•Short lookback of the applications of mono-nanofluids in solar energy systems is presented.•Fabrication methods and characteristics of hybrid nanofluids are discussed briefly.•Useful correlations ...for hybrid-nanofluids are listed in this study.•Brief summary of applications of hybrid-nanofluids in solar energy systems is presented.•Issues that hinder the commercial use of hybrid nanofluids have been discussed in detail.•Economic and ecologic benefits of nanofluid based solar systems are discussed.•Recommendations are given to direct the future research.
Solar energy is the ultimate perceived solution of incessantly proliferating energy crisis. Diverse range of solar energy conversion systems has been employed to convert solar energy into desired useful form. Performance of solar energy systems is subject to the type of the working fluid that they use for solar energy conversion and transportation. Application of hybrid nanofluids in solar energy systems as working fluid has turned out to be very gainful in terms of performance, owing to distinct thermal transportation characteristics of hybrid nanofluids. Current article has briefly reviewed the studies discoursing the performance of hybrid nanofluid based solar energy systems. Moreover, the performance of solar energy systems based on mono nanofluids has also been overviewed. Considering the importance, fabrication methods and characteristics of hybrid nanofluids as well as their implications on performance parameters of solar systems have been discussed. Reviewed studies have reported remarkable enhancement in power output and efficiency of these systems. However, there are several issues associated with hybrid nanofluids that have abstained the commercialization of binary nanofluid based systems. These issues include instability, increased friction factor, rheological issues, and increased pumping power. Subsequently, economic and ecologic gains of using binary nanofluids in solar energy systems are presented.
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been used extensively because of its unique thermal and electric properties. Different techniques have been used for the preparation of TiO2 nanofluids which include ...single-step and two-step methods. In the natural world, TiO2 exists in three different crystalline forms as anatase, brookite, and rutile. Nanoparticles are not used directly in many heat transfer applications, and this provides a major challenge to researchers to advance towards stable nanofluid preparation methods. The primary step involved in the preparation of nanofluid is the production of nano-sized solid particles by using a suitable technique, and then these particles are dispersed into base fluids like oil, water, paraffin oil or ethylene glycol. However, nanofluid can also be prepared directly by using a liquid chemical method or vapor deposition technique (VDT). Nanofluids are mostly used in heat transfer applications and the size and cost of the heat transfer device depend upon the working fluid properties, thus, in the past decade scientists have made great efforts to formulate stable and cost-effective nanofluids with enhanced thermophysical properties. This review focuses on the different synthesis techniques and important physical properties (thermal conductivity and viscosity) that need to be considered very carefully during the preparation of TiO2 nanofluids for desired applications.
This research examines geographical accessibility to primary care providers (PCPs) across urban and rural areas of Southwestern Ontario and examines variations in the distribution of PCPs in relation ...to the senior population (aged 65 years and older). Information about PCP practices was provided by the HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency. Population data were obtained from the 2016 Census of Canada. To calculate scores for accessibility to PCPs (i.e., PCPs/10,000 population), we applied the enhanced 2‐step floating catchment area method with distance decay effect within a global service catchment of 30‐minute drive time. A geospatial mapping approach revealed disparities in the distribution of PCPs with a pattern of higher spatial accessibility in or around major urban areas in Southwestern Ontario. Comparative analyses were performed in association with the seniors’ population to identify how accessibility scores were mismatched with the population needs. The outcome of this study will assist researchers and health service planners to better understand the distribution of existing PCPs to address inequalities, particularly in rural areas.
Key Messages
Southwestern Ontario has slightly better geographic accessibility to primary care providers than the provincial average, but there remain areas with provider shortages.
Primary care provider distribution is unequal across the urban‐rural continuum, with lowest accessibility in rural and small population centres within the Census Metropolitan Area.
There is a mismatch between the distribution of primary care providers and high proportions of seniors, necessitating many seniors to travel long distances to access health care.
L'accessibilité géographique aux services de soins primaires: une comparaison entre les secteurs ruraux et urbains dans le sud‐ouest de l’Ontario
La présente recherche étudie l'accessibilité géographique des populations aux dispensateurs de soins primaires (DSP) dans les secteurs ruraux et urbains du sud‐ouest de l'Ontario. Il s'agit aussi d'analyser les écarts dans la répartition des DSP par rapport à la population âgée (65 ans et plus). Sur le plan méthodologique, les informations concernant les pratiques des DSP ont été fournies par l'Agence de promotion et de recrutement ProfessionsSantéOntario. Pour leur part, les données sur la population proviennent du Recensement canadien de 2016. De plus, pour calculer les indices d'accessibilité aux DSP (c.‐à‐d., les DSP par population de 10 000), nous avons appliqué la méthode améliorée de zones de captage flottante en deux étapes avec effet de désintégration en fonction de la distance à l'intérieur d'un rayon global de 30 minutes en voiture. Ainsi, une technique de cartographie géospatiale a révélé des écarts dans la distribution des DSP avec un schéma spatial de haute accessibilité dans les principaux secteurs urbains du sud‐ouest de l'Ontario ou à proximité de ceux‐ci. En complément, des analyses comparatives ont été effectuées relativement à la population âgée dans le but de déterminer la façon dont les indices d'accessibilité étaient déphasés par rapport aux besoins de la population. Les résultats de la présente étude aideront les chercheurs et les planificateurs de soins de santé en Ontario à mieux comprendre la répartition des DSP existants afin de travailler à réduire les écarts, notamment dans les secteurs ruraux.
Many Canadians experience unequal access to primary care services, despite living in a country with a universal health care system. Health inequalities affect all Canadians but have a much stronger ...impact on the health of vulnerable populations. Health inequalities are preventable differences in the health status or distribution of health resources as experienced by vulnerable populations. A geospatial approach was applied to examine how closely the distribution of primary care providers (PCPs) in London, Ontario meet the needs of vulnerable populations, including people with low income status, seniors, lone parents, and linguistic minorities. Using enhanced two step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method, an index of geographic access scores for all PCPs and PCPs speaking French, Arabic, and Spanish were separately developed at the dissemination area (DA) level. To analyze how PCPs are distributed, comparative analyses were performed in association with specific vulnerable groups. Geographical accessibility to all PCPs, and PCPs who speak specific minority languages vary considerably across the city of London. Access scores for French- and Arabic-speaking PCPs are found comparatively high (mean = 2.85 and 1.01 respectively) as compared to Spanish-speaking PCPs (mean = 0.47). Additionally, many areas with high proportions of vulnerable populations experience low accessibility. Despite its exploratory nature, this study offers insight into intra-urban distributions of geographical accessibility to primary care resources for vulnerable groups. These findings can facilitate health researchers and policymakers in the development of recommendations to increase levels of accessibility of specific population groups in underserved areas.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
As children’s lifestyles have become increasingly sedentary, active school travel can be a relatively accessible way to increase their daily physical activity. In recent years, several different ...models of interventions have been utilized to promote children participating in active school travel. This review documents and analyzes the different active school travel intervention methodologies that have been used in North America (Canada or U.S.) by collecting, organizing, and evaluating data relating to all phases of active school travel interventions.
This systematic review developed a key word search and applied it in six databases (BIOSIS Previews, GeoBase, PubMed, SCOPUS, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science) to gather scholarly literature. A total of 22 studies evaluating children’s active school travel interventions in a North American setting (four Canada, 18 U.S.) were identified for the period between January 2010 and March 2017.
Applying the Safe Routes to School Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering, Equity, and Evaluation (“6 E’s”) framework, interventions were thematically assessed for their structure and organization, approaches and methods, and outcomes and discussions. Encouragement and education were the most commonly observed themes within the different methodologies of the studies reviewed. Details relating to intervention approaches and methods were common; whereas data relating to intervention structure and organization received much less attention.
Kingdon’s multiple streams approach was applied to frame the findings for program facilitators and evaluators. Within the multiple streams approach, several considerations are offered to address and potentially improve active school travel intervention conceptualization, partnerships, organization, and evaluation.
This research investigates the distribution of optometrists in Canada relative to population health needs and self-reported use of vision services.
Optometrist locations were gathered from provincial ...regulatory bodies. Optometrist-to-population ratios (i.e. the number of providers per 10,000 people at the health region level) were then calculated. Utilization of vision care services was extracted from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2013-2014 question regarding self-reported contacts with optometrists or ophthalmologists. Data from the 2016 Statistics Canada census were used to create three population 'need' subgroups (65 years and over; low-income; and people aged 15 and over with less than a high school diploma). Cross-classification mapping compared optometrist distribution to self-reported use of vision care services in relation to need. Each variable was converted into three classes (i.e., low, moderate, and high) using a standard deviation (SD) classification scheme where ±0.5SD from the mean was considered as a cut-off. Three classes: low (< - 0.5SD), moderate (- 0.5 to 0.5SD), and high (> 0.5SD) were used for demonstrating distribution of each variable across health regions.
A total of 5959 optometrists across ten Canadian provinces were included in this analysis. The nationwide distribution of optometrists is variable across Canada; they are predominantly concentrated in urban areas. The national mean ratio of optometrists was 1.70 optometrists per 10,000 people (range = 0.13 to 2.92). Out of 109 health regions (HRs), 26 were classified as low ratios, 51 HRs were classified as moderate ratios, and 32 HRs were high ratios. Thirty-five HRs were classified as low utilization, 39 HRs were classified as moderate, and 32 HRs as high utilization. HRs with a low optometrist ratio relative to eye care utilization and a high proportion of key sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. older age, low income) are located throughout Canada and identified with maps indicating areas of likely greater need for optometry services.
This research provides a nationwide overview of vision care provided by optometrists identifying gaps in geographic availability relative to "supply" and "need" factors. This examination of variation in accessibility to optometric services will be useful to inform workforce planning and policies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
CEKLJ, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective
The objective was to examine the influence of weather on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and light physical activity (LPA) levels of children aged 8–14 years from rural ...communities, an understudied Canadian population.
Methods
Children (
n
= 90) from four communities in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in this study between September and December 2016. Children’s MVPA and LPA were measured using an Actical accelerometer and demographic data were gathered from surveys of children and their parents. Weather data were collected from the closest weather station. Cross-classified regression models were used to assess the relationship between weather and children’s MVPA and LPA.
Results
Boys accumulated more MVPA than girls (
b
= 26.38,
p
< 0.01), children were more active on weekdays as compared with weekends (
b
= − 16.23,
p
< 0.01), children were less active on days with precipitation (
b
= − 22.88,
p
< 0.01), and higher temperature led to a significant increase in MVPA (
b
= 1.33,
p
< 0.01). As children aged, they accumulated less LPA (
b
= − 9.36,
p
< 0.01) and children who perceived they had higher levels of physical functioning got more LPA (
b
= 25.18,
p =
0.02). Similar to MVPA, children had higher levels of LPA on weekdays (
b
= − 37.24,
p
< 0.01) as compared to weekend days and children accumulated less LPA (
b
= −50.01,
p
< 0.01) on days with rain.
Conclusion
The study findings indicate that weather influences rural children’s MVPA and LPA. Future research is necessary to incorporate these findings into interventions to increase rural children’s overall PA levels and improve their overall health.
Urban environments can influence many aspects of health and well-being and access to health care is one of them. Access to primary health care (PHC) in urban settings is a pressing research and ...policy issue in Canada. Most research on access to healthcare is focused on national and provincial levels in Canada; there is a need to advance current understanding to local scales such as neighbourhoods.
This study examines spatial accessibility to family physicians using the Three-Step Floating Catchment Area (3SFCA) method to identify neighbourhoods with poor geographical access to PHC services and their spatial patterning across 14 Canadian urban settings. An index of spatial access to PHC services, representing an accessibility score (physicians-per-1000 population), was calculated for neighborhoods using a 3km road network distance. Information about primary health care providers (this definition does not include mobile services such as health buses or nurse practitioners or less distributed services such as emergency rooms) used in this research was gathered from publicly available and routinely updated sources (i.e. provincial colleges of physicians and surgeons). An integrated geocoding approach was used to establish PHC locations.
The results found that the three methods, Simple Ratio, Neighbourhood Simple Ratio, and 3SFCA that produce City level access scores are positively correlated with each other. Comparative analyses were performed both within and across urban settings to examine disparities in distributions of PHC services. It is found that neighbourhoods with poor accessibility scores in the main urban settings across Canada have further disadvantages in relation to population high health care needs.
The results of this study show substantial variations in geographical accessibility to PHC services both within and among urban areas. This research enhances our understanding of spatial accessibility to health care services at the neighbourhood level. In particular, the results show that the low access neighbourhoods tend to be clustered in the neighbourhoods at the urban periphery and immediately surrounding the downtown area.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Chronic back disorders (CBD) are a global health problem and the leading cause of years lived with disability. The present study aims to examine overall and specific trends in CBD in the Canadian ...population aged 18 to 65 years.
Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a cross-sectional study, from 2007 to 2014 (8 cycles) were used to calculate CBD prevalence across gender, age, geographical area (urban/rural and ten provinces and northern territories), and physical activity levels. CBD was defined in the CCHS as having back problems, excluding fibromyalgia and arthritis, which have lasted or are expected to last six months or more and that have been diagnosed by a health professional. Prevalence of CBD using survey weights and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated yearly using balanced repeated replications technique. Trend tests were calculated using joinpoint regressions; ArcGIS software was used for mapping.
Age-standardized CBD prevalence in 2007 and 2014 were 18.9% (95% CI = 18.4;19.5) and 17.8% (95% CI = 17.2,18.4), respectively. CBD prevalence was consistently higher in women, older age groups, rural dwellers, and people classified as inactive. Crude and age-standardized CBD prevalence decreased faster in people classified as physically active compared to those who were inactive (p < 0.006). Although CBD slightly decreased over time, no statistically significant trends were found overall or by gender, area of residence, province or level of physical activity. The prevalence of CBD remained consistently high in the province of Nova Scotia, and consistently low in the province of Quebec over the eight CCHS cycles.
Despite prevention efforts, such as the Canadian back pain mass media campaign, CBD prevalence has remained stable between 2007 and 2014. Tailored prevention and management of CBD should consider gender, age, and geographical differences. Further longitudinal studies could elucidate the temporal relationship between potentially modifiable risk factors such as physical activity and CBD.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this cross-sectional study, we examined the distribution of physiotherapists at the health region level across Canada in relation to self-reported physiotherapy use across the provinces and ...territories.
We drew on two data sources: the physiotherapy use question from the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey and physiotherapists' primary employment information, obtained from the Canadian Institute of Health Information's 2015 Physiotherapist Database. We then applied geospatial mapping and Pearson's correlation analysis to the resulting variables.
Physiotherapy use is moderately associated with the distribution of physiotherapists (Pearson's
= 0.581,
< 0.001). The use and distribution variables were converted into three categories using SDs of 0.5 from national means as cut-off values. Cross-classification between the variables revealed that 15.2% of health regions have a high use-high distribution ratio; 18.5% have a low use-low distribution ratio; 4.3% have a high use-low distribution ratio; 2.2% have a low use-high distribution ratio; and 60.0% have medium use-medium distribution ratio.
The distribution of physiotherapists and self-reported physiotherapy use varies across health regions, indicating a potential inequality in geographical access. Given that most provinces have a regionalized approach to health human resources and health service delivery, these findings may be helpful to managers and policy-makers and may allow them to make a more granular comparison of intra- and inter-provincial differences and potential gaps.
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