The WHO Study Group on Training and Evaluation in Occupational Medicine has recently emphasized the importance of incorporating theoretical and practical aspects of stress prevention and management in the professional training of occupational health practitioners. Such a course was developed for the Tel-Aviv University Medical School graduate program in occupational health. The course objectives are consistent with the current call for improved training in psychosocial issues in medical care. Twenty-three occupational health practitioners (physicians, nurses, hygienists and social workers) participated in a bi-semester course. The first part included a stress management and prevention program based on the RET (Rational-Emotive Training) model. The second involved developing and implementing a field project on primary and secondary prevention of stress and its outcomes. Pre-, mid-and post-course questionnaires showed significantly improved psychosocial ability and reduced irrational/dysfunctional thinking, considered a causal factor in stress and burnout. Acquiring such anti-stress resources may benefit practitioners and clients/patients, both potential victims of occupational stress alike. We recommend the inclusion of such extended courses to the professional training of occupational health practitioners. 相似文献
Commonly occurring natural events become natural disasters when they affect the population through death and injury, and/or
through the destruction of natural and physical capital on which people rely for their livelihood and quality of life. Climate
change plays a role in that it tends to increase the frequency and intensity of weather-related natural disasters. Additionally,
climate change may put people at risk by influencing access to water, coastal flooding, disease and hunger, and leaving them
with a more degraded environment, leading, in turn, to increased vulnerability. The purpose of this paper is to present a
review and synthesis of the literature and case studies addressing differential impacts of climate change-related natural
disasters on a society and its economy. Developed and developing countries show different vulnerabilities to natural disasters.
Even within countries, impacts vary significantly across population and economic sectors. When losses from natural disasters
are large, their cumulative effect can have notable macroeconomic impacts, which feed back to further pronounce existing income
inequalities and lower income levels. Impacts tend to be most pronounced for women, the young and elderly, and people of ethnic
or racial minorities.
The development of effective agricultural monitoring networks is essential to track, anticipate and manage changes in the social, economic and environmental aspects of agriculture. We welcome the perspective of Lindenmayer and Likens (J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 1559) as published in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring on our earlier paper, "Monitoring the World's Agriculture" (Sachs et al., Nature, 2010, 466, 558-560). In this response, we address their three main critiques labeled as 'the passive approach', 'the problem with uniform metrics' and 'the problem with composite metrics'. We expand on specific research questions at the core of the network design, on the distinction between key universal and site-specific metrics to detect change over time and across scales, and on the need for composite metrics in decision-making. We believe that simultaneously measuring indicators of the three pillars of sustainability (environmentally sound, social responsible and economically viable) in an effectively integrated monitoring system will ultimately allow scientists and land managers alike to find solutions to the most pressing problems facing global food security. 相似文献
The incorporation of antimicrobial metals such as silver is an alternative to protect the material against microbial attack. However, loaded polymer can lose its antimicrobial properties after some time of use, and the additive may even leak out into the environment becoming harmful to non-target organisms. This study aims to evaluate the mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity of silver containing thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) samples exposed to weathering and the influence of additive incorporation in material biodegradation in the soil. For this purpose, silver ions (Ag+_bentonite, Ag+_phosphate) and silver nanoparticles (AgNp_silica) based additives were blended in a formulation of SEBS, polypropylene and mineral oil. The test samples were exposed to natural ageing over nine months, and were then evaluated according to their mechanical properties, antimicrobial activity, and degree of crystallinity and surface characteristics. The biodegradation process before and after natural ageing was evaluated through the generation of carbon dioxide. The results show that the action of natural ageing reduced the mechanical properties of loaded and unloaded TPE, and modified the degree of crystallinity and the chemical characteristic of the TPE surface. The presence or type of additive did not influence material resistance after being exposed to weathering. A decrease in antimicrobial activity in samples after natural ageing was observed. At a variable level and according to the chemical content, generation of carbon dioxide from TPE samples was greater in aged samples than in unexposed ones. 相似文献
A recently designed two-chamber-lysimeter-test-system allows the detailed investigation of degradation, transport and transfer
processes of 14C-labeled substances in soil–plant–atmosphere-systems under outdoor conditions. With this test system it is feasible to distinguish
between 14C-emissions from soil surfaces and 14C-emissions from plant surfaces in soil monoliths under real environmental conditions. Special soil humidity sensors allow
the measurement of soil water content near to the soil surface, in 1 and 5 cm depth. The behavior of organic chemicals can
be followed for a whole vegetation period and a mass balance for the applied chemical can be established. Some selected results
of the herbicides isoproturon and glyphosate – using the two-chamber-lysimeter-test-system – are presented to demonstrate
its applicability for the identification and quantification of the processes that govern pesticide behavior in soil–plant-systems.
Mineralization of 14C-isoproturon was very different in four different soils; the mineralization capacity of the soils ranged from 2 to 60%. Leaching
of isoproturon in general was very low, but depending on the soil type and environmental conditions isoproturon and its metabolites
could be leached via preferential flow, especially shortly after application. For the herbicide 14C-glyphosate no accumulation of residues in the soil and no leaching of the residues to deeper soil layers could be observed
after three applications. Glyphosate was rapidly degraded to AMPA in the soil. Glyphosate and AMPA were accumulated in soy
bean nodules. 相似文献
Abstract: We examined the decisions women make in their collection of fuelwood within a protected area in Malawi. We used law enforcement data and behavioral observations of fuelwood harvesting practices to examine the risk of detection and penalties posed by law enforcement activities. Our results indicate that, at their current levels, law enforcement patrols have little effect on wood collection practices. The low risk of detection and light penalties appear to favor illegal wood collection, which is practiced by the majority of women. Alternative strategies should be pursued to enhance the conservation of the woodland and its management as a fuelwood resource for local communities. 相似文献
The transmission of free-living trematode stages is mediated by various environmental factors, of which the presence of ambient
organisms within the host space is a potential major determinant. In two laboratory mesocosm experiments, we investigated
the influence of four intertidal rocky shore species on transmission success of cercariae of the digenean trematodes Echinostephillapatellae (encysting in the tissue of blue mussels Mytilus edulis) and Parorchisacanthus (encysting on mussel shells). Encystment success of both parasite species was significantly lower in the presence of test
organisms when compared to controls. Observations revealed that barnacles Austrominiusmodestus actively filtered cercariae, whereas the larvae were obstructed by the seaweeds Corallinaofficinalis and Fucusserratus. Anemones Actiniaequina both physically disturbed and consumed cercariae. In a further laboratory experiment, grazing gastropods (Littorinalittorea, Patellavulgata, and Gibbulaumbilicalis) were found to significantly reduce the numbers of P. acanthus metacercariae in artificially prepared dishes by ingestion of cysts. Our results suggest that non-host organisms may play
a key role in regulating the transmission of free-living trematode stages in rocky shore ecosystems, which is especially important
with regard to the relative diversity and density of species in these habitats. The findings also emphasize the need to include
parasites into marine food webs, since cercariae seem to be consumed by certain organisms to a considerable extent and could
possibly represent an important energy source. 相似文献
Objectives: We examined associations among race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and driving status in a nationally representative sample of >26,000 U.S. high school seniors.
Methods: Weighted data from the 2012 and 2013 Monitoring the Future surveys were combined and analyzed. We imputed missing values using fully conditional specification multiple imputation methods. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was conducted to explore associations among race/ethnicity, socioeconomic factors, and driving status, while accounting for selected student behaviors and location. Lastly, odds ratios were converted to prevalence ratios.
Results: 23% of high school seniors did not drive during an average week; 14% of white students were nondrivers compared to 40% of black students. Multivariate analysis revealed that minority students were 1.8 to 2.5 times more likely to be nondrivers than their white counterparts, and students who had no earned income were 2.8 times more likely to be nondrivers than those earning an average of ≥$36 a week. Driving status also varied considerably by student academic performance, number of parents in the household, parental education, census region, and urbanicity.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that resources—both financial and time—influence when or whether a teen will learn to drive. Many young people from minority or lower socioeconomic families who learn to drive may be doing so after their 18th birthday and therefore would not take advantage of the safety benefits provided by graduated driver licensing. Innovative approaches may be needed to improve safety for these young novice drivers. 相似文献