The application of ubiquitous computing has increased in recent years, especially due to the development of technologies such as mobile computing, more accurate sensors, and specific protocols for ...the Internet of Things (IoT). One of the trends in this area of research is the use of context awareness. In agriculture, the context involves the environment, for example, the conditions found inside a greenhouse. Recently, a series of studies have proposed the use of sensors to monitor production and/or the use of cameras to obtain information about cultivation, providing data, reminders, and alerts to farmers. This article proposes a computational model for indoor agriculture called IndoorPlant. The model uses the analysis of context histories to provide intelligent generic services, such as predicting productivity, indicating problems that cultivation may suffer, and giving suggestions for improvements in greenhouse parameters. IndoorPlant was tested in three scenarios of the daily life of farmers with hydroponic production data that were obtained during seven months of cultivation of radicchio, lettuce, and arugula. Finally, the article presents the results obtained through intelligent services that use context histories. The scenarios used services to recommend improvements in cultivation, profiles and, finally, prediction of the cultivation time of radicchio, lettuce, and arugula using the partial least squares (PLS) regression technique. The prediction results were relevant since the following values were obtained: 0.96 (R
, coefficient of determination), 1.06 (RMSEC, square root of the mean square error of calibration), and 1.94 (RMSECV, square root of the mean square error of cross validation) for radicchio; 0.95 (R
), 1.37 (RMSEC), and 3.31 (RMSECV) for lettuce; 0.93 (R
), 1.10 (RMSEC), and 1.89 (RMSECV) for arugula. Eight farmers with different functions on the farm filled out a survey based on the technology acceptance model (TAM). The results showed 92% acceptance regarding utility and 98% acceptance for ease of use.
Well-being is a critical outcome in the recovery from psychosis and the prevention of symptoms. Previous reviews of the effectiveness of psychological interventions have focused on psychotic symptoms ...and general psychopathology, not recognising well-being as an essential outcome. This study conducted a meta-analysis of the effects of psychological interventions on the well-being and quality of life (QoL) of people with schizophrenia and analysed some critical moderating factors. A systematic literature search was conducted yielding 12986 published reports, 2043 of which were clinical trials. After a detailed review, 36 articles were included in the analyses. Measures of related concepts, well-being and quality of life were included in the present meta-analysis to reflect the current state of the literature and to ensure the representativeness of RCTs that have evaluated the effect of psychological interventions on the extent to which people with schizophrenia experience a good life. Our findings reflect a significant, small, treatment effect on the outcomes of well-being. Subgroup analysis also suggested a significant moderating effect when the primary aim of the intervention was well-being. These findings suggest that symptom or functional improvement does not necessarily lead to an improvement in well-being and would imply the need to focus specifically on those. We recommend psychological interventions that target well-being as a complementary strategy in mental health promotion and treatment. In addition, we stress the need to include well-being outcome measure in RCT as well as to clearly identify the different domains of well-being being measured.
•This study focuses on the subjective well-being of people affected by severe psychiatric conditions, an area that is essential to their recovery and has long been neglected.•The study incorporates ...predictive variables from different perspectives associated with distress, positive psychological factors, and interpersonal factors, including an indicator of the degree of empathic understanding between the professional and the patient.•The final model of SWB explained 74.7% of the variance of subjective well-being, openness to the future was the most significant predictor.
Soil works as a source and a sink of heat due to its high thermal inertia. Coupling buildings to it using earth-to-air heat exchangers has been widely used to heat buildings in winter and cool them ...in summer. Several methodologies have been developed to simplify design strategies and optimize the performance of this technique. Recently, researchers have proposed the use of water as a heat exchange media with the soil. In this study, the use of buried water tanks as thermal accumulators is proposed. An experimental prototype to examine heat exchange between the tank and soil was built. The data obtained allowed a real-scale estimate for the water tank. Heating and cooling power outputs used as a reference value for the real-scale estimate were obtained by simulations in the EnergyPlus software, which calculated the power requirements to keep up a building at 18 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer. The greatest heat exchange rate was 24.66 kWh/day. The experiment proved that the proposed technique is reliable for the natural air-conditioning of buildings and to overcome the constraints imposed by the traditional ground heat exchange systems.
•An experimental prototype was installed and measured to assess an EWHE system.•The proposed system effectively conditioned the air in the prototype.•The water tank proved to minimize the soil saturation effect.
Abstract This study was aimed to explore the distinct pathways that lead to depression and paranoia. We first examined the association of dysfunctional parenting experiences and negative ...self-evaluations in depression and paranoia. Furthermore, we also examined whether different self-evaluative beliefs could mediate the relationships between dysfunctional parenting experiences (i.e. parental overprotection or lack of care) and the development of depression and paranoia. A sample composed of 55 paranoid patients, 38 depressed patients and 44 healthy controls completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Evaluative Beliefs Scale (EBS) and some clinical scales. Our analyses revealed that lack of parental care and negative self–self evaluations were associated with depression symptoms. Analyses also revealed that parental overprotection and negative other–self evaluations were associated with paranoid symptoms. Furthermore, negative self–self and other–self evaluations fully mediated the relationship of parental overprotection and paranoia, whereas negative self–self evaluations partially mediated the relationship between lack of parental care and depression. These findings suggest that distinct patterns of parental practices may contribute to the development of different dysfunctional schemas which in turn may lead to either depression or paranoia.
Environmental concerns have come to the forefront due to the substantial role of the cement industry in the extraction and expenditure of natural resources. Additionally, industrial processes ...generate a considerable amount of waste, which is frequently disposed of inadequately. The objective of this study was to evaluate the simultaneous use of ornamental rock processing sludge and calcium carbonate sludge generated from the kraft process in the production of belitic clinker. These waste materials would be used in total or partial substitution of natural raw materials, namely, limestone and clay. Several formulations were produced and sintered at 1100 and 1200 °C. The raw materials were characterized physico-chemically and thermogravimetrically, with subsequent evaluation of the resulting dosed raw mixes. Mineral analyses determined that the mixtures with limestone and clay in substitution ratios of 95% and 100%, respectively, and sintered at 1100 °C have the potential to produce belite-rich clinkers. This temperature is considerably lower than those reported in reference studies. Additionally, full limestone and clay substitution could result in a 23.92% reduction in carbon dioxide in clinker production. The results confirmed the potential use of ornamental rock processing sludge and calcium carbonate sludge as viable alternative materials for cement production and, consequently, could contribute to a reduction in the negative environmental impacts of this industry.
•Electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) generated in steel production recycling alternative.•The influence of EAFD containing zinc setting time in cement paste.•Proposed model to explain the cement ...hydration reactions mixed with ZnO.
Large amounts of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) are generated in steel production, highlighting the need for recycling alternatives like the use of EAFD in production of building materials. However, EAFD delays hydration reactions of concrete. This study presents a model of cement hydration using ZnO as admixture and analyzes phenomena associated with zinc oxide compounds in cement pastes. Cement samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refined, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and characteristic X-ray mapping 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14days into setting. Zn was present as ZnO on day 1. A new phase formed containing CaZn2(OH)6·2H2O on day 4, suggesting the transition of ZnO to Zn hydroxide, especially on day 7, when hydration reactions were visually detected and Zn was found only as hydroxide. CaZn2(OH)6·2H2O enables the hydration of cement with ZnO. A model to explain hydration reactions of cement admixed with ZnO was proposed.
Phytoremediation is a process that uses plants in situ to promote remediation of environments contaminated by organic or inorganic compounds. Phytoremediating species develop methods such as ...phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytodegradation, and phytovolatilization, which can manifest themselves individually or together in a single plant. This study aims to evaluate, through a systematic review, the potential phytoremediation techniques of the genera Syagrus (Mart.), Nephrolepis, Cyperus (L.), Mimosa (L.), Schinus (L.), Brachiaria, and Eryngium (L.) found in a humid area of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The genera that presented significant numbers in the databases consulted were Cyperus and Brachiaria, followed by Nephrolepis. The first two are considered the most promising for phytoremediation processes. The other genera mentioned obtained favorable results for organic contaminants. The studies around these genera are still recent. It is necessary, in research, to highlight which phytoremediation processes the plants exert in relation to the contaminant of the place. In addition, priority should be given to native species that can establish themselves in the environment and that would not unbalance and harm the surrounding biota and ecosystem.
The research presents a survey of two decades in four multidisciplinary and international databases, identifying the limitation of research related to volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, as well as contributing to the identification of native plant species that perform phytoremediation mechanisms.
El artículo expone los principales resultados de un estudio cuyo objetivo fue explicar de manera integrada las principales barreras que se presentan en el área de gestión de personas en empresas ...chilenas para incorporar la innovación y la transformación digital. En términos metodológicos, se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo en un nivel, preferentemente, descriptivo. Se aplicó una encuesta a 91 representantes de empresas utilizando un criterio muestreal intencionado. En los resultados se identificaron las principales barreras del área de gestión de personas para innovar en la transformación digital, las acciones de innovación más frecuentes, el tipo de tecnología utilizada en los procesos, el grado de conocimientos que poseen las y los profesionales del área y el nivel de posicionamiento estratégico de la unidad en estos ámbitos. Se concluye que, se necesita un nuevo enfoque estratégico de la visión de la gerencia general hacia la gestión de personas y un cambio en sus funciones, de sus procesos y servicios y que utilice la innovación y la digitalización como factores de éxito para la transformación digital.
Self-concepts are being intensively investigated in relation to paranoia, but research has shown some contradictory findings. Studying subclinical phenomena in a non-clinical population should allow ...for a clearer understanding given that clinical confounding factors are avoided. We explored self-esteem, self-schemas, and implicit/explicit self-esteem discrepancies in three non-clinical groups with different psychopathological traits and a control group.
Participants with elevated trait-paranoia (
= 41), depressive symptoms (
= 34), a combination of both traits (
= 32), and a control group (
= 71) were assessed on implicit and explicit self-esteem, self-schemas, depression, and paranoia. A dimensional approach with the total sample (
= 208) was also used to complement the information provided by the group approach.
All groups presented similar and positive levels of implicit self-esteem. Trait-paranoia participants had similar levels of explicit self-esteem and self-schemas compared with the control group. However, the group with a combination of trait-paranoia and depressive symptoms showed the lowest levels of positive self-schemas and self-esteem. Furthermore, this group and the control group displayed implicit/explicit self-esteem discrepancies, although in opposite directions and with different implications. The dimensional approach revealed associations of trait-paranoia and depressive symptoms with poor explicit self-esteem and self-schemas but not with implicit self-esteem.
Trait-paranoia participants showed different self-representations depending on whether depressive symptoms were present or not. The interaction between subclinical neurotic and psychotic traits entailed a detrimental self-representation that might increase the risk for psychopathology.
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