Openability of soft drinks PET packagings

Studies on packaging accessibility are still incipient in Brazil. Many of these packagings can represent a challenge to users, whether due to non-informative labels, tricky tabs or seals, or even those that need strength to open. This paper brings a simple test to determine the necessary torque force to open PET bottles, and to predict the amount of users that could not open it. The findings suggest that a considerable amount of users could not open it or would have some difficulties to exert the necessary force.     

Effects of strength and power training on neuromuscular variables in older adults

The purpose of this study was to compare the neuromuscular adaptations produced by strength-training (ST) and power-training (PT) regimens in older individuals. Participants were balanced by quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) and leg-press 1-repetition maximum and randomly assigned to an ST group (n = 14; 63.6 ± 4.0 yr, 79.7 ± 17.2 kg, and 163.9 ± 9.8 cm), a PT group (n = 16; 64.9 ± 3.9 yr, 63.9 ± 11.9 kg, and 157.4 ± 7.7 cm), or a control group (n = 13; 63.0 ± 4.0 yr, 67.2 ± 10.8 kg, and 159.8 ± 6.8 cm). ST and PT were equally effective in increasing (a) maximum dynamic and isometric strength (p < .05), (b) increasing quadriceps muscle CSA (p < .05), and (c) decreasing electrical mechanical delay of the vastus lateralis muscle (p < .05). There were no significant changes in neuromuscular activation after training. The novel finding of the current study is that PT seems to be an attractive alternative to regular ST to maintain and improve muscle mass.     

Abandonment and accessibility in railway historical buildings: Central do Brasil and Leopoldina Railstation

This paper aims to demonstrate the evolution of a study in the city of Juiz de Fora-MG, whose objective is the assessment of areas of train station in relation to the inclusion of people with disabilities and consequently promote the historical and cultural heritage of this city. The railway buildings are important landmarks in the history of the city and its surroundings was formed the first core of urban development. Because this building was of the early nineteenth century, these were not designed to assist people with disabilities, in effect, we observed that the buildings are being underutilized. The difficulty of insertion of incentive policies is therefore not due to the commitment by the majority, making the deployment of new access.     

Substrate influence on aromatic plant growth in extensive green roofs in a Mediterranean climate

Green roofs have been described as technical solutions to overcome urban environmental problems, such as decrease of vegetation and stormwater management. In the present study, two pilot 20 m² extensive green roofs were implemented in an urban Mediterranean region, at a 1st storey on a warehouse building structure, in order to test the adequacy of different substrates for supporting aromatic plants (Lavandula dentata, Helichrysum italicum, Satureja montana, Thymus caespititius and Thymus pseudolanuginosus). Experimental substrates included expanded clay and granulated cork as main components, supplemented with organic matter and crushed egg shell. A commercial substrate that obeys to FLL guidelines was also tested. Plant growth was assessed and compared within each platform. All experimental substrates proved to be adequate for vegetation growth, with the combination of 70% expanded clay, 15% organic matter and 15% crushed egg shell showing the best results regarding plant establishment and growth over time. Water runoff quality parameters - turbidity, pH, conductivity, NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, PO₄ ^3? - met standard values required for water reuse for non-potable purposes, such as toilet flushing or irrigation. Preliminary qualitative thermographic measurements comparing surface temperature of different plant species and the substrate showed that temperature of vegetation surface was lower than substrate, reinforcing green roofs benefits of lowering air temperature in their surroundings. The present research shows that aromatic vegetation combined with clay substrates are suitable for green roofs located in countries of the Mediterranean region.     

Dynamic changepoint detection in count time series: a particle filter approach

We study Bayesian dynamic models for detecting changepoints in count time series that present structural breaks. As the inferential approach, we develop a parameter learning version of the algorithm proposed by Chopin [Chopin N. Dynamic detection of changepoints in long time series. Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics 2007;59:349–366.], called the Chopin filter with parameter learning, which allows us to estimate the static parameters in the model. In this extension, the static parameters are addressed by using the kernel smoothing approximations proposed by Liu and West [Liu J, West M. Combined parameters and state estimation in simulation-based filtering. In: Doucet A, de Freitas N, Gordon N, editors. Sequential Monte Carlo methods in practice. New York: Springer-Verlag; 2001]. The proposed methodology is then applied to both simulated and real data sets and the time series models include distributions that allow for overdispersion and/or zero inflation. Since our procedure is general, robust and naturally adaptive because the particle filter approach does not require restrictive specifications to ensure its validity and effectiveness, we believe it is a valuable alternative for dealing with the problem of detecting changepoints in count time series. The proposed methodology is also suitable for count time series with no changepoints and for independent count data.     

第三人精神上损害之研究

因故意或过失而造成第三人产生精神损害时,是否应负损害赔偿责任?依美国法之规定,与直接受害人存有紧密亲属关系,以及处于“危险范围”与采“正常合理人”标准之第三人,且亲眼目睹受害人严重损害结果者,皆有可能要求赔偿。依我国台湾地区民法之规定,与直接受害人有身份上的关系,过失行为侵害了其身份权利者,且直接受害人受害情节重大,请求权人所受之精神损害亦情节重大时,可加以请求。大陆民法典草案与国际接轨及对人格权重视之基本思考,令人赞赏,但若将学者研究之共识及海外立法相关部分予以参考,增加对第三人遭受精神损害赔偿之规范,则对人权之保障更为完整。     

Does Financial Inclusion Diminish Poverty and Inequality? A Panel Data Analysis for Latin American Countries

Despite great developmental efforts in recent decades, Latin America still presents high levels of poverty and inequality when compared to developed nations. As explored widely in the literature, one potential instrument to diminish these issues is financial inclusion, including the access and usage of financial services by all people. Specifically, this paper verifies if financial inclusion and technology adoption decrease the poverty headcount ratio and the Gini index (i.e., inequality) of 13 Latin America countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay). To perform such analysis, an unbalanced panel dataset was built, and the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and the Limited Information Maximum Likelihood (LIML) techniques were employed. The results suggest that, in accordance with previous studies, financial inclusion is a powerful tool to tackle poverty and inequality. Additionally, the combined effects of financial inclusions and technology (i.e., mobile use) are also capable of decreasing the poverty and inequality levels. We discuss the policy implications of our findings and suggest a future research agenda.

     

Uncertainty in Climate Change Modeling: Can Global Sensitivity Analysis Be of Help?

Integrated assessment models offer a crucial support to decisionmakers in climate policy making. For a full understanding and corroboration of model results, analysts ought to identify the exogenous variables that influence the model results the most (key drivers), appraise the relevance of interactions, and the direction of change associated with the simultaneous variation of uncertain variables. We show that such information can be directly extracted from the data set produced by Monte Carlo simulations. Our discussion is guided by the application to the well‐known DICE model of William Nordhaus. The proposed methodology allows analysts to draw robust insights into the dependence of future atmospheric temperature, global emissions, and carbon costs and taxes on the model's exogenous variables.