Environmental risk factors for dementia: a systematic review

Background - Dementia risk reduction is a major and growing public health priority. While certain modifiable risk factors for dementia have been identified, there remains a substantial proportion of unexplained risk. There is evidence that environmental risk factors may explain some of this risk. Thus, we present the first comprehensive systematic review of environmental risk factors for dementia. Methods - We searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases from their inception to January 2016, bibliographies of review articles, and articles related to publically available environmental data. Articles were included if they examined the association between an environmental risk factor and dementia. Studies with another outcome (for example, cognition), a physiological measure of the exposure, case studies, animal studies, and studies of nutrition were excluded. Data were extracted from individual studies which were, in turn, appraised for methodological quality. The strength and consistency of the overall evidence for each risk factor identified was assessed. Results - We screened 4784 studies and included 60 in the review. Risk factors were considered in six categories: air quality, toxic heavy metals, other metals, other trace elements, occupational-related exposures, and miscellaneous environmental factors. Few studies took a life course approach. There is at least moderate evidence implicating the following risk factors: air pollution; aluminium; silicon; selenium; pesticides; vitamin D deficiency; and electric and magnetic fields. Conclusions - Studies varied widely in size and quality and therefore we must be circumspect in our conclusions. Nevertheless, this extensive review suggests that future research could focus on a short list of environmental risk factors for dementia. Furthermore, further robust, longitudinal studies with repeated measures of environmental exposures are required to confirm these associations

Predicting the Hardness of Turf Surfaces from a Soil Moisture Sensor Using IoT Technologies

In horseracing, “the going” is a term to describe the racetrack ground conditions. In Ireland presently, a groundskeeper or course clerk walks the racecourse poking it with a blackthorn stick, assesses conditions, and declares the going – it is a subjective measurement. This thesis will propose using remote low-cost soil moisture sensors to gather high frequency data about the soil water content in the ground and to enable informed decisions to be made. This will remove the subjective element from the ground hardness, and look at the data in an objective way. The soil moisture sensor will systematically collect high frequency data from the ground and store the data in a remote database using Internet of Things (IoT) technologies such as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), InfluxDB and Node-RED. The database will hold soil moisture readings, their timestamp and GPS location. From this data and data from an industry-standard Clegg hammer, the soil sensor will be automatically calibrated for the soil that it is sitting in regardless of the soil make-up, the sensor model, and the drainage of the soil. The going of the soil will also be deduced. The primary soil saturation data is fused with secondary open source weather data. Weather forecast information is gathered spanning out 3 hours, 24 hours and 5 days, and estimates can be made regarding how the ground will behave. These estimates are automatically update every 3 hours. The data will also allow decisions to be made for irrigation planning. Finally, the data will be visually displayed in real-time enabling a clear view of the soil moisture, current ground hardness, the going, rainfall and their forecasts. The system will propose how conditions will change if irrigation is applied

Clemson Catalog, 2009-2010, Volume 84

https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/clemson_catalog/1159/thumbnail.jp

Clemson Catalog, 2010-2011, Volume 85

https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/clemson_catalog/1160/thumbnail.jp

Spatial patterns and environmental risk associated to trace metals in sediments from Sepetiba bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The sediment quality of Sepetiba bay is affected by trace metals from input of many human activities. The environmental risk index showed high values due to trace metals pollution in the inner part of the bay, but also along Marambaia sandbar area. Cd and Zn are of critical concern for Sepetiba bay sediments management, due to their high concentrations and potential toxicity to aquatic organisms. However, copper stands out in hot spots. Marambaia bay sedimentation rates enhancement was concurrently with the introduction of Paraíba do Sul-Guandu rivers diversion system. Higher amounts of Cd and Zn were found in the inner part of the bay since 1960’s, concurrently with the Ingá metallurgical Cia. establishment. Mn oxy-hydroxides compose the main phase in the sediments fractionation, which is considered an important scavenger for trace metal in the region. A systematic and recurrently monitoring program has to be implemented, since Zn and Cd high concentrations from Ingá wastes can be masking other potential sources. Therefore, other contaminants must be monitored, such as Cu, Pb and Cr. Especially due to the growth of industrial and harbor activities in Sepetiba bay basin, other point and non-point pollution sources for the system are expected.A qualidade dos sedimentos da Baía de Sepetiba é afetada pela introdução de metais traço através de diversas atividades antrópicas. O índice (SQGQs) demonstrou um risco contínuo na região interna da baía devido a poluição por metais traço e que áreas mais afastadas também estão sob pressão. Cd e Zn são metais que merecem atenção especial no gerenciamento de sedimentos na região, porém o cobre aparece enriquecido em regiões próximas a restinga da Marambaia. A baía da Marambaia apresentou aumento nas taxas de sedimentação concomitante ao início do sistema de transposição de bacias dos rios Paraíba do Sul- Guandú. Altas concentrações de Cd e Zn estão presentes nas camadas correspondentes à instalação da Metalúrgica Ingá Cia. Os óxidos hidróxidos de Mn são uma importante fase trocável para os metais traço na baía. A variedade de fontes de poluição que contribuem para o enriquecimento de metais traço na baía requer um programa de monitoramento sistemático e recorrente. Altas concentrações de Zn e Cd atribuídos a Ingá, podem mascarar outros potenciais poluidores. Portanto, outros metais, como o Cu, Pb e Cr devem ser monitorados. Principalmente pelo aumento crescente das atividades industrias e portuárias na região

Space, Territory, Occupy: Towards a Non-Phenomenological Dwelling

This thesis analyzes the relationship between the body and space through the works of Henri Lefebvre, and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. The aim of the project is to move beyond Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, which relies on a phenomenological understanding of the body and space. In order to do so, it will find in Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of ‘territory’ a non-phenomenological and constructivist concept of space that does not posit the ‘lived body’ as a transcendent ground. As a result, it will also attempt to trace out a non-phenomenological concept of ‘dwelling’ that is not based on a concept of the subject, but is ‘involuntary’ and constructive, and emphasizes the spatio-temporal dynamisms or rhythms that a ‘space without world’ consists of. Finally, by being loosely guided by the global Occupy movement, it seeks to invoke a politics ‘of’ space, where the concept of ‘occupy’ emphasizes a being-in-space that is primarily political and only secondarily ontological