Search

In sub-Saharan Africa, young people are at high risk of HIV infection, representing nearly 4 out of 5 new infections. HIV self-testing (HIVST), a new and proactive testing scheme that involves self-collection of a specimen and interpretation of results, is deemed potentially helpful for increasing testing amongst population groups like young people who do not frequently use routine testing services. This study assessed young people's intention to use HIVST in urban areas of southern Ethiopia drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 634 participants aged 15–24 years from six town administrations of two zones in January to February 2023. The participation rate was 634/636 yielding 99.7%. The OraQuick HIVST kit was demonstrated to young people recruited in a door-to-door survey with a face-to-face interview using an electronic questionnaire in a mobile phone-based application. Intention to use HIVST was measured from a 6-point Likert scale with scores of agreements ranging from 1 to 6. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analysis were done using STATA version 18. Most of the participants agreed that they would use HIVST if it was available (86.3% agreeing or strongly agreeing). Interestingly, young people who perceived themselves at some to high risk were 0.51 times less likely to be in the higher order of intention to use when HIVST is available to them than those who perceived themselves at no to low risk. Intention to use HIVST increased by a factor of 1.29, 1.84 and 2.35 for every one-unit increase on the mean favourable attitude, perceived behavioural control, and acceptability scores, respectively. The majority of young people intended to use HIVST. Young people's perceived behavioural control, and acceptability of HIVST affected their intention to use. Intention and subsequent use of HIVST can be enhanced through an understanding of the role of risk perception and positive attitude, confidence to perform and acceptance of the test. Implementation studies are required to examine the actual uptake of HIVST among young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the activity patterns of urban residents is crucial for urban community design and urban energy forecasting. Predicting the visitation rates of different types of locations is a important issue because urban residents can only be in one place at a time. Achieving accurate predictions of outdoor public space visitation rates is equivalent to predicting the upper limit of the number of visitors to other buildings. Previous similar studies usually rely on survey methods such as questionnaires and GPS positioning. These methods have some drawbacks, such as small sample sizes and inaccurate data. In this paper, we used mobile signaling to investigate the park visit rates of residents in different communities in Guangzhou. In accordance with Chinese tradition, we define a community as a residential community, which consists of multiple residential units and a set of basic service facilities and management structures that are sufficient to meet the daily needs of residents. We found that the park visit rate of a community is closely related to the characteristics of the community itself. The park visit rate is positively correlated with the average LST (land surface temperature) of the communities, the average distance between the community and the large park, and the building coverage rate, while it is negatively correlated with the vegetation coverage rate, the average surface reflection rate, the convenience of transportation, and the per capita green space area. Given the different travel habits of urban residents on weekdays and weekends, we also used multiple linear regression to establish prediction models for community park visitation rates on weekdays and weekends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the exercise behaviors of urban residents in green open spaces is crucial for optimizing future urban spatial planning and improving residents' quality of life. This study provides an in-depth analysis of residents' running behaviors across 87 green open spaces in Nanchang City. Running data collected from the exercise platform Keep, coupled with urban geographic data and field research, reveals the spatial distribution and temporal variations of running activities, including running flow, distance, time, and pace. A set of indicator systems, such as total area, landscape form index, surrounding residential land area, and road conditions, is used to analyze its relationship with the environmental elements of green open spaces. The research results show that the running flow, running distance, and running time in green open spaces in Nanchang City are significantly influenced by different objective elements, while running pace shows little correlation with these environmental elements. Specifically, the study highlights the significant impact of elements such as total area and road length, as well as the number of nearby bus stops and population density, on residents' running behaviors in Nanchang City's green open spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the support for inclusive finance in county economies is crucial in achieving the strategic goal of building financial power. Drawing upon the theoretical lens of county-level inclusive financial accessibility, this study examines the effect of the migration experience (ME) of county socialites on their risky financial assets investment (FAI) and the underlying mechanisms. We utilize data sourced from the County Consumption Survey, a nationwide effort by the Department of Sociology of Tsinghua University and the 58 Tongzhen Research Group. Our findings reveal that the ME of county socialites significantly boosts their likelihood of engaging in financial markets. Furthermore, housing inequality factors, such as housing property rights and housing loans, play a moderating role in the impact of individual ME on their FAI. Additionally, the financial concept has a masking effect rather than a mediating effect on the path of the ME affecting FAI. Notably, the promotion effect of ME displays heterogeneity. Specifically, ME has a stronger positive effect on FAI among college-educated groups, members of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and urban hukou residents than on those who have not completed college education, non-CPC members and rural hukou households. In light of these findings, we propose policy recommendations to optimize the distribution of financial services, adjust the housing equality policy, and enhance inclusive financial literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities suffering water scarcity are projected to increase in the following decades. However, the application of standardized indicator frameworks for assessing urban water resource management problems is on an early stage. India is expected to have the highest urban population facing water scarcity in the world by 2050. In this study, the authors assess how the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses framework, a causal framework adopted by the European Environment Agency, can contribute to evaluate water management challenges in cities and apply it to Chennai, India´s fourth-largest urban agglomeration. The framework proved to be a helpful tool for the evaluation of water management challenges in cities by disentangling relationships between environmental indicators and structuring dispersed data that allows a better understanding for policymakers. The main drivers identified in Chennai were population growth and economic development which generated impacts such as loss of aquatic ecosystems, low water table, low water quality, and reduction of biodiversity and human health. As a response, better urban planning, projects for new water infrastructure, and water bodies restoration have been implemented. Nevertheless, Chennai keeps facing difficulties to achieve proper water management. The severe hit of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy and its future management will be key for achievements related to water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality development paths in important cities are blurry and lacking. In order to explore the important engine for Chengdu high-quality development, driving forces and obstacles recognition has emerged as a pivotal technological solution. Using the Chengdu in Sichuan province of China as a research area and quantitative data from 2010 to 2019, this study has used content mining to recognize urban high-quality development (UHQD) variables, and calculated variables' weights by entropy weight method, and explored driving forces and obstacles of UHQD by the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. The main findings are: (1) there are 36 UHQD variables; (2) Chengdu high-quality development overall level soars from 2017 to 2019, only with two negative growth rates in 2011, 2015; (3) There are 3 key driving force paths: (1) improving green development by volume of industrial wastewater discharged, comprehensively utilised ratio of industrial solid wastes, harmless treatment rate of domestic garbage; (2) stressing open development by total import and export/GDP, actual use of foreign capital, number of foreign tourists/total tourists; and (3) intensifying shared development by funds for urban residents under basic provision protection. (4) 3 clearing obstacles paths can also realize Chengdu high-quality development: (1) improving innovative development level by R&D internal outlay, patent authorisations, state high-level tech enterprises; (2) optimizing coordinated development level by the proportion of tertiary industry; (3) promoting shared development level by urban basic pension insurance. According to these findings, suggestions are put forward to promote Chengdu high-quality development from the perspective of policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage metagenomics has risen to prominence in urban population surveillance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Unknown species with similarity to known genomes cause database bias in reference-based metagenomics. To improve surveillance, we seek to recover sewage genomes and develop a quantification and correlation workflow for these genomes and AMR over time. We use longitudinal sewage sampling in seven treatment plants from five major European cities to explore the utility of catch-all sequencing of these population-level samples. Using metagenomic assembly methods, we recover 2332 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from prokaryotic species, 1334 of which were previously undescribed. These genomes account for ~69% of sequenced DNA and provide insight into sewage microbial dynamics. Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Copenhagen (Denmark) show strong seasonal microbial community shifts, while Bologna, Rome, (Italy) and Budapest (Hungary) have occasional blooms of Pseudomonas-dominated communities, accounting for up to ~95% of sample DNA. Seasonal shifts and blooms present challenges for effective sewage surveillance. We find that bacteria of known shared origin, like human gut microbiota, form communities, suggesting the potential for source-attributing novel species and their ARGs through network community analysis. This could significantly improve AMR tracking in urban environments. In this study, the authors use metagenomics to analyze sewage samples from five European cities over time and report enhanced detection of rare taxa through combined assembly methods, significant seasonal and geographical microbiome variations, and the potential to attribute microbial sequences to specific sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban population of India has increased fivefold during the last five decades. Monitoring and estimation of urban sprawl are crucial for urban planning, land and water resource management, facility allocation, etc. The present study is aimed at making an in-depth analysis of urban dynamics in the Bengaluru Urban District by using three different indices: the built-up density index (BUDI), the annual urban spatial expansion index (AUSEI), and the annual built-up change index (ABCI), along with temporal satellite data and GIS. The study reveals that an exponential outward urban expansion has taken place in the study area from 1993 to 2020, mainly due to the development of the co-working industry, migration of people from cities to outer areas, high population growth, rapid and significant growth in the IT field, economic growth, and developments of road networks. The analysis shows that about 21.08% of growth was taken in terms of the urban area during the period from 1993 to 2020, and such changes led to the irreversible conversion of rural land into urban land. The analysis of BUDI shows that the density of the study area increases periodically and densifies toward its outer parts. The AUSEI shows that the minimum changes in respect of annual urban expansion were observed during 2003–2013 and the maximum were noted during 2013–2020. The ABUCI illustrates that the speed of urban growth is increasing from period to period and drastically increasing outward. It was also observed that by the latest period (2013 to 2020), the ABUCI value reached its maximum (> 120), especially from the distance of 10th to 24th in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to changes in urban residents' consumption habits and lifestyles, accurately predicting natural gas consumption has become increasingly important. To address this issue, this paper proposes a forecasting model that combines Ensemble Learning (EL), Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), Transformer, and LSTM. First, XGBoost, CatBoost, and LightGBM are used as base learners in the ensemble learning framework, with the predictions generated by the ensemble model integrated into the original dataset. Next, the VMD method is employed to decompose the natural gas load sequence into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs), effectively extracting the inherent features of the natural gas load sequence. Finally, the data is input into the Transformer-ResLSTM network for prediction. This network replaces the original Transformer decoder structure with an LSTM network and fully connected layers, creating a new decoder structure. Additionally, a residual connection mechanism is introduced in both the encoder of the Transformer network and the new decoder structure. Experimental results show that, compared to traditional models such as ARIMA, Transformer, GRU, and LSTM, the proposed hybrid model significantly improves prediction accuracy, reducing MSE by 92–98% and MAE by 74–83%. In summary, this method demonstrates significant potential and practical value in enhancing the accuracy of natural gas load forecasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of an eight-week mindfulness training intervention on improving mood among a Chinese urban sample seeking stress reduction and to explore the potential mediating effect of mindfulness and rumination. Method: Fifty-seven participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the mindfulness training group or a waitlist control group. The mindfulness training group received an eight-week mindfulness intervention, while the waitlist control group received no intervention during this period. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Brief Profile of Mood States (BPOMS), and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) were assessed at both pre- and post-test. Results: The final analysis included 52 participants (24 in the mindfulness training group and 28 in the waitlist control group). Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that, compared with the control group, participants who received mindfulness training showed significant improvements in their FFMQ Total Score (p <.01), Observing score (p <.05), and Non-reactivity score (p <.01); BPOMS Total Score (p <.01), Depression-dejection (p <.01), Anger-hostility (p <.01), and Tension-anxiety (p <.05); as well as RRS Total Score, Symptom Rumination, and Reflective Pondering (all p <.05). Mediation analysis of mindfulness training intervention on negative mood revealed a significant chain mediating effect of improvements in mindfulness and reductions in maladaptive rumination (95% CI = [0.0022, 0.2459], excluding 0). Conclusion: Mindfulness training can effectively improve the negative mood of urban populations facing stress through the mechanism of enhancing mindfulness and reducing rumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management and design of urban areas in metropolises pose significant challenges. Balancing diverse land uses within a metropolitan structure and addressing spatial and environmental constraints are just some of these challenges. Urban heat islands, which stem from factors such as inappropriate construction materials, inadequate building insulation, improper land use locations, and unsuitable built-up density, reflect environmental imbalances within urban infrastructure. Effectively addressing these temperature discrepancies can lead to energy preservation, reduced environmental hazards, and enhanced comfort for urban residents. This study employed Landsat-8 satellite images to identify and monitor positive and convex temperature disparities across various districts of Tehran over 3 years (2018 to 2020) using three different strategies. These disparities are estimated through the differences in land surface temperature from the thermal trend of each district and their persistence has been assessed in seasonal, semi-annual, and annual strategies. The study found that industrial areas, including warehouses, were the significant contributors to the persistent presence of urban heat islands in summer and winter. Open areas with impervious surfaces or bare soil, particularly those lacking sufficient green cover, also significantly contributed to the heat island effect. Certain large shopping centers, often due to their air conditioning systems, were also consistently identified as persistent heat islands. Evaluations demonstrated that over 78.8% of the identified persistent heat islands were meaningful, with most located in the northern and western parts of Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, recreation has become an increasingly important need for urban residents who lead fast and busy lives. Daily recreational activities and spaces enable citizens living in the dynamics of urban life to regain their physical and psychological health with short-term opportunities. In this context, the research questions of the study are: (a) defining the urban dweller's perspectives on the concept of recreation in today's world, (b) investigation whether the dominant recreational preference of the urban population has evolved from nature-based activities to the theme of shopping in the new world order, and (c) the behavioral tendencies of the urban population toward nature-based and shopping-based spaces. The main material of the study is the city of İzmir, and as a method, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 278 people living in the central district of İzmir. As a result of the study, it has been determined that the users prefer the spaces in the metropolitan areas for daily recreation activities. Also, they prefer spaces where they can perform nature-based activities, despite all the consumption-based opportunities in today's conditions. In line with the data obtained from the study, the daily space usage profile of the city of İzmir and its immediate surroundings was revealed, and applicable and sustainable suggestions were developed for improving daily recreation spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cities in the world suffer from excessive population and unplanned urban growth. The objective of the present study was to investigate the spatiotemporal changes of built-up areas and their growth in the proposed Greater Silchar City (GSC) (Assam, India). The obtained LANDSAT satellite data from 1991 to 2021 for the GSC have divided into non-built-up and built-up land use categories, and recode tools in Erdas Imagine 2014 software have been used to improve the accuracy of the output. The study area has been classified into 8 spatial directions and 11 concentric circles with radial distances of 1 km and resulted from intersected areas consisting of 60 gradient zones. The study used Shannon entropy model for detailed urban sprawl study of every nook and corner. FRAGSTATS v4.2 tools have been used to analyse landscape metrics in respective spatial directions. The built-up area growth of the city was 15.18 km2 during the mentioned period. The landscape metrics and LU/LC results show the maximum built-up growth has taken place in South to South-West direction (3243.87 ha) and the area within a 2–3-km radius (221.85 ha) of the central business district, which is the periphery of the existing Silchar municipal limits. The entropy values indicated that the GSC has compacted infill growth form in the core area, while the dispersed urban sprawl trends followed with increasing distance from the city centre. Moreover, the research findings will provide a conceptual model for assessing urban growth trends for other cities as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities often induce maladaptive effects in urban wildlife, such as increased inbreeding and decreased gene flow, consequently leading to a loss of biodiversity. Although maladaptive effects are commonly reported in urban wildlife, some wildlife species are not affected. Understanding the conditions and factors that affect the genetic structure of wildlife is crucial for its conservation in urban environments. Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, Japan, have settled in large residential lots with a high risk of vehicle collisions for approximately 30 years, raising the possibility that the urban population would be genetically isolated from nearby rural populations and may experience a rapid decrease in genetic diversity. In this study, we analysed the population structure, genetic distance, and nucleotide diversity of squirrels in the Obihiro area using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Principal component analysis and ADMIXTURE showed that urban and rural squirrel populations formed distinct clusters with intermediate urban and rural boundary populations. Genetic distances between the urban populations were greater than that of other pairs. Nucleotide diversities were lower in urban populations than in other populations, suggesting limited gene flow between urban and other populations, possibly due to urbanisation. The change in the genetic characteristics of urban squirrel populations during this short period demonstrates the strong impact of urbanisation. Our findings suggest that a genome-wide approach to the genetic structure of wildlife contributes to its conservation in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban trees are recognised worldwide as one of the most sustainable and effective nature-based solutions to combat the effects of climate change and improve the quality of life for city dwellers by cooling the air, absorbing pollutants and damping noise. Along with protection from flooding and soil retention/restoration, trees also symbolise beauty, aesthetic quality, and orientation in urban spaces. Nevertheless, the relationship between street/park trees and urban society is highly ambivalent when it comes to pollen emissions and allergies, but also due to clearing space for new housing, road extensions, or parking places, which is accepted by large sections of urban society. In addition, climate change in itself is a major challenge to urban trees, as they suffer from drought and are increasingly attacked by pests. Urban planners and community partnerships have already developed a range of strategies (from more expert-led approaches to participatory co-design and actions) to maintain, increase, and diversify tree cover. They have also created new habitats and at the same time caused competition for space in the city, where every square centimetre is fought over. Using the case studies from Central and Eastern Europe and also considering the examples from Northern America and Asia, this commentary highlights the ambivalent relationship between humans and nature in regard to urban trees. It also demonstrates that the acceptance of this ambivalence can be a key to the conservation and maintenance of urban biodiversity through the involvement of different stakeholders including citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of accelerating urbanization, Urban Green Spaces (UGS) have become vital for sustaining urban ecosystems and the health and well-being of urban residents. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the growth rate of urban green space (GRUGS) across various regions in China over a two-decade period, highlighting the interplay between urban development, population dynamics, and ecological sustainability. The research meticulously examines the impacts of urban built-up area expansion, population growth, and air pollution on GRUGS. It categorizes 291 Chinese cities into 15 urban agglomerations and utilizes data on urban built-up areas, population, and PM2.5 levels from 2000 to 2020. The findings reveal a mixed picture: while some regions demonstrate a robust commitment to integrating green spaces within urban growth, evident in high GRUGS values, others struggle to preserve green spaces amidst rapid urban expansion and population surges. This study underscores the necessity of tailored urban planning strategies that are region-specific and the ongoing need for innovation in urban development to achieve ecological sustainability. The insights garnered are invaluable for policymakers and urban planners, stressing the indispensable role of green spaces in enhancing urban life quality and securing sustainable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, urban scaling theory has proven that urban area, infrastructure, and economic output have a scaling relation with population. But if we consider ecological space as a part of urban infrastructure, would the same scaling characteristics exist? What is the scaling relationship between ecological spaces and economic social development in different stages of urbanization? This paper is based on this question and explores the trade-off between social economic system and ecosystem in 370 cities of China. The results show that the relationship between population and urban ecological space generally follows the scaling theory in terms of different types of ecological spaces and ecosystem services. For every 10-fold increase in population size, the total area of ecological space and ecosystem services increase by approximately 4 times. The manifestation of ecological space following the scaling laws is the aggregation behavior of better network connectivity. There is a trade-off between urban ecological space and socioeconomic development, with flow equilibrium reached at a population of 2 million and efficiency equilibrium reached at a population of 1 million. Starting from type I and type II megapolis, urban development gradually tends to stabilize, and there may even be a trend of slow decline in urban development potential. In the absence of ecological space, virtual network space can serve as a substitute for ecological space. The driving factors affect scaling behavior of ecological space, including connectivity of ecological space, spatial heterogeneity of natural conditions, and disturbance of economic and social activities. This research can help city to expand ecological space, promoting the added value of urban ecological assets and keeping the urban development potential within the optimal threshold range continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study is to explore the mediating role of depression in the relationship between social participation and life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly individuals, as well as the moderating role of relative income. To this end, we used the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) for regression analysis to investigate whether social participation affects life satisfaction. The CHARLS data cover 150 county-level units, 450 village-level units, and 17,000 people in about 10,000 households. The "Life_satis = α + β*Soc_parti + γ*X + ε" model was used to evaluate the effect of social participation on life satisfaction. The BK method was used to test whether depression mediates between social participation and life satisfaction.Nowell et al.'s (2016) three-step test was used to determine whether relative income moderates the influence path. Our results show that social participation significantly promotes life satisfaction, but the impact of social participation on rural residents was stronger than on urban residents. Depression mediated the positive impact of social participation on the life satisfaction of middle-aged and elderly people. Relative income negatively moderated the positive impact of social participation on depression. Relative income negatively moderated the positive impact of depression on residents' life satisfaction. We suggest that promoting social participation, managing and alleviating symptoms of depression, and increasing levels of relative income are key factors in positive aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural regions have higher incidence rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) than urban regions, while screening is lower in rural residents than in urban residents. Rural residents experience barriers to CRC screening due to a lack of access to healthcare, perceived lack of privacy, and other cultural factors. The fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) may provide an inexpensive and convenient alternative for those lacking access to a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. In a clinical trial, we investigated factors that influenced the return of a FIT kit for CRC screening among 1,230 rural residents in a midwestern U.S. state. Participants were selected from two cancer screening databases maintained by the state health department. Participants returning and not returning the FIT kit were compared for differences by age category (45–54, 55–64, 65–74), gender (female vs. male), race (non-white vs. white), and ethnicity (Hispanic vs. not Hispanic) using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to assess differences in FIT kit return time by age and gender. The youngest age group was significantly less likely to return the FIT kit and were slower at returning it when they did. In models adjusted for age category, females were significantly more likely to return the FIT kit than males and returned the FIT kit sooner than males. The results suggest that efforts are needed to reach those 45 to 55, especially males, who are not likely to see the need for CRC screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming disproportionately impacts countries in the Global South by increasing extreme heat exposure. However, geographic disparities in adaptation capacity are unclear. Here, we assess global inequality in green spaces, which urban residents critically rely on to mitigate outdoor heat stress. We use remote sensing data to quantify daytime cooling by urban greenery in the warm seasons across the ~500 largest cities globally. We show a striking contrast, with Global South cities having ~70% of the cooling capacity of cities in the Global North (2.5 ± 1.0 °C vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 °C). A similar gap occurs for the cooling adaptation benefits received by an average resident in these cities (2.2 ± 0.9 °C vs. 3.4 ± 1.7 °C). This cooling adaptation inequality is due to discrepancies in green space quantity and quality between cities in the Global North and South, shaped by socioeconomic and natural factors. Our analyses further suggest a vast potential for enhancing cooling adaptation while reducing global inequality. A 1.5-fold gap exists in green space cooling adaptation between cities in the Global South and North. Enhancing urban green space quality and quantity offers vast potential for improving outdoor cooling adaptation and reducing its global inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the associations between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and functioning across several school readiness domains among preschoolers with disruptive behavior problems. The sample included 115 children (Mage= 5.18, 67.8% male; 32.2% female) from a large, urban, high-poverty community, with predominantly Black families, who were about to enroll in a summer treatment program prior to kindergarten. As part of pre-treatment assessments, caregivers completed interviews and questionnaires about adverse experiences and stressors in their children's lives. Children's behavioral, academic, and social functioning were also assessed at this time. We identified exposure to ACEs using multimodal parent reports. A path analysis was conducted between preschoolers' exposures to ACEs and their school readiness, covarying outcomes with one another to isolate the effect of ACEs. Our findings indicate a dose-effect, such that exposure to a higher number of ACEs is significantly associated with more severe disruptive behaviors, internalizing problems, and global impairment in the child's functioning. However, there were no significant associations between total number of ACEs and academic or social functioning. Notably, the prevalence of ACEs among this sample of preschoolers living in highly under-resourced communities was strikingly higher than national samples, with 93.9% of parents reporting exposure to at least one ACE by age 5, compared to 19–26% in a nationally samples; moreover, 62.6% experienced 3 or more ACEs, compared to 5.35% in same-aged samples (Briggs-Gowan et al., 2010; Jackson et al., 2021). Our study contributes to the growing literature on the importance of recognizing the heightened risk of early and compounding adversity in school readiness outcomes for young children with special needs. Implications for early intervention timing and the need to consider readiness for preschool are discussed. Study Highlights: We investigate associations between adversity and school readiness in preschoolers with disruptive behaviors living in a low income community. We identify exposure to ACEs using multimodal parent report from clinical interviews and surveys. We find that 94% of participants had experienced at least 1 ACE and 49% had experienced 4 or more. We find a dose effect between number of ACEs and severity of disruptive and internalizing problems, and global impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of assessing the dynamics of parameters of Malecot's isolation by distance model among the population of Belgorod oblast from 1978–1980 to 2016–2018. When compared with data for 1890–1910 and 1951–1953 on average for the region, an increase in the root-mean-square distances between the places of birth of spouses was established taking into account long-distance migrations (6.9 times) and without them (13.3 times), as well as effective migration pressure (1.5 times), and there was a decrease in the coefficient of linear systematic pressure (11 times) and the effective population size (1.3 times). The level of local inbreeding decreased significantly among the urban population and remained unchanged among the rural population. The most pronounced changes in the parameters of Malecot's isolation by distance model occurred in the middle to the second half of the 20th century. The differences in most indicators of Malecot's isolation by distance model between city and village, maximally expressed at the end of the 19th century, decreased over the course of generations and were practically leveled out by 2016–2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefits provided by urban trees are increasingly threatened by non-native pests and pathogens. Monitoring of these invasions is critical for the effective management and conservation of urban tree populations. However, a shortage of professionally collected species occurrence data is a major impediment to assessments of biological invasions in urban areas. We applied data from iNaturalist to develop a protocol for monitoring urban biological invasions using the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) invasion in two urban areas of South Africa. iNaturalist records for all known PSHB reproductive host species were used together with data on localities of sites for processing plant biomass to map priority monitoring areas for detecting new and expanding PSHB infestations. Priority monitoring areas were also identified using the distribution of Acer negundo, a highly susceptible host that serves as a sentinel species for the detection of PSHB infestations. iNaturalist data provided close to 9000 observations for hosts in which PSHB is known to reproduce in our study area (349 of which were A. negundo). High-priority areas for PSHB monitoring include those with the highest density of PSHB reproductive hosts found close to the 140 plant biomass sites identified. We also identified high-priority roads for visual and baited trap surveys, providing operational guidance for practitioners. The monitoring protocol developed in this study highlights the value of citizen or community science data in informing the management of urban biological invasions. It also advocates for the use of platforms such as iNaturalist as essential tools for conservation monitoring in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shifting thermal environment brought by global warming presents new concerns for urban residents. However, the lack of urban presentation in the global and regional climate models limits the ability of these models to provide useful information at the urban scale. This study examines the impact of 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming levels (GWL1.5 and GWL2) on the future summer of Beijing, China. A new statistical-dynamical downscaling (SDD) method was applied using available Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) ensemble data to downscale climate projections across Beijing at different GWLs. The results showed that the maximum air temperature increase reached 3.5 °C and 4 °C at GWL1.5 and GWL2, respectively, in the central urban area of Beijing. The historical urban heat island (UHI) intensity first increased to 2.48 ± 0.97/1.02 ± 0.58 °C in GWL1.5 and then decreased to 2.24 ± 0.98/0.90 ± 0.69 °C in GWL2 at 22:00/09:00. Under GWL1.5, the UHI effect is greater in the eastern metropolitan areas (> 2 °C) than in the western regions (0.5–1.5 °C). The highest daytime and nighttime UHIs occurred mostly in LCZ154 (open high-rise area). The intensity, duration, and frequency of future heat waves (HWs) are increasing, especially in urban areas under GWL2. Climate information on UHIs and HWs under the Paris Agreement would be very helpful for stakeholders and city planners to develop near-term future local adaptation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis of urbanization trends in Central Asian countries, considering two aspects: the expansion of urban areas and the intensive increase in population in urban agglomerations. To achieve this goal, an analysis of urbanization trends in Central Asian countries for the years 2010–2022 was conducted. The research results emphasize that the relationship between GDP and the urbanization index is complex and not always straightforward. The analysis of the correlation between GDP and the urbanization index in Central Asian countries highlights the complexity of urbanization processes, which depend on various factors. [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]

Social sustainability has become an increasingly global concern, particularly in urban areas, where ensuring the well-being of urban societies is essential. However, the rapid urbanization of Dhaka city, Bangladesh, has transformed it into a prominent global megacity, accompanied by significant social challenges that impact its social sustainability status. Consequently, this study assessed the present condition of social sustainability in Dhaka city. To accomplish this objective, a quantitative research methodology was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire survey as the means of data collection. The questionnaire is being held from May 1 to November 2, 2021, to collect as many responses as possible in this study. In this study, a multistage sampling technique was used to select 564 residents of Dhaka city. The results revealed Dhaka city residents have low satisfaction levels regarding social sustainability conditions. This indicates that there is a need for policymakers, urban planners, and implementing agencies to take action to improve the city's social sustainability. The study's empirical findings provide valuable evidence for informing socially sustainable planning, policy development, and practical implementation. Moreover, this research supports scholars in developing countries in broadening their perspectives regarding comparable urban social challenges. Furthermore, the study contributes to attaining Sustainable Development Goal 11, titled " Sustainable cities and communities," as established by the United Nations. By equipping policymakers with essential insights, the research outcomes aid in promoting inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, not only in Dhaka but also in similar urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the network flow of social capital (SC) among regions for natural disaster resilience from the perspective of urbanization. Assistance between residents is a significant factor during natural disasters, and these ties are called SC. On the other hand, the relationship between residents in metropolitan areas is changing, and many urban residents do not interact closely with each other. This trend is accelerating with urbanization. Therefore, the networks beyond the community are essential during the disaster period. Two metropolitan areas, each with six districts, were chosen for this study. Honolulu County, Hawaii, in the U.S., is in the suburbanization stage, and Aichi prefecture, Japan, is in the reurbanization stage. SC data were collected by conducting a web-based survey, and the total number of valid samples was 1324. The quality of SC networks was analyzed compared with six types of SC, and the structure between districts was examined by the maximum flow. As a result, the SC network flow in high-population growth districts had the highest value; therefore, the high-population growth area can be the most SC exchangeable area. The mutual assistance networks, shaped by trust, empowerment, and cooperation, are strong even if urbanization progresses. On the other hand, personal relationship networks, such as safety confirmation, information exchange, and ethnically diverse acquaintances, become the weaker linkage in the transition from suburbanization to reurbanization. Finally, the use of SC networks for natural disaster resilience actions was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planning is essential for managing the diverse impacts of urban green spaces, such as public access, stormwater control, urban life quality, and landscape aesthetics, promoting sustainable urban development and urban residents' well-being by integrating green space considerations into city planning. The aim of this study is to use graph-based metrics to calculate the connectivity of UGS across the main municipal zones of Ardabil city over consecutive periods under different population growth rates. Another objective of this study is to compare the connectivity values of UGS in the four municipal zones and to evaluate changes in the connectivity indices at various distance thresholds of UGS patches. After identifying UGS in different periods, the changes in graph-based connectivity indices at various distance thresholds of UGS patches were analyzed. Additionally, the changes in connectivity indices over different periods and across various municipal zones were compared and analyzed. The findings reveal that UGS areas were larger in the past but have recently had smaller patch sizes. Connectivity between UGS nodes (dNL) decreased at various distances over the study years, showing a declining trend in different connectivity indices. UGS connectivity decreased in municipal zones 1, 2, and 3 but increased in recent years after a decline until 2012 across all four zones of Ardabil city. Zone 4 had the highest UGS connectivity due to newly developed urban areas and well-allocated UGSs. Integrating the ecological impacts of UGS connectivity in urban development and design will enhance trade-offs between conservation, public health, and social equity. New urban areas should allocate sufficient land for UGS and parks, ensuring accessibility to support health and leisure through municipal planning. The study highlights the need for sustainable urban development policies that prioritize the allocation and maintenance of UGSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are growing global health concerns. A disproportionate number of Indigenous Peoples live with obesity and its complications. Bariatric surgery offers superior weight loss and comorbidity resolution when compared to medical management. There is a paucity of literature regarding the experiences of Indigenous Peoples undergoing bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to employ two-eyed seeing and a decolonizing approach to explore the experiences of urban Indigenous bariatric surgery patients. Methods: An Indigenous Advisory Committee guided the conception and design of the study. Four urban Indigenous bariatric surgery patients with T2DM participated in two sequential sharing circles and individual interviews facilitated by an Elder. Audio transcripts were analyzed for emerging themes using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Themes generated from shared participant experiences and knowledge included the following: (1) Experiencing hardship or challenges; (2) Reflecting on the importance of supports; (3) Understanding relationships with food; and (4) Healing and recovery. Overall, the participants described a generally positive experience with the bariatric pathway. Participants also described varied connectedness to their Indigenous identity but uniformly expressed interest in more culturally diverse supports such as sharing circles, access to an elder, and Indigenous peer mentorship. Conclusions: Indigenous Peoples have strong motivators for pursuing bariatric surgery and desire access to culturally relevant supports. Suggestions for program improvement included offering sharing circles, providing access to an elder, and Indigenous peer mentorship. This study is the first to qualitatively explore the bariatric surgery experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents is a global concern. Previous studies conducted in Bangladesh have highlighted the importance to effectively prevent and address emotional and behavioral problems among adolescents to improve their psychological well-being. Despite these efforts, there remains limited research specifically addressing emotional and behavioral problems, conduct disorders, hyperactivity/attention disorders, and peer relationship problems among adolescents in Bangladesh in terms of age, gender, grade, and location. To address this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to comprehensively investigate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh. Methods: The study employed a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique to recruit a total of 1496 participants. The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, such as age, gender, grade, location, birth order, family type, monthly family income, and parental education were collected. Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), while the chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data with STATA software. Results: The prevalence of emotional disorder was 9.09% (7.73 − 10.65%). The rate was 21.72% (19.70 − 23.88%) for conduct disorder, 6.21% (5.09 − 7.55%) for hyperactivity, and for peer-relationship problem, the rate was 15.10% (13.37 − 17.01%) among adolescents. Overall, gender, grade, location, monthly family income, and parental education were significantly associated with emotional and behavioral problems. More specifically, adolescent girls (OR = 2.90 for the emotional disorder), grade (8th: OR = 2.07, 9th: OR = 1.95, for the emotional disorder), urban residents (OR = 2.46, for conduct disorder; OR = 2.29, for hyperactivity; OR = 2.03, for peer-relationship problem), poor monthly family income (OR = 2.84, for peer-relationship problem) significantly increased the risk of psychiatric morbidity. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for school-based intervention programs to address adolescent emotional and behavioral problems. By targeting vulnerable individuals, these programs can effectively reduce mental health problems among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the challenges of motorised traffic, many cities around the globe started implementing measures to transform their urban transport systems. One of the major challenges for the success of adequate policies is not only their effectiveness but also whether they are accepted by city residents. With a quantitative case study in four neighbourhoods in Frankfurt am Main (N = 821), this article investigates the acceptability of three measures: (i) parking management, (ii) the conversion of car lanes into cycle lanes and (iii) the closure of an inner city arterial road to car traffic. The results show a surprisingly high acceptability for all measures if the benefits for local residents are tangible. Thus, successful policy packages may combine push measures with either pull measures, as suggested frequently in the literature, or with improvements for other land uses (e.g. re-using former car-parking spaces for non-transport purposes, such as greenery or seating areas). Furthermore, the perceived effectiveness, daily travel practices and intentions to reduce car use, the built environment and, to a lesser degree, socio-demographics explain differences in acceptability by population group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban governance aims to enhance overall social welfare, while residents' happiness frequently falls by the wayside. Civilization, as a critical factor influencing residents' happiness, has not yet been fully understood regarding its impact and mechanisms. This paper uses the China Family Panel Studies data, which includes around 50,000 samples ranging from 2010 to 2020, to construct a multi-period difference-in-differences model. It finds that China's highest honor for urban brands, the civilized city program, leads to an average increase of 2.6% in residents' happiness as measured by life satisfaction. This happiness effect is robust but temporary, gradually diminishing within five years following the honor. The happiness effect is heterogeneous across different waves and city sizes and is effective only for urban residents. Mechanism analysis indicates the happiness effect of the civilized city program through three channels: government efforts, social trust, and identity recognition. Additionally, our research indicates that the civilized city initiative improves residents' perception of environmental quality and reduces income inequality. These findings provide insights into understanding how the civilization tournament policy promotes happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elderly individuals face an increased likelihood of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes. Self-care practices and medication adherence play crucial roles in preventing complications and adverse effects of this condition. Therefore, this study aimed to determine self-care behaviors, medication adherence status, and related factors among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 374 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who visited educational healthcare centers in Qazvin, Iran, during 2023 (March–September). Sampling was performed using the convenience method. Data collection instruments included a demographic characteristics checklist, the summary of diabetes self-care activities questionnaire, and the Morisky medication adherence scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-22 software, employing the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, mean, standard deviation, univariate and multivariate regression analyses. The significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. The mean age of participants was 67.56 ± 5.93 years. In the self-care questionnaire, the highest score pertained to adherence to the diet recommended by the treating physician (3.16 ± 1.87). In contrast, the lowest scores were related to the frequency of checking inside shoes (0.17 ± 0.93) and foot examination (0.31 ± 1.07), respectively. Furthermore, results in self-care behaviors indicated that with increasing education levels, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) significantly decreased (P = 0.048). This variable was considerably higher in rural residents than in urban dwellers (P = 0.016). Additionally, the frequency of blood glucose measurements was significantly higher in urban residents than in rural inhabitants (p = 0.006). Based on the results, the mean score for medication adherence among patients was 5.53 ± 1.65. Based on our findings, the level of self-care in physical activity, SMBG, and foot care among the elderly is below average. Furthermore, medication adherence in these patients is poor. We expect that managers and policymakers take steps to reduce complications and improve these two variables by developing educational programs on self-care and emphasizing the importance of treatment adherence for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents insights on conducting urban research amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the adoption of digital ethnography as an innovative and flexible approach. Drawing from an expanding body of literature on fieldwork among 'hard-to-reach' populations during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, we share our experiences from a study on the socio-economic impacts of mandatory lockdowns on poor urban residents in Harare, Zimbabwe. Our research highlighted several methodological benefits of digital ethnography, including its non-intrusive and non-intimidating nature, cost and time efficiency, ability to increase participant diversity, assurance of respondent safety, research flexibility, and the generation of impactful data. Unlike traditional immersive ethnography, digital ethnography proved adept at navigating the complexities of the 'global', 'local', and 'trans-local' dimensions of contemporary urban research subjects. However, this approach also presents several ethical challenges. These challenges include obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, participants' potential misunderstanding of the research context, the risk of exacerbating stress during crises, and respecting privacy in digital spaces. Urban researchers must carefully consider these ethical issues before undertaking their studies. In conclusion, virtual environments have become integral to modern life and represent essential avenues for urban researchers, particularly during periods of limited physical interaction and when studying populations that are difficult to reach in person but more accessible online. Further, the adoption of digital ethnography, extends beyond the necessity imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It reflects an ongoing evolution in ethnographic practices, adapting to the realities of a digitally connected world. We suggest that urban researchers should think of digital ethnographic ethics from the point of view of reciprocal and mutual collaboration with participants. With this thinking, urban research subjects become co-participants and co-researchers rather than subjects of exploitation in the expanding and complex digital space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the abundance of research on reducing carbon emissions, there is a significant gap in understanding the influence of macroeconomic factors on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a spatial-structural perspective. This study aims to contribute to the literature by investigating the impact of macroeconomic factors on carbon dioxide emissions in six East African countries between 1989 and 2020. Using spatial econometric panel models, the study analyzed spatial dependence among the variables. The empirical findings indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and electricity consumption have positive direct and indirect effects on carbon emissions, while fuel prices and exports have negative direct effects, but positive spillover effects on neighboring countries. Imports have a positive impact on local economies, but negative spillover effects. Additionally, the urban population has no significant impact on the environment. These findings provide important policy implications for optimizing spatial growth patterns and achieving a low-carbon economy in East African countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in urban population growth has contributed to the expansion of unplanned settlements, especially in developing countries. Triggered by the lack of government oversight, the expansion of these settlements is characterized by unique economic, social, physical, and functional attributes. This study aims at exploring the physical features of unplanned settlements in District 4th of Herat city, western Afghanistan. Employing a mixed-research method, we integrated spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into detailed field observations to get a better understanding of the characteristics of the formation of these informal settlements. Our findings shed light on a number of key physical features including irregular street layouts, inadequate drainage systems, and substandard construction materials, irregular buildings in term of layout, number of floors, and building density. The features of unplanned urban morphology contribute to socio-economic loss and environmental degradation due to the absence of critical infrastructures including water infrastructures and the presence of unplanned streets in under-resourced unplanned settlements. In fact, the absence of government's efforts in monitoring the development of unplanned settlements hinders the provision of essential services and infrastructures in the informal settlement communities. Our assertion is that the findings of this research will help policy makers in Afghanistan to reconsider their policies and decisions on urban development and growth, particularly in the poorer and under-served unplanned settlements in major cities in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to antibiotic medications is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal for good health and well-being. However, non-prescribed and informal sources are implicated as the most common causes of inappropriate antibiotic access practices, resulting in untargeted therapy, which leads to antibiotic resistance. Hence, knowing antibiotic access practices at the community level is essential to target misuse sources. In this study, 2256 household representatives were surveyed between July and September 2023 to examine their antibiotic access practices. Of 1245 household members who received antibiotics, 45.6% did so inappropriately. Non-prescribed antibiotic access was more common among urban residents and individuals not enrolled in health insurance schemes. This means of antibiotic access was also more common among individuals concerned about distance, drug availability, and healthcare convenience at public facilities. In addition, women and rural individuals were more likely to get antibiotics from unauthorized sources. Unrestricted antibiotic dispensing practices in urban areas enabled their non-prescribed access, while unlicensed providers prevailed with this access practice in rural areas. In this regard, personal behaviors and healthcare-related gaps such as the lack of health insurance, inconvenience, and drug unavailability have led community members to seek antibiotics from unofficial and non-prescribed sources. Targeting the identified behavioral and institutional factors can enhance antibiotic access through prescriptions, hence reducing antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban parks provide connectedness to nature as a health resilience environment for promoting health. Virtual reality can provide opportunities for urban citizens to be exposed to natural elements with health benefits. The purpose was to explore the effects of actual and virtual parks on the quality of life and physical activity of urban residents. The study design was a cluster trial. Participants were healthy adults aged 20–50 years, recruited from three college campuses, and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n = 30, 32) and one control group (n = 30). The intervention with virtual or actual parks was conducted for 30 min a session once a week for 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured using self-reported questionnaires, including the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale-BREF and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. In total, 84 participants completed the interventions and post-intervention measures. Results showed that participants who experienced actual parks had significant increases in the social quality of life and light-intensity physical activity and had decreased body weight. Participants who experienced the virtual parks experienced a significant increase in their mental quality of life. Participants in the experimental groups of both kinds of parks had significant improvements in their self-rated health, physical and environmental quality of life, and sedentary time after the intervention. Urban parks are an important natural resource for citizens' health and physical activity promotion. Virtual parks can simulate actual parks and have similar health benefits and are thus are recommended for citizens who lack opportunities and motivation to go to actual parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses the dynamics of indicators characterizing marriage and migration parameters among the population of the south of Central Russia from 1890 to 2018. In the structure of marriages over the 130-year period, there was a significant decrease (1.6–2.2 times) in the share of isolocal marriages and a significant increase in the share of heterolocal marriages (by almost 11 times), while the size of the elementary population increased from the village level to the district/region level. From 1890 to 2018 the dynamics of isolocal marriages was more pronounced among the urban population and the dynamics of heterolocal marriages was more pronounced among rural residents. Over the 130-year period positive marital assortativity by place of birth of spouses decreased by 1.5 times without significant differences in the level and dynamics of marriage selectivity by place of birth of spouses between the urban and rural populations (except for the period of 1951–1953). A strong direct correlation was established between the level of marital assortativeness and the share of marriages concluded within one region and one district (r = 0.90, p < 0.05) and a negative one, on the share of heterolocal marriages (concluded between immigrants from different regions) (r = –0.90, p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of importance to enhance the urban areas' capacity for population aggregation in underdeveloped regions, aiming to rectify the imbalanced and insufficient pattern of economic development in China. Taking the Taiyuan Metropolitan Area (TMA) in central China as a case study, this paper examines the evolutionary process and characteristics of population agglomeration from 2000 to 2020, and identifies factors associated with agglomeration and their spatial effects. The findings indicated that: 1) against the background of sustained population shrinkage in the provincial area, the TMA showed a demographic trend of steady increase, albeit with a decelerated growth rate. In the metropolitan area, urban population size continued to grow rapidly, whereas the rural areas endured sustained losses. Disparities in city size continued to widen, and the polarization of concentrated population in the core cities kept increasing. 2) Agglomerations in both secondary and service industries had significant positive effects on local population agglomeration, with the former effect being stronger. Regional economic development, government fiscal expenditure, and financial advancement all contributed to facilitating local population clustering. From a spatial spillover perspective, service agglomeration and financial development promoted population agglomeration in surrounding areas. Conversely, fiscal expenditure inhibited such agglomeration. As for industrial agglomeration and regional economic development, their spatial spillover effects were non-significant. The results obtained reveal several policy implications aimed at enhancing the population agglomeration capacity of the metropolitan area in underdeveloped regions during the new era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the immense pressure population increase and urbanization are putting on freshwater resources, wastewater recycling and reuse have received more attention in recent years. However, in most developing countries, the available infrastructure is not adequate for efficient wastewater recycling and reuse. In this study, the Indian wastewater scenario was assessed in depth to elicit insights into managing wastewater challenges in developing countries. Sewage generation increased proportionately with the increasing urban population for the last 2 decades in India. The treatment capacity, however, could not keep pace with sewage generation, and currently, only 50% of urban sewage is being treated through centralized facilities. The same is the case with most prominent developing nations. Additionally, data show that the number of non-operational plants is increasing. The compliance rate of existing treatment facilities is meager in most Indian states, making the reuse of wastewater harder. Most other developing countries are likely to be operating under similar conditions. Having identified challenges in wastewater management for developing countries, this study further discusses some data gaps that need attention and the importance of closing these knowledge gaps in the context of decentralized treatment and reuse of wastewater. Furthermore, it discusses interventions and recommendations that can help overcome the identified challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst various form of urbanization induced climate change, changing thermal environment is the most widely studied and understood phenomenon. The impervious surfaces in urban areas absorb and re-emit the heat from solar radiation more than those of natural landscape which causes an elevated temperature in global cities. Due to increasing impervious surfaces and emissions from anthropogenic sources, the diurnal temperature range (DTR) is declining in cities while the frequency of extreme temperature events (TXX) is increasing. Hence, in this study, the trend of DTR and TXX has been examined in Delhi and Mumbai mega cities of India. For this study, India Meteorological Department (IMD) provided daily temperature data for 13 meteorological stations in Mumbai and 21 meteorological stations in Delhi. The DTR and TXX have been analysed using the RClimDex-Extraqc package while the trend of DTR and TXX has been analysed using the innovative trend analysis (ITA). The result showed that during 1991–2018, DTR has declined by about 1.5 °C in Delhi and about 0.2–0.4 °C in Mumbai, while TXX has increased by about 0.1–1.4 °C in Delhi and about 4 °C in Mumbai. The trend analysis of DTR and TXX using ITA showed that the DTR has a declining trend in both the cities while TXX has an increasing trend. The declining DTR and increasing TXX may increase the vulnerability to heat waves for the city dwellers and deteriorate the urban thermal comfort in both the cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changes in the life status of Larix gmelinii along the gradient of urbanized ecotypes were considered on the basis of the population analysis and morphometric approach. L. gmelinii growing under different conditions differed in a number of size and growth characteristics of the photosynthetic activity. The highest values were found in plants growing in public gardens and on city streets under conditions of high insolation. Population analysis of L. gmelinii in an urbanized environment was carried out on the basis of quantitative parameters that characterized the growth and morphogenesis of plants (annual growth, indicators of photosynthetic activity). The determining set of characters for the vitality analysis of L. gmelinii consisted of biologically significant characters with a high degree of variability: length of shoot growth (CV varied from 39.09 to 68.86%), weight of needles at annual growth (CV 51.81–120.52%), weight of annual shoot (CV 67.73–119.85). The vitality structure of the populations of the species in the vegetative ontogenetic state changed from depressive to equilibrium, with the population quality index changing from 0.2 to 0.333. The analysis of landscaping of the city transport highways demonstrated that local populations of L. gmelinii in the generative ontogenetic state were of a prosperous type, with the population quality index varying slightly from 0.47 to 0.49. The plasticity of the species and a high viability of L. gmelinii due to the resistance to air pollution and unpretentiousness to soil conditions support a broad application of the larch for landscaping of urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of gull populations in urban areas has led to an increase in human-gull conflicts, especially in highly populated cities where these opportunistic predators are often considered a nuisance. There is a lack of data regarding the selection of nesting sites by gulls, so management measures at nesting level cannot be implemented. Here, we investigated the main environmental factors that explain the nesting preferences of the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) in urban areas, using the population in the city of Barcelona (NE Spain) as study model. We conducted an integrated analysis that combines micro-scale habitat selection assessments of 148 urban nesting sites with a macro-scale assessment of gull movements derived from GPS tracking of breeding yellow-legged gulls. We also analysed the type and abundance of litter in nests and main factors related to this. Nests were mainly found on flat roofs or above a structure on the main roof located at corner placements and situated on gravel substrate. Nest selection showed a negative relation to port distance and a building height beyond 12 m. The presence of litter was detected in more than 80% nests and was related to population density. Understanding the ecology of yellow-legged gulls in urban areas has implications for urban population management to prevent nest establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the extensive use of green urban areas as recreation places, city residents are exposed to tick-borne pathogens. The objectives of our study were (i) to determine the occurrence of ticks in urban green areas, focussing on areas used by humans such as parks, schools and kindergartens, and urban forests, and (ii) to assess the prevalence of Borrelia infections in ticks in Zielona Góra, a medium-sized city in western Poland. A total of 161 ticks representing the two species Ixodes ricinus (34 males, 51 females, 30 nymphs) and Dermacentor reticulatus (20 males, 26 females) were collected from 29 of 72 (40.3%) study sites. In total, 26.1% of the ticks (85.7% of I. ricinus and 14.3% of D. reticulatus) yielded DNA of Borrelia. The difference in the infection rate between I. ricinus and D. reticulatus was significant. Among infected ticks, the most frequent spirochete species were B. lusitaniae (50.0%) and B. afzelii (26.2%), followed by B. spielmanii (9.5%), B. valaisiana (7.1%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, (4.8%) and B. miyamotoi (2.4%). No co-infections were found. We did not observe a correlation in the occurrence of Borrelia spirochetes in ticks found in individual study sites that differed in terms of habitat type and height of vegetation. Our findings demonstrate that the Borrelia transmission cycles are active within urban habitats, pointing the need for monitoring of tick-borne pathogens in public green areas. They could serve as guidelines for authorities for the proper management of urban green spaces in a way that may limit tick populations and the potential health risks posed by tick-borne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green–blue infrastructure (GBI) can provide important benefits to urban residents but may also affect mosquito abundance, with associated negative nuisance and infection transmission impacts. This study addresses important knowledge and quantification gaps for the relationships between mosquito prevalence and GBI features within cities. This is done for the city of Uppsala in Sweden as an urban case example, where mosquitos were captured and ambient air temperature and humidity were observed at seven different locations in the summer of 2022. A weighted multi-critera analysis (WMCA) model was developed based on relevant open data and open tools for resolving the mosquito (Culex pipiens) variations based on geographical variables, such as land cover/use, leaf area index, and building and green (vegetation) area fractions, within the city. The results show a clear relationship between mosquito prevalence and green-area fraction (of grass and trees), indicating that urban GBI extension can enhance mosquito prevalence, with possible associated negative impacts. This relationship is supported directly by data, showing significantly higher mosquito prevalence with higher ambient humidity, which in turn is related to larger green-area fraction. The developed WMCA model emerges as a promising tool, e.g., for urban development planning that needs to account for and seek relevant trade-off balances between positive and negative effects of urban GBI changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the pooling level of medical insurance is an inevitable requirement to strengthen the mutual assistance capability of funds and achieving national health. In China, with the continuous expansion of the migrant population seeking medical treatment in other regions, the role of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is becoming increasingly prominent. While there is limited research on the impact and mechanism of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health of migrant population. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance on the health performance of migrant population and analyze the mediating role of social integration. Using data of three waves (2014, 2016 and 2018) of the China Labor force Dynamics Survey, this study focuses on a sample of migrant population enrolled in Urban and Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance and employs the estimation methods of time-varying difference-in-difference and mediating effect model. The results of time-varying difference-in-difference show that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance improves the health performance of migrant population by 9.6% (p < 0.05), and the event study method and placebo test all indicate that the research results are robust. The mediating effect analysis demonstrates that the provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance enhances health performance by fostering the subjective and objective social integration, and neighbourhood assistance, social equity, life happiness and trust in the majority are specific intermediary channels. The results of heterogeneity analysis indicates that provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance is more effective in improving the health performance of high-income (β = −0.090; P < 0.05), new-generation (β = −0.116; P < 0.1) and highly-educated (β = 0.130; p < 0.05) migrant population. Our results call for accelerating the promotion of provincial-pooling of basic medical insurance to improve health performance of migrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myopia is a growing concern worldwide, especially among adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of myopia in adolescents aged 12–15 in Shandong Province, China. This cross-sectional study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines and involved stratified random cluster sampling of 128,678 students from 186 middle schools across 17 cities in Shandong Province. Data collection was conducted from March to April 2024. We excluded students with organic eye diseases, abnormal binocular vision functions, or a history of eye injuries or surgeries. Myopia was assessed using the standard logarithmic visual acuity chart and autorefractor without inducing ciliary muscle paralysis. A comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted to gather demographic characteristics and daily life behaviors. With the chi-squared test for univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression for identifying significant factors. This study included 126,375 participants, with a gender distribution of 51.02% male and 48.98% female. The overall prevalence of myopia was 71.34%. Higher prevalence was observed in girls (72.26%) compared to boys (70.45%), and the prevalence increased with age, peaking at 73.12% in 15-year-olds. Urban residents had a higher prevalence (71.86%) than rural (70.39%). Factors such as increased frequency of eye usage while lying down or leaning forward, frequent use of eyes while walking or riding in a car, prolonged screen time, and extended homework duration were associated with higher odds of developing myopia. Conversely, higher frequency of outdoor exercise, maintaining proper posture during reading and writing, greater distance from eyes to screen, and longer sleep duration were associated with lower odds. Additionally, female gender, older age, urban residence, and parental history of myopia increased the risk. The high prevalence of myopia among adolescents in Shandong Province was influenced by a combination of demographic, behavioral, and environmental factors. The study highlighted the importance of lifestyle modifications, such as increasing outdoor activities and maintaining proper visual habits, limiting the duration of screen exposure and homework sessions, and extending sleep duration, to mitigate the risk of developing myopia. These findings underscored the need for targeted public health interventions and educational campaigns to address this significant public health issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the processing methods of artistic images within the context of Smart city (SC) initiatives, focusing on the visual healing effects of artistic image processing to enhance urban residents' mental health and quality of life. Firstly, it examines the role of artistic image processing techniques in visual healing. Secondly, deep learning technology is introduced and improved, proposing the overlapping segmentation vision transformer (OSViT) for image blocks, and further integrating the bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) algorithm. An innovative artistic image processing and classification recognition model based on OSViT-BiLSTM is then constructed. Finally, the visual healing effect of the processed art images in different scenes is analyzed. The results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a classification recognition accuracy of 92.9% for art images, which is at least 6.9% higher than that of other existing model algorithms. Additionally, over 90% of users report satisfaction with the visual healing effects of the artistic images. Therefore, it is found that the proposed model can accurately identify artistic images, enhance their beauty and artistry, and improve the visual healing effect. This study provides an experimental reference for incorporating visual healing into SC initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]