Contact tracing (CT) plays a pivotal role in controlling early epidemic spread, particularly when a novel infectious disease emerges. However, the quantitative impact of missing information -- such as untraced cases or unnotified contacts -- on the effectiveness of CT remains insufficiently understood. Using a stochastic agent-based model with sociodemographics from metropolitan areas in South Korea, we simulate how different forms of information loss affect epidemic spreading dynamics. We construct information-loss scenarios based on two types: infector-omission (IO) and contact-omission (CO), including selective (SCO) and uniform (UCO) scenarios; IO corresponds to the omission of infected individuals (nodes) from the tracing process, leading to the loss of all movement trajectories and downstream transmission links originating from them, whereas CO corresponds to the omission of specific contact events (edges), in which infected individuals are identified but some of their transmission links fail to be detected or notified. The sensitivity of epidemic dynamics to increasing omission rates differs markedly between the two types: IO scenarios exhibit substantially stronger and more abrupt changes in transmission structure and epidemic outcomes, whereas CO scenarios produce more gradual effects. In both scenarios, the magnitude of these effects varies across cities, with a lower-population city (Busan) showing greater tolerance to information loss than the largest city (Seoul), underscoring the importance of regional tailoring in CT strategies. Both IO and CO scenarios also lead to an increase in the transmission network diameter as information loss grows, indicating that a small network diameter reflects effective contact tracing that limits the depth of transmission chains.
Maria Ana Pereira, Giulio Gualandi, Rebecka Sax
et al.
An industrial-scale adoption of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) requires the development of practical, stable, resilient and cost-effective hardware that can be manufactured at large scales. In this work we present a high-speed (1.25GHz), field-deployable QKD prototype based on integrated photonics, that is consolidated into standard 19-inch rack compatible units. Through integrated photonics, the system prioritizes autonomous long-term stability in metropolitan settings. The architecture is further simplified by removing the need for chromatic dispersion compensation over metropolitan distances (below 100km). We demonstrate continuous key exchange over more than 4 km of metropolitan optical fiber, where the prototype maintained stable, uninterrupted operation across a measurement spanning more than 12 day-night cycles without manual intervention.
Background: Investment is widely recognized as a key driver of economic growth because it expands productive capacity and stimulates structural transformation. However, most empirical studies on the investment–growth relationship focus on national or provincial scales, while city-level dynamics in non-metropolitan areas remain relatively underexplored. This gap limits the understanding of how capital formation operates within smaller regional economies characterized by different institutional capacities and sectoral structures.
Aims: This study aims to examine the influence of investment on regional economic growth in Sungai Penuh City, Indonesia, during the 2020–2024 period.
Methods: The research employs a quantitative explanatory approach using secondary time-series data obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Economic growth is measured using Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at constant prices, while investment is represented by Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF). The relationship between variables is estimated using a log-linear regression model with the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method to identify investment elasticity in regional output.
Result: The estimation results indicate that investment has a positive and statistically significant effect on regional economic growth. The elasticity coefficient of 0.967 implies that a 1 percent increase in investment is associated with an approximate 0.97 percent rise in regional output. The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.972) shows that investment explains a substantial proportion of the variation in economic growth during the study period.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the critical role of capital formation in strengthening economic performance in non-metropolitan regions. The strong elasticity between investment and output underscores the importance of productive capital accumulation in supporting sustainable regional development and evidence-based economic policy formulation.
ObjectiveTo analyze the temporal mortality trends and demographic/geographic disparities of autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs) among individuals aged 45 years or older in the U.S. from 1999 to 2023, and provide evidence for targeted prevention and control strategies.MethodsBased on the CDC WONDER database, multiple-cause-mention ALD-related deaths (AIH, PBC, PSC) were identified using ICD-10 codes. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), annual percent changes (APC/AAPC) were calculated, and trend analyses were conducted via Joinpoint regression. The study population was restricted to decedents aged ≥45 years due to data availability constraints.ResultsTotal multiple-cause-mention ALD-related deaths increased by 165.05%, with AAMR rising from 1.65 to 2.74 per 100,000 (AAPC = 2.48). Females had a higher AAMR (2.97 per 100,000) than males (2.53 per 100,000) in 2023. The 45–54 age group had the fastest AAPC (2.56), and non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest AAPC (2.94). The West had the highest AAMR (3.24 per 100,000) in 2023. Based on data from 1999-2020, in 2020, AAMR in nonmetropolitan areas (3.09 per 100,000) surpassed that in metropolitan areas, with widening urban-rural gaps.ConclusionU.S. ALD-related multiple-cause-mention mortality continues to rise among adults aged ≥45 years, with significant disparities across age, race/ethnicity, and urban-rural regions. Improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations and developing new therapies are essential to reduce the disease burden.
The relationship between crime and the media has long been a focal point of academic research, with traditional media playing a significant role in shaping public perceptions of safety and community well-being. However, the advent of social media has introduced a new dimension to this discourse, offering unique platforms for user-driven discussions. Despite the prominence of social media, research examining its impact on crime-related discourse remains limited. This paper investigates crime-related discussions across Reddit communities representing 384 Metropolitan Areas in the United States. By analyzing user submissions, we identify key trends in crime discourse, including the higher prevalence of such discussions in larger metropolitan areas and communities with more liberal political leanings. Interestingly, we find that reported crime rates do not strongly influence the frequency or intensity of these discussions. These findings provide novel insights into how social media platforms, like Reddit, shape public narratives around crime, highlighting the growing need to examine digital spaces as influential mediators of public perception.
Benjamín Castro-Cancino, Waldo Pérez-Martínez, Paulina Vidal-Páez
et al.
In the mountainous and foothill areas of Santiago, Chile, debris flows and debris floods have been recurrent over recent decades, triggered by short-duration, high-intensity summer rainfall events. These events have caused significant damage to infrastructure and have affected the population, including loss of human lives. This study assesses the susceptibility to debris flow and debris flood generation in the Arrayán and Gualtatas stream basins, located in the Metropolitan Region, using satellite and cartographic data. A Susceptibility Index (SI) was determined through the analysis of 14 conditioning factors, grouped into three main categories: geology, geomorphology, and soil conditions. The weighting and ranking of each factor’s importance were carried out using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results, presented in a susceptibility map, indicate that 60.78% of the study area exhibits low to very low susceptibility, 24.64% moderate susceptibility, and 14.58% high to very high susceptibility, concentrated in stream headwaters, steep slopes, and areas with unconsolidated deposits. Recent debris flow events that have reached urban areas coincide with high-susceptibility zones, validating the methodology and cartographic products, which can support land-use planning and risk management efforts.
Dennis Ngminmaale Gyile, Austin Asare, Augustine Prosper Osei-Gyabaah
et al.
Urban sprawl within the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area has led to an increase in land-surface temperature (LST) by 4.07 °C since 1991, exacerbating the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon and heightening health and energy challenges associated with heat. Our study evaluated the influence of land use and land cover change (LULCC) on LST by implementing supervised classification techniques on multi-temporal imagery from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager / Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI/TIRS) for the years 1991, 2002, 2015, and 2020. The classification achieved an overall accuracy exceeding 85 % and a Cohen’s kappa of over 0.80. Thermal patterns were examined using non-parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman’s correlation analysis. The proportion of built-up land surged from 30.63 % in 1991 to 72.53 % in 2020, primarily at the expense of forested areas, which decreased from 21.35 % to 11.35 %. The mean urban LST increased by 4.07 °C, with built-up areas recording the highest temperatures; unexpectedly, water bodies also exhibited elevated LST, likely attributed to pollution and their shallow nature. LST showed a negative correlation with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and positive correlations with the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI), bare-soil index (BSI), modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI), and normalized difference bareness index (NDBAL). These stable correlations across all assessed years indicate that rapid LULCC, rather than inter-annual climate variability, is the primary driver of surface warming in Accra.
Wildfires increasingly threaten Mediterranean landscapes, particularly in regions like Attica, Greece, where urban sprawl, agricultural abandonment, and climatic conditions heighten the risk at the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI). The Mediterranean basin, recognized as one of the global wildfire “hotspots”, has witnessed a steady increase in both fire severity, frequency, and burned area during the last four decades, a trend amplified by urban sprawl and agricultural land abandonment. This study represents the first integrated, region-wide mapping of the WUI and associated wildfire risk in Attica, the most densely urbanized area in Greece and one of the most fire-exposed metropolitan regions in Southern Europe, utilizing advanced techniques such as Earth Observation and GIS analysis. For this purpose, various geospatial datasets were coupled, including Copernicus High Resolution Layers, multi-decadal Landsat fire history archive, UCR-STAR building footprints, and CORINE Land Cover, among others. The research delineated WUI zones into 40 interface and intermix categories, revealing that WUI encompasses 26.29% of Attica, predominantly in shrub-dominated areas. An analysis of fire frequency history from 1983 to 2023 indicated that approximately 102,366 hectares have been affected by wildfires. Risk assessments indicate that moderate hazard zones are most prevalent, covering 36.85% of the region, while approximately 25% of Attica is classified as moderate, high, or very high susceptibility zones. The integrated risk map indicates that 37.74% of Attica is situated in high- and very high-risk zones, principally concentrated in peri-urban areas. These findings underscore Attica’s designation as one of the most fire-prone metropolitan regions in Southern Europe and offer a viable methodology for enhancing land-use planning, fuel management, and civil protection efforts.
The rapid pace of urban growth in the 21st century has transformed cities into complex and interconnected systems that extend far beyond their municipal boundaries. As urbanisation intensifies, the terminology associated with city expansion-particularly metropolitan areas and metropolitan regions is frequently used interchangeably, even though they represent conceptually distinct spatial, functional, and governance entities. Understanding the difference between these two frameworks is essential in urban and regional planning, transport planning, public policy, and sustainable development. This paper provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of metropolitan areas and metropolitan regions by examining their definitions, boundaries, functional characteristics, governance structures, socio-economic influence, and planning implications. Drawing insights from global examples and detailed case studies from India-including Delhi NCR, Mumbai MMR, and Bengaluru BMR-the paper highlights key similarities and contrasts and argues that while metropolitan areas represent the compact, continuous urban footprint, metropolitan regions reflect a broader sphere of economic, functional, and socio-spatial influence extending into peri-urban and rural territories. The study underscores the importance of adopting regionally integrated planning approaches to address contemporary challenges, such as transportation connectivity, land-use fragmentation, environmental stress, and socio-economic disparities. It concludes by emphasizing the need for coordinated governance models and integrated metropolitan regional planning frameworks to support sustainable urban futures.
J. A. Martínez-Cadena, J. M. Sánchez-Cerritos, A. Marin-Lopez
et al.
In the recent two decades, the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) has been plagued by high concentrations of air pollutants, risking the health integrity of its inhabitants. Although some policies have been undertaken, they have been insufficient to deplete high air pollutants. Environmental contingencies are commonly imposed when the ozone concentration overpasses a certain threshold, which is well above the recommended maximum by the WHO. This work used a causal version of a generalized Morlet wavelet to characterize the dynamics of daily ozone concentration in the MCMA. The results indicated that the formation of dangerous ozone concentration levels is a consequence of accumulation and incomplete dissipation effects acting over a wide range of time scales. Ozone contingencies occurred when the wavelet coefficient power is increasing, which was linked to an inti-persistence behavior. It was proposed that the wavelet methodology could be used as a further tool for signaling the potential formation of adverse ozone pollution scenarios.
Eleonora Bahr Pessôa, Mariluci Neis Carelli, Dione da Rocha Bandeira
Resumo As diretrizes estabelecidas pelo Estatuto da Cidade determinam a garantia do direito a cidades sustentáveis, à gestão democrática e à inclusão da política patrimonial no planejamento e na gestão do desenvolvimento urbano. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma pesquisa do estado da arte, em bancos de dados, sobre a produção acadêmica nacional relacionada à abordagem do patrimônio cultural entre 2011-2020, nos planos diretores municipais. Por meio da metodologia estado da arte foi possível concluir que há pouca produção acadêmica relacionando o plano diretor ao patrimônio cultural.
Takahiro Yabe, Kota Tsubouchi, Toru Shimizu
et al.
Modeling and predicting human mobility trajectories in urban areas is an essential task for various applications. The recent availability of large-scale human movement data collected from mobile devices have enabled the development of complex human mobility prediction models. However, human mobility prediction methods are often trained and tested on different datasets, due to the lack of open-source large-scale human mobility datasets amid privacy concerns, posing a challenge towards conducting fair performance comparisons between methods. To this end, we created an open-source, anonymized, metropolitan scale, and longitudinal (90 days) dataset of 100,000 individuals' human mobility trajectories, using mobile phone location data. The location pings are spatially and temporally discretized, and the metropolitan area is undisclosed to protect users' privacy. The 90-day period is composed of 75 days of business-as-usual and 15 days during an emergency. To promote the use of the dataset, we will host a human mobility prediction data challenge (`HuMob Challenge 2023') using the human mobility dataset, which will be held in conjunction with ACM SIGSPATIAL 2023.
Resumo A agenda de cidades inteligentes vem se consolidando no Brasil a partir de relações de poder assimétricas entre atores estatais e não estatais, sendo atravessada por conflitos de interesses entre empresas, governos e comunidades em nível transnacional, regional e local. Da Nova Agenda Urbana assinada em Quito, em 2016, aos novos “planos diretores” encabeçados por consultorias privadas nos municípios brasileiros, abordagens corporativas de inteligência no espaço urbano têm salientado a racionalidade neoliberal por trás do conceito e seus desdobramentos. Aqui, apresenta-se um olhar crítico dessa agenda desde o Sul Global, articulando o alcance do poder corporativo, a garantia de direitos (à cidade e digitais) e a resistência exercida a partir de colaborações locais e internacionais.
Shambhavi Sharma, Ahtesham Bakht, Muhammad Jahanzaib
et al.
Public transportation facilities, especially road crossings, which raise the pathogenic potential of urban environments, are the most conducive places for the transfer of germs between people and the environment. It is necessary to study the variety of the microbiome and describe its unique characteristics to comprehend these relationships. In this investigation, we used 16 S rRNA gene sample sequencing to examine the biological constituents and inhalable, thoracic, and alveolar particles in aerosol samples collected from busy areas in the Gangnam-gu district of the Seoul metropolitan area using a mobile vehicle. We also conducted a comparison analysis of these findings with the previously published data and tested for antibiotic resistance to determine the distribution of bacteria related to the human microbiome and the environment. Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes were the top five phyla in the bacterial 16 S rRNA libraries, accounting for >90 % of all readings across all examined locations. The most prevalent classes among the 12 found bacterial classes were Bacilli (45.812 %), Gammaproteobacteria (25.238 %), Tissierellia (13.078 %), Clostridia (5.697 %), and Alphaproteobacteria (5.142 %). The data acquired offer useful information on the variety of bacterial communities and their resistance to antibiotic drugs on the streets of Gangnam-gu, one of the most significant social centers in the Seoul metropolitan area. This work emphasizes the relevance of biological particles and particulate matter in the air, and it suggests more research is needed to perform biological characterization of the ambient particulate matter.
Chelsea D Christie, Christine M Friedenreich, Jennifer E Vena
et al.
The neighbourhood built environment can support the physical activity of adults regardless of their individual-level socioeconomic status. However, physical activity supportive (walkable) neighbourhoods may not be accessible to those with lower incomes if homes in walkable neighbourhoods are too expensive. The objectives of this study were: 1) to estimate the associations between neighbourhood walkability and home values in Canadian cities, and 2) to test whether these associations differ by city size and residential property type composition within neighbourhoods. We linked built environment data from the 2016 Canadian Active Living Environments (Can-ALE) index with neighbourhood-level structural home characteristics and sociodemographic data from the 2016 Canadian census for 33,026 neighbourhoods across 31 Census Metropolitan Areas. We used multilevel linear regression models to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between neighbourhood walkability and natural-log median home values and tested city size and neighbourhood property type composition as moderators. There were no statistically significant associations between walkability and home values overall. The associations between neighbourhood walkability and home values were jointly moderated by city size and property type composition. For small and medium sized cities, within neighbourhoods containing a high proportion of detached homes, walkability was negatively associated with home values (b = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.10, -0.01; and, b = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.06, -0.02, for small and medium cities, respectively). However, for extra-large cities, within neighbourhoods containing a high proportion of detached homes, walkability was positively associated with home values (b = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.10). Our findings suggest that, based on housing affordability, higher walkable neighbourhoods are likely accessible to lower income households that are situated in small and medium Canadian cities. In larger cities, however, municipal interventions (e.g., inclusionary zoning or targeted development of subsidized or social housing) may be needed to ensure equitable access to walkable neighbourhoods for lower income households.
Rapid urbanisation is pulling demand for energy services and emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) resulting in energy deficit, climate change and global warming. The ongoing energy crisis and degenerating climate condition demands urgent transformation of the energy system to renewable based from nonrenewable (fossil) based. To meet the growing demand for energy services and simultaneously mitigate the environmental impact of the energy sector, an accurate estimation of the demand for renewable generated electricity is vital to guide the policy makers in planning adequately for the adoption of renewable fuelled electricity generation technology in urban areas. This study evaluated the electricity demand for residential solar photovoltaic (RSPV) technology by potential household adopters of the technology in the metropolitan area of Lagos state, Nigeria. The study adopted quantitative research design with structured questionnaire to solicit information from the respondents. Three hundred and twenty-six (326) responses from the potential adopters were analysed with model for analysis of demand for energy (MADE II) and Pareto tool. The results show that the energy intensity for refrigeration services is 1.06 kWh/hh/day, entertainment services is 0.84 kWh/hh/day, computing services is 0.97 kWh/hh/day, space cooling services is 7.59 kWh/hh/day, ventilation services is 9.05 kWh/hh/day, lighting services is kWh/hh/day, cooking services 2.77 kWh/hh/day, process heating services is 6.43 kWh/hh/day and water pumping is 1.89 kWh/hh/day. The study concluded that the household energy services demand for electricity is 24.43 kWh/hh/day by the potential RSPV technology adopters and the total demand from the solar module panel of 31.59 kWh/hh/day with prospect for improvement on the energy intensity at the same output of energy services. Furtherance to this, the study recommends government intervention with formulation and implementation of dedicated policies on household appliances efficiency standard and also introduce financial schemes to support the replacement of inefficient household appliances with highly efficient ones. Further studies could include other non-common energy services that were not considered in this study. The study could also be conducted in other regions of Nigeria and also investigate the economic feasibility and behavioural acceptability of RSPV technology for effective planning of the national energy system transformation.
Andrej Kržič, Sakshi Sharma, Christopher Spiess
et al.
Quantum communication has seen rapid progress towards practical large-scale networks, with quantum key distribution (QKD) spearheading this development. While fibre based systems have been shown to be well suited for metropolitan scales, suitable fibre infrastructure may not always be in place. Here, we make the case for an entanglement-based free-space quantum network as a practical and efficient alternative for metropolitan applications. We developed a deployable free space QKD system and demonstrated its use in realistic scenarios. For a representative 1.7-km free-space link, we showcase its ad hoc deployability and achieve secure key rates of up to 5.7 kbps, with 2.5 kbps in direct noon sunlight. By extrapolating experimental data, we show that kbps key rates are achievable even for 10-km distances and multi-user scenarios. We anticipate that our work will establish free space networks as a viable solution for metropolitan applications and an indispensable complementary building block in the future global quantum internet.
Lyra Egan, Lauren Anne Gardner, Nicola Newton
et al.
BackgroundChronic disease burden is higher among disadvantaged populations. Preventing lifestyle risk behaviors such as poor diet, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and vaping in adolescence is critical for reducing the risk of chronic disease and related harms in adolescence and adulthood. Although eHealth interventions are a promising prevention approach among the general population, it is unclear whether they adequately serve adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds such as those living in geographically remote or lower socioeconomic areas.
ObjectiveThis is the first systematic review to identify, evaluate, and synthesize evidence for the effectiveness of eHealth interventions targeting adolescents living in geographically remote or lower socioeconomic areas in preventing poor diet, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and vaping.
MethodsA systematic search will be conducted in 7 electronic databases: the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PROSPERO, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, and PsycInfo (Ovid). The search will be limited to eHealth-based experimental studies (ie, randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies) targeting diet, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and vaping among adolescents (aged 10-19 years). Eligible studies will be those reporting on at least one marker of socioeconomic status (eg, social class, household income, parental occupation status, parental education, and family affluence) or geographical remoteness (eg, living in rural, regional, and remote areas, or living outside major metropolitan centers). One reviewer will screen all studies for eligibility, of which 25% will be double-screened. Data will be extracted and summarized in a narrative synthesis. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Revised Risk of Bias Tool.
ResultsAs of December 2021, the title and abstract screening of 3216 articles was completed, and the full-text review was underway. The systematic review is expected to be completed in 2022.
ConclusionsThis systematic review will provide an in-depth understanding of effective eHealth interventions targeting poor diet, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and vaping among adolescents living in geographically remote or lower socioeconomic areas and the factors that contribute to their effectiveness. This in turn will provide critical knowledge to improve future interventions delivered to these populations.
Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42021294119; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=294119
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)PRR1-10.2196/35408
Medicine, Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics
Quantum key distribution (QKD) provides information theoretically secures key exchange requiring authentication of the classic data processing channel via pre-sharing of symmetric private keys. In previous studies, the lattice-based post-quantum digital signature algorithm Aigis-Sig, combined with public-key infrastructure (PKI) was used to achieve high-efficiency quantum security authentication of QKD, and its advantages in simplifying the MAN network structure and new user entry were demonstrated. This experiment further integrates the PQC algorithm into the commercial QKD system, the Jinan field metropolitan QKD network comprised of 14 user nodes and 5 optical switching nodes. The feasibility, effectiveness and stability of the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithm and advantages of replacing trusted relays with optical switching brought by PQC authentication large-scale metropolitan area QKD network were verified. QKD with PQC authentication has potential in quantum-secure communications, specifically in metropolitan QKD networks.
In recent years, more and more people are paying close attention to the environmental problems in metropolitan areas and their harm to the human body. Among them, haze is the pollutant that people are most concerned about. The demand for a method to predict the haze level for the public and academics keeps rising. In order to predict the haze concentration on a time scale in hours, this study built a haze concentration prediction method based on one-dimensional convolutional neural networks. The gated recurrent unit method was used for comparison, which highlights the training speed of a one-dimensional convolutional neural network. In summary, the haze concentration data of the past 24 h are used as input and the haze concentration level on the next moment as output such that the haze concentration level on the time scale in hours can be predicted. Based on the results, the prediction accuracy of the proposed method is over 95% and can be used to support other studies on haze prediction.