ABSTRACT There is considerable interest in the extent to which young people are occupationally mobile in comparison to their parents and the role of education. While previous studies have considered the geography of the young person’s home origin or their geographical mobility, they have not combined these. In this study, we supplement the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England dataset (n = 4893) from 2015 with two additional derived measures – urbanity/rurality and distance from the coast – to explore geographical dimensions of occupational mobility. Our study identified a sustained negative net effect on the chances of being in service class employment for those growing up in urban coastal areas. Young people who stay in their local area are constrained by local employment opportunities. While moving region eliminates the influence of the type of area young people grow up in, movers tend to be more advantaged and those from urban coastal areas generally have a lower propensity to move. Opportunities for social mobility are thus spatially uneven in England, with a unique uplift provided by London. Initiatives to enhance opportunities for social mobility have some distance to travel, particularly in more remote urban coastal areas.

ABSTRACT The Thal and Cholistan Deserts in Pakistan are ecologically significant yet face numerous environmental challenges, including desertification, vegetation decline, and water scarcity. This study aims to assess the spatial-temporal dynamics and environmental challenges of these deserts through a multi-disciplinary approach. A combination of remote sensing, field surveys, and socio-economic assessments was employed. Multispectral satellite imagery from 2015 to 2023 was analyzed to detect land-use and land-cover changes, while vegetation indices such as NDVI and EVI were used to monitor vegetation dynamics. Soil and water samples were analyzed for degradation patterns, and household surveys assessed socio-economic impacts. The study revealed a 43% increase in built-up areas and a corresponding decline of 8% in vegetation cover in the Cholistan Desert, with similar trends in Thal. Groundwater levels declined by 1.5 meters per decade, and soil erosion rates were highest in areas with sparse vegetation. Socio-economic surveys showed that 70% of Cholistan households and 65% of Thal households rely on livestock and agriculture, respectively, highlighting community vulnerability to environmental changes. The findings underscore the critical impact of anthropogenic activities, overgrazing, and climate variability on these ecosystems. Sustainable management strategies integrating scientific and traditional knowledge are essential to mitigate these challenges and ensure ecosystem resilience.

Light pollution is often regarded as a problem mainly affecting previously undisturbed areas far from human activity, but its influence on seminatural ecosystems near urban areas has received far less attention. This study explores the effects of artificial lighting on wildlife in parks, aiming to provide knowledge applicable to practical lighting design. As lighting technology develops, increasingly optimal solutions are made possible for fulfilling the needs of the inhabitants in the city and preserving ecosystems. Access to nature and recreational areas is regarded as important for wellbeing and health even when it is dark. The topic is investigated through a systematic literature review of the effects of artificial light on animals that are expected to be present in parks. Behavioural as well as physiological effects of artificial lighting, preferentially at short wavelengths, have been documented in the literature study. The doses required to initiate the effects varied between species although little information is available about several species and animal groups. Three observational studies of lighting were conducted in park areas in Oslo to map typical lighting principles. An analysis of the results indicates that park lighting can impact wildlife in several ways. Phototaxis, positive and negative, is of particular interest because many species migrate between the parks and areas outside the parks, cross the parks or move inside the park areas. In a Nordic context, adapting to light and darkness throughout the seasons is important, and disturbance of natural life cycles may adversely influence various organisms. Natural ecosystems near urban areas has received far less attention. Several measures can be taken to better consider wildlife: avoiding short wavelengths, providing adequate shielding for light sources near water, and maintaining low light levels. Collaboration with biologists is recommended to develop optimal lighting solutions for wildlife in park areas. Many effects are yet to be documented, and recommendations may therefore change as further research emerges.

ABSTRACT Strategies for solid waste management have been widely implemented to alleviate resource limitations and mitigate environmental harm; nevertheless, research on their efficacy and the mechanisms by which they influence urban land green-use efficiency is still limited. Utilizing China’s Zero-Waste City pilot program as a quasi-natural experiment, we assemble panel data for 284 prefecture-level and higher cities from 2010 to 2024 and assess policy impacts via a staggered difference-in-differences methodology. The pilots markedly improve the efficiency of green land use in urban areas, with estimates robust to placebo tests, various outcome measures, exclusion of the four centrally governed municipalities, propensity score-matched difference-in-differences, instrumental-variable specifications, and double machine learning techniques. Mechanism testing indicates three channels: increased green technological innovation, reduced per-capita municipal solid waste collection, and enhanced environmental regulatory intensity. The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effects are more pronounced in cities with lower industrial development; regionally, the impact is most substantial and statistically significant in western China, positive yet weaker in the central region, and minimal and statistically insignificant in eastern cities. This research connects solid-waste governance to land-performance outcomes, enhancing the body of literature on environmental policy and land-focused green transformation.

Increasing urbanization, brought on by population expansion and industrialization, is posing a number of environmental concerns for urban and suburban areas. Urban communities are adapting to the intricacies brought about by a number of factors, including pollution, temperature variations, and climate change. However, achieving adaptation sustainably remains a significant challenge because many existing adaptation strategies lack sustainability, particularly in the context of urban development. Sustainable urban development can be achieved through green initiatives, with green infrastructure (GI) practices playing an essential role in its implementation. Nevertheless, selecting one of the available GI practices might be challenging since their execution necessitates careful assessment of all relevant factors. To this end, we seek the aid of a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making framework. This study considers six GI practices as alternatives, assessed based on environmental, economic, and social dimensions encompassing fourteen criteria. Spherical bipolar fuzzy sets (SBFS) are employed to represent the evaluation information. The significance of each criterion is established using the distance correlation-based criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (D-CRITIC) technique, while the alternatives are ranked through the preference ranking on the basis of ideal-average distance (PROBID) approach. The proposed SBFS-based D-CRITIC-PROBID framework is a significant addition to the literature as a distinctive study on GI assessment. Further, the effectiveness and robustness of the findings are validated through comparison and sensitivity analyses.

Macrofungi, fundamental in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient cycling, also present high biotechnological potential due to their production of ligninolytic enzymes and bioactive metabolites. Therefore, this study recorded and characterized macrofungal species of the Polyporaceae family in an urban forest fragment in the Novo Progresso neighborhood, in Tabatinga-AM. Collections were carried out between August and November 2024, with identification based on macromorphological characteristics. The sampled area has dense vegetation, moist soil, and rich leaf litter, conditions favorable to fungal development. Six species were identified: Pycnoporus sanguineus, Earliella scabrosa, Hexagonia hydnoides, Lentinus crinitus, Lentinus berteroi, and Phallus indusiatus. These species stand out for their ecological relevance and potential for industrial and environmental applications, such as bioremediation, enzyme production, and the development of bioactive compounds. The results highlight the importance of urban forest fragments as reservoirs of mycological biodiversity in the Amazon, even in urbanized contexts. The analysis of environmental parameters, such as soil moisture and pH, demonstrated ideal conditions for macrofungal fruiting. It is concluded that knowledge about macrofungal diversity in Amazonian urban areas is essential for conservation strategies and the sustainable use of local biodiversity.

Public transport is a critical instrument for mitigating traffic congestion, reducing environmental pollution, and promoting social inclusion in urban areas. This study presents the results of a quantitative survey conducted among 406 residents of Łódź, Poland, aimed at identifying the determinants of public transport use and the factors influencing modal choices. The findings indicate that 89% of respondents had used public transport within the past three years, with over half reporting the use of both buses and trams. However, public transport is predominantly chosen out of necessity rather than preference, driven by limited access to private vehicles, absence of a driver’s license, or the high costs of car ownership. Environmental considerations and service quality factors play a comparatively minor role. User satisfaction with public transport services in Łódź is moderate, and current users express limited intention to increase their usage or actively recommend the system, suggesting constrained potential for demand growth. In contrast, non-users declare a willingness to shift to public transport if travel costs are reduced and service quality is improved. Measures aimed at restricting private car use demonstrate limited motivational impact, whereas enhancing the reliability, accessibility, and affordability of public transport emerges as the most effective strategy. Methodologically, the study contributes by combining bibliometric mapping with quantitative survey analysis, providing a replicable framework for assessing urban mobility determinants in other cities with similar socio-economic and transport contexts.

ABSTRACT Integrating biodiversity into urban areas is a growing policy priority, as EU strategies call for restoring nature and greening cities. There is still limited empirical evidence on how collaborative processes can effectively reshape governance and planning to this end. We present a collaborative planning process co-developed with the Comune di Trento to enhance biodiversity along the Fersina River. Through participatory workshops and co-design processes, stakeholders identified priorities and solutions, leading to (i) a redesigned governance model for planning and managing measures and (ii) an ad-hoc master plan that integrates natural areas – offering a replicable framework for embedding nature in urban planning.

Abstract We study electoral participation in the provinces of Chile from 1932 to 1950, a time when electoral democracy and a competitive party system coincided with the adoption of import-substitution industrialization and growing migration into urban areas. Drawing on provincial-level data, we assess the effect of institutional, economic, and sociodemographic factors on voter turnout. The enfranchisement of women for municipal elections in 1935 unexpectedly reduced participation, as few women initially joined the electoral rolls. Higher literacy levels were associated with lower turnout, challenging modernization theory expectations. Urbanization, in contrast, was positively linked to participation. Surprisingly, provinces with strong mining and manufacturing sectors did not exhibit higher turnout, suggesting limited mobilization by leftist parties and barriers faced by informal workers and recent migrants. The findings underscore that suffrage expansion alone is insufficient to increase participation without targeted mobilization efforts. The study contributes to understanding the complexities of democratization and highlights the importance of bottom-up political engagement to complement institutional reforms in expanding political inclusion.

ABSTRACT Previous literature links emotional dysregulation (ED) to HIV acquisition risk and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. This study assessed the relationship between ED, HIV acquisition risk, and IPV perpetration cross-sectionally and longitudinally among men (18–30 years) in urban informal settlements and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data were drawn from 163 young men enrolled in a pilot randomized controlled trial of Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Plus (SSCF+). Regression models were used to examine baseline and longitudinal associations. Informed by previous findings that SSCF+ reduced ED among men with elevated depressive symptoms, we assessed whether the intervention modified ED – HIV/IPV associations in this subgroup using ED × intervention interaction terms among participants with elevated depressive symptoms (n = 56). Cross-sectionally, ED was associated with multiple sexual partners, alcohol use and drug use. Longitudinally, only alcohol abuse remained significantly associated with ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.11). ED increased the risk of emotional and combined IPV perpetration cross-sectionally, and longitudinally ED was associated with physical (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.13), emotional (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.11), sexual (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.10), and combined IPV perpetration (adjusted beta coefficient [aβ] 0.16, 95% CI 0.03–0.34). Among men with elevated depressive symptoms, combined IPV perpetration increased with ED in the control group but remained relatively flat in the intervention group. Addressing ED within IPV and HIV prevention programming may be an important strategy for reducing men’s IPV perpetration and HIV risk.

Background: Norovirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis globally, with environmental persistence contributing significantly to transmission dynamics. Despite the recognized burden in the Middle East, systematic environmental surveillance data from restaurant settings remain critically limited, particularly regarding the role of cleaning materials as reservoirs for viruses. Middle East region. Methods: A cross-sectional environmental surveillance study was conducted across 20 restaurants in Muscat and A’Sharqiyah regions, Oman (September 2020–August 2021). Forty environmental samples comprising 20 dishcloths and 20 tabletop swabs were collected from diverse restaurant types. Viral RNA was extracted using QIA amp Viral RNA MiniKit and analyzed using real-time RT-PCR following ISO/TS 15216-1:2017 protocols with genogroup-specific primers. Results: Norovirus RNA was detected in 4 of 40 samples (10%, 95% CI: 2.8–23.7%) with higher prevalence on dishcloths (3/20, 15%, 95% CI: 3.2–37.9%) versus tabletops (1/20, 5%, 95% CI: 0.1–24.9%). All positive samples were genogrouped II with cycle threshold values of 31.8–36.2. Positive samples originated from three restaurants in high-traffic urban areas, with fast-food establishments showing the highest contamination. Field observations revealed substandard 41 sanitation practices, including frequent dishcloth reuse without disinfection. Conclusions: This paper fills a gap in the current body of knowledge by offering initial systematized evidence on norovirus contamination of the environment in restaurants within the Gulf region. The results indicate that cleaning things, especially the dishwasher cloths, are the main viral reservoirs, and the contamination rates are three times higher than food-containing surfaces. These results underscore the urgent need for enhanced sanitation protocols that specifically target cleaning implements rather than surfaces alone and emphasize the importance of routine environmental surveillance in understanding and interrupting norovirus transmission dynamics in food service settings.

Abstract Individuals engage in considerable deliberation and planning when selecting their place of residence, attributing significant importance to their area of residence in relation to their overall life satisfaction. This is particularly relevant for parents who are raising and educating children. Rural environments, such as those in Israel, tend to be more geographically isolated and are often centered around agriculture and nature. Research indicates that place attachment and a sense of community are key factors influencing how adults connect to their surroundings. Additionally, formal and informal education systems play a significant role in determining where families choose to live. The current study examined the differences between Israeli parents in rural and urban areas regarding their decisions about where to live. It involved questionnaires completed by 437 parents, with 130 residing in a rural region and 307 in a central urban area. The findings revealed that place attachment, sense of community, and life satisfaction were significantly higher among parents living in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. However, no differences were noted in relation to the influence of environmental and educational systems. The analysis also indicated a greater tendency for parents in rural regions to express intentions to leave. This combination of high satisfaction with living in the rural region and a stronger intentions to leave presents a paradox. This discussion will frame these findings in the context of rural versus central urbzn locations.

Although the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has been shown to increase the risk of many diet-related chronic diseases, its potential association with fracture risk remains unexplored in Chinese adults. This study used data from a cohort of 13,194 adults who participated at least twice of the China Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS) between 1997 and 2011 (six waves in total), during which information on fractures was collected. Dietary intake was assessed at each survey using a 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method. UPF consumption was calculated as the total intake of foods classified as NOVA group 4. Fracture was self-reported at each survey. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models, accounting for repeated measures, were used to assess the association, adjusting for covariates including sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health, behavioural, and dietary factors. Mean per capita UPF consumption increased from 11.3g in 1997 to 41.5g in 2011. The total number of participants reported having fracture was 1,471 with 1,057 reported incident fractures during the follow-up. The prevalence of fracture was 2.6% in 1997 and 5.3% in 2011. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for fracture for those with mean UPF consumption of 1-49g/day, 50-99g/day, and ≥ 100g/day were 1.45 (1.25-1.69), 1.62 (1.28-2.04), and 1.66 (1.22-2.24), respectively, compared with non-consumers (p for trend < 0.001). There was significant interaction between UPF and residence with the positive association being significant in rural areas but not in urban areas. Higher UPF consumption was associated with increased risk of fractures, especially in rural areas. Dietary guidelines should integrate this evidence to address the evolving food environment in China and its potential impact on musculoskeletal health.

Microplastic contamination in aquatic systems in urban areas is a cause for concern due to its ability to move from one location to another. This review investigates microplastic levels across different aquatic environments and its potential transport through the urban water cycle. This study explores current research on the presence and pathways of microplastics movement within the water cycle. It includes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that identifies publication trends, dominant research themes, influential journals, and leading contributing countries. It covers microplastic occurrence across various natural environments, including marine, river, lake, and groundwater systems, and extends into the built environment such as water treatment facilities, wastewater systems, bottled water, and drinking water distribution networks. Results indicate that microplastic levels vary within the urban water cycle, with concentrations differing widely depending on geography, type of infrastructure, and sampling methodology. Despite some removal efficiency during treatment processes, residual microplastics remain prevalent in effluents and drinking water, posing potential ecological and health risks. This study identifies that some of the major challenges in determining the fate and transport of microplastics are inconsistent sampling methods, lack of standardization, and limited understanding of long-term impacts. This paper also identifies the necessity of coordinated global strategies that integrate policy, technology, and public awareness to mitigate microplastic contamination in urban water systems.

Providing training and support to Spanish dementia caregivers living in rural and urban areas: insights and results from the iSupport-Sp study.

Continuum of care in maternal and child health (MCH) services is a key strategy for improving MCH outcomes. This study examines the effect of conditional cash incentives and community health worker support on the uptake of the continuum of MCH care, defined as the sequential utilization of antenatal, skilled delivery, and postnatal services. Using nationally representative cross-sectional datasets and a difference-in-difference framework, we find that both interventions significantly improved the continuum of MCH care. The intent-to-treat estimates showed a 5-percentage-point increase in the proportion of women completing the full continuum of care. Heterogeneity analysis revealed more substantial effects among educated women, those in urban areas, and those in higher wealth quintiles. Insights from qualitative interviews with mothers and community health workers suggested that awareness of antenatal care and institutional delivery increased; however, postnatal care was typically sought only in response to complications, and the uptake of all recommended MCH services as a full continuum was often hindered by intersecting demand- and supply-side barriers. Notably, participants emphasized that sustained community health worker engagement had a more significant impact on ensuring care continuity than cash incentives alone. These findings highlight the need for policy strategies that enhance community health worker-led support mechanisms, combined with financial incentives, to promote the comprehensive and sustained use of maternal health services among disadvantaged population groups.

Introduction In a globalizing world, countries continuously strive to enhance quality of life (QoL). This study focusses on the well-being of residents in gated communities in the UAE, focusing on satisfaction with residential units and their communities. QoL, often seen as subjective, is quantified here by transforming qualitative perceptions into measurable data. Methods An online survey assesses satisfaction based on indicators like residential unit features and community amenities. Using linear regression analysis with SAS 9.4, two models are developed: one for residential unit satisfaction and another for community satisfaction. The study also considers demographics such as gender, income, and unit size. Results Results reveal kitchen and bedroom sizes significantly impact residential unit satisfaction, with p-values of 0.03 and 0.05, respectively. For community satisfaction, facility availability is the most influential factor, with a p-value of 0.03. Comparative analysis shows residents of communities like Motor City Green and Arabian Ranches report higher satisfaction due to larger built-up areas and abundant community facilities. Discussion These findings provide practical guidance for developers and urban planners by identifying priority design and community attributes that can enhance residents’ quality of life while supporting evidence-based decision-making in development-led residential projects aligned with Dubai’s 2040 vision.

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the 20-item WHO-Visual Functioning Questionnaire (WHO-VFQ-20). Ordinal data and Rasch analysis were performed to determine instrument precision (internal consistency and reliability) and validity (fit statistics and dimensionality). The WHO-VFQ-20 was administered to 606 adult participants with different ocular conditions and visual acuity levels, stratified by age, sex, and socioeconomic status, from three Brazilian urban populations-a public hospital and two non-governmental institutions located in the outskirts of Sao Paulo city. Ordinal data analysis showed a mean global score of 59.6 ± 25.0s.d., which consistently reduced with decreasing visual acuity. Higher scores were significantly associated with better overall health, higher education, and being married/cohabitating. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.94 indicated excellent internal consistency. Rasch analysis demonstrated good measurement precision with reliability coefficients of 0.99 and 0.85 for items and persons, respectively. Three items related to ocular pain and mental well-being were identified as misfitting. The variance explained by the measures suggested multidimensionality. Analyzing the instrument as two components (visual functioning and psychosocial functioning) yielded improvement on model fit, indicating acceptable precision and validity of the WHO-VFQ-20 for assessing vision-related quality of life in adults from urban areas of a middle-income country.

Urban soundscapes, particularly those experienced in green spaces, have been increasingly recognized as factors that influence human mental health. This scoping review explores the existing literature on soundscapes within urban green spaces and their associated mental health outcomes. It aims to classify the methodologies used in this domain, identify mental health outcomes related to urban green space soundscapes, and examine specific soundscape elements and their correlations with mental health. A systematic search of peer-reviewed studies was conducted. After screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. Diverse methodological approaches were identified, with an emphasis on quantitative multi-method designs. Commonly studied mental health outcomes include stress reduction, mood enhancement, perceived restorativeness, and cognitive restoration. Standardized psychometric tools, such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and Perceived Restorativeness Soundscape Scale (PRSS) are frequently used as outcome measures. Natural soundscape elements such as birdsong, water sounds, and rustling leaves had a positive association with relaxation and perceived mental restoration throughout all studies, while mechanical sounds, such as traffic noise were linked to adverse mental health outcomes. These findings highlight that natural soundscapes in urban green spaces have a potential positive relationship with mental health by reducing stress and enhancing mood. However, the cross-sectional design and methodological heterogeneity of the included studies limit causal interpretation. Future research should explore multi-sensory experiences and examine soundscapes in diverse urban contexts to provide more robust insights into their relationship with mental health. The practical implications suggest that urban planners should prioritize integrating natural sound elements into urban areas to improve mental health. The study protocol of this scoping review had been registered at OSF (osf.io/4r7gd).

Sustainable finance is consistently gaining relevance in financial markets across the world including Bolivia, a country where more than seventy percent of the population live in urban areas. Even though municipalities should be a top destination of sustainable funding to address the country’s most urgent development challenges, they have struggled to access the local financial market mainly due to their highly heterogeneous financial strength. To address this, the paper proposes a novel financing scheme that combines the notion of horizontal fiscal equalization – a redistributive approach to transfer resources from richer to poorer jurisdictions to mitigate size and development differences – and the principles of sustainable finance to face major development challenges associated with poverty, inequality and climate change vulnerability. To illustrate this, the paper estimates and characterizes the relative financial strength of Bolivia’s ten main municipalities and shows that three well-known investment vehicles amenable to the notion of horizontal fiscal equalization can be effectively used for channeling much needed sustainable funding to local governments. In effect, the proposed financing scheme could increase financial inclusion amongst Bolivian municipalities and channel much-needed funding to significantly enhance the country’s efforts to achieve its climate commitments and development goals.