scholarly journals Gentrification as an Emerging Source of Environmental Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4847
Author(s):  
Juan Uribe-Toril ◽  
José Ruiz-Real ◽  
Jaime de Pablo Valenciano

Gentrification is a controversial term that refers to certain changes in neighbourhoods that result in the economic and social transformation of a low-income area into one of higher value, moving or pushing out the old population and businesses. The purpose of this paper is to highlight a new branch of research in the field of environmental studies. It presents a bibliometric analysis of the gentrification process, scanning the scientific articles published in journals since 1979, from different knowledge areas and analysing the impact factors and the evolution of the term itself. The review of scientific journals uses the Web of Science and Scopus databases for analysing the evolution of papers, the impact factors and references related to this concept. The results show that the literature related to gentrification is increasing at a very high rate, particularly in the fields of environmental science. Since 1987, the number of scientific papers in environmental studies that have focused on this topic have increased at an annual rate of 60.4%, making it a promising subject for researchers. Thus, the article represents a contribution to identify the main trends in gentrification research and environment and, from there, propose future research initiatives.

Author(s):  
Giorgia Gon ◽  
Abdunoor M. Kabanywanyi ◽  
Petri Blinkhoff ◽  
Simon Cousens ◽  
Stephanie J. Dancer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Healthcare associated infections (HAI) are estimated to affect up to 15% of hospital inpatients in low-income countries (LICs). A critical but often neglected aspect of HAI prevention is basic environmental hygiene, particularly surface cleaning and linen management. TEACH CLEAN is an educational intervention aimed at improving environmental hygiene. We evaluated the effectiveness of this intervention in a pilot study in three high-volume maternity and newborn units in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods This study design prospectively evaluated the intervention as a whole, and offered a before-and-after comparison of the impact of the main training. We measured changes in microbiological cleanliness [Aerobic Colony Counts (ACC) and presence of Staphylococcus aureus] using dipslides, and physical cleaning action using gel dots. These were analysed with descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. We used qualitative (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and semi-structured observation) and quantitative (observation checklist) tools to measure why and how the intervention worked. We describe these findings across the themes of adaptation, fidelity, dose, reach and context. Results Microbiological cleanliness improved during the study period (ACC pre-training: 19%; post-training: 41%). The odds of cleanliness increased on average by 1.33 weekly during the pre-training period (CI = 1.11–1.60), and by 1.08 (CI = 1.03–1.13) during the post-training period. Cleaning action improved only in the pre-training period. Detection of S. aureus on hospital surfaces did not change substantially. The intervention was well received and considered feasible in this context. The major pitfalls in the implementation were the limited number of training sessions at the hospital level and the lack of supportive supervision. A systems barrier to implementation was lack of regular cleaning supplies. Conclusions The evaluation suggests that improvements in microbiological cleanliness are possible using this intervention and can be sustained. Improved microbiological cleanliness is a key step on the pathway to infection prevention in hospitals. Future research should assess whether this bundle is cost-effective in reducing bacterial and viral transmission and infection using a rigorous study design.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia T. Anong ◽  
Aditi Routh

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between prepaid debit card use and the intention to open a bank account within twelve months. The Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Behavior Change helped to conceptualize one's stage in the process of changing from unbanked status if desired. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) provided a framework to examine factors that influence banking intention. Prepaid debit card use is considered a social norm as it is a popular alternative to banking, and these accounts have increasingly mimicked bank account features in recent years.Design/methodology/approachThree in-depth focus group interviews with low-income respondents were first conducted in 2012, which revealed a prolific use of prepaid debit cards. Most participants had previous banking history, and despite negative experiences, some requested information about banking terms and “free” banking. These themes and previous studies informed a TPB-based biprobit model, which was estimated using data of an unbanked sample from 2013, 2015 and 2017 waves of the US Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households.FindingsThough there was banking interest in the focus groups, no significant empirical association was found between recent prepaid debit card use and banking intention. Going deeper with another sample, we found that current cardholders were equally likely to have become recently banked or to be long-term unbanked but less likely to be long-term banked. Also, factors such as a more recent relationship with banks, use of other alternative financial services for transactions and credit, smartphone ownership, and trust increase banking intention.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of the study is the cross-section quantitative data. Future research may track banking status over time, particularly as financial technology (fintech) evolves with alternatives that may influence banks and customers to adapt.Practical implicationsTo compete with “leapfrog” fintech banking alternatives, bank managers should consider utilizing customer segmentation to target “at-risk” customers and former customers with products and terms tailored to meet their banking needs. Banks can also tailor digital products to capture markets in banking desserts through mobile phones.Originality/valueThis mixed-methods study is unique in that it builds on insights from earlier in-depth interviews with real unbanked groups to examine a trend in prepaid debit card use and the impact on banking interest.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahram Heydari ◽  
Adrian Hickford ◽  
Rich McIlroy ◽  
Jeff Turner ◽  
Abdulgafoor M. Bachani

Road safety in low-income countries (LICs) remains a major concern. Given the expected increase in traffic exposure due to the relatively rapid motorisation of transport in LICs, it is imperative to better understand the underlying mechanisms of road safety. This in turn will allow for planning cost-effective road safety improvement programs in a timely manner. With the general aim of improving road safety in LICs, this paper discusses the state of knowledge and proposes a number of future research directions developed from literature reviews and expert elicitation. Our study takes a holistic approach based on the Safe Systems framework and the framework for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. We focused mostly on examining the problem from traffic engineering and safety policy standpoints, but also touched upon other sectors, including public health and social sciences. We identified ten focus areas relating to (i) under-reporting; (ii) global best practices; (iii) vulnerable groups; (iv) disabilities; (v) road crash costing; (vi) vehicle safety; (vii) proactive approaches; (viii) data challenges; (ix) social/behavioural aspects; and (x) capacity building. Based on our findings, future research ought to focus on improvement of data systems, understanding the impact of and addressing non-fatal injuries, improving estimates on the economic burden, implementation research to scale up programs and transfer learnings, as well as capacity development. Our recommendations, which relate to both empirical and methodological frontiers, would lead to noteworthy improvements in the way road safety data collection and research is conducted in the context of LICs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 397-400 ◽  
pp. 397-400
Author(s):  
Xing Liang ◽  
De Hui Liu ◽  
Jia Zhang Gui ◽  
Yun Min Xie ◽  
Jin Guang Huang

A mathematical model of hydropower units shaft is established to characterize the rotor motion with coupling faults which compose of mass eccentricity fault, parallel misalignment fault and angle misalignment fault, and then the simulation results is employed to analyze the impact weight of faults above for vibration and rubbing based on orthogonal test. The research showed that: the major-minor order of impact factors are mass eccentricity, parallel misalignment and angle misalignment. Additionally, the rotating rate is also related to the rotor vibration, and the high rate is easy to induce the rubbing under coupling faults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 622-645
Author(s):  
Quoc Trung Pham ◽  
Dinh Khang Pham

Objective of the study: Although many e-commerce startups have been established in recent years, there is a high rate of business failure in start-up community. In addition, e-commerce in Vietnam is still at a beginning stage with many potentials and risks. The research aims to find impact factors which lead to the success of e-commerce startups in Vietnam.Methodology/approach: The qualitative method was applied to identify appropriate measurement scales. Then, the quantitative questionnaire survey was leveraged to test the research framework based on data from local e-commerce startups.Originality/Relevance: This research focuses on evaluating the impact of founder factors, e-service factors, and external factors on the success of startups in Vietnam.Main results: Research findings show that four factors have significant contribution to e-commerce startups’ success including risk-taking propensity, achievement orientation, reliability of e-service quality, and e-networking. Among the four, risk-taking propensity is the most contributed factor in e-commerce startups’ success.Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study helps to test the measurement scales and contributes an empirical study regarding to the success of startups in a developing country like Vietnam.Social/management contributions: Managerial implications for e-commerce incubators, entrepreneurs, and government are also recommended to improve the success rate of e-commerce startups in Vietnam.


10.28945/4692 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 039-054
Author(s):  
Yahel Giat ◽  
Dan Bouhnik

Aim/Purpose: The first goal is to develop a decision support system for pricing and production amounts for a firm facing high levels of product returns. The second goal is to improve the management of the product returns process. Background: This study was conducted at a food importer and manufacturer in Israel facing a very high rate of product returns, much of which is eventually discarded. The firm’s products are commonly considered to be a low-cost generic alternative and are therefore popular among low-income families. Methodology: A decision support module was added to the plant’s business information system. The module is based on a supply chain pricing model and uses the sales data to infer future demand’s distribution. Ergonomic models were used to improve the design of the returns warehouse and the handling of the returns. Contribution: The decision support system allows to improve the plant’s pricing and quantity planning. Consequently, it reduced the size of product returns. The new design of the returns process is expected to improve worker’s productivity, reduces losses and results in safer outcomes. This study also demonstrates a successful integration and of a theoretical economical model into an information system. Findings: The results show the promise of incorporating pricing supply chain models into informing systems to achieve a practical business task. We were able to construct actual demand distributions from the data and offer actual pricing recommendations that reduce the number of returns while increasing potential profits. We were able to identify key deficiencies in the returns operations and added a module to the decisions support system that improves the returns management and links it with the sales and pricing modules. Finally, we produced a better warehouse design that supports efficient and ergonomic product returns handling. Recommendations for Practitioners: This work can be replicated for different suppliers, manufacturers and retailers that suffer from product returns. They will benefit from the reduction in returns, as well as the decrease in the losses associated with these returns. Recommendation for Researchers: It is worthwhile to research whether decision support systems can be applied to other aspects of the organizations’ operations. Impact on Society: Product returns is a lose-lose situation for producers, retailers and customers. Moreover, mismanagement of these returns is harmful for the environment and may result in the case of foods, in health hazards. Reducing returns and improving the handling improves sustainability and is beneficial for society. Future Research: The decision support system’s underlying pricing model assumes a specific business setting. This can be extended using other pricing models and applying them in a similar fashion to the current application.


2012 ◽  
Vol 588-589 ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Jian Guo Feng ◽  
Gui Hua Li ◽  
Jin Tang Zhang ◽  
Wei Yan Yu

With the rapid economic and social development of China, the attention to environment issue is higher and higher. Current, toxic and hazardous substances polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been detected in the air, water, sediments of the river (or lake) and soil. Part of these PAHs come from (1) volatile of PAHs in solids phase or liquids phase in raw coal ,(2) raw coal incomplete combustion (3) PAHs hydrolyze in a reducing atmosphere. As the basis of PAHs discharging in the process of coal using, it is necessary to summary extraction, purification, analysis of the PAHs in raw coal, conclude species and content of PAHs in raw coal, analysis the impact factors of PAHs distribution, discovered the deficiencies in current research and the future research direction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Syeda Razia Bukhari ◽  
Firdous Afzal

Background: psychological problems are prevailing among university students, which need the attention of university management, government, social workers, and counsellors as well. Aims: to find out the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress among students, and their level of perceived social support. Study also aims to find the impact of perceived social support on psychological problems (depression, anxiety, and stress). Methodology: Cross sectional survey designed was used to collect data, from 200 university students (m=100; f=100). They were selected through purposive sampling technique from various universities of Karachi, Pakistan with mean age (21.79 ±2.970). Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) was used to measure the student’s level of depression, anxiety and stress (Lovibond & lovibond, 1995). Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MPSS) (Zimet et al. 1988) was used to measure social support. Regression analysis was used to test assumption. Results: In our sample out of 200 students, 58%, 69%, 40% have mild to severe level of depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Perceived social supports predict 6%depression and 2% anxiety in our sample respectively. Conclusion: Depression, Anxiety and Stress are highly prevailing among university students. Perceived social support is negatively associated with depression, anxiety and stress. While perceived social support is a significant negative predictor of depression and anxiety. Implications: It is implicated that university students needs counselling services as they are having high rate of psychological problems and low levels of perceived social support. University management should develop policies and programs for increasing perceived social support among students. Future research should look at role of coping in influence of perceived social support on psychological problems.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Arturo Izurieta ◽  
Byron Delgado ◽  
Nicolas Moity ◽  
Monica Calvopiña ◽  
Iván Cedeño ◽  
...  

Galápagos is one of the most pristine archipelagos in the world and its conservation relies upon research and sensible management. In recent decades both the interest in, and the needs of, the islands have increased, yet the funds and capacity for necessary research have remained limited. It has become, therefore, increasingly important to identify areas of priority research to assist decision-making in Galápagos conservation. This study identified 50 questions considered priorities for future research and management. The exercise involved the collaboration of policy makers, practitioners and researchers from more than 30 different organisations. Initially, 360 people were consulted to generate 781 questions. An established process of preworkshop voting and three rounds to reduce and reword the questions, followed by a two-day workshop, was used to produce the final 50 questions. The most common issues raised by this list of questions were human population growth, climate change and the impact of invasive alien species. These results have already been used by a range of organisations and politicians and are expected to provide the basis for future research on the islands so that its sustainability may be enhanced.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 197-197
Author(s):  
Chivon Mingo ◽  
Ronica Rooks

Abstract The rapid transmission of COVID-19 has resulted in more than 100 million confirmed cases in over 200 countries and continues to have wide-community spread. Consistently, it has been reported that older adults are at a greater risk for requiring hospitalization or dying from the virus compared to younger adults and children. In fact, compared to those age 18-29, age 65-74 are five times more likely to be hospitalized and 90 times more likely to experience death. The risk increases exponentially with age. Individuals 85 and older are 13 times more likely to require hospitalization and 630 times more likely to die from the disease. The physical health-age correlation has permeated the media and many discussions concerning the pandemic. However, fewer discussions have centered on the interaction of age and social variables that further exacerbate COVID-19 related burden or mortality such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and limited access to healthcare. Therefore, this symposium will bring direct attention to COVID-19 related health disparities that compromise public health, discuss implications on future research, policy, and practice, and discuss opportunities to reduce the burden and mitigate health inequities. The symposium presenters will specifically address the impact of social support during COVID-19, disparities in the effects of social distancing on health status, the economic impact on health, cognitive decline among low-income older adults navigating a global pandemic, and factors associated with higher rates of hospitalizations among racial/ethnic diverse older adults.


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