Search Results (1,493)

Urban forests, as a form of green infrastructure, play a vital role in enhancing urban resilience, environmental health, and quality of life. However, users perceive and utilize these spaces in diverse ways. This study aims to identify latent perception types among urban forest visitors and analyze their behavioral, demographic, and policy-related characteristics in Incheon Metropolitan City (Republic of Korea). Using latent class analysis, four distinct visitor types were identified: multipurpose recreationists, balanced relaxation seekers, casual forest users, and passive forest visitors. Multipurpose recreationists preferred active physical use and sports facilities, while balanced relaxation seekers emphasized emotional well-being and cultural experiences. Casual users engaged lightly with forest settings, and passive forest visitors exhibited minimal recreational interest. Satisfaction with forest elements such as vegetation, facilities, and management conditions varied across visitor types and age groups, especially among older adults. These findings highlight the need for perception-based green infrastructure planning. Policy recommendations include expanding accessible neighborhood green spaces for aging populations, promoting community-oriented events, and offering participatory forest programs for youth engagement. By integrating user segmentation into urban forest planning and governance, this study contributes to more inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable management of urban green infrastructure. Full article

Landslide displacement prediction is crucial for disaster mitigation, yet traditional methods often fail to capture the complex, non-stationary spatiotemporal dynamics of slope evolution. This study introduces an enhanced prediction framework that integrates multi-scale signal processing with dynamic, geology-aware graph modeling. The proposed methodology first employs the Maximum Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT) to denoise raw Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-monitored displacement time series data, enhancing the underlying deformation features. Subsequently, a geology-aware graph is constructed, using the temporal correlation of displacement series as a practical proxy for physical relatedness between monitoring nodes. The framework’s core innovation lies in a dynamic graph optimization model with low-rank constraints, which adaptively refines the graph topology to reflect time-varying inter-sensor dependencies driven by factors like mining activities. Experiments conducted on a real-world dataset from an active open-pit mine demonstrate the framework’s superior performance. The DCRNN-proposed model achieved the highest accuracy among eight competing models, recording a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 2.773 mm in the Vertical direction, a 39.1% reduction compared to its baseline. This study validates that the proposed dynamic graph optimization approach provides a robust and significantly more accurate solution for landslide prediction in complex, real-world engineering environments. Full article

Traditional Chinese villages, which have long supported villagers’ comfort level of daily activities, are increasingly affected by global climate change and rural reconstruction, prompting growing research interest in their outdoor microclimate design. This systematic review aims to synthesize and evaluate the outdoor microclimate spatial design mechanism studies in traditional Chinese villages noted for their uniqueness and complexity. Following the PRISMA method, this study was carried out on November 27, 2024, by retrieving studies from the Scopus and CNKI databases and applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria; 42 empirical studies were systematically reviewed. It identifies current research trends, summarizes concepts, frameworks, indicators, and methodologies with a focus on the design mechanisms considering scales, contexts, and user groups, and outlines directions for future research. The findings reveal a growing number of publications, with case studies predominantly concentrated on three concepts: physical microclimates, human comfort, and behavioral responses, characterized as distributed in south-east areas. Based on these concepts and their correlations, this study proposes a classification framework based on multiple scales, contexts, and user groups. Within this framework, the study found that relative humidity and PET (physiological equivalent temperature) emerge as the most commonly used indicators, while field measurements, simulations, surveys, and observations are identified as the primary methods. The review further reveals that unique outdoor spatial design characteristics shape physical microclimates, human comfort, and behavior indicators influenced by contexts and users from the macro to the micro scale. Future research should advance existing studies by enriching the current contextual framework and explore more microclimatic factors. This review offers a comprehensive overview and actionable insights for outdoor microclimate design, policymaking, and the promotion of climate adaptation and villagers’ public health in different traditional rural settings. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although prediabetes is a major risk factor for T2D, it remains largely underdiagnosed and untreated. Structured lifestyle interventions have proven effective in preventing diabetes, but their feasibility within the Brazilian public health system remains unclear. Methods: This multicenter pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the feasibility of a culturally adapted lifestyle intervention (PROVEN-DIA) across the five regions of Brazil. A total of 220 adults at high risk for T2D were randomized to an intervention group or a control group (usual care) and followed for three months. Both groups received similar educational content on healthy eating and physical activity, but the intervention group participated in a structured and personalized lifestyle program with regular follow-up sessions. The primary outcome was adherence to dietary recommendations, assessed using the BALANCE Index—a validated dietary score (range: 0–40) based on the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet that classifies foods into color-coded groups according to nutritional quality—along with engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Secondary outcomes included diet quality (DQIR), anthropometric and metabolic parameters. Results: Feasibility was demonstrated by a 93.2% retention rate (n = 205). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome (simultaneous improvement in diet and MVPA). However, the PROVEN-DIA group exhibited significantly greater improvements in diet quality, with a 2.8-point increase in the BALANCE Index (vs. 0.5 in the control, p = 0.03), and a significant improvement in the DQIR (p < 0.001). No significant differences between groups were observed in MVPA, HbA1C, glycaemia, or body weight. Conclusions: The PROVEN-DIA intervention proved feasible within the Brazilian public health context, resulting in significant improvements in dietary quality among individuals at high risk for T2D. A larger trial with longer follow-up is warranted to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing the progression to diabetes. However, to enhance physical activity outcomes, specific adaptations and targeted strategies may be required to better support participant engagement in exercise. Full article

Racket sports are very popular not only in professional sports but also among recreational players. As a result, their impact on the field of education has grown significantly in recent years. Table tennis (TT) offers significant advantages in terms of skill acquisition and health improvement. Nevertheless, its application within physical education (PE) curricula remains undetermined. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the use of TT as educational content in the subject of PE in primary school. The PRISMA 2020 methodology was used to conduct the systematic review. Six databases (ERIC, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sport Discus, and Web of Science) were used during the search process. The search cutoff date was December 31, 2024. After applying the eligibility criteria, 3595 articles were found. Only seven studies were selected for the final analysis and the data included 1526 students from primary school. The results indicate that TT is rarely used in primary education during PE classes. Research indicates interest among teachers and students in playing it during PE. Furthermore, due to the benefits, motivation, and interest this sport generates, educational experiences have been developed, such as roundtable discussions, table top tennis, balloon TT, and TT triathlon. A lack of materials, facilities, and teacher training for teaching this sport is notable. The teaching experiences analyzed in this review confirm that TT is a highly versatile and interesting sport as a subject matter in school PE. The use of TT allows for innovative, comprehensive, and inclusive PE, thanks to the sport’s multiple possibilities. Given its adaptability and low entry barrier, TT could serve as an effective tool for increasing children’s physical activity levels, improving motor skills, and fostering social–emotional development. However further research is needed to quantify its impact on health outcomes such as cardiovascular fitness or obesity prevention. Full article

In the present study, 96 teams’ performances across 48 matches in the group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 were analyzed. Teams scoring first won 62.5% of matches (p < 0.05), while goals were evenly distributed between halves (p > 0.05) and showed marginal variation across six 15 min intervals, peaking near the 30–45 and 75–90 min marks. Parametric analyses revealed a significant effect of match outcome on possession, with winning teams exhibiting higher average possession (53.3%) compared to losing and drawing teams. Non-parametric analyses identified significant differences between match outcomes for goals scored, attempts at goal, total and completed passes, pass completion rate, defensive line breaks, receptions in the final third, ball progressions, defensive pressures, and total distance covered. Winning teams scored more goals and registered more attempts on target than losing teams, although some metrics showed no significant difference between wins and draws. Logistic regression analysis identified attempts at goal on target, defensive pressures, total completed passes, total distance covered, and receptions in the final third as significant predictors of match success (AUC = 0.85), correctly classifying 80.2% of match outcomes. These results emphasized the crucial role of offensive accuracy and possession dominance in achieving success in elite football. Full article

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the most common enzymatic disorder, affects over 500 million people worldwide and is often linked to exercise intolerance due to oxidative stress, but its true impact on physical performance remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and metabolic effects of G6PD deficiency on endurance capacity. Using humanized mice carrying the African G6PD variant [V68M; N126D] (hG6PD_A−), we show that despite reduced pentose phosphate pathway activity, these mice exhibit a 10.8% increase in treadmill critical speed (CS)—suggesting enhanced endurance capacity. Multi-omics profiling across red blood cells, plasma, skeletal muscle, spleen, kidney, and liver reveals metabolic adaptations, including elevated glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation, and increased mitochondrial activity, alongside heightened oxidative phosphorylation in muscle and accelerated red blood cell turnover in the spleen and liver. These findings indicate that systemic metabolic reprogramming may offset antioxidant deficiencies, potentially conferring a performance advantage. Given that G6PD deficiency affects up to 13% of African Americans and is associated with cardiovascular health disparities, our results challenge conventional exercise restrictions and highlight the need for personalized exercise guidelines for affected individuals. Full article

Nomadic heritage villages constitute significant material cultural heritage. Under China’s cultural revitalization and rural development strategies, these villages face spatial degradation driven by tourism and urbanization. Current research predominantly employs isolated analytical approaches—space syntax often overlooks social dynamics while social network analysis (SNA) overlooks physical interfaces—hindering the development of holistic solutions for socio-spatial resilience. This study proposes a multi-scale integrated assessment framework combining social network analysis (SNA) and space syntax to systematically evaluate public space structures in traditional nomadic villages of Xinjiang. The framework provides scientific evidence for optimizing public space design in these villages, facilitating harmonious coexistence between spatial functionality and cultural values. Focusing on three heritage villages—representing compact, linear, and dispersed morphologies—the research employs a hierarchical “village-street-node” analytical model to dissect spatial configurations and their socio-functional dynamics. Key findings include the following: Compact villages exhibit high central clustering but excessive concentration, necessitating strategies to enhance network resilience and peripheral connectivity. Linear villages demonstrate weak systemic linkages, requiring “segment-connection point supplementation” interventions to mitigate structural elongation. Dispersed villages maintain moderate network density but face challenges in visual integration and centrality, demanding targeted activation of key intersections to improve regional cohesion. By merging SNA’s social attributes with space syntax’s geometric precision, this framework bridges a methodological gap, offering comprehensive spatial optimization solutions. Practical recommendations include culturally embedded placemaking, adaptive reuse of transitional spaces, and thematic zoning to balance heritage conservation with tourism needs. Analyzing Xinjiang’s unique spatial–social interactions provides innovative insights for sustainable heritage village planning and replicable solutions for comparable global cases. Full article

Problem: Existing Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC) allocators cannot react at a sub-second scale while accounting for worker fatigue. Objective: We designed a fatigue-aware combinatorial auction executed every 100 ms. Method: A human and a FANUC robot submit bids combining execution time, predicted energy, and real-time fatigue; a greedy algorithm (≤1 ms) with a $1-1/e$ approximation guarantee and O (|Bids| log |Bids|) complexity maximizes utility. Results: In 1000 RoboDK episodes, the framework increases active cycles·min⁻¹ by 20%, improves robot utilization by +10.2 percentage points, reduces per cycle fatigue by 4%, and raises the collision-free rate to 99.85% versus a static baseline (p < 0.001). Contribution: We provide the first transparent, sub-second, fatigue-aware allocation mechanism for Industry 5.0, with quantified privacy safeguards and a roadmap for physical deployment. Unlike prior auction-based or reinforcement learning approaches, our model uniquely integrates a sub-second ergonomic adaptation with a mathematically interpretable utility structure, ensuring both human-centered responsiveness and system-level transparency. Full article

The study on soil consolidation and settlement is of great importance in geotechnical engineering practice. Nowadays, physics-informed neural networks (PINN) are becoming more and more popular in solving geotechnical engineering problems thanks to their meshless, physically constrained, and data-driven nature. Although there have been some successful applications in one-dimensional (1D) consolidation problems in saturated soils, the ability and stability to deal with more complex boundary conditions remain to be tested. In this paper, the effects of activation function and random state on the PINN are investigated for solving two 1D consolidation problems in saturated soils, and the proposed method for inverse modeling of the two 1D consolidation problems. The results show that PINN with layer-wise locally adaptive activation functions improves the convergence speed and prediction accuracy of the PINN for solving the 1D nonlinear soil consolidation problems, and at the same time the robustness of the model to random states. Moreover, the proposed method still converges faster in the inverse modeling of 1D consolidation problems. Full article

In response to the growing pressure from urban expansion and the risks associated with climate change, adapting cities and reintroducing nature into the urban environment are becoming increasingly urgent. The implementation of Urban Green Infrastructure plays a key role in adaptation strategies, thanks to its ability to offer a wide range of ecosystem services. However, the adaptation process must necessarily be trans-scalar and include collective participation to ensure a real improvement in both physical and social urban resilience. For this reason, citizen participation in planning processes is essential, but even more important is the recognition of their active role and the scope for private citizens’ involvement. The transformation of private spaces according to UGI principles and with a view to the common interest, however, is still a theme that is scarcely included in urban resilience plans. This study presents the results of a survey conducted in the case study of Milan through questionnaires and focus groups to record preferences, concerns, and priorities in the sustainable transformation of private open spaces. The outcome of the study is the definition of a toolkit for the design of private open spaces, integrating Nature-Based Solutions and adhering to UGI principles. Full article

Physical challenges such as illness, injury, and disability significantly alter women’s relationships with their bodies, disrupting established notions of functionality and self-worth. This study re-examines the Holistic Model of Positive Body Image and Outdoor Physical Activity through secondary analysis focusing on women with illness, injury, and disability. From the original sample of N = 553 female participants, open-ended survey responses were identified from n = 84 participants (15.2%) who self-disclosed as having illness, injury, or disability to examine how outdoor settings facilitate positive body image. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the study revealed three key mechanisms: (1) personalized redefinition of functionality transcending standardized metrics, (2) therapeutic engagement with natural environments fostering embodied acceptance, and (3) cyclical reinforcement between physical capability and psychological wellbeing. The findings confirm the model’s utility while indicating necessary adaptations to address the fluctuating nature of body functionality. The adapted model emphasizes how outdoor recreational activities create contexts for reimagining body-self relationships across the spectrum of physical experiences—from temporary recovery to ongoing adaptation of persistent conditions—with implications for rehabilitation professionals, outdoor educators, and healthcare providers. Full article

Background: Resistance training (RT) promotes muscle hypertrophy and strength gains in both men and women. However, sex differences in neuromuscular performance, muscle fiber composition, and the hormonal environment influence strength and power adaptations. While men generally exhibit greater absolute and relative strength, it remains unclear to what extent these differences persist across various load intensities. A better understanding of sex-specific strength and power profiles may help optimize training strategies. The aim of this study was to compare strength and power performance during the bench press exercise in physically active males and females, relative to body mass and fat-free mass (FFM). Methods: Twenty-nine physically active individuals (16 men: 21.3 ± 4.1 years, 13 women: 22.6 ± 4.9 years) performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test and an incremental velocity-based assessment at 45%, 55%, 65%, 75%, and 85% of the 1RM using a Smith machine. The barbell velocity was measured via a linear transducer, with the mean propulsive velocity (MPV) recorded for each load. Power-related variables (e.g., peak force [F0], maximal velocity [V0], and maximal power [Pmax]) were analyzed. To account for differences in body composition, data were adjusted for body mass and FFM. Results: Men exhibited significantly greater strength and power than women across most loads when adjusted for both body mass and fat-free mass (FFM) (p < 0.05). These differences were particularly pronounced when normalized to FFM (45–75%1RM; p = 0.001–0.031), with large effect sizes observed (ηp² = 0.185–0.383). Notably, sex differences in mean propulsive velocity (MPV) disappeared at 85%1RM (p = 0.208; ηp² = 0.06), suggesting that maximal neuromuscular recruitment may minimize sex-related disparities at higher intensities. Furthermore, men demonstrated significantly higher values in six of the seven power-related variables, with no significant differences in the %1RM required to achieve an optimal power output. Conclusions: These findings confirm that men exhibit greater strength and power than women, even after adjusting for body composition. However, at high relative loads (≥85%1RM), sex differences in movement velocity appear to diminish, likely due to similar recruitment patterns of high-threshold motor units. These results highlight the importance of sex-specific resistance training programs, particularly in relation to load prescription and the application of velocity-based training methods. Full article

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a healthy lifestyle is defined as a way of living that lowers the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying prematurely. Physical activity, as a well-known contributor to overall health, plays a vital role in supporting such a lifestyle. Exercise induces complex molecular responses that mediate both acute metabolic stress and long-term physiological adaptations. FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) and GDF15 (growth differentiation factor 15) are recognized as metabolic stress markers, while their receptors play critical roles in cellular signaling. However, the differential gene expression patterns of these molecules in trained and untrained individuals following exhaustive exercise remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the transcriptional and protein-level responses in trained and untrained individuals performed a treadmill maximal exercise test to voluntary exhaustion. Blood samples were collected at six time points (pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 0.5 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h post-exercise). Gene expression of FGF21, GDF15, FGFR1 (fibroblast growth factor receptors), FGFR3, FGFR4, KLB (β-klotho), and GFRAL (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like) was analyzed using RT-qPCR, while plasma protein levels of FGF21 and GDF15 were quantified via ELISA. The results obtained were statistically analyzed by using Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon tests in Statistica 13 software. Untrained individuals demonstrated significant post-exercise upregulation of FGFR3, FGFR4, KLB, and GFRAL. FGF21 and GDF15 protein levels were consistently lower in trained individuals (p < 0.01), with no significant correlations between gene and protein expression. Trained individuals showed more stable expression of genes, while untrained individuals exhibited transient upregulation of genes after exercise. Full article

This study provides user-centered insights into how inclusive forest design can support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of older adults. It operationalizes universal design principles in natural settings and confirms their relevance through empirical evidence. With the acceleration of global population aging, adapting forest recreation environments to meet the specific needs of older adults is increasingly urgent. This study investigates how infrastructure influences both participation and emotional well-being among older visitors to forest recreation areas. Data were collected from 446 participants aged 65 and older, using a structured survey distributed through in-person contact and digital snowball sampling. Participants reported their infrastructure preferences and their emotional responses related to forest visits. The findings show that older adults highly value site cleanliness, shaded seating, accessible restrooms, and clear signage. Expectations varied significantly according to health status, age group, and visitation frequency. Emotional well-being was positively associated with both comfort and visit frequency. These results demonstrate how inclusive infrastructure plays a vital role in supporting older adults’ access to and enjoyment of forest environments. The study affirms that universally designed forests not only reduce barriers but also promote psychological health and active aging, contributing to developing more equitable and sustainable nature-based recreation areas. Full article