ABSTRACT
The deterioration of environmental quality has attracted the attention of the Chinese government and the public. The Chinese government has delegated part of the power of environmental regulation to local governments. To fulfill the KPI, local governments tend to loosen environmental regulations to attract more settlement of enterprises, thus leading to an increasingly fierce local environmental regulation competition. The improvement of people’s living standards makes it possible for the public to participate in environmental regulation. This article seeks to carry out the empirical study to interpret the relationship between local environmental regulation competition, public participation, and enterprise location selection through a random effects (RE) spatial Durbin model with 29 provincial panel data in China from 2004 to 2017. The results show that the provincial spatial spillover effect of enterprise location selection is significant. More intensified local environmental regulation competition can attract more investment but may harm sustainable economic development. Active public participation can effectively avoid the excessive investment caused by local environmental regulation competition and sustain economic development. Therefore, we should establish and improve the local environmental prevention and regulation system and establish an information disclosure mechanism to ensure public participation. The local government’s environmental regulation and public participation mechanism should be effectively coordinated. Copyright © 2022 Mu, Zhan, Ameer, Anser, Zeng and Amin.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dietetics in Canada has greatly evolved since 1993 when a book describing Canadian dietetic history, Canadian Dietitians: Making a Difference, was published, suggesting a need for an update. Objectives: The purpose of the current research is to collect and document the history of dietetics since 1993 on the topic of consulting, defined as dietitians working in individual or group private practice counselling. Methods: Ten consulting dietitians from across Canada were interviewed. A draft timeline of key events was developed as a starting point for discussion. Interview transcripts were coded for descriptive and interpretive content. Inter-rater reliability was ensured through discussion and comparison between three researchers. Results: The Consulting Dietitians Network of Dietitians of Canada, previously the Consulting Dietitians of Ontario, is thought to be the first consulting dietetic network in Canada, established in the early 1980s. Five meta-themes emerged from the data: (i) challenges of consulting dietetics;(ii) promoting the profession;(iii) influence of COVID-19 on consulting dietetics;(iv) flexibility and variety in consulting dietetics;and, (v) ability to provide a high level of care. Consulting dietitians promote themselves and the profession by advertising their services and through involvement in various forms of media. They are able to engage in a variety of different projects due to the flexibility provided by working in private practice. Additionally, counselling in the private sector allows consulting dietitians to support their patients on an individualized basis, often with short wait times and without a referral. Conclusions: Since its inception, consulting dietetics has continued to grow into the relatively popular dietetic career choice it is today. Despite immense progress, there are still many challenges in the consulting dietetic profession including financial challenges, isolation, and competition between consulting dietitians and with unregulated nutrition professionals. Significance: The results of this study have many relevant implications including identifying areas in which consulting dietetics have helped advance the field of dietetics, areas for improvement and key events that shaped the field. The online timeline produced from this project will be available to dietitians and the public to access and learn about the history of consulting dietetics. Funded by: University of Guelph. In-kind support from Dietitians of Canada.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The history of dietetic practice was most recently recorded in the 1993 publication, Canadian Dietitians: Making a Difference. At this time, the role of dietitians working in traditional media (television, radio, newspaper etc.) was emerging. Additionally, social networking websites were non-existent until yr following this book's publication. Thus, historical record in this area of practice is lacking and documentation is required. Objectives: To develop a timeline and conduct key informant interviews to describe the historical experience of dietitians working in traditional and social media from a Canadian perspective since 1993. Methods: A draft timeline of media dietetics was created based on a literature review and descriptions of key media initiatives provided by informants. Eleven key informants completed semi-structured audio-taped telephone interviews, using the draft timeline as a starting point. Recordings were transcribed and coded by six research team members for descriptive and interpretive content using thematic analysis. A social ecologic framework was used to organize themes. Results: Interviewees worked in 9 provinces while involved in the media including Ontario (n = 7), Manitoba (n = 4), Quebec (n = 3), British Columbia (n = 2), Nova Scotia (n = 2), Saskatchewan (n = 2), New Brunswick (n = 1), Alberta (n = 1) and Prince Edward Island (n = 1). They reported 6--41 yr of dietetic work experience in the media (mean: 22.2 yr). Five main meta-themes emerged from the interviews. (i) Media involvement and the expansion from traditional to social media;(ii) advances associated with using media in dietetic practice;(iii) challenges associated with using media in dietetic practice;(iv) media dietetics emerging through DC initiatives and advocacy;and, (v) implications of COVID-19 on the role of media dietitians. Conclusions: Media dietitians play a key role in educating the public and act as trusted and credible sources of nutrition information. Over the past quarter-century, through advances in technology and the development of the internet, Canadian media dietetics has evolved dramatically. Significance: These findings will be used to inform dietitians and students about the history of the profession. A better understanding of dietetic practice in the media can also guide future developments and increase public awareness of the work that dietitians do. Funded by: University of Guelph. In-kind support from Dietitians of Canada.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To analysis effectiveness of the "14 plus 7 day quarantine" and "nucleic acid plus total antibody testing" strategy (combined screening strategy) for screenin the imported patients with COVID-19 in Xiamen. Methods: The study populations were overseas travelers arriving in Xiamen from March 17 to December 31, 2020, and overseas travelers who had quarantine outside Xiamen for less than 21 days from July 18 to December 31, 2020. Data were collected and analyzed on the timing of detection, pathways, and test results of the imported patients with COVID-19 after implementing combined screening strategy. Results: A total of 304 imported patients with COVID-19 were found from 174 628 overseas travelers and 943 overseas travelers from other cities. A total of 163 cases (53.6%) were diagnosed by multitime, multisite intensive nucleic acid testing after positive finding in total antibody testing. Among them, 27 (8.9%) were first positive for nucleic acid in 14 plus 7 day quarantine and 136 were first positive for nucleic acid in 14-day quarantine. Only 8 of these individuals were tested positive for nucleic acid after positive total antibody testing. The other 128 individuals were tested positive for nucleic acid after being negative for average 2.3 times (maximum of 6 times). Aditional 155 cases might be detected by using the combined "14 plus 7 day quarantine" and " nucleic acid plus total antibody testing" strategy compared with "14-day quarantine and nucleic acid testing" strategy, accounting for 51.0% of the total inbound infections. So the combined screening strategy doubled the detection rate for imported patients with COVID-19. No second-generation case caused by overseas travelers had been reported in Xiamen as of February 26, 2021. Conclusions: Xiamen's combined screening strategy can effectively screen the imported patients with COVID-19 who were first positive for nucleic acid after 14 day quarantine. Compared with "14 day quarantine and nucleic acid testing", the combined screening strategy improved detection rate and further reduced the risk of the secondary transmission caused by the imported patients with COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Nucleic Acids , Humans , Mass Screening , Quarantine , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Although previous studies have proved the association between air pollution and respiratory viral infection, given the relatively short history of human infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), the linkage between long-term air pollution exposure and the morbidity of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia remains poorly understood. To fill this gap, this study investigates the influences of particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM3.0), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O-3), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) on COVID-19 incidence rate based on the prefecture-level morbidity count and air quality data in China. Annual means for ambient PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and O-3 concentrations in each prefecture are used to estimate the population's exposure. We leverage identical statistical methods, i.e., Spearman's rank correlation and negative binomial regression model, to demonstrate that people who are chronically exposed to ambient air pollution are more likely to be infected by COVID-19. Our statistical analysis indicates that a 1 mu g m(-3) increase of PM2.5, PM3.0, NO2 and O-3 can result in 1.95% (95% CI: 0.83-3.08%), 0.55% (95% CI: -0.05-1.17%), 4.63% (95% CI: 3.07-6.22%) rise and 2.05% (95% CI: 0.51-3.59%) decrease of COVID-19 morbidity. However, we observe nonsignificant association with long-term SO2 and CO exposure to COVID-19 morbidity in this study. Our results' robustness is examined based on sensitivity analyses that adjust for a wide range of confounders, including socio-economic, demographic, weather, healthcare, and mobility-related variables. We acknowledge that more laboratory results are required to prove the etiology of these associations.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out the active compounds of Yupingfeng San for the prevention and treatment of the coronavirus pneumoniadisease 2019 (COVID-19) using network pharmacology and molecular docking, with a purpose to find a better clinical use of Yupingfeng San. Methods: The effective ingredients and targets of Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Saposhnikoviae Radix were searched from the traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology analysis platform (TCMSP) website, and the protein and protein interactive network of Yupingfeng San was established using the String database (PPI). Cytoscape 3.6.1 software was used for data analysis to extract the Hub network from the PPI network. The KEGG pathway analysis was performed using the String database and the molecular docking was performed using ChemOffice, PyMOL, and Auto Dock software. Results: A total of 45 effective ingredients were obtained with limited screening conditions [oral bioavailability (OB) ≥ 30%;drug-like (DL) ≥ 0.18], and 345 potential targets and 15 key targets of Yupingfeng San were screened. A total of 50 pathways were obtained by KEGG pathway analysis, among which 25 main pathways were selected, including PIK3R1 target regulation PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathways and T cell receptor signaling pathways. Conclusion: The active compounds in Yupingfeng San can inhibit the combination between SARS-CoV-2 protein and angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2), thus regulating multiple signal pathways (PIK3R1, IGF1R, etc), which plays a role in the prevention of COVID-19.