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In this paper, I explore multiple methods of ceramic seriation, including correspondence analysis and frequency seriation, to revise the regional ceramic sequence for the Mississippian period of northern Georgia in the Southeastern United States, a period defined by the emergence of complex sociopolitical organization and marked socioeconomic inequality. I present a Bayesian radiocarbon framework for interpreting these seriations and situating them in absolute time. As the acquisition of new data and new analyses continuously demand reevaluations of any ceramic chronology, the analytical framework outlined here offers an avenue for future ceramic and radiocarbon datasets to be formally integrated with extant datasets to quantitatively reevaluate archaeological sequences. Because changes to materials and material attributes continue to be employed to construct culture-historical narratives and timelines across the world, especially for the purpose of highlighting and defining critical social, political, economic, and cultural transitions, the methodological approach presented here provides opportunities to formally explore, assess, and re-evaluate temporalities of cultural change. • Regional ceramic seriations are used to build a Bayesian chronological model. • Ninety-six radiocarbon dates are interpreted within a Bayesian framework. • The ceramic chronology for northern Georgia, USA is substantially revised. • Comparison to extant chronologies implies major revisions to sociopolitical timelines. • Models are baselines for interpretation of new data and chronological refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Historical trends show that the total area of agricultural land in Nepal has changed markedly over time, but few studies have addressed the causative drivers underlying this change. Evaluating the perceptions of farmers is an effective tool for addressing this issue because it reflects the full range of drivers associated with changes in land use. This study utilizes historical agricultural area, population, and climate data for 1910–2010, combined with a series of applied household surveys and focus group discussions to assess farmers' perceptions of these changes and identify the major drivers. The paired t -test was employed to measure differences between various groups of drivers. The total area of agricultural land in Nepal has expanded rapidly since 1910, more intensively in the southern (Tarai) and central (Hill) ecological regions of the country, and has decreased slightly near large cities in recent decades. Farmers' perceptions show that socioeconomic variables were considered to be the crucial drivers of changes in agricultural land use. The three other major drivers were grouped as: neighborhood, climate–topography, and policy drivers. In particular, farmers pointed to the high level of population growth (93.96%) as the main factor underlying the changes, and the majority of drivers are associated with this variable. Access to roads (77.36%), urbanization (33.77%), government policies (23.58%), and remittance impact (16.79%) are other notable triggering variables. The paired t -test results equating variables from different groups of drivers and ecological regions indicate varied significance (p -values range from 0.004 to 0.983). Our analysis confirms that the synergy between social and natural observations can be integrated to obtain research findings that identify scientific and social issues. The interplay between the drivers should be emphasized in developing plans for sustainable agricultural land use management. Highlights • Evaluated drivers of agricultural land use change in Nepal using farmers' perception. • Farmers perceived that socioeconomic factors are the crucial driver. • High population growth is the primary factor underlying these changes. • Government policies are a salient indicator of agricultural land use change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heat waves and high air temperature are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the majority of research conducted on this topic is focused on high income areas of the world. Although heat waves have the most severe impacts on vulnerable populations, relatively few studies have studied their impacts in low and middle income countries (LMICs). The aim of this paper is to review the existing evidence in the literature on the impact of heat on human health in LMICs. We identified peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies published in English between January 1980 and August 2018 investigating potential associations between high ambient temperature or heat waves and mortality or morbidity. We selected studies according to the following criteria: quantitative studies that used primary and/or secondary data and report effect estimates where ambient temperature or heat waves are the main exposure of interest in relation to human morbidity or mortality within LMICs. Of the total 146 studies selected, eighty-two were conducted in China, nine in other countries of East Asia and the Pacific, twelve in South Asia, ten in Sub-Saharan Africa, eight in the Middle East and North Africa, and seven in each of Latin America and Europe. The majority of studies (92.9%) found positive associations between heat and human morbidity/mortality. Additionally, while outcome variables and study design differed greatly, most utilized a time-series study design and examined overall heath related morbidity/mortality impacts in an entire population, although it is notable that the selected studies generally found that the elderly, women, and individuals within the low socioeconomic brackets were the most vulnerable to the effects of high temperature. By highlighting the existing evidence on the impact of extreme heat on health in LMICs, we hope to determine data needs and help direct future studies in addressing this knowledge gap. The focus on LMICs is justified by the lack of studies and data studying the health burden of higher temperatures in these regions even though LMICs have a lower capacity to adapt to high temperatures and thus an increased risk. Highlights • The majority of research conducted on the impacts of heat on health is focused on high income areas of the world. • Most of the studies were conducted in China, and other countries of Asia and the Pacific. • We provide recommendations regarding methodological challenges and alternative sources of health and environmental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract With a rapid economic growth and social development in China, the associated problems of water pollution and shortage of water resources would limit the sustainable and coordinated development of socioeconomic and water environmental systems of urban cities. To investigate the relationship of coupling coordination between social economy and water environment on urban scale, we introduced an integrated approach that enables the dynamic evaluation of coupling coordination degree (CCD), which consists of a system dynamics model and a coupling coordination degree model; and applied it to a case study in Kunming in 2016–2025. The business-as-usual (BAU) scenario and five alternative regulating scenarios are simulated to evaluate the effectiveness exerted by various socioeconomic development patterns and water protection efforts in improving CCD. We found that the improvement of CCD could attribute to both the sufficient water protection efforts and the maintaining sustainable speed and scale of socioeconomic development patterns. Under BAU scenario, Kunming would maintain the current state of barely balanced development with CCD at 0.5–0.8, predominantly due to substantial water consumption and pollution. Through the comparison of dynamic evolutions of system indicators and CCD under five alternative regulating scenarios, it is realistic for Kunming to plan its future development in accordance to M-H scenario (Medium-speed socioeconomic development pattern; High-intensity water protection effort). Following this scenario, Kunming's CCD would conform to a steadily increasing trend in 2016–2025 and remain above 0.8 in 2022–2025, tracing a shift in the development stage of that coupling coordination from "barely balanced development" to "highly balanced development" despite the difficulty to cut NH 3 -N emission significantly. The effective and feasible regulatory measures such as reducing productive or domestic water pollutants and consumptions; improving collection and reuse rates of wastewater, should be prioritized when adjusting coordination development during decision-making. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • We studied coupling coordination of social economy-water environment of a city system. • An integrated model is developed and applied to test regulating scenarios in Kunming. • Kunming would benefit under moderate development-high water protection conditions. • Regulatory measures could improve coupling coordination degree in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The development of mining and other resource-based industries are among key drivers of economic development in the Arctic. The fragile environment and the presence of nature-based livelihoods and indigenous communities pose challenges for mining development. Mining operations should be optimized so that the profitability is maintained in changing market conditions and to meet increasing societal and environmental demands. In this study we present the current understanding on the interplay between mining and the surrounding socio-ecological systems in the Arctic region. The existing academic literature on the Arctic region was reviewed, covering 127 peer-reviewed publications since 2000. We investigated the mining activities from four perspectives examining: 1) environmental, 2) economic, 3) social and 4) legal dimensions, covering three life-cycle stages: 1) pre-mining, 2) mining, and 3) post-mining. The publications on the environmental and economic aspects focused principally on the impacts of mining, whereas social and legal publications discussed the interaction between people and their rights and ways of controlling their environment. Besides the need for more balanced research between different life-cycle stages we uncovered five research gaps concerning the knowledge base needed to increase the sustainability of Arctic mining: 1) impacts and adaptation to climate change, 2) monitoring the sustainability of mining using standardized indicators, 3) holistic economic assessment of mining, 4) social sustainability and conflict management, and 5) mechanisms that mitigate or compensate for the adverse effects of mining on biodiversity. Graphical abstract Image 10045 Highlights • We review 127 publications on the impacts of mining in the Arctic region. • Socioeconomic impacts of mining differ for frontier and developed regions. • Environmental impacts of mining are negative and often long-term. • Present mechanisms may not sufficiently regulate the long-term impacts of mining. • The knowledge base for sustainable mining can be increased in five research areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Canary Islands are recognized as an area of particular interest to exploit and to promote the use of renewable energies as a way to reduce its energy dependence on fossil fuels and ultimately reach energy self-sufficiency and sustainability. A common major problem in mid-latitude small and remote islands is the low annual precipitation rate and the associated freshwater scarcity, leading to the installation of desalination plants powered by oil. In this context, the assessment of wave energy potential along with socioeconomic and environmental factors in a selected area at the north side of Gran Canaria Island shows that wave power availability is adequate for its exploitation and there are no sources of potential conflicts that prevent the installation of wave energy converters. In particular, the harvesting of wave energy to power existing seawater desalination plants, fully based in the use of oil, is considered as a viable, appealing and advantageous alternative over the direct injection to the electric network. Highlights • Wave power availability in the north flank of Gran Canaria Island is assessed. • Environmental and socioeconomic points are rated to detect potential problems avoiding the installation of WEC's. • Exploitation of wave energy to power oil-based seawater desalination plants results to be a viable and advantageous option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents global estimates of nutrient discharge from households to surface water based on the relationships between income and human emissions represented by protein consumption, degree of connection to sewerage systems, presence of wastewater treatment plants and their level of nutrient removal efficiency. These relationships were used to construct scenarios for discharge of nutrients with waste water based on the five Shared Socio-economic Pathways for the period from 1970 to 2050. The number of inhabitants connected to a sewerage system will increase by 2–4 billion people between 2010 and 2050. Despite the enhanced nutrient removal by wastewater treatment, which will increase by 10%–40% between 2010 and 2050, nutrient discharge to surface water will increase in all scenarios by 10%–70% (from 10.4 Tg nitrogen (N) in 2010 to 13.5–17.9 Tg N by 2050 and from 1.5 Tg phosphorus (P) in 2010 to 1.6–2.4 Tg P by 2050). In most developing countries, nutrient discharge to surface water will strongly increase over the next decades, and in developed countries it will stabilize or decrease slightly. A global decrease in nutrient discharge is possible only when wastewater treatment plants are extended with at least tertiary treatment in developing countries and with advanced treatment in the developed countries. In future urban areas that will be developed over the 2010–2050 period, options for recycling can be included in wastewater management systems. A separate collection system for urine can yield 15 Tg N yr−1 and 1.2 Tg P yr−1, which can be made available for recycling in agriculture. The SDG 6.3 about safely treated waste water by 2030 will be reached in the developed countries in 2030. In the developing countries, the goal will be reached by 2050 only under SSP1, SSP2 and SSP5. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Sewerage connections for 2–4 billion inhabitants are needed between 2010 and 2050. • Despite enhanced wastewater treatment, nutrient discharge will rapidly increase. • The SDG for wastewater treatment will not be achieved until in the year 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study develops a hybrid energy agent-based model that integrates the input–output analysis, environmental factors and socioeconomic characteristics of rural and urban households in Indonesia. We use the model to estimate the effects of four solar energy policy interventions on photovoltaic (PV) investments, government expenditure, economic outputs, CO 2e emissions and the uses of steel, aluminium, concrete and energy. The results of our analysis call for the abolition of the PV donor gift policy, the improvement of production efficiency in the PV industry and the establishment of after-sales services and rural financing institutions. A 100 W peak (Wp) PV under this recommendation would be affordable for 80.6% of rural households that are projected to be without access to electricity in 2029. Net metering is the most effective policy for encouraging urban people to invest in PV in a situation where fossil energy prices are increasing and PV prices are declining. A donor gift policy may induce USD 51.9 new economic outputs for every Wp of PV operating to capacity in 2029, but would require a subsidy of USD 18.6/Wp. The recommended policies do not require subsidies and reduce CO 2eq emissions and the consumption of aluminium, energy, steel and concrete by between 83.1% and 89.7% more than the existing policy. Several policy implications are discussed in response to these findings. As a contribution to energy modelling literature, the model can be used for other developing countries by merely changing its data. Highlights • A hybrid social-energy-economic-environment model is developed. • Solar energy policies in Indonesia should be reformed. • Financing access program is the most efficient policy for rural electrification. • Net metering is the most effective policy for photovoltaic investments in urban area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) during childhood has been linked to disparities in physical and mental health. A growing body of research has focused on identifying neurodevelopmental consequences of SED, commonly measured using within-household factors (e.g., household income), to better understand the processes underlying SED-related disparities. These studies suggest that childhood SED has a widespread impact on brain development, altering development of multiple brain regions simultaneously. These findings also raise the possibility that childhood SED impacts development of key brain systems, such as the salience and emotion network (SEN), which is positioned at the intersection of brain systems involved in cognitive and emotion-related functioning and is thought to mediate information flow within and between these networks. The present study tests for associations between household- and community-level SED, as well as their interaction, and measures of SEN-based functional neural organization in 57 children and adolescents (ages 6–17). We applied graph theoretical analyses to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to examine SEN-based functional network topology. Results showed that youth residing in more distressed communities demonstrate lower hub-like properties (i.e., less efficient global information transfer and fewer connections) of two core SEN nodes – the anterior cingulate cortex and the left supramarginal gyrus. Similarly, lower household income was associated with lower efficiency of the anterior cingulate, but had no effect on the supramarginal gyrus. There was, however, an interaction between income and community SED in the rostral prefrontal cortex, such that higher income was associated with higher clustering coefficient and lower betweenness centrality, suggesting greater local processing and lower influence of this region on information flow across the network. These effects were significant only among youth living in low (but not high) SED communities, suggesting that within-household SED factors may not protect against the detrimental effects of a disadvantaged community context. Similarly, the age-related increase in average path length of the left rostral prefrontal cortex was only significant among youth living in low (but not high) SED communities. Given that maturation of the SEN is considered to be a critical functional backbone supporting the development of more flexible cognitive and emotional processes into adulthood, we tested for links between SEN graph metrics and measures of cognitive and emotion-related functioning. We found that higher community SED and lower income were both associated with lower IQ. Lower IQ, in turn, was associated with global efficiency of the left supramarginal gyrus. Observed effects of SED on SEN-based functional neural organization may help to explain the strong and pervasive link between childhood SED and disparities in cognitive and emotional outcomes. Highlights • Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) is linked to a range of poor outcomes • Neuroimaging studies suggest that childhood SED has widespread impact on the brain • Most studies have examined household SED (e.g., income) but not community SED • Community SED had unique effects on the salience and emotion brain network • SED-related changes in the brain were also associated with lower IQ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with atypical development in specific brain regions, yet the relation between poverty and whole brain network organization (i.e., the connectome , a set of brain regions connected with neuronal pathways) has not been characterized. Developmental studies indicate that the connectome undergoes rapid change during childhood and is consequently likely to be highly sensitive to both salutary and detrimental influences. We investigated associations between the socioeconomic disparities measured by the income-to-needs ratio (INR) in childhood and structural brain network organization with 144 healthy children between 6 and 11 years of age (mean age = 8 years). INR of girls was positively and logarithmically associated with the extent to which brain networks were efficiently organized, suggesting that girls in more impoverished environments had less efficient brain network organization. Lower INR was associated with network inefficiency in multiple cortical regions including prefrontal cortex, cingulate, and insula, and in subcortical regions including the hippocampus and amygdala. These findings suggest that childhood poverty may result in wide-spread disruptions of the brain connectome among girls, particularly at the lowest INR levels, and are differentially expressed in females and males. Highlights • The relation between poverty and childhood brain network was investigated. • Children exposed to poverty had less efficient brain network organization. • Lower family income had a greater effect on children's network efficiency. • Childhood poverty resulted in wide-spread disruptions of the brain connectome. • These associations were primarily observed in girls compared to boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Creation of protected areas to conserve biodiversity can have both positive and negative impacts, with impacts unequally distributed within local communities. A global shift towards local community involvement in protected area governance and co-management has aimed to reduce costs of protected area establishment and their uneven distribution. Yet, there is mixed evidence to support whether such initiatives are succeeding. Here, a protected area in Madagascar is used as a case study to explore how co-management governance processes impact upon livelihood strategies and outcomes, and how these impacts are distributed within and between villages. Focus groups, interviews and questionnaires were conducted in 2015/16 with households surrounding a protected area, co-managed by local community associations and a national NGO. Data analysis was framed around the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. The majority of respondents perceived negative livelihood outcomes, and impacts were unevenly distributed between social groups. Respondents were more likely to report negative livelihood outcomes if they were from remote villages, poorer households and reliant on provisioning ecosystem services before protected area establishment. Qualitative data showed that the main drivers of this were protected area-related rules and regulations restricting forest activities. Drivers of improved livelihood outcomes were training and materials improving agricultural yields and increased community cohesion. Although co-managed protected areas may be overall more effective in meeting biological and socio-economic goals than protected areas of other governance types, the evidence here suggests that governance processes can lead to local perceptions of inequity. Highlights • Perceived livelihood impacts were distributed unevenly between social groups. • The majority of respondents perceived negative livelihood outcomes. • Respondents reporting negative outcomes lived in remote villages, were poorer or more reliant on forest resources. • Main drivers of negative outcomes were protected area related rules and restrictions on forest access. • Main drivers of positive outcomes were improved agricultural yields and increased community cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Reducing CH 4 emissions is a major global challenge, owing to the world-wide rise in emissions and concentration of CH 4 in the atmosphere, especially in the past decade. China has been the greatest contributor to global anthropogenic CH 4 emissions for a long time, but current understanding towards its growing emissions is insufficient. This paper aims to link China's CH 4 emissions during 2005–2012 to their socioeconomic determinants by combining input-output models with structural decomposition analysis from both the consumption and income perspectives. Results show that changes in household consumption and income were the leading drivers of the CH 4 growth in China, while changes in efficiency remained the strongest factor offsetting CH 4 emissions. After 2007, with the global financial crisis and economic stimulus plans, embodied emissions from exports plunged but those from capital formation increased rapidly. The enabled emissions in employee compensation increased steadily over time, whereas emissions induced from firms' net surplus decreased gradually, reflecting the reform on income distribution. In addition, at the sectoral level, consumption and capital formation respectively were the greatest drivers of embodied CH 4 emission changes from agriculture and manufacturing, while employee compensation largely determined the enabled emission changes across all industrial sectors. The growth of CH 4 emissions in China was profoundly affected by the macroeconomic situation and the changes of economic structure. Examining economic drivers of anthropogenic CH 4 emissions can help formulate comprehensive mitigation policies and actions associated with economic production, supply and consumption. Highlights • We explore the socioeconomic determinants of China's growing CH 4 emissions. • Supply-side and demand-side structures in the economy affected CH 4 emission growth. • Key sectors and driving forces for embodied and enabled emissions are identified. • Adjusting economic structures could be more effective in mitigating CH 4 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Management of water resources poses a particular challenge in cities, due to the extensive degradation of the urban ecosystem and its limited self-regulatory capacity as compared to natural systems. Effective management requires an in-depth understanding of the sources (drivers) giving rise to such risk. This paper reports on a participatory identification of such factors driving the risk to urban water resources in the city of Łódź, Poland, carried out with the aim of testing a simple risk analysis tool (DAPSET - Drivers and Pressures - Strength Evaluation Tool), intended to yield the kind of complex data able to help assist city managers in decision-making processes. In the first part of the study, a number of selected public officials, students, researchers and NGO representatives were asked to rank the key socioeconomic drivers of water resources in the city. The four drivers identified as key (a low degree of environmental awareness among citizens, low law-enforcement efficiency, the city's low economic potential and land use changes) were then scrutinized in the second part of the study, which included a self-administered questionnaire designed to create a risk profile of drivers based on the DAPSET. Each of the four key drivers were analyzed with reference to eleven features. DAPSET revealed that all the key drivers share certain common features: they affect a large spatial scale, the damage they cause is persistent, and they involve either medium-high damage potential or probability of damage. The major differences between them stem from the dynamic features of the risk: societal attraction, invisibility, and availability of information. Analysis of the risk profiles so created against risk types pointed to the desirable directions of management and a need to go beyond standard actions. Highlights • Participatory selection of main drivers of the status of urban water resource. • Drivers considered by stakeholders were: economy, awareness, law, land use. • The DAPSET tool based on 11 risk characteristics was tested on the drivers. • The individual risk profile was drawn for each of the drivers. • The management recommendations were derived based on risk classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Studies assessing socio-economic disparities in air pollution exposure and susceptibility are usually based on a single air pollution model. A time stratified case-crossover study was designed to assess the impact of the type of model on differential exposure and on the differential susceptibility in the relationship between ozone exposure and daily mortality by socio-economic strata (SES) in Montreal. Non-accidental deaths along with deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory causes on the island of Montreal for the period 1991–2002 were included as cases. Daily ozone concentration estimates at partictaipants' residence were obtained from the five following air pollution models: Average value (AV), Nearest station model (NS), Inverse-distance weighting interpolation (IDW), Land-use regression model with back-extrapolation (LUR-BE) and Bayesian maximum entropy model combined with a land-use regression (BME-LUR). The prevalence of a low household income (< 20,000/year) was used as socio-economic variable, divided into two categories as a proxy for deprivation. Multivariable conditional logistic regressions were used considering 3-day average concentrations. Multiplicative and additive interactions (using Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction) as well as Cochran's tests were calculated and results were compared across the different air pollution models. Heterogeneity of susceptibility and exposure according to socio-economic status (SES) were found. Ratio of exposure across SES groups means ranged from 0.75 [0.74–0.76] to 1.01 [1.00–1.02], respectively for the LUR-BE and the BME-LUR models. Ratio of mortality odds ratios ranged from 1.01 [0.96–1.05] to 1.02 [0.97–1.08], respectively for the IDW and LUR-BE models. Cochran's test of heterogeneity between the air pollution models showed important heterogeneity regarding the differential exposure by SES, but the air pollution model was not found to influence heterogeneity regarding the differential susceptibility. The study showed air pollution models can influence the assessment of disparities in exposure according to SES in Montreal but not that of disparities in susceptibility. Highlights • Daily exposure to ozone may vary across air pollution models, considerably. • The exposure model influenced disparity of exposure across socio-economic strata. • The air pollution model does not affect disparity of susceptibility. • Multiple air pollution models should be used to assess socio-economic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Important risk factors for long-term survival of lung transplant (LT) recipients are infection, acute graft rejection (AR) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) is associated with increased graft failure rate after heart and kidney transplantation, but has not been investigated in LT recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate an association between LT recipients' SED status and development of AR, CLAD, and long-term survival. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Over a 23 y period, 233 patients were identified from the Auckland City Hospital Lung Transplant Registry, Auckland, New Zealand. All patients were divided into two groups according to the 2013 New Zealand Deprivation Index Score. Results The incidence of AR in the higher SED group was 34.0/100 person-y (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.7-46.7/100 person-y) and in the lower SED group 40.2/100 person-y (95% CI: 33.5-48.3/100 person-y) ( P = 0.373). The incidence of CLAD in the higher SED group was 10.7/100 person-y (95% CI: 6.2-18.4/100 person-y) and 9.3 (6.9-12.5/100 person-y) in the lower SED group ( P = 0.645). Mortality in the higher SED group was 12.9/100 person-y (95% CI: 9.2-17.9/100 person-y) and 12.4/100 person-y (95% CI: 10.0-15.3/100 person-y) in the lower SED group ( P = 0.834). Conclusions SED status of LT recipients in New Zealand has no negative effect on development of AR, CLAD, and patients’ survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases has been on the rise and the co-occurrence of morbidities is becoming more common. Multimorbidities are found more frequently among women, those with a history of mental disorders, lower level of schooling, and unfavorable socioeconomic condition. Physical inactivity, smoking and obesity are also associated with multimorbidities. Its occurrence is directly related to the age, affecting the majority of the individuals with more than 50 years old. It is important to consider the possibility of comorbid conditions that aggravate, complicate or simulate the symptoms of the disease in the face of a patient with asthma and poor response to treatment. Among subjects with asthma, some conditions stand out as the most frequent: chronic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, obesity, and cardiovascular disorders. Comorbidities reduce the chances of optimal asthma control. It is essential to assess and manage properly these complex situations, choosing wisely preventive strategies and treatment options to avoid adverse events and optimize outcomes. Medications for asthma have the potential to worsen cardiovascular conditions, while beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and angiotensin conversion enzyme inhibitors used for cardiovascular conditions, can worsen asthma. Handling properly these cases will save lives and resources. However, there are multiple gaps in knowledge requiring investigation in this field to inform integrated care pathways and policies. It is likely information may be obtained from real life studies and electronic medical databases. Communications between the providers and patients may be facilitated by electronic technology, opening a large window for guided self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resting state electroencephalography (RS-EEG) is a commonly used neurophysiological technique which provides a measure of brain activity when an individual is awake and not performing any assigned cognitive task. Because this relatively simple and non-invasive method is suitable for many ages and populations, a large and diverse literature has amassed. The focus of this review is to describe and synthesize RS-EEG literature across the lifespan while emphasizing the associations between RS-EEG and cognition. We also highlight contextual influences on RS-EEG, such as socioeconomic status and early deprivation. We conclude with a discussion of key insights into brain development and associated changes in cognition which we gathered during our review. We also identify gaps in the literature and areas of future research using RS-EEG that can advance our understanding of brain and cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some cervical cancer screening programmes are replacing cytology with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing as the primary screening test. Concerns have been previously raised around the potential psychosocial impact of testing positive for HPV. We analysed socio-economic variations in anticipated adverse reactions to testing positive for HPV in women of screening age in the general population. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 5553 women aged 20-64 in 2010, selected through primary care in Ireland. This included questions on: socio-economics; HPV knowledge; and women's anticipated adverse psychosocial responses to testing HPV positive (shame, anxiety, stigma and worry). Multivariable linear regression was used to identify socio-economic factors significantly associated with each anticipated adverse reaction. The response rate was 62% (n = 3470). In multivariate analyses, having only attained primary level education were significantly associated with higher mean scores for all four adverse outcomes. Religion was significantly associated with all four adverse outcomes. Age was associated with anxiety and worry; younger women (<30 years) had the highest mean scores. Being married/cohabiting was significantly associated with significantly lower shame and worry scores. Not working was significantly associated with higher mean anxiety and worry scores. Our large population-based survey found significant socio-economic variations in anticipated adverse reactions to testing HPV positive. In order to minimise possible negative impacts on screening uptake and alleviate potential adverse psychological effects of HPV-based screening on women, screening programmes may need to develop specific messages around HPV infection and HPV screening that target certain subgroups of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple health behaviors could have greater impact on chronic diseases than single behaviors, but correlates of behavioral clusters are relatively understudied. Using data from NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (initiated in 1995) for 324,522 participants from the U.S. (age 50-71), we conducted exploratory factor analysis to identify clusters of adherence to eight cancer prevention behaviors. Poisson regressions examined associations between cluster scores and neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, measured with census block group (1) poverty and (2) low education. Four clusters emerged: Movement (adequate physical activity/less TV); Abstinence (never smoked/less alcohol); Weight control (healthy body mass index/high fruits and vegetables); and Other (adequate sleep/receiving cancer screenings). Scores on all clusters were lower for participants in neighborhoods with the highest poverty (most deprived quintile versus least deprived: relative risk [RR] = 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94-0.96) for Movement, 0.98 (95% CI = 0.97-0.99) for Abstinence, 0.94 (95% CI = 0.92-0.95) for Weight control, and 0.94 (95% CI = 0.93-0.95) for Other; all p < 0.001). Scores on three clusters were lower for participants in neighborhoods with the lowest education (RR = 0.88 (95% CI = 0.87-0.89) for Movement, 0.89 (95% CI = 0.88-0.90) for Weight control, and 0.90 (95% CI = 0.89-0.91) for Other; all p < .001). Health behaviors among older adults demonstrated four clusters. Neighborhood deprivation was associated with lower scores on clusters, suggesting that interventions to reduce concentrated deprivation may be an efficient approach for improving multiple behaviors simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to quantify the relationship between deprivation and national breast cancer screening programme (NBCSP) participation at an ecological level in mainland France. Data from 4,805,390 women-living in 36,209 municipalities within 95 departments-participating in the 2013-2014 NBCSP were analysed using the French Deprivation Index (FDep). FDep population quintiles by municipality were computed to describe NBCSP participation according to deprivation. To better examine the relationship between continuous value of deprivation index and participation rates at the municipality level, we built a generalized linear mixed model. Geographical variations in participation rates were marked. The national standardized participation rate was higher in the intermediate quintiles (55%), 45% for the least deprived one and 52% for the most deprived one. Using our model, we also obtained an inverted U-curve for the relationship between NBCSP participation and municipality deprivation: participation was lower for both the least and most deprived municipalities. This relationship was also observed for each of the two subpopulations-urban municipalities and rural ones-considered separately. Introducing the FDep in the model reduced slightly the unexplained variations in participation rates between departments and between municipalities (with a proportional change in variance of 14% and 12% respectively). We highlight major disparities in departmental participation rates and FDep/participation profiles. However, deprivation appears to have only little influence on geographical variation in participation rates. There is a need to further understand the factors affecting geographical variation in participation rates, in particular the use of opportunistic screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper estimates intergenerational elasticities across three generations in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring how maternal and paternal grandfathers predict the economic status of their grandsons and granddaughters. We document that the relationship between the income of grandparents and grandchildren differs by gender. The socio-economic status of grandsons is more strongly associated with the status of paternal grandfathers than maternal grandfathers. The status of maternal grandfathers is more strongly correlated with the status of granddaughters than grandsons, while the opposite is true for paternal grandfathers. We argue that the findings can be rationalized by a model of gender-specific intergenerational transmission of traits and imperfect assortative mating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), preventable through appropriate management of absolute CVD risk, disproportionately affects socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. The aim of this study was to estimate absolute and relative socioeconomic inequalities in absolute CVD risk and treatment in the Australian population using cross-sectional representative data on 4751 people aged 45-74 from the 2011-12 Australian Health Survey. Poisson regression was used to calculate prevalence differences (PD) and ratios (PR) for prior CVD, high 5-year absolute risk of a primary CVD event and guideline-recommended medication use, in relation to socioeconomic position (SEP, measured by education). After adjusting for age and sex, the prevalence of high absolute risk of a primary CVD event among those of low, intermediate and high SEP was 12.6%, 10.9% and 7.7% (PD, low vs. high = 5.0 [95% CI: 2.3, 7.7], PR = 1.6 [1.2, 2.2]) and for prior CVD was 10.7%, 9.1% and 6.7% (PD = 4.0 [1.4, 6.6], PR = 1.6 [1.1, 2.2]). The proportions using preventive medication use among those with high primary risk were 21.3%, 19.5% and 29.4% for low, intermediate and high SEP and for prior CVD, were 37.8%, 35.7% and 17.7% (PD = 20.1 [9.7, 30.5], PR = 2.1 [1.3, 3.5]). Proportions at high primary risk and not using medications among those of low, intermediate and high SEP were 10.6%, 8.8% and 4.7% and with prior CVD and not using medications were 8.5%, 6.3% and 4.1%. Findings indicate substantial potential to prevent CVD and reduce inequalities through appropriate management of high absolute risk in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although middle childhood is an important period for the development of hot and cool executive functions (EFs), longitudinal studies investigating trajectories of childhood EF development are still limited and little is known about predictors for individual developmental trajectories. The current study examined the development of two typical facets of cool and hot EFs over a 3-year period during middle childhood, comparing a younger cohort (6- and 7-year-olds at the first wave [T1]; n  = 621) and an older cohort (8- and 9-year-olds at T1; n  = 975) of children. “Cool” working memory updating (WM) was assessed using a backward digit span task, and “hot” decision making (DM) was assessed using a child variant of the Iowa Gambling Task. Linear latent growth curve analyses revealed evidence for developmental growth as well as interindividual variance in the initial level and rate of change in both EF facets. Initial level of WM was positively associated with age (both between and within cohorts), socioeconomic status, verbal ability, and processing speed, whereas initial levels of DM were, in addition to a (potentially age-related) cohort effect, exclusively predicted by gender, with boys outperforming girls. None of the variables predicted the rate of change, that is, the developmental trajectories. However, younger children, as compared with older children, had slightly steeper WM growth curves over time, hinting at a leveling off in the development of WM during middle childhood. In sum, these data add important evidence to the understanding of hot and cool EF development during middle childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the World Values Survey for 51 countries, we conduct a multi-level analysis with mixed effects multinomial logistic regression models to explore the effects of economic context, cultural context, and national security events on immigration policy attitudes. Analyses of attitudes towards immigration to date have been limited in key respects: the scope has been mostly restricted to Western Europe and the Americas; limited attention has been paid to institutional and sociopolitical features of the macro-context; and national security events have been rarely taken into account. We propose a theoretical framework incorporating three overarching contextual domains. We find support for two of the three contextual domains. Contrary to our expectation, macro-level economic context shows no association immigration policy attitudes, and socio-cultural context evinces unexpected patterns. However, in the national security domain, recent terrorist events demonstrate a consistent association with anti-immigration policy attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unhealthy behaviors and their social patterning have been frequently proposed as factors mediating socioeconomic differences in health. However, a clear quantification of the contribution of health behaviors to the socioeconomic gradient in health is lacking. This study systematically reviews the role of health behaviors in explaining socioeconomic inequalities in health. Published studies were identified by a systematic review of PubMed, Embase and Web-of-Science. Four health behaviors were considered: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and diet. We restricted health outcomes to cardiometabolic disorders and mortality. To allow comparison between studies, the contribution of health behaviors, or the part of the socioeconomic gradient in health that is explained by health behaviors, was recalculated in all studies according to the absolute scale difference method. We identified 114 articles on socioeconomic position, health behaviors and cardiometabolic disorders or mortality from electronic databases and articles reference lists. Lower socioeconomic position was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiometabolic disorders, this gradient was explained by health behaviors to varying degrees (minimum contribution -43%; maximum contribution 261%). Health behaviors explained a larger proportion of the SEP-health gradient in studies conducted in North America and Northern Europe, in studies examining all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease, among men, in younger individuals, and in longitudinal studies, when compared to other settings. Of the four behaviors examined, smoking contributed the most to social inequalities in health, with a median contribution of 19%. Health behaviors contribute to the socioeconomic gradient in cardiometabolic disease and mortality, but this contribution varies according to population and study characteristics. Nevertheless, our results should encourage the implementation of interventions targeting health behaviors, as they may reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and increase population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, research activities aimed at diminishing health inequalities and preventing crime have been conducted in isolation, with relatively little cross-fertilization. We argue that moving forward, transdisciplinary collaborations that employ a life-course perspective constitute a productive approach to minimizing both health disparities and early delinquent involvement. Specifically, we propose a multidimensional framework that integrates findings on health disparities and crime across the early life-course and emphasizes the role of racial and socioeconomic disparities in health. Developing the empirical nexus between health disparities research and criminological research through this multidimensional framework could fruitfully direct and organize research that contributes to reductions in health inequalities and the prevention of crime during the early life course. We also propose that this unified approach can ultimately enhance public safety policies and attenuate the collateral consequences of incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational status benefits of student mobility remain uncertain, despite increasing interest in the implications of international student mobility for the reproduction of societal inequality. Since mobile young people are a selective group in terms of socio-economic and achievement-oriented factors, we apply propensity score techniques to test whether German higher education graduates who did or did not study abroad differ in occupational status (based on the Socio-Economic Index of Occupational Status) three years after graduation. Analyses are based on multi-cohort representative data of the German population (Working and Learning in a Changing World). Results confirm a positively biased effect of mobility on early career occupational status driven by compositional differences. Subgroup analyses show that even when accounting for this bias, occupational status returns to mobility are positive for those graduating in occupationally unspecific fields of study. There are no returns for those graduating in occupationally specific fields of study. Findings also suggest that the effect of studying abroad is not homogeneous across the study population. Individuals less likely to study abroad are at the same time more likely to reap the occupational benefits from this experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using human (HC), natural (NC), and produced (PC) capital from Inclusive Wealth as representatives of the triple bottom line of sustainability and utilizing elements of network science, we introduce a Network-based Frequency Analysis (NFA) method to track sustainable development in world countries from 1990 to 2014. The method compares every country with every other and links them when values are close. The country with the most links becomes the main trend, and the performance of every other country is assessed based on its ‘orbital’ distance from the main trend. Orbital speeds are then calculated to evaluate country-specific dynamic trends. Overall, we find an optimistic trend for HC only, indicating positive impacts of global initiatives aiming towards socio-economic development in developing countries like the Millennium Development Goals and ‘Agenda 21’. However, we also find that the relative performance of most countries has not changed significantly in this period, regardless of their gradual development. Specifically, we measure a decrease in produced and natural capital for most countries, despite an increase in GDP, suggesting unsustainable development. Furthermore, we develop a technique to cluster countries and project the results to 2050, and we find a significant decrease in NC for nearly all countries, suggesting an alarming depletion of natural resources worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes provide valuable water resources for people, life, and socioeconomic development in Northwestern China---a core region of the arid Central Asia where water is seriously deficient. In this study, we report the first investigation of the 30-year changes in all lakes larger than 1 km 2 in Northwestern China and the associated driving forces. We found that the number of lakes increased from 121 to 135, and the total lake area increased from 5495 km 2 to 6445 km 2 in this region. However, increases in lake area occurred mainly in the less populated mountainous areas caused by glacier melting and increase in precipitation. Conversely, lakes in the densely populated regions decreased by 40% since the year of 2000, which was significantly related to the increasing intensity of irrigation. These results not only suggest an ongoing water crisis in Northwest China but also reflect the lake dynamics in arid Central Asia where climate changes and irrigation are occurring prevalently with high intensity. Given the fact that the benefits of glacier melt in Central Asia can be substantially offset by intensive irrigation, we thus call an urgent need for a policy of sustainable water management in this critical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) price increases on beverage consumption, using individual-level data, for the population overall and for different socioeconomic groups. This study aimed to predict the impact of altered beverage prices and educational messages on consumer purchasing behavior. 2020 adults representative of the Australian population by age, gender and income completed a discrete choice experiment online in 2016. Each subject completed 20 choice scenarios in a hypothetical convenience store setting where subjects chose between seven SSB and non-SSB beverage options or a no beverage option. Beverage prices and volumes varied between scenarios. Half of participants (n = 1012) were randomly exposed to an educational poster discouraging SSB consumption prior to completing choice scenarios. We used discrete choice models to predict purchases under several policy proposals, overall and for income and SSB consumption frequency sub-groups. Compared to baseline prices, a 10% SSB price increase was predicted to reduce SSB purchases by 15.0% [95%CI -15.2, -14.7], and increase purchases of non-SSBs by +11.0% [95%CI 10.8, 11.2] and no beverage by +15.5% [95%CI 15.1, 15.9]. Effects were greater with a 20% SSB price increase. Across all policy scenarios, the highest income quintile had a similar absolute and slightly greater relative decrease in SSB purchases compared to the lowest quintile. Educational poster exposure reduced SSB choice for all groups, with a greater reduction in the lower compared to higher income group, and additively increased response to price changes. Our results support the use of population-wide SSB pricing and educational interventions to reduce demand across all income groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between AD 800–1000, the south-central and southern Veracruz lowlands experienced a process of collapse with depopulation that we document with data from systematic archaeological surveys and paleoenvironmental studies. The subsequent record in the Postclassic period indicates varied responses, predominantly settlement reorganization involving retrenchment to fewer settlements or highland immigration. In the latter case, we argue that collapse with depopulation has an important link to migration, providing lightly occupied or vacant lands that afford opportunities for outside migrants. The Spanish conquest and ensuing Colonial period serve as a general comparative analogy for some processes we discuss in prehispanic times for the Gulf lowlands. Unlike the Colonial period, the causes of the prehispanic Gulf collapse are not well studied, but multiple factors likely contributed. Drought and socioeconomic domino effects could explain the extensive spatial scale of collapse that we document. The dramatic, complex collapse in the southern Maya lowlands during a similar interval has dominated Mesoamerican discussions of collapse, but a wider spatial perspective indicates not only a more extensive interregional phenomenon, but also a greater diversity of responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many high-density cities struggle to find space for disposing municipal solid waste. Hong Kong is one of these cities, seeking to scale up waste recovery efforts as an alternative to disposal. However, territory-wide recovery initiatives do not account for socio-economic variations across place, leading to mixed outcomes among diverse communities. This study aims to investigate socio-economic effects on recycling behavior in a sample of subsidized rental housing estates. It constitutes an improvement from previous studies by using the entire estate as a unit of analysis and analyzing actual recycling outcomes, which have received limited attention from researchers. The analysis focused on the volume of recyclables collected from 158 public housing estates in Hong Kong, with an average population of 12,285. Results suggest that recycling outcomes vary with a limited set of socio-economic factors. Housing estates managed by a private property management company and populated by better off households collected more recyclables from their residents. Measures of absolute and relative recycling intensity achieved similar results. The findings will be useful for identifying residential communities requiring additional support for promoting waste separation and recycling. Differentiated policies for economically disadvantaged communities are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have continued to debate the extent to which white flight remains racially motivated or, in contrast, the result of socioeconomic concerns that proxy locations of minority residence. Using 1990–2010 census data, this study contributes to this debate by re-examining white flight in a sample of both poor and middle-class suburban neighborhoods. Findings fail to provide evidence in support of the racial proxy hypothesis. To the contrary, for neighborhoods with a larger non-white presence, white flight is instead more likely in middle-class as opposed to poorer neighborhoods. These results not only confirm the continued salience of race for white flight, but also suggest that racial white flight may be motivated to an even greater extent in middle-class, suburban neighborhoods. Theoretically, these findings point to the decoupling of economic and racial residential integration, as white flight may persist for groups even despite higher levels of socioeconomic attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have linked neighborhood characteristics to self-efficacy, but few have considered how gender factors into this association. We integrate literature on neighborhoods, gender stratification, and self-efficacy to examine the association between women's relative resources among neighborhood residents and adolescents' self-efficacy. We hypothesize that girls report more self-efficacy when they reside in neighborhoods where women have more socioeconomic resources relative to men. We test this hypothesis using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods and the 1990 Census. Results from multilevel regression models with gender-interacted effects indicate the neighborhood level of women's relative resources was not associated with boys' self-efficacy. However, girls reported higher self-efficacy when women's relative resources in their neighborhoods were greater. This association persisted after including potential individual- and neighborhood-level confounding variables. Our study underscores the importance of attending to gendered processes when understanding how neighborhoods impact youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with poor glycemic control and higher hospital admission rates in patients with diabetes. We sought to quantify the effects of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation on wound healing among a cohort of patients with diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) treated in a multidisciplinary setting. Methods Socioeconomic disadvantage was calculated for all patients using the area deprivation index (ADI) stratified by quartile (from ADI-0: least through ADI-3: most). Predictors of wound healing were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models accounting for patient demographics, wound characteristics, and ADI category. Results Six hundred twenty-one wounds were evaluated, including 59% ADI-0, 7% ADI-1, 12% ADI-2, and 22% ADI-3. After accounting for patient demographics and wound characteristics, the likelihood of wound healing was similar between groups (ADI-3 versus ADI-0: hazards ratio [HR] 1.03 [95% confidence interval 0.76-1.41]). Independent predictors of poor wound healing included peripheral arterial disease (HR 0.75), worse wound stage (stage 4: HR 0.48), larger wound area (HR 0.99), and partially dependent functional status (HR 0.45) (all, P < 0.05). Conclusions In a multidisciplinary setting, wound healing was largely dependent on wound characteristics and vascular status rather than patient demographics or neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage. Use of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of DFU may overcome the negative effects of socioeconomic disadvantage frequently described in the diabetic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human health faces unprecedented challenges caused by climate change. Thus, studies of the effect of temperature change on total mortality have been conducted in numerous countries. However, few of those studies focused on temperature-related mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) or considered future population changes and adaptation to climate change. We present herein a projection of temperature-related mortality due to CVD under different climate change, population, and adaptation scenarios in Beijing, a megacity in China. To this end, 19 global circulation models (GCMs), 3 representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 3 socioeconomic pathways, together with generalized linear models and distributed lag non-linear models, were used to project future temperature-related CVD mortality during periods centered around the years 2050 and 2070. The number of temperature-related CVD deaths in Beijing is projected to increase by 3.5–10.2% under different RCP scenarios compared with that during the baseline period. Using the same GCM, the future daily maximum temperatures projected using the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios showed a gradually increasing trend. When population change is considered, the annual rate of increase in temperature-related CVD deaths was up to fivefold greater than that under no-population-change scenarios. The decrease in the number of cold-related deaths did not compensate for the increase in that of heat-related deaths, leading to a general increase in the number of temperature-related deaths due to CVD in Beijing. In addition, adaptation to climate change may enhance rather than ameliorate the effect of climate change, as the increase in cold-related CVD mortality greater than the decrease in heat-related CVD mortality in the adaptation scenarios will result in an increase in the total number of temperature-related CVD mortalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a concise and up-to-date tour to the realm of inequality indices . Originally devised for socioeconomic applications, inequality indices gauge the divergence of wealth distributions in human societies from the socioeconomic ‘ground state’ of perfect equality, i.e. pure communism. Inequality indices are quantitative scores that take values in the unit interval, with the zero score characterizing perfect equality. In effect, inequality indices are applicable in the context of general distributions of sizes — non-negative quantities such as count, length, area, volume, mass, energy, and duration. For general size distributions, which are omnipresent in science and engineering, inequality indices provide multi-dimensional and infinite-dimensional quantifications of the inherent inequality — i.e., the statistical heterogeneity, the non-determinism, the randomness. This paper compactly describes the insights and the practical implementation of inequality indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US housing crisis during the late 2000s was arguably the most devastating residential disaster of the last century, sending millions of families into foreclosure and destroying billions in household wealth. An understudied aspect of the crisis was the spike in local migration that followed the foreclosure surge. In this paper, we assess the residential consequences of these moves, by exploring how foreclosure-induced migration affected the racial and socioeconomic composition of affected families’ neighborhoods. To do so, we use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to track foreclosure, migration, and neighborhood outcomes for samples of white, black, and Hispanic homeowners. Findings from our analysis show clearly that foreclosure was linked to migration to less white and more residentially disadvantaged neighborhoods, with foreclosed Hispanic householders, in particular, tending to move to poorer and more racially isolated neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Placing snack-food further away from people consistently decreases its consumption ("proximity effect"). However, given diet-related health inequalities, it is important to know whether interventions that alter food proximity have potential to change behaviour regardless of cognitive resource (capacity for self-control). This is often lower in those in lower socio-economic positions, who also tend to have less healthy diet-related behaviours. Study 1 aims to replicate the proximity effect in a general population sample and estimate whether trait-level cognitive resource moderates the effect. In a stronger test, Study 2 investigates whether the effect is similar regardless of manipulated state-level cognitive resource.Method: Participants were recruited into two laboratory studies (Study 1: n = 159; Study 2: n = 246). A bowl of an unhealthy snack was positioned near (20 cm) or far (70 cm) from the participant, as randomised. In Study 2, participants were further randomised to a cognitive load intervention. The pre-specified primary outcome was the proportion of participants taking any of the snack.Results: Significantly fewer participants took the snack when far compared with near in Study 2 (57.7% vs 70.7%, β = -1.63, p = 0.020), but not in Study 1 (53.8% vs 63.3%, X2 = 1.12, p = 0.289). Removing participants who moved the bowl (i.e. who did not adhere to protocol), increased the effect-sizes: Study 1: 39.3% vs 63.9%, X2 = 6.43, p = 0.011; Study 2: 56.0% vs 73.9%, β = -2.46, p = 0.003. Effects were not moderated by cognitive resource.Conclusions: These studies provide the most robust evidence to date that placing food further away reduces likelihood of consumption in general population samples, an effect unlikely to be moderated by cognitive resource. This indicates potential for interventions altering food proximity to contribute to addressing health inequalities, but requires testing in real-world settings.Trial Registration: Both studies were registered with ISRCTN (Study 1 reference no.: ISRCTN46995850, Study 2 reference no.: ISRCTN14239872). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Eating habits in children and adolescents are influenced by multiple determinants, which include socioeconomic and home environmental factors.Objective: To characterize the dietary patterns in Mexican children and adolescents and to assess its association with socioeconomic and home environmental factors.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 878 children and adolescents aged 5-15 years, unrelated, selected randomly from Morelos Sports Unit at north of Mexico City. Dietary, anthropometric, family, and socioeconomic information was obtained from each participant. Dietary patterns were identified through cluster analysis. The association between dietary patterns with socioeconomic and home environmental factors was assessed by a multivariate multinomial logistic regression model.Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified: diverse dietary pattern (D), high fat dietary pattern (HF), and high sugar dietary pattern (HS). 87% of the participants followed the HF or HS dietary patterns (36% & 51%, respectively). Mother's occupation and the child's screen time was associated with a significant likelihood of following a HF and HS dietary patterns.Conclusion: A high percentage of children and adolescents reported following a HS or HF dietary pattern, which in turn were associated with socioeconomic and home environmental factors. These results suggests priority groups for prevention and control actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured the prevalence of active epilepsy and investigated the treatment gap and treatment gap risk profile in eastern China. This was a cross-sectional population-based survey conducted in Zhejiang, China, from October 2013 to March 2014. A total 54,976 people were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. A two-stage questionnaire-based process was used to identify patients with active epilepsy and to record their demographic, socioeconomic, and epilepsy-related features. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze risk factors of the treatment gap in eastern China, as adjusted for age and sex. We interviewed 50,035 people; 118 had active epilepsy (2.4‰), among which the treatment gap was 58.5%. In multivariate analysis, failure to receive appropriate antiepileptic treatment was associated with higher seizure frequency of 12–23 times per year (adjusted odds ratio = 6.874; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.372–19.918), > 24 times per year (adjusted odds ratio = 19.623; 95% CI = 4.999–77.024), and a lack of health insurance (adjusted odds ratio = 7.284; 95% CI = 1.321–40.154). Eastern China has relatively lower prevalence of active epilepsy and smaller treatment gap. Interventions aimed at reducing seizure frequency, improving the health insurance system should be investigated as potential targets to further bridge the treatment gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien species can have major ecological and socioeconomic impacts in their novel ranges and so effective management actions are needed. However, management can be contentious and create conflicts, especially when stakeholders who benefit from alien species are different from those who incur costs. Such conflicts of interests mean that management strategies can often not be implemented. There is, therefore, increasing interest in engaging stakeholders affected by alien species or by their management. Through a facilitated workshop and consultation process including academics and managers working on a variety of organisms and in different areas (urban and rural) and ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), we developed a framework for engaging stakeholders in the management of alien species. The proposed framework for stakeholder engagement consists of 12 steps: (1) identify stakeholders; (2) select key stakeholders for engagement; (3) explore key stakeholders' perceptions and develop initial aims for management; (4) engage key stakeholders in the development of a draft management strategy; (5) re-explore key stakeholders' perceptions and revise the aims of the strategy; (6) co-design general aims, management objectives and time frames with key stakeholders; (7) co-design a management strategy; (8) facilitate stakeholders' ownership of the strategy and adapt as required; and (9) implement the strategy and monitor management actions to evaluate the need for additional or future actions. In case additional management is needed after these actions take place, some extra steps should be taken: (10) identify any new stakeholders, benefits, and costs; (11) monitor engagement; and (12) revise management strategy. Overall, we believe that our framework provides an effective approach to minimize the impact of conflicts created by alien species management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a social-ecological typlogy for the world's rangelands that integrates the much debated non-equilibrium concept from ecology with socio-economic characteristics of rangeland systems. We propose that, as a first approximation, the socio-economic properties can be adequately captured and differentiated by the distinction between the two main types of rangeland farming systems worldwide: subsistence and commercial farming. The resulting typology has four categories, which are ‘commercial equilibrium’, ‘commercial non-equilibrium’, ‘subsistence equilibrium’ and ‘subsistence non-equilibrium’. We provide and discuss examples for each category. Moreover, we point out how this typology might help to understand and address some of the problems related to unsustainable rangeland management. Finally, we provide and discuss a global map of rangelands that illustrates the geographic distribution of all four rangeland types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the extent to which communication can serve as a collusion device in one-shot first- and second-price sealed-bid auctions. In an array of laboratory experiments we vary the amount of interactions (communication and/or transfers without commitment) available to bidders. We find that communication alone leads to statistically significant but limited price drops. When, in addition, bidders can exchange transfers, revenues decline substantially, with over 70% of our experimental auctions culminating in the object being sold for approximately the minimal price. Furthermore, the effects of communication and transfers are similar across auction formats. We contrast these results with those generated in repeated auctions. By and large, repeated auctions yield lower collusion and lower efficiency levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Determine whether feeding practices across mothers and fathers are interpreted and measured with equivalent accuracy (measurement invariance) using the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire-28 (FPSQ-28).Design: Cross-sectional hard-copy and online survey design; Setting: Socioeconomically disadvantaged community in Queensland, Australia.Participants: Mothers (n = 279) and fathers (n = 225) of 2- to 5-year old children.Variables Measured: Parental feeding practices were measured using the 7 multi-item factors from the FPSQ-28.Analysis: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied to evaluate the factor structure of the FPSQ-28 among mothers and fathers from a socioeconomically disadvantaged community. Measurement invariance between mothers and fathers was examined using hierarchical multi-group CFAs.Results: The 7-factor FPSQ-28 model showed good fit and was invariant across parent gender.Conclusions and Implications: The FPSQ-28 subscales appear to be interpreted equivalently, and thus to measure the same constructs, irrespective of the gender of the parents. The questionnaire can be used to measure or compare mothers' and fathers' self-reported feeding practices and examine influence on child health outcomes. In the current sample of mothers and fathers recruited from a socioeconomically disadvantaged community, mothers used more 'covert restriction' than fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To qualitatively evaluate the optimal intervention (food-voucher approach vs. free daily meal distribution), aimed at reducing food insecurity and promoting healthy eating among students attending public schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.Methods: We randomly assigned 34 schools to one of the two interventions: students in 17 schools received a daily lunch-box and parents in the other 17 schools received a food voucher of equal value once a month. All students were offered the opportunity to participate. We conducted 30 focus groups in all participating schools (17 in the meal distribution and 13 in the food voucher schools). Eligible participants included parents (n = 106), educators (n = 66) and school principals (n = 34). We qualitatively evaluated their perceptions and attitudes towards the program.Results: Important differences were observed between the two approaches, with more favourable perceptions being reported for the meal distribution approach. More specifically, social stigmatization was minimized in the meal distribution approach, through the participation of all students, compared with the food-voucher participants who reported feelings of embarrassment and fear of stigmatization. Secondly, the meal distribution approach alleviated child food insecurity through the provision of the daily meal, while the food-voucher intervention helped manage household food insecurity, as vouchers were mainly used for purchasing food for family meals. Furthermore, the educational and experiential nature of the meal distribution approach intensified healthy eating promotion, while the food-voucher intervention was efficient mainly for conscious parents regarding healthy eating.Conclusions: The meal distribution intervention was considered more effective than the food-voucher one. Hence, for interventions aiming at tackling food insecurity of children and adolescents, public health focus could be oriented towards school-based in kind food assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Large cohort studies have been used to characterise the association between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) air pollution with non-accidental, and cause-specific mortality. However, there has been no consensus as to the shape of the association between concentration and response. Methods To examine the shape of this association, we developed a new cohort based on respondents to the 2001 Canadian census long-form. We applied new annual PM 2.5 concentration estimates based on remote sensing and ground measurements for Canada at a 1 km spatial scale from 1998 to 2011. We followed 2.4 million respondents who were non-immigrants aged 25–90 years and did not reside in an institution over a 10 year period for mortality. Exposures were assigned as a 3-year mean prior to the follow-up year. Income tax files were used to account for residential mobility among respondents using postal codes, with probabilistic imputation used for missing postal codes in the tax data. We used Cox survival models to determine hazard ratios (HRs) for cause-specific mortality. We also estimated Shape Constrained Health Impact Functions (a concentration-response function) for selected causes of death. Results In models stratified by age, sex, airshed, and population centre size, and adjusted for individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic variables, HR estimates for non-accidental mortality were HR = 1.18 (95% CI: 1.15–1.21) per 10 μg/m 3 increase in concentration. We observed higher HRs for cardiovascular disease (HR=1.25; 95% CI: 1.19–1.31), cardio-metabolic disease (HR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.21–1.33), ischemic heart disease (HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.28–1.44) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality (HR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.11–1.39) compared to HR for all non-accidental causes of death. For non-accidental, cardio-metabolic, ischemic heart disease, respiratory and COPD mortality, the shape of the concentration-response curve was supra-linear, with larger differences in relative risk for lower concentrations. For both pneumonia and lung cancer, there was some suggestion that the curves were sub-linear. Conclusions Associations between ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter and several causes of death were non-linear for each cause of death examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Long-term exposure to air pollution increases cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality, but it is not clear which components of air pollution are the most harmful, nor which time window of exposure is most relevant. Further studies at low exposure levels have also been called for. We analyzed two Swedish cohorts to investigate the effects of total and source-specific particulate matter (PM) on incident cardiovascular disease for different time windows of exposure. Methods Two cohorts initially recruited to study predictors of cardiovascular disease (the PPS cohort and the GOT-MONICA cohort) were followed from 1990 to 2011. We collected data on residential addresses and assigned each individual yearly total and source-specific PM and Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) exposures based on dispersion models. Using multivariable Cox regression models with time-dependent exposure, we studied the association between three different time windows (lag 0, lag 1–5, and exposure at study start) of residential PM and NO x exposure, and incidence of ischemic heart disease, stroke, heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Results and discussion During the study period, there were 2266 new-onset cases of ischemic heart disease, 1391 of stroke, 925 of heart failure and 1712 of atrial fibrillation. The majority of cases were in the PPS cohort, where participants were older. Exposure levels during the study period were moderate (median: 13 µg/m 3 for PM 10 and 9 µg/m 3 for PM 2.5 ), and similar in both cohorts. Road traffic and residential heating were the largest local sources of PM air pollution, and long distance transportation the largest PM source in total. In the PPS cohort, there were positive associations between PM in the last five years and both ischemic heart disease (HR: 1.24 [95% CI: 0.98–1.59] per 10 µg/m 3 of PM 10 , and HR: 1.38 [95% CI: 1.08–1.77] per 5 µg/m 3 of PM 2.5 ) and heart failure. In the GOT-MONICA cohort, there were positive but generally non-significant associations between PM and stroke (HR: 1.48 [95% CI: 0.88–2.49] per 10 µg/m 3 of PM 10 , and HR: 1.50 [95% CI: 0.90–2.51] per 5 µg/m 3 of PM 2.5 , in the last five years). Effect estimates were stronger for women, non-smokers, and higher socioeconomic classes. Exposure in the last five years seemed to be more strongly associated with outcomes than other exposure time windows. Associations between source-specific PM air pollution and outcomes were mixed and generally weak. High correlations between the main pollutants limited the use of multi-pollutant models. Conclusions The main PM air pollutants were associated with ischemic heart disease and stroke (in women) at the relatively low exposure levels in Gothenburg, Sweden. The associations tended to be stronger for women than for men, for non-smokers than for smokers, and for higher socioeconomic classes than for lower. The associations could not be attributed to a specific PM source or type, and differed somewhat between the two cohorts. The results of this study confirm that further efforts to reduce air pollution exposure should be undertaken in Sweden to reduce the negative health effects in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing individuals differ both in their deficit accumulation (DA) trajectories and resulting DA patterns (improvement, stability, gradual or abrupt decline). This heterogeneity is still incompletely understood. The objectives of this study were thus to identify determinants of DA trajectories and DA patterns in people aged 65 and older. Data originates from the 2009 baseline assessment and 2012 follow-up of the KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg)-Age study from Southern Germany. DA was measured with a Frailty Index (FI). The effects of socio-demographic, socio-economic and lifestyle factors were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models and multinomial regressions. FI scores were available for 1076 participants at baseline (mean age 76years, 50% female) and 808 participants at follow-up. Higher baseline FI levels were significantly associated with higher age, female sex, lower physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption and obesity. Longitudinal increase in FI levels over 3years was 31% (CL: [-3%; 77%]) independent of all examined predictors. The most frequent DA patterns were stability (59%) and gradual decline (30%). Compared to stability, higher age, male sex and low income predicted (mostly fatal) abrupt decline. In conclusion, several factors are associated with FI levels at baseline whereas the change in FI levels over time seems hardly modifiable. Thus, future research should investigate if the same factors predicting older-age FI levels constitute predictors of DA onset earlier in life. Towards the end of life, being male with low income may increase the risk for abrupt decline, indicating need for early detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the bi-directional relationship between different domains of physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour (SB) and depressive symptoms among women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Victoria, Australia. Women (n=1033), aged 18-46years at Wave 1 (2007/08), completed self-report measures of PA (leisure-time, transport, occupational, domestic), SB (TV viewing, computer use, overall sitting time) and depressive symptoms (CES-D 10) at each study time-point (Wave 2: 2010/11, Wave 3: 2012/13). Separate linear mixed models were fitted to examine if change in depressive symptoms differed dependent on each of the baseline PA or SB measures. Similarly, baseline depressive symptoms were used as a predictor of change in PA and SB. In secondary analyses, associations between baseline PA or SB and odds of becoming 'at risk' of depression among those not 'at risk' at baseline were examined using logistic regression. There was no evidence that change in depressive symptoms differed depending on PA or SB at baseline. In general, there was also no evidence that change in PA or SB differed depending on baseline depressive symptoms. One exception was change in leisure-time PA, which declined more among those with heightened depressive symptoms at baseline (Interaction: β=-0.003, 95% CI=-0.007, -0.0003). Transport-related PA (adjusted OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.013, 1.101) and domestic PA (adjusted OR=1.02, 95% CI=1.003, 1.040) were associated with greater odds of becoming at risk of depression at wave 3. There was limited evidence of a bi-directional relationship between PA, SB and depressive symptoms in women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]