Search Results (1,912)

Urban air pollution remains a significant environmental and public health issue, especially in European coastal cities such as Klaipėda. However, there is still a lack of local-scale knowledge on how land use structure influences pollutant distribution, highlighting the need to address this gap. This study addresses this by examining the spatial distribution of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations in Klaipėda’s seaport city and several inland and coastal resort towns in Lithuania. The research specifically asks how different land cover types and demographic factors affect NO₂ variability and population exposure risk. Data were collected using passive sampling methods and analyzed within a GIS environment. The results revealed clear air quality differences between industrial/port zones and greener resort areas, confirmed by statistically significant associations between land cover types and pollutant levels. Based on these findings, a Land Use Pollution Pressure index (LUPP) and its population-weighted variant (PLUPP) were developed to capture demographic sensitivity. These indices provide a practical decision-support tool for sustainable urban planning, enabling the assessment of pollution risks and the forecasting of air quality changes under different land use scenarios, while contributing to local climate adaptation and urban environmental governance. Full article

We propose a simulation-based design for a flexible color filter (FCF) using a lithium niobate metamaterial (LNM) to investigate its color filtering potential. The FCF is composed of three periodically arranged half-ellipse LN arrays on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate, denoted as LNM-1, LNM-2, and LNM-3. The electromagnetic responses of the FCF can be controlled by adjusting the periods of the LNMs. Our simulations predict high-quality (Q) factors in transmission spectra, ranging from 100 to 200 for LNM-1, 290 to 360 for LNM-2, and 140 to 300 for LNM-3. When the FCF is exposed to the surrounding environments with different refractive indexes, it exhibits a theoretical figure of merit (FOM) up to 900 RIU⁻¹ and a sensitivity reaching 130 nm/RIU. The electromagnetic field distributions reveal strong confinement within the LNM nanostructures, confirming an efficient light–matter interaction. These results indicate that the proposed LNM-based FCF presents a promising design concept for high-performance color sensing and filtering applications. Full article

Introduction: Nurses are the largest group of healthcare workers, and healthcare managers should pay attention to the quality of work life and the health and working capacity of nurses in order to ensure a sufficient number of nurses and a stable workforce. Aim: The present study aimed to determine nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession and to examine the associations between nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 498 nurses completed the instrument, consisting of demographic data, Brooks’ Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey (BQNWL), Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAIQ) and questions on their intention to leave their current job or the nursing profession. Results: Most nurses had a moderate quality of work life (QWL) (73.7%) and a good work ability index (WAI) (43.78%). Men (p = 0.047), nurses who study (p = 0.021), nurses who do not have children (p = 0.000) and nurses who do not take care of their parents (p = 0.000) have a statistically significantly higher total WAIQ score. Most nurses (61.1%) had considered changing jobs in the last 12 months, and 36.9% had considered leaving the nursing profession. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total BQNWL and the total WAI. The study found no correlation between QWL, WAI and intention to change jobs or leave the profession, which was unexpected. Conclusions: To ensure the provision of necessary nursing care and a healthy working environment for nurses, it is necessary to regularly monitor QWL and WAI and take measures to ensure the highest quality of working life. Further longitudinal and mixed-methods research is needed to understand the relationship between QWL, WAI and intention to leave. Full article

The ecological environment is crucial for human survival and development. As ecological issues become more pressing, studying the spatiotemporal evolution of ecological quality (EQ) and its driving mechanisms is vital for sustainable development. This study, based on MODIS data from 2000 to 2022 and the Google Earth Engine platform, constructs a remote sensing ecological index for the Beibu Gulf Urban Agglomeration and analyzes its spatiotemporal evolution using Theil–Sen trend analysis, Hurst index (HI), and geographic detector. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2010, EQ improved, particularly from 2005 to 2010, with a significant increase in areas of excellent and good quality due to national policies and climate improvements. From 2010 to 2015, EQ degraded, with a sharp reduction in areas of excellent quality, likely due to urban expansion and industrial pressures. After 2015, EQ rebounded with successful governance measures. (2) The HI analysis indicates that future changes will continue the past trend, especially in areas like southeastern Chongzuo and northwestern Fangchenggang, where governance efforts were effective. (3) EQ shows a positive spatial correlation, with high-quality areas in central Nanning and Fangchenggang, and low-quality areas in Nanning and Beihai. After 2015, both high–high and low–low clusters showed changes, likely due to ecological governance measures. (4) NDBSI (dryness) is the main driver of EQ changes (q = 0.806), with significant impacts from NDVI (vegetation coverage), LST (heat), and WET (humidity). Urban expansion’s increase in impervious surfaces (NDBSI rise) and vegetation loss (NDVI decline) have a synergistic effect (q = 0.856), significantly affecting EQ. Based on these findings, it is recommended to control construction land expansion, optimize land use structure, protect ecologically sensitive areas, and enhance climate adaptation strategies to ensure continuous improvement in EQ. Full article

Public open spaces have recently attracted significant attention in the national development programs aimed at improving urban livability and quality of life in Saudi Arabia. While many studies have examined the design quality of public open spaces in the country, a contextualized evaluation index that takes into account users’ preferences and the nation’s social context is still lacking. This gap calls for additional field studies to better understand users’ needs and their interactions with the current urban design practices of public open spaces. This study provides deeper insights into the design quality of public open spaces in Saudi Arabia. The study first identified 16 attributes of design quality of public open spaces, and then assessed a case study, Alrabie Park in Al-Khobar city, based on field observation and a survey of users’ satisfaction levels in relation to these quality attributes The findings revealed that the average of users’ satisfaction was 3.76 out of 5.0, indicating a neutral to satisfied response. Key strengths were noted in accessibility and users’ comfort, while areas needing improvement included environmental quality and amenities and services. The study recommends the development of a national evaluation index for public open spaces to create inclusive, safe, and vibrant environments that reflect Saudi Arabia’s urban and socio-cultural context. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in this regard to ensure that the design of public spaces aligns well with the users’ needs and helps to create sustainable urban spaces in the city. Full article

Tomato crops are treated with high concentrations of synthetic fertilizers and insecticides to increase yields, but the careless use of these chemicals harms the environment and human health and affects plant pathogen resistance. The effect of foliar spray of three concentrations of chitosan (500, 1000, and 2000 mg L⁻¹) on plant growth, yield, fruit quality, and physiological performance in two tomato varieties (Floradade and Candela F1) was studied. Physiological traits such as photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, and leaf area index of the plants were positively affected by chitosan, an effective compound that biostimulates growth, with increases in biomass of organs with respect to the control treatment. Chitosan also improved tomato quality, such as increases in polyphenols, antioxidant capacity, flavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C, and total soluble solids in both tomato varieties. Finally, yield increased by 76.4% and 65.4% in Floradade and Candela F1, respectively. The responses of tomato plants to chitosan application were different depending on the variety evaluated, indicating a differential response to the biostimulant. The use of chitosan in agriculture is a tool that has no negative effects on plants and the environment and can increase the productive capacity of tomato plants. Full article

Small reservoirs have important functions, such as water resource guarantee, flood control and drought resistance, biological habitat and maintaining regional economic development. In order to better clarify the impact of agricultural activities on the nutritional status of water bodies in small reservoirs, zooplankton were quantitatively collected from four small reservoirs in the Jiuxianshan agricultural area of Qufu, Shandong Province, in March and October 2023, respectively. The physical and chemical parameters in sampling points were determined simultaneously. Meanwhile, water samples were collected for nutrient salt analysis, and the eutrophication of water bodies in four reservoirs was evaluated using the comprehensive nutrient status index method. The research found that the species richness of zooplankton after farming (100 species) was significantly higher than that before farming (81 species) (p < 0.05). On the contrary, the dominant species of zooplankton after farming (7 species) were significantly fewer than those before farming (11 species). The estimation results of the standing stock of zooplankton indicated that the abundance and biomass of zooplankton after farming (92.72 ind./L, 0.13 mg/L) were significantly higher than those before farming (32.51 ind./L, 0.40 mg/L) (p < 0.05). Community similarity analysis based on zooplankton abundance (ANOSIM) indicated that there were significant differences in zooplankton communities before and after farming (R = 0.329, p = 0.001). The results of multi-dimensional non-metric sorting (NMDS) showed that the communities of zooplankton could be clearly divided into two: pre-farming communities and after farming communities. The Monte Carlo test results are as follows (p < 0.05). Transparency (Trans), pH, permanganate index (COD_Mn), electrical conductivity (Cond) and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) had significant effects on the community structure of zooplankton before farming. Total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and electrical conductivity (Cond) had significant effects on the community structure of zooplankton after farming. The co-linearity network analysis based on zooplankton abundance showed that the zooplankton community before farming was more stable than that after farming. The water evaluation results based on the comprehensive nutritional status index method indicated that the water conditions of the reservoirs before farming were mostly in a mild eutrophic state, while the water conditions of the reservoirs after farming were all in a moderate eutrophic state. The results show that the nutritional status of small reservoirs in agricultural areas is significantly affected by agricultural activities. The zooplankton communities in small reservoirs underwent significant changes driven by alterations in the reservoir water environment and nutritional status. Based on the main results of this study, we suggested that the use of fertilizers and pesticides should be appropriately reduced in future agricultural activities. In order to better protect the water quality and aquatic ecology of the water reservoirs in the agricultural area. Full article

With the digital economy continuing to integrate deeply into the agricultural sector, agricultural digital transformation has emerged as a pivotal driver of rural revitalization and the development of a robust agricultural economy. Although existing studies have affirmed the positive role of agricultural digital transformation in promoting rural development and enhancing agricultural efficiency, its spatiotemporal evolution patterns, regional disparities, and underlying driving factors have not yet been systematically and thoroughly investigated. This study seeks to fill that gap. Based on provincial panel data from China spanning 2011 to 2023, this study employs the Theil index, kernel density estimation, Moran’s index, and quantile regression to systematically assess the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of agricultural digital transformation at both national and regional levels. The results reveal a steady overall improvement in agricultural digital transformation, yet regional development imbalances remain prominent, with a shift from inter-regional disparities to intra-regional disparities over time. The four major regions exhibit a stratified evolutionary trajectory marked by internal differentiation: the eastern region retains its lead, while central and western regions show potential for catch-up, and the northeastern region faces a “balance trap.” Economic development foundation, human capital quality, and policy environment support are identified as the core driving forces of transformation, while other factors demonstrate pronounced regional and phase-specific variability. This study not only deepens theoretical understanding of the uneven development and driving logic of agricultural digital transformation but also provides empirical evidence to support policy optimization and promote more balanced and sustainable development in the agricultural sector. Full article

According to Victor Ernest Shelford’s ‘Law of Tolerance,’ organisms within ecosystems thrive optimally when environmental conditions are favorable. Applying this principle to ecosystems and agro-ecosystems facing water scarcity or environmental challenges can significantly enhance their productivity. In these ecosystems, phytocenosis adjusts its conditions by utilizing water with varying salinity levels. Moreover, establishing optimal drinking water conditions for human populations within an ecosystem can help mitigate future negative succession processes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of two distinct water sources in the Amudarya district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan: collector-drainage water and groundwater at depths of 10 to 25 m. This research is highly relevant in the context of climate change, as improper management of water salinity, particularly in collector-drainage water, may exacerbate soil salinization and degrade drinking water quality. The primary methodology of this study is as follows: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) standard for collector-drainage water is applied, and the water quality index is assessed using the CCME WQI model. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) model is adapted to assess groundwater quality using Uzbekistan’s national drinking water quality standards. The results of two years of collected data, i.e., 2021 and 2023, show that the water quality index of collector-drainage water indicates that it has limited potential for use as secondary water for the irrigation of sensitive crops and has been classified as ‘Poor’. As a result, salinity increased by 8.33% by 2023. In contrast, groundwater quality was rated as ‘Fair’ in 2021, showing a slight deterioration by 2023. Moreover, a comparative analysis of CCME WQI values for collector-drainage and groundwater in the region, in conjunction with findings from Ethiopia, India, Iraq, and Turkey, indicates a consistent decline in water quality, primarily due to agriculture and various other anthropogenic pollution sources, underscoring the critical need for sustainable water resource management. This study highlights the need to use organic fertilizers in agriculture to protect drinking water quality, improve crop yields, and promote soil health, while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Furthermore, adopting WQI models under changing climatic conditions can improve agricultural productivity, enhance groundwater quality, and provide better environmental monitoring systems. Full article

Urban form plays a crucial role in regulating urban thermal environments and air pollution patterns. However, the indirect mechanisms through which urban form influences PM2.5 concentrations via land surface temperature (LST) remain poorly understood. This study investigates these pathways by analyzing representative two- and three-dimensional urban form indices (UFIs) in the central urban area of Taiyuan, China. Multiple log-linear regression and mediation analysis were applied to evaluate the combined effects of urban form on LST and PM2.5. The results indicate that UFIs significantly influence both LST and PM2.5. The frontal area index (FAI) and sky view factor (SVF) emerged as key variables, with LST playing a significant mediating role. The indirect pathways affecting PM2.5 via LST, along with the direct LST-PM2.5 correlation, exhibit pronounced seasonal differences in direction and intensity. Moreover, different urban functional zones exhibit heterogeneous responses to the same form indices, highlighting the spatial variability of these linkages. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating seasonal and spatial differences into urban design. Accordingly, this study proposes targeted urban form optimization strategies to improve air quality and thermal comfort, offering theoretical insights and practical guidance for sustainable urban planning. Full article

This study investigates the health impacts of air pollution in the Greater Athens Area (GAA), Greece, by estimating the Relative Risk (RR) of hospital admissions (HA) for cardiovascular (CVD) and respiratory diseases (RD) from 2018 to 2020. The analysis focuses on daily exceedances of key air pollutants—PM₁₀, O₃, and NO₂—based on the “Fair” threshold and above, as defined by the European Union Air Quality Index (EU AQI). Data from ten monitoring stations operated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy were spatially matched with six hospitals across the GAA. A Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM) was employed to capture both the delayed and non-linear exposure–response (ER) relationships between pollutant exceedances and daily HA. Additionally, the synergistic effects of pollutant interactions were assessed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of cumulative health risks. The combined exposure term showed a peak RR of 1.49 (95% CI: 0.79–2.78), indicating a notable amplification of risk when multiple pollutants exceed thresholds simultaneously. The study utilizes R for data processing and statistical modeling. Findings aim to inform public health strategies by identifying critical exposure thresholds and time-lagged effects, ultimately supporting targeted interventions in urban environments experiencing air quality challenges. Full article

The relationship between economic progress and environmental quality remains a central focus in global sustainability discourse. This study examines the link between per capita economic growth and CO₂ emissions across 128 countries from 1996 to 2022, controlling for energy consumption, trade volume, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. It also evaluates the role of governance quality—measured by regulatory quality and its volatility—while considering the globalization index as a confounding factor influencing CO₂ emissions. We test the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, which suggests that emissions initially rise with income but decline after reaching a certain economic threshold. Our findings confirm the global presence of the EKC. The analysis further shows that trade openness, governance, and globalization significantly influence FDI inflows, with FDI, in turn, reinforcing institutional quality through improved governance and globalization indicators. However, in countries with weaker governance and regulatory frameworks, FDI tends to promote pollution-intensive industrial growth, lending support to aspects of the Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH). We find a significant departure in EKC explained by post-COVID governance and globalization compromises, which induced the environment towards the PHH phenomenon. These results highlight the need for context-specific policy measures that align economic development with environmental constraints. Full article

Extended reality (XR)-based rehabilitation is an emerging therapeutic approach that combines real and virtual environments to enhance patient engagement and promote motor and cognitive recovery. Its clinical utility in children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly regarding gross motor skills, balance, and psychosocial well-being, remains underexplored. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of XR-based rehabilitation on gross motor function, balance, parental stress, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Thirty children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to an extended reality training group (XRT, n = 15) or a conventional physical therapy group (CPT, n = 15). Both groups received 30 min sessions, three times per week for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), assessed pre- and post-intervention. A 2 (group) × 2 (time) mixed ANOVA was conducted. The XR group demonstrated improvements in GMFM-88, PBS, and FIM scores, with decreased PSI and increased PedsQL scores. Although most interaction effects were not statistically significant (GMFM-88: η² = 0.035, p = 0.329; PBS: η² = 0.043, p = 0.274), a marginal interaction effect was observed for PSI (p = 0.065, η² = 0.059), suggesting a potential benefit of XR-based rehabilitation in reducing parental stress. This preliminary study indicates that XR-based rehabilitation may provide beneficial trends in motor function and psychosocial health in children with CP, particularly in reducing parental stress. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Full article

Regional ecological environmental quality (EEQ) is a vital indicator for environmental management and supporting sustainable development. However, the absence of robust and accurate EEQ prediction models has hindered effective environmental strategies. This study proposes a novel approach to address this gap by integrating the ecological index (EI) model with several predictive models, including autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and cellular automata (CA), to forecast regional EEQ. Initially, the spatiotemporal evolution of the input data used to calculate the EI score was analyzed. Subsequently, tailored prediction models were developed for each dataset. These models were sequentially trained and validated, and their outputs were integrated into the EI model to enhance the accuracy and coherence of the final EEQ predictions. The novelty of this methodology lies not only in integrating existing predictive models but also in employing an innovative fusion technique that significantly improves prediction accuracy. Despite data quality issues in the case study dataset led to higher prediction errors in certain regions, the overall results exhibit a high degree of accuracy. A comparison of long-term EI predictions with EI assessment results reveals that the R² value for the EI score exceeds 0.96, and the kappa value surpasses 0.76 for the EI level, underscoring the robust performance of the integrated model in forecasting regional EEQ. This approach offers valuable insights into exploring regional EEQ trends and future challenges. Full article

Background: Sarcopenia significantly affects the health and quality of life in older adults. Exercise combined with nutritional interventions is widely recognized as an effective strategy for improving sarcopenia outcomes. However, current studies rarely focus on differential effects across subpopulations with distinct demographic and health characteristics. This study aimed to explore the effects of combined exercise and nutrition interventions on sarcopenia-related outcomes, considering the variations in population characteristics. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, covering the literature published between January 2010 and March 2025. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating combined exercise and nutritional interventions for sarcopenia were included. The primary outcomes were handgrip strength (HS), the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), gait speed (GS), and the five-times sit-to-stand test (5STS). The mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Random-effects models were used for the meta-analysis and subgroup comparisons. Results: Fifteen RCTs involving 1258 participants in the intervention group and 1233 in the control group were included. Exercise combined with nutritional interventions significantly improved sarcopenia-related outcomes. HS improved with a pooled MD of 1.77 kg (95% CI: 0.51 to 3.03, p = 0.006); SMI increased by 0.22 kg/m² (95% CI: 0.09 to 0.35, p = 0.0007); GS improved by 0.09 m/s (95% CI: 0.04 to 0.14, p = 0.0002); and 5STS performance improved with a time reduction of −1.38 s (95% CI: −2.47 to −0.28, p = 0.01). Subgroup analyses indicated that the intervention effects varied according to age, BMI, and living environment. Conclusions: Exercise combined with nutrition is effective in improving key outcomes associated with sarcopenia in older adults. The magnitude of these effects differed across population subgroups, underscoring the importance of tailoring interventions to specific demographic and health profiles. Full article