Association between Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Subclinical Atherosclerosis: The REGICOR Study

Background: Epidemiological evidence of the effects of long-term exposure to air pollu tion on the chronic processes of athero genesis is limited. Objective: We investigated the association of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollu tion with subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and ankle–brachial index (ABI). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using data collected during the reexamination (2007–2010) of 2,780 participants in the REGICOR (Registre Gironí del Cor: the Gerona Heart Register) study, a population-based prospective cohort in Girona, Spain. Long-term exposure across residences was calculated as the last 10 years’ time-weighted average of residential nitrogen dioxide (NO2) estimates (based on a local-scale land-use regression model), traffic intensity in the nearest street, and traffic intensity in a 100 m buffer. Associations with IMT and ABI were estimated using linear regression and multinomial logistic regression, respectively, controlling for sex, age, smoking status, education, marital status, and several other potential confounders or intermediates. Results: Exposure contrasts between the 5th and 95th percentiles for NO2 (25 μg/m), traffic intensity in the nearest street (15,000 vehicles/day), and traffic load within 100 m (7,200,000 vehicle-m/day) were associated with differences of 0.56% (95% CI: –1.5, 2.6%), 2.32% (95% CI: 0.48, 4.17%), and 1.91% (95% CI: –0.24, 4.06) percent difference in IMT, respectively. Exposures were positively associated with an ABI of > 1.3, but not an ABI of < 0.9. Stronger associations were observed among those with a high level of education and in men ≥ 60 years of age. Conclusions: Long-term traffic-related exposures were associated with subclinical markers of atherosclerosis. Prospective studies are needed to confirm associations and further examine differences among population subgroups.key words: ankle–brachial index, average daily traffic, cardiovascular disease, exposure assessment, exposure to tailpipe emissions, intima media thickness, land use regression model, Mediterranean diet, nitrogen dioxide

Study of a vapor-compression air-conditioning system for jetliners

Most modern passenger aeroplanes use air cycle cooling. A high-speed air cycle is a reliable and light option, but not very efficient. This thesis presents research work done to design a novel vapour cooling cycle for aeroplanes. Due to advancements in high-speed permanent magnet motors, the vapour cycle is seen as a competitive option for the air cycle in aeroplanes. The aerospace industry places tighter demands on the weight, reliability and environmental effects of the machinery than those met by conventional chillers, and thus modifications to conventional design are needed. The thesis is divided into four parts: the initial screening of the working fluid, 1-D design and performance values of the compressor, 1-D off-design value predictions of the compressor and the 3-D design of the compressor. The R245fa was selected as the working fluid based the study. The off-design range of the compressor was predicted to be wide and suitable for the application. The air-conditioning system developed is considerably smaller than previous designs using centrifugal compressors.

Consumer valuation of energy-saving features of residential air conditioners with hedonic and choice models

The promotion of energy-efficient appliances is necessary to reduce the energetic and environmental burden of the household sector. However, many studies have reported that a typical consumer underestimates the benefits of energy-saving investment on the purchase of household electric appliances. To analyze this energy-efficiency gap problem, many scholars have estimated implicit discount rates that consumers use for energy-consuming durables. Although both hedonic and choice models have been used in previous studies, a comparison between two models has not yet been done. This study uses point of sale data about Japanese residential air conditioners and estimates implicit discounts rates with both hedonic and choice models. Both models demonstrate that a typical consumer underinvests in energy efficiency. Although choice models estimate a lower implicit discount rate than hedonic models, the latter models estimate the values of other product characteristics more consistently than choice models.

Assessment of air quality in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, in the scope of the polis programme

The present paper constitutes a synthesis of the results gotten during the five campaigns of air quality measurement in the years of 2003 and 2004 carried out in the Portuguese city of Viana do Castelo to characterise the reference situation and to accompany the Polis Programme, an urban re-qualification and environmental valorisation plan. The main objective of the monitoring programme consisted of the evaluation of atmospheric pollutants whose levels were susceptible of enhancement in the course of the urbanistic public works. The presented results refer to measurements performed in two distinct places of this city, comprising various consecutive days of acquisition that include, at least, one day of weekend.

Web 2.0 technology assisted global knowledge network as an organizations key asset

Aim of the Thesis is to study and understand the theoretical concept of Metanational corporation and understand how the Web 2.0 technologies can be used to support the theory. Empiric part of the study compares the theory to the case company’s current situation Goal of theoretical framework is to show how the Web 2.0 technologies can be used in the three levels of the Metanational corporation. In order to do this, knowledge management and more accurately knowledge transferring is studied to understand what is needed from the Web 2.0 technologies in the different functions and operations of the Metanational corporation. Final synthesis of the theoretical framework is to present a model where the Web 2.0 technologies are placed on the levels of the Metanational corporation. Empirical part of the study is based on interviews made in the case company. Aim of the interviews is to understand the current state of the company related to the theoretical framework. Based on the interviews, the differences between the theoretical concept and the case company are presented and studied. Finally the study presents the found problem areas, and where the adoption of the Web 2.0 tools is seen as beneficiary, based on the interviews and theoretical framework.

Air pollution and emergency admissions for cardiorespiratory diseases in Lisbon (Portugal)

Daily records of hospital admissions due to cardiorespiratory diseases and levels of PM10, SO2, CO, NO, NO2, and O3 were collected from 1999-2004 to evaluate the relationship between air pollution and morbidity in Lisbon. Generalised additive Poisson regression models were adopted, controlling for temperature, humidity, and both short and long-term seasonality. Significant positive associations, lagged by 1 or 2 days, were found between markers of traffic-related pollution (CO and NO2) and cardiocirculatory diseases in all age groups. Increased childhood emergency admissions for respiratory illness were significantly correlated with the 1-day lagged SO2 levels coming from industrial activities.

Outdoor/indoor air quality in primary schools in Lisbon: a preliminary study

Simultaneous measurements of outdoor and indoor pollution were performed at three schools in Lisbon. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and NO2 were passively monitored over a two-week period. Bacterial and fungal colony-forming units and comfort parameters were also monitored at classrooms and playgrounds. The highest indoor levels of CO2 (2666 μg/m³), NO2 (40.3 μg/m³), VOCs (10.3 μg/m³), formaldehyde (1.03 μg/m³) and bioaerosols (1634 CFU/m³), and some indoor/outdoor ratios greater than unity, suggest that indoor sources and building conditions might have negative effects on air indoors. Increasing ventilation rates and use of low-emission materials would contribute towards improving indoor air quality.

Measuring air pressure with a polymeric gas sensor

In this communication we describe the application of a conductive polymer gas sensor as an air pressure sensor. The device consists of a thin doped poly(4'-hexyloxy-2,5-biphenylene ethylene) (PHBPE) film deposited on an interdigitated metallic electrode. The sensor is cheap, easy to fabricate, lasts for several months, and is suitable for measuring air pressures in the range between 100 and 700 mmHg.

Efficient synthesis of sulfonamide derivatives on solid supports catalyzed using solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods

In this work we report the synthesis of sulfonamide derivatives using a conventional procedure and with solid supports, such as silica gel, florisil, alumina, 4Å molecular sieves, montmorillonite KSF, and montmorillonite K10 using solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods. Our results show that solid supports have a catalytic activity in the formation of sulfonamide derivatives. We found that florisil, montmorillonite KSF, and K10 could be used as inexpensive alternative catalysts that are easily separated from the reaction media. Additionally, solvent-free and microwave-assisted methods were more efficient in reducing reaction time and in increasing yield.

Synthesis of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives on solid support using room temperature and microwave-assisted solvent-free procedures

We describe the synthesis of 12 new ethyl and methyl quinoxaline-7-carboxylate 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives on solid supports with room temperature and microwave-assisted solvent-free procedures. Results show that solid supports have good catalytic activity in the formation of quinoxaline 1,4-di-N-oxide derivatives. We found that florisil and montmorillonite KSF and K10 could be used as new, easily available, inexpensive alternatives of catalysts. Additionally, room temperature and microwave-irradiation solvent-free synthesis was more efficient than a conventional procedure (Beirut reaction), reducing reaction time and increasing yield.

Sonication-assisted preparation of CaO nanoparticles for antibacterial agents

The effect of calcination conditions on the size and killing activity of CaO nanoparticles towards L. plantarum was studied in this paper. The results showed that CaO nanoparticles with a diameter of 20 nm could be obtained under the investigated conditions. The lethal effect of CaO nanoparticles after incubation of 6 or 24 h increased with increasing calcination time. Using CaO-SA, CaO-SB, and CaO-SC after a 24-h exposure, 2.25, 3.37, and 5.97 log L. plantarum were killed, respectively, at a concentration of 100 ppm. The current results show that the use of CaO nanoparticles as antibacterial agents has significant potential in food-relevant industries.

Spectrophotometric determination of diclofenac in pharmaceutical preparations assisted by microwave oven

In this work, an effective and low-cost method for the determination of sodium or potassium diclofenac is proposed in its pure form and in their pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the reaction between diclofenac and tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (p-chloranil), in methanol medium. This reaction was accelerated by irradiating of reactional mixture with microwave energy (1100 W) during 27 seconds, producing a charge transfer complex with a maximum absorption at 535 nm. The optimal reaction conditions values such as reagent concentration, heating time and stability of the reaction product were determined. Beer's law is obeyed in a concentration range from of 1.25x10-4 to 2.00x10-3 mol l-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993 and molar absorptivity of 0.49 x10³ l mol-1 cm-1. The limit of detection (LOD) was 1.35x10-5 mol l-1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 4.49x10-5 mol l-1. In the presence of the common excipients, such as glucose, lactose, talc, starch, magnesium stearate, sodium sulphite, titanium dioxide, polyethyleneglycol, polyvinylpirrolidone, mannitol and benzilic alcohol no interferences were observed. The analytical results obtained by applying the proposed method compare very favorably with those given by the United States Pharmacopeia standard procedure. Recoveries of diclofenac from various pharmaceutical preparations were within 95.9% to 103.3%, with standard deviations ranging from 0.2% to 1.8%.

Air des Bijoux

Oopperasta Faust.

STRUCTURAL LEAF CHANGES IN TREES AROUND A SUBWAY AIR DUCT

ABSTRACTWhile a number of papers have shown that subway systems have an impact on the air quality through the release of particulate matters, no information about the impact of such particles on tree attributes is available. Tree leaves from three different species from the exit side of a subway station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were more asymmetrical than leaves from the entrance side. This leaves also presenting changes in leaves cuticle and chlorophyll content.

Control system for forced-air cooling of horticultural products

This work is a study of the implementation of a classical controller using a tuning method referred to as IMC (Internal Model Control) and aimed at the reduction of electrical energy consumption by the appropriate relation between energy consumption and the cooling time with forced air. The supervisory system installed was able to manipulate the variable of frequency of the signal power of the exhaust fan engine (forced air module), to accelerate or decelerate the loss of heat from the product to be cooled by airflow variation that passes through the mass of the produce. The results demonstrated a reduction in energy consumption from 64% and an increase of only 8% in the cooling time to the system using PI/IMC (Proportional - Integral with IMC) tuning method compared with the system in its operating nominal condition. This PI/IMC control may be implemented directly in a frequency converter, without the need to purchase a computer or PLC (programmable logic controller) to run the dedicated application, increasing its economical viability.