524 research outputs found
Role of Health Professionals Regarding the Impact of Climate Change on Health-An Exploratory Review.
Health professionals are increasingly urged to act to protect individuals and populations against the negative effects of climate and environment change on health. However, the amount of evidence supporting initiatives to that end is unknown. We explored the literature examining the awareness, preparedness, and role of healthcare professionals to inform about the impact of climate change on health on the one hand, and literature about the effectiveness of interventions mediated by health professionals aiming at reducing the environmental impact of human activities on the other hand. We included 137 articles published between 2000 and 2020, mostly in general medical and nursing journals. The typical article was a perspective, commentary, or other special article aimed at alerting readers about the impact of climate and environment change on health. We identified 22 studies, of which only two reported interventions. Despite increasing efforts of health professionals to address climate and environment change and related health risks, health literature supporting such efforts remains scarce, and studies assessing the effectiveness of interventions are lacking. We need appropriate evidence to indicate which interventions should be prioritized, considering that the association of health issues with climate and environment change could constitute an effective lever for change
Formal home care use by older adults: trajectories and determinants in the Lc65+ cohort.
Given the increasing importance of formal home care services in policies dedicated to elder care, there is major interest in studying individuals' characteristics determining their utilization. The main objective of this research was to quantify, during a 6-year timeframe, home care use trajectories followed by community-dwelling participants in a cohort study of older adults. The secondary objective was to identify factors associated with home care utilization using Andersen's Behavioural Model of Health Services Use.
We proceeded to an analysis of data prospectively collected in the setting of the Lc65+ population-based study conducted in Lausanne (Switzerland). Self-reported utilization of professional home care in 2012 and 2018 was used to define trajectories during this timeframe (i.e. non-users, new users, former users and continuing users). Bivariable analyses were performed to compare new users to non-users regarding the three dimensions of Andersen's model (predisposing, enabling and need factors) measured at baseline. Then, binomial logistic regression was used in a series of two hierarchical models to adjust for need factors first, before adding predisposing and enabling factors in a second model.
Of 2155 participants aged between 69 and 78 in 2012, 82.8% remained non-users in 2018, whereas 11.2% started to use professional home care. There were 3.3% of continuing users and 2.7% of former users. New users exhibited a higher burden of physical and psychological complaints, chronic health conditions and functional limitations at baseline. After adjusting for these need factors, odds of home care utilization were higher only in participants reporting a difficult financial situation (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.12-2.45).
In the setting of a Swiss city, incident utilization of formal home care by older adults appeared to be largely determined by need factors. Modifiable factors like personal beliefs and knowledge about home care services did not play a role. After adjusting for need, odds of becoming home care user remained higher in participants reporting a difficult financial situation, suggesting such vulnerability does not hamper access to professional home care in this specific context
Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-person outpatient care utilisation: a rapid review.
To quantitatively assess the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-person outpatient care utilisation worldwide, as well as across categories of services, types of care and medical specialties.
Rapid review.
A search of MEDLINE and Embase was conducted to identify studies published from 1 January 2020 to 12 February 2021, which quantitatively reported the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the amount of outpatient care services delivered (in-person visits, diagnostic/screening procedures and treatments). There was no restriction on the type of medical care (emergency/primary/specialty care) or target population (adult/paediatric). All articles presenting primary data from studies reporting on outpatient care utilisation were included. Studies describing conditions requiring hospitalisation or limited to telehealth services were excluded.
A total of 517 articles reporting 1011 outpatient care utilisation measures in 49 countries worldwide were eligible for inclusion. Of those, 93% focused on the first semester of 2020 (January to June). The reported results showed an almost universal decline in in-person outpatient care utilisation, with a 56% overall median relative decrease. Heterogeneity across countries was high, with median decreases ranging from 10% to 91%. Diagnostic and screening procedures (-63%), as well as in-person visits (-56%), were more affected than treatments (-36%). Emergency care showed a smaller relative decline (-49%) than primary (-60%) and specialty care (-58%).
The provision of in-person outpatient care services has been strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but heterogeneously across countries. The long-term population health consequences of the disruption of outpatient care service delivery remain currently unknown and need to be studied.
CRD42021237366
Farmer perception of benefits, constraints and opportunities for silvoarable systems: preliminary insights from Bedfordshire, England
Silvoarable agroforestry integrates the use of trees and arable crops on the same area of land, and such systems can be supported by national governments under the European Union’s (EU) Rural Development Regulations (2014–2020). In order to improve the understanding of farmers’ perceptions of such systems, detailed face-to-face interviews were completed with 15 farmers in Bedfordshire, England. Most of these farmers thought that silvoarable systems would not be profitable on their farms and that benefits would tend to be environmental or social rather than economic. Most farmers also thought that management and use of machinery would become more difficult. They felt that the tree component could potentially disrupt field operations and drainage and expressed concerns over the uncertain and long-term nature of timber revenue and the effect of intercrop yield reductions on crop revenue. Even so, 20% of the farmers stated they would use silvoarable systems if convinced that they were more profitable than conventional arable farming. A further 20% said they would farm the intercrop area belonging to someone else, if the rent was reduced to compensate for crop yield reductions. These results suggest that for most arable farmers, an economic advantage over current practice needs to exist before silvoarable systems are likely to be adopted. However, a minority might rent the crop component of a silvoarable system from another party or implement a full system for perceived environmental or social benefits
Spectacular Shells in the Host Galaxy of the QSO MC2 1635+119
We present deep HST/ACS images and Keck spectroscopy of MC2 1635+119, a QSO
hosted by a galaxy previously classified as an undisturbed elliptical. Our new
images reveal dramatic shell structure indicative of a merger event in the
relatively recent past. The brightest shells in the central regions of the host
are distributed alternately in radius, with at least two distinct shells on one
side of the nucleus and three on the other, out to a distance of ~13 kpc. The
light within the five shells comprises ~6% of the total galaxy light. Lower
surface brightness ripples or tails and other debris extend out to a distance
of ~65 kpc. A simple N-body model for a merger reproduces the inner shell
structure and gives an estimate for the age of the merger between ~30 Myr and
~1.7 Gyr, depending on a range of reasonable assumptions. While the inner shell
structure is suggestive of a minor merger, the total light contribution from
the shells and extended structures are more indicative of a major merger. The
spectrum of the host galaxy is dominated by a population of intermediate age
(~1.4 Gyr), indicating a strong starburst episode that may have occurred at the
time of the merger event. We speculate that the current QSO activity may have
been triggered in the recent past by either a minor merger, or by debris from
an older (~Gyr) major merger that is currently ``raining'' back into the
central regions of the merger remnant.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Imaging of the Shell Galaxies NGC 474 and NGC 7600, and Implications for their Formation
We present photometric observations of two shell galaxies, NGC 474 and NGC
7600. We examine the photometric colours and surface brightnesses of the shells
and their host galaxies, and the isophotal parameters of each galaxy. In the
case of NGC 474, we find that the shell formation is consistent with a merger
origin although it is possible that the close companion NGC 470 is contributing
to the shell system via mass transfer. NGC 7600 exhibits shell geometry and
colours which also favour a merger origin.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
A Survey of Merger Remnants II: The Emerging Kinematic and Photometric Correlations
This paper is the second in a series exploring the properties of 51 {\it
optically} selected, single-nuclei merger remnants. Spectroscopic data have
been obtained for a sub-sample of 38 mergers and combined with previously
obtained infrared photometry to test whether mergers exhibit the same
correlations as elliptical galaxies among parameters such as stellar luminosity
and distribution, central stellar velocity dispersion (), and
metallicity. Paramount to the study is to test whether mergers lie on the
Fundamental Plane. Measurements of have been made using the
Ca triplet absorption line at 8500 {\AA} for all 38 mergers in the sub-sample.
Additional measurements of were made for two of the mergers
in the sub-sample using the CO absorption line at 2.29 \micron. The results
indicate that mergers show a strong correlation among the parameters of the
Fundamental Plane but fail to show a strong correlation between
and metallicity (Mg). In contrast to earlier studies,
the of the mergers are consistent with objects which lie
somewhere between intermediate-mass and luminous giant elliptical galaxies.
However, the discrepancies with earlier studies appears to correlate with
whether the Ca triplet or CO absorption lines are used to derive
, with the latter almost always producing smaller values.
Finally, the photometric and kinematic data are used to demonstrate for the
first time that the central phase-space density of mergers are equivalent to
elliptical galaxies. This resolves a long-standing criticism of the merger
hypothesis.Comment: Accepted Astronomical Journal (to appear in January 2006
Dynamically-Driven Star Formation In Models Of NGC 7252
We present new dynamical models of the merger remnant NGC 7252 which include
star formation simulated according to various phenomenological rules. By using
interactive software to match our model with the observed morphology and gas
velocity field, we obtain a consistent dynamical model for NGC 7252. In our
models, this proto-elliptical galaxy formed by the merger of two similar
gas-rich disk galaxies which fell together with an initial pericentric
separation of ~2 disk scale lengths approximately 620 Myr ago. Results from two
different star formation rules--- density-dependent and shock-induced--- show
significant differences in star formation during and after the first passage.
Shock-induced star formation yields a prompt and wide-spread starburst at the
time of first passage, while density-dependent star formation predicts a more
slowly rising and centrally concentrated starburst. A comparison of the
distributions and ages of observed clusters with results of our simulations
favors shock-induced mechanism of star formation in NGC 7252. We also present
simulated color images of our model of NGC 7252, constructed by incorporating
population synthesis with radiative transfer and dust attenuation. Overall the
predicted magnitudes and colors of the models are consistent with observations,
although the simulated tails are fainter and redder than observed. We suggest
that a lack of star formation in the tails, reflected by the redder colors, is
due to an incomplete description of star formation in our models rather than
insufficient gas in the tails.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, to be published in MNRA
HI in the shell elliptical NGC 3656
VLA neutral hydrogen observations of the shell elliptical NGC 3656 reveal an
edge-on, warped minor axis gaseous disk (M_HI ~ 2.10^9 Msun) extending 7 kpc.
HI is also found outside the optical image, on two complexes to the North-East
and North-West that seem to trace an outer broken HI disk or ring, or possibly
one or two tidal tails.
Integral-field optical fiber spectroscopy at the region of the bright
southern shell of NGC 3656 has provided a determination of the stellar
velocities of the shell. The shell has traces of HI with velocities bracketing
the stellar velocities, providing evidence for a dynamical association of HI
and stars at the shell. Within the errors the stars have systemic velocity,
suggesting a possible phase wrapping origin for the shell.
We detect five dwarf galaxies with HI masses ranging from 2.10^8 Msun to
2.10^9 Msun all within 180 kpc from NGC 3656 and all within the velocity range
(450 \kms) of the HI of NGC 3656. For the NGC 3656 group to be bound requires a
total mass of 3-7.4x10^{12} Msun, yielding a mass to light ratio from 125 to
300.
The overall HI picture presented by NGC 3656 supports the hypothesis of a
disk-disk merger origin, or possibly an ongoing process of multiple merger with
nearby dwarfs.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, 3 in color, to appear in the Astronomical
Journal, high resolution version available at
http://www.iac.es/galeria/balcells/publ_mbc.htm
Relativistic and Newtonian core-shell models: analytical and numerical results
We make a detailed analysis of Newtonian as well as relativistic core-shell
models recently proposed to describe a black hole or neutron star surrounded by
shells of matter, and in a seminal sense also galaxies, supernovae and star
remnants since there are massive shell-like structures surrounding many of them
and also evidences for many galactic nuclei hiding black holes. We discuss the
unicity of the models in relation to their analyticity at the black hole
horizon and also to the full elimination of conical singularities. Secondly, we
study the role played by the presence/lack of discrete reflection symmetries
about equatorial planes in the chaotic behavior of the orbits, which is to be
contrasted with the almost universal acceptance of reflection symmetries as
default assumptions in galactic modeling. We also compare the related effects
if we change a true central black hole by a Newtonian central mass. The
numerical findings are: 1- The breakdown of the reflection symmetry about the
equatorial plane in both Newtonian and relativistic core-shell models does i)
enhance in a significant way the chaoticity of orbits in reflection symmetric
oblate shell models and ii) inhibit significantly also the occurrence of chaos
in reflection symmetric prolate shell models. In particular, in the prolate
case the lack of the reflection symmetry provides the phase space with a robust
family of regular orbits that is otherwise not found at higher energies. 2- The
relative extents of the chaotic regions in the relativistic cases (i. e. with a
true central black hole) are significantly larger than in the corresponding
Newtonian ones (which have just a central potential).Comment: AASTEX, 22 pages plus 28 postscript figures, to appear in Ap.
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