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Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Aburrá Sur region has experienced accelerated real estate development and a growing relocation of services and population activities in its territory in the last two decades, which contrasts with a loss of economic and political management functions in favor of Medellín. This has resulted in tension between the metropolitan urban model promoting re-development and the expansive dynamics of the financial-real estate circuit. This high-lights the importance of Aburrá Sur in the socio-spatial reconfiguration of the metropoli-tan region and the uneven impacts of urban expansion processes throughout the valley. The contradiction between the 'compact city' model promoted by urban authorities and the reality of a growing urban diffusion is a symptom of the re-scaling of the metropolitan urbanization process in which global, regional, and local powers are articulated, combin-ing normative, economic, and ideological instruments of urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale urbanization has altered city surface characteristics, significantly affecting heat balance and thermal environments. The role of vegetative and urban canopy cover in shaping metropolitan climates has gained considerable attention.This study examines the impact of tree canopy cover on thermal comfort and microclimatic conditions in Guwahati, Assam. Conducted in a high-temperature, high-humidity region, it uses qualitative surveys and microclimatic measurements, alongside remote sensing data from 1981 to 2022. Findings show that without canopy cover, car roof temperatures reach 26.32 °C, while areas with high canopy coverage have lower temperatures of 21.17 °C. Vegetation analysis reveals a 10.06% decline in canopy cover, a 13.46% increase in built-up areas, and a 3.85% decrease in open spaces. A negative correlation between NDVI and LST confirms that reduced vegetation increases surface temperatures.The study confirms a negative correlation between NDVI and LST, with coefficients ranging from −.468 to −.224, showing that reduced vegetation increases surface temperatures. Areas with high tree canopy cover experience significant microclimate benefits, with afternoon air and mean radiant temperatures lowered by up to 4.9 °C and 5.48 °C, respectively. Stations with more canopy cover provide greater cooling effects, especially at noon, compared to areas without tree shade.Increasing tree canopy coverage enhances thermal comfort and supports sustainable urban planning. This study offers valuable insights for managing thermal environments and guiding urban policy and sustainable development.

In urban areas, variations in the functional usage of buildings or their clusters directly influence the 2D/3D morphology of buildings which can lead to changes in the ventilation potential (VP) at different heights, but there is a lack of refined quantitative relationship analysis between 3D building form parameters (BFPs) and VP at different heights within a certain urban area. The objective of our study is to obtain simulated wind field data from different heights, considering distances from roads, and transverse and longitudinal sections. We employ partial correlation analysis, simple correlation analysis, and Geographic detectors to uncover the extent and mechanisms of the influence of BFPs on the ventilation effectiveness of neighborhoods in a major urban center in China, specifically Nanjing. The findings demonstrate that, at all heights, there is an inverse relationship between wind speed and building density (BD), with the location of higher wind speed generally aligning with the intersection points. The correlation coefficients between BD and simulated wind speed are 0.040 (1.5 ​m), −0.475 (10 ​m), and −0.314 (30 ​m), while the correlation coefficients between building height (BH) and simulated wind speed are 0.237. However, no significant correlation is observed between floor area ratio (FAR) and simulated wind speed. Geographic detector analysis reveals differences in the correlation between BFPs and simulated wind speed at different heights within various building functional areas. Our study provides some practical information for urban planners and designers to carry out wind sensitivity and adaptation planning and urban design.

The development of the functional settlement typology methodology is of academic and practical importance as it incorporates the social, economic, and demographic dimensions of regional development. Rural settlements are seen as a base for labor; traditional urban centers have become a base for commuters, while at the same time, new economic centers are emerging where capital investment is accumulating. This article presents the research conducted in the Srem region (located in the province of Vojvodina) to determine the functional typology of the settlement, which is of social, economic, and demographic importance for the region itself and for Serbia as a whole. This well-known immigration area in Serbia has been inhabited for centuries for its specific economic and political reasons. The very intensive economic activities of the last two decades have been influenced by development investments and contributed to the functional transformation of the settlements. The census data from 2022 make it possible to determine a functional typology of settlements in the Srem region using the factor method (principal component analysis). The article aims to explain the basic characteristics of functional types of settlements and to determine the mechanisms of their territorial distribution, which would be helpful in the future planning and organization of local and regional development of the Republic of Serbia.

This study compared the effectiveness of two indices, the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) and the comprehensive ecological evaluation index (CEEI), for assessing the ecological condition of 12 urban centers (UCs). RSEI primarily focused on vegetation cover using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), while CEEI provided a more comprehensive evaluation by incorporating the vegetation health index (VHI) as an additional measure. The results indicated that Baruipur and Chandannagar exhibited relatively good ecological conditions based on both RSEI and CEEI, while Kolkata showed the poorest ecological condition among the analyzed UCs. CEEI displayed a wider range of values, reflecting a more comprehensive assessment of ecological conditions compared to RSEI. Spatially, Chandannagar consistently showed better ecological conditions, while Kolkata had the highest proportion of areas categorized as below average and declining in both indices. The study emphasized the importance of considering ecological conditions in urban planning processes and suggested incorporating RSEI and CEEI into such practices to ensure the conservation and enhancement of ecological health. However, it was noted that CEEI performed comparatively better than RSEI due to its ability to incorporate the vegetation health index, providing a more holistic assessment of ecological conditions. The study recommended refining and expanding the indices used in RSEI and CEEI by incorporating more relevant factors of urban ecology and utilizing advanced remote sensing techniques and high-resolution imagery. Overall, this study underscored the superiority of CEEI over RSEI in assessing urban ecology, enabling informed decisions for sustainable development and preservation of ecological health in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research analyzes the efficacy of several green infrastructure components in reducing the urban heat island effect in Peshawar city, KPK. It focuses on three public squares that have different forms of GI. Lack of planning for urban open and green spaces have negatively impacted cities and resulted in poor life quality, hence these must be evaluated for intervention planning. By integrating Land Surface Temperature information with on-site observations, simulations, and vegetation maps, overall research direction was established. Research highlighted intricate interactions among many GI characteristics. The study enlightened that while grass alone provides only marginal cooling effects (0.4-0.8°C), strategically combining trees with creative fountain design may dramatically lower urban temperatures (up to 6°C) relative to neighboring regions. GI's contribution to UHI mitigation is enhanced by these research findings, which offer useful resources for urban planners and designers. Simulations and further evaluations are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Anthropogenic climate change has amplified human thermal discomfort in urban environments. Despite the considerable risks posed to public health, there is a lack of comprehensive research, evaluating the spatiotemporal changes in human thermal discomfort and its characteristics in hot-hyper arid regions, such as the Arabian Peninsula (AP). The current study analyzes spatiotemporal changes in human thermal discomfort categories and their characteristics in AP, using the newly developed high-resolution gridded ERA5-HEAT (Human thErmAl comforT) dataset for the period 1979–2022. In addition, the study assesses the interplay between the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices for the study period. The results reveal a significant increase in human thermal discomfort and its characteristics, with higher spatial variability in the AP region. The major urban centers in the southwestern, central, and southeastern parts of AP have experienced significant increases in human thermal discomfort (0.4–0.8 °C), with higher frequency and intensity of thermal stress during the study period. The temporal distribution demonstrates a linear increase in UTCI indices and their frequencies and intensities, particularly from 1998 onward, signifying a transition towards a hotter climate characterized by frequent, intense, and prolonged heat stress conditions. Moreover, the UTCI and ENSO indices exhibit a dipole pattern of correlation with a positive (negative) pattern in the southwestern (eastern parts) of AP. The study’s findings suggest that policymakers and urban planners need to prioritize public health and well-being in AP’s urban areas, especially for vulnerable groups, by implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, and carefully designing future cities to mitigate the effects of heat stress.

Copyright of Journal Architecture & Planning is the property of King Saud University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Anthropogenic climate change has amplified human thermal discomfort in urban environments. Despite the considerable risks posed to public health, there is a lack of comprehensive research, evaluating the spatiotemporal changes in human thermal discomfort and its characteristics in hot-hyper arid regions, such as the Arabian Peninsula (AP). The current study analyzes spatiotemporal changes in human thermal discomfort categories and their characteristics in AP, using the newly developed high-resolution gridded ERA5-HEAT (Human thErmAl comforT) dataset for the period 1979–2022. In addition, the study assesses the interplay between the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) indices for the study period. The results reveal a significant increase in human thermal discomfort and its characteristics, with higher spatial variability in the AP region. The major urban centers in the southwestern, central, and southeastern parts of AP have experienced significant increases in human thermal discomfort (0.4–0.8 °C), with higher frequency and intensity of thermal stress during the study period. The temporal distribution demonstrates a linear increase in UTCI indices and their frequencies and intensities, particularly from 1998 onward, signifying a transition towards a hotter climate characterized by frequent, intense, and prolonged heat stress conditions. Moreover, the UTCI and ENSO indices exhibit a dipole pattern of correlation with a positive (negative) pattern in the southwestern (eastern parts) of AP. The study's findings suggest that policymakers and urban planners need to prioritize public health and well-being in AP's urban areas, especially for vulnerable groups, by implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, and carefully designing future cities to mitigate the effects of heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anales de Geografía de la Universidad Complutense is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gümüshane Üniversitesi Saglik Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Gumushane University, Faculty of Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ÖZ: Kent mekânı dinamik ve değişken bir yapıya sahiptir. Mekânın çözümlenmesi, geçmişten bugüne değişkenlik göstermektedir. Bu değişimler fiziksel, toplumsal, tarihsel, kültürel, ekonomik, politik ve idari faktörlerin bir arada değerlendirilmesi ile mümkündür. Faktörlerin tamamı ise mekânın asıl aktörleri olan bireyler, sivil toplum kuruluşları, sektörel bileşenler ve yerel yönetim erkleri ile şekillenmektedir. Mekânın kimlik algısı geçmişten geleceğe uzanan bütünlük ile analiz edilebilmektedir. Kenti doğru okuyabilmek ve aynı zamanda okutabilmek mekânın kültürel değerlere uygun olarak şekillenmesi, halkın yönetime katılımı, şehir planlama ilkeleri ve planlama çalışmaları, kentlilik bilinci, aidiyet olgusu gibi kavramların büyük rol üstlenmesi ile mümkün kılınmaktadır. Mekânın yönetim erkleri ise kültürel mirası korumak ve kent dokusunun katılımcı yaklaşımlar ile desteklenmesi konusunda ön plana çıkmaktadır. Çalışma kapsamında mekânın okunması amaçlanarak kentlinin mekân-kimlik algısı çözümlenmiştir. Mekânda öne çıkan alanlar, siyasi ve kültürel kırılma dönemleri, planlama çalışmaları ile mekândaki odak noktalarının yer değiştirmesi ve mekânın aktörlerinin kentsel algısı irdelenmiştir. Rize ili Pazar ilçesi örneği ele alınarak yapılan çalışmada geçmişten bugüne fiziki değişiklik gösteren mekân ele alınırken soyut anlamda mekân aktörlerinin algısı da anket çalışması ile desteklenmiştir. 1970’li yıllarda ilk çalışmalardan günümüze kadar süren planlama süreci mekânda fiziki değişimler gerçekleşmiştir. Planlama çalışmaları ile alınan kararlar doğrultusunda ticaret merkezi çevresinde yoğunlaşan kentin, sahil aksı boyunca doğu-batı doğrultusunda geliştiği görülmüştür. Yapılan ankette ise planlama döneminin hareketlilik gösterdiği 1980’li yıllar başlangıç alınarak; döneme tanıklık eden kişilerle mekân-kimlik algısı ölçülmüş, kentin kimliğini oluşturan unsurlar tespit edilmiştir. ABSTRACT: Although urban space is a living and continuous space, it is also seen as a tool that reflects all developments in the city. The analysis of space is possible by evaluating the physical, social, historical, cultural, economic, political and administrative factors that vary from past to present. All of the factors are shaped by individüaliste, non-governmental organizations, sectoral components and local government powers, which are the main actors of the space. The identity perception of the place can be analyzed with the integrity extending from the past to the future, and it is possible to read the city correctly and at the same time to be able to read it at the same time by shaping the space in accordance with cultural values, the participation of the people in the administration, city planning principles and planning studies, urbanity awareness, and the fact of belonging to play a major role. The management powers of the space come to the fore in terms of protecting the material-spiritual cultural heritage and supporting the urban texture with participatory approaches. Within the scope of the study, the perception of space-identity of the urban is analyzed by aiming to read the space. The prominent areas in the space, the periods of political-cultural breakdown, the displacement of the focal points in the space with planning studies and the urban perception of the biggest actors of the space were examined. In the study conducted by considering the example of the Pazar district of Rize province, the space that has changed physically from past to present is discussed, and the perception of the space actors in the abstract sense is supported by the survey study. Over the years, physical changes have taken place in the management processes, the first of which was in the 1970s, but with the planning works that have continued until today, it has caused the focal points to change. In line with the decisions taken with the planning studies, it was seen that the city, which was concentrated around the trade center, developed in an east-west direction along the coastal axis. In the survey, starting from the 1980s, when the planning period was active; The perception of space-identity was measured with the people who witnessed the period and the elements that make up the identity of the city were determined.

Reverse migration is one of the main flows of rural-urban linkages. This flow is formed by some pushing forces in cities, such as high living costs and air pollution, as well as some pulling factors in rural areas, such as low living costs, pleasant weather, and the opportunity to spend leisure time. It also has various effects on both the origin and the destination of the migration. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the status of reverse migration in terms of both spatial and temporal dimensions. This research is applied research and in terms of the method is exploratory, descriptive and analytical. The data used in this research has been obtained from the Statistical Centre of Iran and has been analyzed during two 5-year periods: 2006-2011 and 2011-2016. Data analysis was performed using spatial statistics techniques in the Arc Map software environment. Research findings at the national level show a relative decrease in reverse migration over five years from 2011 to 2016. At the provincial level, 28 provinces of Iran have experienced negative growth and a relative decrease in reverse migration, and only 3 provinces have experienced positive growth. Findings from spatial analysis at the county level of Iran also show the spatial concentration of a large number of reverse migrations around the two metropolises of Tehran and Mashhad. Also, high values of the ratio of reverse migration to the total number of immigrants are concentrated in the central and northern regions of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Trace: Travaux et Recherches dans les Amériques du Centre is the property of Centro de Estudios Mexicanos & Centroamericanos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Dokuz Eylul University Journal of Graduate School of Social Sciences is the property of Dokuz Eylul University Graduate School of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are banned toxic contaminants according to the Stockholm Convention of persistent pollutants (2001); however, they continue to be prevalent in the environment of Pakistan. The current study evaluates the risk to infants exposed to PCBs in breast milk from urban centers of Pakistan. The ∑14PCB concentrations ranged from ND to 118.36 ng/g lipid weight (l.w.) with a mean of 11.76. ± 4.88 ng/g l.w. These levels are greater than concentrations previously reported from Asia. The quantified PCB profile was also significantly (p <.05) related to the age of the mother while a negative correlation was observed with diet pattern (−0.26), fat content (−0.63), number of children (−0.185), and lactation (−0.19). There were significant differences among test locations with greater bioaccumulation observed in breast milk collected from urbanized Rawalpindi compared to less urbanized Jhang. The calculated estimated daily intakes of dioxin-like PCBs for infants were considerably higher than the recommended daily intake suggested by different organizations. The calculated hazard ratio (HR > 1) indicates health risks to infants in selected study regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The urban polycentric structure is connected to the economy and enormously impacts socioeconomic development and policies. Unlike traffic data and big geographic data, remote sensing data have shown an accessible way to measure urban spatial interaction. However, most existing studies only focused on the interaction among cities rather than within cities. Meanwhile, the urban spatial interaction, which should be directional, was always expressed as an undirected graph. Therefore, this article developed a network-based radiation model using nighttime light remote sensing data and mapped a directed interaction network (inward and outward direction) among urban centers. Taking the region within the outer ring of Shanghai as an example, the taxi trajectory data were adopted to validate the result with the R2 of 0.61. We discovered that: the urban polycentric interaction network is dumbbell-shaped with an east-west development corridor crossing the main center and connecting two main urban center clusters. The in-strength and out-strength interaction of each urban center have a similar distribution. The urban centers with higher in-strength and out-strength are mainly concentrated toward the main center, especially in the east-west direction. At the urban center level, the total inward interaction is slightly higher than the total outward interaction of most urban centers. Spatially, an unbalanced distribution was found. In summary, our proposed method effectively indicates the urban polycentric interaction and is applicable to other regions since it requires no arbitrary parameters and the input data (e.g., nighttime light data) is readily available.

Access to safe drinking water is critical in improving health and well-being. It is estimated that >40% of urban households in Ghana do not have access to safe drinking water. Although the willingness and ability of community members to collectively take local initiatives are essential to curtailing inequities in water access in Ghana, the determinant of collective action is less explored. This paper explores determinants of collective action in water-insecure neighbourhoods and examines how perceived inequities in access to water and trust mediate the relationship between lack of access to water and collective action in urban Ghana. The results show that the urban poor OR = 12.047 (p = 0.000) were more likely to participate in water-related collective action compared to wealthy individuals. Primary decision-makers were 1.696 times more likely to participate in collective (p = 0.02). We also found that perceived inequities OR = 0.381 (p = 0.00) significantly predict participation in collective action to address water insecurity. Water service providers should be subjected to a rigid state-level framework that ensures inclusivity, fairness and justice in their distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration is an important component of urbanization. Cities being the centers of manufacturing, services and trade, attract a majority of migrants. The present study investigates the push–pull factors of migration in Lahore city, Pakistan. A 32-item semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey 384 migrants, who shifted permanently to Lahore city. The study used cluster random sampling technique to get the required sample. Statistical analysis includes correlations and logistic regression model. The findings of the study revealed that migrants were mostly young people who moved independently to improve their living conditions. Insufficient economic opportunities, low income, and limited educational facilities are the key factors that pushed them to migrate. Better living conditions, job opportunities, higher wages, and improved social environment acted as pull factors of migration. They did not prefer returning back for their access to better infrastructure and improved living standards in urban centers. However, this rising migration size is creating socioeconomic and infrastructural problems for city administration, planners, and citizens. The study identifies and suggests the imbalance of economic opportunities in rural and urban areas should be filled by public–private partnership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Geoenvironmental studies of urban centers of the Baikal region are aimed at identifying the details of human impacts on the environment in this area in order to then find rational solutions to environmental problems of the region and improve the quality of life of its population. This article characterizes the environmental condition of the cities of Ulaanbaatar, Ulan-Ude, and Irkutsk and analyzes the relationship between socio-economic conditions and environmental problems of the territories. The data used in the study consists of statistical and archival materials, cartographic and literary works, and data from experimental observations. The urban centers of the Baikal region are characterized by different socio-economic conditions, but share some common features of modern agglomerations: an intense population concentration in capital cities, problems with utility lines, and increased environmental tension and discomfort. The analysis revealed a heavy environmental burden of the fuel and energy complex and motor transport. The environmental situation in the cities is also significantly influenced by factors, such as atmospheric circulation, the condition of natural waters, and the conditions for migration of chemical elements through the soil. An assessment of the level of human impact on components of the environment revealed extremely unfavorable conditions for self-purification of the atmosphere in Ulan-Ude and Ulaanbaatar, with the highest level of air pollution recorded in Ulaanbaatar. The highest level of soil pollution is observed in Irkutsk; it is due to large-scale industrial emissions and the fact that the soil of the territory has characteristics favorable for accumulation of pollutants. Ulaanbaatar is experiencing problems with the quality of water resources and the drinking water supply. Anthropogenic pressures on the environment of the cities create health risks for the population due to the entry of toxic pollutants into the air and into water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to analyze the proposals of the current Revitalization Plan for the central area of the city of Campo Grande in Mato Grosso do Sul, to make critical inferences about it, verifying the extent to which it contemplates the human dimension in improving the quality of life for its citizens. It was also analyzed how the process of public participation in its implementation developed. To achieve this objective, the study has a qualitative approach, using documentary research as a methodological basis. Thus, the study sought to expose elements to contribute to the reflection of the indispensability of collaborative creation, active participation, and democratic urban management of public spaces, considering the human dimension in a local development process of an inclusive nature. The study allowed us to verify that, although the strategies for the requalification of the site of the Revitalization Plan for the central area cover different dimensions of the urban system and address important points treated in urbanism in the human dimension in their strategies, the greater emphasis is on the economic front than on its social front. It was also found that public participation in the decision-making processes of the Plan is still unsatisfactory since it is still governed by neoliberal principles and results more in a consultation process imposed vertically than an active dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using exploratory case-study, this study sought to explore the institutional and structural components of stakeholders’ participation in the governance of waste in Wolkite Town. It helps to understand the potential and power of stakeholders through establishing autonomous multi-level governance regimes. The study revealed that the top-down and provincial nature of waste governance in Wolkite town is fragile and collapses with limited outcomes, for stakeholders do not take responsibility and accountability that governs and encourages their engagement. Rather, their engagement is limited to working based on government initiatives that do not encourage multi-scale governance programs which could make waste governance broad in content by combining the commercial, health, social, and environmental stakes of stakeholders. The stakeholders are not aware of the impact of their power and how waste cold be governed according to the distinct institutional structures instead of following uniform approaches.Hence, it is imperative to institute different governance centers that have the power and responsibility to organize and transform waste governance practices.

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of EURE is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Argentine Sea (Southwestern Atlantic) is one of the most productive ecosystem in the Southern Hemisphere. Research on metals in this region is scarce or null. In this study, we evaluated the concentrations of some metals in the suspended particulate matter (SPM), to provide baseline data that would enable us to understand the role of the SPM in the transport of metals in the Argentine Sea. Sampling was carried out during the austral summer 2016 at 20 stations distributed in the Argentine Sea. Surface seawater samples were collected and then filtered by vacuum through Millipore® HAWP 04,700 filters (0.45 µm). The samples were acid-digested (HNO3 and HClO4, 5:1) and the metal concentrations were determined with ICP-OES Optima 2100 DV (Perkin Elmer). Significant spatial variations were detected due to the extension of the study area, with the highest levels of metals in the stations next to large urban centers (Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn: 13.9, 154.9, 48.7, 54,470, 7646, 49.2, 58.6 and 509.5 μg g−1 d.w. respectively), which was supported by the nMDS and Cluster analyses. According to PCA analysis, two groups of metals that could have similar behavior were stablished: one group integrated by Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni, and the other group integrated by Cr, Fe and Mn. Metals that act as micronutrients and the toxic ones were present in all the sampling stations, highlighting the need to reinforce the study of these elements in this extensive and productive area of the South Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istorijski časopis is the property of Istorijski Institut and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Seismic microzoning at a local scale of a given site or at a global scale of an urban center requires a fairly detailed knowledge of the lateral variations of the site effects, such as the amplification level, the fundamental soil frequency, and the site classification according to a given design seismic code. Over the last decade, the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio of background noise has become a widely used tool. However, it still has some shortcomings related to the windows selection as the microtremor contains many unknown and random sources other than the one related to the site effect. In this contribution, one proposes a new approach based on the frequency content to discriminate between the different sources. Site classification scheme recently proposed for seismic accelerations, which define target numerical and analytical horizontal over vertical spectral ratios for the 4 standard soil classes (Rock, soft rock, stiff soil and soft soil) defined in Eurocode-8, is adapted to background noise. In order to test the reliability of the proposed approach, microtremor measurements were performed on 67 sites with available shear-wave velocities down to a depth of at least 30 m. Free-field microtremor measurements are converted to accelerations instead to velocities, and split into 5 s non-overlapping windows. Automatic computation based statistical approach using a classification index which measures the similarity between the measured and target horizontal over vertical spectral ratios is performed for the 67 sites. The obtained results reveal a similar site classification, using the time-averaged shear-wave velocity to 30 m depth (Vs30) and the new approach, which can reach a success rate of about 84%. The automatic calculation provides the 67 sites with two fundamental parameters required for the preparation of a first-order microzonation map, the fundamental soil frequency, and the classification of the site according to Eurocode-8 guidelines. The proposed approach can be very useful for large-scale seismic micro-zoning of urban centers that may involve hundreds of measurement points, or supplement other geophysical measurements for a site specific seismic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of polycentricism is one approach to understand the process of urban expansion and its structural changes. The assessment is important to provide knowledge as a basis for future planning and policy. This review article structures the existing concepts of polycentricism, examines the methodologies applied for polycentricism assessment at different spatial scales and across world regions. Based on this, it identifies future research challenges. The review shows that studies of polycentricism have been conducted primarily in cities across the more developed world regions while in the developing world regions, fewer studies are available and only began to emerge in the 1990s, two decades later than the West. The reviewed studies use employment distribution and travel behavior as the primary sources of data. To compensate for the lack of well-documented employment distribution and mobility data, more diverse indicators and sophisticated digital-based approaches have been applied in the latest studies that focus on cities in developing world regions. The reviewed studies demonstrate for the examined cases a general shift towards polycentric development. While in the more developed world regions polycentricism is influenced by employment decentralization, in the developing world regions this phenomenon is influenced by market forces and spatial planning policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]