Considered an essential factor for countries’ development, energy demand is growing worldwide. Unlike conventional sources, the use of renewable energy sources has multiple benefits, including ...increased energy security, sustainable economic growth, and pollution reduction, in particular greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, there is a considerable difference in the share of renewable energy sources in national energy portfolios. This study conducts a systematic literature review to identify drivers and barriers which could help understanding the diverging paths of renewable energy deployment for countries. Among a total of 1431 academic studies, 60 qualitative and quantitative studies were identified using a multistage selection process. Designated manuscripts were explored in detail including publication years, length of the studies, countries represented, and renewable energy sources referenced. Factors explaining countries’ renewable energy deployments were defined and organized into seven main categories: economic, environmental, political, regulatory, social, technical potential, and technological. Within these categories, economic considerations appeared most frequently across manuscripts, while environmental factors were least represented. These categories were then classified as drivers, barriers or undetermined towards renewable energy deployment based on a one-sample proportion statistical test. Economic, environmental, and social factors were found to be drivers, whereas political, regulatory, technical potential and technological factors were not classified as either a driver or a barrier (i.e., undetermined). Each main category contains several subcategories, among which only national income was found to have a positive impact, whereas all other subcategories were considered undetermined. No significant barriers to the deployment of renewable energy sources were found over the analyzed period.
The growth of the self-concept through increasing perspectives, identities, resources, and efficacy is known as self-expansion and typically involves novelty, challenge, interest, and/or excitement. ...Self-expansion is positively associated with health factors including self-reported physical activity (PA). This study is the first to investigate self-expansion and daily PA, and with a PA monitor. Fifty community participants completed baseline questionnaires, wore a Fitbit One and completed daily self-report questionnaires for 28 days, and completed follow-up questionnaires. Daily surveys included questions about both general and PA-specific self-expansion. Across the 4 weeks, steps taken was positively correlated with both general (all maximum likelihood r = 0.17) and PA-specific self-expansion (maximum likelihood rs of 0.15 and 0.16), and PA-specific self-expansion was positively correlated (maximum likelihood rs of 0.38 and 0.50) with aerobic activity. Future research should investigate this relationship in a larger more diverse sample and test whether PA-specific self-expansion can be utilized as an acceptable, feasible, and effective intervention to increase daily steps and other forms of PA.
Ambient mass spectrometry is an analytical approach that enables ionization of molecules under open-air conditions with no sample preparation and very fast sampling times. Rapid evaporative ...ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) is a relatively new type of ambient mass spectrometry that has demonstrated applications in both human health and food science. Here, we present an evaluation of REIMS as a tool to generate molecular scale information as an objective measure for the assessment of beef quality attributes. Eight different machine learning algorithms were compared to generate predictive models using REIMS data to classify beef quality attributes based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quality grade, production background, breed type and muscle tenderness. The results revealed that the optimal machine learning algorithm, as assessed by predictive accuracy, was different depending on the classification problem, suggesting that a "one size fits all" approach to developing predictive models from REIMS data is not appropriate. The highest performing models for each classification achieved prediction accuracies between 81.5-99%, indicating the potential of the approach to complement current methods for classifying quality attributes in beef.
In recent reviews of available measures, no existing measures assessed all four pillars of food security and most only assessed one or two pillars-predominantly the access pillar. The purpose of this ...study was to preliminarily develop novel measures of availability, utilization, and stability that are complementary to the USDA's household food security survey measure (HFSSM).
A formative phase included an expert advisory group, literature scans, and interviews with individuals experiencing food insecurity. From April-June 2021, the new measures were piloted in five states (California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, and Washington). The cross-sectional pilot survey included the new measures (perceived limited availability, utilization barriers, and food insecurity stability), scales and items for validation (e.g., food security, and self-reported dietary and health outcomes), and demographic questions. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess dimensionality, internal consistency was assessed using Kuder-Richardson formula 21 (KR21), and convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. Also, a brief screener version was created for the utilization barriers measure that may be necessary for certain applications (e.g., clinical intake screening to inform referrals to assistance programs).
The analytic samples (perceived limited availability (n = 334); utilization barriers (n = 428); food insecurity stability (n = 445)) were around 45 years old on average, most households had children, over two-thirds were food insecure, over three-fourths were women, and the samples were racially/ethnically diverse. All items loaded highly and unambiguously to a factor (factor loadings range 0.525-0.903). Food insecurity stability showed a four-factor structure, utilization barriers showed a two-factor structure, and perceived limited availability showed a two-factor structure. KR21 metrics ranged from 0.72 to 0.84. Higher scores for the new measures were generally associated with increased food insecurity (rhos = 0.248-0.497), except for one of the food insecurity stability scores. Also, several of the measures were associated with statistically significantly worse health and dietary outcomes.
The findings support the reliability and construct validity of these new measures within a largely low-income and food insecure sample of households in the United States. Following further testing, such as Confirmatory Factor Analysis in future samples, these measures may be used in various applications to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the food insecurity experience. Such work can help inform novel intervention approaches to address food insecurity more fully.
The purpose of this study was to preliminarily develop novel self-administered measures to assess nutrition security and choice in dietary characteristics. Measures were piloted in a convenience ...sample of households at risk for food insecurity in the United States. The survey included the new measures, construct validation variables (household food security, self-reported general health, and dietary variables), and demographic questions. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess dimensionality, internal (Cronbach's alpha (CA)), and construct validity were assessed (Spearman's correlation). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess added utility of the new measures beyond food security measurement. Finally, brief screener versions of the full measures were created. Participants in the analytic sample (n = 380) averaged 45 years old, 71% experiencing food insecurity, 42% with high school diploma or less, 78% were women, and racially/ethnically diverse. Scores for the Household Nutrition Security (CA = 0.85; Mean = 2.58 (SD = 0.87)), Household Healthfulness Choice (CA = 0.79; Mean = 2.47 (SD = 0.96)), and Household Dietary Choice (CA = 0.80; Mean = 2.57 (SD = 0.90)) were positively associated with food security (0.401–0.657), general health (0.194–0.290), fruit and vegetable intake frequency (0.240–0.280), and “scratch-cooked” meal intake (0.328–0.350), and negatively associated with “processed” meal intake (−0.162 to −0.234) and an external locus of nutrition control (−0.343 to −0.366). Further, findings show that the new measures are useful for assessing risk for poor dietary and health outcomes even after controlling for household food security status and sample characteristics. These findings are encouraging and support reliability, construct validity, and utility of these new measures. Following further testing, such as Confirmatory Factor Analysis in future samples, these measures may be used in various applications to contribute to a better understanding of households' limitations for accessing healthful foods and foods that meet their preferences.
Advances in neuroimaging technology, like functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), support the evaluation of task-dependent brain activity during functional tasks, like balance, in healthy and ...clinical populations. To date, there have been no studies examining how interventions, like yoga, impact task-dependent brain activity in adults with chronic acquired brain injury (ABI). This pilot study compared eight weeks of group yoga (active) to group exercise (control) on balance and task-dependent neural activity outcomes. Twenty-three participants were randomized to yoga (n = 13) or exercise groups (n = 10). Neuroimaging and balance performance data were collected simultaneously using a force plate and mobile fNIRS device before and after interventions. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the effect of time, time x group interactions, and simple (i.e., within-group) effects. Regardless of group, all participants had significant balance improvements after the interventions. Additionally, regardless of group, there were significant changes in task-dependent neural activity, as well as distinct changes in neural activity within each group. In summary, using advances in sensor technology, we were able to demonstrate preliminary evidence of intervention-induced changes in balance and neural activity in adults with ABI. These preliminary results may provide an important foundation for future neurorehabilitation studies that leverage neuroimaging methods, like fNIRS.
Transdisciplinary research is a promising approach to address sustainability challenges arising from global environmental change, as it is characterized by an iterative process that brings together ...actors from multiple academic fields and diverse sectors of society to engage in mutual learning with the intent to co-produce new knowledge. We present a conceptual model to guide the implementation of environmental transdisciplinary work, which we consider a “science with society” (SWS) approach, providing suggested activities to conduct throughout a seven-step process. We used a survey with 168 respondents involved in environmental transdisciplinary work worldwide to evaluate the relative importance of these activities and the skills and characteristics required to implement them successfully, with attention to how responses differed according to the gender, geographic location, and positionality of the respondents. Flexibility and collaborative spirit were the most frequently valued skills in SWS, though non-researchers tended to prioritize attributes like humility, trust, and patience over flexibility. We also explored the relative significance of barriers to successful SWS, finding insufficient time and unequal power dynamics were the two most significant barriers to successful SWS. Together with case studies of respondents’ most successful SWS projects, we create a toolbox of 20 best practices that can be used to overcome barriers and increase the societal and scientific impacts of SWS projects. Project success was perceived to be significantly higher where there was medium to high policy impact, and projects initiated by practitioners/other stakeholders had a larger proportion of high policy impact compared to projects initiated by researchers only. Communicating project results to academic audiences occurred more frequently than communicating results to practitioners or the public, despite this being ranked less important overall. We discuss how these results point to three recommendations for future SWS: 1) balancing diverse perspectives through careful partnership formation and design; 2) promoting communication, learning, and reflexivity (i.e., questioning assumptions, beliefs, and practices) to overcome conflict and power asymmetries; and 3) increasing policy impact for joint science and society benefits. Our study highlights the benefits of diversity in SWS - both in the types of people and knowledge included as well as the methods used - and the potential benefits of this approach for addressing the increasingly complex challenges arising from global environmental change.
Microbial samples are often serially diluted to estimate the number of microbes in a sample, whether as colony-forming units of bacteria or algae, plaque forming units of viruses, or cells under a ...microscope. There are at least three possible definitions for the limit of detection (LOD) for dilution series counts in microbiology. The statistical definition that we explore is that the LOD is the number of microbes in a sample that can be detected with high probability (commonly 0.95).
Our approach extends results from the field of chemistry using the negative binomial distribution that overcomes the simplistic assumption that counts are Poisson. The LOD is a function of statistical power (one minus the rate of false negatives), the amount of overdispersion compared to Poisson counts, the lowest countable dilution, the volume plated, and the number of independent samples. We illustrate our methods using a data set from Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
The techniques presented here can be applied to determine the LOD for any counting process in any field of science whenever only zero counts are observed.
We define the LOD when counting microbes from dilution experiments. The practical and accessible calculation of the LOD will allow for a more confident accounting of how many microbes can be detected in a sample.
•Practical and accessible method to compute the limit of detection in dilution experiments.•Limit of detection accounts for overdispersion.•Methods illustrated using data from a study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
Each year, millions of Americans sustain acquired brain injuries (ABI) which result in functional impairments, such as poor balance and autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. Although ...significant time and energy are dedicated to reducing functional impairment in acute phase of ABI, many individuals with chronic ABI have residual impairments that increase fall risk, decrease quality of life, and increase mortality. In previous work, we have found that yoga can improve balance in adults with chronic (i.e., ≥6 months post-injury) ABI. Moreover, yoga has been shown to improve ANS and brain function in healthy adults. Thus, adults with chronic ABI may show similar outcomes. This protocol details the methods used to examine the effects of a group yoga program, as compared to a group low-impact exercise, on primary and secondary outcomes in adults with chronic ABI.
This study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing group yoga to group low-impact exercise. Participants must be ≥18 years old with chronic ABI and moderate balance impairments. Group yoga and group exercise sessions occur twice a week for 1 h for 8 weeks. Sessions are led by trained adaptive exercise specialists. Primary outcomes are balance and ANS function. Secondary outcomes are brain function and structure, cognition, quality of life, and qualitative experiences. Data analysis for primary and most secondary outcomes will be completed with mixed effect statistical methods to evaluate the within-subject factor of time (i.e., pre vs. post intervention), the between-subject factor of group (yoga vs. low-impact exercise), and interaction effects. Deductive and inductive techniques will be used to analyze qualitative data.
Due to its accessibility and holistic nature, yoga has significant potential for improving balance and ANS function, along with other capacities, in adults with chronic ABI. Because there are also known benefits of exercise and group interaction, this study compares yoga to a similar, group exercise intervention to explore if yoga has a unique benefit for adults with chronic ABI.
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05793827. Registered on March 31, 2023.
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