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.

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.

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.

Investigation on the Characteristics of the Senior Citizens' Activities in the Parks and Greenbelts——A Case Study of Nanjing City

From the perspective of senior citizens,questionnaire survey and field investigation were carried on and analyzed in three parks in Nanjing City.The results showed that outdoor activities are the principal ways for the senior citizens to spend their time,the parks near home is their prior choice,and the radiation range of the park and greenbelt mostly is no more than 2 km;most of the senior citizens come to parks on foot and the parks are always within 30 minutes walking distance;the senior citizens always have fixed partners and groups for their exercise-dominant activities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Consumer Citizenship Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education in Latvia

Higher education and science determine the intellectual potential of a society, train new specialists, and consolidate and change citizenship values. Consumer citizenship education for sustainable development is an important function of higher education with a significant moral, social, political, economic, ecological and legal capacity. Consumer citizenship education plays an important role in ensuring the stability and sustainable development of any society. These approaches make it possible to develop the multi-scale thinking of future specialists and enhance their ability to analyse critically the main dilemmas created by the processes of social, legal, environmental, and economic development. The article is devoted to the experience of the Latvian system of higher education in consumer citizenship education within the context of sustainable development. It focuses more specifically on cooperation as a form of voluntary interaction between the partners involved in ensuring sustainable development. The aim of the research is to analyse the experience of consumer citizenship education in Latvian higher education within the context of sustainable development emphasizing the role of various forms of studies. Mostly theoretical research methods have been used in the present study. The starting point of for this research is a theoretical framework. There are both legal underpinnings and practical implementation aspects in this task. The features outlined above are emphasized in the normative acts referring to the Latvian higher education, the documents of the institutions of higher education, and particularly in the study programmes. The results of the research show that consumer citizenship education can be acquired as an interdisciplinary system. The goals and objectives of consumer citizenship education involve training young specialists possessing broad professional knowledge, developed critical thinking, the ability to organize and manage work in a modem way, understanding of the ethical, civic and patriotic values, as well as the ability and skills to engage in various social activities. Consumer citizenship education needs transdisciplinary knowledge if it is to solve the problems of humanity, the problems aggravated by unsustainable, unethical, even immoral consumption. The link between consumer citizenship education and sustainable development is ensured by shared common values, which reveal the sense and importance of both consumer citizenship and ethical sustainability.

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.

Building a Community for the Senior Citizens Using the Idea of Vertical Farms

Global population growth and urbanization have posed increasing threats to the ecological environment. In an aging society, high-density living spaces have resulted in intensifying housing concerns for urban senior citizens. Among the rapid urban development, addressing the demands of senior citizens for suitable living environments and enabling senior city dwellers to engage in diversified social interactions are concerns that necessitate public attention. This study introduced the idea of the “vertical farm” to the living environments of senior citizens. By integrating vegetation appreciation and physical labor, vertical farming allows senior citizens to experience joy and a sense of accomplishment. In addition, these farms can change the monotonous and gloomy exteriors of concrete buildings. By conducting in-depth interviews with 12 senior citizens residing in the Happiness Community in Taipei City, by building vertical farms, senior citizens can experience joy and a sense of achievement at the psychological level and communicate with families, friends and neighbors in the community at a social level. At the environmental level, comprehensive ecological communities can be achieved. We explored how promoting vertical farms in a living environment can affect senior citizens at the psychological, social and environmental levels. The results can be used to build vertical farms that accommodate the needs of senior citizen living environments.

Empowerment, Organizational Commitment, Organization Citizenship Behavior and Firm Performance

The broad objective of this study was to establish the mediating and moderating effect of employee commitment and organizational citizenship behaviour on the relationship between empowerment and firm performance. The review of literature provided conceptual and empirical gaps that formed the basis of the conceptual hypotheses. The study adopted a quantitative approach and a survey that targeted a manufacturing firm in Kenya was utilized. A survey questionnaire was the tool of data collection and was distributed to the 96 non-managerial employees of a manufacturing firm. Out of the 96 questionnaires issued randomly, 86 were returned, indicating a 91.6% response rate. The reliability test showed that study dimensions were reliable. Inferential gtatisties was used to analyse data. Results showed that employee empowerment had a positive and significant influence on organizational performance; organizational commitment mediated the relationship between employee empowerment and organization performance; and OCB did not have a moderating effect.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

Healthcare Literacy Level of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Chinese Citizens was 8.55%

State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine（SATCM）,jointly with National Health and Family Planning Commission（NHFPC）,issued results of survey on healthcare literacy of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）on March 31.

Pay Attention to Vulnerable Groups & Safeguard Citizens' Marriage, Family Rights——On New Marriage Law

Marriage and family remain a universal and eternal subject of study. It covers law, ethics, sociology, psychology and even economics. Law and ethics play the most outstanding role in it. Family ethics and moral standards constitute an important part of social ethical system while marriage and family constitute part of the legal system nearest to the life of the common people. Since the founding of New China, the Party and the State have paid full attention to the marriage and family system. Compared with other laws, the law about marriage and family was the first to be legislated. On May 1, 1950, New China’s first law, the 1950 version of Marriage Law, was promulgated. Commenting on the legal document, Chairman Mao Zedong had this to say: Marriage law concerns