1,721,169 research outputs found
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation in tropical region, instruments validation, climatology and impact on human health
No full textLes causes potentielles de l’augmentation des cancers de la peau sont nombreuses, comme les changements comportementaux ou les modifications de l’intensité des rayonnements ultraviolets (UV) à la surface, en réponse aux perturbations de paramètres environnementaux (ozone stratosphérique, nébulosité, aérosols) dues au changement climatique ou aux activités anthropiques. Compte tenu de leur position géographique, les régions tropicales reçoivent le maximum de rayonnement solaire incident et donc d’UV. Le risque UV dans ces régions est très élevé, du fait de plusieurs facteurs dont la démographie ou les habitudes d'activités en extérieur. La mesure précise de l’intensité du rayonnement ultraviolet est donc primordiale. Un des objectifs de ce travail a été l’évaluation de la qualité de différents instruments par comparaison à un instrument de référence. Un exercice de comparaison satellite a également été réalisé. Une étude de tendance a été faite à partir de la base de données UV de La Réunion. Une tendance à l’augmentation a été trouvée. Cette augmentation peut être due à un changement d’ozone ou encore à un changement de nébulosité liée à l’augmentation de la température des océans. Enfin, il a été réalisé des mesures d’exposition dans des lieux très fréquentés et où l’intensité du rayonnement et le risque UV sont très élevés. La Réunion étant une île montagneuse connue pour ses nombreuses possibilités de randonnées et d’activités en extérieur, des mesures d’exposition ont été réalisées sur des sites fréquentés, par exemple la randonnée Maïdo-Grand Bénare ; réalisée en 7h de marche, au bout desquelles il a été mesuré plus de 60 doses standards érythemales. Selon le phototype, et quel que soit le site, les doses obtenues sont de multiples fois supérieures aux doses minimales érythemales. Il en ressort clairement l’importance de la protection des populations ainsi que la nécessité de campagne de prévention sur le risque UV.The main causes of skin cancer are human behavior change and the increase of surface ultraviolet radiation, in response to atmospheric parameters changes (stratospheric ozone, clouds, or aerosols) due to climate change or anthropogenic activities. Taking into account their geographic position, tropical regions receive the maximum of solar UV irradiance. The risk related to UV is very high, due to the demography or increase in outdoor activities. The precise UV measurement then becomes very important. One of the purpose of this PhD thesis was the evaluation of different UV measurement instruments in comparison to a reference one. Comparison to satellite UV measurements was also performed. A trend study was done by using ground-based UV database at Saint-Denis. An increase trend in UVI was found. This increase may be due to ozone change or to cloud change in response to the increase of sea temperature caused by climate change. Following that comparison work, UV exposure work was done in popular sites where people are exposed to extreme UV radiation, in altitude for example. Réunion island is a mountainous well-known for its several possibilities of hikes and outdoors activities. The measurement performed during the Maïdo - Grand Bénare hike, for example, showed that people can be exposed up to 60 standard erythemal doses, what corresponds to several times the minimal threshold to elicit sunburn whatever the sun phototype. Therefore, the public must be informed of the danger of UV exposure. Along with more awareness campaigns and more efficient measuring devices placed around the island, a general understanding of UVR will improve, thereby reducing the risks linked to excess exposure resulting from insufficient UVR protection
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Extreme weather events and human health in South Africa: implications for climate services
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2022Extreme weather events (EWEs), defined as ‘weather events that are rare at a particular place and time of the year’, have increasingly been affecting many countries worldwide (IPCC 2014). The increased occurrence and intensity of EWEs, among other factors, has increased public interest and demand for climate information. More detail is needed on EWEs and how they can be more effectively coupled to climate services in Africa. This study brings a compendium of empirical evidence, conceptual clarity and transdisciplinary approaches to policymakers, researchers and practitioners dealing with these crucial issues. The main aim of this study is to explore the human health effects of EWEs, particularly heat and the delivery of climate services for health in Africa. Through a systematic review, the study examines the potential impacts of heat on human health in Africa. Using a case study approach heathealth effects are evaluated including the status of climate services in the Agincourt subdistrict of South Africa. A novel systems theory-based conceptual framework and an inclusive analytical framework are employed to explore climate services delivery within the context of climate change adaptation.
The study produces two main findings. First, EWEs particularly heat, potentially affects human health in Africa by changing mortality and morbidity patterns. In the Agincourt sub-district in particular, heat may be associated with adverse health effects on vulnerable populations, including inter alia the elderly, children and outdoor workers. Despite this, Africa-specific heat-health interventions and policy suggestions are scarce. Second, climate services are generally in embryonic stages of development and climate services for health in Agincourt subdistrict are non-existent. Within the South African context, the main barriers to delivery of climate services for health are paucity of interagency coordination and gaps in meteorological data. One of the key conclusions of the study is that African countries can promote development of climate services to adapt to EWEs such as heat. Heat, and heatwaves, for example, are already affecting populations, and are projected to increase in frequency and intensity with concomitant adverse effects on health outcomes on vulnerable population groups.
The three key recommendations from this study are as follows. First, African policymakers and practitioners must avoid a reductionist approach to analysis of EWEs, especially heat impacts and start viewing these as harmful to human health. Therefore, governments must prioritise interventions, create institutions and formulate policy measures to deal with the health effects of heat within their national adaptations plans. Second, African countries must prioritise policy mixes that promote climate services in general and climate services for health in particular. And finally, further policy-science research that generates empirical evidence for African policymakers and practitioners engaged in international negotiations and programmes for climate change adaptation and climate services should be encouraged.PC(2023)MM202
The Extent of the Inclusion and Consideration of Extreme Climate Events and Health in South African Policies; The Case of eThekwini
No full textA research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the Faculty of Science, Geography, Archaeology, and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024Climatic changes over southern Africa include the increased frequency and intensification of Extreme Climate Events (ECEs) which exacerbate health risks within vulnerable low- and middle-income countries. Examples of health impacts from ECEs include water-, food-, and vector-borne diseases, morbidity, and mortality. Increased interest in ECEs since the beginning of the 21st century strengthened the recognition of the impact thereof on health. Therefore, it is important to analyse policy documents to determine the extent to which they include and comprehend these themes to prepare for and address negative ramifications. This study aims to explore the scope to which policy documents relevant to eThekwini, mention and deliberate the ECE- health nexus. This exploration of existing policies allows a contribution to the nascent literature around the ECE-health intersection and is indicative of possible areas of corrective strategy. This is conducted through a review of relevant policy documents, interviews with key stakeholders, and the analysis of secondary climate and health interview data. Findings reflect a 50% recognition of the ECE-health intersection in policy documents. Stakeholders acknowledge the importance of policy documents recognizing this interconnection. Notably, stakeholders are not aware of such policy documents that currently exist but identify barriers to these policy documents being updated and upheld. Hence, the Municipality does have adaptation strategies in place however, improvements thereof are necessary. Examples include the need for short- term adaptation planning, improved policy implementation, and community education. The lack of such work would exacerbate health concerns and add significant strains on the health sectorNational Research Foundation (NRF)ENBELMM202
Modelling the healthcare costs of skin cancer in South Africa
Get PDFBACKGROUND : Skin cancer is a growing public health problem in South Africa due to its high ambient ultraviolet
radiation environment. The purpose of this study was to estimate the annual health system costs of cutaneous
melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in South Africa, incorporating both the
public and private sectors.
METHODS : A cost-of-illness study was used to measure the economic burden of skin cancer and a ‘bottom-up’
micro-costing approach. Clinicians provided data on the patterns of care and treatments while national costing
reports and clinician fees provided cost estimates. The mean costs per melanoma and per SCC/BCC were extrapolated
to estimate national costs using published incidence data and official population statistics. One-way and probabilistic
sensitivity analyses were undertaken to address the uncertainty of the parameters used in the model.
RESULTS : The estimated total annual cost of treating skin cancers in South Africa were ZAR 92.4 million (2015)
(or US15.2 to 13.3 to $19.3 million) when non-melanoma-related variables were changed. The primary drivers of overall costs were
the cost of excisions, follow-up care, radical lymph node dissection, cryotherapy and radiation therapy.
CONCLUSION : The cost of managing skin cancer in South Africa is sizable. Since skin cancer is largely preventable
through improvements to sun-protection awareness and skin cancer prevention programs, this study highlights
these healthcare resources could be used for other pressing public health problems in South Africa.The CSIR Parliamentary Grant
EECM022 funded this research during 2013–2014. Thomas Elliott is funded
through a grant from the National Health and Medical Council of Australia
through the Centre for Research Excellence in Sun and Health #1001456.http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmchealthservresam2016Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorolog
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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