Due to its dependence on fossil fuel combustion, emissions from the marine transport sector can significantly contribute to air pollution. This work aims to evaluate the impact of maritime transport ...emissions on air quality in Portugal using a numerical air quality modelling approach, with high-resolution emission data. Emissions from the European TNO inventory were compiled and pre-processed at hourly and high spatial (∼3 × 3 km2) resolutions. Scenarios with and without these maritime emissions were then simulated with the WRF-CHIMERE modelling system, extensively tested and validated for Portugal domain, in order to evaluate their impact on air quality. A simulation was performed for one year (2016) and the resulting differences were analysed in terms of spatial distribution, time series and deltas. The main deltas for NO2 and PM10 are located over international shipping routes and major ports, while O3 concentrations are impacted in a larger area. The modelling results also indicate that shipping emissions are responsible for deltas in the concentration of NO2 higher than 20% over specific urban areas located in the west coast of Portugal, and less than 5% for PM10. For O3 the relative contribution is low (around 2%) but this contribution is also observed at locations more than 50 km from the coast.
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•Impact of shipping emissions over air quality.•Air quality modelling was applied with and without shipping emissions.•Most impacted areas in Europe located in the North and Mediterranean seas.•Over Portugal, coastal areas exhibit deltas of 10–20% of NO2 and below 5% of PM10.•The impact on O3 is low but reaches areas 50 km inland.
In the tropics, highly weathered soils with high phosphorus (P) fixation capacities predominate, reducing the P availability to plants. For this reason, understanding the cycle of P in the soil is ...important to develop management strategies that increase P availability to plants, especially in low-input production systems. The aim of this study was to apply structural equation modeling with latent variables, at an exploratory level, to test hypothetical models of the P cycle using data from the Hedley extraction method. Specifically, we evaluated interactions between the pools of P, and identified which pools act as a sink or source of P in unfertilized soils. The models of the P cycle for the tested soil were able to distinguish between the direct and indirect effects of labile and stable P on the available P pool. This approach led to a proposed distinction of functional P pools in the soil, and identifying the processes of P transformation in the soil between the pools based on a source–sink relationship. Based on these analyses, the organic pool consists of the bicarbonate organic phosphate (Po), hydroxide Po, and sonic Po fractions. The bicarbonate inorganic phosphate (Pi) and hydroxide Pi fractions formed the inorganic pool. The hydrochloride (HCl) Pₕₒₜ and residual P fractions formed the occluded pool, the HCl Pi fraction formed the primary mineral pool, and the resin Pi fraction constituted the most available P pool. Organic P pool was the major source to the available P pool.
Objective
We discuss the rationale behind staging systems described specifically for bipolar disorders. Current applications, future directions and research gaps in clinical staging models for ...bipolar disorders are outlined.
Method
We reviewed the literature pertaining to bipolar disorders, focusing on the first episode onwards. We systematically searched data on staging models for bipolar disorders and allied studies that could inform the concept of staging.
Results
We report on several dimensions that are relevant to staging concepts in bipolar disorder. We consider whether staging offers a refinement to current diagnoses by reviewing clinical studies of treatment and functioning and the potential utility of neurocognitive, neuroimaging and peripheral biomarkers.
Conclusion
Most studies to date indicate that globally defined late‐stage patients have a worse overall prognosis and poorer response to standard treatment, consistent with patterns for end‐stage medical disorders. We believe it is possible at this juncture to speak broadly of ‘early’‐ and ‘late’‐stage bipolar disorder. Next steps require further collaborative efforts to consider the details of preillness onset and intermediary stages, and how many additional stages are optimal.
A comparison of methodologies was carried out to develop an operational flow forecasting system for a mountainous catchment. The case studied was the Boi River, which is located in a small ...mountainous catchment in southern Brazil. This catchment is part of a conservation unit well known for the beautiful landscapes and ecotourism activities carried out in that place. Among the activities, the Boi River trail can be highlighted, which is carried out following the riverbed. For this reason, the development of an alert system for this basin can help in determining the trail's closure in situations where the water flow is strong and could present risks to tourists’ safety. Thereby, the aim of this study was to assess two distinct scenarios for the development of the forecasting system. First, the flow forecasts were performed using SOPREVA and considered a horizon of 1 day (short-term forecasts). The second scenario considered medium-term forecasts (1–10 days horizon) and utilized the HEC-RTS as a basis for developing the forecast system. In both cases, the forecasts were based on the ensemble precipitation estimates of GEFS. The obtained results showed that the actual alarm rates were 0.77 and 0.86 for SOPREVA and HEC-RTS, respectively, when considering a horizon of one day in advance. The evaluation of the medium-term forecasts presented good results of this system for horizons up to 3 days in advance. Finally, the results of both considered scenarios showed that the systems could be used as a basis for management of the Boi River trail.
Objective
There are several models of staging in bipolar disorder (BD), but none has been validated. The aims of this study were to empirically investigate clinical variables that may be useful to ...classify patients in clusters according to stage and study the association with biomarkers as biological validators.
Method
This was a historical cohort study. Patients (n = 115) diagnosed with BD and not in an acute episode and first‐degree relatives of patients diagnosed with BD (n = 25) were recruited. Sociodemographic, clinical, and functional data were collected. Serum cytokines, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, and biomarkers of lipid and protein oxidation were assessed. Cluster analysis was carried out to build a model of staging, and logistic regression was conducted to study associations between the model and biomarkers.
Results
Cluster analysis divided the sample into two equitable groups, denominated early and late stage, with empirical cutoffs for the Functioning Assessment Short Test score, number of episodes, age at onset of the disorder, and time elapsed since first episode. In the logistic regression, IL‐6 was associated with late stage (P = 0.029).
Conclusion
This study supports that clinical, functional, and biochemical variables may help to define a classification of staging in BD.
European cities have made significant progress over the last decades towards clean air. Despite this progress, several cities are still facing acute air pollution episodes, with various urban areas ...frequently exceeding air quality levels allowed by the European legal standards and WHO guidelines. In this paper, six European cities/ regions (Bristol, UK; Amsterdam, NL; Sosnowiec, PL; Ljubljana, SI; Aveiro, PT; Liguria, IT) are studied in terms of air quality, namely particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The concentrations trends from 2008 to 2017 in the different typology of monitoring stations are addressed, together with the knowledge of daily, weekly and seasonal pollution patterns to better understand the city specific profiles and to characterize pollutant dynamics and variations in multiple locations. Additionally, an analysis of the duration and severity of air pollution episodes is also discussed, followed by an analysis of the fulfillment of the legislated limit values.
Each of our 6 case study locations face different air pollution problems, but all these case studies have made some progress in reducing ambient concentrations. In Bristol, there have been strong downward trends in many air pollutants, but the levels of NO2 remain persistently high and of concern. In recent years, decreasing concentration levels point to some success of Amsterdam air quality policies. PM10 exceedances are a seasonal pollution problem in Ljubljana, Sosnowiec and Aveiro region (even if with different levels of severity). While, exceedances of NO2 and O3 concentrations are still problematic in Liguria region.
The main findings of this paper are particular relevant to define and compare future citizen-led strategies and policy initiatives that may be implemented to improve and fulfill the EU legislation and the WHO guidelines.
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•Air quality assessment over six European cities/regions•Maximum PM concentrations are monitored during the winter season.•Monitored NO2 concentrations are mainly associated with road-traffic emissions.•O3 concentrations are particularly critical within the Mediterranean cities.•Cities/ regions are facing distinct air pollution issues.
Food insecurity contributes to negative outcomes for health and wellbeing, and its impact may be exacerbated during periods of vulnerability. While food insecurity is both a driver and a consequence ...of migration, anecdotal evidence indicates that it is also common during migration when people are ‘on the move’, although its prevalence and severity during these periods are largely undocumented. Food security monitoring is critical to ensuring the universal right to food for migrants, and instruments must be designed which capture the unique challenges faced during these ‘extra-ordinary’ periods of mobility, including in the context of emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper reviews knowledge on food security in migrants on the move and examines how active mobility intersects with food security and its measurement. Considering the potential consequences on health and wellbeing, we call for interdisciplinary research using standard instruments to document food insecurity in migrants on the move.
Citrus bergamia is a citric species known as bergamot. The species is widely used due to its derivatives, such as juices, extracts, and essential oil. Specifically, the bergamot essential oil (BEO) ...is of great interest, with a chemical composition rich in terpenes and esters. Considering its chemical composition, bioactivity, and great economic potential, the characterization of BEO should be studied. However, this essential oil is almost unexplored in terms of a characterization associated with colloids. Chemical characterization was carried out by gas-chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer and by gas-chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was carried out to confirm the bioactivity of this important essential oil. Dynamic light scattering analysis was performed to create a pattern of droplet size distribution of BEO. Major compounds of BEO were linalyl acetate, limonene, and linalool. The BEO was active against E. coli and presented a MIC value of 2.000 µg/mL, while values of MIC and MBC higher than 2.000 µg/mL were observed for S. aureus. The dynamic light scattering analysis revealed a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 65.7 ± 2.2 nm. After a 1:10 dilution it was observed reduction of mean diameter and enhancement of the percentagem of low size droplets, resepctively 44.1 ± 1.2 nm and 14.5 ± 0.5 nm (28.8 ± 1.2%). Higher droplets and reduced polydispersity index were observed after 1:100 dilution. In the present study, the chemical characterization was in accordance with the species, as the characteristic chemical markers of the species were found. Moreover, it has presented antibacterial activity as expected for the BEO. The analysis of the colloid showed a pattern of droplet size distribution following the Ostwald ripening mechanism after dilution.
This paper for the first time investigates the effect of direct electric current in preheating on self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS). Ni
3
Al–carbon nanotube (CNT) intermetallics, were ...processed using SHS under different preheat temperatures, with and without electric current. The effects of preheating with and without electric current on the reaction wave velocities and activation energies are reported, together with Ni
3
Al conversion. Results show that preheating with electric current, results in faster wave velocities and lower activation energies. Moreover, increased product homogeneity was also observed with electric current preheating.
Socioeconomic and health disadvantages can emerge early in the life course, making adolescence a key period to examine the association between socioeconomic status and health. Past research on ...obesity in adolescence has focused on family measures of socioeconomic status, overlooking the role of individual-level nascent indicators of socioeconomic disadvantage. Using measured height and weight from nationally representative data from Brazil, we estimate sibling fixed effects models to examine the independent effects of nascent socioeconomic characteristics—school enrollment and work status—on adolescent overweight and obesity, accounting for unobserved genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings. Results show that school enrollment is associated with lower odds of overweight and obesity. Working is not significantly associated with overweight/obesity risk. However, adolescents not enrolled but working face the highest risk of overweight/obesity. Findings suggest that adolescents face added layers of disadvantage from being out of school, with important implications for the accumulation of health disadvantages.
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