Announcements

Name: Dr. Heather Foulds
Affiliation: College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B2, Canada
Research interests: indigenous health and wellbeing; métis dance; indigenous people’s physical activity; determinants of health; cardiovascular physiology; women’s physical activity and health

“The Effects of the Red River Jig on the Wholistic Health of Adults in Saskatchewan”
by Nisha K. Mainra, Samantha J. Moore, Jamie LaFleur, Alison R. Oates, Gavin Selinger, Tayha Theresia Rolfes, Hanna Sullivan, Muqtasida Fatima and Heather J. A. Foulds
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081225
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/8/1225

The following is a short interview with Dr. Heather Foulds:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
   My name is Heather Foulds, and I am a Métis associate professor in the College of Kinesiology at the University of Saskatchewan. I am a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Wholistic Health and Well-Being Through Physical Activity for Indigenous Peoples, so a lot of my research focuses on Indigenous health and Indigenous physical activity, such as Métis dancing.
2. Your recent study highlights the Red River Jig as more than just physical exercise. Could you share how this traditional dance uniquely contributes to holistic health in ways that conventional workouts might not?
   We have been having Red River Jigging classes open to anybody. So, there are Métis people participating, non-Indigenous people participating, as well as First Nations peoples. We have been measuring health from a more wholistic perspective. In this study, we measured blood pressure, weight, pulse wave velocity, heart rate variability, and baroreceptor sensitivity. In addition, we also looked at the different quadrants of the medicine wheel, such as health and well-being, so we have some mental well-being questionnaires, overall well-being questionnaires, and self-efficacy, to get that mental health perspective. We also looked at social health, such as social support and connections to family, friends, and the community. From a cultural perspective, we looked at connections to cultural identity, cultural affinity, exploration, and belonging. We found that the Red River Jig was helpful for physical health, but also from a mental and social health perspective. People had stronger connections and support with family and a better sense of community after the program. That was the most consistent and strongly indicated measure, which I think is not really a surprise to anyone who has done the dance before, because you build a community. It’s not just an exercise class where you’re just coming and leaving. There’s a whole community perspective of joining and engaging in the stories that go along with the dance. Lastly, mental memory has also improved for some people, which I think makes sense. The Red River Jig is a kind of dance where you remember steps, and traditionally, you can also alternate these steps. You have to remember what you’ve done and plan out what’s coming next, so that cognitive coordination is much more than just running on a treadmill or riding a bike.
3. Looking ahead, how do you see culturally grounded activities like the Red River Jig being integrated into broader physical activity recommendations, especially for Indigenous communities?
   This study provided opportunities for members of the Métis community in Saskatoon to engage in Red River Jigging beyond the scope of this study. Future studies in this area should engage large sample sizes and expand to include older individuals who may experience poorer health and well-being prior to the intervention, to further evaluate the wholistic health benefits of this dance.
4. For individuals or communities inspired to start similar programs, what is the most important first step or consideration to ensure the activity is safe, respectful, and beneficial?I think that if it starts from the community and the Métis people, then it carries those pieces—the community engagement, the connection, and the stories that go along with the dances. It is open to everyone, and if you find a connection or a group, then you’re more than welcome to engage and participate.
5. What motivated you to choose our journal for your submission? How would you characterize the experience during your publication journey?
   I received an email about a special call for IJERPH that outlined the scope that the manuscript fits into. So, I knew that we were working on this article, and IJERPH was where I wanted to submit it.
   I have also referenced the journal several times in my work. We received good reviews, and the publication time was fast, so overall I had a good experience.

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare. 20 November 1959 is an important date as it is when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Additionally, on the same date in 1989, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

From the moment the sun rises, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they did not make. However, every child, everywhere, also wakes up with rights, including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard. It is time to listen to children to understand what their lives are like and how their rights are present, missing, or pursued every day.

To commemorate this day, we invite you to explore a curation of insightful articles, journals, and Special Issues across various fields, including pediatric public health, childhood education, child psychology, and child development. By sharing these findings, we hope to advocate, promote, and celebrate children’s rights, and translate these findings into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Amy Pan, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA	Prof. David Tzuriel Emeritus, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

Feel free to register for this webinar here!

We are honored to feature a series of insightful interviews with distinguished scholars dedicated to child-centered research, as they share their inspiring journeys and valuable perspectives on advancing children’s well-being, rights, and development in diverse global contexts.

	Name: Dr. Anna Di Sessa Affiliation: University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Italy “World Children’s Day serves as a crucial reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard and prioritize the health, rights, and well-being of children. As a researcher, it underscores the need to address the unique health challenges children face through evidence-based research. On a broader scale, it emphasizes the importance of creating a world where all children can thrive, free from poverty, violence, and neglect”. Please read the full interview here.
	Name: Dr. Diego Gomez-Baya Affiliation: University of Huelva, Spain “Programs to foster positive youth development should be active and participatory, allowing adolescents to take ownership of their own development. Likewise, measures that encourage greater civic and environmental engagement are equally necessary, hand in hand with the promotion of personal character strengths”. Please read the full interview here.
	Name: Dr. Graham Connelly Affiliation: University of Strathclyde, UK “We need to protect children from being harmed by conflict and provide the best care for children affected by strife, dislocation, famine and poverty. We need to fund international children’s agencies better, and yes, of course hold them to account for the funds they receive. There are very good examples, worldwide, of ways of consulting with children that are not tokenistic. I’d like to see these being expanded”. Please read the full interview here.

“Mucous Fistula Refeeding in Newborns: Why, When, How, and Where? Insights from a Systematic Review”
by Layla Musleh, Ilaria Cozzi, Anteo Di Napoli and Fabio Fusaro
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152490

“Our Children/Our Future: Examining How Indigenous Peoples in the US Assert Self-Determination and Prioritize Child Wellbeing”
by Meschelle Linjean and Hilary N. Weaver
Genealogy 2025, 9(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy9010026

“Machine Learning in Pediatric Healthcare: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions”
by Hammad A. Ganatra
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(3), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030807

“Developmental Patterns in Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Preschool Children”
by Maria Eugenia Martelli, Federica Gigliotti, Federica Giovannone, Giuliana Lentini, Filippo Manti and Carla Sogos
Children 2025, 12(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12020125

“Climate Action and the UNCRC: A ‘Postpaternalist’ World Where Children Claim Their Own Rights”
by Aoife Daly, Nabin Maharjan, Esther Montesinos Calvo-Fernández, Liesl Heila Muller, Emily Margaret Murray, Alicia O’Sullivan, Florencia Paz Landeira and Katie Reid
Youth 2024, 4(4), 1387-1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth4040088

“Understanding the Wellbeing Needs of First Nations Children in Out-of-Home Care in Australia: A Comprehensive Literature Review”
by Darren Garvey, Ken Carter, Kate Anderson, Alana Gall, Kirsten Howard, Jemma Venables, Karen Healy, Lea Bill, Angeline Letendre, Michelle Dickson and Gail Garvey
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1208; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091208

“A Systematic Review of Economic and Concrete Support to Prevent Child Maltreatment”
by Gretchen Cusick, Jennifer Gaul-Stout, Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber, Olivia Wilks, Yasmin Grewal-Kök
and Clare Anderson
Societies 2024, 14(9), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090173

“Family Functioning and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Gifted Children”
by Maria Assunta Zanetti, Tommaso Trombetta, Luca Rollè and Carlo Marinoni
Eur. J. Investig. Health Psychol. Educ. 2024, 14(5), 1171-1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14050077

“Impact of Sexual Abuse on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review”
by Ana Carolina Alves, Maria Leitão, Ana Isabel Sani and Diana Moreira
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(4), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040189

“Challenges of Iron Chelation in Thalassemic Children”
by Alkistis Adramerina and Marina Economou
Thalass. Rep. 2024, 14(1), 1-9; https://doi.org/10.3390/thalassrep14010001

“MIH and Dental Caries in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
by Marta Mazur, Denise Corridore, Artnora Ndokaj, Roman Ardan, Iole Vozza, Sylvie Babajko and Katia Jedeon
Healthcare 2023, 11(12), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11121795

“Picture Books, Imagination and Play: Pathways to Positive Reading Identities for Young Children”
by Amanda Niland
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(5), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13050511

“Paying Attention to the Spiritual Flourishing of Young Children in Church Toddler Groups: A Scoping Study Evaluating the Feasibility of a Research Study in This Context”
by Ann Casson, Mary Woolley, Ann Pittaway, Tansy Watts, Nicola Kemp, Robert A. Bowie, Katie Clemmey
and Rosanne Aantjes
Religions 2023, 14(2), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14020236

“Mitigating the Impact of Maternal Mental Health Challenges on Children’s Development” Guest Editors: Dr. Nanmathi Manian and Prof. Dr. Pamela J. Surkan Submission deadline: 1 January 2026	“Early Childhood Education Policy: Impact on Children’s Well-Being and Development” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Nadia Siddiqui and Dr. Johny Daniel Submission deadline: 17 January 2026
“Substance Use and Child Welfare: Intersecting Crises” Guest Editors: Dr. Rebecca Gomez and Dr. Kasey Claborn Submission deadline: 31 January 2026	“Healthy Child, Healthy Adult—Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity as a Public Health Concern” Guest Editors: Dr. Lindsy Kass and Dr. Gillian McLellan Submission deadline: 28 February 2026
“Shaping Futures: Health Policy Innovations for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children” Guest Editor: Dr. Ucheoma Nwaozuru Submission deadline: 15 June 2026	“Parenting in Context: Family Engagement in Promoting Child Development” Guest Editors: Dr. Joo Young Hong and Dr. Shinwoo Choi Submission deadline: 15 September 2026

Name: Dr. Siyun Peng
Affiliations: School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
Interests: social networks; aging; health; quantitative methods

“Quality over Quantity: The Association Between Daily Social Interactions and Loneliness”
by Siyun Peng and Adam R. Roth
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091411
Article Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1411

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
My name is Dr. Siyun Peng, and I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. I am a gerontologist, sociologist, and applied statistician. My research examines the reciprocal links between social relationships and health across the life course. My expertise includes social networks, cognitive aging, ecological momentary assessment, and other advanced quantitative methods. The study published in IJERPH explores how different types of daily social interactions relate to loneliness. Interestingly, we found that it is not the number of interactions that matters most, but the emotional quality of those interactions.

2. What initially inspired you to get into that research field?
My interest in social relationships was shaped by my own experience growing up in a family with a conflicted marriage. My parents stayed together for the sake of the child, but the ongoing tension showed me that sometimes separation can be healthier than remaining in an unhappy relationship. That experience made me curious about how different kinds of relationships, within and beyond families, affect people’s well-being. Over time, that curiosity developed into my academic focus on social relationships and health.

3. Did you encounter any significant challenges while conducting this research? And if you did, how did you overcome them?
Yes, one major challenge is that social relationships are very complex. Traditional survey methods often oversimplify them. In our study, we used ecological momentary assessment through smartphones to collect real-time data on daily interactions, allowing us to capture a broader range of relationship types—not just close friends or family, but acquaintances and brief encounters as well. This approach provided a more detailed picture of how everyday social experiences shape loneliness.

4. For families and friends who want to support the older adults in their lives, what is the most practical piece of advice you can give based on your findings?
Our findings show that more social contact does not automatically mean less loneliness. What really matters is the quality of the interaction—having emotionally supportive and positive exchanges. Reducing conflict or tension is just as important. Simply calling an older relative often won’t help if the conversations are stressful or argumentative. What older adults need most are meaningful, kind, and understanding interactions.

5. So what research questions are you aiming to explore next in your research?
This paper is part of a larger project funded by the National Institute of Health. The project examines how social environments contribute to differences in cognitive decline between rural and urban older adults. We suspect that disparities may be partly due to differences in cognitive stimulation and opportunities for meaningful social engagement. The project uses both surveys and ecological momentary assessments to analyze real-time interactions and activity spaces.

6. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? How was your experience submitting to IJERPH?
I previously co-authored a paper published in IJERPH and had a very positive experience. The journal’s interdisciplinary focus, commitment to public health, and efficient review process all left a strong impression on me. I also value the Open Access model, which ensures that the findings are accessible to everyone. These factors made IJERPH an ideal venue for my current research.

Name: Prof. Dr. Matt J. Gray
Affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
Research interests: sexual violence prevention; intimate partner violence; traumatic stress

“Sexual Harassment of Cisgender Women University Students: How the Gender Composition of Colleges Relates to Differential Prevalence”
by Natalie Q. Poole, Christopher J. Cannon, Amy L. Gabriel, Emma J. Briles and Matt J. Gray
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(7), 1146; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071146

The following is an interview with Prof. Dr. Matt J. Gray:

1. Congratulations on your recent publication! Could you briefly introduce yourself and your current research focus?
   My name is Matt Gray. I am a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Wyoming, and I study traumatic stress broadly, so I do some combat-related research, as well as treatment and outcome research. But most of what I study is gender violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, sexual harassment prevention, and their impacts and treatment.

2. What initially inspired your research interest in this field?
   When I went to graduate school, I had a lot of different research interests, but I wound up working with somebody who was starting to do a lot of traumatic stress research, and I was just beginning to get broad and general experience with lots of trauma populations and different types of trauma impacts. When I went off to my postdoctoral fellowship at the National Centre for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I was in a VA setting, but it was one of the only VAs at that time that had a women's health science division. So, half of my clinical work was with primarily male combat veterans, but the other half of my clinical work, and, correspondingly, my research work, was with military sexual trauma and types of traumatic events that are more likely to occur to females in military settings. So, I had opportunities to work clinically with both populations, as well as begin to do some research in that area.

3. Did you encounter any significant challenges while conducting your research? If so, how did you overcome them?
   The challenges were fewer than one might expect. While Boston offers numerous trauma research resources and opportunities, the high concentration of researchers often leads to competition for access to the same study populations. In contrast, when I moved to Wyoming—where there was no trauma researcher at the time—gaining clinical and research access to populations affected by trauma, particularly sexual assault, was not especially difficult, due to the widespread prevalence of such cases. This facilitated the study of factors contributing to sexual misconduct and its treatment impacts.

4. What are the most pressing research questions you aim to explore next?
   I'm getting to a point in my career where I kind of let graduate students’ passions come to the fore. And so, if you look at my recent publications, they're all within that umbrella heading of traumatic stress. The stuff that I do with distal colleagues is combat-related. But most of my research focuses on sexual assault and domestic violence, and so we have some folks working on policy implications for sexual violence reporting and prevention. We have some people looking at cultural impacts and cultural variables that influence the exposure to and consequences of sexual misconduct, and those kinds of things. One thing that, of course, I'm really interested in is the prevention of sexual misconduct. You can't work clinically with a population that's been so impacted by those issues and do research related to things like PTSD and other sorts of psychological and emotional trauma and not have an interest in preventing it. So, a lot of what we're doing right now is prevention.

5. What advice would you give to early-career researchers aiming to make an impact on clinical psychology?
   Depending on how early people are in their work, it's important to obviously join research laboratories a lot of times; bright and motivated people will have multiple interests, and sometimes it's not until you get your feet wet in different labs and do different kinds of research in different areas that you can kind of figure out where your passions lie. Pay close attention and don't be afraid to ask questions when you're in research meetings with some people you might be otherwise intimidated by. People who have spent a long time in their careers, including most professors and researchers, really want to help, nurture, and cultivate the next generation of scientists and researchers. So, be sure to ask questions and look for opportunities to pitch in on research and pick the brains of graduate students. If you're in a lab with graduate students, they can kind of talk about the transition from undergrad to graduate school. Those sorts of things; usually by the time people are like early their career in academia, they've already, like, done a lot of work and accessed a lot of populations that are pretty well versed in the enterprise of research, so there's not as much, like, specificity that you can provide as far as how to get started, because they already probably have a running start.
   The one thing that I would say, though, for early career folks, is to be on the lookout for fruitful collaborations with other individuals at the same level and stage in their careers, for ongoing and fruitful collaborations. I think a lot of times when people think of networking and they're encouraged to network, they think it always must be glomming onto, like, some like established prominent researcher in the field. And some of my most productive collaborations over the years were, like, somebody who was an intern with me, and we had shared interests, and we continued to bounce research ideas off each other, and both collect data at our respective institutions, and we both wound up being a lot more productive together than we would have been on our own. So, I think some of the most fruitful collaborations could be with people who have similar interests who are not necessarily like big fish yet, but are doing interesting work.

6. Since IJERPH is an open access journal, how do you think open access publishing benefits authors and the broader research community?
   I believe open access holds significant value. It enables researchers to access cutting-edge findings regardless of their institutional resources, which undoubtedly facilitates the broad dissemination and application of scientific knowledge. That being said, we must also acknowledge the structural challenges involved. Some researchers may face barriers to publishing in open access venues due to funding constraints, limited institutional support, or high article processing charges. Without thoughtful policies that account for these disparities, we risk creating a system that, while promoting wider dissemination of knowledge, may inadvertently exclude valuable contributors.

We sincerely thank Professor Matt Gray for sharing his time and insights with us. His perspectives from his extensive research on traumatic stress, particularly in the realms of gender violence and sexual assault, have been profoundly enlightening. We wish him continued success as he advances his critical work in prevention, treatment, and mentoring the next generation of clinical scientists.

MDPI is delighted to announce the establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award. Named in honor of Professor Michele Parrinello, the award celebrates his exceptional contributions and his profound impact on the field of computational physical science research.

The award will be presented biennially to distinguished scientists who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of computational physical science—spanning physics, chemistry, and materials science.

About Professor Michele Parrinello

"Do not be afraid of new things. I see it many times when we discuss a new thing that young people are scared to go against the mainstream a little bit, thinking what is going to happen to me and so on. Be confident that what you do is meaningful, and do not be afraid, do not listen too much to what other people have to say.”

——Professor Michele Parrinello

Born in Messina in 1945, he received his degree from the University of Bologna and is currently affiliated with the Italian Institute of Technology. Professor Parrinello is known for his many technical innovations in the field of atomistic simulations and for a wealth of interdisciplinary applications ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. Together with Roberto Car, he introduced ab initio molecular dynamics, also known as the Car–Parrinello method, marking the beginning of a new era both in the area of electronic structure calculations and in molecular dynamics simulations. He is also known for the Parrinello–Rahman method, which allows crystalline phase transitions to be studied by molecular dynamics. More recently, he has introduced metadynamics for the study of rare events and the calculation of free energies.

For his work, he has been awarded many prizes and honorary degrees. He is a member of numerous academies and learned societies, including the German Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, the British Royal Society, and the Italian Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which is the major academy in his home country of Italy.

Award Committee

The award committee will be chaired by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, a computational condensed matter physicist, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and professor at the Department of Physics, Fudan University. Professor Xin-Gao Gong will lead a panel of several senior experts in the field to oversee the evaluation and selection process. The Institute for Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University (Shanghai, China), led by Professor Xin-Gao Gong, will serve as the supporting institute for the award.

"We hope the Michele Parrinello Award will recognize scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of computational condensed matter physics and at the same time set a benchmark for the younger generation, providing clear direction for their pursuit—this is precisely the original intention behind establishing the award."

——Professor Xin-Gao Gong

The first edition of the award was officially launched on 1 November 2025. Nominations will be accepted before the end of March 2026. For further details, please visit mparrinelloaward.org.

About the MDPI Sustainability Foundation and MDPI Awards

The Michele Parrinello Award is part of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing sustainable development through scientific progress and global collaboration. The foundation also oversees the World Sustainability Award, the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award, and the Tu Youyou Award. The establishment of the Michele Parrinello Award will further enrich the existing award portfolio, providing continued and diversified financial support to outstanding professionals across various fields. 

In addition to these foundation-level awards, MDPI journals also recognize outstanding contributions through a range of honors, including Best Paper Awards, Outstanding Reviewer Awards, Young Investigator Awards, Travel Awards, Best PhD Thesis Awards, Editor of Distinction Awards, and others. These initiatives aim to recognize excellence across disciplines and career stages, contributing to the long-term vitality and sustainability of scientific research.

Find more information on awards here.

We are pleased to present a webinar examining the potential of mobile health clinics as a transformative strategy for improving access to care. Mobile health clinics offer a pragmatic solution to overcoming geographic and systemic barriers, yet the act of bringing care directly to communities does more than address access—it shifts the very paradigm of the patient–provider relationship, reframing how and where health and healing begin. Our speakers bring distinct but complementary perspectives: one is a research professor on health insurance and access to care, who has just completed a comprehensive review of the current mobile clinic research, while the other draws upon four decades of field experience, encompassing both the rich history of early mobile health initiatives and the rise of innovative, technology-enabled models. In addition, as co-founder of the Return-on-Investment Calculator and MobileHealthMap she has helped mobile clinics measure their impact. Together, they will define what “mobile health” means, explore its community-driven origins, and discuss both the evidence for its impact and the advances shaping its future. With this webinar and the associated Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH, ISSN: 1660-4601), we invite you to join the conversation, with the aim of rethinking traditional models of care, deepening our understanding of community-based solutions, and identifying the resources and new perspectives required to optimize the potential of mobile health clinics within the broader continuum of healthcare and public health.

Date: 12 November 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST | 6:00 p.m. CET
Webinar ID: 821 2110 7559
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/IJERPH-14?subscribe

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email outlining how to join the event. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Daniel Palazuelos, Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA;
• Dr. Maanasa Kona, Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, Washington DC, USA;
• Dr. Nancy Oriol, Office of Medical Education, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA.

Relevant Special Issue:
“Advances and Trends in Mobile Healthcare”
Guest Editors: Dr. Nancy Oriol, Dr. Mollie Williams and Daniel Palazuelos
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025

Throughout the third quarter of 2025, research published in IJERPH (ISSN: 1660-4601) was featured over 223 times in news articles published by media sources such as Forbes, U.S. News, Popular Science and The Washington Post. Learn more about these research articles below.

“A 2021 review paper identified a list of additional stressors associated with hurricane risks that affect heart health. They include:

• Disruption in healthcare delivery and facility access.
• Increased exposure to toxins, aerosols and pollutants due to flooding and damaged infrastructure.
• Worsening of existing heart conditions in already socioeconomically vulnerable communities due to care disruption or lack of access.”

Forbes—“Why Hurricanes Are Bad For Your Heart”
IJERPH—“Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2756

“Outdoor seating, including rocking chairs and park benches, has numerous benefits. More time spent talking to others is one of them, and enhanced reading performance is another. More trees and plants mean more shaded areas, particularly during hot summers, and that encourages students to get outside and be active.”
U.S. News—“A Green College Campus Relieves Stress”
IJERPH—“Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4371

“A similar 2021 paper noted similar effects among outdoor workers, independent of heat stress. Workers showed more signs of slower cognition and other symptoms of heat stress when their skin was exposed to the sun, versus workers who were kept covered, even when temperatures were consistent.”
Popular Science—“Why does the beach make you so tired?”
IJERPH—“The Impacts of Sun Exposure on Worker Physiology and Cognition: Multi-Country Evidence and Interventions”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/14/7698

“Counties that undergo severe climate-related disasters often suffer reduced access to critical health care infrastructure in the years that follow, a study suggests. The analysis, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, looked at what happened to hospitals, pharmacies and ambulatory — or outpatient — care facilities after climate-related disasters.”
The Washington Post—“Researchers link severe disasters and loss of health care facilities”
IJERPH—“Healthcare Access in the Aftermath: A Longitudinal Analysis of Disaster Impact on US Communities”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/5/733

“In a 2022 study, researchers set out to explore how holding back one’s feelings affects psychological well-being and marital satisfaction. They were particularly interested in whether this link depends on a person’s motivational style (whether they focus more on avoiding problems or on seeking growth) and on how much they perceive their partner also suppresses emotions.”
Forbes—“2 Ways Being ‘Too Nice’ Can Sabotage Relationships, By A Psychologist”
IJERPH—“Emotional Suppression and Psychological Well-Being in Marriage: The Role of Regulatory Focus and Spousal Behavior”
Article link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/2/973

Conference: The 13th National Conference on Environmental Chemistry
Date: 28 November—2 December 2025
Location: Jiangmen, China

MDPI will be attending the 13th National Conference on Environmental Chemistry (13th NCEC) as an exhibitor, welcoming researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas.

Hosted by Wuyi University and the Environmental Chemistry Committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, the 13th NCEC will be held in Jiangmen, Guangdong, from November 28 to December 2, 2025.

Under the theme “Innovation in Environmental Science, Promoting Green Development”, the conference will feature over 90 academic sessions. These sessions will focus on the latest research advances and national needs in areas such as theoretical environmental chemistry, the environment and health, environmental catalysis, environmental management, environmental analysis, interfacial processes, ecotoxicology, pollution control, and remediation technologies related to water, soil, air, and solid waste. A particular emphasis will be placed on the national “Dual Carbon” strategy and the management of emerging contaminants.

The following open access journals will be represented at the conference:

• Toxics;
• Water;
• Air;
• Fuels;
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health;
• Microplastics;
• Soil Systems;
• Sustainability;
• Urban Science;
• World;
• Journal of Xenobiotics;
• Clean Technologies;
• Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Analyses;
• Pollutants;
• Separations;
• Sustainable Chemistry.

If you will be attending this conference, please feel free to begin a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.ncec2025.com/.

MDPI will attend the APACH 2025, which will take place in Chiang Rai, Thailand, from 4 to 7 November 2025.

The APACPH Conference 2025 serves as a premier platform for public health professionals, researchers, educators, and policymakers to tackle pressing and emerging challenges in a rapidly changing world. Through interdisciplinary dialogue and regional collaboration, the conference highlights innovative strategies and evidence-based solutions to strengthen resilience and equity in public health systems across the Asia–Pacific region and beyond. APACPH 2025 offers an opportunity to connect with leading public health experts and explore the latest strategies shaping the future of resilient, equitable, and sustainable health systems.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• IJERPH;
• Hygiene;
• Pharmacoepidemiology;
• Immuno;
• COVID;
• Trends in Public Health.

If you are planning on attending this conference, please do not hesitate to stop by our booth and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following address: https://apacph2025.mfu.ac.th/.