Area-based Approach Research Articles

A dose of realism for healthy urban policy: lessons from area-based initiatives in the UK

Many urban policies aim to improve areas and address socioeconomic deprivation. The resulting investment is often delivered through area-based programmes which incorporate initiatives to improve the physical, social and economic...

Area-Based Approach in Power Quality Assessment

This paper presents an approach for assessment of power quality parameters using analysis of fundamental and harmonic voltage and current waveforms. Park transformation technique has been utilized for the analysis in three-phase system, which has reduced the computational effort to a great extent. Contributions of fundamental and harmonic components in power system voltage and current signals have been assessed separately. An algorithm has been developed to calculate the power quality parameters from online signals. This algorithm has been simulated for a radial system, and the results have been compared with that obtained from a standard FFT-based system. The results are seen to be in good agreement with that of the standard system.

Do area-based interventions to reduce health inequalities work? A systematic review of evidence

Reducing health inequalities by focusing health promotion efforts on specific areas rather than individuals is based on the premise that changing something about a place may improve health outcomes for people living in that place. This paper examines the evidence base regarding the efficacy of area-based interventions by reviewing evaluations of interventions aimed at reducing inequities between groups and which are based on changing a specific place. Only 24 papers met our review criteria. The overall success of area-based interventions was difficult to gauge due to the use of multiple strategies, inadequate evaluation reports, variation in the size or type of area, insufficient funding for implementation, policy changes over the course of the program and lack of long-term evaluations. However, the value of changing a place, area or location in some way was demonstrated in several studies which were adequately funded and evaluated. Thus, there is some evidence that area-based interventions reduce inequities, but more well-designed and well-timed evaluations of outcomes are necessary to draw any firmer conclusions. Explicit attention must also be given to geographical concepts associated with an area-based approach, such as area, scale, location and locality, neighbourhood, community and place.

Registrierung von Aufnahmen des Augenhintergrundes zur Erstellung großflächiger Kompositionsaufnahmen / Registration of fundus images for generating wide field composite images of the retina

The composition of retinal images presents high demands to the applied methods. Substantially different lighting conditions between the images, glarings and fade-outs within one image, large textureless regions and non-linear distortions are the main challenges. We present a fully automatic algorithm for the registration of images of the human retina and their overlay to wide field montage images combining area-based and point-based approaches. The algorithm combines an area-based as well as a point-based approach for determining similarities between images. Various measures of similarity were investigated, where the normalized correlation coefficient was superior compared to the usual definitions of transinformation. The transformation of the images was based on a quadratic model that can be derived from the spherical surface of the retina. This model was compared to four other parameterized transformations and performed best both visually and quantitatively in terms of measured misregistration. Problems may occur if the images are extremely defocused or contain very little relevant structural information.

Experience of the area-based dullness method of cardiac percussion in the diagnosis of cardiorespiratory disorder

Experience of the area-based dullness method of cardiac percussion in the diagnosis of cardiorespiratory disorder

Experience of the area-based dullness method of cardiac percussion in the diagnosis of cardiorespiratory disorder

Experience of the area-based dullness method of cardiac percussion in the diagnosis of cardiorespiratory disorder

The Spatial Targeting of Urban Policy Initiatives: A Geodemographic Assessment Tool

Government frequently adopts an area-based approach to the targeting of urban policy initiatives as an indirect way of reaching the individuals that the initiatives are intended to help. The paper develops a method for assessing the success of this spatial targeting. It uses a geodemographic classification system to produce a generalised socioeconomic profile for a particular initiative. This profile can be used to examine the targeting of the initiative in different localities, in order to assess whether targeting has been inefficient (the targeted areas have been defined so that many of the people they contain are in fact not those for whom the initiative is intended) or incomplete (deserving cases have been missed because the initiative's boundaries have been drawn too tightly). The utility of the method is demonstrated by employing the P2 People and Places geodemographic system to assess the targeting of the Sure Start initiative in eight large provincial cities in England.

Food projects in London: Lessons for policy and practice — A hidden sector and the need for `more unhealthy puddings … sometimes'

Background and Objective Successive governments have promoted local action to address food components of public health. This article presents findings from research commissioned by the (then) London NHS Office, scoping the range of food projects in the London area, and the potential challenges to public health practice. Methods Research followed four overlapping phases with a London focus: (1) a systemized review of the literature, (2) analysis of health authority Health Improvement Plans (HImPs) and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) local implementation plans and Health Action Zone reports, (3) a scoping exercise of`food projects' and community-based participatory projects with a food focus using food databases and directories, and (4) 29 in-depth interviews with individuals responsible for commissioning and running projects. Results There were, in 2001/2, a variety of food projects in the London area, ranging from small-scale social enterprises to those whose turnover marked them out as small businesses. There was a significant human resource cost in maintaining and setting up such projects both from NHS staff and in terms of volunteer and paid labour. The lack of an overall or area-based approach to food policy development in London was apparent, and little thought seemed to have been given to creating a supportive policy environment. Food projects often existed as isolated entities in a borough or health authority area, with short-term funding and little systemic long-term support. The majority employed what might best be called health education approaches. This is now partially addressed by the draft London Food Strategy. Conclusions Food projects run by local professionals and/or volunteers operated within an isolated policy and suffered from a lack of support both from financial and human resources perspectives. The potential for long-term delivery of improved health was unrealized, as was their potential contribution to a London-wide food economy and to London food policy.

Natural emissions of methane from geothermal and volcanic sources in Europe

It has recently been demonstrated that methane emission from lithosphere degassing is an important component of the natural greenhouse-gas atmospheric budget. Globally, the geological sources are mainly due to seepage from hydrocarbon-prone sedimentary basins, and subordinately from geothermal/volcanic fluxes. This work provides a first estimate of methane emission from the geothermal/volcanic component at European level. In Europe, 28 countries have geothermal systems and at least 10 countries host surface geothermal manifestations (hot springs, mofettes, gas vents). Even if direct methane flux measurements are available only for a few small areas in Italy, a fair number of data on CO 2, CH 4 and steam composition and flux from geothermal manifestations are today available for 6 countries (Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Spain). Following the emission factor and area-based approach, the available data have been analyzed and have led to an early and conservative estimate of methane emission into the atmosphere around 10,000 ton/yr (4000–16,000 ton/yr), basically from an area smaller than 4000 km 2, with a speculative upper limit in the order of 10 5 ton/yr. Only 4–18% of the conservative estimate (about 720 ton/yr) is due to 12 European volcanoes, where methane concentration in volcanic gases is generally in the order of a few tens of ppmv. Volcanoes are thus not a significant methane source. While the largest emission is due to geothermal areas, which may be situated next to volcanoes or independent. Here inorganic synthesis, thermometamorphism and thermal breakdown of organic matter are substantial. Methane flux can reach hundreds of ton/yr from small individual vents. Geothermal methane is mainly released in three countries located in the main high heat flow regions: Italy, Greece, and Iceland. Turkey is likely a fourth important contributor but the absolute lack of data prevents any emission estimate. Therefore, the actual European geothermal–volcanic methane emission could be easily projected to the 10 5 ton/yr levels, reaching the magnitude of some other natural sources such as forest fires or wild animals.

The Proposal of Policies Aimed at Tackling Health Inequalities in Korea

Although the New National Health Promotion Plan 2010 target to reduce health inequalities, whether the program will be effective for reducing the health inequalities in Korea remains quite unclear. More and more developed countries have been started to concentrate on comprehensive policies for reducing health inequalities. The health policies of the UK, Netherlands, and Sweden are the most wellknown. I propose that a comprehensive blueprint for tackling health inequalities in Korea should be made and that it must contain five domains: a target, structure and process, life-course approach, area-based approach, and reorganization of health care resources. The target should be based on determinants of health and more attention should be paid to socioeconmic factors. The structure and process require changes from the national health care policy based on medical services to the national health policy that involves the establishment of a Social Deputy Prime Minister and the strengthening multidisciplinary action. A life-course approach especially focused on the early childhood years. Area-based approach such as the establishment of healthy communities, healthy schools, or healthy work-places which are focused on deprived areas or places is also required. Finally, health care resources should be a greater investment on public resources and strengthening primary care to reduce health inequalities. The policy or intervention studies for tackling health inequalities should be implemented much more in Korea. In addition, it is essential to have political will to encourage policy action.

Dynamic visual tracking based on multiple feature matching and g–h filter

The area-based matching approach has been used extensively in many dynamic visual tracking systems to detect moving targets because it is computation efficient and does not require an object model. Unfortunately, area-based matching is sensitive to occlusion and illumination variation. In order to improve the robustness of visual tracking, two image cues, i.e., target template and target contour, are used in the proposed visual tracking algorithm. In particular, the target contour is represented by the active contour model that is used in combination with the fast greedy algorithm. However, to use the conventional active contour method, the initial contour needs to be provided manually. In order to facilitate the use of contour matching, a new approach that combines the adaptive background subtraction method with the border tracing technique was developed and is used to automatically generate the initial contour. In addition, a g–h filter is added to the visual loop to deal with the latency problem of visual feedback so that the performance of dynamic visual tracking can be improved. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Automated estimation of rock fragment distributions using computer vision and its application in mining

Size distribution of rock fragments obtained from blasting and crushing in the mining industry has to be monitored for optimal control of a variety of processes before reaching the final grinding, milling and the froth flotation processes. Whenever feasible, mechanical sieving is the routine procedure to determine the cumulative rock weight distribution on conveyor belts or free falling off the end of transfer chutes. This process is tedious and very time consuming, even more so if a complete set of sieving meshes is used. A computer vision technique is proposed based on a series of segmentation, filtering and morphological operations specially designed to determine rock fragment sizes from digital images. The final step uses an area-based approach to estimate rock volumes. This segmentation technique was implemented and results of cumulative rock volume distributions obtained from this approach were compared to the mechanical fragment distributions. The technique yielded rock distribution curves which represents an alternative to the mechanical sieving distributions.

ANALISIS EFISIENSI TEKNIS USAHA BUDIDAYA PEMBESARAN IKAN KERAPU DALAM KERAMBA JARING APUNG DI TELUK LAMPUNG

Level of technical efficiency in fish culture reflecting the fish farmers achievement correlated to their managerial competency to manage the principle factors affecting its productivity. Objectives of this research were to evaluate technical efficiency in grouper growth out as well as its policy implication. This research was conducted in Lampung Province during September to December 2002. The area was selected by purposive sampling in Padang Cermin Sub district, South Lampung, and the respondent of farmers were selected by census method. The results showed that the average of technical efficiency level achieved by grouper farmers in floating net cages should be classified in middle to high categories with relatively homogen distribution. Principle factors affecting the technical efficiency was level of income from farming fish culture. As the technical efficiency level closed to the frontier, policy of culture development should be conducted using area-based extensive culture approach and should applicate imperative and innovative technologies.

Area-based approaches to educational regeneration

The Education Action Zone (EAZ) experiment is one of a number of area-based regeneration initiatives (ABRIs) that have been introduced by central government in recent years in England in an attempt both to tackle social exclusion and lever up educational achievement in some of its disadvantaged localities. The policy, regarded by some of its advocates as the epitome of New Labour's ‘Third Way’, is premised upon the idea that different bodies (public, private, voluntary and community) can work together to deliver localised ‘joined-up solutions’ to ‘joined-up problems’ – in this case those to do with how to address successfully persistent educational failure in poor neighborhoods. Drawing on the findings of a three and a half-year long ESRC-funded research project designed to investigate the origins, operation and impact of the EAZ policy, this article reflects on the degree to which this approach to educational regeneration is delivering on its objectives and highlights the lessons that can be learnt from its operation so far.

Participation or Pathology: Contradictory Tensions in Area-Based Policy

This paper discusses some of the tensions revealed in the development and implementation of recent area-based approaches to social policy in England. Such programmes are now a central feature of Government policy practice, although similar programmes have been developed in the past in the UK and other welfare capitalist countries. They reflect concerns to combat social exclusion and ‘join-up’ service provision. They are also evidence of a shift towards more agency based policy practice – from ‘top-down’ to ‘bottom-up’ planning. Thus participation of citizens is a key element in all programmes. Some of the problems of securing such participation are discussed, including in particular the tendency for expectations of participation to lead to pathological interpretations of the causes of (and solutions too) social exclusion.

'It was like my little acorn, and it's going to grow into a big tree': a qualitative study of a community support project

Government initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities and combating poverty amongst families increasingly take an area-based approach, and seek to involve local families in building community capacity. Sure Start is one such initiative, and was set up to develop services for pre-school children and their families, and improve child health and well-being. Based on a local evaluation of a Sure Start programme, the present paper describes the development of a community support project aimed at engaging local people in supporting the parents and carers of young children. This paper draws on qualitative data to explore stakeholders' experiences of the project. These are then described from two main perspectives: the personal and the wider community. It also explores the organisational conditions necessary to encourage lay involvement in such initiatives. The paper concludes that policies aimed at involving local people in delivering services to families need to take account of long-standing structural problems in disadvantaged communities if they are not to be perpetuated.

Inventory, Classification, and Analysis of Special Management Areas Associated with U.S. Coastal Programs

Area-based management approaches may be beneficial in integrating sectoral, single-purpose laws and regulations; however, these benefits may not be attained if special area designations are equally sectoral or single-purpose in nature. Over 60 types of special management areas were documented under U.S. coastal programs, and a new classification scheme was developed to allow comparisons and analyses across programs. Results indicate that requirements and incentives for special area designations under the Coastal Zone Management Act did little to standardize or influence area-based management systems associated with state and territory coastal programs. Further, the absence of clear patterns within and between coastal programs with respect to special area policies suggests a limited commitment to this important aspect of coastal management. Continued research is needed to document the effectiveness of the various area-based management approaches presented in this article.

1196 Completing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; a parent's perspective

This paper uses Fraser, 1999a, Fraser, 1999b concept of social justice as comprising both redistribution and recognition as a frame to interrogate two ‘Area-Based Curriculum’ projects running since 2008 in Manchester and Peterborough schools. It argues that historic concerns about working with ‘the local’ in cross-curricular activities has originated in a concern that such activities will fail to ‘redistribute’ powerful educational goods. This paper asks, however, whether such projects are also able to realise the goal that is frequently claimed for such projects, of recognising the diverse knowledge of students and their communities. Drawing on interviews, fieldnotes and observations across 8 schools, the paper argues that dominant geographical imaginations of the local area, social networks and material resources such as transport infrastructure, militate against the city being used within such projects as a resource for recognition. It argues also that the growth of a new ‘educational enhancement sector’ is beginning to mediate between schools and cities, producing the city in a form that is ‘fit for’ educational consumption. If area-based approaches are to achieve their goal of recognition, they need to be informed from the outset by theoretical frames that recognise knowledge as multiple, embedded and contextual.

Developing Frameworks for Examining Community Participation in a Multi-Level Environment

The purpose of this paper is to explore public participation from the perspective of two parallel developments in English urban governance since 1997: namely the attempts to modernise local government and area-based approaches employed to tackle social exclusion. The paper will situate these developments within a system of multi-level governance and highlight the significance of the locality-neighbourhood axis. The paper seeks to explicate current changes by drawing on theories of governance. The emphasis on mechanisms that bring together relevant local interests to secure coherence and stability in matters of local governance, combined with the specific focus on the role of citizens and communities as key partners in these arrangements resonates strongly with the key concerns of regime theory. The strengths and limitations of regime theory are discussed with particular reference to matters of contextual specificity. Community Governance is then introduced as a means of better understanding the institutional framework of English localities and, we argue, of providing a sounder basis for the application of regime theory. More powerful still is the potential synthesis of regime approaches with different interpretations of community governance and the paper concludes by drawing on recent developments in English localities to elaborate the potential offered by the this synthesised framework.

Selective migration from deprived areas in Northern Ireland and the spatial distribution of inequalities: implications for monitoring health and inequalities in health

Much of the evidence suggesting that inequalities in health have been increasing over the last two decades has come from studies that compared the changes in relative health status of areas over time. Such studies ignore the movement of people between areas. This paper examines the population movement between small areas in Northern Ireland in the year prior to the 1991 census as well as the geographical distribution of migrants to Northern Ireland over the same period. It shows that deprived areas tended to become depopulated and that those who left these areas were the more affluent residents. While immigrants differed a little from the indigenous population, the overall effect of their distribution would be to maintain the geographical socio-economic status quo. The selective movement of people between areas would result in the distribution of health and ill-health becoming more polarized, i.e. produce a picture of widening inequalities between areas even though the distribution between individuals is unchanged. These processes suggest potential significant problems with the area-based approaches to monitoring health and inequalities in health.