Search

This paper explores the association between high-density urban built environments and stroke through the spatial regression model. An empirical study based on the disease data of Wuhan in 2015 shows that high-density urban built environments have a significant impact on stroke, and that the city center sees a high prevalence of stroke. Among urban built environment elements, net population density, residential land density, and building density are positively correlated with the risk of stroke, whereas the accessibility of community hospitals, parks, fast-food shops, and bus stops is negatively correlated with it. The mechanism analysis demonstrates that urban built environments have an important impact on stroke through such factors as the natural environment, physical activity, dietary habits, and social capital. Accordingly, the paper proposes that during the healthy city planning process in China, it is essential to reduce net population density and building density and relocate the older adults in city centers. In addition, measures should be taken to improve public service facilities at the block level and to control the risk of stroke in the high-density urban built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Microbial taxon–taxon co‐occurrences may directly or indirectly reflect the potential relationships between the members within a microbial community. However, to what extent and the specificity by which these co‐occurrences are influenced by environmental factors remains unclear. In this report, we evaluated how the dynamics of microbial taxon–taxon co‐occurrence is associated with the changes of environmental factors in Nan Lake at Wuhan city, China with a Modified Liquid Association method. We were able to detect more than 1000 taxon–taxon co‐occurrences highly correlated with one or more environmental factors across a phytoplankton bloom using 16S rRNA gene amplicon community profiles. These co‐occurrences, referred to as environment dependent co‐occurrences (ED_co‐occurrences), delineate a unique network in which a taxon–taxon pair exhibits specific, and potentially dynamic correlations with an environmental parameter, while the individual relative abundance of each may not. Microcystis involved ED_co‐occurrences are in important topological positions in the network, suggesting relationships between the bloom dominant species and other taxa could play a role in the interplay of microbial community and environment across various bloom stages. Our results may broaden our understanding of the response of a microbial community to the environment, particularly at the level of microbe–microbe associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a component of both urban transport infrastructures and green spaces, urban greenways play a vital role in connecting urban public spaces, promoting active travel, and facilitating population-level health outcomes. Recently, there has been considerable interest in illustrating the determinants of greenway use in various contexts. Nevertheless, most studies have failed to identify the different aspects of greenway use. Meanwhile, the potential significance of residential neighborhood environments in utilizing greenways has largely been overlooked. In this study, we analyzed data collected from 1020 residents living around the East Lake Greenway in Wuhan, China, to discern three aspects of greenway use: frequency, time, and intensity. In addition, we investigated the moderate effect of neighborhood environmental characteristics on the association between greenway proximity and different aspects of use. After controlling for covariates, multi-level regression models showed that greenway proximity and neighborhood environmental characteristics were significantly associated with greenway use, while the specific associations varied across different aspects of greenway use. Furthermore, proportion of residential land, floor area ratio, and street connectivity moderated the relationship between greenway proximity and greenway use. In summary, the findings of this study contributed to the planning and management of greenways in high-density cities. • Among one of the first studies that distinguished different aspects of greenway use (e.g., frequency, time, and intensity). • We extended the influence of residential neighborhood environment on greenway use. • We investigated the moderate effect of neighborhood characteristics on the association between greenway proximity and use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Among the first natural experiment studies to assess the causal influence of greenspace on people's BMI. • Both men and women in the treatment group experienced a minor BMI reduction after intervention. • Mediation pathways between the greenspace intervention and BMI change were gender specific. Access to public greenspaces is assumed to influence peoples' body weight. However, causal evidence on this topic is limited, especially in developing countries. Using natural experiment approach, this study assessed 1) to what extent peoples' body mass index (BMI) changed following a greenway intervention, and 2) potential gender disparities in both direct effects and underlying mediating pathways linking greenway exposure and BMI changes. Baseline and follow-up survey data on 1,020 adults were collected before and after the completion of East Lake greenway in Wuhan, China. Participants were split into treatment and control groups based on a 2 km threshold distance from housing estates to the greenway. Difference-in-difference (DID) estimations and structural equation models were used to assess the effects and pathways between the greenway intervention and BMI changes. The results showed that treatment group experienced a minor BMI reduction, while the BMI increased in the control group. DID models indicated that the effects of the greenway intervention on BMI changes are significant for both men and women. We also found distinct mediating mechanisms across gender. Changes in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) mediated the association between the greenway intervention and a reduction in BMI among men, while mental health changes mediated the association for women. Our findings provided compelling evidence that exposure to greenway prevents body weight increase and strengthened the rationale for green infrastructure investments to enhance public health in high-density cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cross-sectional studies have supported the health benefits of urban greenways. However, the causal relationship between urban greenway intervention and residents' physical and mental health remains unclear. Furthermore, the potential dose-response effect by distance to a greenway intervention remains unknown. This study explored the impact of a large-scale urban greenway intervention (construction of a 102-km-long East Lake Greenway in Wuhan, China) on the health outcomes of residents by using a natural experimental research design. We collected data before and after the intervention (in 2016 and 2019, respectively) from 1,020 participants living within a 5-km street-network distance from the entrances of this greenway. The average age of the participants was approximately 50, and most of them were married. More than half of the participants were female, currently employed, and had received a college education or above. Mixed-effects difference-in-difference (DID) models were used while controlling for individual and neighbourhood covariates. The results showed that the East Lake Greenway had a positive effect on the self-reported mental health of residents who lived within 2 km, and these benefits decreased with distance. The physical health benefit was insignificant. To increase the health benefits of urban greenways, more effort should be made to improve the accessibility of greenways and the surrounding environment. We also advocate that future natural experiments should explore the distance-varying dose-response effect of green space interventions on health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the outbreak of COVID-19, numerous rumors emerged on the internet in China and caused confusion among the public. However, the characteristics of these rumors in different phases of the epidemic have not been studied in depth, and the official responses to the rumors have not been systematically evaluated. Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the rumor epidemic and official responses during the COVID-19 outbreak in China and to provide a scientific basis for effective information communication in future public health crises. Methods: Data on internet rumors related to COVID-19 were collected via the Sina Weibo Official Account to Refute Rumors between January 20 and April 8, 2020, extracted, and analyzed. The data were divided into five periods according to the key events and disease epidemic. Different classifications of rumors were described and compared over the five periods. The trends of the epidemic and the focus of the public at different stages were plotted, and correlation analysis between the number of rumors and the number of COVID-19 cases was performed. The geographic distributions of the sources and refuters of the rumors were graphed, and analyses of the most frequently appearing words in the rumors were applied to reveal hotspots of the rumors. Results: A total of 1943 rumors were retrieved. The median of the response interval between publication and debunking of the rumors was 1 day (IQR 1-2). Rumors in text format accounted for the majority of the 1943 rumors (n=1241, 63.9%); chat tools, particularly WeChat (n=1386, 71.3%), were the most common platform for initial publishing of the rumors (n=1412, 72.7%). In addition to text rumors, Weibo and web pages were more likely to be platforms for rumors released in multimedia formats or in a combination of formats, respectively. Local agencies played a large role in dispelling rumors among social media platforms (1537/1943, 79.1%). There were significant differences in the formats and origins of rumors over the five periods (P <.001). Hubei Province accounted for most of the country's confirmed rumors. Beijing and Wuhan City were the main centers for debunking of disinformation. The words most frequently included in the core messages of the rumors varied by period, indicating shifting in the public's concern. Conclusions: Chat tools, particularly WeChat, became the major sources of rumors during the COVID-19 outbreak in China, indicating a requirement to establish rumor monitoring and refuting mechanisms on these platforms. Moreover, targeted policy adjustments and timely release of official information are needed in different phases of the outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many cross-sectional studies have confirmed the positive associations between greenspaces and physical activity, evidence from natural experiments is scarce, especially for large-scale greenspace interventions. In addition, it is unclear how the physical-activity-related benefits of a greenspace intervention vary with distance from residences to greenspaces. We used a natural experimental approach to explore the impact on physical activity of a large-scale greenway intervention, namely the East Lake greenway, in Wuhan, China. Two waves of survey data (before and after the intervention in 2016 and 2019, respectively) were collected from 1020 participants residing in 52 neighbourhoods at different distances (0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 km) from the 102-km-long greenway. The results obtained using difference-in-difference models indicated that the greenway intervention had positive effects on both moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and overall physical activity (MET-minutes/week) after controlling for individual and neighbourhood covariates. Furthermore, the physical activity benefits of the greenway intervention were found to decrease with increasing distance between the greenway and the participants' residences. Individuals living closer to this large-scale greenway accrued more substantial physical activity benefits. Our results, together with those of other natural experimental studies, suggest that large-scale greenspace interventions may provide long-term physical activity benefits to residents living in a wide geographic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Among one of the first studies on causal inference of greenway intervention and walking behaviors. • Significantly positive effect of greenway infrastructure on weekly walking time. • Residents living within two kilometers from the greenway had increased weekly walking time. • Women and socioeconomically disadvantaged people benefited most from the greenway. Extensive evidence from cross-sectional studies has revealed a positive link between greenspace access and walking behaviors. However, the inherent weaknesses of the cross-sectional research design have provided little causal inference. In this natural experimental study, we assessed the effects of a large-scale greenway intervention (i.e., the opening of East Lake greenway) on walking behaviors in Wuhan, China. Longitudinal survey data on 1,020 participants were collected before and after the intervention in 2016 and 2019, respectively. The results of the mixed-effect difference-in-difference (DID) models showed that the greenway intervention had a significantly positive effect on the walking time, especially for residents living within two kilometers from the greenway. Furthermore, women and socio-economically disadvantaged people benefited most from the greenway implementation regarding walking time. Our findings provided compelling evidence that public investment in transportation infrastructure (e.g., greenway) effectively promotes walking behaviors and mitigates social inequities in physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]