Environmental Factors as a Cause of Differences in the Feet of Ecuadorian Children and Its Relation to Their Footwear

The objective of this study was to analyze the differences in foot measurements of Ecuadorian children according to their geographical location of residence, taking into account climatic differences (1). A total of 1662 children (2) participated in the study. Three groups were established: coast, mountains and amazonia. The type of footwear (3) used was recorded and the lengths, widths, perimeters, heights and angles of both (4) feet were analyzed with a 3D foot digitizer (5). The variable ‘fitting of the foot to footwear’ was also obtained. Children living in coastal areas presented greater lengths, widths, perimeters and heights compared to those living in the mountain (p > 0.001) and amazonia (p < 0.001) between ages 5 to 13. Mountain residents showed a greater first toe angle than coast residents (p > 0.001) aged 8 to 17. Children used shoes smaller than required by their foot length (p < 0.01). Ecuadorian children from the coast presented longer and wider feet with higher foot arches, whilst those from mountains presented greater first toe angle. The studied sample used footwear up to one size smaller than the size corresponding to their foot length. The fitting and type of footwear used according to climatic differences could be interfering with normal foot development.

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Britain Breathing: using the experience sampling method to collect the seasonal allergy symptoms of a country

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association ◽

10.1093/jamia/ocx148 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 88-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Markel Vigo ◽

Lamiece Hassan ◽

William Vance ◽

Caroline Jay ◽

Andrew Brass ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Experience Sampling ◽

Experience Sampling Method ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Uk ◽

Seasonal Allergies ◽

Allergy Symptom

Abstract Objective Allergies are increasing, but the reasons for this are unclear. Although environmental factors are thought to be important, there is a lack of data on how they contribute to symptom development. To understand this relationship better, we need accurate data about both symptoms and environmental factors. Our objective here is to ascertain whether experience sampling is a reliable approach for collecting allergy symptom data in the general population, allowing us to map symptoms and understand etiology. Materials and Methods We conducted a 32-week cross-sectional study where individuals reported their seasonal allergy symptoms and severity via a mobile application. Symptom geographical location and timestamp were also collected automatically. Results The experience sampling method reliably infers the incidence of seasonal allergies as indicated by the strong correlation (r = 0.93, P < .003) between the reported lack of wellness and the number of antihistamines prescribed by General Practitioners. Discussion and Conclusion The project has resulted in the first dataset to map allergy symptoms over time and place and reveals periods of peak hay fever symptoms in the UK.

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Natural variation of profundal macroinvertebrate communities in boreal lakes is related to lake morphometry: implications for bioassessment

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f09-025 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 589-601 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Jussi Jyväsjärvi ◽

Kimmo T. Tolonen ◽

Heikki Hämäläinen

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Human Activities ◽

Natural Variation ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Boreal Lakes ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Compositional Variation ◽

Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽

Lake Morphometry ◽

Partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis

Modern biological assessment of aquatic systems is often based on the reference condition approach, which requires characterization of biota in undisturbed conditions. For this approach, it is essential to recognize the origins and degree of natural variation in communities. We used data from 55 minimally disturbed Finnish lake basins to investigate the natural variation of profundal macroinvertebrate community composition in relation to environmental factors. Partial canonical correspondence analysis showed that most (68% combined, 39% uniquely) of the total explained compositional variation (29%) was correlated with environmental variables insensitive to human activities, especially lake morphometry. In contrast, the unique contributions of geographical location and variables influenced by human activities (dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus) were substantially smaller (5.5% and 22%, respectively). All of the explained variation (38%–64%) of three widely used community metrics was also correlated with human-insensitive environmental factors. The results suggest that variation in undisturbed profundal invertebrate communities of reference sites is strongly dependent on variables insensitive to human activities and especially on those related to lake morphometry, suggesting that reference communities for bioassessment of impacted lakes should be rather predictable from these variables.

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Composition and Associations of the Infant Gut Fungal Microbiota with Environmental Factors and Childhood Allergic Outcomes

mBio ◽

10.1128/mbio.03396-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rozlyn C. T. Boutin ◽

Hind Sbihi ◽

Ryan J. McLaughlin ◽

Aria S. Hahn ◽

Kishori M. Konwar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Early Life ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Fungal Communities ◽

First Year ◽

Season Of Birth ◽

Early Life Factors ◽

Fungal Microbiota ◽

First Year Of Life ◽

First Time

Recent evidence suggests an immunomodulatory role for commensal fungi (mycobiota) in the gut, yet little is known about the composition and dynamics of early-life gut fungal communities. In this work, we show for the first time that the composition of the gut mycobiota of Canadian infants changes dramatically over the course of the first year of life, is associated with environmental factors such as geographical location, diet, and season of birth, and can be used in conjunction with knowledge of a small number of key early-life factors to predict inhalant atopy status at age 5 years.

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Estimating detection probability and site occupancy of Leiolepis guentherpetersi in the coastal sandy areas of Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province

ACADEMIA JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY ◽

10.15625/2615-9023/v40n4.12839 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Cao Thi Thanh Nguyen ◽

Ngo Van Binh ◽

Ngo Dac Chung

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Detection Probability ◽

Site Occupancy ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Available Information

The Peter’s Butterfly Lizard (Leiolepis guentherpetersi) is endemic to Vietnam. However, there is no available information related to detection probability and site occupancy of this species so far. Nine surveys were conducted at 50 plots in the coastal areas of Phu Loc district from September to December 2017 in order to detect the presence of Leiolepis guentherpetersi. Our results showed that the detection probability of L. guentherpetersi, when combined with environmental factors, was 0.383, which was higher than the naive detection probability of 0.34. The total AIC weight of the near sea ecosystem was 85.9% while the total AIC weight of the ecosystem far from the sea was only 13.5%. The AIC weight of weather conditions was 99.4% while the total AIC weight of temperature was 62.3% and the total AIC weight of humidity was 27.2%. These results indicated that the probability of detecting L. guentherpetersi influenced by both site covariates (near the sea or far from the sea) and sample covariates (temperature, humidity, and rainfall). In there, the near sea ecosystem is the best habitat for L. guentherpetersi and rainfall is sample covariates that had the greatest influence on detection probability and site occupancy of this species.

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Spatial Pattern of the Vitality of Chinese Characteristic Towns: A Perspective from Nighttime Lights

Land ◽

10.3390/land11010085 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 85

Author(s):

Yuqing Zhang ◽

Kun Shang ◽

Zhipeng Shi ◽

Hui Wang ◽

Xueming Li

Keyword(s):

Evaluation Studies ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

River Delta ◽

East China ◽

Industrial Enterprises ◽

South Central ◽

Nighttime Light Data ◽

Nighttime Light ◽

The Town

Nighttime light images are valuable indicators of regional economic development, and nighttime light data are now widely used in town monitoring and evaluation studies. Using the nighttime light data acquired through Luojia1-01 and the geographic information system spatial analysis method, this study analyzed the spatial vitality pattern of 402 characteristic towns in six geographic divisions of China. The average DN (Digital Number) value of Guzhen, having the highest vitality level, was 0.05665221, whereas that of Xin’an, having the lowest vitality level, was 0.00000186. A total of 89.5% of towns have a low level of vitality. The regional differences were significant; high vitality towns are concentrated in economically developed coastal areas, mainly in two large regions of east China and south central. The average lighting densities of the towns in east China and south central were 0.004838 and 0.003190, respectively. The lighting density of the towns in west central was low, and the vitality intensity was generally low. A spatially significant positive correlation of small-town vitality was observed, and “high–high” agglomeration was primarily distributed in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Fujian coastal areas in east and south China. The towns with high vitality intensity had similarities in their geographical location, convenient transportation conditions, and profound historical heritage or cultural accumulation along with many industrial enterprises. This research empirically demonstrates the feasibility of using the 130-m-high resolution of the nighttime lighting data of Luojia1-01 to evaluate the vitality at the town scale, and the vitality evaluation focuses on the spatial attributes of the town, which is meaningful to guide the development of the town in each region given the vast area of China and the large differences in the development of different regions.

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Environmental Factors Supporting Mangrove Ecosystem in Semarang-Demak Coastal Area

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201912501021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

pp. 01021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andin Irsadi ◽

Sutrisno Angggoro ◽

Tri Retnaningsih Soeprobowati

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Coastal Area ◽

Field Studies ◽

Mangrove Ecosystem ◽

Coastal Areas

Since the 1990s, the Semarang-Demak coastal area experienced abrasion. To protect abrasion, there have been many attempts such as planting mangroves, in which its development has shown success. The purpose of this study was to analyze environmental factors that play a role in the growth of mangroves ecosystem in the Semarang-Demak coastal area. Mangrove data were obtained by field studies using the transect method in three coastal areas. Each station is determined by the next station with five plots of size 20 m x 20 m. Data on supporting environmental factors are measured in each area including temperature, salinity, pH, light intensity, nutrients, and rainfall. Based on the results of analysis and calculations, the order of important values from large to small is A. marina, A. alba, R. mucronata, S. casseolaris, and R. stylosa, while environmental factors still fulfill mangrove growth. However, it needs to be aware of the increase in waves and temperatures that could threaten the survival of mangroves.

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The influence of seasonality, tide and time of activities on the behavior of Sotalia guianensis (Van Bénéden) (Cetacea, Delphinidae) in Pernambuco, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Zoologia ◽

10.1590/s0101-81752007000400032 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 1122-1130 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Janaina P. Araújo ◽

Maria E. Araújo ◽

Antonio Souto ◽

Cristiano L. Parente ◽

Lena Geise

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Sotalia Guianensis ◽

Local Newspapers ◽

Open Sea ◽

Behavioral Activities ◽

Estuarine Dolphin ◽

Prey Items

Data on Sotalia guianensis Van Bénéden, 1864 occurrence on the beaches of Pernambuco (Northeastern Brazil) is restricted to information on stranding and on printed material from local newspapers; actual observations of such animals have not been published. This study intends to determine the use of habitat, behavioral activities and assess the relationships between environmental factors and the recorded behavior. Observations were conducted on open sea coastal areas, on the beaches of Olinda and Piedade, as well as in sheltered areas, in the ports of Recife and Suape. Monitoring was carried out every month in each area, during two consecutive days, from September 2004 to August 2005. Results corroborate that this species prefers to occupy more protected environments, the port of Recife being the main concentration area for such species. Piedade is just an exploratory area, possibly due to shark occurrence. Olinda is only occasionally used. Concentration areas seem to be used for feeding, and incidence of caudal exhibition suggests that most of the estuarine dolphin prey items are demersal. Environmental conditions (seasonality, tide and time) did not show to be significant when related to the estuarine dolphin behavior.

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The main aspects of social and hygienic monitoring for diphyllobothriasis in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia

Hygiene and Sanitation ◽

10.47470/0016-9900-2020-99-7-682-687 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 99 (7) ◽

pp. 682-687

Author(s):

Mariya M. Aslanova ◽

Inna Yu. Tarmaeva ◽

Olga G. Bogdanova ◽

Tatyana V. Gololobova ◽

Tamari R. Maniya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Lake Baikal ◽

Failure Modes ◽

Well Being ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

High Incidence ◽

The Republic ◽

The Impact

Introduction. The high incidence of diphyllobotriosis in the coastal areas of Lake Baikal is an objective reflection of the socio-hygienic problems of the population of the Republic of Buryatia. In ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being in the Republic of Buryatia, there are many topical and territory-specific hygienic problems related to food safety issues. One of the main tasks is to prevent cases of diphyllobotriosis associated with the consumption of aquatic bioresources caught in the reservoirs of Transbaikalia, including the Baikal omul, in connection with the preservation of the risk of its development from the impact of a complex of socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors of the environment.The purpose of our study was to investigate the regional features of diphyllobothriosis with an analysis of the current situation on infection of fish (the second intermediate hosts of the genus diphyllobothrium) with diphyllobothrium plerocercoids.Material and methods. The database of the Republican information Fund for social and hygienic monitoring of the Department of Federal Service for Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare for the Republic of Buryatia and the Center for hygiene and epidemiology in the Republic of Buryatia was used as sources of information. The study was conducted using statistical, analytical, mathematical methods, as well as comparative analysis.Results. According to our research, the course of the epidemic process was found to be influenced by a complex of environmental factors. This high anthropogenic load of the Selenga river and lake Quill, where the main causes are the failure modes of nature-protection and sanitary-protective zones of the lake, the unauthorized disposal of waste production and consumption, inadequate operation of water purification facilities, deterioration of the sanitary-technical condition of water supply and sewage networks.Conclusion. The high incidence of diphyllobotriosis in the coastal areas of lake Baikal is an objective reflection of the socio-hygienic problems of the population of the Republic of Buryatia.

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Variability of herbage production in mixed leys as related to ley age and environmental factors: a farm survey

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.2137/145960608787235522 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 394 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

P. RIESINGER ◽

I. HERZON

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Regional Differences ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Red Clover ◽

Coastal Regions ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Average Proportion ◽

Farm Survey

Influences of ley age, soil properties, and geographical location on the herbage production of red clover-grass leys were determined under practical conditions on 27 organic farms located in the southern and in the northwestern coastal regions of Finland. Averaged over one-, two-, and three-year-old leys the accumulated first and second cuts produced 7.12 t dry matter herbage ha-1 year-1, with a clover proportion of 34.8%. Herbage production declined with increasing ley age. The average proportion of clover increased from 26.4% in the first to 43.7% in the second cut but decreased with ley age. Within- and between-field variations of clover proportions markedly decreased from the first to the second cut and strongly increased with ley age, while changes in the variations of herbage production were less pronounced. Within-field variations of clover proportions in the first and in the second cuts were higher at lower proportions of clover. Herbage production was positively related with clover proportion. Soil properties had a major impact on clover proportion and herbage production, largely explaining also regional differences in ley growth. Amelioration of fields and, not at least, of less fertile sites within the same field seems to be a crucial requirement for higher and more even clover proportions and herbage yields.;

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