GENERATION OF RECYCLABLES BY RURAL HOUSEHOLDS

Rising landfill costs have forced solid waste managers to consider ways to reduce the waste stream. Using survey data, models explaining the weight of recyclables generated by households are estimated for paper and glass. Results indicate that households respond to the time cost of recycling paper but not glass. The waste generation models imply total monthly willingness to pay for recycling is $5.78 per household. Waste managers may increase the weight of recycled waste stream with programs which lower perceived time costs of nonrecyclers and improve the efficiency of recyclers.Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy,

EXPLAINING RURAL HOUSEHOLD PARTICIPATION IN RECYCLING

Rising landfill costs have forced solid waste managers to consider waste stream reduction alternatives such as household recycling. Explaining the factors which motivate households to recycle is important to regions where households must bear a large portion of the recycling cost because unit-based garbage disposal fees and curbside recycling are not feasible options. Empirical results indicate that residents are responsive to constraints introduced by the household production technology, such as time costs and storage space, but are not responsive to variables measuring a recycling promotional program. Promotion efforts should switch focus from broader "public good" benefits of recycling to reducing household-level household production constraints.Dropoff recycling, Household recycling participation, Rural regions, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Signs and symptoms of autonomic dysfunction in dysphonic individuals

PURPOSE: To verify the occurrence of signs and symptoms of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in individuals with behavioral dysphonia, and to compare it with the results obtained by individuals without vocal complaints. METHODS: Participants were 128 adult individuals with ages between 14 and 74 years, divided into two groups: behavioral dysphonia (61 subjects) and without vocal complaints (67 subjects). It was administered the Protocol of Autonomic Dysfunction, containing 46 questions: 22 related to the autonomic nervous system and had no direct relationship with voice, 16 related to both autonomic nervous system and voice, six non-relevant questions, and two reliability questions. RESULTS: There was a higher occurrence of reported neurovegetative signs in the group with behavioral dysphonia, in questions related to voice, such as frequent throat clearing, frequent swallowing need, fatigability when speaking, and sore throat. In questions not directly related to voice, dysphonic individuals presented greater occurrence of three out of 22 symptoms: gas, tinnitus and aerophagia. Both groups presented similar results in questions non-relevant to the autonomic nervous system. Reliability questions needed reformulation. CONCLUSION: Individuals with behavioral dysphonia present higher occurrence of neurovegetative signs and symptoms, particularly those with direct relationship with voice, indicating greater lability of the autonomic nervous system in these subjects.OBJETIVO: Verificar a ocorrência de sinais e sintomas da disfunção do sistema nervoso autônomo em indivíduos com disfonia comportamental e compará-la com resultados obtidos por indivíduos sem queixa vocal. MÉTODOS: Participaram 128 indivíduos adultos, com idades entre 14 e 74 anos, que foram divididos em dois grupos: disfonia comportamental (61 sujeitos) e sem queixa vocal (67 sujeitos). Foi aplicado o Protocolo de Disfunção Autônoma contendo 46 questões, sendo 22 relacionadas ao sistema nervoso autônomo e sem relação direta com a voz, 16 relacionadas tanto ao sistema nervoso autônomo quanto à voz, seis questões não-relevantes e duas questões de confiabilidade. RESULTADOS: Nas questões relacionadas à voz, como pigarros constantes, necessidade de engolir frequentemente, cansaço ao falar e dor de garganta, houve maior ocorrência de alterações neurovegetativas no grupo com disfonia comportamental. Nas questões sem relação direta com a voz, os indivíduos disfônicos apresentaram maior ocorrência de três dos 22 sintomas: gases, zumbido e engole ar enquanto fala. Os dois grupos apresentaram resultados semelhantes nas questões consideradas não relevantes ao sistema nervoso autônomo. As questões de confiabilidade necessitaram de reformulação. CONCLUSÃO: Indivíduos com disfonia comportamental apresentam maior ocorrência de sintomas neurovegetativos, principalmente daqueles que possuem relação direta com a voz. Tais resultados indicam maior labilidade do sistema nervoso autônomo nesses indivíduos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de FonoaudiologiaSciEL

Voice loss in teachers and non-teachers

PURPOSE: To investigate teachers' and non-teachers' perception regarding the implications of an eventual loss of voice. METHODS: Participated in the study 205 individuals (106 women and 99 men), 105 teachers and 100 non-teachers, with ages varying from 23 to 65 years old. The participants were asked to answer a questionnaire with four questions regarding an eventual loss of vision, hearing, voice and deambulation, and the inferred impact degree (from 0 to 4). RESULTS: For the teachers group, not being able to see caused the most negative impact (mean of 3.8), followed by not being able to walk (mean of 3.7), loss of voice (mean of 3.7) and hearing loss (mean of 3.6). For the non-teachers group, loss of sight also caused the most negative impact (mean of 3.4), followed by not being able to walk (3.0), hearing loss (2.2), and loss of voice (2.0). Regarding the impact of an eventual voice loss, the teachers group indicated negative consequences at work, in their social relationships and in their daily routines. The non-teachers group indicated negative consequences to their daily routine, at work, in their social relationships and in their emotional manifestations. CONCLUSION: The teachers showed to value their voices differently from the non-teachers group. Both groups agreed that voice loss would not bring the most negative consequences. Although teachers noticed more the impact of an eventual loss of voice than non-teachers, the feelings towards this hypothetical situation were similar in both groups.OBJETIVO: Verificar a percepção de professores e não-professores sobre as implicações de uma eventual perda de voz. MÉTODOS: Participaram 205 indivíduos sendo 105 professores e 100 não professores entre 23 a 65 anos, 106 mulheres e 99 homens. Foi aplicado um questionário contendo quatro perguntas referentes a uma eventual perda de visão, audição, voz e deambulação e o grau de impacto inferido (de 0 a 4). RESULTADOS: Para o grupo de professores, não enxergar gerou o maior impacto negativo (média de 3,8), seguido por não andar (média de 3,7), não ter voz (média de 3,7) e não ouvir (média de 3,6). Para o grupo de não-professores, não enxergar também gerou o maior impacto negativo (média de 3,4), seguido por não andar (média de 3,0); não ouvir (média de 2,2) e não ter voz (média de 2,0). Em relação ao maior impacto de uma eventual perda da voz, professores indicaram prejuízos no trabalho, relacionamento social e atividades rotineiras e, no grupo de não professores, nas atividades rotineiras, trabalho, relacionamento social e manifestações das emoções. CONCLUSÕES: Os professores valorizam sua voz de modo diverso dos não-professores e ambos os grupos avaliam a perda da voz como algo que não acarreta consequências negativas. Apesar de o professor perceber mais o impacto de um eventual problema de voz do que o não-professor, os sentimentos em relação à perda da voz foram muito semelhantes nos dois grupos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Centro de Estudos da VozUNIFESPSciEL