Urban Area Of City Research Articles

Assessment of self-care practices & associated factors among hypertensives in urban slum areas of Mysuru city: A community-based cross-sectional study

Background & objectives Hypertension is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and premature mortality worldwide, particularly affecting low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). This study focused on evaluating self-care practices among hypertensive affected individuals in urban slum areas of Mysuru city, India, and explore associated factors and their relationship with hypertension control levels. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2022 to August 2023, enrolling 650 hypertensive affected individuals from 63 urban slums of Mysuru city. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, self-care practices, and hypertension control were collected using structured questionnaires and standardized scales. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data presentation and analyses. Results Among the participants, 62.9 per cent reported poor self-care awareness, and only 37.1 per cent had good self-care awareness. Factors such as age group, education, occupation, type of family, marital status, socioeconomic status, and hypertension control showed significant associations with self-care scores (P≤0.001). However, no significant association was found between gender and self-care scores. Interpretation & conclusions This study highlights the critical need for comprehensive interventions integrating self-care awareness into existing health programmes to address the growing burden of hypertension, particularly in urban slum populations. By prioritizing self-care education and empowerment, healthcare stakeholders can equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective hypertension management, thus improving health outcomes at individual level and also reducing public health impact of hypertension.

Assessment of Husbandry Practices, Production and Reproductive Performance of Indigenous Cattle in Urban and Peri -urban Areas of Gambella City, Ethiopia

The objective of the present study was to characterize cattle husbandry practices, production and reproductive performance of cattle in the urban and peri-urban areas of Gambella city. Sample of respondents from each selected kebele were selected randomly using simple random sampling technique. A total of 133 household (70 from urban and 63 from peri-urban) were selected for questionnaire interview. Data was analyzed using SPPS version 23 software. The overall mean of the respondents revealed that, the management system practiced was semi-intensive (87.2%), extensive system (12.8%) and there was no intensive management system practiced. the overall mean daily milk yield was 1.58± 0.017 Littre/cow/day. The overall mean daily milk yield analysis of variance was significantly (P<0.05) difference among urban and peri-urban areas. The current result also indicated that, the overall average lactation length was and 10.59± 0.15 months, and was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the study areas. The overall average age at first services, age at first calving and calving interval was 46.31±0.33, 51.51±0.54, and 19.01±0.11 months respectively. In Addition, disease prevalence, poor animal health service delivery, grazing land and feed shortage were among the major constraints affecting production and productivity in the study areas. In conclusion, Age at first services, age at first calving and calving interval of indigenous cow was low compared to some of the indigenous breed in other regions, animal health and health services delivery are the problems affecting cattle productivity. Hence, all concerned stakeholders need to take urgent interventions in order to improve production and productivity of cattle.

Clustering of Basic Educational Resources and Urban Resilience Development in the Central Region of China—An Empirical Study Based on POI Data

This paper presents an urban resilience evaluation index system and evaluation on the clustering of educational resources based on the data of 80 prefecture-level cities in China’s central region in 2012, 2016, and 2020. The results reveal a rising trend of urban resilience in the central region of China, with the provincial capital cities exhibiting the highest levels of resilience. Educational resources are clustered in urban areas of provincial capital cities and other prefectural-level cities. Furthermore, clustering of educational resources has a significant impact on urban resilience. Policy factors play a significant role in moderating the relationship between educational resource clustering and urban resilience in large cities; however, this moderating role is not significant in small cities. These findings have significant implications for the optimal allocation of educational resources, promotion of urban resilience, and advancement of social equity.

Surface-derived groundwater contamination in Gulu District, Uganda: Chemical and microbial tracers

Groundwater is consumed by over 2 billion people globally, though it can be impacted by microbial and chemical contamination in both rural and (peri-)urban areas. This issue is particularly pertinent in regions like East Africa, where rapid urbanisation has strained local infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems. We use selected tracers of human and animal waste to assess the quality of community drinking sources with regards to surface-derived groundwater inputs and to compare urban versus rural water quality, under the rapidly developing urban area of Gulu, Northern Uganda. Specifically, we examine bulk and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (DOM), microorganisms (total coliforms, E.coli) and inorganic tracers of anthropogenic waste (NO3−, SO42−, Cl/Br) from various sources: boreholes (12–76 m depth; n = 90), protected springs (n = 11) and municipal taps (n = 4). Our results show that NO3− and SO42− were elevated in groundwater sources in the Gulu city urban area and the Cl/Br ratio was elevated in springs, compared to concentrations in the more rural Aswa and Omoro County area (p < 0.05). Interestingly, human and animal waste indicators E.coli and Tryp:FA (the ratio of tryptophan-like to fulvic-like fluorescence) displayed no significant difference between rural and urban settings (p > 0.05), though total coliforms were significantly higher in rural boreholes (p < 0.05). The presence of a pollution source, pollution carrier and a breakdown of a sanitary barrier at the borehole, as spot-checked by a visual sanitary risk assessment, was significantly associated with groundwater E.coli abundances. Evidence suggests monitoring and mitigation should be improved for all water types in Gulu District to meet WHO and Uganda Standard guidelines for potable water. This study offers valuable insights for water management planning and risk assessment of community water sources particularly in the context of East Africa and similar settings.

Epidemiology and genetic diversity of bocavirus in wild rodents in urban areas of Guangzhou, Southern China

Members of the genus Bocaparvovirus have a significant impact on human health and can infect a wide range of hosts, increasing the likelihood of crossing species barriers. Among the various mammalian hosts, rodents are widely recognized as important reservoirs for emerging and zoonotic viruses. However, despite recent reports of bocavirus infections in rodents, our current understanding of rat bocavirus (RBoV) genetic diversity and evolution is limited. In this study, rodent samples were collected from the urban areas of Guangzhou city, Southern China, to investigate the presence and genetic diversity of RBoV. Through PCR-based screening of 296 rodent spleens, 54 samples were determined to be positive for RBoV infection, and 12 nearly complete genome sequences of RBoV were recovered. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct lineages and sub-lineages of RBoV, and six recombination events with strong statistical support were identified, with five of these events involving sequences obtained from this study. These results highlight the genetic diversity of RBoV circulating in rodents in Guangzhou city and emphasize the importance of extensive surveillance to gain a better understanding of RBoV epidemiology, evolutionary characteristics, and potential for cross-species transmission.

Urban Renewal Potential of Old Urban Areas in Resource-Based Cities in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Dongsheng District, Ordos, China

Urban Renewal Potential of Old Urban Areas in Resource-Based Cities in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Dongsheng District, Ordos, China

Adoption of Improved Buffalo Husbandry Practices in Peri-Urban Areas of Surat City, Gujarat

The present study was carried out in the peri urban areas of Surat city of Gujarat to find out the adoption of improved buffalo husbandry practices. A random sample of 50 buffalo farm owners were selected and interviewed for the interview schedule prepared about adoption of improved dairy husbandry practices in six major aspects of housing, feeding, breeding, health care, milking and calf rearing management was studied. Housing in separate located place (100%), providing proper floor space (98%) and proper height and ventilation (90%) were more adopted in housing practices. Provision of clean and fresh drinking water (100%), feeding extra ration to advance pregnant animals (64%) and feeding balance concentrate mixture on the basis of milk production (64%) were more adopted in feeding management. In adoption of breeding management, keeping watch on oestrus cycle and heat symptoms of animals (100%), artificial insemination of animals (100%) and practicing pregnancy diagnosis between 60-90 days after service (91%) were more adopted by buffalo owners. Observing animals daily for signs of sickness (100%), timely and regularly vaccination (100%) and treatment of reproductive disorders (75%) were more adopted by respondents in health care management practices. In milking and calf rearing practices, washing pails and hands before milking (100%) and regularity in milking time (100%), early solid feeding (100%) and milk feeding to calves up to three months of age (96%) were more adopted by the buffalo owners.

A Study on Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression Among Adolescents (16-19 years) in the Urban Area of Andhra Pradesh

Background: Depression is a major contributor to sickness globally and is often associated with a decline in social, occupational, and interpersonal performance. Depression is more prevalent in young adults going through this transition since late adolescence and early adulthood are the life stages when people make significant decisions in a number of areas. Objective: This cross sectional study was done in September-November 2023 with objective to find out prevalence of depression and risk factors associated with depression among College going Adolescents [16-19 years] in the Urban area of Vizianagaram city, Andhra Pradesh. Methodology: A Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio demographic characteristics. Study participants were screened using Beck’s Depression Inventory Questionnaire (BDI –II) to gather information regarding depression &amp; its risk factors. Results: The overall prevalence of depression was found to be 58.4%; in which 117 (28%) were having mild depression, 63 (15.3%) were having severe depression and 64 (15.1%) were having moderate depression. The study showed a highly significant association between levels of depression and selected demographic variables such as Age in years, No. of persons in their family, BMI, Socio- economic status, Father’s education, Father’s occupation and Parents with any addictions. Conclusion: There is a need for college students to be educated about depression in order to improve recognition and diagnosis. Also student counselling service offering mental health assistance needs to be established at colleges.

Investigation of Density factor in Urban Morphology on Micro-Climate Parameters in Cold and Dry Areas (Case Study: Tabriz City, Iran)

In recent decades, in third world countries, especially in the Middle East, the concept of urban micro-climate has undergone many changes in the process of development and construction, leading to environmental crises and the discrete structure of energy consumption in urban blocks. The urban form, the product of morphological changes in recent periods, has had significant effects on the micro-climate of the city. The city of Tabriz in the cold and dry areas of Iran has suffered from the inadequacies of the urban form and adverse effects on the micro-climate of the city as a result of unbalanced development. The main aim of research as parametric study on the interactions between urban morphology and microclimate is to investigate density metric to analysis effect amount in micro-climates. The research is analytical-descriptive and method of collecting data in the form of documents includes literature review, modeling and simulation using Envi-met software and density metric explain modes of a hypothetical in 10 scenarios and are presented in the form of two groups. The construction parts of the hypothetical areas are located in the urban area of Tabriz city, Iran. All scenarios were assumed to be in the same area configuration, where buildings are located in 25 plots of 40 m x 40 m. The result shows Investigation the average ratings obtained from microclimatic simulation of the first group of scenarios shows that by keeping FAR constant and changing BSC, one cannot expect a specific sequence of changes in microclimatic parameters in the space around the buildings but in the case of the second scenario group which is presented with constant BSC and variable FAR, there is a significant sequence in the order of the obtained ranks and the change trend in the average parameters. The results show scenario A2 with FAR 1 and BSC 40% with the lowest average value (3.5) of the total of four parameters of simulating the hottest and coldest day has achieved the best result and is introduced as the best scenario. For future researches, it is possible to propose a more focused investigation on each of the mentioned parameters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/pst.544

Urban forest species selection for improvement of ecological benefits in Polish cities - The actual and forecast potential

Trees in cities perform important environmental functions: they produce oxygen, filter pollutants, provide habitat for wildlife, mitigate stormwater runoff, and reduce the effects of climate change, especially in terms of lowering temperatures and converting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into stored carbon. Generally, to increase the environmental benefits of urban forests, the number of trees is increased, directly influencing the canopy coverage. However, little is known about potential of modifying the species composition of urban tree communities in order to increase ecological benefits. Planting and managing trees to increase canopy is particularly challenging in city centres, where the dense, often historic infrastructure of buildings and roads do not allow for a significant increase in greenspace. Estimations of canopy cover obtained through i-Tree Canopy analysis unveiled significant potential to increase canopy cover in historical urban areas in Polish cities from 15-34% to 31–51%. This study models the ecological benefits of urban forests in Polish cities, focusing on how different species compositions can enhance environmental functions such as carbon sequestration and pollution filtration. Two main scenarios were analyzed: one involving the addition of trees based on the most common species currently planted (“standard option” SO), and another incorporating changes to the species composition to enhance ecological benefits (“city specific option” SCO). Acer platanoides (14.5%) and Tilia cordata (11.45%) were the most frequently species of Polish cities. Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Robinia pseudoacacia, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum and Acer campestre were also common species in urban forest communities (up to 5%). The diverse range of tree species in Polish cities contributes significantly to the overall carbon sequestration potential. The results suggest that modifying species composition could significantly increase carbon sequestration rates by 47.8%–114% annually, with the city specific option (SCO) being the most effective in enhancing carbon sequestration potential. This highlights the importance of strategic species selection in urban forestry practices to maximize environmental benefits and mitigate climate change effects.

Charting Wellness in India: Piloting the iTHRIVE's Functional Nutrition Approach to Improve Glycaemic and Inflammatory Parameters in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by elevation of blood glucose levels due to underlying insulin resistance and inflammation. Multiple modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking and psychological stress contribute toT2DM. Weinvestigated the efficacy of a comprehensive functional nutrition approach aimed at mitigating T2DMusing the iTHRIVE approach which encompassed anti-inflammatory and elimination diets, micronutrient supplements, physical activity, stress managementand environmental modifications through a pre-post study design. The research assessed changes in blood glucose and inflammatory markers following the implementation of thefunctional nutrition program. Methods A prospective pre-post intervention pilot study was conducted at ThriveTribe Wellness Solutions Pvt Ltd. (iTHRIVE), where 50 study participants from urban areas of Pune city, India(n=25 each group) were recruited voluntarily in the age group of 20-60 years. The participants were subjected to 90 days of the iTHRIVE functional nutrition approach which consisted of eliminating certain inflammatory foods and adding a combination of nutritious organic foods, adding dietary supplements like magnesium, vitamin D, alpha lipoic acid, chromium picolinate, berberine and biogymnema, physical activities like resistance training, stress reduction techniques like meditation and deep breathing exercises along with environmental changes. The blood parameters like fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C), fasting serum insulin, post-prandial serum insulin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), vitamin D, body weight and waist circumference were measured before and after the intervention. The changes were statistically analyzed using a paired t-test. Results The mean age of the participants was found to be 43.76±10.58 years. Around 68%of the participants were prediabetic (HbA1c: 5.7-6.4%) and 32% had T2DM (HbA1c ≥6.5%). A significant reduction was observed in the average HbA1c (13.75% reduction, p<0.0001), average post-prandial blood glucose levels (14.51% reduction, p<0.048), average post-prandial serum insulin (34.31% reduction, p<0.017) and average ESR levels (34.51% reduction, p<0.006). The hs-CRP levels were reduced by 6.6%, but not statistically significant. The average body weight of the participants dropped from 78.59±15.18 kg to 75.20±14.20 kg with a mean loss of 2.91 kg (p<0.05) whereas the waist circumference decreased from 37.54±5.09 to 35.97±4.74 inches with an average loss of 1.19 inches (p<0.0004). Conclusions Following the intervention, several health indicators indicated significant improvements. Particularly, there was a significant drop in HbA1c levels, suggesting better long-term blood glucose control. Blood glucose and serum insulin levels after a meal dropped significantly, indicating enhanced insulin sensitivity. There was a decrease in systemic inflammation as evidenced by the decreasein ESR levels. These results imply that the iTHRIVE functional nutrition approach used in this investigation might be beneficial for enhancing glycemic controland insulin sensitivity, along with reducing inflammatory markers in people with prediabetes and T2DM. Larger sample sizes and longer periods of monitoring would be useful in subsequent research to validate and build on these encouraging findings.

Estimating alcohol and tobacco consumption of university students and urban population in Ho Chi Minh City by wastewater analysis.

The quantitative measurement of urinary biomarkers in wastewater has emerged as a robust tool for estimating alcohol and tobacco consumption in populations. In this study, we applied the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approach to compare alcohol and tobacco use between university students and urban inhabitants in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ethyl sulfate and cotinine serve as markers for alcohol and tobacco use, respectively. Our findings reveal that urban inhabitants aged 15 and above consume 1.56 ± 0.23 mL of pure ethanol and 2.8 ± 0.33 mg of nicotine per day, while university students consume 0.69 ± 0.13 mL of pure alcohol and 1.2 ± 0.2mg of nicotine per day. This indicates that, on average, students consume less alcohol and tobacco compared with urban adults. A Monte Carlo simulation indicated that, on average, university students in our study smoke 1.5 cigarettes per day, while urban residents aged 15 and above smoke 4.3 cigarettes per day. Considering the smoking prevalence, a student smoker in this study consumes 6.5 cigarettes per day, a level high enough to establish addiction. On the other hand, alcohol use estimation is significantly lower than previous survey-based reports, likely due to degradation within on-site septic tanks. Future research should aim to extend the sampling period to capture seasonal variations and improve the understanding of tobacco and alcohol consumption patterns. The results from this study are crucial for decision-makers in Ho Chi Minh City to develop effective public health strategies and interventions. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Wastewater-based approach is applicable to estimate the tobacco consumption in Ho Chi Minh City. Each current smoker in the urban area of Ho Chi Minh City smokes nearly a package a day. The estimated consumption for student smokers in U-town is 6.5 cigarettes per day, a level high enough to establish addiction. The existence of septic tanks within Vietnam's drainage systems prevents reliable estimation of alcohol consumption for the entire population.

Study of Adoption Level of Improved Buffalo Husbandry Practices in Peri-Urban Areas of Surat City of Gujarat, India

The present study was conducted in the peri urban areas of Surat city of Gujarat. Total fifty buffalo farm owners were randomly selected and interviewed for the questionnaire prepared about improved buffalo husbandry practices adopted by them. The findings indicated that majority of buffalo farm owners had medium adoption level on different component of improved buffalo husbandry practices viz. 72% for housing, 74% for feeding, 64% for breeding, 68% for healthcare, 74% for milking management and 74% for calf rearing. The overall adoption levels of the respondents in improved buffalo husbandry practices fall under low, medium and high categories are 18%, 66% and 16%, respectively. The adoption index of different aspect of improved buffalo husbandry practices of housing, feeding, breeding, health care, milking and calf rearing were 49.4, 34.3, 67, 52.5, 55.9 and 63.7%, respectively and overall adoption index of improved buffalo husbandry practices was 53.8% which indicated moderate adoption level of buffalo farm owners in the study area.

Nemzetközi Rendészeti Figyelő XIII.

Aim: Keeping up with the international law enforcement literature sometimes runs the risk of bringing together disparate topics in a single publication, as the theme of this issue of the Observer demonstrates. We can be convinced that, while our war-torn planet is giving priority to the centralised state police model, municipal police forces and community policing, which continue to be models at the forefront of strengthening local public security, must not lose their importance. Civil associations, which are an essential part of local security, are not far removed from the principle of decentralisation, and in our country they are embodied in the civil police. At the same time, migration flows, which have become a global phenomenon since 2015, continue to preoccupy the practice of law enforcement administration as well as theory. Only while the former sees illegal migration as a security and cultural threat, the latter cannot forget the humanity-driven protection of refugees. Nor can the fight against terrorism be left off the agenda, especially where these dramatic conflicts are accompanied by the rearrangement of different civilisational cultures. Lastly, the future role of artificial intelligence, for example in areas such as justice, cannot be ignored. Methodology: The authors of the studies primarily rely on empiricism to present the regularities of their research subject, but they also draw on methods tried and tested in the social sciences, especially in sociology, such as interviews and various questionnaires. There is also a lesson to be learned from the fact that the literature, mainly in English, also tries to develop a clear conceptual apparatus, as we have seen in the case of police research in Hungary. Findings: In his review of community policing, Kálmán Etter writes: ‘The publication reveals a specific form of organisation, in which community policing is a group of a few professional police officers and civil servants, operating in individual towns or in the urban areas of larger cities.’ Zsolt Lippai sums up the efforts of citizens to ensure public safety and the tasks of police science: ‘The increasing involvement of non-state actors in the creation of security and the use of methods other than those traditionally used in what might be called “traditional” policing have given rise to a number of theoretical and practical questions which police researchers are called upon to answer.’ Bernadett Bacsó draws attention to a little-studied consequence of migration: ‘In recent years, migration, especially migration driven by young men, has changed the gender balance in destination countries, as this trend leads to a lack of potential female partners.’ The main aim of the study was to build a picture of what Americans think about current issues such as national security, terrorism, counter-terrorism policies, immigration and religion. Tamás Pressburger cites the perceptions of US citizens about terrorism, but also what motivates these views: ‘Based on the experiment, the author concludes that when white subjects are informed that whites are projected to become a demographic minority in the United States by 2060, they are more likely to endorse the use of torture against suspected terrorists.’ Katalin Erdélyi's review highlights the controversial role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the administration of justice: ‘The author's conclusion in this excellent article is that the coexistence of AI and human judges risks a covert transfer of decision-making power.’ It could also be argued that the computer cannot take over the formation of internal judicial convictions because only humans can do that. Value: The modern rule of law makes humanity a core value. The studies to which issue XIII of the Observer draws attention, not infrequently accompanied by concern, represent this value system.

Analisis perkembangan wilayah Kabupaten Bekasi dan Kota Bekasi berdasarkan Peraturan Presiden Nomor 60 Tahun 2020

Background: Bekasi Regency and City are part of the Jabodetabek-Punjur region which experienced rapid development in the period 2000 to 2023. The aim of this research is to analyze the history of physical development, population, environmental problems of urban areas in Bekasi Regency and City, as well as analyze the content Presidential Regulation no. 60 of 2020 related to the environment. Methods: Qualitative methods are used to analyze environmental problems in Bekasi Regency and City, analyzing the contents of Presidential Decree No. 60 of 2020 related to the environment and developing a concept for integrating the content of these policies related to the environment into the Bekasi Regency and City Spatial Planning Plan through literature study. Findings: The results of spatial analysis show that the implementation of Presidential Decree no. 60 of 2020 on the development of the Bekasi urban area requires synergy between protected areas, cultivation areas, and residential center systems, including the city core area, surrounding urban areas, and transit-oriented development areas. Conclusion: The availability of adequate facilities and infrastructure will support damage control and reduce environmental pollution, as well as encourage sustainable regional development.

Briquetage in early Hellenistic Etruscan Spina (Ferrara, Italy)

Excavations in the urban area of the Etruscan port city of Spina near Ferrara (Italy) have shown that the city had a roughly trapezoidal ground plan and covered an area of about 6 ha. In the east it was situated on the ancient course of the river Po (Padus Vetus) and in the west and south-west probably on a lagoon and another smaller river. The study project of the University of Zurich (2008–2017) had the goal of providing a clear stratigraphical sequence of the settlement phases as well as a geophysical investigation of the entire city area and indications of the natural environment. The excavation revealed several phases with wooden houses from the late sixth to the end of the fourth century BCE bordered by orthogonal water canals of different scales. After the violent destruction of the house, built between 375 and 350 B.C., in the third quarter of the fourth century the site changed its character. Not only was the level artificially raised, but the canals were abandoned and the area acquired a new function around 300 BCE. A series of very small, flat, round or oval impressions were found in the floor, in the vicinity of which lay a large quantity of thick, reddish terracotta fragments, coarsely tempered with organic material, very brittle, with cord impressions and finger marks. Fewer in number are accessory supports, round, or oval in section. Given their special technique, their large number, their distribution and the type of accumulation on the site, these fragments can be interpreted as briquetage deliberately smashed after use in order to remove the salt yielded by boiling. The fragments probably belonged to smaller, rectangular basins which stood on the round supports. The deeper channels from earlier phases had become in the last phase shallow gullies which served to supply fresh water.

Assessment of post-war groundwater quality in urban areas of Mosul city /Iraq and surrounding areas for drinking and irrigation purposes by using the Canadian Environment Water Quality Index CCME-WQI and Heavy Metal Pollution Index HPI

The negative impact of war acts in the conflict area of the city of Mosul and its surroundings on groundwater quality and thus its use as drinking water, in domestic applications and for irrigation was addressed. Therefore, 8 wells were analyzed from January to September 2022 using the parameters pH, E.C., TDS, % salinity, COD, phosphate, nitrate, sulfate and the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr and Ni, and water quality was evaluated using a mathematical model based on the CCME WQI, the HPI and present salinity. Due to salinity, 6 of the 8 wells were moderately suitable for irrigation and 2 wells were difficult in use. According to the CCME WQI criteria, 4 wells were highly and 3 wells were moderately contaminated for drinking water supply and domestic use, and therefore unusable or limited usable, while 3 wells were unusable and 2 wells were moderately usable for irrigation purposes. For irrigation, only one well showed low and 2 wells showed marginal contamination. The HIP revealed good quality of 3 wells, poor quality of 2 wells and unsuitability of 3 wells (drinking water/ domestic use) or very poor quality (irrigation), respectively. According to all approaches, the wells located in the conflict area consistently showed poor water quality. Thus, war had a significant negative impact on groundwater quality in the conflict area, as the surface-near wells located here showed comparatively high levels of contaminations and heavy metals due to the infiltration of contaminated surface water, damaged sewage networks and infiltration of rainwater after passing through highly polluted soils. Cadmium, followed by lead, were the dominant water contaminants, which is why caution is advised before using this well water.

Potential, challenges and prospects of rabbit farming in urban and peri-urban areas of Dodoma city, Tanzania

This study highlights the current status of rabbit production, potential challenges facing the industry and the prospects for rabbit farming in Dodoma city, Tanzania. Data from 60 individuals keeping rabbits were collected through a structured questionnaire and direct observation. Results showed that 60% of the respondents were men and 40% women. Rabbits were kept mainly as a source of meat for families and income generation. Main sources of rabbit stock were local breeders (55%) and missionaries (25%), while the remainder were from agricultural institutes. The dominant rabbit breeds reared were California white (50%), New Zealand white (30%), Chinchilla (10%) and Dutch (10%). Ninety-five percent of the farmers kept rabbits in cages, while 5% confined them at night and let them out during the day to forage for feed. Fifteen percent of the respondents fed commercial rabbit pellets, 5% vegetables and kitchen waste only, whereas 80% fed both rabbit pellets, vegetables and kitchen waste. The number of rabbits kept by an individual farmer ranged from 5 to 180, with mean stock size of 22.80±11.20 (mean±standard deviation). Rabbits were sold at 8 to 12 wk of age and each rabbit was sold for 20 000 to 30 000 Tanzanian shillings (8.00 – 12.00 USD). Major challenges in rabbit production were lack of feed resources, lack of readily available market, poor quality of breeding stock, low knowledge of rabbit production techniques and lack of technical support from extension services. Although rabbit farming in Dodoma is carried out at subsistence level, it is associated with a decrease in poverty among urban and peri-urban farmers. In conclusion, rabbit production in urban and peri-urban areas of Tanzania has the potential to contribute to food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation, thus improving living standards.

Accessibility of Urban Tourism in Historical Areas: Analysis of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Safranbolu

Expansion of cities with population growth leads to the differentiation of urban texture, negatively affecting the accessibility of tourism areas in historical regions. For this reason, there is a need to develop tourism areas that enable people to experience the areas of historical heritage. Sustainable urban development, which is also the theory of the study, has become an agenda for the protection and revitalization of historical areas in order to increase accessibility to tourism. The Safranbolu Protected Area, which is one of the oldest settlements with its traditional housing texture and which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List in Turkey, was chosen as the study area. In this study, the aim is to examine the accessibility of historical tourism centers, analyze the spatial configuration of the street texture in the city of Karabük and determine the features of the formation mechanism of the Safranbolu historical region. The research questions are based on the impact of (1) the accessibility of the street network on the formation mechanism of the urban architecture and (2) the shaping of urban tourism areas in historical cities. The space syntax method was used to examine the relationship between the building features of the Safranbolu Urban Protected Area and the formation features of the space. Within the scope of the study, the accessibility of the Safranbolu historical center was examined through the street texture that shapes the city form using data from Open Street Map. Segment and axial analyses were made based on the current street network data of the city. The key findings of the research revealed that the accessibility level of the city’s street network was practically effective in shaping the Safranbolu Urban Protected Area. It was theoretically found that the streets with a high global integration value in the city have an impact on the shaping of traditional architecture and constitute important routes for tourism in sustainable development. The findings serve as a reference for researchers in sustainable development, urban planners and local governments who will use it to test the methodology for understanding the street layout of the historical area and improving the experiential characteristics of the users.

Geospatial modeling of climate change indices at Mexico City using machine learning regression

PurposeClimate change is a problem that concerns all of us. Despite the information produced by organizations such as the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices and the United Nations, only a few cities have been planned taking into account the climate changes indices. This paper aims to study climatic variations, how climate conditions might change in the future and how these changes will affect the activities and living conditions in cities, specifically focusing on Mexico city.Design/methodology/approachIn this approach, two distinct machine learning regression models, k-Nearest Neighbors and Support Vector Regression, were used to predict variations in climate change indices within select urban areas of Mexico city. The calculated indices are based on maximum, minimum and average temperature data collected from the National Water Commission in Mexico and the Scientific Research Center of Ensenada. The methodology involves pre-processing temperature data to create a training data set for regression algorithms. It then computes predictions for each temperature parameter and ultimately assesses the performance of these algorithms based on precision metrics scores.FindingsThis paper combines a geospatial perspective with computational tools and machine learning algorithms. Among the two regression algorithms used, it was observed that k-Nearest Neighbors produced superior results, achieving an R2 score of 0.99, in contrast to Support Vector Regression, which yielded an R2 score of 0.74.Originality/valueThe full potential of machine learning algorithms has not been fully harnessed for predicting climate indices. This paper also identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each algorithm and how the generated estimations can then be considered in the decision-making process.