Inequalities in diet and physical activity in Europe

The contribution of food, nutrition and physical activity to inequalities in health across Europe is largely unexplored. This paper summarizes cross sectional survey data on food patterns and nutrient intakes, and briefer data on physical activity, by various indicators of socio-economic status for countries across Europe. Factors are examined which underlie the outcome data seen. These include structural and material conditions and circumstances which contribute to excluding sociodemographic groups from participating in mainstream patterns of living. Trends in social and economic conditions, and their implications for nutritional and physical wellbeing are briefly outlined

Developing a model to estimate the potential impact of municipal investment on city health

This article summarizes a process which exemplifies the potential impact of municipal investment on the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in city populations. We report on Developing an evidence-based approach to city public health planning and investment in Europe (DECiPHEr), a project part funded by the European Union. It had twin objectives: first, to develop and validate a vocational educational training package for policy makers and political decision takers; second, to use this opportunity to iterate a robust and user-friendly investment tool for maximizing the public health impact of 'mainstream' municipal policies, programs and investments. There were seven stages in the development process shared by an academic team from Sheffield Hallam University and partners from four cities drawn from the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. There were five iterations of the model resulting from this process. The initial focus was CVD as the biggest cause of death and disability in Europe. Our original prototype 'cost offset' model was confined to proximal determinants of CVD, utilizing modified 'Framingham' equations to estimate the impact of population level cardiovascular risk factor reduction on future demand for acute hospital admissions. The DECiPHEr iterations first extended the scope of the model to distal determinants and then focused progressively on practical interventions. Six key domains of local influence on population health were introduced into the model by the development process: education, housing, environment, public health, economy and security. Deploying a realist synthesis methodology, the model then connected distal with proximal determinants of CVD. Existing scientific evidence and cities' experiential knowledge were 'plugged-in' or 'triangulated' to elaborate the causal pathways from domain interventions to public health impacts. A key product is an enhanced version of the cost offset model, named Sheffield Health Effectiveness Framework Tool, incorporating both proximal and distal determinants in estimating the cost benefits of domain interventions. A key message is that the insights of the policy community are essential in developing and then utilising such a predictive tool

Egendomsskydd vid brand i flerbostadshus

The purpose with the thesis is to compare reasons to why fire-related spreads occur in apartment buildings and examine the significanse for the extent of property damage. The aim is to provide a basis for judging the risk of property loss and need of improved property safety in case of fire in the apartment buildings. The report has shown that several spreads have occurred through the apartment door to the stairwell, often in the form of smoke. The result also shows that the building material is rarely critical to fire safety. It is not necessarily a heightened risk of spread between compartments due to burnable building materials like cellular plastic insulation or wood alone. However, there are trends in the analysis showing that the material could be of greater significance in larger fires, but it is difficult to determine from the limited sample used in the thesis

Implementering av nattsänkningsstrategier för energibesparingar i flerbostadshus

Miljö- och klimatfrågor är viktigare än någonsin i dagens samhälle. En sektor som står för en stor andel av Sveriges totala energiförbrukning och samtidigt har stor förbättringspotential är bygg- och fastighetssektorn. Branschen står inför stora utmaningar inom området, där en viktig faktor är energieffektivisering av byggnader. Det kan uppnås på flera vis, men denna studie fokuserar på just nattsänkning av inomhustemperatur. Därmed är syftet att undersöka och utvärdera effektiviteten av nattsänkningsstrategier för att reducera energiförbrukningen i flerbostadshus, utan att försämra den termiska komforten. Metoderna som används är förstudie, numerisk analys och analytiska beräkningar. Förstudien lägger grunden för förutsättningar i studien samt beskriver viktiga begrepp och kartlägger den tidigare forskningen. Vidare ger kombinationen av numerisk analys och analytiska beräkningar en bra helhetsbild av studieobjektet. Resultateten från numerisk analys visar att den maximala energibesparingen för huset uppgår till cirka 1.02% för de olika nattsänkningsinställningarna under februari månad 2024. Samtidigt gav detta att drygt var tredje person är missnöjd med inneklimatet i den mest utsatta lägenheten. Resultatet från analytiska beräkningar visar att den mest utsatta lägenheten kunde spara cirka 3.4 % inom samma tidsperiod om den tilläggsisoleras och då reducerar U-värdet. Sammanfattningsvis visar studien att metoden är tillämpbar för energibesparing. Mängden energi som sparas är proportionerlig med längden av nattsänkningen samt byggnadens tidskonstant (förmåga att lagra värme). Dock medför det en risk för ett högre effektbehov vid återuppvärmning och försämrad termisk komfort för de boende. Det bör tilläggas att förhållandena i studien är mycket specifika vilket innebär att resultaten blir något begränsande

Brandteknisk riskvärdering av Borås Kulturhus

This report is the result of a fire safety evaluation of Borås Kulturhus. The report was written by students at the Fire Protection Engineering program at Lund University. The project focuses on the public safety within the building and not on the damage of the property. The building includes different types of activities such as theatre, public library and art museum. The aim was to evaluate the existing fire protection system and find the weaknesses in the system. Initially a visit was made at the object to gather information and get an overview of the building. Risk identification was then carried out to identify the worst case scenarios considering the public safety in the building. Comparisons between time to critical conditions caused by a fire and the time to evacuation were made to see if the fire safety is satisfactory. The areas regarding the two theaters was of most concern and the ones were most improvements were needed. Examples of improvements are education, information and fire safety equipment. The fire safety routines among the staff were estimated to be good according to the visit at Borås Kulturhus

Recent Findings and Future Prospects for Water Quality Effects from Catastrophic Wildfires in California, USA

Global change affects the forests and wildlands of California through rising temperatures, earlier snowmelt, more rain and less snow, greater vapor-pressure deficits, and forest dieback, resulting in increased frequency, size, and severity of wildfires. California has experienced its eight largest wildfires since 1932 in the period from 2018 to 2024. The largest fire to date (August Complex Fire) occurred in 2020—a year in which 1.7 million ha or 4% of California’s land area burned—and burned 418,000 ha. These mega-fires (>10,000 ha) can severely affect water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Water-quality variables affected by wildfire include temperature, sediment load, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, redox potential, soluble and particulate organic carbon, nutrients, metals, natural- and human-produced organic contaminants, and primary/secondary producers. Wildfire and water interact at watershed scales, with water-quality impairments responding linearly with the percentage of the watershed area burned, and responding exponentially as burn severity increases. Vegetation recovery is key to the duration of water-quality effects, and short-term, post-fire weather dictates actual water-related effects. Urban areas are hot spots for the production and transport of water pollutants such as sediments, heavy metals, mercury, nutrients, and toxic organic compounds. Water-treatability challenges after wildfire include short-term odor and taste, increased sediment and turbidity, and increased total and dissolved organic matter. Implications for water quality from catastrophic wildfire on downstream reservoirs are important research needs because ~80% of California’s water supply passes through reservoirs before use. Notably, there is a crucial need for development and assessment of post-fire, land-management practices to mitigate adverse water-quality effects. Finally, continuous measurements of water quality are critical to document the severity and duration of episodic pulses of wildfire-sensitive constituents that are mobilized and transported to aquatic ecosystems after catastrophic mega-fires

Multipel kemisk sensitivitet och sjuka hus-syndromet : En kvalitativ teoretisk studie

Syftet med detta lärdomsprov var att göra en artikelsammanställning över ny litteratur om multipel kemisk sensitivitet och sjuka hus-syndromet, redogöra för vad de innebär samt forska inom livskvaliteten för denna patientgrupp. Syftet med studien var även att öka kunskapen om de nya syndromen. Frågeställningarna var: 1) Vilka symtom och reaktioner beskrivs i ny litteratur som kan länkas till multipel kemisk sensitivitet (MCS)? 2) Vilka symtom och reaktioner beskrivs i ny litteratur som kan länkas till sjuka hus-syndrom (SBS)? 3) Hur kan patienter med MCS och SBS uppnå god livskvalitet? Som datainsamlingsmetod användes dokumentstudie och översiktsartikel. Databearbetningen gjordes med hjälp av innehållsanalys. Resultatet i undersökningen visade att de vanligaste symtomen för multipel kemisk sensitivitet var trötthet/slöhet, koncentrationssvårigheter, muskelvärk, minnessvårigheter, symtom från ögon och luftvägar, irritationssymtom samt försämring av hjärnfunktionen, speciellt i luktsinnet. De vanligaste symtomen för sjuka hus-syndromet var slemhinnesymtom, torrhetssymtom, huvudvärk, förkylningssymtom, trötthet och utmattning samt depression. Resultatet visade även att patienter med MCS och SBS i dagens läge har svårt att uppleva god livskvalitet.The purpose of this study was to make an article summary of new literature about multiple chemical sensitivity and sick building syndrome, describe what it means and research how people with these syndromes experience quality of life. The purpose of this study was also to increase knowledge about these new syndromes. The research questions of this study were: 1) What symptoms and reactions described in new literature can be linked to multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)? 2) What symptoms and reactions described in new literature can be linked to sick building syndrome (SBS)? 3) How do patients with MCS and SBS achieve good quality of life? The method used for collecting data in this study was document study. The data was then analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that the most common symptoms of MCS were fatigue/lethargy, concentration difficulties, memory difficulties, eye and respiratory symptoms, irritation symptoms and impairment of brain function. The most common symptoms of SBS were mucosal and dryness symptoms and headaches. The results also showed that patients with MCS and SBS have difficulties in experiencing good quality of life

The Garden

Hur blir en familj på 4 personer självförsörjande på grönsaker? Hur beskär du ett fruktträd? Hur får du dina råvaror att hålla länge? Hur förädlar du dina råvaror? För att bromsa den globala uppvärmningen behöver vi arbeta parallellt på flera fronter. Genom att bruka jorden och odla lokalt skapar vi naturliga kolsänkor samtidigt som utsläppen från transporter minskar. En kursgård som erbjuder utbildning året om och som anpassar kurserna efter trädgårdens och odlingens behov just för stunden. Här kan du även boka konferenslokaler för små och större grupper samt en kontorsplats om du vill arbeta borta men ändå nära hemmet eller bara vistas i en härlig miljö.Växthusets längsta del placeras i nordsydlig riktning för bäst odlingsegenskaper.  Även en biodling med tillhörande produktion och försäljning av honung kommer att finnas. Bikupor placeras ut på tre platser; vid Trädgår’n, längs med den nyanlagda våtlandsparken samt vid naturskolan i norr.Café/restaurang med fokus på vegetariska och lokala rätter som framförallt tillagas på grönsaker och produkter som inte säljs i tid. I butiken säljs den egenproducerade honungen/musten/sylten och de egenodlade grönsakerna men de agerar även återförsäljare av andra lokaltillverkade produkter. Det säljs också redskap, frön m.m  som behövs för egen odling. How does a family of 4 become self-sufficient in vegetables? How do you prune a fruit tree? How do you make your harvest last a long time?  We need to slow down global warming. By cultivating the land and growing locally, we create natural carbon sinks while reducing emissions from transport.The Garden is a place that offers education all year round and that adapts the courses to the needs of the garden at the moment. You can also book conference as well as an office space if you want to work away but still close to home in a nice environment.There will also be a shop with associated production and sale of honey. Beehives are placed in three locations; at The Garden, along the newly constructed wetland park and at the school of nature in the north. In the shop, the produced honey/must/jam and the harvested vegetables are sold, they also act as a retailer of other locally produced products. Café/restaurant with a focus on vegetarian and local dishes that are mainly prepared with vegetables and products that are not sold in time