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Background: Around 40% of Australian children do not participate in sport. Cost is a major barrier to participation, particularly for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This study aimed to evaluate the uptake of a population-level children's sports subsidy scheme, including sociodemographic differences in uptake. Methods: A state-wide cross-sectional analysis comparing sports voucher claimants (primary school-aged children with a valid Medicare or Australian visa number) from the 2019 financial year with population census data from South Australia. Chi-square was used to examine whether the percentage of eligible children who claimed a voucher differed based on age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographical remoteness. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the lowest 2 socioeconomic disadvantage deciles, split by gender. Scatterplots were used to compare sports between high and low SES children. Results: A total of 74,668 children claimed sports vouchers (45.5% of eligible children). Children who were relatively younger, female, from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and from major cities were least likely to claim the voucher. The 5 most common sports were Australian rules football (30.2%), netball (13.6%), soccer (13.1%), gymnastics (10.4%), and basketball (5.7%), with the popular sports similar for high and low SES children. Conclusions: Future work is needed to understand how Sports Voucher, and sport participation rates have changed over time, and to improve voucher uptake among girls, city dwellers, and low SES children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored and described the experiences of ingratiation of middle children in the family. The findings of the study gained insights from the six residents of Koronadal City who grew up being a middle child in the family. This study utilized qualitative descriptive research design exploring the experiences of the participant. The researchers sought to describe the experiences of ingratiation of middle children in the family as young professionals. Thematic analysis, coding, and categorization of the transcript from the semi-structured interview conducted by the researchers were administered. The result showed that middle children have developed a sense of self-reliance upon themselves instead of being dependent to family support. The thing self-reliance found to be the stepping stone of what they have become today. Furthermore, it was shown in the result that middle children have an innate nature of striving because of their driving force, regardless of their upbringing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bus stop layout typically requires consideration of urban population distribution, traffic conditions, and passenger flow demand to establish an efficient foundation for the bus system's operation. Based on the above key factors, this paper introduces a strategic method to optimize the bus stop layout from a macro perspective in order to save passengers' travel time and improve the attractiveness of the bus system. This approach accounts for the matching degree between the Origin-Destination (OD) direction of passengers and their walking direction heading to bus stops. Initially, we take into account factors such as the population and area of traffic districts, and urban road conditions. Utilizing the hypernetwork multidimensional data clustering method along with GIS technology, we construct an alternative set of bus stops based on the hypernetwork framework. This set serves as a reference for the positioning of newly built and moved bus stops. Subsequently, we develop a two-stage model for bus stop layout decision-making. The first stage focuses on determining the bus stop layout at the traffic district level, taking into account multi-factors including the passenger flow matching degree. The second stage is designed to mitigate the negative impact of bus stop optimization on the overall service level of the urban bus system. A case study conducted in XT city demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach. Post-optimization, there is a 15.83% increase in the alignment between passenger flow direction and bus stop layout. Additionally, the average travel time for passengers is reduced by 7.55 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmet needs for healthcare services are widely recognized as an indicator of inequalities in healthcare access and utilization. This study estimated inequalities in unmet needs for healthcare services as well as their contributing factors and reasons among middle-aged and older adults in China. Results indicated that 30.47% and 5.69% of the middle-aged and older population in China reported unmet needs for outpatient and inpatient services, respectively. Mostly pro-poor inequalities concerned unmet needs for both rural and urban residents. The coverage of public health insurance and individuals’ health status contributed most to the inequalities in the unmet needs identified. The most prevalent reason for unmet needs was affordability, especially for poor or rural respondents. Despite the rapid development of universal healthcare, unmet needs for healthcare services still existed and remained high among people living in rural areas and with low incomes in China. Policy interventions should focus on improving the public health insurance system and targeting financial barriers to obtaining care, particularly vulnerable populations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research highlighted the lived experiences of individuals transitioning from believers to atheists in the Philippines, a country deeply influenced by religious perspectives. The study employed a phenomenological approach and had six participants who were residents of Quezon City, Rizal, Cavite, Pasig City, Cavite, and Makati City. The study identified 10 superordinate Themes using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), highlighting the intricate nuances of the participants' experiences. These themes included: Religious Influences of Schooling, Family, and Personal Curiosity; Influence on Personal Morality and Skepticism; Experiencing Dissonant Texts, Actions, and Conversations; Inward Dilemmas due to Social Fear, Rationality, and Moral Ambiguity; Intersecting Influences from Local, Global, and Digital Environments; Sexuality, Hypocrisy, and Personal Beliefs; Contradictions in Religious Teachings Lead to Atheism; Shared Viewpoints Affirmed Personal Views; Disputations in Shared Circles Lead to Personal Discovery; Unfolding of Identity through Personal and Social Dynamics. The process of moving away from religious beliefs and embracing atheism was a multifaceted journey that involved numerous factors. One's upbringing in a particular religion, combined with personal exploration, societal pressures, and exposure to a variety of viewpoints, all played a role in shaping individual convictions. The study explored the process of how Filipino atheists converted from believers to atheism, and what factors influenced their journey towards atheism. The study emphasized the role of cognitive dissonance, interpersonal contacts, societal support, and social dynamics in shaping individuals' belief systems. The study also highlighted the challenges faced by Filipino atheists, including those related to sexuality and hypocrisy within religious contexts. Overall, the study shed light on the complexities of religious conversion and de-conversion and the importance of social support in shaping individuals' beliefs and identities. Ultimately, becoming an atheist required a thorough introspection that was shaped by internal and external variables, resulting in a redefinition of one's identity and a change in beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate how much young Hungarian city dwellers would accept potential urban environment changes triggered by AVs. In the full-profile conjoint analysis, 1011 young people expressed their preferences through the evaluation of 18 printed cards in multiple steps during in-person data collection. As a result, the ‘city of the future’ most preferred by youngsters can be described with the help of the partial utility of attribute levels and the constant value. Their ideal city envisions roads exclusively for AVs with new lane allocations, no drones, pedestrian-only sidewalks equipped with sensors, and frequent 5G system to boost connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To align with the 2030 vision of the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure 90% of girls receive the HPV vaccine before turning 15, Bangladesh has recently started the (HPV) vaccine campaign nationwide. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the level of its acceptance among parents of eligible daughters in Bangladesh. Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted among the self-identified parents of daughters in the age group of 9–15 years between June 28 and August 2, 2023. A total of 2,151 parents were conveniently selected from all eight divisions of Bangladesh. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The Health Belief Model was used to appraise respondents' beliefs concerning HPV and its vaccination. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. R Studio (Version 2023.09.0+463) was used as an interface for data analysis, while R (the programming language) was used for statistical computations. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 38.18 (±5.86) years. The overall acceptance rate of the HPV vaccine was 86.61% (95%CI: 85.09–88.02). The vaccine acceptance level was positively associated with all the domains of the HBM (p<0.001), except in the perceived barrier domain (p = 0.489). After adjustment for other factors, it was found that higher age was associated with a decreased acceptance (AOR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89–0.95). The urban residents exhibited 42% lower odds of vaccine acceptance than rural (AOR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.36–0.92). Similarly, participants of the middle-income group had 44% lower odds than the lower-income group (AOR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.32–0.97). Conclusion: Our study found a reasonably good level of acceptance of the HPV vaccine among the parents of eligible daughters. Multiple factors such as younger age, urban residence, belonging to the middle income group, history of regular routine health check-ups, knowledge of cervical cancer, positive perception about benefits of the vaccine, and positive cues to actions were associated with HPV vaccine acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various species inhabit cities around the world, and numerous changes in their biology can be observed. Among them, changes in the time of reproduction or productivity are often recorded in urban populations. Firstly, we compared selected reproductive features (i.e., litter size and time of breeding) of two red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations, one living in the city of Warsaw and the other inhabiting a forest‐field mosaic in Central Poland. Secondly, we investigated fox reproductive and social behaviour in an extensive camera trap study in Warsaw (2018–2021). By means of generalized linear mixed effects models, we identified which factors (fox social group size, share of natural food, and level of urbanization, created by using principal components analysis for habitat and landscape variables) affected the reproduction and/or social group size of urban foxes. We found that urban foxes started breeding about 2 weeks earlier than their rural counterparts and produced bigger litters (3.98 vs. 3.48 cubs). Opposite to rural foxes where only pairs of adult foxes were reported, in the urban population, social groups were observed with a mean number of 2.37 individuals. Interestingly, none of the studied factors affected group size or litter size in urban foxes, while breeding time was influenced by the level of urbanization and share of natural food. Earlier reproduction in urban areas is fairly frequently observed and may be attributed to altered environmental conditions in urban habitats, while higher productivity is probably a consequence of higher food availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methodology Results Conclusions Adherence to guideline‐recommended colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) among average‐risk urban populations in China remains significantly suboptimal. This mixed‐methods study aimed to investigate screening behaviors and associated factors among average‐risk urban populations through a multi‐center approach.From February to July 2024, 550 participants were recruited via stratified random sampling in Harbin, China. They completed questionnaires related to health beliefs and knowledge. Additionally, semi‐structured interviews were conducted to explore CRCS behaviors, with data analyzed using directed content analysis based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).Five hundred twenty two participants (95.0%) completed the survey. Identified factors influencing screening behavior among average‐risk urban populations included perceived severity of colorectal cancer (CRC), benefits of colon cancer surveillance, barriers to surveillance, and knowledge. Twenty‐six individuals were engaged in qualitative interviews. Twenty‐four themes were identified and categorized by frequency. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggest that CRCS behavior among urban average‐risk populations is suboptimal, and the identified factors can be mapped onto the HBM.This mixed‐methods study demonstrates that key factors influencing screening behavior among urban average‐risk populations align with the HBM. These identified factors should be meticulously considered in future systematic interventions to enhance screening behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Despite psychedelic microdosing being a growing practice, the research on the topic is still in its infancy. While several studies have described the characteristics, motivations and practices of microdosers, the differences between individuals that only microdose and those that use both micro and macrodoses of psychedelics remain unexplored. In an online survey, we collected data of 6193 psychedelic consumers of which 2488 were microdosers of up to 11 different classical and atypical psychedelics. In comparison to respondents that use both microdoses and macrodoses, exclusive microdosers were older in age (46.4 vs. 42.0 years), had a larger proportion of females (68.4% vs. 44.7%), were non-Caucasian (25.4% vs. 14.7%), urban residents (43.9% vs. 38.5%), and had a lower average lifetime use of non-psychedelic substances (3.8 vs. 4.7 substances). Most consumers (52.5%) microdosed psychedelics multiple times a month, commonly using psilocybin (74.5%), LSD (34.4%), and ketamine (15.8%), with most users (64.6%) not testing their substances. The most common reason for microdosing was improving general wellbeing (73.0%), and psychedelics were used for treating several physical and mental health conditions. Additional analyses examined spending habits of consumers. This study adds to the growing literature on the naturalistic use of psychedelic microdosers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, we investigated the patient population of Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) in China, understood the basic situation, prevalence and diagnosis and treatment status of the patients, as well as the economic burden of the patients, and analyzed the influencing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study focusing on patients with MPS II was conducted in China in 2023. Participants in the study were drawn from the Beijing Zhengyu Mucopolysaccharide Rare Disease Care Center, which is the only non-profit organization in mainland China registered with the civil affairs department that focuses on mucopolysaccharidosis. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, which included basic patient information, disease status, self-assessment of quality of life, diagnosis and treatment, as well as direct and indirect medical costs. The demographic and diagnosis and treatment profile of patients were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Furthermore, univariate and multiple linear regression were used to explore the economic burden and influencing factors of patients with MPS II. Results: The survival data of 145 patients were collected, the majority (98.62%) were male, and 78 were less than or equal to 10 years old. All patients were covered by medical insurance, mainly urban residents (135 cases). In terms of expenses, the 124 patients in the year before the survey incurred a total cost of about 14.7895 million yuan, and the direct economic burden accounted for 87.19%. Univariate analysis showed that age, number of hospitalizations, length of hospital stay, number of outpatient/emergency departments, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) were significantly associated with the economic burden of disease. Multiple regression analysis showed that the number of hospitalizations, days of hospitalization, number of outpatient/emergency departments and HSCT treatment were the main influencing factors. Conclusions: This study found that patients with MPS II were difficult to diagnose and easily misdiagnosed, their physical functions were impaired in many aspects. The existing treatment options are not sufficient in terms of economy and effectiveness, and there is also a lack of corresponding policy guarantees and support, which makes patients and their families have to face huge financial pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brazil has the highest number of HTLV-1 infection in Latin America, with around one million cases spread unevenly across regions. However, there is a limited number of studies on this infection in the general population. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HTLV as well as identify types, and subtypes of HTLV among the urban population of Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul state (MS). Results: Between July 2023 and March 2024, all information was obtained from self-reported interviews, and blood samples were collected and screened for anti-HTLV-1/2 by immunoassay and confirmed using the immunoblot method. The proviral DNA of HTLV-1/2 in positive samples was quantified by real-time PCR (qPCR) and genotyped by nucleotide sequencing (Sanger's method). The study enrolled 611 participants, with the majority being women (90.54%), mixed race (46.32%), heterosexual (87.64%), and with a median age of 39 years. The prevalence rate of anti-HTLV-1 infection was 0.82% (CI 95% 0.34–1.96). All positive samples (n = 5) were identified as belonging to the Cosmopolitan subtype, one belonging to Japanese and four to Transcontinental subgroups. Among the five positive individuals, two presented symptoms associated with HTLV-1 infection. Conclusion: This study highlights an intermediate prevalence of HTLV-1 in the urban population of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, and provides epidemiological information that could help bridge the gaps in the distribution of HTLV in the general population. Also, medical care was provided for individuals presenting clinical manifestations who were previously unaware of their serological status. [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]

Subnational divergence in the age and sex structures of populations can have far‐stretching consequences for development: from marriage markets to the potential for violence to economic growth. With urbanization and the demographic transition still underway, rural and urban populations continue to differ across low‐ and middle‐income countries. We examine the extent by which internal migration contributes to these differences, from 1970 to 2014 using estimates of migration between rural and urban sectors based on census data from 45 countries. We found that despite heavily delineated migration profiles by age and sex, internal migration does not alter sex and age structures of rural and urban populations. All the same, internal migration does increase urban growth in Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. In contrast, in Africa, internal migration has little leverage with the urban transition. Across the continents, there is a potential for de‐urbanization, driven by a rural/urban gap in fertility. As such, the rural population may continue to constitute a significant proportion of national populations, necessitating critical investments to ensure they are not left behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Results Conclusion Over the years, Vietnam has expanded its social health insurance (SHI) coverage to reduce health disparities. In this population‐based study, we examined the differences in incidences of perforated appendix between rural and urban populations in Vietnam since the expansion of SHI coverage in 2015. We also identified risk factors for perforated appendix in these populations.The 2015–2019 SHI inpatient claims data from the Social Security Agency of Dong Thap Province were used to elaborate the final sample of 6863 patients aged 18 years or above who underwent an appendectomy. Multivariable probit and logistic regression model were employed to obtain adjusted estimates.An overall rate of 22.9% for perforated appendix among adults in Dong Thap was revealed. After the expansion of SHI, rural residents consistently had lower rates of perforated appendix than urban residents, but the differences between rural and urban residents were small and decreased over time, that is from 4.4% in 2015 to 3.4% in 2019. Older, male, and poor residents were at a higher risk of perforated appendix in both urban and rural areas. In rural areas, patients with comorbidities, patients who resided in remote communes bordering Cambodia, and patients who had district hospitals or commune facilities as their primary assigned providers were significantly more likely to develop perforated appendix.Under the SHI in Vietnam, no significant difference was observed in perforated appendicitis incidence between urban and rural residents. Additional efforts are required to reduce poorer outcomes among other high‐risk residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lack of sunlight exposure is the primary reason for the worldwide epidemic of vitamin D deficiency. There was a meta-analysis conducted under the title of Knowledge and Practice of Mothers towards sunshine exposure of their children in Ethiopia. However, studies conducted on factors associated with sunlight exposure practice among infants showed non-conclusive and inconsistent findings. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of good sunlight exposure practice and its associated factors among infants in Ethiopia. Methods: All articles were systematically searched by PubMed, Hinari, Global Health and CINAHL, Epistemonikos, African Journal of Online (AJOL), Google Scholar and Google. All studies, until the end of May 30, 2023, were included in this review. Pure qualitative studies and studies in which the outcome was not reported were excluded from the review. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline was used. Meta-analysis was conducted by using STATA 17 software. Forest plots were used to present the pooled prevalence of good sunlight exposure practices. A random effect model was used to compute the pooled prevalence, while subgroup analysis was performed to identify the possible source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed by begg's and Egger's tests. We use Trim and fill analysis was used to treat the publication bias. Results: This review involved 14 studies and 6,121 participants. The pooled prevalence of good sunlight exposure practice among infants in Ethiopia was 53.46% (95%CI: 45.98, 60.95). Mothers had PNC follow-up [OR = 2.22 (95% CI: 1.31, 3.47)], mothers with secondary and above educational status [OR = 4.17, (95% CI: 1.73, 10.06)], employed mothers [OR = 3.72, (95% CI: 2.71, 5.11)], urban residence [OR = 2.67, (95% CI: 1.17, 6.08)] and not fear of sunlight exposure [OR = 4.08, (95% CI: 1.44, 16.00)] were positively associated with good sunlight exposure practice. Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of good sunlight exposure practices among infants in Ethiopia is low. Had postnatal care follow-up, being urban residents, mother's employment status, mother's educational status and not fear of sunlight exposure were independent factors of good sunlight exposure practice among infants. Therefore, health professionals create awareness for mothers to increase postnatal follow-up, and the importance of health education especially for rural residents. [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]

Urban landscapes play a crucial role in the health of freshwater ecosystems. The task of protecting and restoring urban freshwater waterways requires concerted efforts from all sectors of society, including volunteers. The recruitment and retention of volunteers is often a challenge for community environmental organizations as urban residents are diverse and influenced by a blend of personal, societal, and environmental factors. We surveyed a representative sample of 1901 urban residents across Aotearoa New Zealand and used the Behaviour Change Wheel framework and audience segmentation to understand the underlying factors influencing volunteering for waterway restoration projects and to identify potential target audiences to recruit new volunteers. We identified four segments within the target audience ("Supportive," "Receptive but unsure," "Hesitant and lack opportunity," and "Reluctant") each with its own unique profile of capabilities, opportunities, and motivations for volunteering. Recommendations for appropriate intervention designs to increase levels of volunteering include providing tailored messaging and events for those who are "Receptive but unsure" or "Hesitant and lack opportunity" and information about volunteering opportunities to "Supportive" individuals. This knowledge lays the groundwork for future initiatives focused on increasing urbanites' volunteering with community freshwater restoration groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid urbanization and technological advancements of the recent decades have increased the need for efficient and sustainable transportation solutions. This study examines the acceptance of smart transportation systems (STSs) among residents in Polish cities and explores the impact of these systems on energy-saving behaviors. Using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, which includes the propensity to save energy, this research seeks to understand the determinants of STS adoption. The primary research was conducted using Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI). The sample was controlled for gender and place of residence. A sample of 471 individuals meeting the criteria of living in a city with over 200,000 residents and using smart transportation solutions in Poland were selected from the research panel. SmartPLS 4 software was used to analyze the collected data. The findings reveal that the propensity to save energy significantly influences perceived usefulness, ease of use, social influence, and hedonic motivation toward STSs. Perceived usefulness and ease of use were found to be strong predictors of the intention to use STSs, while perceived costs had a negative impact on it. This study also identified the moderating role of personal innovativeness in mitigating cost concerns. These insights underscore the importance of emphasizing energy conservation benefits and user-friendly features in promoting the use of STSs. This study concludes that aligning technological innovations with user motivations for energy conservation can enhance the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions, contributing to smarter and more sustainable urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern cities face the challenge of reconciling dynamic development with environmental protection, as well as ensuring a high quality of life for their residents. In a time of continuous urbanization, with more than half of the world's population living in cities, city logistics plays a crucial role in managing complex urban environments. As part of the concept of sustainable development, city logistics aims to minimize the negative impact of transport on the environment, while increasing operational efficiency and improving the comfort of life of residents in urban agglomerations. This article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the intensity of sustainable urban logistics development in selected cities of the European Union. It examines various strategies that reduce CO 2 emissions, improve air quality, and increase building energy efficiency. The analysis demonstrates that cities investing in sustainable urban logistics not only improve their environmental performance but also increase their attractiveness and competitiveness as desirable places to live and work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban planning and management increasingly depend on accurate building and population data. However, many regions lack sufficient resources to acquire and maintain these data, creating challenges in data availability. Our methodology integrates multiple data sources, including aerial imagery, Points of Interest (POIs), and digital elevation models, employing Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) to classify building uses and morphological filtration to estimate heights. This research contributes to bridging the gap between data needs and availability in resource-constrained urban environments, offering a scalable solution for global application in urban planning and population mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that maternal childhood trauma (MCT) may influence infant temperament, but the underlying physiological mechanisms remain unclear. This study sought to confirm the involvement of breast milk cortisol in the link between MCT and infant temperament. The study sample included 90 mother–infant dyads recruited from the urban Polish population. MCT was assessed based on the Early Life Stress Questionnaire (ELSQ) and infant temperamental factors (surgency/extraversion, negative affectivity, and orienting/regulation) using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire‐Revised at 12 months of life. Cortisol was assayed in milk samples collected at 5 months of life using the ELISA method. Based on the ELSQ median, the sample was divided into low and high MCT groups. The ANCOVA models with milk cortisol as a covariant were run to check the effect of low versus high MCT on infant temperament. We found a positive association between milk cortisol and orienting/regulation. Surprisingly, the low and high MCT groups did not significantly differ in milk cortisol. Furthermore, we found that MCT was unrelated to any infant temperamental factor. While recent literature on the association between milk cortisol and infant temperament is inconsistent, our results suggest that high orienting/regulation might be an adaptation to adverse environments such as stress. Moreover, the infant's temperament appears to be more responsive to the current exposition to maternal stress than her experience of traumatic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of monitoring changes in the population scores of the most recent version, EQ-5D-5L, in mainland China. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by assessing the EQ-5D-5L scores in mainland China using a nationally representative sample. Data were extracted from the 2021 Survey of Health Index of Chinese Families, which covered 31 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities in mainland China. The survey used a multistage quota sampling strategy encompassing 120 prefecture-level cities. Quotas were allocated to each prefecture-level city in accordance with the 2020 China Population Census. This approach resulted in a final sample of 11 030 eligible questionnaires. The utility index (UI) and EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS) scores were reported for the entire sample (age-gender-urban/rural weighted) and by the characteristics of the study participants. The study participants had a weighted mean UI of 0.939 (SD 0.135) and EQ VAS score of 80.19 (SD 18.39). The most commonly reported problem was anxiety/depression (26.37%), whereas self-care was the least reported problem (6.18%). Those who were male, were younger, lived without chronic conditions and disabilities, had higher levels of education, earned higher monthly household income, and were covered by basic medical insurance for urban employees had higher scores in both the UI and EQ VAS. This study revealed slightly lower UI scores despite a much higher drop in EQ VAS scores whereas China maintained minimum cases of COVID-19 in 2021 compared with the population norms recorded in 2019. Further studies are warranted to unveil the full impacts of COVID-19 outbreaks. • Population scores in both the utility index and EuroQol visual analog scale are influenced by socioeconomic, cultural, and political factors. More than 20 countries worldwide have established their EQ-5D-5L population norms, often updating them regularly. In China, efforts have been made to develop population norms for the EQ-5D-5L. However, none have used a sample covering all provinces and urban and rural residents, despite significant socioeconomic disparities across and within areas. • This study presents population scores of the EQ-5D-5L in a nationally representative sample in mainland China, examining them overall and by age, gender, and urban-rural location. It fills a gap in the literature by reporting EQ-5D-5L results during a period when China experienced minimal COVID-19 cases in 2021 compared with previous population norms studies. • This study provides an up-to-date population score for EQ-5D-5L in mainland China, which can support health economic evaluation and health decision making. It aids in understanding differences in health status among various groups and areas in China, holding substantial implications for public health workers and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text explores the significant role of religion in shaping the urban development of Cincinnati and Brooklyn in the nineteenth century. Historians Stuart Blumin, Glenn Atschuler, and Matthew Smith delve into how Protestant Christianity influenced community organization, trade, and intergroup relationships in both cities. The authors highlight the complexities of urban growth, the impact of diverse migrants, and the challenges and alliances that arose among different religious groups, including Catholics and immigrants. The text emphasizes how religion played a pivotal role in shaping the character and culture of American cities during this period, ultimately paving the way for the emergence of diverse, tolerant, and pluralistic urban environments. [Extracted from the article]

The text discusses various books that explore the relationship between urban environments and nature, focusing on topics such as rivers, street trees, and urban green spaces. Authors like Martin Knoll, Sonja Dümpelmann, Kristin Poling, and Flavia Alice Mameli et al. analyze how cities interact with nature, the impact of scientific expertise on policymaking, and the role of citizen participation in shaping urban spaces. These books provide insights into the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of urban nature, highlighting the complexities of governance, citizen empowerment, and environmental sustainability in urban settings. [Extracted from the article]

The text discusses two books, "The City Creative" by Carriere and Schalliol, and "The Largest Art" by Ryan, which focus on urban design and placemaking. Carriere and Schalliol critique mainstream creative placemaking, emphasizing the importance of grassroots approaches that address local community needs. On the other hand, Ryan's book explores urban design as a distinct art form, advocating for a pluralist approach that embraces the complexity and evolving nature of cities. Both books offer valuable insights into urban interventions and the diverse perspectives that shape urban spaces. [Extracted from the article]

Itinerant merchants are actively involved in various economic activities within and around African cities, albeit on a small scale. However, there remains a gap in understanding their contribution to host cities' local economic development (LED). This research aims to fill this gap by examining how itinerant immigrant retailers support LED in host cities, using Wa in Ghana. Recognising their role is essential for informing location-specific development plans to boost local economies. Employing a qualitative research approach, we interviewed 52 participants, including itinerant immigrants, city residents, and officials from relevant state agencies. Thematic analysis using NVivo version 11 was employed to analyse the responses. Itinerant merchants play a crucial role in local economies by creating employment opportunities, providing income sources for residents, ensuring convenient access to goods and services, and contributing to market diversification. We discuss how these insights could inform LED policies and planning in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population loss in mining areas intensifies the imbalance of the development of resource-based cities (RBCs). How to use night-time light to describe the spatial-temporal evolution pattern of population and compare the agglomeration and migration characteristics of population in coal mine concentration area (CMCA) and cities has become an important issue for sustainable development of RBCs. By fitting the DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS night-time lights, this paper completed the simulation of population distribution of Linfen City in 2003/2008/2013/2018 by constructing the population spatialization model, and measured the urban population agglomeration and migration by using the geographical concentration index of population (GCP) and relative population migration index (RPM). The results show that the population agglomeration and migration of CMCA and cities are not synchronized. The GCP of the whole city shows an upward trend, while the GCP of CMCA shows a trend of substantial decrease first and then increase. From 2013 to 2018, the RPM of CMCA rebounded and reached 0.0307, reflecting the alleviation of population loss in CMCA. It is suggested that night-time lights should be used in the dynamic change assessment of population in RBCs, and measures such as coordinated development, acceleration of industrial transformation and promotion of urbanization should be taken to realize the reasonable distribution of population in RBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The book review in Social Semiotics discusses Daniel E. Agbiboa's work, "They Eat Our Sweat," which delves into corruption, language, and everyday survival in urban Nigeria. Agbiboa challenges the simplistic view of corruption as the misuse of public power for private gain, instead exploring it as a multi-faceted phenomenon deeply embedded in everyday life and sociocultural relations. The book offers insights into corruption in Africa through a linguistic anthropological perspective, focusing on the popular semiology of corruption in Lagos and the informal transport sector. Agbiboa's research sheds light on the complex interactions between formal and informal actors and processes, providing valuable insights for researchers interested in corruption, informal governance, urban theory, and semiotics. [Extracted from the article]

Societal Impact Statement: Trees in urban environments provide us with shade, heat mitigation, flood abatement, noise and pollution reduction, pollination, beauty, and much more. However, many of these benefits are strongly connected to tree size and vitality, with larger, healthier trees providing ecosystem services more effectively, which means that selecting the right tree for site and function is crucial in order to gain all benefits from our urban trees. Summary: Trees play a major role in the Earth's biogeochemical processes, influencing soil production, hydrological, nutrient and carbon cycles, and the global climate. They store about 50% of the world's terrestrial carbon stocks, and provide habitats for a wide range of other species, supporting at least half of the Earth's known terrestrial plants and animals. Trees are not only found in forests and other natural ecosystems, but also in urban environments. Most of the human population is concentrated in cities, towns and villages, so urban trees are critical to meet on‐going and future social, economic and environmental challenges. However, many urban tree populations are strongly challenged by a changing climate, outbreaks of pests and pathogens and an urban development with increasingly dense cities and a high proportion of impermeable surface materials. The importance of intraspecific variation needs to be better acknowledged in this context, since poor matching of trees and the local climate and growing conditions can lead to extensive loss of valuable trees. By using the right genetic plant material for the challenging urban environments, a more resilient tree population with a greater diversity and higher capacity for delivering ecosystem services can be gained. Here, we wish to discuss the need to consider intraspecific variation when planning resilient tree populations for urban environments and how seed banks and botanical garden play important roles in efforts to improve the matching of genetic plant material for future environmental challenges. Strategies to enrich urban tree diversity and increase resilience are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were defined by distance and isolation, raising concerns about widespread loneliness. Drawing on 55 in-depth interviews with residents of New York City who lived alone during the first wave of the pandemic, this article examines the experience of living alone and dealing with loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, asking: What are the specific aspects of being or feeling alone that cause distress? Four key themes emerged from the interviews. First, although most interviewees reported experiencing loneliness at some point during the pandemic, they described themselves as being quite socially connected to friends and family. Second, being physically alone was especially distressing. Third, city residents who lived alone struggled with the loss of everyday interactions with neighbors and familiar strangers who had previously provided regular companionship in public gathering places. Fourth, solo dwellers reported that despite the social and emotional challenges of living alone, feeling abandoned or marginalized by society at large – a phenomenon that we refer to as "structural isolation" – was ultimately a greater emotional burden. These findings highlight the importance of social and structural dimensions of loneliness, helping to sharpen our existing sociological conceptualization of loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the profession in the early 1900s, planning considered uniquely rural places and communities through the lens of regionalism. Yet today it tends to regard all spatiality as part of the urban environment and non-city-dwellers as part of the urban population. To understand this shift, we examine the history of rural regional development planning over the past century up to the Great Recession. We then apply the lessons to consider what a 21st century reinvention of rural planning might entail, particularly the possible recovery of the comprehensive, reformist approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain an understanding of the cultural perceptions of health among Asian Indian adults in an urban setting. Qualitative semistructured interviews. Midwest urban community Asian Indian adults (n = 20) aged ≥25 years, who self-identified as 100% Asian Indian descent. Individual interviews were conducted by a trained interviewer to assess cultural perceptions of health. Transcript analysis was performed by 2 independent coders using verbatim transcripts. Content analysis was used to identify themes using a grounded theory approach. The salient themes that emerged were a cultural definition of health, acculturation, mental health, and health information. Participants believed good health was associated with the ability to perform daily activities, regular exercise, and eating well. There was a lack of awareness of Asian Indian-specific body mass index categories and that overweight and obesity were an important risk factor for chronic diseases. These data provide a context for health promotion efforts and underscore a gap in awareness of risk factors risk for chronic diseases among the Asian Indian community. Culturally specific interventions targeted at the Asian Indian population, considering their worldview and perceptions of health, will help address this important public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban-Rural Fringe Areas (URFAs) in China have experienced significant change since 1978 due to extensive urban growth and sprawl. This article explores the characteristics of URFAs in China through a scoping review approach. Analysis identifies that URFAs in China possess features that are located in and connected to urban and rural areas, mixed land use, occupied by both urban and rural populations, and driven by changes in social structure, economic development and policy implementation. These findings are consistent with URFAs in a global context, illustrating synergies in academic and practitioner approaches. However, China's URFAs are unique due to the country's social structure, topographical diversity, divergent urban diversity and the regional variations that exist within urban development policies and strategies. The article contributes to a better understanding of the characteristics of URFAs in China, providing guidance for future policy to support more effective and sustainable development. This article was published open access under a CC BY licence: https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term health conditions are major challenges for care systems. Social prescribing link workers have been introduced via primary care networks (PCNs) across England since 2019 to address the wider determinants of health by connecting individuals to activities, groups, or services within their local community. Aim: To assess whether the rollout of social prescribing link workers was in areas with the highest need. Design and setting: A retrospective study of social prescribing link workers in England from 2019 to 2023. Method: Workforce, population, survey, and area-level data at the PCN-level from April 2020 to October 2023 were combined. Population need before the rollout of link workers was measured using reported lack of support from local services in the 2019 General Practice Patient Survey. To assess if rollout reflected need, linear regression was used to relate provision of link workers (measured by full-time equivalent [FTE] per 10 000 patients) in each quarter to population need for support. Results: Populations in urban, more deprived areas and with higher proportions of people from minority ethnic groups had the highest reported lack of support. Geographically these were in the North West and London. Initially, there was no association between need and provision; then from July 2022, this became negative and significant. By October 2023, a 10-percentage point higher need for support was associated with a 0.035 (95% confidence interval = −0.634 to −0.066) lower FTE per 10 000 patients. Conclusion: Rollout of link workers has not been sufficiently targeted at areas with the highest need. Future deployments should be targeted at those areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text discusses the emergence of responsible platforms in response to the negative impacts of dominant platforms like Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber. These responsible platforms, such as Fairbnb and The Drivers Cooperative, focus on social value, fair working conditions, and sustainable solutions. While they face challenges and operate on the margins of the sharing economy, they aim to disrupt the market by appealing to sustainability-oriented consumers and catering to niche needs. Despite their smaller market share, responsible platforms shape public discourse and influence marketplace dynamics, challenging hypercapitalist models and promoting more responsible consumption and distribution of wealth and power. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses Poland's new farmers: people who have left the city to engage in agriculture and urban people with a ruralbackground who return to their villages to start farming. We analysed their mode of production using the categories of van der Ploeg (2018).: We also focused on the relations between the new farmers and their communities. The results show that new farmers farm in a peasant-like way. However, they also constitute a distinctive group benefiting from their urban links. Social and cultural capital plays a crucial role differentiating the new farmers/peasants from traditional peasants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has concluded that foreign trade is a key factor shaping the urbanization process in developing countries. Yet the empirical evidence is still in its infancy. This paper seeks to fill this gap by using the Financial Crisis of 2008 as a quasi-experiment to examine how trade shocks have affected urbanization in China. We find that such shocks have reduced the change in the urbanization rate by 0.4%. These results are robust after controlling for other factors that affect urbanization. We explore the underlying mechanisms and find that trade shocks reduce the urban – rural income gap by lowering the income of urban residents and slowing down the urbanization process. [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]

Human rabies is a prevalent issue in China, posing a significant public health concern in the country. This study fitted the Bayesian model of separable in spatial and temporal variation and inseparable spatiotemporal variation in disease risk respectively based on Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of human rabies across 31 provinces in China from 2004 to 2020. It also investigated the influence of natural and socio-environmental factors on the incidence of the disease. Within the study period, a total of 26,807 cases of human rabies were reported, with the highest risk of incidence occurring in 2007, followed by a steady annual decline to the lowest risk in 2020. Guangxi Province exhibited the highest risk, while Jilin Province had the lowest, with the southern, central, and eastern regions reporting higher risks than the northern and western areas. By 2020, most provinces such as Guangxi and Guizhou had significantly reduced their relative risk (RR) of human rabies from historical highs. However, some provinces like Hunan, Henan, and Jiangsu experienced an increase in RR compared to previous years. As the annual average temperature increases, the risk of human rabies incidence in China correspondingly rises. Conversely, with increases in the annual average daily sunshine duration, per capita disposable income of urban residents, and local government healthcare expenditures, the risk of human rabies incidence declines. We conclude that the risk of human rabies in China initially increased and then decreased annually from 2004 to 2020. Future efforts should continuously increase financial investments in rabies prevention and control, focusing particularly on Hunan, Henan, Jiangsu, and provinces characterized by higher temperatures, shorter sunshine durations, and lower economic levels. Author summary: Rabies is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), predominantly prevalent in Africa and Asia, with a nearly 100% fatality rate upon onset. China is striving to achieve the WHO's global goal of zero deaths from dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Therefore, exploring the spatial and temporal evolution of human rabies in China and the possible influencing factors can provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective human rabies prevention and control programs in China. The results of the study showed that from 2004 to 2020, the overall relative risk of human rabies incidence in China showed an increasing and then decreasing trend. The relative risk of most provinces, such as Guangxi and Guizhou, declined significantly, but there were still some provinces, such as Hunan and Henan, where the relative risk showed a rising trend year by year. The results of the analysis of influencing factors indicate that lower per capita disposable income of urban residents, local government healthcare expenditures and sunshine hours, higher temperatures are associated with a higher risk of human rabies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]