Person-related factors associated with work participation in employees with health problems: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this systematic review was to explore and provide systematically assessed information about the association between person-related factors and work participation of people with health problems. The research question was: what is the association between selected person-related factors and work participation of workers with health problems?

Methods

A systematic review was carried out in PubMed and PsycINFO to search for original papers published between January 2007 and February 2017. The risk of bias of the studies included was assessed using quality assessment tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework for prognostic studies.

Results

In total, 113 studies were included, all of which addressed the association between person-related factors and work participation. The factors positively associated with work participation were positive expectations regarding recovery or return to work, optimism, self-efficacy, motivation, feelings of control, and perceived health. The factors negatively associated with work participation were fear-avoidance beliefs, perceived work-relatedness of the health problem, and catastrophizing. Different coping strategies had a negative or a positive relationship with work participation.

Conclusions

The results of this review provide more insight into the associations between different cognitions and perceptions and work participation. The results of this study suggest that person-related factors should be considered by occupational- and insurance physicians when they diagnose, evaluate or provide treatment to employees. Further research is required to determine how these physicians could obtain and apply such information and whether its application leads to a better quality of care.

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Hydrological risk analysis of dam overtopping using bivariate statistical approach: a case study from Geheyan Reservoir, China

Abstract

Hydrological risk analysis is essential and provides useful information for dam safety management and decision-making. This study presents the application of bivariate flood frequency analysis to risk analysis of dam overtopping for Geheyan Reservoir in China. The dependence between the flood peak and volume is modelled with the copula function. A Monte Carlo procedure is conducted to generate 100,000 random flood peak-volume pairs, which are subsequently transformed to corresponding design flood hydrographs (DFHs) by amplifying the selected annual maximum flood hydrographs (AMFHs). These synthetic DFHs are routed through the reservoir to obtain the frequency curve of maximum water level and assess the risk of dam overtopping. Sensitive analysis is performed to investigate the influence of different AMFH shapes and correlation coefficients of flood peak and volume on estimated overtopping risks. The results show that synthetic DFH with AMFH shape characterized by a delayed time to peak results in higher risk, and therefore highlight the importance of including a range of possible AMFH shapes in the dam risk analysis. It is also demonstrated that the overtopping risk is increased as the correlation coefficient of flood peak and volume increases and underestimated in the independence case (i.e. traditional univariate approach), while overestimated in the full dependence case. The bivariate statistical approach based on copulas can effectively capture the actual dependence between flood peak and volume, which should be preferred in the dam risk analysis practice.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 870: Sufficient Social Support as a Possible Preventive Factor against Fighting and Bullying in School Children

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 870: Sufficient Social Support as a Possible Preventive Factor against Fighting and Bullying in School Children

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050870

Authors: Kastytis Šmigelskas Tomas Vaičiūnas Justė Lukoševičiūtė Marta Malinowska-Cieślik Marina Melkumova Eva Movsesyan Apolinaras Zaborskis

Background: This study aims to explore how sufficient social support can act as a possible preventive factor against fighting and bullying in school-aged children in 9 European countries. Methods: Data for this study were collected during the 2013/2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. The sample consisted of 9 European countries, involving 43,667 school children in total, aged 11, 13 and 15 years. The analysed data focus on social context (relations with family, peers, and school) as well as risk behaviours such as smoking, drunkenness, fighting and bullying in adolescents. The relationships between social support and violent behaviour variables were estimated using multiple regression models and multivariate analyses. Results: Bullying, across 9 countries, was more prevalent than fighting, except for Armenia, Israel, and Poland. The prevalence among countries differed considerably, with fighting being most expressed in Armenia and bullying—in Latvia and Lithuania. The strongest risk factors for bullying and fighting were male gender (less expressed for bullying), smoking and alcohol consumption. In addition, for bullying the social support was similarly strong factor like above-mentioned factors, while for fighting—less significant, but still independent. All forms of social support were significantly relate with lower violent behaviour of school children, and family support was associated most strongly. Regardless the socioeconomic, historical, and cultural differences among selected countries, the enhancement and reinforcement of the social support from possible many different resources should be taken into consideration in prevention programs against school violence behaviours.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 868: Research on Occupational Safety, Health Management and Risk Control Technology in Coal Mines

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 868: Research on Occupational Safety, Health Management and Risk Control Technology in Coal Mines

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050868

Authors: Lu-jie Zhou Qing-gui Cao Kai Yu Lin-lin Wang Hai-bin Wang

This paper studies the occupational safety and health management methods as well as risk control technology associated with the coal mining industry, including daily management of occupational safety and health, identification and assessment of risks, early warning and dynamic monitoring of risks, etc.; also, a B/S mode software (Geting Coal Mine, Jining, Shandong, China), i.e., Coal Mine Occupational Safety and Health Management and Risk Control System, is developed to attain the aforementioned objectives, namely promoting the coal mine occupational safety and health management based on early warning and dynamic monitoring of risks. Furthermore, the practical effectiveness and the associated pattern for applying this software package to coal mining is analyzed. The study indicates that the presently developed coal mine occupational safety and health management and risk control technology and the associated software can support the occupational safety and health management efforts in coal mines in a standardized and effective manner. It can also control the accident risks scientifically and effectively; its effective implementation can further improve the coal mine occupational safety and health management mechanism, and further enhance the risk management approaches. Besides, its implementation indicates that the occupational safety and health management and risk control technology has been established based on a benign cycle involving dynamic feedback and scientific development, which can provide a reliable assurance to the safe operation of coal mines.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 869: Correction: Renzaho, A.M.N., et al. The Synergetic Effect of Targeted Resource Transfers for Families, Child Sensitive Social Protection Programs, and Capacity Building for Effective Social Protection on Children’s Nutritional Status in Nepal. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1502

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 869: Correction: Renzaho, A.M.N., et al. The Synergetic Effect of Targeted Resource Transfers for Families, Child Sensitive Social Protection Programs, and Capacity Building for Effective Social Protection on Children's Nutritional Status in Nepal. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1502

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050869

Authors: Andre M. N. Renzaho Stanley Chitekwe Wen Chen Sanjay Rijal Thakur Dhakal Pradiumna Dahal

n/a

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 867: A Systematic Review of the Time Series Studies Addressing the Endemic Risk of Acute Gastroenteritis According to Drinking Water Operation Conditions in Urban Areas of Developed Countries

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 867: A Systematic Review of the Time Series Studies Addressing the Endemic Risk of Acute Gastroenteritis According to Drinking Water Operation Conditions in Urban Areas of Developed Countries

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050867

Authors: Pascal Beaudeau

Time series studies (TSS) can be viewed as an inexpensive way to tackle the non-epidemic health risk from fecal pathogens in tap water in urban areas. Following the PRISMA recommendations, I reviewed TSS addressing the endemic risk of acute gastroenteritis risk according to drinking water operation conditions in urban areas of developed countries. Eighteen studies were included, covering 17 urban sites (seven in North-America and 10 in Europe) with study populations ranging from 50,000 to 9 million people. Most studies used general practitioner consultations or visits to hospitals for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) as health outcomes. In 11 of the 17 sites, a significant and plausible association was found between turbidity (or particle count) in finished water and the AGE indicator. When provided and significant, the interquartile excess of relative risk estimates ranged from 3–13%. When examined, water temperature, river flow, and produced flow were strongly associated with the AGE indicator. The potential of TSS for the study of the health risk from fecal pathogens in tap water is limited by the lack of specificity of turbidity and its site-sensitive value as an exposure proxy. Nevertheless, at the DWS level, TSS could help water operators to identify operational conditions most at risk, almost if considering other water operation indicators, in addition to turbidity, as possible relevant proxies for exposure.

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"κλιματική αλλαγή" - νέα αποτελέσματα

Αρκτική: πεδίο δυνητικών συγκρούσεων ή άμεσης συνεργασίας;: κριτική θεώρηση των υπό διαμόρφωση στρατηγικών Ρωσίας–ΗΠΑ για την περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος

Ε Μελιόπουλος - 2018

… Date Issued: 2018. Department: Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών στις Διεθνείς
Σπουδές. Supervisor: Σπυρόπουλος, Γεώργιος. Abstract: Η κλιματική αλλαγή αποτελεί
ένα παγκόσμιο φαινόμενο και πιο συγκεκριμένα για την Αρκτική, τον καταλύτη των εξελίξεων …

 

Δημιουργία λίστας των ειδοποιήσεών μου

Ακύρωση ειδοποίησης

Αυτή η ειδοποίηση αποστέλλεται από τον Μελετητή Google. Ο Μελετητής Google είναι μια υπηρεσία που παρέχεται από την Google.

Exploring an in situ LED-illuminated isothermal micro-calorimetric method to investigating the thermodynamic behavior of Chlorella vulgaris during CO 2 bio-fixation

Abstract

Much endeavor has been dispensed recently to evaluate the potential of CO₂ mitigation by microalgae. We introduce an alternative, novel, LED-illumination isothermal microcalorimetric method to assess the thermodynamic behaviors of microalgae for better understanding of their carbon sequestration capacity. Microalgae thermodynamic behaviors were recorded as power-time curves, and their indices such as total heat evolution (Q_T ), maximum power output (P_max) and heat generated by per algae cell (J_N/Q ) were obtained. The values for highest (74.80 g L⁻¹) and control sample (0.00 g L⁻¹) of Q_T , P_max and J_N/Q were 20.85 and 2.32 J; 252.17 and 57.67 μW; 7.91 × ⁻⁰⁶ and 8.80 × ⁻⁰⁷ J cell⁻¹, respectively. According to the values of Q_T , a general order to promote the CO₂ sequestration was found at 74.8 g L⁻¹ > 29.92 g L⁻¹ > 14.96 g L⁻¹ > 7.48 g L⁻¹ > 0 g L⁻¹ of C sources, which directly corresponded to carbon availability in the growth medium. Chlorella vulgaris GIEC-179 showed the highest peak P_max at 74.8 g L⁻¹ concentration which was directly transformed to their biomass during bio-fixation of CO₂ process. This study is applicable for better understanding of CO₂ fixation performance of algae.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 863: Campylobacteriosis, Salmonellosis, Yersiniosis, and Listeriosis as Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens: A Review

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 863: Campylobacteriosis, Salmonellosis, Yersiniosis, and Listeriosis as Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens: A Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050863

Authors: Agnieszka Chlebicz Katarzyna Śliżewska

Zoonoses are diseases transmitted from animals to humans, posing a great threat to the health and life of people all over the world. According to WHO estimations, 600 million cases of diseases caused by contaminated food were noted in 2010, including almost 350 million caused by pathogenic bacteria. Campylobacter, Salmonella, as well as Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes may dwell in livestock (poultry, cattle, and swine) but are also found in wild animals, pets, fish, and rodents. Animals, often being asymptomatic carriers of pathogens, excrete them with faeces, thus delivering them to the environment. Therefore, pathogens may invade new individuals, as well as reside on vegetables and fruits. Pathogenic bacteria also penetrate food production areas and may remain there in the form of a biofilm covering the surfaces of machines and equipment. A common occurrence of microbes in food products, as well as their improper or careless processing, leads to common poisonings. Symptoms of foodborne infections may be mild, sometimes flu-like, but they also may be accompanied by severe complications, some even fatal. The aim of the paper is to summarize and provide information on campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, yersiniosis, and listeriosis and the aetiological factors of those diseases, along with the general characteristics of pathogens, virulence factors, and reservoirs.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 865: Differentiating Medicated Patients Suffering from Major Depressive Disorder from Healthy Controls by Spot Urine Measurement of Monoamines and Steroid Hormones

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 865: Differentiating Medicated Patients Suffering from Major Depressive Disorder from Healthy Controls by Spot Urine Measurement of Monoamines and Steroid Hormones

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050865

Authors: Chandra S. Wijaya Jovia J. Z. Lee Syeda F. Husain Cyrus S. H. Ho Roger S. McIntyre Wilson W. Tam Roger C. M. Ho

Introduction: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder. Currently, there is no objective, cost-effective and non-invasive method to measure biological markers related to the pathogenesis of MDD. Previous studies primarily focused on urinary metabolite markers which are not proximal to the pathogenesis of MDD. Herein, we compare urinary monoamines, steroid hormones and the derived ratios amongst MDD when compared to healthy controls. Methods: Morning urine samples of medicated patients suffering from MDD (n = 47) and healthy controls (n = 41) were collected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure five biomarkers: cortisol, dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin and sulphate derivative of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS). The mean urinary levels and derived ratios of monoamines and steroid hormones were compared between patients and controls to identify potential biomarkers. The receiver operative characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance of potential biomarkers. Results: Medicated patients with MDD showed significantly higher spot urine ratio of DHEAS/serotonin (1.56 vs. 1.19, p = 0.004) and lower ratio of serotonin/dopamine (599.71 vs. 888.60, p = 0.008) than healthy controls. A spot urine serotonin/dopamine ratio cut-off of >667.38 had a sensitivity of 73.2% and specificity of 51.1%. Conclusions: Our results suggest that spot urine serotonin/dopamine ratio can be used as an objective diagnostic method for adults with MDD.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 864: Disability-Adjusted Life Years for Cancer in 2010–2014: A Regional Approach in Mexico

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 864: Disability-Adjusted Life Years for Cancer in 2010–2014: A Regional Approach in Mexico

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050864

Authors: Efrén Murillo-Zamora Oliver Mendoza-Cano Mónica Ríos-Silva Ramón Alberto Sánchez-Piña Martha Alicia Higareda-Almaraz Enrique Higareda-Almaraz Agustin Lugo-Radillo

The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were used to estimate the regional (state of Colima, Mexico) cancer burden in 2010–2014. The years of life lost (YLL) were estimated with mortality data and years lived with disability (YLD) using incidence data. The DALYs were calculated as the arithmetic addition of YLL and YLD. Sex and cancer site-specific estimations were made and DALY rates were used to identify the leading causes of disease burden. Data from 2532 deaths were analyzed and, for all malignant tumors combined, 18,712.9 DALYs and 20,243.3 DALYs were estimated in males and females respectively. The overall contribution of YLL in DALY estimates was higher among females (93.7% vs. 87.4%). Age-standardized DALY rates (and 95% confidence intervals, CI) per 100,000 inhabitants were used to rank the leading causes of disease burden and, among males, malignant tumors from the prostate, lower respiratory tract, and colon and rectum accounted the highest rates (45.7, 95% CI 32.7–59.3; 37.6, 95% CI 25.7–49.9; and 25.9, 95% CI 16.0–36.1 DALYs). Breast, cervix uteri, and lower respiratory tract cancer showed the highest burden in females (66.0, 95% CI 50.3–82.4; 44.4, 95% CI 31.5–57.7; and 20.9, 95% CI 12.0–30.0 DALYs). The present study provides an indication of the burden of cancer at the regional level, underscoring the need to expand cancer prevention, screening, and awareness programs, as well as to improve early diagnosis and medical treatment.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 866: Biomethanation of Harmful Macroalgal Biomass in Leach-Bed Reactor Coupled to Anaerobic Filter: Effect of Water Regime and Filter Media

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 866: Biomethanation of Harmful Macroalgal Biomass in Leach-Bed Reactor Coupled to Anaerobic Filter: Effect of Water Regime and Filter Media

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050866

Authors: Heejung Jung Jaai Kim Changsoo Lee

Ulva is a marine macroalgal genus which causes serious green tides in coastal areas worldwide. This study investigated anaerobic digestion as a way to manage Ulva waste in a leach-bed reactor coupled to an anaerobic filter (LBR-AF). Two LBR-AF systems with different filter media, blast furnace slag grains for R1, and polyvinyl chloride rings for R2, were run at increasing water replacement rates (WRRs). Both achieved efficient volatile solids reduction (68.4–87.1%) and methane yield (148–309 mL/g VS fed) at all WRRs, with the optimal WRR for maximum methane production being 100 mL/d. R1 maintained more stable methanation performance than R2, possibly due to the different surface properties (i.e., biomass retention capacity) of the filter media. Such an effect was also noted in the different behaviors of the LBR and AF between R1 and R2. The molecular analysis results revealed that the development of the microbial community structure in the reactors was primarily determined by the fermentation type, i.e., dry (LBR) or wet (AF).

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Characterizing the correlation between dephosphorization and solution pH in a calcined water treatment plant sludge

Abstract

This study focused on characterizing the correlation between the dephosphorization process of calcined water treatment plant sludge (C-WTPS) and the solution initial pH in batch experiments. The specific aim was to illustrate the effect of different initial pH on the adsorption and desorption of phosphorous in C-WTPS. In addition, the effects of solution initial pH on the release of ammonia nitrogen and total organic carbon (TOC) from C-WTPS and the change of pH after adsorption were also investigated. The results demonstrated that the initial pH significantly influenced the adsorption of phosphorus on C-WTPS. When initial pH was increased from 3 to 10, the phosphorous absorption capacity reduced by 76.5%. Especially, when the initial pH reached to 11, the phosphorus adsorption capacity became a negative value, indicating that C-WTPS released phosphorus into the solution. The addition of C-WTPS to the solution had little impact on the initial pH of the solution. The absorbed phosphorous on C-WTPS was relatively stable in the pH range of 3 to 10. Nevertheless, when the solution pH was higher than 11, it can be easily released into the solution. Furthermore, by comparison with WTPS, C-WTPS released less ammonia nitrogen and TOC into the solution and adsorbed more phosphorus from the solution in the experimental pH range. Therefore, C-WTPS is more suitable to serve as a cost-effective sorbent for phosphorus removal.

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Occupational health and safety disclosures in sustainability reports: An overview of trends among corporate leaders

Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, EarlyView.


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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 862: The Comprehensive Snack Parenting Questionnaire (CSPQ): Development and Test-Retest Reliability

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 862: The Comprehensive Snack Parenting Questionnaire (CSPQ): Development and Test-Retest Reliability

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050862

Authors: Dorus W. M. Gevers Stef P. J. Kremers Nanne K. de Vries Patricia van Assema

The narrow focus of existing food parenting instruments led us to develop a food parenting practices instrument measuring the full range of food practices constructs with a focus on snacking behavior. We present the development of the questionnaire and our research on the test-retest reliability. The developed Comprehensive Snack Parenting Questionnaire (CSPQ) covers 21 constructs. Test-retest reliability was assessed by calculating intra class correlation coefficients and percentage agreement after two administrations of the CSPQ among a sample of 66 Dutch parents. Test-retest reliability analysis revealed acceptable intra class correlation coefficients (≥0.41) or agreement scores (≥0.60) for all items. These results, together with earlier work, suggest sufficient psychometric characteristics. The comprehensive, but brief CSPQ opens up chances for highly essential but unstudied research questions to understand and predict children’s snack intake. Example applications include studying the interactional nature of food parenting practices or interactions of food parenting with general parenting or child characteristics.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 861: Associations between Urban Sprawl and Life Expectancy in the United States

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 861: Associations between Urban Sprawl and Life Expectancy in the United States

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050861

Authors: Shima Hamidi Reid Ewing Zaria Tatalovich James B. Grace David Berrigan

In recent years, the United States has had a relatively poor performance with respect to life expectancy compared to the other developed nations. Urban sprawl is one of the potential causes of the high rate of mortality in the United States. This study investigated cross-sectional associations between sprawl and life expectancy for metropolitan counties in the United States in 2010. In this study, the measure of life expectancy in 2010 came from a recently released dataset of life expectancies by county. This study modeled average life expectancy with a structural equation model that included five mediators: annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per household, average body mass index, crime rate, and air quality index as mediators of sprawl, as well as percentage of smokers as a mediator of socioeconomic status. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, this study found that life expectancy was significantly higher in compact counties than in sprawling counties. Compactness affects mortality directly, but the causal mechanism is unclear. For example, it may be that sprawling areas have higher traffic speeds and longer emergency response times, lower quality and less accessible health care facilities, or less availability of healthy foods. Compactness affects mortality indirectly through vehicle miles traveled, which is a contributor to traffic fatalities, and through body mass index, which is a contributor to many chronic diseases. This study identified significant direct and indirect associations between urban sprawl and life expectancy. These findings support further research and practice aimed at identifying and implementing changes to urban planning designed to support health and healthy behaviors.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 860: Dynamic Geochemistry of Tetraethyl Lead Dust during the 20th Century: Getting the Lead In, Out, and Translational Beyond

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 860: Dynamic Geochemistry of Tetraethyl Lead Dust during the 20th Century: Getting the Lead In, Out, and Translational Beyond

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050860

Authors: Howard W. Mielke

This commentary provides a brief overview of policy decisions that permitted getting tetraethyl lead (TEL) into petrol; global geochemical lead-dust deposition evidence; 1975 catalytic converter requirements; concern about habitability of cities; a personal perspective on legacy lead research that accelerated getting TEL out of petrol; and translational beyond, including New Orleans pre- vs. post-Hurricane Katrina observations about legacy lead interventions that effectively improve urban children’s health outcomes.

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Inventory of methane emissions from livestock in China from 1980 to 2013

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 184
Author(s): Jiashuo Yu, Shushi Peng, Jinfeng Chang, Philippe Ciais, Patrice Dumas, Xin Lin, Shilong Piao
Livestock is the largest anthropogenic methane (CH4) source at the global scale. Previous inventories of this source for China were based on the accounting of livestock populations and constant emission factors (EFs) per head. Here, we re-evaluate how livestock CH4 emissions have changed from China over the last three decades, considering increasing population, body weight and milk production per head which cause EF to change with time, and decreasing average life span (ALS) of livestock. Our results show that annual CH4 emissions by livestock have increased from 4.5 to 11.8 Tg CH4 yr⁻¹ over the period 1980–2013. The increasing trend in emissions (0.25 Tg CH4 yr⁻²) over this period is ∼12% larger than that if using constant EFs and ALS. The increasing livestock population, production per head and decreasing ALS contributed +91%, +28% and −19% to the increase in CH4 emissions from livestock, respectively. This implies that the temporal changes in EF and ALS of livestock cannot be overlooked in inventories, especially in countries like China where livestock production systems are experiencing rapid transformations.



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Homologous series of n-alkanes (C19-C35), fatty acids (C12-C32) and n-alcohols (C8-C30) in atmospheric aerosols from central Alaska: Molecular distributions, seasonality and source indices

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 184
Author(s): Suresh K.R. Boreddy, Md. Mozammel Haque, Kimitaka Kawamura, Pingqing Fu, Yongwon Kim
To better understand the molecular distributions, seasonality and source indices of organic aerosols in central Alaska, we measured homologous series of n-alkanes (C19-C35), fatty acids (C12-C32) and n-alcohols (C8-C30) in total suspended aerosols collected during June 2008 to 2009 using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The whole sampling period was divided as warm (early May to late September; summer) and cold (late September to early May; winter) periods. Molecular distribution was characterized in both periods by the predominance of C25 for n-alkanes and C24:0 for fatty acids. However, we noticed a difference in molecular distribution of n-alcohols between warm and cold periods, which was characterized by the predominance of C22 in warm season while C26 in cold period. Except for fatty acids, n-alkanes and n-alcohols showed higher concentrations in warm period than in cold period. We found significantly higher ratios of C18:1/C18:0 in warm period than those in cold period, suggesting the fresh biogenic and aged anthropogenic aerosols in warm and cold periods, respectively. This inference was consistent with significantly higher ratios of WSOC/OC, a proxy for photochemical aging, in cold period. Based on the carbon preference index (CPI), average chain length (ACL), low-to-high molecular weight (LMW/HMW) ratios, wax n-alkanes (%WNA) and estimated fossil fuel concentrations, we demonstrate that higher plant waxes, biomass burning from wildfires are two important sources in warm period while combustion derived anthropogenic emissions are major sources in cold period in central Alaska. This finding was further supported by higher ratios of nss-K⁺/elemental carbon (EC) and methanesulfonate (MSA⁻)/EC ratios in warm period.



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A cool-temperate young larch plantation as a net methane source - A 4-year continuous hyperbolic relaxed eddy accumulation and chamber measurements

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 184
Author(s): Masahito Ueyama, Kota Yoshikawa, Kentaro Takagi
Upland forests are thought to be methane (CH4) sinks due to oxidation by methanotrophs in aerobic soils. However, CH4 budget for upland forests are not well quantified at the ecosystem scale, when possible CH4 sources, such as small wet areas, exists in the ecosystem. Here, we quantified CH4 fluxes in a cool-temperate larch plantation based on four-year continuous measurements using the hyperbolic relaxed eddy accumulation (HREA) method and dynamic closed chambers with a laser-based analyzer. After filling data gaps for half-hourly data using machine-learning-based regressions, we found that the forest acted as a net CH4 source at the canopy scale: 30 ± 11 mg CH4 m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2014, 56 ± 8 mg CH4 m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2015, 154 ± 5 mg CH4 m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2016, and 132 ± 6 mg CH4 m⁻² yr⁻¹ in 2017. Hotspot emissions from the edge of the pond could strongly contribute to the canopy-scale emissions. The magnitude of the hotspot emissions was 10–100 times greater than the order of the canopy-scale and chamber-based CH4 fluxes at the dry soils. The high temperatures with wet conditions stimulated the hotspot emissions, and thus induced canopy-scale CH4 emissions in the summer. Understanding and modeling the dynamics of hotspot emissions are important for quantifying CH4 budgets of upland forests. Micrometeorological measurements at various forests are required for revisiting CH4 budget of upland forests.



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Real world vehicle fleet emission factors: Seasonal and diurnal variations in traffic related air pollutants

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 184
Author(s): Jonathan M. Wang, Cheol-Heon Jeong, Naomi Zimmerman, Robert M. Healy, Greg J. Evans
Temporal variations of vehicle emissions are affected by various compounding factors in the real world. The focus of this study is to determine the effects of ambient conditions and post-tailpipe changes on traffic emissions measured in the near-road region. Emission factors allowed for the isolation of the traffic signal and accounted for effects of local meteorology and dilution. Five month-long measurement campaigns were conducted at an urban near-road site that exhibited a broad range of ambient conditions with temperatures ranging between −18 and +30 °C. Particle number emission factors were 2.0× higher in the winter relative to the summer, which was attributed to changes in particles post-tailpipe. Conversely, toluene emissions were 2.5× higher in the summer relative to the winter, attributed to changes in fuel composition. Diurnal trends of emission factors showed substantial increases in emissions during the morning rush hour for black carbon (1.9×), particle number (2.4×), and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (3.0×), affected by fleet make-up. In contrast, particle number emission factors were highest midday with mean values 3.7× higher than at night. This midday increase was attributed to particle formation or growth from local traffic emissions and showed different wind direction dependence than regional events.



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Small-scale variations in ozone concentration in low mountains

Publication date: July 2018
Source:Atmospheric Environment, Volume 184
Author(s): Isao Kanda, Shinji Wakamatsu
In a relatively low mountain area adjacent to Matsuyama city in Japan, ozone concentration variations were studied at spatial scales of O(10)∼O(103) m. Walking mobile measurements were complemented by vertical profiling, wind measurements, and passive sampling. The broad-scale distribution at O(102)∼O(103) m was found to depend on time of day, atmospheric stability, and geography in ways consistent with previous studies. Well-defined areas of low ozone concentrations O(10) m in width were found at several locations. No distinctive features of these locations were immediately discernible, but detailed examination of the temporal variations coupled with the wind field suggested that the distribution of the low-ozone areas was determined by subtle differences in the terrain topography.



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Traffic-emitted metal status and uptake by Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var . pubescens Fernald growing in roadside turfy swamp in the Changbai Mountain area, China

Abstract

Six traffic-emitted metals (Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni) were determined in soil and plants for below- and aboveground parts along different distances from highway to evaluate their behavior and uptake by Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald growing in turfy swamps. The results indicated that the different plant tissues showed significantly different levels of metal content. Nonlinear regression analysis indicated that metal contents leveled off at constant values before they decreased as the distance from the roadside increased. The high R² values of the regression model indicated good fit of the exponential function applied to depict the distribution pattern of the metal elements. It was deduced that Cr, Cu, and Cd in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were mainly derived from the soil; Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald absorbed Pb mainly through the stomata from atmospheric depositions; Cr, Cu, and Cd in Carex meyeriana Kunth and Zn in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were mainly affected by soil and atmospheric depositions. After excluding the effects of traffic, only the bioaccumulation factor of Cd (1.34) in Carex meyeriana Kunth and the translocation factor of Zn (1.13) in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were greater than 1, suggesting that Carex meyeriana Kunth could be a good candidate for assimilating Cd from soils and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald could be suitable for the phytoextraction of Zn.

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Hydrogel chitosan sorbent application for nutrient removal from soilless plant cultivation wastewater

Abstract

In this study, we determined the effectiveness of removal of nutrients (nitrates and orthophosphates) from greenhouse wastewaters (GW) using non-cross-linked chitosan (CHs) and chitosan cross-linked with epichlorohydrin (CHs-ECH) in the form of hydrogel beads. GW used in the study had the following parameters: N-NO₃ 621.1 mg/L, P-PO₄ 60.8 mg/L, SO₄²⁻ 605.0 mg/L, Cl⁻ 0.9 mg/L, Ca²⁺ 545.0 mg/L, Mg²⁺ 178.0 mg/L, K⁺ 482.0 mg/L, hardness 113° dH, and pH 6.2. The scope of the study included determination of the effect of pH on wastewater composition and effectiveness of nutrient sorption, analyses of nutrient sorption kinetics, and analyses of the effect of sorbent dose on percentage removal of nutrients from GW. CHs-ECH was able to sorb 79.4% of P-PO₄ and 76.7% of N-NO₃ from GW, whereas CHs to remove 92.8% of P-PO₄ and 53.2% of N-NO₃.

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Assessment of pectin-coated magnetite nanoparticles in low-energy water desalination applications

Abstract

Novel magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) modified with pectin coating were fabricated, characterized, and evaluated as potential draw solute in a forward osmosis (FO) process for water desalination applications. The prepared NPs had a spherical shape with an average diameter of 200 nm and saturation magnetization of 23.13 emu/g. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and FTIR spectra elucidated the successful pectin coating on magnetite surface. The potential use of the fabricated NPs in water desalination was conducted via a newly developed lab-scale FO system. Deionized water, saline water (0.2, 0.5, and 1 g% NaCl solution), and real well water (TDS = 0.9 g%) were used as feed solutions. In all experiments, the water flux gradually decreased along with the extension of experimental time and NaCl rejection rate by the FO membrane was measured to be higher than 95%. Moreover, it was found that the pectin-coated magnetite NPs demonstrated to be able to draw clean water across the FO membrane from well water with a remarkable salt rejection of 97%. Thus, it is believed that the proposed FO system using pectin-coated magnetite NPs as draw solute can be a promising technique for desalination of well waters in an environmental-friendly and energy-saving manner.

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A facile method to prepare translucent anatase thin films in monolithic structures for gas stream purification

Abstract

In the present work, a facile method to prepare translucent anatase thin films on cellulose acetate monolithic (CAM) structures was developed. A simple sol–gel method was applied to synthesize photoactive TiO₂ anatase nanoparticles using tetra-n-butyl titanium as precursor. The immobilization of the photocatalyst on CAM structures was performed by a simple dip-coating method. The translucent anatase thin films allow the UV light penetration through the CAM internal walls. The photocatalytic activity was tested on the degradation of n-decane (model volatile organic compound—VOC) in gas phase, using a tubular lab-scale (irradiated by simulated solar light) and pilot-scale (irradiated by natural solar light or UVA light) reactors packed with TiO₂-CAM structures, both equipped with compound parabolic collectors (CPCs). The efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) process in the degradation of n-decane molecules was studied at different operating conditions at lab-scale, such as catalytic bed size (40–160 cm), TiO₂ film thickness (0.435–0.869 μm), feed flow rate (75–300 cm³ min⁻¹), n-decane feed concentration (44–194 ppm), humidity (3 and 40%), oxygen concentration (0 and 21%), and incident UV irradiance (18.9, 29.1, and 38.4 W_UV m⁻²). The decontamination of a bioaerosol stream was also evaluated by the PCO process, using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) as model bacteria. A pilot-scale unit was operated day and night, using natural sunlight and artificial UV light, to show its performance in the mineralization of n-decane air streams under real outdoor conditions.

Graphical abstract

Normally graphics abstract are not presented with captions/legend. The diagram is a collection of images that resume the work

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Comparative analysis of cadmium-induced stress responses by the aromatic and non-aromatic rice genotypes of West Bengal

Abstract

Constant exposure of the living ecosystems to heavy metals, like cadmium (Cd), induces a detectable change at the biochemical and genetic level. Repeated application of phosphate fertilizers in paddy fields, leads to increase in Cd content of soil. Cd being highly mobile is transported to shoot and grain, thereby entering into the food chain of animal system. In the present study, treatment of 7-day old rice seedlings with 10 μM cadmium chloride resulted in Cd toxicity across the seven non-aromatic and six aromatic rice cultivars and landraces used for the study. Free proline and malondialdehyde content of treated samples were higher in comparison to the untreated samples, which indicated Cd induced tissue damage in plants. Photosynthetic pigment content of treated samples was also found to be much lower in comparison to the untreated samples, which is probably due to peroxidation of membrane, leading to compromised and lower photosynthetic efficiency of treated plants. At the genetic level, Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA assay was found to efficiently detect the genetic polymorphisms (caused by alterations in DNA bases) induced by Cd. Production of unique polymorphic bands in Cd-treated plants helps in assessment of the degree of damage Cd imparts on the plant system. Cluster analysis was performed and the rice genotypes were grouped into five distinct clusters, with IR64 and Tulsibhog in two distinct groups. Based on the variability in responses, the 13 rice genotypes were grouped into sensitive and tolerant ones.

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Deciphering adverse effects of heavy metals on diverse wheat germplasm on irrigation with urban wastewater of mixed municipal-industrial origin

Abstract

The current study provides one of the first attempts to identify tolerant, moderately sensitive, and highly sensitive wheat genotypes on the basis of heavy metal accumulation, biochemical attributes, and human health risk assessments on urban wastewater (UW) irrigation. Mean heavy metals (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn) and macro-nutrients (Na, K, Ca, Mg) levels increased in the roots, stem, and grains of studied genotypes. Except K (stem > root > grain), all metals were accumulated in highest concentrations in roots followed by stem and grains. Principal component analyses (PCA) identified three groups of UW-irrigated genotypes which were confirmed by hierarchical agglomerative cluster analyses (HACA). Wheat genotypes with the lowest metal accumulation were regarded as tolerant, whereas those with maximum accumulation were considered highly sensitive. Tolerant genotypes showed the lowest hazard quotient for heavy metals, i.e., Co, Mn, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Cr, and hazard index (HI) values (adults, 2.04; children, 2.27) than moderately and highly sensitive genotypes. Higher health risks (HI) associated with moderate (adults 2.26; children 2.53) and highly sensitive (adults 2.52; children 2.82) genotypes revealed maximum uptake of heavy metals. The heatmap showed higher mean biochemical levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, membrane stability index (MSI%), sugars, proteins, proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in tolerant genotypes than remaining genotypes. With the lowest metal accumulation and advanced biochemical mechanisms to cope with the adverse effects of heavy metals in their plant bodies, tolerant genotypes present a better option for cultivation in areas receiving UW or similar type of wastewater.

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Research on the effect of wall corrosion and rim seal on the withdrawal loss for a floating roof tank

Abstract

Storage tanks are important parts of volatile organic compound (VOC) fugitive emission sources of the petrochemical industry; the floating roof tank is the main oil storage facility at present. Based on the mechanism of withdrawal loss and the type of rim seal, octane and gasoline were taken as the research objects. A model instrument for simulating the oil loading process by the 316 stainless steel and A3 carbon steel as the test piece was designed, and the film thickness was measured by wet film thickness gauge to investigate the influence of the corrosion of the tank wall and rim seal on the withdrawal loss for floating roof tanks. It was found that withdrawal loss was directly proportional to the shell factor, and the oil thickness of the octane and gasoline increased with the strength of the wall corrosion with the same wall material and rim seal. Compared with the untreated test piece, the oil film thickness of the octane/gasoline was increased by 7.04~8.57 μm/13.14~21.93 μm and 5.59~11.49 μm/11.61~25.48 μm under the corrosion of hydrochloric acid for 32 and 75 h, respectively. The oil film thickness of octane and gasoline decreased with the increasing of the rim seal, and the oil film thickness of the octane decreased by 11.97~28.90% and 37.32~73.83% under the resilient-filled seal and the double seal, respectively. The gasoline dropped by 11.97~31.18% and 45.98~75.34% under the resilient-filled seal and the double seal, respectively. In addition, the tank surface roughness reduced the compression of the rim seal on the tank wall, and the effect of scraping decreased. The API withdrawal loss formula for a floating roof tank was recommended to take into account the effect of the rim seal to improve the accuracy of the loss evaluation. Finally, some measures of reducing the withdrawal loss were proposed.

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Effects and mechanisms of anionic and nonionic surfactants on biochar removal of chromium

Abstract

This work found that the removal of chromium by a straw-derived biochar was significantly promoted or inhibited by various surfactants. For example, the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) inhibited the removal of Cr(VI) by the biochar but significantly promoted the removal of Cr(III) by the biochar. The nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) promoted the removal of Cr(VI) at low concentrations (< 100 mg L⁻¹) but inhibited the removal at high concentrations. Different mechanisms were found for the two surfactants. As an anionic surfactant, surface-sorbed SDBS changed the surface functional groups of the biochar, making the biochar negative charged and changing the sorption ability of the biochar. For the nonionic TX-100, monomers and micelles in the aqueous phase had a major influence on the sorption of chromium due to the impact on the interfacial tension between the biochar and the solution phase as well as the solution pH. The results suggest that when biochar is used to treat heavy metal wastewater containing coexisting surfactants, the type and concentration of surfactants must be considered as important factors. Under certain surfactant conditions, biochar will enable the simultaneous and efficient removal of heavy metals and surfactants.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 859: Effects of Internet and Smartphone Addictions on Depression and Anxiety Based on Propensity Score Matching Analysis

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 859: Effects of Internet and Smartphone Addictions on Depression and Anxiety Based on Propensity Score Matching Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050859

Authors: Yeon-Jin Kim Hye Min Jang Youngjo Lee Donghwan Lee Dai-Jin Kim

The associations of Internet addiction (IA) and smartphone addiction (SA) with mental health problems have been widely studied. We investigated the effects of IA and SA on depression and anxiety while adjusting for sociodemographic variables. In this study, 4854 participants completed a cross-sectional web-based survey including socio-demographic items, the Korean Scale for Internet Addiction, the Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale, and the subscales of the Symptom Checklist 90 Items-Revised. The participants were classified into IA, SA, and normal use (NU) groups. To reduce sampling bias, we applied the propensity score matching method based on genetics matching. The IA group showed an increased risk of depression (relative risk 1.207; p &lt; 0.001) and anxiety (relative risk 1.264; p &lt; 0.001) compared to NUs. The SA group also showed an increased risk of depression (relative risk 1.337; p &lt; 0.001) and anxiety (relative risk 1.402; p &lt; 0.001) compared to NCs. These findings show that both, IA and SA, exerted significant effects on depression and anxiety. Moreover, our findings showed that SA has a stronger relationship with depression and anxiety, stronger than IA, and emphasized the need for prevention and management policy of the excessive smartphone use.

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Insight into the effects of biochar as adsorbent and microwave receptor from one-step microwave pyrolysis of sewage sludge

Abstract

The effect of biochar, derived from one-step microwave pyrolysis of sewage sludge (OMPSS), on the removal of industrial wastewater (eosin and safranine T) was investigated in this study. Meanwhile, the multiple-reuse potential of biochar as microwave receptor to raise the pyrolysis temperature was also tested during the pyrolysis process. The results showed that OMPSS prepared adsorbents had excellent adsorption performance, achieving the highest removal efficiencies of 97.3 and 95.9% for eosin and safranine T, respectively. Further analysis indicated that this was due to its appropriate porous structure and surface chemistry characteristics, where the S_BET and pore volume of adsorbent AC-1 reached 459 m²/g and 0.23 cm³/g, respectively. The multiple reuses of biochar adsorbents after five times as microwave receptor was feasible, where the pyrolysis temperature could increase sharply from room temperature to 800 °C within 5 min. The mechanism analysis revealed that the limiting stage of adsorption was chemical sorption. This research provided an alternative way for the preparation of functional adsorbent and microwave receptor.

Graphical abstract

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Improving arsenopyrite oxidation rate laws: implications for arsenic mobilization during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR)

Abstract

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) and aquifer recharge (AR) provide technical solutions to address water supply deficits and growing future water demands. Unfortunately, the mobilization of naturally present arsenic due to ASR/AR operations has undermined its application on a larger scale. Predicting arsenic mobility in the subsurface during ASR/AR is further complicated by site-specific factors, including the arsenic mobilization mechanisms, groundwater flow conditions, and multi-phase geochemical interactions. In order to ensure safe and sustainable ASR/AR operation, a better understanding of these factors is needed. The current study thus aims to better characterize and model arsenic remobilization at ASR/AR sites by compiling and analyzing available kinetic data on arsenic mobilization from arsenopyrite under different aqueous conditions. More robust and widely applicable rate laws are developed for geochemical conditions relevant to ASR/AR. Sensitivity analysis of these new rate laws gives further insight into the controlling geochemical factors for arsenic mobilization. When improved rate laws are incorporated as the inputs for reactive transport modeling, arsenic mobilization in ASR/AR operations can be predicted with an improved accuracy. The outcomes will be used to guide groundwater monitoring and specify ASR/AR operational parameters, including water pretreatment requirements prior to injection.

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Heavy metal exposure has adverse effects on the growth and development of preschool children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn) in the PM_2.5 and blood and physical growth, and development parameters including birth length and weight, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), head circumference, and chest circumference in preschool children from Guiyu (e-waste exposure area) and Haojiang (the reference area). A total of 470 preschool children from Guiyu and Haojiang located in southeast coast of China were recruited and required to undergo physical examination and blood tests during the study period. Birth length and weight were obtained by birth records and questionnaire. Pb and Cd in both PM_2.5 and blood were significantly higher in Guiyu than Haojiang. Remarkably, the children of Guiyu had significantly lower birth weight and length, BMI, and chest circumference when compare to their peers from the reference area (all p value < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses showed that blood Pb was negatively correlated with height (r = −0.130, p < 0.001), weight (r = −0.169, p < 0.001), BMI (r = −0.100, p < 0.05), head circumference (r = −0.095, p < 0.05), and chest circumference (r = −0.112, p < 0.05). After adjustment for the potential confounders in further linear regression analyses, blood Pb was negatively associated with height (β = −0.066, p < 0.05), weight (β = −0.119, p < 0.001), head circumference (β = −0.123, p < 0.01), and chest circumference (β = −0.104, p < 0.05), respectively. No significant association between blood Cd, Cr, or Mn was found with any of our developmental outcomes. Taken together, lead exposure limits or delays the growth and development of preschool children.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 857: PALTEM: What Parameters Should Be Collected in Disaster Settings to Assess the Long-Term Outcomes of Famine?

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 857: PALTEM: What Parameters Should Be Collected in Disaster Settings to Assess the Long-Term Outcomes of Famine?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050857

Authors: Alexandra Moraru Maria Moitinho de Almeida Jean-Marie Degryse

Evidence suggests that nutritional status during fetal development and early life leaves an imprint on the genome, which leads to health outcomes not only on a person as an adult but also on his offspring. The purpose of this study is to bring forth an overview of the relevant parameters that need to be collected to assess the long-term and transgenerational health outcomes of famine. A literature search was conducted for the most pertinent articles on the epigenetic effects of famine. The results were compiled, synthesized and discussed with an expert in genetics for critical input and validation. Prenatal and early life exposure to famine was associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, neuropsychiatric and oncologic diseases. We propose a set of parameters to be collected in disaster settings to assess the long-term outcomes of famine: PALTEM (parameters to assess long-term effects of malnutrition).

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 858: The Preschool-Aged and School-Aged Children Present Different Odds of Mortality than Adults in Southern Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Analysis

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 858: The Preschool-Aged and School-Aged Children Present Different Odds of Mortality than Adults in Southern Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050858

Authors: Shu-Hui Peng Chun-Ying Huang Shiun-Yuan Hsu Li-Hui Yang Ching-Hua Hsieh

Background: This study aimed to profile the epidemiology of injury among preschool-aged and school-aged children in comparison to those in adults. Methods: According to the Trauma Registry System of a level I trauma center, the medical data were retrieved from 938 preschool-aged children (aged less than seven years), 670 school-aged children (aged 7&ndash;12 years), and 16,800 adults (aged 20&ndash;64 years) between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2016. Two-sided Pearson&rsquo;s, chi-squared, and Fisher&rsquo;s exact tests were used to compare categorical data. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Games-Howell post-hoc test was used to assess the differences in continuous variables among different groups of patients. The mortality outcomes of different subgroups were assessed by a multivariable regression model under the adjustment of sex, injury mechanisms, and injury severity. Results: InFsupppjury mechanisms in preschool-aged and school-aged children were remarkably different from that in adults; in preschool-aged children, burns were the most common cause of injury requiring hospitalization (37.4%), followed by falls (35.1%) and being struck by/against objects (11.6%). In school-aged children, injuries were most commonly sustained from falls (47.8%), followed by bicycle accidents (14%) and being struck by/against objects (12.5%). Compared to adults, there was no significant difference of the adjusted mortality of the preschool-aged children (AOR = 0.9; 95% CI 0.38&ndash;2.12; p = 0.792) but there were lower adjusted odds of mortality of the school-aged children (AOR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.10&ndash;0.85; p = 0.039). The school-aged children had lower odds of mortality than adults (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.06&ndash;0.74; p = 0.012), but such lower odds of risk of mortality were not found in preschool-aged children (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.29&ndash;1.81; p = 0.646). Conclusions: This study suggests that specific types of injuries from different injury mechanisms are predominant among preschool-aged and school-aged children. The school-aged children had lower odds of mortality than adults; nonetheless there was no difference in mortality rates of preschool-aged children than adults, with or without controlling for sex, injury mechanisms and ISS. These results highlight the importance of injury prevention, particularly for preschool-aged children in Southern Taiwan.

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Transgenic up-regulation of Claudin-6 decreases fine diesel particulate matter (DPM)-induced pulmonary inflammation

Abstract

Claudin-6 (Cldn6) is a tetraspanin transmembrane protein that contributes to tight junctional complexes and has been implicated in the maintenance of lung epithelial barriers. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that genetic up-regulation of Cldn-6 influences inflammation in mice exposed to short-term environmental diesel particulate matter (DPM). Mice were subjected to ten exposures of nebulized DPM (PM2.5) over a period of 20 days via a nose-only inhalation system (Scireq, Montreal, Canada). Using real-time RT-PCR, we discovered that the Cldn6 gene was up-regulated in control mice exposed to DPM and in lung-specific transgenic mice that up-regulate Cldn-6 (Cldn-6 TG). Interestingly, DPM did not further enhance Cldn-6 expression in Cldn-6 TG mice. DPM caused increased cell diapedesis into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from control mice; however, Cldn-6 TG mice had less total cells and PMNs in BALF following DPM exposure. Because Cldn-6 TG mice had diminished cell diapedesis, other inflammatory intermediates were screened to characterize the impact of increased Cldn-6 on inflammatory signaling. Cytokines that mediate inflammatory responses including TNF-α and IL-1β were differentially regulated in Cldn6 TG mice and controls following DPM exposure. These results demonstrate that epithelial barriers organized by Cldn-6 mediate, at least in part, diesel-induced inflammation. Further work may show that Cldn-6 is a key target in understanding pulmonary epithelial gateways exacerbated by environmental pollution.

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Traits and causes of environmental loss-related chemical accidents in China based on co-word analysis

Abstract

Chemical accidents are major causes of environmental losses and have been debated due to the potential threat to human beings and environment. Compared with the single statistical analysis, co-word analysis of chemical accidents illustrates significant traits at various levels and presents data into a visual network. This study utilizes a co-word analysis of the keywords extracted from the Web crawling texts of environmental loss-related chemical accidents and uses the Pearson's correlation coefficient to examine the internal attributes. To visualize the keywords of the accidents, this study carries out a multidimensional scaling analysis applying PROXSCAL and centrality identification. The research results show that an enormous environmental cost is exacted, especially given the expected environmental loss-related chemical accidents with geographical features. Meanwhile, each event often brings more than one environmental impact. Large number of chemical substances are released in the form of solid, liquid, and gas, leading to serious results. Eight clusters that represent the traits of these accidents are formed, including "leakage," "poisoning," "explosion," "pipeline crack," "river pollution," "dust pollution," "emission," and "industrial effluent." "Explosion" and "gas" possess a strong correlation with "poisoning," located at the center of visualization map.

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Variations in individuals’ exposure to black carbon particles during their daily activities: a screening study in Brazil

Abstract

Black carbon (BC) is a fraction of airborne PM_2.5 emitted by combustion, causing deleterious effects on human health. Due to its abundance in cities, assessing personal exposure to BC is of utmost importance. Personal exposure and dose of six couples with different working routines were determined for 48 h based on 1-min mobile BC measurements and on ambient concentrations monitored simultaneously at home (outdoor) and at a suburban site. Although couples spent on average ~ 10 h together at home, the routine of each individual in other microenvironments led to 3–55% discrepancies in exposure between partners. The location of the residences and background concentrations accounted for the differences in inter-couple exposure. The overall average exposure and dose by gender were not statistically different. The personal exposure and dose calculated with datasets from fixed sites were lower than the calculations using data from mobile measurements, with the largest divergences (between four and nine times) in the transport category. Even though the individuals spent only 7% of the time commuting, this activity contributed to between 17 and 20% of the integrated exposure and inhaled dose, respectively. On average, exposure was highest on bus trips, while pedestrians and bus passengers had lower doses. Open windows elevated the in-car exposure and dose four times compared to settings with closed windows.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 856: Impact of the Introduction of the Electronic Health Insurance Card on the Use of Medical Services by Asylum Seekers in Germany

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 856: Impact of the Introduction of the Electronic Health Insurance Card on the Use of Medical Services by Asylum Seekers in Germany

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050856

Authors: Kevin Claassen Pia Jäger

Objectives: Asylum seekers in Germany represent a highly vulnerable group from a health perspective. Furthermore, their access to healthcare is restricted. While the introduction of the Electronic Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for asylum seekers instead of healthcare-vouchers is discussed controversially using politico-economic reasons, there is hardly any empirical evidence regarding its actual impact on the use of medical services. The aim of the study is to examine this impact on the use of medical services by asylum seekers as measured by their consultation rate of ambulant physicians (CR). Study Design: For this purpose, a standardized survey was conducted with 260 asylum seekers in different municipalities, some of which have introduced the EHIC for asylum seekers, while others have not. Methods: The period prevalence was compared between the groups &ldquo;with EHIC&rdquo; and &ldquo;without EHIC&rdquo; using a two-sided t-test. Multivariate analysis was done using a linear OLS regression model. Results: Asylum seekers in possession of the EHIC are significantly more likely to seek ambulant medical care than those receiving healthcare-vouchers. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that having to ask for healthcare-vouchers at the social security office could be a relevant barrier for asylum seekers.

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Defluoridation using novel chemically treated carbonized bone meal: batch and dynamic performance with scale-up studies

Abstract

Novel defluoridating adsorbent was synthesized by chemical treatment of carbonized bone meal using aluminum sulfate and calcium oxide. Precursor for chemical treatment was prepared by partial carbonization of raw bone meal at 550 °C for 4 h. Maximum fluoride removal capacity was 150 mg/g when carbonized bone meal (100 g/L) was treated with aluminum sulfate (500 g/L) and calcium oxide (15 g/L). Morphological analysis revealed formation of a coating layer consisting of aluminum compounds on the precursor surface. This was verified by stretching frequency of aluminum hydroxide (602 cm⁻¹) in the infrared spectra. Presence of hydroxylapatite (2θ = 30° and 2θ = 24°) and aluminum mineral phases (2θ = 44°) in the adsorbent were identified from the X-ray diffractograms. Adsorption capacity decreased from 150 mg/g (30 °C) to 120 mg/g (50 °C) indicating exothermic adsorption. Adsorption experiments under batch kinetic mode were simulated using shrinking core model. Effective fluoride diffusivity in the adsorbent and the mass transfer coefficient were estimated as 5.8 × 10⁻¹² m²/s and 9 × 10⁻⁴ m/s, respectively. Desorption was maximum at basic pH and desorption efficiency was decreased by 31% after third cycle. Dynamic filtration with artificially fluoride-spiked solution showed that the empty bed contact time for a packed column with equal weight of carbonized and chemically treated adsorbent was 4.7 min and number of bed volumes treated (till WHO limit of 1.5 mg/L) was 340 for a column of 3-cm diameter and 18-cm length. The system was successfully tested using contaminated groundwater from an affected area. Fixed-bed column experiments were simulated from the first principles using convective pore diffusion-adsorption model for both synthetic solution and contaminated groundwater. Axial dispersion coefficient was found to be one order of magnitude less than the pore diffusivity indicating dominance of fluoride diffusion within porous network of adsorbent. The developed adsorbent exhibited antibacterial property as well.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 854: Association between Sleep Duration and Overweight/Obesity at Age 7–18 in Shenyang, China in 2010 and 2014

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 854: Association between Sleep Duration and Overweight/Obesity at Age 7–18 in Shenyang, China in 2010 and 2014

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050854

Authors: Qi Sun Yinglong Bai Lingling Zhai Wei Wei Lihong Jia

This study was designed to examine the association between sleep duration and being overweight/obese in primary, middle, and high school students. This was a multiple cross-sectional study using data from the 2010 and 2014 National Survey on Students&rsquo; Constitution and Health (CNSSCH). A total of 23,602 students aged 7&ndash;18 years were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of being overweight and obese&mdash;stratified by age, gender, and sleep duration&mdash;in 2010 and 2014 were compared. Sleep duration was categorized as &lt;7 h, &ge;7 to 8 h, &ge;8 to 9 h, and &ge;9 h. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the cut-point criteria in China. Multivariable logistic regression results in 2010 and 2014 revealed that students sleeping &lt;7 h and aged 7&ndash;12 years had an increased risk of becoming overweight/obese. In 2010, the adjusted prevalence ratios of overweight for 7&ndash;12-year-old students sleeping &lt;9 h was 1.196 (95%CI: 1.004&ndash;1.424) and 13&ndash;15-year-old students sleeping &lt;8 h was 1.265 (95%CI: 1.023&ndash;1.565). In 2014, the adjusted prevalence ratios of overweight and obesity for 7&ndash;12-year-old students sleeping &lt;9 h were 1.295 (95%CI: 1.091&ndash;1.537) and 1.231 (95%CI: 1.045&ndash;1.449); 16&ndash;18-year-old students sleeping &lt;7 h were 1.530 (95%CI: 1.239&ndash;1.888) and 1.585 (95%CI: 1.270&ndash;2.081). Our study revealed that different levels of sleep curtailment increased the risk of becoming overweight/obesity in different age groups of students.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 853: Observance of Sterilization Protocol Guideline Procedures of Critical Instruments for Preventing Iatrogenic Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Dental Practice in France, 2017

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 853: Observance of Sterilization Protocol Guideline Procedures of Critical Instruments for Preventing Iatrogenic Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Dental Practice in France, 2017

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050853

Authors: Denis Bourgeois Claude Dussart Ina Saliasi Laurent Laforest Paul Tramini Florence Carrouel

Effective sterilization of reusable instruments contaminated by Creutzfeldt&ndash;Jakob disease in dental care is a crucial issue for public health. The present cross-sectional study investigated how the recommended procedures for sterilization were implemented by French dental practices in real-world settings. A sample of dental practices was selected in the French Rh&ocirc;ne-Alpes region. Data were collected by a self-questionnaire in 2016. Sterilization procedures (n = 33) were classified into 4 groups: (1) Pre-sterilization cleaning of reusable instruments; (2) Biological verification of sterilization cycles&mdash;Monitoring steam sterilization procedures; (3) Autoclave performance and practitioner knowledge of autoclave use; (4) Monitoring and documentation of sterilization procedures&mdash;Tracking and tracing the instrumentation. Answers were provided per procedure, along with the global implementation of procedures within a group (over 80% correctly performed). Then it was verified how adherence to procedure groups varied with the size of the dental practice and the proportion of dental assistants within the team. Among the 179 questionnaires available for the analyses, adherence to the recommended procedures of sterilization noticeably varied between practices, from 20.7% to 82.6%. The median percentages of procedures correctly implemented per practice were 58.1%, 50.9%, 69.2% and 58.2%, in Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively (corresponding percentages for performing over 80% of the procedures in the group: 23.4%, 6.6%, 46.6% and 38.6%). Dental practices &ge; 3 dental units performed significantly better (&gt;80%) procedures of Groups 2 and 4 (p = 0.01 and p = 0.002, respectively), while no other significant associations emerged. As a rule, practices complied poorly with the recommended procedures, despite partially improved results in bigger practices. Specific training regarding sterilization procedures and a better understanding of the reasons leading to their non-compliance are needed.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 852: Gender and Body-Fat Status as Predictors of Parental Feeding Styles and Children’s Nutritional Knowledge, Eating Habits and Behaviours

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 852: Gender and Body-Fat Status as Predictors of Parental Feeding Styles and Children's Nutritional Knowledge, Eating Habits and Behaviours

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050852

Authors: Małgorzata Lipowska Mariusz Lipowski Paweł Jurek Anna M. Jankowska Paulina Pawlicka

The home food environment is critically important for the development of children&rsquo;s health-related practices. By managing dietary restrictions, providing nutritional knowledge and demonstrating eating behaviours, parents contribute to children&rsquo;s food preferences and eating patterns. The present study examined nutritional knowledge, eating habits and appetite traits among 387 Polish five-year-old healthy and overfat boys and girls in the context of parental feeding styles and body-fat status. We observed that girls presented healthier eating habits than boys; however, overfat boys had better nutritional knowledge. Children&rsquo;s body-fat percentage (%BF) was found to be linked with eating behaviours such as low satiety responsiveness and increased food responsiveness in girls as well as low emotional undereating and increased emotional overeating in boys. Our results revealed that overfat mothers, who were more prone to use the encouragement feeding style, rarely had daughters with increased %BF. Parents of overfat girls, however, were less likely to apply encouragement and instrumental feeding styles. Contrary to popular belief and previous studies, overfat women do not necessarily transmit unhealthy eating patterns to their children. Parents&rsquo; greater emphasis on managing the weight and eating habits of daughters (rather than sons) probably results from their awareness of standards of female physical attractiveness.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 855: Ecological Vulnerability Assessment Based on Fuzzy Analytical Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Yellow River Delta

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 855: Ecological Vulnerability Assessment Based on Fuzzy Analytical Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Yellow River Delta

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050855

Authors: Chunsheng Wu Gaohuan Liu Chong Huang Qingsheng Liu Xudong Guan

The Yellow River Delta (YRD), located in Yellow River estuary, is characterized by rich ecological system types, and provides habitats or migration stations for wild birds, all of which makes the delta an ecological barrier or ecotone for inland areas. Nevertheless, the abundant natural resources of YRD have brought huge challenges to the area, and frequent human activities and natural disasters have damaged the ecological systems seriously, and certain ecological functions have been threatened. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the status of the ecological environment based on scientific methods, which can provide scientifically robust data for the managers or stakeholders to adopt timely ecological protection measures. The aim of this study was to obtain the spatial distribution of the ecological vulnerability (EV) in YRD based on 21 indicators selected from underwater status, soil condition, land use, landform, vegetation cover, meteorological conditions, ocean influence, and social economy. In addition, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method was used to obtain the weights of the selected indicators, and a fuzzy logic model was constructed to obtain the result. The result showed that the spatial distribution of the EV grades was regular, while the fuzzy membership of EV decreased gradually from the coastline to inland area, especially around the river crossing, where it had the lowest EV. Along the coastline, the dikes had an obviously protective effect for the inner area, while the EV was higher in the area where no dikes were built. This result also showed that the soil condition and groundwater status were highly related to the EV spatially, with the correlation coefficients &minus;0.55 and &minus;0.74 respectively, and human activities had exerted considerable pressure on the ecological environment.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 850: University Students’ Willingness to Assist Fellow Students Who Experience Alcohol-Related Facial Flushing to Reduce Their Drinking

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 850: University Students' Willingness to Assist Fellow Students Who Experience Alcohol-Related Facial Flushing to Reduce Their Drinking

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050850

Authors: Lanyan Ding Lok-Wa Yuen Ian M. Newman Duane F. Shell

This study explored bystanders&rsquo; willingness to help a friend who flushes when drinking to reduce his/her drinking. Alcohol-related facial flushing is an indicator of an inherited variant enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), that impairs alcohol metabolism and increases drinkers&rsquo; lifetime risk of certain aerodigestive cancers. Individuals who flush should reduce their alcohol exposure, but they may continue to drink if social pressures and rules of etiquette make not drinking socially risky. The analysis used data from 2912 undergraduate students from 13 universities in southwestern, central and northeastern China from a survey asking how they respond to someone&rsquo;s flushing in various scenarios. Latent class analysis grouped students by similar responses to flushing. A multinomial logistic regression explored how class membership was associated with knowledge, drinking status, and reactions to one&rsquo;s own flushing. Five classes were derived from the latent class analysis, ranging from always intervene to mostly hesitate to help; in between were classes of students who were willing to help in some scenarios and hesitant in other scenarios. Only 11.6% students knew the connection between facial flushing and impaired alcohol metabolism, and knowledgeable students were somewhat more likely to assist when they saw someone flushing. In the absence of knowledge, other factors&mdash;such as drinking status, the gender of the bystander, the gender of the person who flushed, and degree of friendship with the person who flushed&mdash;determined how willing a person was to help someone reduce or stop drinking. Class membership was predicted by knowledge, gender, drinking status, and reactions to one&rsquo;s own flushing. Of these 4 factors, knowledge and reactions to one&rsquo;s own flushing could be influenced through alcohol education programs. It will take some time for alcohol education to catch up to and change social and cultural patterns of drinking. Meanwhile, motivational strategies should be developed to increase the willingness of bystanders to assist friends and to create a social expectation that flushers should stop or reduce their drinking.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 849: Measurement of Pesticide Residues from Chemical Control of the Invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a Maize Experimental Field in Mokwa, Nigeria

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 849: Measurement of Pesticide Residues from Chemical Control of the Invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a Maize Experimental Field in Mokwa, Nigeria

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050849

Authors: Abou Togola Silvestro Meseka Abebe Menkir Baffour Badu-Apraku Ousmane Boukar Manuele Tamò Rousseau Djouaka

The management of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in maize field necessitates the use a big quantities of insecticides and sometimes the use of multiple types and formulations of chemicals. The use of insecticides in crops is associated with environmental risks and health hazards to both producers and consumers. This study was designed to evaluate the residue of 11 insecticides that were used to control high population of the fall armyworm in maize field in Mokwa, Nigeria. Maize and soil samples were collected from an experimental field to investigate the residue level using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) analysis techniques. Results revealed the presence of five insecticide compounds (Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Permethrin, and Chorpyrifos) in soil samples with possible adverse effects on soil born organisms and other non-targeted species. In contrast, no residue was found in maize stems and seeds. From these results, we conclude that the treated maize remains safe for consumption and the producers may not get any serious risk of contamination from the chemical control of the fall armyworm.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 851: Impact of a Translated Disease Self-Management Program on Employee Health and Productivity: Six-Month Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 851: Impact of a Translated Disease Self-Management Program on Employee Health and Productivity: Six-Month Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050851

Authors: Matthew Lee Smith Mark G. Wilson Melissa M. Robertson Heather M. Padilla Heather Zuercher Robert Vandenberg Phaedra Corso Kate Lorig Diana D. Laurent David M. DeJoy

Disease management is gaining importance in workplace health promotion given the aging workforce and rising chronic disease prevalence. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is an effective intervention widely offered in diverse community settings; however, adoption remains low in workplace settings. As part of a larger NIH-funded randomized controlled trial, this study examines the effectiveness of a worksite-tailored version of CDSMP (wCDSMP [n = 72]) relative to CDSMP (&lsquo;Usual Care&rsquo; [n = 109]) to improve health and work performance among employees with one or more chronic conditions. Multiple-group latent-difference score models with sandwich estimators were fitted to identify changes from baseline to 6-month follow-up. Overall, participants were primarily female (87%), non-Hispanic white (62%), and obese (73%). On average, participants were age 48 (range: 23&ndash;72) and self-reported 3.25 chronic conditions (range: 1&ndash;16). The most commonly reported conditions were high cholesterol (45%), high blood pressure (45%), anxiety/emotional/mental health condition (26%), and diabetes (25%). Among wCDSMP participants, significant improvements were observed for physically unhealthy days (u&Delta; = &minus;2.07, p = 0.018), fatigue (u&Delta; = &minus;2.88, p = 0.002), sedentary behavior (u&Delta; = &minus;4.49, p = 0.018), soda/sugar beverage consumption (u&Delta; = &minus;0.78, p = 0.028), and fast food intake (u&Delta; = &minus;0.76, p = 0.009) from baseline to follow-up. Significant improvements in patient&ndash;provider communication (u&Delta; = 0.46, p = 0.031) and mental work limitations (u&Delta; = &minus;8.89, p = 0.010) were also observed from baseline to follow-up. Relative to Usual Care, wCDSMP participants reported significantly larger improvements in fatigue, physical activity, soda/sugar beverage consumption, and mental work limitations (p &lt; 0.05). The translation of Usual Care (content and format) has potential to improve health among employees with chronic conditions and increase uptake in workplace settings.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 848: Suicidal Ideation and Healthy Immigrant Effect in the Canadian Population: A Cross-Sectional Population Based Study

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 848: Suicidal Ideation and Healthy Immigrant Effect in the Canadian Population: A Cross-Sectional Population Based Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050848

Authors: Rasha Elamoshy Cindy Feng

Understanding suicidal ideation is crucial for preventing suicide. Although &ldquo;healthy immigrant effect&rdquo; is a phenomenon that has been well documented across a multitude of epidemiological and social studies&mdash;where immigrants are, on average, healthier than the native-born, little research has examined the presence of such effect on suicidal ideation. The objective of this study is to investigate if there is a differential effect of immigration identity on suicidal ideation and how the effect varies by socio-demographic characteristics in the Canadian population. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey in year 2014 were used. Multivariate logistic regression was employed. Our findings indicated that recent immigrants (lived in Canada for 9 or less years) were significantly less likely to report suicidal ideation compared with non-immigrants. However, for established immigrants (10 years and above of living in Canada), the risk of suicidal ideation converged to Canadian-born population. Moreover, male immigrants were at significantly lower risk of having suicidal ideation than Canadian-born counterparts; whereas, female immigrants did not benefit from the &ldquo;healthy immigrant effect&rdquo;. Our findings suggest the need for targeted intervention strategies on suicidal ideation among established immigrants and female immigrants.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 845: Influence of Latitude on the Prevalence of Kawasaki Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database and Review of the Literature

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 845: Influence of Latitude on the Prevalence of Kawasaki Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database and Review of the Literature

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050845

Authors: Chaw-Liang Chang Chih-Shung Wong Yi-Chen Yang Nan-Chang Chiu

Background: Countries at higher latitudes have higher incidence rates of Kawasaki disease (KD) than do countries at lower latitudes in the Asian and West Pacific area. However, the precise influence of latitude on KD incidence rates requires further clarification. Methods: We searched the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 to retrieve patients&rsquo; medical records from 1996 to 2009. The patients with KD were categorized as living in northern, middle, and southern Taiwan; the period prevalence of KD for each area was determined. Climate variables, including temperature, sunshine duration, precipitation, and relative humidity, were collected from the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau. The effect of latitude on the period KD prevalence and the correlation between climate variables and KD prevalence were calculated. Results: After patients without complete data excluded, a total of 61,830 children up to 10 years old were retrieved, from which 404 patients with KD were recognized. The period prevalence of KD increased significantly with latitude (p = 0.0004). Climate variables associated with high temperature demonstrated a connection with KD prevalence; however, this correlation was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that higher latitude is associated with a higher KD prevalence in Taiwan.

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 846: Correction: Lee, Y.-H., et al. Beverage Intake, Smoking Behavior, and Alcohol Consumption in Contemporary China—A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 493

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 846: Correction: Lee, Y.-H., et al. Beverage Intake, Smoking Behavior, and Alcohol Consumption in Contemporary China—A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 493

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050846

Authors: Yen-Han Lee Zhi Wang Timothy C. Chiang Ching-Ti Liu

n/a

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 844: Integration of a Copper-Containing Biohybrid (CuHARS) with Cellulose for Subsequent Degradation and Biomedical Control

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 844: Integration of a Copper-Containing Biohybrid (CuHARS) with Cellulose for Subsequent Degradation and Biomedical Control

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050844

Authors: Anik Karan Margarita Darder Urna Kansakar Zach Norcross Mark A. DeCoster

We previously described the novel synthesis of a copper high-aspect ratio structure (CuHARS) biohybrid material using cystine. While extremely stable in water, CuHARS is completely (but slowly) degradable in cellular media. Here, integration of the CuHARS into cellulose matrices was carried out to provide added control for CuHARS degradation. Synthesized CuHARS was concentrated by centrifugation and then dried. The weighed mass was re-suspended in water. CuHARS was stable in water for months without degradation. In contrast, 25 &mu;g/mL of the CuHARS in complete cell culture media was completely degraded (slowly) in 18 days under physiological conditions. Stable integration of CuHARS into cellulose matrices was achieved through assembly by mixing cellulose micro- and nano-fibers and CuHARS in an aqueous (pulp mixture) phase, followed by drying. Additional materials were integrated to make the hybrids magnetically susceptible. The cellulose-CuHARS composite films could be transferred, weighed, and cut into usable pieces; they maintained their form after rehydration in water for at least 7 days and were compatible with cell culture studies using brain tumor (glioma) cells. These studies demonstrate utility of a CuHARS-cellulose biohybrid for applied applications including: (1) a platform for biomedical tracking and (2) integration into a 2D/3D matrix using natural products (cellulose).

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IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 847: Maternal Vaccination as an Essential Component of Life-Course Immunization and Its Contribution to Preventive Neonatology

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 847: Maternal Vaccination as an Essential Component of Life-Course Immunization and Its Contribution to Preventive Neonatology

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15050847

Authors: Naomi Bergin Janice Murtagh Roy K. Philip

Maternal immunisation schedules are increasingly coming under the spotlight as part of the development of lifetime immunisation programmes for the role that they play in improving maternal, foetal, and neonatal health. Maternally-acquired antibodies are critical in protecting infants during the first months of their lives. Maternal immunisation was previously overlooked owing to concerns regarding vaccinations in this untested and high-risk population but is now acknowledged for its potential impact on the outcomes in many domains of foetal and neonatal health, aside from its maternal benefits. This article highlights the role that maternal immunisation may play in reducing infections in preterm and term infants. It explores the barriers to antenatal vaccinations and the optimisation of the immunisation uptake. This review also probes the part that maternal immunisation may hold in the reduction of perinatal antimicrobial resistance and the prevention of non-infectious diseases. Both healthcare providers and expectant mothers should continue to be educated on the importance and safety of the appropriate immunizations during pregnancy. Maternal vaccination merits its deserved priority in a life-course immunization approach and it is perhaps the only immunization whereby two generations benefit directly from a single input. We outline the current recommendations for antenatal vaccinations and highlight the potential advances in the field contributing to &ldquo;preventive neonatology&rdquo;.

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