BERTHA member Zhaoxi Zhang defended her PhD thesis on Tuesday 8 November 2022. Zhaoxi was a PhD student at the Department of Environmental Science (ENVS) at the Graduate School of Technical Science, Aarhus University from 08/2019-11/2022. Her PhD project "Urban Health Sensing: Measuring human physiological stress response to urban settings using wearable sensors" aims to address the challenge of developing an in-depth investigation of the effect of urban features on human health in different types of public open spaces.  During her PhD, she used an integrated approach combining a wearable camera, a biosensor wristband and GPS as a package to continuously track changes in the physiological stress response of individuals during their exposure to urban features. This included mobile measurements in Copenhagen, Denmark and Salzburg, Austria. In conclusion, this work has provided a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy urban environment. Zhaoxi’ s PhD was financially supported by grants from the Graduate School of Technical Science at Aarhus University and the BERTHA project.

Website: https://www.urbanzzhaoxi.com/
PURE Profile: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/zhangzx@envs.au.dk
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhaoxi-zhang-ph-d-0105b5203/

Here are Zhaoxie's publications from her PhD project:

1. Zhang, Zhaoxi, et al. “Assessing the Association between Overcrowding and Human Physiological Stress Response in Different Urban Contexts: A Case Study in Salzburg, Austria, 2023." International Journal of Health Geographics (Accepted for Publication).
2. Zhang, Zhaoxi, et al. “Assessing the Association Between Urban Features and Human Physiological Stress Response Using Wearable Sensors in Different Urban Contexts.” Health & Place, vol. 78, 2022, pp. 102924–102924, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102924. 
3. Zhang, Zhaoxi, et al. “The feasibility of integrating wearable cameras and health trackers for measuring personal exposure to urban features: a pilot study in Roskilde, Denmark." International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), 2022, 11(1), 1-21. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJEPR.313181.
4. Zhang, Zhaoxi, et al. “Assessing the Current Integration of Multiple Personalised Wearable Sensors for Environment and Health Monitoring.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 21, no. 22, 2021, p. 7693–, https://doi.org/10.3390/s21227693 

Media presence

1. "City Walk: Urban Context May Make a Difference on Human Health"
2. "How Our Surroundings Affect Our Mental Health "

Kathrine Agergård Kaspersen, a BERTHA member, defended her PhD thesis on Thursday, 3 March 2022. Kathrine was a PhD student at the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital. Her PhD dissertation is entitled "Exposures and health consequences associated with common respirartory tract infections." During her PhD, Kathrine researched on exposures and health consequences associated with common respiratory tract infections. She investigated the association between air pollution and respiratory infections in the adult Danish population. Furthermore, she investigated the use of iron supplements and infection risk among healthy blood donors. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Kathrine estimated the number of undetected SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals and the Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) during the first two waves of the epidemic in Denmark. This was possible using tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in blood donors in combination with populations. Finally, she investigated the prevalence of COVID-19-related symptoms in individuals with and without SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Kathrine’s PhD was financially supported by grants from the Graduate School of Health at Aarhus University and the BERTHA project.

PURE Profile: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/kathrinekaspersen@clin.au.dk 

Here are Kathrine's publications from her PhD project:

1. Kaspersen, Kathrine Agergård, et al. “Oral Iron Supplementation Is Not Associated with Short‐term Risk of Infections: Results from the Danish Blood Donor Study.” Transfusion (Philadelphia, Pa.), vol. 59, no. 6, 2019, pp. 2030–38, doi.org/10.1111/trf.15221.
2. Kaspersen, Kathrine Agergård, et al. “Estimation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Fatality Rate by Age and Comorbidity Status Using Antibody Screening of Blood Donors During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Denmark.” The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 225, no. 2, 2022, pp. 219–28, doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab566.
3. Kaspersen, Kathrine Agergård, et al. “Symptoms Reported by SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive and Seronegative Healthcare and Administrative Employees in Denmark from May to August 2020.” International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 109, 2021, pp. 17–23, doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.06.017.

Bertram Dalskov Kjerulff, a BERTHA member, defended his PhD thesis on Monday, 21 April 2023. Bertam was a PhD student at the Department of Clinical Medicine - Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University. Bertam researched on the influence of lifestyle factors on biomarkers and health in Danish blood donors. His study examined the effects of smoking on the risk of infections, the effect of air pollution, aging, smoking, and BMI on levels of circulating biomarkers of inflammation. The studies used the data from the Danish Blood Donor Study, which includes blood donors and couple their questionnaire and laboratory data with Danish registers. The research showed how smokers are at increased risk of infections, even among very healthy blood donors. Furthermore, there are clear differences in biomarker profiles associated with air pollution and the investigated lifestyle and demographic factors. The BERTHA project funded Bertam's PhD study.

PURE Profile: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/berkje@clin.au.dk

Here are Bertam's publications from his PhD project:

1. Kjerulff, Bertram et al. Smoking is associated with infection risk in healthy blood donors". Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2023, 29(4). 506-514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2022.10.020
2. Kjerulff, Bertram et al. Medium term moderate to low-level air pollution exposure is associated with higher C-reactive protein among healthy Danish blood donors. Environmental Research. 2023. 233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.116426

Media Presence: Smoking increases the risk of infection, even among otherwise healthy people (sciencenews.dk)

Hugo Savill Russell, PhD

Hugo Savill Russell, a BERTHA member, defended his PhD thesis on Monday, 27 February 2023. Hugo was a PhD student at the Department of Environmental Science (ENVS) at the Graduate School of Technical Science, Aarhus University. During his PhD studies, Hugo researched low-cost sensors for monitoring air pollution. Hugo tested existing devices, developed new sensor nodes and calibration methods, and deployed the sensors in novel ways. Current monitoring methods are limited by expensive and sparse outdoor stations, while low cost sensors offer affordability, portability, and versatility. His research demonstrated the effectiveness of low cost sensors in mobile monitoring and detecting elevated pollutant levels in the Copenhagen Metro, contributing to improved personal exposure assessment and air quality management. The BERTHA project funded Hugo's PhD study.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugo-russell/ 

Here are Hugo's publications from his PhD project:

1.  Kappelt, Niklas et al. “Particulate air pollution in the Copenhagen metro part 1: Mass concentrations and ventilation.” Environment international vol. 171 (2023): 107621. https://doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107621 
2. Bulot, Florentin Michel Jacques et al. “Laboratory Comparison of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors to Measure Transient Events of Pollution-Part B-Particle Number Concentrations.” Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 23,17 7657. 4 Sep. 2023, https://doi:10.3390/s23177657 
3. Russell, Hugo S et al. “Particulate air pollution in the Copenhagen metro part 2: Low-cost sensors and micro-environment classification.” Environment international vol. 170 (2022): 107645. https://doi:10.1016/j.envint.2022.107645  
4. Russell, Hugo Savill, et al. “Enhanced Ambient Sensing Environment—A New Method for Calibrating Low-Cost Gas Sensors.” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 19, Sept. 2022, p. 7238. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197238.
5. Russell, Hugo Savill, et al. “A Review of Photocatalytic Materials for Urban NOx Remediation.” Catalysts, vol. 11, no. 6, May 2021, p. 675. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11060675 
6. Kappelt, Niklas, et al. “Correlation of Respiratory Aerosols and Metabolic Carbon Dioxide.” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 21, Nov. 2021, p. 12203.  https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112203. 
7. Russell, Hugo S., et al. “Novel Materials for Combined Nitrogen Dioxide and Formaldehyde Pollution Control under Ambient Conditions.” Catalysts, vol. 10, no. 9, Sept. 2020, p. 1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091040. 
8. Frederickson, Louise Bøge, et al. “Monitoring Excess Exposure to Air Pollution for Professional Drivers in London Using Low-Cost Sensors.” Atmosphere, vol. 11, no. 7, July 2020, p. 749.  https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11070749. 
9. Bulot, Florentin Michel Jacques, et al. “Laboratory Comparison of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors to Measure Transient Events of Pollution.” Sensors, vol. 20, no. 8, Apr. 2020, p. 2219. https://doi.org/10.3390/s20082219.