Municipal Databases Research Articles

Skin autofluorescence and cause-specific mortality in a population-based cohort

We aimed to assess the association of SAF with cardiovascular mortality in the general population and the possible association between SAF with other disease-specific mortality rates. We evaluated 77,143 participants without known diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The cause of death was ascertained by the municipality database. The associations between SAF and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cancer mortality were assessed with Cox proportional hazard analysis.After a median follow-up of 115 months, 1447 participants were deceased (1.9%). SAF and age-adjusted SAF-z score were higher in all mortality groups. Cox regression analysis revealed that the highest quartile of SAF was associated with increased odds of cardiovascular mortality, (HR) 12.6 (7.3–21.7) and after adjusting for age (HR 1.8 (1.0–3.2)). Significance was lost after additional adjustments for sex, smoking status, and BMI (HR 1.4 (0.8–2.5). For cancer-related mortality the highest quartile of SAF was associated with higher probability of mortality in all models (unadjusted HR 8.6 (6.6–11.3), adjusted for age HR 2.1 (1.6–2.8)), adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, and BMI HR 1.7 (1.3–2.4)). SAF is associated with all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality in the general population.

Algorithm of allocation of agricultural land occupied by winter crops

In Russia, many lands legally classified as agricultural land are abandoned. We propose an algorithm for the allocation of agricultural land with winter crops based on the dynamics of normalized relative vegetation index (NDVI) which were verified on the example of the Rostov region, a major producer of agricultural products in Russia. Cereals in Rostov region cover about 70% of the sown areas, most of them are winter wheat. A series of MODIS satellite data for the period March-August 2020 were used for calculations. Crop yields were taken from the Database of Rostov Region Municipalities. NDVI index for the territory of the Rostov region had lowest average value in March, maximum in May with a decrease by August. Pixels with high difference in NDVI values from March to August 2020, were considered agricultural fields. Pixels with NDVI index in range 0.2 - 0.5 in March and April were identified as winter cereal crops. A statistically significant linear relationship with a correlation coefficient of 0.57 between winter wheat yield values according to national statistical data for districts of Rostov region for 2020 and average NDVI values for districts for selected fields occupied by winter wheat in this period was obtained.

Notification of Self-inflicted Injuries in the Caparaó Capixaba Region: Suicide Prevention Interfaces

Abstract Background: Complex by nature and with a wide social impact, the suicide spectrum includes fatal and non-fatal behaviors and a series of terminologies related to them. In Brazil, the epidemiological surveillance system adopts the term self-inflicted injury for cases of self-inflicted violence, registering them in the National Disease Notification System (NDNS). Information systems must be continuously evaluated in order to verify the quality of their operability. Objective: to evaluate the quality, according to the attributes of completeness and duplicity of self-harm records on NDNS from 2011 to 2019, in the region of Caparaó Capixaba-ES-Brazil. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data on self-harm obtained from NDNS, covering the municipalities of the Caparaó Capixaba region from 2011 to 2019. The data were exported from the NDNS municipal databases and analyzed in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 for Windows. The results were presented in the form of percentage averages and classified according to the parameters adopted. Results: No duplicates were identified in the analyzed records. Regarding completeness, an average of 18.34% of variables remained incomplete during the period from 2011 to 2014. There was an improvement in the subsequent period from 2015 to 2019, with a reduction to 12.35% of incomplete entries. Conclusions: Over the period from 2011 to 2019, there was a proportional percentage variation of 4500% in the number of cases registered for self-inflicted injuries in the region. Duplicity indicated adequate performance; however, despite the increase in the completeness rate, the averages remained classified as regular. Keywords: Suicide Attempt, Suicide, Health Information Systems, Epidemiological Monitoring

A back analysis scheme for refined soil stratification based on integrating borehole and CPT data

Utilizing both borehole and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data in soil stratification helps to get more convincing soil stratification results. However, the soil classification results revealed by borehole (Unified Soil Classification System, USCS) and CPT tests (soil behavior type, SBT) are commonly not consistent. This study proposes a feasible solution to integrate the borehole and CPT data with the tree-based method. The tree-based method is naturally suitable for soil stratification tasks as it aims to divide the subsurface space into several clusters based on the similarities of the soil types. A novel boundary dictionary method is proposed to enhance the model performance on complex soil layer conditions. A probabilistic mapping matrix between the USCS-SBT system is built based on a collected municipal database with collocated borehole and CPT data. The optimal soil stratification results can be selected based on considering multiple borehole information and pruning the structure of trees. The structure of the trees can be optimized in a back analysis perspective with the Sequential Model-Based Global Optimization (SMBO) algorithm which aims to maximize the possibility of observing the borehole information based on the USCS-SBT probabilistic mapping matrix. The uncertainties of the optimal soil stratification results can be estimated based on a weighted Gini index method. The performance of the proposed method is validated based on a real case in New Zealand with a cross-validation method. The results indicate that the proposed method is robust and effective.

Open Data and machine learning in the service of complementing municipal GIS inventory

Abstract. In this study the authors investigated the possibilities to use open data and open software complemented with machine learning to enhance the content of municipal databases. In the study area in Székesfehérvár, a GIS system is used with approximately with 30 modules, although many are still missing. The authors prepared examine the easiest and most affordable methods to extract data to use in two future modules: Parking and Traffic Engineering module. In parking model along field survey, they used QGIS and OpenStreetMap, in the other module they used Google StreetView for defining the places of traffic signs and used machine learning to define the signposts. They found that the accuracy of creating the parking module is based on the completeness of the database and the field measurement method, in case of the Traffic Engineering method the up-to-dateness and completeness of the original data source (Google Street View) and the number of teaching samples influence the results.

Quick participatory estimation: a necessary tool for planning in a family health strategy

Introduction: Participatory Rapid Estimation (PRE) is a tool that allows us to know the real needs of the population, as well as to experience the health situation. In addition, it makes it possible to identify and seek the necessary changes in the work processes of the territory to face problems. Objective: To obtain a situational diagnosis of the area covered by the family health strategy based on the ERP. Methodology: The information for the ERP was collected by filling out a questionnaire answered by users and health staff with questions about the community, health problems and the functioning of health services, including access and work process. Secondary sociodemographic data from the municipal database and the Ministry of Health's e-SUS medical record were also analyzed. The systematization of the data supported the elaboration of the situational strategic planning (PES). Results and Discussion: Several weaknesses were found, such as the geography of the area being predominated by hills, pointed out as a limiting factor to access to the ESF, the increase in the incidence of mental disorders in adolescents and the significant increase in users with NCDs and neoplasms in adults and the elderly, including the distribution of age groups in the territory signaling a reality not found nationally, as it presents an inverse pyramid showing that most of our users are elderly and adults. In addition to difficulties in the work process, there was also a lack of information on gender and sexual orientation issues for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other (LGBTQIA+) population, which should be questioned during user registration. Knowing that the lack of data collection implies the estimation of this population in the face of public policies, it is necessary to overcome this flaw through permanent education with CHWs. The social vulnerabilities of the community are notorious (unemployment, food quality and access to medications outside the SUS). Final Considerations: Based on the ERP, we recognized the territory's coverage area, as well as identified organizational problems, user access and actions that can be enhanced in the ESF's area of activity.

Проблемы и перспективы устойчивого развития арктических локальных экономик: пример Шурышкарского района

The strategic geopolitical importance of the Arctic and its environmental vulnerability require special attention to the sustainability of the Arctic local economies. In this study, we have proposed a system of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and indicators, adapted for the Arctic local economy. The testing of the proposed methodology on the example of Shuryshkarskiy district (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia) allowed analyzing the problems and prospects of development of the local economy in the context of SDGs. The analysis reveals a significant gap between the current state, transformation trends of the Shuryshkarskiy district and the required state, the vector of its sustainable development, in accord-ance with the SDGs and the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation. The proposed analytical methodology has high potential for the analysis of problems and prospects for the sustainable development of Arctic local economies. However, the system of local SDGs and indicators, the data collection system and the structure of municipal databases and municipal management processes require their correlation and integration.

Use of One-Stage Detector and Feature Detector in Infrared Video on Transport Infrastructure and Tunnels

This article presents the use of the combination of the object detection method and feature detector in an infrared video on traffic infrastructure and in tunnels. The theme of the paper is the validation of vehicle detection and its classification using infrared video streams. In addition, the article focuses on the use of a feature detector and object detection to distinguish between vehicles with electric and combustion motors. The method suggests the use of a low-resolution thermal camera as an inexpensive extension of installed thermal camera technologies. The developed system has been verified for the applicability of vehicle detection and classification using object detection methods and their application in transport infrastructure and tunnels. It also presents a method for distinguishing propulsion units into electric and internal combustion; both systems’ conclusions are then statistically verified. The application of the system is evident in regional traffic management systems, including safety applications for traffic control in tunnels. Categorizing vehicles provides valuable information for higher levels of traffic management, toll systems, and municipal database systems, as well as for a preventive system for estimating vehicle conditions and their potential of fire in tunnels.

ПАСПОРТ МУНИЦИПАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ В ИНФОРМИРОВАНИИ О ТЕРРИТОРИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ХАКАСИЯ)

The article examines the passport of the municipality as a comprehensive source of data on various characteristics of the territory. The purpose of the article is to analyze the opportunities and problems of using the socio-economic passport of the municipality as a comprehensive source of information for different groups of users interested in the territory. The study of passports of municipalities of the Republic of Khakassia has been carried out. To source the information we used official websites of municipalities of the Republic of Khakassia and the database of municipalities of Rosstat. The data of passports of municipalities were compared with the data of official statistical information. We have analyzed the passports' indicators for their sufficiency to characterize the natural, industrial, financial, human, social and infrastructural capital of the territory. The conclusion is made that the existing system of passports of municipalities does not solve the problem of informing the interested users about the territory. It is proposed to develop a new approach to the formation of territorial reporting, based on the principles of integrated reporting.

Spatial interdependence in cost efficiency and local government optimal size: The case of Italian municipalities

This study provides an original approach to empirically determine the optimal size of municipalities for efficient social service delivery in Italy, accounting for spatial spillover effects across municipalities as well as endogeneity between the output provided and its cost. A highly disaggregated and up-to-date database of Italian municipalities is used to estimate, through endogenous spatial frontier of Kutlu et al. (2020), the minimum costs. In municipalities with population ranging from 2000 to 3500 economies of scale in social service provision emerge, exhibiting cost-optimality. This outcome is completely ignored in some Regional government where financing criteria are based on historical, non-public, and ex-post repayment criteria.

Effectiveness of a Third Dose of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine During the Omicron BA.1- and BA.2-Predominant Periods in Japan: The VENUS Study.

Vaccine effectiveness against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron BA.2 sublineage in Japan is unknown. We assessed the effectiveness of a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine compared with that of 2 doses. We performed a population-based cohort study using a municipality database located in the Chubu region of Japan during the Omicron BA.1- and BA.2-predominant periods (January 1-March 31, 2022 and April 1-27, 2022, respectively). We included residents aged ≥16 years who received a second vaccine dose at ≥14 days before the start of each period, regardless of the third dose. We compared the data at 14 days after the second and third dose and at 2-week intervals from 14 days to 10 weeks after the third dose using a Cox regression model. Vaccine effectiveness was defined as (1 - hazard ratio) × 100 (%). In total, 295 705 and 288 184 individuals were included in the BA.1- and BA.2-predominant periods, respectively. The effectiveness of a third dose against infection was 62.4% and 48.1% in the BA.1- and BA.2-predominant periods, respectively. Vaccine effectiveness at 2-3 weeks and ≥10 weeks after the third dose decreased from 63.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.4-69.5%) to 52.9% (95% CI, 41.1-62.3%) and from 54.5% (95% CI, 3.0-78.7%) to 40.1% (95% CI, 15.1-57.7%) in the BA.1- and BA.2-predominant periods, respectively. A third dose was moderately effective against BA.1 and BA.2 sublineages, but its effectiveness decreased by approximately 10% age points from 2-3 weeks to ≥10 weeks after the third vaccination.

Traffic Planning as a Preliminary Tool in Project Documentation for BIM

The paper presents a view on the possibilities of using big data in traffic planning and traffic engineering, which are used in the urban and spatial planning of cities. The question is whether the method of this design activity—especially in feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, or documentation for land-use decisions—can be part of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The result of this engineering activity could at the same time be linked to the documentation for building permits, where a number of professional civil engineers are already making full use of the BIM management system. The problem of traffic engineering and traffic planning is related to the need for extensive data, which are usually not available and, if they are, are from different database sources. Very often, however, engineers have to carry these tasks out with traffic surveys. Most often, these data are from transport centres, or from spatial databases of Geographical Information System (GIS) of cities or regions. In addition, in developed cities, detailed data from specialised strategic materials are available from municipal databases at various levels, in addition to the land-use plan that is the guarantor of the city’s development. Based on empirical experience from the creation of the new city centre of Bratislava, the authors present, from more than six years of engineering activity, what different data traffic engineers and planners need, which can be processed and unified to be part of the management system in the future and, thus, assist in the development of linear construction using BIM tools.

Factors influencing the structure of municipal taxation. Special reference to political corruption

ABSTRACT There are few studies that relate tax revenues to corruption at the municipal level due to their great complexity and the difficulty in obtaining data. Continuing the research we started years ago, the main objective of this article is to analyse whether municipal political corruption influences some or all tax revenues. A panel database of all Spanish municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants is compiled for the period 2002–2013. The most outstanding result is that municipalities with cases of corruption obtained higher revenues in construction-related taxes than those where there have been no political corruption cases, which shows the close relationship between this sector of economic activity and political corruption.

Развитие муниципальных округов Санкт-Петербурга за последнее десятилетие: экономический и пространственный анализ

The article analyses economic and spatial indicators to produce a typology of the economic development levels of St Petersburg municipal districts. To normalise the city’s development, it is vital to understand which territories have contributed more to the process and which have inhibited it. It is also essential to analyse the principal economic indicators of each municipal district and assess transport accessibility, street activity and transit. The study demonstrates the connection between the economy and space, which gives the answer to the question about the causes of economic growth. An economic analysis of the districts is carried out by ranking ten leading indicators obtained from the municipal databases and geoinformation services, whilst a spatial analysis is performed based on testing the Space Syntax methodology. The study made it possible to describe the city’s spatial development, improve the methodology and provide recommendations for municipal administrators. The findings will enhance strategic urban planning in St Petersburg.

Стратегическое планирование развития туризма на локальном уровне: Кобяйский улус Республики Саха (Якутия)

The article presents an analysis of debt situation in 189 urban districts of Russia with a population of more than 100 thousand people and factors determining the differences in the debt situation between them. The study was conducted using indicators on the volume and structure of municipal debt contained on the official websites of local administrations, as well as information on revenues and expenditures of local budgets from the Database of Municipalities of Federal State Statistics Service. The results showed that the debt burden is higher in urban districts with larger population: the worst debt situation is typical for billion-cities and other major regional centers. At the same time, there is no obvious dependence of debt indicators on the fiscal situation and the level of economic development – it is disrupted by the impact of other institutional conditions, including specifics of federal and regional budget policy, social assistance of located large businesses and other reasons. Analysis of objectives of municipal loan has shown that only in very rare cases the debt is taken by urban districts with population over 100 000 for the implementation of urban development projects. The municipal bond market, which is widely developed abroad, as well as other new mechanisms for reducing the debt burden of municipalities in Russia are not developing. All stated conclusions form a negative forecast of the budgetary situation in the largest centers for the coming years and once again proves the urgent need to revise the fiscal policy and the system of distribution of powers at the local level in the country.

LOCAL PUBLIC POLICIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE (CC) ADAPTATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO RECÔNCAVO TERRITORY, BRAZIL / POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS LOCAIS PARA ADAPTAÇÃO ÀS MUDANÇAS CLIMÁTICAS (MC): DESAFIOS E OPORTUNIDADES AO TERRITÓRIO DO RECÔNCAVO, BRASIL

Adapting to climate change is a challenge in both global and local levels. The goal of this study was evaluating the existing challenges and opportunities in the climate adaptation context to the Recôncavo Identity Territory. The methodology adopted bibliographical research and data analysis of IBGE database. Afterward, a SWOT matrix was elaborated. The strong points found were communication by radio and TV, and the initiatives of prevention against climate problems in the livestock sector. However, among weak points to be overcome, lack of municipal database stands out and also low articulation among municipal departments in the development of institutional actions. These and other aspects are pointed out in this study, evidencing insights for a better governamental planning to deal with climate change impacts in Recôncavo Territory.

Increasing functional diversity of the urban canopy for climate resilience: Potential tradeoffs with ecosystem services?

Cities are home to an increasing number of people who depend on urban forests to provide ecosystem services such as temperature regulation, air quality improvement and storm water abatement. Climate change may challenge the capacity of urban forests to provide these services. Intensification of heat waves, droughts and strengthening storms could lead to tree die-offs. In Quebec City, work has suggested that the urban canopy is vulnerable to future projected climates, i.e. hotter and drier summers. Compounding this threat, the exotic emerald ash borer is expected to kill 11 % of municipal trees over the next decade. Together these pressures could lead to a significant loss of canopy cover and ecosystem service provisioning in the near-term.We test whether replanting strategies for lost ash, which shift the forest community towards a more climate-tolerant canopy using a functional trait-based approach, can help to mitigate or improve ecosystem service provisioning in the near-term. Using a municipal database of urban trees, we simulate canopy growth and replacement over 20-years for three different replanting scenarios: i) ‘business-as-usual’, ii) ‘stratified’ or iii) ‘conifer-focused’ replanting strategy, and compare their delivery of ecosystem services.Results from the simulations find clear trade-offs in ecosystem service provisioning within and between replanting approaches. The ‘conifer-focused’ scenario provides the highest level of air quality improvement, storm water abatement and reduced energy demands in winter, however there are limitations on where coniferous trees can be planted in cities. In contrast, the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario achieved greater canopy cover, carbon sequestration, and high summertime cooling, but remains vulnerable to climate change. Stratifying replanting across tree functional groups results in the greatest increase to canopy diversity, intermediate levels of ecosystem service provisioning and important reduction in vulnerability to future pests . We suggest that a replanting approach focused on increasing the functional trait diversity of the urban canopy will likely confer the greatest ecosystem service benefits to the urban population and improve the resilience of the urban canopy to pests and climate pressures in the future.

Role of municipal database in constructing site-specific multivariate probability distribution

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the quasi-site-specific model established based on a municipal or regional database can be more effective in supporting site-specific predictions than one based on a global database. To do this, a Bayesian updating approach that combines site-specific data and a municipal database under realistic MUSIC (Multivariate, Uncertain and Unique, Sparse, and InComplete) attributes for the site data is adopted. This approach assumes that the site data and the municipal database follow the same distribution, which can be partially verified using standard correlation plots. The quasi-site-specific model can then be adopted to make site-specific predictions for the relevant design properties. Because real soil data follow MUSIC attributes, this Bayesian updating is only feasible in the presence of a probability distribution construction method that can handle such data. A real case study for Shanghai shows that a municipal database is more effective in supporting site-specific predictions than a global database. In contrast, another real case study shows that a regional database that covers multiple countries in the Scandinavian region is not necessarily more effective than a global database.

Adults\u2019 dental treatment in 2001\u20132013 in Finnish public dental service

BackgroundAll adults over 17 years of age have access to the Public Dental Service after the Finnish Dental Care Reform in 2001–2002. This study aimed to survey the treatment needs and treatment measures provided for adult patients and changes in these during the period 2001–2013.MethodsSing each person’s unique identifier, demographic data on dental visits during the period 2001–2013 were collected from municipal databases in five PDS-units covering 320,000 inhabitants. The numbers of visitors, those in need of basic periodontal or caries treatment (CPI > 2 and D + d > 0) were calculated for three age groups. Treatment provided was also calculated in 13 treatment categories. Trend analyses were performed to study changes during the study period.ResultsRestorative treatments (968,772; 23.6%), examinations (658,394; 16.1%), radiographs taken (529,875; 12.9%) anaesthesia used (521,169; 12.7%) and emergency treatments (348,229; 8.5%) made up 73.8% of all treatment measures during the entire study period. Periodontal treatment (7.8%) and caries prevention (3.9%) made up a small part of the care provided and prosthetics and treatment of TMJ disorders were extremely uncommon (fewer than 1%). Treatments related to caries (restorative treatment, examinations, endodontics, emergencies, anaesthesia and radiographs) made up 60.4% of the dental personnel’s treatment time. During the study period, statistically significant increasing trends were found for radiographs (p < 0.001***), anaesthesia (p = 0.003**) and total number of treatments (p = 0.009**). There was a slight decreasing trend in treatment need among the youngest adults (18–39 years; p = 0.033*).ConclusionCompared with the results of national epidemiological studies, insufficient periodontal treatment is provided and prosthetic treatment is almost totally neglected in the PDS. Rather, adults’ dental treatment concentrates on treatment of caries. The unmet needs may be due to tradition, inadequate treatment processes or a lack of resources or failed salary incentives.

ЭЛЕКТОРАЛЬНАЯ ЛОЯЛЬНОСТЬ И КАЧЕСТВО ПРЕДОСТАВЛЕНИЯ УСЛУГ В РОССИЙСКИХ МУНИЦИПАЛИТЕТАХ

Local self-government in Russia has undergone a number of transformations - from spontaneous decentralization in the 1990s until the stage-by-stage integration into the state vertical system from 2003-2006. Despite the de facto loss of political and, partly, administrative autonomy, we see a huge diversity in the quality of governance and provision of public goods at the local level. Based on the Database of Municipalities' Characteristics (DMC) of Rosstat from 2008 to 2017 and data from the Central Election Commission (CEC of the Russian Federation), the article presents indices of the quality of the provision of public goods and analyzes the relationship with the Duma voting in 2016 and the budgetary autonomy of the municipality. Despite the continuing centralization of government, researchers still observe an impressive variation in both the formats of political competition and administrative practices in the regions, especially at the local level. The results of the analysis point to a number of patterns: 1. There is no strong link between budget independence and the quality of management; 2. Securing votes does not lead to the attraction of additional resources to the field and may even divert scarce funds and the human resources to technically support this loyalty.