Housing quality perceptions in Finland: the elderly population

Housing and health issues can vary over time and between populations. The elderly population is increasing worldwide. Yet only limited information exists about housing conditions: changes over time, and the relationships between health and safety among the elderly. Based on repeated surveys (2007 and 2011), housing and health issues in Finland were assessed, especially among the elderly (more than 65 years old). From various housing factors studied, the largest differences between surveys were in thermal comfort. From the six outcomes studied – satisfaction with the dwelling, maintenance, indoor air quality (IAQ), perceived safety, general health, and sleeping difficulties – only satisfaction with the dwelling had significant temporal variation. Modelling the outcomes led to a selection of variables that were significantly associated with the outcomes. The models’ sensitivity was 65–81% for perceived safety and satisfaction with the dwelling, maintenance, and IAQ, whereas it was only 5% for sleeping difficulties and 32% for general health status. Among the elderly, higher odds ratios (ORs) were found for the associations between housing satisfaction and non-elevated radon concentrations, accessibility, dwelling size, and stuffy odour, as compared with the total population sample. The results are useful for developing policies that increase wellbeing, and for building owners wishing to increase housing satisfaction among occupants.     

Heat transfer analysis of receiver for large aperture parabolic trough solar collector

Parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) is one of the most proven technologies for large‐scale solar thermal power generation. Currently, the cost of power generation from PTSC is expensive as compared with conventional power generation. The capital/power generation cost can be reduced by increasing aperture sizes of the collector. However, increase in aperture of the collector leads to higher heat flux on the absorber surface and results in higher thermal gradient. Hence, the analysis of heat distribution from the absorber to heat transfer fluid (HTF) and within the absorber is essential to identify the possibilities of failure of the receiver. In this article, extensive heat transfer analysis (HTA) of the receiver is performed for various aperture diameter of a PTSC using commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS Fluent 19.0. The numerical simulations of the receiver are performed to analyze the temperature distribution around the circumference of the absorber tube as well as along the length of tube, the rate of heat transfer from the absorber tube to the HTF, and heat losses from the receiver for various geometric and operating conditions such as collector aperture diameter, mass flow rate, heat loss coefficient (HLC), HTF, and its inlet temperature. It is observed that temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber and heat losses from the receiver increases with collector aperture. The temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at 2 m length from the inlet are observed as 11, 37, 48, 74, and 129 K, respectively, for 2.5‐, 5‐, 5.77‐, 7.5‐, and 10‐m aperture diameter of PTSC at mass flow rate of 1.25 kg/s and inlet temperature of 300 K for therminol oil as HTF. To minimize the thermal gradient around the absorber circumference, HTFs with better heat transfer characteristics are explored such as molten salt, liquid sodium, and NaK78. Liquid sodium offers a significant reduction in temperature gradient as compared of other HTFs for all the aperture sizes of the collector. It is found that the temperature gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube wall at a length of 2 m is reduced to 4, 8, 10, 13, and 18 K, respectively, for the above‐mentioned mass flow rate with liquid sodium as HTF. The analyses are also performed for different HTF inlet temperature in order to study the behavior of the receiver. Based on the HTA, it is desired to have larger aperture parabolic trough collector to generate higher temperature from the solar field and reduce the capital cost. To achieve higher temperature and better performance of the receiver, HTF with good thermophysical properties may be preferable to minimize the heat losses and thermal gradient around the circumference of the absorber tube.     

渐变孔隙率对泡沫铝矩形通道热沉流动和换热性能的影响

风冷是最普遍的电子器件散热方式。对填充渐变孔隙率泡沫铝的热沉的流动与换热性能进行CFD模拟,考察了孔隙率分别沿流动方向和高度方向发生梯度变化对热沉性能的影响。结果表明:与均匀孔隙率热沉相比,孔隙率沿高度方向渐变的热沉压力损失减小,最佳的孔隙率渐变方式为沿高度方向由0.963 0递减至0.700 0,与当量孔隙率0.831 5的均匀孔隙率热沉相比,明显提高了泡沫铝热沉的综合性能。当进口速度高于3.0 m/s后,渐变孔隙率热沉的综合性能甚至优于高孔隙率(0.963 0)的均匀孔隙率热沉。     

Embedding financialization: a policy review of the English Affordable Homes Programme

Decent, affordable housing continues to be a major concern for policy-makers, providers and society at large. This paper contributes to the debate over the future of social housing in England by reviewing the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP). The AHP (2011–2015) saw the level of grant funding reduced dramatically; with the shortfall to be filled from housing associations own resources, increased rents and borrowing. To understand the implications of the AHP, this paper utilizes the concept of financialization. Financialization is a multifaceted process that seeks to explain the increased role and power of the financial markets in society. Specifically, the paper shows that the AHP leads to increased debt levels in the social housing sector, is predicated on short-termism and accumulation by dispossession. Finally, by employing financialization the paper also addresses debates about the nature of housing policy and how it can best be conceptualized.     

Determinant factors of individuals’ decision to emigrate in rural Spain: The role of ICT-based public policies

Depopulation is a dramatic problem in rural inland Spain. The present study draws on a survey administered to inhabitants of rural areas to analyse the factors influencing the decision to emigrate to larger centres of population, with a special focus on the impact of ICT-based public policies. The findings show that size of municipality, age and education affect the intention to emigrate. It is found that the digital divide in terms of quality of ICT access has not, in many cases, been overcome, having an effect on citizen satisfaction. To guide public actions, we identify population profiles depending on both level of satisfaction with ICT development and preference towards specific ICT-related public policy measures intended to combat depopulation. We also find that most individuals continue to think that improving investment in ICT infrastructures should be a priority of public policy, compared to more advanced measures such as bolstering e-government.     

Quantifying net energy metering subsidies

Net energy metering (NEM) is the policy available in many states that promotes customer-owned rooftop solar power generation by compensating rooftop solar owners for each kWh that it generates at the retail rates. To help understand the magnitude of the residential net metering subsidies, we conducted a study to assess the subsidies for 16 US utilities with varying geographic location, size, rooftop solar penetration, and NEM policy.     

A comparative assessment of local municipal food policy integration in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT

Local governments around the world increasingly engage in food governance, aiming to address food system challenges such as obesity, food waste, or food insecurity. However, the extent to which municipalities have actually integrated food across their policies remains unknown. This study addresses this question by conducting a medium-n systematic content analysis of local food policy outputs of 31 Dutch municipalities. Policy outputs were coded for the food goals and instruments adopted by local governments. Our analysis shows that most municipalities integrate food to a limited extent only, predominantly addressing health and local food production or consumption. Furthermore, municipalities seem hesitant to use coercive instruments and predominantly employ informative and organizational instruments. Nonetheless, a small number of municipalities have developed more holistic approaches to address food challenges. These cities may prove to be a leading group in the development of system-based approaches in Dutch local food policy.     

Mechanical properties and translucency of a multi-layered zirconia with color gradient for dental applications

In this work, the properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia-based ceramics, Y-TZP containing Fe₂O₃ as coloring agent were evaluated. Nanoparticled powder of 3Y-TZP (ZrO₂ - 3 mol.% Y₂O₃) doped with different amounts of Fe₂O₃ (0.002–0.136 wt%) were compacted into monolithical or multilayered samples and sintered at 1475 °C - 2 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), relative density, scanning electron microscope (SEM). Hardness and fracture toughness in the color interface were investigated using the Vickers indentation method and the biaxial flexural strength was determined by the piston on 3 balls method (P–3B). Furthermore, optical parameters were measured using spectrophotometry in regard to sample thickness and Fe₂O₃ content. The results indicated a good adhesion between layers, proven by indentation cracks randomly growing between different regions, because the powders used produced very similar morphological characteristics. The different amounts of Fe₂O₃ studied in this work did not interfere in densification, phase composition, or microstructure of the sintered ceramics. The fracture toughness and flexural strength did not significantly change due to the addition of Fe₂O₃, presenting values close to 7 MPa m^1/2 and 1120–1150 MPa, respectively, in all studied compositions. On the other hand, increasing Fe₂O₃ contents lead to an increase in the hardness of the material (1280–1330 H V), and higher contrast ratios (CR) with a consequent loss of translucency. Color variation (ΔE) depended also on the thickness of the material.