City Municipality Research Articles

Determination of stresses in dangerous cross-sections of frame spars of minitractor vehicles

Problem. On the basis of the method of initial parameters, it is necessary to determine the mass-dimensional parameters of the frame of the spar type, for the creation of a universal small-sized vehicle UMTZ-26 "Nadia", as well as for the development of a mini-truck of category N1, with a carrying capacity of up to 3.2 tons. Goal. To determine the value of the maximum forces (stresses) and moments acting in the structural elements of the spar frame during the arrangement of the engine with transmission, body, engine compartment and cabin of the UMTZ-26 "Nadia" light vehicle, as well as units and aggregates of the N1 category, which can be used for municipal city or farm purpose. Results. According to the given calculation using the method of initial parameters (for frame structures), the maximum load in the cross section of the selected channel is determined, which does not exceed 106.372 MPa, the latter is used as a spar in the welded frame of the vehicle. The maximum permissible load that this profile of the channel can withstand is 160 MPa. Originality. The drawing and design documentation of the spar type was developed, which was used for the development of new universal small-sized vehicles of the UMTZ-26 "Nadia" type, as well as for the creation of mini trucks of the N1 category. Practical value. The practical value lies in the fact that the values of the maximum forces and moments acting in the side members of the frame when the engine with transmission, the engine compartment and the cabin of the vehicle are arranged on it do not exceed the maximum permissible values and the latter can be used on mini motor vehicles of category N1.

Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Genomes in Wastewaters and the Associated Potential Infection Risk for Plant Workers in Typical Urban and Peri-Urban Communities of the Buffalo City Region, South Africa.

The presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater has been reported in several studies and similar research can be used as a proxy for an early warning of potential Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks. This study focused on profiling the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in wastewater samples obtained from facilities located in the Buffalo City Municipality. Raw samples were collected weekly using the grab technique for a period of 48 weeks. Ribonucleic acids were extracted from the samples, using the QIAGEN Powersoil Total RNA Extraction kit, and extracted RNA samples were further profiled for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) technique. Furthermore, various environmental matrices were utilized to estimate the potential health risk to plant operators associated with exposure to SARS-CoV-2 viral particles using the quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) model. Our findings revealed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 genomes with concentrations that ranged from 0.22 × 103 to 17.60 × 103 genome copies per milliliter (GC/mL). Different exposure scenarios were employed for the QMRA model, and the findings indicate a probability of infection (P(i)) ranging from 0.93% to 37.81% across the study sites. Similarly, the P(i) was highly significant (p < 0.001) for the 20 mL volumetric intake as compared to other volumetric intake scenarios, and high P(i) was also observed in spring, autumn, and winter for all WWTPs. The P(i) was significantly different (p < 0.05) with respect to the different seasons and with respect to different volume scenarios.

#1433 Geographical variation in chronic kidney disease: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a significant and growing global health challenge, especially among aging populations. Despite declines in mortality from other non-communicable diseases, CKD-related mortality has remained stable, underscoring the need for enhanced management strategies. Primary care physicians play a crucial role in early detection and appropriate intervention. Understanding geographical variation in CKD prevalence and incidence is essential for clinicians and policy makers, informing the development of targeted interventions and resource allocation strategies. This study investigates CKD in Denmark, assessing variations in prevalence and incidence across rural and urban areas. Method This nationwide cohort study included all Danish residents aged ≥18 years as of January 1, 2019. Patients with CKD were identified using measurements of eGFR from the Register of Laboratory results for Research. CKD was defined according to KDIGO as at least two reported outpatient eGFR &amp;lt;60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at least 90 days apart. Population characteristics, CKD prevalence and CKD incidence were analyzed by urbanicity of residence municipality (capital, large city, provincial, sub-rural and rural municipalities). Two different models were used to estimate incidence rates; a crude model and a model using propensity score weighting for standardization, accounting for age and sex. Results The study included 4,466,041 Danish residents. There was variation in population characteristics and CKD incidence between urban and rural areas such as CKD prevalence, hypertension, diabetes, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. The crude model showed geographical differences in CKD incidence rates varying between 7.4 and 12.8 per 1,000 person-years in large city municipalities and rural municipalities, respectively. The standardized model showed less variation, with incidence rates ranging from 9.2 to 10.5 cases of CKD per 1,000 person years. Conclusion The study illuminates geographical variations in CKD prevalence and incidence across Danish rural and urban municipalities. After standardization for age and sex, there was only minor variation in incidence rates of CKD, suggesting that variation could largely be explained by differences in demographic, highlighting the need for targeted interventions accounting for diverse population characteristics in different geographic regions.

Mangrove forest composition, diversity, and disturbances in Carcar City and Sibonga Municipality, Southern Cebu Island, Philippines

Abstract. Lillo EP, Malaki AB, Alcazar SMT, Chavez MLM, Rosales R, Tomol CJ, Pantinople EM, Redoblado BR, Margate MA, Diaz JL, Isabelo JL, Cagara BNR, Abrigana M, Mago JE, Cañarijo III DM, Sanchez IRG, Obando ME, Belañizo J, Beceril R, Carreon J, Diaz GGG, Gonzaga CFO, Davirao CR, Revillas MJS, Lim JM, Lillo EP. 2024. Mangrove forest composition, diversity, and disturbances in Carcar City and Sibonga Municipality, Southern Cebu Island, Philippines. Biodiversitas 25: 2035-2043. Mangrove forests are one of the world’s most vulnerable tropical ecosystems. The study assessed the mangrove forest composition, diversity, and disturbances in Sibonga Municipality and Carcar City, Cebu Island, Philippines, as a basis for its conservation planning. A transect line was established for a minimum length of 1000 m and a maximum of 2000 m (seaward, middleward, and landward), at an interval of 100 meters. A 10 × 10 m quadrant was established within the transect line at 250 m intervals resulted in a total of 108 plots. Disturbances and threats in two sampling sites were evaluated through direct field observations and interview, and analyzed using the Beynen and Townsend disturbance index. The study identified 22 true mangrove species categorized into 11 families and 14 genera with Excoecaria agallocha L., Sonneratia alba Sm., Rhizophora apiculata Blume, and Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh dominating both sites. The endangered Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst. &amp; G.Forst. was recorded in Sibonga. Aside from low diversity, both sites exhibited a high disturbance index due to illegal activities such as cutting, charcoal production, and land conversion. Such disturbances affects biodiversity and threatens coastal community. Urgent local government action is needed to preserve these ecosystems, emphasizing awareness and community involvement for long-term survival.

The Dynamics and Couses of Changes in Meadow and Natural Pasture Area in Klaipeda County

The comparative investigation utilized data from the Land Fund of the Republic of Lithuania spanning the years 2003 to 2023. In 2023, these areas in Klaipeda County encompassed 41,050.04 ha, accounting for 7.86 percent of the county's area. Over the period from 2003 to 2023, there was a decline of 141.05 ha or 0.34 percent in the overall area of meadows and natural pastures. After analyzing alterations in the meadows and natural pasture areas within the municipalities of Klaipeda County, it was found that, over the span of two decades, the scrutinized areas expanded in four of the seven municipalities. Conversely, the remaining three experienced a decrease in their respective areas. Skuodas municipality experienced the most substantial decrease (1860,79 ha or 34.76 percent). In Silute municipality, the analyzed area decreased by 3,515.93 ha or 15.58 percent. The largest expansion was identified in the municipalities of Klaipeda city (754.28 ha or 159.02 percent) and Klaipeda district (4,620.13 ha or 73.37 percent).

Increasing coverage and uptake of voluntary family planning in Uganda's emerging municipalities and secondary cities: An implementation research study protocol.

While urban areas are often perceived to have better access to healthcare services, including modern family planning (FP) services, urban dwellers including those with better socioeconomic status are faced with multidimensional challenges that shape their access to appropriate FP services. In Uganda's urban spaces, there is currently a lack of understanding among service providers, civil society organizations, and individuals/communities regarding the implementation of interventions that promote informed choice and voluntary use of family planning services. This knowledge gap has profound implications for reproductive rights. This study seeks to enhance existing efforts towards increasing coverage and uptake of Voluntary Family Planning (VFP) in Jinja City and Iganga Municipality, central eastern Uganda. Our primary question is, "What interventions can effectively be packaged and delivered to increase the uptake of VFP among different segments of urban residents?" We propose to use the Human-Centered Design (HCD) approach to understand the needs and challenges of users and community capabilities in ensuring access to VFP services. Co-creating with stakeholders' engagement and a data-driven-centric approach will steer design and adaptation that respond to the different population segments within the urban space. As such, the study will be implemented in three phases: formative assessment, design and implementation, and implementation monitoring and evaluation. The implementation process will incorporate robust monitoring, learning, and adaptation mechanisms. The primary focus of these mechanisms will be to utilize gathered information effectively to inform the design of the implementation and facilitate continuous learning throughout the process. The study will apply a process monitoring and evaluation approach to address questions related to what package of FP interventions work, for whom, under what circumstances and why. Guided by strong learning and implementation flexibility, we hypothesize that our implementation will provide segmentation-specific high-impact interventions in an urban context. This implementation research protocol has been registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) repository Registries (https://osf.io/vqxu9; DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/VQXU9).

Novel Approach for Detecting Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Pediatric Patients Using Machine Learning Models Based on Patient-Reported Symptoms: Model Development and Validation Study.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) affects children, causing serious infections, particularly in high-risk groups. Given the seasonality of RSV and the importance of rapid isolation of infected individuals, there is an urgent need for more efficient diagnostic methods to expedite this process. This study aimed to investigate the performance of a machine learning model that leverages the temporal diversity of symptom onset for detecting RSV infections and elucidate its discriminatory ability. The study was conducted in pediatric and emergency outpatient settings in Japan. We developed a detection model that remotely confirms RSV infection based on patient-reported symptom information obtained using a structured electronic template incorporating the differential points of skilled pediatricians. An extreme gradient boosting-based machine learning model was developed using the data of 4174 patients aged ≤24 months who underwent RSV rapid antigen testing. These patients visited either the pediatric or emergency department of Yokohama City Municipal Hospital between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2015. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of the machine learning model for RSV infection, as determined by rapid antigen testing, measured using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by calculating the discriminative performance based on the number of days elapsed since the onset of the first symptom and exclusion rates based on thresholds of reasonable sensitivity and specificity. Our model demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.811 (95% CI 0.784-0.833) with good calibration and 0.746 (95% CI 0.694-0.794) for patients within 3 days of onset. It accurately captured the temporal evolution of symptoms; based on adjusted thresholds equivalent to those of a rapid antigen test, our model predicted that 6.9% (95% CI 5.4%-8.5%) of patients in the entire cohort would be positive and 68.7% (95% CI 65.4%-71.9%) would be negative. Our model could eliminate the need for additional testing in approximately three-quarters of all patients. Our model may facilitate the immediate detection of RSV infection in outpatient settings and, potentially, in home environments. This approach could streamline the diagnostic process, reduce discomfort caused by invasive tests in children, and allow rapid implementation of appropriate treatments and isolation at home. The findings underscore the potential of machine learning in augmenting clinical decision-making in the early detection of RSV infection.

A population-based cohort of drug exposures and adverse pregnancy outcomes in China (DEEP): rationale, design, and baseline characteristics.

The DEEP cohort is the first population-based cohort of pregnant population in China that longitudinally documented drug uses throughout the pregnancy life course and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The main goal of the study aims to monitor and evaluate the safety of drug use through the pregnancy life course in the Chinese setting. The DEEP cohort is developed primarily based on the population-based data platforms in Xiamen, a municipal city of 5million population in southeast China. Based on these data platforms, we developed a pregnancy database that documented health care services and outcomes in the maternal and other departments. For identifying drug uses, we developed a drug prescription database using electronic healthcare records documented in the platforms across the primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals. By linking these two databases, we developed the DEEP cohort. All the pregnant women and their offspring in Xiamen are provided with health care and followed up according to standard protocols, and the primary adverse outcomes - congenital malformations - are collected using a standardized Case Report Form. From January 2013 to December 2021, the DEEP cohort included 564,740 pregnancies among 470,137 mothers, and documented 526,276 live births, 14,090 miscarriages and 6,058 fetal deaths/stillbirths and 25,723 continuing pregnancies. In total, 13,284,982 prescriptions were documented, in which 2,096 chemicals drugs, 163 biological products, 847 Chinese patent medicines and 655 herbal medicines were prescribed. The overall incidence rate of congenital malformations was 2.0% (10,444/526,276), while there were 25,526 (4.9%) preterm births and 25,605 (4.9%) live births with low birth weight.

Individualized Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mexico City Municipality during the First Six Waves of the Pandemic.

After COVID-19 emerged, alternative methods to laboratory tests for the individualized prediction of SARS-CoV-2 were developed in several world regions. The objective of this investigation was to develop models for the individualized prediction of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large municipality of Mexico. The study included data from 36,949 patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection who received a diagnostic tested at health centers of the Alvaro Obregon Jurisdiction in Mexico City registered in the Epidemiological Surveillance System for Viral Respiratory Diseases (SISVER-SINAVE). The variables that were different between a positive test and a negative test were used to generate multivariate binary logistic regression models. There was a large variation in the prediction variables for the models of different pandemic waves. The models obtained an overall accuracy of 73% (63-82%), sensitivity of 52% (18-71%), and specificity of 84% (71-92%). In conclusion, the individualized prediction models of a positive COVID-19 test based on SISVER-SINAVE data had good performance. The large variation in the prediction variables for the models of different pandemic waves highlights the continuous change in the factors that influence the spread of COVID-19. These prediction models could be applied in early case identification strategies, especially in vulnerable populations.

Cognizing waste: a comprehensive quantitative and characterization analysis of municipal solid waste in Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, India

Cognizing waste: a comprehensive quantitative and characterization analysis of municipal solid waste in Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, India

Examining the efficacy of the legal framework governing the management of greywater in South Africa's informal settlements.

The management of greywater and sanitation in South Africa's urban informal settlements is a pressing concern. This review critically examines the legal framework that governs greywater management in South Africa's informal settlements, aiming to shed light on the existing regulations, gaps, and opportunities for sustainable greywater reuse. By scrutinizing the legal framework, the review identifies gaps and challenges in the regulatory environment, including inconsistencies, lack of clarity, and limited enforcement mechanisms. It explores the potential for international best practices to inform possible amendments to the existing legal framework. This was a quantitative research design utilizing a cross sectional survey model. Questionnaires were administered electronically to a sample of 17 municipal leaders from the City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg and Buffalo City municipalities whose responsibilities were on water management. Descriptive statistics were employed in analysis of the data. Outcomes were reviewed against the alignment or the lack thereof with the SANS 1732:201x standards. This paper underscores the critical need for a coherent and robust legal framework to support responsible greywater management in South Africa's informal settlements. The paper's insights contribute to the ongoing discourse on water governance, shedding light on the pathways toward a more equitable water future.

Urban Heat Island effect and Urban Thermal Field Variance Index phenomenon at the heart of ‘Chicken's Neck Corridor’ of India

Siliguri corridor, the ‘Chicken Neck Corridor of India’, is one of the largest Municipal areas in West Bengal and is of great geo-strategic importance as it lies at the crossroads between India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh connecting the north-eastern part of India with mainland India. This study uses the LANDSAT 7 ETM+ and LANDSAT 9 TIR OLI imageries from USGS Earth Explorer to determine Land Surface Temperature (LST) changes, Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) changes; Normalized Differential Built-up Index (NDBI) changes; Land use and Land cover (LULC) changes; Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect; Urban Hot Spots (UHS) and Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI) phenomenon. With booming trade and increasing urbanisation, Siliguri city (Municipal Corporation) has seen rise in the mean LST by 2.92 °C resulting in increased UHI intensity and UTFVI phenomena between 2000 and 2022. The average LST in UHI and UHS has risen by approx. 3 °C causing more areas to come under bad, worse and worst thermal comfort level categories of the ecological evaluation index. An attempt is made to determine the reason for such changes in this micro climate through multi-dimensional perspectives and to exhibit the land use transformations that took place between the aforesaid time periods.

Enteric bacterial agents associated with diarrhea and their antimicrobial sensitivity profiles in children under 5 years from mukuru informal settlement, Nairobi, Kenya

BackgroundIn Kenya, diarrhoeal disease is the third leading cause of child mortality after malaria and pneumonia, accounting for nearly 100 deaths daily. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Mukuru informal settlements to determine the bacteria associated with diarrhea and their ASTs to provide data essential for implementing appropriate intervention measures.MethodsDiarrheagenic children (≤ 5 years) were purposively recruited from outpatient clinics of Municipal City Council, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Medical Missionaries of Mary, and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Nairobi. A total of 219 stool samples were collected between May 2021 and August 2021. Stool culture was done on MacConkey and Salmonella Shigella agar, while the recovered bacteria were identified using VITEK®2GNID and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used for E. coli pathotyping. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing was done using VITEK®2AST-GN83.ResultsAt least one bacterial organism was recovered from each of the 213 (97%) participants, with 115 (56%) participants having only one bacterial type isolated, 90 (43%) with two types of bacteria, and 2 (1%) with three types of bacteria recovered. The most predominant bacteria recovered was 85% (93/109) non-pathogenic E.coli and 15% (16/109)of pathogenic E.coli, with 2 (1%) were Enterohemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC), 6 (3%) were Enteroaggregative E.coli (EAEC), and 8 (4%) were Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC). Other potentially pathogenic bacteria included Enterobacter sp (27.8%), Klebsiella sp 33(11%), and Citrobacter sp 15(4.7%). Pathogenic isolates such as Salmonella 7 (2%), Proteus mirabilis 16 (6%), Providencia alcalifaciens 1 (0.3%), and Shigella 16 (4.7%) were detected. Isolates such as Pantoea spp 2(0.67%), Raoultella planticola 1(0.33%), and Kluyvera 6(2%) rarely reported but implicated with opportunistic diarrhoeal disease were also recovered. Ampicillin, cefazolin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim were the least effective antimicrobials at 64%, 57%, and 55% resistance, respectively, while meropenem (99%), amikacin (99%), tazobactam piperacillin (96%), and cefepime (95%) were the most effective. Overall, 33(21%) of all enterics recovered were multidrug-resistant.ConclusionThe study documented different bacteria potentially implicated with childhood diarrhea that were not limited to E. coli, Shigella, and Salmonella, as previously observed in Kenya. The strains were resistant to the commonly used antibiotics, thus narrowing the treatment options for diarrheal disease.

The impact of urban design on mental well-being by integrating green spaces in Doha City, Qatar

The fields of urban design and public health play an important role in the success and failure of the city. Research combining the two fields to improve citizens’ lives is rare, particularly in a rapidly developing city like Doha. This study highlights the urban planning efforts of the municipality of Doha city to improve the mental health of its citizens and aims to understand the impact of urban design elements on mental health by analyzing the physical form and characteristics of green urban areas in Doha. The methods employed include an observational study and a structured survey interview, where visitors’ responses to selected green urban areas are analyzed. The results show how Doha officials are working to improve the mental health of its citizens by providing accessible, child-friendly, older citizen-friendly, and equitable green urban spaces and suggesting policies that could provide more opportunities for people and the government to provide a healthier environment in Doha. The implications encompass shaping urban design strategies, raising public awareness, enhancing healthcare initiatives, and ultimately emphasizing the positive impact of well-designed green spaces for mental well-being in Doha and other Gulf countries.

Savivaldžių miestų valdininkijos darbolaikis LDK XVI–XVIII a.: Merkinės atvejis

The history of the cities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania has in recent years attracted more and more interest in the context of Magdeburg law, city institutions, ruling elites, etc. However, to this day there has been no significant research on the working time of city officials, and certain aspects, such as the organization of work during festivals, are used as details to supplement the historical narrative. This article focuses on the working time of the municipal cities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 16th–18th centuries, using the city of Merkinė as a reference point. The study aims to find out how the working time of municipal cities was defined by normative documents, when elections and appointments of officials took place in Merkinė, how long the term of office lasted, and when the council and the court of advocatus – lay judges worked. The main part of the article is devoted to the definition of the working time (annual, monthly, weekly) of the municipal bodies of Merkinė (the council and the court of advocatus – lay judges). The work is illustrated by tables based on the data from the act books of the court of advocatus – lay judges and the council.

KIRSAL VE KENTSEL ALANDA MAHALLE: KÖYLERDE, KENT VE KASABALARDA, BÜYÜKŞEHİRLERDE MAHALLE KAVRAMI

Bu çalışmada Türkiye'de mevcut mahalle kavramı, yapısı, gelişimi, kırsal ve kentsel özellikleri ve bunların farklı yönleri temelinde açıklanmaya çalışılacaktır. Öncelikle kırsal alan ve kentsel alan ifadeleri ele alınacak, kırsal alanda mahalle kavramının ne anlama geldiği, kentsel alanda kurulan mahallelerin varlığı ve büyükşehirlerde kırsal mahalle kavramının anlamı ve nedenleri araştırılacak ve karşılaştırılacaktır. Çalışmada yapılacak açıklamalar literatür ve hukuki metinlere dayandırılacaktır. Kırsal ve kentsel alanlardaki mahalle türleri karşılaştırılacak, sorunları sıralanacak ve öneriler getirilmeye çalışılacaktır.&#x0D; Türkiye'de üç tür mahalle uygulaması bulunmaktadır. Kırsal alanlarda bazı köylerin bünyesinde bulunan mahalleler, şehir ve kasabalarda belediyeler tarafından kurulan mahalleler, büyükşehirlerde kırsal mahalle olarak adlandırılan, daha önce köy veya belde belediyesi iken mahalleye dönüştürülen kırsal karakterli yerleşmeler. Bu çalışmada, bahsedilen üç farklı mahalle tipi açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır.&#x0D; Türkiye'de TÜİK, ülkenin kırsal nüfusunu hesaplarken yerleşim yerleri ölçeğinde köy, belde ve köy altı yerleşim yerlerini (oba, kom, mezra, divan gibi) esas almaktadır. Bazen nüfus büyüklüğü de bir ölçü olarak kullanılmaktadır. Örneğin Türkiye'de Köy Kanunu kent ölçütünü 20 binin üzerindeki nüfusa dayandırmaktadır. Ancak, nüfus büyüklüğü kentsel ve kırsal karakteri ölçmek için her zaman tek başına yeterli değildir.&#x0D; Avrupa Birliği'nde uygulanmakta olan DEGURBA (kentleşme derecesi) istatistik sistemi 2022 yılından itibaren Türkiye'de de uygulanmaya başlanmıştır. Köy ve mahalle bazında coğrafyanın her 1 km2'lik alanının nüfus büyüklüğü ve farklı sosyo-ekonomik işlevi dikkate alınarak bu 1 km2'lik plakalar yoğun kentsel alan, orta yoğun kentsel alan ve kırsal alan olarak kodlanmaktadır. Bu yeni kır-kent alan sınıflandırması köy ve mahalle düzeyinde yapıldığı için o yerleşmenin idari statüsünün daha etkin bir şekilde belirlenmesine olanak sağlamaktadır.

The Impact of Digital Economy on Industrial Structure Upgrading under the Perspective of Political Economy

Abstract The rapid development of the new generation of digital technology and the increasing importance of the digital economy have brought new opportunities for China’s development and provided new ideas for the optimization of industrial structure as well as the improvement of industrial efficiency. In this paper, under the perspective of political economy, the evaluation index system of the comprehensive development level of the digital economy is constructed with the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces and municipalities from 2014 to 2023 as a sample, and the entropy weighting method is used to calculate the index of development. The rationalization and advanced upgrading of the industrial structure of the 30 provincial and municipal cities is studied by combining the Tel index and the added value of the tertiary/secondary industry. On this basis, the structural equation model was used to explore the role of the “digital economy” on “industrial structure upgrading”. The results of the study are as follows: the development level of China’s digital economy shows a stable growth trend from 2014 to 2023, with its average value increasing by 185.32%, and the average values of the advanced and rationalized levels of China’s industrial structure increasing and decreasing by 4.47% and 47.90%, respectively. The direct effect of the level of development on the improvement of industrial structure (i.e., Path 1) is significant, and the standardized path coefficient between the two is 0.162. The results of the study emphasize the need to comprehensively improve the level of development and to build an intermediary bridge between the digital economy and industrial structure upgrading by taking human capital, scientific and technological innovation, and consumption upgrading as important tools.

Architectural Evolution of Administrative Buildings for the Lithuanian Municipalities During the Interwar Period

Abstract During the period of Lithuanian independence, which lasted from 1918 to 1940, various institutions operating in the country needed modern and suitable buildings. Thus, during the period of more than twenty years, numerous new public buildings were built for schools, hospitals, banks, and cultural institutions. In addition, there was a need to build new administrative buildings for the newly established county, city and township municipalities of the country, as there was a lack of suitable premises for them. Therefore, this article, presenting the most characteristic and typical examples, analyses the architectural evolution of the administrative buildings built for the Lithuanian municipalities during the period of independence.

High Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria Isolated From Bahir Dar City Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsite, North West Ethiopia.

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance (ABR) have been a public health challenge globally. The burden is even higher in low-income countries where there is a lack of appropriate healthcare systems, and inappropriate antibiotic disposal practices and utilization. Due to poor solid waste disposal practices in developing nations, municipal solid waste dumpsite (MSWDS) can be a reservoir for ABR bacteria. However, only a few studies demonstrated the prevalence of ABR in non-clinical environments such as MSWDS. This study assessed the prevalence of ABR bacteria at Bahir Dar City MSWDS, to understand the public health risks related to poor solid waste disposal systems. Nine soil samples were collected from the dumpsite. Bacteria were isolated, identified and tested for ABR. Seventy-one distinct colonies were isolated from all samples and identified into 10 bacterial genera based on morphological features and biochemical tests. For ABR tests, gentamicin (GN, 10 μg), streptomycin (ST, 30 μg), tetracycline (TE, 30 μg), ciprofloxacin (CIP, 5 μg), nalidixic acid (NAA, 30 μg), sulfonamide (SA, 250 μg), chloramphenicol (C, 30 μg), erythromycin (E, 15 μg), vancomycin (V, 30 μg), and amoxicillin (AMX, 25 μg) were used. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus (23%) followed by Escherichia species (17%). Ten isolates related to Bacillus spp. were excluded from the antibiotic sensitivity test as there is no standard regarding this genus in the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The overall antibiotic résistance rate was 95.08%, and most isolates were found to be resistant to amoxicillin (100%), nalidixic acid (75.5%), and vancomycin (75%). Substantial proportions of the isolates were also resistant to tetracycline (55.35%), streptomycin (54.5%), and sulfonamide (50%). The overall multidrug resistance (MDR) rate was 36.06%. This high level of ABR calls for urgent intervention in waste management systems and regular surveillance programs.

Global cities as subjects of international relations in the 21st century

Global cities are becoming increasingly influential actors in international relations in the 21st century. That is why this work uses a city as the primary unit of analysis, which, although traditionally considered a state actor, currently develops autonomous initiatives that go beyond internal borders and have a global reach. The goal is to examine the potential and resources of global cities for independent participation in international relations and thereby evaluate their role in foreign policy. To explain this process, the concept of actorness is used. Actorness as a character of the city was discussed in more detail in the example of Sao Paolo by applying Duran?s four-dimensional model, whose criteria are authority, opportunities, autonomy, and presence. This model was applied in search of an answer to the main research question: Can we talk about Sao Paolo as an actor in international relations? The analysis of the case study will be based on an extensive review of primary and secondary data sources, including official documents of the city municipality and the city office for external affairs, media reports, scientific publications, and works on the topic of the city?s international engagements. Based on the analysis of the mentioned data, each of these characteristics has been met in the international activity of Sao Paulo. The intention is to contribute to the existing literature by expanding the geographical scope of the study of international urban activism and shifting the academic focus away from the Eurocentric discourse. The paper adopts a multilingual approach in search of relevant information on the role of cities in international relations in Spanish and Portuguese in order to enrich the debate and fill the gaps found in the literature in English.