Particulate air pollution a growing risk for premature CVD death and disability worldwide

A new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found consistent increases yet variable differences in the rate of premature CVD death and disability due to particulate matter air pollution around the world

Peer-Reviewed Publication

AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

Research Highlights:

• Between 1990 and 2019, the total annual number of premature CVD deaths and years of disability attributable to particulate matter air pollution rose by 31% worldwide.
• The increase in deaths was unevenly distributed by sex, with a 43% increase in deaths among men compared to a 28.2% increase among women.
• During the nearly 30 years of data reviewed, deaths and disability attributed to outdoor particulate matter pollution rose, while deaths associated with indoor use of solid fuels declined.
• Regions with higher socioeconomic conditions had the lowest number of years of life lost due to cardiovascular disease attributed to PM pollution, yet also the highest number of years lived with disability. The opposite was true in regions with lower socioeconomic conditions, with more lives lost and fewer years lived with disability.

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Wednesday, August 9, 2023

DALLAS, August 9, 2023 — The impact of particulate matter air pollution on death and disability is on the rise worldwide, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

Previous research established the association of particulate matter (PM) pollution to CVD death and disability. However, questions remain about the worldwide impact from this type of pollution and how it has been changing over time, the study authors noted.

“We focused on examining the burden globally because particulate matter pollution is a widespread environmental risk factor that affects all populations worldwide, and understanding its impact on cardiovascular health can help guide public health interventions and policy decisions,” said Farshad Farzadfar, M.D., M.P.H., D.Sc., senior author of the study and a professor of medicine in the non-communicable diseases research center of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran.

The researchers analyzed PM pollution as a risk factor for death and disability using freely available data from 204 countries collected between 1990 and 2019 and detailed in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Exposure to PM pollution was estimated using a tool from the 2019 update to the GBD study that incorporated information from satellite and ground-level monitoring, computer models of chemicals in the atmosphere and land-use data.

Among the many types of heart disease, the current analysis of cardiovascular disease is restricted to stroke and ischemic heart disease (a lack of blood and oxygen supply to portions of the heart, usually due to plaque build-up in the arteries) because the 2019 GBD study on the global burden of disease attributed to PM pollution only examined these two diagnoses. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which provides the GBD estimates, only reports data for a certain risk factor if there is a large body of evidence about its association with a disease, Farzadfar noted.

“Until now, only the association of PM pollution with ischemic heart disease and stroke has been demonstrated in a large number of studies,” Farzadfar said. “The IHME may include other CVDs in the future. Moreover, ischemic heart disease and stroke contribute to a significant majority of CVDs, and our estimates, despite having limitations, may be used as a good estimate of PM pollution burden on CVDs.”

The investigators analyzed changes over time in years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs is a measure that considers both the loss of life and the impact on quality of life to assess the full impact of a health condition on a population. The cardiovascular disease burden was assessed both overall and with age standardization, which compares health outcomes across a population with a wide range of ages.

The analysis found:

• The total number of premature deaths and years of cardiovascular disability from cardiovascular diseases attributable to PM air pollution rose from 2.6 million in 1990 to 3.5 million in 2019, a 31% worldwide increase.
• The increase in overall deaths was unevenly distributed, with a 43% increase among men compared to a 28.2% increase among women.
• Between 1990 and 2019, there was a 36.7% decrease in age-standardized premature deaths attributed to PM pollution, meaning that while fewer people had died from cardiovascular disease, people are living longer with disability.
• Regions with higher socioeconomic conditions had the lowest number of lost years of life due to cardiovascular disease attributed to PM pollution, yet also the highest number of years lived with disability. The opposite was true in regions with lower socioeconomic conditions, with more lives lost and fewer years lived with disability.
• Between 1990 and 2019, changes in the cardiovascular impact of PM pollution differed between men and women. In all measures, increases in disability and death from ambient PM air pollution were higher in men than women, while declines in disability and death from household PM air pollution were lower in women than men.

“The declines in deaths may be considered positive news, as they indicate improvements in health care, air pollution control measures and access to treatment. However, the increase in disability-adjusted life years suggests that although fewer people were dying from cardiovascular disease, more people were living with disability,” Farzadfar said.

The researchers also found that between 1990 and 2019, age-standardized CVD death and disability attributed to outdoor PM pollution rose by 8.1%, while age-standardized cardiovascular death and disability attributed to household PM pollution, which is produced by solid cooking fuels such as coal, charcoal, crop residue, dung and wood, fell by 65.4%.

“The reason for the decrease in the burden of household air pollution from solid fuels might be better access and use of cleaner fuels, such as refined biomass, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, solar and electricity. Moreover, structural changes, such as improved cookstoves and built-in stoves, chimney hoods and better ventilation, might be effective in reducing pollution exposure to solid fuels. Finally, the effects of educational and behavioral interventions should be considered,” Farzadfar said. “The shifting pattern from household air pollution due to solid fuels to outdoor, ambient PM pollution has important public policy implications.”

In a 2020 scientific statement and a 2020 policy statement, the American Heart Association details the latest science about air pollution exposure and the individual, industrial and policy measures to reduce the negative impact of poor air quality on cardiovascular health. Reducing exposure to air pollution and reversing the negative impact of poor air quality on cardiovascular health, including heart disease and stroke, is essential to reducing health inequities in Black and Hispanic communities, those that have been historically marginalized and under-resourced, and communities that have the highest levels of exposure to air pollution.

The study has several limitations. Because the assessment of exposure to particulate matter pollution in the study is based on regional estimates, it may not accurately reflect individual exposure. In addition, results from this analysis of the association between particulate matter pollution and cardiovascular outcomes may not be generalizable to other health conditions or other pollutants.

Background:

• PM pollution consists of small particles of liquid and solids suspended in the air and inhaled into the lungs, such as vehicle emissions, smoke, dust, pollen and soot. Some particles are large enough to see (such as wildfire smoke) and may irritate the eyes, nose or throat, while others are too small to be visible but can reach deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream. Outdoor (or ambient) PM air pollution can come from vehicle emissions, industrial activities or natural sources such as pollen or dust; indoor PM often derives from heating, cooking or lighting the home with solid fuels such as coal, wood or other crop residues, especially when there is poor indoor ventilation.
• The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent population health research center focused on quantifying changes in population health worldwide. Data from the study can help policymakers look at hundreds of diseases, their risk factors and their impact on death and disability in various regions and throughout the world collectively.

Co-authors and authors’ disclosures are listed in the manuscript. The study authors reported no outside funding sources for this research.

Statements and conclusions of studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

Additional Resources:

• Multimedia is available on the right column of release link https://newsroom.heart.org/news/particulate-air-pollution-a-growing-risk-for-premature-cvd-death-and-disability-worldwide?preview=9af77a2bff4ee559433fef61ccf9de98
• After August 9, 2023, view the manuscript online.
• AHA news release: Risk of fatal heart attack may double in heat wave & high fine particulate pollution days (July 2023)
• AHA news release: Personal protection and public policy change can decrease health impact of pollution (Nov. 2020)
• Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews
• Follow news from the Journal of the American Heart Association @JAHA_AHA

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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JOURNAL

Circulation

DOI

10.1161/JAHA.123.029375 

ARTICLE TITLE

Particulate Matter Pollution Remains a Threat for Cardiovascular Health: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease 2019

 

Natural gas odorants associated with consistent pattern of adverse health symptoms

Literature review examines evidence of health effects associated with several commonly used natural gas odorants

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PSE HEALTHY ENERGY

Odorants are widely used in natural gas for leak detection, however, few studies have examined their potential effects on public health. A new peer-reviewed publication in Current Environmental Health Reports, suggests that some commonly-used natural gas odorants may induce a range of adverse health symptoms at very low concentrations, ranging from headaches to respiratory inflammation and skin rashes. 

“Our sense of smell is the first line of defense in detecting gas leaks, but few studies have examined how odorants in gas may adversely affect our health or well-being,” said the review’s lead author, PSE Healthy Energy Senior Scientist Drew Michanowicz. “The studies that do exist show potential risks, including evidence of both short-term self-reported health symptoms and longer-term health complications.”

The literature review Natural Gas Odorants: A Scoping Review of Health Effects examined 22 research articles related to the health hazards, risks, and impacts of five commonly-used natural gas odorants. The researchers found that consistent symptom patterns were observed during odorant exposure in seven community-level exposure events and two occupational case reports. These findings suggest that odorants may pose health risks at much lower exposure levels than currently suspected. 

“Our findings indicate that while fairly little is known about the health risks from inhaling gas, they may be underappreciated,” said Jonathan Buonocore, Assistant Professor at the Boston University School of Public Health. “Exposure to these intentionally added odorant compounds could represent an environmental justice issue for people living with a gas leak in their home, or frequently exposed to gas at work.”

The researchers include recommendations to improve the understanding and management of natural gas odorants, such as requiring chemical disclosure of odorants used in natural gas and establishing health-based exposure limits. More research is needed to better understand the causes of symptoms associated with odorant exposure, including effects on potentially susceptible populations or those that may exhibit some forms of odorant sensitivity or insensitivity.

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About PSE Healthy Energy

PSE Healthy Energy (PSE) is a scientific research institute generating energy and climate solutions that protect public health and the environment. PSE provides expertise in public health, environmental science, and engineering and brings science to energy policy through actionable research, communications, and advising. Visit us at psehealthyenergy.org and follow us on Twitter @PhySciEng.

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JOURNAL

Current Environmental Health Reports

DOI

10.1007/s40572-023-00403-w 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Natural gas odorants: A scoping review of health effects

Ancient DNA reveals an early African origin of Cattle in the Americas

Peer-Reviewed Publication

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

 

IMAGE: USING ANCIENT DNA, RESEARCHERS SHOW THAT AFRICAN CATTLE WERE LIKELY BROUGHT TO THE AMERICAS MORE THAN A CENTURY BEFORE WRITTEN RECORDS DOCUMENT THEIR ARRIVAL. view more 

CREDIT: FLORIDA MUSEUM PHOTO BY JEFF GAGE

Cattle may seem like uniquely American animals, steeped in the lore of cowboys, cattle drives and sprawling ranches. But cattle didn’t exist on the American continents prior to the arrival of the Spanish, who brought livestock with them from Europe by way of the Canary Islands.

In a new study, researchers analyzed ancient DNA from Spanish settlements in the Caribbean and Mexico. Their results indicate cattle were also imported from Africa early in the process of colonization, more than 100 years before their arrival was officially documented.

Records kept by Portuguese and Spanish colonists reference breeds from the Andalusian region of Spain but make no mention of transporting cattle from Africa. Some historians have interpreted this omission to mean that the first wave of colonists relied entirely on a small stock of European cattle initially shipped to the Caribbean Islands. 

“Early studies concluded a few hundred animals were brought over in the early 16th century, which were then bred locally on Hispaniola. From there, the initial population was inferred to have spread across the Americas,” said lead author Nicolas Delsol, a postdoctoral associate at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

During his second expedition in 1493, Columbus brought the first cattle to the Caribbean, where they were used as farm animals and a source of food. These new transplants did so well that feral livestock became a nuisance on the Island of Hispaniola. The Spanish distributed cattle widely through the Caribbean, and by 1525, foreign livestock were being farmed in parts of Central and South America. The Portuguese meanwhile moved related breeds from mainland Europe and the Cape Verde Islands to modern-day Brazil.

But researchers have reason to suspect the version of events gleaned from historical records was incomplete. In 1518, Emperor Charles V passed an edict making it legal to transport enslaved people directly from their homelands to the Americas, a practice which commenced less than three years later. In the ensuing decades, enslaved Africans would play a vital — and often unrecognized — role in the development of cattle ranching.

“The earliest ranchers in Mexico were nearly all of African ancestry,” Delsol said. “We know that people like the Fulani in West Africa formed herder societies in which they lived in what could be described as a symbiosis with cattle. Both these lines of evidence made us think there was a strong possibility that the Spanish brought cattle from the same region as the people they enslaved.”

Previous genetic studies seem to support this idea. DNA from modern American cattle bears the signature of their European ancestry, but it also reveals a history of hybridization with breeds from Africa and Asia. Without archaeological data, however, it’s not possible to pinpoint exactly when these events took place.

The first records of African cattle in the Americas date back to the 1800s, when humped zebu from Senegal and n’dama cattle from Gambia were moved to areas with similar environments across the Atlantic. Beginning at roughly the same time and continuing into the 1900s, cattle domesticated in southeast Asia for thousands of years were also imported from India. Hybridization among these cattle led to common breeds that are still around today, such as the Senepol from the Virgin Islands and the American Brahman common in the tropics.

Do these records represent the first instance of cattle imported from regions other than Europe, or are they merely the continuation of a longstanding practice that had, until then, gone undocumented?

The only way to know for sure, Delsol said, would be to sequence ancient DNA from cows and bulls preserved during the colonial era. Researchers in only one other study had attempted to do, using 16th century bones from Jamaica, but their results were inconclusive.

Delsol gathered 21 bones from several archaeological sites. Seven were excavated in Puerto Real, a former ranching town in Hispaniola established in 1503 and abandoned decades later due to rampant piracy in the region. The remaining specimens correspond to 17th and 18th century sites in Central Mexico, including settlements and convents in a long arc from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula.

After extracting DNA from bone material, he compared their genetic sequences with those of modern breeds around the world. As expected, most of the sequences shared a strong relationship with cattle from Europe, which was especially true for specimens from Puerto Real. Six of the bones from Mexico also had sequences common in African cattle but, crucially, also found in breeds present in southern Europe.

“To make things difficult, there are cattle in Spain similar to those in Africa due to centuries-long exchanges across the Strait of Gibralter,” Delsol said.

But a tooth found in Mexico City stood out from the rest. Buried in the tooth’s mitochondria was a short sequence virtually unknown from anywhere other than Africa. The cow it came from likely lived in the late 1600s, pushing back the introduction of African cattle by more than a century.

When looked at over time, the bones also reveal a pattern of increasing genetic diversity. The oldest bones from Puerto Real and Xochimilco (a settlement south of Mexico City) all originated from European stock, whereas those from later sites in Mexico seem to have descended from animals more common in the Iberian Peninsula and Africa.

Taken together, the results suggest Spanish settlers began importing cattle directly from West Africa as far back as the early 1600s.

“Cattle ranching profoundly shaped the landscape and social systems across the American continents,” Delsol said. “We’ve known about the diverse genetic ancestry of American cattle for a long time, and now we have a more complete chronology for their introduction.”

The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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JOURNAL

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-023-39518-3 

ARTICLE TITLE

Ancient DNA confirms diverse origins of early post-Columbian cattle in the Americas

 

Ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier for fuel cells: a perspective

Peer-Reviewed Publication

INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY & MATERIALS

 

IMAGE: THE POTENTIAL OF UTILIZING AMMONIA AS A HYDROGEN CARRIER FOR ON-SITE POWER GENERATION VIA AMMONIA DECOMPOSITION IS SYSTEMATICALLY DISCUSSED. view more 

CREDIT: ZHONGHUA XIANG, BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING 100029, P. R. CHINA

Due to the environmental and energy problems caused by fossil fuels, the search for alternative clean and renewable energy solutions has never been more urgent. Among these, hydrogen (H2) is emerging as a leading contender in the energy sector for both stationary and mobile applications. However, the commercial utilization of hydrogen fuel cells is hindered by the challenges of handling and transporting hydrogen due to its low volumetric energy density.

Fortunately, ammonia (NH3) is emerging as a promising hydrogen carrier due to its high hydrogen content (17.6 wt%) and potential economic benefits for energy production. When used as a fuel, it produces only nitrogen and water as byproducts, making it a carbon-free alternative to traditional fossil fuels. It can liquefy at a low pressure of 0.86 MPa at 25 ℃, providing a high volumetric energy density of 10.5 MJ L-1, which is twice that of compressed hydrogen at 70 MPa (5 MJ L-1). A team of scientists systematically discussed the potential of utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for on-site power generation via ammonia decomposition. Their work is published in Industrial Chemistry & Materials on Jun. 28, 2022.

"There has been growing interest in the utilization of ammonia as an energy vector," said Zhonghua Xiang, a Professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, "In this perspective, we addressed the chemical properties along with recent projects or worldwide chemical plants. Furthermore, we discussed the design strategies of catalysts and reactors, as well as their benefits and drawbacks. We hope this perspective could shed light on the potential of ammonia as a promising alternative to traditional hydrogen storage methods and highlights the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this exciting field of research."

As mentioned, storing renewable energy in the form of chemical fuels is deemed a pragmatic approach for both short- and long-term storage, especially in the transportation sector. In this regard, NH3 has been recommended as the more technically feasible option than CH3OH due to its advantageous chemical properties. The gravimetric H2 content of NH3 is 40% higher than CH3OH, while maintaining a comparable volumetric energy density. Additionally, for carbon-based fuels, obtaining pure carbon dioxide streams from industrial emissions may not be a viable long-term solution, and the expense for directly capturing carbon dioxide from the air is high.

"One of the primary limitations of ammonia is its apparent toxicity, which is approximately three orders of magnitude greater than that of methanol or gasoline. To ensure safe use, recommended exposure limits for NH3 are set below 100 ppm," Xiang said, "However, it is possible to monitor potential NH3 leaks and hazards in real-time using appropriate sensors. Furthermore, the human nose can detect ammonia at concentrations as low as 5 ppm in air, making it much more noticeable than odorless hydrogen. Therefore, it is practical to carry out appropriate hazard management to effectively mitigate the risk of ammonia exposure to both humans and the environment."

"The application of ammonia for power generation systems can be either stationary or portable, making it even more attractive," explained Dr. Lingling Zhai, a researcher in Xiang's group. "In China, Jiang's team from Fuzhou University developed a demonstration project that utilizes ammonia for on-site hydrogen production at a hydrogen fueling station, aiming to create a zero-carbon-emission energy community. Currently, the American technology startup company, Amogy, is launching testing operations for a 200 kW tugboat for maritime applications in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Catapult Center in Norway. International organizations such as the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES) have also made significant efforts to promote the application of ammonia as a sustainable energy commodity," Zhai said.

To apply ammonia-based power generation systems, several aspects should be considered: 1. To avoid possible leakage of ammonia, the storage tank and all connected components should use anti-corrosion materials. 2. Low-temperature (< 450 ℃) ammonia decomposition catalysts, and reactors with high volumetric energy densities are highly required. 3. Relevant policies and regulations that incentivize the adoption of renewable energy sources can help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

"With the context of the above discussions, we expect an "ammonia to hydrogen" economy may ease the scalable use of green hydrogen in the foreseeable future," Xiang said.

The research team includes Lingling Zhai and Zhonghua Xiang from Beijing University of Chemical Technology in China; and Shizhen Liu from PetroChina Company Limited.

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Industrial Chemistry & Materials is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal published by Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) with APCs currently waived. Icm publishes significant innovative research and major technological breakthroughs in all aspects of industrial chemistry and materials, especially the important innovation of the low-carbon chemical industry, energy, and functional materials.

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JOURNAL

Industrial Chemistry and Materials

DOI

10.1039/D3IM00036B 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Ammonia as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier for fuel cells: a perspective

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

Disclosing ‘true normal price’ recommended to protect consumers from deceptive pricing

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

Fifty years ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stopped enforcing deceptive pricing regulations, assuming that competition would keep retailers honest.

Since then, competition has increased significantly — yet the practice of posting false, inflated comparison prices alongside sale prices has continued unchecked.

Think of an advertisement from a furniture store that touts a $599 sale price for a couch as an $800 savings from a promoted regular price of $1,399. The problem is that the store may have never offered the couch for sale at the higher price.  

This practice, called “fictitious pricing,” is ubiquitous in the retail trade. One recent investigation tracked the prices of 25 major retailers and found that “most stores’ sale prices … are bogus discounts” because the listed regular price is seldom, if ever, the price charged for the products.

“Competition and the Regulation of Fictitious Pricing” is forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing from Joe Urbany, professor of marketing at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, along with Rick Staelin from Duke University and Donald Ngwe, a senior researcher at Microsoft.

The paper critically evaluates two assumptions underlying the FTC’s decision to halt deceptive pricing prosecution.

The first is that inflated reference prices are largely ignored by consumers, who focus primarily on the sale prices, leading to price competition that pushes selling prices lower and renders reference prices harmless.

However, dozens of empirical studies in marketing and psychology reveal that advertised reference prices — even those exaggerated to unrealistic levels — have significant impact on consumer decision-making. This is explained by the natural value that consumers place on getting a good deal, labeled “transaction utility” by Richard Thaler in his Nobel Prize-winning body of work. 

In contrast to the FTC’s second assumption that competition drives out economic incentives to cheat, a number of recent economic models show the opposite. Competition in fact increases the chance that a firm will offer noisy information in an attempt to shield itself by looking different to customers. As a result, deception is found to be more profitable as competition increases.

These are fundamental forces that encourage the use of fictitious pricing. They also explain why state-level regulatory efforts and even a growing number of class action lawsuits have done little to discourage the practice.  

“There are limits to enforcement by litigation,” Urbany said. “It allows only a relatively small number of meaningful actions in a given time period, leading to limited visibility and impact on widespread practice.”

The authors propose instead a disclosure solution in the form of requiring firms that use comparison prices in their sales promotion to additionally post the item’s true normal price (TNP). The TNP is the most frequently offered price for that product in a given period.

For example, let’s say a price-promoting furniture retailer actually offers the sofa for sale at $1,399 for the first two weeks in a quarter (making zero sales), and then advertises the sofa on sale at $599, promoting $800 in savings for the other 10 weeks. Under the TNP disclosure proposal, the retailer would need to post $599 as its true normal price for the product in any subsequent sales promotions that included statement of a “regular price.” 

Through a controlled experiment with 900 participants, the authors found that providing TNP information largely eliminates the effect of an advertised regular price, which otherwise significantly raises the chance a consumer will buy.

To gauge the likely response of firms to the TNP disclosure concept, the authors also interviewed a dozen senior retail executives, each with extensive experience in pricing.

“Our interviews revealed that some practitioners are very supportive of efforts to rein in what is perceived to be an ‘out-of-control’ promotional environment,” Urbany said. “At the same time, they and others offered more sobering insights about the realities of likely resistance to intervention.”

The paper concludes with conjectures about how TNP provision would motivate greater honesty in pricing, likely having an impact on average market prices, promotion frequencies and firm profits. Important research directions are highlighted. 

 

Contact: Joe Urbany, 574-631-2687, urbany@nd.edu

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JOURNAL

Journal of Marketing

ARTICLE TITLE

Competition and the Regulation of Fictitious Pricing

 

First experiments with carbon black pigment dispersion acting as a Janus ultrasound contrast agent

Peer-Reviewed Publication

COMPUSCRIPT LTD

https://doi.org/10.15212/bioi-2023-0004

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. Theranostic ultrasound contrast agents comprise a therapeutic component whose controlled release is triggered by an ultrasound pulse. However, once the therapeutic component has been released from an ultrasound contrast agent microbubble, its intended uptake cannot be monitored, as its acoustically active host has been destroyed. Acoustic Janus particles, whose hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties depend on the external acoustic regime, are of potential use as contrast agents and drug-delivery tracers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that submicron particles with Janus properties may act as ultrasound contrast agents whose hydrophobicity changes over time.

Fifty samples of carbon black were subjected to 5-minute sonication with pulses with a center frequency of 10 MHz and a 1% duty cycle, after which the optical absorption coefficients were measured in n-octanol and water. These coefficients were compared with those of unsonicated samples.

Preliminary results show that the difference between the linear absorption coefficients of sonicated and unsonicated samples was Δα = 80 ± 13 m−1 immediately after sonication, indicating that the carbon black particles were less hydrophobic after sonication than prior to it. Forty-eight hours after sonication, the difference in linear optical absorption coefficients had lessened to Δα = 16 ± 9 m−1, indicating that the carbon black particles had become more hydrophobic over time, but not equal to the hydrophobicity situation prior to sonication.

These experiments confirmed that submicron carbon black particles have acoustic Janus properties.

BIO Integration is fully open access journal which will allow for the rapid dissemination of multidisciplinary views driving the progress of modern medicine.

 

As part of its mandate to help bring interesting work and knowledge from around the world to a wider audience, BIOI will actively support authors through open access publishing and through waiving author fees in its first years. Also, publication support for authors whose first language is not English will be offered in areas such as manuscript development, English language editing and artwork assistance.

 

BIOI is now open for submissions; articles can be submitted online at:

https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/bioi

 

Please visit www.bio-integration.org to learn more about the journal.

Editorial Board: https://bio-integration.org/editorial-board/

 

Please visit www.bio-integration.org to learn more about the journal.

Editorial Board: https://bio-integration.org/editorial-board/

 

BIOI is available on the IngentaConnect platform (https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cscript/bioi) and at the BIO Integration website (www.bio-integration.org).

 

Submissions may be made using ScholarOne (https://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/bioi).

There are no author submission or article processing fees.

 

Follow BIOI on Twitter @JournalBio; Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BIO-Integration-Journal-108140854107716/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/bio-integration-journal/).

 

ISSN 2712-0074

eISSN 2712-0082

 

Article reference: First experiments with carbon black pigment dispersion acting as a Janus ultrasound contrast agent, de Bruin Jordaan, Jean; Nixon, Ken J.; Carlson, Craig S.; Postema, Michiel;, BIO Integration, 2023, https://doi.org/10.15212/bioi-2023-0004

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DOI

10.15212/bioi-2023-0004 

 

City-dwelling wildlife demonstrate “urban trait syndrome”

Scientists find nuanced tactics are needed to increase urban biodiversity

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: AMERICAN CROW WITH PIZZA. ONE CHARACTERISTIC OF URBAN WILDLIFE IS THEIR TASTE FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF FOODS. view more 

CREDIT: KEVIN J. MCGOWAN.

Ithaca, NY— City life favors species that are adaptable and not too fussy about what they eat, among other characteristics. A worldwide consortium of scientists calls the resulting collection of traits an "Urban Trait Syndrome." Their study includes data from 379 cities on 6 continents, with the largest data set coming from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird program. The work is published in Nature Communications. 

"The most pronounced changes among city-dwelling organisms are in reproduction and foraging," said co-author and researcher Frank La Sorte at the Cornell Lab. "For example, city birds tend to be smaller, eat a wider variety of foods, and produce smaller clutches than their rural counterparts. Smaller clutch sizes in urban birds have been associated with higher survival rates and increased growth."

But not all groups of species share the same urban trait syndrome. Beetles, birds, and reptiles tend to have smaller body sizes in the most urbanized areas compared to their country cousins. The mobility of ground beetles was higher while that of reptiles and birds was lower in more urbanized areas.

An organism's level of mobility plays a role in how it looks for food. The study authors identify four different types of foraging behavior among the urban creatures studied. These food-finding strategies are shown in the graphic as they relate to birds, bees, beetles, bats, and reptiles. The "mobile specialist" behavior is inferred but was not documented in the study.

Both birds and bees are "central place foragers," meaning they have a base of operations and make daily trips out and back to find food.

"The most common dietary strategy for birds in urban areas is to be a generalist—in other words they'll eat a variety of different foods instead of specializing. You see this clearly among such common city birds as the Rock Pigeon, European Starling, and House Sparrow. The specialists gradually disappear," La Sorte explained.

As the dietary specialists disappear, biodiversity goes down in cities around the world, and the species mix becomes increasingly homogenized. Yet biodiversity is what keeps an ecosystem heathy.

Urban ecology is a growing field of study driven in part by human population growth and the expansion of many of the world's largest cities. One of the biggest hurdles when addressing questions in urban ecology is a lack of comprehensive information from within cities. Much of the existing ecological data, apart from birds, is scarce and not gathered in a systematic way that allows for accurate comparisons across cities. The growth of citizen-science programs such as eBird, in which volunteers compile observations of the natural world, have the potential to address this information gap.

"My perspective is that preserving habitat is critical," said La Sorte. "Ecosystems in cities are heavily transformed and managed and intact native vegetation tends to be scarce. The more components of an ecosystem that are preserved and supported, the healthier the overall urban environment will be."

That support could be in the form of expanded parks and green spaces or by supplying artificial nesting resources as ways to partially compensate for habitat lost to city expansion. It’s a more nuanced approach to urban conservation aimed at keeping cities healthy for nature and people by accounting for the needs of many different types of species.

This research was conducted as part of the Urban Biodiversity Research Coordination Network (UrBioNet) funded by the National Science Foundation.

Reference:
Amy K. Hahs, et.al. (2023) Urbanisation generates multiple trait syndromes for terrestrial animal taxa worldwide, Nature Communications, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39746-1

Foraging Behaviors graphic (IMAGE)

CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Graphic demonstrates four styles of wildlife foraging behavior.

CREDIT

Graphic produced by Bertrand Fournier. Silhouettes from Phylopic. Figure from Nature Communications, Amy K. Hahs, et.al. August 2023.

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JOURNAL

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-023-39746-1 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Urbanisation generates multiple trait syndromes for terrestrial animal taxa worldwide

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

7-Aug-2023

Teamsters union pushes for US bankruptcy reform after Yellow's collapse

Story by By Dietrich Knauth •

Freight trucking company Yellow files for bankruptcy

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Tuesday called for changes to U.S. bankruptcy laws following the Chapter 11 filing of freight trucking company Yellow Corp, saying that workers must not be "left behind" when big businesses fail.

The Teamsters union said 22,000 of its members were out of work despite making significant concessions on wages and pension benefits in labor negotiations with the nearly 100-year-old company, which filed for bankruptcy on Sunday.

Yellow has blamed the Teamsters' opposition to its internal reorganization efforts for its collapse. But the Teamsters said its members had sacrificed more than $5 billion in wage and benefit concessions since 2009 to keep Yellow moving.

The union warned that the bankruptcy could mean they will not receive bargained-for retirement benefits or severance pay.

"Corporate bankruptcy legislation in the U.S. is a joke," Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said in a statement. "Hardworking people routinely get left behind in this process when they should be at the front of the line to be paid and protected for the sacrifices they make to American employers."



The logo of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union is seen on the outside of their headquarters in Washington, D.C.© Thomson Reuters

Yellow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The union argued that U.S. bankruptcy law should be reformed to protect collecting bargaining agreements and worker retirement plans, which can be terminated by a bankrupt company or by a new buyer who acquires a company out of bankruptcy.

The union cited legislation last introduced in 2020 by two Congressional Democrats, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Representative Jerry Nadler of New York, as an example of the kind of legislation it would support.

That legislation, the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act, would have prioritized payment for certain employee wage and retirement claims and it would have made it more difficult for bankrupt employers to terminate pension plans and collective bargaining agreements.

The bill passed a House committee but was not enacted into law.

U.S. bankruptcy law currently prioritizes repayment of up to $15,150 in wages per employee, according to bankruptcy attorney George Singer, who is not involved in Yellow's case.

But a law that forces debtors to honor existing collective bargaining agreements and retirement plans could conflict with other fundamental goals of bankruptcy, like giving debtors a fresh start or ensuring that losses are shared by similarly-situated creditors, Singer said.

Yellow's bankruptcy also carries risk for U.S. taxpayers, who could be on the hook if the company is unable to repay a $700 million government loan.

Yellow executives have said they intend to fully repay a bailout loan issued by former President Donald Trump's administration in 2020, but that will depend on the company’s success in selling properties and roughly 12,000 trucks.

The U.S. government also faces losses on its nearly 31% ownership stake in Yellow, which it received as additional security for the loan. Shareholders are often last to recover their investments.

Yellow stock traded at $3.08 per share late Tuesday, up from $2.48 at the start of the day.

(Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Jamie Freed)