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Purpose: Guided by the cultural relevance cycle, this study examined experiences of two novice physical education teachers in urban schools. We focused on successes that teachers encountered while navigating their novice years. Methods: Two purposefully sampled participants completed five journal entries and five semistructured interviews lasting between 45 and 90 min each. To promote trustworthiness, we utilized multiple coders, a peer debriefer, and triangulated data from multiple sources. Participants reviewed themes and responded to researchers' interpretations. Results: We present the results through three major themes. The first theme involves knowledge of students and community. The second theme describes belonging in the school and community, and the third theme discusses curricular realignment. Discussion and Conclusion: By focusing on elements that empowered novice teachers to find success, initial teacher preparation programs and in-service teacher mentoring programs in urban school districts might identify teaching experiences that may contribute to novice teacher retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the community health nursing context, informal listening sessions are opportunities for engagement toward understanding and responding to health and issues that relate to or impact health status. They are a source of information, affirmation, and observation from the community's perspectives. This study aimed to explore how community listening sessions enhance resilience among older adults facing life challenges. Qualitative descriptive design was employed, and purposive sampling was utilized. Listening sessions were conducted by trained professionals in the two communities in an urbanized city in the Philippines with a total of 33 informants who were at least 60 years old and have experienced or are experiencing significant challenge/s in life which allowed for the gathering of enough information to reach saturation. Collaizi's method of data analysis was used. Findings are summarized based on the word Resilience: Religious Faith and Spirituality, Emotional Support from Family, Social Engagement, Independence and Self-Efficacy, Learning through Listening, Inner Strength and Coping Skills, Encouragement and Positivity, Networks of Community Support, Challenges in Health and other areas and Engagement in Meaningful Activities. The study highlights the critical role of listening sessions in community health, providing a safe, nonjudgmental platform for individuals to share their resilience and healthspan experiences. This concludes that resilience is a dynamic, multifaceted construct influenced by various factors, including faith, family support, social interactions, personal strengths, and community networks. These findings highlight the need for community health initiatives to adopt a holistic, inclusive approach that considers the diverse elements contributing to resilience. Trial Registration/Exemption Determination University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (STUDY23020119). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2024, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) announced the adoption of the term "favelas and urban communities" to refer to different popular territories in the country. Formed from specific geographical, historical and cultural processes, these territories have been marked by stereotypes and stigmas related not only to their material conditions, but also to their populations. The nomenclature "subnormal agglomerations", in force for approximately four decades, was changed after deep institutional reflection and dialog with social actors. The aim of this article is to discuss the process of changing the official nomenclature, taking as a starting point the process of constitution of these territories in the social imagination, and the challenges inherent in the change made by the Institute. The aim was also to point out the mechanisms of power underlying discursive constructions, especially when they come from state institutions such as the IBGE. It was concluded that the position taken by the agency met the historical demands of the social groups linked to these territories and represented the assumption of a political commitment by the Institute towards these actors in order to fulfill its institutional mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project and exhibit, delves into the complex relationship between public exhibition, urban spaces, and socio-political norms in shaping urban thresholds within the two American and European metropolitan cities of Houston and Amsterdam. This study also investigates the transformative power of new media and emerging technologies in the production, circulation, and consumption of design, offering fresh perspectives on the influence of these technologies on urban design studies and digitally augmented physical spaces. By merging interdisciplinary research areas, including Design Computation and Fabrication, Urban Communities, and Spatial Justice, this project provides an immersive exploration into the co-production of liminal spaces, focusing on the participation of diverse publics and the dynamics of inclusion, exclusion, and recognition in two cities of Houston and Amsterdam. The main emphasis of this paper is on the critical urban studies and the role of emerging technologies in advancing the theoretical and methodological frameworks of the presented immersive installation project.

In the context of rapid urbanization, leveraging community capital for health promotion to achieve sustainable community development has become a critical issue. This study examines 60 communities in Taipei City through a resource inventory, application analysis, and impact assessment to explore the effects of community capital and community building on sustainable development. Key findings include: Resource Inventory: The 60 communities identified a total of 3407 resources, averaging 68.14 resources per community. These resources encompass social capital (e.g., community organizations and volunteers), human capital (e.g., professional skills and education), physical capital (e.g., facilities and venues), and financial capital (e.g., funding and grants). Resource Application: of 752 resources applied, 48.5% were for teacher matching, and 24.7% for venue borrowing, highlighting a high demand for these resources in health promotion. Regression Analysis: The results show that social capital (β = 0.35, p < 0.01) and human capital (β = 0.29, p < 0.05) significantly enhance community sustainability. Additionally, the frequency of community-building activities (β = 0.31, p < 0.01) positively correlates with sustainable development. Overall, the study confirms the importance of community capital and community building in fostering sustainable development, emphasizing the need to enhance social and human capital for community health and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of stormwater infrastructure such as constructed wetlands, rain gardens, vegetated drainage channels and retention ponds are primarily used for managing water runoff, but these environments can also foster biodiversity. Despite extensive literature about certain taxa (e.g., amphibians, aquatic macroinvertebrates, etc.) found in these human-made environments, the terrestrial plants and invertebrates present there remain understudied. Here, we compared alpha and beta diversity of plant and terrestrial invertebrate communities and assessed the influence of landscape characteristics on their composition in different types of urban stormwater basins and ponds. Plants and terrestrial invertebrates were identified in the main body (excluding the aquatic section) and on the banks of 54 basins and ponds (dry basins, wet basins with and without a water channel and retention ponds) in Quebec City and Trois-Rivières, in Eastern Canada. Results showed poor and homogenous plant and invertebrate communities in dry basins. Wet basins had the highest plant alpha diversity, with more facultative wetland species than the two other types. Wet basins with and without a water channel had similar plant and invertebrate composition, and wet basins and retention ponds were the most heterogeneous. Retention ponds (with permanent water) had distinct communities with fewer plant species than wet basins. The presence of natural areas around the infrastructure significantly influenced communities within a 2000 m and 500 m radius for plant and invertebrate communities, respectively. Wetland plant species were generally found in infrastructure close to natural areas, whereas tolerant and opportunist species were associated with disturbed environments. Our results suggest that enhancing diversity of the stormwater basins and ponds at the regional and local (microhabitat) scales has the potential to maximize diversity of plants and terrestrial invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Transitional Hotel Project (THP) is a noncongregate emergency hotel initiative with comprehensive wraparound services implemented at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was designed to address the emergency housing needs of adults transitioning from incarceration (returning citizens) to community reintegration. Objective: The study aims to explore the external and internal recovery needs of returning citizens participating in the THP, with a focus on their housing stability, mental and behavioral health, employment, and the development of prosocial relationships. Methods: This mixed-methods case study used de-identified case management data, focus groups, and interviews with 24 participants, including employees, key partners, and returning citizens. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify key themes related to the recovery process of returning citizens. Findings: A thematic analysis revealed three primary themes: (a) safety, including both physical and psychological aspects; (b) mutual empathy; and (c) person-centered decision-making. Two subthemes emerged under the safety theme: (a) physical safety and (b) psychological safety. Mutual empathy between participants and peer mentor staff played a critical role in fostering the recovery of returning citizens. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the physical and psychological safety provided within the hotel setting, along with the empathy and support from peer mentor staff, were significant factors contributing to positive changes in returning citizens. These elements of the THP appear to have facilitated improvements in both external recovery needs (e.g., housing stability and employment) and internal recovery processes (e.g., restructured self-identity, human agency, and perceptions of hope). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper proposes a novel approach to dialogue with local stakeholders to maximise the shared value that can be generated by infrastructure investments for the benefit of urban communities. The approach proposes a method for deliberately activating synergies between infrastructure and complementary initiatives through the active engagement of public and private stakeholders. In many cases today, infrastructure is designed, financed and implemented as functionally unitary engineering works that meet a specific need, leaving synergies with complementary initiatives to be activated spontaneously. Moreover, the dialogue with local stakeholders is limited and reductive, aiming mainly at the exchange of some project information and consensus building, thus missing the opportunity to identify and mobilise those ideas, capabilities and resources that are always present within a community. In the proposed approach, infrastructure is the catalyst for a long-term vision and stakeholder engagement is the tool for identifying the synergistic initiatives that can be implemented with the participation of public and private actors to maximise value creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are gradually realizing that urban community resilience is pivotal for effectively managing public health emergencies. This study employed grounded theory to establish a theoretical framework for epidemic resilience of urban communities (ERUC) in the post-pandemic era. Subsequently, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method is utilized to discern the significance and hierarchical interrelations among influencing factors. The findings delineate that 14 determinants shaping ERUC are organized into five distinct tiers. Notably, nine determinants emerge as principal: vulnerable group; educational attainment; risk perception; medical insurance coverage; communal norms; community emergency response; community services; resident participation; and government efficacy. Among these, the vulnerable group and government efficiency are identified as foundational factors, while medical insurance coverage, resident participation, and community infrastructure are identified as direct influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the impact of community-led total sanitation (CLTS) on open defecation in the Tamale Metropolis. The study's objectives were to assess the extent and reasons for open defecation and the factors that influence the implementation of CLTS in the Tamale Metropolis. The study obtained data from 398 landlords and interviewed some officers of civil society organisations (CSOs), the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) and opinion leaders. A structural equation model was used to determine the factors that influence the implementation of CLTS. T-test was also used to determine the effect of the CLTS programme on open defecation, while interviews complemented the inferential analysis. The findings indicate that reasons for frequent open defecation include poor maintenance of public and private latrines, financial hardship and social-norm problems. The study also found that CLTS has significantly reduced open defecation in the Tamale Metropolis. Policy environment, community participation and implementation quality significantly affected the effective implementation of CLTS. The study recommends that CLTS should be scaled-up in other communities where open defecation is rampant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged ozone (O3) pollution at high levels poses a significant threat to both human health and the sustainability of livelihoods. Hence, the objective of this paper is to assess the health consequences of prolonged ozone (O3) pollution as a disaster on urban communities in the Central-Western part of Kano State, Nigeria. The concentrations of O3 were monitored and analysed using various standard methods. Results revealed that O₃ levels were consistently high throughout all seasons, with the highest concentrations observed in the commercial and industrial areas. The concentrations of the pollutant are not significantly different and exceed the permissible standards (0.06 ppm) set by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). It is concluded that prolonged exposure to O3 threatens human health. It was recommended that there should be enforcement of minimum permissible emission of the pollutant by industries, motorist among others. Also, the public should be enlightened on the consequences of exposure to the pollutant.

The existing urban communities have been linked to electric power for daily uses, as it is transferred between some places through overhead electric lines, and with the urban expansion as a result of the population increase, the idea of establishing a community life next to the high pressure lines in the Egyptian local community spread, such as building for housing, work, trade and study, without awareness of the risks to individuals from the low health status of residents next to those electric lines, which directly affects the health and life of the community, and therefore, it was directed to studying the concept of urban society and how to transfer and distribute electric power between regions and cities, as well as the concept of overhead lines and towers. And ground cables, then the specified safe distances, then exposure to health risks and damages resulting from construction and housing next to high pressure lines, in order to move then to a case study at the level of architecture and urbanism, which is the Zahraa Maadi area over a period of three years, and then make a questionnaire to survey the opinion and participate in thought to find out The extent of the community's awareness of the importance of the topic, as architects, students of architecture, and people participated in it Discussion, presenting ideas, conducting interviews, and knowing the opinion of specialists to present the proposals, and then reach results and recommendations. From this point of view, this research is an invitation to understand through awareness of the risks to correct the current situation and reach a safe life.

Summary In recent years. de-administration has been the basic approach in grassroots social governance reform. Some local governments have innovatively explored models such as the separation between residents committee and community service station" "removing streets management to strengthen communities management." "admission. system of administrative affairs." and "the linkage of communities social organizations and social workers." However, due to a lack of comprehensiveness reforms based on a single thread often inevitably fall into predicaments. Existing literature mainly focuses on discussing de-administration reform from the perspectives of state- society relations, urban community residents' committees, and classification of community affairs. These discussions have not effectively aligned with the complex systemic challenges faced by urban community de-administration reform. This article proposes a systematic framework for analyzing the de-administration reform of communities from a composite perspective of "affairs functions and organizations." Guided by this framework, it conducts a thorough examination and reflection on housing system reform and property management practices community access systems. community burden reduction reforms, and the separation of residents' committee and the community service station. It finds that the effects of reforms based on a single logic lacking mutual coordination are limited. The marketization. of housing system reforms and property services has opened up new spaces for communities to go beyond administrative control, yet it faces the challenge of weak support from homeowner organizations. While functional classification and access systems provide a basis for the de-administration of communities, without the coordination of organizational relationship reforms administrative matters still penetrate organizational boundaries and enter the residents committees. The separation of residents committee and community service station provides an organizational foundation for de-administration, but due to a lack of systematic thinking it has led to fragmentation. The triple-logic framework and the analysis of the reform process inspire future de-administration efforts to adhere to a composite reform strategy that concurrently implements "functional classification of community affairs, separation of residents' committee and community service station and cultivation of resident self-governance capabilities." This is to be achieved through coordinated measures such as continuing to refine the classification catalog of community affairs and functions, reforming urban community relationships in conjunction with the catalog list, and focusing on cultivating the self-governing capabilities of residents' committees by addressing relevant interests and governance links. Compared to previous literature, this article makes expansions in the following three aspects: firstly, it proposes the analysis of community governance perspectives in complex ecosystems, believing that community governance is influenced by the dimensions of things, functions, and organizations. Urban community de-administration reform should be analyzed within these three dimensions, transcending simple linear thinking. Secondly, incorporating property management and homeowner self-governance into the analytical perspective of de-administration reform in urban communities, compared to previous studies that solely focused on the de-administration of community resident committees, this perspective broadens the scope of analysis and is more in line with the actual situation of urban communities. Thirdly, it is proposed that the de-administration reform in urban communities should adhere to the coordinated efforts of reforming affairs, functions, and building organizational capabilities. advancing holistically. A composite reform approach has been explored, which is based on the classification of affairs and functions, focused on the adjustment of organizational structures, and guided by fostering residents' self-governance, with all three aspects advancing in synergy. The study presented in this paper has, to a certain extent, revealed the affairs, functions, and organizational foundations of urban community governance in our country. It aids government departments in coordinating the advancement of community de-administration reforms while promoting the modernization of grassroots governance, thereby better enhancing the capability of community self-governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates the challenges and solutions in implementing Interprofessional Education (IPE) within the nursing curriculum at a Hispanic-Serving Academic Institution in Bronx, New York. Objective: To explore how IPE can bridge gaps in healthcare education by fostering collaboration among students from various disciplines. Methods: The authors developed workshops and simulation cases involving multiple healthcare disciplines to address barriers such as course context differences, faculty workload, institutional barriers, and hierarchical culture in healthcare. Findings: The results showed positive impacts of IPE within the nursing program, with successful collaborations among nursing, social work, speech language and hearing sciences, health services administration, and exercise science students. Conclusions: The study highlights the transformative potential of IPE in healthcare education, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach to address individual, faculty, and structural barriers and offering insights for enhancing collaboration, communication, and cultural sensitivity among future healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban communities are characterized by significant population size, high density, and strong mobility. While we might enjoy the dividends of rapid modernization, there are nonetheless variable and frequent public crises that occur. Modernization's problems are gradually emerging, and the traditional risk prevention logic that relies on administrative "rigidity" has begun to be widely challenged. Traditional urban communities depend on institutional, structural, and spatial aspects to improve community resilience. Because big data has become popular, attention has begun to be paid to digital empowerment and community resilience. However, the emergence of problems such as "digital paradox" and "digital ethics" in the digital realm itself has prompted calls for cultural resilience to continue to rise. Therefore, urgently needed resolutions are required to questions regarding the resilience of traditional communities, the construction of digital and cultural resilience, the relationship between digital and cultural resilience, and the manner in which cultural resilience is coordinated to solve the problem of digital resilience. A quantitative analysis of 350 questionnaires from five urban communities found that these communities' institutional, spatial, and structural dimensions are the driving factors for improving resilience. In contrast, the cultural and digital dimensions are constraints. Therefore, the question of how to coordinate the cultural and digital factors represented by traditional and modern societies in order to compensate for the shortcomings in resilience construction is that which future urban communities must consider. The authors of this study believe that digital empowerment is needed to open up the "first mile" of resilient communities, that cultural empowerment is required to break down the "blocks in the middle" of resilient communities, and that digital and cultural coupling is needed to link the "last mile" of resilient communities. One must use culture to compensate for the shortcomings of digital resilience and digital to pay for the failures of cultural resilience before one can move towards more resilient urban community governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease across the world particularly in Nigeria. This study investigates the prevalence and distribution of falciparum malaria in Orita Obele and Gbogi communities of Akure, Southwestern Nigeria. Standard parasitological method of thick and thin smear was employed and the malaria parasites were identified through microscopy. Overall prevalence of 171 (57.0%) was recorded. Sex related prevalence showed that more males were infected with 79 (60.8%) than females with 98 (57.6%). The differences in prevalence between males and females was significant (P<0.05). Individuals within the age group of less than 10 had the highest rate of infection 38 (76.0%) while individuals within the age group of 51 to 60 had the least rate of infection 10 (37.0). Furthermore, Orita Obele had a higher malaria prevalence (58.6%) compared to Gbogi (53.9%). Conclusively, there is need for sustainable interventions and awareness campaign among the residents of Orita Obele and Gbogi in order to enhance reduction of malaria parasite to the desired zero level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of interpreting local history is relevant to St. Petersburg, as to many other major historical cities. This article examines phenomena united by the concepts of local (spatial) myth and urban narrative, which go beyond official discourse. Alternative images of the city, based on its concealed places of interest contrast with one of the most widespread representations of St. Petersburg – its association with the heritage of imperial culture. The selection of memorable places and stories shifts from recognizable city landmarks to other objects that reveal the history and image of particular St. Petersburg sites, people’s daily lives and peripheral issues of urban life. This approach to the exploration of urban space, a phenomenon called New Local History, is presented and explained in the article as the rediscovery of the historical potential of the city. The examples given in the article also show the possible role of New Local History in encouraging residents to develop an interest in their own history, in the problems of modernity and in participating in socially significant projects. Trends in interaction with urban space and memory practices that offer alternative interpretations of the past have been identified in various socio-cultural initiatives. In the context of Russian memory politics, this approach often becomes oppositional.

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are gradually realizing that urban community resilience is pivotal for effectively managing public health emergencies. This study employed grounded theory to establish a theoretical framework for epidemic resilience of urban communities (ERUC) in the post-pandemic era. Subsequently, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-interpretive structural modeling (ISM) method is utilized to discern the significance and hierarchical interrelations among influencing factors. The findings delineate that 14 determinants shaping ERUC are organized into five distinct tiers. Notably, nine determinants emerge as principal: vulnerable group; educational attainment; risk perception; medical insurance coverage; communal norms; community emergency response; community services; resident participation; and government efficacy. Among these, the vulnerable group and government efficiency are identified as foundational factors, while medical insurance coverage, resident participation, and community infrastructure are identified as direct influences.

Digital inclusion research has focused on the conditions, practices, and activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most marginalized populations, can access and use digital technologies. The complexities of Internet appropriation that enable digital inclusion have traditionally been approached from a macro‐level perspective that focuses on access infrastructure policies. Although motivations and social, economic, and cultural capital have been part of the analysis at the individual level, there are still questions about how this process unfolds at the community level. Specifically, little is known about how dynamics and interactions among marginalized groups with weaker online skills and limited Internet access influence technological appropriation. The ethics of care offers complementary insights into this phenomenon, allowing scholars to look at how emotions can trigger actions that lead to the technological involvement of those on the digital periphery. Drawing on 71 in‐depth interviews conducted in person with Internet users in 16 rural and urban communities in Chile, we discuss how care sets the stage for organizing, helping, and teaching others. Our results show that emotions such as empathy, powerlessness, and frustration were vital to giving and receiving forms of care that facilitate digital activities. The findings also suggest that digital assistance is more prevalent in tightly‐knit marginalized communities with more trusting communication patterns.

In modern Russia, the problems of institutionalized participation of the communities of major regional centers in political conflict management and decision-making on the urban development agenda are becoming more relevant. Political institutionalization is considered by the authors in the context of the liberal theory of conflict, the neo-institutional approach, and illiberal peacebuilding. The authors draw conclusions on the growth of the subjectivity of urban communities with their lack of involvement in the system of political governance at the city level, based on the data of an empirical study conducted through semi-structured interviews with leaders and activists of urban communities in three major regional centers of Russia - Voronezh, Krasnodar, Yaroslavl, as well as an expert survey in these cities. The analysis of the “Krasnodar Tram” case reveals such problems as the low level of institutional trust in the system of interactions between urban communities and local authorities, as well as the lack of effective mechanisms for coordinating decisions in a conflict. Thus, the political institutionalization of communities is limited in scale, which is due to the state of the public policy space at the municipal level, the hybrid nature of institutional regulation, as well as the structure and characteristics of the activities of the communities themselves.

Urban communities are one the varieties of interest groups in local politics. The study examines the channels and the possibilities of their influence on the political agenda formation. The resources of interaction communities with other political subjects are analyzed. The success of communities in protecting group interests is assessed in terms of factors of two types - internal, reflecting the state and resource base on the communities themselves, and external, primarily institutional. The influence practices in the urban communities on local politics, as well as the degree and barriers to participation in the political processes in large cities in modern Russia are revealed.

The problem of interpreting local history is relevant to St. Petersburg, as to many other major historical cities. This article examines phenomena united by the concepts of local (spatial) myth and urban narrative, which go beyond official discourse. Alternative images of the city, based on its concealed places of interest contrast with one of the most widespread representations of St. Petersburg - its association with the heritage of imperial culture. The selection of memorable places and stories shifts from recognizable city landmarks to other objects that reveal the history and image of particular St. Petersburg sites, people's daily lives and peripheral issues of urban life. This approach to the exploration of urban space, a phenomenon called New Local History, is presented and explained in the article as the rediscovery of the historical potential of the city. The examples given in the article also show the possible role of New Local History in encouraging residents to develop an interest in their own history, in the problems of modernity and in participating in socially significant projects. Trends in interaction with urban space and memory practices that offer alternative interpretations of the past have been identified in various socio-cultural initiatives. In the context of Russian memory politics, this approach often becomes oppositional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Hypertension, a major public health concern, has been increasing in prevalence worldwide, especially in urban communities. Understanding its prevalence and identifying the risk factors in urban settings are essential to develop targeted interventions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hypertension among adults residing in urban communities and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected urban communities. A structured questionnaire was administered to participants aged 18 and above. Blood pressure measurements were taken using standardized protocols. Hypertension was defined based on the World Health Organization criteria. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression were utilized to determine the prevalence and identify significant risk factors. Results: Out of the 150 participants included in the study, 40% were found to be hypertensive. Several risk factors were identified, including age, obesity, and history of smoking. Obesity was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of hypertension (OR = 2.50, 95% CI: 0.86-7.25) Conclusion: Hypertension is prevalent among adults in urban communities. Multiple modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors were identified. Public health strategies targeting these risk factors can potentially reduce the burden of hypertension in urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will, through the analysis of three parishes in Coimbra between the twelfth and the fourteenth century, investigate practices surrounding the commemoration of death. Through the study of extant wills, post-mortem donations, and necrological documents—such as Obituaries and Anniversary Books—this work seeks to describe the populations and communities who entrusted their final salvation to these churches. This characterization will allow a description of the typology of the suffrage ceremonies founded by these souls, meanwhile presenting an evaluation of the maintenance and management of these foundations by the churches and its chapters throughout the centuries. This paper intends to highlight what survives after death—not only in terms of memory, but also in light of social relationships, interpersonal and familial connections, and professional solidarities. Focusing on a population that is otherwise poorly documented—and moreover, represents a socio-professional background of a low echelon—this text intends to present a global characterization of the cult of the dead, with a further aim of drawing attention to the intervention and enrichment of parish pastoral care by the lay population in this Portuguese city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid waste management is a complex issue, and this was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Several challenges related to this issue emerged because of the pandemic, during which countries with limited resources heavily relied on community participation. This study investigates the factors that contribute to the collective action of urban communities in waste management as a solution to raising awareness. This study adopted a quantitative method that incorporated four independent variables and one dependent variable with a 4-point Likert scale questionnaire. The data were collected through a survey using a purposive sampling method. The data collected are proportional because there is no sampling frame in this study. An analysis of the 200 samples collected in Jakarta reveals that community participation, social norms, social influence, and socioeconomic status impact collective action. However, the result from an ordinal regression analysis only shows community participation and social influence as significant variables with corresponding odds ratios of .263/.379 and .053/.168 for every one-unit increase. This study concludes that higher community participation and social influence will likely affect people's collective action in waste management. Policies and programs incorporating community participation and social influence can be implemented based on the findings to tackle waste management awareness issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using critical race structuralism (CRS), a new contribution, as well as primary and secondary data, this article explores the role of science in teaching social justice issues in urban education. In the United States, a teaching workforce, which is predominately White, middle class, and female, intersects with an increasingly diverse student population, creating a need for culturally responsive teaching practices, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) classes. An investigation of existing literature reveals the need for greater emphasis on environmental racism and social justice as they pertain to students living in low-income and urban communities. Our findings reveal that CRS can be utilized in a collective effort to transform teacher education programs and teacher pedagogy, to effectively address environmental racism and other social justice issues in urban schools and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban communities are characterized by significant population size, high density, and strong mobility. While we might enjoy the dividends of rapid modernization, there are nonetheless variable and frequent public crises that occur. Modernization’s problems are gradually emerging, and the traditional risk prevention logic that relies on administrative “rigidity” has begun to be widely challenged. Traditional urban communities depend on institutional, structural, and spatial aspects to improve community resilience. Because big data has become popular, attention has begun to be paid to digital empowerment and community resilience. However, the emergence of problems such as “digital paradox” and “digital ethics” in the digital realm itself has prompted calls for cultural resilience to continue to rise. Therefore, urgently needed resolutions are required to questions regarding the resilience of traditional communities, the construction of digital and cultural resilience, the relationship between digital and cultural resilience, and the manner in which cultural resilience is coordinated to solve the problem of digital resilience. A quantitative analysis of 350 questionnaires from five urban communities found that these communities’ institutional, spatial, and structural dimensions are the driving factors for improving resilience. In contrast, the cultural and digital dimensions are constraints. Therefore, the question of how to coordinate the cultural and digital factors represented by traditional and modern societies in order to compensate for the shortcomings in resilience construction is that which future urban communities must consider. The authors of this study believe that digital empowerment is needed to open up the “first mile” of resilient communities, that cultural empowerment is required to break down the “blocks in the middle” of resilient communities, and that digital and cultural coupling is needed to link the “last mile” of resilient communities. One must use culture to compensate for the shortcomings of digital resilience and digital to pay for the failures of cultural resilience before one can move towards more resilient urban community governance.

Neighbourhood characteristics can facilitate or hinder the development of social ties, thereby influencing the loneliness of those who live in them. Most research to date has focused upon how either older adults (65+) or youth (under 19 years old) view and experience their neighbourhood, paying little attention to young adults (aged 16–24). Young adults are the loneliest age-group within the UK and other Western countries. Their loneliness is associated with living in deprived communities (e.g., areas experiencing social-economic inequalities), feeling a strong sense of disconnection from their neighbourhoods and having little trust in others within these spaces. Therefore, this study utilises social representations theory to explore how young adults (18–24 years old) from London's four most deprived boroughs view and experience their neighbourhood using a systematic, qualitative methodology. In particular, the concept of dialogical antimonies, known as themata are used. A purposive sample of forty-eight participants was asked to write and/or draw where they felt loneliest and where they felt most socially connected in their neighbourhoods. These associations were then explored via an open-ended, exploratory interview. This revealed that the experience of neighbourhood was structured around four themata: 1) having no one to talk to/being disconnected from others vs. being with family or friends, 2) feeling bored/having nothing to do vs. having shared interests, goals or activities, 3) being in an unfamiliar environment vs. seeing familiar faces/having a sense of community, 4) busy vs. peaceful environment. On this basis, suggestions and implications for the design of wellbeing-enhancing neighbourhoods are discussed.

Introduction. Currently, the development and convergence of virtual digital practices actualizes the need for theoretical and methodological understanding of the transformations of social capital in the urban environment. The purpose of the article is to explore the process of changing the mechanisms for the formation of social capital, based on expert assessments and the results of an analysis of public opinion, as well as conjunctive processes that are being transformed under the influence of the digitalization of urban spaces. Methodology and Methods. The methodological basis of the study consists of the provisions of the social capital theory, the theory of social conjunction; the concept of digitalization of social reality. The empirical base of the scientific article includes the results of a complex of sociological studies conducted by a team of authors of Belgorod State University in 2020–2022. The research data has made it possible to determine the dispositions of various population groups in relation to the social consolidation of urban communities in the context of the digitalization of the urbanized environment, as well as to identify the specifics of values, attitudes and behavioral motives in the implementation of consolidation practices. Results. On the basis of empirical data, it has been possible to reveal that the process of forming and building up the social capital of urban communities has serious limitations that do not disappear in the course of digitalization of the urban environment. On the one hand, this process creates opportunities for consolidation based on social digital platforms; on the other hand, network social capital turns out to be very fragile, since it does not involve “live communication” and does not connect the participants of the interaction with reliable grounds. Discussion and Conclusion. The analysis has made it possible to note that, while creating new conditions for communication and unification of citizens, digitalization also leads to the emergence of new barriers, the most significant of which is the lack of “real life communication”, which prevents the participants of interaction from being bound by reliable grounds. Prospects for further research on the topic under study are related to the development of such criteria that will allow us to assess the sociodynamics of the process of the social capital forming in urban communities, as well as the process of consolidation.

Aim: The aim is to profile patients with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) mellitus in urban communities in South Trinidad, 2019–2020. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study took place in grocery stores and malls in urban communities, in South Trinidad, from November 2019 to January 2020. Subjects and Methods: Adults between the ages of 40–60, body mass index ≥23 kg/m2; undiagnosed with T2D, and who gave informed consent were enrolled in the study, through convenience sampling (n = 86). The main outcome measures were glycemic states that were assessed using glycated hemoglobin clinical cut points of 0.85 and 19.77% of males with a waist:hip ratio >0.9. Alcohol consumption was linked to higher glycemic states (P = 0.045). However, no statistically significant correlations were found between all other risk factors assessed and glycemic states. Conclusion: There were no statistically significant associations for risk factors, except for alcohol consumption, among glycemic states.

The disproportionate racial impact of gentrification-induced displacement is becoming more of a topic of debate because of the growing evidence and continued outcry of institutional and systemic racism from communities of color. The lack of research in tracking displacement requires new approaches to studying gentrification to address the challenges of investigating the impact on communities of color. In addition to studying the economic, political, and socially motivated reasons for gentrification, the application of a racism-centered framework can shed light on the role of white hegemony in community and urban development policies and practices. Social work researchers can significantly contribute to the body of literature regarding the impact of gentrification-induced displacement of African American residents by applying one of the many social work frameworks in research. Understanding the disproportionate racial impact of displacement on indigenous residents can inform social policies regarding community development strategies and propose interventions to mitigate the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African American PhD students are severely underrepresented in the attainment of PhDs compared with their White counterparts and, therefore, underrepresented as PhD professors. Key factors contributing to the lack of African American students seeking doctoral education include financial hardship, racial discrimination, and a lack of mentorship. The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate the experiences and meaning of African American social work students enrolled in a PhD qualitative research methods course at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Results from this study will shed light on Black scholars' experiences in obtaining a doctoral education, identify challenges and barriers in completing a doctoral program, and contribute to ideas on how to increase the number of Black scholars in HBCU PhD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital inclusion research has focused on the conditions, practices, and activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most marginalized populations, can access and use digital technologies. The complexities of Internet appropriation that enable digital inclusion have traditionally been approached from a macro‐level perspective that focuses on access infrastructure policies. Although motivations and social, economic, and cultural capital have been part of the analysis at the individual level, there are still questions about how this process unfolds at the community level. Specifically, little is known about how dynamics and interactions among marginalized groups with weaker online skills and limited Internet access influence technological appropriation. The ethics of care offers complementary insights into this phenomenon, allowing scholars to look at how emotions can trigger actions that lead to the technological involvement of those on the digital periphery. Drawing on 71 in‐depth interviews conducted in person with Internet users in 16 rural and urban communities in Chile, we discuss how care sets the stage for organizing, helping, and teaching others. Our results show that emotions such as empathy, powerlessness, and frustration were vital to giving and receiving forms of care that facilitate digital activities. The findings also suggest that digital assistance is more prevalent in tightly‐knit marginalized communities with more trusting communication patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Against the backdrop of rapid population aging and significant demographic changes, cities are facing great challenges in providing healthcare resources for the elderly. Understanding the equity and spatial differentiation mechanisms between the demand and supply of healthcare resources for the elderly in cities, especially in rapidly urbanized areas, can help policymakers to promote the planning and construction of a 'Just City' and 'Age-Friendly City', safeguarding the human well-being of the elderly. This study combines outpatient appointment data classified by service type with community-scale demographic data to assess the equity in the supply of medical resources for the elderly in the city using a refined two-step moving search method. Taking Xiamen City as an example, we analyzed the spatial heterogeneity in the equity in the supply of different types of health care services for potential elderly patients in each community in the city. Then, we selected six driving factors to explore the underlying driving factors. The results showed that there were 308 communities (61.11%) with a high medical service balance of the internal medicine type for the elderly in Xiamen City, concentrated in the southwest of the whole area. There are only 157 communities with high medical service balance for the surgical type of medical services, concentrated in the central part and southwest of Xiamen City. For these two types of medical services, the number of communities with low medical service balance is 30 (5.95%) and 182 (36.11%), respectively. These communities are far away from the central city. Economic vitality is the most important driving factor in the spatial distribution pattern of equity in the balance of medical services for the elderly. Our study can provide quantitative information on the current situation evaluation and decision support for the development and design of a 'Just City' and 'Age-Friendly City' Planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction No one can argue on the importance of health in one's life. However, the value of health in the context of other priorities for individuals is not always as clear. Further, patients' experience with the healthcare system is rarely contrasted with the service providers' expectations. The aim of this paper is to examine and compare patients' and providers' own definitions of health and their perceptions of the healthcare delivery experience from the lens of residents and providers in West Baltimore, Maryland. Methods This was a qualitative study with semi‐structured focus groups (15 sessions) and individual in‐depth interviews (21 interviews) with 94 participants. Two independent coders thematically analysed the transcripts. Results Patients identified five areas where health systems can help them stay healthy or become healthier: affordability and costs of care; accessibility; clinician/patient communication; addressing social determinants; and stigma and trust. Providers acknowledged that the healthcare experience is not always perfect. While the medical team focuses on conversations that enhance medical care, patients are expecting providers to touch on subjects beyond medical care. Conclusions Patients and providers need to consider that although they have a common value towards health, there is still a gap in what users expect and what providers can offer. To further align those expectations, there is a need for increasing involvement of patient in care administration and improving dialogue between the parties about these differences. Patient or Public Contribution A Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB)—comprised of a patient, two community leaders, a physician and two healthcare administrators—was instrumental in codeveloping the study material (e.g., interview guides), engaging patients in the research process, identifying participants and codeveloping dissemination material. Two SAB members—Gail Graham, a patient consultant/professor, and Marcia Cort, a physician—are coauthors.