published journal article

Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Increased Emergency Room Visits for Skin Diseases in Beijing, China

Toxics

Publication Date

May 1, 2021

Author(s)

Wanzhou Wang, Wenlou Zhang, Jingjing Zhao, Hongyu Li, Jun Wu, Furong Deng, Qingbian Ma, Xinbiao Guo

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Abstract

Skin diseases have become a global concern. This study aims to evaluate the associations between ambient air pollution and emergency room visits for skin diseases under the background of improving air quality in China. Based on 45,094 cases from a general hospital and fixed-site monitoring environmental data from 2014–2019 in Beijing, China, this study used generalized additive models with quasi-Poisson regression to estimate the exposure–health associations at lag 0–1 to lag 0–7. PM2.5 and NO2 exposure were associated with increased emergency room visits for total skin diseases (ICD10: L00-L99). Positive associations of PM2.5, PM10, O3 and NO2 with dermatitis/eczema (ICD-10: L20–30), as well as SO2 and NO2 with urticaria (ICD-10: L50) visits were also found. For instance, a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with increases of 0.7% (95%CI: 0.2%, 1.2%) in total skin diseases visits at lag 0–5 and 1.1% (95%CI: 0.6%, 1.7%) in dermatitis/eczema visits at lag 0–1, respectively. For PM2.5, PM10 and CO, stronger annual associations were typically observed in the high-pollution (2014) and low-pollution (2018/2019) years. For instance, a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 at lag 0–5 was associated with increases of 1.8% (95%CI: 1.0%, 2.6%) and 2.3% (95%CI: 0.4%, 4.3%) in total skin disease visits in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Our study emphasizes the necessity of controlling the potential health hazard of air pollutants on skin, although significant achievements in air quality control have been made in China.

Suggested Citation

Wanzhou Wang, Wenlou Zhang, Jingjing Zhao, Hongyu Li, Jun Wu, Furong Deng, Qingbian Ma and Xinbiao Guo (2021) “Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Increased Emergency Room Visits for Skin Diseases in Beijing, China”, Toxics, 9(5), p. 108. Available at: 10.3390/toxics9050108.

policy brief

Can California Power Electric Construction Equipment at Scale?

Publication Date

June 1, 2026

Author(s)

Shakib Kafashan, Jean-Daniel Saphores

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Abstract

California’s climate policies are accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles, but the construction sector faces a major barrier: access to reliable power at job sites. While electric excavators and loaders are entering the market, many construction sites—often temporary and in remote or constrained locations—lack the electrical infrastructure needed to support them. Grid connections are often too costly and take too long to install for construction projects, and existing grid infrastructure was not designed to handle the power demand of heavy machinery. Without practical charging solutions, electrifying the construction sector may lag behind state goals. Meanwhile, construction equipment is contributing 1% to 2% of California’s total greenhouse gas emissions. To better understand these challenges, the research team reviewed existing research, assessed available charging technologies, and spoke with utilities and energy providers across California. The research focuses on identifying key barriers and practical pathways to support construction electrification.

Suggested Citation

Shakib Kafashan and Jean-Daniel Saphores (2026) Can California Power Electric Construction Equipment at Scale?. Policy Brief. UC ITS. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7922/g2tt4pcr.

published journal article

Partial fiscal decentralization

Regional Science and Urban Economics

Publication Date

January 1, 2009

Author(s)

Jan Brueckner

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Abstract

The fiscal decentralization impulse now sweeping the world often leads to partial decentralization, where subnational governments are funded by central transfers. rather than leading to full local autonomy. Despite the practical important of this arrangement, the literature contains no economic analysis of a partial decentralization regime in a Tiebout-style model. This paper provides such an analysis, relying on the key assumption that public-good provision requires effort on the part of government officials. By choosing different degrees of effort, localities can then provide different public-good levels even when a fixed, common transfer constrains them to spend the same amount. A number of useful results are derived. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Suggested Citation

Jan K. Brueckner (2009) “Partial fiscal decentralization”, Regional Science and Urban Economics, 39(1), pp. 23–32. Available at: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2008.06.001.

published journal article

Impact of Flight Trajectory Design on Performance and Noise for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft

Publication Date

December 16, 2025

Author(s)

Victoria Pellerito Gonzalez, Seraphin Yeung, Jacqueline (Jacquie) Huynh, R. John Hansman

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Abstract

A broad range of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft are currently in development, each with varying community noise footprints and energy consumption depending on the specifics of their departure and arrival flight trajectories, which must be understood for effective airspace integration. This work presents a framework for analyzing AAM trajectory design, focusing on key performance characteristics, including community noise impact, energy consumption, and flight duration. The framework can be applied to diverse AAM vehicle types, as demonstrated in this work on a blown-flap short takeoff and landing vehicle, a tilt-rotor vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, and a lift-plus-cruise vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. Results of comparing various takeoff procedures for each vehicle show tradeoffs between community noise, energy consumption, and flight duration, highlighting the importance of strategic trajectory design.

Suggested Citation

Victoria Pellerito Gonzalez, Seraphin Yeung, Jacqueline Huynh and R. John Hansman (2025) “Impact of Flight Trajectory Design on Performance and Noise for Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft”. Available at: https://doi.org/10.2514/1.c038248.

This article examines whether, and to what extent, the announcement of new urban regeneration plans has influenced residential property values in Ulsan, Korea, where state-led initiatives have recently taken place to revitalize urban core areas in a more incremental and participatory manner. This is accomplished by analyzing data for single-family residential properties sold from January 2014 to December 2016 in the Ulsan Metropolitan area. A sample of 7139 transactions is used for hedonic analysis with consideration of the detailed timing of plan information dissemination from the beginning of the planning process to the release of the final plan. The results showed that the urban regeneration strategic plan’s release in December 2015 had a significant influence on the values of residential properties within and around the project sites, but this influence varied across neighborhoods. The effect of the plan release was found to be most significant in/around the project sites where residents showed a high level of willingness to participate. In these areas, price escalations were found to occur even before the release of the final plan, suggesting that appropriate planning interventions are required at early stages of urban regeneration projects to protect vulnerable groups of residents from potential displacement.

Suggested Citation

Gi-Hyoug Cho, Jae Hong Kim and Gain Lee (2020) “Announcement effects of urban regeneration plans on residential property values: Evidence from Ulsan, Korea”, Cities (London, England), 97, p. 102570. Available at: 10.1016/j.cities.2019.102570.