Search Results (590)

Assessing a city’s level of smartness according to global indices is a relatively new area of investigation. It is useful in encouraging a rethinking of urban digital strategies, although the different approaches to global smart city rankings have been subject to criticism. This paper highlights the methodological features of constructing the Smart City Index (SCI) from the IMD (International Institute for Management Development) based on residents’ assessments, their satisfaction with electronic services, and their perception of the priority of urban infrastructure areas. The Central European cities of the Visegrad region (Prague/Czech Republic, Budapest/Hungary, Bratislava/Slovakia, Warsaw and Krakow/Poland) were chosen as the basis for an in-depth analysis. The architectonics, i.e., the internal system of constructing and calculating city rankings by SCI, is analyzed. A comparative analysis of the technology indicators (e-services) in five cities of the Visegrad region, presented in the SCI, showed the smart features of each city. The progressive and regressive trends in the dynamics of smartness in the cities in the Visegrad region were identified in five urban spheres indicated in the Index: Government, Activity, Health and Safety, Mobility, and Opportunities. This also made it possible to identify certain methodological gaps in the SCI in establishing interdependencies between the data on the residents’ perception of the priority of areas of life in a particular city and the residents’ level of satisfaction with electronic services. In particular, the structural indicators “Affordable housing” and “Green spaces” are not supported by e-services. This research aims to bridge this methodological gap by proposing a model for evaluating the e-service according to the degree of coverage of different spheres of life in the city. The application of the project, as well as cross-sectoral and systemic approaches, made it possible to develop basic models for assessing the value of e-services. These models can be implemented by municipalities to assess and monitor e-services, as well as to select IT projects and elaborate strategies for smart sustainable city development. Full article

Air pollution caused by pesticide residues is an emerging concern in urban environments influenced by nearby agricultural activities. In this study, weekly air samples were collected between May 2018 and March 2020 in Strasbourg, France, to quantify 104 pesticides in both gas and particle phases using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Herbicides and fungicides were the most frequently detected classes, appearing in 98% of both phases followed by insecticides. Key compounds such as metalaxyl-M, diphenylamine, and bifenthrin were present in over 90% of samples. Concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 63 ng m⁻³ weekly, with cumulative annual loads exceeding 1200 ng m⁻³. Gas–particle partitioning revealed that highly volatile compounds like azinphos-ethyl favored the gas phase, while less volatile ones like bifenthrin and tebuconazole partitioned >95% into particles. A third-degree polynomial regression (R² of 0.74) revealed a nonlinear relationship between Kₚ and particle-phase concentrations, highlighting a threshold above Kₚ of 0.025 beyond which compounds accumulate disproportionately in the particulate phase. Seasonal variability showed that 36% of the annual pesticide load occurred in autumn, with total airborne levels peaking near 400 ng m⁻³, while the lowest load occurred during summer. Principal component analysis identified rainfall and total suspended particles as major drivers of pesticide phase distribution. The inhalation health risk assessed yielded hazard index values < 1 × 10⁻⁷ for all population groups, suggesting negligible non-cancer risk. This study highlights the prevalence, seasonal dynamics, and partition behavior of airborne pesticides in urban air and underscores the need for regulatory attention to this overlooked exposure route. Full article

Fungal infections are recognized as a global health issue, in particular considering the spread of different forms of resistance to the commonly used antifungal drugs and their involvement in the occurrence of co-infections in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. In this paper, a small series of hybrid compounds were designed and synthesized by linking the privileged chromone and xanthone scaffolds, endowed with recognized antimicrobial potential, to the tert-butylbenzylamino portion of the antifungal drug butenafine, through selected linkers. The results showed for the xanthone-based compound 3 a promising activity towards C. auris, C. tropicalis, and C. neoformans, for which a high degree of resistance is commonly observed, together with a significant antibacterial potency towards Gram-positive bacteria, such as S. aureus. Considering that compound 3 displayed favorable selectivity and therapeutic indexes (9.1 and >16, respectively), it appeared as a valuable prototype, deserving further hit-to-lead optimization. Full article

With increasing global climate change, extreme weather threats to indoor environments are growing. Heatwave events provide essential data for building thermal resilience analysis. However, existing heatwave definition indicators vary widely and lack standardized criteria. To more accurately evaluate indoor overheating risks, this study compared indoor overheating responses under different heatwave definition indicators, considering the temporal disconnect between indoor and outdoor heat conditions. Focusing on Beijing, this study established an indoor–outdoor coupled heatwave evaluation framework using 1951–2021 meteorological data and the heat index as an overheating metric. By analyzing indoor overheating degree and overlap degree to characterize indoor–outdoor correlations, we concluded that different definitions of heatwaves lead to variations in identifications, while multidimensional indicators better capture extreme events. Heatwaves with prolonged duration and high intensity pose greater health risks. Although Beijing’s indoor thermal conditions are generally safe, peak heat indices during summer heatwaves exceed danger thresholds in some buildings, highlighting thermal safety concerns. The metrics for heatwave 6 and heatwave 7 optimally integrate indoor–outdoor characteristics with higher thresholds identifying more extreme events. These findings support the design of building thermal resilience, overheating early warnings, and climate-adaptive electrification strategies. Full article

Heavy metal pollution of lake sediments is one of the prominent ecological and environmental problems worldwide, and it is of great significance to conduct research on heavy metal pollution in lake sediments to protect the ecological environment, safeguard human health, and promote sustainable development. As an integral part of Dongting Lake, Datong Lake holds a crucial ecological position. More than 10 years ago, due to a series of factors, including excessive fertilizer application and fishing, the water quality of Datong Lake declined, resulting in varying degrees of contamination by Cd, Mn, and other heavy metals in the sediments. After 2017, Datong Lake began to establish a mechanism for protecting and managing the lake, and its ecological and environmental problems have been significantly improved. To clarify the current situation of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Datong Lake, 15 sediment samples were collected from the lake, and the contents of soil heavy metals Cd, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn were determined. A Monte Carlo simulation was introduced to carry out the ecological and human health risk evaluation of the sediments in the study area to overcome the problem of low reliability of the results of ecological and human health risk evaluation due to the randomness and incompleteness of the environmental data as well as the differences in the human body parameters. The results and conclusions show that (1) the average values of Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn contents in the sediments of Datong Lake are higher than the background values of soil elements in the sediments of Dongting Lake, and the average values of As contents of heavy metals are lower than the background values of the soil, and the heavy metal contamination in the sediments in the study area is dominated by slight contamination, and the possibility of point-source contamination is slight. (2) The results of both the Geo-accumulation index and Enrichment factor evaluation showed that the degree of heavy metal contamination of sediments was Ni > Cu > Cr > Mn > Cd > Pb > Zn > As. (3) The average value of the single ecological risk index of heavy metal elements, in descending order, was as follows: Cd > As > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cr > Zn > Mn; all the heavy metal elements were at the level of light pollution, and the average value of the comprehensive ecological risk index was 32.83, which is a slight ecological risk level. (4) Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for all populations in the study area remain low following heavy metal exposure via ingestion and dermal pathways. Ecological and health risk assessments identified As and Cd as exhibiting significantly higher sensitivity than other heavy metals. Consequently, continuous monitoring and source-tracking of these elements are recommended to safeguard long-term ecological integrity and public health in the region. Full article

This study was carried out to fill the present research gap in the study area by assessing water chemistry, potential heavy metal contamination, and the associated health risk evaluation that goes along with it in surface water bodies and groundwater in the NE of Maramureș County, near the Tisa River. The main methods we applied were Piper, Ficklin–Caboi, and Gibbs diagrams for determining the water typology and chemistry, the Overall Water Quality Index (OWQI) and vegetation cover to determine the water quality, a contamination index for analyzing the contamination degree, and a human health risk assessment through water ingestion after exposure of children and adults. This article’s main findings specify that waters were characterized and classified into the CaMgHCO₃⁻ dominant category of water type, with precipitation, agricultural, and domestic inputs, related to the Cl⁻ (mean ranging between 1.01–5.65 mg/L) and NO₃⁻ (mean ranging between 2.23–5.52 mg/L) content. The OWQI scores indicated excellent quality, below the critical value, ranging between 0.70 and 6.57. The applied risk assessment indicated that the daily intake of toxins is higher in the case of children than in adults, up to four and five times. The hazard quotient scores, ranging between 0.00093 and 0.248 for adults and between 0.0039 and 1.040 for children, indicated that if consumed, the studied waters can pose potential negative effects on children. Full article

Background/Objective: The impact that lifestyle has on someone’s health has been widely proven. And the lifestyle can also be highly influenced by the sociodemographic background; however, there is less literature that focuses on this matter. Hence, the objective of the present study is to analyze the influence of sociodemographic variables on the lifestyle of the adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in 20 health centers of the Community of Madrid (Spain). A total of 365 participants were scheduled for nursing consultations and recruited through systematic probabilistic sampling. Lifestyle was assessed using the “Ponte a 100” questionnaire; based on the total score achieved by the participants, these were categorized into four groups depending on their need to adopt healthier lifestyle habits: minimal need (80–100 points), mild need (60–79 points), moderate need (40–59 points), and high need (<39 points). Results: Values ranged from 23 to 98 points in the Lifestyle Index (ISEV), with an average of 71.8 (SD = 14.6 points). Older individuals had better eating habits (β = −1.982), while younger individuals had better physical activity habits and a higher consumption of toxic substances. Men consumed more alcohol (β = −2.307) and felt happier with their lives, while women took more active breaks. Being a student was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety, lower physical activity and leisure time, and higher alcohol consumption. Retirees had better emotional well-being indices (β = 0.999). Lower income levels were associated with occasional drug use and poorer emotional well-being. People with university degrees had better emotional states (β = 0.861) and better eating habits (β = 1.652) and engaged in more intense physical activity. Having no chronic diseases was related to being more physically active (β = 1.789). Conclusions: The study population generally presents a healthy lifestyle. The dimension of emotional well-being was the most influenced by sociodemographic factors. This study contributes to understanding the impact of socioeconomic variables on lifestyle. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inequalities in access to nursing professionals represent a significant challenge to achieving equity in healthcare systems. In decentralized countries like Italy, disparities in the distribution of nurses persist despite a universal national health system. This study investigates the extent and determinants of regional inequality in the distribution of the nursing workforce in Italy. Methods: A retrospective ecological analysis was conducted using administrative data from official national sources (ISTAT, Ministry of Health) concerning the number of nurses and population per region, along with Human Development Index (HDI) data from 2021. Descriptive statistics, the Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve, and Pearson correlation were used to assess inequality and identify influencing factors. Results: The national Gini coefficient was 0.136, indicating a moderate degree of inequality in the distribution of nurses across Italian regions. A strong positive correlation was observed between HDI and nurse-to-population ratio (r = 0.76, p < 0.001), suggesting that more developed regions have higher nursing density. Conclusions: Despite a universal healthcare system, Italy shows persistent regional disparities in nurse distribution. These findings emphasize the need for targeted policies and coordinated planning to reduce inequalities and ensure equitable access to nursing care across all regions. Full article

Complex feedback mechanisms and interdependencies exist among the water–energy–food–ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. In water-scarce regions, fluctuations in the supply or demand of any single subsystem can destabilize the others, with water shortages intensifying conflicts among food production, energy consumption, and ecological sustainability. Balancing the synergies and trade-offs within the WEFE system is therefore essential for achieving sustainable development. This study adopts the natural–social water cycle as the core process and develops a coupled simulation model of the WEFE (CSM-WEFE) system, integrating food production, ecological water replenishment, and energy consumption associated with water supply and use. Based on three performance indices—reliability, coupling coordination degree, and equilibrium—a coordinated sustainable development index (CSD) is constructed to quantify the performance of WEFE system under different scenarios. An integrated evaluation framework combining the CSM-WEFE and the CSD index is then proposed to assess the sustainability of WEFE systems. The framework is applied to the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region, a representative water-scarce area in China. Results reveal that the current balance between water supply and socio-economic demand in the BTH region relies heavily on excessive groundwater extraction and the appropriation of ecological water resources. Pursuing food security goals further exacerbates groundwater overexploitation and ecological degradation, thereby undermining system coordination. In contrast, limiting groundwater use improves ecological conditions but increases regional water scarcity and reduces food self-sufficiency. Even with the full operation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (Middle Route), the region still experiences a 16.4% water shortage. By integrating the CSM-WEFE model with the CSD evaluation approach, the proposed framework not only provides a robust tool for assessing WEFE system sustainability but also offers practical guidance for alleviating water shortages, enhancing food security, and improving ecological health in water-scarce regions. Full article

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate uterine prolapse (UP) among women attending a semi-urban health center for routine gynecological examinations. Specifically, the study explores the potential association between UP and various established or suspected risk factors, including age, menopausal status, number and mode of deliveries, birth weight, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, it examines the relationship between the presence or severity of UP and the scores of specific questionnaires and their subscales. Finally, the study seeks to develop a predictive model for the likelihood of UP based on questionnaire responses. Methods: A quantitative study was conducted at the gynecological department of a health center in Greece from January 2021 to October 2022. A total of 134 women were recruited using convenience sampling during routine gynecological visits. The degree of prolapse was classified according to the International Continence Society (ICS) Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) classification system. Data collection also included the use of validated instruments: the Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ), the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7). The data were processed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v25. Results: Of the 134 participants, 21 (15.7%) aged 21 to 82 showed signs of UP, while 113 women (84.3%) did not. The average age of the women with UP was 55 years. Fourteen (10.4%) of these women were diagnosed with UP stage I, three of them (2.2%) with stage II, and four of them (3%) with stage III UP. There were no stage IV UP incidents. The risk factors associated with the disease include age, mode of delivery, parity, and duration of menopause. Regarding parity, every subsequent birth after the first one increases the likelihood of a UP incident by approximately 125%. Conclusions: Most women with UP did not exhibit severe symptoms, as UP typically does not manifest symptoms until it reaches a final stage. Considering the population aging and the increase in morbidity, a regular pelvic organ prolapse (POP) checkup should be established to facilitate early recognition, prevention, and treatment of symptoms. This study offers a potential tool for non-invasive screening to facilitate identifying UP in women early, which has not been previously reported. Full article

The phytoaccumulation of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Pb in Tilia cordata flowers and soils from six locations with varying degrees of anthropopressure in Bydgoszcz city and its surroundings (Poland) was assessed. Additionally, metal concentrations and soil enzymatic activity were analyzed. Enrichment Factor analysis revealed significant Zn enrichment at only one locality, supported by a geoaccumulation index value indicating moderate soil pollution. Total metal content in soils correlated with total organic carbon (TOC), while total iron content correlated with the clay fraction (<0.002 mm). Metal concentrations were comparable to the geochemical background levels for soils in Poland. Assessment of total metal contents in the topsoil surface layer from the six locations indicated that concentrations did not exceed permissible limits established by applicable legislation. The study showed that sampling locations influenced the activities of dehydrogenase (DHA), fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA), β-glucosidase (GL), and arylsulfatase (AR), and these activities correlated more strongly with pedogenic factors than with metal content. No elevated metal levels were detected in the dry mass of T. cordata flowers. Lead content did not exceed 10 mg·kg⁻¹ dry matter, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Continued monitoring of trace element levels in soils and T. cordata flowers, particularly in urban environments, is advisable. Full article

Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and fatigue are two impactful symptoms, frequently associated with sleep disorders, which can worsen the quality of life. Due to overlapping features and patient-report ambiguity a clear-cut distinction between EDS and fatigue can become a challenging issue. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and consequences of these two conditions in several sleep pathologies, examining their social, psychological, and dietary impact, with a focus on gender-related differences and occupational status. Methods: We prospectively recruited for an online survey 136 adult outpatients (60 females) affected by various sleep disorders and admitted to our Sleep Disorders Center in Parma, Italy. Patients were asked to complete the following tests: Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, Hyperarousal Scale, the Addiction-like Eating Behaviors Scale, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, MEDI-Lite, and EQ-5D Health Questionnaire. Results:Fatigue was the primary daily symptom leading to serious repercussions on social/emotional and psychological well-being, while daytime sleepiness showed a less relevant role. Women reported higher levels of fatigue, sleep disturbances, emotional dysregulation, hyperarousal, and work productivity impairments. Unemployed people experienced a higher degree of fatigue, with multi-level negative consequences. Conclusions: We suggest sleep clinicians place a greater emphasis on the assessment of fatigue during clinical interviews, keeping in mind the greater vulnerability of females, experiencing disproportionate consequences. Further studies should expand our findings, exploring a wider range of gender identities and recruiting larger samples of patients. Full article

Background: A comprehensive understanding of chronic pain is crucial for assessing its impact on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the ICOAP into Brazilian Portuguese for individuals with KOA. Methods: A total of 133 individuals with KOA participated. Phase 1 involved the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the ICOAP into Brazilian Portuguese. In Phase 2, the pre-final version was tested, and in Phase 3, the final version was validated with 103 participants. Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman’s correlation with the Numeric Rating Pain Scale (NRPS), the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Internal structure was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using fit indices: chi-square/degrees of freedom (χ²/df), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI), and Tucker–Lewis index (TLI). Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha (α), and floor and ceiling effects were examined. A subsample of 53 participants was used to assess test–retest reliability through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimum detectable change (MDC). Results: The ICOAP showed adequate fit indices. Reliability analysis demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and test–retest reliability. However, only the constant pain domain exhibited convergent validity. Conclusions: The Brazilian Portuguese version of the ICOAP consists of two independent domains with good internal consistency and reliability. However, only the constant pain domain showed appropriate convergent validity. Full article

Accurate structural health monitoring (SHM) is crucial for ensuring safety and preventing catastrophic failures. However, conventional parameter identification methods often assume a fixed-base foundation, neglecting the significant influence of soil–structure interaction (SSI) on the dynamic response, leading to inaccurate damage assessments, especially under seismic loading. Therefore, we introduce a novel approach that explicitly incorporates SSI effects into parameter identification for frame structures, utilizing an optimized variational mode decomposition (VMD) technique. The core innovation is the application of the Subtraction Average-Based Optimizer (SABO) algorithm, coupled with permutation entropy as the fitness function, to optimize the critical VMD parameters. This SABO-VMD method was rigorously validated through a shaking table test on a 12-story frame structure on soft soil. Comparative analysis with EMD and conventional VMD demonstrated that SABO-VMD provides a superior time–frequency representation of the structural response, capturing non-stationary characteristics more effectively. A novel energy entropy index, derived from the SABO-VMD output with SSI, was developed for quantitative damage assessment. It revealed 8.1% lower degree of structural damage compared to the fixed-base assumption. The proposed SABO-VMD-based approach, by explicitly accounting for SSI, offers a substantial advancement in SHM of frame structures, leading to more reliable safety evaluations and improved seismic resilience. Full article

Recently, the ecological awareness of society and the need to take care of the natural environment have increased significantly. There is also an urgent problem of searching for new, environmentally friendly, and safe for people plant protection techniques using biological preparations, which reduce the intensive and cause significant health problems chemical protection. The study was conducted in a foil tunnel on the ‘Red House’ cultivar roses grown using an adapted method with shoot bending. Maintaining their health under tunnel conditions is often problematic. The study determined the effect of biopreparations on plant health (disease index), photosynthesis parameters, and gas exchange, as well as the species composition of fungi inhabiting roses. The preparations used did not negatively affect the process of photosynthesis and gas exchange. Among the 25 species of fungi obtained from its organs, the polyphagous species Botrytis cinerea dominated; the organs were very often colonized by fungi from the genera Fusarium, Phoma, and Alternaria alternata. The highest concentration of the Biosept 33 SL biopreparation shows a protective effect similar to that of the preparations used in chemical protection, and the degree of leaf blade infection shows a similar level. Full article