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Zhang J, Luo J, Chen G, Zhang C, Li L, Ma T. Aspects of public health development in China's western region. GEOSPATIAL HEALTH 2024; 19. [PMID: 38619395 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2024.1252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The public health level in a country is closely related to national development and quality of life. In order to appraise the level of health services in the western region of China, panel data of 124 prefecture-level units covering the period 2011 to 2021 was used together with a health evaluation index system based on four dimensions: quality of life, environmental situation, the level of health services and longevity. To assess this, we used entropy weights, standard deviation and coefficient of variation together with the geographical detector model that measures the stratified spatial heterogeneity. The results show that although public health services have improved overall, the various dimensions are still not balanced as longevity did not match up everywhere. While the developmental level of the various health dimensions presents a pattern of a relatively smooth increasing gradient in the west-central- east direction, the situation with respect to the north-centralsouth is more uneven with both ups and downs. However, a trend of continuous enhancement of all health dimensions was found with a significant positive correlation of spatial clustering, with hotspots and 'sub-hotspots' contracting from north to south, while coldspots and 'sub-coldspots' expanded from west to east. This can be seen as the result of multiple factors, with the level of urbanization and economic level as the dominant factors and government guidance, agglomeration capacity and industrial structure being auxiliary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisha Zhang
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang.
| | - Jing Luo
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis and Simulation & College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan; Hubei High-quality Development Research Institute, Research Office of Hubei Provincial People's Government and Central China Normal University, Wuhan.
| | - Guolei Chen
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang.
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis and Simulation & College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan; Hubei High-quality Development Research Institute, Research Office of Hubei Provincial People's Government and Central China Normal University, Wuhan.
| | - Lianlian Li
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang.
| | - Taijia Ma
- School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang.
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Monthuy-Blanc J, St-Pierre MJ, Ménard J, St-Pierre L. La transdisciplinarité en santé, la puissance plutôt que l’absence des disciplines. ANNALES MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGIQUES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.amp.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Pineo H, Turnbull ER, Davies M, Rowson M, Hayward AC, Hart G, Johnson AM, Aldridge RW. A new transdisciplinary research model to investigate and improve the health of the public. Health Promot Int 2021; 36:481-492. [PMID: 33450013 PMCID: PMC8049543 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daaa125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transdisciplinary research approaches are being applied to today's complex health problems, including the climate crisis and widening inequalities. Diverse forms of disciplinary and experiential knowledge are required to understand these challenges and develop workable solutions. We aimed to create an updated model reflective of the strengths and challenges of current transdisciplinary health research that can be a guide for future studies. We searched Medline using terms related to transdisciplinary, health and research. We coded data deductively and inductively using thematic analysis to develop a preliminary model of transdisciplinary research. The model was tested and improved through: (i) a workshop with 27 participants at an international conference in Xiamen, China and (ii) online questionnaire feedback from included study authors. Our revised model recommends the following approach: (i) co-learning, an ongoing phase that recognizes the distributed nature of knowledge generation and learning across partners; (ii) (pre-)development, activities that occur before and during project initiation to establish a shared mission and ways of working; (iii) reflection and refinement to evaluate and improve processes and results, responding to emergent information and priorities as an ongoing phase; (iv) conceptualization to develop goals and the study approach by combining diverse knowledge; (v) investigation to conduct the research; (vi) implementation to use new knowledge to solve societal problems. The model includes linear and cyclical processes that may cycle back to project development. Our new model will support transdisciplinary research teams and their partners by detailing the necessary ingredients to conduct such research and achieve health impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Pineo
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Eleanor R Turnbull
- Academic Foundation Programme, North Central and East London Foundation School, Health Education England, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, UK
- Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DA, UK
| | - Michael Davies
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, Central House, 14 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Mike Rowson
- Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7BN, UK
| | - Andrew C Hayward
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Graham Hart
- Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7BN, UK
| | - Anne M Johnson
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Mortimer Market Centre, Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JB, UK
| | - Robert W Aldridge
- Centre for Public Health Data Science, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DA, UK
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Tarasi D, Daras T, Tournaki S, Tsoutsos T. Transportation in the Mediterranean during the COVID-19 pandemic era. GLOBAL TRANSITIONS 2021; 3:55-71. [PMID: 34927039 PMCID: PMC8670741 DOI: 10.1016/j.glt.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The recent pandemic has considerably changed urban transportation while highlighting the weaknesses of the current transport modes. The crisis provided a unique opportunity to redesign the urban mobility plans in a more sustainable and resilient way. This study captured the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent restrictive measures on citizens' commuting habits and travel mode choice in two Cretan cities with academic communities and intense seasonality of tourism, in two phases (four periods) before, during, and after the quarantine. The sample consisted of 308 (1st phase) and 193 (2nd phase) citizens, 60% and 30% permanent residents of Chania and Rethymno, respectively. During the weeks before the pandemic, 4/10 participants opted for travelling by car daily, either as a driver or as a passenger; almost the same ratio chose walking; 1/10 used public transport (bus). During the first week of the quarantine, one-quarter had decreased car usage and opted for sustainable transport modes (walking, cycling, public transport). The population who chose walking 1-2 times weekly almost doubled. Nevertheless, most factors were found to affect men and women differently; personal safety and road safety are significantly more important for women; ecological footprint is a less essential parameter for men's travel mode choice. Private vehicle use still holds a considerable role in urban transportation, and noteworthy is due to the sharp decline in public transit in January-February and April and the meager percentage of public transport ridership (1%). The analysis and modelling could be useful in the future design of more sustainable and resilient mobility strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Tarasi
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Tryfon Daras
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Stavroula Tournaki
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Theocharis Tsoutsos
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
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Cannon CEB. Towards Convergence: How to Do Transdisciplinary Environmental Health Disparities Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2303. [PMID: 32235385 PMCID: PMC7177595 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Increasingly, funders (i.e., national, public funders, such as the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation in the U.S.) and scholars agree that single disciplines are ill equipped to study the pressing social, health, and environmental problems we face alone, particularly environmental exposures, increasing health disparities, and climate change. To better understand these pressing social problems, funders and scholars have advocated for transdisciplinary approaches in order to harness the analytical power of diverse and multiple disciplines to tackle these problems and improve our understanding. However, few studies look into how to conduct such research. To this end, this article provides a review of transdisciplinary science, particularly as it relates to environmental research and public health. To further the field, this article provides in-depth information on how to conduct transdisciplinary research. Using the case of a transdisciplinary, community-based, participatory action, environmental health disparities study in California's Central Valley provides an in-depth look at how to do transdisciplinary research. Working with researchers from the fields of social sciences, public health, biological engineering, and land, air, and water resources, this study aims to answer community residents' questions related to the health disparities they face due to environmental exposure. Through this case study, I articulate not only the logistics of how to conduct transdisciplinary research but also the logics. The implications for transdisciplinary methodologies in health disparity research are further discussed, particularly in the context of team science and convergence science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E B Cannon
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Mapping Urbanization and Evaluating Its Possible Impacts on Stream Water Quality in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Using GIS and Remote Sensing. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12051980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Impervious surfaces (IS) produced by urbanization can facilitate pollutants’ movement to nearby water bodies through stormwater. This study mapped and estimated the IS changes in Chattanooga, Tennessee, using satellite imagery acquired in 1986 and 2016. A model was developed utilizing the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index coupled with density slicing to detect and map urbanization through IS growth. Urban growth was quantified at USGS HUC12 watershed level including stream riparian areas. The obtained results show a net growth of 45.12 km2 of IS with a heterogeneous distribution. About 9.96 km2 of this growth is within 90 m of streams, about 6% of the study site’s land cover. The Lower South Chickamauga Creek watershed experienced the largest urban growth with a change from 24.2 to 48.5 km2. Using the riparian zone percent imperviousness, a stream risk assessment model was developed to evaluate potential stream impairment due to this growth. Approximately 87, 131, and 203 km lengths of streams identified as potentially at high, very high, and extreme risks, respectively, to be impaired due to urban growth from the last 30 years. These findings would benefit to proactively implement sustainable management plans for the streams near rapidly urbanizing areas in the study site.
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Jang E, Jeong T, Yoon N, Jeong S. Source apportionment of airborne PCDD/F at industrial and urban sites in Busan, South Korea. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124717. [PMID: 31499315 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Long-term atmospheric measurement of 17 total (gaseous and particulate) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) has been made from 2007 to 2016 at five industrial and urban sites in Busan, South Korea, based on their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. In the present study, two pooled datasets covering a combination of 2 industry sites and 3 urban sites have been subjected to positive matrix factorization (PMF) to identify and quantify the major sources of PCDD/Fs. Additionally, PMF has been applied to the industrial urban dataset consisting of both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PCDD/Fs. The results show that the sum of PCDD/F mass (Σ17PCDD/Fs) at the industrial sites is determined by five major sources: non-ferrous metal production (33.7%), diesel vehicle emissions (30.2%), ferrous metal production (22.4%), other industrial emissions (11.1%), and traffic emissions (2.6%), while the PAH mass (Σ16PAHs) is predominantly associated with emissions from coal combustion, followed by traffic emissions. At the urban sites, the largest contribution to the Σ17PCDD/Fs was observed from transported emissions being emitted from metallurgical industry (75.5%), followed by diesel vehicle emissions (24.5%). The application of congener-specific toxicity to PCDD/F mass (Σ17fg I-TEQ Sm-3) indicates enhanced contributions from the ferrous metallurgical emission factor associated with penta- and hexa-chlorinated furans across the study sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhwa Jang
- Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 120, Hambakbong-ro, 140beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan, 616-110, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taewuk Jeong
- Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 120, Hambakbong-ro, 140beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan, 616-110, Republic of Korea
| | - Nana Yoon
- Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 120, Hambakbong-ro, 140beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan, 616-110, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungryul Jeong
- Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 120, Hambakbong-ro, 140beon-gil, Buk-gu, Busan, 616-110, Republic of Korea
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On the Regularities of the Polar Profiles of Proteins Related to Ebola Virus Infection and their Functional Domains. Cell Biochem Biophys 2018; 76:411-431. [PMID: 29511990 PMCID: PMC7090660 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-018-0839-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The number of fatalities and economic losses caused by the Ebola virus infection across the planet culminated in the havoc that occurred between August and November 2014. However, little is known about the molecular protein profile of this devastating virus. This work represents a thorough bioinformatics analysis of the regularities of charge distribution (polar profiles) in two groups of proteins and their functional domains associated with Ebola virus disease: Ebola virus proteins and Human proteins interacting with Ebola virus. Our analysis reveals that a fragment exists in each of these proteins—one named the “functional domain”—with the polar profile similar to the polar profile of the protein that contains it. Each protein is formed by a group of short sub-sequences, where each fragment has a different and distinctive polar profile and where the polar profile between adjacent short sub-sequences changes orderly and gradually to coincide with the polar profile of the whole protein. When using the charge distribution as a metric, it was observed that it effectively discriminates the proteins from their functional domains. As a counterexample, the same test was applied to a set of synthetic proteins built for that purpose, revealing that any of the regularities reported here for the Ebola virus proteins and human proteins interacting with Ebola virus were not present in the synthetic proteins. Our results indicate that the polar profile of each protein studied and its corresponding functional domain are similar. Thus, when building each protein from its functional domai—adding one amino acid at a time and plotting each time its polar profile—it was observed that the resulting graphs can be divided into groups with similar polar profiles.
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Martinello N, Donelle L. Online conversations among Ontario university students: environmental concerns. Inform Health Soc Care 2012; 37:177-89. [PMID: 22713097 DOI: 10.3109/17538157.2012.678448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
As the 'next generation' guardians of the environment, there appears to be limited inquiry into young Canadians' environmental concerns. At the same time, online social networking is a predominant method of communication among young adults. This research explored online conversations regarding environmental concerns among young Canadian adults targeting the university student population. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using posted conversations from the online social media network Facebook. Conversations addressing environmental issues were summarized into four major themes. The first theme, 'Built Environment' (127 postings) centred on housing and transportation. The second theme, 'Natural Environment' (55 postings) accounted for issues of air quality, pollution and water quality. The third theme, 'Environmental Restoration' (52 postings) highlighted young Canadian adults' plans for environmental recovery. The fourth theme, 'Engagement and Activism' (31 postings) underscored students' use of the online social networking site for environmental advocacy. Young adults appeared to be environmentally conscious and, through the use of social networking, exchanged knowledge and opinions, and advocated for environmental change. Online social networking sites, such as Facebook, can serve as a communication channel that facilitates health information sharing and more importantly cultivates community capacity focused on environmental health promotion among young adult users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Novella Martinello
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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Black D, O'Loughlin K, Kendig H, Wilson L. Cities, environmental stressors, ageing and chronic disease. Australas J Ageing 2011; 31:147-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-6612.2011.00552.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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