Road traffic poses negative externalities on society and represents a key challenge in sustainable transportation. However, the existing literature about the assessment of traffic externalities drawn ...on a common measure is scarce.
This paper develops a sustainability indicator that integrates traffic-related externalities as means of traffic congestion, noise, greenhouse gases (GHG) and nitrogen oxides emissions, health impacts and road crash related costs, and adjusted to local contexts of vulnerability.
Traffic, road crashes, acoustic and vehicle dynamic data were collected from one real-world intercity corridor pair comprising three alternative routes. The site-specific operations were characterized using a modeling platform of traffic, emissions, noise and air quality. A specific methodology is applied for each road traffic externality and translated in a single factor – external cost.
The results indicated that road crashes presented the largest share in the partly rural/urban route while GHG emissions had the highest contribution in external costs for the highway routes. Also, the distribution of external cost component varied according to the type of road, mostly due to different levels of exposed inhabitants.
This paper offers a line of research that produced a method for decision-makers with a reliable and flexible cost analysis aimed at reducing the negative impacts of road traffic. It also encourages the design of eco-traffic management policies considering the perspective of drivers, commuters and population.
Sustainability Indicator (congestion, noise, GHG, NOX, health impacts and road crash) in €/veh. Display omitted
•Sustainability indicator for integrating road traffic externalities was developed.•External costs focused on congestion, noise, GHG, NOX, health impacts and crashes.•The methodology was tested in real-world corridor pair with three alternative routes.•Crashes and GHG represented the largest share in external costs.•Share of externalities varied according the road type and population exposure.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of psychoeducation in the symptomatic and functional recovery, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of patients with bipolar disorder (BD).
Method: The sample ...comprised 55 patients with BD I and II in remission (Young Mania Rating Scale ≤6 and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≤7). Out‐patients were matched assigned to receive 16 sessions of psychoeducation experimental group (EG) or 16 sessions of placebo without psychoeducation control group (CG). Groups were evaluated at study baseline, midpoint, endpoint, and at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups.
Results: No significant differences between the groups were found for the variables evaluated (mood symptoms, functioning and QoL), except for overall clinical improvement, subjectively perceived by EG subjects. Both groups showed a trend toward improved clinical global impression and QoL (environmental). No reduction in mood symptoms or improvement in psychosocial functioning was observed. Psychosocial treatment compliance was positively correlated with global functioning, social adjustment, sociability, and global clinical impression.
Conclusion: Sixteen session psychoeducation seems to be ineffective to prevent mood episodes or improve functioning in a sample of bipolar patients.
This paper explores the potential of using crowdsourcing tools, namely Google “Popular times” (GPT) as an alternative source of information to predict traffic-related impacts. Using linear regression ...models, we examined the relationships between GPT and traffic volumes, travel times, pollutant emissions and noise of different areas in different periods. Different data sets were collected: i) crowdsourcing information from Google Maps; ii) traffic dynamics with the use of a probe car equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System data logger; and iii) traffic volumes. The emissions estimation was based on the Vehicle Specific Power methodology, while noise estimations were conducted with the use of “The Common Noise Assessment Methods in Europe” (CNOSSOS-EU) model. This study shows encouraging results, as it was possible to establish clear relationships between GPT and traffic and environmental performance.
•A new UHPLC–MS/MS method using rotating disk sorptive extraction (RDSE) is proposed.•Multiresidue determination by RDSE is reported for the first time.•Validation provide good results at trace ...concentration levels for 62 pesticides.•Small amount of sorbent and solvent, being of low cost and environmentally friendly.•Successful application of the proposed method in surface water with residues confirmed.
The use of pesticides has been associated with the increase of productivity of crops and control of vectors that cause diseases. However, excessive use of these compounds can cause human health and environmental problems, especially regarding to water resources. In this work, a method for multiresidue determination of 62 pesticides in surface water using the rotating disk sorptive extraction (RDSE) technique for sample preparation and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) for analysis was optimized and validated. The parameters time and rotational disk velocity for the extraction step, types and amounts of sorbents, sample pH, ionic strength, time and velocity of the rotating disk in the desorption step, as well different desorption solvents were evaluated. The best results were obtained using 50mL of sample, acidified at pH 2.0, and 2.5g of sodium chloride. The selected velocity of rotation in the extraction step was 1600rpm for 80min. Inside the disk cavity, a small amount (20mg) of the polymeric sorbent Oasis® HLB was used. The desorption step was performed immerging the disk in 3mL of methanol and rotating the disk at 1600rpm for 60min. Procedural calibration curves showed linearity between 0.05 or 0.1–2μgL−1, with r2>0.99 for all compounds. The method presented practical limit of quantification of 0.05 or 0.1μgL−1 and suitable accuracy and precision, with recoveries from 70.1 to 119.9% and RSD≤20% for the levels 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 2μgL−1. The validated method was applied to surface water samples from different river and residues of atrazine, azoxystrobin, clomazone, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole, propoxur, simazine and tebuconazole were found in the range of 0.06–0.35μgL−1. The results indicate that the proposed method is suitable for the determination of pesticide residues in surface water, allowing an easy and simultaneously preparation of several samples with low material consumption.
Ti orthopaedic implants are commonly coated with hydroxyapatite (HA) to achieve increased biocompatibility and osseointegration with natural bone. In this work the dip-coating technique was used to ...apply HA films on Ti foil. A gel was used as the support vehicle for commercial HA particles. The experimental parameters like surface roughness of the metallic substrate and immersion time were studied. All coated substrates were heat treated and sintered under vacuum atmosphere. The produced coatings were characterized by field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, microhardness, scratch test and profilometry. Additionally, the apatite-forming ability of the produced material was tested by exposure to a simulated body fluid. Higher substrate surface roughness and longer immersion time produce thicker, denser films, with higher surface roughness. Lower film porosity is accompanied by higher hardness values. However, thicker coating promotes differential shrinkage and crack formation during sintering. Both coating thickness and coating roughness increase with coating time. HA films∼30–40 μm thick with 45–50% HA theoretical density produced on Ti substrates with surface roughness of
R
z
∼1.0–1.7 μm, display an attractive combination of high hardness and resistance to spallation. Attained results are encouraging regarding the possibility of straightforward production of biocompatible and bioactive prosthetic coatings for orthopaedic applications using commercial HA.
Ants are among the insects involved in cadaveric decomposition processes, as they exhibit predatory and necrophagous behavior. Red ants exhibit an aggressive behavior, which impacts carcass ...colonization, accelerates or delays the decomposition rates and potentially confounds interpretation of the post-mortem interval. Here, we estimated the effects of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) activity on the decomposition rate in domestic pig carcasses. We placed two pig carcasses close to S. saevissima nests, and two other pig carcasses (controls) in other locations 50 m away from the nest. Decomposition processes were delayed by at least three days for carcasses on the nest compared to those without direct exposure to ants. Our results showed that predatory activity of S. saevissima interfered with carcass colonization by scavenger insects, functioning as an ecological barrier to the establishment of immature Diptera. Such results highlight the importance of considering ecological processes that may interfere with mechanisms determining post-mortem intervals.
Introduction The assessment of needs among patients with severe mental disorders is one of the most studied measures in treatment planning and monitoring of mental health services. Nevertheless, ...studies on this subject are scarce in Brazil, even following the recent expansion of community services. Objectives To investigate the prevalence and correlates of unmet needs among outpatients with psychotic disorders in Brazilian community mental health services. Methods This is a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 401 outpatients with psychotic disorders in the city of Santos, Brazil. Needs were assessed through interviews with patients using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs (CAN), which investigates 22 clinical, social and basic needs. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptoms. Data were analyzed with multiple linear regression, using p < 0.05. Independent variables were introduced in hierarchical levels, as follows: 1) demographic variables; 2) history and severity of illness; and, 3) service utilization. Results The most reported needs were psychotic symptoms (67.0%), information needs (55.0%), psychological distress (41.8%) and money (41.5%). The mean number of unmet needs was 2.91 (+-2.56). A greater number of unmet needs was significantly associated to lower education, more negative symptoms and general psychopathology, all with p = 0.001. Conclusions The most reported needs were clinical and social. The number of unmet needs was consistent with the results of international studies. Furthermore, the association of greater unmet needs with lower education and higher symptoms severity may indicate the need for further and comprehensive psychosocial interventions.
The atmospheric dispersion of NOx and PM10 was simulated with a second generation Gaussian model over a medium-size south-European city. Microscopic traffic models calibrated with GPS data were used ...to derive typical driving cycles for each road link, while instantaneous emissions were estimated applying a combined Vehicle Specific Power/Co-operative Programme for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (VSP/EMEP) methodology. Site-specific background concentrations were estimated using time series analysis and a low-pass filter applied to local observations. Air quality modelling results are compared against measurements at two locations for a 1 week period. 78% of the results are within a factor of two of the observations for 1-h average concentrations, increasing to 94% for daily averages. Correlation significantly improves when background is added, with an average of 0.89 for the 24 h record. The results highlight the potential of detailed traffic and instantaneous exhaust emissions estimates, together with filtered urban background, to provide accurate input data to Gaussian models applied at the urban scale.
•High detail traffic emissions were estimated using a combined VSP/EMEP methodology.•Low-pass filtering of observations provide better estimate for background concentration.•Street-canyon hourly mean concentrations calculated with a Gaussian model.•Instantaneous vehicle emissions determinant to urban Gaussian model accuracy.
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