City Center Research Articles

Associations between the built environment and travel to higher-order centers in Chinese rural areas

Encouraging travel to higher-order centers is important for enhancing the quality of life of rural residents and promoting rural development. Although the literature shows that the built environment influences travel behavior, few studies have explored the relationship between the built environment and the frequency of travel to higher-order centers, particularly in rural contexts. Even less attention has been given to the synergetic effects that occur across built environment elements and county heterogeneity. Using data from 659 respondents in three Chinese counties collected between 2019 and 2020, we applied multilevel ordered logistic models to explore the associations between the rural built environment and travel frequency to higher-order centers (including townships, counties, and city centers). The results show that rural residents' travel frequency to higher-order centers decreases with increasing distance from such centers. The relationships between built environment elements and travel frequency to higher-order centers differ according to the level of such centers. Moreover, built environment elements exert synergetic impacts on travel frequency to higher-order centers. The association of the built environment with travel frequency to higher-order centers is moderated by the developmental levels of counties. These findings suggest that interventions in the rural built environment are important for ensuring the enhancement of rural resident travel behavior and access to better services, which, in turn, benefits rural revitalization.

Traffic State Comparison of Signalized Intersections Using SIDRA and SYNCHRO Software

The number of shopping malls and vehicles in Baghdad has quickly increased along with the city's population. This has resulted in an increase in daily trips, which affects the roadway network's traffic flow and causes congestion, particularly on Al-Mansour Street and Al-Rowad Street near the city center. To determine the best signal time, the 14th Ramadan signalized intersection was evaluated and analyzed using the SIDRA 8.0 and SYNCHRO 11.0 software. First, the findings revealed that the chosen traffic facility is presently experiencing a substantial reduction in service level that is leading to forced conditions (LOS "F"). It is suggested that the cycle time at the intersection of the 14th Ramadan be changed from 240 seconds to 160 seconds and 125 seconds in SIDRA and SYNCHRO, respectively. Signal timings have reduced the delay for the 14th Ramadan intersection (76.8%), thus improving LOS from (F) to (D) for the intersection. The best delays after optimization in SYNCHRO 11.0, however, were 31% reduction with LOS of (E and D). Cycle times have also been lowered for the intersection to 25% as part of the optimum signal timing optimization. In SYNCHRO 11.0, which is better than SIDRA 8.0, the back of the queue has improved at the 14th Ramadan intersection by 33%. However, SYNCHRO has a better representation than SIDRA for current traffic saturation

Values of urban greening – Voices of residents on highly intensive densification (HID) in a Swedish case study

Effects of planned Highly Intensive Densification (HID) were investigated in southern Eriksberg, a residential area located four km from the city center, mainly built in the 1950s in western Uppsala, Sweden according to the planning ideal Houses-in-Park. Uppsala municipality has proposed a doubling of the number of apartments in the southern part of the residential area, mostly through situating dwellings in-between existing houses and in some of the existing green places and spaces. This way of densifying by inserting an equally large area is a new approach in larger Swedish cities, which we term HID. The research presented in this paper is based on case study methodology. Method triangulation has been used to elucidate the projected consequences on urban greening of the planned HID-process in southern Eriksberg. We have analysed the development plan of Eriksberg and measurable effects but also inventoried attitudes and experiences among residents. The document study showed that an implementation of the HID plan will transform the original concept Houses-in-Park into a compact design with significant smaller green spaces in between the houses. The main result showed that most of the respondents had in general strong opinions and feelings regarding the planned loss of green structure. The courtyard green, the district green and the entrance green were highly valued by the respondents. Further on it was clear that a majority were concerned about the residential area losing its original character, planned according to the idea, Houses-in-Park.

Impact of Free Trade (Pilot) Zone Establishment on Urban Land Use Efficiency—Empirical Evidence from Cities in China

The establishment of the Free Trade (Pilot) Zone (FTZ) is a new attempt by China to embark on modern sustainable urban planning and governmental territorial management at the development stage of a high-quality economy. As urban lands serve as the limited resource foundation for civic production and livelihoods, enhancing land use efficiency becomes a key measure to facilitate metropolitan economies of high quality. Utilizing panel data from prefecture-level cities spanning from 2005 to 2021, this study constructs a multi-period difference-in-differences model to explore the impact of FTZs on urban land use efficiency (ULUE). The results indicate that FTZs can significantly enhance urban land use efficiency, with a more pronounced policy effect observed in central cities, inland cities, and cities with higher urbanization rates. Furthermore, the FTZs also demonstrate spatial spillover effects on urban land use efficiency. This study holds great significance for relevant government departments in formulating policies to optimize land resource allocation, promote FTZ development, and foster high-quality urban planning and territorial management.

Effect of Smoking on Corneal Endothelium

Purpose: To determine if smoking has an effect on corneal endothelium. Study Design: Descriptive observational. Place and Duration of Study: Lamar eye center in Kerbala city in Iraq during December, 2023 and January, 2024. Methods: A total of 108 eyes were selected, 54 eyes of smokers and 54 eyes of non-smokers. The smokers included in this study had history of smoking for more than twenty years and they smoke more than 40 cigarettes per day. All the participants were male. Specular microscopy was used to determine four corneal parameters; cell density, hexagonality, coefficient of variation and central corneal thickness. Results: Patients age ranged from 50 to 60 years. Central Corneal Thickness was 515.29±40.62 and 522.37±36.68in smokers and non-smokers respectively with p= 0.32. Coefficient of variation and, Cell Densityand Hexagonal shape parameters were also not statistically different between the two groups (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Smoking does not have a statistically significant effect on the corneal endothelium in terms of cell density, hexagonality, coefficient of variation, and central corneal thickness. However, more studies are needed to provide further evidence.

Geography versus sociodemographics as predictors of changes in daily mobility across the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-stage regression analysis across 26 metropolitan areas

ObjectiveWe investigated whether a zip code’s location or demographics are most predictive of changes in daily mobility throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignWe used a population-level study to examine...

Robustness Assessment of the Metro System: A Case Study of Bucharest, Romania

Metro network systems play an important role in urban transportation but they are vulnerable to various risks and disruptions. Having a comprehensive understanding of these risks is essential for their operation. In this paper, we aimed to assess the operational robustness of the Bucharest metro system. We employed graph theory and concepts. Using available data specific to the Bucharest metro system operation, we analyzed the type of disruptions across metro lines and stations. As expected, the two subway lines that sub-cross the city center experienced the greatest number of disruptions. Several stations on Line M1, that sub-cross the central urban area, were found to be particularly vulnerable. In our analysis, the results are as follows: the robustness indicator for the metro network, rT, is 0.1538, and the effective graph conductance (CG) is 0.1. These reveal that the Bucharest metro network can withstand up to 45% of node failures before collapsing. This indicates moderate robustness, suggesting that while the network can handle specific disruptions, targeted improvements are necessary to enhance overall resilience.

Соціотопографія Вільнюса в XVII–XVIII ст.: основні особливості та напрямки розвитку

The article summarises the characteristics of the development of the Vilnius community in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, regarding the context of historical events between the 17th and 18th centuries. The summary is part of a scientific project carried out between 2018 and 2021, based on a research of real estate registers and lists of taxes collected by the magistrate. The research used a statistical method, a spatial relational database and the structured query language (SQL) as well as Python programming language libraries NumPy and Pandas for managing and analysing big data. A detailed description of the study and its results can be found in the collective monograph published in 2021. Based on these sources, the value of real estate in different districts of Vilnius, spatial distribution, size and function of the buildings as well as the distribution of their owners in the city between first half of the 17th and the end of the 18th century were analysed. It was determined that frequent large fires were causing the biggest changes to the spatial structure of Vilnius. The greatest changes in demography and sociotopography were recorded after the occupation of Vilnius by the Moscow army between 1655 and 1661 and plague outbreaks in 1657 and between 1709 and 1710. During these times, the city has lost between 30 and 50 percent of its population. As a result, the mediaeval spatial structure of the old city gradually disappeared and its current appearance was formed with large, almost completely built-up plots of land, elite residences and dominant brick architecture of the Baroque style. The social structure has been partially changed. Poor townspeople and some artisans moved from the city centre to the suburbs. In the fortified centre, most real estate passed from the hands of ordinary citizens to wealthy individuals and organisations, who often acquired entire groups of empty land areas. However, some characteristics of the sociotopography of the 16th and first half of the 17th centuries remained unchanged, including the locations of some areas where social groups were living.

National central cities, technological innovation, and economic growth

This study examines the impact of establishing national central cities on economic growth in China while considering technological innovation and regional differences. Using the multiperiod difference-in-differences method and the real GDP per capita metric, it finds that national central cities boost economic growth, especially in the eastern region of the country. Furthermore, technological innovation enhances this effect. The findings offer insights into the influence of national central cities and the role of technological innovation in driving economic progress.

Depopulation as a Long-term Policy Problem: From Dilemmas to Strategies

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The scientific objective of this article is to analyse strategies for urban decision-makers to address the dilemmas of depopulation. The theoretical framework for the article is the typology of long-term policy problem-solving dilemmas by Pot et al. (2022). THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The authors answer the question of how public administration officials are responding to the challenge of regional depopulation, what dilemmas they face in the process, and whether patterns can be detected in their preferred solutions. To answer these questions, the authors rely on qualitative research findings ‒ in-depth interviews (IDI) performed with mayors of Polish cities liable to depopulation and their direct subordinates. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: How policymakers navigate specific long-term challenges is contingent upon, inter alia, their resolution of the ensuing pivotal dilemmas. RESEARCH RESULTS: The strategies followed by municipalities are strongly affected by contextual factors inclusive of the monetary scenario, the character of the metropolis and its hyperlinks with other city centres, the connection with the government, or even the management style represented by means of the mayor. An aggregate of 3 styles seems to predominate, i.e. making an investment in targets, the responsive, and the reactive ones. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Two challenges, which we call meta-dilemmas, are particularly relevant for local government in Poland: the meta-dilemma of defining the functions of local government and the dilemma of agency. Resolving them determines the decision of policy when dealing with strategic dilemmas.

Parklets As Public Space

The unpredictable increase in the number of motor vehicles and the population due to changes in the urban structure hasrevealed the need for new public areas, recreation and social contact points for pedestrians, especially in city centers.Parklet designs, can be installed modularly on the one or more car parking area, are carried out in order to calm traffic, toensure pedestrian safety, and to create public spaces. For this purpose, within the scope of the study, public space and the process of change are revealed, and parklets designed with urban equipment elements (street furniture) to meet various public needs, especially in city centers, are examined through examples from our country (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality example) and the world. As a result, parklet designs, which are designed in a modular structure and allow alternative designs in different regions, include innovative approaches to publicity for Istanbul and all our other cities.

The Role of the Characteristics of Urban Furniture and Equipment on the Quality of the Public Space of the Pedestrian Zone

Public spaces are complex structures that contain numerous elements formed by various influential forces suchas social relations, spatial elements, contemporary tendencies of city life and many others. The quality of the city'spublic space determines the frequency of its use, the concentration of content and the intensity of the experiencethat a place will have on its users. The paper describes the results of research that indicate the influence of thecharacteristics of urban furniture and equipment as architectural and urban planning elements on the quality ofpublic spaces in the city center. The systematization of the results of the comparative analysis of theoreticalpositions helped to form three groups of characteristics of architectural-urban elements: spatial, physicomorphological and functional. Through the conducted survey, the opinion of users of the pedestrian zone of NoviSad was investigated regarding the importance of the researched group of public space elements on theirexperience of the place.

Strategi pengembangan bisnis Tour dan Travel pada PT. Tiwikrama Tour Indonesia

Tiwikrama Tour Indonesia is a company that deals with tour and travel transportation. PT. Tiwikrama Tour Indonesia has the following strengths: 1. Strategic location in the city center with good accessibility; 2. Consumer trust in car, tour, and travel services and weaknesses 1. Limited physical facilities and human resources (HR) that limit service capacity; 2. Lack of effective promotion and marketing to increase company visibility. 3. Operational opening hours, 3. Price cuts, 4. Unclear information media and Opportunities: 1. Utilizing technological advances as a tool for marketing and consumer rentals; 2. Increasing tourism sector in the city of Bandung, 3. Addition of vehicle units in demand from consumers, 4. Gaining trust from customers and threats that arise: 1. The emergence of many competitors, such as Tour and Travel, 2. More attractive offers related to promos and discounts by other companies exist, 3. Increasing rental prices. By using the Business Model Canvas method PT. Tiwikrama Tour Indonesia is expected to improve its business strategy to be more innovative and flexible to continue to follow trends and expand the market. Therefore, it is likely that this research will significantly contribute to PT's growth. Tiwikrama Tour Indonesia. The strategic steps that must be taken immediately are 1. providing the types of vehicles often rented by consumers, 2. Carrying out regular service or checks to provide security and comfort for consumers, 3. Social-Media such as Instagram, TikTok, and other websites are used as marketing media. 4. Designing applications to make it easier for consumers to rent.

도심유휴산업공간의 재생디자인특성연구

This article first defines idle industrial facilities, summarizing their characteristics as temporal, accessible, flexible, and malleable. It then elaborates on the concept of the cultural and creative industries, highlighting their features as cultural diversity, uniqueness, creativity, and concentration. Subsequently, the paper categorizes spaces redesigned for regeneration, classifying them as art exhibition spaces, commercial spaces, public spaces, and social and resting spaces. Based on this framework, the study explores the design features of cultural and creative industries in regenerating idle industrial spaces in city centers, identifying four key traits: symbolic, multipurpose, specialized, and participatory. The analysis includes case studies of transformation projects like the 798 Art Zone and Seongsu-dong, concluding with targeted recommendations such as enhancing original industrial historical elements, adding interactive designs to provide a deeper immersive experience, and improving the industrial environment with increased subsidies. The aim is to foster the transformation of more idle industrial spaces into vibrant redevelopment projects through the power of cultural and creative industries.

지역 문예회관 활성화에 미치는 영향요인 분석: 지역 특성 요인의 유의성 검증

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the revitalization of local cultural and arts centers, which have been established to foster regional cultural development and enhance the cultural lives of local residents, within the context of past decentralization efforts and recent emphasis on balanced regional development. Specifically, the study examines the significance of various social and economic conditions affecting local area, such as population decline, regional extinction, aging populations, youth outmigration, and economic slowdown, on the revitalization of local cultural and arts centers. By investigating the causal relationship between the current limitations of local areas and the activation of local cultural and arts centers, the study seeks to propose future strategic directions for regional cultural policies to enhance the vitality of these centers. The research employs a panel regression analysis on data from 53 local cultural and arts centers in small and medium-sized cities, using performance-related data from 2016 to 2020, as detailed in the Board of Audit and Inspection's report on the Status of Population Structure Change III(Local Administration). The analysis reveals that higher operational expertise, achieved through the residency of professional performance groups and the employment of specialized personnel for performance planning and related projects, as well as higher operational capacity for hosting and planning both fine and popular art performances, positively impact the revitalization of local cultural and arts centers. However, regional characteristics were found to have no significant causal relationship with the activation of local cultural and arts centers. Consequently, to enhance the activation of cultural and arts facilities, including local cultural and arts centers, local areas should not remain constrained by their current physical limitations or social and economic issues. Instead, efforts should focus on developing regional culture through the branding of cultural and arts facilities, facilitated by necessary changes in systems and policies that allow for the continuous infusion of professional personnel and high-quality art programs into local cultural and arts centers.

자연물을 활용한 음률 활동이 유아의 정서지능과 환경친화적 태도에 미치는 영향

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of music and movement activities using natural objects on young children’s emotional intelligence and eco-friendly attitudes. This study conducted experimental research targeting 15 five-year-old children at N daycare center (experimental group) and 15 five-year-old children at H daycare center (comparative group) in Gwangju metropolitan city. The experimental group participated in music and movement activities using natural objects, and comparative group in music and movement activities according to the life themes of Nuri curriculum. As a result of study, the scores of the experimental group in emotional intelligence and eco-friendly attitudes were significantly improved compared to those of the comparative group. In the analysis of the difference between the pre-post average of the experimental group, emotional intelligence and eco-friendly attitudes were significantly improved. That is to say, music and movement activities using natural objects have a positive effect on young children’s emotional intelligence and eco-friendly attitudes. Therefore, this study is meaningful in presenting effective teaching-learning activities for improving young children’s emotional intelligence and eco-friendly attitudes by demonstrating the educational effects of music and movement activities using natural objects.

Investigating the knowledge, attitude, and performance of the staff of the therapeutic educational center in Gorgan city about the factors related to hand hygiene according to the PRECEDE Model: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Hospital-acquired infections pose a significant risk to patients who are hospitalized and have become a major global concern. These infections are associated with an increasing number of complications, morbidity, and mortality rates, and result in considerable costs for patients during their hospital stay. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the staff of Shahid Sayad Shirazi Hospital in Gorgan regarding the factors related to hand hygiene based on the PRECEDE model, 2020. To improve the observance of hand hygiene in personnel, it is necessary to study the factors related to their behaviors. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population was the administrative and medical personnel working in Shahid Sayad Shirazi Hospital, who were selected by random sampling. An author-made questionnaire was used, which included questions on knowledge, attitude, and performance. The questionnaire was based on Najafi Ghezeljeh et al’s study questionnaire and had 6 sections: demographic, knowledge, attitude, and enabling, where content validity was confirmed by determining CVR=0.78 and CVI=0.84. The questionnaire’s reliability was Cronbach’s alpha=0.84. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 16, and descriptive statistics and inferential statistics parametric tests ANOVA, t test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used at the error level (0.05). Results: The results showed that the score of all areas was above average. The domain of enabling factors was affected by four variables: gender, degree of education, grade of education, and type of employment. The knowledge was affected by three demographic variables: age, work experience, and marital status. The performance is affected by the variable of work experience. Conclusion: To observe hand hygiene according to the instructions, it is required to create resources on a proper basis and provide basic knowledge, attitude, and practice training to the staff based on the PRECEDE model.

ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF IDENTIFIED HISTORIC BAZAR OF SULTANATE PERIOD TOWARD TOURISM AND ECONOMIC UPLIFTING IN THE REGION OF SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Internationally, historic bazars are being regenerated to maintain and sustain the ambience of heritage core of the city. In Pakistan, this concept is also being followed in historic cities like Lahore, which have meaningful results by saving endangered heritage of specific time period as well creating economic, recreational and tourism activities having direct impact on uplifting of the community. There is need to apply this concept of regeneration in the other historic cities of Pakistan especially the remote areas like Southern Punjab where the heritage is being detoriating due to lack of maintenance and encroachment and need to protect on priority basis. Southern Punjab, Pakistan is a cradle of many civilizations and full of historic monuments with a most important era of Sultanate Period in which numbers of shrines were built spiritually in the memory of Sufi saints who played a vital role in spread of Islam in the region. Regular visits by their followers, especially during URS, led to the establishment of commercial and recreational activities in the form of bazars and mela grounds around these shrines. However, as city centers evolved over time, these bazars have deteriorated, necessitating regeneration for the revival of the historic core's ambiance This research focuses on the regeneration of historic bazars during the Sultanate Period in one of the historic settlements of Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The methodology involves a comprehensive survey and interviews with experts, contributing valuable insights to the existing body of knowledge. Emphasizing compliance with SDG-11.4, which underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of indigenous heritage, the study aims to provide practical recommendations for the sustainable regeneration of these historic bazars, safeguarding Southern Punjab's rich cultural legacy.

Doppler Ultrasonographic Indexes and Its Relation to Transplanted Kidney (Allograft) Function in Sulaimani City Centre

Doppler Ultrasonographic Indexes and Its Relation to Transplanted Kidney (Allograft) Function in Sulaimani City Centre

The Motif of Language Dominance that Used on Coffee Shop Signboards in Padang City

This study offers a fresh perspective on Linguistic Landscapes (LL) by employing language mapping to analyze the frequency and distribution of language usage. The population data comprised 60 signboards from coffee shops and tourism spots in Padang city center. Qualitative methods were utilized for data collection, with analysis conducted using GIS (Geographic et al.) and Adobe Photoshop, representing innovative approaches in LL research. The analysis commenced with quantifying language usage, encompassing mono/bi/multilingual forms on coffee shop signboards. Subsequently, language mapping was employed to illustrate language distribution and highlight motif of linguistic dominance that used on coffee shop signboards in specific areas on the map. Findings revealed the presence of 12 languages on coffee shop signage, reflecting the global influence and societal preference for modernization. Despite the prominence of foreign languages, Indonesian emerged as the most frequently used, indicating relatively successful implementation of Presidential Regulation No.63 of 2019, although inconsistencies persist