Understanding how transport choices are affected by the environment and health: views expressed in a study on the use of carbon calculators

OBJECTIVES

To examine the influence that the provision of environmental information might be able to make on personal travel behaviour through analysis of the views of members of the public expressed in a study for the UK Department for Transport on attitudes towards carbon calculator tools.

STUDY DESIGN

A three-stage qualitative survey taking an ideographic approach to analysing public attitudes to the use of carbon calculator tools in relation to making transport decisions.

METHODS

Interviews and discussion groups with stakeholders, non-users and users providing extensive data that were analysed using the British Market Research Bureau's matrix mapping methodology.

RESULTS

Despite considerable awareness of climate change as an issue, personal carbon emissions were not found to have much influence on personal transport choice, which could be seen as being dominated by issues of cost (both in time and money), comfort and convenience.

CONCLUSIONS

The spatial and temporal dislocation of the cause and effects of climate change make it difficult to link the impacts of personal travel behaviour with specific activities. If environmental- and health-based information is to be provided as a lever to change travel behaviour, it may be necessary to provide information on issues such as local air pollution and personal health impacts in order to link wider benefits with a travel user's self-interest.

Transgenic mice with OIP-1/hSca overexpression targeted to the osteoclast lineage develop an osteopetrosis bone phenotype

Regulatory mechanisms operative in bone-resorbing osteoclasts are complex. We previously defined the Ly-6 gene family member OIP-1/hSca as an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis in vitro; however, a role in skeletal development is unknown. In this study, we developed transgenic mice with OIP-1/hSca expression targeted to the osteoclast lineage that develop an osteopetrotic bone phenotype. Humeri from OIP-1 mice showed a significant increase in bone mineral density and bone mineral content. microCT analysis showed increased trabecular thickness and bone volume. OIP-1 mice have dense sclerotic cortical bone with absence of spongiosa and inadequate formation of marrow spaces compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, complete inhibition of osteoclasts and marrow cavities in calvaria suggests defective bone resorption in these mice. OIP-1 mouse bone marrow cultures demonstrated a significant decrease (41%) in osteoclast progenitors and inhibition (39%) of osteoclast differentiation/bone resorption. Western blot analysis further demonstrated suppression of TRAF-2, c-Fos, p-c-Jun, and NFATc1 levels in RANKL-stimulated osteoclast precursors derived from OIP-1 mice. Therefore, OIP-1 is an important physiological inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis and may have therapeutic value against bone loss in vivo.