Assessment of airborne particles and bioaerosols concentrations in a waste recycling environment in Brazil.

This study aims to assess the concentrations of size-fractioned particle mass (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4.0, PM10) and number (PNC0.3, PNC0.5, PNC1.0, PNC2.5), bacteria, and fungi in a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Brazil. The measurements were performed inside the waste processing shed (P1) and in the outdoor environment (P2) during working days in winter and spring of 2017, and summer of 2019. A total of 2,400 min of PM, 1,440 min of PNC, and 216 samples of bioaerosols were collected in the morning and afternoon. P1 has the strongest air contamination with mean values of 475.5 ± 563.7 µg m-3 for PM10, 58.6 ± 36.0 cm-3 for PNC0.3, 1,088.8 ± 825.2 colony-forming units per cubic meter (CFU m-3) for bacteria, and 2,738.3 ± 1,381.3 CFU m-3 for fungi. The indoor/outdoor ratios indicated the large influence of indoor sources due to the activities performed inside P1 that promote the generation and resuspension of pollutants. Gram-positive bacteria dominated with 58.6% of indoor samples. Overall, our results show a critical indoor air quality situation in a Brazilian MRF, which may cause several health risks for waste pickers. Finally, we call attention to the lack of occupational exposure limits for bioaerosols in industrial workplaces and mainly in MRFs.

An overview of graphene materials: Properties, applications and toxicity on aquatic environments.

Due to unique chemical and physical properties, nanomaterials from the Graphene family are being increasingly introduced in all fields of science. The specific roles they can occupy within different applications are attracting increased attention by several industrial sectors. These carbon nanoparticles are released into the environment especially accumulating in aquatic systems. Since the discovery of graphene, a number of research actives are being conducted to find out the toxic potential of the Graphene family materials to different organism's models. Although their toxicity effects are well described for biomedical applications, few data were produced with the specific aim of assessing the toxic effects of these carbon nanomaterials in the aquatic environment. The purpose of this review is to compile up-to-date information on properties, applications and characterization methods of graphene family materials in aquatic environments and identified biological toxic impacts of these NMs, with special focus on graphene oxide based on the most recent literature.

Depression, marital satisfaction and communication in couples: investigating gender differences.

The correlation between depression and dysfunctional marital interaction is well documented, but only a few studies have examined gender-related differences in marital interaction patterns of couples with a depressed partner. In this paper we examined differences in observed marital communication in a sample of 62 Swiss couples presenting for treatment of depression. There were 16 maritally distressed couples with a depressed wife, 21 maritally nondistressed couples with a depressed wife, 18 maritally distressed couples with a depressed husband, and 7 maritally nondistressed couples with a depressed husband. Marital interaction behavior was found to depend on gender, depression, marital distress, as well as gender of the depressed partner. Our results suggest the need for a gender-sensitive model of the link between marital interaction and depression.

Intranasal oxytocin increases positive communication and reduces cortisol levels during couple conflict.

BACKGROUND: In nonhuman mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin has repeatedly been shown to increase social approach behavior and pair bonding. In particular, central nervous oxytocin reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and is suggested to mediate the rewarding aspects of attachment in highly social species. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of central oxytocin mechanisms on behavior and physiology in human couple interaction. METHODS: In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before a standard instructed couple conflict discussion in the laboratory. The conflict session was videotaped and coded for verbal and nonverbal interaction behavior (e.g., eye contact, nonverbal positive behavior, and self-disclosure). Salivary cortisol was repeatedly measured during the experiment. RESULTS: Oxytocin significantly increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior during the couple conflict discussion (F = 4.18, p = .047) and significantly reduced salivary cortisol levels after the conflict compared with placebo (F = 7.14, p = .011). CONCLUSIONS: These results are in line with animal studies indicating that central oxytocin facilitates approach and pair bonding behavior. Our findings imply an involvement of oxytocin in couple interaction and close relationships in humans.

Effects of coping-oriented couples therapy on depression: a randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treating depression with coping-oriented couples therapy (COCT) as compared with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; A. T. Beck, C. Ward, & M. Mendelson, 1961) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT; M. M. Weissman, J. C. Markowitz, & G. L. Klerman, 2000). Sixty couples, including 1 clinically depressed partner, completed pre- and posttest questionnaires as well as follow-up assessments at 6-month intervals over the subsequent 1.5 years. Effects of the 3 treatments on depressive symptomatology assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, A. J. Rush, B. L. Shaw, & G. Emery, 1979) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (M. Hamilton, 1960); recovery rates; and relapse rates were examined. Additionally, changes in relationship quality were evaluated. Results suggest that the COCT is as effective in improving depressive symptomatology as are the well-established, evidenced-based CBT and IPT approaches. The COCT did not demonstrate a significantly better outcome with regard to self-reported relationship satisfaction or dyadic coping; however, it did produce significant improvements in partners' expressed emotion, changes that were not seen in other treatment conditions.

The case for diversity in the health care workforce.

Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the health care workforce is essential for the adequate provision of culturally competent care to our nation's burgeoning minority communities. A diverse health care workforce will help to expand health care access for the underserved, foster research in neglected areas of societal need, and enrich the pool of managers and policymakers to meet the needs of a diverse populace. The long-term solution to achieving adequate diversity in the health professions depends upon fundamental reforms of our country's precollege education system. Until these reforms occur, affirmative action tools in health professions schools are critical to achieving a diverse health care workforce.

Patient accept questionnaires integrated in clinical routine: a study by the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery.

BACKGROUND: In 1996, the Swedish National Register for Gynecological Surgery started to collect pre- and postoperative information on patients using questionnaires given out as part of routine medical care. The information is used in providing clinical care to the patient and for quality assessment. AIMS: To evaluate patients' acceptance of questionnaires as a means of collecting information, and to investigate whether the questionnaire is a suitable tool for follow-up of patients. METHODS: In 1998, evaluations of the ordinary questionnaires were done by an evaluation questionnaire mailed to 80 patients who had been recently hysterectomized. The results were triangulated with results from the register's database and data from interviews with physicians and secretaries. RESULTS: The majority of the patients appreciated the questionnaires. Patients did not report any major problems in filling in the questionnaires. Most problems were due to administrative errors of the departments. Up to 36% of the patients missed the scheduled follow-up visit 2 months after the operation. Two out of four departments regarded the follow-up visit necessary and requested by the patients. Out of 1226 patients followed up postoperatively by questionnaire, 75% stated that they did not need any medical care. Among physicians, some distrust of questionnaires was noted. CONCLUSIONS: The patients in this study preoperatively, and for short- and long-term follow-up, accepted the questionnaire as an instrument of data collection. Questionnaires provide a more complete collection of post-treatment information than follow-up visits do. A large number of unnecessary follow-up visits can be avoided through use of a questionnaire.