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This document contains abstracts of papers presented at an academic conference. The papers cover a wide range of topics related to economics, history, and social development. Each paper presents empirical evidence and analysis to shed light on specific phenomena or historical events. The research is conducted using different methodologies and data sources, providing valuable insights into these complex subjects. The summaries provide a brief overview of each paper's main findings and contribute to the understanding of various social and economic phenomena. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Global evidence on psychosis is dominated by studies conducted in Western, high-income countries. The objectives of the Study of Context Of Psychoses to improve outcomes in Ethiopia (SCOPE) are (1) to generate rigorous evidence of psychosis experience, epidemiology and impacts in Ethiopia that will illuminate aetiological understanding and (2) inform development and testing of interventions for earlier identification and improved first contact care that are scalable, inclusive of difficult-to-reach populations and optimise recovery. Methods: The setting is sub-cities of Addis Ababa and rural districts in south-central Ethiopia covering 1.1 million people and including rural, urban and homeless populations. SCOPE comprises (1) formative work to understand care pathways and community resources (resource mapping); examine family context and communication (ethnography); develop valid measures of family communication and personal recovery; and establish platforms for community engagement and involvement of people with lived experience; (2a) a population-based incidence study, (2b) a case-control study and (2c) a cohort study with 12 months follow-up involving 440 people with psychosis (390 rural/Addis Ababa; 50 who are homeless), 390 relatives and 390 controls. We will test hypotheses about incidence rates in rural vs. urban populations and men vs. women; potential aetiological role of khat (a commonly chewed plant with amphetamine-like properties) and traumatic exposures in psychosis; determine profiles of needs at first contact and predictors of outcome; (3) participatory workshops to develop programme theory and inform co-development of interventions, and (4) evaluation of the impact of early identification strategies on engagement with care (interrupted time series study). Findings will inform development of (5) a protocol for (5a) a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of interventions for people with recent-onset psychosis in rural settings and (5b) two uncontrolled pilot studies to test acceptability, feasibility of co-developed interventions in urban and homeless populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Settler Colonial City: Racism and Inequity in Postwar Minneapolis" by David Hugill examines the history of racism, inequity, and settler-colonial structures in Minneapolis, particularly focusing on the post-World War II era. The book explores the impact of urban change, racialized policing, and American imperialism on marginalized communities, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous peoples. Hugill highlights the structural barriers faced by marginalized groups and the need to dismantle white supremacist and settler-colonial structures. While the book primarily focuses on the violent aspects of settler-colonial urban policy, it also touches on the need to examine more subtle elements such as access to education, healthcare, and legal services. Overall, the book provides a critical perspective on the history of Minneapolis and challenges the perception of the city as progressive and inclusive. [Extracted from the article]

How people pay is critically important to consumers and businesses alike. Many consumers are choosing to pay for goods and services from an increasing number of options. Tech‐savvy urbanites buy coffee by tapping their phone on a reader. Parents returning from a night out use peer‐to‐peer payment apps, such as Venmo, to pay the sitter. The recent explosion of financial innovations promises faster, more efficient, and cheaper transactions. These increasing digital payment options coincide with decreased number and volume of cash transactions. However, vulnerable populations face more constrained payment choices and often rely exclusively on cash. Without experience, devices, or acceptable credit histories, vulnerable populations may have little access to digital transactions. The advantages of falling digital costs and other benefits thus accrue to the digitally connected. At the same time, those who must transact in coins and paper money are likely to find their relative costs increasing. This paper highlights payment trends and the potential impact on vulnerable populations in the United States as we move toward a cashless society. This paper should stimulate discussions of public policy initiatives to mitigate digital payment issues for vulnerable people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. The amount of solid garbage created by the growing urban population makes it hard to manage with current technologies. Artificial intelligence methods are used in this paper to identify waste. When waste is found, the system uses the camera as the only data source to determine its location. With greater than 95% certainty, the suggested system can discern between assets and waste in real time.The paper concludes by describing a system that can inspect and gather waste much like a human would. Different programs have been launched by the current Indian government to improve cleanliness and hygienic conditions. Megacities in India, for example, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and more noteworthy Mumbai have dynamic monetary development and high wastage per capita. Scratch issues and difficulties such as absence of gathering and isolation at source, shortage of land, dumping of e-Waste, and so on. By using physical labour, the current waste accumulation framework compiles a variety of waste in an unsorted manner. The separation of this waste is a very repetitious, time-consuming, and wasteful task that frequently threatens the safety of the professionals.n order for the junk transfer to be carried out efficiently and productively, a framework that automates the waste isolation process is therefore required. The proposed approach accurately categories the loss into degradable and non-degradable using machine learning techniques like CNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the research community has increasingly embraced topics related to smart cities, recognizing their potential to enhance residents' quality of life and create sustainable, efficient urban environments through the integration of diverse systems and services. Concurrently, recommender systems have demonstrated continued improvement in accuracy, delivering more precise recommendations for items or content and aiding users in decision-making processes. This paper explores the utilization of recommender systems in the context of smart cities by analyzing a dataset comprised of papers indexed in the ISI Web of Science database. Through bibliometric analysis, key themes, trends, prominent authors and institutions, preferred journals, and collaboration networks among authors were extracted. The findings revealed an average annual scientific production growth of 25.85%. Additionally, an n-gram analysis across keywords, abstracts, titles, and keywords plus, along with a review of selected papers, enriched the analysis. The insights gained from these efforts offer valuable perspectives, contribute to identifying pertinent issues, and provide guidance on trends in this evolving field. The importance of recommender systems in the context of smart cities lies in their ability to enhance urban living by providing personalized and efficient recommendations, optimizing resource utilization, improving decision-making processes, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and intelligent urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The articles in this special issue extend research on urban space and politics in Istanbul with approaches that explorate the relationships between urban form, urban change, and political processes as assemblages of things, beliefs, institutions, and landscapes. They share a commitment to extended ethnography and thick description in urban studies, and contribute to research that destabilizes universalizing urban theory produced in Europe and America. The dramatic state-led project of neoliberal urban transformation in Istanbul has generated an important body of work that focuses on the consequences of creative destruction, urban displacement, and urban social and political exclusion. These papers contribute to that research with additional questions that incorporate understudied material and cultural elements of the urban political economy. What role do material elements (concrete, plexiglass, signs, maps) play in the practices that propel urban dynamics: that justify, for example, the rebuilding of some properties and the destruction of others? How do the subjective dimensions of human life (memory, belief, emotion, art, suspicion, and imagination) propel particular forms of urban development? Istanbulites' theories of why, where, and to whom destruction or fortune happens – and of what particular material things mean, or what they're meant to be used for – are crucial elements of the total urban situation. Istanbulites' theories cohere disparate elements into assemblages which, in turn, work to transform the city's material realities and social worlds. These papers invite us, as scholars, to resituate our urban theories and to bring urban residents' theories into assemblage with our own. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the Air Quality Index (AQI), COVID-19 incidence rates, and population density within Malaysia's ten most populous cities from January 2018 to December 2021. Data were sourced from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the World Air Quality Index Project, and Our World in Statistics. The methodology integrated population-based city classification and AQI assessment, cluster analysis through SPSS, and Generalized Additive Mixed Model (GAMM) analysis using R Studio despite encountering a data gap in AQI for five months in 2019. Cities were organized into three clusters based on their AQI: Cluster One included Ipoh, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka, Cluster Two comprised Kuantan, Seremban, Johor Bahru, and Kota Bharu, Cluster Three featured Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. GAMM analysis revealed prediction accuracies for AQI variations of 58%, 60%, and 41% for the respective clusters, indicating a notable impact of population density on air quality. AQI variations remained unaffected by COVID-19, with a forecasted improvement in air quality across all clusters. The paper presents novel insights into the negligible impact of COVID-19 on AQI variations and underscores the predictive power of population dynamics on urban air quality, offering valuable perspectives for environmental and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Florida Political Chronicle has published an article about the FPSA Awards. The Manning J. Dauer Award is given every three years to a faculty member at a Florida institution who has made significant contributions to research, teaching, mentoring, and service related to Florida politics and policy. The Best Graduate Paper Award and Best Undergraduate Paper Award are also recognized at the annual meeting, with winners receiving a cash prize and the opportunity for their papers to be included in the association's journal. The article lists the recipients of these awards in recent years. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Understanding the intricate relationship between energy and wellbeing in informal urban settlements is essential for developing effective interventions that address the diverse needs of residents. This paper explores this nexus through a multi-dimensional lens, examining the complexities and dynamics involved in off-grid renewable energy interventions, focusing on solar microgrids in an informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: The paper is based on empirical research analysed through a theoretical framework articulating the pathways through which energy insecurity influences various dimensions of wellbeing, encompassing economic, physical, social, and environmental aspects. By applying this framework to our empirical research, the paper reveals the intricate interplay between neighbourhood factors, housing conditions, social processes, and economic insecurities, shedding light on both the challenges and opportunities associated with off-grid energy interventions. Results: The understanding of wellbeing presented in the paper is based on what we term the energy-wellbeing-informality nexus. Understanding the nexus necessitates: (a) moving past universalist and technocratic understandings of wellbeing, and towards a relational and networked basis for wellbeing analysis; (b) moving beyond conventional narratives of off-grid electrification as mere technical fixes, emphasizing the importance of recognizing informal settlements as sites of innovation and experimentation; (c) understanding the multi-sectoral nature of energy-related wellbeing impacts, extending beyond energy provision to encompass broader dimensions such as education, health, and social cohesion. Discussion: The paper not only advances theoretical understanding but also offers practical insights for policymakers and practitioners. It emphasizes the need for context-sensitive policymaking that acknowledges the complexities of informal settlements and fosters innovative approaches to energy service provision. By integrating energy interventions into broader development strategies and adopting a multi-sectoral perspective, stakeholders can work towards more equitable and resilient solutions that enhance the overall wellbeing of residents in informal urban contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What kind of impact does the government's housing support expenditure have on residents' consumption? This is a topic that deserves in-depth study and is of practical significance. This study constructs provincial equilibrium panel data based on China's guaranteed housing construction and financial expenditures on housing support data from 1999–2009 and 2000–2021. It applies the systematic GMM method to estimate the impact of government housing support expenditures on residents' consumption. The study found that whatever form of expenditure on housing support contributed to the total consumption of urban residents, while the impact on the consumption structure had different results. Based on the divisions of consumption structure, the results of the increase in government housing support expenditure on the consumption structure of urban residents are different. An examination of different forms of housing support reveals that the predominantly secure form of housing construction has a positive effect on all consumption structure divisions. Whereas the predominantly monetary subsidy form has a significant positive relationship with housing, necessity, and durability consumption expenditures, it has a weak or even negative relationship with non-housing, non-necessity, and non-durability consumption expenditures. The research in this paper makes up for the lack of current literature examining the economic effects of housing support from the perspective of consumption structure and provides a theoretical basis and policy reference for constructing a multi-level gradient housing support system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global urbanization process is further accelerating, the number of urban people is also steadily increasing. With the continuous growth of the urban population, the use of various functional facilities in the city is gradually becoming saturated, which seriously restricts the development of the city. Therefore, real-time perception and prediction of the operational status of various functional urban facilities, as well as environmental safety monitoring in the city, are of great significance for improving the functionality and livability of the city. In complex urban environments, multi-source data is interrelated, and the noise reduction of multi-source data and the integration of this correlation still face great challenges. At the same time, how to apply urban intelligent monitoring in the reconstruction of old cities is rarely mentioned. Based on the above problems, this paper proposes a data noise reduction model based on a wavelet algorithm and combines it with the Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram (MFD) multi-source data fusion structure proposed in this paper to provide a theoretical basis for the construction of an urban intelligent monitoring model. Then, the author constructed a data-driven urban safety environment monitoring model and a multi-source data-based urban congestion monitoring model, which have good experimental results and certain practical value. At the end of the paper, the author briefly discussed the application of the smart city monitoring model in the reconstruction of old cities, hoping to provide certain guidance for further integration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The City Council Help Desk Support System is a comprehensive web-based software designed to assist city residents with complaints, queries, and services. This system enhances the efficiency of the City Council and improves the quality of life for citizens by addressing various issues, including fire alerts from specific locations, waste management, community grievances, interference with protected vegetation, and traffic light damage reports. Each query submitted through the portal is stored in a database for future reference. The system's AI-based chatbot provides support by offering relevant information even in the absence of staff. By leveraging digital and internet technologies, this system significantly reduces response times and automates processes across administrative, user, and staff modules. The project utilizes Agile methodology, emphasizing incremental delivery, team collaboration, continual planning, and learning to ensure value delivery at each stage. This paper explores the system's detailed functionalities, its application of Agile principles, and the results of its real-world implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring human perception of environmental safety and quantifying the street view elements that affect human perception of environmental safety are of great significance for improving the urban environment and residents' safety perception. However, domestic large-scale quantitative research on the safety perception of Chinese local cities needs to be deepened. Therefore, this paper chooses Chaoyang District in Beijing as the research area. Firstly, the network safety perception distribution of Chaoyang District is calculated and presented through the CNN model trained based on the perception dataset constructed by Chinese local cities. Then, the street view elements are extracted from the street view images using image semantic segmentation and target detection technology. Finally, the street view elements that affect the road safety perception are identified and analyzed based on LightGBM and SHAP interpretation framework. The results show the following: (1) the overall safety perception level of Chaoyang District in Beijing is high; (2) the number of motor vehicles and the proportion of the area of roads, skies, and sidewalks are the four factors that have the greatest impact on environmental safety perception; (3) there is an interaction between different street view elements on safety perception, and the proportion and number of street view elements have interaction on safety perception; (4) in the sections with the lowest, moderate, and highest levels of safety perception, the influence of street view elements on safety perception is inconsistent. Finally, this paper summarizes the results and points out the shortcomings of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the operation of the first route in Xi'an City, the matching relationship between the metro networks and the urban population is a root factor affecting the utilization of rail transit facilities. The mismatch between the metro networks and the urban population has led to an imbalance between the supply and demand for rail transport, resulting in wasted urban infrastructure. Based on this issue, the research objective is to focus on the spatiotemporal variations of the matching relationship. Firstly, the topological network model abstractly extracted metro spatial distribution features, and the spatial autocorrelation model was adopted to identify the evolution characteristics of the metro networks and urban population. Secondly, this paper adopted a time-lagged regression model to demonstrate the action relationship from 2011 to 2021. Then, the compositive coordination index was utilized to assess the variation of the global matching relationship. Finally, the paper explored spatial heterogeneity through the coupling coherence degree attached to grid cells. The research results indicate that the Moran's I value of metro elements decreased from 0.782 to 0.510 with the further complexity of topological networks, while the population was consistently high in spatial dependence with a Moran's I value of around 0.75 during the decade. Based on the regression coefficients and significance, this paper verified the hypothesis that the metro networks and urban population had a positive time-lagged feedback effect in urban development. From 2011 to 2021, the compositive coordination index symbolizing the global matching relationship increased from 0.29 to 0.90, but the coupling coherence degree shows significant spatial heterogeneity in different grid units. Differentiated spatial planning strategies were proposed for varied areas to efficiently utilize rail transit, which may provide a reference for other cities with the same reality problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper presents the work done during the two editions of the Summer School that took place in Lampedusa in 2017 and 2018, organized by the Italian Association of Sociology - Environment and Territory Section. The aim of the paper is twofold. Firstly, it aims to illustrate the results of the data analysis and field observation carried out by the participants of the School. They consist of a multi-faceted description of the Island, with special attention to its different populations (residents, city users and especially migrants), and of some resulting project proposals. Secondly, the essay aims to promote a practice based on study and training, which is typical of the sociological analysis of territory, and that can provide useful insight on the studied places and to the people of Lampedusa, within a broader vision of justice and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses whether governmental mechanisms developed in the context of the constitutional duty to consult with aboriginal peoples in Canada should be mobilized to improve awareness about urban aboriginal populations and governmental responsiveness to their needs and aspirations. Topics include the legal framework of the duty to consult, and the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network (UAKN) which promotes knowledge and research about urban Aboriginal populations in Canada.

We tested if peer-reviewed conservation research output has increased in sub-Saharan African countries over the last 30 years in response to increased development. We carried out a bibliometric analysis to identify the number of conservation research papers published by national authors of 41 sub-Saharan African countries during 1987–2017, to provide an index of national conservation research output. We identified country-specific development factors influencing these totals, using general linear modelling. There were positive relationships between conservation research output and population size, GDP, literacy rate, international tourism receipts and population growth rate, and negative relationships with urban population and agricultural land cover, in total explaining 77% of variation. Thirty-eight per cent of countries contributed < 30 conservation research papers (of 12,701) in 30 years. Analysis of trends in primary authorship in a random subsample of 2,374 of these papers showed that primary authorship by sub-Saharan African authors has increased significantly over time but is now at a lower rate than primary authorship for authors from countries outside the country associated with the search term, usually a European or North American country. Overall, 46% of papers had national primary authors, but 67% of these were South African. The results show that conservation research output in sub-Saharan Africa overall is increasing but only significantly in a few countries, and is still dominated by non-national scientists, probably as a result of a lack of socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of paper is to indicate the potential of using blockchain technology in smart cities. The author analyzes the state of development of blockchain-based solutions and relates it to areas of the functioning of cities. The aim is also to indicate blockchain applications importance in the context of city residents quality of life and the functioning of various industries operating within them. Design/methodology/approach: The objectives of the paper were achieved by analyzing literature, industry reports as well as selected blockchain projects’ websites. The theoretical scope of the article is the description of blockchain technology application areas within the modern cities, their main characteristics and the potential for its usage. Findings: The author indicated 6 areas of blockchain application, and then indicated a number of functioning solutions based on blockchain referring to them, and also indicated the potential of the impact of the described solutions on the development of the city. In the summary, areas for further research were indicated, referring to slightly differently perceived aspects of the city's development and improving the lives of its inhabitants. Practical implications: The successful implementation of blockchain solutions depends on a large amount of conceptual and technological work in organizations. The article suggests areas of blockchain use in the city and indicates examples of already implemented solutions that can constitute a reference point and inspiration for new solutions. Social implications: The blockchain technology shows the potential to improve the quality of life of city residents in the context of building solutions that eliminate the need for trust in service providers, weakened by frequently observed unethical behavior and negligence in the security and transparency of information flow. The widespread use of blockchain in the city is therefore undoubtedly in the interest of societies. Originality/value: The paper’s originality is expressed in a comprehensive look at the issue of using blockchain in the functioning of modern cities, together with an indication of both the potential of their implementation and already existing solutions in the subject area. Moreover, the author points out social benefits in the form of increased trust and an increase in the city residents quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial heritage represents an opportunity for architects and designers to combine a building's robust form with creative solutions. A former methanol factory in Skien used as art hall, and a former paper mill in Moss used as a music venue, exemplify the ways in which cultural provisions for a diverse urban population can be accommodated. We examined the kinds of cultural provisions industrial buildings offer and how industrial heritage's tolerance level is met. The results are discussed in light of the societal responsibility to find long-lasting, sustainable solutions in urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting sustainable communities aims at creating both environmentally and socially responsible living environments. This paper explores the role of affordable housing in promoting the long-term sustainability of a community within healthy living conditions by closely examining the relationship between affordable housing, urban development policies, and sustainability, with the capital of Lebanon, Beirut, serving as a case study. The first part of the paper focuses on the current building laws issued in the official newspaper in 2004 using a content analysis methodology to demonstrate the impact of the changes in the laws on the new morphology and social fabric of the city through the creation of a favorable environment for big developers, wealthy property owners, and real estate agencies and, at the expense of old city residents and low-income families. The second part of the paper uses the qualitative analysis methodology to justify the presence of large unused stock of residential units in Beirut, referring to information from multiple data sources selected based on their applicability to sustainable development, affordable housing, and urban planning in areas related to the case study, Beirut. This part then investigates the potential presented by this stock of residential units in Beirut to increase the supply of affordable housing and foster a sustainable community. This paper argues that the promoted vertical expansion of the city weighs heavily on the environment and fails to provide a diverse mix of housing units, excluding a significant portion of the community from the city. Alternative development models aligning with principles of sustainable development and challenging the current building laws can promote social inclusivity, reduce urban sprawl, and minimize environmental impacts associated with new constructions, thus preserving the city's physical and social fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first century, with the development of urbanization, large-scale mine wastelands in peri-urban areas have become increasingly closely related to the daily lives of urban and rural residents. Adopting a reuse method that meets the health needs of these residents, restoration, construction of mine wastelands in the suburbs of cities, and the formation of high-quality healthy environments and service supply are in line with the demands of healthy city construction and sustainable development. In addition, they have received increasing attention from all sectors of society. Based on the main criteria for constructing a healthy urban environment, this paper takes the comprehensive remediation and construction project of mine wastelands in the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological and Cultural Tourism Demonstration Area as a case study. It uses on-site surveys and an open-ended web-based questionnaire. It focuses on researching the perceived health needs of urban and rural residents in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China concerning the main elements that determine health, such as the natural ecological environment, the construction of facilities and activities, and the local economic and industrial development. The results of 748 questionnaires that were completed by participants who effectively participated in the survey show that most participants preferred a comprehensive development model (86.6%) to reuse these areas. In addition, the specific needs of urban and rural residents for health safety, equity and quality, and healthy low-carbon industries should be considered. The differences in demand among groups of citizens due to different ages, living distances, levels of education, and occupations should be comprehensively considered. This paper demonstrates that a full understanding of the health needs of residents has great practical significance when improving the healthy environment and service supply level in mine wasteland restoration and construction and promoting the development of regional healthy city construction. Recently, the healthy environment and sustainable development of areas that host large-scale mine wastelands on the outskirts of cities have received increasing attention from all sectors of society. This paper suggests that during the reuse and construction of these areas, government management, development, and construction companies, planning and design organizations, and other departments that are involved in policy formulation and construction implementation should give full consideration to the perceived health needs of urban and rural residents in the host city, and to groups of residents of different ages, living distances, occupations, and educational levels, to form a high-quality and equitable health environment and services in the area. In addition, active public participation, on-site research, and interviews are essential for relevant departments to improve their understanding of resident health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores spatial systems of modularity on the shoreline of Ein el Mrayseh located in Beirut. The modular systems are studied from a contextual lens while observing different modular interventions as design strategies on this shoreline. The Ein el Mrayseh corniche is one of the few remaining public spaces of Beirut, and is considered one of the most important outlet for the city residents. It is used by different types of groups, from different classes and backgrounds. Based on a series of observations, the paper analyses modular interventions by different stakeholders on this stretch. Two terms were coined: rigid and soft modularity, as linguistic and analytical modes to understand the spatial practices of Ein el Mrayseh. The paper argues that the users of this public space have developed soft modular strategies - dynamic and in constant flux, as a mean to tame the rigid modular strategies enforced on the site and to appropriate the space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaemia is a major public health problem in elderly persons which is often overlooked. With rising urbanization and world is facing demographic transition, there is a need to increase focus on elderly residing in urban slums. Aim: The present study aims to find the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among the elderly population in an urban slum of Meerut. Methodology: The present study conducted in an urban slum of Meerut from November 2017 to January 2018. The sample size was calculated as 396, considering the prevalence of anaemia as 45.5% in this age group. Haemoglobin levels were estimated using paper chromatography method by hemo-check rapid diagnostic kit. Data were compiled and analyzed using epi info software version 3.7.2. Results: 49.5% of the elderly residing in urban slums were found to be anaemic. The anaemia in the elderly was found to be significantly associated with employment, socioeconomic status and chronic diseases like COPD, hypertension and Tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Urban residents are surrounded by discrepant infrastructural capacities ... Being surrounded from all sides, and with such thick textures of surveillance and calculation, promises both the possibility of being really 'pinned down' and disappearing altogether.' (AbdouMaliq Simone)1 We are surrounded, negatively, by infrastructural capacities or, positively, extended by them? Or perhaps both, surrounded and extended? If so, in what proportions? And is it/was it ultimately a choice, or series of choices, ones that can still be made, or not? And what are these externalities, contexts? Are they media/technologies or perhaps the one-time project of 'the city' now taking on the (increasingly alien?) form of urbanisation? Or, beyond that, is there the now marginalised realm of the country/nature? And, 'space'? Are those realms, best characterised perhaps as 'nature', outside or inside us? If inside/outside, are we, somewhat paradoxically, surrounded by ourselves? Or by aspects of ourselves, whose inner/outer separation and possible distortion we need to recognise and address if we are to avoid 'the promises [of] both the possibility of being really 'pinned down' and disappearing altogether'? Or ... * * * * Such questions and some answers are suggested by our special feature in this issue on infrastructures, from which AbdouMaliq Simone's words are taken, by papers from three other substantial projects, one on urbanisation by Neil Brenner and Christian Schmid, with a reply from Richard Walker, a second on Africa by David Simon, and a third on technologised and politicised realms by Stephen Graham, now looking into 'urban air'. Introducing one of a series of particular temporal dimensions as explored in this journal, Melissa Wilson draws in part on a reading2 of a particular period, looking into the early pages of City, an early stage of its project, as elites and 'multitudes', edged towards 2000, towards and away from 'millennium.' Further investigations are undertaken in papers on the nature of smart cities as contexts, on a possible basis for social transformation in Poland, and on London's class structure and struggles. Only the third, Mark Davidson and Elvin Wyly's paper following, as does Chris Hamnett, our occasional series on London's class structure, is touched on here. We conclude with a return to Simone's thoughts on infrastructure's more than marginal role in social organisation and to a summing up and a polemical conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The North-eastern region of India has a relatively higher prevalence of substance use, which together with poor dietary practices and a lack of physical activity is one of the key risk factors for NCDs among older adults in the region. Understanding the prevalence of NCDs and their relationship to substance use can help develop preventive strategies and sensitization in North-eastern India. Objective: To assess the prevalence of NCDs and the strength of the association of substance abuse among the geriatric population of North-eastern states in India, for the development of preventive strategies. Methods: Data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI Wave-I, 2017–18) were drawn to develop this paper. The bi-variate and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out to predict the association between non-communicable diseases and substance use adjusting select socio-demographic characteristics. Results: The paper revealed the prevalence of NCDs among urban people (61.45%) is higher than among rural people (42.45%). Hypertension (37.29%) can be seen as the most prevalent disease among the following given NCDs followed by Diabetes (8.94%). The chances of having Cancer are nineteen times higher (OR = 19.8; C.I. = 18.82–20.83) if an individual has past smoking behaviour after controlling for socio-demographic and physical activity variables. Conclusion: Since, the high prevalence of hypertension correlated with the high level of substance abuse, require immediate attention to develop appropriate intervention strategies for its control (substance abuse) and prevention of hypertension. In a lower middle-income country like India, preventive measures, rather than curative measures will be cost-effective and helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the social impacts of COVID-19 on migrants living in three major African cities: Accra, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. Given the importance of social support networks to mobile populations, particularly in areas with limited access to essential services, understanding how the pandemic disrupted social relations underscores the broader health and economic impacts of COVID-19 on migrant communities. Using a large scale 2021 survey of nine migrant neighborhoods located across three African mega-cities, we comparatively analyze migrant social interactions during the first year of the pandemic. We find that while migrant social interactions decreased in Accra and Nairobi, living in Johannesburg was significantly associated with unchanged or increased social interactions in the first year of the pandemic. We situate these findings with municipal and country-level variation of COVID-19 policy responses within each city. In particular, we illuminate how the severity of the pandemic and response in South Africa may have catalyzed opportunities for migrants to increase social engagements within their everyday lives. By understanding how compound challenges impacted migrant life, this paper contributes to the emerging area of comparative studies on the effects of COVID-19 on migrant populations, and urban populations within the Global South more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization and climate change exacerbate the urban heat island effect, increasing the vulnerability of urban residents to extreme heat. Although many studies have assessed urban heat vulnerability, there is a significant lack of standardized criteria and references for selecting indicators, building models, and validating those models. Many existing approaches do not adequately meet urban planning needs due to insufficient spatial resolution, temporal coverage, and accuracy. To address this gap, this paper introduces the U-HEAT framework, a conceptual model for analyzing urban heat vulnerability. The primary objective is to outline the theoretical foundations and potential applications of U-HEAT, emphasizing its conceptual nature. This framework integrates machine learning (ML) with remote sensing (RS) to identify urban heat vulnerability at both long-term and detailed levels. It combines retrospective and forward-looking mapping for continuous monitoring and assessment, providing essential data for developing comprehensive strategies. With its active learning capacity, U-HEAT enables model refinement and the evaluation of policy impacts. The framework presented in this paper offers a standardized and sustainable approach, aiming to enhance practical analysis tools. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in bolstering urban resilience and stresses the need for sustainable urban ecosystems capable of addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and increased urban heat. This study provides valuable insights for researchers, urban administrators, and planners to effectively combat urban heat challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial summarizes the papers published in issue 17(3) (2022). The first paper analyses the impact of knowledge spillovers on patent applications using a Tobit model. The second paper sets out an economic-theoretical model of industrial specialization patterns across cities and their impact on the spatial agglomeration of skilled workers and long-term productivity growth. The third paper analyses the price and average cost functions of a competitive industry in which firms face diseconomies of scale but enjoy economies of scale when they agglomerate. The fourth paper shows that productivity spillover effects and their endogeneity are key to understanding the productivity-compensation gap. The fifth paper studies geographical and sectoral specialization versus concentration of global supply chains. The sixth paper combines spatial autoregressive (SAR) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models to test whether urban residents have reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic by moving out of US metropolitan centres into the suburbs. The seventh paper investigates the impact of natural disasters caused by climate change on forced outmigration flows in South and South-East Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces, encompassing parks, gardens, and natural landscapes, play a vital role in improving the quality of life for city residents. These areas provide environmental benefits such as enhanced air quality, regulation of temperatures, and conservation of biodiversity, fostering a healthier urban environment. Additionally, green spaces offer opportunities for recreation and places for social interaction, which strengthen community unity and individual wellbeing. This study examines literature and case studies to identify factors that influence the efficacy of urban green spaces, stressing the importance of fair and comprehensive access. It also underscores the significance of integrating green spaces into urban planning to develop sustainable, livable cities. By advocating for increased investment in green infrastructure, this paper seeks to educate policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders about the critical role of urban green spaces in improving quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid economic development and high concentration of urban population, people's income level and quality of life continue to improve, resulting in more and more crowded scenes caused by people going out. Especially in urban commercial centers, transportation hubs, sports venues during important events, tourist attractions, etc., crowd gatherings occur frequently. However, accidents involving crowd gatherings in public places occur frequently, causing heavy casualties and property losses. Therefore, for crowd recognition, this paper proposes a new method to accurately estimate the number of dense crowds. In this method, a density map with accurate pedestrian locations is first generated using the focal inverse distance transform and used as ground truth labels for network training. Then, a multi-scale feature fusion algorithm based on residual network is designed, combining spatial and channel attention mechanisms to improve the accuracy and stability of crowd density estimation. In dense crowds, the phenomenon of overlapping and occlusion of people is very common and serious, making it difficult for existing pedestrian detection methods to distinguish each individual and accurately count the flow of people. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a density map-based method that uses a local maximum detection strategy and a K-nearest neighbor algorithm to convert the density map into the corresponding dense head bounding box. This method can effectively reduce the impact of occlusion and improve the accuracy of people counting. In order to further improve the estimation accuracy, a pattern recognition density peak clustering algorithm is introduced to study the clustered crowds. By treating the head bounding box as an element point, the distance between each element point is calculated, and the density of each point is calculated. Then perform clustering to find the cluster center with the highest density in each class. Finally, by comparing the density of each cluster center with the corresponding density threshold and adopting the corresponding decision-making method, the accuracy of people counting is further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects upon the aftermath of the eviction of working-class communities from the core locations of Delhi to Narela, over 42 kilometres from Delhi's centre. The evictees were previously residing in 'informal settlements', which are colloquially known as bastis or labelled as 'slums' in policy documents. Drawing on interviews and focused group discussions, the paper examines the impact of displacement as experienced by the basti residents. I highlight the struggles that residents faced while making 'home' in their new area. Familiarity, repetition, networks, and safety are the few aspects I engage with to explain the process of placemaking in the city. I argue that displacement should be understood beyond the idea of physical dislocation. It should be seen through the lens of 'place' and how a place is constructed over a period of time against the larger spatial order that is produced in the cities. The paper contributes to academic understanding of the varying experiences of displacement within the affected communities and the contestations which produce spaces on the margins of cities in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on dairy consumption in China is lacking, however, some evidence has demonstrated significant changes in recent years, with a reported increase in the overall consumption of dairy products. To fully understand these changes, a systematic review was conducted to examine reported dairy intakes and differences between dairy consumption in different population groups in China. Methods: Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for studies published from January 2000 to September 2022. The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was used to retrieve papers available in Chinese. Papers reporting dietary intakes of dairy consumption across age, sex, and geographical location sub-groups were considered for inclusion in this review. In addition, this review includes the consumption of different types of dairy foods and changes in dairy intake over time. Results: Forty-seven papers were included in the present study. Twelve papers examined dairy consumption across age groups, showing that middle-aged adults tend to consume less dairy than other age groups. Studies comparing across location-specific cohorts reported dairy intakes among urban populations were higher than rural, as well as being higher than the national average. Coastal, Northern and Eastern residents consumed more dairy products than those living in other regions of China, and people in larger cities had higher reported intakes than smaller cities. Milk was the primary dairy product reportedly consumed by Chinese population, followed by yogurt. Concerning sex, evidence showed that females generally reported a greater daily dairy intake than males. Conclusions: This review shows that, in China, several different population groups displayed significant differences in the amount and type of dairy consumed. When considering the incorporation of dairy products into healthy eating guidelines or positioning specific dairy products on the market, it is important to consider the differences and variations in consumption patterns within population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of biodiversity in the survival of human beings and enhancing the urban quality of life is evident from the empirical measurements and qualitative studies carried out across the globe. Despite its importance and value, burgeoning population and growing urbanization are posing a serious threat to biodiversity leading to biodiversity homogenization and ecosystem fragmentation. Moreover, studies reveal that management practices of biodiversity hardly take into account perception, needs, and knowledge of urban residents regarding biodiversity. Urban green spaces have a major role to play in the conservation of urban biodiversity. However, the triangular relationship between biodiversity, urban green spaces, and public perception is still unexplored. With this aim, the paper attempts to compile, analyze, and synthesize the empirical findings to understand the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding public perception of biodiversity in urban green spaces. The search strategy acquired for the selection of papers resulted in 43 papers from 22 different countries of the world. The paper focuses upon an inclusive definition of urban green spaces, thus encompasses a wide variety of urban and peri-urban green spaces, parks, gardens, and waterfront urban spaces. The analysis of literature pattern reveals a recent increase in studies related to biodiversity perception over the last 10 years. It indicates a strong geographic bias in publications as well. Studies of animals including birds, insects, and reptiles are found scarce compared to plant species. The study could identify potential variables affecting human biodiversity perception which include species literacy, visitation rate, preferences, recreational, health, and restorative benefits, vegetation characteristics, nature connectedness, and conservation support. The paper also proposes a framework for understanding biodiversity perception in urban green spaces that can assist in improving our understanding of the relationship between human interactions and natural environments and framing strategies for urban development, landscape planning, and community health promotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developments in the Malaysian language situation, accepting Malay, English and Mandarin Chinese as relevant language choices begins to resemble that of Singapore which is discussed in much detail in the next paper. A different form of multilingualism is present in Hong Kong, which after the introduction of the legally binding "One Country, Two Systems" policy was facing a balancing act between Cantonese, English and Mandarin Chinese. In China, the national language policy places Mandarin Chinese at the top of the various dialect chains in the country and through education admonishes the new generation to become bilingual and literate in the national language. [Extracted from the article]

The consequences of sustainable and greener mobility have been demonstrated previous year by the pandemic situation. One significant benefit was to reduce the level of noise, dust and air pollution from the traffic in many European countries due to reduced mobility most of the population. Positive phenomena was also recorded in the Slovak Republic. Today's urban mobility offers new, more sustainable ways of transport for residents, especially app-based and shared-ride services, which have become increasingly widespread and very popular. Undoubtedly offer a level of convenience unseen before in the urban mobility systems throughout the world. Although new forms of transport are developed in most Slovak cities, their operation is not very rational and therefore individual car transport still dominates at the expense of sustainable ways of transport. In our paper, we analyze the traffic situation in the city of Nitra, as the large number of trips in the course of the peak-hours often results in severe traffic congestion. Multimodality is one of the solutions to improve the current traffic situation, as it allows urban residents to choose from a range of alternative travel options. The main aim of this paper is to determinate the possibilities of multimodal urban mobility in the city of Nitra in addition to analyze how the potential change in the variability of choice of means of transport affects the urban mobility behaviour. In order to meet stated objectives, a marketing research was conducted. The research findings point to the fact that the current urban infrastructure and overall possibilities are limited, the consequence of which is that travel behaviour of citizens does not demonstrate the features of sustainable urban mobility. Our results point to major differences in attitudes of Nitra´s residents from different urban and sub-urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization is becoming the key to achieving rural revitalization, and there is a complex inter-active relationship with farmer enrichment, and agriculture development, making it highly valued by governments around the world. Quantitatively evaluating the symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agricultural development, and reveal the driving mechanism behind them, which can provide evidence for the rural government, agricultural enterprises, and relevant stakeholders. This paper conducts an empirical study of 84 digital village national pilots in China based on coupling coordination model and geographically weighted regression, with focus on the spatial characteristics, symbiotic relationship and driving mechanisms of the pilots. The symbiotic relationship between rural digitization, farmer enrichment, and agriculture development has significant heterogeneity, with most of the pilots in coordination state. The driving mechanism of rural digitization, farmer enrichment, agriculture development, and symbiotic relationship were complicated, with significant heterogeneity and synergy in the driving forces of different factors, and special attention should be paid to spatial effects (the nature and intensity of regression coefficients in local regions) in the policy design and implementation. It is worth noting that population aging mainly plays a negative role, while industrialization, government support, resident capacity plays a positive role. The other factors play both positive and negative roles. Income gap between urban and rural residents, population aged 65 and above, financial self-sufficiency are the most critical factors. We suggest developing differentiated management policy, accurate management policy, and integrated management policy, which can provide a basis for digital village and smart village planning, construction and management in China. In view of the significant differences in rural digitalization and its driving mechanisms in different pilots as shown in the study, it is necessary to design differentiated spatial policies according to local conditions, to design accurate management policies based on the driving effects of key single factors, and to design integrated development policies by taking into account the interactive effects of multiple factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The province of Cabo Delgado, located in the north of Mozambique, has been inflicted by the conflict and terrorist actions since 2017. The threats they pose, and the unfolding fragility of the security situation have forced over 1.4 million people to flee their homes and communities. While thousands of displaced people are reluctant to risk their lives and return, over five hundred thousand displaced people made their spontaneous way back "home," and the country continues to struggle with such a reality. In the face of violent disruption and displacement, this paper offers an exploratory review of return from the perspective of encountering and giving meaning to places. Leaving culture (reflexivity again) a bit out, the paper closely looks at the (social and economic) experiences people have developed and carried with them through their displacement (and return) narratives as the main factors influencing the decision to or not to return. This article would then have a twofold purpose. On the one hand, it contributes to the existing debate on conflict, displacement, place and place-making. On the other hand, it would be beneficial to enrich the ongoing research further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrepancies between several South-Eastern European (SEE) countries and Nordic countries are investigated in this paper using an econometric analysis. Its aim is to examine the relationship between CO2 emissions, GDP per capita, urban population (URB) and electricity production from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) - EPREN, excluding hydroelectric for the two groups of EU countries located in the North and S-E of Europe. The data covers a period from 1990 to 2022, providing a comprehensive view over three decades. The relationship between the four variables is determined by various causality and cointegration tests. We check the unit root tests and conclude that the analyzed time series are stationary at first difference. Further, we estimate two models: Fully Modified and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and study causality and cointegration between variables. The results show that CO2 emissions are impacted by GDP, URB and EPREN for both regions. Testing causality, for SEE and Nordic countries, the bidirectional and causalities do exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of the smart city involves embedding Industry 4.0 technologies to improve the lives of inhabitants in urban environments. Within this context, smart city data layers (SCDLs) concern the integration of extra tiers of information for the purposes of improving communication potential. Under the Industry 4.0 technology grouping, advanced communication technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), further the opportunities to model, recreate, evaluate and communicate scenarios that potentially improve citizens lives at multiple SCDL scales in a smart cities context. The use of added contextual information in SCDLs is of special interest for emergency planning situations at the building scale. In this research, a literature review to understand the current approaches for the use, development and evaluation of VR applications in the context of emergency planning was conducted. The results indicated four main categories of relevant challenges for these types of applications, for which recommendations and a roadmap for VR development are presented. In total, the study identified 10 commonly occurring challenges (e.g., optimization and discomfort) and 19 solution directions (e.g., model construction and spatial directions) in related articles when considering the development of VR for spatial planning and emergency situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization rates and weak development control machinery have led to exponential city sprawling to urban fringes. This paper examines how urban sprawl impacts livelihoods of urban fringe dwellers and their coping strategies. A multiple case strategy was deployed and a sustainable livelihoods framework was used in the analysis. Empirical data were obtained through literature review, household and key informant interviews, observations, Focus Group Discussions and analysis of satellite images. Results indicate that negatively urban sprawl has increased households' transport expenditure to work at unaffordable levels; traffic congestion; cost of food products; and inadequate provision of essential livelihood-enhancing facilities. Positively, urban sprawl has presented new livelihood opportunities and enabled households to access minimal social amenities and services. We recommend diversification of economic activities, change of economic activities, making urban fringe livelihoods key element of policy formulation and essential infrastructure and services provision to harness positive impacts and mitigate negative ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines designerly intervention, a novel art of governing cities, by investigating reflexive technologies in urban planning/design that transformed infrastructure for street vendors in Seoul, South Korea. Influenced by behavioural economics and cognitive sciences, designerly intervention endeavours to be human-scaled, inclusive and participatory. It focuses on designing little devices as an interface between individuals and the environment to elicit city dwellers' behaviour that enacts massive infrastructure in everyday life. This paper traces how street vendors are incorporated into urban fabric through relational, affective and administrative changes created by the mediation of little devices — standardized street vending stalls. This paper develops new modes of critical inquiry to diagnose the power relations of designerly intervention that are often hidden and implicit in its seemingly reflexive methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of electric vehicles (EVs) in Chinese cities, accurately forecasting the number of EVs used by urban residents in the next five years and more long term is beneficial for the government to adjust industrial policies of EVs, guide the rational planning of urban charging facilities and supporting distribution network, and achieve the rational and orderly development of the EV industry. The paper considers the advantages of using the grey GM(1,1) prediction model to predict the short-term ownership of EVs by urban residents. Then, by forecasting the number of EV users in a certain city in the future and predicting the number of private vehicles in the future, the boundary conditions for long-term year ownership of EVs by residents are determined. Combined with historical data and short-term forecast data generated by the grey prediction model, the model parameters that include the innovation coefficient and imitation coefficient of the Bass model are trained using a genetic algorithm. Finally, the Bass model is used for medium- to long-term ownership forecasting from 2023 to 2040. The prediction error for the target year is provided. The simulation results indicate that the ownership of resident EVs in this city will experience rapid growth in the next five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]