Weak influence of natural vegetation in urban green spaces compared to agricultural ecosystems on House Martin populations:Insights from nationwide citizen science data in the Czech Republic

The House Martin(Delichon urbicum)is a common farmland bird species in the European landscape,yet its population numbers are currently in decline.However,it is not yet sufficiently explained why this long-term decline occurs.To fill this gap in our knowledge,we investigated how land cover composition affects the abundance of House Martins on the landscape scale by using nationwide citizen science data.Utilizing a generalised linear mixed-effect model(GLMM),we evaluated 12,094 records from the Czech Republic spanning 2009-2017.Our analysis underscores the significance of land cover type in shaping House Martin abundance.More specifically,our results indicate that within agricultural land covers“naturally managed arable lands”exhibited significant positive effect,while forests,orchards,and vineyards were deemed less favourable for House Martin populations.Within urban land covers,we found a clear distinction in the impact on House Martin populations,with a positive effect observed in urban infrastructure,development areas,and post-industrial sites(i.e.,UrbanAreas),while an indifferent impact was noted within urban green spaces and landscaped areas(i.e.,GreenUrban).Notably,our findings suggest that the simple spatial,age,and species structure typical of forests in Europe,and similarly,the uniform structure of parks and gardens,may be responsible for the decline in the abundance of the House Martin.We advocate for the preservation or enhancement of urban greenery,expansion of natural vegetation in rural areas and adoption of ecological management practices in orchards and vineyards to mitigate further declines in House Martin populations.

Critical Success Factors for Citizen Development

The purpose of the research was to assess the impact of Citizen Development activities on digital transformation. The research identified eight categories that contribute to the success of Low-code No-code (LCNC) projects: 1) Strategy;2) Infrastructure;3) Technology;4) Processes & Procedures;5) Governance;6) Culture;7) People;8) Goals & Metrics and selected six critical success factors from these categories: 1) Operational Efficiency;2) Time Savings;3) Timeframe to Realize Value;4) Employee Engagement;5) Participation;6) Number of Sponsored Ideas. End users of the digital transformation efforts through Citizen Development were asked to assess the six critical success measures in terms of performance and importance criteria. The research results identified that focus should be applied to improving “Timeframe to Realize Value”, on “Operational Efficiency”, and on “Time Savings” to deliver success.

Analysis of Citizen Participation in Urban Planning of Comala,Colima,Mexico-A Secondary Publication

The objective of this study was to determine the degree of citizen participation in urban planning processes in the municipality of Comala,Colima,Mexico to have a broader vision of the citizens and the environment in which they live.An instrument was designed specifically to perform this study and the instrument was validated by calculating Cronbach’s Alpha.The results showed that citizens were highly involved in issues concerning their urban environment,and the main problems of the public spaces were also identified.

Diversity of Macro Invertebrates of the River Rwizi in Western Uganda: A Citizen Science-BioBlitz Approach

This study elucidates the pivotal role of citizen science-BioBlitz methodologies for rapid assessment of the macro-invertebrate taxa within the threatened River Rwizi of South-western Uganda. Utilizing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, the investigation focused on six distinct river segments to demonstrate the efficacy of participatory citizen science-BioBlitz approaches conducted by experts, students and community volunteers. BioBlitz events included rigorous macro-invertebrate sampling at each of the selected sites along River Rwizi on nine occasions, incorporating collaborative taxonomic identification procedures involving experts, students, and the local community. Analyzing pollution concerns, diversity metrics, and community narratives yielded insights into river health and socio-ecological dynamics. A total of 43 macro-invertebrate families across 17 orders were documented with class Insecta dominating. Participants in BioBlitz events expressed predominantly positive sentiments, emphasizing satisfaction, education, and heightened awareness, besides negative sentiments rooted in historical mistrust. Intriguingly, the study unveiled an unforeseen trend in macro-invertebrate taxa richness, rising from upstream to urban sprawl and diminishing at peri-urban downstream sites. The study underscores the potential of citizen science-BioBlitz methodologies in advancing community science education and unraveling the intricate dynamics of threatened river ecosystems. The insights offered are invaluable for policymakers and conservationists seeking effective strategies to address challenges in the River Rwizi and comparable ecosystems. .

How Do People Understand Urban Air Pollution? Exploring Citizens’ Perception on Air Quality, Its Causes and Impacts in Colombian Cities

Similarly to other Latin American countries, urban air quality is a major concern in Colombia. The purpose of the present study was to explore citizens’ perception on local air pollution, its causes and impacts. A questionnaire was individually applied to a sample of 994 participants. Relationships between demographic features and the perception on air quality were analyzed using a logistic regression, its odds ratio (OR), and a Chi-square test. Eighty percent of the respondents perceive their local air quality as either bad or fair, 65% recognize particulate matter as the main local air pollutant, and 90% recognize negative impacts on people’s health as the main consequence of air pollution. In contrast to other studies where age and economic status are variables highly related with public perception on the level of atmospheric pollution, in this study only the size of the cities has a statistically significant relationship with the perception on local air quality regarding the level of pollution(OR ≥ 1, confidence intervals > 1 and p-values < 0.05). While area sources such as mining and infrastructure construction are identified as the main sources of pollutant emissions in small towns (less than 50,000 inhabitants), in big cities, road traffic is identified as the main source contributor to atmospheric pollution. Opposite to data from official reports, and regardless of the size of the city, households are perceived as the place with greatest contribution to personal air pollution exposure. Results show that citizens are aware of the state of air quality and its health impact is a major concern. Such findings suggest people’s opinions can be used as provisional indicators in cities without data, as well as to monitor the results of local air quality management. As a complementary process, or at the same level of importance given to technical-based policy, citizen participation can contribute to a collective construction of urban air pollution control strategies.

Developing a nomogram for predicting the depression of senior citizens living alone while focusing on perceived social support

BACKGROUND Although the number of senior citizens living alone is increasing,only a few studies have identified factors related to the depression characteristics of senior citizens living alone by using epidemiological survey data that can represent a population group.AIM To evaluate prediction performance by building models for predicting the depression of senior citizens living alone that included subjective social isolation and perceived social support as well as personal characteristics such as age and drinking.METHODS This study analyzed 1558 senior citizens(695 males and 863 females)who were 60 years or older and completed an epidemiological survey representing the South Korean population.Depression,an outcome variable,was measured using the short form of the Korean version CES-D(short form of CES-D).RESULTS The prevalence of depression among the senior citizens living alone was 7.7%.The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the experience of suicidal urge over the past year,subjective satisfaction with help from neighbors,subjective loneliness,age,and self-esteem were significantly related to the depression of senior citizens living alone(P<0.05).The results of 10-fold cross validation showed that the area under the curve of the nomogram was 0.96,and the F1 score of it was 0.97.CONCLUSION It is necessary to strengthen the social network of senior citizens living alone with friends and neighbors based on the results of this study to protect them from depression.

Relations between Environmental Right for Citizens and the Right to Use Environmental Resources owned by Company and Enterprise

From angles of administrative law and private law, the article analyzes relations between environmental right for citizens and the right to use environmental resources owned by company and enterprise and points out three principles to balancing two relations: A principle of equal protection, a principle that general interest is superior to special interest as well as taking an account for special interest, in specific circumstances, for example, in the circumstance that clashes between environmental and economic interests can not be avoided, policy makers can put an emphasis on more important social interest according after considering weight of each interest. Finally, the article reaches a conclusion that China should establish system of environmental right for citizens from legislative and administrative levels so that a harmonious society can be constructed with guarantee.

Citizens and Air Quality: The Results of the First Survey Carried Out in the Po River Basin (Northern Italy)

The air quality survey investigated the level of perception and awareness of citizens on the air quality in the 42 cities (provincial capitals) of the Po basin in the north west of Italy. This study means that perceptions could then be compared between in the Po basin and other parts of Italy and Europe. This research was carried out as part of the Life15 IPE IT 013 PREPAIR Project (Po Regions Engaged to Policies of Air), which involves 18 national and international partners, and includes all the regions of the Po Basin. The survey involved around 7331 citizens that live in the Po basin that includes 42 cities (provincial capitals) and a total of 6.5 million inhabitants. A multivariate analysis was applied to identify the main citizens’ profiles concerning the topic of air quality and the availability to implement virtuous behaviours to reduce air pollution. Four different profiles emerge from the cluster analysis: “Committed and proactive”, “Willing but …”, “Hesitant”, “Not willing”.

Fostering Global Citizens Through Study Abroad―A Case Study

In today’s increasingly globalized world,study abroad programs are receiving unprecedented attention as a significant part of international education.The mission of Soka University of America(SUA)is in line with the trend of producing U.S.graduates in higher education who demonstrate intercultural and international competence.SUA has joined the academic world in this growing area of interest and requires all its students to study abroad.Learning from other institutions and exploring its own path,SUA has developed a comprehensive study abroad program that seamlessly integrated in the liberal arts curricular of the university,which positively affected foreign language learning,improved students’abilities to function as global citizens,and opened various opportunities worldwide for the students.To insure students’study abroad experiences fruitful,the following aspects need to be considered:1.systematic institutional support;2.designated staff to work on study abroad affairs;3.advising students about the courses to take while abroad;4.students need support from the entire home institution;and 5.connect study abroad with a given institution’s broader goals.

Chinese Citizens Should Change from Savers to Consumers

Editorial note Consumer demand is the driving force of economy.Since 1978,China has witnessed a massive rise in consumption and expansion of consumption mix.However,insufficient consumption has remained a primary constraint to economic growth.As such,domestic demand expansion and in particular demand-inducing strategy are high on the agenda of the Eleventh"Five- year Plan"(2006～2010).This article written by Dr.Chen Wenling offers a complete insight into the development,tendencies and deep-seated problems of consumer demand in China.

An Empirical Study on Hainan Citizens'Participation in Urban Community Governance under the Background of Free Trade Port Construction

Hainan is in the period of high-speed development and transformation of government management.To build a free trade port with Chinese characteristics requires a modern social governance system that confirms to the trend of the times,and community governance is important part of whole social governance system.Citizens'cooperative participation in grass-roots community governance has the functions of creating a good living environment,reducing social conflicts,improving residents'sense of well-being and attracting all kinds of talents.Based on the perspective of multi cooperative social governance,this paper empirically investigates the current situation of Hainan urban resident's participation in community governance,explores the reasons for the lack of citizen participation in community governance,and puts forward suggestions for improving citizen participation in community governance.

On the Characteristics of Hannah Arendt＇s View of Citizenship

Hannah Arendt is one of the most outstanding contemporary political thinkers in the world. As for the characteristics of Hannah Arendt's view of citizenship,there are four——being action-oriented,spatiality,being political and being ideal. Being action-oriented means that citizens actively participate in politics; spatiality means that citizens need space,i. e.,public domain,where citizens take actions; being political means that citizens are the subject of politics,and the value of politics is to safeguard the freedom of citizens; being ideal means that Hannah Arendt's view of citizenship is universal. The active participation advocated by Hannah Arendt has important implication on the democracy construction at the grassroots level of cities in China.

On the Whole-Process People’s Democracy and the Construction of Citizens’ Cultural Quality

The Whole-Process People’s Democracy has become an important proposition of the socialist modernization democratic theory with Chinese characteristics,and has important value for the development of the new form of human civilization.The Whole-Process People’s Democracy is not only a“democracy”system,its focus is to achieve“people’s democracy”,its unique feature is to surpass“non process”democracy with the“Whole-Process”,and create a new governance path of a new form of human civilization.Of course,the emphasis of people’s democracy on the consciousness of people’s subjective participation in the whole process also puts forward corresponding requirements for the cultural quality construction of Chinese social citizens in the new era,so it is also of great significance to pay attention to the cultivation of citizens’public spirit.

Status of and Suggestions for Senior Citizens＇ Participation in Ethnic Tourism： A Case Study of Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan

The participation of ethnic minority communities in the development of local tourism is usual y based on the family unit. Senior citizens can not only provide labor services within their reach, but inherit and defend local culture and landscape, playing an important social role. Their living conditions are tied to the rest of the family, and affect the sustainability of the entire community. Through field visits to ethnic minority communities in Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, authors of the paper summarized the status and problems of elderly people's participation in tourism development, and put forward specific suggestions.

Book on Citizens' Legal Rights Published

A book on the legal rights of citizens has been published by the China Procuratorate Publishing House.

How China Protects Citizens' Right to Education——An interview with Chen Xiaoya, Vice-Minister of Education

EDITOR＇S NOTE： Here is an interview conducted of late by our staff reporter with Chen Xiaoya, Vice-Minister of Education, on how China protects the right of citizens to education through reform.

Data reliability of the emerging citizen science in the Greater Bay Area of China

The potential of citizen science projects in research has been increasingly acknowledged,but the substantial engagement of these projects is restricted by the quality of citizen science data.Based on the largest emerging citizen science project in the country-Birdreport Online Database(BOD),we examined the biases of birdwatching data from the Greater Bay Area of China.The results show that the sampling effort is disparate among land cover types due to contributors’ preference towards urban and suburban areas,indicating the environment suitable for species existence could be underrepresented in the BOD data.We tested the contributors’ skill of species identification via a questionnaire targeting the citizen birders in the Greater Bay Area.The questionnaire show that most citizen birdwatchers could correctly identify the common species widely distributed in Southern China and the less common species with conspicuous morphological characteristics,while failed to identify the species from Alaudidae;Caprimulgidae,Emberizidae,Phylloscopidae,Scolopacidae and Scotocercidae.With a study example,we demonstrate that spatially clustered bird watching visits can cause underestimation of species richness in insufficiently sampled areas;and the result of species richness mapping is sensitive to the contributors’ skill of identifying bird species.Our results address how avian research can be influenced by the reliability of citizen science data in a region of generally high accessibility,and highlight the necessity of pre-analysis scrutiny on data reliability regarding to research aims at all spatial and temporal scales.To improve the data quality,we suggest to equip the data collection frame of BOD with a flexible filter for bird abundance,and questionnaires that collect information related to contributors’ bird identification skill.Statistic modelling approaches are encouraged to apply for correcting the bias of sampling effort.