•We assess the use of cargo tricycles alongside trucks in a mobile-depot-based procedure.•A new method is proposed to identify the impact on service level, pollutant emissions and costs.•Greenhouse ...gases emissions and local air quality pollutants can be significantly cut.•We can show that the mobile-depot-based delivery setup yields slight cost advantages.
To encourage the provision and use of more sustainable means of transportation, cities and companies are implementing a variety of measures, such as strengthening the use of public transportation infrastructure and services to alleviate traffic congestion and to democratize the urban space. In these cases, literature shows that the combined use of smaller vehicles and mobile depots is a practice to be explored more deeply. This paper focuses on the use of motorized cargo tricycles alongside conventional trucks in a mobile-depot-based procedure to accommodate the restrictions imposed on conventional freight vehicle access in densely populated areas. Therefore, a new method is proposed to identify the impact on service level, emissions footprint and delivery cost of this distribution strategy. Moreover, we assess the environmental benefits of this new distribution strategy by estimating the reduction in various pollutant emissions attributable to the adoption of smaller, more agile last-mile delivery vehicles. The analyses have shown that greenhouse gas emissions and local air quality pollutants can be significantly cut by the use of cargo tricycles and mobile depots in the last mile delivery. With respect to cost, we can show that the mobile-depot-based delivery setup yields slight cost advantages over the traditional setups for neighborhoods that are characterized by low average delivery drop sizes.
Recently, roundabouts in a series have been installed along corridors to enhance road safety. However, the benefits of this traffic-calming technique on traffic performance and pollutant emissions ...compared with other forms of intersections, such as traffic lights and stop-controlled solutions, are not properly known. This study used a microscopic approach to evaluate the effects of a corridor with four roundabouts on traffic performance and emissions, in comparison with traffic lights and stop-controlled solutions. Average travel time and number of vehicle stops were used as measures of traffic performance; carbon dioxide, monoxide carbon, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter were used to quantify emissions. The traffic and emissions performance of each solution was evaluated on three levels: (a) arterial, (b) intersection, and (c) morning peak versus evening peak periods. It was found that, regardless of the time period, traffic lights in corridors at the arterial level produced higher total emissions (> 6%), while stop-controlled intersections produced lower emissions (≈12%) compared with roundabouts, mainly because of unbalanced traffic flows between main and minor roads. The results for traffic performance showed advantages in implementing roundabouts when the main concern was the number of vehicle stops. At the intersection level, an emissions improvement (between 2% and 14%) was observed at traffic lights on four-leg intersections.
This study aimed to compare the tooth sensitivity, gingival irritation, and bleaching efficacy of at-home whitening performed with 10% hydrogen peroxide (HP) using a conventional tray-delivered ...system or two different bleaching systems (strips or prefilled disposable trays).
Sixty patients, with maxillary incisors darker than A2 were selected for this single-blind, parallel randomized clinical trial. Teeth were bleached during 14 days with a 30-minute gel contact with teeth per day. The 10% HP was delivered in a bleaching tray (White Class, FGM) in strips (White Strips, Oral-B) or prefilled disposable trays (Opalescence Go, Ultradent). The color changes were evaluated by subjective (Vita Classical and Vita Bleachedguide) and objective (Easyshade Spectrophotometer) methods at baseline and 30 days after the second bleaching session. Tooth sensitivity was recorded during 14 days with a five-point numeric rating scale (NRS) and 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS). The risk of gingival irritation was also recorded during 14 days on a dichotomous scale. All data were submitted to appropriate statistical analysis (α=0.05).
No significant difference was observed in the risks of tooth sensitivity among groups ( p>0.09). However, the conventional bleaching tray produced a higher intensity of tooth sensitivity when compared with the strips and prefilled disposable tray systems ( p<0.04). Regarding gingival irritation, the prefilled disposable tray system showed a lower risk of gingival irritation when compared with the conventional bleaching tray ( p=0.003). Significant whitening was observed in all groups after 30 days of clinical evaluation with no significant difference between them ( p>0.06).
All 10% HP bleaching systems showed similar whitening after a 14-day use. However, the strips and prefilled disposable trays produced lower intensity of tooth sensitivity than the conventional bleaching tray system. The prefilled disposable tray produced lower risk of gingival irritation when compared to the conventional bleaching tray.
Background:The relationship between smoking and the risk of Sjögren’s disease (SjD) remains unclear. Most studies show that current smoking is negatively correlated with SjD whereas past smoking may ...be positively associated. The possibility of reverse causation, whereby patients stop smoking due to dryness, has not been excluded.Objectives:To assess if smoking status is a risk factor for SjD and how it affects the main features of the disease.Methods:Patients referred with suspected SjD were recruited into the Optimising Assessment in Sjögren’s Syndrome (OASIS) cohort established in Birmingham, UK (2014-2023). Subjects were assessed and diagnosed as SjD or non-Sjögren’s sicca. Smoking status was regularly obtained within clinic with additional information available through a risk factor questionnaire. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Mann-Whitney or t-test, and correlation between continuous variables using Pearson or Spearman, according to their distribution. Predictors of Sjogren’s disease diagnosis were identified through binomial logistic regression modelling.Results:487 patients were included, 170 non-Sjögren’s sicca syndrome and 317 SjD patients, 81.1% of whom (n=257) met 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SjD. Compared to sicca, SjD patients meeting 2016 criteria are more frequently never smokers and, amongst ever smokers, have a lower smoking exposure measured by pack-year units (Table 1). Time between onset of symptoms and smoking cessation for past smokers was calculated and the majority of patients stopped smoking before symptom onset. In the multivariate analysis, both current smoking (OR 0.37, 95%CI: 0.15-0.92, p=0.032) and white ethnicity (OR 0.26, 95%CI: 0.12-0.56, p=0.001) were protective factors for SjD diagnosis in suspected patients, irrespective of age and sex. Amongst SjD patients meeting 2016 criteria, rheumatoid factor (p=0.038), IgG (p=0.004) and IgM (p=0.006) levels are significantly higher in never smokers with no passive smoking history. Amongst patients with a clinical diagnosis of Sjögren’s, those with smoking exposure are less frequently positive for anti-Ro antibodies (p=0.008) and rheumatoid factor (p=0.016) and have lower IgG levels (p=0.002). An inverse correlation trend was observed between smoking exposure (pack-years) and IgG levels (rho=-0.186, p=0.076) in the whole population. Never smoking was confirmed as a predictor of IgG levels (β 1.94, 95%CI: 0.12-3.77, p=0.037) in a linear regression model including age, sex, ethnicity, and disease classification R2=0.287, F (5,254) = 20.487, p<0.001. Looking at 2016 criteria SjD patients, ESSPRI is higher in ever smokers (p=0.039), with fatigue (p=0.040) being accountable for this difference. Likewise, amongst sicca patients, symptoms of fatigue, but not dryness, were significantly higher in ever smokers (p=0.022). No differences in the main features of minor salivary gland biopsies attributable to smoking were seen.Conclusion:Our study shows that smoking is negatively associated with SjD. In the multivariate analysis, current smoking and white ethnicity were protective factors for SjD classification in suspected patients, irrespective of age and sex. Avoidance of factors that may exacerbate dryness symptoms might not explain the association with smoking status. Clinically diagnosed SjD patients exposed to tobacco are more frequently seronegative and have lower rheumatoid factor and IgG levels.Table 1.Characteristics summarySjDSiccaAge at inclusion54±15 (256)55±12 (168)0.765Female sex242 (94)152 (89)0.095Age at symptom onset46±16 (248)48±13 (155)0.131EthnicityWhite134 (65)104 (88)<0.001Asian50 (24)10 (9)Black9 (5)3 (2)Other12 (6)1 (1)BMI27±9 (249)29±7 (164)0.027Smoking statusNever155 (71)76 (53)0.002Current13 (6)18 (13)Past52 (24)49 (34)Passive smokers (vs non-exposed)43 (47)27 (53)0.491Smoking statusNon-exposed49 (31)24 (20)0.032Passive43 (27)27 (23)Ever65 (41)67 (57)Pack-year11±11 (37)15±13 (40)0.048Smoking cessation (vs symptom onset)>5y before28 (72)25 (68)0.725<5y before7 (18)5 (14)<5y after2 (5)4 (11)>5y after2 (5)3 (8)mean ± SD (N) or n (%)REFERENCES:NIL.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of Interests:Matilde Bandeira: None declared, Aliaksandra Baranskaya: None declared, Valentina Pucino: None declared, Simon Bowman SJB has received payment for consultancy advice on clinical trials and outcome measures in SjD in the past 3 years from Abbvie, Aurinia, BMS, Galapagos, Iqvia, J&J and Novartis, Benjamin Fisher Consultancy: Novartis, BMS, Servier, Galapagos, Roche, UCB, Sanofi, Janssen, Funding: Janssen, Servier, Galapagos, Celgene.
In this study, the effect of high and low phosphorus contents on the mechanical and corrosion properties of two supermartensitic stainless was evaluated as a function of tempering temperature (570, ...620, 670 and 690°C). The best heat treatment condition (tempered at 620°C) was determined by conducting potentiodynamic polarization tests in natural seawater. At all temperatures, the two tempered steels presented nearly the same values of hardness, yield strength (0.2%), ultimate tensile strength and elongation. A high phosphorus content promoted the formation of nanoprecipitates of CrP4 between the retained austenite (3%) and martensitic grain boundaries. This structure significantly improved the impact toughness. The steels also presented similar pit potentials (0.290V). Nevertheless, chromium phosphide (CrP4) shifted the anodic corrosion curve toward a nobler region and produced a passive region that was more stable against corrosion.
Public transport (PT) agencies are expected to provide passenger-oriented services. There is a need to understand the user’s perception of information technologies, especially within specific ...socioeconomic and demographic groups. Because of this, and although public transportation agencies are integrating various systems, this work aims at assessing which type of real-time information (RTI) and display platform (DP) for PT are perceived as the most useful among different socioeconomic and demographic groups citizens. Surveys were disseminated in two different readiness level areas, to understand citizens preferences based on age, academic qualifications, public transportation usage, and access to such type of technologies. There was a total of 655 respondents, 196 in Portugal and 459 in Sweden. The most valued RTI were arrival/departure time (ADT) and trip planning (TP). Results suggest there are clear differences between the preferences of young and older users. While in Portugal, high percentage of young people prefer TP as RTI, in Sweden it was found that the percentage of respondents that prefer ADT or TP increases with the increase of age. With respect to DP, panels and apps are those with more votes. Results show in general, younger people prefer Apps and older people prefer RTI provided through panels. Moreover, the findings suggest that areas served with less technologies on information for public transport give more value of having access to RTI. These results are important to support public authorities on designing an integrated system with such technologies to be possibly implemented at a regional level.
This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological aspects of PrEP use and barriers to accessing this prophylaxis. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and April 2022, ...encompassing 140 PrEP users treated at the Testing and Counseling Center (CTA) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and factors associated with PrEP discontinuation were obtained using a standardized questionnaire. Most PrEP users were cisgender men (92.00%), predominantly white (51.00%), over 30 years of age (56.50%), homosexual-oriented (76.50%), and had a minimum of 12 years of education (77.50%). Approximately 60.00% admitted to inconsistent condom use in recent sexual encounters, primarily involving anal intercourse. Approximately 88.00% perceived themselves as at risk of contracting STIs in the upcoming year. Regarding new presentation forms, 54.00% indicated a willingness to use "on-demand PrEP," and 92.00% expressed interest in using "injectable PrEP." After 6 months of follow-up, 43.60% (95.00% CI: 35.50-52.00) discontinued PrEP use, primarily due to changes in sexual behavior (38.30%) and difficulties accessing healthcare services (21.28%). This study underscores the need to involve diverse key populations and highlights the significance of PrEP as an ongoing monitoring strategy for HIV/STI prevention in addition to the importance of incorporating new formulations such as daily oral PrEP into the Brazilian National Health System (SUS).
In the present work, we showed that a chalcone-enriched fraction (CEF) isolated from the stem bark of a Brazilian medicinal plant,
Myracrodruon
urundeuva
, presents neuroprotective actions on ...6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neuronal cell death, in rat mesencephalic cells. In the MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium assay, which is an index of cell viability, CEF (1–100 μg/ml) reversed in a concentration-dependent manner the 6-OHDA-induced cell death. While cells exposed to 6-OHDA (40 μM) showed an increased concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the pretreatment with CEF (10–100 μg/ml) significantly decreased the 6-OHDA-induced TBARS formation, indicative of a neuroprotection against lipoperoxidation. Furthermore, the drastic increase of nitrite levels induced by 6-OHDA, indicative of nitric oxide formation and free radicals production, was prevented by CEF. Double staining with acridine orange/ethidium bromide showed that cultures exposed to 6-OHDA (40 and 200 μM) presented an increase of apoptotic and necrotic cell numbers in a concentration-dependent manner. CEF (100 μg/ml) protected cells from apoptosis and necrosis and increased number of cells presenting a normal morphology. The immunohistochemical analysis for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons indicated that 6-OHDA (40 and 200 μM) caused a concentration-dependent loss of TH+ and TH− neurons. CEF protected both cells types from 6-OHDA-induced cell death. All together, our results demonstrated neuroprotective effects of chalcones, which are able to reduce oxidative stress and apoptotic injury caused by 6-OHDA. Our findings suggest that chalcones could provide benefits, along with other therapies, in neurodegenerative injuries, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Our objective was to investigate the pattern of damage accumulation in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and the relationship between damage accrual, disease flares and ...cumulative drug therapies. All patients with SLE followed prospectively in three tertiary care centres were identified. Only patients who presented within 12 months of diagnosis and were followed for at least three years were included. Damage was measures based on chart review using the SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI), which was modified (M-SDI) by adding the item growth failure. Mild-moderate and severe disease flares were defined by the increase in SLEDAI-2K. The cumulative duration of drug therapies was calculated in each patient. Fifty-seven patients were included. The mean M-SDI score for the whole patient group increased over time, from 0.1 at one year to 0.8 at three years to 1.5 at five years. Ocular and renal damage and growth failure were observed most frequently. Compared to patients with stable damage, patients who accrued new damage had a significantly greater frequency of severe disease flare in the first three years of follow-up. No significant difference was observed in any cumulative drug therapy between patients who accrued damage and those who did not. Damage accrual was associated with severe disease flares, suggesting that judicious use of immunosuppressive agents to achieve prompt control of severe exacerbation of disease activity is important in minimizing damage in patients with JSLE.
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