The research team at Cornell University has conducted a comprehensive study on the performance of all-electric buses in the northeastern United States. The findings have significant implications for cities, schools, and other groups considering the electrification of their fleets, as well as operators, policymakers, and manufacturers.

Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) in Ithaca faced issues with the manufacturers of the buses, which struggled in the area’s hilly terrain. Furthermore, the electric buses experienced reduced range and were unreliable during cold weather, consuming 48% more energy between 25 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit and nearly 27% more in a broader temperature range (10 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit).

The researchers analyzed two years of data and quantified the increased energy consumption of the pilot fleet. They found that half of the increased consumption in cold weather came from the batteries’ need to heat themselves. Batteries operate at an optimal temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and the colder the battery is when the bus starts, the more energy it takes to warm it.

Another main culprit was the heating of the bus’s cabin. With frequent stops on urban routes where the doors are opened and closed every few minutes, the batteries must work harder to heat the cabins. The researchers also found that regenerative braking, whereby the battery recharges by capturing energy during braking, was less efficient in cold weather.

To improve the batteries’ function, short-term strategies include storing the buses indoors when not in use, so the ambient temperature is warmer; charging the batteries when they’re still warm; and limiting the length of time the bus doors are open at stops.

The Pressure to Conform: How Peer Norms Drive Risky Behavior in Young Adults

Growing up in close-knit communities can be beneficial, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. For Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate at The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, the strong social bonds he experienced in Ghana often led to pressure to conform – including drinking.

“Social connection was everything,” Dr. Awua recalled, “and sometimes that came with pressure to fit in, including drinking.” This experience has now fueled his research on how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use and misuse among young adults.

Dr. Awua recently co-published a study titled “Perceived Norms and Alcohol-Related Consequences: The Moderated Mediation Roles of Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Consumption” in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. The study explores how college students’ misperceptions about their peers’ drinking habits can lead to heavy episodic drinking and negative consequences.

The research found that young adults often misjudge their peers’ alcohol consumption, believing they’re drinking more than they actually are. This misperception can lead to feelings of pressure to keep up, resulting in risky behaviors like binge drinking. To address these misperceptions, the study suggests using protective behavioral strategies (PBS), such as:

* Drinking slowly
* Avoiding drinking games
* Monitoring one’s own drinking

These simple yet effective techniques can help young adults stay in control and reduce the influence of perceived norms.

The consequences of binge drinking and other substance-related harm can be severe, with estimated 1,519 college students dying each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries. By using protective behavioral strategies, young adults can reduce their risk of experiencing these negative consequences.

As Dr. Awua emphasized, “What the evidence shows, and what our study confirmed, is that once students begin to use these strategies, they reduce the risk of experiencing negative consequences like drunk driving.” Ultimately, by supporting their own health and well-being, young adults can lower the overall rates of substance-related harm.

The article has been rewritten to improve clarity, structure, and style, making it understandable to the general public.

Breaking Isolation: How Addressing Hearing Loss Can Preserve Social Connections Among the Elderly

A recent study has shown that providing hearing aids and advice on their use may preserve social connections among older Americans. The researchers found that those who received treatment for hearing loss retained one additional social connection on average over a three-year period compared to those who did not receive any hearing therapies.

The study, led by researchers at NYU Langone Health as part of the ACHIEVE clinical trial, revealed that those given hearing aids had more diverse relationships and maintained deeper bonds than those who were not treated for hearing loss. The findings add to evidence that helping aging patients hear better can enrich their social lives and boost their mental and physical well-being.

Experts have linked both loneliness and hearing loss to depression, heart disease, and early death, among other concerns. A 2023 report on the ACHIEVE trial showed that hearing interventions may slow cognitive decline among those at highest risk for dementia.

The research team collected data about older adults with untreated hearing loss across four sites in Maryland, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Mississippi. The study is among the largest to date to explore if hearing care can help prevent weakening of social networks, having included nearly 1,000 men and women ages 70 through 84.

Half of the participants received hearing aids, counseling sessions, and personalized instruction with an audiologist, while the other half received instruction about exercise, strategies for communicating with healthcare providers, and further resources for healthy aging. To measure social isolation, the researchers assessed how regularly participants spent time with others, the size and variety of their social networks, and the depth of their connections.

Among the findings, the study revealed that before treatment, participants in both groups reported feeling equally lonely. Three years after the intervention took place, loneliness scores slightly improved among those who had received hearing care, while scores slightly worsened among those who did not.

Hearing aids and related audiology appointments cost an average of $4,700, which is usually paid out of pocket, notes Coresh, the founding director of the Optimal Aging Institute. The authors plan to continue following the participants for another three years and to repeat the study with a more diverse group of people.

In conclusion, addressing hearing loss may be a crucial step in preserving social connections among older Americans. By providing hearing aids and related care, we can help alleviate loneliness, improve mental and physical well-being, and potentially slow cognitive decline. As the nation’s social isolation epidemic continues to grow, it is essential that we prioritize hearing health and incorporate hearing aid coverage into Medicare as a means of addressing this critical issue.