Residential Areas Research Articles

Assessing Corruption in Times of Crisis: Empirical Evidence from Greece

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Cambria',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The goal of this paper is to provide an overall presentation of corruption as occupational fraud building on the findings of an empirical study conducted in Greece. As uncertainty leads to increased levels of corruption, Greece was chosen due to the prolonged period of uncertainty the county faces, caused by the 2010 financial crisis and followed by the Covid pandemic crisis. 400 questionnaires reviewing corruption perception were gathered and analyzed by gender, age, marital status, education level, position, occupation, and monthly income, as well as urban vs rural area of residence. The findings of the study were compared with and critically evaluated against those of the previous studies for Greece. Respondents in age group 36-49 believe that if appropriate measures are taken it is possible to tackle corruption in the public sector, in contrast to people aged 18-35 who disagree completely. Residents of rural areas do not consider corruption to be a serious problem and are more willing to whistleblowing (in contrast to residents of urban areas). The study findings have important practical implications in the context of designing effective corruption reduction policies.</span></p>

Shamanism with a drum among the Khanty of the Surgut Ob River region in the beginning of the 21st century

The area of this research is confined to the Surgut Ob River region and includes the western and central areas of residence of the Eastern Khanty. The purpose of this work is to summarize and analyse information about the current state of shamanism with a tambourine among the Surgut Khanty. The main sources for the study were the author's field materials collected in 2002–2017 in the regions along the rivers of Lyamin, Pim, Tromyegan, Agan, Bolshoy and Maly Yugan. The uniqueness of the situation among the Surgut Khanty lies in the fact that the tradi-tional rituals, which received a second wind in the 1990s in the wake of the actualization of ethnicity, in fact, were not interrupted. Among the traditional rites of the region, shamanism with a tambourine is one of the little-studied aspects of their spiritual culture. The article characterizes the current state of shamanic rituals with a tambourine, indicates the area of distribution of these practices, considers examples of making a tambourine and the formation of a sha-manic gift, makes a description of the formal side and indicates the presently recorded occasions for the ritual. The differences between shamanism with a tambourine among the Khanty of the right bank and the left bank of the Ob River are revealed, and some aspects of shamanism are compared with those of the neighbouring ethnic groups.

OPTIMALISASI BUFFER ZONE SEBAGAI PENGAMAN PERMUKIMAN DI SEKITAR DEPO TANGKI BAHAN BAKAR MINYAK PT. PERTAMINA PLUMPANG, JAKARTA

The fuel storage tanks in Plumpang, North Jakarta, owned by PT. Pertamina Tbk. initially had a land area of ​​153 hectares, with the use of 71 hectares as an operational area and the rest as a buffer zone. However, the buffer zone changed its function to a residential area as a place of residence and economic activities for the community which became increasingly dense accompanied by issues of land ownership status. The Plumpang fuel storage tanks fire incident that occurred several times which caused loss of life and property, is a reminder of the importance of a buffer zone that serves as a separating space between areas at risk of flammable material disasters and residential areas. This paper is the result of research on the analysis of the optimization of land requirements for the Plumpang fuel storage tanks buffer zone, by applying quantitative descriptive methods and spatial mapping of the area using Arcgis software, with reference to fuel depot safety standards. It requires the acquisition of 5.2 hectares of land as a buffer zone area in the form of a safe distance from the safety fence wall, construction of a ditch that functions as an accident pool, and re-arrangement of settlements directly adjacent to the buffer zone.

Post-COVID-19 Trends in Dental Emergencies: A Two-Year Retrospective Study from Romania

Background/Objectives: Dental emergencies significantly impact public oral health, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context. This study aimed to analyze the patterns of dental emergencies presenting to the Emergency Dental Service in Bihor, Romania, during the years 2022 and 2023, focusing on demographic characteristics and the frequency of diagnoses. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records from the Emergency Dental Service at Oradea County Emergency Clinical Hospital was conducted. Inclusion criteria encompassed patients presenting with dental emergencies during the specified period. Data regarding demographics, diagnoses, and living environments were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 4769 patients were analyzed, with acute pulpitis (39.2%, n = 1869) and acute apical periodontitis (37.5%, n = 1788) identified as the most common diagnoses. The study population included 52.3% males and 47.7% females, with a larger proportion residing in urban areas (58.0%) compared with rural areas (42.0%). Significant age-related patterns were evident: pulpitis was more common among patients aged 10–39 years, trauma was associated with patients aged 0–9 years, and gingival infections were prevalent in the 70–79 age group. Diagnoses also varied by dentition type, with abscesses, caries, trauma, and rhizolysis occurring more frequently in deciduous teeth, while pulpitis and post-extraction alveolitis were predominant in permanent teeth. However, no statistically significant differences were found in diagnosis frequency between genders or between rural and urban patients, indicating equitable access to emergency services across environments. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in pediatric populations to address early childhood caries, which remains a significant burden. Enhanced public health strategies and preventive education are essential to mitigate the prevalence of dental emergencies, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Build the New City as Fast as Possible”: Speculation as Subsistence in Peri‐Urban Myanmar

AbstractThis article examines an ambitious plan to construct a built‐from‐scratch new city outside Yangon, Myanmar and sheds light on the contradictory responses sparked by rapid urban expansion. Despite fears that this megaproject would threaten the region's way of life, hopes for the new city's construction remained high throughout the project's early phases. Residents of areas targeted for development went so far as to publicly demand the city be built “as fast as possible”. In this article, I highlight the gap between residents’ pro‐project enthusiasm and the expectations of civil society activists and development actors, who predicted locals would reject the planned new city. I argue that this divergence exposes the perceived limitations of solutions held out for populations facing de‐agrarianisation. Equally, it refocuses attention on how project‐affected populations envision their own post‐agrarian future. In doing so, I demonstrate how and why speculation on peri‐urban land has emerged as a compelling mode of subsistence for even the poor among the region's landowning class.

Causes and Effects of Psychoactive Substance Abuse Among the Youth in Zimbabwe: The Case of Makokoba High Density Suburb, Bulawayo

Psychoactive substance abuse has become a pandemic in most parts of the globe. This study sought to assess the contributory factors and impacts of psychoactive substance abuse among the youth in Makokoba—a high-density residential area in Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo. A mixed methods research design was used on a sample of 122 respondents who were invited to participate in the study. Data were gathered using questionnaires and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to analyse quantitative data, while the qualitative component was analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed peer pressure, broken homes, poor parental care, and poverty as the main causes of psychoactive substance abuse among the youth. Development of health problems, violent behaviour, disrespect for the elderly, and teenage pregnancies were considered as the major effects of psychoactive substance abuse. Given the roles that peer pressure and the family environment played in psychoactive substance abuse among the youth, the study recommends family and community-based measures. Close monitoring at the family level in educational and religious institutions as well as socio-economic development are the key prescriptive measures recommended by this study.

ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION OF ADOLESCENTS IN RELATION TO ACADEMIC SATISFACTION

The main objectives of the study were, to assess the academic procrastination and academic satisfaction of adolescents and to examine if there exists any significant difference in the mean score of academic procrastination and academic satisfaction of adolescents on the basis of gender, locale of school, residential area, educational qualification of parents and type of school. For this study, the Normative-survey method was followed. Academic Procrastination scale and Academic satisfaction scale were used to collect the data for this study. The researcher used Simple Random Sampling Technique for the selection of the sample. The sample consisted of 801 higher secondary students. The appropriate statistical techniques were employed to analyze the data. The main findings show that the academic procrastination of adolescents is high and the academic satisfaction of adolescents is low.

Monitoring Air Quality in Bhopal: A Comparative Study of Pollutant Levels at Hamidia Road Chowk and T.T. Nagar in 2022

Urban air pollution is a growing environmental and health challenge in developing countries, driven by industrialization, enlargement of vehicular traffic, and population density. This study focuses on two distinct monitoring sites in Bhopal, India: Hamidia Road Chowk, characterized by high traffic density, and T.T. Nagar, a densely populated residential area. Monthly data for 2022 on key pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and heavy metals, were analysed to define seasonal variations and conformity with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Findings indicate higher pollutant concentrations in the winter and early summer, correlating with atmospheric conditions and enlargement emissions during these periods. Notably, pollutant levels frequently exceeded NAAQS limits, posing significant health risks to urban populations. The results underscore the significance of continuous air property monitoring and the implementation of targeted emission control measures, especially in high-traffic and densely populated areas. This study contributes to the perception of air pollution dynamics in rapidly urbanizing cities and provides a foundation for informed policy-making to improve urban air quality.

Analysis of Waste Management at TPS Perumnas Mandala, Kec. Percut Sei Tuan

Indonesia is a country with a very large population and the trend continues to increase. The North Sumatra region produces the 7th largest volume of waste in Indonesia, with around 882,033 thousand tons of waste generated. Perumnas Mandala is one of the areas in the city of Medan that has a dense population, where the temporary disposal site (TPS) is not far from residential areas. So the problem of waste management arose at the Perumnas Mandala waste landfill, Percut Sei Tuan district. The aim of this research is to determine waste management at TPS Perumnas Mandala Kec.Sei Tuan. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive research type. The population in this study were all residents around Perumnas Mandala. The samples in this study were informants, namely the head of waste officers at the Perumnas Mandala TPS, 2 waste officers at the Perumnas Mandala TPS, and several residents around the Perumnas Mandala TPS, namely around 5 communities around the Perumnas Mandala TPS, using a purposive sampling technique. The research results show that waste management at TPS is still not good due to several factors such as lack of waste transportation facilities, lack of waste officers in managing waste at TPS, lack of community habits in sorting types of waste, limited trucks and trucks that are damaged so they stop working. operating waste transportation for 4 months, this has caused the volume of waste to increase at the TPS. The conclusion of this research is that waste management at the Perumnas Mandala TPS is not optimal, it is recommended that the government and the private sector improve facilities and infrastructure as well as collaborate with the community in managing waste well.

KUALITAS RUANG TERBUKA HIJAU (RTH) PRIVAT PADA RUMAH TINGGAL DI DESA PEGUYANGAN KANGIN DITINJAU DARI SEGI EKOLOGIS

Population growth results in increasing demand for residential space and built-up land. This will have an impact on the environment, namely reducing the quality of green open spaces in carrying out ecological functions. As happened in Denpasar City, one of which is in the North Denpasar area. The availability of green open space in Denpasar City is dominated by private green open spaces originating from residential areas, namely residential yards. However, as in the Peguyangan Kangin Village Area, even though it is dominated by residential areas where land use is privately owned, the provision of private open space is actually very minimal. It is feared that this dynamic will have a negative impact on the surrounding environment in the future. Therefore, it is important to carry out this research with the aim of analyzing the quality of private green open space in terms of its ecological function and the availability of private green open space in the Peguyangan Kangin Village area. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The object of research will focus on private green open space in residential yards in Peguyangan Kangin Village. The research results show that in general the quality of private green open space in residential yards in the Peguyangan Kangin area is not optimal, both in terms of area and vegetation in carrying out ecological functions. The research results also show that there are several factors that influence the quality of private green open space, one of the most dominant of which is land availability.

POTENSI CULTURAL LANDSCAPE UNTUK PENGEMBANGAN ATRAKSI WISATA DI DESA BONGKASA PERTIWI, BALI

This research aims to identify the potential of the cultural landscape in Bongkasa Pertiwi Village, Badung Regency, Bali, and how these elements can be developed into sustainable tourist attractions. Bongkasa Pertiwi Village has various rich cultural landscape elements, such as rice fields with subak irrigation systems, temples, and springs (beji), which have not been optimally utilized as tourist attractions. Observations and data analysis were carried out by dividing the village area into three village area segments to evaluate the development potential and existing challenges. The results of the study show that: Segments 1 and 2 are dominated by rice field cultural landscapes, and there are springs (beji) and temples Segment 2, while Segment 3 is dominated by tourist attractions and residential areas where there is no cultural landscape whose potential has not been utilized The obstacles faced develop cultural landscapes as tourist attractions are limited infrastructure and lack of measurable data on cultural landscape elements in Bongkasa Pertiwi Village.

ANALISIS PENGGUNAAN AIR IRIGASI TETES BERTINGKAT EMPAT PADA USAHATANI TANAMAN CABAI DI PERMUKIMAN PERKOTAAN.

The use of a multilevel drip irrigation system for agriculture in urban residential areas needs to be done so that food availability can always be available, which must be supported by the use of appropriate planting media. This study aims to determine the amount of use by chili plants in polybag media irrigated by a four-level drip irrigation system with a mixture of soil and compost and livestock waste. Tests were carried out on the provision of drip irrigation, infiltration capacity and soil moisture produced at certain durations for each phase of plant growth (chili). The composition of the soil planting media to the compost is 60%: 40%, 70%: 30%, 80%: 20%. The test was carried out on a PVC drip irrigation network with emitters in a 2m x 4m x 2m room with 96 polybags, water sources from a 150 liter tank with a height of 2.5 m. Data analysis was carried out on irrigation discharge data, uniformity, irrigation depth and soil moisture against irrigation water use. The test results show that the amount of irrigation water used for chili plants in the early growth phase is around 40 liters, the use of water in the vegetative plant growth phase is around 60 liters to 120 liters, in the generative phase it is 130 liters to 300 liters and in the fruiting phase until the harvest phase, around 325 liters - 500 liters of water are used. The use of irrigation water is the cumulative amount from early irrigation to post-harvest. The highest water use needs to be given to plants on the first and fourth floors in the dry season and in the rainy season the lowest irrigation water use is for plants on the first and fourth floors.

Aggregation Bias and Socioeconomic Gradients in Waiting Time for Hospital Admissions.

Waiting time is a rationing mechanism that is used in publicly funded healthcare systems as a mean to ensure equal access for equal need. However, several studies suggest that individuals with higher socioeconomic status wait less. These studies typically measure patients' socioeconomic status as an aggregate measure from patients' residential area and the results are hence vulnerable for aggregation biases. We shed light on the magnitude of the aggregation bias by analyzing socioeconomic gradients in waiting times when education and income are measured on three different levels: the individual level, the population cell level, and the municipal level. Our individual level socioeconomic gradient is modest compared with the literature. When socioeconomic status is measured on an aggregate level, we observe stronger associations with socioeconomic variables and less accurate estimates. A researcher who only has access to the aggregate data runs the risk of overstating the magnitude of the socioeconomic gradients.

Uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine among brothel-based female sex workers in Kampala, Uganda

BackgroundHepatitis B is a significant health problem worldwide, particularly among high-risk groups such as female sex workers (FSWs). In Uganda, it is highly recommended that FSWs receive the hepatitis B vaccine. However, there is limited evidence of the level of uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine and associated factors among FSWs in Uganda. This study aimed to assess hepatitis B vaccine uptake and associated factors among FSWs in Kampala district, Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using data from 400 FSWs in Kampala, Uganda. We utilized a researcher-developed digitized semi-structured questionnaire and employed multistage sampling to enroll participants. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 14.0. Continuous data were expressed as mean and standard deviation whereas categorical data were reported as frequencies and proportions. We employed Modified Poisson regression analysis to assess the relationship between predictor variables and the uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine.ResultsA total of 400 respondents (98.5% response rate) were surveyed. Close to half, 49.8% of the respondents had ever heard about hepatitis B, and only 16.5% had received at least a hepatitis B vaccine dose. Individual factors significantly associated with hepatitis B vaccine uptake included spending more than four years in sex work (APR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.12), previous screening for hepatitis B (APR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.38–1.61), and having work conditions that allowed time to seek HBV services (APR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.22). Health system factors significantly associated with vaccine uptake included the presence of hepatitis B outreach programs in residential areas (APR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03–1.33) and receiving information about hepatitis B from peers (APR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.05–1.31).ConclusionThe study revealed a low prevalence of hepatitis B vaccine uptake among FSWs, with less than a tenth completing the three-dose schedule. Therefore, enhancing screening programs, expanding outreach initiatives, and tailoring services to accommodate nontraditional work hours while leveraging peer networks can significantly improve vaccine uptake and reduce hepatitis B transmission in this high-risk population.

Analysis of glycemic control in diabetic patients by monitoring HbA1c levels before, during and after Covid-19 confinement in Auvergne, France.

To describe glycemic control in diabetic patients monitored by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) before, during and after COVID-19 confinement. To identify factors, measured before confinement, associated with HbA1c testing during confinement and those associated with a 1% increase in HbA1c after confinement. Retrospective, descriptive study of diabetic patients over 18 years old who underwent at least one HbA1c test before and after confinement. The data were collected from medical analysis laboratories in the Auvergne region (France) and included HbA1c measurements between March 17, 2019, and May 11, 2021, age, sex, residential area, and medical specialty of the prescribing physician. 70,286 patients were included (54.1% men, mean age 71.7 ± 13.1 years). The average preconfinement HbA1c level (6.80% ± 1.16) was similar to the average post-confinement HbA1c level (6.80% ± 1.14). A larger median reduction of 0.90% points in HbA1c level in the year following confinement was observed in patients whose preconfinement HbA1c level was ≥ 9%. Only 24.5% of the patients had an HbA1c test performed during confinement, the majority of whom were over 80 years of age and had an average HbA1c level between 7 and 9% before confinement. For 5.1% of the patients, the average HbA1c level increased by one percentage point or more after confinement. Patients younger than 65 years of age, those with an insufficient number of blood tests before confinement and those with an imbalance in HbA1c before confinement were at risk of glycemic imbalance after confinement. Confinement had no impact on HbA1c levels in diabetic patients.

Whiteness: A Fundamental Determinant of the Health of Rural White Americans.

Because residents of rural areas in the United States experience a persistent disadvantage in life expectancy relative to their urban counterparts, it is critical to consider the structural and social determinants that affect the health of rural populations. White Americans constitute 3 out of every 4 (76%) rural residents, and there is growing evidence that rurality is a predictor of poor health status for White Americans in ways that are not present for racially minoritized populations or nonrural White populations. We offer a framework to describe Whiteness as a fundamental determinant of the health of rural White Americans, which is useful to more precisely characterize and address the heterogeneous yet unique factors that drive their health. While Whiteness is a dynamic system that typically upholds White Americans' social supremacy, we provide examples of intermediate (e.g., rural culture, environment) and intrapersonal (e.g., psychosocial) factors through which Whiteness can harm rural White Americans' health (e.g., chronic disease, mental health). We conclude with a discussion of implications and recommendations that may help to advance research to promote health and well-being among rural White Americans. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 5, 2024:e1-e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307904).

Residential Area Characteristics Are Associated With Asthma Burden in Children.

Wheezing illnesses, especially those triggered by rhinovirus infection, cause a major disease burden, and they often precede asthma. Environmental exposures are known to affect recurrence of wheezing. We investigated the relations of population density, greenness (forested areas), and socioeconomic factors of the living surroundings to the burden of asthma in children with prior bronchiolitis. Three hundred and ninety-four children, aged 0-24 months, with doctor-diagnosed bronchiolitis were enrolled in the MARC-30 Finland study. We assessed the children's early-life exposures to greenness and socioeconomic factors using time-series of Corine Land Cover data and Statistics Finland's grid data. We compared the living surroundings data to the prescription drug purchases and special asthma reimbursement benefits until the age 8 years; asthma data were from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Children living in sparsely populated areas had lighter asthma disease burden than children living in densely populated ones, with burden measured in median bronchodilator (50DDD [defined daily dose] vs. 104DDD, p = 0.02) and inhaled corticosteroid (0DDD vs. 123DDD, p = 0.04) purchases. In the subgroup of children with rhinovirus-induced bronchiolitis, children living in more forested areas developed asthma 10 months later than those with less forested areas (p = 0.04). Neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics were not associated with differences in asthma burden. Sparsely populated areas and forested environments seem to have a beneficial association with children's respiratory health. These findings warrant further studies on the protective health effects of greenness and the type of biodiversity around homes.

Heavy metal contamination in cow and buffalo milk from industrial and residential areas of Raipur, India: Health Risk Assessment.

This study investigated heavy metal contamination in cow and buffalo milk from industrial and residential areas of Raipur, India, assessing health risks and identifying contamination sources. Milk samples were collected from seven sites and analyzed for Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results revealed higher contamination in industrial areas, with fodder being a primary source for Zn, Ni, Fe, and Cu, while water contributed to Mn, Cr, and As. Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) determination highlighted non-carcinogenic risks for Ni, Fe, and Pb, and significant carcinogenic risks for Pb and As. The concentrations of Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As were ranged from 1.708-3.243, 0.078-0.295, 1.480-4.450, 0.119-0.472, 0.032-0.461, 0.007-0.040, 0.006-0.032, 0.040-0.204, and 0.006-0.023 mg/kg, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified fodder as a source of Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu, and Cd, while water contributed to Mn, Cr, and As. This study needed monitoring and regulation to mitigate health risks from contaminated milk in Raipur.

The age gradient in the effects of poverty alleviation program on schooling. Evidence from the Vietnam hunger eradication and poverty reduction program

This paper estimates the effect of the Vietnam Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction (HEPR) program on school enrollment and shows how it changes by age at first treatment. Using longitudinal data that span over 15 years and a difference-in-differences research design, we find that early treatment (age 8) increases enrollment by 9.9 percentage points. In contrast, the enrollment of children receiving treatment at later ages (age 12 and 15) is either unaffected or even reduced in rural areas, where it is paralleled by an increase in labor market participation. These divergent results by age and area of residence depend on two components: first, the effect of subsidizing education declines with the age of first treatment; second, starting from age 15, HEPR beneficiaries residing in rural areas are entitled with free access to the Vocational Training Program, which favors a prompt transition to the labor market.

Сельские поселения Тюменского округа Уральской области в первой трети ХХ в.

The purpose of the study is to characterize the network of rural settlements of Siberian Tatars in the Tyumen district of the Ural region. Quantitative indicators of the Tatar population in the settlements of the district, the ratio of rural and urban Tatars, as well as the impact of administrative and territorial reforms of the Soviet government on the Tatar population of the Tyumen district are considered. The novelty of the work is determined by the weak level of scrutiny of the history of the Tatar population of Western Siberia in the 20th century, as well as the introduction of new materials on the topic into scientific circulation. As a result, based on the information of the All-Union Census of 1926 it is revealed that the zoning reform carried out in the 1920s led to significant transformations, considerably changing the previous administrative and territorial structure. The Tyumen District has increased geographically, but the main areas of residence of Tatars in the Tyumen District, as in the previous period, remained the territories of the Tyumen, Yalutorovsk, Yarkovsk and Nizhne-Tavdinsk districts. The number of the Tatar population is increasing, including due to the mass resettlement of Volga and Ural Tatars. The number of urban Tatar population is significantly increasing. The former mono-ethnicity of the Tatar settlements is gradually being lost. By eliminating the former volost structure, the Soviet reform had an impact on the final erasure of the former social and, to a certain extent, ethnic differences within the Turkic-Tatar community.