Hasil untuk "Metropolitan areas"

H. Dadashpoor, P. Azizi, Mahdis Moghadasi

This paper analyzes land use change, urbanization and their impact on the change in landscape pattern in Tabriz metropolitan area (TMA) during the time period from 1996 to 2016 in order to provide support sustainable regional planning. For this purpose, land use data obtained from satellite images including Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors for 1996, 2006, and 2016 with 30 × 30 m spatial resolution. This paper first seeks to analyze the changes in land use and urbanization, followed by changes in landscape patterns by using spatial metrics and Landscape Expansion Index (LEI). Then, using two methods of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), magnitude and direction of the relationship between land use changes, urbanization, and change in landscape patterns are analyzed. The findings show that most ecological lands such as grasslands have been converted into bare and urban lands over the past two decades. Therefore, in the whole landscape, the expansion of urbanization has led to the prevailing pattern, resulting in increased fragmentation and reduced aggregation. The results also show that changes in landscape patterns have a strong relationship with changes in various land uses. In addition, GWR analysis was used to analyze the impact of urbanization on changes in landscape patterns, indicating that urbanization expansion has different effects with changes in spatial positions, so that in areas adjacent to the built-up lands and the central regions of TMA, with increasing urbanization, we see increasing aggregation in the landscape, but as we move away from the built-up areas, are faced with an increase in fragmentation and heterogeneity, especially in the northeastern, south and southwest areas of TMR.

M. Klein, E. Fischer

Only few studies investigated the input of microplastic particles via the atmosphere, so far. Here, we present results on microplastic concentrations in the atmospheric deposition in the metropolitan region of Hamburg. In total, six investigation sites were equipped with three bulk precipitation samplers each and sampled biweekly over 12 weeks (12/17-03/18). Three sites were located in a rural area south of Hamburg comprising one open field site and two throughfall sites under beech/oak and Douglas fir forest canopy, respectively. Three further sites were selected within the city following a transect from north to south representing urban sites of varying degrees concerning population, traffic and industrial pressures. Particles and fibers were counted under UV light within a photo box and under a fluorescence microscope (Axio Lab A.1, Zeiss). Results show that microplastic particles are ubiquitous at all sites. A median abundance between 136.5 and 512.0 microplastic particles per m2/day has been found over the sampling period. This equals a mean microplastic abundance of 275 particles/m2/day μRaman spectroscopy showed that polyethylenes/ethylvinyl acetate copolymers are dominating significantly (48.8 and 22.0%, respectively), 16 particles analyzed (14.6%) were identified as contamination from PE (polyethylene) samplers. In contrast to other studies, fragments were significantly dominating compared to fibers. The spatial distribution comparing the urban sites concentrations followed in the order from high to low: "north" (Henstedt-Ulzburg, low population density, suburb) - "center" (University; large population density) - "south" (Wilhelmsburg, middle population density, port and industrial facilities) with highly varying concentrations within the time series. Surprisingly, the rural sites in the southern part of Hamburg showed highest concentrations (Douglas fir > open field > beech/oak). This finding is most likely a result of factors such as the comb out capacity of the different forest types and/or direct input pathways from the agricultural areas and the nearby highway.

Mike Jia, Jiannong Cao, W. Liang

Jian-Long Liu, Xi-Yu Luo, Yong Yu et al.

Towards realizing the future quantum internet1,2, a pivotal milestone entails the transition from two-node proof-of-principle experiments conducted in laboratories to comprehensive multi-node set-ups on large scales. Here we report the creation of memory–memory entanglement in a multi-node quantum network over a metropolitan area. We use three independent memory nodes, each of which is equipped with an atomic ensemble quantum memory3 that has telecom conversion, together with a photonic server where detection of a single photon heralds the success of entanglement generation. The memory nodes are maximally separated apart for 12.5 kilometres. We actively stabilize the phase variance owing to fibre links and control lasers. We demonstrate concurrent entanglement generation between any two memory nodes. The memory lifetime is longer than the round-trip communication time. Our work provides a metropolitan-scale testbed for the evaluation and exploration of multi-node quantum network protocols and starts a stage of quantum internet research. A metropolitan-area quantum network based on the generation of pairwise entanglement is formed by three atomic quantum memories connected to a central photonic server.

Vaidehi Pathak, Sameer Deshkar

Abstract Achieving sustainability in rural areas requires innovative approaches that harness local resources and community capacities for resilient and inclusive development. Accordingly, this paper proposes a structured methodology for localising sustainability through hierarchical village clustering, grounded in principles of sustainability analysis for resource-based rural development. The approach involves a multi-step framework comprising (i) assessment of villages based on socioeconomic and environmental indicators, (ii) application of clustering algorithms to group villages with similar development characteristics, and (iii) spatial analysis using GIS to examine geographic proximity and interdependencies among clusters. The study uses Analytical tools in R-Studio to perform the quantitative clustering based on development indicators, while GIS integrates spatial context to identify spatial coherence and proximity-based dynamics. Applied to the Nagpur Metropolitan Region, India, the method demonstrates how clusters can guide targeted interventions aligned with each cluster’s specific sustainability needs and capacities. By elucidating the benefits of clustering and showcasing its implementation in the context of the study area, this research aims to contribute key strategies based on individual clusters’ sustainability challenges that resonate far beyond the boundaries of a single region, catalysing a paradigm shift towards inclusive, sustainable communities.

Tao Wang, Hongbo Li, Yue Huang

Abstract With rapid urbanization and frequent disasters, regional ecosystem resilience decreased continuously. Strengthening the resilience of the ecological network is conducive to improving the ecological benefits and the quality of ecological products. The research on the resilience of ecological networks is increasingly concerned, and it is necessary to construct a comprehensive research framework to evaluate the resilience of ecological networks. Taking Wuhan metropolitan area as a case, this research aimed to constructs an ecological network and evaluates network resilience from the perspective of complex networks. Firstly, we construct the evaluation Index of network resilience from the structure and function dimensions. Secondly, regions with high importance are selected as ecological sources according to the evaluation of landscape connectivity. Thirdly, the MCR model is used to establish the ecological network. Finally, we analyzed the resilience characteristics of the network under different node failure scenarios. The results show that: (1) Ecological nodes correspond to a wide variety of land types, including forest, water bodies, croplands, and urban and build-up; (2) The overall ecological connection of the ecological corridor is relatively high and the main components of the landscape are croplands, forest and water bodies; (3) The trend of structural and functional resilience does not always show convergence under different shock simulation which is related to the redundancy of networks. The research results will help to analyze the network and regional resilience and provide references for the optimization of ecological networks and the improvement of sustainable ecosystem management and restoration.

Claudia do Socorro Carvalho Miranda, Bruna Costa de Souza, Tainara Carvalho Garcia Miranda Filgueiras et al.

Chagas disease is a serious public health problem worldwide. In Brazil, the state of Pará has the largest number of reported cases. This article analyzes the spatial distribution of this disease and its relationship with socioeconomic, environmental, and public policy health variables in three mesoregions in the Pará state from 2013 to 2022. This ecological study used secondary data obtained from official Brazilian agencies. Spatial analysis was carried out using the flow, kernel, and bivariate global Moran techniques expressed in thematic maps. A total of 3664 cases of the disease were confirmed, with the highest number of cases being reported in the northeast of Pará. A seasonal pattern of the disease, an epidemiological profile similar to other diseases in the Amazon region, and the spatial dependence between the disease prevalence and socioeconomic indicators were observed. The most intense movement of patients for treatment was to the Belém metropolitan mesoregion, which has the majority of the health services and professionals. The disease showed an inhomogeneous pattern of cases in terms of the spatial distribution, with a direct relationship between areas with a higher number of cases and those with human clusters. The socioenvironmental origins of the disease transcend mesoregion boundaries and stem from the historically unsustainable development model in the Amazon.

Saddam Sarwar, Hafiz Usman Ahmed Khan, Falin Wu et al.

In the past two decades, Islamabad has experienced significant urbanization. As a result of inadequate urban planning and spatial distribution, it has significantly influenced land use–land cover (LULC) changes and green areas. To assess these changes, there is an increasing need for reliable and appropriate information about urbanization. Landsat imagery is categorized into four thematic classes using a supervised classification method called the support vector machine (SVM): built-up, bareland, vegetation, and water. The results of the change detection of post-classification show that the city region increased from 6.37% (58.09 km²) in 2000 to 28.18% (256.49 km²) in 2020, while vegetation decreased from 46.97% (428.28 km²) to 34.77% (316.53 km²) and bareland decreased from 45.45% (414.37 km²) to 35.87% (326.49 km²). Utilizing a land change modeler (LCM), forecasts of the future conditions in 2025, 2030, and 2035 are predicted. The artificial neural network (ANN) model embedded in IDRISI software 18.0v based on a well-defined backpropagation (BP) algorithm was used to simulate future urban sprawl considering the historical pattern for 2015–2020. Selected landscape morphological measures were used to quantify and analyze changes in spatial structure patterns. According to the data, the urban area grew at a pace of 4.84% between 2015 and 2020 and will grow at a rate of 1.47% between 2020 and 2035. This growth in the metropolitan area will encroach further into vegetation and bareland. If the existing patterns of change persist over the next ten years, a drop in the mean Euclidian Nearest Neighbor Distance (ENN) of vegetation patches is anticipated (from 104.57 m to 101.46 m over 2020–2035), indicating an accelerated transformation of the landscape. Future urban prediction modeling revealed that there would be a huge increase of 49% in urban areas until the year 2035 compared to the year 2000. The results show that in rapidly urbanizing areas, there is an urgent need to enhance land use laws and policies to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem, urban development, and the preservation of natural resources.

Alison Brown, Alexandra Cant, Rebecca Wolfgang et al.

Abstract Introduction In Australia, access to primary health care (PHC) services is limited in comparison to major cities. Allied health professionals play a pivotal role in providing necessary PHC in rural and remote areas. However, there is limited evidence about the most effective allied health specific PHC models of care that can be utilised in these settings. The aim of this review was to describe the PHC models used by allied health professionals in rural and remote areas of Australia and report on their impact and effectiveness in improving care. Methods A search of five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Informit Health) was undertaken. Articles were included that related to a refined list of allied health professions that specifically work in PHC settings, these included: dietetics; occupational therapy; physiotherapy; psychology; speech pathology; social work; podiatry; exercise physiology; pharmacy; optometry; and audiology. Articles with a focus on a PHC model of service delivery in a rural or remote area were included. The effectiveness and impact of these models was examined. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of the included articles. Results A total of 57 articles met the inclusion criteria, from an initial 1864 unique citations sourced from searches. Of the 57 articles, 22 studies were in the Australian context and were included in this paper. The outcome measures typically included improving access to services, however minimal impact or effectiveness data was reported. Studies were categorised into an existing typology of PHC models: integrated services (n = 9); outreach services (n = 3); virtual outreach services (n = 4); discrete services (n = 4); with an additional model being health promotion (n = 5). Conclusion A range of PHC models were used by allied health disciplines in rural and remote areas of Australia. These models focused on improving access to allied health services in primary care settings to address health inequities faced. Given the limited reporting of the impact of these services, it is recommended that rigorous evaluations of existing allied health models are undertaken. There is a gap in the literature regarding the models of service delivery being used by allied health professionals in non-metropolitan areas.

Teng-Yun Chen, Xiao Jiang, Shi-Biao Tang et al.

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure key exchanges between two remote users. The ultimate goal of secure communication is to establish a global quantum network. The existing field tests suggest that quantum networks are feasible. To achieve a practical quantum network, we need to overcome several challenges including realizing versatile topologies for large scales, simple network maintenance, extendable configuration and robustness to node failures. To this end, we present a field operation of a quantum metropolitan-area network with 46 nodes and show that all these challenges can be overcome with cutting-edge quantum technologies. In particular, we realize different topological structures and continuously run the network for 31 months, by employing standard equipment for network maintenance with an extendable configuration. We realize QKD pairing and key management with a sophisticated key control centre. In this implementation, the final keys have been used for secure communication such as real-time voice telephone, text messaging and file transmission with one-time pad encryption, which can support 11 pairs of users to make audio calls simultaneously. Combined with intercity quantum backbone and ground–satellite links, our metropolitan implementation paves the way toward a global quantum network.

S. Agrawal, L. Orschler, S. Lackner

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a great approach that enables us to comprehensively monitor the community to determine the scale and dynamics of infections in a city, particularly in metropolitan cities with a high population density. Therefore, we monitored the time course of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in raw sewage in the Frankfurt metropolitan area, the European financial center. To determine the SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration in sewage, we continuously collected 24 h composite samples twice a week from two wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influents (Niederrad and Sindlingen) serving the Frankfurt metropolitan area and performed RT-qPCR analysis targeting three genes (N gene, S gene, and ORF1ab gene). In August, a resurgence in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA load was observed, reaching 3 × 1013 copies/day, which represented similar levels compared to April with approx. 2 × 1014 copies/day. This corresponds to a continuous increase again in COVID-19 cases in Frankfurt since August, with an average of 28.6 incidences, compared to 28.7 incidences in April. Different temporal dynamics were observed between different sampling points, indicating local dynamics in COVID-19 cases within the Frankfurt metropolitan area. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA load to the WWTP Niederrad ranged from approx. 4 × 1011 to 1 × 1015 copies/day, the load to the WWTP Sindlingen from approx. 1 × 1011 to 2 × 1014 copies/day, which resulted in a preceding increase in these loading in July ahead of the weekly averaged incidences. The study shows that WBE has the potential as an early warning system for SARS-CoV-2 infections and a monitoring system to identify global hotspots of COVID-19.

Shunyao Wang, Tianchen Qin, Ran Tu et al.

Rapidly increasing urbanization in recent decades has elevated the subway as the primary public transportation mode in metropolitan areas. Indoor air quality (IAQ) inside subways is an important factor that influences the health of commuters and subway workers. This review discusses the subway IAQ in different cities worldwide by comparing the sources and abundance of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in these environments. Factors that affect PM concentration and chemical composition were found to be associated with the subway internal structure, train frequency, passenger volume, and geographical location. Special attention was paid to air pollutants, such as transition metals, volatile/semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), and bioaerosols, due to their potential roles in indoor chemistry and causing adverse health impacts. In addition, given that the IAQ of subway systems is a public health issue worldwide, we calculated the Gini coefficient of urban subway exposure via meta-analysis. A value of 0.56 showed a significant inequity among different cities. Developed regions with higher per capita income tend to have higher exposure. By reviewing the current advances and challenges in subway IAQ with a focus on indoor chemistry and health impacts, future research is proposed toward a sustainable urban transportation systems.

Stephanie H Cook, Erica P Wood, Mariana Rodrigues et al.

BackgroundYoung sexual minority men (YSMM) engage in cardiometabolic risk behaviors (eg, substance use) at higher rates than their heterosexual counterparts. Theory and previous research suggest that these risk behaviors may stem, in part, from exposure to minority stress (ie, discrimination based on sexual identity and other identities such as race). ObjectiveThis pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual 2-day daily diary study that examined daily experiences with discrimination, cardiometabolic risk behaviors (ie, sleep, physical activity, and substance use behaviors), and patterns of physiological stress and inflammation among YSMM aged 18 to 35 years. MethodsParticipants (n=20) were recruited from the greater New York metropolitan area and engaged in a 2-day daily diary protocol wherein they provided web-based consent, took a web-based baseline survey, and then, starting the next day, provided 3 saliva samples a day for 2 consecutive days to measure salivary cortisol, engaged in 3 daily diaries per day, and provided 1 blood spot sample via the finger prick method to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. At follow-up, participants were interviewed via videoconferencing to ascertain their experiences and feelings related to the study protocol. Qualitative analyses explored the feasibility and acceptability of the study protocol, and exploratory quantitative analyses explored the descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations among the main study variables of interest. ResultsThe retention rate was high (19/20, 95%) in our study sample. Qualitative analyses demonstrated that participants were willing to engage in similar, longer-term studies (eg, studies that include both week and weekend days) in the future and suggested the feasibility and acceptability of our study protocol among YSMM. However, participants noted several areas for improvement (eg, redundancy of survey items and difficulty pricking one’s finger) that should be considered in future research. Preliminary quantitative analyses revealed a moderate negative correlation between everyday discrimination and mean cortisol levels (r=−0.51; P=.03). Furthermore, descriptive analyses suggest that that daily cortisol curves differ across races or ethnicities among YSMM. White and other-identified YSMM experienced the highest cortisol awakening response (mean 0.39, SD 0.21 µg/dL for White participants; mean 0.34, SD 0.34 µg/dL for others) with the steepest decline around bedtime (mean 0.05, SD 0.04 µg/dL for White participants; mean 0.09, SD 0.13 µg/dL for others) followed by a lower cortisol awakening response (mean 0.31, SD 0.11 µg/dL for Hispanic participants; mean 0.23, SD 0.15 µg/dL for Black participants) and a slower decline around bedtime (mean 0.10, SD 0.09 µg/dL for Hispanic participants; mean 0.03, SD 0.02 µg/dL for Black participants) among Hispanic and Black YSMM. ConclusionsOverall, the results suggest that similar study protocols are feasible and acceptable among YSMM. Future research should highlight the pathways through which cardiovascular disease risk may arise among YSMM using longer-term study designs and more diverse study samples.

Heng Wang, Yang Li, Yaodi Pi et al.

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) has potential advantages of high secret key rate, which is very suitable for high-speed metropolitan network application. However, the secret key rates of the reported CVQKD systems are only a few Mbps over typical transmission distance so far. Here, we address the fundamental experimental problems and demonstrate a single-carrier four-state CVQKD with sub-Gbps key rate within metropolitan area. In the demonstrated four-state CVQKD using local local oscillator, an ultra-low level of excess noise is obtained and a high efficient post-processing setup is designed for practically extracting the final secure keys. Thus, the achieved secret key rates are 190.54 Mbps, 137.76 Mbps and 52.48 Mbps using linear channel assuming security analysis method and 233.87 Mbps, 133.6 Mbps and 21.53 Mbps using semidefinite programming security analysis method over transmission distances of 5 km, 10 km and 25 km, respectively. This result increases the asymptotic secret key rate to sub-Gbps level, which is sufficient to achieve the one-time pad cryptographic task. Moreover, our work shows the road for future high-rate and large-scale CVQKD deployment in secure broadband metropolitan and access networks. With the continuous development of metropolitan broadband and network, the need of secure and faster transmission also increases. The authors demonstrate a single-carrier four-state continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) with sub-Gbps key rate within metropolitan area and secure transmissions up to 25 km

Brinda Kumar

Charles Lang Freer’s purchase of the Henry Bathurst Hanna collection of Indian paintings in 1907 can seem an anomalous, almost incidental acquisition in the career of a collector whose interests for the most part lay elsewhere. Its peculiarity makes it an intriguing episode, and one that but for the presence of some remarkable pieces might arguably be relegated to a footnote in the annals of Freer’s wide-ranging and more extensive areas of collecting. A clearer picture of his motivations comes into focus, however, by considering his pursuit of the collection within the broader range of his own experiences, his milieu, and the prevailing cultural context. This article situates Freer’s interest in a particular collection of Indian art—understood narrowly at the time as concomitant with Mughal painting—against the background of the long presence of India in the United States, the growth of interest in Eastern culture and spirituality in late nineteenth-century New England, the beginnings of the appreciation of the aesthetic value of objects from India in the early twentieth century, and the burgeoning market and place for non-Western works in art museums in metropolitan cities, including the one that Freer had committed to establishing. In so doing, one may better understand the importance he placed on the acquisition of the collection, which would be a singular step that initiated a place for India within fine art museums in the United States.

Andrea Alonso, Andrés Monzón, Iago Aguiar et al.

Understanding the characteristics that shape mobility could help to achieve more sustainable transport systems. A considerable body of scientific studies tries to determine these characteristics at the urban level. However, there is a lack of studies analyzing those factors for the heterogeneous zones existing in the suburbs of big cities. The study presented in this paper intends to fill this gap, in the context of two metropolitan corridors in the Madrid Region. Correlation analyses are used to examine how mobility patterns are affected by socioeconomic and urban form variables. Then, a cluster analysis is carried out to classify the types of zones we may find in the suburbs. Results show that the main characteristics leading towards higher car use are low urban density, few local activities, a high percentage of children, and a low percentage of seniors. As for the variable distance to the city center, it does not explain car use. Moreover, some remote areas have many walking trips. This is well understood in the cluster analysis; there are zones far away from the city center but that are dense and well provided for, which work as self-sufficient urban centers. Results reinforce the theories underlying polycentrism as a solution to the urban sprawl challenge.

Jun Wern Yau, Sze Mun Thor, Danny Tsai et al.

Abstract Background Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging problem worldwide and poses a significant threat to human health. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes are being implemented in health systems globally, primarily in hospitals, to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Despite the significance of primary health care services in providing health care to communities, antimicrobial stewardship programmes are not well established in this sector, especially in rural and remote settings. This narrative review aims to identify in rural and remote primary health care settings the (1) correlation of antimicrobial resistance with antibiotic prescribing and volume of antibiotic use, (2) appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing, (3) risk factors associated with inappropriate use/prescribing of antibiotics, and (4) effective antimicrobial stewardship strategies. Methods The international literature was searched for English only articles between 2000 and 2020 using specified keywords. Seven electronic databases were searched: Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid Medline and Ovid Emcare. Publication screening and analysis were conducted using Joanna Briggs Institute systematic review tools. Results Fifty-one eligible articles were identified. Inappropriate and excessive antimicrobial prescribing and use directly led to increases in antimicrobial resistance. Increasing rurality of practice is associated with disproportionally higher rates of inappropriate prescribing compared to those in metropolitan areas. Physician knowledge, attitude and behaviour play important roles in mediating antimicrobial prescribing, with strong intrinsic and extrinsic influences including patient factors. Antimicrobial stewardship strategies in rural and remote primary health care settings focus on health care provider and patient education, clinician support systems, utility of antimicrobial resistance surveillance, and policy changes. Results of these interventions were generally positive with decreased antimicrobial resistance rates and improved appropriateness of antimicrobial prescribing. Conclusions Inappropriate prescribing and excessive use of antimicrobials are an important contributor to the increasing resistance towards antimicrobial agents particularly in rural and remote primary health care. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes in the form of education, clinical support, surveillance, and policies have been mostly successful in reducing prescribing rates and inappropriate prescriptions. The narrative review highlighted the need for longer interventions to assess changes in antimicrobial resistance rates. The review also identified a lack of differentiation between rural and remote contexts and Indigenous health was inadequately addressed. Future research should have a greater focus on effective interventional components and patient perspectives.

Marcello S Scopazzini, Violette Raoult, Saumya Kuruttuparambil et al.

# Background Stunting, defined as z-score height-for-age (HAZ) \< -2, is an important contributor to the burden of childhood undernutrition among slum-dwelling residents in India’s metropolitan areas. Calcutta Rescue (CR) is a non-governmental organisation that provides medical care and nutritional support to slum-dwellers in Kolkata, India. CR undertook a study in Liluah Bhagar, an urban slum, to 1) establish the prevalence of undernutrition among children under five years of age, 2) evaluate the impact of a pilot nutritional support programme on growth patterns of a consecutively selected group of stunted children, and 3) identify socio-economic predictors of stunting. # Methods For the prevalence assessment (April-June 2018), we conducted anthropometric measurements using standardised World Health Organization (WHO) growth measurements for weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-height (WFH). For the longitudinal study, we recruited stunted children and collected anthropomorphic data every three months for one year (December 2018-December 2019). # Results The prevalence assessment of 116 children revealed 59% of stunting, 44% underweight and 12% of wasting. Follow-up of 42 stunted children in a pilot nutritional programme improved stunting over time (*b* =0.07, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.039, *P*\<0.001), with a trend towards clinical improvement at one year. Linear mixed model analysis revealed household income was a negative predictor of stunting (*b* =-0.38, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.09, *P*=0.010). # Conclusions This study highlights the burden of undernutrition in marginalised slum-dwelling children in India and the benefits of a pragmatic, education-focused nutritional intervention programme. Further studies are required to determine what predictors other than income are associated with stunting to then determine what interventions are likely to effect long-lasting and sustainable changes to growth in this vulnerable population.

Lawrence A. Kuznar

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has spread uncertainty and social disruption, and exacerbated political divides in the United States. Most studies of the drivers of the epidemic focus on victim characteristics without consideration of drivers in the general population. This study presents statistical models that track the underlying factors in the general population associated with the spread of the pandemic and addresses how social learning mechanisms have led people to adopt perspectives and behaviors depending on their social context. Despite many social, physiological and economic factors, the statistical drivers of the pandemic primarily relate to the presence of vectors and the probability of transmission. However, the relationship between these drivers and COVID-19 deaths is weak and variable outside of the New York metropolitan area. Furthermore, the per capita death rate in much of the country has been much lower than the New York metropolitan area. There have been two very different experiences with the pandemic, one where the signals of its danger have been obvious from the start and one where the signals have been much weaker. Social learning mechanisms (in-group information sharing, imitation, costly punishment) have amplified the effect of people’s experiences with the pandemic. Sheltering in cities and protesting shutdowns in rural areas probably were initially adaptive somatic efforts in the evolutionary sense, given the different realities of the pandemic versus its economic costs in urban versus rural environments. These adaptations, however, have deepened the political divides in an already Balkanized country. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for how to use social learning theory for disseminating information on how to combat the pandemic.

Chiara Galimberti

During the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic the Metropolitan City of Milan was Italy’s most affected urban area. While people had to wear a mask to protect themselves from infection, the virus unmasked the long-standing problems of air pollution, which have been affecting Milan for the past decades. After an ESA satellite image depicted smog decrease over the north of Italy, debates with regards to the linkage between air pollution and COVID-19 rose. For one, scientists argued that smog particles served as carrier for the virus, contributing to its spreading. Furthermore, it is known that exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter increases the susceptibility to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, that can worsen the health status of those infected by the novel coronavirus. This debate serves as the basis for my critical essay. Building on these two points, I look at this problem in a higher level of detail, with the purpose of discovering other common denominators behind the pandemic and air pollution. With this approach, I draw attention to the numerous and multidimensional connections and areas linked with the two topics, which are typically overlooked at first sight. Given the rapid increase in urbanisation, landscape architects and urban planners need to address these uprising issues and define more interdisciplinary strategies to counteract them. Following Donna Haraway’s call to respond to these troubled times, we are challenged to uncover the systemic links, to start thinking globally and find better ways of coexisting.