A Comparative Case Study on Active Transport to and From School

IntroductionThis study investigates active-transport-to-school initiatives through the Active Living by Design Community Action Model framework. The framework outlines five strategies that influence physical activity: preparation, promotion, programs, policies, and physical projects.MethodsA comparative case study was conducted to investigate active-transport-to-school initiatives at two North Carolina schools. A group of key stakeholders from each site was interviewed (N = 16), including principals, physical education teachers, public safety officers, city planners, regional transportation planners, city council members, and parent representatives. Content analysis was carried out using NVivo software, and data were evaluated using the framework.ResultsApplications designed around all five strategies positively influenced active-transport-to-school programs. Both schools used similar strategies including promotional tactics, policies, and physical projects; however, only one used all five strategies. The scope and duration of these strategies varied by school and ultimately seemed to influence their success. Enablers and challenges to active-transport-to-school programs were identified, including funding, school location, available infrastructure, community involvement, school support, parental buy-in, and sufficient program promotion.ConclusionThe quality of the strategies, not their mere presence or use, proved important in active-transport-to-school programs. These results suggest that a multidisciplinary approach that develops promotional materials, resources, school support, and environmental changes to sustain factors that influence parental buy-in will prove critical to the success of future walk-to-school initiatives

Evaluating the Effects of a Classroom-Based Bicycle Education Intervention on Bicycle Activity, Self-Efficacy, Personal Safety, Knowledge, and Mode Choice

This study provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of classroom-based adult bicycle education in delivering changes related to bicycling activity, self-perceptions while bicycling, knowledge of the bicycling rules of the road, and mode choice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Evaluation of the intervention was conducted using self-administered surveys completed prior to the intervention and again six weeks after the course. Self-reported data was validated using objective data collected using the Ride Report app. Participants reported statistically significant increases in confidence while bicycling in both traffic and car-free areas, feelings of safety while bicycling in car-free areas, and knowledge of the rules of the road. Participants with initial low confidence increased bicycling activity and feelings of safety in traffic, compared to participants overall. App-collected bicycling data correlated nearly perfectly with self-reported data, suggesting that self-reported data can be used reliably. Classroom-based bicycle education courses are a cost-effective way to change bicycling self-perception and increase knowledge of the bicycling rules of the road

Evaluating the Effects of a Classroom-Based Bicycle Education Intervention on Bicycle Activity, Self-Efficacy, Personal Safety, Knowledge, and Mode Choice

This study provides an evaluation of the effectiveness of classroom-based adult bicycle education in delivering changes related to bicycling activity, self-perceptions while bicycling, knowledge of the bicycling rules of the road, and mode choice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Evaluation of the intervention was conducted using self-administered surveys completed prior to the intervention and again six weeks after the course. Self-reported data was validated using objective data collected using the Ride Report app. Participants reported statistically significant increases in confidence while bicycling in both traffic and car-free areas, feelings of safety while bicycling in car-free areas, and knowledge of the rules of the road. Participants with initial low confidence increased bicycling activity and feelings of safety in traffic, compared to participants overall. App-collected bicycling data correlated nearly perfectly with self-reported data, suggesting that self-reported data can be used reliably. Classroom-based bicycle education courses are a cost-effective way to change bicycling self-perception and increase knowledge of the bicycling rules of the road

EDITORIAL BOARD

La Universidad Surcolombiana tiene como misión la formación integral de ciudadanos profesionales a través de la asimilación, producción, aplicación y difusión de conocimientos científicos, humanísticos, tecnológicos, artísticos y culturales, con espíritu crítico para que aborden eficazmente la solución de los problemas del desarrollo humano integral de la región Surcolombiana con proyección nacional e internacional dentro de un marco de libertad de pensamiento, pluralismo ideológico y de conformidad con una ética que consolide la solidaridad y la dignidad humana. ENTORNOS Volumen 26. Núm. 1. Abril de 2013 Las opiniones expresadas en cada uno de los artículos son de exclusiva responsabilidad de los autore

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ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology is occurring in various geographic areas worldwide. Cases lack typical risk factors associated with chronic kidney disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. It is epidemic in El Salvador, Central America, where it is diagnosed with increasing frequency in young, otherwise-healthy male farmworkers. Suspected causes include agrochemical use (especially in sugarcane ¿ elds), physical heat stress, and heavy metal exposure. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the geographic relationship between unspeci¿ ed chronic kidney disease (unCKD) and nondiabetic chronic renal failure (ndESRD) hospital admissions in El Salvador with the proximity to cultivated crops and ambient temperatures. METHODS Data on unCKD and ndESRD were compared with environmental variables, crop area cultivated (indicator of agrochemical use) and high ambient temperatures. Using geographically weighted regression analysis, two model sets were created using reported municipal hospital admission rates per ten thousand population for unCKD 2006-2010 and rates of ndESRD 2005-2010. These were assessed against local percent of land cultivated by crop (sugarcane, coffee, corn, cotton, sorghum, and beans) and mean maximum ambient temperature, with Moran's indices determining data clustering. Two-dimensional geographic models illustrated parameter spatial distribution. RESULTS Bivariate geographically weighted regressions showed statistically signi¿ cant correlations between percent area of sugarcane, corn, cotton, coffee, and bean cultivation, as well as mean maximum ambient temperature with both unCKD and ndESRD hospital admission rates. Percent area of sugarcane cultivation had greatest statistical weight (p 0.001; R p 2 = 0.77 for unCKD). The most statistically signi¿ cant multivariate geographically weighted regression model for unCKD included percent area of sugarcane, cotton and corn cultivation (p 0.001; R p 2 = 0.80), while, for ndESRD, it included the percent area of sugarcane, corn, cotton and coffee cultivation (R p 2 = 0.52). Univariate unCKD and ndESRD Moran's I (0.20 and 0.33, respectively) indicated some degree of clustering. Ambient temperature did not improve multivariate geographically-weighted regression models for unCKD or ndESRD. Local bivariate Moran's indices with relatively high positive values and statistical signi¿ cance (0.3-1.0, p 0.05) indicated positive clustering between unCKD hospital admission rates and percent area of sugarcane as well as cotton cultivation. The greatest positive response for clustering values did not consistently plot near the highest temperatures; there were some positive clusters in regions of lower temperatures. Clusters of ndESRD were also observed, some in areas of relatively low chronic kidney disease incidence in western El Salvador. CONCLUSIONS High temperatures do not appear to strongly inÀ uence occurrence of unCKDu proxies. CKDu in El Salvador may arise from proximity to agriculture to which agrochemicals are applied, especially in sugarcane cultivation. The ¿ ndings of this preliminary ecological study suggest that more research is needed to assess and quantify presence of speci¿ c agrochemicals in high-CKDu areas

Molecular epidemiology and putative origin of hepatitis C virus in random volunteers from Argentina

designed the research and participated in the discussion, analysis of results and manuscript preparation; Quer J, del Pino N, Otero T, García-Cehic D, Cubero M, Camos S, Casillas C performed the real-timenested polymerase chain reaction amplifications and sequencing research; Quer J and Gregori J performed the alignments and phylogenetic analysis; del Pino N collected the samples. Abstract AIM: To study the subtype prevalence and the phylogenetic relatedness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) sequences obtained from the Argentine general population, a large cohort of individuals was analyzed. METHODS: Healthy Argentinian volunteers (n = 6251) from 12 provinces representing all geographical regions of the country were studied. All parents or legal guardians of individuals younger than 18 years provided informed written consent for participation. The corresponding written permission from all municipal authorities was obtained from each city or town where subjects were to be included. HCV RNA reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. The 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) was used for RNA detection and initial genotype classification. The NS5B polymerase region, encompassing nt 8262-8610, was used for subtyping. RESULTS: An unexpectedly low prevalence of HCV infection in the general population (0.32%) was observed. Our data contrasted with previous studies that reported rates ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%, mainly performed in selected populations of blood donors or vulnerable groups. The latter values are in keeping with the prevalence reported by the 2007 Argentinian HCV Consensus (approximately 2%). HCV subtypes wer