Search Results (87)

Despite the formal protection of many natural areas, the problem of noise pollution poses a serious challenge to the preservation of their ecological integrity and biodiversity. Traffic noise generated by vehicle traffic on public roads disrupts natural biological processes, negatively affecting animals and the quality of the audiosphere. This research aimed to assess the acoustic impact of the public road network crossing the Roztocze National Park (RPN, Poland) and to characterize noise propagation as a factor polluting the environment and disrupting the functioning of natural forest ecosystems. The equivalent sound pressure level (L_Aeq) was measured at different distances from four public roads crossing the park. A terrain analysis was also taken into account to determine the impact of height differences on sound propagation. To enhance the acoustic analysis, recordings of environmental sounds were made, and their components, including both natural and anthropogenic sounds, were identified. It was found that traffic noise dominated natural sounds at distances 250 m from roads. The results obtained indicate the need for an integrated approach to protected area management, including noise monitoring, the implementation of noise protection regulations, and environmental education. Full article

The application of remotely sensed PM_2.5 concentration datasets has become increasingly widespread, but the spatial precision verification at local scales is lacking. This study aims to investigate the consistency of PM_2.5 concentration between remotely sensed data and ground-based data and optimize the accuracy of remotely sensed PM_2.5 concentration data at the urban scale. Specifically, taking Changsha city as a case, four evaluation indices—R², RMSE, uncertainty, and high deviation rate (HDR)—were employed to evaluate the credibility of remotely sensed data at national and dense ground-based stations, then analyze spatial variations of credibility and develop a Recursive Feature Elimination–Cross-Validation Random Forest (RFECV-RF) model to improve local fitting accuracy. Results show that remotely sensed data exhibit high credibility at national stations, while credibility at dense stations varies spatially and tends to decline with increasing distance from national stations. After optimizing by the RFECV-RF model, the credibility of remotely sensed data can be significantly improved, with R² increasing from 0.87 to 0.98, RMSE decreasing from 8.59 µg/m³ to 3.08 µg/m³, HDR reducing from 2.01% to 0.04%, and uncertainty declining from 18.93% to 8.27%. Nevertheless, certain regions still require additional monitoring to further expand the credible spatial extent. These findings provide valuable insights for improving PM_2.5 concentration remote sensing monitoring methods and designing the integrated “air–space–ground” observational network scheme. Full article

Objectives: Anthropometric characteristics influence performance and development in athletic activities such as long jumping. This study aimed to analyze sex differences in anthropometrics among high-level long jumpers and investigate the relationship between anthropometrics and long jump distance. Methods: During the national championships, body height, mass, segment lengths, and circumferences of 39 male and 22 female competitors were obtained via a stadiometer, weight scale, and non-stretchable tape. Officials measured jump distances during the competition. ANOVA, correlation, and stepwise-forward regression analysis were conducted at a significance level of p < 0.05. The half-split method was used to cross-validate the final regression model. Results: Height, mass, and more than 50% of the measured segment lengths and circumferences differed between sexes (η² = 0.053–0.422, p < 0.05). Jump distance correlated with sex, mass, height, arm span, shank and leg length, and upper arm and chest circumference (r = 0.264–0.686, p < 0.05). The final regression model identified sex and chest circumference as predictors of jump distance (adjusted R² = 0.519, p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study enhances the understanding of key anthropometric features influencing long jump performance at an elite level. Recognizing the importance of these characteristics has practical implications for talent identification, athlete assessment, and strength program development. Full article

Rapid urbanization and land use changes have brought enormous pressure onto the ecological environment. Constructing ecological security patterns (ESPs) contributes to scientifically utilizing ecosystem functions, maintaining biodiversity, and protecting the ecological environment. Thus, this study proposed a regional ESP construction framework, which integrated circuit theory with an ecological security evaluation system composed of a landscape connectivity analysis, an ecosystem service evaluation, and an ecological sensitivity analysis, to generate the ESP of the national-level Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area (CZTMA). The results showed that (1) there were 22 ecological sources mainly consisting of woodlands, grasslands, and water bodies and distributed heterogeneously from the eastern to western CZTMA; (2) 48 ecological corridors connected the large-scale ecological patches such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and woodlands in the CZTMA, and the average distance of the east side was shorter, while the distance of the west side was longer; and (3) 13 ecological pinch nodes and 28 ecological barrier nodes were identified as important nodes. On this basis, this research constructed a multi-level ESP consisting of “one center and multiple cores, one belt and two screens, multiple corridors and multiple nodes” for the CTZMA, which not only guarantees the stability of ecosystems but also maintains their efficiency in providing ecological services and their resistance to the pressure of human activities. Moreover, a series of specific recommendations for the optimization of regional ESPs were provided, including protection of ecological sources and enhancement of their habitat quality, improvement of ecological corridor connectivity, maintenance of pinch nodes, and restoration of barrier nodes. Coordinated mechanisms at the provincial level were proposed. This study could help with ecological conservation and restoration, and strategic planning making in integrated nature–human systems that cross administrative boundaries. Full article

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of preparedness in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, especially in Emergency Departments (EDs), where initial patient assessments and triage occur. This study aims to evaluate the current practices and available tools for infection control in Pediatric EDs across Italy, focusing on the differences between various hospital types and regional settings. Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted in February 2022, targeting healthcare workers in Pediatric EDs across Italy. The survey, distributed via the Italian Society for Pediatric Emergency and Urgent Medicine (SIMEUP) mailing list, collected data on infection control measures, including the availability of hand hygiene stations, personal protective equipment, disinfection protocols, and the use of rapid diagnostic tests. Results: A total of 80 questionnaires were completed from 119 (67.2%) different ERs. The majority of respondents were from Northern Italy (47.5%) and worked in hospitals with 24 h pediatric assistance (48.8%). Less than half of non-pediatric hospitals had separate access for children, potentially exposing them to adult pathogens. Across all settings, basic infection control measures, such as providing masks and hand gel, were widely implemented. However, significant differences were observed in the availability of social distancing, informational materials, and dedicated pediatric pathways, with I level assistance hospitals less likely to have these resources. Rapid diagnostic tests were available in most settings, but the focus was predominantly on SARS-CoV-2, despite other respiratory pathogens’ relevance in pediatric care. Conclusions: Strengthening preparations for future pandemics will be crucial in enhancing the resilience of healthcare systems and ensuring the safety of both patients and healthcare workers in the face of emerging infectious threats. Full article

The comfort level of air temperature in a region is one of the influencing factors that affect tourists’ choice of tourism purpose. As a national red cultural mecca, the study of air temperature in Jiangxi Province can provide an important scientific reference for the development of tourism and the dissemination of red culture. Temperature is one of the most important indicators for climate comfort studies. Thus, in this paper, the average air temperature in Jiangxi Province in 2018 was studied. Three interpolation methods of Kriging interpolation, the inverse distance weight method, and the spline function method were used to spatially interpolate the data from 26 weather stations to obtain the spatial distribution map of air temperature for comparative study. At the same time, the method of cross-validation was adopted, and the average error and the root-mean-square error were quoted as the evaluation indexes for accuracy assessment. The conclusions of this paper are as follows: (1) the ME of IDW and spline method can reach 0.02–1.82 °C and the RMSE can reach 1.22–2.72 °C; (2) Kriging interpolation improves the RMSE by 27% and 55% compared to IDW and spline function methods, respectively; (3) considering the relatively sparse distribution of meteorological stations in Jiangxi Province, Kriging interpolation can avoid the extreme value phenomenon due to the influence of distance by reasonably choosing the shape and size associated with the surface space in the process of solving. Moreover, the results of this experimental study show that the accuracy of the kriging interpolation method is higher, so this method is more suitable for the spatial interpolation of the temperature in Jiangxi Province. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the study of temperature comfort in Jiangxi Province. Full article

Despite extensive research on the network structure of tourism destinations, literature on the spatial network structure of cross-border tourism–economic connections is relatively limited, specifically the complex geopolitical relationship between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Thus, in this study we explored the relevant characteristics and influencing factors of the spatial structure of tourism economic networks. The results first indicate that the China–ASEAN tourism economic network exhibits distinct stage characteristics, with an ‘N’-shaped fluctuating growth trend, evolving from a point-like network to a multipolar development in spatial structure. In addition, China demonstrates a distinctive personality in the network and occupies a central leadership position. Secondly, an analysis of influencing factors shows that institutional distance and geographic distance have a significant impact on the network. Geopolitical risk plays a notable indirect moderating role in the network through its association with tourism policies and regulations, tourism promotion, and cooperation. This further reveals the diverse pathways through which geopolitical risk affects the network, providing a novel perspective for research on the tourism economic network. Full article

Food security serves as the cornerstone of national security, intricately linked to social stability and economic progress. Currently, with the swift evolutions in social economy, logistics and transport, information dissemination, and technological advancements, there has been a marked increase in the cross-regional flow of food production, distribution, and consumption. Consequently, the spatial interdependence of food security across different regions has grown increasingly salient. This paper investigates the spatial interrelationship of food security levels in China through a network analysis framework, examining its determinants and network dynamics. The findings offer valuable insights for decision-makers aiming to optimize agricultural resource allocation and enhance national food security levels. This research establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system for assessing food security levels in China across four dimensions: production security, distribution security, supply security, and consumption security. Employing data from 30 provinces between 2008 and 2022, the entropy method quantifies food security levels, while a modified gravity model underpins the construction of a spatial association network. This framework subsequently examines the network’s structural characteristics and the factors influencing its formation. The results reveal that: (1) China’s food security levels demonstrate a consistent upward trajectory over the study period, though significant regional disparities persist. The central region surpasses the national average, while the eastern and western regions lag. Recently, the western region has shown accelerated improvements in food security, followed by the central area, with the eastern region maintaining steady growth. (2) A structurally robust spatial correlation network of food security has emerged, characterized by variations in the number of network relationships, fluctuations in network density, and a decline in network efficiency while still exhibiting pronounced small-world characteristics. (3) The network displays a clear core-periphery structure, with Shanghai, Beijing, and Jiangsu positioned centrally, playing pivotal intermediary roles, whereas remote provinces such as Gansu, Ningxia, and Liaoning occupy the periphery. (4) The four major regions demonstrate sparse internal connectivity yet robust inter-regional ties, resulting in pronounced spillover effects. (5) Various factors, including geographic distance, provincial proximity, disparities in economic development levels, variations in marketization, differences in agricultural human capital, and disparities in land productivity, significantly impact the establishment of spatial correlations in food security. The affirmative influences of geographic distance and neighboring relations, along with the beneficial shifts in economic development disparities, suggest that the flow of technology and resources plays a crucial role in reinforcing spatial connections. Full article

Facility connectivity plays a pioneering role in the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in 2013. Xinjiang, as the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt bordering eight Eurasian countries, plays a crucial role in cross-border transportation and humanistic exchanges and is the focus of the national connectivity initiative. While the current analysis on regional accessibility has become more diversified, analyses on long-distance cross-border corridors are still relatively rare. Therefore, this paper takes the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China as the main study area extending westward to the five Central Asian countries. Modified accessibility accounting methods and gravity models are used to analyze the current status of accessibility and the strength of economic ties between Xinjiang and the five Central Asian countries. The results showed that the distance decay effect of transportation accessibility between Xinjiang and the five Central Asian countries is obvious; the constraints of “natural geography + transportation economy” affect the accessibility level from each state in Xinjiang to the five Central Asian countries and shows a trend of strength in the north and weakness in the south. From the optimization of the regional planning road network in a reverse projection, G3033 and other highways and the construction of the Yi-A railroad will improve the status quo of “east-west access but not north-south access” in Xinjiang. The “corridor effect” and spatial polarization characteristics of economic connection intensity from Xinjiang to the five Central Asian countries are significant. This study has important theoretical and practical significance for the construction of cross-border corridors. Full article

Background: Asthma is a widespread chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant public health challenge. The current study investigated the associations between air pollution and asthma severity among individuals residing near the Sohar industrial port (SIP) in Oman. Despite the presence of multiple major industrial complexes in Oman, limited knowledge regarding their impact on respiratory health is accredited. Hence, the primary objective of this study is to offer valuable insights into the respiratory health consequences of industrial air pollution in Al Batinah North. Methods: The state health clinics’ records for patient visits related to asthma were collected for the timeframe spanning 2014 to 2022. Exposure was defined as the distance from the SIP, Majan Industerial Area (MIA), and Sohar Industerial Zone (SIZ) to determine high-, intermediate-, and low-exposure zones (<6 km, 6–12 km and >12 km, respectively). Exposure effect modifications by age, gender, and smoking status were also examined. Results: The conducted cross-sectional study of 410 patients (46.1% males and 53.9% females) living in over 17 areas around SIP revealed that 73.2% of asthmatics were under 50 years old, with severity significantly associated with closeness to the port. Risk ratios were estimated to be (RR:2.42; CI95%: 1.01–5.78), (RR:1.91; CI95%: 1.01–3.6), and (RR:1.68; CI95%: 0.92–3.09) for SIP, MIP, and SIZ areas, respectively, compared to the control area. Falaj Al Qabail (6.4 km) and Majees (6 km) had the highest number of asthma patients (N 69 and N 72) and highest percentages of severe asthma cases among these patients (28% and 24%) with significant risk ratios (RR:2.97; CI95%: 1.19–7.45 and RR:2.55; CI95%: 1.00–6.48), correspondingly. Moreover, severe asthma prevalence peaked in the 25–50 age group (RR:2.05; CI95%: 1.26–3.33), and this linkage between asthma and age was much more pronounced in males than females. Smoking and exposure to certain contaminants (dust and smoke) also increased the risk of severe asthma symptoms, but their effects were less important in the high-risk zone, suggesting much more important risk factors. A neural network model accurately predicted asthma risk (94.8% accuracy), with proximity to SIP as the most influential predictor. Conclusions: This study highlights the high asthma burden near SIP, linked to port proximity, smoking, and wind direction as major risk factors. These findings inform vital public health policies to reduce air pollution and improve respiratory health in the region, prompting national policy review. Full article

Woodland bat assemblages are usually structured in a space according to the distance from the ground, water, and obstacles, features that often define chiropteran hunting tactics. Consequently, the bat species composition differs strongly among various habitats, even within the same forest patch. However, when conducting local bat surveys in Wolin National Park (WPN), we revealed an unexpected uniformity in the qualitative and quantitative structure of bat assemblages, based on mist netting and ultrasound recording. In total, 10 vespertilionid species were detected. Across all methods and sampled habitats, a single species, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, predominated, while no Barbastella barbastellus, an old forest specialist, were detected, despite the abundance of their preferred daily roosts. We also reviewed the literature for mist-netted bat samples in four different habitats in lowland Polish forests. The samples usually clustered based on habitats, and the same habitat classes often clustered very closely despite representing geographically distant forests. The exception was WPN, where all four habitat classes formed a tightly packed cluster. We hypothesize that P. pygmaeus might act as a hyperabundant native species, a successful generalist that reduces the contribution of more specialized taxa in the assemblage. It probably benefits from both forest renaturation and anthropogenic cross-boundary subsidy. Full article

Beach handball is a fully developed sporting discipline on all five continents which has attracted the attention of researchers in the last decade, resulting in a proliferation of different studies focusing on players but not on referees. The main objective of this cross-sectional research was to determine the physical demands on elite male beach handball referees in four different competitions: U18 male; U18 female; senior male; and senior female. Twelve elite federated male referees (age: 30.86 ± 8 years; body height: 175.72 ± 4.51 cm; body weight: 80.18 ± 17.99 kg; fat percentage: 20.1 ± 4.41%; national or international experience) belonging to the Technical Committee of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation were recruited for this the study. The physical demands required of referees in official matches were measured by installing a GPS device. The sampling frequency used to record their speed and distance was 15 Hz. A triaxial accelerometer (100 Hz) was used to determine their acceleration. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) between competitions with post hoc comparisons using the Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare among categories. A higher distance covered in zone 1 and speeds of 0 to 6 km-h⁻¹ were recorded. Most accelerations and decelerations occurred in zones 0 and 1 (zone 0: 0 to 1 m·s⁻²; zone 1: 1 to 2 m·s⁻²). The lack of differences (p > 0.05) between most analysed variables suggest quite similar physical demands of the four analysed competitions. These results provide relevant information to design optimal training plans oriented to the real physical demands on referees in an official competition. Full article

Sensory perception of forests is closely related to human health and well-being. Based on attention recovery theory and stress relief theory, this paper investigates the influence of sensory perception of forests on visitors’ restoration effects from a multidimensional and multisensory perspective, integrating the use of a generative large language model, regression analysis, and semantic analysis. The results of the study show that (1) the application of a generative large language model provides new ideas and methods to solve the dilemma caused by the traditional self-report scale measurement and provides a possible way to explore a new research paradigm in the context of the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence; (2) the effects of each sensory quantity differed, with the sensory quantities of sight, hearing, touch, and taste having a significant positive effect on visitors’ restoration effects, and the sense of smell having a significant negative effect on visitors’ restoration effects; (3) sensory psychological distance partially had a significant effect on visitors’ restoration effects, both proximal psychological distance and distal psychological distance were significantly correlated with visitors’ restoration effects, and intermediate psychological distance had a negative effect on visitors’ restoration effects, but the effect was not significant; (4) the sensory dimension has a significant positive effect on visitors’ restoration effects, the integration and synergistic effect of the senses are enhanced, and multidimensional sensory cross-perception has a positive effect on visitors’ restoration effects at the social health level; and (5) the sensory elements of National Forest Parks that influence visitors’ restoration effects are mainly natural attributes, and the elements related to “people” also play an important role in visitors’ restoration effects. This study provides a useful complement to the study of forest sensory perception, and at the same time has an important reference value for exploring the management of forest recreation experience and sensory marketing practices. Full article

In response to the challenges of long crossing distances and difficult site selection for linear engineering projects in mountainous areas, this article proposes a multi-scale engineering geological zoning (EGZ) method. This method is based on the linear engineering construction stage and transitions from regional EGZ to EGZ of key sections (areas with poor or worst engineering geological conditions). This method not only ensures the effect of EGZ but also reduces the workload. When carrying out the EGZ of key sections, the assessment ideas of geological disaster hazards were taken into consideration. An improved method for calculating the time probability and magnitude probability of disaster occurrence is proposed. Taking the National Highway 318 Chengdu-Shigatse section as an example, EGZ was carried out. Its results revealed that the Nyingchi section was the key section with poor and worst engineering geological conditions. EGZ of the key section showed that the areas with poor and worst engineering geological conditions were mainly distributed in the curved sections on the northern side of the linear project. The proposed method in this article provides guidance for EGZ for linear engineering projects in mountainous areas. Full article

This review paper investigates unprecedented recent investment and capital spending in cross-provincial water management and transfer infrastructure in Iran. Although numerous cross-provincial water transfer plans have been implemented in the country, the scale, approach, and stakeholders involved in this recent national plan are unprecedented. This notable national plan includes long water transfer pipelines that pass through seven provinces, aiming at transferring desalinated water from the Persian Gulf to the interior. Regarding the scale, there have been a few cases of transferring water at the cross-provincial level, but mostly across two provinces. The approach has also changed in this plan. Long-term efforts to construct dams for electricity or farming with limited geographical impact have been shifted to desalinating water, long-distance pipe-laying, large-scale electric-powered water pumping, and long-distance underground tunnels. Stakeholders have become more diverse, from the council members of a small village to high-level decision makers at the national level. This paper elaborates on these extraordinary alterations by exemplifying a few other contemporary case studies of water transfer plans in Iran. It also examines the fundamental logic, bottlenecks, and future scenarios of this large-scale plan. Full article