Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 230 in total

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  1. Fulltext Yen Loan to KLIA project: socio economic impact on the Sepang and Bandar Enstek area
    Asmadi Hassan
    International Journal of East Asian Studies, 2016;5(1):1-13.
    MyJurnal
    In 1994, the Government of Malaysia received 61.518 million yen to commence Kuala Lumpur
    International Airport (KLIA) project. The airport is located in the district of Sepang, Selangor, which
    was originally oil palm plantations and small villages. The construction project completed and began in
    used in the 1998. This paper is to evaluate the impact of Japan's ODA for Malaysia, particularly yen
    loan to socioeconomic. In term of socioeconomic impact, many new cities were established such as
    Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Bandar Baru Nilai, Banting, Bandar Enstek and Cyber Jaya. Similarly, new
    housing, schools, shopping malls and other facilities such as the Sepang International Circuit and
    Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) were built. New roads connecting to the airport also completed
    the development of these places. In terms of employment, previously many who depended on agriculture,
    now turned to business, hospitality, services, transportation and others. In fact the huge investment
    significantly affected the surrounding population, particularly the creation of modern towns, businesses
    and educational centers which gave rise to various types of employment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  2. Carbon monoxide exposure assessment among toll operators in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Niza S, Jamal HH
    Int J Environ Health Res, 2007 Apr;17(2):95-103.
    PMID: 17616865
    A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to determine tollbooth carbon monoxide (CO) levels and carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels among the tollbooth operators and office workers in the Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur. All tollbooths were equipped with well functioning air-conditioning. The total number of respondents was 180: 90 toll operators and 90 office workers aged between 19 and 52 years. The highest peak of CO level recorded was 61 ppm. The highest average peak CO level within a shift was 30 ppm. The CO level was higher during peak traffic at 6.00 - 8.00 a.m. There was no significant correlation between average peak CO level with vehicle load (r = -0.007, p = 0.474). The toll operators' median COHb level (1.0%, IQR = 0.8%) was significantly higher (p = 0.008) compared to office workers (0.7%, IQR = 0.8). There was a weak and significant correlation between COHb levels with average peak CO levels (r = 0.228, p = 0.031). In conclusion, tollbooth operators were chronically exposed to CO leading to higher COHb levels compared to office workers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  3. Fulltext Age-Friendly Environments in ASEAN Plus Three: Case Studies from Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand
    Tiraphat S, Buntup D, Munisamy M, Nguyen TH, Yuasa M, Nyein Aung M, et al.
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 06 23;17(12).
    PMID: 32586034 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124523
    Promoting age-friendly environment is one of the appropriate approaches to support quality of life toward ageing populations. However, the information regarding age-friendly environments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three countries is still limited. This study aimed to survey the perceived age-friendly environments among ASEAN Plus Three older populations. This study employed cross-sectional quantitative research using multistage cluster sampling to select a sample of older adults in the capital cities of Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. The final sample was composed of 2171 older adults aged 55 years and over, including 140 Japanese, 510 Thai, 537 Malaysian, 487 Myanmarese, and 497 Vietnamese older adults. Data collection was conducted using a quantitative questionnaire with 20 items of perceived age-friendly environments with the rating scale based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. The score from the 20 items were analyzed and examined high-risk groups of "bad perception level" age-friendly environments using ordinal logistic regression. The research indicated the five highest inadequacies of age-friendly environments including: (1) participating in an emergency-response training session or drill which addressed the needs of older residents; (2) enrolling in any form of education or training, either formal or non-formal in any subject; (3) having opportunities for paid employment; (4) involvement in decision making about important political, economic and social issues in the community; and (5) having personal care or assistance needs met in the older adult's home setting by government/private care services. Information regarding the inadequacy of age-friendliness by region was evidenced to guide policy makers in providing the right interventions towards older adults' needs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  4. Fulltext The Importance of Age-Friendly City on Older People's Continuity and Life Satisfaction
    Ng SI, Lim XJ, Hsu HC
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 07 06;18(14).
    PMID: 34299703 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18147252
    According to continuity theory, successful aging is promoted when older people are able to continue familiar activities as a way to maintain self-identity. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of both external resources provided by Taipei city and older adults' internal resources in internal and external continuity and life satisfaction. The data were from the 2019 Taipei City Senior Citizen Condition Survey acquired through face-to-face interviews. Only the community-based sample without disability was included in the analysis (n = 1494). Structural equation modeling was used for the analysis. Both internal and external resources significantly promoted internal continuity (physical activity, Internet use, and lifelong learning) and external continuity (work, social connectedness, and social participation), and the effects of personal resources were larger. External continuity was positively related to life satisfaction. The effects of external resources on continuity and life satisfaction were stronger in older women than in older men. Age-friendly cities may provide support for activity continuity and promote well-being for older people. Policy suggestions are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  5. Fulltext Exploring Regional Advanced Manufacturing and Its Driving Factors: A Case Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
    Dou Z, Sun Y, Wang T, Wan H, Fan S
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 05 28;18(11).
    PMID: 34071373 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115800
    This study aims to analyze the development trend of the manufacturing industry of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (from 2008 to 2018) by constructing an evaluation system. On the basis of push-pull-mooring theory, we analyze these factors by using an entropy and cluster model. The results show the following: (1) Technological development had an obvious spatial distribution pattern of core regional radiation, while others did not. (2) Economic development was based on the city's existing industrial development system, while environmental development depended on governmental policies. (3) Compared with the environmental factor, the development trends of the economic and technological factors were more similar. Lastly, we provide four strategies for the development of the manufacturing industry in different cities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  6. Fulltext A New Pedestrian Crossing Level of Service (PCLOS) Method for Promoting Safe Pedestrian Crossing in Urban Areas
    Ahmed T, Moeinaddini M, Almoshaogeh M, Jamal A, Nawaz I, Alharbi F
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 08 20;18(16).
    PMID: 34444563 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168813
    Crosswalks are critical locations in the urban transport network that need to be designed carefully as pedestrians are directly exposed to vehicular traffic. Although various methods are available to evaluate the level of service (LOS) at pedestrian crossings, pedestrian crossing facilities are frequently ignored in assessing crosswalk conditions. This study attempts to provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating crosswalks based on several essential indicators adopted from different guidelines. A new pedestrian crossing level of service (PCLOS) method is introduced in this research, with an aimto promote safe and sustainable operations at such locations. The new PCLOS employs an analytical point system to compare existing street crossing conditions to the guidelines' standards, taking into account the scores and coefficients of the indicators. The quantitative scores and coefficients of indicators are assigned based on field observations and respondent opinions. The method was tested to evaluate four pedestrian crosswalks in the city of Putrajaya, Malaysia. A total of 17 indicators were selected for the study after a comprehensive literature review. Survey results show that the provision of a zebra crossing was the most critical indicator at the pedestrian crossings, while drainage near crosswalks was regarded as the least important. Four indicators had a coefficient value above 4, indicating that these are very critical pedestrian crossing facilities and significantly impact the calculation of LOS for pedestrian crossings. Four crosswalks were evaluated using the proposed method in Putrajaya, Malaysia. The crosswalk at the Ministry of Domestic Trade Putrajaya got the "PCLOS A". In contrast, the midblock crossing in front of the Putrajaya Corporation was graded "PCLOS C". While the remaining two crosswalks were graded as "PCLOS B" crosswalks. Based on the assigned PCLOS grade, the proposed method could also assist in identifying current design and operation issues in existing pedestrian crossings and providing sound policy recommendations for improvements to ensure pedestrian safety.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  7. Fulltext Microbiological Safety of Street-Vended Beverages in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur
    Mohd Nawawee NS, Abu Bakar NF, Zulfakar SS
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 11 13;16(22).
    PMID: 31766289 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224463
    Improper handling, poor hygienic practices, and lack of environmental control affect the safety of street-vended beverages. The objective of this study is to determine the bacterial contamination level of three types of beverages (cordial-based drinks, milk-based drinks, fruit juices) sold by street vendors at Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. A total of 31 samples of beverages were analyzed to determine total viable count (TVC), total coliform, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus counts via the standard plate count method. The results showed that only 9.7% of the total samples were not contaminated with the tested microorganisms. All milk-based drink samples were positive for TVC and also had the highest average bacterial counts at 5.30 ± 1.11 log Colony Forming Unit/mL (CFU/mL). About 71% of the samples were contaminated with total coliform with the average readings ranging between 4.30 and 4.75 log CFU/mL, whereas 58.1% of the samples were positive with S. aureus, with fruit juices having the highest average reading (3.42 ± 1.15 log CFU/mL). Only one sample (milk-based drink) was E. coli positive. This study showed that the microbiological safety level of street-vended beverages in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur was average and needs to be improved. Provision of food safety education and adequate sanitary facilities at vending sites are suggested to increase the safety of food products.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  8. Fulltext Evaluation of the Policy Effect of China's Environmental Interview System for Effective Air Quality Governance
    Jin X, Sumaila UR, Yin K, Qi Z
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 08 26;18(17).
    PMID: 34501589 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179006
    The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China formally proposed an environmental interview system in May 2014, which applies pressure on local governments to fulfill their responsibility toward environmental protection by conducting face-to-face public interviews with their officials. In this paper, 48 cities that were publicly interviewed from 2014-2020 were considered the experimental group and 48 cities surrounding them were the control group. First, the dynamic panel model is applied to initially determine the effect of the policy. Then, a regression discontinuity method (Sharp RD) is used to analyze the short-term and long-term effects and compare the reasons for the differences observed among the estimates of various types of samples. Finally, a series of robustness tests were also conducted. The results show that the environmental interview system can improve air quality. However, because an emergency short-term local governance system exists at present, the governance effect is not long-term and, therefore, not sustainable. Therefore, it suggests that the government should continue to improve the environmental interview system, establish an optimal environmental protection incentive mechanism, and encourage local governments to implement environmental protection policies effectively in the long term. The results of the research are of great significance to the environmental impact assessment system of the world, especially in countries with similar economic systems, which are facing a trade-off between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  9. Fulltext An Evidence-Based Review of Impacts, Strategies and Tools to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands
    Leal Filho W, Echevarria Icaza L, Emanche VO, Quasem Al-Amin A
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2017 12 19;14(12).
    PMID: 29257100 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14121600
    The impacts of climate changes on cities, which are home to over half of the world's population, are already being felt. In many cases, the intensive speed with which urban centres have been growing means that little attention has been paid to the role played by climatic factors in maintaining quality of life. Among the negative consequences of rapid city growth is the expansion of the problems posed by urban heat islands (UHIs), defined as areas in a city that are much warmer than other sites, especially in comparison with rural areas. This paper analyses the consistency of the UHI-related literature in three stages: first it outlines its characteristics and impacts in a wide variety of cities around the world, which poses pressures to public health in many different countries. Then it introduces strategies which may be employed in order to reduce its effects, and finally it analyses available tools to systematize the initial high level assessment of the phenomenon for multidisciplinary teams involved in the urban planning process. The analysis of literature on the characteristics, impacts, strategies and digital tools to assess on the UHI, reveals the wide variety of parameters, methods, tools and strategies analysed and suggested in the different studies, which does not always allow to compare or standardize the diagnosis or solutions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  10. Fulltext Watershed Horizontal Ecological Compensation Policy and Green Ecological City Development: Spatial and Mechanism Assessment
    Lin X, Baskaran A, Zhang Y
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Feb 02;20(3).
    PMID: 36768047 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032679
    Green ecological development has become an inevitable choice to achieve sustainable urban development and carbon neutrality. This paper evaluates the level of green ecological city development in the Xin'an watershed as measured by green total factor productivity (GTFP), analyzes the direct and spatial effects of the Watershed Horizontal Ecological Compensation policy on GTFP, and further examines the moderating effect of the Research and Development (R&D) incentives, industrial structure, and income gap. This paper conducts difference-in-differences (DID) and spatial regression analysis on 27 cities from 2007 to 2019. The results show that GTFP progresses to varying degrees across cities over time, especially in the pilot cities. Crucially, the Watershed Horizontal Ecological Compensation policy significantly improved GTFP, although the effect was slight. Interestingly, the increase in GTFP in pilot cities that implemented the policy spatially suppressed the increase in GTFP in cities that did not implement the policy. Our evidence also shows that the positive effect of the policy is higher in regions with higher R&D incentives and industrial structure upgrading, which indicates that R&D incentives and industrial upgrading are crucial. In comparison, the income gap has not made the expected negative adjustment effect under the Chinese government's poverty alleviation policy. However, the positive policy effect is heterogeneous in the downstream and upstream pilot cities. The "forcing effect" of the policy on the downstream cities is more favorable than the "compensating effect" on the upstream cities. Therefore, policymakers should pay more attention to ensuring the effectiveness of the Watershed Horizontal Ecological Compensation policy in enhancing GTFP as a long-term strategy to guarantee the sustainability of green ecological development in Chinese cities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  11. Fulltext Food Consumption Structure and Food Security-Through Mediating Effect Analysis of Agricultural R&D and Agricultural Investment
    Bi W, Song Y, Liu Y, Li Z, Zhang Y
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Sep 30;19(19).
    PMID: 36231821 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912524
    Food security is the cornerstone that ensures the stable development of a country. Based on panel data of 31 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) in China from 2015 to 2019, we use the mediating effect model to explore the mechanism by which food consumption structure affects food security. The results indicate that grain consumption has a significant promoting effect on food security, while plant and animal food consumption have significant inhibiting effects on food security. Furthermore, agricultural R&D and investment play mediating roles in the impact of food consumption structure on food security. Obvious differences exist in the relationship between food consumption structure and food security between urban and rural areas, as well as between Eastern, Central, and Western regions. Animal food consumption had a negative and significant impact on food security, with a stronger effect on rural residents than on urban residents. Compared with the central and western regions, grain consumption and animal food consumption in the eastern region had a stronger marginal impact on food security. This paper enriches and expands the research on influencing factors of food security from the perspective of consumer demand, which has important theoretical value and practical significance for ensuring food security.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  12. Fulltext Transformation of Children's Paintings into Public Art to Improve Public Spaces and Enhance People's Happiness
    Luo N, Ibrahim R, Abidin SZ
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Dec 14;19(24).
    PMID: 36554658 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416780
    Characteristics of children's paintings have been suggested considered for application in public art since they are known to positively evoke a sense of well-being when people see them. This study aims to understand the impact of artistic features from children's drawings on people's well-being; then analyzing the adaptive design principles of 3D public art featuring children's paintings on people's happiness; and finally, exploring the influence of 3D public art featuring children's paintings on improving public spaces and enhancing people's well-being. The results lead to proposing a conceptual framework for public artworks in public spaces for improving people's happiness. The proposed conceptual framework recommends that, by applying the visual and thinking features of children's paintings to public art, artists can design high-quality artworks suitable for a city, which could improve people's happiness in public spaces. This study recommends further research into how public art can promote public spaces and shape the urban culture. It contributes to enhancing the quality of public art and public spaces, and inspiring a sense of well-being among citizens through the use of appropriate public art. The results are significant because they will help artists to create more high-quality public artworks for urban public spaces in order to evoke people's happiness.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  13. Fulltext IoT-Based Waste Management System in Formal and Informal Public Areas in Mecca
    Abdullah N, Al-Wesabi OA, Mohammed BA, Al-Mekhlafi ZG, Alazmi M, Alsaffar M, et al.
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Oct 11;19(20).
    PMID: 36293647 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013066
    Urban areas worldwide are in the race to become smarter, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is no exception. Many of these have envisaged a chance to establish devoted municipal access networks to assist all kinds of city administration and preserve services needing data connectivity. Organizations unanimously concentrate on sustainability issues with key features of general trends, particularly the combination of the 3Rs (reduce waste, reuse and recycle resources). This paper demonstrates how the incorporation of the Internet of Things (IoT) with data access networks, geographic information systems and combinatorial optimization can contribute to enhancing cities' administration systems. A waste-gathering approach based on supplying smart bins is introduced by using an IoT prototype embedded with sensors, which can read and convey bin volume data over the Internet. However, from another perspective, the population and residents' attitudes directly affect the control of the waste management system. The conventional waste collection system does not cover all areas in the city. It works based on a planned scheme that is implemented by the authorized organization focused on specific popular and formal areas. The conventional system cannot observe a real-time update of the bin status to recognize whether the waste level condition is 'full,' 'not full,' or 'empty.' This paper uses IoT in the container and trucks that secure the overflow and separation of waste. Waste source locations and population density influence the volume of waste generation, especially waste food, as it has the highest amount of waste generation. The open public area and the small space location problems are solved by proposing different truck sizes based on the waste type. Each container is used for one type of waste, such as food, plastic and others, and uses the optimization algorithm to calculate and find the optimal route toward the full waste container. In this work, the situations in KSA are evaluated, and relevant aspects are explored. Issues relating to the sustainability of organic waste management are conceptually analyzed. A genetic-based optimization algorithm for waste collection transportation enhances the performance of waste-gathering truck management. The selected routes based on the volume status and free spaces of the smart bins are the most effective through those obtainable towards the urgent smart bin targets. The proposed system outperforms other systems by reducing the number of locations and smart bins that have to be visited by 46% for all waste types, whereas the conventional and existing systems have to visit all locations every day, resulting in high cost and consumption time.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  14. Fulltext Application of medical information system to identify dengue outbreak factors: Insights from a hyperendemic city in Malaysia
    Keat-Chuan Ng C, Linus-Lojikip S, Mohamed K, Hss AS
    Int J Med Inform, 2023 Sep;177:105162.
    PMID: 37549500 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105162
    BACKGROUND: Dengue is widespread globally, but it is more severe in hyperendemic regions where the virus, its vectors, and its human hosts naturally occur. The problem is particularly acute in cities, where outbreaks affect a large human population living in a wide array of socio-environmental conditions. Controlling outbreaks will rely largely on systematic data collection and analysis approaches to uncover nuances on a city-by-city basis due to the diversity of factors.

    OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to consolidate and analyse the dengue case dataset amassed by the e-Dengue web-based information system, developed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, to improve our epidemiological understanding.

    METHODS: We retrieved data from the e-Dengue system and integrated a total of 18,812 cases from 2012 to 2019 (8 years) with meteorological data, geoinformatics techniques, and socio-environmental observations to identify plausible factors that could have caused dengue outbreaks in Ipoh, a hyperendemic city in Malaysia.

    RESULTS: The rainfall trend characterised by a linearity of R2 > 0.99, termed the "wet-dry steps", may be the unifying factor for triggering dengue outbreaks, though it is still a hypothesis that needs further validation. Successful mapping of the dengue "reservoir" contact zones and spill-over diffusion revealed socio-environmental factors that may be controlled through preventive measures. Age is another factor to consider, as the platelet and white blood cell counts in the "below 5" age group are much greater than in other age groups.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates the novelty of the e-Dengue system, which can identify outbreak factors at high resolution when integrated with non-medical fields. Besides dengue, the techniques and insights laid out in this paper are valuable, at large, for advancing control strategies for other mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, chikungunya, and zika in other hyperendemic cities elsewhere globally.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cities/epidemiology
  15. Role of NGOs and CBOs in Waste Management
    Ahsan A, Alamgir M, Imteaz M, Nik Daud N, Islam R
    Iran J Public Health, 2012;41(6):27-38.
    PMID: 23113191
    Developing cities like Khulna, the third largest metropolitan city in Bangladesh, have now begun to confess the environmental and public health risks associated with uncontrolled dumping of solid wastes mainly due to the active participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in municipal solid waste (MSW) management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  16. Fulltext Positioning and Utilization of Information and Communication Technology in Community Pharmacies of Selangor, Malaysia: Cross-Sectional Study
    Kc B, Lim D, Low CC, Chew C, Blebil AQ, Dujaili JA, et al.
    JMIR Med Inform, 2020 Jul 08;8(7):e17982.
    PMID: 32463787 DOI: 10.2196/17982
    BACKGROUND: Information and communication technology (ICT) is an essential element of modern "smart" cities. These smart cities have integrated housing, marketplace, public amenities, services, business, and transportation via ICT. ICT is also now widely used in urban health care delivery.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the positioning and roles of ICT in community pharmacies in the state of Selangor, Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 across 9 different subdistricts in the state of Selangor, including Subang Jaya, Cheras, Puchong, Port Klang, Kota Kemuning, Selayang, Chow Kit, Ampang, and Seri Kembangan. A total of 90 community pharmacists were approached from the 9 subdistricts and invited to participate in the study.

    RESULTS: Of the 90 community pharmacies approached, 60 agreed to participate in the study, representing a response rate of 67%. The majority (36/60, 60%) of the respondents were women, and more than half (32/60, 53%) of the community pharmacies were run by young adults (ie, 30 years old and younger). More than three-quarters of the community pharmacies (46/60, 77%) used electronic health records. Half of the community pharmacies used online social media platforms for advertising and promoting their pharmacies. The vast majority of the community pharmacies (55/60, 92%) were using modern electronic payment systems, and some were also using other new electronic payment methods. Moreover, most of the community pharmacies (41/60, 68%) were using software and programs for accounting and logistics purposes. In addition, 47/60 (78%) of the community pharmacies used a barcode reading system for medicines/health products, and 16/60 (27%) of the pharmacies had online stores, and consumers could buy medicines and health products from these pharmacies via their online portal. In addition, 20/60 (33%) of the community pharmacies used at least one of the common online business platforms available in Southeast Asia to sell products/medicines. The telephone was the most commonly used means of communication with patients, although some pharmacies also used email, WhatsApp, SMS text messaging, and other communication platforms.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the majority of community pharmacies in Selangor, Malaysia are using ICT for different purposes. However, there is still limited use of mobile apps to provide health services. Overall, community pharmacies have been adopting ICT apps for pharmacy services but the rate of adoption is relatively slower than that in other sectors of Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  17. Fulltext The Influence of Average Temperature and Relative Humidity on New Cases of COVID-19: Time-Series Analysis
    He Z, Chin Y, Yu S, Huang J, Zhang CJP, Zhu K, et al.
    JMIR Public Health Surveill, 2021 Jan 25;7(1):e20495.
    PMID: 33232262 DOI: 10.2196/20495
    BACKGROUND: The influence of meteorological factors on the transmission and spread of COVID-19 is of interest and has not been investigated.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the associations between meteorological factors and the daily number of new cases of COVID-19 in 9 Asian cities.

    METHODS: Pearson correlation and generalized additive modeling (GAM) were performed to assess the relationships between daily new COVID-19 cases and meteorological factors (daily average temperature and relative humidity) with the most updated data currently available.

    RESULTS: The Pearson correlation showed that daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were more correlated with the average temperature than with relative humidity. Daily new confirmed cases were negatively correlated with the average temperature in Beijing (r=-0.565, P

    Matched MeSH terms: Cities/epidemiology
  18. Immigrant Health Study. 7. Foreign workers study: blood parasites. [Abstract]
    Khairul Anuar A, Rohela M, Zurainee MN, Abdul Aziz A, Sivanandan S
    JUMMEC, 1998;3:63-63.
    Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in Asia. The infections persist as a major cause of clinical morbidity and a significant impediment to socioeconomic development. Its prevalence is increasing world wide, largely because of rapid unplanned urbanization in many endemic areas. It is estimated that at least 120 million people are infected. In our study on foreign workers, a total of 241 day time blood samples were collected. The countries represented were Bangladesh (134), Indonesia (103), Pakistan (3) and Myanmar(1). The tests conducted on blood samples were thick blood film for microfilaria and thin blood film for malaria and quantitation of eosinophiles using the Giemsa stain. Out of the 241 blood samples tested, one was positive for Wuchereria bancrofti and one other was positive for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) each from Bangladesh and Indonesia respectively. As for the blood eosinophiles, 39 (16.18%) blood samples showed high eosinophilia. Fifteen (6.22%) were from Banglandesh and 24 (9.96%) were from Indonesia. The Bangladeshi male who was positive for Witcherrria bamuofti also showed eosinophilia of 22%. We believe that some of these cases with high eosinophilia, may be positive for microfilaria. We may have missed some cases because of the methodology we chose. Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in Bangladesh and Indonesia. In Malaysia W. brancrofti, especially in the cities have been eliminated. However their vectors for the transmission of W. bancrofti is rampant in the cities. With the influx of immigrants with W. bancrofti and in relation to their occupational nature, W. bancrofti may eventually be introduced into the community and change the whole facet of the disease in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  19. Fulltext Some remarks on diurnal radon concentration at various locations in Peninsular Malaysia
    Ahmad Saat, Zaini Hamzah, Zaharidah Abu Bakar, Zuraidah A. Munir, Siti Mariam Sumari, Misbah Hassan
    Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2010;2010(1):49-57.
    MyJurnal
    A study was carried out to determine short term diurnal radon concentration at five locations in Malaysia. Two locations (KG & AP) are former tin mining areas that has been converted to housing area and training centre respectively, one a relatively new city (SA), that was formerly a rubber and oil palm plantation area, one older cities (KB) and one housing complex by the sea (LP). The study was carried out in 2005, 2006 and 2007 using a diffused-junction photodiode sensor continuous radon monitor. The monitor is recognized by the USEPA. In each location, measurements were carried out on at least ten sites. Former tin mining areas of KG and AP shows up to seven times higher indoor average than the average in the other three locations. However the indoor average in all locations is still below the action level of 4 pCiL-1. For outdoor, the former tin mining areas average concentration was higher than the global average of 0.4 pCiL-1. For the twenty four hours temporal variation the trend indicated that former tin mining areas concentration are always higher, and at time up to six fold higher. The hourly variation of all locations follows an identical trend of high concentration during early to late morning and drop in the afternoon till evening. The outdoor twenty four hour temporal average of former tin mining areas is consistently higher than the outdoor global average of 0.4 pCiL-1. The strong correlation between indoor and outdoor concentration at AP, indicates that indoor radon might originates from outdoor environment. The study was also extended to estimate the effective dose (mSvyr-1) of Rn-222 to the public.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  20. Fulltext Mass and elemental concentrations of airborne particles at Kuala Lumpur site in 2000 to 2006
    Mohd Suhaimi Hamzah, Shamsiah Abdul Rahman, Abdul Khalik Wood
    Journal of Nuclear and Related Technologies, 2008;2008(2):27-34.
    MyJurnal
    Atmospheric Pollution due to airborne particle is a major concern to many cities in the Southeast Asian region, including Kuala Lumpur. Within the last six years air particulate samples have been collected from a site in Kuala Lumpur and measured for their PM10, PM2.5 and elemental concentrations. The results showed that the daily PM10 (
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
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