Travelers’ attitude towards carpooling in Islamabad

Islamabad, being the capital of Pakistan, is attracting every business. Thus, the city is growing towards traffic congestion as the city’s car ownership rate is rapidly growing. In such a situation, for successful implementation, the policymakers need to understand the public acceptance of carpooling services based on its key motives and constraints. This research explores the key motives and constraints to the introduction scenarios of carpooling service in Islamabad. A stated preference questionnaire survey was conducted via Google Form comprising several parts relating to carpooling. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were processed, and a structural model was developed. Females (both single and married) were less orientated to carpool with males and married males with females. Unknown carpooling partners negatively influenced the factor of intention to shift to carpooling service. Our study provides policymakers and transport planners with an appropriate forecasting model of significant factors. In addition, it provides suggestions to transport planners to design promotional tools to enhance the tendency of carpooling among private car users in favor of reducing traffic congestion and increased car ownership rate in the city.

Awareness, Ownership and Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets against Malaria Vectors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the level, sources of awareness, ownership and utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) by pregnant women, according to age, parity, trimester, occupation and hospital attended. Study Design: The study was a cross sectional survey of 577 randomly selected pregnant women who were attending antenatal clinic in different hospitals in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria. Duration of Study: The study was conducted in February 2016. Materials and Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the study participants. Results: Of a total of 577 respondents, 566(98.1%) had previous knowledge of ITNs while only 11(1.9%) had no prior knowledge. Also, 218(38.5%) had heard about ITNs from Radio, 184(32.5%) from Television, while 374(66.1%) from Antenatal clinics. A total of 217(46.2%) obtained at least one net at antenatal clinic, 39(8.3%) purchased at least one of the ITNs owned, 49(10.4%) received the net at their Local Government Headquarters while 263(66.9%) received at least one by free distribution at other locations. Respondents from government owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) had the highest ownership rate of 92.7%, while least 65.0% was observed at the privately owned Divine Hospital and Maternity. The ownership of ITNs was dependent on the hospital as there was a significant difference (X2=56.374, df=2, p < .05). Age group 25–34 years had the highest ownership rate of 87.1% while the least 72.8% was in age group 15–24 years. Women in age group 35–44 years had the highest utilization rate of 52.3% while least usage rate was in age group 15-24 years and there was a significant difference (X2=7.042, df=2, p < .05). Conclusion: Public health educators, Doctors and Antenatal heads need to do more in sensitization on the importance of utilization of ITNs during pregnancy for protection against malaria vectors.

Analysis of the Factors Affecting Violent Crime Rates in the US

The goal of this study is to analyze the factors affecting violent crime rates in the US. It is hypothesized that an increase in the gun ownership rate tends to increase violent crimes in the US. It is hypothesized that urban areas in the US tend to have more violent crimes than rural areas. An OLS regression model is formulated using cross-sectional data set across 50 states and the District of Columbia for the year 2019. The endogenous variable is the violent crime rates per 100,000 inhabitants across 50 states and the District of Columbia. The independent variables used in the OLS regression model are population density per square mile, unemployment rate, percentage of the population living in poverty, and gun ownership rate. The four exogenous variables that are found to be statistically significant are gun ownership, unemployment rate, population density per square mile, and percentage of population living in property. An attempt is also made to formulate strategies that would help in reducing violent crime rates in the US.

The global usage rate of bed nets during the last ten years: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Malaria is an endemic disease especially in tropical areas transmitted by Anopheles mosquito through their bites. Therefore, bednets are one of the best methods for protection against their bites. However, many regions have limited access to bednets and limited knowledge about their importance. Objectives: Primary objectives were to estimate bednet possession and usage rate for last 10 years. Secondary objectives aimed to calculate the prevalence of specific bednets’ types.Methods: We performed an electronic search on 12 databases, and 106 studies were included obeying the criteria. Results: 106 studies included in our meta-analysis. Study participants were mostly from Africa while a few from Asia and southern America. Overall bednet ownership rate per households among countries was 72.1% (95% CI: 62.9-79.7) while per individuals was 52.5% (95% CI: 37-67.4). In addition, overall bednet usage rate per households among countries was 41.2% (95% CI: 25.1-59.3) same as bednet usage per individuals.Conclusion: Our study suggests that the bednet ownership and usage rate among different countries are less satisfactory, hence not maximizing the potential benefit of the bed net. There is a crucial need to increase awareness towards the bednet usage across endemic areas and implement programs for free distribution of bednets.

Evaluating the Impact of Fossil Fuel Vehicle Exit on the Oil Demand in China

Vehicle ownership is one of the most important factors affecting fuel demand. Based on the forecast of China’s vehicle ownership, this paper estimates China’s fuel demand in 2035 and explores the impact of new energy vehicles replacing fossil fuel vehicles. The paper contributes to the existing literature by taking into account the heterogeneity of provinces when using the Gompertz model to forecast future vehicle ownership. On that basis, the fuel demand of each province in 2035 is calculated. The results show that: (1) The vehicle ownership rate of each province conforms to the S-shape trend with the growth of real GDP per capita. At present, most provinces are at a stage of accelerating growth. However, the time for the vehicle ownership rate of each province to reach the inflection point is quite different. (2) Without considering the replacement of new energy vehicles, China’s auto fuel demand is expected to be 746.69 million tonnes (Mt) in 2035. Guangdong, Henan, and Shandong are the top three provinces with the highest fuel demand due to economic and demographic factors. The fuel demand is expected to be 76.76, 64.91, and 63.95 Mt, respectively. (3) Considering the replacement of new energy vehicles, China’s fuel demand in 2035 will be 709.35, 634.68, and 560.02 Mt, respectively, under the scenarios of slow, medium, and fast substitution—and the replacement levels are 37.34, 112.01, and 186.67 Mt, respectively. Under the scenario of rapid substitution, the reduction in fuel demand will reach 52.2% of China’s net oil imports in 2016. Therefore, the withdrawal of fuel vehicles will greatly reduce the oil demand and the dependence on foreign oil of China. Faced with the dual pressure of environmental crisis and energy crisis, the forecast results of this paper provide practical reference for policy makers to rationally design the future fuel vehicle exit plan and solve related environmental issues.

The acceptability and practicability of smartphone applications in self- management of Parkinson's disease patients in China

Objective：To determine the practicability and attitudes among the elderly with Parkinson's disease (PD) in China unto the use of smartphone applications (APPs) for self-management of chronic condition. Methods：Patients with PD who participated in the study ranged in age from 52 to 87 years. Questionnaires were collected for attitudes towards using APPs for chronic condition from 204 PD patients, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results：The surveyed population had a smartphone ownership rate of about 65.19%; Among all patients, 82.84% were willing to use an APP for PD managing; among these patients, those who were inclined to use APPs were at younger ages, web users and with higher education, better medication adherence, longer PD courses, and worse conditions of PD（P＜0.001, P＝0.001, P＜0.001, P＝0.041, P<0.001, P＝0.013）. Additionally, the willingness of patients to use APPs for PD self-management is positively related to education level(P<0.001) while the age and PD course are negatively related to it (P=0.017, P<0.001). Conclusion：Patients with PD have relatively low smartphone coverage. They are positive about using APP to manage PD and thus using APPs to help manage PD is a practicable method. Consequently, it is still necessary to improve the smartphones’ coverage and develop practical and handy APPs for PD self-management.