Adverse health and environmental outcomes of cycling in heavily polluted urban environments

Cycling is a healthy habit; however, are its benefits outweighing risks when biking in heavily trafficked and air-polluted cities? Research involved studying contamination with traffic-related elements of dust collected from bike paths located in top trafficked cities of Europe in Poland. Human health risk was assessed via inhalation and ingestion pathways for adults and children. Bike path dust was heavily contaminated with Zn, Cd (Geoaccumulation index Igeo 4) and Pb (Igeo 3), sourced predominantly from nonexhaust car emissions. The concentrations of metals in dust decreased in the following descending order: Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. A fractionation study revealed that Zn and Cd are almost entirely bioavailable (Mobility factor MF above 90%), causing hazards to humans and the environment. The highest congested intersections result in more TRAP-contaminated dust deposited on bike paths, which is easily resuspended, posing a health risk for cyclists or pedestrians. Avoiding cycling in proximity to heavily trafficked routes should be considered, when possible, as well as physical removal of dust by wet sweeping to limit dust resuspension.

Measuring Achievement, Affiliation, and Power Motives in Mobility Situations: Development of the Multi-Motive Grid Mobility

The current study introduces the Multi-Motive Grid Mobility (MMG-M) in an age-stratified sample (N = 206) that aims to disentangle six motive components – hope of success, hope of affiliation, hope of power, fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of power – in mobility-related and mobility-unrelated scenarios. Similar to the classical Multi-Motive Grid (MMG), we selected 14 picture scenarios representing seven mobility and seven non-mobility situations. The scenarios were combined with 12 statements from the MMG. Both the MMG-M and MMG were assessed to allow comparability between psychometric criteria. The results of confirmatory factor analyses yielded a good model fit for a six-factor solution with an additional mobility factor for the MMG-M. Internal consistency of the items was similar to the MMG. Lastly, we investigated associations between the motive components and mobility-related variables. We found that risk awareness was positively related to all fear components in both mobility and non-mobility scenarios. Most importantly, physical constraint was positively associated with fear of rejection and fear of power in mobility situations underlining the importance to create support systems to reduce these concerns in people’s everyday lives.

How 4Ms Age-Friendly Care Led to Improved Compliancy of Older Adult Fall Screenings in Rural Primary Care Clinics

Past medical history of falls and fear of falling are reliable indicators of future fall risk of an older adult (OA). As one of the HRSA funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement recipients, the AR Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) worked with a rural federally qualified healthcare clinic system to help incorporate fall screens to satisfy the Mobility factor in the 4Ms age-friendly care framework. After consultation with the practitioners, it was decided to use the Timed-Up-And-Go (TUAG) screen because it is evidence-based and appropriate for OAs. Training on the use of the TUAG was completed next as was the addition of the screen into the EMR. Fall screens in one clinic were only completed 7% before training and 7 months after the training, this rose to almost 100%. In a second clinic, the screens were completed 22% of the time and this was increased to 66% after training. Training on mobility continues to occur on a regular basis as staff turns over and as new priorities arise, but the use of the TUAG as a mobility screen has been a critical component in the process of these rural clinics providing age-friendly care. Next steps with improving fall risks will be the development of flags within the EMR that will force practitioners to complete a full falls plan of care if the OA scored within the moderate or high fall risk categories. The plan will include home safety education and/or evaluation, PT or OT referrals to further support healthy aging for the OA.

Influencing Factors and Strategies of the Flow of Academic Professionals in Colleges and Universities Based on Convolutional Neural Networks

The influencing factors of academic professional mobility in colleges and universities are complex and diverse, and the intensity of each influencing factor has obvious characteristics of differentiation. However, scholars have few relevant studies based on the intensity of factors affecting the flow of academic professionals in colleges and universities. Therefore, this article aims to study and analyze the influence of different factors on the flow of academic professionals in different types of colleges and universities, which is of great significance for promoting the rational and orderly flow of academic professionals. This paper proposes a comprehensive application of multiple methods, such as questionnaire surveys and data statistics, based on ERG theory, based on the four types of universities and colleges: research-oriented, teaching research, teaching, and application. The influence intensity of the flow-influencing factors is comparatively studied. It clarified the differences in the influence of spiritual factors, economic factors, and social factors on the mobility of academic professionals in colleges and universities, established a mobility factor model, and put forward policy recommendations for colleges and universities to promote the rational and orderly mobility of academic professionals. A total of 2042 questionnaires on “Policy Improvement Factors Affecting the Flow of Academic Experts in Universities” were released, four academic experts of different levels were assigned to universities, and 1,561 were effectively searched. Among them, there were 336 research universities, 157 educational research universities, 404 educational universities, and 164 applied universities. The experimental results of this article show that the factors affecting the flow of academic professionals in universities include economic strength factor of 0.4945, social strength factor of 0.5456, and intellectual strength factor of 0.52. Therefore, the factors affecting the mobility of university scholars can be used in strategic research.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Naturalization and International Migration in Switzerland, 2011–2017

The notion of residential settlement associated with the acquisition of new citizenship has been recently challenged by a number of studies highlighting its instrumentality as a subsequent mobility factor. The long and diverse history of Switzerland as a country of immigration and the availability of rich data on naturalization and international migration that allow individuals to be followed over time make this country a valuable case for investigating the impact of naturalization on international (return or onward) migration. Using longitudinal data, we follow 88,900 immigrants who entered the country between 1998 and 2000 over a period of 84 months between January 2011 and December 2017, documenting changes in naturalization status and in migratory movements and their direction. Using different implementations of a Cox proportional hazards model, we examine whether and under what conditions the international migration behaviour of naturalized persons differs from that of non-naturalized persons. Our results show that the population accessing naturalization tends to be less mobile, but also that among third-country nationals, naturalization can trigger further international mobility, in particular among those with poor economic performance and with no family ties in Switzerland.

A Comparative Analysis of Fractionation of Potassium in Soils from Some Refuse Dumpsites in Benin City Nigeria

A study on potassium dynamics and fractionation was carried out in Benin City to determine the amount and distribution of k fraction in soil samples collected from different refuse dumpsites. The sand, silt and clay contents of the dumpsites soils varied from 83.3 to 95.3, 0.60 to 3.35 and 2.55 to 15.10%, respectively. Soils were dominantly sandy with textural classes varying from sand to loamy sand down at depth. The result revealed that the water-soluble k and Exchangeable k range from 163.8 to 643.4 mg/kg in surface soils and 271.1 to 319.8 mg/kg in sub-surface in Benin-Onitsha Bypass and Benin-Warri Bypass. The difficult exchangeable k content ranged from 93.6 to 483.6 mg/kg and 50.1 to 467.9 mg/kg .in the surface and sub-surface of the dumpsites; K content was highest in the subsurface soils than in surface soils due to high deposition of refuse from surface soils within the dumpsites. In general, distribution of K forms decreased in the order reserved K > fixed > water-soluble > Exchangeable K, Structural K > Diff. Exch. K as well as the mobility factor for each of the refuse dumpsite investigated. Similarly, the amount of the various forms of k extracted decreased as the soil pH decreased. The soil samples collected far away from the dumpsites have lower concentrations of k forms compared to those from the vicinity of the dumpsites. This shows that the waste dumps had higher concentration of elements, thereby interacting with the soil and enhance their dominance within the dumpsites. The particle size fraction of the refuse dump suggests the need for consideration of active soil portions for sustainable K management of the environment.

Chemical Speciation and Mobility Factors of Heavy Metals in Soil Around an Integrated Steel Complex Communities

Some heavy metals, consisting of Fe, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined using USEPA Method 3050B for total metal concentration. Six composite samples were located from Aladja (ALJ), Ovwian (OVW), Ejevwu (EJW), Ekete Inland (EKI}, Orhuwhorun (ORH), and Otor-Udu (OTU) towns. In addition, chemical speciation was carried out on these samples using method employed by Tessier et al. as modified by Kersten and Forstner to assess their speciation pattern and the fraction of abundance as determinant of environmental pollution. From the results obtained, concentrations of Fe, Cd and Mn were more predominant in the residual fraction (F5) in the form of Fe3+, Cd2+ Mn2+ respectively for both wet and dry seasons. Co was more in the exchangeable fraction (F1) as Co2+ for both seasons. Concentration of Cu in the form of Cu2+ is higher in Fe-Mn oxide fraction (F3) for wet season and dry season’s organic fraction (F4). Pb and Zn were abundant in Fe-Mn oxide fraction (F3) for both seasons as divalent ions. Mobility factor calculated for the metals shows pattern in the order: Pb > Co > Zn > Mn > Fe > Cd > Cu > Ni for wet season and Co > Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd > Fe for dry season; which is as a result of changes in some physiochemical parameters such as acidity, pH, among others. From this result, there is the need to ensure that future health catastrophe is averted from the accumulation and release of Pb2+, Zn2+, Co2+ and Mn2+ especially into the environment.

Immobilization Potential of Cow Manure for Heavy Metal Remediation from Refuse Dump Soil

Aims: The present study investigated the effect of cow manure amendment on fractionation and availability of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Mn, Pb and Zn) in refuse dump soil. Study Design: A greenhouse study experiment was conducted to determine the uptake of the metals by Ricinus communis in dump soil treated with 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% cow manure. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, between May and October 2018. Methodology: Experimental pots were filled with 2.0kg refuse dump soil in a green house and treated with 5%, 10% and 20% of Cow manure in three replicates per treatment. The seeds of Ricinus communis were planted in each pot and analysed after 12 weeks of planting for heavy metals using AAS. Sequential extraction was carried out on the treated soil after the harvest with each extract further analysed for heavy metals using AAS. Results: Application of cow manure significantly (p ˂ 0.05) affected the redistribution and the mobility of the heavy metals in the dump soil; as the concentration of the amendment increased, heavy metals in the mobile fractions reduced. 20% amendment had the best immobilization effect as the mobility factor decreased with increasing manure amendment. The mobility factors at 20% amendment were 18.34%, 15.82%, 5.23%, 15.86%, 25.56% and 12.81% for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn respectively with the general trend of metal forms given as: residual > bound to organic > bound to Fe-Mn oxide > bound to carbonate > exchangeable. Conclusion: Cow manure amendment of the dump soil decreased the availability of heavy metals for plant uptake; and the metal uptake generally decreased as percentage amendment increased. Cow manure is therefore a good immobilizing agent for remediation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in polluted soils.

The Viscoelastic Swirled Flow in the Confusor

A two-dimensional mathematical model for a steady viscoelastic laminar flow in a confusor was developed under the condition of swirled flow imposed at the inlet. Low density polyethylene was considered as a working fluid. Its behavior was described by a two-mode Giesekus model. The proposed mathematical model was tested by comparing it with some special cases presented in the literature. Additionally, we propose a system of equations to find the nonlinear parameters of the multimode Giesekus model (mobility factor) based on experimental measurement. The obtained numerical results showed that in a confusor with the contraction rate of 4:1, an increase in the swirl intensity at Wi < 5.1 affects only the circumferential velocity, while the axial and radial velocities remain constant. The distribution pattern of the first normal stress difference in the confusor is qualitatively similar to the one in a channel with abrupt contraction, i.e., as the viscoelastic fluid flows in the confusor, the value of N1 increases and reaches a maximum at the end of the confusor. Dimensionless damping coefficients of swirl are used to estimate the swirl intensity. The results show that the swirl intensity decreases exponentially.