Sellen and Harper’s The Myth of the Paperless Office argued that paper-displacement technologies paradoxically led to a rise in paper consumption. Using data from the United Nations Food and ...Agriculture Organization, I analyze paper-consumption trends in the twenty years since the publication of this pivotal book. These data show that globally paper consumption has leveled out and that in most regions of the world it has begun to decline, in some cases by large amounts in a relatively short period of time. I suggest that there are two primary reasons for this reversal: improved displacement technologies such as smartphones and mobile Internet and time for people and organizations to adopt these new technologies and behaviors.
Ecologically unequal exchange theory explains that unequal trade arrangements between higher- and lower-income countries result in greater environmental degradation in lower-income countries. Farm ...animals are sometimes neglected by sociology because of their unique place between nature and society. Here, we extend ecologically unequal exchange theory to analyze trade relationships between higher- and lower-income countries and farm animal cruelty, using data from 2014. Results from regression analyses show that contrary to what we would expect based on ecologically unequal exchange theory, higher levels of exports to high-income countries from low- and middle-income countries is associated with lower overall farm animal cruelty and production of farm animal cruelty. We suggest that this may be the result of spillover effects, where the types of legislation meant to improve farm animal welfare passed in high-income countries are affecting lower-income countries, and call for more research into animal welfare, including research that examines changes over time as data become available.
There is an ongoing need for indicators that balance social and environmental sustainability outcomes. The carbon intensity of well-being (CIWB) is a sustainability indicator that captures ...environmental impact and social well-being in a single measure. One of the benefits of this measure is that it can be applied across different scales and contexts to explore factors that might reduce the CIWB, leading to greater sustainability. We demonstrate the further utility of the indicator by analyzing CIWB in the United States at the state-level and take an intersectional approach, calculating CIWB by race and gender. We find income inequality contributes to larger CIWB for all groups, but the impacts are greater for blacks compared to whites and males compared to females. Economic growth is also associated with larger CIWB for all groups. These results suggest that to achieve more sustainable outcomes may require policies that address inequalities as well as broader changes to economies.
Addressing environmental problems caused by solid waste generation requires household separation of waste as well as general waste reduction. The factors that influence waste separation behavior are ...context specific, and much of the research on waste separation has been centered in Western countries that tend to emphasize individualism over collectivism. We apply the theory of planned behavior to explain household waste separation behaviors among households in Mashhad, Iran, and we also build on this theory by incorporating structural situational factors in our analysis. We use structural equation modeling to analyze survey results from 970 households and find support for the theory of planned behavior. In particular, subjective norms were a stronger predictor of behavioral intentions and waste separation behavior, which may be reflective of Iran’s stronger emphasis on collectivism compared to Western countries. Structural factors were negatively associated with waste separation. In Iran and similar contexts, recycling policies that appeal to local norms may have increased success, especially when coupled with decreased barriers to waste separation such as facility siting.
Reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption is part of addressing climate change. Prior research finds political-economic factors shape climate change views, perceptions ...of and policy support for renewable and nonrenewable energy, and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study contributes to research in these three areas by empirically testing the anti-reflexivity thesis, which posits that forces defending the industrial capitalist system are sources of anti-reflexivity, obstructing critical self-evaluation and societal action to address climate change. Using OLS and logistic regression analysis of survey data from respondents in five states in the US Intermountain West region, we find empirical support for the effect of anti-reflexivity on climate views, energy policy support, and PEBs. We also find that PEBs in the Intermountain West still largely occur in the realm of personal conservation actions rather than being politically focused, collectively organized, or leading toward systemic change.
Purpose
During respiratory‐gated volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT), the radiation beam is turned off each time the target exits the gating window. At the same time, the gantry slows, stops, and ...rewinds before the beam is turned back on. A quality assurance (QA) test was developed to detect inaccuracies in the gantry angle position between beam‐off and beam‐on events during respiratory‐gated VMAT.
Methods
Strips of Gafchromic™ EBT3 film were taped to the surface of a Capthan® 504 phantom mounted at isocenter. A homogeneous dose was delivered to the films through a 2 cm × 10 cm slit in the jaws using a respiratory‐gated VMAT arc without the multileaf collimator. A periodic breathing cycle was used. Errors in gated delivery ranging from 0.5 to 5° were simulated by delivering nongated arcs with the same field size with over‐ and underlapping sections of 0.5–5°. The simulated errors were used to define QA levels to analyze the gated delivery.
Results
The QA test was capable of detecting errors as small as 0.5°. The test was delivered to three Varian TrueBeam™ linacs, and no gantry angle inaccuracies greater than or equal to 0.5° were detected on any of the films.
Conclusions
A QA test capable of detecting gantry angle inaccuracies at beam‐off and subsequent beam‐on as small as 0.5° was developed and implemented for Varian TrueBeam™ linacs.
BackgroundPatients with type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) and other mechanisms of nonthrombotic myocardial injury have an unmet therapeutic need. Eligibility for novel medical therapy is generally ...uncertain.MethodsWe predefined colchicine, eplerenone and ticagrelor as candidates for repurposing towards novel therapy for T2MI or myocardial injury. Considering eligibility for randomisation in a clinical trial, each drug was classified according to indications and contraindications for therapy and survival for at least 24 hours following admission. Eligibility criteria for prescription were evaluated against the Summary of Medical Product Characteristics. Consecutive hospital admissions were screened to identify patients with ≥1 high-sensitivity troponin-I value >99th percentile. Endotypes of myocardial injury were adjudicated according to the Fourth Universal Definition of MI. Patients’ characteristics and medication were prospectively evaluated.ResultsDuring 1 March to 15 April 2020, 390 patients had a troponin I>URL. Reasons for exclusion: type 1 MI n=115, indeterminate diagnosis n=42, lack of capacity n=14, death <24 hours n=7, duplicates n=2. Therefore, 210 patients with T2MI/myocardial injury and 174 (82.8%) who survived to discharge were adjudicated for treatment eligibility. Patients who fulfilled eligibility criteria initially on admission and then at discharge were colchicine 25/210 (11.9%) and 23/174 (13.2%); eplerenone 57/210 (27.1%) and 45/174 (25.9%); ticagrelor 122/210 (58.1%) and 98/174 (56.3%). Forty-six (21.9%) and 38 (21.8%) patients were potentially eligible for all three drugs on admission and discharge, respectively.ConclusionA reasonably high proportion of patients may be considered eligible for repurposing novel medical therapy in secondary prevention trials of type 2 MI/myocardial injury.
In the face of climate change, achieving resilience of desirable aspects of food-energy-water (FEW) systems already strained by competing multi-scalar social objectives requires interdisciplinary ...approaches. This study is part of a larger effort exploring “Innovations in the Food-Energy-Water Nexus (INFEWS)” in the Columbia River Basin (CRB) through coordinated modeling and simulated management scenarios. Here, we focus on a case study and conceptual mapping of the Yakima River Basin (YRB), a sub-basin of the CRB. Previous research on FEW system management and resilience includes some attention to social dynamics (e.g., economic and governance systems); however, more attention to social drivers and outcomes is needed. Our goals are to identify several underutilized ways to incorporate social science perspectives into FEW nexus research and to explore how this interdisciplinary endeavor alters how we assess innovations and resilience in FEW systems. First, we investigate insights on FEW nexus resilience from the social sciences. Next, we delineate strategies for further incorporation of social considerations into FEW nexus research, including the use of social science perspectives and frameworks such as socio-ecological resilience and community capitals. Then, we examine a case study of the YRB, focusing on the historical development of the FEW nexus and innovations. We find that a resilience focus applied to the FEW nexus can inadvertently emphasize a status quo imposed by those already in power. Incorporating perspectives from the social sciences, which highlight issues related to inequality, power, and social justice, can address these shortcomings and inform future innovations. Finally, we use causal loop diagrams to explore the role of the social in the FEW nexus, and we suggest ways to incorporate social aspects into an existing stock and flow object-oriented modeling system. This project represents a starting point for a continued research agenda that incorporates social dynamics into FEW system resilience modeling and management in the CRB.
Design Your Own Navy Briscoe, Michael
The Science teacher (National Science Teachers Association),
03/2019, Letnik:
86, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
FLEET is a free ship-design simulator that reaches students in their native environment--video games. It is also a physics simulator that applies content first learned through hands-on scientific ...investigations. Using FLEET, students design and use ships for various naval missions by mastering scientific concepts such as force, energy, and work, while employing an engineering design process. This article describes the use of FLEET in traditional physics classrooms in the early high school years, although FLEET is being used in elementary and middle schools and in more advanced academic settings. The gameplay is intuitive, and teachers have found students need little support to get started with this physics simulator.
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