Areas Of High Population Density Research Articles

Understanding unemployment

The primary focus in this paper is on understanding the impact of unemployment in Sandton, Johannesburg. In order to address this, as a starting point, it is noted that unemployment and the crisis of joblessness remains a problem in both low-density as well as high-density population areas. I have emphasised the development initiative to promote employment opportunities for the unemployed to enhance entrepreneurship amongst those with appropriate livelihoods. This could be understood, based on the understanding of the causes of unemployment and could provide relevant intervention strategies within the context of the people intended to be reached. The focus of the article is to suggest ways to provide training, share information, skills development and implement practical contributions to alleviate poverty in the community. It investigates the impact of unemployment in human lives with a view to understand how to balance life and employment. The article found a positive contribution on how to improve human life through job creation. Purpose: The purpose for the article is to explore the impact of unemployment in human lives and to establish strategies to assist unemployed people to create jobs by practicing the skills development to enhance a balanced lifestyle. Findings: An investigation focused on the recognition that the high rate of unemployment in Sandton, Johannesburg, especially among those who are lacking skills and skills mismatch in a labour market, can be best resolved by the promotion of training and the creation of opportunities to start new businesses within the community. The causes of unemployment and its effect on human lives are also discussed.

Study on the Correlation between Community Construction Planning Factors and the Spatial Distribution of COVID-19 Outbreak: Case Study of Main Urban Area of Wuhan

In the context of the global outbreak of COVID-19, this study took Wuhan as an example, using mathematical statistics and spatial analysis, and other methods to explore the distribution characteristics and distribution of COVID-19 in residential spaces in the main city of Wuhan. Based on the above analysis, this study summarized the influencing factors and revealed their internal connection with the spread of the epidemic, and finally proposed corresponding prevention and control strategies. The results show that: 1) The epidemic in Wuhan has significant spatial aggregation characteristics, with epidemic communities concentrated in urban areas with high population density and dense commercial areas along the Changjiang River more likely to be infected; 2) The construction planning factors of epidemic communities are closely related to epidemic density. The results indicated traffic convenience, business services and the accessibility of hospitals are significantly related to the spread of the virus. The epidemic density is highly negatively correlated with community’s land area, base area, number of households, building height, building spacing, and completion time, and may negatively correlated with the number of buildings, greening rate. But it positively correlated with community’s building density. Therefore, the epidemic prevention and control of urban residential spaces should start with improving the built environment of the community. It means, by creating a rich and diverse community flexible space, the community can effectively prevent the epidemic, and then realize the city’s comprehensive anti-epidemic and development growth.

Simulation of the spatial distribution of urban populations based on first-aid call data.

We examined the feasibility of estimating the spatial distribution of urban populations based on first-aid calls based on one high-density place, the Shanghai urban area and one low-density place, the Nanhai District of Foshan City in Guangdong Province. We aggregated the population and the total number of first-aid calls on digital maps divided by grids based on a Geographic Information System (GIS). Geographically weighted regression was applied to test the correlation between the population distribution simulated by first-aid call data and the actual residency. The impact of different population densities, different grid cell sizes and different types of first-aid calls on simulation correlation were tested. We found that the use of first-aid call data could explain 60-95% of the actual population distribution in Shanghai using a grid with 1000*1000 m cell size, while the Nanhai experience was that first-aid calls could only explain 4-76% of the actual population distribution using a grid with 2000*2000 m cell size. Thus, the higher the population density, the better the simulation effect. For a high-population density area, the overall accuracy of simulation can reach as high as 0.878 at the 1-km2 resolution. However, there are different kinds of first-aid calls and for the best estimation of the population distribution in densely populated areas, we suggest using first-aid calls from people requiring acute medical care rather than all first-aid call data.

Public health needs and challenges in influenza and dengue vaccines–Implications from epidemiological findings

Background: The incidence and mortality rates of influenza and dengue have been high in most Asian countries. Vaccination is the one of the most important and successful public health measures in controlling many infectious diseases such as poliomyelitis, measles, and Japanese encephalitis. However, the etiological agents of these two diseases are RNA viruses involving different subtypes/serotypes with dynamic changes each year, posing greater challenges in future years. Methods and materials: Field epidemiology during outbreak periods provides the best chance in fully understanding dynamic changes of the studied virus and evaluating the impact of mismatched human influenza viruses. On the other hand, incidence and hospitalization rates, case fatality rates and seroepidemiological study of dengue are important in assessing public health needs and community effectiveness of vaccine as well as in finding target population to receive dengue vaccine. Results: We found that the higher isolation rate of seasonal influenza A (H3N2) and the circulating vaccine-mismatched human influenza viruses, the greater monthly P&I mortality in elderly, using a negative binomial model. Moreover, those years with high excess P&I mortality had the circulating virus strains with a lower amino acid identity percentages of HA1 protein with the vaccine strains. During 2009 pandemic influenza, one unique adaptive mutant at E374K of HA2 in A (H1N1/09) viruses evolved through the epidemic, emerged as a dominant strain at post-peak period, extended in areas with high population densities before mass immunization, persisted till ten months post-nationwide vaccination, and were finally fixed as herd immunity developed. Recently, different tetravalent dengue vaccines providing immunity against all four serotypes of dengue virus (DENV) have been developed to avoid antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) from secondary DENV infection. The initial clinical trials in many cities of dengue-endemic countries did reduce the incidence and hospitalization rates of dengue. Conclusion: Weekly monitoring excess P&I mortality and evaluating laboratory-confirmed human influenza cases with/without receiving flu vaccines plus serological tests on antigenic variation can assure public health effectiveness of influenza vaccines. Once novel influenza virus emerges with worldwide spread, virological surveillance in high population-density areas can assess the virus with high epidemic potential. Furthermore, more immuno-epidemiological studies are needed for dengue in different settings.

Coverage determinants of breast cancer screening in Flanders: an evaluation of the past decade

BackgroundBreast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women in the developed world. In order to find developing cancers in an early stage, BC screening is commonly used. In Flanders, screening is performed in and outside an organized breast cancer screening program (BCSP). However, the determinants of BC screening coverage for both screening strategies are yet unknown.ObjectiveTo assess the determinants of BC screening coverage in Flanders.MethodsReimbursement data were used to attribute a screening status to each woman in the target population for the years 2008–2016. Yearly coverage data were categorized as screening inside or outside BCSP or no screening. Data were clustered by municipality level. A generalized linear equation model was used to assess the determinants of screening type.ResultsOver all years and municipalities, the median screening coverage rate inside and outside BCSP was 48.40% (IQR: 41.50–54.40%) and 14.10% (IQR: 9.80–19.80%) respectively. A higher coverage rate outside BSCP was statistically significantly (P < 0.001) associated with more crowded households (OR: 3.797, 95% CI: 3.199–4.508), younger age, higher population densities (OR: 2.528, 95% CI: 2.455–2.606), a lower proportion of unemployed job seekers (OR: 0.641, 95% CI: 0.624–0.658) and lower use of dental care (OR: 0.969, 95% CI: 0.967–0.972).ConclusionCoverage rate of BC screening is not optimal in Flanders. Women with low SES that are characterized by younger age, living in a high population density area, living in crowded households, or having low dental care are less likely to be screened for BC in Flanders. If screened, they are more likely to be screened outside the BCSP.

A multi-perspective analysis for the better understanding of urban freight transport challenges and opportunities in Montevideo

Population growth has been followed by an increase in the share of residents in urban centers, in developed countries as well as in the least developed. These areas of high population density generate an increase in commercial activity, being urban freight transport a key factor, in account of providing the goods commercialized in its stores. Urban logistics presents a series of hard-to-solve issues, and the models which seek to align the interests of the various stakeholders in the search for solutions are scarce. The aim of this article is to present a framework to understand the needs of the different stakeholders, and, in this way, to facilitate joint working with the goal of finding solutions for a better management of urban freight transport. It was found that there are many different regions that coexist within the same city, which makes evident that not all solutions are applicable to all of them. By studding deeply one of these regions, it can be inferred that not all cities are prepared for the current challenge that urban freight transport encompasses. The choice of a multi-perspective study appeared to be convenient to address the complexity these process, allowing the researcher team to gather a comprehensive view of this reality. These various aspects were shown in a workshop that included representatives of each of the stakeholders’ groups. In this workshop, the different distribution strategies and regulations that could be implemented in the short and medium term were deeply discussed.

Pre-hospital factors and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest according to population density, a nationwide study

AimThis study aimed to examine the impact of population density on bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MethodsThrough the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry (2001–2013), OHCAs ≥18 years of presumed cardiac cause were identified, and divided according to the OHCA location in four population density groups (inhabitants/km2) based on urban/rural area-definitions: low (<300/km2), medium (300–1499/km2), high (1500–2999/km2), very high (>3000/km2). The association between population density, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and survival was examined using logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, comorbitidies and calendar-year. Results18,248 OHCAs were identified. Patients in areas of high compared to low population density were older, more often female, had more comorbidities, more witnessed arrests (very high: 59.6% versus low: 55.0%), shorter response time (very high: 10min versus low: 14min), but less bystander CPR (very high: 34.3% versus low: 45.1%). Thirty-day survival was higher in areas of higher population density (very high: 10.2% vs. low 5.3%), also in best-cases of witnessed arrests with bystander CPR and response time <10min (very high: 33.6% versus low: 13.8%). The same trends were found in adjusted analyses with lower odds for bystander CPR (odds ratio [OR] 0.55 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46–0.66) and higher odds for 30-day survival (OR 2.78, 95%CI 1.95–3.96) in the highest population density areas compared to low. ConclusionsHaving an OHCA in higher populated areas were found associated with less bystander CPR, but higher survival. Identification of area-related factors can help target future pre-hospital care.

Quality and clinical outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a population density analysis of a Japanese nationwide registry

Abstract Background Despite progress in acute myocardial infarction (MI) treatment, data on geographical disparities in its care remain limited. Purpose We aimed to assess the discrepancy by population density (PD) on the quality and clinical outcomes of patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). Methods The J-PCI registry is a prospective procedural registry conducted by the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT) to assure the quality of delivered care. Between January 2014 and December 2018, 209,521 patients underwent PCI for STEMI in 1,126 institutes. Population of administrative municipal-level districts was determined through the complete population census. The patients were divided into tertiles according to the PD of the PCI institution location (low: &amp;lt;951.7/km2, n=69,797; middle: 951.7–4,729.7/km2, n=69,750; high: ≥4,729.7/km2, n=69,974). Results Patients treated in high PD administrative districts were younger (low: 69.1±12.9, middle: 68.7±12.9, high: 68.0±13.1) and likely to be male (low: 75.6%, middle: 76.0%, high: 76.6%). No significant correlation was observed between PD and door-to-balloon time (DTB: regression coefficients: 0.036 per 1000 people/km2, 95% CI: −0.232 to 0.304, P=0.79). Patients treated in low PD areas had higher crude in-hospital mortality rates than those treated in high PD areas (low: 2.89%, middle: 2.60%, high: 2.38%; P&amp;lt;0.001). Moreover, PD and in-hospital mortality had a significantly inverse association, before and after adjusting for baseline characteristics (crude odds ratio [OR]: 0.983 per 1,000/km2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.973–0.992, P&amp;lt;0001; adjusted OR: 0.980 per 1,000/km2, 95% CI: 0.964–0.996, P=0.01, respectively). Higher PD districts had more operators per institute (low: 6, interquartile range [IQR] 3–10; middle: 7, IQR 3–13; high: 8, IQR 5–13, P&amp;lt;0.001), suggesting an inverse association with in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.992, 95% CI: 0.986–0.999, P=0.03). Conclusions Marked geographical inequality was observed in immediate case fatality; patients treated in population-dense areas had a lower in-hospital mortality than those treated in less dense areas. Variation in the number of operators per institute, rather than traditional quality indicators (e.g. DTB) may explain the difference in in-hospital mortality. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Characteristics Associated With Racial/Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes in an Academic Health Care System

Black patients are overrepresented in the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US. Reasons for this disparity may be due to underlying comorbidities or sociodemographic factors that require further exploration. To systematically determine patient characteristics associated with racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. This retrospective cohort study used comparative groups of patients tested or treated for COVID-19 at the University of Michigan from March 10, 2020, to April 22, 2020, with an outcome update through July 28, 2020. A group of randomly selected untested individuals were included for comparison. Examined factors included race/ethnicity, age, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), and residential-level socioeconomic characteristics. In-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, commercial antibody tests, nasopharynx or oropharynx PCR deployed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and reverse transcription-PCR tests performed in external labs. The main outcomes were being tested for COVID-19, having test results positive for COVID-19 or being diagnosed with COVID-19, being hospitalized for COVID-19, requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for COVID-19, and COVID-19-related mortality (including inpatient and outpatient). Medical comorbidities were defined from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes and were aggregated into a comorbidity score. Associations with COVID-19 outcomes were examined using odds ratios (ORs). Of 5698 patients tested for COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 47.4 [20.9] years; 2167 [38.0%] men; mean [SD] BMI, 30.0 [8.0]), most were non-Hispanic White (3740 patients [65.6%]) or non-Hispanic Black (1058 patients [18.6%]). The comparison group included 7168 individuals who were not tested (mean [SD] age, 43.1 [24.1] years; 3257 [45.4%] men; mean [SD] BMI, 28.5 [7.1]). Among 1139 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 492 (43.2%) were White and 442 (38.8%) were Black; 523 (45.9%) were hospitalized, 283 (24.7%) were admitted to the ICU, and 88 (7.7%) died. Adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity score, Black patients were more likely to be hospitalized compared with White patients (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.15-2.58]; P = .009). In addition to older age, male sex, and obesity, living in densely populated areas was associated with increased risk of hospitalization (OR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.01-1.19]; P = .02). In the overall population, higher risk of hospitalization was also observed in patients with preexisting type 2 diabetes (OR, 1.82 [95% CI, 1.25-2.64]; P = .02) and kidney disease (OR, 2.87 [95% CI, 1.87-4.42]; P < .001). Compared with White patients, obesity was associated with higher risk of having test results positive for COVID-19 among Black patients (White: OR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.01-1.84]; P = .04. Black: OR, 3.11 [95% CI, 1.64-5.90]; P < .001; P for interaction = .02). Having any cancer was associated with higher risk of positive COVID-19 test results for Black patients (OR, 1.82 [95% CI, 1.19-2.78]; P = .005) but not White patients (OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.84-1.40]; P = .53; P for interaction = .04). Overall comorbidity burden was associated with higher risk of hospitalization in White patients (OR, 1.30 [95% CI, 1.11-1.53]; P = .001) but not in Black patients (OR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.83-1.17]; P = .88; P for interaction = .02), as was type 2 diabetes (White: OR, 2.59 [95% CI, 1.49-4.48]; P < .001; Black: OR, 1.17 [95% CI, 0.66-2.06]; P = .59; P for interaction = .046). No statistically significant racial differences were found in ICU admission and mortality based on adjusted analysis. These findings suggest that preexisting type 2 diabetes or kidney diseases and living in high-population density areas were associated with higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalization. Associations of risk factors with COVID-19 outcomes differed by race.

Microzonificaciónsísmica basada en efectos de sitio para el área metropolitana de Mendoza

El ordenamiento territorial de una región debe contemplar distintos aspectos que hacen a las características del entorno y al hábitat humano inserto en ella. Algunos de los peligros potenciales asociados a la actividad sísmica son la licuación de suelos, deslizamiento de tierras, caída de rocas, efectos de sitio debido a terremotos, variaciones topográficas, tsunamis entre otros. En particular la respuesta de sitio puede ser evaluada por métodos teóricos o empíricos. Los métodos teóricos permiten un análisis más detallado de los diferentes estratos de suelo y los métodos empíricos se basan en el registro de vibraciones producidas por terremotos u otras causas en sitios de diferentes condiciones geológicas. Entre los métodos experimentales para considerar efectos locales, han tenido gran aceptación en las últimas décadas los basados en vibraciones ambientales. En el presente trabajo se escoge un área de gran densidad poblacional en la Ciudad de Mendoza, Argentina para realizar una microzonificación sísmica en base a frecuencias naturales de suelo que se obtienen mediante el procedimiento del cociente espectral H/V. De esta manera se pretende identificar las áreas expuestas al fenómeno de amplificación sísmica cuando sobrevenga un terremoto de mediana o elevada magnitud. Este estudio permitirá contar con información de utilidad para la organización del uso del suelo y la planificación urbana.

The moral economy of rural Hausaland: a perspective from long-term field research

ABSTRACT This essay explores a model for inequality in Nigerian rural Hausaland based on fieldwork carried out from 1977 to 1979, with follow-up visits in 1996 and from 1997 to 1998. In the model, rural differentiation in areas of high population density and intensive market networks is theorized as resulting from a trajectory of non-capitalist accumulation. Capital accumulation in such areas is limited by ‘polygynous accumulation’ and ‘cliental accumulation’. Three accumulative forms are integrated by a culturally specific Islamic morality of hidima (social responsibility for others). This morality prevents the emergence of capitalist class differences. Case studies of accumulators from the summers of 2017 and 2018 show that rural accumulators continue to build polygynous households of extraordinary size. At the same time, economic growth in the national capital, Abuja, and to a lesser extent in other northern cities, has maintained high real labour rates. Rural accumulators continue to follow the trajectory of non-capitalist accumulation.

Geospatial Distribution and Predictors of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19: A Cohort Study.

BackgroundThe global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic offers the opportunity to assess how hospitals manage the care of hospitalized patients with varying demographics and clinical presentations. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the impact of densely populated residential areas on hospitalization and to identify predictors of length of stay and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in one of the hardest hit counties internationally.MethodsThis was a single-center cohort study of 1325 sequentially hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in New York between March 2, 2020, to May 11, 2020. Geospatial distribution of study patients’ residences relative to population density in the region were mapped, and data analysis included hospital length of stay, need and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and mortality. Logistic regression models were constructed to predict discharge dispositions in the remaining active study patients.ResultsThe median age of the study cohort (interquartile range [IQR]) was 62 (49–75) years, and more than half were male (57%) with history of hypertension (60%), obesity (41%), and diabetes (42%). Geographic residence of the study patients was disproportionately associated with areas of higher population density (rs = 0.235; P = .004), with noted “hot spots” in the region. Study patients were predominantly hypertensive (MAP > 90 mmHg; 670, 51%) on presentation with lymphopenia (590, 55%), hyponatremia (411, 31%), and kidney dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2; 381, 29%). Of the patients with a disposition (1188/1325), 15% (182/1188) required IMV and 21% (250/1188) developed acute kidney injury. In patients on IMV, the median (IQR) hospital length of stay in survivors (22 [16.5–29.5] days) was significantly longer than that of nonsurvivors (15 [10–23.75] days), but this was not due to prolonged time on the ventilator. The overall mortality in all hospitalized patients was 15%, and in patients receiving IMV it was 48%, which is predicted to minimally rise from 48% to 49% based on logistic regression models constructed to project disposition in the remaining patients on ventilators. Acute kidney injury during hospitalization (odds ratioE, 3.23) was the strongest predictor of mortality in patients requiring IMV.ConclusionsThis is the first study to collectively utilize the demographics, clinical characteristics, and hospital course of COVID-19 patients to identify predictors of poor outcomes that can be used for resource allocation in future waves of the pandemic.

Análise do impacto potencial de áreas com contaminação de solos sobre cursos d’água e poços no município de São Paulo

Este artigo tem como objetivo identificar corpos hídricos e poços no Município de São Paulo sob risco relativo à proximi-dade áreas de solos contaminados. Foram traçados raios de segurança entre as áreas contaminadas e os potenciais alvos de contaminação, conforme as características hidrogeológicas dos aquíferos. Assim, foi possível determinar inter-seções com rios e poços, mapeando-os como sob risco de contaminação. Em seguida, produziu-se um mapa de impacto acumulado da poluição na hidrografia, traduzindo a topologia hidrológica levando em consideração os potenciais pontos de contaminação à montante. Também foi mapeada a vulnerabilidade dos lençóis freáticos à contaminação, por meio de um índice de vulnerabilidade de aquíferos que considera a condutividade hidráulica e a profundidade da camada não saturada do aquífero. 49 poços (1,68%) apresentaram potencial de contaminação, sendo que 65,31% deles são declarados como de abastecimento humano, e localizam-se predominantemente em áreas com alta densidade popula-cional e vulnerabilidade extremamente alta de contaminação dos aquíferos. Nesse contexto, contribuiu-se para análise da situação dos recursos hídricos de São Paulo, para que usuários e o poder público possuam ciência dos riscos de contaminação e, assim, priorizar as medidas preventivas quanto a esses riscos.

Fishing alters resource partitioning between colour morphs in a temperate coastal fish

Resource partitioning in polymorphic fish species is expected to be altered by human exploitation, as individual specialization is density dependent in many vertebrates. We tested this hypothesis using the ballan wrasseLabrus bergyltaas a model species. We compared the isotope niches of the plain and spotted morphs of the species in a marine protected area (MPA) and in adjoining areas open to fishing, both off Galicia (NW Spain). Underwater visual census confirmed a 3-fold increase in the biomass of ballan wrasse off the Cíes Islands compared to areas open to recreational fishing, thus demonstrating that populations outside MPAs are well below carrying capacity. The stable isotope ratio of C revealed differences in the resource use patterns of plain and spotted ballan wrasses both in areas open and closed to fishing, as plain wrasses were always depleted in13C compared to sympatric spotted ones. The stable isotope ratio of N showed that plain ballan wrasses foraged consistently at a higher trophic level than spotted ones in areas of high population density closed to recreational fishing, whereas differences did not exist or were reversed in areas open to fishing. These results demonstrate that the pattern of trophic resource partitioning between 2 morphs of the ballan wrasse is density dependent and that plain and spotted ballan wrasses likely had different ecological niches in pristine ecosystems.

Using community science data to investigate urban Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

ABSTRACT Coyote activity was investigated in Atlanta, Georgia from 2015 to 2018 using publicly collected data. More than 500 reports were received annually (1,672 total) and analysis revealed bias toward areas of higher income and education. Human-coyote encounters, defined as an interaction at close range, were rare (196; 12% of observations), but 124 of those reports (63%) indicated the presence of pets nearby. Coyotes were less likely to be observed in areas of high human population density, farmland, and managed clearing, and more likely to be seen in riparian wetlands and areas of low-density development (e.g., parks, golf courses, large-lot homes). Coyote sightings are now relatively common in Atlanta and their presence is generally benign. However, negative coyote interactions do occur and pets should be kept under close supervision and coyote access to anthropogenic food resources prevented. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using community science to understand urban coyotes.

Anonymised and aggregated crowd level mobility data from mobile phones suggests that initial compliance with COVID-19 social distancing interventions was high and geographically consistent across the UK

Background: Since early March 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic across the United Kingdom has led to a range of social distancing policies, which have resulted in reduced mobility across different regions. Crowd level data on mobile phone usage can be used as a proxy for actual population mobility patterns and provide a way of quantifying the impact of social distancing measures on changes in mobility. Methods: Here, we use two mobile phone-based datasets (anonymised and aggregated crowd level data from O2 and from the Facebook app on mobile phones) to assess changes in average mobility, both overall and broken down into high and low population density areas, and changes in the distribution of journey lengths. Results: We show that there was a substantial overall reduction in mobility, with the most rapid decline on the 24th March 2020, the day after the Prime Minister’s announcement of an enforced lockdown. The reduction in mobility was highly synchronized across the UK. Although mobility has remained low since 26th March 2020, we detect a gradual increase since that time. We also show that the two different datasets produce similar trends, albeit with some location-specific differences. We see slightly larger reductions in average mobility in high-density areas than in low-density areas, with greater variation in mobility in the high-density areas: some high-density areas eliminated almost all mobility. Conclusions: These analyses form a baseline from which to observe changes in behaviour in the UK as social distancing is eased and inform policy towards the future control of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK.

Does Green Space Really Matter for Residents' Obesity? A New Perspective From Baidu Street View.

Despite a growing literature on the topic, the association between neighborhood greenness and body weight is inconsistent. The objective of this research is to examine the association between neighborhood greenness and residents' obesity levels in a high population density area. We accounted for three greenness features: green access, green exposure, and view-based green index. We used the novel technique of deep convolutional neural network architecture to extract eye-level information from Baidu Street View images to capture the urban vertical greenness level. The research involved a survey with 9,524 respondents from 40 communities in Shanghai. Generally, we found all aspects of horizontal greenery, vertical greenery, and proximity of green levels to be impactful on body weight; however, only the view-based green index consistently had an adverse effect on weight and obesity.

Microplastics Contamination in a High Population Density Area of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok

Microplastics (MPs) are distributed globally, including in aquatic environments. While a large number of studies on MPs in marine environments have been performed, few studies are available in freshwater environments. Therefore, the distribution of MPs in surface water and sediment from the Chao Phraya River at Tha Prachan, a high population density area of Bangkok, was investigated. Water samples were collected by a manta trawl with a net mesh size of 300 mm. Sediment samples were collected by a Van Veen grab sampler. The total number and concentration of MPs in the water samples were found to be 104 particles/m 3 and 805.20 mg/m 3 , respectively. The dominant MPs were fragments, 0.5 to 1.0 mm in size, for the water samples. In the sediment, MPs were detected only in a size range of 0.053 to 0.5 mm with a total number and concentration of 2,290 particles/kg and 650 mg/kg, respectively. The presence of different types of MPs was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with a dominant abundance of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. In brief, this study suggests that high levels of MPs occur not only in the water but also in the sediment of the Chao Phraya River at Tha Prachan area.

Anonymised and aggregated crowd level mobility data from mobile phones suggests that initial compliance with COVID-19 social distancing interventions was high and geographically consistent across the UK.

Background: Since early March 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic across the United Kingdom has led to a range of social distancing policies, which have resulted in reduced mobility across different regions. Crowd level data on mobile phone usage can be used as a proxy for actual population mobility patterns and provide a way of quantifying the impact of social distancing measures on changes in mobility. Methods: Here, we use two mobile phone-based datasets (anonymised and aggregated crowd level data from O2 and from the Facebook app on mobile phones) to assess changes in average mobility, both overall and broken down into high and low population density areas, and changes in the distribution of journey lengths. Results: We show that there was a substantial overall reduction in mobility, with the most rapid decline on the 24th March 2020, the day after the Prime Minister's announcement of an enforced lockdown. The reduction in mobility was highly synchronized across the UK. Although mobility has remained low since 26th March 2020, we detect a gradual increase since that time. We also show that the two different datasets produce similar trends, albeit with some location-specific differences. We see slightly larger reductions in average mobility in high-density areas than in low-density areas, with greater variation in mobility in the high-density areas: some high-density areas eliminated almost all mobility. Conclusions: These analyses form a baseline from which to observe changes in behaviour in the UK as social distancing is eased and inform policy towards the future control of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK.

Chronic urban hotspots and agricultural drainage drive microbial pollution of karst water resources in rural developing regions

Contamination of surface and groundwater systems with human and animal faecal matter leads to exposure of reliant populations to disease causing micro-organisms. This exposure route remains a major cause of infection and mortality in developing countries, particularly rural regions. To meet the UN's sustainable development goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, we need to identify the key controls on faecal contamination across relevant settings. We conducted a high-resolution spatial study of E. coli concentration in catchment drainage waters over 6 months in a mixed land-use catchment in the extensive karst region extending across impoverished southwest China. Using a mixed effects modelling framework, we tested how land-use, karst hydrology, antecedent meteorological conditions, agricultural cycles, hydrochemistry, and position in the catchment system affected E. coli concentrations. Land-use was the best predictor of faecal contamination levels. Sites in urban areas were chronically highly contaminated, but water draining from agricultural land was also consistently contaminated and there was a catchment wide pulse of higher E. coli concentrations, turbidity, and discharge during paddy field drainage. E. coli concentration increased with increasing antecedent rainfall across all land-use types and compartments of the karst hydrological system (underground and surface waters), but decreased with increasing pH. This is interpreted to be a result of processes affecting pH, such as water residence time, rather than the direct effect of pH on E. coli survival. Improved containment and treatment of human waste in areas of higher population density would likely reduce contamination hotspots, and further research is needed to identify the nature and distribution of sources in agricultural land.