Hasil untuk "Metropolitan areas"

D. D. Ingram, S. J. Franco

S. Angel, J. Parent, D. Civco et al.

F. Yuan, M. Bauer

James P. Spillane, Richard Halverson, Jonathan Diamond

G. Finn

Camilo Felix, Mavel Lopez-Flecher, Michelle Vega et al.

Background: The changing epidemiological landscape, marked by the increasing prominence of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs), underscores the need for studies that identify and analyze these conditions and their associated risk factors. This secondary analysis aims to describe the association between socioeconomic and educational characteristics and the prevalence of self-reported NCDs among participants in the PURE-Ecuador cohort in urban and rural populations of the Metropolitan District of Quito (MDQ), Ecuador. Methods: This secondary analysis is part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. Data were collected from February to December 2018, including 2028 participants aged 35 to 70 years from different urban and rural areas of the MDQ. Data collection utilized standardized questionnaires administered in face-to-face interviews. Pearson’s chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess associations. Results: The self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 16.2%, rising to 32.7% in individuals over 60 years old. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 6.7%, coronary heart disease 1.3%, stroke 1.6%, heart failure 1.3%, COPD 0.4%, asthma 1.3%, and cancer 1.9%. Multimorbidity affected 5.9% of participants, with the highest rates in obese and older individuals (≥60 years). Adherence to medications was high for hypertension and diabetes mellitus but varied substantially between communities. Conclusions: The secondary analysis revealed significant disparities in the prevalence and management of NCDs in MDQ. The prevalence of self-reported NCDs in Quito, Ecuador, is significantly associated with age and body mass index (BMI). Older individuals, particularly those over 60 years, and obese participants demonstrated higher rates of NCDs and multimorbidity. While socioeconomic factors such as education and income showed some associations with NCD prevalence, these were less pronounced after adjusting for other variables. These findings highlight the importance of age-specific and obesity-focused interventions in addressing the burden of NCDs in this population.

Valdemar Farré, José Vega-Sánchez, Victor Garzón et al.

The transition from Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) systems to Beyond 5G (B5G) and Sixth Generation (6G) networks requires innovative architectures capable of supporting ultra-high data rates, sub-millisecond latency, and massive connection densities in dense urban environments. This paper proposes a comprehensive design methodology for a mini-cluster architecture operating in sub-THz (0.1–0.3 THz) and THz (0.3–3 THz) frequency bands. The proposed framework aims to enhance existing 5G infrastructure while enabling B5G/6G capabilities, with a particular focus on hotspot coverage and mission-critical applications in dense urban environments. The architecture integrates mini Base Stations (mBS), Distributed Edge Computing Units (DECUs), and Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) for coverage enhancement and blockage mitigation. Detailed link budget analysis, coverage and capacity planning, and propagation modeling tailored to complex urban morphologies are performed for representative case study cities, Quito and Guayaquil (Ecuador). Simulation results demonstrate up to 100 Gbps peak data rates, sub 100 μs latency, and tenfold energy efficiency gains over conventional 5G deployments. Additionally, the proposed framework highlights the growing importance of THz communications in the 5G evolution towards B5G and 6G systems, where ultra-dense, low-latency, and energy-efficient mini-cluster deployments play a key role in enabling next-generation connectivity for critical and immersive services. Beyond the studied cities, the proposed framework can be generalized to other metropolitan areas facing similar propagation and capacity challenges, providing a scalable pathway for early-stage sub-THz/THz deployments in B5G/6G networks.

María del Rosario Ayala-Moreno, Paola Andrea Martínez-Serrano, Montserrat Alheli Melgarejo-Gutiérrez et al.

Home confinement due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to lifestyle changes that increased sleep disturbances, particularly in areas with higher infection and mortality rates. This study is a retrospective study based on data collected through an online survey conducted during the COVID-19 confinement. It aims to analyze changes in sleep quantity and quality and their association with lifestyle changes in the metropolitan area of Mexico City. A total of 899 adults from this area completed an online questionnaire between June 2020 and February 2021. This study assessed sleep quantity, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and lifestyle changes during the confinement period. Results showed that sleep quantity increased (7.10 ± 1.37 vs. 7.43 ± 1.42 h, <i>p</i> < 0.0001), with more participants, especially young adults and women, reporting later bed and wake-up times. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index increased by 1.4 units, with poor sleep quality associated with lifestyle during confinement. Insomnia symptoms, sleep latency, and poor sleep quality also increased, particularly in women. Males and those without chronic comorbidities were less likely to experience poor sleep quality, while tobacco use and later bedtimes increased this risk. This study concludes that, while sleep quantity increased, sleep quality declined, particularly among young adults, women, and those with unhealthy lifestyles. These findings could guide sleep health initiatives tailored to specific lifestyle changes in different population groups.

Chao Li, Alexander Ryota Keeley, Shunsuke Managi

Japan’s economic landscape is undergoing profound transformations due to shifting demographic trends, including population decline, aging, and urban-rural disparities. This study applies advanced machine learning techniques and stepwise updating methodologies to predict city-level taxpayer numbers and total income across 1896 Japanese cities from 2020 to 2100. The models achieve high accuracy, with validation R2 exceeding 98 %, ensuring robust long-term predictions. The findings reveal a 14.52 % decline in total taxpayers by 2100, closely following population trends, while total income remains relatively stable, even with an increase of 5.21 %. On the other hand, average income is projected to increase by 23.07 % by 2100. Despite an overall economic contraction, increasing labor participation helps sustain the tax base. However, spatial disparities persist, with rural areas experiencing severe declines in taxpayers and income, while metropolitan centers maintain higher resilience but still face income stagnation. These results underscore the need for regionally tailored policy interventions to mitigate the fiscal impacts of demographic shifts. The study contributes to predictive economic modeling by integrating high-resolution spatial and demographic data with explainable machine learning and offers valuable insights for policymakers navigating Japan’s long-term economic evolution.

Davide Marino, Antonio Barone, Angelo Marucci et al.

This study aims to explore the relationship between the provision of ecosystem services (ESs) and other territorial characteristics. Taking Italian Metropolitan Regions (MRs) as case studies, the gradient of specialization providing a set of ESs in different territorial contexts is examined using the National Strategy for Internal Areas (SNAI) territorial classification. The main objective of this research is to understand whether there is a spatial pattern of location of different ESs within metropolitan SNAI areas. Inspired by Von Thünen’s spatial economic theories, this study explores how proximity to urban centers influences land use and ES specialization. Through land use analysis and the calculation of a SI, we evaluate patterns in ES supply, based on a benefit transfer approach. The results show that the MRs provide about EUR 14.6 billion per year in benefits, equivalent to 15% of the national wealth in environmental goods and services. At the SNAI area scale, internal areas have the highest average economic values per hectare, while the central areas have lower economic values. This trend is confirmed by the calculation of the specialization index (SI) in line with Von Thünen’s theorem as follows: central areas are specialized in the provision of bundles of ESs related to intensive land use (e.g., food production), while the peripheral areas are specialized in the supply of regulation ESs related to more natural areas. The findings underline significant policy implications for metropolitan planning, stressing the need for the balanced management of ESs to address urban demands and enhance resilience. This research contributes to understanding the spatial dynamics of ES supply, offering a basis for tailored interventions in metropolitan and national contexts.

Hakimeh Konari, Maryam Mokhtari, Siroos Ahmadi

The social transformations occurring in today's world, particularly regarding the economic and social status of women, have turned their celibacy into a significant challenge. This qualitative study explores the celibacy in girls in Gachsaran. The target group consists of single girls aged 40 and above, who were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were used for data collection. The grounded theory method based on the Corbin and Strauss model was employed to analyze the data. The collected data were coded in terms of open, axial, and selective coding. Based on the results of data analysis, 15 main categories were identified. These categories include internal turbulence, conflicting social network, concerns within the family, and intellectual challenges as “causal conditions”. The “intervening conditions” were found to be gaining social status and gaining economic status, while the “context conditions” included the rampancy of misandry among women in society, the dominance of traditional family norms, and economic barriers. “The strategies” to cope with these challenges were preoccupation, suppression of needs, and spirituality. Finally, “the consequences” of these challenges were the distortion of social relationships, individual morale, and personal and economic success. “Celibacy as a pervasive female challenge” emerged as the “core category” in this research. In fact, girls turn to education and career to fill the void in their lives but it is in conflict with the expectations of people around them in a traditional atmosphere, which in turn, creates a paradoxical experience of reconsidering and redefining gender roles. Extended Abstract Introduction: Throughout history and across all human societies, the “Commonality of Marriage” constituted a foundational norm, wherein individuals, upon reaching biological and social maturity, invariably proceeded to marry and establish a family unit. The advent of the Industrial Revolution instigated profound transformations within the institution of the family. The family structure shifted from “Extended” to “Nuclear,” marriage evolved from a “Prescribed/Arranged” arrangement to one “Based on Love,” the role of “Women” was radically altered, and the “Divorce Rate” began to escalate. Nevertheless, another striking phenomenon has emerged: celibacy. While this phenomenon applies to both genders, given that women lose their reproductive capacity around the age of 40, it is posited that women remaining unmarried by this age may exhibit no future inclination towards marriage. Consequently, the pattern of celibacy is predominantly discussed as a significant social issue concerning women. Current societal transformations, particularly changes in the economic and social status of women, have rendered female singlehood a critical challenge. On one hand, the Iranian woman is symbolically recognized as the epitome of devotion to her spouse and offspring, while on the other hand, women’s pursuit of individual advancement and the construction of new identities increasingly distances them from these traditional institutions. Although the topic of celibacy has received some scholarly attention in large metropolitan areas, it presents distinct dimensions in smaller cities with more traditional contexts, which have been relatively overlooked. This research focuses on singlehood in Gachsaran. Located in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Gachsaran not only supplies 25% of the nation’s exported oil but also possesses a complex social fabric. This complexity stems from its multi-ethnic composition (comprising Persian, Lur, and Turk populations) where the residues of the dominant tribal-nomadic system intermingle with the influx of labor migrants employed in the petrochemical industry. Since “celibacy” introduces ambiguities within this society characterized by a dualistic traditional-modern context, the present study seeks to investigate the following research questions: 1) What are the causal, contextual, and intervening conditions leading to the singlehood of women in Gachsaran? 2) What experiences do single women report regarding their unmarried lives? 3) What are the agency and interaction strategies employed by these women in response to their single status? 4) What are the consequences of singlehood for these women? 2. Methodology Given that the present study seeks to understand the conditions and consequences of singlehood life among women in the target community, it employs a Qualitative Research Method and the Grounded Theory Approach (GTA) to examine this phenomenon. The research participants were single women aged 40 and above residing in Gachsaran. A total of 13 eligible individuals were selected via Purposive Sampling until Theoretical Saturation was achieved. Data collection was carried out through In-depth Semi-Structured Interviews. For data analysis, the Grounded Theory method, specifically the Strauss and Corbin Paradigmatic Model with its Open, Axial, and Selective Coding strategies, was utilized. To ensure the Trustworthiness and reliability of the research, after the initial analysis, selected interviewees were re-engaged in discussion about the concepts derived from their interviews to confirm the researchers’ accurate understanding of their statements. 3. Findings Employing the Strauss and Corbin Paradigmatic Model, the Causal, Intervening, and Contextual Conditions, alongside the Action/Interaction Strategies and Consequences related to women’s singlehood life, were extracted from the interviews. The data analysis resulted in the identification of 15 core categories. The categories of psychological distress, conflicting network of relationship, Intra-family Concerns, and mental challenges were discovered as “causal Conditions.” In this process, fear, feelings of doubt, and specific attitudes lead the individual toward preferring singlehood, resulting in a negative perception of marriage, especially since they have reached a state of social distrust towards the opposite sex within their social relations. These conditions, combined with internal family issues, dissuade them from marrying. Subsequently, acquisition of social status and acquisition of economic status were categorized as “intervening conditions.” This shows that women’s pursuit of education and skills unintentionally leads to the postponement of marriage. Furthermore, the prevalence of misandry in the social environment, the dominance of traditional norms within the family, and economic barriers were considered “contextual conditions.” The prevalence and persistence of traditional norms in some families narrow the scope for their daughters’ marriage, often rooted in high-tension situations such as domestic violence, poverty, parental divorce, or rigid traditional beliefs. Moreover, the prevalence of misandry in society creates an unfavorable social context where flawed marriage patterns are common, fostering women’s pessimism toward men. The categories of engagement, suppression of needs, and spiritualism were extracted as “Strategies.” Finally, disruption of social relationships, impairment of individual spirit, and individual and economic success were identified as “consequences.” The core category of the present research was identified as “celibacy as a female comprehensive challenge.” 4. Conclusion The ultimate finding of this research is that women resort to academic and occupational activities to fill the vacuum in their lives. However, this action conflicts with the expectations of those around them within a traditional environment, which in turn leads to the experience of a Paradox of reflexivity and reproduction of gender roles. This paradox has transformed singlehood life into a pervasive challenge with economic, social, and psychological dimensions. Amidst comprehensive social changes in a developing Iranian society—where modernity has entered and created economic and social opportunities for women’s participation—daughters are engaging in reflexivity. In this space, they reflect on their situation regarding the possibility of greater freedom, fluidity in social relationships and interactions with the opposite sex, and a preference for economic and social advancements. However, this is only one side of the coin. In a society where traditional culture governs the family and the psyche of a daughter, proportionate to the volume of her gendered socialization as a female, the reproduction of gender stereotypes also remains potent, defining the other side of the singlehood coin. This other side indicates that the dreams and aspirations of youth may not always be desirable. Indeed, singlehood, which doubles the difficulties due to their womanhood, ranges from the social stigmas they encounter to the effort to achieve success as a replacement to compensate for loneliness and lack of social support. It is under these conditions that, in the view of Berzonsky, the “confused identity style” can be deemed appropriate for the status and state of these women. As such, daydreaming about an unknown future leads to feelings of loneliness and regret, making social and economic success the only consolation—a consolation that cannot soothe their weary souls.

L. Becker, May Pat Ostrander, J. Barrett et al.

Laszlo Vass

<p>The generally accepted requirement of CSR is further concretized at universities, and—similarly to companies—it is fulfilled in the Environmental–So­cial–Governance (ESG) system: specific, verifiable and measurable tasks are formulated in the areas of environmental sustainability, social relations and organizational management systems.</p><p>In the practice of Budapest Metropolitan University, practical, methodological solutions are applied in the educational process that incorpo­rate ESG elements into the process of education and learning. The most comprehensive innovation is the ‘myBrand’ program, in which lecturers and students place educational, learning and research tasks in the process of jointly building their own professional brand, while continuously performing practical tasks in projects taking place in the uni­versity environment.</p>

Sasatra Sudsawasd, Taweechai Charoensedtasin, Nuttawut Laksanapanyakul et al.

AbstractGiven that estimating the comprehensive and precise impacts of the COVID-19 crisis is challenging, this paper aims to quantify the overall impacts of the COVID-19 on Thai economy both at the macroeconomic and household levels. Our finding indicates that if government supports are not implemented, the country’s GDP could fall by 13.66 percent—the most important transmission channels of this severe impact coming from inbound and domestic tourism demand shocks. The pandemic has also significantly increased the level of poverty in Thailand. And those people facing the greatest risk of falling into poverty tend to be those living in urban areas, especially in metropolitan Bangkok, as well as those whose head of household is working in the tourism sector. In exploring the effectiveness of the mitigation measures implemented by the Thai government, our findings also show that such mitigation measures could successfully help lower the numbers of poor and almost poor people to below those of the Pre-COVID-19 era.

Daniel Ankrah, Charles Okyere, Jojo Mensah et al.

AbstractMaize is a major staple produced by most peasant farmers in Ghana, amidst climate variabilities that potentially thwart the attainment of global sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically SDG −2 of zero hunger. Ordinarily, one expects the extant literature to be replete on a nexus between climate variability adaptation strategies and maize yields. Ironically, there appears to be scant information on the expected nexus in Ghana’s coastal areas. The dual questions about what adaptation strategies significantly affect maize yield, and the extent (magnitude) to which climate variability strategies affect maize yield beg answering. Inspired by these research questions, the objective of this article is to examine the effect of climate variability adaptation strategies on maize yield. This study relies on a cross-sectional data covering 197 smallholder maize farmers in the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly of Ghana’s Central Region. The study is deeply rooted in a quantitative approach employing multiple linear regression and a treatment effect model (inverse probability weighted regression adjustment—IPWRA). Our findings reveal that adaptation strategies correlate with maize yields. Specifically, estimates from the IPWRA show that irrigation and changes in planting dates positively correlate with maize yields. The implication is that these adaptation strategies improve maize yields. Smallholder farmers are encouraged to adopt effective climate variability adaptation strategies to minimize the adverse risks associated with climate variability. The government of Ghana’s initiative for arid regions, dubbed as the “one village one dam” initiative can be upscaled to southern Ghana to ensure sustainable agricultural development.

P. Brezonik, Teresa H. Stadelmann

Richard K. Green, Stephen Malpezzi, S. K. Mayo

Hyeong Taek Woo, Jin Ah Sim, Jonghoon Mo et al.

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common site for cancer death in the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the trends of colorectal cancer mortality by region. Methods: CRC mortality trends in Republic of Korea were described by region using a Joinpoint regression model in both sexes. The annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated for each segment. Visualization of the changes in mortality rate of colorectal cancer death rates by 16 geographic areas in both sexes between 2000–2004 and 2009–2013 were also conducted. Results: CRC mortality rates of men showed decreasing trend after increase in Daegu, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do between 2000 and 2013 based on the joinpoint model, while Gwangju, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do showed increase in CRC mortality during the same period. For women, CRC mortality of Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, and Gyeongsangnam-do started to decrease in 2005, 2003, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The mortality rate for CRC in the eastern regions, which had relatively low rates of CRC among men in 2000 through 2004, reached a level similar to that in the northwestern regions of 2009 through 2013, while the highest CRC mortality rates in women was observed in Chungcheongbuk-do. Conclusions: Reduction in CRC mortality varied across 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in men, and the visualization pattern showed that the east side of South Korea had the least progress in mortality reduction.

Hafidz Wibisono, Azis Musthofa, Muhammad Eka Kusuma et al.

Jakarta Metropolitan Area (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, South Tangerang and Bekasi) has experienced rapid development, especially in the past 30 years. Jakarta Metropolitan Development has triggered conversion of agricultural land to urban areas and the development of settlements, especially in the periphery areas. Numerous studies have discussed how the process of transformation of peripheral areas located in the mainland region. However, there is still limited research which discusses the transformation of Kepulauan Seribu Regency, as one of the periphery of Jakarta metropolitan. This study aims to identify the process of regional transformation in Kepulauan Seribu Regency and elaborating on its role of as a periphery of Jakarta Metropolitan Area as well as limitations of regional development in Kepulauan Seribu Regency as an archipelagic region. The study used qualitative method by using a  secondary data and literature studies. This study found that the transformation process in Kepulauan Seribu Regency has not occurred significantly, but an indication of the transformation of Kepulauan Seribu Regency as a tourism-based trade and service area has been identified. On the other hand, limited access and land oriented policies are some of the things that could make the transformation of this area would not as rapid as other periphery in the mainland.

R. Sturm, Ashlesha Datar