Climate protection, health and other motives for active transport - results of a cross-sectional survey in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Active transport- for example walking and bicycling to travel from place to place- may improve physical fitness and health and mitigate climate change if it replaces motorised transport. The aim of this study is to analyse the active transport behaviour of adults living in Germany, to investigate differences among population groups and to determine whether climate protection is a frequent motive for this behaviour. METHODS: This study uses self-reported data of 4,971 adults who participated in a national health survey (German Health Update 2021), which was conducted as a telephone survey from July to December 2021. Associations between active transport behaviour and corresponding motives with sociodemographic and health-related variables were analysed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the adult population, 83% use active transport at least once a week. The frequency and duration of walking per week are significantly higher than those for bicycling (walking 214 min/week; bicycling 57 min/week). Those with a lower education level are less likely to practise active transport than those with a higher education level. Furthermore, women are less likely to use a bicycle for transport than men. Among those practising active transport, the most frequently mentioned motive is "is good for health" (84%) followed by "to be physically active" (74%) and "is good for the climate/environment" (68%). Women and frequent bicyclists (at least 4 days/week) mention climate protection as a motive more often than men and those bicycling occasionally. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement of active transport, especially among people with lower education and women (for bicycling), may benefit from better insights into motives and barriers. Climate protection is an important motivator for practising active transport within the adult population living in Germany and should therefore have greater emphasis in behavioural change programmes.

A multimodal material route planning problem considering key processes at work zones.

With the continuous development of large-scale engineering projects such as construction projects, relief support, and large-scale relocation in various countries, engineering logistics has attracted much attention. This paper addresses a multimodal material route planning problem (MMRPP), which considers the transportation of engineering material from suppliers to the work zones using multiple transport modes. Due to the overall relevance and technical complexity of engineering logistics, we introduce the key processes at work zones to generate a transport solution, which is more realistic for various real-life applications. We propose a multi-objective multimodal transport route planning model that minimizes the total transport cost and the total transport time. The model by using the ε - constraint method that transforms the objective function of minimizing total transportation cost into a constraint, resulting in obtaining pareto optimal solutions. This method makes up for the lack of existing research on the combination of both engineering logistics and multimodal transportation, after which the feasibility of the model and algorithm is verified by examples. The results show that the model solution with the introduction of the key processes at work zones produces more time-efficient and less time-consuming route planning results, and that the results obtained using the ε - constraint method are more reliable than the traditional methods for solving multi-objective planning problems and are more in line with the decision maker's needs.

Mitigating delay due to capacity drop near freeway bottlenecks: Zones of influence of connected vehicles.

We present a novel perspective on how connected vehicles can reduce total vehicular delay arising due to the capacity drop phenomenon observed at fixed freeway bottlenecks. We analytically determine spatial regions upstream of the bottleneck, called zones of influence, where a pair of connected vehicles can use an event-triggered control policy to positively influence a measurable traffic macrostate, e.g., the total vehicular delay at bottlenecks. These analytical expressions are also able to determine the boundaries (called null and event horizons) of these spatial extents, outside of which a connected vehicle cannot positively influence the traffic macrostate. These concepts can help ensure that information is disseminated to connected vehicles in only those spatial regions where it can be used to positively impact traffic macrostates. Some scenarios examined in this study indicate that communication between connected vehicles may be required over a span of several kilometers to positively impact traffic flow and mitigate delays arising due to the capacity drop phenomenon.

Public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission in 40 cities during the first wave of the pandemic.

Background: The rapid global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 created urgent demand for leading indicators to track the spread of the virus and assess the consequences of public health measures designed to limit transmission. Public transit mobility, which has been shown to be responsive to previous societal disruptions such as disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks, emerged as an early candidate. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal ecological study of the association between public transit mobility reductions and COVID-19 transmission using publicly available data from a public transit app in 40 global cities from March 16 to April 12, 2020. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the association between COVID-19 transmission and the value of the mobility index 2 weeks prior using two different outcome measures: weekly case ratio and effective reproduction number. Results: Over the course of March 2020, median public transit mobility, measured by the volume of trips planned in the app, dropped from 100% (first quartile (Q1)-third quartile (Q3) = 94-108%) of typical usage to 10% (Q1-Q3 = 6-15%). Mobility was strongly associated with COVID-19 transmission 2 weeks later: a 10% decline in mobility was associated with a 12.3% decrease in the weekly case ratio (exp(ß) = 0.877; 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.859-0.896]) and a decrease in the effective reproduction number (ß = -0.058; 95% CI: [-0.068 to -0.048]). The mobility-only models explained nearly 60% of variance in the data for both outcomes. The adjustment for epidemic timing attenuated the associations between mobility and subsequent COVID-19 transmission but only slightly increased the variance explained by the models. Discussion: Our analysis demonstrated the value of public transit mobility as a leading indicator of COVID-19 transmission during the first wave of the pandemic in 40 global cities, at a time when few such indicators were available. Factors such as persistently depressed demand for public transit since the onset of the pandemic limit the ongoing utility of a mobility index based on public transit usage. This study illustrates an innovative use of "big data" from industry to inform the response to a global pandemic, providing support for future collaborations aimed at important public health challenges.

Uncovering physical activity trade-offs in transportation policy: A spatial agent-based model of Bogotá, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Transportation policies can impact health outcomes while simultaneously promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. We developed an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the impacts of fare subsidies and congestion taxes on commuter decision-making and travel patterns. We report effects on mode share, travel time and transport-related physical activity (PA), including the variability of effects by socioeconomic strata (SES), and the trade-offs that may need to be considered in the implementation of these policies in a context with high levels of necessity-based physical activity. METHODS: The ABM design was informed by local stakeholder engagement. The demographic and spatial characteristics of the in-silico city, and its residents, were informed by local surveys and empirical studies. We used ridership and travel time data from the 2019 Bogotá Household Travel Survey to calibrate and validate the model by SES. We then explored the impacts of fare subsidy and congestion tax policy scenarios. RESULTS: Our model reproduced commuting patterns observed in Bogotá, including substantial necessity-based walking for transportation. At the city-level, congestion taxes fractionally reduced car use, including among mid-to-high SES groups but not among low SES commuters. Neither travel times nor physical activity levels were impacted at the city level or by SES. Comparatively, fare subsidies promoted city-level public transportation (PT) ridership, particularly under a 'free-fare' scenario, largely through reductions in walking trips. 'Free fare' policies also led to a large reduction in very long walking times and an overall reduction in the commuting-based attainment of physical activity guidelines. Differential effects were observed by SES, with free fares promoting PT ridership primarily among low-and-middle SES groups. These shifts to PT reduced median walking times among all SES groups, particularly low-SES groups. Moreover, the proportion of low-to-mid SES commuters meeting weekly physical activity recommendations decreased under the 'freefare' policy, with no change observed among high-SES groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transport policies can differentially impact SES-level disparities in necessity-based walking and travel times. Understanding these impacts is critical in shaping transportation policies that balance the dual aims of reducing SES-level disparities in travel time (and time poverty) and the promotion of choice-based physical activity.

Ocimum gratissimum essential oil in the transport water of Brycon hilarii: implications at water quality, blood parameters and residues in tissue and plasma.

Transporting live fish is a common practice in fish farming, and is certainly one of the main problems that affect fish homeostasis. In this scenario, the use of natural additives has shown promise in improving fish resistance to adverse situations. This study aimed to assess the impact of Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oil (OGEO) on water quality, hematological parameters, and residue levels in the plasma, fillet, and liver of juvenile piraputanga (Brycon hilarii) during a two-hour transportation period. The fish were divided into plastic bags (4 L) and exposed to three different OGEO concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg L-1), while a control group received no OGEO (three repetitions each). After the two-hour transportation, blood samples were collected, as well as portions of the fillet and liver for quantifying essential oil compounds, which were also measured in the plasma. Oxygen levels remained high throughout the transportation period, in all groups, while the pH decreased. Hemoglobin, MCHC, and MCH increased in fish exposed to OGEO concentrations of 20 and 30 mg L-1, compared to the control group. However, lymphocyte counts and the concentrations of essential oil compounds in plasma, fillet, and liver increased with higher OGEO concentrations. The use of 10 mg L-1 OGEO in the two-hour transport water is promising to ensure the survival and well-being of Brycon hilarii juveniles (weighing 16 g), showing to be safe and effective. The residual concentration of eugenol the major compound of OGEO in the fillet remains below the maximum limit of the recommended daily intake.

Public transit and crisis communication for critical populations: A content analysis of web-based communication strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the United States, selected subgroups of historically marginalized populations include people with disabilities and people in racial/ethnic minority groups ("critical populations") who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. These groups are also more likely to use public transit to access essential resources; thus, understanding transit agencies' communication strategies to reach these populations during crises is of utmost importance. We conducted a content analysis of 16 transit agencies' webpages and Twitter® accounts during the first 6 months of the pandemic to assess alignment of agencies' COVID-19-related communications with best practices in crisis communication across five themes: perceivability, navigability, understandability, suitability, and content. Findings suggested that transit agencies frequently communicated about schedule changes and safety, eg, masking, station sanitation, and reflected racial/ethnic diversity in images. Yet, less than half consistently used communication strategies known to enhance accessibility and uptake of messaging among critical populations, eg, alternative text, and even less reflected disability diversity in images. We offer recommendations for public transit agencies to move beyond compliance to effectively address the needs of ridership most substantially impacted by public health emergencies.

Exploring residential relocation- differences between newcomers and settled residents in health, travel behaviour and neighbourhood perceptions.

This study explores whether people who have recently moved to an area differ from longer-term residents in their health, travel behaviour, and perceptions of the environment. Using a large, representative sample from the UKHLS, Newcomers demonstrate significantly lower mental and physical health, reduced car commuting, and a higher likelihood of liking their neighbourhood. Area deprivation, urbanicity, household income, and age emerge as influential moderators with i.e. Newcomers in affluent areas experiencing lower physical health than Settled Residents, and rural Newcomers expressing less neighbourhood satisfaction. Our findings highlight that Newcomers' perceptions of their environment diverge and environmental influences vary among population segments, potentially impacting related health behaviours such as active travel. Furthermore, residential relocation introduces Newcomers with distinct characteristics into areas, affecting the context in which potential population health interventions aiming to influence health behaviours operate. This necessitates a deeper understanding of what influences reactions to the environment as well as ongoing adaptation of environmental interventions to respond to changing contexts within the same location over time.

Cost-effectiveness of mask mandates on subways to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Community-based mask wearing has been shown to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, few studies have conducted an economic evaluation of mask mandates, specifically in public transportation settings. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of implementing mask mandates for subway passengers in the United States by evaluating its potential to reduce COVID-19 transmission during subway travel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the health impacts and costs of subway mask mandates compared to mask recommendations based on the number of infections that would occur during subway travel in the U.S. Using a combined box and Wells-Riley infection model, we estimated monthly infections, hospitalizations, and deaths averted under a mask mandate scenario as compared to a mask recommendation scenario. The analysis included costs of implementing mask mandates and COVID-19 treatment from a limited societal perspective. The cost-effectiveness (net cost per averted death) of mandates was estimated for three different periods based on dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma (November 2020 to February 2021); Delta (July to October 2021); and early Omicron (January to March 2022). RESULTS: Compared with mask recommendations only, mask mandates were cost-effective across all periods, with costs per averted death less than a threshold of $11.4 million (ranging from cost-saving to $3 million per averted death). Additionally, mask mandates were more cost-effective during the early Omicron period than the other two periods and were cost saving in January 2022. Our findings showed that mandates remained cost-effective when accounting for uncertainties in input parameters (e.g., even if mandates only resulted in small increases in mask usage by subway ridership). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the economic value of mask mandates on subways, particularly during high virus transmissibility periods, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study may inform stakeholders on mask mandate decisions during future outbreaks of novel viral respiratory diseases.

Identification and classification of urban employment centers based on big data: A case study of Beijing.

The layout, scale and spatial form of urban employment centers are important guidelines for the rational layout of public service facilities such as urban transportation, medical care, and education. In this paper, we use Internet cell phone positioning data to identify the workplace and residence of users in the Beijing city area and obtain commuting data of the employed to measure the employment center system in Beijing. Firstly, the employment density distribution is generated using the data of the working places of the employed persons, and the employment centers are identified based on the employment density of Beijing. Then, we use the business registration data of employment centers to measure the industrial diversity within the employment centers by using the ecological Shannon Wiener Diversity Index, and combine the commuting links between employment centers and places of residence to measure the energy level of each employment center, analyze the hinterland and sphere of influence of each center, and finally using the industrial diversity index of employment centers and the average commuting time of employed persons, combined with the K-Means clustering algorithm, to classify the employment centers in Beijing. The employment center identification and classification method based on big data constructed in this study can help solve the limitations of the previous employment center system research in terms of center identification and commuting linkage measurement due to large spatial units and lack of commuting data to a certain extent. The study can provide reference for the regular understanding and technical analysis of employment centers and provide help for the employment multi-center system in Beijing in terms of quantifying the employment spatial structure, guiding the construction of multi-center system, and adjusting the land use rules.

River valley urban network and morphology: A study on the urban morphology evolution of Lanzhou.

The present study investigates the dynamic evolution characteristics of urban spatial morphology by analyzing real road network data from 2000, 2010, and 2020, along with nighttime lighting data employing spatial analysis methods and spatial syntax models. Accordingly, two separate dimensions of urban morphology: internal and external, are covered. First, the integration and synergy of interior morphology features are analyzed using spatial syntactic modeling. Subsequently, the spatial compactness, fractal dimension, and level of center of gravity shift of the city are assessed by combining the nighttime lighting data with the earlier dataset. This analysis facilitated the deep exploration of the spatiotemporal evolution of the city's external morphology. Building upon this foundation, the interaction between the "internal and external" domains was analyzed further. The main findings of the study reveal a synchronous pattern of urban expansion throughout the evolution of urban spatial morphology. Furthermore, the urban form was observed to undergo a progressive transformation, transitioning from a "single core" morphology to a "primary and secondary double core" morphology. Over time, this development progressed and evolved into a "belt-like multi-core" structure. Additionally, the coupling characteristics further validate the relationship between the structure of the road network and the urban morphology in river valley-type cities. In particular, accessibility of dense and horizontally distributed transportation network was found to significantly influence the spatial development of these cities. As observed, the findings provides valuable insights into understanding the characteristics of internal and external associations regarding urban spatial patterns.

Domain-Specific Physical Activity and Stroke in Sweden.

Importance: Associations of domain-specific physical activity with stroke incidence and poststroke outcomes have not been extensively studied using long-term, population-based data. Objective: To investigate associations of leisure time, work time, transport, and household physical activity with stroke incidence and death or dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) 3 months after stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: The prospective, population-based Interplay Between Genetic Susceptibility and External Factors (INTERGENE) cohort study was conducted among a random sample of individuals from an urban-rural area covering western Sweden; 3614 individuals aged 24 to 77 years were examined in 2001 to 2004, and 1394 individuals were reexamined in 2014 to 2016. The median (range) follow-up was 20.0 years (56 days to 21.9 years). Data were analyzed from September through October 2023. Exposure: Physical activity levels were self-reported for leisure time, work time, transportation, and household domains. The mean number of steps taken over a 6-day period was collected in a subgroup of participants using a sealed pedometer. Main Outcomes and Measures: Follow-up for stroke incidence and mortality rates continued until December 31, 2022. The composite outcome of death or ADL dependency was assessed at 3 months after stroke. Results: Among 3614 individuals (mean [SD] age, 51.4 [13.1] years; 1910 female [52.9%]); 269 individuals (7.4%) developed stroke, of whom 120 individuals (44.6%) were dead or ADL dependent at 3 months. Intermediate (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38-0.77) and high (aHR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31-0.73) levels of leisure time physical activity were associated with a reduced incidence of stroke compared with low levels, as was an intermediate level of physical activity in transportation (aHR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93). High levels of leisure time physical activity were also associated with a reduced risk of poststroke death or ADL dependency (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16-0.71) compared with low levels. Work time and household physical activity were not associated with stroke incidence or stroke outcomes. In exploratory subgroup analyses, there were interactions between physical activity and smoking (current smoking or smoking in the past year associated with stroke risk only in participants with low or intermediate physical activity: aHR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.72-3.15) and family history of stroke (first-degree relative with a history of stroke associated with stroke risk only in participants with low or intermediate physical activity: aHR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.27-2.38). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, leisure time and transport-related physical activities were associated with a reduced risk of stroke. A high level of leisure time physical activity was also associated with a lower risk of death or ADL dependency 3 months after stroke.

Evaluation of a walking school bus program: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a walking school bus intervention on children's active commuting to school. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Houston, Texas (Year 1) and Seattle, Washington (Years 2-4) from 2012 to 2016. The study had a two-arm, cluster randomized design comparing the intervention (walking school bus and education materials) to the control (education materials) over one school year October/November - May/June). Twenty-two schools that served lower income families participated. Outcomes included percentage of days students' active commuting to school (primary, measured via survey) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA, measured via accelerometry). Follow-up took place in May or June. We used linear mixed-effects models to estimate the association between the intervention and outcomes of interest. RESULTS: Total sample was 418 students [Mage=9.2 (SD = 0.9) years; 46% female], 197 (47%) in the intervention group. The intervention group showed a significant increase compared with the control group over time in percentage of days active commuting (ß = 9.04; 95% CI: 1.10, 16.98; p = 0.015) and MVPA minutes/day (ß = 4.31; 95% CI: 0.70, 7.91; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support implementation of walking school bus programs that are inclusive of school-age children from lower income families to support active commuting to school and improve physical activity. TRAIL REGISTRATION: This RCT is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01626807).

Navigating health challenges: the interplay between occupation-imposed movement restrictions, healthcare access, and community resilience.

BACKGROUND: Transportation plays a significant role in health, community resilience, and access to basic needs such as healthcare, social services, education, and job opportunities. Health and community resilience are, however, impacted by a multitude of complex and unequal factors, such as transportation restrictions exacerbated by the Israeli occupation. The goal of the research was to examine the intricate relationships that exist in Palestine between movement restrictions imposed by occupation, health outcomes, and community resilience. METHOD: A self-structured questionnaire, devised based on expert conversations and previous literature, was used in this descriptive, quantitative study to explore health and resilience outcomes. Age, gender, marital status, place of residence, and means of transportation were among the various factors that were utilized to describe the socio-demographics of the study sample (n = 202). The researchers employed stepwise multiple regression and descriptive statistics for the data analysis. RESULTS: Study findings indicated that transportation restrictions have significant direct and indirect health consequences. A significant direct effect is observed, signifying a negative correlation between restrictions and health; increased transportation restrictions are consistently correlated with a decline in health. The study emphasized how place of residence affects health outcomes, with higher scores for campers and people living in green line areas. It also underscores that public means of transportation are found to be better for health outcomes than private cars. CONCLUSION: This study emphasized that roadblocks, checkpoints, and military incursions make it difficult for Palestinians to receive medical care, which has a detrimental impact on their health and well-being. It also underscores the need for significant reforms in Palestinian health and transportation systems to enhance infrastructure and healthcare access. The Palestinian Authority should invest in public transportation and community resilience programs to address transportation-related health issues, especially in villages, due to frequent settler attacks.

Financial regulations and sustainability: The role of energy price and climate policy uncertainty.

Russia ranks among the top five countries worldwide in terms of carbon emissions, with the energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors as the major contributors. This poses a significant threat to both current and future generations. Russia faces challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13, necessitating the implementation of more innovative policies to promote environmental sustainability. Considering this alarming situation, this study investigates the role of financial regulations, energy price uncertainty, and climate policy uncertainty in reshaping sectoral CO2 emissions in Russia. This study utilizes a time-varying bootstrap rolling-window causality (BRW) approach using quarterly data from 1990 to 2021. The stability test for parameters indicates instability, suggesting that the full sample causality test may yield incorrect inferences. Thus, the BRW approach is employed for valid inferences. Our findings confirm the time-varying negative impact of financial regulations on CO2 emissions from energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Additionally, findings confirm time-varying positive impact of energy prices and climate policy uncertainty on CO2 emissions from the energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Strong financial regulations and stable energy and climate policies are crucial for achieving sustainability, highlighting significant policy implications for policymakers and stakeholders.

Investigation of the Alternations in the Muscle Quality of Swimming Crab (Ovalipes punctatus) during Cold-Chain Transportation Using Physicochemical and TMT-Based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis.

Physicochemical properties and protein alterations in Ovalipes punctatus during cold-chain transportation were examined via sensory scores, water-holding capacity (WHC), glucose (GLU) content, catalase (CAT) activity, urea nitrogen (UN) content, and tandem mass tag (TMT)-based proteomic analysis. The results revealed that sensory characteristics and texture of crab muscle deteriorated during transportation. Proteomic analysis revealed 442 and 470 different expressed proteins (DEPs) in crabs after 18 h (FC) and 36 h (DC) of transportation compared with live crabs (LC). Proteins related to muscle structure and amino acid metabolism significantly changed, as evidenced by the decreased WHC and sensory scores of crab muscle. Glycolysis, calcium signaling, and peroxisome pathways were upregulated in the FC/LC comparison, aligning with the changes in GLU content and CAT activity, revealing the stress response of energy metabolism and immune response in crabs during 0-18 h of transportation. The downregulated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species pathways were correlated with the decreasing trend in CAT activity, suggesting a gradual retardation in both energy and antioxidant metabolism in crabs during 18-36 h of transportation. Furthermore, the regulated purine nucleoside metabolic and nucleoside diphosphate-related processes, with the increasing changes in UN content, revealed the accumulation of metabolites in crabs.

Providing Groceries and Transportation to Poverty-Exposed Pediatric Oncology Families: The PediCARE Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the Pediatric Cancer Resource Equity (PediCARE) intervention, which provided groceries and transportation, vs usual care, for poverty-exposed pediatric oncology families.

Safety-in-Numbers for route choice of bicycle trips: A choice experiment approach for commuters.

Safety-in-Numbers (SiN) implies that the risk of collision per road user is less when there are more road users. Although the available literature has confirmed the existence of SiN as an objective measure of safety, the effect on perceived safety, especially in the context of bicycle riders, has received much less attention. This study investigates the SiN effect on the perceived safety of bicycle riders that influences route choice behavior. A stated preference survey was performed in the South Delhi district of Delhi. The effect of attributes like posted speed limit, the volume of motorized traffic, bicycle infrastructure, and bicycle traffic/ crowding on route choice behavior was investigated. A binary logit model was developed to quantify the effect of these attributes on route choice. The results indicate that, in general, riders prefer routes with more bicycle traffic, hence validating SiN. But the effect does not always hold. For some riders, in the presence of dedicated bicycle infrastructure, when the perceived safety is higher, the presence of more bicycle traffic acts as crowding and demotivates riders to choose that route. The study also reveals that riders prefer routes with a low volume of motorized traffic and dedicated bicycle infrastructure. The outcomes suggest that a policy that encourages infrastructural development to provide lateral separation will encourage more people, hence increasing bicycle mode share as well as the perceived safety of riders.

Estimating regional CO2 and NOx emissions from road transport using real-world data-based emission factors in Korea.

The average-speed emission model (Speed-based model), a widely used and simple method of calculating road vehicle emissions, offers easy accessibility by expressing emissions as a function of average speed. However, there are limitations in expressing emissions generated through complex mechanisms simply as a function of speed. Real-world driving tests using a portable emission measurement system can incorporate the impact of vehicle driving load on emissions. In this study, we analyzed real-world emissions data from 94 light-duty vehicles and developed time-based emission factors depending on vehicle speed and vehicle-specific power (VSP). We also propose a speed-VSP based model to estimate regional CO2 and NOx emissions by combining time-based emission factors and vehicle operating times. The speed-based model and Speed-VSP based model exhibit a 44% difference in NOx emissions and a 29% difference in CO2 emission. In a comparison of the two models against RDE test results, the speed-VSP based model achieved high accuracy in predicting NOx and CO2 emissions with a lower root mean square error (RMSE). Specifically, for NOx emissions predictions, the speed-VSP based model achieved an RMSE of 122-270 mg/km, while the speed-based model showed a much higher RMSE of 435-476 mg/km. For CO2 emissions predictions, the speed-VSP based model achieved an RMSE of 34-56 mg/km, while the speed-based model showed a much higher RMSE of 36-72 mg/km. The results of this study present an opportunity to reassess and improve conventional method of measuring and evaluating emissions from road transport.

Incorporation of ascorbic acid in chitosan-based coating combined with plasma-activated water: A technology for quality preservation of red grapes after simulated transportation.

Red grapes possess multiple bioactivities but are highly susceptible to spoilage due to the lack of efficient preservation techniques. Plasma-activated water (PAW) treatment and the incorporation of antioxidants in bio-based coatings are promising methods for preserving produce. In this study, we tested a novel combination by incorporating ascorbic acid (AA) into a chitosan-based edible coating (CH) and combining it with plasma-activated water (PAW) treatment (CA-PAW) before simulating transport vibrations to extend the shelf-life of red grapes. The results from storage at 4 °C for 20 d indicated that the CA-PAW treatment reduced microbial counts by 2.62 log10 CFU/g for bacteria, 1.72 log10 CFU/g for yeasts and molds, and 1.1 log10 CFU/g for coliforms, in comparison to the control group treated with sterile deionized water. Total phenols and total flavonoid content were the highest observed, at 111.2 mg GAE/100 g and 262.67 mg RE/100 g, respectively. This treatment also inhibited water migration and erosion, and reduced damage to cell structure. Microstructural observations revealed that the CH coating on the surface of red grapes diminished the degradation of bioactive components. In conclusion, the CA-PAW treatment effectively inhibited the adverse physiological changes caused by vibration and mechanical damage to red grapes, maintained their nutritional and sensory qualities, and extended the shelf life by at least 8 d.