Search Results (30,863)

Exposure to high-quality visual environments characterized by features such as structural order, biophilic/natural elements, and positive atmosphere is important for walking experience within community life circles (CLCs). However, compared with the static configuration of visual environments within CLCs, dynamic walking-based exposure may highlight unpredictable encounter areas and heterogeneous environmental quality. Neglecting this mismatch may misdirect environmental interventions and limit their health-promoting potential. This study aims to integrate multidimensional visual environment features into interpretable scene clusters to improve comparability and measure configuration–exposure mismatches across CLCs at scale. We examine 1262 CLCs in Harbin, China, identifying visual scene clusters from 67,840 street-view images and extracting exposure frequencies from 981,500 mobility tracks. The results show that (1) eight scene clusters effectively describe the complex visual environments of CLCs; (2) significant small-to-moderate mismatches exist between configuration and exposure; (3) the trend of commute-related walking activity is often consistent with strengthened exposure to high-disorder scenes and weakened exposure to some high-quality scenes with positive atmospheres. This study provides a data-driven framework for identifying mismatches in both the intensity and spatial distribution of visual scene configuration and exposure, supporting refined community environmental governance. Full article

Mosquito control is a critical operational requirement for tropical resort islands, where guest comfort, staff wellbeing, and public health depend on effective management of biting insects. In many island tourism destinations, including the Maldives, mosquito control programs rely heavily on routine insecticide space spraying (fogging or misting). While such interventions can temporarily reduce adult mosquito abundance, their effects are often short-lived. High-frequency applications are therefore common practice but may create risks for human health, biodiversity, and fragile island ecosystems. Here, we examine how mosquito control in the Maldivian tourism and hospitality sector could transition from pesticide-dependent approaches toward ecological mosquito management practices. Drawing on operational experience from fourteen Maldivian resort islands and current knowledge of mosquito ecology, we compare conventional insecticide-based control with alternative approaches including surveillance-based management, larval habitat reduction or modification, biological control, mass trapping of mosquitoes, or combinations thereof. The geographically bounded nature of resort islands, combined with centralized management and strong sustainability commitments within the tourism sector, creates unusually favorable conditions for implementing integrated mosquito management strategies. We propose a practical transition framework that prioritizes monitoring, habitat management, and sustained population suppression while reducing or eliminating routine insecticide applications. Importantly, our operational experience demonstrates that implementation can be simple and practical, requiring only modest adjustments to existing resort operations. Such approaches can improve guest and staff safety, protect island biodiversity, reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, minimize the noise, olfactory and visual disturbances associated with routine fogging and mist-blower operations, and strengthen the environmental sustainability credentials of tropical tourism destinations. Full article

Background: The global shift to sustainable diets has raised interest in plant-based protein sources, particularly pulses, due to their nutritional value, health benefits, and low environmental impact. Pulses are rich in protein, dietary fiber, and a variety of bioactive compounds that may influence gut microbiota and metabolic health. Objective: This narrative review aims to evaluate the role of pulse consumption in modulating gut microbiota, improving metabolic health, and contributing to the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), while considering the impact of processing techniques such as fermentation and sustainability aspects. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using major scientific databases to identify relevant studies published during the last 10 years. Evidence from in vitro, in vivo experimental and human studies was included, focusing on pulse composition, bioactive compounds, gut microbiota modulation, metabolic outcomes, and the effects of processing methods such as fermentation. Results: Pulses demonstrate promising potential to improve gut health by promoting beneficial microbiota, increasing short-chain fatty acid production, and enhancing intestinal barrier function. Evidence also suggests favorable effects on lipid metabolism, glycemic control, and inflammation. Processing techniques, particularly fermentation, improve nutrient bioavailability, digestibility, and bioactive profiles. Beyond health outcomes, this review places pulses in the larger context, emphasizing their contribution to healthy, sustainable diets. Conclusions: Pulses are key components for achieving sustainable, health-promoting diets with promising effects on gut and metabolic health. However, current evidence is largely derived from preclinical studies, highlighting the need for long-term human interventions and scalable processing strategies to fully realize their potential. Full article

To mitigate the health and environmental risks of urbanisation and the urban heat island effect, urban planning is shifting towards promoting active mobility. The success of these efforts largely depends on understanding people’s thermal comfort on the move, driving research towards the investigation of the complex interdependencies between microclimatic conditions and the real-time experiences of pedestrians and cyclists. This literature review aims to present the state of the art of research at the neighbourhood and street levels by analysing the methodological frameworks employed and the outcomes achieved. The paper adopts a thematic clustering approach, grouping the articles on the basis of their research objectives, methodologies and the relationships between active mobility and comfort. The literature review highlights a shift from static to dynamic comfort assessments and a focus on active travel as a continuous experience rather than the sum of stationary moments. The primary findings include the consolidation of the thermal walk methodology and the emergence of cumulative stress indices. Evidence from heat stress contexts suggests that pedestrians prefer thermal diversity, which causes thermal alliesthesia, over monotonous conditions. The research highlights the role of heat stress as a barrier to walkability in hot and temperate climates, causing route deviations and lower walking speeds, with the opposite pattern in severely cold settings. This review identifies several research gaps, including a lack of standardised dynamic assessment methods, low generalisability and transferability of the results, and insufficient investigation of cyclists’ dynamic comfort compared with that of pedestrians. Full article

Salutogenesis is a health-related design paradigm that links physical environmental characteristics to positive well-being by enhancing the Sense of Coherence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the manageability factors of the salutogenic theory namely functional design, safety, accessibility, person-centered design, and positive affordances and residents’ well-being in the outdoor spaces of three high-rise residential complexes in Erbil, Iraq. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining observation checklists, questionnaire surveys of 60 residents (20 from each residential complex), and statistical analyses using SPSS, including Spearman correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. The results revealed considerable differences among the three residential complexes. Nawroz City achieved the highest standardized checklist score (61.8%), followed by Cihan City (55.9%), while New Eskan City recorded the lowest score (17.6%). Correlation analysis indicated that all manageability factors were positively associated with residents’ well-being. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that design for positive affordances was the only statistically significant individual predictor of residents’ well-being (β = 0.497, p = 0.003). Overall, the findings suggest that higher levels of manageability are associated with greater residents’ well-being, highlighting the importance of supportive outdoor design features in high-rise residential complexes. Full article

Background: Lead (Pb) exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly among women of childbearing age, because of its adverse effects on maternal–child health. Although lead-glazed ceramics (LGC) for cooking or storing food are a well-recognized source of Pb exposure in Mexico, other environmental and household sources remain insufficiently characterized. Objective: To identify environmental and household factors associated with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) among women of childbearing age participating in a community-based screening in Mexico City. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 158 women aged 18–40 years. Capillary BLLs were measured using the LeadCare^® II system. Participants completed a structured questionnaire assessing potential Pb sources of exposure. Elevated BLL was defined as ≥3.5 µg/dL. Associations between exposure sources and elevated BLL were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Shapley decomposition was used to estimate the relative contribution of each exposure source to the model. Results: The prevalence of elevated BLLs was 31%. Women reporting both past and current use of LGC had higher odds of elevated BLLs than women who had never used LGC (adjusted OR = 9.43; 95% CI: 1.85–48.15). Living in or regularly visiting a recently remodeled home (adjusted OR = 3.21; 95% CI: 1.45–7.11) and living near a highway (adjusted OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.07–5.48) were also independently associated with elevated BLLs. LGC use was the largest contributor to the model performance (47.46%), followed by home remodeling (31.78%) and proximity to highways (20.76%). Conclusions: Our findings support LGC as an important source of Pb exposure while identify home remodeling and residential proximity to highways as additional sources associated with elevated BLLs. Together, these findings broaden the understanding of Pb exposure pathways among women of childbearing age and support the need for prevention and screening strategies. Full article

Climate change and increasing instability in coastal marine environments have intensified stressors such as elevated temperature, hypoxia, salinity variation, and pollutant exposure, posing major challenges to the survival, health, and culture performance of bivalves. As economically important aquaculture species and key components of coastal ecosystems, bivalves are highly sensitive to environmental fluctuations, making their metabolic responses highly relevant to both physiological adaptation and aquaculture sustainability. Increasing evidence indicates that metabolic remodeling is an important adaptive strategy supporting bivalve tolerance to environmental stress, with amino acid metabolic remodeling emerging as one of its most sensitive and functionally important components. This review summarizes the major response patterns, key pathways, and potential regulatory mechanisms of amino acid metabolism in bivalves under different stress conditions. Different environmental stressors induce distinct yet integrated shifts in amino acid metabolism, including enhanced catabolism, carbon–nitrogen redistribution, osmotic regulation, and antioxidant defense, thereby supporting energy homeostasis and physiological stress tolerance in bivalves. By highlighting amino acid metabolic remodeling as a central mechanism of bivalve adaptation to environmental stress, this review provides insights into adaptive responses, metabolite-based indicators for monitoring aquaculture environments and bivalve health, and management strategies for improving resilience in bivalve aquaculture. Full article

Broiler production keeps intensifying, and the environmental cost of the protein sources that feed it, principally soybean meal and fishmeal, has become harder to justify. Insect meal, derived chiefly from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), and housefly larvae (Musca domestica), has emerged as a candidate able to address nutritional, immunological, and ecological goals at once. This review evaluates the evidence on the nutritional composition, digestibility, growth performance, immunomodulatory mechanisms, and gut health effects of insect meal in broiler diets, and weighs these findings against sustainability and economic considerations. The amino acid profile of insect meal is favorable, the fatty acid composition is distinctive, and bioactive compounds, chitin, antimicrobial peptides, and lauric acid among them, shape both innate and adaptive immune responses, reshape the gut microbiota, and reinforce mucosal integrity. Growth performance at partial replacement levels of soybean meal or fishmeal (5–15%) is broadly encouraging, although results differ across insect species, inclusion rate, and processing method. The immunomodulatory pathways involved, Toll-like receptor signaling, cytokine regulation, macrophage polarization, and immunoglobulin synthesis, converge on chitin acting simultaneously as a prebiotic substrate and an immune adjuvant. Critical knowledge gaps persist, including substantial variability in biological outcomes across insect species and rearing substrates, the absence of standardized processing protocols, limited mechanistic data from avian in vivo challenge models, and insufficient long-term validation under commercial production conditions. Cost and regulatory fragmentation across jurisdictions still constrain commercial uptake. Realizing the full potential of insect meal in sustainable broiler production will depend on multi-omics research, precision nutrition tools, and rigorous life-cycle assessment. Full article

Sustainable development is seriously hampered by environmental contamination. Heavy metals are perhaps the most significant of these silent pollutants because of the poisoning they inflict on different ecosystems, particularly water systems, as well as the direct threat they pose to the safety of such systems and the ensuing health issues that affect people and other living things. The goal of the current work is to ascertain how effective peanut (Arachis hypogaea) hulls are as easily accessible and reasonably priced adsorbent materials for the ion adsorption of various heavy metals, including lead, copper, zinc, and cadmium. A series of variables, such as pH, temperature, retention time, shape, quantity of adsorbent and particle size, were investigated to reach the optimal conditions for the biosorption process, which were achieved at pH 6 (close to pH-zero charge), a temperature of 40 °C, a retention time of 60 min, an adsorbent dose of 5 g/L, and a particle diameter of 0.1 mm. Experiments showed that lead had the highest treatment rate, approximately 95%, followed by zinc, copper, and cadmium. The results were confirmed and validated using SEM analysis to identify the morphology of the hulls before and after treatment, FTIR spectroscopy to investigate the functional groups responsible for binding to the metal ions, and further supported by kinetic isotherms of the adsorption behavior, which matched the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Nevertheless, the results of the batch experiment were employed by designing a laboratory treatment unit for municipal wastewater containing beads of alginate-immobilized Arachis hypogaea hulls. The designed laboratory unit was effective in treating unacceptable levels of heavy metals in some municipal wastewater from the local drainages of Ramadi City, Iraq. Overall, the study’s findings suggested that peanut hulls could be used to mitigate toxic metal pollution in an eco-friendly manner that guarantees the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals pertaining to future generations’ right to the safe use of water resources. Full article

The pet food industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the growing trend of companion animal humanization and increasing concerns over the environmental sustainability of conventional protein and lipid sources. Consumers now seek diets that not only meet basic nutritional requirements but also offer preventive health benefits. Microalgae, including Arthrospira (Spirulina, a kind of cyanobacterium), Chlorella, Schizochytrium, and Euglena gracilis, have emerged as versatile biological platforms capable of addressing both functional and sustainability challenges. These microorganisms produce high-quality proteins, omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (particularly docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), natural pigments, and immunomodulatory polysaccharides. This review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed studies on the application of microalgae in pet nutrition, covering dogs, cats, and aquatic companion animals. We examine how algal ingredients influence gut microbiota, for instance, by enriching beneficial genera such as Turicibacter and Peptococcus, enhance vaccine responses and mucosal immunity, support cognitive function in aging pets, and contribute to weight management. Particular attention is given to Euglena gracilis and its paramylon (β-1,3-glucan), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern that engages the Dectin-1 pathway to train innate immunity and has demonstrated antiviral activity through host defense mechanisms. The review also surveys the patent landscape, highlighting trends in palatability enhancement, hypoallergenic formulations, and novel delivery formats. Key challenges remain, including ingredient standardization, safety validation, palatability optimization, and consumer acceptance. We outline a translational roadmap that prioritizes well-designed clinical trials in target species and processing methods that preserve bioactivity. Collectively, the evidence positions microalgae, and Euglena gracilis in particular, as promising candidates for next-generation functional pet foods that deliver health benefits alongside ecological sustainability. Full article

Background: Public housing employees work in challenging conditions with many stressors. A Colorado housing authority requested an evaluation of its voluntary reduced work schedule pilot program and its association with employee wellbeing. Previous research has shown promising short-term improvements in employee productivity and morale from reduced schedule programs, but researchers have questioned whether impacts on wellbeing could be sustained. The study aimed to evaluate if program participants and non-participants reported differences in wellbeing measures over 18 months post-implementation. Methods: A longitudinal survey based on the NIOSH WellBQ over three timepoints and a series of four focus groups were conducted with program participants and non-participants. Linear mixed modeling was used to test for differences between participant and non-participant wellbeing outcomes over time. Deductive thematic analysis was used to analyze focus group data. Results: Program participants reported significantly lower work overload than non-participants; differences in work stress and work-to-non-work conflict were smaller and did not reach statistical significance. There was no evidence that the magnitude of these differences changed across timepoints, although limited statistical power constrains interpretation of this finding. Qualitative findings demonstrated that participants perceived benefits for work–life integration and decreased work stress and work overload, which participants attributed to the program. Conclusions: Findings suggest that reduced work schedules may be associated with differences in employee wellbeing over the study period, particularly reduced work overload. Full article

Grassland and pasture management increasingly requires timely and reliable decision support to address changing environmental conditions, optimize grazing capacity, and improve herbage production. Although digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have been widely adopted, they are often implemented as isolated solutions rather than as an integrated management framework. This paper proposes a cloud-based smart grazing framework that combines field monitoring, biomass forecasting, digital twin monitoring, and stocking optimization within a unified architecture. The framework includes two interconnected algorithms: the first supports the operational grazing management cycle through IoT sensing, biomass forecasting, digital twin monitoring, and stocking optimization, while the second enables secure ML training and model updating for biomass prediction, livestock health assessment, and grazing behavior analysis. To ensure data integrity with low computational overhead, the framework employs SHA-256 hash-based verification rather than a full blockchain implementation. The proposed architecture provides a practical approach for integrating monitoring, prediction, and secure data management to support sustainable grazing management. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the leading causes of both community- and healthcare-associated infections. Nasal colonization constitutes the primary reservoir for subsequent infection and transmission, while methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a major public health concern because of its resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. However, data regarding community nasal colonization in rural Portuguese populations remain scarce. The BI-STAPH Project was established to address this knowledge gap through systematic surveillance of rural communities in inland Portugal. To estimate the prevalence of presumptive nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA among adults living in the municipality of Fundão, Portugal, and to explore potential associations between colonization and demographic, behavioural, occupational, and environmental characteristics. A prospective community-based cross-sectional study was conducted as the second phase of the BI-STAPH Project. A total of 200 adults were recruited from different parishes of the municipality of Fundão. Bilateral nasal swabs were collected and processed using standardized microbiological methods for the presumptive identification of S. aureus. Presumptive MRSA isolates were investigated using a PBP2′ latex agglutination assay. Sociodemographic and exposure-related information was obtained through structured questionnaires. Associations between presumptive colonization and participant characteristics were evaluated using Pearson’s chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Presumptive S. aureus nasal colonization was identified in 56 of 200 participants, corresponding to a prevalence of 28.0% (95% CI: 21.8–34.2%). No presumptive MRSA-positive isolates were identified, corresponding to an observed prevalence of 0% (95% CI: 0.0–1.8%). Colonization prevalence was 29.5% among females and 26.8% among males, and ranged from 25.8% to 31.1% across age groups; neither sex nor age was significantly associated with colonization. Participants reporting daily animal contact had a colonization prevalence of 32.3%, compared with 20.5% among those without animal contact, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.075). Overall, no statistically significant associations were identified between presumptive S. aureus colonization and the demographic, behavioural, occupational, or environmental variables evaluated. Presumptive S. aureus nasal colonization was common among adults living in the rural municipality of Fundão, Portugal, whereas no presumptive MRSA-positive isolates were identified in this study population. No statistically significant associations were observed between colonization and the characteristics evaluated. These findings expand the epidemiological evidence generated by the BI-STAPH Project and support continued community-based surveillance of S. aureus in rural Portugal. Future multicentre studies incorporating molecular confirmation, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and larger populations will be important to better characterize circulating strains and transmission patterns within a One Health framework. Full article

This study examines the long-term associations between ambient air pollutants and the burden of major respiratory and infectious diseases in this geographically sensitive region. A retrospective analysis was conducted using ICD-10-coded hospital records of patients diagnosed with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis, and tuberculosis from January 2020 to June 2026. These data were integrated with in situ air quality measurements, including PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and SO₂, as well as satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from MODIS. Disease incidence was stratified by year, sex, and age groups (0–85+ years) to assess demographic susceptibility patterns. Respiratory diseases constituted a substantial public health burden over the study period. Asthma showed a marked female predominance (≈29,700 females vs. ≈16,000 males) and a bimodal age distribution with peaks in early childhood (0–5 years) and mid-adulthood (35–50 years). COPD was predominantly observed in males (≈8300 males vs. ≈5500 females), with a higher median age range (≈67–70 years). Bronchitis exhibited a similar bimodal pattern, disproportionately affecting both pediatric and elderly populations, while overall case numbers declined over time. Tuberculosis incidence was approximately threefold higher in males than females, with notable age-related divergence, affecting younger females (≈30–32 years) and middle-aged males (≈42–45 years). The findings suggest a spatial–temporal correspondence between elevated pollutant concentrations and respiratory disease prevalence in the Iğdır Basin. The observed sex- and age-specific disparities underscore the potential value of region-specific environmental health strategies, strengthened air quality management, and continuous epidemiological surveillance in enclosed basin environments. Full article

Biochar, a carbon-rich product resulting from the thermochemical transformation of organic biomass under limited oxygen condition, is currently drawing much worldwide attention due to its multiple applications in carbon sequestration, soil improvement, environmental remediation, and biomass waste management. Initially, the focus of research was primarily on the technical possibilities of biochar production, its economic aspects, and its contribution to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration and the promotion of sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, recent research indicates the high complexity and dynamics of biochar interactions with the environment, driven by a combination of factors like feedstock type, process conditions, biochar properties, and other factors. While biochar exhibits multiple beneficial effects, including improving soil structure, enhancing nutrient retention, promoting microbial activities, and remediating contaminants, several environmental risks associated with biochar application have also been identified, namely the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metal contamination, creation of persistent free radicals, changes in soil chemistry, and modification of soil microbial community structure. Such risks are greatly related to production process parameters, treatment methods, and biochar application practices. Moreover, differences in feedstock choice, pyrolysis temperature, reactor design, biochar application rate, and analytical methods used make comparative analysis of results difficult. Full article