Urban mobility trends and climate change: sustainability policies in the parking industry

[Abstract] The concern to create cleaner and more ecosystem-friendly production processes has extended to the parking sector in Spain. Since the creation of the multi-level institutional framework for sustainable mobility management (mainly composed of the Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Plan 2012–2024, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, Law 9/2006, and Law 9/2017), environmental considerations, including sustainable management certificates, have occupied a privileged place in public procedures for the management of parking structures and regulated surface parking facilities. Although there have been previous academic studies on the design and implementation of SUMPs and the growth of the parking sector, this article is novel in that it analyzes the market concentration of the parking sector in a scenario where climate change policies are crucial and the importance of sustainability certificates takes on a new meaning. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze whether the growing importance of environmental aspects has led to an increase in the concentration level of the parking sector in Spain. For this purpose, several concentration and stability indices are calculated. The results show that, although there are additional factors, the certification of a cleaner activity is relevant in the process of public tenders in the sector, which has served to strengthen the dominance of the most prominent companies in the sector that are in possession of environmental certificates. This shows that environmental policies can also have negative effects on the market, so the results of this analysis are of great value to policymakers.Xunta de Galicia; ED481B2018/095Xunta de Galicia; ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia; ED431E2018/07Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; RTI2018-099225-B-10

Urban mobility trends and climate change: sustainability policies in the parking industry

The concern to create cleaner and more ecosystem-friendly production processes has extended to the parking sector in Spain. Since the creation of the multi-level institutional framework for sustainable mobility management (mainly composed of the Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Plan 2012–2024, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, Law 9/2006, and Law 9/2017), environmental considerations, including sustainable management certificates, have occupied a privileged place in public procedures for the management of parking structures and regulated surface parking facilities. Although there have been previous academic studies on the design and implementation of SUMPs and the growth of the parking sector, this article is novel in that it analyzes the market concentration of the parking sector in a scenario where climate change policies are crucial and the importance of sustainability certificates takes on a new meaning. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze whether the growing importance of environmental aspects has led to an increase in the concentration level of the parking sector in Spain. For this purpose, several concentration and stability indices are calculated. The results show that, although there are additional factors, the certification of a cleaner activity is relevant in the process of public tenders in the sector, which has served to strengthen the dominance of the most prominent companies in the sector that are in possession of environmental certificates. This shows that environmental policies can also have negative effects on the market, so the results of this analysis are of great value to policymakers.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B2018/095Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/48Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431E2018/07Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-099225-B-I00Universidade de Vigo/CISU

From Fossil Energy to Renewable Energy: Why is Circular Economy Needed in the Energy Transition?

[Abstract]: For decades, renewable energy consumption has been presented as the ultimate solution to reduce pollutant gas emissions. However, their production, marketing, and, above all, consumption are not entirely climate neutral, so society needs new practices, such as circular energy, to achieve a more efficient energy transition (Khan et al., 2021a; Khan et al., 2021d). This study aims at exploring the effects of energy intensity, renewable energy consumption and forestation on CO2 emissions for developed and developing countries. Owing to cross-country income disparity, the data were categorized into four distinct groups: lower, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income over the period of 1980–2018. The Pedroni and Fisher-Johnson estimators of pooled data are employed for determining the plausible presence of a long-run co-integrating relationship between model variables. For all four country groups, Pedroni cointegration testing results reveal a significant long-run association between CO2 emission and its determinants. However, the Fisher-Johansen estimator yield mixed results, with low- and lower-middle income country groups outperforming the other two groups. However, the magnitude of this long-run association is less substantial, particularly in case of renewable energy consumption and forestation. For all country groups, energy intensity turns out to be the most influential longrun determinant of CO2 emissions, holding a positive coefficient value ranging from 0.30 to 1.31. Renewable energy consumption is the second most important long-run determinant of CO2 emissions. In case of forestation, the series imparts (statistically) significant long-run effects only for lower-middle-income countries. The overall results back the idea of curtailing the existing levels of energy intensity and encouraging the exploration and the use of renewable energy sources as a policy tool against controlling the prevalent situation of carbon-based emissions in our subject group of countries.Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria of the Xunta de Galicia in Spain the postdoctoral grant ED481B2018/095 and the following grants: ED431C2018/48 and ED431E2018/07. In addition, this publication is part of the Spanish R&D&I project RTI 2018–099225-B-100, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033/and FEDER “A way of doing Europe

Factors associated with the non-use of barrier contraceptive methods in the Peruvian LGBTI population, 2017

Introducción: La comunidad LGBTI tienen limitaciones en el acceso al sistema de salud, siendo poco enfocada los programas de lucha contra el VIH y las ITS pese a su incremento, la desinformación genera la ausencia o inadecuado uso del condón, existe pocos estudios que abordan esta población excluida. Objetivo: Analizar los factores asociados al no uso métodos anticonceptivos de barrera en la población LGBTI peruana, 2017. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo, observacional, analítico de corte transversal.  Conformado por 12 026 personas identificadas como parte de la comunidad LGBTI de 24 departamentos del Perú y  provincia constitucional del Callao, con muestra  11987 personas LGTBI peruanas, la técnica  fue análisis de base secundaria de la “Primera encuesta virtual para personas LGTBI en el Perú”,  Las variables  principales fueron  factores asociados: sociodemográficos, sanitarios, de identidad, familiares y socioeconómicos y No uso de métodos anticonceptivos  .Se utilizó el sofware STATA para realizar análisis bivariado (Chi cuadrado de Pearson y T de Student) y multivariado (Regresión de Poisson) para evaluar la asociación, con un nivel de confianza del 95%.No amerito aprobación de comité de ética la índole de estudio. Resultados: El 36,15% (IC95%:35,29-37,01%), no usa anticoncepción de barrera , siendo más frecuente en  Tacna (52,03%), Callao (39,90%) y Ayacucho (38,46%) , el tener grado de instrucción secundaria (p=0,042; RPa:0,77) y superior (p=0.013; RPa:0,74), el desconocimiento familiar de que  es una persona LGBTI  (p<0,001; RPa:0,78) y el no presentar pareja sentimental (p<0,001;RPa:0,79)  son factores protectores, mientras que presentar mayor edad (p=0,001; RPa:1,002), no haber recibido información sobre prevención de ITS o VIH (p<0,001; RPa:1,31) y ser de sexo mujer (p<0,001; RPa:6,66) son factores de riesgo asociados al no uso de métodos anticonceptivos. Conclusiones: Los factores sociodemográficos, sanitarios, de identidad y familiares se asocian significativamente al no uso métodos anticonceptivos de barrera en la población LGTBI en el Perú que hace urgente su abordaje.Introduction: The LGBTI community has limitations in access to the health system, programs to combat HIV and STIs are poorly focused despite their increase, misinformation generates the absence or inappropriate use of condoms, there are few studies that address this excluded population. Objective: To analyze the factors associated with the non-use of barrier contraceptive methods in the Peruvian LGBTI population, 2017. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, observational, analytical cross-sectional study. Made up of 12,026 people identified as part of the LGBTI community from 24 departments of Peru and the constitutional province of Callao, with a sample of 11,987 Peruvian LGTBI people, the technique was secondary-base analysis of the "First virtual survey for LGTBI people in Peru" , The main variables were associated factors: sociodemographic, health, identity, family and socioeconomic and Non-use of contraceptive methods. STATA software was used to perform bivariate analysis (Pearson's Chi square and Student's t) and multivariate (Poisson regression ) to evaluate the association, with a confidence level of 95%. The nature of the study does not merit approval from the ethics committee. Results: 36.15% (95% CI: 35.29-37.01%) did not use barrier contraception, being more frequent in Tacna (52.03%), Callao (39.90%) and Ayacucho (38,46%), having a secondary education level (p=0.042; aPR:0.77) and higher (p=0.013; aPR:0.74), family ignorance that they are an LGBTI person (p <0.001; aPR: 0.78) and not having a sentimental partner (p<0.001; aPR: 0.79) are protective factors, while being older (p=0.001; aPR:1.002), not having received information on STI prevention o HIV (p<0.001; aPR:1.31) and being female (p <0.001; aPR: 6.66) are risk factors associated with the non-use of contraceptive methods. Conclusions: Sociodemographic, health, identity and family factors are significantly associated with the non-use of barrier contraceptive methods in the LGTBI population in Peru, which makes their approach urgent

A rare finding of plasma cell leukaemia with hairy-cell morphology.

The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest to disclose. This publication was funded by the CNIC. The CNIC is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN) and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (grant CEX2020- 001041-S funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033).S

Characterization of Glyceridic and Unsaponifiable Compounds of Sacha Inchi ( Plukenetia huayllabambana

This work deals with the characterization of the main glyceridic and unsaponifiable components of oils obtained from Sacha inchi (Plukenetia huayllabambana L.) seed ecotypes collected during two harvests in the Department of Amazonas in Peru. The seed-oil yield was 30.3-41.2%; standing out are the high percentages of the ¿3- and ¿6-fatty acids series whose ranges lie within those of the present Regulation for Sacha inchi oils. Triacylglycerols with even equivalent carbon number (ECN; 36-42) were the main components. Minor glyceridic polar compounds such as oxidized triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids were determined by high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The low campesterol/stigmasterol ratio (1:6), unusual in the majority of vegetable oils, stands out. Regarding aliphatic hydrocarbons, these oils showed a particular profile for the saturated series of odd and even carbon atom numbers. According to our results Sacha inchi P. huayllabambana oils can be offered as a good alternative to P. volubilis, the species mainly commercialized for this vegetable oil

Development and Evaluation of an NTM-IGRA to Guide Pediatric Lymphadenitis Diagnosis

Background: Diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections remains a challenge. In this study, we describe the evaluation of an immunological NTM-interferon (IFN)-γ release assay (IGRA) that we developed using glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) as NTM-specific antigens. Methods: We tested the NTM-IGRA in 99 samples from pediatric patients. Seventy-five were patients with lymphadenitis: 25 were NTM confirmed, 45 were of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection and 5 had lymphadenitis caused by an etiologic agent other than NTM. The remaining 24 samples were from control individuals without lymphadenitis (latently infected with M.Tuberculosis, uninfected controls and active tuberculosis patients). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated overnight with GPLs. Detection of IFN-γ producing cells was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results: NTM culture-confirmed lymphadenitis patient samples had a significantly higher response to GPLs than the patients with lymphadenitis of unknown etiology but compatible with mycobacterial infection (P < 0.001) and lymphadenitis not caused by NTM (P < 0.01). We analyzed the response against GPLs in samples from unknown etiology lymphadenitis but compatible with mycobacterial infection cases according to the tuberculin skin test (TST) response, and although not statistically significant, those with a TST ≥5 mm had a higher response to GPLs when compared with the TST <5 mm group. Conclusions: Stimulation with GPLs yielded promising results in detecting NTM infection in pediatric patients with lymphadenitis. Our results indicate that the test could be useful to guide the diagnosis of pediatric lymphadenitis. This new NTM-IGRA could improve the clinical handling of NTM-infected patients and avoid unnecessary misdiagnosis and treatments

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

OC6 project phase III : validation of the aerodynamic loading on a wind turbine rotor undergoing large motion caused by a floating support structure

This paper provides a summary of the work done within Phase III of the Offshore Code Comparison, Collaboration, Continued, with Correlation and unCertainty project (OC6), under International Energy Agency Wind Task 30. This phase focused on validating the aerodynamic loading on a wind turbine rotor undergoing large motion caused by a floating support structure. Numerical models of the Danish Technical University 10-MW reference wind turbine were validated using measurement data from a 1:75 scale test performed during the UNsteady Aerodynamics for FLOating Wind (UNAFLOW) project and a follow-on experimental campaign, both performed at the Politecnico di Milano wind tunnel. Validation of the models was performed by comparing the loads for steady (fixed platform) and unsteady wind conditions (harmonic motion of the platform). For the unsteady wind conditions, the platform was forced to oscillate in the surge and pitch directions under several frequencies and amplitudes. These oscillations result in a wind variation that impacts the rotor loads (e.g., thrust and torque). For the conditions studied in these tests, the system mainly described a quasi-steady aerodynamic behavior. Only a small hysteresis in airfoil performance undergoing angle of attack variations in attached flow was observed. During the experiments, the rotor speed and blade pitch angle were held constant. However, in real wind turbine operating conditions, the surge and pitch variations would result in rotor speed variations and/or blade pitch actuations depending on the wind turbine controller region that the system is operating. Additional simulations with these control parameters were conducted to verify the fidelity between different models. Participant results showed in general a good agreement with the experimental measurements and the need to account for dynamic inflow when there are changes in the flow conditions due to the rotor speed variations or blade pitch actuations in response to surge and pitch motion. Numerical models not accounting for dynamic inflow effects predicted rotor loads that were 9 % lower in amplitude during rotor speed variations and 18 % higher in amplitude during blade pitch actuations