Administrative Region Research Articles

Unintended consequences: China's pairing assistance policy and carbon emissions in administrative border areas -evidence from China.

The investigation of the unintended impact of pairing assistance policies on carbon emissions in administrative boundary regions is critical for achieving the "dual carbon" goals. This paper utilizes a sample of cities from the Pearl River Delta and the eastern and western regions of Guangdong, China, spanning from 2006 to 2020. A quasi-natural experiment based on the co-construction of industrial parks is employed to examine its impact on carbon emissions in boundary regions. The study finds that while pairing assistance policies are intended to suppress carbon emissions in assisted boundary regions, they inadvertently exacerbate carbon emissions in those regions. This effect is realized by breaking market segmentation and forcing high-carbon enterprises to exit. The increase in carbon emissions in assisted boundary regions is driven by the industrial transfer mechanism, with regions having lower labor costs more likely to attract polluting enterprises. Further analysis reveals a "distance attenuation effect" of the policy on carbon emissions in the assisted regions. Directive assistance relationships from upper-level governments, moderate environmental regulation, and high levels of economic development can amplify the carbon reduction effect of the policy in boundary regions. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the causes of persistently high carbon emissions in boundary regions and provides theoretical insights for developing countries to better coordinate interregional assistance policies and strengthen environmental governance.

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antibodies in English adult blood donors: A nationwide cross-sectional study, 2021-2022.

Estimates of Lyme disease incidence in England are based on reporting of cases with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis only, underestimating total cases. In 2017 - 2018, two independent reviews commissioned by the UK Government highlighted the lack of official data on Lyme disease prevalence and incidence as a critical knowledge gap. To estimate the prevalence of IgG antibodies in the English adult population specific for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), the causative agent of Lyme disease. The prevalence of Bbsl-specific antibodies in the English population was estimated in a cross-sectional cohort, selected from an archive of residual NHS blood donor plasma samples (age range 17 - 84, collected between 2021 - 2022). 10,000 samples were randomly selected proportionate to the population size of each of the nine English administrative regions. 9,994 samples were tested using a standard two-tiered testing strategy, with an IgG/IgM ELISA followed by an IgG immunoblot (array) test for any sera with positive or indeterminate reactivity in the ELISA. Out of the 9,994 samples tested, 482 were seroreactive by screening ELISA. After two-tier testing, 49 were confirmed positive. Regional and demographic differences in seroprevalence were observed after two-tier testing, but due to the low overall seroprevalence, were not significant upon multivariable analysis. The seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-specific IgG in the English adult population (2021 - 2022), determined using two-tier testing was estimated at 0.49 % (95 % CI 0.36 - 0.65). This is lower than neighbouring UK nation Scotland and other northern European countries.

Network of job demands-resources and depressive symptoms in critical care nurses: a nationwide cross-sectional study

BackgroundCritical care nurses are vulnerable to depression, which not only lead to poor well-being and increased turnover intention, but also affect their working performances and organizational productivity as well. Work related factors are important drivers of depressive symptoms. However, the non-liner and multi-directional relationships between job demands-resources and depressive symptoms in critical care nurses has not been adequately analyzed. Understanding these relationships would be helpful for reducing depression, increasing nurses’ well-being and retain healthcare forces.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the Nurses’ mental health study (NMHS), a prospective cohort study on nurses from 67 tertiary hospitals in 31 province-level administrative regions in China. Only clinical nurses working in the ICU were included (n = 13,745). Data were collected using online questionnaires, and analyzed using network analysis and structural equation model. Job demands (average working hours per week, average number of night shifts per month, paperwork burden and work-life balance), job resources (supervisor support, co-worker support, leader justice, organizational climate satisfaction, work meaning, and career prospect), personal resource (resilience) and depressive symptoms were main variables in the networks, while demographic data and social health (social-emotional support and loneliness) were covariates.ResultsThe prevalence of severe, moderately severe, moderate, mild, and none or minimum depressive symptoms in critical care nurses of this study were 1.21, 3.42, 9.76, 42.88, and 42.07% respectively. In the final network, 132 of 210 possible edges (62.8%) were not zero. “Fatigue” had the highest expected influence, followed by “Motor”, and “Appetite”. Meanwhile, in terms of job demands-resources and personal resources, the node with the highest expected influence was “Supervisor support”, followed by “Work meaning” and “Co-worker support”. Three bridge variables were identified: “Resilience-adaptation”, “Average working hours per week”, and “Co-worker support”. The final structural equation model basically supported the results of network analysis with an acceptable model-fit (GFI = 0.918, AGFI = 0.896, PCFI = 0.789, PNFI = 0.788, NFI = 0.909, IFI = 0.911, CFI = 0.911, SRMR = 0.040, and RMSEA = 0.064).ConclusionsThere was a rather strong interconnectedness between depressive symptoms and job demands-resources. Fatigue, motor, and appetite were core depressive symptoms of critical care nurses. Close attention to those symptoms could help recognize depression in critical care nurses. Supervisor support, work meaning, and co-worker support played vital roles as job resources in reducing depression, while negative impact of long average working hours per week were more contagious. Resilience, as personal resources, could help mediate the associations between job demands-resources and depression. In clinical practice, it’s recommended for nursing managers to (1) encourage critical care nurses to find their “meaning in work”, (2) implement resilience enhancing programs for nurse, (3) build and maintain meaningful relationships with nurses and support them in daily work, and (4) create a harmonious and dedicated working environment where co-workers are willing to help and support each other. Improvements in those modifiable aspects could help reduce risk and prevent exacerbations of depressive symptoms in critical care nurses.

“I was angry that I fell” all the way to “if I fall, I fall”: a qualitative study of the spectrum of behavioral fall risk factors for veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation

Purpose To explore behavioral risk factors contributing to fall and near-fall scenarios for Veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation. Materials and methods Participants were a convenience sample of Veterans with unilateral dysvascular lower-limb amputation, receiving care at a single Veterans Administration Regional Amputation Center, who participated in an interview (12/2021–04/2023). We used phenomenological research and directed content analysis to explore participant perspectives on fall scenarios. Two frameworks informed a priori codes (The Health Action Process Approach, and the Falls-Type Classification Framework); however, analysis was also inductive, with additional codes emerging. Following an independent and iterative coding process, codes were categorized, and patterns identified to create final themes. Results Twenty-one veterans completed interviews. Five themes were identified that were salient across a behavioral fall risk factor spectrum from low to high: self-efficacy, trust in the prosthesis, dual-task awareness, participation, and emotional regulation, and one theme pertaining to context surrounding the index fall. Conclusion Different levels of behavioral fall risk factors exist for Veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation. Understanding individuals’ perceptions of these behavioral risk factors is important as a first step in developing comprehensive fall-risk management rehabilitation interventions for Veterans with amputation.

Dentists’ readiness to accept an electronic oral health surveillance system in Egypt using a modified framework of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT): a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundEffective public health surveillance is essential for policymaking and resource allocation. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the integration of mobile technologies to create mobile Oral (m-Oral) Health surveillance systems to enhance disease monitoring. The effectiveness and sustainability of electronic health information initiatives depend on users’ acceptance of new technologies. This research assessed dentists’ acceptance of electronic oral health surveillance systems (EOHSS) and related factors, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study included 1470 Egyptian dentists in an online survey from November 2023 to May 2024. The dentists were recruited from the five administrative regions in Egypt using convenience and snowball sampling. Participants responded to a questionnaire that was based on the UTAUT model. Structural equation model (SEM) was used for data analysis.Results83.4% of dentists intended to use EOHSS. Performance expectancy (PE) (ß = 0.240, 95% CI: 0.182, 0.295), training adequacy (TA) (ß = 0.232, 95% CI: 0.165, 0.291), and effort expectancy (EE) (ß = 0.231, 95% CI: 0.169, 0.289) had the greatest influence on behavioral intention (BI). In contrast, anxiety towards electronic systems (ANX) (ß = -0.140, 95% CI: -0.187, -0.095) had a significant negative effect on BI. Effort Expectancy (EE) had a significantly stronger positive impact on BI of females than males. Moreover, EE had a significantly stronger impact on BI of dentists older than 40 years old than those who were younger than 30 years old.ConclusionsEgyptian dentists’ intentions to use the EOHSS were influenced by PE, TA, and EE. However, anxiety related to technology may limit its adoption. EE had a greater positive impact on BI in females and in older dentists.

Magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence against women in Somalia: evidence from the SDHS survey 2020 dataset

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue across Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries, including Somalia. Understanding the prevalence and drivers of IPV against women is crucial for effective prevention and intervention efforts. However, limited research has focused on identifying these determinants specifically in the Somali context.PurposeThis study aims to identify the prevalence and key determinants of IPV in Somalia, including age groups, administrative regions, place of residence, educational level, household size, husband/partner’s education and work, respondent’s work, and total children ever born.MethodsData from the Somali Demographic and Health Survey (SDHS) 2020 were analyzed. Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between the identified determinants and IPV.ResultsThe study found significant associations between several factors and IPV. Age, region of residence, type of residence, educational level, husband/partner’s education and work, respondent’s work, and total children ever born were identified as significant determinants of IPV in Somalia. Younger age groups, rural residence, lower educational attainment, unemployment of the husband/partner and respondent, and larger household size were associated with an increased risk of IPV.Conclusion and recommendationsThe findings highlight the importance of addressing socio-demographic factors to effectively combat IPV in Somalia. Based on the results, recommendations include implementing comprehensive educational programs promoting gender equality and challenging traditional norms, enhancing economic opportunities for women and men, tailoring interventions to address regional disparities, strengthening the legal framework, and improving support services for IPV survivors. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, qualitative research, intervention evaluation, multi-sectoral collaboration, and the impact of IPV on children. By addressing these recommendations and conducting further research, stakeholders can work towards preventing and reducing IPV in Somalia and other similar contexts.

Estimating the burden of underdiagnosis within England: A modelling study of linked primary care data.

Undiagnosed chronic disease has serious health consequences, and variation in rates of underdiagnosis between populations can contribute to health inequalities. We aimed to estimate the level of undiagnosed disease of 11 common conditions and its variation across sociodemographic characteristics and regions in England. We used linked primary care, hospital and mortality data on approximately 1.3 million patients registered at a GP practice for more than one year from 01/04/2008-31/03/2020 from Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We created a dynamic state model with six states based on the diagnosis and mortality of 11 conditions: coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and depression/anxiety. Undiagnosed disease was conceptualised as those who died with a condition but were not previously diagnosed. This was combined with observed data on the incidence of diagnosis, the case fatality rate in the diagnosed, and an assumption about how that rate varies with diagnosis to estimate the number of undiagnosed disease cases over the total number of disease cases (underdiagnosis) in each population group. We estimated underdiagnosis by year, sex, 10-year age group, relative deprivation, and administrative region. We then applied small-area estimation techniques to derive underdiagnosis estimates for health planning areas (CCGs). Levels of underdiagnosis varied between 16% for stroke and 69% for prostate cancer in 2018. For all diseases, the level of underdiagnosis declined over time. Underdiagnosis was not consistently concentrated in areas with high deprivation. For depression/anxiety and stroke, underdiagnosis was estimated to be higher in less deprived CCGs, whilst for CHD and T2DM, it was estimated to be higher in more deprived CCGs, with no apparent relationships for other conditions. We found no uniform spatial patterns of underdiagnosis across all diseases, and the relationship between age, deprivation and the probability of being undiagnosed varied greatly between diseases. Our findings suggest that underdiagnosis is not consistently concentrated in areas with high deprivation, nor is there a uniform spatial underdiagnosis pattern across diseases. This novel method for estimating the burden of underdiagnosis within England depends on the quality of routinely collected data, but it suggests that more research is needed to understand the key drivers of underdiagnosis.

The effects of volunteering on loneliness among lonely older adults: the HEAL-HOA dual randomised controlled trial.

Previous randomised controlled trials have largely relied on self-reported volunteer work to assess the effects of volunteering and have rarely provided structured volunteering activities during the intervention period. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of social volunteering work over 12months on loneliness among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A dual randomised controlled trial was done in Hong Kong to investigate the long-term effects of telephone-delivered psychosocial interventions by older Chinese volunteers who were screened as lonely, for older adult recipients who had low income, lived alone, felt lonely, and were digitally excluded. Participants were included if they were aged 50-70years; had provided consent to be trained and serve as a volunteer for at least 2h per week for 6months; had at least 3years of secondary school education; had no severe self-reported physical, mental, or cognitive health problems; were not working full or part-time; had engaged in formal volunteering fewer than four times within the past year; and were lonely (ie, had a score of at least 6on the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale). Participants were allocated into either the volunteering or control group (psychoeducation programme) using a random number method. The details of group allocation were concealed as the research assistant responsible for randomisation was different to the research assistants responsible for recruitment and assessments (who were masked to the condition). Following a 6-week training, the volunteers delivered a psychosocial intervention to older intervention recipients for 6months. The primary outcome was loneliness measured with the 20-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and the De Jong Gierveld (DJG) Loneliness Scales at 6months and 12months. Assessments were performed before training (baseline; T1), at 6months (T2), and at 12months after training (T3). The intention-to-treat principle was used to compare the effects of volunteering between the two groups. The trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of the University of Hong Kong Clinical Trials Centre (HKUCTR-2929). This trial has completed. Between May 3, 2021, and Oct 6, 2022, a total of 375individuals were recruited to the trial, including 84males (22%) and 291females (78%). 185were randomly assigned to the volunteering group (56 to deliver a mindfulness intervention, 65to deliver a behavioural activation intervention, and 64to deliver a befriending intervention) and 190were assigned to the control group. 311 (83%) of 375participants were 60years or older (median 64years [SD4·86]). Participants in the volunteering group reported a significantly lower level of loneliness at T2 (dppc2 ranged from -0·41to -0·70) compared with T1 than participants in the control condition. There was a significant decrease in loneliness measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale at T2 in the volunteering group but such a decline was not shown in the control group (condition × time interaction, estimate 0·19 [95% CI 0·08to 0·29], p=0·00058, dppc2=-0·41). Similarly, when measured with the DJG Loneliness Scale, there was a significantly greater decrease in loneliness in the volunteering group compared with the control group at T2, including a medium to large effect size on total DJGscores (estimate 1·34 [95% CI 0·83to 1·84], p<0·0001, dppc2=-0·70) and a medium effect size on emotional (estimate 0·63 [0·35to 0·90], p<0·0001, dppc2=-0·59) and social subscales (estimate 0·71 [95% CI 0·37to 1·05], p<0·0001, dppc2=-0·58). Although most of the positive effects of volunteering were not sustained at T3, the volunteers who continued to volunteer for more than 2h per week at T3 reported lower levels of loneliness than those who did not maintain volunteering. This randomised controlled trial demonstrates the beneficial effect of volunteering on reducing lonelinessin older adults who feel lonely, and that this benefit can be maintained through continued participation in voluntary work. Future intervention programmes should strengthen older adults' commitment to volunteer. Research Grants Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

Validation Status of Electronic Sphygmomanometers in China: A National Survey.

Although the information on the validation status of electronic sphygmomanometer (ES) devices in use in health care institutions and households is much more clinically relevant than that of ES models available on the market, it remains insufficient. A national survey was conducted across all administrative regions of mainland China to assess the validation status of ESs. Fifty-eight cities were selected with stratification by municipality, provincial capital, and other cities, and health care institutions and households in each city were chosen by convenience to identify ES devices in use according to the study protocol. Information on devices' model, type, was collected. The validation status of each device was ascertained through searching international online registries of its models. A total of 3230 ES devices (1924 from health care institutions and 1306 from households), encompassing 498 ES models, were actually selected. The weighted proportion of accuracy-validated devices was significantly higher in health care institutions (33.9% [95% CI, 31.8-36.0%]) compared with households (23.0% [95% CI, 20.8-25.4%]; P<0.001), and both exceeded the proportions for models (17.7% [95% CI, 13.7-22.6%] and 12.5% [95% CI, 9.5-16.3%], respectively). Regional economic development, device type, and years in use were associated with the proportion of accuracy-validated devices. Notably, 8.8% of devices used in secondary hospitals were wrist type. The accuracy validation status of ESs in China in the number of devices in use shows a more favorable situation than that in the number of models but remains low and concerning. Policies are urgently needed to promote the widespread adoption of accuracy-validated models among all users.

Equalization of basic public services enabled by digitization: A study of mechanism and heterogeneity.

Digitalization has penetrated into every aspect of life. However, research on the mechanisms through which digitalization affects the equalization of basic public services, as well as the heterogeneity of its impact on different fields of these services, is still insufficient. Based on the panel data of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2023, this paper studies the mechanism and heterogeneity of the impact of digital development on the equalization of basic public services. The research finds that the improvement of the digital development level can significantly promote the equalization process of basic public services, and this finding remains robust after a series of endogeneity and robustness tests. The discussions on regional heterogeneity and spatial complexity show that digitalization makes a greater contribution to the equalization of basic public services in the central and western regions and the northeast than in the east. However, achieving equalization of basic public services across regions through digitalization is challenging. The development of digitalization and the equalization of basic public services are limited by territorial cohesion in geographical space. Underdeveloped regions have poor access to digitalization for achieving equalization of basic public services. This leads to a 'digital divide' between developed and underdeveloped regions. It also results in a 'low-lying area' phenomenon in basic public services. Additionally, the promoting effect of digitalization on the equalization of different areas of basic public services varies significantly. The effect is strongest for basic living services. It is moderate for environmental protection services and education services. The effect on medical services is not significant.

The Evolution, Current Status, and Research on Issues of Smart City Construction in Macau

Since the Macau Special Administrative Region government proposed the construction of a smart city in the first five-year plan in 2015, the smart city construction in Macau has gone through three stages: initiation, construction, and improvement, and has achieved certain results in four areas: government, transportation, tourism, and healthcare. However, due to the limited local market in Macau, a lack of technical talent and investment from technology companies, and insufficient government promotion, the construction of Macau's smart city still lags behind that of developed cities in China's mainland.

Meta-analysis of the Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in China

The potential threat of soil microplastics （MPs, particle sizes smaller than 5 mm） to the agricultural environment and food security production has become a hot issue, but there are few systematic studies on the characteristics and influencing factors of MP pollution in agricultural soil in China. Based on the data of soil MPs and related environmental factors （temperature, precipitation, soil pH, and organic carbon） and social and economic factors （permanent population, gross regional product per capita, gross industrial product per capita, and cultivated land area per capita） extracted from 6 694 samples from 85 published studies from 2020 to 2023, meta-analysis was performed. The characteristics of MPs pollution in agricultural soil and the key factors affecting the accumulation of MPs in soil in six administrative regions of China were analyzed. The results showed that soil MPs had six colors： （semi-） transparent, black, white, yellow, blue, green, and red. There were five kinds of shapes： fragment, fiber, film, particle, and foam. The particle size was between 0.01 and 5.0 mm. There were nine types of MPs： polyethylene （PE）, polypropylene （PP）, polystyrene （PS）, polyester （PES）, polyethylene terephthalate （PET）, polyvinyl chloride （PVC）, rayon （RY）, polyacrylonitrile （PAN）, and polyamide （PA）. The abundance gradient of soil MPs in different regions was as follows： South-central region &gt; Northwest region &gt; Southwest region &gt; East China region &gt; North China region &gt; Northeast region. The （semi-） transparent （27.6%）, fragmented （32.2%）, 0.01~0.5 mm （66.3%）, and PE （37%） types of MPs had the highest detection rates. The characteristics of soil MPs are the result of natural environmental factors （temperature, precipitation, soil pH, organic carbon） and social factors （permanent population, gross regional product per capita, gross industrial product per capita, cultivated land area per capita）.

Distribution and determinants of the utilization of senior residential care homes in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

With the accelerated increase in the population of seniors aged 60 years or older in Saudi Arabia, understanding the utilization of senior residential care homes is crucial for improving service delivery and policy planning to meet the care transformation objectives of Vision 2030. To assess the distribution and determinants of senior residential care home utilization across Saudi Arabia's 13 administrative regions, focusing on predictors of functional dependency among different socio-demographic groups. This study analyzed data from 283 Saudi individuals aged ≥65 admitted to social residential care homes in 2021. Variables included age, sex, education level, marital status, region, and reasons for service use. Statistical analyses comprised descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression. The Makkah region had the highest number of senior residential care home users (56.8%; p < 0.0001). Most participants were men (67.8%), while women constituted 32.2%. The mean age was 78.9 years (SD = 10.6), with women being significantly older than men (p = 0.014). Illiteracy was prevalent (73.5%), particularly among women (82.4% vs. 69.3% for men; p = 0.006). Most participants were divorced (68.2%), with higher rates among men (84.9% vs. 33% for women; p < 0.0001). The primary reasons for utilizing residential care home services were old age and functional dependency (88.5% of men and 83.4% of women). Multivariable logistic regression indicated that being in the age group 75-84 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.81, p < 0.001), 85 years and above (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.28-3.11, p < 0.001), and being single (OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.14-5.13, p = 0.019) were significant predictors of old age and functional dependency. The study highlights regional and socio-demographic variations in senior residential care home service utilization in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and policies aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to enhance service accessibility and effectiveness for the aging population.

MHealth knowledge and usage in maternal healthcare delivery: perspectives and experiences of healthcare practitioners in Ghana

ObjectivesThis study explored the knowledge and experiences of health practitioners regarding the use of mobile health (mHealth) for maternal healthcare delivery.DesignUnderpinned by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of...

Optimizing Slack Resource Allocation: An Economic Approach to Sustainable Competitive Advantage

This study explores how slack resources can enhance firms’ sustainable competitive advantage by combining economics and organizational behavior within a strategic management framework. Specifically, we examine the relationships between three types of slack resources—available, recoverable, and potential—and three environmental dimensions: munificence, dynamism, and complexity. Our dataset comprises 34,261 observations from 4,045 listed firms across 34 provincial-level administrative regions in China, spanning the years 1993 to 2021. The results indicate that each type of slack resource has an inverted U-shaped relationship with performance, suggesting the existence of a Pareto optimal level of resource allocation. However, this relationship and the position of the Pareto optimal point are not constant. Environmental factors moderate the relationship between slack resources and performance, leading to fluctuations in Pareto optimal values and per-unit value. By expanding and integrating the resource-based view and the structure–conduct–performance paradigm, we explain the relationships between various slack resources and different industrial environments. Based on our findings, we provide suggestions for enhancing sustainable competitive advantage.

Localized regional environmental risk in mountainous urban areas of Southwest China: identification, assessment, and management strategies in Kunming.

In recent decades, the escalating frequency of environmental risk events, arising from sources such as industrial accidents, chemical spills, or other anthropogenic activities, has intensified threats to the ecological environment. The targeted identification of high-risk areas, formulation of control lists for key risk sources within regions, and the implementation of differentiated management strategies remain significant challenges. This study employed an administrative region environmental risk assessment and gridded environmental risk analysis method to comprehensively evaluate the environmental risks in the city of Kunming, China. The results indicated a fourfold increase in the number of environmental risk sources from 2012 to 2022. The sources were found to be widely distributed across the entire region but exhibited localized clustering. The environmental risk receptors were primarily concentrated around a local lake, in densely populated counties, and near rivers and drinking water sources. Risk hotspot areas within the target region were identified using the gridded environmental risk analysis method. A list of 29 key control areas was proposed, including nine industrial parks and 20 streets. Measures were proposed for handling unexpected incidents. The findings provide data useful for policy formulation and environmental management in similar regions of mountainous cities.

Dialect diversity and market integration: From the perspective of city circle*

&lt;p&gt;China, as a transitional economy, faces a high level of market segmentation among administrative regions, which lowers the efficiency of resource allocation and the total factor productivity (TFP) rate. The literature has focused on the negative effects of local protectionism and administrative division on the formation of market integration in the economic growth process. However, considering that administrative districts such as prefectures usually overlap with cultural regions in China, the effects of local protectionism and administrative division on market segmentation may be overestimated because cultural diversity may also be negatively related to market integration. More importantly, diversity of dialect tends to increase the cost of communication, making it a barrier to labor migration and decreasing the level of generalized trustamong people. As a result, it may have adverse effects on the market integration process.&lt;/p&gt;

Modeling of Urban Gravity Zones and Hierarchy of Administrative Centers in Bosnia And Herzegovina Using the Huff Model

This research applies the Huff model in delineating urban gravitational zones (UGZs) and hierarchy ranking of administrative centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the attributes of travel time (min) and attractiveness, i. e. the mass of the city, gravitational attraction raster models were derived for each center. UGZs were compared with the official administrative units - cantons (FB&amp;H) and regions (RS) based on area and shape attributes. Hierarchy of centers according to UGZs is compared with the official data. Some discrepancies have been observed between theoretical UGZs and actual administrative regions, mostly due to socio-political factors that significantly influence urban development pattern and social dynamics. It was found that polygons of official administrative units are more complex regarding shape than UGZs, indicating a more fragmented structure. The results showed that the average relative difference in area of official administrative units and the UGZs is 60.94%. Out of 16 administrative centers, 10 (62.5%) of them have the same hierarchical rank in both models, while the other six centers differ. An important feature of Huff method is that it uses a spatial model with exact data (parameters) and formulas rather than subjective procedures.

Exploring the Relationship Between Population Changes and Logistics Development: An Analysis Based on the Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics of Population and Logistics Coupling Coordination

In recent years, China’s population growth rate is slowing, and birth rates are declining. The impact of changes in population size and structure on logistics development has raised important concerns. The coupling coordination between population and logistics has significant implications for the sustainable development of regional economies. This paper analyzes the relationship between population changes and logistics development from the perspective of the spatiotemporal evolution of their coupling coordination. First, based on population and logistics data from 31 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2003 to 2022, a comprehensive evaluation indicator system is established to assess the population and logistics development levels across these provinces. Second, a coupling coordination degree model is constructed to explore the coupling coordination relationship between population changes and logistics development. Methods such as kernel density estimation and spatial autocorrelation analysis are employed to analyze the temporal evolution characteristics of the coupling coordination degree of the two subsystems. The results indicate that: (1) From 2003 to 2022, the population and logistics development levels in 31 provinces exhibited an upward trend. The growth rate of logistics development level scores exceeds that of population scores; (2) During the study period, the coupling coordination degree between population and logistics in most provinces shows a year-on-year increase, and notable spatial differences exhibit a decreasing trend; (3) There exists a significant positive spatial correlation in the coupling coordination degree between population and logistics across the 31 provinces, and local spatial autocorrelation is primarily characterized by ‘high–high’ and ‘low–low’ clustering distributions. Based on the above results, we propose policy recommendations to promote the coordinated development of population and logistics.

Outbreak of cholera in the Southwest region of Cameroon, 2021-22: an epidemiological investigation.

In October 2021, a large outbreak of cholera was declared in Cameroon, disproportionately affecting the Southwest region, one of 10 administrative regions in the country. In this region, the cases were concentrated in three major cities where a humanitarian crisis had concomitantly led to an influx of internally displaced persons. Meanwhile, across the border, Nigeria was facing an unprecedented cholera outbreak. In this paper, we describe the spread of cholera in the region and analyse associated factors. We analysed surveillance data collected in the form of a line list between October 2021 and July 2022. In a case-control study, we assessed factors associated with cholera, with specific interest in the association between overcrowding (defined by the number of household members) and cholera. Between October 15, 2021 and July 21, 2022, 6,023 cases (median age 27 years, IQR 18-40, 54% male) and 93 deaths (case fatality 1.54%) were recorded in the region. In total 5,344 (89%) cases were reported from 6 mainland health districts (attack rate 0.47%), 679 (11%) from 4 maritime health districts (attack rate 0.32%). More than 80% of cases were recorded in 3 of 10 health districts: Limbe, Buea, and Tiko. The first cases originated from maritime health districts along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, and spread progressively in-country over time, with an exponential rise in number of cases in mainland health districts following pipe-borne water interruptions. Case fatality was higher in maritime health districts (3.39%) compared to mainland districts (1.5%, p < 0.01). We did not find an association between overcrowding and cholera, but the results suggest a potential dose-response relationship with an increasing number of household members (>5 people: (crude OR 1.73, 95% CI 0.97-3.12) and 3-5 people: (crude OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.85-2.60)), even after adjusting for internally displaced status and number of household compartments in the multivariable model (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 0.80-3.02). We report the largest cholera outbreak in the Southwest region. Our findings suggest the cross-border spread of cases from the Nigerian outbreak, likely driven by overcrowding in major cities. Our study highlights the need for cross-border surveillance, especially during humanitarian crises.