Residential Areas Research Articles

All-cause mortality and hospital admissions for nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Norwegian register-based cohort study

BackgroundThis paper investigates the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality and hospitalization among nursing home residents in Norway. While existing evidence shows that nursing home residents were overrepresented among COVID-19-related deaths, suggesting inadequate protection measures, this study argues that the observed overrepresentation in mortality and hospitalization may partly stem from the inherent frailty of this demographic. Using nationwide administrative data, we assessed excess deaths and hospitalization by comparing pandemic-era rates to those of a pre-pandemic cohort.MethodsWe compared mortality and hospitalization rates between a pandemic cohort of nursing home residents as of September 2019 (N = 30,052), and a pre-pandemic cohort as of September 2017 (N = 30,429). Both cohorts were followed monthly for two years, beginning in September 2019 and 2017, respectively. This analysis was conducted at the national level and separately for nursing home residents in areas with low, medium, and high SARS-CoV-2 community transmission. Event studies and difference-in-difference models allowed us to separate the impact of the pandemic on mortality and hospitalization from secular and seasonal changes.ResultsThe pandemic cohort experienced a non-significant 0.07 percentage points (95% confidence interval (CI): − 0.081 to 0.221) increase in all-cause mortality during the 18 months following pandemic onset, compared to the pre-pandemic cohort. Moreover, our findings indicate a substantial reduction in hospitalizations of 0.27 percentage points (95% CI: − 0.464 to − 0.135) and a non-significant decrease of 0.80 percentage points (95% CI: − 2.529 to 0.929) in the proportion of nursing home residents hospitalized before death. The effect on mortality remained consistent across regions with both high and low levels of SARS-CoV-2 community transmission.ConclusionsOur findings indicate no clear evidence of excess all-cause mortality in Norway during the pandemic, neither nationally nor in areas with high infection rates. This suggests that early implementation of nationwide and nursing home-specific infection control measures during the pandemic effectively protected nursing home residents. Furthermore, our results revealed a decrease in hospitalizations, both overall and prior to death, suggesting that nursing homes adhered to national guidelines promoting on-site treatment for residents.

Are There Non-Business Days for Crime? A Small-Area Bayesian Spatiotemporal Analysis of Crime Patterns

ABSTRACT Criminal behavior may be different on weekends and holidays compared to business days. Understanding the distinctive crime patterns on non-business days is useful for crime research and crime control. This study contributes to the literature by explicitly investigating the small-area spatiotemporal variation in five types of major crimes between business days and non-business days using a Bayesian modeling approach in Old Toronto, Canada. The results show that criminal activity varies between business days and non-business days, influenced by the types of crimes, geographic locations, and local neighborhood characteristics. Compared to business days, on non-business days, southern areas with high business and entertainment activity exhibit increased assault and robbery levels, while northern residential areas experience reduced activity of break and enter, auto theft, and theft over $5,000. Nonetheless, spatial crime hot spots generally remain consistent between the two date categories, with some hot spots presenting an exacerbation of criminal activity during non-business days. A few sociodemographic variables and built environment features are associated with the spatiotemporal variation in crime. These findings demonstrate the spatiotemporal variation in criminal behavior and crime patterns between business days and non-business days and highlight the need for customized crime control measures at the small area level.

Managing Risk Mitigation in Urban Expansion Areas of Argentina’s Drylands: The Gap between Perception and Environmental Behaviour

Accessibility to rigorous scientific information to promote risk mitigation measures by citizens is crucial, especially in the context of climate change and extreme weather events. This study focuses on the perception of flood risk and the implementation of mitigation strategies by residents in drylands urban sprawl areas. Risk perception, defined as the subjective assessment of the likelihood and potential consequences of flooding, is a key element of mitigation. While many studies have explored the link between risk perception and behaviour, this research addresses gaps in understanding how public information affects these perceptions and actions. In areas of rapid urban expansion, where regulation often overlooks environmental features, the lack of adequate information poses significant barriers to effective risk mitigation. This research reveals that although residents claim to understand flooding, their descriptions often indicate a lack of understanding of the phenomenon. This ‘passive optimism’ could be mitigated by providing rigorous information and specific technical recommendations. This study highlights the disconnect between residents’ awareness of flood risks and the inadequacy of preventive measures, underlining the importance of targeted information and collaboration between the scientific community, government sectors, and local populations.

Prevalence of Lassa Fever Infections in Ondo State, Nigeria

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have been of immense threat to public health in this 21st century. Among these diseases are COVID-19, Lassa fever, monkeypox, yellow fever, ebola, chicken pox disease and many others. Out of all the above mentioned diseases, Lassa fever is the most recurrent and trending infectious disease in Nigeria which affects many states. It is of great concern that Ondo State is one of the major epicentres of the virus. The objective was to examine the incidence of Lassa fever in Ondo State, Nigeria. A descriptive research design using a purposive sampling technique was used to collect data. Findings revealed that in 2018, Ondo State accounted for 25% of total Lassa fever incidence cases in Nigeria, which suggests that Ondo State was one of the major epicentres of the virus in 2018. As of March 19, 2022, the figure rose to 28% of total Lassa fever incidence. This implies that Ondo State was also the major epicentre of the virus as of March 19, 2022. Furthermore, in the 42nd week of 2022, the predominant age group of the patients affected by Lassa fever in Ondo State was 21–30 years. There has been a significant increase in the number of suspected and confirmed cases as compared with 2021. The factors contributing to the reemergence of LF epidemics in Nigeria are nosocomial transmission, travel and migration, the public health system, socio-cultural factors, conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, health education of indigenous people at the community levels (especially residents of Owo and Ose Local Government Areas) about LF causes, preventive measures and avoidance of cultural practices that could predispose them to Lassa fever infection should be given priority. Also, case management capacity and contact tracing must also be strengthened through the establishment of well-equipped and dedicated treatment/referral centers in the epicentre. Training and re-training of clinical care teams should also be given priority.

The role of noncontiguous attendance zones in shaping school populations: A case study of Tucson, Arizona and Fort Bend, Texas

Noncontiguous school attendance zone boundaries (AZBs) have a unique, relatively uncommon shape that assign two or more non-adjacent residential areas to the same school. Given their ability to shape school enrollments by taking advantage of residential sorting, noncontiguous AZBs have historically been linked to explicit efforts to both segregate and desegregate schools. In this paper, we use a novel, longitudinal dataset of AZBs and descriptive quantitative and geospatial methods to understand how the relationship between noncontiguous zones, school diversity, and neighborhood demographics changed from 1990-2020 in two southwestern school districts—Tucson Unified School District, Arizona and Fort Bend Independent School District, Texas. Each district has a unique legal history and demographic context that informs their use of noncontiguous AZBs. We find noncontiguous AZBs are more strongly associated with racially diverse schools and are more likely to bring together neighborhoods with different compositions in Tucson compared to Fort Bend. However, the association between Tucson’s noncontiguous AZBs and racially diverse schools has waned since 1990, as the district has negotiated the end of its court-ordered desegregation plan. Our findings provide insight into when and how noncontiguous AZBs can effectively contribute to ethnoracially diverse schools.

Rail accessibility and life satisfaction: Considering residential location and travel ability

The accessibility of urban rail systems in residential areas significantly impacts residents’ overall life satisfaction. Although many studies have examined the overall impact of rail accessibility on life satisfaction in various developed countries, few have focused on spatial heterogeneity and travel ability between rail accessibility and life satisfaction in developing countries. This study uses data from a 2017 activity-travel survey in Shanghai to examine the relationship between rail accessibility and residents’ life satisfaction in central urban and suburban areas with different travel abilities. It finds that both residential location and travel ability influence the impact of rail accessibility on life satisfaction. There are differences in the thresholds for rail accessibility among residents with different residential locations and private car ownership. These findings suggest that rail transit is a powerful tool for promoting the well-being in developing countries, and proper planning of rail station siting and land use is needed.

Mapping the past with historical geographic information systems: layered characteristics of the historic urban landscape of Nanjing, China, since the Ming Dynasty (1368–2024)

The layering process of the historic urban landscape (HUL) has spatial and temporal characteristics. With the help of digital technology, building a database to collect and manage spatial information on HUL is an effective research method. Taking Nanjing since the Ming Dynasty (1368–2024) as an example, our paper proposes a framework for constructing a historical geographic information system (HGIS) for HUL. The results show that (1) ancient Chinese historical archives have good potential for use in the construction of historical landscape databases. The HGIS can visualize the evolution of HUL and realize the storage, expression, querying, and analysis of information in different formats. (2) The Republic of China is a turning point in the evolution of Nanjing’s HUL. In terms of spatial evolution, the main distribution areas of urban form and characteristic places, as well as the NACH (normalized angular choice) and NAIN (normalized angular integration) cores of the road network, all moved from the south to the north of the city. In terms of typological evolution, the urban form changes from a predominantly residential area to one that emphasizes residential, administrative, educational and industrial areas. The main types of characteristic places shifted from house gardens, temples and ancestral halls to scenic buildings and public gardens. (3) Political factors, urban planning, commercial ports, and land prices influence the layering process of the HUL. The constructed database guides the preservation of HUL from the digital heritage perspective and the construction of other historical databases with spatial characteristics.

Research on visual experience evaluation of fortress heritage landscape by integrating SBE–SD method and eye movement analysis

Urbanization has led to homogenizing heritage site landscapes, and the protective measures have become disconnected from public needs. Additionally, the complex and diverse overall characteristics of heritage sites and the uneven distribution of values across different areas are related to the lack of landscape experience assessment. The “subjective + objective” cognitive evaluation and visual perception framework that adopts the Scenic Beauty Estimation Procedure-Semantic Differential (SBE–SD) method and eye-tracking analysis can compensate for the limitations of a single evaluation method by integrating quantitative and qualitative analysis. This research takes the Yi’an Fortress in Zhangpu County, Fujian Province, as the object and examines the visual experiences of different areas and types of landscapes within the Yi’an Fortress. The findings reveal several key insights: (1) Significant differences were found in the landscape experiences of different areas within the heritage site. The visual experience score of the core building area of Yi’an Fortress is (1.01) > the heritage entrance area (0.897) > the residential area (0.841) > the natural ecological area (0.784), indicating that the natural ecological area should be the focus of future protection and development efforts, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the ‘landscape aesthetic’ and ‘landscape cultural’ aspects. (2) The landscape experience scores can be used to understand the reasons for the differences in participants’ experiences of different landscapes. The architectural heritage landscape of the Yi’an Fortress scored highest in the experience evaluation due to its superior performance in terms of ‘landscape form’ factors. The cultural decorative landscape scored next, while the garden greening landscape scored the lowest, due to their poorer performance in terms of ‘landscape form’ and ‘landscape aesthetics’. (3) The eye-tracking data was consistent with the results of the subjective evaluation, validating the “subjective + objective” cognitive evaluation and visual perception framework, employing the SBE–SD method and eye-tracking analysis is a scientific and effective method for assessing the visual experience of heritage landscapes. These results provide a scientific basis for the heritage planners and managers of the Yi’an fortress to improve the landscape environment, better meet public needs, and preserve the unique character of this vital cultural resource. Furthermore, this study offers a new research method and approach for the protection of other heritage landscapes.

Emissions from Ethiopian clinker-producing cement factories and their impact on community well-being

In the realm of cement production, clinker-producing factories emerge as both energy and material-intensive entities, emitting a substantial array of primary pollutants into the environment compared to their non-clinker-producing counterparts. This study investigates the emissions from clinker-producing cement factories in Ethiopia and their impact on community well-being. We specifically focus on particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and gaseous emissions (CO2, N2O, SO2) measured at various units within the cement factories and nearby residential areas. The study area includes major industry players such as Derba Cement plant, National Cement Share Company, Mugher Cement Enterprise, Ethio Cement P.L.C, Dangote Cement plant, Habesha Cement, and Pioneers Cement Share Company. The pollutants were measured using standard instruments, including the portable Aeroqual Series-500 Gas Sensor (S-500) for both particulate matters and gases, with sampling conducted from August 1, 2021, to January 30, 2022. We analyzed the potential health impacts of these emissions, particularly respiratory diseases, among different age groups. The findings underscore the urgent need for regulatory measures to mitigate cement particulate emissions and protect community health. Our study provides valuable insights into the environmental and health risks associated with clinker-producing cement factories in Ethiopia, contributing to the broader field of environmental science.

Characteristics of sialolithiasis in Israel, a big-data retrospective study of 5100 cases.

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for sialolithiasis patients using a large community and hospital-based cohort. A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 20,396 individuals, including 5100 sialolithiasis patients and 15,296 matched controls. Demographics and laboratory data were obtained from electronic medical records. Statistical analyses were performed to identify significant differences between the two groups. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Sialolithiasis was more prevalent in women, with a mean age at diagnosis of 55.75 years. Several geographic location variables emerged as risk factors for sialolithiasis including Israeli birth, higher socioeconomic communities, and specific areas of residency. Tobacco smoking (odds ratio = 1.46) was a significant risk factor. Low high-density lipoprotein levels, elevated triglycerides, and elevated amylase levels were associated with sialolithiasis. This study provides valuable insights into the demographic and laboratory characteristics of sialolithiasis patients, indicating that area of residency and lifestyle factors contribute to the risk of developing sialolithiasis. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the disease and the development of preventative measures or early diagnostics tools.

Evaluation of Fire Protection System in Library Building Universitas Negeri Padang

The fire of a building will have a major impact on the building owner, both in the form of material, moral and environmental losses. In residential areas, offices and other public facilities often cause casualties. Therefore, a building needs to take into account the risk of fire so that building users can carry out activities safely and comfortably. One of the causes of fires is the fire suppression system that has not received full attention, where there is often an inadequate building fire protection system. The UNP Library Building is one of the public facilities buildings that are always crowded with students. It is necessary to evaluate the availability of the fire protection system to ensure the safety and comfort of its users. This research is in the form of an evaluation of the availability and completeness of the available fire protection systems and their remedies against the threat of fire. The data was taken through direct observation and question and answer and the distribution of questionnaires with the library. From the results of the analysis of the fire protection system inspection of the UNP Library building, it is known that on the 1st floor the lowest rediness value is 18.9%, for the 2nd and 3rd floors is 44.1%, the 4th and 5th floors are 45.9% and 45.6 % fulfilled the requirements based on the Minister of Public Works Regulation No. 26/PRT/M/2008.

The influence factors on pit and fissure sealing behavior of 12-year-old children: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang, China

BackgroundIn the 21st century, dental caries remains a global burden, particularly severely affecting the growth and quality of life of 12-year-old children. Fortunately, pit and fissure sealing (PFS) procedures can effectively prevent molars from caries. Hence, this study focused on the relationship between PFS and oral epidemiological factors in 12-year-old children.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in 12-year-old children from 11 cities in Zhejiang Province. Their dental conditions were collected through questionnaires, as well as basic information such as relevant family information, oral health knowledge and behavior. Then, logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors associated with PFS.ResultsA total of 1204 children were included, with 252 in the PFS group and 952 in the non-PFS group. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) score, first permanent molar DMFT score, residential area, educational level of parents, tooth-brushing frequency, use of dental floss, oral examination in a medical institution, having taken courses on oral health care, as well as having knowledge that tooth brushing could effectively prevent gingival inflammation, PFS could protect teeth, and oral disease may affect general health. According to further logistic regression analysis, the independent factors influencing PFS included use of dental floss [odds ratios (OR) = 1.672, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.235–2.263, P = 0.001], having taken courses on oral health care (OR = 0.713, 95% CI = 0.515–0.988, P = 0.042), having knowledge that tooth brushing is effective in preventing gingival inflammation (OR = 0.627, 95% CI = 0.389–0.987, P = 0.044) and having knowledge that PFS can protect teeth (OR = 0.589, 95% CI = 0.438–0.791, P < 0.001).ConclusionPFS can reduce the mean DMFT score of 12-year-old children. Independent influencing factors of PFS consist of use of dental floss, having taken courses on oral health care, oral health behavior and knowledge level.

Seasonal variation of water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous components of PM2.5 and PM1 in industrial and residential areas of Suizhou, China

Seasonal variations of fine particulate matter (PM) and its chemical components in Suizhou are investigated by collecting PM2.5 and PM1 samples from industrial and residential areas between March 2017 and February 2018. The findings reveal more severe PM pollution in industrial areas compared to residential areas. Concentrations and percentages of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSII) in PM are higher in spring and winter. Notably, the high levels of SO42− and NO3− in PM1-2.5 indicate that secondary transformation of SO2 and NOx significantly contribute to the rapid increase in PM1-2.5. The conversion of NO2 to NO3− is a key factor in the winter increase of mass concentrations of PM2.5 [ρ(PM2.5)], while photochemical reactions involving NO2 drive the summer increase of ρ(PM2.5). Organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) are mainly distributed in PM1, with OC peaking in winter. Chemical fractionation of PM reveals that carbonaceous components have a greater impact on PM1 concentration than WSII, whereas WSII more significantly affects ρ(PM2.5) than carbonaceous components. The OC to EC ratio in industrial areas (2.5 ± 1.4) and residential areas (1.9 ± 0.8) suggests more prominent secondary aerosol pollution in industrial areas. Significant correlations between secondary organic carbon (SOC), SOC conversion rate (ηSOC), and concentrations of O3-8h and NO2 in Suizhou further indicate that O3 and NO2 levels in the atmosphere influence the generation of SOC and ηSOC.

Exploring ecocentrism and anthropocentrism beliefs of Gen Z: An Indonesian context

This study delved into ecological awareness among Generation Z using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale to discern ecocentric and anthropocentric environmental beliefs. The data was collected from 545 students across state and private universities with categorization based on gender, age group, year level, study program and area of residence employing a quantitative research approach. A five-point Likert-type NEP scale comprising 15 items was administered through Google Forms ensuring representation from each study program. Statistical analysis conducted using SPSS for Windows 23.0 employed independent sample T-tests to evaluate differences in Gen Z's ecological awareness. The results revealed significant disparities in Gen Z's awareness across dimensions including reality, growth limits, anti-anthropocentrism, the fragility of nature's balance and the possibility of an eco-crisis with variations observed based on study programs. Furthermore, age groups influenced awareness of the limits of growth and the possibility of an eco-crisis while gender played a role in awareness of the problem of the limits of growth. Gen Z's ecological orientations depicted differences in ecocentric beliefs by year level and anthropocentric values varied based on area of residence. These findings offer valuable insights into students' alignment with ecological principles and environmental awareness. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable practices and environmental education by enhancing our understanding of how individuals particularly university students, perceive and respond to ecological and environmental challenges.

The effect of hormonal contraceptives in health status of Sudanese women in Omdurman Locality-Sudan

BackgroundStudies concerning the negative effect of hormonal contraceptives is scarce and scanty. The main aim of this study the common health problems related to the intake of oral contraceptives (OCP) and injection contraceptives (INJ).MethodsThis was a descriptive, cross-sectional study, The study was conducted in Omdurman Maternity Hospital. About 125 Sudanese women were participated in this study divided to test group which was consisted of 65 women used contraceptives, and 60 women were control group. The primary data was collected using questionnaire and laboratory investigations.ResultsSociodemographic characteristics of the two groups showed no association between residential areas and nutritional problems as it compared between control and test group (P ≤ 0.05). Level of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and Hb% among test and control group showed clear differences between the two groups (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsThe most common side effects associated with consecutive use among test were headache, hair fall, weight increase, joint pain, fatigue, accelerated heart beats, unstable breathing and nausea.

Exploring intra-urban thermal stress vulnerability within 15-minute city concept: example of heat waves 2021 in Moscow

Heat vulnerability in big cities is important because of the increase in heat wave frequency and thermal stress that is identified by Urban Heat Island. Our study investigated intra-urban heat vulnerability in Moscow, which strongly influenced by historic context in urban planning, with a focus on local disparities. We considered the vulnerability framework in terms of “exposure,” “sensitivity,” and “adaptive capacity,” and adopted the concept of a 15-minute city to evaluate spatial patterns on example of 2021 heat waves. We used high-resolution meteorological data from the regional meteorological model COSMO-CLM and calculated the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) to assess thermal stress and define exposure. The data from OSM and other open sources were used to assess sensitivity and adaptive capacity through the proximity of green spaces, cooling centers, healthcare, and premium service facilities. The PET varied from 25.3°C in the outskirts to 30.2°C in Moscow centre; however, variations in thermal stress did not have adverse effects on the spatial patterns of vulnerability. The vulnerability indicator in the east was six times higher than in more prosperous areas of the center, north and southwest, due to historical development, mainly the transformation from former industrial areas into residential areas.

Energy savings by adapting consumer behavior in grid-connected photovoltaic systems with battery storage

Today, the world faces many energy challenges that make the use of clean energy an obligation and an emergency. These challenges require changes in a wide range of sectors, including transport, industry and residential areas. At present, energy production is responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate change with its various dangerous effects on human life. Therefore, a change towards non-carbon energy is becoming a necessity. Certainly, this evolution has been underway for years and the renewable energy market has developed in a surprisingly efficient way. However, the current situation has reached an alarming state and requires the active participation of all stakeholders, especially consumers. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to illustrate how consumer behavior can significantly influence and contribute to the optimization of renewable energy systems, especially photovoltaic systems. The paper emphasizes the beneficial integration of batteries and storage systems to achieve energy savings. The results show that with some adjustments in daily behavior, an overall energy saving of 62% can be achieved compared to the normal consumption scenario: the energy obtained from the grid and then the electricity bill is reduced.

Assessment of natural resources for energy transition in Rivers state, Nigeria

The increasing problems associated with global climate change due to the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere call for serious concerns. This scenario has necessitated the need for a shift from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy to curtail the impact of climate change on the environment. The study was conducted to assess the potential and variability of climatic and other natural resources for renewable energy and evaluation of public perception of the energy transition process in Rivers State Nigeria. The climate data was obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) from 2000 and 2023 and analyzed using the Linear Regression Model while data on public perception was generated from structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The outcome of the Regression and ANOVA analysis were generally significant for both the natural resources and residents of the study area. Also, 65.7% of the respondents affirmed that the available natural resources are viable and suitable for energy transition. The significant and positive relationship of the different climatic elements in the study signposts huge potential for the renewable energy transition in the study area. The perception of residents was positive and showed excellent knowledge of the abundance of natural resources for the energy transition. It is therefore recommended that the Rivers State government should partner with the private sector to increase investment in energy infrastructure for improved environmental sustainability.

Sociodemographic and clinical features related to hepatitis B virus infection among rejected blood donors in Luanda, Angola.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a public health concern. Blood donors screened for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) along with aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) could play a key in providing safe blood products. We investigated the features related to HBV infection among rejected blood donors in Luanda, Angola. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 164 rejected donors. Donors were screened for HBsAg from March to May 2022. Overall, 63.4% tested positive for HBV. The mean age of the HBV-positive (29.2 ± 8.02) was lower than the HBV-negative (33.9 ± 10.0) (p < 0.001). Donors between 20 and 40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.34, p = 0.045), females (OR: 1.40, p = 0.516), residents in urbanized areas (OR: 1.23, p = 0.530), low educational (OR: 1.54, p = 0.458), unemployed (OR: 1.65, p = 0.271), and unmarried (OR:1.41, p = 0.616) might be likely to contract HBV. AST/ALT ratio was higher in HBV-infected (2.07 ± 1.42) than in HBV-uninfected (1.90 ± 1.14). About 20% of HBV-positive were classified as having acute liver disease, while 80% with chronic liver disease, based on AST/ALT ratio. Age ranged from 20 to 40 years (OR: 1.97, p = 0.305), females (OR: 1.61, p = 0.557), donors from non-urbanized (OR: 1.69, p = 0.557), a low educational (OR: 1.64, p = 0.571), and unemployed donors (OR: 1.81, p = 0.289) were likely to develop chronic liver disease. Our findings indicated the failure of viral hepatitis control measures. Authorities should consider including HBV nucleic acid testing to ensure early identification of HBV in Angola.

Systematic initial embodied carbon assessment of concrete modular high-rise residential buildings: a case in Hong Kong

Reducing carbon emissions from buildings is essential to achieving carbon neutrality. Modular construction (MC) has been adopted as an innovative approach to improve construction sustainability. However, detailed embodied carbon (EC) assessment of concrete modular high-rise residential buildings is lacking. This study aims to systematically assess the cradle-to-end-of-construction EC of concrete modular high-rise residential buildings. A multilevel EC assessment model was proposed and validated to assess the EC at different spatiotemporal levels. A concrete modular high-rise staff quarters building was selected for case study. Its cradle-to-end-of-construction EC was quantified as 569.3 kgCO2e/m2 with around 80% from material production. The structural modules with structural walls generated more EC than the nonstructural modules. The residential area comprising the modules had higher EC emissions than the communal area. The case building generated 14.6% less cradle-to-site EC from the production and transportation of structural materials but 20% more cradle-to-end-of-construction EC compared with two prefabricated panelized building counterparts, respectively. The cradle-to-end-of-construction EC of the case building was reduced by 8.3% by eliminating the nonstructural module floor and by 16.7% by further decreasing the nonstructural module walls. The results show that concrete MC reduces the EC at the construction stage but does not necessarily achieve a lower initial EC than its conventional counterpart. Resolving the double-panel issues can effectively mitigate the EC of modular buildings. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed multilevel EC assessment model and provide valuable insights for future research on the systematic EC assessment and reduction of modular buildings.