseases.
A Non-Interventional Study Documenting Use and Success of Tissue Level Implants
Authors: Díaz-Castro Carmen María , Lázaro Calvo Pedro , Gil Francisco Javier , Fernández-Palacín Ana , Ríos-Santos José-Vicente , Herrero-Climent Mariano
Published: July 2020

Numerous randomised controlled multicentric studies have investigated various responses to different treatment modalities with dental implants. These studies do not always show the results of daily practice as they are performed under controlled and strict clinical conditions. This multicentric, non-interventionist trial aimed to document the behaviour of implants when used in daily dental practice, without inclusion or exclusion criteria. One hundred and ninety-six screw-shaped, tissue-level implants were placed, and each clinician decided which implant, surgical loading and prosthetic protocol to use. At surgery, data related to the implants were recorded. Additionally, the crestal bone level changes were evaluated for up to two years of follow-up. Two implants were lost before they were loaded. The success rate was 98.31%, and the survival rate was 98.79%. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) at surgery was 68.61 ± 10.35 and at 2 years was 74.39 ± 9.64. The crestal–shoulder distances were 1.25 ± 1.09 mm and 1.68 ± 1.07 mm in the mesial and distal aspects on the day of surgery, respectively, and 2.04 ± 0.91 and 2.16 ± 0.99 mm at 2 years, respectively. At 2 years, 69.3% of the patients were highly satisfied. The use of implants under standard conditions seemed to have success rates similar to their placement in controlled studies.
The Relationships between Physical Activity and Life Satisfaction and Happiness among Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults
Authors: An Hsin-Yu , Chen Wei , Wang Cheng-Wei , Yang Hui-Fei , Huang Wan-Ting , Fan Sheng-Yu
Published: July 2020

Physical activity has benefits on physical and psychological health. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the relationships between physical activity and life satisfaction and happiness in young, middle-aged, and older adults while controlling for demographic characteristics, and (2) the relationships between age and life satisfaction and happiness for different physical activity levels. A total of 2345 healthy adults were recruited. Demographic characteristic, physical activity, life satisfaction, and happiness were collected. Participants were divided into young, middle-aged, and older adult groups based on age, and physical activity was categorized as high, moderate, and low. After controlling for demographic characteristics, participants with high and moderate activity levels had significantly higher life satisfaction and happiness than those with a low activity level across the total population and the three age groups. Age squared was a significant predictor of a positive curvilinear between age and life satisfaction and happiness. Physical activity was significantly related to life satisfaction and happiness in young, middle-aged, and older adults. In addition, life satisfaction and happiness increased with increasing age. The results support the promotion of physical activity.