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Liu Z, Lu G, Vong C, Zeng Z, He W, Lin Z, Lin C, Hsieh K, Yang Z, Oliveira AL, Hon C. Adaptive Fourier Decomposition of the First Three SARS-CoV-2 Infection Waves with Epidemic Intervention - London, UK, 2020-2022. China CDC Wkly 2024; 6:478-486. [PMID: 38854463 PMCID: PMC11154110 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2024.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study provides a detailed analysis of the daily fluctuations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case numbers in London from January 31, 2020 to February 24, 2022. The primary objective was to enhance understanding of the interactions among government pandemic responses, viral mutations, and the subsequent changes in COVID-19 case incidences. Methods We employed the adaptive Fourier decomposition (AFD) method to analyze diurnal changes and further segmented the AFD into novel multi-component groups consisting of one to three elements. These restructured components were rigorously evaluated using Pearson correlation, and their effectiveness was compared with other signal analysis techniques. This study introduced a novel approach to differentiate individual components across various time-frequency scales using basis decomposition methods. Results Analysis of London's daily COVID-19 data using AFD revealed a strong correlation between the "stay at home" directive and high-frequency components during the first epidemic wave. This indicates the need for sustained implementation of vaccination policies to maintain their effectiveness. Discussion The AFD component method provides a comprehensive analysis of the immediate and prolonged impact of governmental policies on the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This robust tool has proven invaluable for analyzing COVID-19 pandemic data, offering critical insights that guide the formulation of future preventive and public health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zige Liu
- Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
| | - Guibin Lu
- Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
| | - Cheokieng Vong
- Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, Thorpe Underwood Estate, York, UK
| | - Zhiqi Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Respiratory Disease AI Laboratory on Epidemic and Medical Big Data Instrument Applications, Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
| | - Zhijie Lin
- Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
| | - Cuiyun Lin
- Faculty of Innovation Engineering, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
| | - Kaichin Hsieh
- University College London, UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences, London, UK
| | - Zifeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Arlindo L. Oliveira
- Respiratory Disease AI Laboratory on Epidemic and Medical Big Data Instrument Applications, Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores: Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Chitin Hon
- Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
- Respiratory Disease AI Laboratory on Epidemic and Medical Big Data Instrument Applications, Department of Engineering Science, Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory for Clinical Rapid Diagnosis and Early Warning of Infectious Diseases, KingMed School of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
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Yang T, Yu N, Yang T, Hong T. How do urban socio-economic characteristics shape a city's social recovery? An empirical study of COVID-19 shocks in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 90:103643. [PMID: 37013155 PMCID: PMC10032062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak significantly challenged the cities' abilities to recover from shocks, and cities' responses have widely differed. Understanding these disparate responses has been insufficient, especially from a social recovery perspective. In this study, we propose the concept of social recovery and develop a comprehensive perspective on how a city's socioeconomic characteristics affect it. The analytical framework is applied to 296 prefecture-level cities in China, with social recovery measured by the changes in intercity intensity between the pre-pandemic baseline (2019 Q1 and Q2) and the period in which the pandemic slightly abated (2020 Q1 and Q2) through anonymized location-based big data. The results indicate that the social recovery of Chinese cities during the COVID-19 pandemic are significantly spatially correlated. Cities with larger populations, a higher proportion of GDP in the secondary industry, higher road density or more adequate medical resources tend to recover socially better. Moreover, these municipal characteristics have significant spatial spillover effects. Specifically, city size, government intervention and industrial structure show negative spillover effects on neighboring areas while information dissemination efficiency, road density, and the number of community health services per capita have positive spillover. This study fills the knowledge gap regarding the different performances of cities when they face pandemic shocks. The assessment of a city's social recovery is an insight into the theoretical framework of vulnerability that aids in translating it into urban resilience. Hence our findings provide practice implications for China and beyond as the interest in urban-resilience development surges around the post-pandemic world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinghui Yang
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, 13 Fayuan Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Nannan Yu
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, 13 Fayuan Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Tianren Yang
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Central/Western District, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Tao Hong
- School of Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, 13 Fayuan Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China
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Zhang N, Hu T, Shang S, Zhang S, Jia W, Chen J, Zhang Z, Su B, Wang Z, Cheng R, Li Y. Local travel behaviour under continuing COVID-19 waves- A proxy for pandemic fatigue? TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 2023; 18:100757. [PMID: 36694823 PMCID: PMC9850857 DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 continues to threaten the world. Relaxing local travel behaviours on preventing the spread of COVID-19, may increase the infection risk in subsequent waves of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. In this study, we analysed changes in the travel behaviour of different population groups (adult, child, student, elderly) during four pandemic waves in Hong Kong before January 2021, by 4-billion second-by-second smartcard records of subway. A significant continuous relaxation in human travel behaviour was observed during the four waves of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Residents sharply reduced their local travel by 51.9%, 50.1%, 27.6%, and 20.5% from the first to fourth pandemic waves, respectively. The population flow in residential areas, workplaces, schools, shopping areas, amusement areas and border areas, decreased on average by 30.3%, 33.5%, 41.9%, 58.1%, 85.4% and 99.6%, respectively, during the pandemic weeks. We also found that many other cities around the world experienced a similar relaxation trend in local travel behaviour, by comparing traffic congestion data during the pandemic with data from the same period in 2019. The quantitative pandemic fatigue in local travel behaviour could help governments partially predicting personal protective behaviours, and thus to suggest more accurate interventions during subsequent waves, especially for highly infectious virus variants such as Omicron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Tingrui Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shujia Shang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyao Zhang
- The Sifakis Research Institute for Trustworthy Autonomous Systems, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wei Jia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jinhang Chen
- Faculty of Information Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Boni Su
- China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenyu Wang
- College of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Reynold Cheng
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Kyriakidis C, Chatziioannou I, Iliadis F, Nikitas A, Bakogiannis E. Evaluating the public acceptance of sustainable mobility interventions responding to Covid-19: The case of the Great Walk of Athens and the importance of citizen engagement. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 132:103966. [PMID: 36061074 PMCID: PMC9420703 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, the most wide-spread and disruptive pandemic in over a century, enforced emergency urban design responses meaning to recalibrate transport provision globally. This is the first work that systematically evaluates the 'public acceptance' as a proxy for 'policy success' and 'potential for longer-term viability' of the high-profile sustainable transport intervention package introduced in 2020 in the capital city of Greece known as the Great Walk of Athens (GWA). This is achieved through a twin statistical analysis of an e-survey that looked into the attitudes and urban mobility experiences of Athenians accessing the area of the trial daily. The research enabled a comparison between the pre- and post-implementation traffic situations and provided details about specific measures packaged in the GWA project. Our results suggest that walking and cycling uptake were only marginally improved. Traffic delays for car users were considerable. Car usage declined somewhat, with the exception of ride-sharing. Public transport ridership numbers suffered a lot because of concerns about sharing closed space with many others during a pandemic. Men and people on low income were more likely to agree with the 'change'. Naturally this was the case for people identified as primarily cyclists and pedestrians. The most impactful package elements in terms of car lane sacrifices (i.e., the redevelopment of Panepistimiou Street) had the lowest acceptability rates. A key reason that underpinned people's hesitation to approve the GWA initiative was the lack of public consultation in the decision-making that shaped the project. Our study provides evidence-based generalisable lessons for similar metropolitan environments looking to implement more or evaluate for possibly making permanent 'rushed' anti-Covid street redevelopment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Kyriakidis
- Department of Geography and Regional Planning, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 9 Heroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Chatziioannou
- Department of Geography and Regional Planning, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 9 Heroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Filippos Iliadis
- Department of Geography and Regional Planning, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 9 Heroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros Nikitas
- Department of Logistics, Marketing, Hospitality and Analytics, Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, HD1 3DH Huddersfield, UK
| | - Efthimios Bakogiannis
- Department of Geography and Regional Planning, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 9 Heroon Polytechniou Str., Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens, Greece
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Soni P, Gupta I, Singh P, Porte DS, Kumar D. GIS-based AHP analysis to recognize the COVID-19 concern zone in India. GEOJOURNAL 2023; 88:451-463. [PMID: 35283553 PMCID: PMC8898192 DOI: 10.1007/s10708-022-10605-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study was planned to identifying the Corona concerns zone during COVID-19 transmission in India. The death rate was very high due COVID-19 pandemic outbreaks which are one of the main reasons for impairment the countries, and it will takes several years for the re-establishment of the fundamental need to ensure the demand of public supply. Currently, like many countries around the world, India is also facing a drastic health crisis due to Corona virus disease. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information System (GIS) play important role in making the multi-criteria decisions and identifying the corona concern zone of a larger populated areas across the country in a single platform which can be further helpful for better control, planning, and management during several pandemic outbreaks. The present work is based on the AHP and GIS-assisted identification, analysis, and representation of the state-wise corona concern zone of India. Consequently, the current examination is essential to investigate the Corona concern zone in order to support the management and planning authority of India to improve their strategies in respect to reduce or check the health risk during the emergency of pandemic due to COVID-19. The present study indicated that the state-wise priority of corona concern zone recorded higher in state Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala as compared to the other part of the India. Hence, GIS and AHP are the potential to identify, observe and analyze the COVID-19 Concern Zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasoon Soni
- Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, Guru Ghasidas University, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh India
| | - Ithi Gupta
- Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, Guru Ghasidas University, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh India
| | - Pushpraj Singh
- Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, Guru Ghasidas University, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh India
| | - Devendra Singh Porte
- Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, Guru Ghasidas University, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh India
| | - Dilip Kumar
- Department of Rural Technology and Social Development, Guru Ghasidas University, Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh India
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Moazeni M, Rahimi M, Ebrahimi A. What are the Effects of Climate Variables on COVID-19 Pandemic? A Systematic Review and Current Update. Adv Biomed Res 2023; 12:33. [PMID: 37057247 PMCID: PMC10086649 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_145_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The climatological parameters can be different in various geographical locations. Moreover, they have possible impacts on COVID-19 incidence. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review article was to describe the effects of climatic variables on COVID-19 pandemic in different countries. Systematic literature search was performed in Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and PubMed databases using ("Climate" OR "Climate Change" OR "Global Warming" OR "Global Climate Change" OR "Meteorological Parameters" OR "Temperature" OR "Precipitation" OR "Relative Humidity" OR "Wind Speed" OR "Sunshine" OR "Climate Extremes" OR "Weather Extremes") AND ("COVID" OR "Coronavirus disease 2019" OR "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" OR "Novel Coronavirus") keywords. From 5229 articles, 424 were screened and 149 were selected for further analysis. The relationship between meteorological parameters is variable in different geographical locations. The results indicate that among the climatic indicators, the temperature is the most significant factor that influences on COVID-19 pandemic in most countries. Some studies were proved that warm and wet climates can decrease COVID-19 incidence; however, the other studies represented that warm location can be a high risk of COVID-19 incidence. It could be suggested that all climate variables such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, precipitation, solar radiation, ultraviolet index, and wind speed could cause spread of COVID-19. Thus, it is recommended that future studies will survey the role of all meteorological variables and interaction between them on COVID-19 spread in specific small areas such as cities of each country and comparison between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Moazeni
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rahimi
- Department of Combat Desertification, Faculty of Desert Studies, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Afshin Ebrahimi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Address for correspondence: Dr. Afshin Ebrahimi, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Hezar-Jerib Ave., Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 81676 − 36954, Iran. E-mail:
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Tong H, Li M, Kang J. Relationships between building attributes and COVID-19 infection in London. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 225:109581. [PMID: 36124292 PMCID: PMC9472810 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the UK, all domestic COVID-19 restrictions have been removed since they were introduced in March 2020. After illustrating the spatial-temporal variations in COVID-19 infection rates across London, this study then particularly aimed to examine the relationships of COVID-19 infection rates with building attributes, including building density, type, age, and use, since previous studies have shown that the built environment plays an important role in public health. Multisource data from national health services and the London Geomni map were processed with GIS techniques and statistically analysed. From March 2020 to April 2022, the infection rate of COVID-19 in London was 3,159.28 cases per 10,000 people. The spatial distribution across London was uneven, with a range from 1,837.88 to 4,391.79 per 10,000 people. During this period, it was revealed that building attributes played a significant role in COVID-19 infection. It was noted that higher building density areas had lower COVID-19 infection rates in London. Moreover, a higher percentage of historic or flat buildings tended to lead to a decrease in infection rates. In terms of building use, the rate of COVID-19 infection tended to be lower in public buildings and higher in residential buildings. Variations in the infection rate were more sensitive to building type; in particular, the percentage of residents living in flats contributed the most to variations in COVID-19 infection rates, with a value of 2.3%. This study is expected to provide support for policy and practice towards pandemic-resilient architectural design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Tong
- School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mingxiao Li
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Kang
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Wang J, Li M, Wang S, He X, Zhou C. Evolution and control of the COVID-19 pandemic: A global perspective. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 130:103907. [PMID: 35966443 PMCID: PMC9359505 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the factors influencing the progression of the pandemic from a global perspective by using the Geodetector and Correlation methods and explored the pandemic response policies and effects in different countries. The results yielded three notable findings. First, empirical results show the COVID-19 pandemic is influenced by various factors, including demographic and economic parameters, international travelers, urbanization ratio, urban population, etc. Among them, the correlation between urban population and confirmed cases is strongest. Cities become the key factor affecting the COVID-19 pandemic, with high urbanization levels and population mobility increases the risk of large-scale outbreaks. Second, among control measures, School-closures, International-travel-restrictions, and Public-gathering-restriction have the best control effect on the epidemic. In addition, the combination of different types of control measures is more effective in controlling the outbreak, especially for Public-gathering-restrictions ∩ School-closures, International-travel-restrictions ∩ Workplace-closures, Public-transport-restrictions ∩ International-travel-restrictions. Third, implementing appropriate control measures in the first month of an outbreak played a critical role in future pandemic trends. Since there are few local cases in this period and the control measures have an obvious effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqu Wang
- School of Geography, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zehong Wang
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieyu Wang
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaojian Wang
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiong He
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunshan Zhou
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Xin R, Ai T, Ding L, Zhu R, Meng L. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban human mobility - A multiscale geospatial network analysis using New York bike-sharing data. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 126:103677. [PMID: 35345426 PMCID: PMC8942724 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic breaking out at the end of 2019 has seriously impacted urban human mobility and poses great challenges for traffic management and urban planning. An understanding of this influence from multiple perspectives is urgently needed. In this study, we propose a multiscale geospatial network framework for the analysis of bike-sharing data, aiming to provide a new perspective for the exploration of the pandemic impact on urban human mobility. More specifically, we organize the bike-sharing data into a network representation, and divide the network into a three-scale structure, ranging from the whole bike system at the macroscale, to the network community at the mesoscale and then to the bicycle station at the microscale. The spatiotemporal analysis of bike-sharing data at each scale is combined with visualization methods for an intuitive understanding of the patterns. We select New York City, one of the most seriously influenced city by the pandemic, as the study area, and used Citi Bike bike-sharing data from January to April in 2019 and 2020 in this area for the investigation. The analysis results show that with the development of the pandemic, the riding flow and its spatiotemporal distribution pattern changed significantly, which had a series of effects on the use and management of bikes in the city. These findings may provide useful references during the pandemic for various stakeholders, e.g., citizens for their travel planning, bike-sharing companies for bicycle dispatching and bicycle disinfection management, and governments for traffic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xin
- College of Geodesy and Geomatics, Shandong University of Science and Technology, 266590 Qingdao, China
| | - Tinghua Ai
- School of Resource and Environment Sciences, Wuhan University, 430072 Wuhan, China
| | - Linfang Ding
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ruoxin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Geo-Information Engineering, Xi'an Research Institute of Surveying and Mapping, 710054 Xi'an, China
| | - Liqiu Meng
- Chair of Cartography and Visual Analytics, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
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Milošević D, Middel A, Savić S, Dunjić J, Lau K, Stojsavljević R. Mask wearing behavior in hot urban spaces of Novi Sad during the COVID-19 pandemic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152782. [PMID: 34990675 PMCID: PMC8720675 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban overheating (due to climate change and urbanization) and COVID-19 are two converging crises that must be addressed in tandem. Fine-scale, place-based, people-centric biometeorological and behavioral data are needed to implement context-specific preventative measures such as mask-wearing. This study collected local biometeorological measurements in diverse urban spaces (square, urban park, river quay) in Novi Sad, Serbia on hot sunny summer days (27-30 August 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Observations were supplemented by an online survey asking questions about thermal sensation, comfort, and concurrent protective behavior of the local population. Biometeorological measurements show that the main square in the city center was the most thermally uncomfortable area. According to the survey, it was also perceived as the least safe space to not contract the virus. The urban park was perceived as the most thermally comfortable area in the morning and during midday. It was also considered the safest urban space for outdoor activities. In the evening, the river quay was the most thermally comfortable area in the city. Intra-urban differences in Physiologically Equivalent Temperatures were highest during midday, while differences in air temperatures were highest in the evening. More than 70% of the respondents did not wear face masks when it was hot because of breathing issues and feeling warmer than without mask. Most people wearing a mask felt "slightly warm" in the morning and evening, while the majority of respondents felt "hot" during midday. Only 3% of the respondents felt comfortable while wearing a mask, while 97% experienced some degree of discomfort (from slight discomfort to very uncomfortable). Our study shows that fine scale temporal and spatial urban biometeorological data and population surveys should be included in decision-making processes during the pandemic to develop climate-sensitive health services that are place-based, people-centric, and facilitate planning towards green, resilient, and inclusive cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragan Milošević
- Climatology and Hydrology Research Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Ariane Middel
- School of Arts, Media and Engineering, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Arizona State University, 950 S. Forest Mall, Stauffer B258, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
| | - Stevan Savić
- Climatology and Hydrology Research Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Dunjić
- Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Kevin Lau
- Institute of Future Cities, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Rastislav Stojsavljević
- Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
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Empirical Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on International Student Enrollment for Higher Education in China. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14074185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
International students’ mobility was not spared in terms of the negative impact of COVID-19 on higher education. The majority of prior research on COVID-19 and international higher education has employed a qualitative research design. Few of the studies have employed a quantitative research approach. Our study, therefore, in an attempt to fill in the literature gap, explores the impact of COVID-19 on international students’ enrollment in China using a quantitative approach. Using cross-sectional data for thirty-one provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions on the Chinese mainland, the study utilized Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares for the long-run relationship analysis. Our findings revealed that an inverse and statistically significant relationship exists between total confirmed cases and international students enrolled. Similarly, a negative relationship was found between total deaths and the number of international students enrolled for the 2020/2021 academic year. On the contrary, a positive and statistically significant relationship was found between total recoveries and the number of enrolled international students at higher education. Our findings add up to existing literature on COVID-19 and international higher education.
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12
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Design of Sustainable Modular Wooden Booths Inspired by Revitalization of Croatian Traditional Construction and New User Needs Due to COVID-19 Pandemic. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14020720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The paper presents the results of the first phase of the student project CROSTAND2, whose main goal is to revitalize the traditional construction techniques of vernacular architecture in the Republic of Croatia by developing modern sustainable prefabricated modular wooden buildings/public booths in accordance with users’ needs and habits. To incorporate conceptual design, the literature on Croatian construction and wood protection, prefabricated modular construction, and public urban spaces was analyzed and field research was conducted. Photo documentation was also collected in the village of Donja Kupčina, Zagreb County, Croatia. An online survey questionnaire on socializing habits in public spaces, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, additionally analyzed new requirements for user-centered design. The obtained results, as well as results from previous project research, were used as a basis and inspiration for the design of a conceptual modular building inspired by traditional wooden joints, modular construction, and the emerging needs of users to socialize safely in a healthy environment. Conceptual solutions for a sustainable modular prefabricated wooden building for public use, intended for public urban and rural areas, have been proposed. Such constructions would ensure the sustainability of enjoying the natural environment for personal, tourist, and commercial purposes with the perpetuation of Croatian heritage building traditions.
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13
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Gaur V, Salvi D, Gautam M, Sangwan V, Tambi T, Kalia A, Singh N. Psychiatric comorbidity in clinically stable COVID-19 patients. Indian J Psychiatry 2022; 64:89-92. [PMID: 35400739 PMCID: PMC8992745 DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_312_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To identify prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in clinically stable COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional single point observational study was conducted among clinically stable 72 COVID-19 infected patients. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed with the help of DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 CCSM-Adult scale. RESULTS The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity was 76.4% (n = 55). Depression was the most common diagnosis in 44.44% (n = 32) followed by anxiety (34.72%, n = 25), somatic symptoms (26.39%, n = 19), sleep problems (23.61%, n = 17). Around 45 .83 % (n = 33) patients considered COVID-19 infection as potentially life-threatening and 23.62% (n=17) patients experienced discrimination and stigma after being diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Using binary logistic regression, physical symptoms was identified as a risk factor for psychiatric comorbidity. CONCLUSION Our study provides evidence of a significant impact of COVID-19 infection on mental health in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Gaur
- Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Deepak Salvi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Manaswi Gautam
- Gautam Hospital and Research Center, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vaundhra Sangwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Tanushi Tambi
- Department of Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Anchin Kalia
- Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Nishant Singh
- Department of Psychiatry, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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14
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Liu C, Liu Z, Guan C. The impacts of the built environment on the incidence rate of COVID-19: A case study of King County, Washington. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 74:103144. [PMID: 34306992 PMCID: PMC8271037 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
With COVID-19 prevalent worldwide, current studies have focused on the factors influencing the epidemic. In particular, the built environment deserves immediate attention to produce place-specific strategies to prevent the further spread of coronavirus. This research assessed the impact of the built environment on the incidence rate in King County, US and explored methods of researching infectious diseases in urban areas. Using principal component analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient to process the data, we built multiple linear regression and geographically weighted regression models at the ZIP code scale. Results indicated that although socioeconomic indicators were the primary factors influencing COVID-19, the built environment affected COVID-19 cases from different aspects. Built environment density was positively associated with incidence rates. Specifically, increased open space was conducive to reducing incidence rates. Within each community, overcrowded households led to an increase in incidence rates. This study confirmed previous research into the importance of socioeconomic variables and extended the discussion on spatial and temporal variation in the impacts of urban density on the spread of COVID, effectively guiding sustainable urban development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Department of Urban Planning, College of Architecture and Urban planning, Tongji University, No. 1239, Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zerun Liu
- Department of Urban Planning, College of Architecture and Urban planning, Tongji University, No. 1239, Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - ChengHe Guan
- Urban Science and Policy, NYU Shanghai; Global Network Assistant Professor, New York University Shanghai, No. 1555, Century Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China
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15
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Roghani A. The relationship between macro-socioeconomics determinants and COVID-19 vaccine distribution. AIMS Public Health 2021; 8:655-664. [PMID: 34786426 PMCID: PMC8568597 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2021052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued to spread globally, many countries have started vaccinations at the end of December 2020. This research examines the relationship between COVID-19 vaccine distribution and two macro-socioeconomics measures, including human development index and gross domestic product, among 25 countries for two points in time, including February and August 2021. The COVID-19 dataset is a collection of the COVID-19 data maintained by Our World in Data. It is a daily updated dataset and includes confirmed cases, vaccinations, deaths, and testing data. Ordinary Least Squares was applied to examine how macro-socioeconomic measures predict the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine over time. RESULTS The results indicate that a higher gross domestic product per capita is positively associated with higher COVID-19 vaccine distribution, and this relationship becomes more robust over time. However, some countries may have more successful vaccine distribution results regardless of their gross domestic product. In addition, the result shows human development index does not have a significant relationship with vaccine distribution. CONCLUSION Economic measures may be counted as a more vital indicator for vaccine distribution as they have a more direct relationship distribution with health infrastructure than social measures such as human development index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Roghani
- Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, USA
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16
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Nundy S, Ghosh A, Mesloub A, Albaqawy GA, Alnaim MM. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic, energy-environment and transport sector globally and sustainable development goal (SDG). JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2021; 312:127705. [PMID: 36471816 PMCID: PMC9710714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) want to have a peaceful world where human life will be in a safe, healthy, sustainable environment without any inequalities. However, the year 2020 experienced a global pandemic due to COVID-19. This COVID-19 created an adverse impact on human life, economic, environment, and energy and transport sector compared to the pre-COVID-19 scenario. These above-mentioned sectors are interrelated and thus lockdown strategy and stay at home rules to reduce the COVID-19 transmission had a drastic effect on them. With lockdown, all industry and transport sectors were closed, energy demand reduced greatly but the time shift of energy demand had a critical impact on grid and energy generation. Decreased energy demand caused a silver lining with an improved environment. However, drowned economy creating a negative impact on the human mind and financial condition, which at times led to life-ending decisions. Transport sector which faced a financial dip last year trying to coming out from the losses which are not feasible without government aid and a new customer-friendly policy. Sustainable transport and the electric vehicle should take high gear. While people are staying at home or using work from home scheme, building indoor environment must specially be taken care of as a compromised indoor environment affects and increases the risk of many diseases. Also, the energy-efficient building will play a key role to abate the enhanced building energy demand and more generation from renewable sources should be in priority. It is still too early to predict any forecast about the regain period of all those sectors but with vaccination now being introduced and implemented but still, it can be considered as an ongoing process as its final results are yet to be seen. As of now, COVID-19 still continue to grow in certain areas causing anxiety and destruction. With all these causes, effects, and restoration plans, still SDGs will be suffered in great order to attain their target by 2030 and collaborative support from all countries can only help in this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijita Nundy
- School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Aritra Ghosh
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Renewable Energy, University of Exeter, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Abdelhakim Mesloub
- Department of Architectural Engineering, Ha'il University, Ha'il, 2440, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Habeebullah TM, Abd El-Rahim IHA, Morsy EA. Impact of outdoor and indoor meteorological conditions on the COVID-19 transmission in the western region of Saudi Arabia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112392. [PMID: 33765578 PMCID: PMC7980220 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Meteorological conditions may influence the incidence of many infectious diseases. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious, air-borne, emerging, viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic affected more than 210 countries and territories worldwide including Saudi Arabia. There are contradictory research papers about the correlation between meteorological parameters and incidence of COVID-19 in some countries worldwide. The current study investigates the impact of outdoor and indoor meteorological conditions on the daily recorded COVID-19 cases in western region (Makkah and Madinah cities) of Saudi Arabia over a period of 8 months from March to October 2020. Reports of the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases from the webpage of Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) were used. Considering, the incubation period of COVID-19 which ranged from 2 to 14 days, the relationships between daily COVID-19 cases and outdoor meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) using a lag time of 10 days are investigated. The results showed that the highest daily COVID-19 cases in Makkah and Madinah were reported during the hottest months of the year (April-July 2020) when outdoor temperature ranged from 26.51 to 40.71 °C in Makkah and of 23.89-41.20 °C in Madinah, respectively. Partial negative correlation was detected between outdoor relative humidity and daily recorded COVID-19 cases. No obvious correlation could be demonstrated between wind speed and daily COVID-19 cases. This indicated that most of SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in the cool, air-conditioned, dry, and bad-ventilated indoor environment in the investigated cities. These results will help the epidemiologists to understand the correlation between both outdoor and indoor meteorological conditions and SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility. These findings would be also a useful supplement to assist the local healthcare policymakers to implement and apply a specific preventive measures and education programs for controlling of COVID-19 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turki M Habeebullah
- Department of Environmental and Health Research, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 6287, 21955, Makkah Al-Mukaramah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim H A Abd El-Rahim
- Department of Environmental and Health Research, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 6287, 21955, Makkah Al-Mukaramah, Saudi Arabia; Infectious Diseases, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71526, Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Essam A Morsy
- Department of Environmental and Health Research, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 6287, 21955, Makkah Al-Mukaramah, Saudi Arabia; Geophysics Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt
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18
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Mehmood K, Bao Y, Abrar MM, Petropoulos GP, Saifullah, Soban A, Saud S, Khan ZA, Khan SM, Fahad S. Spatiotemporal variability of COVID-19 pandemic in relation to air pollution, climate and socioeconomic factors in Pakistan. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 271:129584. [PMID: 33482526 PMCID: PMC7797023 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Information on the spatiotemporal variability of respirable suspended particulate pollutant matter concentrations, especially of particles having size of 2.5 μm and climate are the important factors in relation to emerging COVID-19 cases around the world. This study aims at examining the association between COVID-19 cases, air pollution, climatic and socioeconomic factors using geospatial techniques in three provincial capital cities and the federal capital city of Pakistan. A series of relevant data was acquired from 3 out of 4 provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) including the daily numbers of COVID-19 cases, PM2.5 concentration (μgm-3), a climatic factors including temperature (°F), wind speed (m/s), humidity (%), dew point (%), and pressure (Hg) from June 1 2020, to July 31 2020. Further, the possible relationships between population density and COVID-19 cases was determined. The generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to quantify the effect of PM2.5, temperature, dew point, humidity, wind speed, and pressure range on the daily COVID-19 cases. The grey relational analysis (GRA) was also implemented to examine the changes in COVID-19 cases with PM2.5 concentrations for the provincial city Lahore. About 1,92, 819 COVID-19 cases were reported in Punjab, Sindh, KPK, and Islamabad during the study period. Results indicated a significant relationship between COVID-19 cases and PM2.5 and climatic factors at p < 0.05 except for Lahore in case of humidity (r = 0.175). However, mixed correlations existed across Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Islamabad. The R2 value indicates a moderate relationship between COVID-19 and population density. Findings of this study, although are preliminary, offers the first line of evidence for epidemiologists and may assist the local community to expedient for the growth of effective COVID-19 infection and health risk management guidelines. This remains to be seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Mehmood
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Yansong Bao
- Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, CMA Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China; School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China.
| | - Muhammad Mohsin Abrar
- National Engineering Laboratory for Improving Quality of Arable Land, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - George P Petropoulos
- Department of Geography, Harokopio University of Athens, El. Venizelou 70, Kallithea, 17671, Athens, Greece
| | - Saifullah
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Soban
- Software Engineering Department Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Pakistan
| | - Shah Saud
- Department of Horticulture, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, China
| | - Zalan Alam Khan
- Department of Civil Engineering, COMSATS University, Abbotabad, 22010, Pakistan
| | - Shah Masud Khan
- Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Haripur, 22620, Pakistan
| | - Shah Fahad
- Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresource, College of Tropical Crops,Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China; Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21120, Pakistan.
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19
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Zhang N, Jia W, Wang P, Dung CH, Zhao P, Leung K, Su B, Cheng R, Li Y. Changes in local travel behaviour before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. CITIES (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 112:103139. [PMID: 33589850 PMCID: PMC7877214 DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2021.103139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 threatens the world. Social distancing is a significant factor in determining the spread of this disease, and social distancing is strongly affected by the local travel behaviour of people in large cities. In this study, we analysed the changes in the local travel behaviour of various population groups in Hong Kong, between 1 January and 31 March 2020, by using second-by-second smartcard data obtained from the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) system. Due to the pandemic, local travel volume decreased by 43%, 49% and 59% during weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays, respectively. The local travel volumes of adults, children, students and senior citizens decreased by 42%, 86%, 73% and 48%, respectively. The local travel behaviour changes for adults and seniors between non-pandemic and pandemic times were greater than those between weekdays and weekends. The opposite was true for children and students. During the pandemic, the daily commute flow decreased by 42%. Local trips to shopping areas, amusement areas and borders decreased by 42%, 81% and 99%, respectively. The effective reproduction number (R t ) of COVID-19 had the strongest association with daily population use of the MTR 7-8 days earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Jia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peihua Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung-Hin Dung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pengcheng Zhao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kathy Leung
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Boni Su
- China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Reynold Cheng
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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20
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Shaath H, Alajez NM. Identification of PBMC-based molecular signature associational with COVID-19 disease severity. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06866. [PMID: 33898797 PMCID: PMC8057768 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The longevity of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and the devastating effects it has had on certain subsets of individuals thus far has highlighted the importance of identifying blood-based biomarkers associated with disease severity. We employed computational and transcriptome analyses of publicly available datasets from PBMCs from 126 patients with COVID-19 admitted to ICU (n = 50), COVID-19 not admitted to ICU (n = 50), non-COVID-19 admitted to ICU (n = 16) and non-COVID-19 not admitted to ICU (n = 10), and utilized the Gencode V33 assembly to analyze protein coding mRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcriptomes in the context of disease severity. Our data identified several aberrantly expressed mRNA and lncRNA based biomarkers associated with SARS-CoV-2 severity, which in turn significantly affected canonical, upstream, and disease functions in each group of patients. Immune, interferon, and antiviral responses were severely suppressed in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those who were not admitted to ICU. Our data suggests a possible therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19 through administration of interferon therapy. Delving further into these biomarkers, roles and their implications on the onset and disease severity of COVID-19 could play a crucial role in patient stratification and identifying varied therapeutic options with diverse clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hibah Shaath
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nehad M Alajez
- College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar.,Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
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21
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Li S, Ma S, Zhang J. Association of built environment attributes with the spread of COVID-19 at its initial stage in China. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 67:102752. [PMID: 33558840 PMCID: PMC7857111 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Evidence of the association of built environment (BE) attributes with the spread of COVID-19 remains limited. As an additional effort, this study regresses a ratio of accumulative confirmed infection cases at the city level in China on both inter-city and intra-city BE attributes. A mixed geographically weighted regression model was estimated to accommodate both local and global effects of BE attributes. It is found that spatial clusters are mostly related to low infections in 28.63 % of the cities. The density of point of interests around railway stations, travel time by public transport to activity centers, and the number of flights from Hubei Province are associated with the spread. On average, the most influential BE attribute is the number of trains from Hubei Province. Higher infection ratios are associated with higher values of between-ness centrality in 70.98 % of the cities. In 79.22 % of the cities, the percentage of the aging population shows a negative association. A positive association of the population density in built-up areas is found in 68.75 % of county-level cities. It is concluded that the countermeasures in China could have well reflected spatial heterogeneities, and the BE could be further improved to mitigate the impacts of future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangjin Li
- Mobilities and Urban Policy Lab, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Higashi Hiroshima, 739-8529, Japan
| | - Shuang Ma
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Junyi Zhang
- Prof. Dr. Eng., Mobilities and Urban Policy Lab, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Higashi Hiroshima, 739-8529, Japan
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22
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Sharma A, Ghosh D, Divekar N, Gore M, Gochhait S, Shireshi S. Comparing the socio-economic implications of the 1918 Spanish flu and the COVID-19 pandemic in India: A systematic review of literature. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 71:23-36. [PMID: 34230684 PMCID: PMC8251181 DOI: 10.1111/issj.12266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The focus of the present study is to compare and assess the socio‐economic implications of the 1918 influenza pandemic and the COVID‐19 pandemic in India. Both pandemics are similar in the nature of their disease and spread, and have had a far‐reaching impact on society and economies worldwide. To achieve their objective, the researchers adopted the method of systematic literature review (SLR). The findings of the review have been categorised in four subsections: comparison of 1918 influenza and COVID‐19 pandemics in a global context; economic consequences of a pandemic in India; social consequences of a pandemic in India; and the pandemic mitigation measures adopted by India. The findings suggest there are similarities in the socio‐economic implications of the two pandemics and also indicate that developing countries face more severe implications of such pandemics as compared to developed countries. The research findings from the review of literature are followed by the recommendations made by the researchers.
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23
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Bilal, Bashir MF, Shahzad K, Komal B, Bashir MA, Bashir M, Tan D, Fatima T, Numan U. Environmental quality, climate indicators, and COVID-19 pandemic: insights from top 10 most affected states of the USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:10.1007/s11356-021-12646-x. [PMID: 33634403 PMCID: PMC7906571 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12646-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are working with health professionals to inform governments on how to formulate health strategies. In this study, we examine the correlation between environmental and climate indicators and COVID-19 outbreak in the top 10 most affected states of the USA. In doing so, PM2.5, temperature, humidity, environmental quality index, and rainfall are included as crucial meteorological and environmental factors. Kendall and Spearman rank correlation coefficients, quantile regression, and log-linear negative binominal analysis are employed as an estimation strategy. The empirical estimates conclude that temperature, humidity, environmental quality index, PM2.5, and rainfall are significant factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the top 10 most affected states of the USA. The empirical findings of the current study would serve as key policy input to mitigate the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal
- Accounting School, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan, China
| | - Muhammad Farhan Bashir
- Business School, Central South University, Changsha, (410083) Hunan People’s Republic of China
| | - Khurram Shahzad
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bushra Komal
- Business School, University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China
| | | | - Madiha Bashir
- Education Department, Government of The Punjab, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Duojiao Tan
- Accounting School, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan, China
| | - Tehreem Fatima
- Asian Demographic Research Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 People’s Republic of China
| | - Umar Numan
- Business School, Central South University, Changsha, (410083) Hunan People’s Republic of China
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Sustainable Urban Regeneration through Densification Strategies: The Kallithea District in Athens as a Pilot Case Study. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12229462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The current main issue in the construction sector in Europe concerns the energy refurbishment and the reactivation of investments in existing buildings. Guidance for enhancing energy efficiency and encouraging member states to create a market for deep renovation is provided by a number of European policies. Innovative methods and strategies are required to attract and involve citizens and main stakeholders to undertake buildings’ renovation processes, which actually account for just 1% of the total building stock. This contribution proposes technical and financial solutions for the promotion of energy efficient, safe, and attractive retrofit interventions based on the creation of volumetric additions combined with renewable energy sources. This paper focuses on the urban reality of Athens as being an important example of a degraded urban center with a heavy heat island, a quite important heating demand, and a strong seismic vulnerability. The design solutions presented here demonstrate that the strategy of additions, because of the consequent increased value of the buildings, could represent an effective densification policy for the renovation of existing urban settings. Hence, the aim is to trigger regulatory and market reforms with the aim to boost the revolution towards nearly zero energy buildings for the existing building stocks.
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