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Academic research indicates that total or current expenditures have been most commonly used in sub-central or local government’s efficiency analysis as dependent variables, and a proxy for the cost of service provision. Our research applied in the case of Polish districts for 2019 and 2020 indicates two important results: firstly, regardless of whether total or current expenditures have been used, the determinants indicate the same direction of impact, and, secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic did not change the direction of the impact. The regression results confirm the positive direction that the administrative, educational, protection, and safety variables have on dependent variables.

Ukraine, as a large Central European country, because of its available natural resources, has stable traditions of agriculture. However, the unsatisfactory state of the rural socio-spatial environment, the low standard of living of the rural population do not correspond to the country's achievements in the field of agricultural production. The reform of decentralization of public power and management, launched in 2015, created prerequisites for solving not only the problems of rural development but also overcoming spatial disparities, inequality in the incomes of the rural and urban population. The article presents a view of United Territorial Communities and new districts as rural-urban agglomeration formations that differ from urban agglomerations in terms of population, resources and functions. The inclusive capacity, sectoral and socio-spatial focus, development trends of these agglomerations based on inclusiveness are determined. These processes have many common features and characteristics that are characteristic of similar socio-spatial formations of other countries, which gives the investigated problems international significance. Solving the problems formulated and solved in the article will contribute to the successful post-war reconstruction of Ukraine on an inclusive basis.

Though the importance, functions and values of homegardens are well described, the interactive environment and functional features of individual components which vary widely due to agro-ecology, socio-economy and administrative structures are poorly identified. Therefore, the common interventions for improvement often do not result the expected outcome. To fill this knowledge gap, we followed a multidisciplinary approach employing multivariate techniques to identify variables critical in distinguishing homegardens among ecological and administrative units. A homegarden survey was conducted in four districts in Sri Lanka. Present status of the homegardens in different districts were compared and the characteristics important in distinguishing different classifications were identified by discriminant function analysis. Accordingly, most of the variables were important in distinguishing selected districts, climatic zones and Agro-Ecological Regions in the study. When distinguishing Agro-Ecological Regions within districts and climatic zones, fewer number of variables were contributed. The derived variables were utilized in comparing characteristics of homegardens and predicting homegardens. Correspondingly, discrimination of homegardens using climatic zones is recommended at global scale as any region can use this information and required fewer variables than districts. Further, predictions can be accomplished based on discrimination of homegardens using Agro-Ecological Regions within climatic zones at local scale as the spatial-scale specific interventions are possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amended German Climate Protection Act of 2021 is seen as an essential step towards fulfilment national climate protection targets and as a sign of mainstreaming climate protection in German politics. However, at the regional level, where many climate protection measures are implemented, there is a strong fragmentation in terms of priorities, policy instruments, actor constellations and resources. Moreover, the implementation of climate protectionmeasures is under increasing pressure in the face of crises, such as the management of the Covid 19 pandemic or the energy crisis. We therefore ask: Under what conditions does regional climate protection succeed in times of crisis? Drawing on the regional governance concept and a comparative analysis of ten German counties, we explain differences in subnational climate governance. For our study, very different, but always rural districts were selected, as the importance of rural regions is often neglected in the study of local climate policy. Based on a qualitative document analysis in combination with observations and interviewswith climate protectionmanagers, we identify factors for the success of climate protection activities in times ofmultiple crises. We argue that structural factors are central to the success of regional climate protectionmeasures in times of crisis, as they provide the framework conditions for the actions of actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Portugal's favourable climate renders it a hotspot for Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, leading to endemicity. This study aimed to provide an updated assessment of disease prevalence in Portuguese dogs, considering various factors. A total of 1367 dogs were tested, revealing an overall prevalence of 5.9%. The disease is spreading northward, with coastal areas exhibiting higher rates. Aveiro has experienced a significant increase, while the prevalence in other regions has either stabilised or decreased. Outdoor activities and older age were identified as risk factors for infection. No cases were found in the Azores. The study highlights the need for preventive measures and public awareness to combat this zoonotic disease. The favourable geo-climatic conditions in Portugal have made it highly conducive to the development of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, leading to its identification as an endemic region. This nematode is rapidly spreading across Europe, particularly in northeastern countries. The objective of this study was to provide an updated assessment of the prevalence of this disease in Portuguese dogs, analysing the results in relation to epidemiological and geo-environmental factors, and to identify potential risk factors. A total of 1367 dogs from all continental and insular districts were included in the study and tested for D. immitis antigens. The overall prevalence was found to be 5.9%. It was observed that the disease is spreading northward, with previously unaffected districts now reporting cases, and that the prevalence in coastal districts exceeded that of inland ones. Notably, the Aveiro district exhibited a significant increase in D. immitis prevalence, while in certain districts such as Setúbal, Santarém, Madeira, or Faro, a stabilisation or decrease in prevalence was noted. Furthermore, outdoor and older dogs were found to be at a higher risk of infection. No positive cases were detected in the Azores. Most of the infected dogs were located in areas of high and medium risk of infection. This study underscores the importance of implementing pharmacological prophylaxis, vector control strategies, and public awareness programs to control the spread of this zoonotic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study deals with the development of the number of Hungarians in Slovakia by districts based on the data of the 2011 and 2021 censuses. In a first approach, the data at the district level for ethnicity, mother tongue and 2nd ethnicity are examined. Then, based on combinations of these three ethnic indicators, the four types of Hungarian affiliation are analysed in relation to the proportion of Hungarians living in the districts. The differences in the number, composition and types of Hungarians living in Hungarian and non-Hungarian districts are examined. We will also examine the contribution of the three variables included in the analysis to the evolution of the number of Hungarians at the district level. The tables in the appendix provide a deeper understanding of the relationships presented in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing global digital transformation has significant implications for economies and societies, with potential benefits and challenges. This study addresses the critical need for a comprehensive measurement of regional digitalization in Germany to better understand its impact on various aspects of life, including education, employment, and working conditions. Using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), it introduces a multifaceted regional digitalization measure at the administrative district level (NUTS-3) that incorporates digital infrastructure, culture, technology capacity, high-tech human capital, and digitalization-related innovativeness. Results for 2013 and 2017 are compared. The study reveals that digitalization varies significantly across regions, but hardly over time. Urban regions tend to have higher digitalization levels, which are positively associated with economic productivity and high-skilled labor demand. Our developed measurement of regional digitalization is publicly available.

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in Chad's cities, especially N'Djamena, is a persistent and significant challenge. This study aimed to assess current practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene in N'Djamena's third and ninth districts. We surveyed 395 households, conducted water source identification, and analyzed seven water samples at the National Water Laboratory. Temperature, ammonium, total coliforms, and aerobic flora values exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Ammonium and temperature averaged 0.7 mg/L and 30.1–31.93 °C, respectively. Bacterial contamination (>100 MPN/100 mL) exceeded the WHO's 0 MPN/100 mL guidelines, rendering the water unfit for consumption. Survey results indicate that 78.7% use hand pumps, 21.1% have tap water access, and 0.2% rely on rivers for water. Regarding toilets, 92.8% have traditional models, 2.9% have modern facilities, and 4.3% practice open defecation. 95% dispose of untreated wastewater into nature, with only 5% using septic tanks. For solid waste, 72% use illegal dumpsites, 18% rely on public services, and 10% burn waste. Finally, 95.5% of households wash their hands with clean water and soap after using the toilet. It is crucial to treat drinking water and implement proper hygiene and sanitation measures to safeguard the population's health in the studied area. HIGHLIGHTS Identification of gaps for targeted interventions.; Enhancement of public health and quality of life.; Information for more effective WASH policies and programs.; Foundation for mobilizing resources and partnerships.; Strengthening resilience in the face of water-related challenges.;

We develop two improvements over our previously proposed spectral subtraction with voice activity detection and minimum mean square error spectrum power estimator based on zero crossing (SS-VAD + MMSE-SPZC) enhancement for a real-time spoken query system (SQS). Firstly, we introduce a time delay neural network (TDNN) based modeling technique. Secondly, to properly train the models, we increase the size of the database by collecting the Kannada speech data from an additional 500 farmers under real-time conditions. The proposed combined enhancement technique effectively removes background noise and improves speech quality. When evaluated on the updated degraded speech corpus, our proposed automatic speech recognition (ASR) system achieves better performance compared to previous framework. Moreover, experimental results demonstrate an improvement of 1.32% and 1.48% in terms of speech recognition accuracy for noisy and enhanced speech data respectively, compared to our earlier work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene in Chad's cities, especially N'Djamena, is a persistent and significant challenge. This study aimed to assess current practices in water, sanitation, and hygiene in N'Djamena's third and ninth districts. We surveyed 395 households, conducted water source identification, and analyzed seven water samples at the National Water Laboratory. Temperature, ammonium, total coliforms, and aerobic flora values exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Ammonium and temperature averaged 0.7 mg/L and 30.1-31.93 °C, respectively. Bacterial contamination (>100 MPN/100 mL) exceeded the WHO's 0 MPN/100 mL guidelines, rendering the water unfit for consumption. Survey results indicate that 78.7% use hand pumps, 21.1% have tap water access, and 0.2% rely on rivers for water. Regarding toilets, 92.8% have traditional models, 2.9% have modern facilities, and 4.3% practice open defecation. 95% dispose of untreated wastewater into nature, with only 5% using septic tanks. For solid waste, 72% use illegal dumpsites, 18% rely on public services, and 10% burn waste. Finally, 95.5% of households wash their hands with clean water and soap after using the toilet. It is crucial to treat drinking water and implement proper hygiene and sanitation measures to safeguard the population's health in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic research indicates that total or current expenditures have been most commonly used in sub-central or local government's efficiency analysis as dependent variables, and a proxy for the cost of service provision. Our research applied in the case of Polish districts for 2019 and 2020 indicates two important results: firstly, regardless of whether total or current expenditures have been used, the determinants indicate the same direction of impact, and, secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic did not change the direction of the impact. The regression results confirm the positive direction that the administrative, educational, protection, and safety variables have on dependent variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population ageing is a typical feature of population development in the majority of countries in the world. In each population, this process is specific -whether in terms of the timing of its onset or the factors that modify the process of population ageing. The main aim of this article is to identify the processes of population ageing in the districts of Slovakia. A regional analysis of this process focused on population ageing in Slovak districts in the years 2011 and 2021 using cluster analysis. The results of the cluster analysis of population ageing identified northern and eastern Slovakia as districts whose populations have a younger age structure. The western and southwestern districts of Slovakia have populations with an old age structure. In 2021, this age polarity began to change the territory of Slovakia. The suburbanised region of the capital, Bratislava, is becoming significant, as the population in the districts there is getting younger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of the health impact of climate change has been extensively documented in recent scholarly literature. In order to mitigate the adverse health effects induced by climate change, the need for conducting vulnerability assessments (VAs) has been emphasised. A higher vulnerability to climate change is often linked with substantial risks to human lives and built environment. Despite the potential of VAs in alleviating risks posed by climate change, only a limited amount of scholarly work in this domain has been conducted in the Indian context. The present research addresses this lacuna and contributes to the limited scholarship on climate change and health VAs in India. Drawing on the VA framework introduced by the fourth assessment report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this paper estimates district-level health vulnerabilities caused by climate change using multi-dimensional indices. The indices are multi-dimensional since they integrate 50 district-level indicators from 8 data sources for all 640 Census 2011 districts. The statistical technique of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been used for integrating the indicators. The findings of this paper indicate that nearly 56% of India’s population in 344 districts is highly vulnerable to the health impact of climate change. The results show that high vulnerability in certain districts is mediated by high adaptive capacity (AC). Since climate exposure varies across districts, the paper highlights the need for local-level responses and Complex Adaptive System (CAS) thinking to understand the implications of climate change and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The amended German Climate Protection Act of 2021 is seen as an essential step towards fulfilment national climate protection targets and as a sign of mainstreaming climate protection in German politics. However, at the regional level, where many climate protection measures are implemented, there is a strong fragmentation in terms of priorities, policy instruments, actor constellations and resources. Moreover, the implementation of climate protection measures is under increasing pressure in the face of crises, such as the management of the Covid 19 pandemic or the energy crisis. We therefore ask: Under what conditions does regional climate protection succeed in times of crisis? Drawing on the regional governance concept and a comparative analysis of ten German counties, we explain differences in subnational climate governance. For our study, very different, but always rural districts were selected, as the importance of rural regions is often neglected in the study of local climate policy. Based on a qualitative document analysis in combination with observations and interviews with climate protection managers, we identify factors for the success of climate protection activities in times of multiple crises. We argue that structural factors are central to the success of regional climate protection measures in times of crisis, as they provide the framework conditions for the actions of actors.

This study investigates the effect of employment discrimination on female leaders in the educational sector, with a particular emphasis on South Africa's Limpopo Province. The goal was to investigate the impact of such prejudice at the stages of recruiting, selection, and progression to higher positions. The study included 100 female participants and used a convergent parallel research technique that included quantitative and qualitative methodologies. All participants filled out a structured questionnaire, and a group of ten was chosen for a focus group interview. Audio recording was used to aid with data collecting. This study's theoretical foundation is built on Feminist Theory, which holds that workplace discrimination against women in educational leadership arises from a gender power differential. For the questionnaire data, statistical techniques were used, and theme analysis was used for the interview data. The findings show that, although women are given interim leadership positions within the Limpopo Department of Education, their possibilities decline dramatically throughout official appointment procedures. As a result, the research argues for strict monitoring of workplace discrimination against women in educational leadership posts, as well as the implementation of applicable laws throughout the recruiting, selection, and appointment processes.

The favourable geo-climatic conditions in Portugal have made it highly conducive to the development of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs, leading to its identification as an endemic region. This nematode is rapidly spreading across Europe, particularly in northeastern countries. The objective of this study was to provide an updated assessment of the prevalence of this disease in Portuguese dogs, analysing the results in relation to epidemiological and geo-environmental factors, and to identify potential risk factors. A total of 1367 dogs from all continental and insular districts were included in the study and tested for D. immitis antigens. The overall prevalence was found to be 5.9%. It was observed that the disease is spreading northward, with previously unaffected districts now reporting cases, and that the prevalence in coastal districts exceeded that of inland ones. Notably, the Aveiro district exhibited a significant increase in D. immitis prevalence, while in certain districts such as Setúbal, Santarém, Madeira, or Faro, a stabilisation or decrease in prevalence was noted. Furthermore, outdoor and older dogs were found to be at a higher risk of infection. No positive cases were detected in the Azores. Most of the infected dogs were located in areas of high and medium risk of infection. This study underscores the importance of implementing pharmacological prophylaxis, vector control strategies, and public awareness programs to control the spread of this zoonotic disease.

Some of the existing districts of Çankırı cause waste of public resources as the reasons for their establishment have lost their validity. In order to use public resources in accordance with the economy of scale, criteria have been developed to measure the performance of districts. With the criteria developed in this context, the evaluation of the existing districts was made by applying the PCA method. Districts with low and high score values were determined as a result of PCA. By applying the Thiessen Polygon method with the ArcGis program, equidistant impact areas of the districts with high scores were determined. In this way, it has been determined how to combine low-scoring districts with high-scoring districts. Suggestions have been made for the unification of the villages, whose population has decreased considerably and which are very close to each other. These suggestions were made considering the minimum population limit of 150 people and the maximum distance of 10 km between settlements. As of 2021, Çankırı has 12 district administrative areas, three towns, and 371 village administrative areas. According to the research findings, the province should consist of 178 administrative units, including five districts, 10 towns, and 163 villages. This division was considered to be appropriate for the public interest.

Purpose: Since early 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Bulgaria has remained low, with large regional differences. This study examines the association between the availability of vaccination sites and the number of administered doses, and the extent to which district-level variation is attributable to differences in vaccination services provision. Materials and Methods: Data on COVID-19 vaccine doses administered by districts were used. This data set was combined with district-level information on available vaccination sites, such as general practitioners and temporary vaccination points. The district-level differences in vaccination coverage and service provision were illustrated through country heat maps, and the association between the variables was explored using two linear regression models. Results: According to the first regression model, the number of general practitioners and temporary vaccination points accounted for only 3.8% of the district-level variation in administrated doses. As covariates in the second model, sociodemographic and economic data were included. The combined influence of these factors explained 42.2% of the variance across districts. According to the findings, the average annual gross wage is a significant determinant of the district-level differences in the number of administrated doses. Conclusion: There is no statistically significant association between administered doses and vaccination sites by districts, which does not correspond to the findings of other international studies. District-level variation in vaccination rates is associated with some sociodemographic and economic differences. The paucity of district-level data impedes further analyses of the vaccine coverage differences and their underlying determinants.

Current approaches for simulating the energy performance of buildings on a large scale are limited by numerous assumptions and simplifications, which can lead to inaccurate estimations. While new tools and procedures are emerging to improve accuracy, there remains a need for more user-friendly methods. This study proposes a new tool based on online maps to create the geometry of districts in a simple way. The tool also enables an automatic evaluation of all buildings through dynamic hourly simulations, using a building simulation software and allowing to consider different weather conditions. To illustrate the procedure, a district at risk of energy poverty in Seville (Spain) is modeled, where hourly temperature data for a whole year are available to demonstrate the need for building improvements. The tool is used to evaluate the energy demands of the district under several retrofitting alternatives, and free-floating simulations are also performed to evaluate the improvement of thermal comfort without air-conditioning systems. The aim is not to discuss the actual values for this particular case, but rather to identify the correct direction for large-scale studies, so as to make them more easily conducted. Overall, it may be concluded that the results provided by comprehensive tools, such as the one proposed in this study, enable easy yet accurate evaluations of buildings on a large scale with significant time savings, as well as the identification of locations where retrofitting interventions would have the greatest impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the interrelation of historical events and the processes of formation of urban toponyms, on the example of the structure of toponymic groups of names of districts and streets of Tashkent in the 20th century and during the period of independence of Uzbekistan. The toponymic landscape changes under the influence of geographical, natural, political, cultural, and economic factors and further increase their informatics function. The classification of these groups of toponyms and examples of toponyms reflecting historical events in the life of the city is given. Since the 1990s, new transformational processes began in the toponymy of Tashkent, which are very different from the processes of previous years. These changes are connected with a major political event in the statehood of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan became an independent state.- the Republic of Uzbekistan, on 31 August 1991. Significant transformations took place in the toponymy of Tashkent during the years of independence, which is connected with the revival of historical, national names, in the interests of the Uzbek people [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green spaces in an industrially polluted city are extremely important for the physical activity and mental health of its inhabitants. The study aim was to analyze the urban green space dynamics and the greening degree of different functional zones typical for a big Ukrainian industrial city (Dnipro, Ukraine). This article used the remote sensing methods and geographic information systems (GIS) to assess the percentage of green spaces in the city of Dnipro, its eight districts, parks, ravines, and sanitary protection zones. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used for mapping the urban green spaces within the ravines, parks, and sanitary protection zones. According to our results, 67% of Dnipro city is greened (NDVI >0.3). On average, there are 219 m2 of green spaces per person, which is 24 and 4 times more than the minimum and optimal values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), respectively. It was found that the NDVI values were significantly lower in the territories of sanitary protection zones, compared to the other functional zones. The results of NDVI analysis indicate a significant variation of the studied parameter during the vegetative season, with two typical peaks of the green space vegetative activity. The peak of plant vegetative activity occurs in the first decade of June, followed by slight decline for 2–3 weeks, then there is another increase in the activity, reaching the maximum in mid-July. Even in autumn, the photosynthetic activity remains relatively high for most of the urban areas, declining only from mid-October. In addition, a method and algorithm for estimating and standardizing the level of the urban area greening based on the remote sensing methods and zonal statistics tools are proposed.

ObjectiveTo improve the health of residents and promote hierarchical diagnosis and treatment to achieve an orderly pattern of medical treatment, Beijing implemented family doctor contract services (FDCSs) in 2011. The aims of this study were to analyze the current status of Beijing residents’ contracts with family doctors (FDs), compare the differences in contracting between urban and suburban residents, and explore the factors that affect residents’ contract behavior.MethodsFrom August 2020 to October 2020, a stratified sampling method was adopted to select residents from community health centers (CHCs) in districts D (urban area) and S (suburb) of Beijing to conduct a questionnaire survey. Chi-square tests, rank sum tests and logistic regression analyzes were used to analyze the current status and influencing factors of residents’ contracting with FDs.ResultsA total of 4,113 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis. District D was rich in medical resources, and the FD contract rate of residents there (93.09%) was significantly higher than that of residents in district S (78.06%; p

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Geographical Sciences / Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Cografi Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Tick and tick borne haemopathogens are the main challenge of livestock production and productivity in Ethiopia particular in northwest Ethiopia due to favourable climate condition. Objectives The objectives of this study was to determining the prevalence of Ixodid tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens on cattle, identifying the existing Ixodid tick species, assessing seasonal variation and major risk factors associated with tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to july 2021 on Ixodid tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens on cattle in the northwest Ethiopia. A toatal of 384 cattle were used for this study. Tick species were identified using morphological identification keys under a stereomicroscope. Thin blood smear examination were conducted to assess tick borne haemopathogens. Results The overall prevalence of Ixodid tick infestation and tick borne haemopathogens were 45% and 3%, respectively. Babesia bigemina was the only haemoparasite detected in the present survey. Potential risk factors were investigated for their association with tick infestation and B. bigemina using logistic regression and chi‐square test, respectively. Accordingly, age, body condition, agroecological systems and season were significantly (p

Background The government of Sierra Leone introduced Social Health Insurance Scheme as a measure to remove financial barriers that beset the people in accessing health to ensure universal coverage. Under this policy, the citizens were encouraged to subscribe to the scheme to avoid out of pocket payment for healthcare at the point of use. This study was conducted to find out the predictors of willingness among the people to pay for health insurance premium. Methods A cross-sectional study design was employed in six selected districts in Sierra Leone. Quantitative data was collected for this study through the use of semi-structured questionnaire with a sample size of 1185 respondents. Data was analysed into descriptive and inferential statistics using the contingent valuation model. Statistical analysis was run at 5% significant level using Stata version 14.0 software. Results The results showed that majority of the respondent are willing to join and pay a monthly premium of Le 10 000 (US$1.03) with an estimated mean contribution of about Le 14 089 (US$1.44) and the top five predictors of willingness to pay (WTP) were household monthly income, age, district of resident, gender, and educational qualification. Conclusion The findings on predictors of WTP premium of Sierra Leone National Social Health Insurance (SLeNSHI), suggests that the socio-demographic characteristics of the population are important in premium design and payment. Efforts at improving the socio- economic statuses of the population could be helpful in premium design and payment.

Soil, water, and forage contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, and Co can affect the meat and liver quality of camels raised in this area which affect human health. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of Pb, Cd and Co in soil, water, feed and young camels' carcass tissues (meat, liver, whole blood, rumen fluid and rumen tissue) from five districts in Saudi Arabia during the spring. All samples were wet-digested and analyzed by ICP-OES for heavy metals. In the liver, a significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentration of Pb and Co was observed in camels reared in the central and southern districts, while Cd was found significantly higher in the western and northern districts. The concentration of Pb, Cd and Co in meat of camels in the northern district was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the meat of camels in the west had a higher (p < 0.05) concentration of Co. In addition, the Cd and Co concentrations in rumen fluid samples from camels in the eastern district were significantly higher than in the central district. A negative correlation between the concentration of Pb and Cd in rumen fluid and rumen tissue was reported. The accumulation of Cd, Pb, and Co in meat and liver was below the recommended maximum limit. Therefore, the harmful risk of human consumption of camel meat and liver is not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Across families from all backgrounds, and for all students, when parents and the broader community engage in sustained systematic program improvements, schools and districts are more likely to focus on and maintain improvements. As a result, federal and state lawmakers have implemented engagement mandates. The ways in which these mandates are interpreted and implemented influence the success of the engagement practices. Research Design: We conducted a comparative case study and analyzed state representative survey data. Research Questions: How has Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) local engagement played out over time? What has been learned? What may be facilitating and inhibiting "meaningful" engagement? Conclusions: Through the lens of democratic engagement, we find broad community and district leadership support for the ideals of community engagement. However, we also find that community engagement over time has generally lacked both depth and breadth and was specifically constrained for traditionally marginalized communities. Our analysis also identifies outlier districts that have established ways to implement broader and deeper engagement activities that focus on utilizing their communities as assets. Our research suggests that district leaders and educators need greater support to fully realize these democratic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across Britain as a whole, the number of non-employed adults of working age in receipt of incapacity-related benefits substantially exceeds the number claiming unemployment benefits. This article explores the extent to which the large number of incapacity claimants hides unemployment. Building on previous methods and evidence but deploying an updated methodology to adjust for underlying differences in health, the article finds that the number of incapacity claimants who might have been expected to have been in work in a genuinely fully-employed economy remains substantial, though somewhat lower than in the early 2000s. It also finds that this hidden unemployment is disproportionately concentrated in the weaker local economies of Britain's older industrial areas and a number of coastal towns. The benefit claims are legitimate it is argued, but the scale and location of hidden unemployment casts doubt on assumptions that the contemporary UK economy is operating close to full employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Comparative Politics is the property of Journal of Comparative Politics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Geographica Universitatis Comenianae is the property of Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mortality in Slovakia has long been characterized by significant regional differences. One of the important factors of these differences is the influence of the quality and scope of the provided health care. We can express quality itself indirectly through the concept of avoidable mortality. Within it, deaths from lung, colorectal and breast tumors have an important position. A detailed analysis of the level of mortality, spatial differences for these groups of causes of death in Slovakia has not yet been carried out. In addition, in the contribution, we also try to identify, through specialized mortality tables and the concept of years of life lost, how these deaths shorten life expectancy and what losses affect human resources. The obtained results confirmed the persistence of regional differences, where the worst situation is primarily in the north and south of Slovakia. Moreover, these differences do not change significantly over time. This indirectly signals not only the regionally differentiated quality of care provided, but also the problems associated with prevention and personal responsibility for health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifting childbearing to later reproductive ages is reflected in all European populations. Late motherhood also changes, from the point of view of parity structure, since nowadays, the beginning of reproductive pathways is increasingly realised at the age of 35 and over more often. The regional dimension of this phenomenon is significantly overlooked, however. The main aim of this paper is to explore how the level and the impact of late motherhood has changed from a spatial perspective. We use Slovakia as a case study population characterised until the end of the 1980s by an early beginning of reproduction and its concentration in the first half of the reproductive period, and by relatively significant socio-economic, cultural and demographic differences. At the same time, we point out the changes in late motherhood in terms of parity structure. Finally, through linear regression models, we try to identify which of the selected factors may condition the differences in share of late fertility and the significance of first births at advanced reproductive ages.

This paper is about the implementation of the 1865/67 Ottoman Vilayet Law in the districts of the Sanjak of Zvornik. At first, there were listed those articles of the Law regarding the level of districts (kazas). After that, using the Ottoman annual reports for the Vilayet of Bosnia, there were listed the local governing institutions, services, and officials’ names for each district in the first four years after the announcement of the Vilayet Law. Based on these data, one can conclude that the Law has certainly been implemented in the districts belonging to the Sanjak of Zvornik.

Creating a healthy environment is a great challenge, as most of nation streets turn to be highways instead of being streets. The main reasons for the research are to save the culture view, with its walkable network, to overcome the lack of regulation for walkability, according to the Cabinet of ministers, 2020. The paper consists of three sectors, first the theoretical approach that identifies the walkability features. Second, the urban field literature, which is based on a questionnaire to assess the walkability percentage in streets, and citizen’s comfort, then the finally third sector suggest a walkability application as a guideline to respond to the public opinion evaluation. The Study context is based on assessing the amenities provided for Walkability within its urban context. The research focused on the walkable districts that have good culture view to be a sustainable landmark for cities, to increase tourism, to avoid the “upward mobility”, and satellite desert city for new development. Hence the deductive approach is based on a theoretical comparative analysis within creating application, to show the relationship between the walkability indicators for the citizen, in questionnaire using Essen’s walkability assessment. The central problem of my study is how to revive our nation’s streets into sustainable routes. The main conclusion is to achieve adequate urban design for citizen, depends upon their exact needs, based on climate, gender, and age that will vary from region to another, this was achieved by concluded different walkability indicators which were mentioned at the end of this paper.

Demiso Merga Sima,1 Debela Abdeta Ifa,1 Akililu Likasa Merga,2 Eyob Hirpa Tola1 1Wollega University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nekemte, Ethiopia; 2West Wollega Zone, Haru District Livestock and Fishery Development Office, Gimbi, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Eyob Hirpa Tola Email eyobh@wollegauniversity.edu.et; eyobhirpatola@gmail.comBackground: Brucellosis is a contagious bacterial disease, which affects domestic animals, humans, and wildlife in Ethiopia and other countries.Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a simple random sampling technique was conducted in Diga, Guto, Gida, and Sibu Sire districts of East Wollega Zone, Western Oromia, from November 2019 to July 2020 to determine the prevalence of bovine brucellosis and identify associated risk factors. A lottery method was used during serum collection and risk factors identified during interview.Results: A total of 1152 serum samples were collected from cattle of 6 months age and above. Serum samples were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA). An overall seroprevalence of brucellosis was 1.82% (21/1152). Statically significant variation (P< 0.05) in seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis was recorded among potential risk factors such as breed [P≤ 0.05; OR:8.905; CI:1.568– 50.573], parity [P≤ 0.05; OR:0.017; CI:0.042– 5.195], retained fetal membrane [P≤ 0.001; OR:0.018; CI:0.00– 2.169], and abortion history [P≤ 0.001; OR:0.030; CI:0.004– 0.212]. Conversely, seroprevalence variations in sex, district, villages, body condition score, and age were statistically insignificant (P> 0.05).Conclusion: The current study revealed bovine brucellosis is posing a threat to livestock with no strict control and prevention scheme in place. Therefore, public awareness creation about the zoonotic importance of the disease is crucial and the Government should establish legislation, support, control, and prevention of the disease recommended.Keywords: bovine brucellosis, Brucella, districts, ELISA, risk factors, seroprevalence, serum