City Area Research Articles

Tuberculosis care provided by private practitioners in an urban setting in Indonesia: Findings from a standardized patient study.

In Indonesia, government-owned Community Health Centers (CHCs) spearhead tuberculosis (TB) care at the primary level, but a substantial proportion of individuals with pulmonary TB also seek care from Private Practitioners (PPs). However, little is known about PPs' practice in managing patients with TB-associated symptoms. To avoid bias associated with self-administered surveys, we used standardized patients (SPs) to evaluate PPs' adherence to the national TB guidelines. Four clinical scenarios of individuals presenting complaints suggestive of TB, accompanied by different sputum smear results or TB treatment histories were developed. We assigned 12 trained SPs to PPs practicing in 30 CHC catchment areas in Bandung city, Indonesia. For comparison, two scenarios were also presented to the CHCs. A total of 341 successful SP visits were made to 225 private general practitioners (GPs), 29 private specialists, and 30 CHCs. When laboratory results were not available, adherence to the recommended course of action, i.e., sputum examination, was low among private GPs (31%) and private specialists (20%), while it was requested in 87% of visits to the CHCs. PPs preferred chest X-ray (CXR) in all scenarios, with requests made in 66% of visits to private GPs and 84% of visits to private specialists (vs. 8% CHCs). Prescriptions of incorrect TB drug regimens were reported from 7% and 13% of visits to private GPs and specialists, respectively, versus none of the CHCs. Indonesian PPs have a clear preference for CXR over microbiological testing for triaging presumptive TB patients, and inappropriate prescription of TB drugs is not uncommon. These findings warrant actions to increase awareness among PPs about the importance of microbiological testing and of administering appropriate TB drug regimens. SP studies can be used to assess the impact of these interventions on providers' adherence to guidelines.

Using a Logistic Regression Model to Examine the Variables Influencing Changes in Northern Thailand’s Forest Cover and Comparing Machine Learning Algorithms

Protecting biodiversity and keeping the Earth’s temperature stable are both very important jobs performed by tropical forests. In the last few decades, remote sensing has given us new tools and ways to track changes in land cover. To understand what causes changes in forest cover, it is important to look at the things that affect those changes. However, there is not enough research that uses a logistic regression model (LRM) and compares the results with machine learning (ML) techniques to investigate the specific factors that cause forest cover change in remote mountainous areas like Thailand’s Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai Provinces. Following a comparison of an LRM, a random forest, and an SVM, this study of the causes of changes in forest cover in Mae Hong Son found six important factors: soil series, rock types, slope, the NDVI, the NDWI, and the distances to city areas. Compared to the LRM, both the RF and SVM machine learning algorithms had higher values for the kappa coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictions, and sensitivity, especially the RF. Following what was found in Mae Hong Son, when the important factors were examined in Chiang Mai, the RF came out on top. It is believed that these results can be used in more situations to help make plans for restoring ecosystems and to promote long-lasting methods of managing land use.

Complex Building’s Decision Support Method Based on Fuzzy Signatures

In the inner areas of large cities, many residential buildings built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries remain standing. The maintenance and renovation of these buildings have emerged as critical priorities over recent decades. E.g., in Budapest during the socialist era, the majority of these buildings were not renovated, and maintenance was largely neglected. In the subsequent 10–15 years following the end of socialism, financial resources for renovations were scarce due to the extensive transfer of properties from state to private ownership. It is only in the last decade or so that renovations have begun to be systematically addressed. Consequently, a significant portion of the building stock is still pending renovation. Given the current economic conditions, sustainable maintenance and necessary conversion are of paramount importance. Unfortunately, few standardized condition assessment methods are implemented in industrial practice, and the literature on this topic is limited. To address these challenges, we have developed an algorithm and model for condition assessment and decision support, which we refer to as the Complex Building’s Decision Support System based on Fuzzy Signatures (CBDF system). Our model employs a fuzzy signature-based approach to account for uncertainties, errors, and potentially missing data that may arise during the assessment process. The primary aim of this model is to equip professionals involved in building condition assessment with a tool that enables them to make consistent and objective decisions while minimizing errors. This paper provides a brief overview of the CBDF system and presents test results from the assessment of a selected structural component of a building, demonstrating the system’s functionality.

Does Covid-19 influence the dynamics of envenomation by animals in a country strongly affected by both conditions? Epidemiological data from Brazil

The impact of Covid-19 on envenomations by venomous animals in countries heavily affected by both conditions has not been quantified yet. Brazil shows high incidence of envenomations by scorpions, spiders and snakes and was heavily affected by waves of Covid-19. To determine how the pandemic impacted the epidemiology of envenomations by those three groups of venomous animals, we used online databases from two surveillance sources on number of cases and mortality. During the years before and during the pandemic, scorpion stings typically occurred in adults of both sexes in urban zones in the Southeast and Northeast regions. Spider bites occurred mainly in the South region, in adults of both sexes in urban zone. Snakebites affected mainly rural adult men in the Amazon. Between 2007 to 2021, overall incidence of cases by scorpions, spiders and snakes decreased after the beginning of the pandemic, snakebites did not show changes after the pandemic started in Brazil, but cases by scorpions and spiders decreased. No changes in the incidence of deaths were observed. On national level, Covid-19 affected some demographic, clinical and epidemiological aspects in cases by scorpions, spiders and snakes.

Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility: Voronoi-Based Spatial Analysis of EV Charging Stations in Bangkok

This study leverages the efficacy of Voronoi diagram theory within a mixed-methods approach to thoroughly examine the spatial distribution, service coverage, and optimal locations for expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Bangkok. Drawing on data from field surveys and public data providers, our analysis unfolds in four key stages. Firstly, we delve into the spatial distribution of charging stations, scrutinizing density, proximity to various road types, and land use through the lens of Voronoi diagrams. Secondly, the application of Voronoi diagrams informs the evaluation of service boundaries. Thirdly, utilizing this effective tool, we assess population density per parking slot or charging head to anticipate future EV adoption. Finally, the study introduces an approach to identify suitable locations for new charging stations through the application of overlapping Voronoi circles. Findings reveal a clustered distribution of charging stations along roads, particularly in the central business district, showcasing the efficiency of Voronoi diagrams in spatial analysis. Residential areas and urban commercial zones also host significant charging station concentrations. Notably, service coverage in inner Bangkok surpasses that of middle and outer areas, highlighting underserved regions. Prospective areas for new charging stations, identified through Voronoi analysis, include Bang Khae, Phra Khanong, Min Buri, and Huai Khwang. This research, rooted in the application of Voronoi diagram theory, offers vital insights for various stakeholders involved in urban infrastructure planning. By employing Voronoi diagrams within Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the study contributes to strategically placing charging stations, optimizing spatial understanding, and enhancing resource allocation. This GIS-based approach not only supports the rise of electric vehicles but also promotes sustainable urban development practices through the efficient utilization of spatial data and analysis techniques.

The Performance of Agronomic and Quality Traits of Quinoa under Different Altitudes in Northwest of China

Quinoa is a resilient crop known for its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. This study examined the agronomic performance and ecological adaptability of quinoa across four distinct altitudes in the northwestern regions of China. Six quinoa genotypes were assessed for agronomic traits, phenology and yield performances, and nutritional quality characteristics in Yining city, Nilka County, Tekes County and Zhaosu County under varied environmental conditions. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in all measured traits, including agronomic and nutritional quality traits, across the various altitudes and genotypes. In Yining city, a warmer and lower altitude area, genotypes exhibit superior traits for fodder production, including increased branches, longer panicles, robust stems, and high seed protein content. Genotypes Jinli 1 and Beijing 2 achieve yields exceeding 3 tons per hectare (t/ha), highlighting the region’s productivity. The Nilka and Tekes counties boasted the shortest quinoa crop cycles, with Jinli 1 yielding 4.05 t/ha seeds in Tekes County, exhibiting high protein and fat content alongside low saponins, making it a prime location for yield production. Zhaosu County, with its cooler climate and fertile chernozem soil, elicited high 1000 seed weight and more robust protein response than Nilka and Tekes counties, illustrating the impact of soil fertility on nutritional composition. Correlation analyses further elucidated that the plants characterized by shorter flowering times, crop cycles, compact inflorescence, and taller heights exhibited superior seed yields. Our study contributes significant insights into the ecological adaptability and nutritional dynamics of quinoa, with implications for sustainable crop production and food security in diverse agroecosystems.

Enhancing the smart parking assignment system through constraints optimization

Traffic in big cities has become a black spot for drivers. One of the major concerns is the parking problem that hindering urban mobility particularly in the big city and other congested areas; Drivers lose a significant amount of time looking for looking for a parking spot. This leads to an increase in accidents, a big consumption of fuel and a spectacular augmentation of pollution. We present a parking assignment system based on constraint programming in this paper, to meet the need for effective parking management in smart cities, for a group of drivers booking in the same time and area. In this work, we suggest two formulations of the Parking Assignment Problem, The first was established by using Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSP) and the second is based on Mixed Integer Linear Programing (MILP). An implementation of the model taking advantage of Choco solver dedicate to the constraint programming and the evaluation of its scalability compared to the Mixed Integer Linear Programing solvers. The experiments conducted with Choco and MILP solvers on a real case study in the city of Casablanca showed that the two methods generates promising solutions in terms of scalability and response time.

Determining the effects of green space usage on health inequalities among residents of shrinking cities based on a social capital perspective

Long-term population loss and economic downturns have led to shrinking cities generally lacking social vitality and losing public spaces, such as green spaces. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of green spaces for the social capital and health of residents, but the impacts of green space usage on health inequalities in the context of urban shrinkage have not been fully explored. In addition, residents who live in shrinking cities in northeastern China are more likely to suffer health problems due to their location in a severely cold region. Therefore, we selected 17 urban green spaces in Hegang, a typical shrinking city, as the research objects. We collected a total of 544 valid questionnaires through random distribution. These data were used to evaluate four green space usage characteristics of residents comprising transportation costs, usage frequency, usage duration, and participation in activities, as well as two social capital dimensions that are directly related to health comprising social networks and reciprocity and trust. We conducted correlation analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance to explore the impacts of green space usage on two categories of social capital for residents with different attributes and the consequences of health inequalities. The results showed that: (1) women, middle-aged and elderly people, and the low- and middle-income classes were less able to access social capital through the usage of green spaces; (2) the frequency of green space usage and intensity of participation in social activities were key dimensions that affected inequality; and (3) the usage of green spaces reinforced inequalities in the level of reciprocity and trust among residents. Based on our findings, we recommend that local governments in shrinking cities pay more attention to green spaces and squares in inner city areas to improve the accessibility and usability of these open spaces. Governments should focus on regenerating green spaces located near older neighborhoods to increase opportunities for residents to make new social connections and reduce inequalities in public services and health, especially for improving the social well-being of older populations with a lower socioeconomic status.

Variations in infants' physical and social environments shape spontaneous locomotion.

Independent locomotion is associated with a range of positive developmental outcomes, but unlike cognitive, linguistic, and social skills, acquiring motor skills requires infants to generate their own input for learning. We tested factors that shape infants' spontaneous locomotion by observing forty 12- to 22-month-olds (19 girls, 21 boys) during free play. Infants were recruited from the New York City area, and caregivers reported that 25 infants were White, six were Asian, four were Black, and five had multiple races; four were Hispanic or Latino. All infants played in four conditions: two environmental conditions (gross-motor toys, fine-motor toys) crossed with two social conditions (alone, together with a caregiver). Infants moved more in the gross-motor toy conditions than in the fine-motor toy conditions. However, the effect of playing with a caregiver differed by toy condition. In the gross-motor toy conditions, playing with a caregiver did not affect how much infants moved, but in the fine-motor toy conditions, playing with a caregiver further depressed infant locomotion. Infants with more walking experience moved more with gross-motor toys but not with fine-motor toys. Differences in the amount of locomotion between conditions were related to how infants used toys and the interactions between infants and caregivers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Differences in Labor Pain in the First Stage of the Active Phase Before and After Being Given Rebozo Shake The Apple Tree at TPMB Afah Fahmi, Surabaya City Area

Differences in Labor Pain in the First Stage of the Active Phase Before and After Being Given Rebozo Shake The Apple Tree at TPMB Afah Fahmi, Surabaya City Area

Macrophytobenthos stock in the protected water areas of Sevastopol city

Macrophytobenthos stock in the protected water areas of Sevastopol city

Prevalence and disease burden of peripheral neuropathy in the general population in Mexico city: a cross-sectional epidemiological study

Objective Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms range from mild sensory signs to severe neuropathic pain. Untreated PN is progressive and can lead to complications and impair quality of life (QoL). However, PN prevalence is underestimated in the general population and affected individuals often remain undiagnosed. This study aimed to contribute to the global generation of prevalence data and determine sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics of PN sufferers. Methods This cross-sectional study collected information on PN prevalence and associated factors in the adult population (40–65 years) of the Mexico City area. Participants were recruited in public places and screened for PN using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Subjects with PN answered the Neuropathy Total Symptom Score-6 (NTSS-6), the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the QoL Pharmacoeconomic Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods and calculation of PN prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. Results Of 3066 participants, 448 had PN based on the MNSI physical examination. The overall PN prevalence was 14.6%, with the highest (18.9%) seen in subjects aged 61–65 years. PN was undiagnosed in 82.6%, and 62.9% had never heard of PN. Although half of all subjects had only mild PN symptoms, QoL was impacted in 91.8%. Conclusions The results confirm that PN prevalence in the general population is high. Despite the disease burden, most affected persons are undiagnosed and unaware of the disease. Almost all felt their QoL was impacted. The data highlight the need to raise awareness and identify undiagnosed individuals to prevent complications.

Ad Hoc Tools for Urban Renewal: The San Borja Remodeling in Santiago, Chile, 1967-1976

Conceived, developed, and built in Santiago de Chile between 1967 and 1976, the San Borja Remodeling project was the flagship of the first years of the Urban Improvement Corporation (Corporación de Mejoramiento Urbano, CORMU), a State agency created in 1966 that would become an active actor in the renovation of Chilean cities. Despite the project's significance, not only in terms of its scale and location in the centre of the Chilean capital city but also for having pushed the capacities of both the State and private companies, previous research has not addressed the full variety of tools brought together to carry out a project of this magnitude and ambition. This article describes the complexities of the San Borja project in its development. It argues that the ambition to renovate a central area in the capital city led its designers to shape and rely on ad hoc design and legal tools to make it possible. Rather than imposing a totalizing design for the city, there was a pragmatic approach aimed at developing an incremental urban renewal plan led by the State, far from both centralized planning and neoliberal urbanism.

Reform of the first year of medical studies and diversification of student profiles in France: an unmet need?

ObjectivesTo determine whether the reform of the first year of medical studies implemented in September 2020 in France met its objective of diversifying the profiles of students admitted to second year at the faculty of medicine at the University of Tours.MethodsSingle-centered, retrospective study, covering students who passed the first year of medical studies between 2018 and 2022. Student profiles originating from three different entry gateways (PACES, PASS and L.AS) to the second year of medical studies were compared.ResultsOne thousand four hundred and seventy-nine students over five promotions were included (806 in PACES, 329 in PASS, 198 in L.AS). The ratio of students who had obtained a baccalaureate with high or highest honors was significantly higher in PACES (85%) and PASS (96%) compared to L.AS (66%; p < 0.001). These differences were related to increased student intake via a standard pass in L.AS (21% compared to 3.2% in PACES and 0.9% in PASS) (p < 0.001). In terms of geographical origin, the proportion of students residing in regions outside the University City area increased significantly in L.AS (11%) compared to PACES (1.7%) and PASS (3.3%) (p < 0.001). The mean number of parents from the white-collar and knowledge professional category was significantly higher in PACES (0.91) and PASS (1.06) compared to L.AS (0.80; p < 0.001).ConclusionStudents with a scientific background and who obtained highest honors in their high school diploma, remain the standard in PACES and PASS. Diversification of student profiles was achieved only within the L.AS gateway, which represented 42% of total second year admissions during the post-reform year. Student profile diversification was therefore a partially achieved objective and follow up studies of future promotions is needed to assess the medium and long-term impact of the reform. Particular attention should be paid to the future of these students who have different profiles between L.AS and PASS to determine whether these changes will have any impact in the quality of healthcare for the French population.

The Effect of Infiltration Rate on Flood Hazards in Gorontalo City

Infiltration rate is a measurement of the physical properties of soil. The classification of infiltration rates according to ILRI (1974) based on the results of changes by Rickard and Cossens (1965) is an important characteristic to indicate land drainage conditions. The aim of this research is to determine the classification of infiltration and its extent. The research method uses a grid system by dividing the city area into 250 m x 250 m consisting of 108 grids with 46 grids representing the lowlands. The infiltration rate in Gorontalo City as a whole is classified as very slow 2189.44Ha or 32.81%, the meaning of this percentage shows that an infiltration rate of less than 2.5 cm/hour occurs in Gorontalo City. For the infiltration rate with a slow classification, the speed is 2.5– 15 cm/hour, covering an area of 2615.38 Ha or 39.17%.

Quantifying Urban Spatial Morphology Indicators on the Green Areas Cooling Effect: The Case of Changsha, China, a Subtropical City

Green city areas are crucial in mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI). However, the cooling effect of green city areas can be influenced by the surrounding complex urban spatial environment. This study focuses on Changsha, a subtropical city in China, where 40 green city areas were screened and analyzed. The study aims to quantify the specific impact of urban spatial morphology on the cooling effect of green city areas. Through statistical correlation and regression analysis, this study focused on six urban spatial morphology indicators: building density (BD), building floor area ratio (BFR), building volume density (BVD), building evenness index (BEI), building average height (BH), and building height standard deviation (BSD). The results indicate that the cooling effect of green city areas could be influenced by urban spatial morphology. Factors such as BD, BFR, BH, and BSD were found to be significantly correlated with the cooling effect of green city areas, with BH showing the strongest influence. BD and BFR were negatively correlated, while BH and BSD were positively correlated. The range values of BD, BFR, BH, and BSD were determined to achieve the optimal conditions for the cooling effect of green city areas. Additionally, the relative position of the green city areas in the neighboring urban areas affects the cooling effect of the green city areas. The cooling effect is most pronounced in the urban area situated to the south of the green city areas. These findings provide a solid foundation for urban planning around green city spaces and offer scientifically sound evidence for mitigating the UHI.

Using public perceptions to inform urban protected area buffer zone planning.

The buffer zones between urban protected areas (UPAs) and their cities play a significant role in managing and protecting UPAs. However, they are also the frontier of conflicts due to complex functionality and a large number of stakeholders. Besides ensuring the buffer zone's function of protecting the UPA, it is also vital to understand how it can fulfill the diverse needs of multiple interest groups residing in or utilizing this area. To address the significant social science research gap in UPA buffer zone management, we establish a conceptual framework and explore how the public's overall satisfaction with the buffer depends on five essential buffer zone qualities, namely environmental quality, connectivity, infrastructure, cultural, and visual quality. We focus on China's Urban Scenic and Historic Areas (USHA), a major type of UPA with high cultural, social, and esthetic values. Using the buffer of Shugang-Slender West Lake Scenic and Historic Area in Yangzhou City as the case study, we conducted intercept and online surveys (n = 499), investigating the perceptions of three user groups-residents, businesses, and tourists. The results indicate high overall satisfaction for all three groups. Environmental, visual, and cultural qualities were rated higher than connectivity and infrastructure quality. Residents generally showed the highest satisfaction and tourists the lowest. For all three groups, environmental quality, connectivity, and infrastructure quality significantly influenced overall satisfaction, while cultural and visual quality did not. This suggests that the public expects the buffer zone to serve as high-quality multi-functional open spaces that enhance the quality of life while providing recreation, service, and transportation functions. Besides direct planning and management advice to China's UPAs and other countries with similar contexts, our study offers a transferable framework for incorporating social perceptions and highlights their significance in informing the functional planning of UPA buffer zones for public welfare.

Navigating the challenges in the land intervention practices of peri-urban areas in Indian cities using CRITIC-TOPSIS approach

ABSTRACT Peri-urbanisation is a dynamic phenomenon that is perpetually altering the territories of the metropolises and land management regimes for peri-urban areas have left a void in combating the acceleration of metropolitan encroachment into the peripheral areas. Land-related decisions in the conflicted context of peri-urban are required to be strategized, considering the opportunities they present for urban development. The research aims to rank the significance of the challenges in land intervention practices by the planning professionals in the peri-urban context of India. A questionnaire-based survey is used to collect data for analysis from 84 experts from the planning field and academia. The CRITIC method is used to ascertain the weight of each participant’s response, while the TOPSIS method ranks the significance of the challenges (C1–C10). The lack of comprehensive planning standards and benchmarks (C5) is of the the most significance. Uncertain demarcation of peri-urban areas (C1) and the the absence of post-implementation and compliance evaluation studies (C9) are the next most challenging, as per the analysis. The result aids in the understanding of the policymakers to mitigate the challenges faced in peri-urban land management by prioritising actions.

Identification and classification of urban employment centers based on big data: A case study of Beijing.

The layout, scale and spatial form of urban employment centers are important guidelines for the rational layout of public service facilities such as urban transportation, medical care, and education. In this paper, we use Internet cell phone positioning data to identify the workplace and residence of users in the Beijing city area and obtain commuting data of the employed to measure the employment center system in Beijing. Firstly, the employment density distribution is generated using the data of the working places of the employed persons, and the employment centers are identified based on the employment density of Beijing. Then, we use the business registration data of employment centers to measure the industrial diversity within the employment centers by using the ecological Shannon Wiener Diversity Index, and combine the commuting links between employment centers and places of residence to measure the energy level of each employment center, analyze the hinterland and sphere of influence of each center, and finally using the industrial diversity index of employment centers and the average commuting time of employed persons, combined with the K-Means clustering algorithm, to classify the employment centers in Beijing. The employment center identification and classification method based on big data constructed in this study can help solve the limitations of the previous employment center system research in terms of center identification and commuting linkage measurement due to large spatial units and lack of commuting data to a certain extent. The study can provide reference for the regular understanding and technical analysis of employment centers and provide help for the employment multi-center system in Beijing in terms of quantifying the employment spatial structure, guiding the construction of multi-center system, and adjusting the land use rules.

Spatial heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of carbon storage in the urban agglomeration within complex terrain: Multi-scale analyses under localized SSP-RCP narratives

Ecological carbon storage is critical to climate change mitigation by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. Mountainous ecosystems, crucial carbon reservoirs, are experiencing persistent carbon storage declines, yet management mechanisms targeting such complex terrains remain challenging. Focusing on the Sichuan-Chongqing urban agglomeration, interwoven as mountains and basins, we employed the MPI-coupled (Improved Markov-PLUS-InVEST) model and localized "socio-economic-climatic" narratives to simulate the dynamic evolution of carbon storage over extended periods. Diverse impacts and gradient effects of social, economic, and natural (incl. terrain, climate) drivers on carbon storage are further examined. The findings revealed that: (1) The most carbon storage growth projected from 2030 to 2060 reaches 1.53 %, but of which localized SSP5–8.5 narrative the urbanization encroached upon the undeveloped mountainous, severely impairing carbon sequestration by 81.5Tg. (2) In addition to landscape types, carbon storage exhibits complex spatial responses to economic development, population size, and terrain with an inverted U-shaped relationship. The proposed methodology offers more accurate carbon storage estimates and assists policy-makers in similar terrains to effectively manage the spatial heterogeneity of carbon storage. This study facilitates the implementation of tailored ecological conservation through urban zoning, thus contributing to enhanced subregional climate change mitigation efforts globally.