bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closed-Loop Microbial Fuel Cell Control System Designed for Online Monitoring of TOC Dynamic Characteristics in Public Swimming Pool
Authors: Chen Haishan , Meng Xiaoping , Liu Dianlei , Wang Wei , Xing Xiaodong , Zhang Zhiyong , Dong Chen
Published: October 2022

Total organic carbon (TOC) in the water of public swimming pools (PSPs) must be monitored online for public health. In order to address the shortcomings of conventional microbial fuel cell biosensor (MFC-biosensor), an innovative biosensor with peculiar closed-loop structure was developed for online monitoring of TOC in PSPs. Its design was based on experimental data, model identification, cybernetics, and digital and real-time simulation. The outcomes of the digital simulation demonstrated that the closed-loop MFC control system possesses the desired structure with a pair of dominant complex-conjugate closed-loop poles (−15.47 ± 7.73j), and the real-time simulation showed that its controller output signals can automatically and precisely track the variation in TOC concentration in PSP water with the desired dynamic response performances; for example, mean delay time was 0.06 h, rise time was 0.12 h, peak time was 0.18 h, maximum overshoot was 7.39%, settling time was 0.22 h, and best fit 0.98. The proposed principle and method of the closed-loop MFC-biosensor control system in the article can also be applied for online monitoring of other substances in water, such as heavy metal ions, chemical toxicants, and so forth, and lay a theoretical foundation for MFC-based online monitoring substances in an aquatic environment.
Price Decision-Making in Dual-Channel Healthcare Services Supply Chain Considering the Channel Acceptance, Price Ceiling, and Public Welfare
Authors: Ma Yanbo , Li Zheng , Liu Kaiyue , Liu Zhengmin
Published: October 2022

Given that an increasing number of online healthcare channels play an essential role as a supply method in the healthcare service supply chain (HSSC), this paper studies the price decision-making problem for a dual-channel HSSC considering the channel acceptance, price ceiling, and public welfare. In this HSSC, a healthcare institution establishes both a traditional offline channel and an online channel to provide healthcare services for some health conditions. Considering the public welfare of healthcare institutions, we employ a sum formula of economic revenue and patient surplus to describe the total revenue of both healthcare service channels. Based on the Stackelberg game, we develop a decentralized supply chain model to maximize supply chain members’ revenue. By employing the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker optimality condition, we derive an analytical expression for the optimal service price, which includes the functions of the public welfare coefficient and channel acceptance. Finally, we conduct extensive numerical analyses under various system parameters to verify the optimal price decision-making strategies. Our analytical results indicate that: (1) the healthcare service price is closely related to the patients’ channel acceptance, the public welfare coefficient, and the government price ceiling policy; (2) the public welfare coefficient strongly influences the service price and total revenue, and its increase can decrease the economic revenue of the HSSC; (3) the acceptance of online channels is an essential factor that should be carefully considered in the construction of a dual-channel HSSC. Improving patient acceptance of online channels is conducive to developing and improving a sustainable dual-channel HSSC.
A Survey of Telemedicine Use by Doctors in District Hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Morris Christopher , Scott Richard E. , Mars Maurice
Published: October 2022

There is anecdotal evidence of informal telemedicine activity in KwaZulu-Natal (KZ-N), South Africa. Aim: To determine the current extent of telemedicine in district hospitals in KZ-N; the range of clinical activities and technologies used; additional services needed; current knowledge and practice regarding legal, ethical, and regulatory issues; and the need to formalise telemedicine activities. Method: A cross-sectional survey of telemedicine use by 143 doctors working at 22 District hospitals in KZ-N. Results: Most doctors (96%) participated in some form of telemedicine across a spectrum of disciplines, but more than half did not consider their activities to constitute telemedicine. To meet their needs, doctors have started their own informal services with colleagues, using mostly instant messaging and chat groups (WhatsApp). Some doctors indicated the need to formalise these services and establish additional services. Few doctors were aware of the national telemedicine guidelines and the required written informed consent for telemedicine was seldom obtained. This could have serious legal, regulatory, and ethical implications. Conclusions: Practical clinical and technical guidelines and standard operating procedures need to be developed with the active participation of the clinical workforce. These should encourage innovation and greater use of telemedicine, including the use of instant messaging apps.
Myopia and Depression among Middle School Students in China—Is There a Mediating Role for Wearing Eyeglasses?
Authors: Huang Juerong , Dang Hongjing , Cai Yan , Liu Juan , Chen Qihui
Published: October 2022

Compared with non-myopic students, myopic students face more barriers to learning (e.g., inability to see the blackboard clearly) and socializing (e.g., being victims of teasing, social exclusion and violence), which may lead to increased stress, anxiety and frustration. The high prevalence of myopia and depression among school-age children naturally raises a question of great policy relevance: are myopic students more vulnerable to mental health problems such as depression? This paper sheds some light on this question by analyzing data from the China Education Panel Survey, a large-scale survey of China’s middle school students. Our analysis first quantifies the association between myopia and sample students’ depression status (measured by the widely adopted CES-D scale) adjusted for potential confounding factors. We then explore whether the myopia–depression relationship is mediated by wearing eyeglasses, a cost-effective means of vision correction. Based on data on 19,299 middle school students, our analysis reveals that myopic students scored 0.12 standard deviations higher on the CES-D scale than their non-myopic counterparts. The adverse effect of myopia is more severe for relatively disadvantaged students: older students (who are more likely to suffer from both myopia and depression), lower-performing students and students from poorer families. Further medication analysis shows that wearing eyeglasses suppresses the myopia–depression relationship but cannot completely offset the adverse effect of myopia.
Burnout and Quality of Work Life among Municipal Workers: Do Motivating and Economic Factors Play a Mediating Role?
Authors: Pereira Dina , Leitão João , Ramos Ludovina
Published: October 2022

This study analyzes the relationship between burnout and quality of work life among municipal workers subjected to higher levels of stress and emotional exhaustion, impacting their occupational health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a sample of 459 municipal workers, the relationship between burnout and quality of work life is tested by considering the isolated mediating effect of the feeling of contributing to productivity and the combined effects of two mediators representing the feeling of contributing to productivity and receiving an appropriate salary. The main findings include a negative association between the three dimensions of burnout: emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and a sense of being less effective, and the mediators: contribution to productivity and appropriate salary. Also detected was an important mediating role associated with the effects of not feeling contributive at work, as well as not being well paid, on the relation between the burnout syndrome dimension of low effectiveness and quality of work life. For future action by public authorities and public managers, the need is highlighted to create innovative human resource management frameworks and flexible work organization, with remuneration plans based on productivity goals and aimed at an improved balance between personal life and work.
Peroxymonosulfate Activation by Palladium(II) for Pollutants Degradation: A Study on Reaction Mechanism and Molecular Structural Characteristics
Authors: Yang Bowen , Ma Qiang , Hao Jiming , Sun Xiaojie
Published: October 2022

Compared with certain transition metals (e.g., iron, cobalt, and manganese), noble metals are less frequently applied in peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Palladium (Pd), as one of noble metals, has been reported to possess the possibility of both radical mechanisms and electron transfer mechanisms in a heterogeneous Pd/PMS system, however, data are still sparse on the homogeneous Pd/PMS system. Therefore, this work aims to explore the homogeneous reactivity of PMS by Pd(II) ions from the aspects of reaction parameters, radical or non-radical oxidation mechanisms, and the relationship between pollutants’ degradation rate and their molecular descriptors based on both experimental data and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. As a result, the reaction mechanism of Pd(II)/PMS followed a radical-driven oxidation process, where sulfate radicals (SO4•−), rather than hydroxyl radicals (HO•), were the primary reactive oxidant species. BOx and EHOMO played significant roles in pollutant degradation during the Pd(II)/PMS system. It turned out that the bond’s stability and electron donation ability of the target compound was responsible for its degradation performance. This finding provides an insight into PMS activation by a noble metal, which has significant implications for scientific research and technical development.
Application of Metaverse Service to Healthcare Industry: A Strategic Perspective
Authors: Lee Chang Won
Published: October 2022

This study is to explore a state of the art in metaverse service that is an emerging issue in applying it to the healthcare industry. The purpose of this study is to provide applicable strategic scenarios for effective metaverse service planning and implementation in healthcare settings. This study is focused on metaverse service as a business model. Thus, related literatures of metaverse service are reviewed in various aspects in healthcare industry. An exploratory approach is used to analyze current qualitative data characterizing healthcare metaverse service business positions and derive applicable strategies from business trends of current metaverse services. Several cases are examined based on the data obtained from various sources of healthcare and other related industries. This study synthesizes finding results and suggests applicable strategies of metaverse service in the healthcare industry. This study will facilitate strategic decision-making and policy-making processes to pursue a business opportunity development through an application of a metaverse service in healthcare and similar settings.
Public Attitude towards Biobanking: An Italian University Survey
Authors: Aleni Chiara , Rinaldi Carmela , Bettio Valentina , Mazzucco Eleonora , Antona Annamaria , Meini Cristina , Loria Emiliano , Bonvicini Paolo , Cracas Silvia Vittoria , Caristia Silvia , Rimedio Antonio , Faggiano Fabrizio , Ferrante Daniela , Capello Daniela
Published: October 2022

Biobanks have established a critical role in biomedical research by collecting, preserving, organizing, and disseminating biospecimens and related health data, contributing to precision medicine development. Participation in biobanks is influenced by several factors, such as trust in institutions and scientists, knowledge about biobanking, and the consideration of benefit sharing. Understanding public attitudes, fears, and concerns toward biobanking is fundamental to designing targeted interventions to increase trust towards biobanks. The aim of our study was to investigate the level of knowledge and perception of biobanks in students and personnel of the University of Piemonte Orientale. An online questionnaire was designed and administered via e-mail. A total of 17,758 UPO personnel and students were invited to participate in the survey, and 1521 (9.3%) subjects completed the survey. The results showed that 65.0% of the participants were aware of the term “biobank” and knew what the activity of a biobank was, and 76.3% of subjects were willing to provide biospecimens to a research biobank, whereas 67.3% of the respondents were willing to contribute, in addition to biospecimens, their health and lifestyle data. Concerns were raised about the confidentiality of the information (25.6%) and the commercial use of the samples (25.0%). In conclusion, participants were aware of the role that biobanks play in research and were eager to participate for the sake of furthering scientific research. Still, several concerns need to be addressed regarding the confidentiality of the data along with the commercial use of the samples and associated data.
Borderland Economic Resilience under COVID-19: Evidence from China–Russia Border Regions
Authors: Li Yuxin , Zhang Pingyu , Lo Kevin , Tan Juntao , Yang Qifeng
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the global economy and trade, and border regions have been hit severely because of their high dependency on foreign trade. To understand better the economic impact of COVID-19 on border regions, we developed a COVID-19 economic resilience analytical framework and empirically examined 10 Chinese-Russian border cities in Northeast China. We quantitatively analyzed five dimensions of economic resilience, distinguished four types of shock, and examined the determinants of economic resilience. The results show that: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic has wide-ranging impacts in the border areas, with import–export trade and retail sales of consumer goods being the most vulnerable and sensitive to the shock. The whole economy of the border areas is in the downward stage of the resistance period; (2) from a multi-dimensional perspective, foreign trade and consumption are the most vulnerable components of the borderland economic system, while industrial resilience and income resilience have improved against the trend, showing that they have good crisis resistance; (3) borderland economic resilience is a spatially heterogeneous phenomenon, with each border city showing different characteristics; (4) economic openness, fiscal expenditure, and asset investment are the key drivers of economic resilience, and the interaction between the influencing factors presents a nonlinear and bi-factor enhancement of them. The findings shed light on how border economies can respond to COVID-19, and how they are useful in formulating policies to respond to the crisis.
Co-Creation and Co-Production of Health Promoting Activities Addressing Older People—A Scoping Review
Authors: Terkelsen Anne Seneca , Wester Christian Tolstrup , Gulis Gabriel , Jespersen Jørgen , Andersen Pernille Tanggaard
Published: October 2022

The global population is aging and the promotion of health and well-being for this generation is essential. Co-creative and co-productive practices can be solutions to welfare challenges in local policies. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to the co-creation and co-production of health-promoting activities addressing older people aged 60+ years and to examine the influence of co-creative and co-productive activities on health and well-being, including influential factors for co-creation and co-production. We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature in ten scientific and five non-scientific databases. From the 2648 studies retrieved, 18 articles were included in this review. Then, an inductive thematic content analysis was applied to the analysis. Three categories related to co-creative and co-productive activities emerged: “Social and physical activities”, “Development of age-friendly environments”, and “Discussions of healthy and active aging”. Facilitating factors for co-creation and co-production were related to the planning and structure of the process and recognition of participants’ time and resources, while the recruitment of participants and their time and resources were the main barriers. Future studies should target co-creative and co-productive interventions to concrete areas and specific sub-groups and be aware of factors influencing a co-creative or co-productive relationship with older people.
Effects of Personalized Cognitive Training with the Machine Learning Algorithm on Neural Efficiency in Healthy Younger Adults
Authors: Jeun Yu Jin , Nam Yunyoung , Lee Seong A , Park Jin-Hyuck
Published: October 2022

To date, neural efficiency, an ability to economically utilize mental resources, has not been investigated after cognitive training. The purpose of this study was to provide customized cognitive training and confirm its effect on neural efficiency by investigating prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Before training, a prediction algorithm based on the PFC activity with logistic regression was used to predict the customized difficulty level with 86% accuracy by collecting data when subjects performed four kinds of cognitive tasks. In the next step, the intervention study was designed using one pre-posttest group. Thirteen healthy adults participated in the virtual reality (VR)-based spatial cognitive training, which was conducted four times a week for 30 min for three weeks with customized difficulty levels for each session. To measure its effect, the trail-making test (TMT) and hemodynamic responses were measured for executive function and PFC activity. During the training, VR-based spatial cognitive performance was improved, and hemodynamic values were gradually increased as the training sessions progressed. In addition, after the training, the performance on the trail-making task (TMT) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement, and there was a statistically significant decrease in the PFC activity. The improved performance on the TMT coupled with the decreased PFC activity could be regarded as training-induced neural efficiency. These results suggested that personalized cognitive training could be effective in improving executive function and neural efficiency.
Continuous Oral Administration of Sonicated P. gingivalis Delays Rat Skeletal Muscle Healing Post-Treadmill Training
Authors: Hayashi Kairi , Takeuchi Yasuo , Shimizu Shintaro , Tanabe Gen , Churei Hiroshi , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Ueno Toshiaki
Published: October 2022

Background: A delay in muscle repair interferes with the effect of training or exercise; therefore, it is important to identify the factors that delay muscle repair. P. gingivalis, one of the most common periodontal disease pathogens, has the potential to inhibit muscle repair after training, as inferred from a previous study. To assess the expression of satellite cells in this in vivo study, we evaluated the relationship between P. gingivalis and muscle regeneration after training. Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats (eight weeks in age) were randomly divided into two groups: one orally administered sonicated P. gingivalis four times per week for six weeks (PG group) and one given no treatment (NT group). After four weeks of training using a treadmill, the gastrocnemius was evaluated using histology of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of myotubes and immunohistochemistry of the expression of skeletal muscle satellite cells. In addition, an endurance test was performed a day before euthanization. Results: The CSA and expression of Pax7+/MyoD− and Pax7+/MyoD+ cells were not significantly different between the groups. However, the expression of Pax7−/MyoD+ cells and running time until exhaustion were significantly lower in the PG group. Conclusions: Infection with P. gingivalis likely interferes with muscle repair after training.
Burnout and Resilience among Respiratory Therapy (RT) Students during Clinical Training in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Siraj Rayan A. , Aldhahir Abdulelah M. , Alqahtani Jaber S. , Almarkhan Hussam M. , Alghamdi Saeed M. , Alqarni Abdullah A. , Alhotye Munyra , Algarni Saleh S. , Alahmadi Fahad H. , Alahmari Mushabbab A.
Published: October 2022

Background: The epidemic of burnout has been widely documented among health discipline students. However, there is limited information available on the prevalence of burnout and its association with resilience among clinical-level respiratory therapy (RT) students. Methods: Between March 2022 and May 2022, a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of RT students and interns was conducted. A total of 559 RT students and interns from 15 RT programs responded to socio-demographic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and correlation tests. Results: Of the 559 respondents, 78% reported a high level of burnout. Within the three subscales of burnout, 52% reported emotional exhaustion (EE), 59% reported depersonalization (DP), and 55% reported low personal achievement (PA). The prevalence of burnout increased as students proceeded to senior years (p = 0.006). In addition, participants with higher grade point averages (GPA) reported a higher level of burnout. Only 2% of the respondents reported a high level of resiliency. Further, there were negative correlations between resilience and EE (r = −41, p < 0.001) and DP (r = −32, p = 0.03), and a positive correlation with low PA (r = 0.56, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The findings showed a high prevalence of burnout among RT students and interns during clinical training in Saudi Arabia. Resilience was associated with all domains of burnout and is likely to play a protective role. Therefore, there is a need for collaborative interventions to promote resiliency during clinical training to alleviate and overcome burnout symptoms.
Air Pollution (PM2.5) Negatively Affects Urban Livability in South Korea and China
Authors: Jun Sunmin , Li Mengying , Jung Juchul
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the effect of the concentration of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a transboundary air pollutant, on the livability of neighboring areas of China and South Korea with the aim of informing common policy development. Grey relational analysis (GRA) and panel regression analysis were performed to examine the effect of PM2.5 concentration on various livability indicators. The results revealed that urban living infrastructure was an indicator of effect in both South Korea and China. Based on the high correlation between urban living infrastructure and PM2.5 concentration, it can be seen that PM2.5 clearly affects livability, shown by panel regression analysis. Other key livability indicators were traffic safety, culture and leisure, and climate indicators. Spatial analysis of the livability index revealed that from 2015 to 2019, livability improved in both South Korea and China, but there was a clear difference in the spatial distribution in China. High-vulnerability areas showed potential risks that can reduce livability in the long run. In South Korea and China, areas surrounding large cities were found to be highly vulnerable. The findings of this research can guide the establishment of policies grading PM2.5 pollution at the regional or city macro-level.
Head Trauma Exposure in Mixed Martial Arts
Authors: Mańka-Malara Katarzyna , Mierzwińska-Nastalska Elżbieta
Published: October 2022

Combat sports training involves a high risk of head injury. Previously published research on head trauma exposure in MMA evaluated only the knockouts (KO), without calculating all head strikes. The aim of the research was to evaluate the total head trauma exposure during MMA competitions among male and female fighters. Two thousand four hundred and eighty-eight MMA fights from all numbered UFC events between 2000 and 2021 were analyzed. A database containing the results from officially published scorecards with information such as the outcome of a fight, its duration, number of strikes (significant and total amount of hits) depending on location and knockdowns was created. Additional video verification of the knockout technique was carried out. The athletes received an average of 2.41 significant head strikes out of a total of 6.30 head strikes per minute. Head strikes were more common in female fights than in male. Women executed more total and significant head strikes per minute than men. Head trauma caused the ending of 31.6% of all fights—more often in male fights (32.2%) than female (23.1%). It was the most common cause of knockouts—88.1%. Professional fights in mixed martial arts involve high exposure to head trauma. A careful evaluation of the risk involved in training in such a discipline is necessary to provide adequate prevention methods.
Barriers Against and Motivations for Quitting Smoking during the COVID-19 Health Crisis: Results of a Qualitative Study in France
Authors: Guignard Romain , Quatremère Guillemette , Pasquereau Anne , Jartoux Cécile , Salvaing Laure , Caline Guillaume , Beck François , Nguyen Thanh Viêt
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 epidemic and its psychological, economic and social consequences could have an impact on the evolution of tobacco-smoking prevalence and attitudes towards quitting. The aim of this study is to analyse the specific characteristics of the motivations for and barriers against smoking cessation in this period. The study is based on qualitative data collected from late 2020 to early 2021 in France from 89 smokers with a low or intermediate socio-economic level. Among the motivations for quitting smoking, health concerns and the financial cost of cigarettes carried increased importance among the smokers in this period. Inversely, perceived stress, isolation, and a lack of social or healthcare support prevented some smokers from attempting to quit. These results are useful for explaining the evolution of smoking prevalence and preparing future interventions in the context of the health crisis and its aftermath. They highlight the relevance of educational messages, of the promotion of validated smoking-cessation aids and, in particular, remote support, as well as the implementation of community-based actions.
Comprehensive Assessment of Eutrophication in Xiamen Bay and Its Implications for Management Strategy in Southeast China
Authors: Luo Yang , Liu Jin-Wen , Wu Jian-Wei , Yuan Zheng , Zhang Ji-Wei , Gao Chao , Lin Zhi-Yu
Published: October 2022

The eutrophication of coastal water has been a critical environmental problem in China’s offshore areas. How to effectively assess the status of coastal waters is key for pollution treatment and environmental protection. In recent years, eutrophication-symptom-based and multi-indicator methods, termed “phase II” methods, have been gradually adopted to assess the eutrophication status in some coastal waters in China and have achieved success. The cumulative quantile is typically selected to determine the characteristic value of an indicator in “phase II” methods. The influence of small-scale damaged water bodies on eutrophication assessment may be exaggerated, which often leads to the overassessment of the eutrophication status. In this study, the area ratio method was integrated into the assessment of the estuarine trophic status (ASSETS) method in order to assess the eutrophication status of Xiamen Bay in 2016. The results indicated that, in 2016, the eutrophication status of Xiamen Bay coastal waters was moderate and exhibited spatiotemporal variation. The area ratio method can effectively reduce the effect of small-scale coastal waters with extremely high eutrophication on the overassessment of eutrophication at the broader scale, allowing the eutrophication status to be better reflected, even with limited observation data. The centralized distribution of pollution sources and poor hydrodynamic conditions are the main reasons for the aforementioned phenomenon. Controlling the pollution discharge from the Jiulong River in flood seasons is key to reducing eutrophication in Xiamen coastal waters.
Water Quality and Microbial Community in the Context of Ecological Restoration: A Case Study of the Yongding River, Beijing, China
Authors: Li Jie , Sun Yujiao , Zhang Xiaoyue , Pan Chengzhong , Zhang Shurong , Zheng Binghui
Published: October 2022

Ecological water replenishment via interbasin water diversion projects provides opportunities for ecological river restoration. Untangling water quality changes, microbiota dynamics, and community functions is necessary for sustainable ecological management. Using the Yongding River as a case study, we monitored the water quality and applied genomic sequencing to investigate microbial communities of the river in different stages after ecological water replenishment. Our results showed that river water quality represented by chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) did not change significantly during months after water replenishment. The bacterial community composition varied in different months and river subsections. The Cyanobium_PCC-6307, CL500-29 marine group, and Pseudomonas were dominant in the later stages after water replenishment. Water temperature, pH, and nutrient levels significantly affected the microbial community composition, and ecological restoration may have the potential to influence nitrogen cycling in the river. Our results can provide ecological insights into sustainable water quality maintenance and river management following ecological restoration enabled by ecological water replenishment.
Intersectoral Actions for the Promotion and Prevention of Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension in Brazilian Cities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kunihiro Stephen , da Silva Vernasque Juliana Ribeiro , da Silva Celso , Santos Marcela Facina dos , Cremasco Camila Pires , Gabriel Filho Luís Roberto Almeida
Published: October 2022

This study showed the effectiveness of biomedical interventions in obesity, diabetes and hypertension (NCDs), but innovative and intersectoral elements in the fight against obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension were rare. Background: Is it possible to find effective and innovative actions to promote health and prevent NCDs in Brazilian municipalities? Can they be replicated? Objective: Our objectives were to identify innovative and effective intersectoral actions for promoting and preventing NCDs in Brazilian municipalities. Methods: This is a systematic review in an exploratory theoretical essay with a qualitative and quantitative approach. It is descriptive and analytical in terms of reporting findings and results. Inclusion and exclusion criteria favored health promotion work. Bias risk assessments was performed using the Cochrane GRADE and bias risk, with meta-analyses using RevMan and Iramuteq. Results: Meta-analysis of biometric markers resulted in −4.46 [95% IC; −5.42, −3.49], p = 0.00001, indicating a reduction in NCD risk rates. The textual meta-analysis revealed P(r) ≈ 83% (Reinert), meaning low connectivity between the ‘halos’. Conclusions: There is evidence of the effectiveness in interventions, but innovative and intersectoral elements to combat and prevent NCDs were barely seen. While evidence of intervention effectiveness was observed, innovative and intersectoral elements to combat and prevent NCDs were barely noticed.
Past, Present, and Future of Copper Mine Tailings Governance in Chile (1905–2022): A Review in One of the Leading Mining Countries in the World
Authors: Cacciuttolo Carlos , Atencio Edison
Published: October 2022

How mine tailings storage facilities (TSF) are managed reflects the history, regulatory framework, and environment of a country and locale of the mine. Despite many attempts to find an environmentally friendly strategy for tailings management and governance that balances the needs of society and the ecosystem, there is no worldwide agreement regarding the best practices for tailings management and governance. This article reviews the evolution of copper tailings management and governance in Chile, current practices, and changes that could be or may need to be made to improve practices in response to local environmental conditions and local tolerance for risk. The progress to date in developing a holistic tailings management strategy is summarized. This article also describes recent proposals for the best available technologies (BATs), case histories of Chilean TSF using conventional technology, thickened tailings, paste tailings, filtered tailings, water use reduction, tailings reprocessing to obtain rare earth elements (REEs), circular economy, submarine deep-sea tailings disposal, and ways to avoid failure in a seismic region. Finally, the Chilean tailings industry’s pending issues and future challenges in reducing the socioenvironmental impacts of tailings are presented, including advances made and lessons learned in developing more environmentally friendly solutions.
Sustainable Development Efficiency of Cultural Landscape Heritage in Urban Fringe Based on GIS-DEA-MI, a Case Study of Wuhan, China
Authors: Zou Han , Liu Yang , Li Baihao , Luo Wenjing
Published: October 2022

Cultural landscape heritage refers to the rare and irreplaceable cultural landscapes recognized by UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee. It is recognized as a “common works of nature and human beings” of outstanding significance and universal value, and is a type of world heritage. Dueto construction, land isincreasingly limited in urban and rural areasin the process of urbanization, and cultural landscape heritage faces a huge threat, especially larger culturallandscapeheritagelocated at the edgesof cities. However, most of the existing studies have mainly focused on the material protection of heritage but have not paid enough attention to the non-material aspects of heritage sites, failing to reveal the inseparable nature of heritage and land. Therefore, this study takes sustainable development efficiency as its analysis tool, examines two pieces of cultural landscape heritage (the Panlongcheng site and the Tomb of the King of the Ming Dynasty) in the urban edge area of Wuhan, China as examples, innovates and establishes a multidimensional evaluation method based on the GIS-DEA-Ml model, and compares the dynamic changes of the spatial development efficiency and non-spatial development efficiency of the above two cultural landscape heritage cases. The results show that: both the spatial development efficiency and non-spatial development efficiency of Panlongcheng from 2010 to 2019 are significantly higher than that of the Tomb. This method makes up for the deficiency of traditional subjective qualitative analysis. It can be used to study the development efficiency of cultural landscape heritage more objectively and comprehensively, and promote the overall sustainable development of material and intangible cultural heritage. It can provide the basis for early decision-making and post-implementation evaluation for the preservation and utilization of cultural landscape heritage under the background of urban renewal.
Agricultural Insurance and Agricultural Economic Growth: The Case of Zhejiang Province in China
Authors: Zeng Shaolong , Qi Bingying , Wang Minglin
Published: October 2022

Based on the theories of welfare economics, this paper analyzed the mechanism of agricultural insurance (AI) affecting agricultural economic growth (AEG), theoretically, and carried out an empirical analysis by using the random effects model and thirteen years of panel data, which included the annual data of 11 cities in Zhejiang Province, China, from 2007 to 2019. The gross output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery (GOVA) of 11 cities in Zhejiang Province is selected as the explained variable, agricultural insurance premium income (AIPI) as an explanatory variable. We selected area of waterlogging removal (AWR), rural electricity consumption (REC), total power of agricultural machinery (TPAM), and crop-sown area (CSA) as control variables. The study shows that: (1) the AIPI has a significant positive impact on the growth of GOVA. When other conditions remain unchanged, a 1% increase in AIPI increases the GOVA by 0.166%, accordingly; (2) The control variables of REC, TPAM, and CSA are statistically significant for the growth of the GOVA. The elasticity coefficient of REC is 0.325, the elastic coefficient of the TPAM is 0.287, and the elasticity coefficient of CSA is −0.281.
Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Healthcare Workers following the First SARS-CoV Epidemic of 2003: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Alberque Bastien , Laporte Catherine , Mondillon Laurie , Baker Julien S. , Mermillod Martial , Brousse George , Ugbolube Ukadike Chris , Bagheri Reza , Bouillon-Minois Jean-Baptiste , Dutheil Frédéric
Published: October 2022

The world is still in the grip of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, with putative psychological consequences for healthcare workers (HCWs). Exploring the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the first SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 may inform us of the long-term effects of the actual pandemic, as well as putative influencing factors such as contact with the virus, time effects, or the importance of some sociodemographic data. This information may help us develop efficient preventive strategies. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of PTSD in HCWs following the SARS-CoV-1 in 2003. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Psychinfo, and Web of Science were searched until September 2022. Random-effects meta-analyses were stratified by the time of follow-up. We included 14 studies: 4842 HCWs (32.0 years old, 84% women). The overall prevalence of PTSD was 14% (95CI 10 to 17%). The prevalence of PTSD was 16% (8 to 24%) during the epidemic, 19% (16 to 22%) within 6 months after the epidemic, and 8% (4 to 13%) more than one year after the end of the epidemic. The longest follow-up was three years after the epidemic, with 10% of HCWs with PTSD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of PTSD was significantly lower more than one year after the end of the epidemic than the first six months after the epidemic (Coefficient −10.4, 95CI −17.6 to −3.2, p = 0.007). In conclusion, the prevalence of PTSD in HCWs was high during the first epidemic of SARS-CoV in 2003 and remained high in the long term. The lessons from the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic may help prevent a wave of PTSD following the latest COVID-19 pandemic.
Lived Experiences of Suicide Bereavement within Families: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Creuzé Clémence , Lestienne Laurène , Vieux Maxime , Chalancon Benoit , Poulet Emmanuel , Leaune Edouard
Published: October 2022

Backround: The lifetime prevalence of suicide exposure in the family is estimated at 3.8% in the general population. Familial bonds can constitute a crucial factor in determining individual bereavement outcomes via the interactional and communicational aspects of the bereavement process within the family. However, the literature on the lived experiences of suicide bereavement within the family remains scarce. Method: Our objectives were to qualitatively (a) assess the impact of suicide on different types of family members, (b) evaluate the interactions between the familial and individual bereavement processes, and (c) obtain precise insights into the familial interactions that occur following a suicide. We performed a qualitative study by conducting semidirected interviews with family members who had been bereaved by suicide. Computer-based and manual thematic analyses were used for data analysis. In order to mitigate biases related to the qualitative design of the data collection, two main measures were undertaken, namely triangulation and saturation. Results: Sixteen family members bereaved by suicide participated in our study, including a majority of women (n = 12). Mean age of participants was 56.4 and mean duration of suicide bereavement was 10.5 years. Most of the relatives deceased by suicide were middle-aged men who died by hanging or firearm. A total of six themes emerged from the analyses, namely (1) “familial trauma”, (2) “external adversity”, (3) “individual bereavement and familial interactions”, (4) “communicational and relational processes within the family”, (5) “perceived help and support within the family” and (6) “evolution over time”. Conclusion: We reported that suicide bereavement significantly impacts internal familial interactions via complex emotional and communication processes. Family conflicts, taboos or cohesion can occur in the aftermath of a suicide. We also found that familial coping strategies can shape individual reactions to the death on the part of each member of the family.
eHealth: A Survey of Architectures, Developments in mHealth, Security Concerns and Solutions
Authors: Alenoghena Caroline Omoanatse , Onumanyi Adeiza James , Ohize Henry Ohiani , Adejo Achonu Oluwole , Oligbi Maxwell , Ali Shaibu Ibrahim , Okoh Supreme Ayewoh
Published: October 2022

The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed in part to a recent upsurge in the study and development of eHealth systems. Although it is almost impossible to cover all aspects of eHealth in a single discussion, three critical areas have gained traction. These include the need for acceptable eHealth architectures, the development of mobile health (mHealth) technologies, and the need to address eHealth system security concerns. Existing survey articles lack a synthesis of the most recent advancements in the development of architectures, mHealth solutions, and innovative security measures, which are essential components of effective eHealth systems. Consequently, the present article aims at providing an encompassing survey of these three aspects towards the development of successful and efficient eHealth systems. Firstly, we discuss the most recent innovations in eHealth architectures, such as blockchain-, Internet of Things (IoT)-, and cloud-based architectures, focusing on their respective benefits and drawbacks while also providing an overview of how they might be implemented and used. Concerning mHealth and security, we focus on key developments in both areas while discussing other critical topics of importance for eHealth systems. We close with a discussion of the important research challenges and potential future directions as they pertain to architecture, mHealth, and security concerns. This survey gives a comprehensive overview, including the merits and limitations of several possible technologies for the development of eHealth systems. This endeavor offers researchers and developers a quick snapshot of the information necessary during the design and decision-making phases of the eHealth system development lifecycle. Furthermore, we conclude that building a unified architecture for eHealth systems would require combining several existing designs. It also points out that there are still a number of problems to be solved, so more research and investment are needed to develop and deploy functional eHealth systems.
Health Risk Assessment during In Situ Remediation of Cr(VI)-Contaminated Groundwater by Permeable Reactive Barriers: A Field-Scale Study
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Zhu Yifan , Gu Ruiting , Liang Zhentian , Xu Wenyan , Jat Baloch Muhammad Yousuf
Published: October 2022

The presence of residual Cr(VI) in soils causes groundwater contamination in aquifers, affecting the health of exposed populations. Initially, permeable reactive barriers(PRB) effectively removed Cr(VI) from groundwater. However, as PRB clogging increased and Cr(VI) was released from upstream soils, the contamination plume continued to spread downstream. By 2020, the level of contamination in the downstream was nearly identical to that in the upstream. The study results show that during normal operation, the PRB can successfully remove Cr(VI) from contaminated groundwater and reduce the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to humans from the downstream side of groundwater. However, the remediated groundwater still poses an unacceptable risk to human health. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the concentration of the pollutant was the most sensitive parameter and interacted significantly with other factors. Ultimately, it was determined that the residual Cr(VI) in the soil of the study region continues to contaminate the groundwater and constitutes a serious health danger to residents in the vicinity. As remediated groundwater still poses a severe threat to human health, PRB may not be as effective as people believe.
Long-Term Residential Environment Exposure and Subjective Wellbeing in Later Life in Guangzhou, China: Moderated by Residential Mobility History
Authors: Su Lingling , Zhou Suhong
Published: October 2022

With rapid global urbanization, the importance of understanding relationships between the changing environment and wellbeing is being increasingly recognized. However, there is still a lack of understanding of how long-term residential environment exposure affects subjective wellbeing under the dual changes of geographical environment and residential location. Based on a survey of the elderly (people over 60 years old) in Guangzhou, China, this study analyzes the effect of long-term residential environment exposure over 25 years on subjective wellbeing in later life in the context of residential mobility. The study found that subjective wellbeing in later life is not only related to the current residential environment but also the cumulative exposure to the long-term residential environment. The relationship between long-term residential environment exposure and subjective wellbeing in later life tends to be stable with the increase of cumulative time, especially the cumulative years over 15 years. Considering the importance of residential mobility history, the study further analyzes the moderating effects of relocation frequency and residential location. Relocation frequency can strengthen the positive effect of residential environment on subjective wellbeing and weaken the negative effect of residential environment on subjective wellbeing, which confirms the existence of residential self-selection. In addition, the direction of effect of residential environment on residents who move between living in the urban center and the periphery is consistent with that of residents who have always lived in the urban center, while the effects of the residential environment on residents who have always lived in the urban center and those who have always lived in the urban periphery are related in different directions. The conclusion of this study can provide guidance for individuals’ residential choice and governance of the urban environment to improve wellbeing.