On-site Assessment Research Articles

Dissecting Schizotypy and Its Association With Cognition and Polygenic Risk for Schizophrenia in a Nonclinical Sample.

Schizotypy is a multidimensional construct that captures a continuum of risk for developing schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. Existing 3-factor models of schizotypy, consisting of positive, negative, and disorganized dimensions have yielded mixed evidence of genetic continuity with schizophrenia using polygenic risk scores. Here, we propose an approach that involves splitting positive and negative schizotypy into more specific subdimensions that are phenotypically continuous with distinct positive symptoms and negative symptoms recognized in clinical schizophrenia. We used item response theory to derive high-precision estimates of psychometric schizotypy using 251 self-report items obtained from a non-clinical sample of 727 (424 females) adults. These subdimensions were organized hierarchically using structural equation modeling into 3 empirically independent higher-order dimensions enabling associations with polygenic risk for schizophrenia to be examined at different levels of phenotypic generality and specificity. Results revealed that polygenic risk for schizophrenia was associated with variance specific to delusional experiences (γ = 0.093, P = .001) and reduced social interest and engagement (γ = 0.076, P = .020), and these effects were not mediated via the higher-order general, positive, or negative schizotypy factors. We further fractionated general intellectual functioning into fluid and crystallized intelligence in 446 (246 females) participants that underwent onsite cognitive assessment. Polygenic risk scores explained 3.6% of the variance in crystallized intelligence. Our precision phenotyping approach could be used to enhance the etiologic signal in future genetic association studies and improve the detection and prevention of schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology.

Examining the prevalence of obesity in school children through an on-site obesity outpatient clinics survey based on student's lifestyles.

The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and risk factors in pediatric patients attending outpatient clinics at a public sector hospital in the central province of Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, between January 2022 and October 2022. The target population was aged 6-15 years. We conducted on-site obesity assessments utilizing questionnaire-based interviews with patients attending outpatient clinics. Data collection was carried out with the help of parents, where required. Using BMI growth charts for Saudi children and teenagers, the weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of subjects were computed. A total of 576 responses with a response rate of 64% were received and included in the study. In the current study, the majority (41.1%) of the patients were aged between 11 and 12 years old, followed by 37.0% of the students aged between 13 and 15 years old, and 21.9% of students aged between 8 and 10 years old. In the current study, 54.2% of the patients had normal weight, 15.6% of patients were underweight, 16.7% of patients were overweight, and 13.5% were obese. In this study, the prevalence of overall obesity was 2.3 times more prevalent in children aged 11 to 12 years (OR=2.30; p=0.03), followed by ~2 times higher levels in children aged 13 to 15 years (OR=2.30; p=0.03). Moreover, 2.11 times higher prevalence of obesity (OR=2.11; p=0.77) in those who regularly took food (especially lunch) from the school cafeteria. A significant ~2.5 high obesity level was recorded for students who consumed fizzy/soft drinks four or more times per week (OR=2.38; p=0.007). Saudi Arabia still has a high rate of overweight and obesity among children of school-going age, which is a significant public health issue. To properly address and control this issue, policies at the national, local, and individual levels must be implemented. Notably, there was also a high prevalence of being underweight, and this issue needs to be brought up as well.

Preparedness and response of assisted living facilities toward COVID-19 infection control in Houston, Texas, USA.

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) including assisted living facilities (ALFs) are hubs for high transmission and poor prognosis of COVID-19 among the residents who are more susceptible due to old age and comorbidities. Houston Health Department conducted assessments of ALFs within the City of Houston to determine preparedness and existing preventive measures at the facilities. Onsite assessments were conducted at ALFs using a modified CDC Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool. Data was obtained on IPC measures, training, testing, vaccination etc. Data was analyzed, frequencies generated, and bivariate associations determined. A total of 118 facilities were assessed and categorized into small scale 46 (39%), medium scale 47 (40%), and large scale 25 (21%). The facilities had 2431 residents and 2290 staff. Thirty-one (26%) facilities reported an outbreak in 2020, while 14 (12%) had an ongoing outbreak. Twenty-three (97%) large-scale and 12 (26%) small-scale facilities had COVID-19 testing program. Vaccination coverage among residents ranged from 99% in large-scale to 40% in small-scale facilities but was smaller among staff at 748 (45%) in large scale, 71 (36%) in small scale, and 193 (45%) in medium scale. While 24 (96%) large-scale and 34 (77%) of small-scale facilities conducted staff training staff on IPC practices, 22 (92%) of large-scale and 19 (56%) of small-scale facility staff demonstrated capacity (p = 0.01), respectively. Visitor screening was done at 100% of large-scale and 80% of small-scale and the medium-scale ALFs. Assisted living facilities within the city of Houston are at various levels of preparedness and interventions with respect to COVID-19 response.

Improved Surrounding Rock Classification Method for the Middle Rock Pillar of a Small Clear-Distance Tunnel

In tunnel design and construction, proper and accurate classification of rock surrounding tunnels is needed to ensure tunnel construction safety, guarantee construction quality, and reduce project costs. With rapid urbanization, numerous small clear-distance tunnels have been constructed in dense urban road networks. Compared with ordinarily separated tunnels, the construction scale and difficulty of small clear-distance tunnels are greater, and the requirements for the classification of rock surrounding tunnels are accordingly higher. A small clear-distance tunnel in an urban super large and complex underground interchange hub of the Xiamen Haicang Evacuation Channel was selected as the background, and the classification method of the middle rock pillar in a small clear-distance tunnel is presented based on the general classification standard of surrounding rocks. Based on the geometric, physical, and mechanical factors of the middle rock pillar, six indices affecting the stability and quality of the middle rock pillar were selected, and the classification index system of the middle rock pillar was established from the two dimensions of the basic and auxiliary indices. The basic and auxiliary indices were scored using the scoring method, and the different grades of the middle rock pillar were divided according to different scores. The middle rock pillar classification standard was applied to the quality assessment of the middle rock pillar, which provided a basis for the on-site assessment of the quality of the middle rock pillar and proved the accuracy and superiority of the improved classification standard. The newly established classification standard can provide a reference for selecting the correct construction method and supporting structure type for small clear-distance tunnels.

Surface heat transfer coefficients in building envelopes: Uncertainty levels in experimental methods

There are several research methods for the on-site assessment of U-values that aim to avoid the use of surface heat flux measurements and rely on tabulated or empirically developed correlations to define this parameter. This works performs a detailed process to estimate indoor surface heat transfer coefficients based on several experimental campaigns over building walls. Data is filtered out to remove periods with large temperature variations and/or unstable convective conditions due to HVAC. A statistical analysis is conducted, and the outcomes used to test the validity of U-value estimation approaches. The outcomes show that the actual surface heat transfer coefficients are in the range of reference works, but variations in the range of up to 2 W/m2 K are found. Uncertainty levels associated to the estimation of surface heat transfer coefficient are in the range 60% for instantaneous values while this is reduced down to 12%–20% for 8-h averages. Variations and uncertainty levels are higher for low temperature gradient situations, which are considered to be very likely for modern insulation levels. It is concluded that methods seeking to avoid the use of surface heat flux measurements need to develop much deeper knowledge in this field to gain accuracy and reliability.

Job satisfaction and job security as moderators in the relationships among job demands, musculoskeletal symptoms, and work performance.

This study examined whether job satisfaction and job security moderate the path from physical demands and job strain to impaired work performance via musculoskeletal symptoms in the upper extremities (MSUE). Moderation effects on five paths were examined: (1) from job strain to MSUE; (2) from job strain to work performance; (3) from physical demands to MSUE; (4) from physical demands to work performance; (5) from MSUE to work performance. This was a cross-sectional study of 669 full-time workers from 9 manufacturing and 3 healthcare facilities. Data were collected via health interviews, on-site physical exposure assessments, and computation of the Strain Index by ergonomists, and self-administered questionnaires on psychosocial factors. Structural equation modeling and zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis were performed to examine the moderation effect on each path. Job satisfaction moderated the relationship between MSUE and impaired work performance (B = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.04) and job security moderated the relationship between physical demands and MSUE (B = -0.64, 95% CI: -1.17, -0.11). Interaction between job satisfaction and MSUE was significant on both the occurrence (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87, 0.97) and the degrees of impaired work performance (mean ratio: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97, 0.99), while the interaction between job security and physical demands was significant only on the degrees of MSUE (mean ratio: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89, 0.99). Job satisfaction and job security can, respectively, mitigate the adverse impacts of working with MSUE and physical demands on work performance. Workplace interventions to improve workers' job satisfaction and job security can contribute to their musculoskeletal health and work performance.

Worse psychological traits associated with higher probability of emotional problems during the Omicron pandemic in Tianjin, China

Background and ObjectivesIndividuals with specific psychological weaknesses are prone to mental problems during the coronavirus pandemic. This self-rating study assessed the combined effects of infection-related stress, resilience, worry, and loneliness on the likelihood of depression and anxiety among infected and non-infected individuals during the Tianjin Pandemic in 2022. MethodsIndividuals infected with Omicron (n = 249) and health residents (n = 415) were recruited from two hospitals and communities in Tianjin. Each respondent completed the following on-site assessment: Self-developed Scale of Demographics, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), De Jong Gierveld Scale (DJGLS), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). The respondents were categorized into depression or non-depression group by SDS scores, and anxiety or non-anxiety group by SAS scores. ResultsThe overall scores of CD-RISC, DJGJLS, and PSWQ were significantly different both between the depression group and non-depression groups and between the anxiety group and non-anxiety groups. The greater likelihood of depression was associated with lower overall scores of CD-RISC and higher scores of PSWQ; the greater likelihood of anxiety was associated with higher scores of PSWQ. The likelihood of depression was also positively associated with having infection-related stress and three demographics. ConclusionsThis on-site study demonstrates the importance of specific traits in a small-scale pandemic: the worse resilience and the greater worry propensity related to the higher probability of depression, and the greater propensity of worry related to the higher probability of anxiety. Moreover, those experiencing infection-related stress, being male, living alone, and being unemployed are more likely to have depressive problems.

EVALUATION OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF REVITALIZATION OF THE AUCIEMA FARM IN THE DEGRADED AREA

Title article “Evaluation of the possibilities of revitalization of the Auciems farm in the degraded territory” The aim of the article is to survey the information about the degraded territory of the former Auciems village farm, to assess their current condition, to evaluate the possibilities of restoration and to offer a possible alternative for cleaning up the territory. During the development of the article, the concept of brownfields and the causes of their formation were considered. An on-site assessment of the condition of the facility was surveyed.

FORMATION PROJECT OF THE FORMER MUSTANGI DUS

Title article “Evaluation of the possibilities of revitalization of the former DUS Mustangi in the degraded territory” The aim of the article is to survey the information about the degraded territory of the former DUS Mustangi, to assess their current condition, to evaluate the possibilities of restoration and to offer a possible alternative for cleaning up the territory. During the development of the article, the concept of brownfields and the causes of their formation were considered. An on-site assessment of the condition of the facility was surveyed.

Validity and reliability of an unstable board for dynamic balance assessment in young adults.

Scientific literature is giving greater importance to dynamic balance in fall prevention. Recently, the validity and reliability of the most employed functional tests for dynamic balance assessment has been investigated. Although these functional tests are practical and require minimal equipment, they are inherently subjective, as most do not use instrumented measurement data in the scoring process. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of an instrumented unstable board for dynamic balance objective assessment in young adults through double-leg standing trials. A test-retest design was outlined with the unstable board positioned over a force platform to collect objective Center of Pressure (CoP) related and kinematic parameters. Fifteen young adults participated in two evaluation sessions (7-day apart) that comprised ten trials per two dynamic conditions (anterior-posterior and medio-lateral oscillations) aiming to maintain the board parallel to the ground. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was employed to assess the validity of the kinematic parameters with those derived from the CoP. The test-retest reliability was investigated through Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of the measurement, Minimal Detectable Change, and Bland-Altman plots. Statistically significant correlations between the CoP and kinematic parameters were found, with r values ranging from 0.66 to 0.95. Good to excellent intrasession (0.89≤ICCs≤0.95) and intersession (0.66≤ICCs≤0.95) ICCs were found for the kinematics parameters. The Bland-Altman plots showed no significant systematic bias. The kinematics parameters derived from the unstable board resulted valid and reliable. The small size of the board makes it a suitable tool for the on-site dynamic balance assessment and a complement of computerized dynamic posturography.

Reducing non diagnostic thyroid cytology using on-site adequacy assessment performed by junior medical staff

Objective:To assess efficacy of bedside cytology assessment of thyroid fine needle aspirate samples performed by junior medical staff compared to cytologists. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of 1490 thyroid fine needle aspirates. Samples were divided into three groups: cellular adequacy assessment performed by cytologists, interns, and no onsite adequacy assessment (blind). A 45-minute training session was provided to medical interns with the aim of identifying whether adequate cellular material was demonstrated, as defined by the Bethesda criteria. The primary outcome was the rate of nondiagnostic samples, and the secondary outcome was the number of fine needle aspirate passes required to reach sample adequacy. Results: The incidence of non-diagnostic samples for the cytologist, blind, and intern groups were 6.90%, 17.1% and 14.0% respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in non-diagnostic rate between the blind and intern groups. Significantly more aspirates required more than two passes in the cytologist group (74.8%) and blind (94.7%) compared to the intern group (58.7%, p<0.001). Conclusions: On-site adequacy assessment performed by cytopathologists is the gold standard for minimising non-diagnostic thyroid FNAs, however, medical staff with minimal anatomical pathology experience can be trained to perform on-site adequacy assessment and improve outcomes with the implementation of a simple targeted training program.

A data-driven on-site injury severity assessment model for car-to-electric-bicycle collisions based on positional relationship and random forest

<abstract> <p>Vulnerable road users (VRUs) are usually more susceptible to fatal injuries. Accurate and rapid assessment of VRU injury severity at the accident scene can provide timely support for decision-making in emergency response. However, evaluating VRU injury severity at the accident scene usually requires medical knowledge and medical devices. Few studies have explored the possibility of using on-site positional relationship to assess injury severity, which could provide a new perspective for on-site transportation professionals to assess accident severity. This study proposes a data-driven on-site injury severity assessment model for car-to-electric-bicycle accidents based on the relationship between the final resting positions of the car, electric bicycle and cyclist at the accident scene. Random forest is employed to learn the accident features from the at-scene positional relationship among accident participants, by which injury severity of the cyclist is assessed. Conditional permutation importance, which can account for correlation among predictor variables, is adopted to reflect the importance of predictor variables more accurately. The proposed model is demonstrated using simulated car-to-electric-bicycle collision data. The results show that the proposed model has good performance in terms of overall accuracy and is balanced in recognizing both fatal and non-fatal accidents. Model performance under partial information confirms that the position information of the electric bicycle is more important than the position information of the cyclist in assessing injury severity.</p> </abstract>

PS-C31-9: A RANDOMISED TRIAL OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) CONSTITUTION-BASED DIETARY REGIME IN GRADE 1 HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: RATIONALE AND DESIGN

Background and Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents enormous challenges to population health. Body constitution, from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), differentiates how individuals feel and behave, and ultimately affects how different bodies respond to dietary intake. We hypothesise that the TCM constitution-based dietary intervention would be an effective approach to achieving favourable clinical and TCM-related outcomes when compared to usual care alone among the Chinese grade 1 hypertensive patients. Design and method: This is a parallel-group, randomised trial (registered as ChiCTR2000034749; http://www.chictr.org.cn). Participants consist of 274 primary care adults, aged 35 years or older, with uncomplicated grade 1 hypertension and at low risk of cardiovascular and renal events. Participants will be randomly assigned to either control or intervention group with a 1:1 allocation as per computer-generated random numbers. Permuted blocks of random sizes will be used. Subjects in the invention group will receive an on-site constitution assessment based on physical signs, personality, body symptoms, and the susceptibility to environmental changes. This will be conducted by the attending TCM practitioners trained in a prior session to improve the inter-rater reliability. A colour-printed constitution-specific brochure will be provided onsite. Health education materials will be made available to patients by courier service thereafter. All participants receive routine care provided by the ‘family doctor team’ in the context of the national basic public health service delivery. Measurements will be undertaken at three time-points, i.e., at baseline, at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. At each follow-up interview, subjects in the intervention group will be questioned about the constitution types of their own, and a full awareness of the constitution profile will be seen as an adherence to the protocol. Results and outcome evaluation: The primary outcome of the study is the difference between the two arms in the proportion of participants who had optimal control of blood pressure at 12 months. A point estimate of 25% inferiority in effectiveness would be acceptable assuming a gain that is considered to be clinically relevant. The secondary outcome measures include differences in the profile of clinical parameters and TCM symptoms between the two arms. Conclusions: We believe that this study offers new insights for cardiovascular health management through TCM constitution-based strategies in primary care settings to target those who need continuous attention in dietary modifications. The findings may advance our knowledge of the practical contribution of complementary and alternative medicine in the prevention and control of CVD.

Risk assessment for hazardous waste storage site material aging and groundwater contamination

Storage sites are the main sites for solid waste storage and also involve environmental pollution risks, but the aging of geomembrane materials and the evolution of defects in hazardous waste storage yards in service environment, which may lead to long-term increase in leakage and sudden increase in pollution risks, have received less attention from scholars. Taking a hazardous waste storage site in northern China (the main solid waste is cadmium-containing slag) as an example, the geomembrane damage characteristics (vulnerability density) and aging characteristics (aging onset time and half-life) were obtained through on-site dipole testing and laboratory geomembrane performance assessment. On the basis of this, we used a hydrological process assessment model (HELP) to simulate the rainfall-evaporation-runoff-infiltration and leachate generation processes under regional scale conditions, and a landfill groundwater contamination risk simulation model (Landsim) to simulate the lateral discharge-leakage processes inside the storage site and the migration-diffusion behavior in the saturated-unsaturated zone after leakage under the aging and defect evolution of geomembrane materials.

Can streetblock 311 physical incivility call count shifts predict later changing on-site conditions? Gauging ecological construct validity of 311 litter calls

ABSTRACT Statement of the problem. 311 call data are replacing on-site assessments as a popular alternative metric to gauge urban streetblock conditions, including physical incivilities like litter, trash and rubbish. Work to date, however, has not yet established the ecological construct validity, and thus the meaning, of streetblock 311 call counts for specific physical incivilities. The current work gauges this validity over time. Procedures. Philadelphia open source geolocated 311 data (35,055 streetblocks within all of Philadelphia’s 45 neighborhoods) were combined with streetblock litter scores from two open source on-site assessments made by trained city raters. Following the Hawley/Bursik change framework, this work examined connections between ecological discontinuities in 311 streetblock litter call counts and later ecological discontinuities in on-site litter assessments. Results/implications. Earlier 311 litter call count shifts connected positively albeit modestly to later assessed litter shifts. Nevertheless, so too did earlier call count shifts in a theoretically unrelated category. For this physical incivility, and perhaps others, category-specific streetblock call count shifts have demonstrated some modest convergent predictive validity, but not discriminant predictive validity. This is the first theoretically aligned, streetblock-level ecological change analysis linking 311 calls about a specific physical incivility to a specific corresponding on-site condition. Neighborhood spatiotemporal inequalities surfaced.

Smartphone-assisted multicolor hypoxanthine sensing for on-site freshness assessment of aquatic products

Hypoxanthine (Hx) has been considered an essential indicator for aquatic products' freshness, especially in the early stage of spoilage. It could generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and uric acid (UA) with the catalyst of xanthine oxidase (XOD). Existed Hx biosensors are only based on H2O2-triggered signal changes or are unsuitable for on-site freshness assessment. Here, we design an on-site Hx sensing method via the detection of both H2O2 and UA by taking advantage of the specific properties of manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanosheets. MnO2 nanosheets could oxidize colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into yellow TMB2+, which can etch gold nanorods (Au NRs) with vivid color changes. However, in the presence of Hx, MnO2 nanosheets were reduced to Mn2+ rapidly by H2O2 and UA, inhibiting the etching step and mediating color changes. The H2O2 and UA meditated strategy exhibits excellent sensitivity toward Hx with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.378 µM. A WeChat mini program was also constructed to achieve the on-site evaluation and satisfy the special population' requirement. The proposed method has been successfully used to monitor actual sample spoilage under different storage conditions. We expect this method to provide another insight into the on-site freshness assessment of aquatic products.

SAFETY AND SECURITY ASSESSMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS: A FIELD STUDY IN A NIGERIAN GEOPARK

In the travel industry, safety and security are imperative and any attraction sites which ignore these tasks stand to lose out on the intense competition for tourists. One way to ensure that safety and security are satisfactorily provided is to regularly assess and seek the perceptions of stakeholders. Studies that make such an attempt, particularly in a Nigerian Geopark are relatively underrepresented in the literature. This study therefore evaluates safety and security situations at a large geopark and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Nigeria. Through direct observation, an on-site assessment of safety and security measures was undertaken by experts. The assessment instrument was designed using an empirical adaptation of standards which have been suggested in the literature. In addition, members of the site management were interviewed on various outcomes of the field study. Generally, the safety and security architecture in the study area appeared to be insufficient as the management seemed restrained to be too proactive for fear of scaring wildlife and visitors. Besides, the management did not consider the site to be under any serious threat as no major accident and/or crime has been recorded in the last decade. The study concludes that safety and security approaches in the study area do not reflect standard measures but rather cautious approach and an overly dependence on a supposed good past record. The result of this study can facilitate standard practice for safety and security in tourist destinations. This study fills the knowledge gap by providing information on the Nigerian experience regarding safety and security of Geopark in the Global South.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a telemedicine programme for preventing unplanned hospitalisations of older adults living in nursing homes: the GERONTACCESS cluster randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveThe GERONTACCESS trial evaluated the utility and cost-effectiveness of a gerontological telemedicine (TLM) programme for preventing unplanned hospitalisation of residents living in nursing homes (NHs) in regions lacking medical facilities and/or qualified medical providers (“medical deserts”).DesignGERONTACCESS was a 12-month, multicentre, prospective cluster-randomised trial conducted in NHs. The intervention group underwent TLM assessments every 3 months. The control group received the usual care. In both groups, comprehensive on-site assessments were conducted at baseline and the final visit. Care requirements were documented throughout the study.Setting and participantsNH residents aged ≥ 60 years with multiple chronic diseases.MethodsThe study outcomes were the proportion of patients who experienced avoidable and unplanned hospitalisation, and the incremental cost savings per quality-adjusted life years from baseline to the 12-month follow-up.ResultsOf the 426 randomised participants (mean ± standard deviation age, 87.2 ± 7.6 years; 311 [73.0%] women), 23.4% in the intervention group and 32.5% in the control group experienced unplanned hospitalisation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43 to 0.97; p = 0.034). Each avoided hospitalisation in the intervention group saved $US 3,846.Conclusions and implicationsThe results of GERONTACCESS revealed that our gerontological, preventative TLM program significantly reduced unplanned hospitalisations. This innovative intervention limited disease progression and promoted a healthy lifestyle among NH residents.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT02816177, registered June 28, 2016.

Practical Application of Sustainable Road Structure: Mechanical and Environmental Approach

The principles of the circular economy are the basic determinants of the sustainable development of road construction. This paper presents a field study with a new concept of asphalt pavement structure with ecologically oriented attributes, significantly reducing the asphalt pavement carbon footprint while achieving a level of long-term performance comparable or greater than that of conventional pavement structures. The sustainable pavement consists of the introduction of a BIO-additive that allows for the integration of higher percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) as an alternative to the traditional asphalt mixtures. In the sub-base the use of construction and demolition waste was adopted. The results were obtained from a full-sized test section of the road structure divided for reference and eco-innovative cases. Mechanistic analyses were performed for materials and pavement structure based on laboratory tests and on-site assessment. The new eco-design solution was subjected to a comprehensive LCA and LCCA analysis and summarised by SWOT assessment.

An Open Soil Health Assessment Framework Facilitating Sustainable Soil Management.

The crucial role of healthy soil in achieving sustainable food production and environment is increasingly recognized, as is the importance of proper assessment of soil quality. We introduce a new framework, open soil index (OSI), which integrally evaluates soil health of agricultural fields and provides recommendation for farming practices. The OSI is an open-source modular framework in which soil properties, functions, indicators and scores, and management advice are linked hierarchically. Soil health is evaluated with respect to sustainable crop production but can be extended to other ecosystem functions. The OSI leverages the existing knowledge base of agronomic research and routine laboratory data, enabling its application with limited cost. The OSI is a generic framework that can be adopted for specific regions with specific objectives. As a proof of concept, the OSI is implemented for all (>700,000) Dutch agricultural fields and illustrated with 11 pairs ("good" and "poor") of local fields and 32 fields where soil quality and crop yield have been monitored. The OSI produced reasonable evaluation for most pairs when soil physical functions were refined with on-site soil visual assessment. The soil functions are sufficiently independent and yet together reflect complex multidimensionality of soil quality. The framework can facilitate designing sustainable soil management programs by bridging regional targets to field-level actions.