Age Composition Research Articles

Aspects of rational organization of labor of medical staff

The introduction of new technologies, new organizational forms in the treatment and diagnostic process, the formation of new views on disease prevention, structural reorganization in healthcare require the development of a modern regulatory framework for labor and its continuous improvement. Target. Definition of aspects of rational organization of labor of medical personnel and their application in the practice of nursing specialists. Results. The main types of activities of nurses of the therapeutic department are analyzed, the working time costs of the nursing staff are studied by means of photo timing and interviewing, a comparative analysis of the workload of nurses per shift and the quality of medical care is carried out. Conclusion. The labor costs of the nursing staff are influenced by many, so-called, standardforming factors, which include: qualification, professional level of a specialist; composition of patients by nosological forms of the disease, severity of the course, presence of complications, concomitant diseases; gender and age composition of patients; intensity of treatment and diagnostic measures, stage of medical care; the procedure for admission of patients to the hospital, etc. The effect of these factors on the relationship between themselves is quite complex, determining the possibility of taking them into account will allow adjusting the number of positions in each division of the healthcare institution based on local conditions, ongoing changes in the composition of those hospitalized, and determining specific workload standards for each employee.

An alternative instrumental method for studying the morphofunctional state of eyelids in chronic blepharitis

Background: To date, the assessment of morphofunctional changes within eyelids is performed using laser scanning confocal microscopy, which has extensive diagnostic capabilities. Identification of the indicators equivalence of this method and laser Doppler flowmetry will confirm the existence of an alternative, objective and economical method of eyelid examination in chronic blepharitis. Aim: To prove the possibility of laser Doppler flowmetry application as an alternative method of eyelid morphofunctional state assessment. Materials and methods: The study included 62 patients (124 eyes) with an established diagnosis of chronic mixed demodecticosis blepharitis, including 46 women and 16 men, mean age 65.8 ± 3.2 years, randomly assigned into two groups with identical age and gender composition. Group 1 patients (31 patients, 62 eyes) were treated with cosmeceuticals containing terpenes and terpenoids 2 times a day and tear substitute 3 times a day for 1.5 months. Group 2 patients (31 patients, 62 eyes) used an eyelid care gel containing sulphur medicaments 2 times a day and a tear substitute 3 times a day for 1.5 months. In addition to standard ophthalmological examination, laser Doppler flowmetry and laser scanning confocal microscopy were performed. Dynamic follow-up was performed after 1.5 and 3 months. Results: The analysis of laser scanning confocal microscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry parameters revealed a high inverse correlation between the density of inflammatory cells of the eyelids tarsal conjunctiva and neurogenic oscillations of blood flow, as well as high direct correlation with the index of blood flow shunting. A marked direct correlation between the density index of meibomian gland acinuses and the parameters of myogenic oscillations of blood flow and neurogenic oscillations of lymph flow was established. Conclusions: Pearson’s correlation analysis performed on laser scanning confocal microscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry parameters assessing the morphofunctional state of the eyelids demonstrated the presence of equivalence in both study groups with high statistical reliability. The obtained data confirm the possibility of using laser Doppler flowmetry method for objective assessment of eyelid condition and allow the parameters of this method to serve as criteria for choosing pathogenetically oriented therapy of chronic blepharitis with evaluation of its effectiveness.

Steps to developing a DXA-based risk score for cardiovascular outcomes among older adults: the health, aging, and body composition study

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major chronic disease worldwide and its risk factors have long been investigating in epidemiological studies. Our study aims to develop a body composition-based risk score and integrate it into the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) to improve CVD prediction among well-functioning older adults. We included 1882 older adults from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study to screen body composition variables obtained from the Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Three models were developed and compared: the 4-DXA model, the refit FRS, and the refit FRS plus 4-DXA model. C-statistics were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.65) for the refit FRS, 0.58 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.61) for the 4-DXA model, and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.66) for the refit FRS plus 4-DXA model. Compared to the refit FRS, the refit FRS plus 4-DXA model slightly improved CVD outcome prediction as the discrimination slope, net reclassification index, and the integrated discrimination index were 0.053 (95% CI: 0.041, 0.066), 0.098 (95% CI = – 0.0033, 0.20) and 0.013 (95% CI: 0.0069–0.019). This study provides a model for more accurate risk stratification and draws more attention on DXA-based indices in the clinical setting. It also encourages further research in validating the developed risk score in more diverse population and in investigating a broader range of CVD risk factors.

“Buy him some Tesla stocks for his baptism”: Gender differences among young savers

This paper investigates gender roles in children’s savings, specifically defined as differences pertaining to age, capital invested, financial activity and portfolio composition, using a sample of 58,000 children. We observe gender differences between young female and male account holders. The average age and activity level of boys are significantly higher whereas girls hold more capital in their accounts. We note that activity interacts with both gender, age and capital, and is decisive in explaining financial behaviour, especially that of boys. We conclude that girls have a lower share of saving in direct-owned stock already before the age of one and among teenagers, particularly ages 15–17 years. We discuss our findings applying structuration theory, differentiating between implicit and explicit parental impact prevailing among adolescents, and the definite caring regarding younger children. For policymakers and managers, awareness that gender differences regarding financial behaviour prevail is an important insight.

On the thermo-visco-elastic behaviour of neat and aged PPS composites

Reinforced PPS thermoplastics exposed to variations in temperature and humidity are subject to aging and interface degradation. These phenomena can lead to ruptures due to the interphase weakening. In this study, a micromechanical model based on the equivalent inclusion model is implemented using the viscoelastic behaviours of the neat and aged grades identified by spectrometric analyses. The presented coated inclusion model allows to extract the viscoelastic behavior of the interphase in the dry-as-molded composite and in the aged composite by inverse method conducted for viscoelastic behavior. The presence of the interphase testifies to the degradation of the thermomechanical properties in the vicinity of the reinforcements. In the aged composite, the interphase also undergoes an aging phenomenon. Thus, the model compares the behavior of the interphase in the dry-as-molded and aged grades of the composite and separates the effects linked to the degradation of adhesion of the fibers from the effects linked to specific hydroscopic aging.

Ozone Plasma Nanobubble (OPN) Reactor Combined with Coagulation-Flocculation Process: A Promising Technology for Leachate Treatment

According to World Bank data, approximately 2.01 billion tons of urban waste is produced annually, with approximately 33% of waste being improperly managed, leading to concentrated and toxic leachate. This poses a global challenge due to its varied characteristics influenced by climate, landfill age, and waste composition, resulting in groundwater and surface water pollution with severe impacts on human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity, necessitating stringent treatment measures. To address this, a study integrated coagulation-flocculation and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) ozone plasma nanobubble (OPN) reactor to degrade leachate. Gas flow rate, plasma voltage, and gas sources are variated. This research uses O2 or air as a gas source that produces plasma. The leachate is fed into the DBD reactor, so the bubble will burst and produce further ROS. Optimal results were observed after 60 min, with oxygen gas feed reducing total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biological oxygen demand (BOD) by 100, 93.93, and 74.12%, respectively, alongside a decrease in pH. This study indicates the promising potential of this technology for leachate treatment and demonstrates the potential for nitrate production using both types of gas feed.

First results of stratigraphic drilling in the North-Eastern Laptev Sea

The Stratigraphic Drilling Project of the Russian Arctic Shelf conducted by the PJSC Rosneft is aimed at discover the stratigraphic age and rock composition of sedimentary succession of its subsurface. In 2021, six shallow wells for the first time have been drilled with core sampling in the east of the Laptev Sea. Drilling revealed folded sedimentary succession dated back to the Late Barremian – Early Aptian. The synrift complex overlying unconformably dates to the Paleocene. The upper strata dates from Eocene to Pleistocene and contains significant hiatuses. The data discovered together with the results of seismic interpretation clarified the regional geological model and dated the stages of its tectonic evolution.

Knee muscle strength, body composition, and balance performance of youth soccer players

BackgroundMuscle strength and balance abilities have been related to game performance injury prevention. This study aimed to (1) assess knee muscle strength performance based on intra- and inter-limb asymmetries, (2) investigate the relationships between knee muscle strength, body composition, and balance, and (3) analyze the variance in the overall stability index (OSI) explained by knee muscle strength indicators after controlling for age and body composition.MethodsThe sample included 104 young male soccer players (16.0 ± 1.6 years). Body composition, knee muscle strength, and balance ability were assessed. A paired samples t-test was used to examine differences between the preferred leg (PL) and the non-preferred leg (NPL). Pearson correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were conducted to explore the relationships between strength, body composition, and balance.ResultsNo significant inter-limb asymmetries were detected for the knee flexors (KF) and knee extensors (KE) performance. The hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio does not suggest the existence of intra-limb asymmetries (p = 0.06). Significant and negative correlations were found between KF (r = -0.38, p ≤ 0.01) and KE (r = -0.58, p ≤ 0.01) for the PL. Concerning the NPL, KE also revealed a significant and negative relationship with balance (r = -0.30, p ≤ 0.01). Significant and positive relationships were found between bodyweight, fat-free mass, and balance. After controlling for age and body composition, knee muscle strength could explain between 13% and 30% of the variance observed in the OSI (NPL and PL, respectively).ConclusionsThe results underline knee muscle strength as an important predictor of balance. Thus, training programs targeting knee muscle strength development should be considered during the season periodization by coaches and their staff throughout the players’ developmental stages.

Досвід прогнозування ризиків, пов’язаних з механічним пошкодженням кісткової тканини людини з використанням рекурентних нейронних мереж

Introduction. There are new, in addition to probabilistic and statistical, methods of risk assessment, which require their own methods of analysis and numerical estimation. One of these methods, recognized in a variety of application fields, is associated with the use of direct propagation neural networks. This approach makes it possible to expand the range of tasks that are solved in the field of risk analysis. There are quite a number of systems that require assessment in terms of risk formation, but which are associated with a large number of random factors related to the risk-forming events of the system and its states. Such systems are difficult to model with the help of well-known neural networks. Within the framework of the work, it is proposed to use the capabilities of deep recurrent neural networks with feedback as stabilizing factors with minimization of operational information that needs to be remembered in the process of calculating and operating such a network. Such a model for mechanical damage to human bone tissue depending on a large number of random or indeterminate input signals is proposed to be used in this work. The purpose of the paper is to develop a technique for the use of deep recurrent neural networks and to create a model for predicting event risks associated with the impact of input signals with a high degree of uncertainty or random signals on the system. To provide opportunities for predicting such risks using examples related to injuries of the human skeletal system for its various conditions and conditions. Results. A technique for using recurrent neural networks to predict the risks associated with the violation of the integrity of the human skeletal system was developed. A model of a recurrent neural network was created to predict random events associated with a violation of the integrity of the human skeletal system. Double calculation, aimed at a variety of results, is a confirmation of the performance of the proposed model. It is shown that, depending on the scope of the task set in the analysis, its result is a three-dimensional matrix in coordinates (Xij ∧ Yp;T; φ). At each subsequent step of the iteration in the matrix (φ Xij ∧ Yp;T), by cutting off that part of the potential risk-generating events that, in the opinion of the neural network, are less predicted for each age composition, in favor of other events, real risk-forming events are filtered out, which have predominant values for the system. Conclusions. On the example of random events that accompany mechanical damage to human bone tissue, the ability of models created on the basis of RNN with feedbacks to avoid the uncertainty of risks accompanying human life in four specified ranges of life time and to determine the most effective ones for each of them for a modern person is shown. The ability of activation functions of the bifurcation nature of one of the synapse layers to qualitatively filter random signals in systems of recurrent neural networks with DT-RNN (Deep Transition RNN) feedbacks is shown. The use of deep recurrent neural networks in the formalized version provides new opportunities for taking into account groups of random but real events in the analysis of event risk by clarifying the feedback, and at each subsequent step of their iteration to obtain more accurate data to predict such risk, avoiding the uncertainty of the system state. The formalization of this process provides opportunities to predict random risks for certain groups of the population as a priority, and to use them in the preventive work of medical institutions of the first group of care. Keywords: risks, random events, recurrent neural network, human skeletal system.

Magyarországi helyzetkép az alternatív gondoskodás lehetőségeiről, különös tekintettel a gyermekotthoni, nevelőszülői elhelyezésre

In this study, we compare institutional and foster care. The method chosen is a secondary analysis of statistical data. In the study, we seek to answer the question of how the number of places, the number of children, the age composition of children, the duration of placement and the type of placement vary in Hungary and in the Northern Great Plain region. We analyse data for the years 2014, 2021 and 2023 in terms of deinstitutionalisation and present the current situation of child protection care alongside the trends in institutional restructuring in recent years. A further aim of our comparative analysis is to review the number of cases of runaways from care in recent years, assuming that they occur less frequently in foster care. For the analysis, we have primarily used data for the years 2014, 2021 and 2023. In some places, the year 2020 was analysed due to data availability. We have used publicly available data series from the KSH, as well as data recorded on the basis of individual data requests according to the KSH OSAP Form 1208, which contains data provided by child protection centres based in the respective counties.

Dynamics of the age composition of the red king crab males in the Barents Sea with account of probability molt

The aim of the research was improvement of the algorithm of age determination for red king crab males in the Barents Sea, by taking into account the molting probability.Materials were the data of research surveys and fisheries monitoring obtained in 2001–2022 and combined in 54 data sets, as well tagging data published in open press.As results the previous algorithm which allowed establish the age composition of the red king crab males catches was improved. The parameters of the model of the dependence of the probability of molting on the width of the carapace, which was established earlier according to the tagging data, were changed. The modified model allowed to improve the adequacy of the estimates by reducing the values of the approximation error. Compared to the previous estimates of the age composition, the account of the probable molting history did not lead to a significant revision of the results: all noticeable generations remained the same as before, the time for recording a generation in catches however increased from 10 to 12 years. The parameters of the proposed model are the closest to those for the Kikhchik subpopulation of the red king crab off the Western Kamchatka. The contradiction associated with the discrepancy in the assessment of the maximum age of both the generation and individual specimens is discussed.Practical value. The obtained results can be applied for the red king crab stocks assessment with the help of cohort models.

Fisheries and biological characteristics and state of stocks of the main commercial fish species in Beloye Lake

The current composition of the ichthyofauna and the importance for fisheries of the main fish species in Beloye Lake (Vologda Region) is described in the article based on research materials from 2018 – 2022. The biological features and commercial use of twelve most valuable fish species are summarized as result of the composition of industrial and research catches studies. The size and age composition of catches, the age of puberty, the timing and conditions of spawning, and the feeding patterns of fishes were studied. The influence of net fishing gear with different mesh spacing on commercial fish populations and the magnitude of nets fishing productivity (fishing effort) were studied for the first time. The role of the most important fish species for industrial fisheries in Beloye Lake was assessed.

The inverse association between cancer history and incident cognitive impairment: Addressing attrition bias.

Cancer is inversely associated with cognitive impairment. Whether this is due to statistical handling of attrition (death and censoring) is unknown. We quantified associations between cancer history and incident cognitive impairment among Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study participants without baseline cognitive impairment or stroke (n=2604) using multiple competing-risks models and their corresponding estimands: cause-specific, subdistribution, and marginal hazards, plus composite-outcome (cognitive impairment or all-cause mortality) hazards. All-cause mortality was also modeled. After covariate adjustment (demographics, apolipoprotein E ε4, lifestyle, health conditions), cause-specific and marginal hazard ratios (HRs) were similar to each other (≈ 0.84; P values<0.05). The subdistribution HR was 0.764 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.645-0.906), and composite-outcome Cox model HR was 1.149 (95% CI=1.016-1.299). Cancer history was positively associated with all-cause mortality (HR=1.813; 95% CI=1.525-2.156). Cause-specific, subdistribution, and marginal hazards models produced inverse associations between cancer and cognitive impairment. Competing risk models answer slightly different questions, and estimand choice influenced findings here. Cancer history is inversely associated with incident cognitive impairment. Findings were robust to handling of competing risks of death. All models also addressed possible informative censoring bias. Cancer history was associated with 16% lower hazard of cognitive impairment. Cancer history was associated with 81% higher all-cause mortality hazard.

Interplay of education and DNA methylation age on cognitive impairment: insights from the Health and Retirement Study.

Few studies have assessed the association of educational attainment on dementia and cognitive impairment through DNA methylation age acceleration, while accommodating exposure-mediator interaction effects. We evaluated the mediation role of six epigenetic clocks with dementia, cognitive impairment non-dementia, and normal cognition, while accommodating exposure-mediator interaction effects. To understand the joint association of low education (≤12 years) and DNA methylation age acceleration (yes/no) in relation to cognitive impairment, we used weighted logistic regression, adjusting for chronological age, sex, race/ethnicity, and cell type composition. We performed four-way mediation and interaction decomposition analysis. Analyses were conducted on 2016 venous blood study participants from the Health and Retirement Study (N=3724). Both GrimAge acceleration (OR=1.6 95%CI 1.3-2.1) and low educational attainment (OR=2.4 95%CI 1.9-3.0) were associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment in a mutually adjusted logistic model. We found additive interaction associations between low education and GrimAge acceleration on dementia. We observed that 6-8% of the association of education on dementia was mediated through GrimAge acceleration. While mediation effects were small, the portion of the association of education on dementia due to additive interaction with GrimAge acceleration was between 23.6 and 29.2%. These results support the interplay of social disadvantage and biological aging processes on impaired cognition.

Assessing the impact of urbanization on forest carbon stocks and social costs using a machine learning approach

Urbanization frequently precipitates urban sprawl, resulting in deforestation and alterations in landscape and land alterations. Such transformations profoundly impact the carbon stocks within metropolitan regions. This study examines the ramifications of urbanization on alterations in carbon stocks within urban forests across ten South Korean cities experiencing substantial urbanization over the past 15 years. Leveraging machine learning techniques and high-resolution satellite imagery, we scrutinize changes in land usage and urban forests, utilizing them to gauge the societal costs linked with shifts in urban carbon stocks. Furthermore, we integrate regional-level data sourced from national forests to enhance the precision of carbon stock estimations. Data analysis reveals that over the 15 years, urban areas expanded at an average rate of 4.43 km2 annually. In comparison, forested areas decreased by an average of −2.19 km2 per year, resulting in an average annual decline of −3171 tC in forest carbon stocks due to urbanization. The fluctuation in carbon stocks across the urban forests of the ten cities ranged from −68 % to 48 % over 15 years, primarily influenced by the extent of preserved forest area, with forest composition playing a secondary role. Concurrently, carbon sequestration efficiency varied between cities, ranging from 8 % to 57 % over 15 years, contingent upon tree type and forest age composition. An approximate loss of 174,380 tCO2eq of carbon stocks attributable to urbanization is estimated, with the associated social cost of increased emissions estimated at $8,893,396. Effective management of carbon emissions and sinks within urban locales is paramount for climate change mitigation, given the substantial contribution of urban areas to global carbon emissions. This study underscores the significance of urban forest management in carbon governance and furnishes valuable insights into nations undergoing rapid urban expansion.

Damage investigation of hybrid flax-glass/epoxy composites subjected to impact fatigue under water ageing

The aim of this study is to investigate the fatigue behaviour of hybrid flax-glass/epoxy composites under repeated impact loading subsequent to water ageing. Different plates of these composite materials were fabricated using the vacuum infusion technique. Five stacking sequences were considered: [F8], [G/F3]S, [G2/F2]S, [G3/F]S, and [G8], where F and G stand for flax/epoxy and glass/epoxy plies, respectively. Water ageing was conducted by immersing the composite specimens in tap water at room temperature for various durations, and until saturation was reached. Fatigue impact tests were carried out using three impact energies: 3, 4, and 5 J. An advanced high-resolution camera was used to monitor the evolution of damage mechanisms occurring on the non-impacted surfaces, while a laser thermometer was considered to track the temperature variations within each composite specimen. The obtained results show that flax-glass hybridization reduces the mass of absorbed water in flax/epoxy composite by up to 70%. Furthermore, there is a more pronounced decrease in longitudinal modulus and maximum stress in aged composites, with reductions of up to 70% compared to unaged ones. Additionally, visible damage occurs even at low energy levels, manifesting from the initial impacts in both aged and unaged composite laminates. Moreover, a correlation between the number of impacts to failure and the cumulative energy is revealed. Ultimately, water aging reduces the strength of the studied composite laminates and their resistance to impact fatigue. Furthermore, the hybrid laminates with high proportion of flax layers are particularly susceptible to water ageing effects.

Trends of stomach cancer incidence and mortality in Shandong province from 2012 to 2012 and predictions from 2023 to 2030

Objective: We aimed to analyse the trend of incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Shandong province from 2012 to 2022 and predict the development trend from 2023 to 2030. Methods: Data on incidence and mortality of stomach cancer in Shandong province from 2012 to 2022 were obtained from Shandong Cancer Registry. The incidence, age-specific incidence, mortality and age-specific mortality in different years, sexes and urban and rural areas were calculated, the rates were standardized based on the age composition of the Chinese standard population in 2000. The average annual percent change (AAPC) of incidence and mortality was calculated using Joinpoint software. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the trend of stomach cancer incidence and mortality from 2023 to 2030. Results: From 2012 to 2022, the stomach cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) showed a decreasing trend. The ASIR decreased from 27.47/100 000 in 2012 to 16.06/100 000 in 2022 (AAPC=-5.10%, P＜0.001), and the ASMR decreased from 17.69/100 000 to 11.09/100 000 (AAPC=-5.52%, P＜0.001). The ASIR and ASMR of male, female, urban and rural population also showed downward trends. The incidence and mortality rates of men were always higher than those of women, and the difference between urban and rural areas is gradually narrowing. In 2022, the ASIR (16.09/100 000 in urban and 16.03/100 000 in rural) and the ASMR (11.10/100 000 in urban and 11.08/100 000 in rural) of stomach cancer between urban and rural areas were nearly identical. The Bayesian age-period-cohort model predicted that the ASIR of stomach cancer in Shandong would further decrease from 2023 to 2030 (AAPC=-0.51%, P=0.001), but the change tended to be smooth. The incidences in male (AAPC=-1.46%, P=0.010) and rural areas (AAPC=-1.21%, P＜0.001) were still expected to have a little room for decline. The trend of incidences in female and urban areas were not statistically significant. The trend of mortality was consistent with the incidence. Conclusions: The stomach cancer incidence and mortality in Shandong shows a decreasing trend and it is expected to decrease further by 2030. However, the trend tends to be smooth, and the disease burden should be reduced as early as possible for high-risk population and high-risk factors of stomach cancer.

Effect of Silane-Containing Adhesives on Repair Bond Strength between Fresh and Aged Composite Materials-A Pilot Study.

This study investigated the effects of different surface treatments and a silane-containing adhesive on the repair bond strength between fresh and aged resin composites. A total of 140 composite specimens were prepared and aged for 24 h or 4 months. Each group was subdivided into seven subgroups (n = 10) depending on the surface treatment (no surface treatment (NT), sandblasting (SAND), or Sof-lex coarse disc (DISC)) in combination with the use of the silane-containing adhesive ScotchBond Universal Plus (SBU) or an adhesive without silane Prime&Bond Universal (P&B). The same composite was used for the repair as for the primary specimen. Specimens were dark stored in distilled water at 37 °C for 28 days. Shear bond strength was tested at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The Kruskal-Wallis test with Bonferroni's post-hoc adjustment (α = 0.05) and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used for the statistical analysis. The results are shown as the median with the interquartile range. The highest bond strength (MPa) was achieved after 24 h in the DISC+P&B (20.39(16.85-28.83)). In the fresh 24 h group, the SAND+P&B (12.25(8.28-15.05)) and DISC+SBU (18.37(15.16-21.29)) were statistically similar. In the 4-month groups, both adhesives and surface treatments performed similarly. The NT, SAND, and DISC groups without adhesives had the lowest bond strength. In the repair of fresh or aged composite, the silane-containing adhesive SBU was not superior to the adhesive without the silane (P&B).

Leveraging Greenspace to Manage Urban Flooding: An Investigation of Nature-Based Solutions Implementation in U.S. Public Parks

Many cities are looking to adopt nature-based solutions (NBS) in greenspace to manage urban flooding and provide diverse co-benefits. Yet little research exists to inform the planning and design of park NBS. This study investigated NBS adoption in 58 public parks across major U.S. cities, using a 2022 survey by the Trust for Public Lands and other secondary datasets. We developed a typology to conceptualize a wide range of park NBS into five high-level categories by size/capacity, location of the gray–green spectrum, and design objectives. We then employed this typology to explore how a park’s adopted NBS types may relate to its landscape and sociodemographic contexts. We found that the most used type of NBS in the studied parks was ECO (a typology we defined as conserving, restoring, or creating ecosystems to mitigate flooding through ecological processes and functions), while the least used NBS type was ENG (a typology we defined as imitating natural infiltration processes but having no living elements). Further, parks that adopted ECO had significantly higher percentages of greenspace in the surrounding, as well as higher flood risks. We also found notable—though not statistically significant—evidence of potential associations between the type of NBS implementation in a park and its nearby neighborhoods’ income level, poverty, and population racial and age compositions. Moreover, our findings indicated that park visitors were more privileged compared to residents living near a park. We concluded that park contextual factors deserve more explicit consideration in the planning and design of NBS and discussed key implications of this study for practice and future research around park NBS for urban flooding.

Passenger car market and regional price discriminations for new cars: Case study and empirical analysis for Poland 2004–2021

Abstract Poland disposes on a large stock of mostly aged private passenger cars. In contrast younger cars still play minor role in individual mobility. The contribution analyzes reasons of lagging modernization by focusing on new cars prices with respect to regional price discrimination. It finds in 2004-2021 substantially increasing new cars prices and regional price discrimination between Poland and Germany. Price differentials were positive, with lower prices in Poland, and increased during time. Producers discriminated by prices increasingly but also limited arbitrage transactions by controlling excess differentials. Optimal regional price discrimination could support car markets developments in Poland by stock age compositions shifts towards younger cars. However, applied discrimination proves in observed market environments not sufficient to achieve a great car market transition in near future.