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Castriota L, Falautano M, Perzia P. When Nature Requires a Resource to Be Used-The Case of Callinectes sapidus: Distribution, Aggregation Patterns, and Spatial Structure in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and Adjacent Waters. Biology (Basel) 2024; 13:279. [PMID: 38666891 PMCID: PMC11048514 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus, which is native to the western Atlantic coast and listed among the 100 most invasive alien species in the Mediterranean Sea, is attracting a great deal of interest because of its rapid colonisation of new areas, the significant increase in its population, and the impacts it may have on ecosystems and ecosystem services. Outside its natural distribution range, the species was first found on European Atlantic coasts in the early 1900s and was introduced into the Mediterranean Sea a few decades later, probably through ballast water. Currently, it is found in almost the entire Mediterranean Basin and is also expanding into the Black Sea and along the north African and Iberian Atlantic coasts. Based on a systematic review of C. sapidus occurrences, this study describes its distribution, aggregation patterns, and spatial structure in Northwest Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and adjacent waters through a series of ecological indicators elaborated using GIS spatial-temporal statistics. The main results highlight that the species is expanding in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, while in northern Europe, the population remains confined in some areas. Furthermore, the main species detection methods are analysed, finding that traps and nets are the most frequently used methods, and management suggestions are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Patrizia Perzia
- Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Department for the Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Unit for Conservation Management and Sustainable Use of Fish and Marine Resources, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo 4521 (Ex Complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149 Palermo, Italy; (L.C.); (M.F.)
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Song X, Han D, Zhang J, Fan J, Ning P, Peng Y. Study on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Chinese college students: a cross-sectional analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1340642. [PMID: 38686032 PMCID: PMC11056571 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1340642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of college students, prompting the need for universities to implement measures to mitigate these adverse effects. This study aims to assess the mental health status and mitigation measures of college students, identify the primary factors contributing to their mental health challenges, and provide suggestions for educational institutions to reduce negative psychological impacts. Methods In February 2023, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,445 college students. Statistical analysis was performed on the survey results, and multiple regression models were used to identify significant influencing factors and optimize the model. Results The study revealed correlations between factors affecting mental health during the pandemic, with interactions observed among some factors. Significant differences in mental health status were found among different groups of college students based on their information-sharing habits through apps and engagement in thesis research. Multiple regression analysis indicated that conducting academic research related to COVID-19 significantly increased the psychological stress of college students during the pandemic (p = 0.043). Among all mitigation measures, playing games demonstrated significant effectiveness in model analysis (p = 0.047). The optimization of the model showed that the multiple regression model considering the interaction of factors was more effective. Conclusion Our research identifies crucial factors influencing the mental health of college students and investigates the mental health status of various student groups. We recommend that educational institutions adopt proactive strategies and a multifaceted approach to support the mental health of college students and address potential issues that may arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Song
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Demin Han
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Key Technology for Rail Traffic Safety, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiajun Fan
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peishan Ning
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Peng
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Key Technology for Rail Traffic Safety, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Yuan W, Li J, Yangyiming R, Peng J, Xie J, Chen J. Quantitative risk assessment of China's first liquid hydrogen refueling station. Risk Anal 2024; 44:907-917. [PMID: 37573034 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are among the most important infrastructures for fuel cell vehicles. However, the safety issue of HRSs has become a key constraint to the wide application and development of hydrogen energy. This article presents a quantitative risk assessment of the first liquid HRS (LHRS) in China and conducts a comprehensive assessment in terms of both individual (IR) and societal risks (SRs). The results showed that both the IRs and SRs related to the LHRS exceeded the risk acceptance criteria. The rupture of the flexible hose of the dispenser and the leak from the compressor are the main contributors to these risks. On the other hand, implementing appropriate mitigation measures on the level of the LHRS dispenser and compressor, including the addition of breakaway couplings in the flexible hose of the dispenser, the installation of hydrogen detection sensors, the arrangement of automatic and manual emergency shutdown buttons, and the elevation of the compressor, is capable of reducing the risk of the LHRS to be within the risk acceptance criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Yuan
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingfeng Li
- Zhejiang Energy Group R&D Institute Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rong Yangyiming
- PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianbin Peng
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Xie
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianye Chen
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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4
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Manga M, Muoghalu CC. Greenhouse gas emissions from on-site sanitation systems: A systematic review and meta-analysis of emission rates, formation pathways and influencing factors. J Environ Manage 2024; 357:120736. [PMID: 38574706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Onsite sanitation systems (OSS) are significant sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). While a handful of studies have been conducted on GHG emissions from OSS, systematic evaluation of literature on this subject is limited. Our systematic review and meta-analysis provides state-of-the- art information on GHG emissions from OSS and identifies novel areas for investigation. The paper analyzes GHG emission rates from different OSS, the influence of various design, operational, and environmental factors on emission rates and proffers mitigation measures. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, we identified 16 articles which quantified GHG emissions from OSS. Septic tanks emit substantial amounts of CO2 and CH4 ranging from 1.74 to 398.30 g CO2/cap/day and 0.06-110.13 g CH4/cap/day, respectively, but have low N2O emissions (0.01-0.06 g N₂O/cap/day). CH4 emissions from pit latrines range from 0.77 to 20.30 g CH4/cap/day N2O emissions range from 0.76 to 1.20 gN2O/cap/day. We observed statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) between temperature, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, storage period, and GHG emissions from OSS. However, no significant correlation (p > 0.05) was observed between soil volumetric water content and CO2 emissions. CH4 emissions (expressed as CO2 equivalents) from OSS estimated following Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines were found to be seven times lower (90.99 g CO2e/cap/day) than in-situ field emission measurements (704.7 g CO2e/cap/day), implying that relying solely on IPCC guidelines may lead to underestimation of GHG emission from OSS. Our findings underscore the importance of considering local contexts and environmental factors when estimating GHG emissions from OSS. Plausible mitigation measures for GHG emissions from OSS include converting waste to biogas in anaerobic systems (e.g. biogas), applying biochar, and implementing mitigation policies that equally address inequalities in sanitation service access. Future research on GHG from OSS should focus on in-situ measurements of GHGs from pit latrines and other common OSS in developing countries, understanding the fate and transport of dissolved organics like CH4 in OSS effluents and impacts of microbial communities in OSS on GHG emissions. Addressing these gaps will enable more holistic and effective management of GHG emissions from OSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musa Manga
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 0030 Michael Hooker Research Center, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Construction Economics and Management, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Chimdi C Muoghalu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 0030 Michael Hooker Research Center, 135 Dauer Drive, Campus Box # 7431, NC 27599, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Nyaranga C, Wilberforce C, Njororai F. Compliance with World Health Organization COVID-19 preventive behaviors in rural counties in Western Kenya: a cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J 2024; 47:30. [PMID: 38558548 PMCID: PMC10979812 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2024.47.30.40558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended various measures to tackle COVID-19, and were adopted by many governments, targeting behavior change among citizens to lower the transmission. There was a paucity of data on the patterns of compliance with different measures within individuals and whether people adhere to all recommended measures or cautiously prefer few but not others. Understanding compliance behaviors and associated factors is important for developing interventions to increase compliance. Methods cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in the western region of Kenya. A sample of 806 participants was selected using a stratified sampling method. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the participants. Compliance was assessed with six behaviors: hand sanitation, proper hygiene, no handshaking, social distancing, and other guidelines. Latent analysis was used to identify behavioral patterns. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic characteristics, in terms of frequency distribution, and percentages. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between demographic characteristics and compliance level. Results compliance was highest for masking (85.3%), and was lowest for social distancing (60.2%). The majority of participants were found to be full compliers (class 1: 40.5%), there was an increased probability of full compliance among those aged between 18-30 years (OR= 1.042; 95% CI: 0.307-13.052, p < 0.040) compared to those aged ≥70. Conclusion using facemasks had the highest rate of compliance, followed by hand sanitization and proper hygiene. However, overall, the findings showed that while compliance with some protocol behaviors is high, individuals comply consistently across recommended compliance behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Nyaranga
- Department of Public Health, School of Health Sciences, South Eastern Kenya University, Kitui, Kenya
| | - Cholo Wilberforce
- Department of Public Health, School of Public Health and Biomedical Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya
| | - Fletcher Njororai
- Department of Public Health, School of Health Professions, The University of Texas at Tyler, University Boulevard, Tyler, United States of America
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Ganias K, Karatza A, Charitonidou K, Lachouvaris D. Mitigating bycatch in Mediterranean trammel net fisheries using species-specific gear modifications. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:231058. [PMID: 38026013 PMCID: PMC10646473 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Small-scale fisheries (SSF) use static gear which are thought to interact with marine ecosystems more benignly than towed gear. Despite this, trammel nets, one of the most extensively used type of fishing gear in the Mediterranean SSF, generate large amounts of discards, which can account for 25% or more of the captured biomass. Discarded organisms may include endangered or threatened species such as elasmobranchs, as well as non-commercial invertebrates that damage fishing gear or cause disentanglement delays. We evaluated various trammel-net gear modifications, including (i) the use of a guarding net attached to the footrope, (ii) increasing the length of the rigging twine between the footrope and the netting panel, and (iii) decreasing the mesh size of the outer panels. The last two modifications were successful in lowering captures of the marbled electric ray Torpedo marmorata, which is commonly discarded in the study area. Both sorts of modifications are relatively simple, their manufacturing does not represent an added cost to implement, and most importantly they do not negatively affect the catch of the target species. The current study shows that prior evaluation of the discard profile of distinct métiers is essential to accomplish species-specific gear modifications and underlines the importance of collaboration among scientists, fishers and gear manufacturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kostas Ganias
- School of Biology, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Alexandra Karatza
- School of Biology, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Katerina Charitonidou
- School of Biology, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Lachouvaris
- School of Biology, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
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Benítez-Cabello A, Delgado AM, Quintas C. Main Challenges Expected from the Impact of Climate Change on Microbial Biodiversity of Table Olives: Current Status and Trends. Foods 2023; 12:3712. [PMID: 37835365 PMCID: PMC10572816 DOI: 10.3390/foods12193712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change is a global emergency that is affecting agriculture in Mediterranean countries, notably the production and the characteristics of the final products. This is the case of olive cultivars, a source of olive oil and table olives. Table olives are the most important fermented vegetables in the Mediterranean area, whose world production exceeds 3 million tons/year. Lactic acid bacteria and yeast are the main microorganisms responsible for the fermentation of this product. The microbial diversity and population dynamics during the fermentation process are influenced by several factors, such as the content of sugars and phenols, all of which together influence the quality and safety of the table olives. The composition of fruits is in turn influenced by environmental conditions, such as rainfall, temperature, radiation, and the concentration of minerals in the soil, among others. In this review, we discuss the effect of climate change on the microbial diversity of table olives, with special emphasis on Spanish and Portuguese cultivars. The alterations expected to occur in climate change scenario(s) include changes in the microbial populations, their succession, diversity, and growth kinetics, which may impact the safety and quality of the table olives. Mitigation and adaptation measures are proposed to safeguard the authenticity and sensorial features of this valuable fermented food while ensuring food safety requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Benítez-Cabello
- Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Food Biotechnology Department, Campus Universitario Pablo de Olavide, Building 46, Ctra, Sevilla-Utrera, km 1, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Amélia M. Delgado
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
| | - Célia Quintas
- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
- Instituto Superior de Engenharia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
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Lou J, Borjigin S, Tang C, Saadat Y, Hu M, Niemeier DA. Facility design and worker justice: COVID-19 transmission in meatpacking plants. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:713-727. [PMID: 37329208 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Meatpacking plants were major sources of COVID-19 outbreaks, posing unprecedented risks to employees, family members, and local communities. The effect on food availability during outbreaks was immediate and staggering: within 2 months, the price of beef increased by almost 7% with documented evidence of significant meat shortages. Meatpacking plant designs, in general, optimize on production; this design approach constrains the ability to enhance worker respiratory protection without reducing output. METHODS Using agent-based modeling, we simulate the spread of COVID-19 within a typical meatpacking plant design under varying levels of mitigation measures, including combinations of social distancing and masking interventions. RESULTS Simulations show an average infection rate of close to 99% with no mitigation, 99% with the policies that US companies ultimately adopted, 81% infected with the combination of surgical masks and distancing policies, and 71% infected with N95 masks and distancing. Estimated infection rates were high, reflecting the duration and exertion of the processing activities and lack of fresh airflow in an enclosed space. CONCLUSION Our results are consistent with anecdotal findings in a recent congressional report, and are much higher than US industry has reported. Our results suggest current processing plant designs made rapid transmission of the virus during the pandemic's early days almost inevitable, and implemented worker protections during COVID-19 did not significantly affect the spread of the virus. We argue current federal policies and regulations are insufficient to ensure the health and safety of workers, creating a justice issue, and jeopardizing food availability in a future pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehong Lou
- School of Public Policy, Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sachraa Borjigin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Connie Tang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Yalda Saadat
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ming Hu
- School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Deb A Niemeier
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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Nieder R, Benbi DK. Potentially toxic elements in the environment - a review of sources, sinks, pathways and mitigation measures. Rev Environ Health 2023; 0:reveh-2022-0161. [PMID: 37118984 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pollution of ecosystems with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has become a global problem with serious consequences for public health. The PTEs are hazardous to humans owing to their longevity, toxicity, and ability to accumulate in the biotic environment. As most PTEs cannot be degraded microbially or chemically, they can persist in soils for a long time. Besides posing a threat to landsphere, they may be transported to surrounding environmental spheres through movement of water, atmospheric circulation, and biological transmission. This can severely affect the ecological equilibrium. Accumulation of PTEs in soils pose serious health hazards to higher organisms leading to various diseases and disorders and significant relationships exist between the occurrence of PTEs and the toxic effects in humans. In natural soils, PTEs accumulate due to weathering of rocks and ores. Furthermore, locally or regionally significant accumulation of PTEs in soils may occur from industrial goods, pesticides and paints, municipal and industrial waste, fertilizer application, mining activities and atmospheric deposition. In response to the growing need to address PTE contamination, remediation methods have been developed employing mechanical, physico-chemical or biological based technologies. In this review, we discuss sources, sinks, pathways and mitigation measures related to natural and anthropogenic PTEs. We focus on As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb which are highly toxic and perform no physiological functions in biota. Further, these are the most widely studied PTEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Nieder
- Institute of Geoecology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dinesh K Benbi
- Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
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Briozzo L, Tomasso G, Trujillo J, Viroga S, Pintos J, Nozar F, Aleman A, Buekens P. COVID-19 mitigation measures increase preterm birth and low birth weight in the public healthcare system in Uruguay. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023. [PMID: 37052316 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on preterm birth (PB) and low birth weight (LBW), comparing public and private healthcare systems of the National Integrated Health System in Uruguay, where the mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic generated an immediate socioeconomic and psychological crisis, which caused a sharp widening of existing socioeconomic inequalities. METHODS A national observational study was conducted comparing perinatal outcomes in the first 6 months of 2020 (period of the pandemic without pregnancy infections), which was the beginning of the pandemic, with the same period of the previous year 2019 (pre-pandemic period with no mitigation measures) among pregnant women from the public and private health systems. Data were retrieved from the national database (Informatic Perinatal System) and analyzed by healthcare system category. RESULTS A total of 36 559 deliveries were assessed: 18 563 in the 2019 study period and 17 996 in the 2020 study period. In the public system, there was a significant increase in the risk of LBW (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.36) and of the composite outcome (PB or LBW) (aRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.26). In the private system, by contrast, there was a non-statistically significant decrease of LBW and there were no changes in the incidence of PB and the composite outcome in 2020. CONCLUSION The different evolution of birth outcomes in the public and private systems suggests an unequal impact of mitigation measures on populations of different socioeconomic levels. Given that no COVID-19 infections were identified in pregnant women during the study period, this research offers an opportunity to differentiate the biologic effects of the virus from the psychological and social impacts derived from containment measures. CLINICALTRIALS GOV IDENTIFIER NCT05087160.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel Briozzo
- Gynecology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gisselle Tomasso
- Gynecology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Janet Trujillo
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Stephanie Viroga
- Gynecology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier Pintos
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Fernanda Nozar
- Gynecology Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alicia Aleman
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pierre Buekens
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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de Bruijn AL, Feldman Y, Reinders Folmer CP, Kuiper ME, Brownlee M, Kooistra E, Olthuis E, Fine A, van Rooij B. Cross-Theoretical Compliance: An Integrative Compliance Analysis of COVID-19 Mitigation Responses in Israel. Adm Soc 2023; 55:635-670. [PMID: 38603342 PMCID: PMC9790859 DOI: 10.1177/00953997221140899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
To understand the question why people obey or break rules, different approaches have focused on different theories and subsets of variables. The present research develops a cross-theoretical approach that integrates these perspectives. We apply this in a survey of compliance with COVID-19 pandemic mitigation rules in Israel. The data reveal that compliance in this setting was shaped by a combination of variables originating from legitimacy, capacity, and opportunity theories (but not rational choice or social theories). This demonstrates the importance of moving beyond narrow theoretical perspectives of compliance, to a cross-theoretical understanding-in which different theoretical approaches are systematically integrated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Benjamin van Rooij
- University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
- University of California, Irvine, USA
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12
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Lee Gordon A, Collins JT. More data can help us better understand COVID-19 outbreaks but nuanced and critical reflection is required. Age Ageing 2023; 52:7066938. [PMID: 36866419 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Lee Gordon
- Academic Unit of Injury, Recovery and Inflammation Sciences (IRIS), School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.,NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East Midlands (ARC-EM), Nottingham, UK
| | - Jemima T Collins
- NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre , University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK.,Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Queen's Medical Centre Campus Ringgold Standard Institution, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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Wong J, Cummings KJ, Gibb K, Rodriguez A, Heinzerling A, Vergara XP. Risk factors for COVID-19 among Californians working outside the home, November 2020 - May 2021. Am J Ind Med 2023; 66:233-242. [PMID: 36694299 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher incidences of COVID-19 mortality and outbreaks have been found in certain industries and occupations. Workplace factors, including working in close proximity to others and contact with the public can facilitate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, especially without appropriate protective measures. Limited information is available about workers at highest risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS A phone-based, nonprobability study was conducted between November 2020 and May 2021 among California workers who were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Participants were asked about demographics and workplace factors, including industry, occupation, and implementation of COVID-19 mitigation measures. Using the SARS-CoV-2 occupational exposure matrix, three exposure metrics and a combination index were used to categorize occupations. We assessed the association between workplace risks and SARS-CoV-2 test positivity using adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS We enrolled 451 (13%) of 3475 potentially eligible workers in the study: 212 with positive and 239 with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results. Those working very close to others and with the highest combined exposure index had a positive association with SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Primarily indoor workers had a lower odds of test positivity compared to those with any outdoor work. There was no association between public-facing occupations and test positivity. Participants with employers who implemented mitigation measures in all three control categories-engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment-had lower odds of test positivity than those with fewer mitigation measures. CONCLUSIONS Worker groups with higher risk factors should be prioritized for outreach. Assessment of occupational risk factors collectively can provide insight to inform preventative actions for workers, employers, and public health entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Wong
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA.,Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kristin J Cummings
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Kathryn Gibb
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA.,Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Andrea Rodriguez
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA.,Public Health Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Amy Heinzerling
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA
| | - Ximena P Vergara
- California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, California, USA.,Heluna Health, City of Industry, California, USA
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14
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y. A comprehensive review of furan in foods: From dietary exposures and in vivo metabolism to mitigation measures. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2023; 22:809-841. [PMID: 36541202 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Furan is a thermal food processing contaminant that is ubiquitous in various food products such as coffee, canned and jarred foods, and cereals. A comprehensive summary of research progress on furan is presented in this review, including discussion of (i) formation pathways, (ii) occurrence and dietary exposures, (iii) analytical techniques, (iv) toxicities, (v) metabolism and metabolites, (vi) risk assessment, (vii) potential biomarkers, and (viii) mitigation measures. Dietary exposure to furan varies among different countries and age groups. Furan acts through various toxicological pathways mediated by its primary metabolite, cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA). BDA can readily react with glutathione, amino acids, biogenic amines, or nucleotides to form corresponding metabolites, some of which have been proposed as potential biomarkers of exposure to furan. Present risk assessment of furan mainly employed the margin of exposure approach. Given the widespread occurrence of furan in foods and its harmful health effects, mitigating furan levels in foods or exploring potential dietary supplements to protect against furan toxicity is necessary for the benefit of food safety and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiju Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Fuli Institute of Food Science, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Fuli Institute of Food Science, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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15
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De Wit JBF, de Ridder DTD, van den Boom W, Kroese FM, van den Putte B, Stok FM, Leurs M, de Bruin M. Understanding public support for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures over time: Does it wear out? Front Public Health 2023; 11:1079992. [PMID: 36935718 PMCID: PMC10020646 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1079992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 mitigation measures intend to protect public health, but their adverse psychological, social, and economic effects weaken public support. Less favorable trade-offs may especially weaken support for more restrictive measures. Support for mitigation measures may also differ between population subgroups who experience different benefits and costs, and decrease over time, a phenomenon termed "pandemic fatigue." Methods We examined self-reported support for COVID-19 mitigation measures in the Netherlands over 12 consecutives waves of data collection between April 2020 and May 2021 in an open population cohort study. Participants were recruited through community panels of the 25 regional public health services, and through links to the online surveys advertised on social media. The 54,010 unique participants in the cohort study on average participated in 4 waves of data collection. Most participants were female (65%), middle-aged [57% (40-69 years)], highly educated (57%), not living alone (84%), residing in an urban area (60%), and born in the Netherlands (95%). Results COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in the Netherlands remained generally well-supported over time [all scores >3 on 5-point scale ranging 1 (low)-5 (high)]. During the whole period studied, support was highest for personal hygiene measures, quarantine and wearing face masks, high but somewhat lower for not shaking hands, testing and self-isolation, and restricting social contacts, and lowest for limiting visitors at home, and not traveling abroad. Women and higher educated people were more supportive of some mitigation measures than men and lower educated people. Older people were more supportive of more restrictive measures than younger people, and support for more socially restrictive measures decreased most over time in higher educated people or in younger people. Conclusions This study found no support for pandemic fatigue in terms of a gradual decline in support for all mitigation measures in the first year of the pandemic. Rather, findings suggest that support for mitigation measures reflects a balancing of benefits and cost, which may change over time, and differ between measures and population subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B. F. De Wit
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: John B. F. De Wit
| | - Denise T. D. de Ridder
- Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wijnand van den Boom
- Corona Behavioural Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Floor M. Kroese
- Department of Social, Health and Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Corona Behavioural Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Bas van den Putte
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - F. Marijn Stok
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Corona Behavioural Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Mariken Leurs
- Corona Behavioural Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Marijn de Bruin
- Corona Behavioural Unit, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, Netherlands
- Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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16
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Graham IM, Gillespie D, Gkikopoulou KC, Hastie GD, Thompson PM. Directional hydrophone clusters reveal evasive responses of small cetaceans to disturbance during construction at offshore windfarms. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220101. [PMID: 36651028 PMCID: PMC9845968 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitigation measures to disperse marine mammals prior to pile-driving include acoustic deterrent devices and piling soft starts, but their efficacy remains uncertain. We developed a self-contained portable hydrophone cluster to detect small cetacean movements from the distributions of bearings to detections. Using an array of clusters within 10 km of foundation pile installations, we tested the hypothesis that harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) respond to mitigation measures at offshore windfarm sites by moving away. During baseline periods, porpoise movements were evenly distributed in all directions. By contrast, animals showed significant directional movement away from sound sources during acoustic deterrent device use and piling soft starts. We demonstrate that porpoises respond to measures aimed to mitigate the most severe impacts of construction at offshore windfarms by swimming directly away from these sound sources. Portable directional hydrophone clusters now provide opportunities to characterize responses to disturbance sources across a broad suite of habitats and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- I. M. Graham
- Lighthouse Field Station, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YL, Scotland
| | - D. Gillespie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - K. C. Gkikopoulou
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - G. D. Hastie
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - P. M. Thompson
- Lighthouse Field Station, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YL, Scotland
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17
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Singo J, Moyo D, Isunju JB, Bose-O’Reilly S, Steckling-Muschack N, Becker J, Mamuse A. Health and Safety Risk Mitigation among Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners in Zimbabwe. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:14352. [PMID: 36361232 PMCID: PMC9659187 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is often associated with no or compromised attention to health and safety. Although headlines of fatal accidents in Zimbabwe characterise ASGM, little attention is paid to prevention strategies. This study, therefore, explores health and safety risk mitigation in ASGM in Zimbabwe to inform prevention strategies. A qualitative design was used with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, coding, and descriptive statistics. Reported factors contributing to compromised health and safety included immediate causes, workplace factors, ASM related factors, and contextual factors, with interconnectedness between the causal factors. In addition, factors related to ASGM were significant. For risk mitigation, formalisation, organisation of risk reduction, behaviour change, and enforcement of prevention strategies is proposed. A multi-causal analysis is recommended for risk assessment and accident investigation. A multi-stakeholder approach could be considered for risk mitigation including community and public health interventions. However, risk mitigation has been characterised by gaps and weaknesses such as lacking ASM policy, lack of capital, poor enforcement, negative perceptions, and non-compliance. Therefore, we recommend addressing the threats associated with health and safety mitigation to ensure health and safety protection in ASGM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Singo
- Centre for International Health, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Devsol Consulting, Clock Tower, Kampala P.O. Box 73201, Uganda
- Exceed Institute of Safety Management and Technology, Kampala P.O. Box 72212, Uganda
| | - Dingani Moyo
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
- Faculty of Medicine, National University of Science and Technology, Ascot, Bulawayo P.O. Box AC 939, Zimbabwe
- Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, 263, Senga Road, Gweru P.O. Box 9055, Zimbabwe
| | - John Bosco Isunju
- Disease Control and Environmental Health Department, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7072, Uganda
| | - Stephan Bose-O’Reilly
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT-University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnoefer-Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Nadine Steckling-Muschack
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT-University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnoefer-Zentrum 1, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria
- Klinikum Osnabrueck GmbH, Am Finkenhuegel 1, 49076 Osnabrueck, Germany
| | - Jana Becker
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 5, 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Professional Association of Private Practitioners in Hematology and Medical Oncology, Sachsenring 57, 50677 Cologne, Germany
| | - Antony Mamuse
- Department of Geosciences, Midlands State University, Private Bag 9055, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
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18
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Castriota L, Falautano M, Maggio T, Perzia P. The Blue Swimming Crab Portunus segnis in the Mediterranean Sea: Invasion Paths, Impacts and Management Measures. Biology (Basel) 2022; 11. [PMID: 36290376 DOI: 10.3390/biology11101473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Invasive alien species represent one of the main environmental emergencies and are considered by the scientific community as being among the leading causes of biodiversity loss on a global scale. Therefore, detecting their pathways, hotspot areas and invasion trends becomes extremely important also for management purposes. A systematic review on presence of Portunus segnis in the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea was carried out in order to study the invasion paths from its entry from the Red Sea into the Suez Canal (1886) until recently (2021) through ecological indicators elaborated with GIS spatial-temporal statistics. Arrival, establishment and expansion phases and areas of P. segnis in the Mediterranean were identified. Settlement areas were detected along the Suez Canal as well as in the Levantine Sea, western Ionian Sea and Tunisian plateau ecoregions. Since 2015 a persistent area has formed in Tunisia from where the species is spreading northward and eastward. The study provides an insight on the impact of P. segnis on biodiversity and ecosystem services and proposes a series of desirable management actions to mitigate the expansion of its population. Following the 8Rs model that introduces the rules to mitigate non-indigenous species pollution, six of them (Recognize, Reduce, Replace, Reuse, Remove, and Regulate) have been identified as applicable and are discussed.
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19
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de Ridder DTD, van den Boom LATP, Kroese FM, Moors EHM, van den Broek KL. How do people understand the spread of COVID-19 infections? Mapping mental models of factors contributing to the pandemic. Psychol Health 2022:1-20. [PMID: 36193021 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2129054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the mental models people hold about the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on how they understand the factors that drive the spread of COVID-19 and what kind of beliefs are associated with these models. DESIGN In a series of three studies (total N = 461), we asked participants to identify factors that are relevant for COVID-19 proliferation (Study 1a), rate the importance of factors (Study 1 b), and create a mental model of how these factors relate to virus spread by employing a validated tool for mental model elicitation (Study 2). Main outcome measures: inclusion and centrality of factors in mental models of COVID-19 infection spread. RESULTS Mitigation measures issued by government, adherence to measures, and virus characteristics were most strongly represented in participants' mental models. Participants who perceived measures as appropriate or who experienced more control and more worry over the spread of the virus created more complex models compared to participants who were less satisfied with measures or who felt lower control and less worry. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that people are able to create sensible mental models of virus transmission but may appreciate transparent communication to comprehend the bigger picture behind the governmental mitigation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise T D de Ridder
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lieke A T P van den Boom
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Floor M Kroese
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ellen H M Moors
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Karlijn L van den Broek
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Research Centre for Environmental Economics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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20
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Jarnig G, Kerbl R, van Poppel MNM. How Middle and High School Students Wear Their Face Masks in Classrooms and School Buildings. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10. [PMID: 36141253 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to other mitigation measures, face masks have been used in schools worldwide as a precondition for allowing school attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The quality and habits of mask wearing have, however, not been evaluated thus far, leaving uncertainty about the efficacy of this measure. It was the aim of this study to assess the accuracy of face mask wearing by children and adolescents in different school situations. In May and June 2022, students of two selected Austrian schools were asked to provide information about the different variations in wearing a face mask in different situations at school (in classrooms with or without the presence of a teacher, and in school buildings outside classrooms without the presence of a teacher). Strongly divergent results were identified for the amount of time in which face masks were worn correctly in the three different situations (p < 0.001, eta = 0.29). In the presence of a teacher, masks were worn correctly 63.7% of the time, while this percentage decreased to 31.9% when no teacher was present (p < 0.001). These results suggest the limited efficacy of mandatory face masks in schools. Should this measure become necessary again in the future due to the pandemic situation and highly pathogenic variants, special efforts are necessary in order to improve the quality of face mask wearing by school children.
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21
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Alcántara-Ayala I, Cui P, Pasuto A. Disaster risk reduction in mountain areas: a research overview. J Mt Sci 2022; 19:1487-1494. [PMID: 35789949 PMCID: PMC9244576 DOI: 10.1007/s11629-022-7487-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This paper gives an account of the diverse dimensions of research on disaster risk reduction in mountain regions derived from an open call of the Journal of Mountain Science that brought 21 contributions. This special issue includes topics as diverse as landslide dynamics and mechanisms, landslide inventories and landslide susceptibility models, insights to landslide hazards and disasters and mitigation measures, disaster response and disaster risk reduction. The overall structure of the paper takes the form of three sections. The first part begins by laying out the significance of disaster risk reduction in mountain areas, whereas the second one looks at the research insights on disaster risk reduction in mountains provided by the contributions comprised in the special volume. The final section identifies areas for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irasema Alcántara-Ayala
- Institute of Geography, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, 04510 Mexico
| | - Peng Cui
- Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Alessandro Pasuto
- CNR-IRPI, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection, C.so Stati Uniti, Padova 4, 35127 Italy
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22
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van der Feltz S, Peters S, Pronk A, Schlünssen V, Stokholm ZA, Kolstad HA, van Veldhoven K, Basinas I, van Tongeren M, Burdorf A, Oude Hengel KM. Validation of a COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix (COVID-19-JEM) for Occupational Risk of a SARS-CoV-2 Infection at Work: Using Data of Dutch Workers. Ann Work Expo Health 2022; 67:9-20. [PMID: 35583140 PMCID: PMC9129190 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxac032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix (COVID-19-JEM) has been developed, consisting of four dimensions on transmission, two on mitigation measures, and two on precarious work. This study aims to validate the COVID-19-JEM by (i) comparing risk scores assigned by the COVID-19-JEM with self-reported data, and (ii) estimating the associations between the COVID-19-JEM risk scores and self-reported COVID-19. METHODS Data from measurements 2 (July 2020, n = 7690) and 4 (March 2021, n = 6794) of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey-COVID-19 (NWCS-COVID-19) cohort study were used. Responses to questions related to the transmission risks and mitigation measures of Measurement 2 were used to calculate self-reported risk scores. These scores were compared with the COVID-19-JEM attributed risk scores, by assessing the percentage agreement and weighted kappa (κ). Based on Measurement 4, logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between all COVID-19-JEM risk scores and self-reported COVID-19 (infection in general and infected at work). RESULTS The agreement between the COVID-19-JEM and questionnaire-based risk scores was good (κ ≥ 0.70) for most dimensions, except work location (κ = 0.56), and face covering (κ = 0.41). Apart from the precarious work dimensions, higher COVID-19-JEM assigned risk scores had higher odds ratios (ORs; ranging between 1.28 and 1.80) on having had COVID-19. Associations were stronger when the infection were thought to have happened at work (ORs between 2.33 and 11.62). CONCLUSIONS Generally, the COVID-19-JEM showed a good agreement with self-reported infection risks and infection rates at work. The next step is to validate the COVID-19-JEM with objective data in the Netherlands and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie van der Feltz
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Department of Work Health Technology, Unit Healthy Living, Schipholweg 79-86, 2316 ZL Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Susan Peters
- Department Population Health Sciences, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Department of Work Health Technology, Unit Healthy Living, Schipholweg 79-86, 2316 ZL Leiden, The Netherlands,Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO, Department pf Risk Analysis for Products in Development, Princetonlaan 6 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vivi Schlünssen
- Department of Public Health, Environment, Occupation and Health, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark,National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Zara A Stokholm
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Henrik A Kolstad
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Karin van Veldhoven
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Ioannis Basinas
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Martie van Tongeren
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Centre for Epidemiology, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Alex Burdorf
- Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Public Health, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karen M Oude Hengel
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +31-6-468-47-269; e-mail:
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Abstract
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system that is almost indispensable service system of modern buildings is recognized as the most important engineering control measure against pandemics. However, the effectiveness of HVAC systems has been questioned on their ability to control airborne transmission. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China has controlled the spread within a relatively short period. Considering the large population, high population density, busy transportation and the overall underdeveloped economy, China's control measures may have some implications to other countries, especially those with limited resources. This paper intends to provide a systematic summary of Chinese ventilation guidelines issued to cope with COVID-19 transmission. The following three aspects are the main focus of these guidelines: (1) general operation and management schemes of various types of HVAC systems, (2) operation and management schemes of HVAC system in typical types of buildings, and (3) design schemes of HVAC system of makeshift hospitals. In addition, some important differences in HVAC guidelines between China and other countries/institutions are identified and compared, and the possible reasons are discussed. Further discussions are made on the following topics, including the required fresh air supply, the extended operation time, the use of auxiliary equipment, the limited capacity of existing systems, and the use of personalized systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjun Ye
- Department of Building Environment and Energy, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen Lin
- Department of Building Environment and Energy, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Building Environment and Energy, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhengtao Ai
- Department of Building Environment and Energy, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhang
- Department of Building Environment and Energy, College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Center for International Research Collaboration in Building Safety and Environment, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Schoenmakers S, Verweij EJJ, Beijers R, Bijma HH, Been JV, Steegers-Theunissen RPM, Koopmans MPG, Reiss IKM, Steegers EAP. The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:4710. [PMID: 35457577 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on society, particularly affecting its vulnerable members, including pregnant women and their unborn children. Pregnant mothers reported fear of infection, fear of vertical transmission, fear of poor birth and child outcomes, social isolation, uncertainty about their partner's presence during medical appointments and delivery, increased domestic abuse, and other collateral damage, including vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, pregnant women's known vulnerability for mental health problems has become a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, also because of the known effects of prenatal stress for the unborn child. The current narrative review provides a historical overview of transgenerational effects of exposure to disasters during pregnancy, and the role of maternal prenatal stress. We place these effects into the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hereby, we aim to draw attention to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women of reproductive age (15-49 year) and its potential associated short-term and long-term consequences for the health of children who are conceived, carried, and born during this pandemic. Timely detection and intervention during the first 1000 days is essential to reduce the burden of transgenerational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Hoteit M, Mortada H, Al-Jawaldeh A, Mansour R, Yazbeck B, AlKhalaf M, Bookari K, Tayyem R, Al-Awwad NJ, Al Sabbah H, Cheikh Ismail L, Qasrawi R, Abu Seir R, Kamel I, Dashti S, Allehdan S, Al-Mannai M, Bawadi H, Waly M. Dietary Diversity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Disparities, Challenges, and Mitigation Measures. Front Nutr 2022; 9:813154. [PMID: 35252299 PMCID: PMC8893198 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.813154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the Eastern Mediterranean Region's food system's fragility posing severe challenges to maintaining healthy sustainable lifestyle. The aim of this cross-sectional study (N = 13,527 household's family members, mean age: 30.3 ±11.6, 80% women) is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food consumption patterns and household's dietary diversity in 10 Eastern Mediterranean countries. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the consumption patterns along with the calculation of the Food Consumption Score (FCS), a proxy indicator of dietary diversity. Data collected on cooking attitudes, shopping and food stock explore the community mitigation measures. In the overall population, before and during the pandemic, most food groups were consumed less or equal to 4 times per week. As evident from our findings and considering that the pandemic may be better, but it's not over, small to moderate changes in food consumption patterns in relatively short time periods can become permanent and lead to substantial poor dietary diversity over time. While it is a priority to mitigate the immediate impact, one area of great concern is the long-term effects of this pandemic on dietary patterns and dietary diversity in Eastern Mediterranean households. To conclude, the COVID-19 crisis revealed the region's unpreparedness to deal with a pandemic. While the aggressive containment strategy was essential for most countries to help prevent the spread, it came at a high nutritional cost, driving poor dietary diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center (LUNSC), Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hussein Mortada
- PHENOL Research Group (Public HEalth Nutrition prOgram Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.,Faculty of Science IV, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rania Mansour
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Batoul Yazbeck
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Majid AlKhalaf
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khlood Bookari
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reema Tayyem
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Narmeen J Al-Awwad
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Haleama Al Sabbah
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Leila Cheikh Ismail
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Radwan Qasrawi
- Department of Computer Science, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.,Department of Computer Engineering, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | | | - Somaia Dashti
- Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Sabika Allehdan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain
| | - Mariam Al-Mannai
- Department of Mathematics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain
| | - Hiba Bawadi
- Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mostafa Waly
- Food Science and Nutrition Department, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
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Kinyili M, Munyakazi JB, Mukhtar AY. Mathematical modeling and impact analysis of the use of COVID Alert SA app. AIMS Public Health 2022; 9:106-128. [PMID: 35071672 PMCID: PMC8755967 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2022009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The human life-threatening novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona-virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has lasted for over a year escalating and posing simultaneous anxiety day-by-day globally since its first report in the late December 2019. The scientific arena has been kept animated via continuous investigations in an effort to understand the spread dynamics and the impact of various mitigation measures to keep this pandemic diminished. Despite a lot of research works having been accomplished this far, the pandemic is still deep-rooted in many regions worldwide signaling for more scientific investigations. This study joins the field by developing a modified SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed) compartmental deterministic model whose key distinct feature is the incorporation of the COVID Alert SA app use by the general public in prolific intention to control the spread of the epidemic. Validation of the model is performed by fitting the model to the Republic of South Africa's COVID-19 cases reported data using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation algorithm implemented in fitR package. The model's sensitivity analysis and simulations stipulate that gradual to complete use of the app would be perfect in contact tracing and substantially reduce the plateau number of COVID-19 infections. This would consequentially contribute remarkably to the eradication of the SARS-CoV-2 over time. Proportional amalgamation of the app use and test for COVID-19 on individuals not using the app would also reduce the peak number of infections apart from the 50 – 50% ratio which spikes the plateau number beyond any other proportion. The study establishes that at least 30% implementation of the app use with gradual increase in tests conducted for individuals not using the app would suffice to stabilize the disease free equilibrium resulting to gradual eradication of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Musyoka Kinyili
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17 Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Justin B Munyakazi
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17 Bellville 7535, South Africa
| | - Abdulaziz Ya Mukhtar
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17 Bellville 7535, South Africa
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Raphela TD, Pillay N. Quantifying the nutritional and income loss caused by crop raiding in a rural African subsistence farming community in South Africa. Jamba 2021; 13:1040. [PMID: 34917283 PMCID: PMC8661414 DOI: 10.4102/jamba.v13i1.1040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Globally, crop damage by wildlife contributes to food insecurity through the direct loss of food and income. We investigated the calories lost and the potential economic impact of crop raiding at subsistence homesteads abutting the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, and assessed mitigation measures to combat crop raiding. We quantified the seasonal loss of calories (kJ/g) of four common crops, namely, beetroot, common bean, maize, and spinach, and determined the seasonal potential income loss. We used a stratified sampling approach to sample the homesteads. We found that season, crop type and the interaction between season and crop type predicted relative calorie loss and potential income loss, with the highest income loss recorded for spinach in the dry season. Significant differences were found for the potential income loss for all crop types in the wet season, and for the interaction between the crop types (maize, spinach) and the wet season. Farm slope was also a significant predictor of the relative calorie loss. Crop raiding animals, crops raided and distance of farms from the reserve all had a significant effect on the choice of mitigation measures of farmers. The highest relative calorie loss was for maize during the dry season, which could affect the subsistence farmers by reducing their daily calorie intake. This has an impact on their food security, especially during the dry season. Moreover, the most preferred mitigation measure used by farmers can have opportunity costs. These results have important implications for food security policies and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tlou D Raphela
- Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Neville Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Rybak A, Yang DD, Schrimpf C, Guedj R, Levy C, Cohen R, Gajdos V, Tort J, Skurnik D, Ouldali N, Angoulvant F. Fall of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Children following COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions: A Time Series Analysis. Pathogens 2021; 10:1375. [PMID: 34832531 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A first national lockdown was decided in France on the 17 March 2020. These measures had an impact on other viral and non-viral infectious diseases. We aimed to assess this impact on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. We performed a quasi-experimental interrupted time series analysis. We used data from a French prospective surveillance system of six pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). All visits from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020 were included. Pre-intervention period was before 17 March 2020 and post-intervention period was after 18 March 2020. We estimated the impact on the weekly number of visits for CAP and CAP admission using quasi-Poisson regression modeling. A total of 981,782 PEDs visits were analyzed; among them, 8318 visits were associated with CAP, and 1774 of these were followed by a hospital admission. A major decrease was observed for CAP visits (-79.7% 95% CI [-84.3; -73.8]; p < 0.0001), and CAP admission (-71.3% 95 CI [-78.8; -61.1]; p < 0.0001). We observed a dramatic decrease of CAP in children following NPIs implementation. Further studies are required to assess the long-term impact of these measures.
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Tretter M, Ehrlich DB, von Ulmenstein U. Easing Restrictions During Vaccine Scarcity. How Mitigation Measures Help Tackling Associated Moral and Behavioral Challenges. Public Health Rev 2021; 42:1604269. [PMID: 34909235 PMCID: PMC8588827 DOI: 10.3389/phrs.2021.1604269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: When vaccines became first available during the Covid-19 pandemic, their demand significantly exceeded their supply. In consequence, the access to vaccines, initially, was distributed unequally. At the same time, governments started easing pandemic restrictions for vaccinated and recovered persons and restoring their freedoms since their risk of transmitting the virus is significantly reduced. Evidence: We show that restoring freedoms for vaccinated and recovered persons - while upholding restrictions for the rest of the population - is morally unfair during vaccine scarcity. Further, it may yield unintended side-effects, including perverse incentives, growing rifts in society, and the expansion of marginalization. Policy Options & Recommendations: We recommend accompanying easing for vaccinated and recovered individuals by mitigation measures for those who are neither vaccinated nor recovered. We propose, first, to temporarily lift the same restrictions for negative-tested individuals, as for vaccinated or recovered people. Second, the state must ensure broad and easy access to testing for everyone - free of charge. Conclusion: If done right, these mitigation measures create (at least temporarily) equal access to freedom for everybody - solving the moral problem of unfair access to freedoms and counteracting possible negative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Tretter
- Department of Theology, University of Erlangen Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David B. Ehrlich
- Department of Economics and Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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30
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Olumoyin KD, Khaliq AQM, Furati KM. Data-Driven Deep-Learning Algorithm for Asymptomatic COVID-19 Model with Varying Mitigation Measures and Transmission Rate. Epidemiologia (Basel) 2021; 2:471-89. [PMID: 36417211 DOI: 10.3390/epidemiologia2040033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological models with constant parameters may not capture satisfactory infection patterns in the presence of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical mitigation measures during a pandemic, since infectiousness is a function of time. In this paper, an Epidemiology-Informed Neural Network algorithm is introduced to learn the time-varying transmission rate for the COVID-19 pandemic in the presence of various mitigation scenarios. There are asymptomatic infectives, mostly unreported, and the proposed algorithm learns the proportion of the total infective individuals that are asymptomatic infectives. Using cumulative and daily reported cases of the symptomatic infectives, we simulate the impact of non-pharmaceutical mitigation measures such as early detection of infectives, contact tracing, and social distancing on the basic reproduction number. We demonstrate the effectiveness of vaccination on the transmission of COVID-19. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated using error metrics in the data-driven simulation for COVID-19 data of Italy, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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31
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Briozzo L, Tomasso G, Viroga S, Selma H, Cardozo V, Niz C, Nozar F, Bianchi A. Effect of the unfavorable maternal-fetal environment cause by mitigation measures of the covid-19 pandemic in the public maternity of reference of Uruguay. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 35:7312-7315. [PMID: 34219582 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1946791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The mitigation measures to face the health emergency due to the COVID 19 pandemic generated a deep economic, social, and psychological crisis at the community level. This effect is greater in the people, who are the most violated in their rights. In relation to the social crisis and gender perspective, women are particularly affected by the pandemic. Given the disadvantaged situation of women socially, economically, and politically, their self-care is diminished. OBJECTIVE To identify whether there is an association between the classic risk factors for prematurity and fetal growth restriction and the increase in these pathologies in the period March-September 2020, in a maternity hospital that assists women from low resources. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study, with a comparative analysis of the periods between 15 March and 30 September 2019 and the same period in 2020. The data were obtained from an electronic clinical database. The prevalence of preterm birth and small-for-gestational age newborn was analyzed. Indicators available in the database that reflect maternal conditions that lead to an unfavorable maternal environment were selected and they were classified into categories. RESULTS In the period of 2019, 3225 births were registered and in the period of 2020, 3036 births. In the 2019 period, 12.2% of prematurity was evidenced, while in the 2020 period, 14.5% (RR = 1.19, IC 95% = 1.05-1.35, p = .005). In relation to PEG 5.5% in the first period versus 6.9% in the second (RR = 1.26, CI 95% = 1.04-1.53, p = .01). No increases were found in the indicators that are traditionally related to the etiologies proposed to explain the increase in prematurity and small-for-age gestational, there was no evidence of an increase in inflammatory or vascular conditions. CONCLUSION The economic, psychological and social crises, in the 1st semester of the health emergency, seriously affected the social determinants of the health of pregnant women who use the Public Maternity of reference in Uruguay. This situation is at the base of the poor perinatal results in the period of the maximum mediated mitigation of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel Briozzo
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Giselle Tomasso
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Stephanie Viroga
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Hugo Selma
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Virginia Cardozo
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Clara Niz
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Fernanda Nozar
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Bianchi
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Kim DH, Nguyen TM, Kim JH. Infectious Respiratory Diseases Decreased during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:6008. [PMID: 34205018 PMCID: PMC8199908 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Infectious respiratory diseases are highly contagious and very common, and thus can be considered as one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. We followed up the incidence rates (IRs) of eight infectious respiratory diseases, including chickenpox, measles, pertussis, mumps, invasive pneumococcal disease, scarlet fever, rubella, and meningococcal disease, after COVID-19 mitigation measures were implemented in South Korea, and then compared those with the IRs in the corresponding periods in the previous 3 years. Overall, the IRs of these diseases before and after age- or sex-standardization significantly decreased in the intervention period compared with the pre-intervention periods (p < 0.05 for all eight diseases). However, the difference in the IRs of all eight diseases between the IRs before and after age-standardization was significant (p < 0.05 for all periods), while it was not significant with regard to sex-standardization. The incidence rate ratios for eight diseases in the pre-intervention period compared with the intervention period ranged from 3.1 to 4.1. These results showed the positive effects of the mitigation measures on preventing the development of respiratory infectious diseases, regardless of age or sex, but we need to consider the age-structure of the population to calculate the effect size. In the future, some of these measures could be applied nationwide to prevent the occurrence or to reduce the transmission during outbreaks of these infections. This study provides evidence for strengthening the infectious disease management policies in South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jin Hee Kim
- Department of Integrative Bioscience & Biotechnology, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Korea; (D.H.K.); (T.M.N.)
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33
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Rouxel Y, Crawford R, Cleasby IR, Kibel P, Owen E, Volke V, Schnell AK, Oppel S. Buoys with looming eyes deter seaducks and could potentially reduce seabird bycatch in gillnets. R Soc Open Sci 2021; 8:210225. [PMID: 33981446 PMCID: PMC8103233 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bycatch of seabirds in gillnet fisheries is a global conservation issue with an estimated 400 000 seabirds killed each year. To date, no underwater deterrents trialled have consistently reduced seabird bycatch across operational fisheries. Using a combination of insights from land-based strategies, seabirds' diving behaviours and their cognitive abilities, we developed a floating device exploring the effect of large eyespots and looming movement to prevent vulnerable seabirds from diving into gillnets. Here, we tested whether this novel above-water device called 'Looming eyes buoy' (LEB) would consistently deter vulnerable seaducks from a focal area. We counted the number of birds present in areas with and without LEBs in a controlled experimental setting. We show that long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis abundance declined by approximately 20-30% within a 50 m radius of the LEB and that the presence of LEBs was the most important variable explaining this decline. We found no evidence for a memory effect on long-tailed ducks but found some habituation to the LEB within the time frame of the project (62 days). While further research is needed, our preliminary trials indicate that above-water visual devices could potentially contribute to reduce seabird bycatch if appropriately deployed in coordination with other management measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Rouxel
- BirdLife International Marine Programme, c/o the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow, UK
| | - Rory Crawford
- BirdLife International Marine Programme, c/o the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scotland, 10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ian R. Cleasby
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, UK
| | - Pete Kibel
- Fishtek Marine, Webbers Way, Dartington, Devon, UK
| | - Ellie Owen
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, UK
| | - Veljo Volke
- Estonian Ornithological Society, Veski 4, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, UK
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Pires A, Sobral P. Application of failure mode and effects analysis to reduce microplastic emissions. Waste Manag Res 2021; 39:744-753. [PMID: 33779431 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x211003133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A complete understanding of the occurrence of microplastics and the methods to eliminate their sources is an urgent necessity to minimize the pollution caused by microplastics. The use of plastics in any form releases microplastics to the environment. Existing policy instruments are insufficient to address microplastics pollution and regulatory measures have focussed only on the microbeads and single-use plastics. Fees on the use of plastic products may possibly reduce their usage, but effective management of plastic products at their end-of-life is lacking. Therefore, in this study, the microplastic-failure mode and effect analysis (MP-FMEA) methodology, which is a semi-qualitative approach capable of identifying the causes and proposing solutions for the issue of microplastics pollution, has been proposed. The innovative feature of MP-FMEA is that it has a pre-defined failure mode, that is, the release of microplastics to air, water and soil (depending on the process) or the occurrence of microplastics in the final product. Moreover, a theoretical recycling plant case study was used to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of this method. The results revealed that MP-FMEA is an easy and heuristic technique to understand the failure-effect-causes and solutions for reduction of microplastics and can be applied by researchers working in different domains apart from those relating to microplastics. Future studies can include the evaluation of the use of MP-FMEA methodology along with quantitative methods for effective reduction in the release of microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pires
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal
- CENTIMFE - Centro Tecnológico da Indústria de Moldes, Ferramentas Especiais e Plásticos, Portugal
| | - Paula Sobral
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal
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35
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Alshahrani NZ, Alshahrani SM, Alshahrani AM, Leggat PA, Rashid H. Compliance of the Gulf Cooperation Council airlines with COVID-19 mitigation measures. J Travel Med 2021; 28:5955502. [PMID: 33146380 PMCID: PMC7665652 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The airlines in the Gulf Cooperation Council region are now recommencing operation. By browsing the airlines’ official websites, we collated information relating to their compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures. Most airlines complied with key mitigation measures, but failed to implement several other measures including ensuring COVID-19 self-assessment and inflight-facemask use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najim Z Alshahrani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Amal M Alshahrani
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Armed Forced Hospitals Southern Region, Khamis Mushayt 61961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Peter A Leggat
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.,School of Pharmacy, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor 47500 Malaysia
| | - Harunor Rashid
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, NSW 2145, Australia.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia
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36
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Baccour S, Albiac J, Kahil T. Cost-Effective Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Agriculture of Aragon, Spain. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:1084. [PMID: 33530500 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Climate change represents a serious threat to life in earth. Agriculture releases significant emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), but also offers low-cost opportunities to mitigate GHG emissions. This paper assesses agricultural GHG emissions in Aragon, one important and representative region for agriculture in Spain. The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) approach is used to analyze the abatement potential and cost-efficiency of mitigation measures under several scenarios, with and without taking into account the interaction among measures and their transaction costs. The assessment identifies the environmental and economic outcomes of different combinations of measures, including crop, livestock and forest measures. Some of these measures are win-win, with pollution abatement at negative costs to farmers. Moreover, we develop future mitigation scenarios for agriculture toward the year 2050. Results highlight the trade-offs and synergies between the economic and environmental outcomes of mitigation measures. The biophysical processes underlying mitigation efforts are assessed taking into account the significant effects of interactions between measures. Interactions reduce the abatement potential and worsen the cost-efficiency of measures. The inclusion of transaction costs provides a better ranking of measures and a more accurate estimation of implementation costs. The scenario analysis shows how the combinations of measures could reduce emissions by up to 75% and promote sustainable agriculture in the future.
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Briozzo L, Tomasso G, Viroga S, Nozar F, Bianchi A. Impact of mitigation measures against the COVID 19 pandemic on the perinatal results of the reference maternity hospital in Uruguay. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 35:5060-5062. [PMID: 33455516 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1874911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Social consequences of pandemics, impacts on perinatal results, especially those who are the most vulnerable. OBJECTIVE Determine effect of mitigation measures of the COVID 19 pandemic on perinatal results in the maternity hospital of the Pereira Rossell Hospital Center (CHPR). METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional cohort study, with a comparative analysis of the semesters of March 15-30 September 2019 versus the same period in 2020 based on three variables low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PB), and small for gestational age (SGA). RESULTS Incidence of PB (14.5%), LBW (12%) and SGA (6.9%) was higher in the 2020 semester during COVID 19 pandemic compared to the same period of 2019 (12.2%; 9.8%; 5.5%). PB showed a statistically significant increase of 21% in our hospital. CONCLUSION Mitigation measures of the COVID 19 pandemic, aggravate the effects of the global syndemic on the reproductive process of the social sectors most violated in their rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Briozzo
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - G Tomasso
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - S Viroga
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - F Nozar
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - A Bianchi
- Universidad de la Republica Facultad de Medicina, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Fernández-Ruiz J, Rodríguez LEM, Costa PA. Use of Tyre-Derived Aggregate as Backfill Material for Wave Barriers to Mitigate Railway-Induced Ground Vibrations. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17249191. [PMID: 33316985 PMCID: PMC7763971 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of piles as barriers to mitigate vibrations from rail traffic has been increasing in theoretical and practical engineering during the last years. Tyre-derived aggregate (TDA) is a recycled material with some interesting applications in civil engineering, including those related to railway engineering. As a novelty, this paper combines the concept of pile wave barriers and TDA material and investigates the mitigation effect of pile barriers made of TDA on the vibrations transmitted by rail traffic. This solution has a dual purpose: the reduction of railway vibrations and the recycling of a highly polluting material. The mitigation potential of this material when used as backfill for piles is analysed using a numerical scheme based on a 3D finite-difference numerical model formulated in the space/time domain, which is also experimentally validated in this paper in a real case without pile barriers. The numerical results show insertion loss (IL) values of up to 11 dB for a depth closed to the wavelength of Rayleigh wave. Finally, this solution is compared with more common backfills, such as concrete and steel tubular piles, showing that the TDA pile is a less effective measure although from an environmental and engineering point of view it is a very competitive solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Fernández-Ruiz
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of La Coruña, 15071 La Coruña, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Pedro Alves Costa
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal;
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Spanowicz AG, Teixeira FZ, Jaeger JAG. An adaptive plan for prioritizing road sections for fencing to reduce animal mortality. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:1210-1220. [PMID: 32227646 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Mortality of animals on roads is a critical threat to many wildlife populations and is poised to increase strongly because of ongoing and planned road construction. If these new roads cannot be avoided, effective mitigation measures will be necessary to stop biodiversity decline. Fencing along roads effectively reduces roadkill and is often used in combination with wildlife passages. Because fencing the entire road is not always possible due to financial constraints, high-frequency roadkill areas are often identified to inform the placement of fencing. We devised an adaptive fence-implementation plan to prioritize road sections for fencing. In this framework, areas along roads of high, moderate, and low levels of animal mortality (respectively, roadkill hotspots, warmspots, and coldspots) are identified at multiple scales (i.e., in circles of different diameters [200-2000 m] in which mortality frequency is measured). Fence deployment is based on the relationship between the amount of fencing being added to the road, starting with the strongest roadkill hotspots, and potential reduction in road mortality (displayed in mortality-reduction graphs). We applied our approach to empirical and simulated spatial patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions. The scale used for analysis affected the number and spatial extent of roadkill hot-, warm-, and coldspots. At fine scales (e.g., 200 m), more hotspots were identified than at coarse scales (e.g., 2000 m), but combined the fine-scale hotspots covered less road and less fencing was needed to reduce road mortality. However, many short fences may be less effective in practice due to a fence-end effect (i.e., animals moving around the fence more easily), resulting in a trade-off between few long and many short fences, which we call the FLOMS (few-long-or-many-short) fences trade-off. Thresholds in the mortality-reduction graphs occurred for some roadkill patterns, but not for others. Thresholds may be useful to consider when determining road-mitigation targets. The existence of thresholds at multiple scales and the FLOMS trade-off have important implications for biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel G Spanowicz
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University Montreal, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite H1255, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Fernanda Zimmermann Teixeira
- Road and Railroad Ecology Research Group (NERF-UFRGS), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 91501-970, Brazil
- Ecology Graduate Program, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Jochen A G Jaeger
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University Montreal, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Suite H1255, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
- Loyola Sustainability Research Centre, Concordia University Montreal, 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
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May R, Nygård T, Falkdalen U, Åström J, Hamre Ø, Stokke BG. Paint it black: Efficacy of increased wind turbine rotor blade visibility to reduce avian fatalities. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:8927-8935. [PMID: 32884668 PMCID: PMC7452767 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As wind energy deployment increases and larger wind-power plants are considered, bird fatalities through collision with moving turbine rotor blades are expected to increase. However, few (cost-) effective deterrent or mitigation measures have so far been developed to reduce the risk of collision. Provision of "passive" visual cues may enhance the visibility of the rotor blades enabling birds to take evasive action in due time. Laboratory experiments have indicated that painting one of three rotor blades black minimizes motion smear (Hodos 2003, Minimization of motion smear: Reducing avian collisions with wind turbines). We tested the hypothesis that painting would increase the visibility of the blades, and that this would reduce fatality rates in situ, at the Smøla wind-power plant in Norway, using a Before-After-Control-Impact approach employing fatality searches. The annual fatality rate was significantly reduced at the turbines with a painted blade by over 70%, relative to the neighboring control (i.e., unpainted) turbines. The treatment had the largest effect on reduction of raptor fatalities; no white-tailed eagle carcasses were recorded after painting. Applying contrast painting to the rotor blades significantly reduced the collision risk for a range of birds. Painting the rotor blades at operational turbines was, however, resource demanding given that they had to be painted while in-place. However, if implemented before construction, this cost will be minimized. It is recommended to repeat this experiment at other sites to ensure that the outcomes are generic at various settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel May
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchNorway
| | | | | | - Jens Åström
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchNorway
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W Shammout MA. Native Growth and Conservation of Duckweed (Lemnaceae) in Jordan. Pak J Biol Sci 2020; 23:1055-1059. [PMID: 32700856 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2020.1055.1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Duckweeds are the world's smallest flowering plants. Its existence is affected by the water quality and availability. The increased water demand and water scarcity in most of the Mediterranean countries as Jordan have caused remarkable lowering in the water-table which reduced floods and disappearance of the seasonal lakes. Due to this, aquatic plants that grow on good quality of fresh water have disappeared totally. Therefore, this paper highlights the native growth and conservation of duckweed (Lemnaceae) in Jordan. It also focuses on the identification of water sources for duckweed's movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field surveys were conducted to identify water source for water bodies that contain duckweeds. These surveys included visits to the Zarqa river, dams, irrigation ponds and Jordan valley. The source of water for duckweed movement and availability was determined. Water samples from the targeted areas were analyzed for selected parameters as pH, EC, NO3, PO4, BOD5, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu. RESULTS The results showed that King Abdullah Canal and Zarqa river are the water sources that encourage the duckweeds growth. In Sukhnah, Jerash and Jordan valley areas, water analysis ranges (mg L-1) are: NO3 0.7-38, PO4 0.3-7.6 and BOD5 0-20. The pH range value is 7.1-8.1 and EC range value is 1.62-2.5 mS cm-1.The heavy metals values are, Zn is <0.02 mg L-1, Pb is <0.01 mg L-1, Cd is <0.002 mg L-1 and Cu is <0.01 mg L-1. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that mitigation measures are highly needed to overcome and altering the quality of the natural water flowing and participation of governmental institutions is also required for the success of applying mitigation measures to preserve the aquatic plants.
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Wang Q, Xie S, Wang Y, Zeng D. Survival-Convolution Models for Predicting COVID-19 Cases and Assessing Effects of Mitigation Strategies. Front Public Health 2020; 8:325. [PMID: 32719764 PMCID: PMC7347904 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Countries around the globe have implemented unprecedented measures to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aim to predict the COVID-19 disease course and compare the effectiveness of mitigation measures across countries to inform policy decision making using a robust and parsimonious survival-convolution model. We account for transmission during a pre-symptomatic incubation period and use a time-varying effective reproduction number (Rt ) to reflect the temporal trend of transmission and change in response to a public health intervention. We estimate the intervention effect on reducing the transmission rate using a natural experiment design and quantify uncertainty by permutation. In China and South Korea, we predicted the entire disease epidemic using only early phase data (2-3 weeks after the outbreak). A fast rate of decline in Rt was observed, and adopting mitigation strategies early in the epidemic was effective in reducing the transmission rate in these two countries. The nationwide lockdown in Italy did not accelerate the speed at which the transmission rate decreases. In the United States, Rt significantly decreased during a 2-week period after the declaration of national emergency, but it declined at a much slower rate afterwards. If the trend continues after May 1, COVID-19 may be controlled by late July. However, a loss of temporal effect (e.g., due to relaxing mitigation measures after May 1) could lead to a long delay in controlling the epidemic (mid-November with fewer than 100 daily cases) and a total of more than 2 million cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinxia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shanghong Xie
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yuanjia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donglin Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Stokke BG, Nygård T, Falkdalen U, Pedersen HC, May R. Effect of tower base painting on willow ptarmigan collision rates with wind turbines. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5670-5679. [PMID: 32607182 PMCID: PMC7319111 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds colliding with turbine rotor blades is a well-known negative consequence of wind-power plants. However, there has been far less attention to the risk of birds colliding with the turbine towers, and how to mitigate this risk.Based on data from the Smøla wind-power plant in Central Norway, it seems highly likely that willow ptarmigan (the only gallinaceous species found on the island) is prone to collide with turbine towers. By employing a BACI-approach, we tested if painting the lower parts of turbine towers black would reduce the collision risk.Overall, there was a 48% reduction in the number of recorded ptarmigan carcasses per search at painted turbines relative to neighboring control (unpainted) ones, with significant variation both within and between years.Using contrast painting to the turbine towers resulted in significantly reduced number of ptarmigan carcasses found, emphasizing the effectiveness of such a relatively simple mitigation measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bård G. Stokke
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Torgeir Nygård
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | | | | | - Roel May
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
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Abstract
Countries around the globe have implemented unprecedented measures to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aim to predict COVID-19 disease course and compare effectiveness of mitigation measures across countries to inform policy decision making. We propose a robust and parsimonious survival-convolution model for predicting key statistics of COVID-19 epidemics (daily new cases). We account for transmission during a pre-symptomatic incubation period and use a time-varying effective reproduction number (Rt) to reflect the temporal trend of transmission and change in response to a public health intervention. We estimate the intervention effect on reducing the infection rate and quantify uncertainty by permutation. In China and South Korea, we predicted the entire disease epidemic using only data in the early phase (two to three weeks after the outbreak). A fast rate of decline in Rt was observed and adopting mitigation strategies early in the epidemic was effective in reducing the infection rate in these two countries. The lockdown in Italy did not further accelerate the speed at which the infection rate decreases. The effective reproduction number has staggered around Rt = 1.0 for more than 2 weeks before decreasing to below 1.0, and the epidemic in Italy is currently under control. In the US, Rt significantly decreased during a 2-week period after the declaration of national emergency, but afterwards the rate of decrease is substantially slower. If the trend continues after May 1, the first wave of COVID-19 may be controlled by July 26 (CI: July 9 to August 27). However, a loss of temporal effect on infection rate (e.g., due to relaxing mitigation measures after May 1) could lead to a long delay in controlling the epidemic (November 19 with less than 100 daily cases) and a total of more than 2 million cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinxia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shanghong Xie
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuanjia Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donglin Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Fernandes CL, Carvalho DO, Guido LF. Determination of Acrylamide in Biscuits by High-Resolution Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: A Novel Application. Foods 2019; 8:E597. [PMID: 31756928 PMCID: PMC6963597 DOI: 10.3390/foods8120597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Acrylamide (AA), a molecule which potentially increases the risk of developing cancer, is easily formed in food rich in carbohydrates, such as biscuits, wafers, and breakfast cereals, at temperatures above 120 °C. Thus, the need to detect and quantify the AA content in processed foodstuffs is eminent, in order to delineate the limits and mitigation strategies. This work reports the development and validation of a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based methodology for identification and quantification of AA in specific food matrices of biscuits, by using LC-MS with electrospray ionization and Orbitrap as the mass analyser. The developed analytical method showed good repeatability (RSDr 11.1%) and 3.55 and 11.8 μg kg-1 as limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), respectively. The choice of multiplexed targeted-SIM mode (t-SIM) for AA and AA-d3 isolated ions provided enhanced detection sensitivity, as demonstrated in this work. Statistical processing of data was performed in order to compare the AA levels with several production parameters, such as time/cooking temperature, placement on the cooking conveyor belt, color, and moisture for different biscuits. The composition of the raw materials was statistically the most correlated factor with the AA content when all samples are considered. The statistical treatment presented herein enables an important prediction of factors influencing AA formation in biscuits contributing to putting in place effective mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luis F. Guido
- REQUIMTE—Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (C.L.F.); (D.O.C.)
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Wang Z, Lu J, Yuan Y, Huang Y, Feng J, Li R. Experimental Study on the Effects of Vegetation on the Dissipation of Supersaturated Total Dissolved Gas in Flowing Water. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:ijerph16132256. [PMID: 31247935 PMCID: PMC6651792 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
High dam discharge can lead to total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation in the downstream river, and fish in the TDG-supersaturated flow can suffer from bubble disease and even die. Consequently, it is of great value to study the transport and dissipation characteristics of supersaturated dissolved gas for the protection of river fish. Floodplains may form downstream of high dams due to flood discharge, and the plants on these floodplains can affect both the hydraulic characteristics and TDG transport of the flowing water. In this study, the velocity distribution and the retention response time under different flow conditions and vegetation arrangements were studied in a series of experiments. The retention time was significantly extended by the presence of vegetation, and an empirical formula for calculating the retention time was proposed. In addition, the responses of the dissipation process of supersaturated TDG to hydraulic factors, retention time, and vegetation area coefficient were analyzed. The dissipation of supersaturated TDG significantly increased with increases in the vegetation area coefficient in the water. To quantitatively describe the TDG dissipation process in TDG-supersaturated flow under the effect of vegetation, the TDG dissipation coefficient was fitted and analyzed. The basic form of the formula for the dissipation coefficient involving various influence factors was determined by dimensional analysis. An equation for calculating the TDG dissipation coefficient of flowing water with vegetation was proposed by multivariate nonlinear fitting and was proven to have great prediction accuracy. The calculated method developed in this paper can be used to predict TDG dissipation in flowing water with vegetation and is of great significance for enriching TDG prediction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jingying Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Youquan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Yinghan Huang
- Power China Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Jingjie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Ran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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Botelho A, Arezes P, Bernardo C, Dias H, Pinto LMC. Effect of Wind Farm Noise on Local Residents' Decision to Adopt Mitigation Measures. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14:ijerph14070753. [PMID: 28696404 PMCID: PMC5551191 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14070753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Wind turbines’ noise is frequently pointed out as the reason for local communities’ objection to the installation of wind farms. The literature suggests that local residents feel annoyed by such noise and that, in many instances, this is significant enough to make them adopt noise-abatement interventions on their homes. Aiming at characterizing the relationship between wind turbine noise, annoyance, and mitigating actions, we propose a novel conceptual framework. The proposed framework posits that actual sound pressure levels of wind turbines determine individual homes’ noise-abatement decisions; in addition, the framework analyzes the role that self-reported annoyance, and perception of noise levels, plays on the relationship between actual noise pressure levels and those decisions. The application of this framework to a particular case study shows that noise perception and annoyance constitutes a link between the two. Importantly, however, noise also directly affects people’s decision to adopt mitigating measures, independently of the reported annoyance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Botelho
- Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering, and Tourism, University of Aveiro, and GOVCOPP, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Pedro Arezes
- ALGORITMI Research Center, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Bernardo
- Institute of Polymers and Composites/I3N, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
- PIEP-Innovation in Polymer Engineering, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Hernâni Dias
- PIEP-Innovation in Polymer Engineering, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Lígia M Costa Pinto
- NIMA-Department of Economics, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
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Sharpley AN, Bergström L, Aronsson H, Bechmann M, Bolster CH, Börling K, Djodjic F, Jarvie HP, Schoumans OF, Stamm C, Tonderski KS, Ulén B, Uusitalo R, Withers PJA. Future agriculture with minimized phosphorus losses to waters: Research needs and direction. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 2:S163-79. [PMID: 25681975 PMCID: PMC4329155 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-014-0612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The series of papers in this issue of AMBIO represent technical presentations made at the 7th International Phosphorus Workshop (IPW7), held in September, 2013 in Uppsala, Sweden. At that meeting, the 150 delegates were involved in round table discussions on major, predetermined themes facing the management of agricultural phosphorus (P) for optimum production goals with minimal water quality impairment. The six themes were (1) P management in a changing world; (2) transport pathways of P from soil to water; (3) monitoring, modeling, and communication; (4) importance of manure and agricultural production systems for P management; (5) identification of appropriate mitigation measures for reduction of P loss; and (6) implementation of mitigation strategies to reduce P loss. This paper details the major challenges and research needs that were identified for each theme and identifies a future roadmap for catchment management that cost-effectively minimizes P loss from agricultural activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N. Sharpley
- Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - Lars Bergström
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helena Aronsson
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marianne Bechmann
- Department of Soil and Environment, Bioforsk, Fred. A. Dahls vei 20, 1430 Aas, Norway
| | | | - Katarina Börling
- Swedish Board of Agriculture, Dragarbrunnsgatan 35, 75320 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Faruk Djodjic
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helen P. Jarvie
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB UK
| | - Oscar F. Schoumans
- Alterra Wageningen UR, Alterra, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Stamm
- Environmental Chemistry, Eawag, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Karin S. Tonderski
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Barbro Ulén
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Paul J. A. Withers
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2DG UK
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Kleinman PJA, Sharpley AN, Withers PJA, Bergström L, Johnson LT, Doody DG. Implementing agricultural phosphorus science and management to combat eutrophication. Ambio 2015; 44 Suppl 2:S297-310. [PMID: 25681986 PMCID: PMC4329145 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0631-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Experience with implementing agricultural phosphorus (P) strategies highlights successes and uncertainty over outcomes. We examine case studies from the USA, UK, and Sweden under a gradient of voluntary, litigated, and regulatory settings. In the USA, voluntary strategies are complicated by competing objectives between soil conservation and dissolved P mitigation. In litigated watersheds, mandated manure export has not wrought dire consequences on poultry farms, but has adversely affected beef producers who fertilize pastures with manure. In the UK, regulatory and voluntary approaches are improving farmer awareness, but require a comprehensive consideration of P management options to achieve downstream reductions. In Sweden, widespread subsidies sometime hinder serious assessment of program effectiveness. In all cases, absence of local data can undermine recommendations from models and outside experts. Effective action requires iterative application of existing knowledge of P fate and transport, coupled with unabashed description and demonstration of tradeoffs to local stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. A. Kleinman
- USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Unit, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Andrew N. Sharpley
- Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 USA
| | - Paul J. A. Withers
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2DG UK
| | - Lars Bergström
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura T. Johnson
- National Center for Water Quality Research, Heidelberg University, Tiffin, OH 44883 USA
| | - Donnacha G. Doody
- Agri-food and Bioscience Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast, 8T9 5PX UK
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