Prospects for the Improvement of Energy Performance in Agroindustry Using Phase Change Materials

This work was partially supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, UIDB/00066/2020 (CTS – Center of Technology and Systems).The use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), able to store latent heat, represents an opportunity to improve energy efficiency in the agroindustry by means of thermal energy storage. PCMs provide higher energy density then sensible heat storage mediums, thus paving the way to multiple applications, like supporting the integration of renewables or allowing for new storage architectures, decentralized and directly installed in the chain production equipment, creating e.g. the opportunity to recover and value low-grade operational heat sub-products. Such new and decentralized architecture, not currently applied in agroindustry, is proposed in this work. A chocolate tempering machine using an organic PCM is conceived and analyzed using ANSYS Fluent software for computational fluid dynamics simulations, comparing the main aspects in the storage capacity and discharging process with a conventional sensitive heat storage solution that uses water. PCMs allows improving the stored energy, keeping the chocolate in the working temperature after being tempered for more than four times longer than using only hot water. If the PCMs are charged by renewables, the self-consumption ratio can be improved while providing energy flexibility to the user.authorsversionpublishe

Comparison of the public's social distance toward syrian refugees and perceptions of access to healthcare services: Istanbul sample

Objective: This study was planned with the aim of comparing social distance of society towards Syrian refugees with perceptions about access to health care services. Materials and Methods: The descriptively planned research was completed with 2426 individuals attending hospital at least once themselves or with first degree relatives who received nursing care living in counties in Istanbul from 1 January-15 March 2017 and who agreed to participate in the research. Data collection tools used the information form containing information about patient and relative ages, sex, and educational level, Bogardus Social Distance Scale (SDS) and healthcare services access perception survey. Data obtained in the research were analyzed using the SPSS program. Appropriate tests were used based on the distribution of data. Results: Mean age of participants was 36.1±11.4 years, with the majority of individuals in Generation Y, 55.9 % were female, 44.7 % were high school graduates, 37.9 % resided in Istanbul 2nd region and 69.7 % had moderate income levels. Among participants, 25.3 % stated they or a first degree relative had chronic disease, while 74.8 % were satisfied with service in the health facility they attended. Additionally, 68.8 % of participants waited mean 42.09±38.46 minutes before examinations or tests. Total mean points obtained from the SDS were identified as 65.28±26.11. When the status of living in the same street as Syrian refugees, risk in terms of security of this situation, and effect of presence of refugees on level of health service received and time allocated to them by health personnel are compared with mean SDS of participants, statistically significant differences were identified (p<0.05). Conclusion: Most participants had moderate social distance to refugees and thought that the presence of refugees delayed their access to health services and lowered the level of health services

Nursing's public image in Istanbul: Comparison between generations

Objective: Currently, nurses representing Baby Boomer, X and Y generations provide health care services to individuals in their own or other generations. This point of the view, the study was conducted with the aim of comparing the nursing image perceptions of individuals from different generations. Materials and Methods: The descriptive-cross-sectional study was completed with 2426 individuals attending as outpatients and relatives in a private hospital group between January and June 2017 in Istanbul. Data were collected with a survey form comprising Personal Characteristics Form and Nursing Image Scale. Analysis of data used descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis. Results: More than half of participants were in generation Y (55.2 %). The median was determined as 64 (47-71) for Nursing Image Scale. The subscale perceived most positively was professional and educational qualities with median of 34 (25-40). The mean rank for Nursing Image Scale and subscales for participants in Generation Y were determined to be significantly higher than Generation X and Baby Boomer Generation (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that nursing image is positive at moderate levels and that individuals in Generation Y perceive nursing image more positively compared to other generations. In line with this, it is recommended that scientific and social studies be developed led by managers and educators in the profession for individuals in public to accurately perceive nurses and the nursing profession