Global Transitions最新文献

This review provides an analytic overview of the influence of the health-related United Nations General Assembly High-level Meetings on HIV/AIDS, non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis and Universal Health Coverage. We consider the temporal association between High-Level Meetings and changes in the global health funding landscape and national financial and programmatic commitments, in order to understand whether global prioritization of selected health issues leads to domestic prioritization and action. Whilst some High-Level Meetings do appear to have galvanized support, funding, and domestic action, this is not always the case. To maximise the value of these meetings, health advocates should view them as a powerful means rather than an end in themselves.

Carbon reduction is a primary strategic business development target of every industry. Petrochemical engineering and ferrous metallurgy are raw material industries that are key players in carbon emission control and are also facing huge challenges. Raw material recycling is a subject that has received much focus but is difficult to apply to products that have high quality and functional characteristics. This practical paper introduces two case studies of Company A to illustrate practical suggestions on raw material recycling realization and management for carbon neutrality from the following business strategic aspects: chances and risks of application, technical process innovation, carbon reduction rate and cost. The results show the obvious feasibility and benefit of recycling raw materials into certain strategic selected products. This can reduce carbon effectively in parallel when there is a balance among the maturity level of raw material recycling systems in the market, supplier technical capability, and product demand. This research provides suggestions to firms on how to set up a transformation management strategy and achieve readiness for green innovation.

The normative values of vertical jump (VJ) and sit-and-reach (SR) for Chinese people are still unclear. We aimed to determine these values and their correlations with body composition using data from China National Health Survey which included 19,269 participants aged 8–80 years. Sex-specific smoothed centile tables were generated for the P₁, P₅, P₂₅, P₅₀, P₇₅, P₉₅, and P₉₉ centiles of VJ and SR using lambda-mu-sigma method. The median (Interquartile range) values of VJ and SR in males and females were as follows: 20.3 (8.8) cm and 14.1 (5.5) cm for VJ, 1.8 (11.6) cm and 6.8 (10.4) cm for SR, respectively. In males, VJ values increased to a peak around the age of 18, with the 5^th and 95^th values being 17.7 cm and 41.3 cm, respectively. After reaching the peak, VJ values gradually declined with age. In females, VJ values remained relatively stable from childhood to early adulthood, and then declined after the age of 30. The peak values of SR were observed in early adulthood in both sexes, and remained stable in females but declined with age in males. VJ had a negative association with body composition, particularly in females. SR was found to have a negative association with fat mass indexes in males. However, correlations in females were only marginally statistically significant. The study provides age- and sex-specific percentile reference values for VJ and SR in Chinese people and can aid in the assessment of muscle fitness and facilitate early prediction of neuromuscular disorders.

Background

Natural flood disasters have a devastating effect on society, but the comprehensive assessment of their association with infectious diseases is lacking. We aimed to comprehensively assess the association of natural flood disasters with new cases and deaths of different infectious disease globally from 1990 to 2019, and provide scientific evidence for early warning and measures for the prevention and control of outbreaks and endemic of potential infectious disease following natural flood disasters.

Methods

We used data on natural flood disasters from international disaster database from 1990 to 2019. Data on infectious diseases were from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Quasi-Poisson generalized linear models (quasi-Poisson GLM) were used to calculate the effects size, after controlling other confounders.

Results

From 1990 to 2019, natural flood disasters occurred on 47,368 cumulative days in 168 countries and territories, resulting in a total of 242,516 deaths and affecting 3.55 billion people. The duration of floods showed a trend of increase, with an average increased rate of 5.14% per year (Estimated annual percentage change [EAPC] =5.14%, 95% CI: 3.57%-7.16%; p < 0.05). The incidence rates of most infectious diseases showed decreasing trends in the past 30 years (all p < 0.05), except for dengue (with an EAPC of 1.06%, 95%CI: 0.90%-1.23%). In the multivariable models, increased number of new cases of acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis E, dengue, malaria, measles, meningitis, typhoid and paratyphoid, tuberculosis, and upper respiratory infections were significantly correlated with the longer duration of floods (all p < 0.05). Increased lasting days of flooding were associated with increased number of deaths from lower respiratory tract infections (0.173%), measles (0.126%), typhoid and paratyphoid (0.043%), tetanus (0.245%), and tuberculosis (0.154%, all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Natural flood disasters were associated with increased new cases and deaths of enteric infections, neglected tropical diseases, and respiratory infections. Concerted efforts should be made to design better strategies for adaptation to prevent and control the outbreak of floods-related infectious disease and reduce their impact on health and life.

The advancement of deep learning and artificial intelligence has resulted in the development of state-of-the-art language models, such as ChatGPT. This technology can analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and assist in the analysis and understanding of risk factors for diseases. Despite its potential, the applications, challenges, and ethical considerations have not been yet fully explored in global health research. This paper examines the applications of ChatGPT in global health research, assesses the challenges in its use, and proposes mitigation strategies. Additionally, it describes the ethical considerations around the use of ChatGPT in global health research and suggests potential avenues for addressing these issues. This paper summarizes that it is crucial to understand the capabilities and limitations of this technology in order to fully realize its potential and ensure its responsible integration into global health research.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of outbreaks and related investigations have indicated that the virus can be transmitted via cold-chain environment media. The causal relationship between the cold chain and the introduction and spread of viruses has been established. However, due to its stealthy nature, cold-chain environment media is often overlooked. Herein, we aim to provide a systematic review of the existing evidences and logical chains of virus transmission and introduction through cold-chain, from the perspectives of epidemiological investigations, laboratory researches, and molecular epidemiological evidences of cold-chain-related outbreaks. Additionally, scientific evidences also include the survival capacity of the virus in cold-chain environments, as well as modeling of virus transmission and risk assessment. These evidences and the logical framework related to cold-chain transmission put forward the initiation of cold-chain-based epidemiology (CCBE) as one of the important portions of the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Close multidisciplinary collaboration in this field will be essential for the preparation of future pandemics.

Achieving financial inclusion in shorter timeframes is a grand societal challenge that can be addressed by digital technology. Nonetheless, how an innovative digital technology gets generalized is understudied in the literature. We present the generalization of a cloud-based core banking system to drive financial inclusion in the Philippines. We draw our material from the case of cloud-based core banking system adoption in the Philippines. Our results show that market formation is essential to the generalization, and this can be accomplished through a mix of laissez-faire and dirigisme mechanisms. Pure laissez-faire mechanisms alone, with minimal intervention from the central bank, may drive the generalization of digital innovations. Nonetheless, for the generalization of cloud digital technology to happen at an accelerated pace, the central bank must intervene more proactively, especially in establishing an industry-wide digital financial ecosystem. Furthermore, for the generalization of cloud digital technology to truly contribute to the societal mission of financial inclusion, the central bank ought to take the lead as a meta-governor directing the various elements of the digital finance ecosystem. Our study provides a nuanced understanding of the interplay between laissez-faire and dirigisme in the genesis of markets for digital innovations in pursuit of financial inclusion.

Background

Our study aimed to investigate the association between multimorbidity and the cognitive decline related functional limitations.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 2011–2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and generalized estimating equation models were used for estimation. A Chinese multimorbidity-weighted index (CMWI) was used to quantify the cumulative disease burden of multimorbidity. A margin plot was used to show the probability of functional limitations by global cognitive function and CMWI. Then, subgroup analysis was performed by demographic factors, the severity of functionally impaired ADL/IADL, and the trajectories of cognitive function.

Results

Multimorbidity was demonstrated to be associated cognitive decline related functional limitations over 8 years, with the coefficient of the interaction of cognitive function −0.001 (−0.001, −0.001). This moderating effect was only significant in the relationship between cognitive function and ≥2-item impaired ADL/IADL (coefficient = −0.008, 95% CI: 0.009, −0.007) but was not significant in the relationship between cognitive function and 1-item impaired ADL/IADL. The accelerated role of multimorbidity associated with more severe function limitations than the relatively mild limitations attributed to cognitive decline, and the role of multimorbidity was stronger in individuals with continuously high function of cognitive trajectories and gradually declining cognitive function than in those with low level of cognitive trajectories.

Conclusions

Effectively managing multimorbidity is important for preventing cognitive decline. Preventing the onset and progression of multimorbidity may be one potential strategy for early prevention and intervention to reverse or postpone cognitive decline and its further dementia risk.

Background

Depression has caused enormous health burden to human worldwide. Glycemia has been found as one important risk factor of depression. However, the biological mechanism underlying this relationship remained largely unknown.

Methods

This analysis was derived from a cohort of 33,151 participants in the UK Biobank who provided brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 2014 to 2020. Participants were classified into diabetic, prediabetic and non-diabetic groups, as well as groups aged ≥60 years and <60 years. We assessed the associations between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), grey matter volume (GMV) in 117 brain regions, and depression based on the multivariable linear and logistic regression. We further investigated the mediation effect of GMV on the relationship between HbA1c and depression.

Results

Higher HbA1c was found to be associated with reduced GMV and depression. Lower GMV was observed associated with depression. Moreover, the association was strongest in prediabetes compared to prediabetic and non-diabetic, and the association was greater in those aged ≥60 years. We further observed a significant mediation effect of GMV on the association between HbA1c and depression, and the proportions of the effect mediated by HbA1c-depression signatured regions was 7.29% (95% CI: 1.43%, 34.38%).

Conclusions

This study suggests that HbA1c is associated with cerebral grey matter abnormality especially in participants aged ≥60 years. In the context of global aging, the unhealthy blood sugar can contribute to more severe brain damage for the population and effective control of blood sugar levels among the elderly can have a positive impact on brain health and potentially reduce the risk of developing depression.

In 2022, the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF), which aimed to strengthen international protections on terrestrial and marine areas through biodiversity investments, corporate responsibility, and the elimination of environmentally damaging subsidies. China was fundamental in forming and passing this pivotal biodiversity framework. China's leadership in COP15 should result in escalated Chinese biodiversity protections, specifically through mandated biodiversity impact disclosures (BIDs) for companies associated with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). To achieve this, BID clauses should be inserted into BRI development agreements between Chinese foreign development institutions and BRI partner states or companies. Mandated BIDs would expand biodiversity and human health protections within China and globally. BRI-associated companies would be motivated to improve BID ratings for financial benefits, increased social capital, employee engagement, and customer loyalty. Biodiversity protection will also “future-proof” companies against any future environmental policy changes. By providing improved materiality to investors, governments, and other interested parties, BRI BIDs would enhance corporate oversight and awareness of biodiversity issues, advance the standardization and pervasiveness of BIDs, and elevate biodiversity and human health issues into more traditional commercial reporting systems. Thus, China's corporate responsibility measures under COP15 will influence global biodiversity, human health, and the future of BIDs.