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Many digital platforms offer services that affect real-world socio-economic processes. One example is the impact of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb or Wimdu on cities and neighborhoods. Because these platforms often operate in a regulatory void characterized by absent, unclear, or poorly enforced laws and regulations, local governments in affected cities have begun experimenting with a variety of instruments to regulate the operations of short-term rental platforms. In this paper, we report how such locally implemented regulatory responses have affected Airbnb's operations across 13 European cities over the period from 2015 to 2019. Using a difference-in-difference specification with synthetic controls, we assess the impact of different regulatory responses by disaggregating them into motivations, actions, targets, and outcomes. We find that the effectiveness of regulatory responses differs by type of regulation (restricting or clarifying), type of host (professional or private), as well as the enforcement (with or without the cooperation of the platform operator). Through this work, we add to the ongoing debate on the regulation of digital platforms by presenting both empirical evidence as well as an analytical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth in urban cities has created transport problems such as traffic congestion, pollution, accidents, and infrastructure failures. These problems often lead to disruption of mobility, especially in emerging economies. The goal of any city is to have a resilient transport system that is free from frequent and severe disruptions. Resilience can be incorporated into smart mobility systems to create a robust, integrated and intelligent transport system. Therefore, this study sought to determine resilience factors required for a resilient smart mobility system in emerging economies. The study used interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to establish the causal interrelationships among the factors drawing from data from experts in smart cities, city transport and academia. It was found that the most critical factor to drive resilience is foresight – the ability to anticipate disruptions. Three other resilience factor categories identified were dynamism, certainty and optimisation, which all point to the importance of building dynamic capabilities. The key implication for practice highlights the role that human and artificial intelligence can play in anticipating natural, social and infrastructure disruptions. ISM offered a mechanism to determine the critical causal resilience factors to be prioritised amongst the competing demands on the limited resources of emerging economies. Apart from foresight, which was found to be a driving factor, the other resilience factors are equally strong linkage factors (influence each other), thus further revealing the complexities that decision-makers in urban cities of emerging economies constantly face. A research agenda for resilience in smart mobility in emerging economies was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits the ongoing discussion on the concept of industrial relatedness by applying it to manufacturing industries in urban areas. The analysis uses a sample of firms operating in the Brussels Capital Region area and observed over the period 2009–2015. Based on a two-step quantile regression, results show that industrial relatedness is the agglomeration force that mostly sustains the performance of urban manufacturing, whereas this is not the case for other types of agglomeration externalities. Moreover, among the measures of industrial relatedness, the input–output relationship matters more than product similarity in the perspective of a relocation of manufacturing firms in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most minimum wage studies are identified on small, plentiful, mostly expected wage changes, spread out over time. A recent set of changes have instead been large, rapid, and unexpected, following the "Fight for $15" movement. Alberta is the first North American province, state, or territory to have this $15 minimum wage, with an unexpectedly large increase (47%) occurring over a short time horizon (3 years). The employment effects of this policy are estimated using a synthetic control approach on Labour Force Survey data. Similar to the existing literature, workers moved up the wage distribution, increment by increment, but with a higher distributional reach. Employment losses occurred at similar elasticities, but with large level changes, mostly among younger workers. Newer to the literature, regional employment losses were found in four of the five non-urban economic regions, but not in Alberta's two main cities, showing the significance and nuance of regional heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we understand cities today as commodified spaces which must struggle at the intersection of cultural, ideological and historical tensions. In order to explore and problematise a contested city brand's marketing effort, we engage in multiple rounds of in-situ introspective reflections about a racialised city's place branding material. Based on the two authors' separate analyses of the same marketing material deriving from two separate theoretical starting points, we engage in agonistic conversation about how visible and invisible racialised tensions are represented. We highlight how absences and (in)visibilities can be predominantly understood as either colour-blindness or ideological fantasy. We find, despite our contrasting theoretical orientations, that a city brand is inevitably fractured and ruptured into 'a' non-identity or – to paraphrase Deleuze and Guattari – an empty body. We argue how achieving inclusive branding becomes an oxymoron as narratives surrounding a city are themselves more or less diverse, contested and polarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses differences in life satisfaction along the urban-rural continuum in 111 countries across the globe. It combines survey data with a consistent definition of settlements to maximize international comparability. Once controlled for observed individual characteristics, differences in life satisfaction between people living in cities and in rural areas change with development levels. We found a positive difference at low development levels, which disappears or reverts for high-income countries. Among the factors associated with such differences are city-rural gaps in reported health problems, in physical infrastructure (built-up area), in expectations for future economic conditions, as well as in perceived housing affordability. We also show that life satisfaction varies by city size. Globally, large cities between one and five million inhabitants drive the observed city-premium, with stark heterogeneity across income levels. More specifically, residents in large metropolises over five million inhabitants report the highest and lowest life satisfaction in low- and high- income countries, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is an account of growing up a metalhead in a suburb of a city in south Gujarat and then in Kolkata. The paper situates the author’s experience of growing up in a suburb of a non-metropolitan city in India as a metalhead and eventually moving to metropolitan spaces to access spaces of music consumption. The paper travels across the cities of Surat, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru to narrate the heavy metal scene that was present at the turn of the noughties, from 2006 to 2013. The paper also dwells on the role of the personal computer, pirate consumption, class, geographies of live music, fuzzy contours of ‘western music’, and the peculiarity of heavy metal in Kolkata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarly engagement on Southern Urban Theory offers an opportunity to analyze and deliberate case studies from cities in the South where planning practices provide useful evidence to support alternative approaches. The practice of placemaking presents a promising methodology for democratic planning in the form of a collaborative, process-orientated practice that reimagines public spaces through participatory design and community engagement. By making use of a case study example in South Africa (Cape Town), this paper positions placemaking within the discourse of southern urban theory and critically examines a community-led placemaking initiative and how participatory design processes effectively enhance local public spaces. The research challenged traditional ideologies of power and top-down planning approaches where change and action are initiated by authorities. It concluded that bottom-up initiatives to transform living environments not only capitalize on community buy-in but yield transformative processes possessing more longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation and changes in land use and land cover (LULC) significantly impact Urban Heat Islands (UHI). Despite extensive research on UHI, regional variations demand localised studies. This research assesses the UHI effect in Damascus, Syria, where rapid urbanisation threatens environmental balance. Leveraging Google Earth Engine, Landsat 8, and MODIS data, LULC changes, temperature patterns, NDVI, and NDBI, have been analysed with a focus on the summers of 2013, 2017, and 2022. Results revealed a substantial 12 % increase in urban areas between 2013–2022, accompanied by an 11 % decrease in green spaces. Land surface temperatures (LST) rose from 47.1 °C in 2013 to 48 °C in 2022. NDBI analysis confirmed built-up area expansion, while NDVI indicated dwindling vegetation cover. The pronounced UHI effect (48.7 °C) in industrial and densely populated areas during summer were observed. A strong positive correlation existed between LST and NDBI 90 %, and a moderately negative correlation between LST and NDVI. These findings highlight the adverse impact of urbanisation on Damascus' climate. They underscore the need for urban planning strategies prioritising green space preservation and sustainable development to mitigate the UHI effect and ensure a healthier urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State authorities in Europe invest immense resources in what the EU insists on calling the 'fight against illegal migration'. Based on ethnographic research in two German cities, this paper shows that a tough approach towards illegalised migration can only be implemented through state practices that operate at the margins of, or even cross, the boundaries of what is legally permissible. This argument is developed through an analysis of informal practices that frontline staff in registry offices and migration administrations deploy to prevent, or at least disturb, illegalised migrants' attempts to regularise their status by becoming the parent of child that is entitled to German citizenship. Drawing on the autonomy of migration approach, I use migrants' struggles within and against Germany's migration and citizenship regime as an epistemic device to expose three kinds of informally institutionalised counter-tactics of street-level bureaucrats that qualify as unlawfare. The analysis shows that officials, in their attempts to forestall migrants' practices of self-legalisation, frequently resort to practices that are legally questionable or outright unlawful themselves. Ultimately, not only a tough stance on illegalised migration, but the very production of migrant illegality emerges as contagious as it implicates an illegalisation of state practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Path-dependence lock-ins are intertwined with biowaste valorization development. • Various types of lock-ins can occur at different transition phases and contexts. • Need to balance policy support between mature and radical innovations. • Actor collaboration essential to identify and address path-dependence lock-ins. • Need to address integration of biowaste with other resources and sector-coupling. Achieving sustainable biowaste management is a key challenge for cities worldwide. In this context, biowaste valorization is an indispensable option for managing unavoidable biowaste and reducing the associated methane emissions. Several innovations that enable biowaste valorization are technologically mature. However, their implementation is still limited in most cities around the world. Therefore, it is essential to better understand the different pathways towards implementing biowaste valorization. This paper presents a case-study of two countries at different phases in their transition to biowaste valorization: Sweden as a case at a mature phase and Greece as a case at a formative phase. We apply the Technological Innovation Systems framework to investigate how innovation systems for biowaste valorization develop and associated path-dependencies. Our findings show that various path-dependence lock-ins can occur at different transition phases. Our empirical insights suggest that a focus on the diffusion of certain mature innovations can support the growth of biowaste valorization systems. However, it can also lead to path-dependence lock-ins that influence the systems' resilience to shocks. We thus recommend decision-makers to pursue balance between the rapid diffusion of mature innovations for biowaste valorization and parallel support for experimenting with more radical innovations to harness the systems' resilience to shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A machine learning model was developed to identify PM 2.5 drivers in various cities. • The Tree-structured Parzen Estimator can enhance model predictive performance. • Socioeconomic and industrial activity are key drivers of PM 2.5 concentrations. • Changing trajectories of factors exacerbating or mitigating PM 2.5 were identified. Reducing urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) concentrations is essential for China to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Identifying the key drivers of PM 2.5 will enable the development of targeted strategies to reduce PM 2.5 levels. This study introduces a machine-learning model that combines CatBoost and the Tree-Structured Parzen Estimator (TPE) to analyze PM 2.5 concentration across 297 cities between 2000 and 2021. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were employed to identify the primary factors influencing urban PM 2.5 concentrations. The study revealed that the proposed model has high accuracy in predicting urban PM 2.5 concentrations, achieving a coefficient of determination (R2) score of 96.44%. Socioeconomic and industrial activity are key drivers of PM 2.5 concentrations. This study not only quantifies the primary factors exacerbating or alleviating pollution for each city or province during the 2000–2021 period but also evaluates the influence of operational factors such as technological and public financial expenditures. In 2000, the main contributors to pollution in four heavily polluted cities included substantial nitrogen oxide emissions, inadequate technology investments, and excessive population density and liquefied gas consumption. Due to the rapid reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, pollution levels in these cities have improved substantially. In the future, the most effective strategies for pollution reduction in these cities will focus on controlling population density and slowing down mining development. The proposed framework serves as a robust evaluation tool and can propose tailored strategies to control PM 2.5 concentrations effectively in each city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban waterfront areas, which are essential natural resources and highly perceived public areas in cities, play a crucial role in enhancing urban environment. This study integrates deep learning with human perception data sourced from street view images to study the relationship between visual landscape features and human perception of urban waterfront areas, employing linear regression and random forest models to predict human perception along urban coastal roads. Based on aesthetic and distinctiveness perception, urban coastal roads in Xiamen were classified into four types with different emphasis and priorities for improvement. The results showed that: 1) the degree of coastal openness had the greatest influence on human perception while the coastal landscape with a high green visual index decreases the distinctiveness perception; 2) the random forest model can effectively predict human perception on urban coastal roads with an accuracy rate of 87% and 77%; 3) The proportion of low perception road sections with potential for improvement is 60.6%, among which the proportion of low aesthetic perception and low distinctiveness perception road sections is 10.5%. These findings offer crucial evidence regarding human perception of urban coastal roads, and can provide targeted recommendations for enhancing the visual environment of urban coastal road landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to clean and efficient cooking fuel is crucial for promoting good health, safeguarding the environment, and driving economic growth. Despite efforts to promote the adoption of cleaner alternatives, traditional solid fuels such as charcoal and firewood remain prevalent in Ghana. In this study, we utilized a statistical mechanical model as a framework to explore the statistical relationship between socio-economic factors such as educational attainment, wealth status, place of residence, and cooking fuel choices. We analysed data from the Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey (GMIS) conducted in 2019, involving a total of 2,942 women of reproductive age. The findings revealed that 13.77% of participants preferred using LPG fuels for cooking, while 86.23% preferred non-LPG fuels for their cooking needs. The data indicated that among LPG users, 96.54% are educated women of reproductive age, and 3.46% are non-educated women of reproductive age. Among these, 95.31% are non-poor, and 4.69% are poor. Additionally, 21.73% reside in rural areas, while 78.27% live in urban areas. The data also showed that among non-LPG fuel users, 68.70% are educated women of reproductive age, and 31.30% are non-educated women of reproductive age. Among this group, 16.04% are non-poor, and 83.96% are poor. Furthermore, 67.24% reside in rural areas, and 32.76% live in urban areas. Our findings showed that in the absence of social interaction, a woman's wealth status has a relationship to her choice of fuel for cooking. Additionally, women of reproductive age in rural areas with some education demonstrated a significant private incentive (40.12%) to use LPG, implying a positive correlation between education and the use of LPG for cooking. However, when social interactions are considered, factors such as education, wealth status, and place of residence have significant relationships with a woman's decision about fuel choice. The interaction strength among women of reproductive age in urban areas with some education shows a negative estimate (-4.06%), suggesting that there is no significant imitative effect. The study further suggests that urban women of reproductive age who are poor exert a greater influence on their urban counterparts who are not poor when social interaction is incorporated. Women of reproductive age in rural areas with some form of education exert a greater influence on women of reproductive age in rural areas with no form of education. We recommend that the government of Ghana and its stakeholders focus on leveraging the influence of urban poor women and educated rural women through community-led programs and educational campaigns. Financial support mechanisms like microfinance and subsidies, alongside reliable LPG infrastructure, can make access easier for these target groups. Tailored communication strategies, peer-to-peer learning, and collaboration with local institutions are crucial for spreading awareness and encouraging the adoption of LPG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The warm chain of support is the continuous enabling environment from the mother's first contact with healthcare professionals during early pregnancy, birth and immediate post-partum period, her transition from healthcare facility to home, through to work and the community at large. A breastfeeding-friendly city should be able to support a breastfeeding journey across the warm chain. Objective: To determine breastfeeding women's perspective of an ideal breastfeeding-friendly city. Methods: Between September 2021 and January 2022, twenty-two women who were breastfeeding or had ever breastfed in the last 5 years from Ireland and Malaysia were interviewed. A set of selection criteria was applied to ensure representation of a range of the characteristics known to be associated with breastfeeding success: diverse age groups, birth and breastfeeding experiences, culture and socioeconomical background. One-on-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted by the first author. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis framework. Results: One overarching theme of breastfeeding at the front and centre of the city, and three major themes were developed: 1. mothers feel supported when breastfeeding is prioritised; 2. when breastfeeding is visible in the environment, it becomes normalized; 3. there is a need to have seamless breastfeeding support across the continuum of the warm chain, and at all levels of society. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated the importance of prioritized, and continuous support throughout the breastfeeding journey. The hopes and aspirations of a breastfeeding-friendly city expressed here would be useful for cities to consider when developing or implementing breastfeeding support programmes as well as guide development of indicators of a breastfeeding-friendly city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Limited or shared sanitation services are considered improved sanitation facilities, but they are shared between two or more households. Globally, 600 million people use shared toilet facilities. Although shared facilities are not classified as improved sanitation due to potential infection risks, inaccessibility, and safety concerns, this is a significant issue in developing countries like Ethiopia. Evidence on the distribution of shared sanitation services and their determinants in Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the extent of shared toilet facilities and their determinants among households in Ethiopia. Methods: The 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) served as the basis for the cross-sectional secondary data analysis. The analysis included a total of 7,770 households from the weighted sample. STATA 14 software was used to clean, weigh, and analyze the data. To explore the distribution and determine the factors associated with shared toilet facilities in Ethiopia, both spatial and mixed-effect analyses were utilized. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to display the relationships between the dependent and independent variables, employing adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The magnitude of improved shared sanitation facilities among households in Ethiopia, according to the EDHS 2019, was 10.5% (95% CI: 9.88, 11.24). The prevalence was highest in Addis Ababa at 70.2% and lowest in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region at 2.4%. Individual-level variables significantly associated with the use of improved shared toilet facilities included being a household head aged 55 years or older [AOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.71], having secondary education or higher [AOR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.80, 3.28], and belonging to middle or rich wealth status [middle: AOR = 2.32; 95% CI: 1.35, 3.96; rich: AOR = 6.23; 95% CI: 3.84, 10.11]. Community-level characteristics such as residing in urban areas [AOR = 7.60; 95% CI: 3.47, 16.67], the metropolitan region [AOR = 25.83; 95% CI: 10.1, 66.3], and periphery regions [AOR = 5.01; 95% CI: 2.40, 10.48] were also associated with the use of shared toilet facilities. Conclusion: The usage of improved shared toilet facilities among households in Ethiopia is relatively low. Significant factors related to the use of shared toilet facilities were being 55 years of age or older, possessing secondary or higher education, having a middle or rich wealth status, living in urban areas, and residing in metropolitan or peripheral regions. To improve access to and utilization of shared sanitation facilities, Ethiopian policy should emphasize user education and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of leisure satisfaction as a potential moderator in the relationship between work-life conflict and life satisfaction. Data were drawn from a survey of a stratified random sample of residents living in urban areas of a southwestern region of Ontario, Canada, during the fall of 2022, and focused just on individuals who worked for pay (n = 2,473). After controlling for selected demographic factors, results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that leisure satisfaction significantly mitigates the negative influence of the conflicts between work and personal life on life satisfaction. The findings advance our understanding of the perceived benefits of leisure in the theoretical framework concerning work-life interference and overall wellbeing. Implications and future study directions are discussed accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of pilot Free Trade Zones (FTZs) on technology innovation in China. Applying a multi-phase difference in difference (DID) model with the data from 280 Chinese cities during 2004 – 2019, covering 18 pilot FTZs, we found significant positive technology innovation effects of pilot FTZs. Specifically, the establishment of pilot FTZs has encouraged 'substantive innovation' through improving business environment, producer services agglomeration and financial development. Further spatial analysis shows that the innovation effect of the pilot FTZs has a positive spillover effect on neighbouring cities whose innovation capabilities are improved significantly, and thus narrows the innovation gap between cities. In terms of time dimension, the positive effect of pilot FTZs on innovation is immediate and continuously amplified. The above conclusions are robust using the placebo test, PSM-DID and control of provincial effects. The results provide important implications in extending the pilot FTZs to a wider coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heatwaves are commonly simplified as binary variables in epidemiological studies, limiting the understanding of heatwave-mortality associations. Here we conduct a multi-country study across 28 East Asian cities that employed the Cumulative Excess Heatwave Index (CEHWI), which represents excess heat accumulation during heatwaves, to explore the potentially nonlinear associations of daytime-only, nighttime-only, and day-night compound heatwaves with mortality from 1981 to 2010. Populations exhibited high adaptability to daytime-only and nighttime-only heatwaves, with non-accidental mortality risks increasing only at higher CEHWI levels (75th–90th percentiles). In contrast, compound heatwaves posed a super-linear increase in mortality risks after the 25th percentile of CEHWI. Associations of heatwaves with cardiovascular mortality mirrored those with non-accidental mortality but were more pronounced at higher CEHWI levels, while significant associations with respiratory mortality emerged at low-to-moderate CEHWI levels. These results highlight the necessity of considering the nonlinear health responses to heatwaves of different types in disease burden assessments and heatwave-health warning systems amid climate change. The authors use data from 28 East Asian cities to explore the shape of curves for associations between heatwaves and mortality. Compound heatwaves showed nearly linear mortality risks, while daytime and nighttime heatwaves displayed nonlinear risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the backdrop of "dual-carbon" strategic objectives, understanding the influence of the digital economy (DE) on carbon emissions (CEs) is imperative. However, there is limited research on the DE's negative impact on CEs and the nonlinear relationship between the DE and CE. To address this gap, we collected data from 270 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021 and used benchmark regression, mediated effects, and panel threshold models to explore the DE's impact on CEs. The results showed that DE had a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped effect on CEs, with CEs initially increasing and then being suppressed. This conclusion remained consistent even after a series of robustness tests. Overall, the rate of urbanization and breadth of digital financial coverage mediate the relationship between the DE and CEs. Additionally, the combined effects of economic development, environmental regulation, fiscal decentralization, and population size contribute to the DE's nonlinear impact on CEs. The impact of the DE on CEs varies among nonresource-based, resource-based, and resource-depleted cities and between urban and nonurban agglomerations. This paper's findings support the development of the DE and the formulation of CE reduction policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color, an intuitive element affecting human senses, can adapt to the environment of a space, evoke emotional responses, trigger and accumulate visual experiences, and enhance the effectiveness of color in shaping spatial atmosphere and reinforcing spatial divisions. In the context of rapid urban underground space development, examining the rational application of color in underground parking spaces is crucial for improving guidance, comfort, and aesthetics. This exploration is essential for achieving high-quality development in urban underground parking environments. Based on color psychology and using typical cities in China as case studies, this paper develops a color analytical framework for urban underground parking spaces through the process of "color field investigation—analysis of color influencing factors—color system construction—color application and control" and proposes a detailed chromatographic scheme. Within this framework, color field investigation serves as the foundation for determining color usage. Key influencing factors for color selection include color elements and their relationships, the type of underground parking space, and public color perception demands. The color system has been constructed including safe colors, prohibited colors, and theme colors, which has been further divided into basic, auxiliary, and accent colors. This study provides a replicable and practical theoretical and applied framework for urban underground space management and urban color planning. The framework facilitates the establishment of a standardized color system and chromatographic scheme that aligns with urban aesthetics and public psychology, thereby improving development quality and supporting the high-quality development of urban underground spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID-19 has extended beyond the health toll it has taken on populations. The global economy has experienced significant downturns, with unemployment rates reaching unprecedented highs for this century. Nonetheless, the agricultural sector has been uniquely affected by the pandemic, particularly given its crucial role in food supply. This study sought to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural employment in Brazilian municipalities. To achieve this, we employed a dataset spanning the period before and during the pandemic (2018–2021). Spatial econometrics was utilized to identify potential spatial factors linked to this occurrence. Notably, the findings reveal that the transfer policies implemented by the Brazilian Federal Government have had a positive impact on agricultural employment in Brazilian municipalities, challenging the common assumption that such measures might discourage job-seeking efforts. Moreover, the results suggest that the agricultural sector has managed to absorb individuals displaced from other sectors of the economy, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of economic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium resonates with contemporary environmental debates, highlighting the balance between technology and ecology, especially within Elven societies. Using Rosi Braidotti's sense of posthumanism, this paper analyses the technologic natures of the three Elven communities in Middle-earth: the Sindar, Nandor, and Noldor. Contrary to prevailing ecocritical beliefs that Elves depict a simplistic relationship with nature, this research posits that their profound bond stems from advanced technology, understood as either craftmanship or magic, promoting symbiotic Earth interactions in line with techno-optimistic yet symbiotic views of environmentalism. Challenging the idea that all Elven communities share a uniform relationship with Arda, the study also emphasises distinctions in their technological and environmental alignments within Tolkien's earlier works, especially The Silmarillion. Drawing on Chinese philosopher Yuk Hui's concept of “cosmotechnics”, the paper suggests the Sindar and Nandor adopt an eco-centric posthumanist approach, creating cities synergized with controlled forests, while the Noldor prioritise a harmonious relationship between innovative technology and nature. The study culminates by analysing the convergence of these varied cosmotechnics in Caras Galadhon, Lothlórien's capital. This research provides a fresh perspective on Tolkien's portrayal of technology and ecology, emphasising the intricate and multifaceted nature of his Elven societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to meal-sharing apps, tourists can experience meals in the homes of local people in the cities they visit. In addition, it is also seen that they participate in various cooking workshops in the homes of local people or visit local markets with them and buy food and beverages. Therefore, meal sharing is also an important gastronomy experience. The aim is to examine the mediating effect of trust in meal-sharing applications on individuals’ intention to experience local meals within the scope of the theory of planned behavior by focusing on the local meal experience offered in sharing economic practices. Questionnaires were collected from 397 Turkish participants. It was found that the participants mostly used sharing economy applications for accommodation (Airbnb) and transportation (Uber), but some participants used meal-sharing applications, albeit on different platforms. The study found that attitudes toward digital meal-sharing platforms and subjective norms are the strongest factors in the intention to taste local meals. It is concluded that the trust factor has a partial mediating role in the relationship between intention, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of migrant networks on the occupational earnings of Swedish male immigrants in the United States from 1900 to 1920. Using data from full-count U.S. censuses, we construct various measurements of migrant networks based on the share of Swedish, other Scandinavian, and other foreign-born individuals at both the county and neighborhood levels. To define the neighborhood levels, we exploit the fact that the historical U.S censuses typically enumerated next-door neighbors following each other in census forms. The findings reveal a nuanced relationship between migrant networks and economic outcomes. Specifically, residing in counties with a high concentration of Swedish or other Scandinavian immigrants is linked to lower occupational earnings, consistent with prior research. In contrast, living in neighborhoods with a substantial presence of Swedish or other Scandinavian-born individuals is associated with higher occupational earnings. Importantly, these effects are entirely driven by urban areas, where migrant networks appear to facilitate better economic opportunities. In rural areas, no significant network effects are observed. These findings highlight the importance of considering spatial dimensions and varying levels of social proximity when studying migrant networks. By broadening the definition of these networks, this paper offers a deeper understanding of their role in shaping the economic assimilation of immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid population growth around the world has become one of the main challenges for countries to ensure adequate food supply. To address this difficulty and ensure adequate food production, sustainable land use, in particular sustainable cultivated land (CL) use, can make a great contribution. Sustainable utilization of CL encompasses several aspects such as quantity and quality, but previous studies have focused on increasing food production, while the interrelationships among cultivated land quantity, quality, and grain yield (CLQQGY) have still received less attention. Hence, based on the GlobeLand30 data during 2000–2020, this paper analyzed the changes of CLQQGY in 130 prefecture-level cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) in China and explored whether the current consecutive harvests is sustainable in the future to feed increasing population. The results revealed the areal loss and quality degradation of CL in most cities in the YREB, the total CL area decreased by 31.07 × 104 hm2 and 282.59 × 104 hm2 during 2000–2010 and 2010–2020, respectively, and the CL quality declining trend was presented in 68.46% and 69.23% cities in the YREB during 2000–2010 and 2010–2020, respectively. Even with such acreage and ecological losses, the total grain yield still increased by 3.77% and 9.53% during 2000–2010 and 2010–2020, respectively, continuing the miracle "continuous harvests" of grain yield in this region. This successive increase in food production in the context of decreasing acreage and ecological deterioration of CL depend mainly on the amount of chemical fertilizer usage, the total power of agricultural machinery and rural electricity consumption. However, due to the heavy reliance on a growth model driven by resource inputs, this type of harvest appeared to be unsustainable because of the significant negative effects brought out by overusing resources. With a view to achieving sustainable use of CL and food production, therefore, this paper proposed policies to promote the sustainable use of CL and food supply for supporting the survival of increasing population through the full implementation of administrative regulations and economic measures that focus on the balance among the quantity and quality and food production of CL in the process of agricultural production and CL management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities exhibit diverse urban metabolism patterns in terms of the natural environment, industrial composition, energy, and material consumption. A chronicled city-level quantification of emergy metabolic flows over time can significantly enhance the understanding of the temporal dynamics and urban metabolism patterns, which provides critical insights for the transitions to sustainability. However, there exists no city-level urban emergy metabolism dataset in China that can support detailed spatial-temporal analysis. In this study, we present a city-level urban emergy metabolism dataset of China's 281 cities between 2000 and 2020. This dataset meticulously describes the production and import of 41 resource types that sustain metabolic activities in 281 Chinese cities over a span of 21 years. This database, for the first time, provides insights into the historical metabolic changes of China's cities by detailing emergy flows including production, consumption, and import of resources. Furthermore, these emergy flow inventories serve as valuable resources for studying urban metabolic characteristics, evaluating policy impacts, and formulating sustainable development strategies for China's cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pivotal element in China's pursuit of a sustainable development model, green fiscal policies have become increasingly important amid the exacerbation of global climate conditions. Regrettably, little attention has been paid to comprehending the carbon allocation effects of the implementation of these policies. This study focuses on the "National Comprehensive Demonstration City of Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Fiscal Policy" (ESER policy) as the focal point of analysis. Using a multi-period difference-in-differences model, we assessed the implications of ESER policies on carbon inequality. This study further explored asymmetry, mechanism effects, and heterogeneity. Our empirical findings demonstrate that the ESER policy directly reduced carbon inequality by 11.4% in the demonstration cities. This conclusion withstood rigorous testing, including parallel trend assessments, robustness analyses, and endogeneity diagnostics. Moreover, the ameliorative implications of the ESER policy on carbon inequality in demonstration cities are predominantly realized by facilitating cleaner production technological innovation, end-of-pipe treatment technological innovation, industrial structure rationalization, and industrial structure optimization. Furthermore, the ameliorative implications of the ESER policy on carbon inequality were conspicuous in the upper quantiles. Finally, the urban magnitude, geographical location, resource endowment, and innovation foundation of a demonstration city exert diverse influences on policy implementation. These empirical results provide valuable guidance for the Chinese government in formulating climate policies with a focus on carbon equity considerations. Highlights: ♦Evaluating the impact of the ESER policy on urban carbon inequality in China. ♦ The ESER policy significantly reduced carbon inequality levels in pilot cities by 11.4%. ♦ The ESER policy reduces carbon inequality through industrial structure and green technological effects. ♦ The mitigating effects are significant at the higher quantiles. ♦ The impact of the ESER policy on carbon inequality is obviously heterogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban social media mining is the process of discovering urban patterns from spatio‐temporal social media datasets. Urban social clusters are the clusters formed by the social media posts of users living in cities at a certain time and place. Discovering and identifying urban social clusters is of great importance for urban and regional planning, target audience identification, a better understanding of city dynamics and so forth. Discovering and ranking urban social clusters out of streaming social media datasets require efficient filtering approaches and mining algorithms. In the literature, there are several studies performed that address the discovery of the importance of urban clusters. Most of these studies take into account the spatial expansions over time and the changes in the numbers of elements within clusters when identifying the significance of urban clusters. However, in contrast to these studies, we have also considered cluster temporal formation stability, spatial density variation, and the impact of meta‐information on urban social clusters. In this study, Temporal, Spatial, and Meta Important Urban Social Clusters Miner (TSMIUSC‐Miner) algorithm is proposed. In the proposed algorithm, urban social clusters are discovered, and their importance relative to each other are compared and ranked. The temporal, spatial and meta importance scores of the clusters are calculated and then, the clusters that satisfy predefined score thresholds are discovered. The performance of the proposed TSMIUSC‐Miner algorithm compared with that of a naive approach using real‐life streaming Twitter/X dataset. The results showed that the proposed TSMIUSC‐Miner algorithm outperforms the naive approach in terms of execution time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Looking for Kevin: A Rereading of Rosaleen O’Toole’s Journey in Katherine Anne Porter’s “The Cracked Looking-Glass” by Christine Grogan explores the intricate novella-length portrait of a first-generation Irish couple, the O’Tooles, in Porter's work. The story delves into themes of human frailty, morality, and disillusionment, focusing on Rosaleen's journey and her longing for a former boarder named Kevin. Through a detailed analysis of Rosaleen's inner thoughts and actions, the article highlights the complexities of relationships, fantasies, and the search for love in the context of Porter's storytelling. The narrative offers a nuanced exploration of age gap relationships, unfulfilled desires, and the impact of past loves on present relationships." [Extracted from the article]

Abstract\nPLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYIn the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, American officials challenged systemic corruption in cities across the country. In some cases, their victories came with substantial costs. Using original archival research of city sanitation services in St. Louis, Missouri and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we show how corruption provided these cities with the capacity to collect and dispose of trash. When reforms sought to rid the city government of corruption, they also threatened to limit or eliminate its ability to collect and dispose of trash. While St. Louis’ efforts to displace the corrupt contractor also eliminated the capacity to provide these basic city services, Pittsburgh’s new government took less drastic measures and continued to contract out to the same business the previous administration had employed, retaining capacity. Together, our cases show that cities attempting reforms faced a tradeoff between corruption and capacity. Our findings suggest that contemporary researchers account for the capacity that corruption may offer and analyze whether cities will have capacity to provide services if corruption is reduced or eliminated and, additionally, that contemporary policymakers find alternative sources of capacity before anti-corruption measures.In the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, municipal actors challenged corruption in American cities. Although it may seem obvious that eliminating corruption would benefit cities, we show how, in some cases, it also eliminated or reduced the city’s ability to address public problems. Drawing on municipal government documents about city sanitation services in St. Louis, Missouri and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we show that corruption provided these two cities with the capacity—or ability—to collect and dispose of trash. Reforms to rid the city government of corruption, then, also threatened to limit or eliminate its ability to collect and dispose of trash. In St. Louis, ridding the city of the corrupt contractor eliminated the city’s ability to dispose of trash. In Pittsburgh, the city took more limited measures to distance—but not eliminate—the corrupt contractor, and it retained the ability to dispose of trash for decades. In short, we show a tradeoff between corruption and capacity. Our findings suggest: (1) contemporary researchers account for the capacity that corruption may offer and analyze whether cities will have capacity to provide services if corruption is reduced or eliminated; and (2) contemporary policymakers find alternative sources of capacity before anti-corruption measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression has a growing trend in the population worldwide. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression among individuals residing in rural (Ban Luang district, Nan Province) and urban (Lak Si, Bangkok) areas of Thailand. Understanding the differences in depression between these two settings can provide insights for specific targeted interventions and mental health policies. Methods: The multistage stratified random sampling was applied to select the study participants. We recruited participants from rural and urban communities in Thailand using a structured survey questionnaire through either face-to-face interviews or in paper or electronic form. We collected data on depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) tool and sociodemographic characteristics and conducted descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 867 survey participants, 420 were from rural areas (Nan) and 447 were from urban areas (Bangkok). Participants' mean age was 55.9±9.5 years in rural areas and 56.0±12.0 years in urban areas. Most participants in urban areas were women, married, and had lower education levels (71.1%, 50.3%, 58.8%, respectively). The overall prevalence of depression across both settings was 18.6%. We found a higher prevalence of depression in the urban (31.8%) than the rural (4.5%) setting. In multiple logistic regression analysis, urban residence was significantly associated with higher rates of depression compared with rural residence (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 9.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.08–17.52). Nuclear family and using social media were associated with lower levels of depression in urban areas (AOR 0.50 and 0.43, 95% CI 0.27–0.93 and 0.22–0.84, respectively). Higher education level was significantly associated with higher levels of depression in rural areas (AOR 3.84, 95% CI 1.19–12.42). Conclusion: This study emphasized the difference in depression and related factors between rural and urban areas of Thailand, highlighting a greater prevalence in urban areas. To help prevent depression, it is important to address specific challenges in each setting, such as those faced by highly educated individuals living in rural areas with high depression rates, exploring social media use patterns in urban populations, and understanding dynamics of the nuclear family. Our findings can inform the development of public health policies aimed at effectively mitigating the burden of depression and improving overall mental well-being in specific settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper aims at shedding light on the plausible motivations for misclassification of a public accounting report. This issue has not been studied by scholars as much as misreporting. We will analyze misclassification errors which occurred in Italy from 2008 to 2010. In 2008, the municipal tax on main houses (Imposta comunale sugli immobili, ICI) was substituted with an intergovernmental grant of an equal amount. About 38% of municipalities did not register the compensatory grants in the correct budget line. Our analysis suggests that misclassification errors respond to a willingness to reduce external stakeholders' pressure on local governments decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Mosquito‐borne diseases affect millions and cause numerous deaths annually. Effective vector control, which hinges on understanding their dispersal, is vital for reducing infection rates. Given the variability in study results, likely due to environmental and human factors, gathering local dispersal data is critical for targeted disease control. To analyse the spread and differentiation of Aedes aegypti in southern Taiwan, we established a dengue vector monitoring network in Southern Taiwan's cities. This network employed GPS‐equipped ovitraps to gather eggs that were subsequently hatched in the laboratory and genotyped using genome‐wide SNP markers. From 168 individuals, we identified 757,238 SNPs for detailed analysis. The estimated effective dispersal distance was 154 m (95% CI: 126–180 m), consistent with prior mark‐release‐recapture (MRR) estimates. We discovered that geographic isolation significantly influences genetic differentiation at larger scales, such as between cities, whereas its correlation with genetic distances is considerably weaker at smaller scales, like within cities. This is likely due to the urban landscape in Taiwan, characterised by narrow roads and densely packed buildings, which facilitates extensive dispersal of Ae. aegypti. In evaluating potential barriers to Ae. aegypti dispersal, we found that roads had no significant impact, whereas administrative districts accounted for 4.8% of the population differentiation (p < 10−4). Surprisingly, this variation aligns with the effects of district‐specific mosquito control measures implemented at the municipal level. These findings highlight the complex interplay between urban landscapes, administrative measures and Ae. aegypti dispersal, emphasising the need for implementing targeted control strategies that consider these local dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 3 Maccabees, the timely prayers of two priests, Simon and Eleazar, save the people and their various holy spaces. However, one related ritual element that is often overlooked is the socially disruptive mourning rites of vulnerable women. These performances immediately precede both highly efficacious prayers and accompany the arrests of those Jewish people who resisted Ptolemy’s decree. The cities, their various urban social functions, childcare, and marital rituals are all disrupted in a hyperbolic description of the disorder caused by Ptolemy’s wanton attacks on explicitly Jewish spaces. In all three cases, the texts present a highly stylized description of mourning performed in ways that disrupt and subvert the spatial expectations of the urban environs of the narrative’s setting. This disorder is best understood as a ritual focusing that leads to the dramatic prayers of the two priests that counteract Ptolemy’s spatial trespasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study primarily focuses on generating mobility flow in regions and cities, which plays an important role in urban planning and management. The majority of existing mobility flow models, including conventional statistical models and deep learning‐based models, are heavily dependent on historical data to predict future mobility flows. The application of these models poses significant challenges in the planning and construction of emerging cities and regions, particularly in developing countries experiencing swift urbanization. These challenges are exacerbated by a dearth of historical data and rapid shifts in mobility patterns. Consequently, the scenario necessitates a mobility flow generation model capable of generating flows without historical data. This study introduces the universal geography neural network, an algorithm designed to glean potential patterns in human mobility across diverse cities and temporal spans. This is achieved through the analysis of substantial quantities of location‐based data, resulting in the generation of mobility flows within a city. Our experiment, designed to extract various features and generate fine‐grained mobility flows in the testing set, outperforms both traditional models and state‐of‐the‐art deep learning models. Moreover, our model has proven capable of generating reliable results across various time periods and grid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]