Economic Determinants of Smart and Sustainable Urban Development: What Answers Does the Cities in Motion Index Give?

Мета статті - визначити, які складові сталого та розумного розвитку міських територій є найбільш важливими для економіки міста. Для цього застосовано регресійний, кластерний та дискримінантний аналіз з використанням даних рейтингових позицій 180 міст світу за індексом Cities in Motion Index (CIMI) та його складових за 2022 рік. Для розрахунків використано програмні пакети Stata та Statgraphics 19. Статистичну значущість вхідних даних підтверджено за допомогою методів описової статистики, а нормальність розподілу даних визначено за критерієм Шапіро-Уілка. Проведено регресійний аналіз (на основі методу найменших квадратів) впливу інтегрального значення СІМІ та його складових (Людський капітал, Соціальна згуртованість, Навколишнє середовище, Врядування, Міське планування, Міжнародний профіль, Технології, Мобільність і транспорт) на його першу складову - Економіку. Він свідчить, що лише чотири індикатори мають статистично значущий вплив: "Міста в русі", "Навколишнє середовище", "Міське планування" та "Міжнародний профіль". Множинна регресія, побудована з використанням процедури суворого відбору, підтверджує ці висновки, а дискримінантний аналіз доводить, що коефіцієнти рівняння регресії використовуються для прогнозування змінної "Економіка". Аналіз кореляційних матриць Спірмена та Кендалла свідчить про тісний зв'язок між показниками "Економіка", "Людський капітал", "Управління" та "Міста в русі"; пряму залежність між "Міста в русі" та такими показниками, як "Технології", "Міське планування" та "Міжнародний профіль"; середній прямий зв'язок між "Економікою", "Соціальною згуртованістю" та "Мобільністю і транспортом". Кластерний аналіз з використанням методу k-середніх у програмному середовищі R Studio дозволив виокремити вісім кластерів міст відповідно до їх рейтингових позицій за різними параметрами індексу CIMI (їх кількість розраховано за формулою Стерджесса, а оптимальність їх кількості підтверджено схемою агломерації за методом Уорда). Для міст першого кластеру (17 міст, 9,44% від загальної кількості проаналізованих, переважно світові столиці) найбільший вплив на компонент "Економіка" має "Міста в русі", менший - "Мобільність і транспорт"; для міст другого кластеру (23 міста, 12. 78%, переважно великі міста США та Китаю) найбільший вплив має "Технології"; для міст третього кластеру (35 міст, 19,44%, переважно потужні регіональні центри) - "Міста в русі", "Міжнародний профіль", "Мобільність і транспорт", "Соціальна згуртованість" та "Міське планування"; для четвертого (9 міст, 5%) та п'ятого кластерів (6 міст, 3. 33%) регресії не є значущими, тому ці кластери потребують подальшого вивчення для кожного міста окремо; для міст шостого кластеру (33 міста, 18, 33%, переважно розвинені європейські міста) найбільш важливими є "Міста в русі", "Навколишнє середовище", "Управління", "Мобільність і транспорт", "Соціальна згуртованість" та "Міське планування"; для міст сьомого кластеру (10 міст, 5. 56%) - "Людський капітал", "Соціальна згуртованість" та "Технології"; для міст восьмого кластеру (47 міст, 26,11%, переважно міста, що стикаються з економічними перешкодами для свого розвитку) - "Міста в русі", "Навколишнє середовище", "Технології" та "Міське планування". Дискримінантний аналіз показує, що найбільший вплив на розподіл кластерів на групи має індикатор "Навколишнє середовище".The goal of the article is to determine which components of sustainable and smart development of urban areas are the most important for the economy of a city. For this, regression, cluster and discriminant analysis are applied, using the data of the ranking positions of 180 cities of the world according to the Cities in Motion Index (CIMI) and its components for 2022. The Stata and Statgraphics 19 software packages are used for the calculations. The statistical significance of the input data is confirmed using descriptive statistics, and the normality of the data distribution was determined according to the Shapiro-Wilk test. A regression analysis (based on the least squares method) of the influence of the integral value of CIMI and its components (Human capital, Social cohesion, Environment, Governance, Urban planning, International profile, Technology, Mobility and Transportation) on its first component – Economy, is carried out. It testifiesthat only four indicators have a statistically significant impact: Cities in Motion, Environment, Urban planning, and International profile. Multiple regression, constructed using the strict screening procedure, confirms these findings; and discriminant analysis proves that the regression equation coefficients is used to predict the Economy variable. Analysis of Spearman’s and Kendall’s correlation matrices prove a close relationship between the Economy, Human capital, Governance, and Cities in motion; direct dependence between Cities in motion and such indicators as Technology, Urban planning, and International profile; average direct connection between Economy, Social cohesion and Mobility and transportation. Cluster analysis using the k-means method in the R Studio software environment made it possible to distinguish eight clusters of cities according to their ranking positions in relation to various parameters of the CIMI index (their number was calculated according to the Sturgess formula, and the optimality of their number is confirmed by the agglomeration scheme according to the Ward method). For the cities of the first cluster (17 cities, 9.44% of the total number analyzed, mostly world capitals), Cities in motion has the greatest impact on the Economy component, while Mobility and Transportation has a lesser impact; for the cities of the second cluster (23 cities, 12.78%, mostly large cities of the United States and China) it is Technology that has the greatest impact; for cities of the third cluster (35 cities, 19.44%, primarily powerful regional centers)it is Cities in motion, International profile, Mobility and transportation, Social cohesion, and Urban planning; for clusters four (9 cities, 5%) and five (6 cities, 3.33%), the regressions are not significant, so these clusters require further study for each city separately; for the cities of the sixth cluster (33 cities, 18, 33%, mostly developed European cities) the most important are Cities In motion, Environment, Governance, Mobility and transportation, Social cohesion, and Urban planning; for the cities of the seventh cluster (10 cities, 5.56%) – Human capital, Social cohesion, and Technology; for cities in the eighth cluster (47 cities, 26.11%, mostly cities facing economic obstacles to their development) – Cities in motion, Environment, Technology, and Urban planning. The discriminant analysis shows that the Environment indicator has the greatest impact on the division of clusters into groups.The goal of the article is to determine which components of sustainable and smart development of urban areas are the most important for the economy of a city. For this, regression, cluster and discriminant analysis are applied, using the data of the ranking positions of 180 cities of the world according to the Cities in Motion Index (CIMI) and its components for 2022. The Stata and Statgraphics 19 software packages are used for the calculations. The statistical significance of the input data is confirmed using descriptive statistics, and the normality of the data distribution was determined according to the Shapiro-Wilk test. A regression analysis (based on the least squares method) of the influence of the integral value of CIMI and its components (Human capital, Social cohesion, Environment, Governance, Urban planning, International profile, Technology, Mobility and Transportation) on its first component – Economy, is carried out. It testifiesthat only four indicators have a statistically significant impact: Cities in Motion, Environment, Urban planning, and International profile. Multiple regression, constructed using the strict screening procedure, confirms these findings; and discriminant analysis proves that the regression equation coefficients is used to predict the Economy variable. Analysis of Spearman’s and Kendall’s correlation matrices prove a close relationship between the Economy, Human capital, Governance, and Cities in motion; direct dependence between Cities in motion and such indicators as Technology, Urban planning, and International profile; average direct connection between Economy, Social cohesion and Mobility and transportation. Cluster analysis using the k-means method in the R Studio software environment made it possible to distinguish eight clusters of cities according to their ranking positions in relation to various parameters of the CIMI index (their number was calculated according to the Sturgess formula, and the optimality of their number is confirmed by the agglomeration scheme according to the Ward method). For the cities of the first cluster (17 cities, 9.44% of the total number analyzed, mostly world capitals), Cities in motion has the greatest impact on the Economy component, while Mobility and Transportation has a lesser impact; for the cities of the second cluster (23 cities, 12.78%, mostly large cities of the United States and China) it is Technology that has the greatest impact; for cities of the third cluster (35 cities, 19.44%, primarily powerful regional centers)it is Cities in motion, International profile, Mobility and transportation, Social cohesion, and Urban planning; for clusters four (9 cities, 5%) and five (6 cities, 3.33%), the regressions are not significant, so these clusters require further study for each city separately; for the cities of the sixth cluster (33 cities, 18, 33%, mostly developed European cities) the most important are Cities In motion, Environment, Governance, Mobility and transportation, Social cohesion, and Urban planning; for the cities of the seventh cluster (10 cities, 5.56%) – Human capital, Social cohesion, and Technology; for cities in the eighth cluster (47 cities, 26.11%, mostly cities facing economic obstacles to their development) – Cities in motion, Environment, Technology, and Urban planning. The discriminant analysis shows that the Environment indicator has the greatest impact on the division of clusters into groups

Nonsense Variant PRDM16-Q187X Causes Impaired Myocardial Development and TGF-β Signaling Resulting in Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy in Humans and Mice

BACKGROUND: PRDM16 plays a role in myocardial development through TGF-β (transforming growth factor-beta) signaling. Recent evidence suggests that loss of PRDM16 expression is associated with cardiomyopathy development in mice, although its role in human cardiomyopathy development is unclear. This study aims to determine the impact of PRDM16 loss-of-function variants on cardiomyopathy in humans. METHODS: Individuals with PRDM16 variants were identified and consented. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) were generated from a proband hosting a Q187X nonsense variant as an in vitro model and underwent proliferative and transcriptional analyses. CRISPR-mediated knock-in mouse model hosting the Prdm16Q187X allele was generated and subjected to echocardiograph, histologic, and transcriptional analysis. RESULTS: We report two probands with loss-of-function PRDM16 variants and pediatric left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). One proband hosts a PRDM16-Q187X variant with LVNC and demonstrated infant-onset heart failure which was selected for further study. Induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (IPSC-CMs) prepared from the PRDM16-Q187X proband demonstrated a statistically significant impairment in myocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis associated with transcriptional dysregulation of genes implicated in cardiac maturation, including TGFβ-associated transcripts. Homozygous Prdm16Q187X/Q187X mice demonstrated an underdeveloped compact myocardium and were embryonic lethal. Heterozygous Prdm16Q187X/WT mice demonstrated significantly smaller ventricular dimensions, heightened fibrosis, and age-dependent loss of TGFβ-expression. Mechanistic studies were undertaken in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts to show that PRDM16 binds TGFB3 promoter and represses its transcription. CONCLUSIONS: Novel loss-of-function PRDM16 variant impairs myocardial development resulting in noncompaction cardiomyopathy in humans and mice associated with altered TGFβ signaling

Novel Echocardiographic Biomarkers in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Purpose of Review: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults. The number of patients with AF is anticipated to increase annually, mainly due to the aging population alongside improved arrhythmia detection. AF is associated with a significantly elevated risk of hospitalization, stroke, thromboembolism, heart failure, and all-cause mortality. Echocardiography is one of the key components of routine assessment and management of AF. Therefore, the aim of this review is to briefly summarize current knowledge on “novel” echocardiographic parameters that may be of value in the management of AF patients. Recent Findings: Novel echocardiographic biomarkers and their clinical application related to the management of AF have been taken into consideration. Both standard parameters such as atrial size and volume but also novels like atrial strain and tissue Doppler techniques have been analyzed. Summary: A number of novel echocardiographic parameters have been proven to enable early detection of left atrial dysfunction along with increased diagnosis accuracy. This concerns particularly experienced echocardiographers. Hence, these techniques might improve the prediction of stroke and thromboembolic events among AF patients and need to be further developed and disseminated. Nonetheless, even the standard imaging parameters could be of significant value and should not be discontinued in everyday clinical practice. © 2019, The Author(s)

Association between loop diuretic dose changes and outcomes in chronic heart failure: observations from the ESC-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

[Abstract] Aims. Guidelines recommend down-titration of loop diuretics (LD) once euvolaemia is achieved. In outpatients with heart failure (HF), we investigated LD dose changes in daily cardiology practice, agreement with guideline recommendations, predictors of successful LD down-titration and association between dose changes and outcomes. Methods and results. We included 8130 HF patients from the ESC-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry. Among patients who had dose decreased, successful decrease was defined as the decrease not followed by death, HF hospitalization, New York Heart Association class deterioration, or subsequent increase in LD dose. Mean age was 66±13 years, 71% men, 62% HF with reduced ejection fraction, 19% HF with mid-range ejection fraction, 19% HF with preserved ejection fraction. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] LD dose was 40 (25–80) mg. LD dose was increased in 16%, decreased in 8.3% and unchanged in 76%. Median (IQR) follow-up was 372 (363–419) days. Diuretic dose increase (vs. no change) was associated with HF death [hazard ratio (HR) 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–2.08; P = 0.008] and nominally with cardiovascular death (HR 1.25, 95% CI 0.96–1.63; P = 0.103). Decrease of diuretic dose (vs. no change) was associated with nominally lower HF (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.33–1.07; P = 0.083) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.62 95% CI 0.38–1.00; P = 0.052). Among patients who had LD dose decreased, systolic blood pressure [odds ratio (OR) 1.11 per 10 mmHg increase, 95% CI 1.01–1.22; P = 0.032], and absence of (i) sleep apnoea (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.69; P = 0.008), (ii) peripheral congestion (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.29–0.80; P = 0.005), and (iii) moderate/severe mitral regurgitation (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37–0.87; P = 0.008) were independently associated with successful decrease. Conclusion. Diuretic dose was unchanged in 76% and decreased in 8.3% of outpatients with chronic HF. LD dose increase was associated with worse outcomes, while the LD dose decrease group showed a trend for better outcomes compared with the no-change group. Higher systolic blood pressure, and absence of (i) sleep apnoea, (ii) peripheral congestion, and (iii) moderate/severe mitral regurgitation were independently associated with successful dose decrease

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Local government as a factor of local and regional development

Aktywizacja obywatelska, integracja społeczna i wyzwalanie przedsiębiorczości prowadzone z udziałem samorządu stanowiły ważny element w budowie społeczeństwa obywatelskiego. Niekwestionowanym wkładem samorządu w rozwój gospodarczy okazało się także pozyskiwanie funduszy unijnych i wykonywanie działań inwestycyjnych przy wykorzystaniu środków zewnętrznych wspartym świadomą oraz długookresową polityką inwestycyjną z zaangażowaniem budżetów poszczególnych gmin. Dlatego realizacja ustawowych kompetencji przyznanych samorządom wraz z rozpoczęciem okresu transformacji ustrojowej przyczyniła się do rozwoju lokalnego oraz regionalnego w całym kraju.Civic activation, social integration and entrepreneurship run with self-government participation were important element in building civic society. Indisputable input of self-government in economic development was obtaining EU funds and running investment activities based on external funding supported with aware and long-term investment policy with engagement of individual municipality budgets. That is why realization of competences given to self-government along with the beginning of transformation period contributed to local and regional development in the entire country

Communication management in local government unit controversy around the local government press

Prasa samorządowa, mimo pojawiających się kontrowersji wokół jej edycji, może pełnić społecznie ważną rolę jako podmiot rynku medialnego wypełniający większość funkcji prasy lokalnej (poza kontrolną). Właściwie realizując zadania komunikacyjne nie tylko dostarcza mieszkańcom wiarygodnych, rzetelnych i sprawdzonych informacji, ale może również występować jako czynnik sprzyjający partycypacji obywatelskiej. Podejmując tematykę lokalną i sublokalną w sposób atrakcyjny czytelniczo, lecz pozbawiony elementów charakterystycznych dla tabloidów, bezceremonialnie rywalizujących o pozyskanie uwagi odbiorców, prasa samorządowa powinna się przyczyniać do aktywizacji i integracji mieszkańców.Binding regulations in Poland allow and partly oblige self-governments to undertake communication activities in the scope of information and promotion. For executing these tasks self-governments can undertake cooperation with external entities based on media relations activity or by disclosing advertising content. Independently self-government can act as an entity on media market directly editing self-governmental press or commissioning publishing to the entities which are supervised by the self-government

Social communication of local government in creating civic society

Komunikacja to kluczowa forma aktywizacji życia społecznego. Dzięki przekazowi informacji od nadawcy poprzez kanał dystrybucji do poszczególnych kategorii odbiorców możliwe jest właściwe zaspakajanie potrzeb wspólnoty samorzą-dowej, a także integrowanie społeczności lokalnych. Partycypacja obywatelska w sprawowaniu władzy także nie zaistnieje w pełni bez wiedzy samych zaintereso-wanych o życiu miasta – ważnych wydarzeniach, planach rozwoju, przedsięwzięciach kulturalnych, sportowych, rekreacyjnych, inwestycjach, przeznaczeniu nakładów budżetowych itd. Z kolei badanie skuteczność podejmowanych działań pozwala na wzbogacanie strategii komunikacyjnej. Strategii, która zapewnić ma odpowiednie warunki do prowadzenia debaty publicznej, a także realizacji celów z zakresu marketingu terytorialnego.Communication is a key form of activating social life. With the transfer of information from the sender through a distribution channel to each category of recipients it can be appropriate to satisfy the needs of local community, as well as the integration of local communities. Citizen participation in the exercise of power will not also fully arise without the knowledge of the interested parties about the life of the city – the important events, development plans, cultural, sports, leisure events, investments, allocation of budgetary outlays and so on. On the other hand, the study of the effectiveness of the actions allows the enrichment of communication strategy. Strategy, which seeks to ensure the right conditions for public debate, as well as the objectives in the field of territorial marketing