Large Metropolis Research Articles

Incidence of Diabetic Retinopathy Amongst Persons who Screened Positive for Diabetes in five Neighborhood Eye Camps in Northern Multan Pakistan

Aim: Lack of community data on diabetes-related blindness in Pakistan. In five neighborhood eye camps in northern Multan, Pakistan, we assessed the incidence of diabetic retinopathy amongst persons who screened positive for diabetes. Methods: In Multan, Pakistan's largest metropolis, five community-based eye camps were created in the May of 2021. Study participants had to be at least 32 years of age. They were tested for diabetes and go to an eye doctor for assessment of their diabetic retinopathy. We identified five eye clinics in Pakistan's largest metropolis, Multan, between May 2020 and April 2021 in Multan eye Hospital. All respondents were required to give verbal informed permission at the time of the assessment. It was determined that diabetic retinopathy was the most important outcome measure, which was classified into no proliferative, serious NPDR, and diabetic nephropathy retinopathy. It must have been predicated on a patient assessment. Results: There were 925 people tested for diabetes. 18% had diabetes: 2.9% had type I and 16.8% had type II. There were 138 individuals who went to the hospital for an ophthalmological checkup. Diabetic Retinopathy was found in 16.8% of the patients. There was a higher increase of diabetic retinopathy among persons with type I diabetes, those who had been diabetic for longer periods of time, and women. One of the most prevalent types of diabetes. Maculopathy (18.7 percent) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were the two most prevalent forms of diabetic retinopathy, respectively (6.8 percent). Conclusion: We need more systematic study and population-based studies to establish the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistan and the potential things that affect to it. Keywords: Diabetic Retinopathy, Screened Positive for Diabetes, Northern Multan Pakistan.

How do new transit stations affect people's sentiment and activity? A case study based on social media data in Hong Kong

Urban rail development can increase land value, reduce commute time, and increase accessibility, as reported in the literature. However, little is known about the impact of opening urban rail transit stations on people's sentiment, particularly in the context of large metropolises where population density is significantly high. This paper investigates such impact by studying six new transit stations opened in Hong Kong. People's sentiment and activity in station nearby areas are estimated by tweet sentiment and tweet activity. We use the difference-in-difference model to study the impact of opening new transit stations. Tweet sentiment, tweet activity, tweet content, and footprints of people who visit the station-influenced area ‘before and after’ the opening of transit stations are analyzed. The results suggest that, in general, the introduction of transit stations causes a positive change in tweet activity, and the change is statistically significant after six months. Regarding tweet sentiment, new transit stations tend to pose a mixed effect in a short-term, a positive influence on areas with high-density residential places, yet a negative influence on areas with a large proportion of nature reserve areas. These short-term effects, positive or negative, become not significant in the long term (after twelve months). Our analysis also confirmed that the introduction of new transit stations increased accessibility from (to) other parts of the city to(from) the station's nearby area, which was shown by the expanded locations sustaining users visited. These findings indicate that the urban rail transit system in Hong Kong promotes more active neighborhoods yet does not always promotes positive influence on people's sentiment. Further studies are needed to make future urban rail transit systems promoting active and happy neighborhoods. The study is relevant to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in methodologies, data, and findings. The social media analysis method used in this study, including text mining and sentiment analysis, can be easily extended to multiple language analysis for Singapore, Malaysia, as well as other regions in the belt and road plan. The developed tools could contribute to analyzing the influence of cross-country projects on local neighborhoods in the belt and road plan.

Impacts of nature deprivations during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post comparison

Nature provides a myriad of intangible and non-material services to people. However, urbanites are increasingly disconnected from the natural world. The consequences of this progressive disconnection from nature remain difficult to measure as this process is slow and long-term monitoring or large-scale manipulation on nature experiences are scarce. Measures to contain the spread of the recent COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., lockdowns) have potentially reduced or even suppressed nature experiences in cities. This situation provided an opportunity for conducting a longitudinal study that can serve as a sort of natural experiment to quantify the effects of nature deprivation on individuals' health, well-being and relationship to nature. We collected data on these variables from the same individuals inhabiting a large metropolis (Tel Aviv, Israel) twice, in 2018 (before) and during the lockdown in 2020. Our results confirmed that frequency, duration and quality of nature interactions dropped during the lockdown, while environmental attitudes and affinity towards nature remained similar. This was particularly true for people living in the least green neighborhoods, where a significant decrease in personal and social well-being was also found. Finally, affinity towards nature influenced well-being through nature experiences in 2018. The mediation effect was not significant in 2020, probably due to the decrease in nature experiences during the lockdown, but the direct relationship between affinity towards nature and well-being remained strong. These results provide insights into the means required to align the public health and conservation agendas to safeguard urbanites' health and well-being during a pandemic and mitigate the biodiversity crisis.

Incidence of Diabetic Retinopathy Amongst Persons who Screened Positive for Diabetes in five Neighborhood Eye Camps in Northern Multan Pakistan

Aim: Lack of community data on diabetes-related blindness in Pakistan. In five neighborhood eye camps in northern Multan, Pakistan, we assessed the incidence of diabetic retinopathy amongst persons who screened positive for diabetes. Methods: In Multan, Pakistan's largest metropolis, five community-based eye camps were created in the May of 2021. Study participants had to be at least 32 years of age. They were tested for diabetes and go to an eye doctor for assessment of their diabetic retinopathy. We identified five eye clinics in Pakistan's largest metropolis, Multan, between May 2020 and April 2021 in Multan eye Hospital. All respondents were required to give verbal informed permission at the time of the assessment. It was determined that diabetic retinopathy was the most important outcome measure, which was classified into no proliferative, serious NPDR, and diabetic nephropathy retinopathy. It must have been predicated on a patient assessment. Results: There were 925 people tested for diabetes. 18% had diabetes: 2.9% had type I and 16.8% had type II. There were 138 individuals who went to the hospital for an ophthalmological checkup. Diabetic Retinopathy was found in 16.8% of the patients. There was a higher increase of diabetic retinopathy among persons with type I diabetes, those who had been diabetic for longer periods of time, and women. One of the most prevalent types of diabetes. Maculopathy (18.7 percent) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were the two most prevalent forms of diabetic retinopathy, respectively (6.8 percent). Conclusion: We need more systematic study and population-based studies to establish the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in Pakistan and the potential things that affect to it. Keywords: Diabetic Retinopathy, Screened Positive for Diabetes, Northern Multan Pakistan.

Evaluating mitigation strategies for urban heat island in Mandaue City using ENVI-met

Mandaue is a crucial city in Cebu island, Philippines as it links other large metropolises and is highly industrialized. The occurrence of urban heat island (UHI) in Mandaue was already confirmed by a previous study. In this paper, we aim to determine how UHI in Mandaue could be improved by mitigations including increasing vegetation, adding open spaces, employing green roofs and/or a combination thereof. ENVI-met software was utilized to simulate two study sites: M. C. Briones street and the planned urban development (PUD). To reduce computing load, M. C. Briones street was further divided into 2 subareas and PUD into 4 subareas. Results of the simulation indicate that addition of more urban spaces and trees could decrease air temperature by 0.2 ​°C on average while green roof could decrease air temperature by an average range of 0.2 ​°C–0.4 ​°C. When a combination of trees, grasses and green roof is used, air temperature could be decreased by an average range of 0.1 ​°C–0.3 ​°C. Despite these mitigations, thermal comfort index in Mandaue would still be greater than 26 ​°C which means that majority of the people would feel uncomfortable. On the other hand, addition of more urban spaces and trees could decrease surface temperature by an average range of 0.5 ​°C–0.8 ​°C while conversion of building roofs into green roofs would have no effect. When a combination of vegetation and green roof is employed, surface temperature could be decreased by an average range of 0.4 ​°C–1.1 ​°C.

Jeet Thayil’s Narcopolis: A Testimony to Life in the Margins

Jeet Thayil’s Narcopolis focuses an expository spotlight on the marginalized voices that proliferate in large metropolises and that have been, to a large extent, imperceptible to mainstream academe. Thayil depicts the history of a section of Bombay’s underbelly that was an important nerve center in the drug business before the city’s name change to Mumbai. Although the great variety of drugs described in the novel helps set the overall tone, its diagnostic focus is on the people and on the motives behind their particular life choices. Thayil presents the haunting reality of the life of marginalized and oppressed individuals through the use of raw, grotesque imagery. Given Thayil’s approach to his subject, this paper aims to analyze Narcopolis’ composition and characters with the objective of locating Bakhtinian tropes of carnivalesque and grotesque realism. Another point of inquiry is Thayil’s use of an experimental language that mixes words from diverse vernaculars spoken in Bombay, a practice that adds a charge of authenticity to the narrative’s realist complexion. With Thayil’s debut novel becoming a voice for the voiceless, this paper explores his rendition of how people survive in the margins, largely concealed from critical scrutiny.

A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Vitamin D Status and Ovarian Reserve Markers in Subfertile Women: A Single-Center Experience From Pakistan.

ObjectivesThis study was conceived with the objective of assessing the correlation between ovarian reserve markers and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in a selected group of Pakistani subfertile women presenting at a specialized subfertility treatment centre. The measurements of antral follicle count (AFC), serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and serum vitamin D (VD) levels were the main tools used for the assessment of ovarian reserve.Materials and methodsAll female patients aged 18 to 45 years presenting with primary and/or secondary subfertility at the Australian Concept Medical Centre in Karachi, Pakistan from August 2016 to July 2021 were included in the study. The data of all eligible patients were recorded in the pre-defined Performa designed for this study. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to report the distribution of the data. The correlation between the categorical variables (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-OHD] levels with AFC and AMH) was assessed using the chi-square test and Spearman correlation. The comparison was based on vitamin D levels grouped into three categories: deficiency (<20 ng/ml), insufficiency (21-29 ng/ml), and sufficiency (>30 ng/ml).ResultsOne hundred ninety-nine cases were evaluated for AFC and hormone analysis. The mean age and BMI were 32.87±5.49 years and 28.27±4.97 kg/m2.VDD was noted in 127 (68.4%) cases. No significant difference was noted across BMI, age, duration of subfertility, AMH, and FSH across the VD categories. Moreover, a poor correlation was noted between VD, AMH and FSH on the scatter plot, between VD and FSH (r = −0.003, p = 0.966) and between VD and AMH (r = −0.068, p = 0.342), respectively.ConclusionsThis study showed a high frequency of VDD in Pakistani subfertile women, from a specialized subfertility center in the largest metropolis in the country. However, a statistically significant association was not found between the markers of ovarian reserve and VD, showing no ethnic differences in the native Pakistani population. Hence, VD supplementation is unlikely to have an impact on correcting the ovarian reserve status in subfertile women in Pakistan. However, this is a potential area of interest, and evaluation of other indices of reproduction/ovarian reserve and the effect of confounders is required to test this hypothesis longitudinally.

2 - Patterns of Migration and Population Mobility in Sudanic West Africa: Evidence from Ancient Kano, c. 800–1800 AD

In the last three decades historians of migration in Europe and the Americas have increasingly criticised the idea of a ‘mobility transition’, which assumed that pre- modern societies were geographically fairly immobile, and that people only started to move in unprecedented ways from the nineteenth century onwards. This paper takes this perspective as a point of departure, and further presents evidence of remarkable population mobility from ancient Kano, taking a longue durée viewpoint. It reconstructs the nature and transformative roles of constant and consistent migration and population mobility in Kano, which ensured enormous social interactions within and between culturally distinct communities and led to socio-cultural changes. This earned Kano a reputation as an important, formidable and large medieval urban metropolis in Western Sudan. Thus, ancient Kano, like elsewhere in Sudanic Africa, had a rich history of massiv and systematic migration and population mobility since the ninth century AD.

The Governance of Public Budgeting: a Proposal for Comparative Analyses - the Cases of São Paulo and London

This paper aims at understanding the governance of public budgeting in large metropolises with the use of comparative analysis. The analysis is focused on budgetary governance in London and São Paulo and uses qualitative and quantitative data from 2008 to 2019 to understand whether analytical categories such as incrementalism of expenditures, complexity of budgetary rules, bureaucratic hierarchy, bargaining, and muddling through are useful to compare two metropolises, especially to determine the discretionary power of mayors in making budget allocation decisions. The analytical categories are derived from the studies of theorists of economics and political sociology, notably Wildavsky (1975, 1969), Wildavsky and Caiden (2004), Schick (2009, 1976), Caiden (2010) Lascoumes and Le Galès (2005), Baumgartner and Jones (2005), and Fuchs (2012, 2010). The main argument of the paper is that, despite the administrative and political differences between London and São Paulo, similar dimensions can explain decisions about budget allocation and the political discretionary power of mayors. The study shows that mayors have little discretionary power, particularly in contexts of fiscal austerity; it also highlights the importance of property tax as a means to protect such power.

Experts on the Smart City: Problems of Perception

Based on the materials of an empirical study conducted in 2021 among experts from Yekaterinburg, the authors consider the goals, tasks and problems of implementing the concept of “Smart City”. Representatives of science, education, mass media, legislative and executive authorities, political analysts examine the main aspects of the concept, the tasks of including different groups of the public in its creation. The authors note that in Yekaterinburg, as a major scientific and educational center of the region, there are professional and other associations of residents who are ready to actively participate in devising plans for the innovative development of the regional center. The paper shows that at the moment many experts do not have enough information about the content of the concept of “Smart City” both in Russia and in Yekaterinburg. So far it has been based on the idea of broad digitalization of all spheres of decision-making and implementation of management in the interaction of government with the population. The authors conclude that science and education should become the engines of the creation and implementation in practice of its main provisions to ensure the innovative development of a large metropolis.

Crime and the Governance of Large Metropolises in Latin America: Mexico City (Mexico) and São Paulo (Brazil)

This paper analyzes different forms of criminal governance in two metropolises, Mexico City and São Paulo. This article answers the questions: Who governs these two cities and how do they do it? What is governed? Why is it that in one metropolis there is an almost monopolistic criminal organization of coercion, but not in the other? Official sources include documents, press archives, statistics and a specialized bibliography. Results indicate that city governance and crime governance are interconnected, constituting micro-regimes that control territories, populations, goods, wealth, uses of force and power, thus bringing together the local, regional and transnational.

Nitrogen Oxides Levels in the Atmosphere of Different Brazilian Urban Centers, by Passive Sampling

Urban air pollution is still an emerging environmental problem, it causes damage to health and is difficult to be controlled in urban centers. The population of large metropolises is often exposed to concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx), mainly due to vehicle emissions. Epidemiological studies claim that exposure to these oxides is strongly correlated with the incidence of different types of cancer. This work evaluated the impact of NOx emissions on the air quality of five Brazilian urban centers, using passive sampling. The NO/NO2 ratio indicated photochemical aging in the atmosphere of all the cities studied. Although there has been a predominant trend towards decreasing of nitrogen oxides concentrations in many locations, average annual values &gt; 40 μg m-3 NO2 have been found, in Brazil as well as other parts of the world, what indicates the need to control air pollution in these areas.

Method of multiscale coincidence of pulses for measuring temporary loads from moving vehicles in bridges and overpasses

Modern development of road transport is characterized by constant updating of the nomenclature of cars (including heavy-duty vehicles), by increasing of intensity and speed of their movement, especially in large metropolises and on roads of national and local significance. This complicates the operating conditions of spans of highway bridges to some extent, leads to their damage and early wear. The deterioration of the technical condition of the structures of the spans is largely due to the increased dynamic impact of the cars on the bridges. The purpose of this article is to measure the amplitude of oscillations of a bridge structure from temporary loads of rolling stock with non-periodic long-term loading by optical methods. In accordance with this goal, it is necessary to develop a technique and device for measuring the amplitude of oscillations of the bridge structure by converting the amplitude of oscillations in time intervals and their subsequent measurement by multi-scale pulse coincidence. In a number of works, digital deployment systems that use number systems with different bases, represented by a family of deployment functions, are considered in detail.&#x0D; Such digital systems in general, are described by the corresponding operating scheme. According to this operating scheme, a method of multiscale matching for measuring time intervals was developed, which formed the basis for measuring the vibration amplitude of the bridge structure. The given mathematical model of calculation of the number of measurement channels was used in the synthesis of velocity transducers and linear displacements based on optical (laser) deployment systems, information conversion devices of radar velocity sensors based on the Doppler effect. Similarly, a frequency comparison device, a digital frequency meter, a digital phase meter, and a number of other frequency-time group devices were synthesized.

Pasticcio, Arrangement, or Adaptation? Georg Philipp Telemann's Pasticcio Judith Based on Fortunato Chelleri's dramma per musica Innocenza difesa

Abstract In musicological research on the eighteenth-century operatic pasticcio it has often been discussed how pasticci can be distinguished from dramme per musica. The article examines the evolution of Fortunato Chelleri's opera Innocenza difesa in the course of its adaption for several performance venues (Florence 1720, Venice 1722, Kassel 1725, Wolfenbüttel/Brunswich 1731), as well as pasticcio projects based on Chelleri's score (Hamburg 1732). By analysing the surviving libretti, scores, and sheet music related to Chelleri's opera, it can be shown that Chelleri as well as the arranger of the Hamburg pasticcio-production, Georg Philipp Telemann, paid attention to the overarching dramaturgical principles as well as to new forms of music publishing in large metropolises such as London. Telemann not only chose some arias by George Frederic Handel from among the most celebrated numbers in the opera Lotharius (composed by Handel, printed by John Walsh in London, 1730), but he also fostered Chelleri's focus on Judith as a main character. Within these musical-dramaturgical perspectives, based on very loose networks of connections between librettists, composers, singers, and probably stage designers, requests for specific arias from individual singers could also be accommodated.

Evaluation of public opinion regarding the changes implemented to encourage bicycle use in the city of São Paulo

Purpose: To identify the main factors that make the population of a large metropolis adhere to the use of bicycles as a option of transportation. Method: Survey with 299 respondents analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression Originality/Relevance: Unpublished study in relation to the inhabitants of the city of São Paulo and that can help in the elaboration of public policies that improve urban mobility. Results: It was possible to identify that the greatest acceptance for the policies occurs by individuals more connected to public services and not with demographic factors. Contributions: Individual factors that explain the propensity to adopt an alternative transportation system were identified.

Variability of the structure of winter microbial communities in Chelyabinsk lakes

Microorganisms form complex and dynamic communities that play a key role in the biogeochemical cycles of lakes. A high level of urbanization is currently a serious threat to bacterial communities and the ecosystem of freshwater bodies. To assess the contribution of anthropogenic load to variations in the structure of winter microbial communities in lakes, microorganisms of four water bodies of Chelyabinsk region were studied for the first time. We used cultural, chromatography-mass spectrometric, and modern methods of statistical data processing (particularly, multivariate exploratory analysis and canonical analysis of correspondences). The research showed that the composition of winter microbial communities in lakes Chebarkul’, Smolino, Pervoye, and Shershenevskoye Reservoir did not differ significantly between the main phyla of microorganisms. The dominant microorganisms were found to be of the Firmicutes phylum and Actinobacteria phylum. The structure of bacterial communities had special features depending on the characteristics of the water body and the sampling depths. Thus, in the lakes Smolino, Pervoye, and Shershenevskoye Reservoir, an important role was played by associations between microorganisms – indicators of fecal contamination: coliform bacteria and Enterococcus. On the contrary, in Chebarkul’ Lake, members of the genus Bacillus, which are natural bioremediators, formed stable winter associations. However, the differences between water bodies and sampling depths reflected 28.1% and 9.8% of the variability of the winter microbial communities, respectively. The largest contribution (about 60%) to the variability of the structure was made by intra-water processes, which determined the high heterogeneity of samples from different water areas. We assume that an important role in this variability was played by the high anthropogenic impact in a large industrial metropolis. In our opinion, this line of research is very promising for addressing key environmental issues.

Variability of the structure of winter microbial communities in Chelyabinsk lakes

Microorganisms form complex and dynamic communities that play a key role in the biogeochemical cycles of lakes. A high level of urbanization is currently a serious threat to bacterial communities and the ecosystem of freshwater bodies. To assess the contribution of anthropogenic load to variations in the structure of winter microbial communities in lakes, microorganisms of four water bodies of Chelyabinsk region were studied for the first time. We used cultural, chromatography-mass spectrometric, and modern methods of statistical data processing (particularly, multivariate exploratory analysis and canonical analysis of correspondences). The research showed that the composition of winter microbial communities in lakes Chebarkul’, Smolino, Pervoye, and Shershenevskoye Reservoir did not differ significantly between the main phyla of microorganisms. The dominant microorganisms were found to be of the Firmicutes phylum and Actinobacteria phylum. The structure of bacterial communities had special features depending on the characteristics of the water body and the sampling depths. Thus, in the lakes Smolino, Pervoye, and Shershenevskoye Reservoir, an important role was played by associations between microorganisms – indicators of fecal contamination: coliform bacteria and Enterococcus. On the contrary, in Chebarkul’ Lake, members of the genus Bacillus, which are natural bioremediators, formed stable winter associations. However, the differences between water bodies and sampling depths reflected 28.1% and 9.8% of the variability of the winter microbial communities, respectively. The largest contribution (about 60%) to the variability of the structure was made by intra-water processes, which determined the high heterogeneity of samples from different water areas. We assume that an important role in this variability was played by the high anthropogenic impact in a large industrial metropolis. In our opinion, this line of research is very promising for addressing key environmental issues.

Silence as a Metaphor in the Polish Radio Reportages during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Silence became one of the important aspects of the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article discusses how this social experience was presented in radio reportages, for which silence is not only a topic but also an element of the construction of the message. The reports of the Polish Radio, produced in lockdown conditions, document silence in a double perspective: the transformation of the broadcast sphere of large metropolises and the private sound space of the characters. Silence, as a phonic phenomenon, functions as a universal metaphor for fear, threat, “curse of isolation,” but also hope. Experiencing silence goes beyond the individual feeling thanks to a metaphoric line through which the recorded stories gain a universal context. The analysis of audible materials shows the mechanism of the constitution of these meanings, as well as selected media functions of silence as a tool for modelling content and managing the recipients’ attention.

Exploring challenges of engaging in socio-economic activities due to traffic congestion in Sekondi-Takoradi

Undoubtedly traffic congestion continues to be a challenge that negatively impacts socio-economic activities in most cities in the world. It does not only hinder the smooth movement of people but also freight and services. Admittedly, there have been a number of studies that have examined the causes and effects of traffic congestion in Ghanaian cities; nonetheless, these studies have largely concentrated on the larger metropolis which includes Accra and Kumasi with little attention given to mid-sized emerging urban centers. Using data collected from field survey, in-depth interviews and field observations in Sekondi-Takoradi, this study examines the effects of traffic congestion on socio-economic activities along five major road corridors in the study area. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while in-depth interviews were integrated with the results using quotes from informants. The findings from the study revealed a spatial variation of the effects of traffic congestion along the five corridors studied. In particular, it was observed that increased traffic congestion led to the reduction in sales made by traders and commercial drivers, while students and workers who used these roads also asserted they often get to school and workplaces very late. The study therefore recommends road expansion along these routes and use of road tolls to regulate the activities of ‘trotro’ (public buses) and taxis in the city in order to minimize traffic congestion in the city. Key words: Traffic congestion, socio-economic activities, spatial variation, corridors, Takorad, Metropolis.

REINFORCE: rapid augmentation of large-scale multi-modal transport networks for resilience enhancement

With the recent and continuous growth of large metropolis, the development, management and improvement of their urban multi-modal transport networks become a compelling need. Although the creation of a new transport mode often appears as a solution, it is usually impossible to construct at once a full networked public transport. Therefore, there is a need for efficient solutions aimed at prioritizing the order of construction of the multiple lines or modes that a transport operator might want to construct to increase its offer. For this purpose, we propose in this paper a simple and quick-to-compute methodology, called REINFORCE, to prioritize the order of construction of the lines of a newly designed transport mode by maximizing the transport network performances and enhancing the transport network resilience, as described by complex networks metrics. REINFORCE could also be helpful to support the rapid and quick response to disruptions by setting up or reinforcing an adapted emergency transport line (e.g., bus service) over a set of predefined itineraries.