Assessment of the Contribution of Traffic Emissions to the Mobile Vehicle Measured PM2.5 Concentration by Means of WRF-CMAQ Simulations

INE/AUTC 12.0

Numerical investigations on the contribution of point source emissions to the PM2.5 concentrations in Fairbanks, Alaska

AbstractSimulations with and without consideration of emissions from point sources were performed with the Weather Research and Forecasting model with online chemistry (WRF/Chem) to examine the contribution of point source emissions to the PM2.5 concentrations at breathing level in Fairbanks, Alaska during winter. On days and at locations where PM2.5 concentrations exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 35μg m −3, emissions from point sources account for 4% of the 24h–average PM2.5 concentration on average. The locations of highest concentrations were the same in both simulations. Point source emissions induced only five additional exceedance days in the nonattainment area. The magnitude of the PM2.5 concentrations depended on meteorological conditions (temperature, wind speed, mixing height) and emissions. The radius of impact of point source emissions on the PM2.5 concentration at breathing level of about 10–12km downwind results as a combination of low emission heights, low wind speeds and the presence of inversions

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Asymptotic characteristics of Toeplitz matrix in SISO model predictive control

The singular value decomposition (SVD) of the Toeplitz matrix in the quadratic performance index of Model Predictive Control (MPC) is studied. It was shown in Rojas et al. (2003, 2004) that for sufficiently long prediction horizons, the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix converge to the energy density spectrum of the associated system seen by the performance index. In this paper, we extend that work and show that the left and right singular vectors of the Toeplitz matrix provide the phase information of the associated system for sufficiently long prediction and control horizons. A SISO system is used to illustrate the method

Asymptotic behaviour of Toeplitz matrix in multi-input multi-output model predictive control

The singular value decomposition of (SVD) of the Toeplitz matrix in the quadratic performance index of Model Predictive Control (MPC) is studied. The underlying goal is to find connection between the frequency domain information and the finite time optimal control and use this connection as a basis for stability, robust performance analysis and tuning of the dynamic MPC criterion. In a recent work by the authors, it was shown that the singular value decomposition of the Toeplitz matrix provides gain and phase information of the associated system for sufficiently long prediction and control horizons. This work is extended to MIMO case and is shown that singular value decomposition of the Toeplitz matrix can be used for stability analysis of closed loop system

Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma with Destructive Thyrotoxicosis in a Patient with Preexisting Multinodular Goiter

10.1089/105072504773297902Thyroid143227-230THYR

Ecosystem service monitoring using remote sensing, citizen science and other ground observations and current practices in Vietnam

Ecosystems are providing a stream of essential goods and services for the national socio-economic prosperity and welfare; paradoxically, these services have to suffer a high vulnerability against the increasingly uncontrolled use of human beings. World-wide researchers and authorities are working to ensure the sustainability of nature; and scientifically, any methodology aiming to maintain the good services of ecosystem is normally kicked off by analyzing data; regarding this point of view, monitoring data has emphasized its crucial role, especially for natural resources management and planning at both global and local scale. Realistically, monitoring data can facilitate the policy making process and management of natural resources that are rising intricately under high pressure of human interventions. Vietnam Government gives a high priority in developing the national environment monitoring network; recently, improvement of techniques has changed the approach of water monitoring in the country. In addition to the presenting an overview of ground observation methods conventionally used in Vietnam, this study presents the potential of other monitoring techniques such as remote sensing, sensors, citizen science and their linkage. Finally, an analysis specifying the gap of applications in Vietnam and other parts of the world is provided.Water ManagementCivil Engineering and Geoscience

Perceptions of wood-processing industries on FLEGT implementation: Insights from Vietnam

This paper analyses timber and wood processing companies' views on opportunities and challenges for FLEGT implementation in Vietnam based on a literature review, online surveys with 56 timber and wood processing companies, in-depth interviews with 26 stakeholders from different institutions, and a consultation workshop involving 94 participants. Our paper shows that FLEGT has received increasing attention and political support from the Government of Vietnam, which has issued new policies on sustainable forest management, forest certification and financial incentives to enable timber and wood processing companies to participate in FLEGT. The active presence of civil society organizations has helped improve forest governance, which is a key aspect of FLEGT. Perceiving FLEGT as a global market trend able to generate higher profits, timber and wood processing companies see opportunities to benefit from this timber trading initiative, and are therefore more willing to comply with FLEGT requirements. However, these companies also highlight challenges to implementing FLEGT on the ground, including unclear and inconsistent policies, weak monitoring and evaluation, high transaction costs, companies' limited access to information, unclear tenure and erratic land-use planning, and the weak capacity of household and small-scale enterprises. Effective implementation of FLEGT requires regulatory changes, improved law enforcement and translation of policies on the ground, enhanced information exchange between stakeholders, and addressing underlying problems relating to land tenure and forest governance

Opportunities and challenges for mangrove restoration in the Mekong Delta: Status, policies and stakeholder outlook

Based on a literature and policy review, spatial analysis, participatory mapping and stakeholder consultations, this paper identifies potential sites for mangrove restoration; looks at policy planning, possibilities for natural regeneration, and stakeholder perceptions; and discusses opportunities and challenges for mangrove restoration in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam