Search Results (265)

This research examines the structural evolution and functional performance of urban spatial expansion in Changchun, Northeast China. Utilizing an integrated framework of the Adjusted Sprawl Index, Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (Gaussian 2SFCA) accessibility modeling, and XGBoost-SHAP machine learning, the study identifies a decoupled growth pattern where land development and infrastructure construction proceed without a corresponding increase in population density, reflecting a structural-demographic divergence. Empirical results demonstrate that land expansion reached a significant peak between 2015 and 2020, followed by a transition toward morphological equalization and stabilization after 2020. This process manifests as asynchronous urbanism, where the strategic deployment of physical infrastructure frameworks systematically precedes the functional integration of essential social services. The analysis reveals the emergence of localized service-value misalignment clusters in peripheral zones. The phenomenon represents a deviation from the traditional monocentric paradigm toward McCann’s framework of modern urban economics, as high residential valuations are sustained by social capital and institutional expectations despite physical service gaps. Within these clusters, the club realm and private enclosure function as critical forward-looking mechanisms, where the presence of influential groups signals future social and infrastructural investment. A negative interaction effect between property management levels and regional accessibility confirms that these private governance structures effectively substitute for maturing public resources. These findings suggest that future development should prioritize the functional integration of social systems over mere material expansion. Full article

This study aims to address gaps in understanding healthcare accessibility inequality in rural China, where traditional distance-based assessments and urban-centric biases are insufficient. By integrating real-time travel data from Amap and the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, we conducted a high-resolution (1 km grid) analysis across transportation modes, administrative scales, and time-sensitive populations. Results reveal that driving enables more stable, equitable access (characterized by higher supply–demand ratios and lower variability) than public transport, which distorts ratios due to limited coverage. Accessibility disparities are most pronounced at the county scale, with eastern rural counties (e.g., Yangtze River Delta) showing far higher accessibility (log₁₀(A-value) > 5.0) than remote western counties (log₁₀(A-value) < 1.5). High time-sensitive populations (urgent care) face extreme accessibility gaps, with only 15% of counties providing optimal access. In contrast, low time-sensitive groups benefit from extended travel time thresholds, achieving 62% coverage of optimal access. Targeted interventions—investing in rural high-tier hospitals, enhancing transit frequency, and county-specific policies—are needed to advance health equity. The findings of this study provide the first nationwide high-resolution healthcare accessibility map for rural China, improve assessment accuracy via real-time data, and identify county-level gaps—offering data-driven insights for targeted policies to advance health equity and support rural revitalization. Full article

The awareness and participation of local communities play a critical role in the sustainable development of tourism. This study aims to examine, in depth and systematically, the levels of awareness among the local population regarding the natural, cultural, and gastronomic assets of Bingöl Province. The study includes structured questions, photo-based applications, word cloud analysis, and an interactive puzzle technique (word search puzzle) to measure participants’ levels of recognition and awareness of touristic values. The data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews conducted with 25 participants. The findings reveal that while participants exhibited high levels of awareness regarding well-known values such as the Floating Islands, Natural Monument, Haserek Ski Center, Bingöl Honey, Kös Thermal Springs, and the 33 Martyrs’ Monument, their awareness was comparatively limited for lesser known or newly registered values. The correct identification rates of the photographs indicate which local assets are more familiar to the public and which require further promotion efforts. The puzzle technique used within the study enabled participants to learn about touristic and cultural assets in a more effective, interactive, and engaging manner, thereby enhancing their visual and cognitive awareness. Overall, the use of visual materials and interactive methods in the promotion of Bingöl’s touristic and cultural assets is expected to increase public awareness and contribute to the preservation of local cultural heritage. This approach also provides valuable insights for the development of regional tourism strategies and sustainable tourism planning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in ageing populations, yet early diagnosis before motor symptoms remains critical. Reliable identification of subtle nigral alterations at early stages of the disease on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains challenging. This limitation is mainly attributed to the subjective and low sensitivity of manual image interpretation in early PD. Here, we demonstrate a deep learning-based framework to enhance early PD detection. The study’s novelty is a lightweight deep learning framework that captures spatial, textural, and frequency-domain PD biomarkers without heavy network architectures or manual region delineation. Methods: The model integrates GhostNet with ensemble learning to combine local and global spatial information. This model employs wavelet-based frequency feature extraction rather than downsampling and incorporates an attention module to focus on relevant image regions, particularly changes in the substantia nigra (SN) region. Segmentation is employed solely as an auxiliary intermediate step to localize the SN and guide discriminative feature extraction. The final output is a binary classification that distinguishes PD patients from healthy controls. T2-weighted MRI data from the PPMI database are employed. Results: The proposed model achieved an F1-score of 0.8762, demonstrating robust performance under class imbalance, outperforming state-of-the-art models with only 2.03 million parameters and 4.36 Giga Floating Point Operations (GFLOPs). The architecture uncovered texture and frequency patterns previously inaccessible with conventional CNN pipelines. Model comparisons demonstrated consistent gains across all evaluated metrics (all p < 0.001), establishing robust diagnostic improvement. Conclusions: These findings establish an efficient, high-performing framework for reliable MRI-based PD identification. The approach provides automated early detection and supports clinically scalable, computationally lightweight screening tools. Full article

Population ageing is intensifying pressure on elderly-care provision in megacity suburbs, but spatially explicit evidence on who benefits and where gaps persist remains limited. Using Daxing District, Beijing, as a case study, under the 15-min community living circle framework, we integrate cleaned elderly-care facility POIs from the municipal government portal (209 points), census-calibrated age-stratified WorldPop 100 m grids, and an OpenStreetMap road network to evaluate walking-based supply–demand matching. Kernel density estimation (KDE) characterizes facility agglomeration; the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (Ga2SFCA) method (1 km threshold) measures accessibility for two cohorts (60–80 and 80+); and global Moran’s I with bivariate LISA identifies spatial coupling between accessibility and elderly population density. The results indicate the following: (1) pronounced spatial imbalance—facilities are concentrated in the northwest and east but remain sparse in central and southern areas, while elderly population density follows a center–periphery gradient, peaking at 12,000 persons/km² in core areas (e.g., Jiugong and Huangcun); (2) clear accessibility stratification—overall accessibility is low and spatially clustered, yet the 80+ cohort (13.6% of the elderly population) exhibits markedly higher accessibility than the 60–80 cohort; and (3) differentiated coupling types—global bivariate Moran’s I = 0.773143 (p < 0.01), with LISA dominated by low-demand–low-accessibility (LL) areas and additional high-demand–low-accessibility (HL) shortage zones and low-demand–high-accessibility (LH) potential redundancy zones, while HH areas are scarce. These diagnostics support zone-specific gap filling to mitigate spatial inequities and age–structural mismatches. Full article

As the global population continues to rise, sustainable agricultural systems such as aquaponics have gained attention for their potential to maximize food production while minimizing resource use. This study evaluated the growth performance, yield, and mineral composition of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) grown in a coupled aquaponic system with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), comparing two production methods: floating raft and flooded media bed. Okra was cultivated at two planting densities (32 and 48 plants/m²) over a 12-week period, and multiple plant growth parameters and tissue mineral compositions were assessed at harvest. Results showed that plant production method significantly (p < 0.05) influenced okra growth and yield, while planting density had limited impact. Okra grown in media beds exhibited greater (p < 0.05) stem length, stem and root weights, number of leaves, and okra (fruit) production compared to those grown on floating rafts. Although root length was longer (p < 0.05) in raft-grown plants, root biomass was notably higher (p < 0.05) in plants grown in media beds. Mineral composition of plant tissues also varied with production method and density. Media-grown okra generally had higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and copper in leaves and stems, whereas raft-grown plants showed elevated levels of sodium and zinc in several tissues. Plant density affected a few specific mineral concentrations, particularly in roots and fruit, though effects were inconsistent. While fish growth was not high, possibly due to some water quality parameters (such as alkalinity and hardness) not being optimal, plant performance in media beds without supplemental nutrient inputs highlights the viability of fired clay media in aquaponic okra production. These findings suggest that media beds offer agronomic advantages over floating rafts for okra cultivation in aquaponic systems, with implications for optimizing nutrient delivery and plant health in sustainable food production systems. Full article

Ensuring equitable and inclusive access to children’s extracurricular activity facilities represents a profound manifestation of educational equity and is crucial for promoting children’s holistic development and societal sustainability. However, the underlying spatial mechanisms shaping their equity remain insufficiently explored. Using Tianjin’s central urban area as a case study, this study examines the spatial accessibility and equity of such facilities under dual government–market provision systems. The multi-mode Huff two-step floating catchment area model (MM-Huff-2SFCA) was employed to assess accessibility across walking, e-bike, public transport, and private car modes, integrating facility quality, household preference, and time-based distance decay. Equity was further evaluated using Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients across multiple spatial scales, while geographically weighted regression (GWR) identified spatial heterogeneity in factors such as child population density, transport infrastructure, household economic status, and basic education coverage. Results indicate that macro-level spatial balance masks substantial micro-scale inequities, particularly among transport-disadvantaged groups. Government and market systems exhibit contrasting spatial logics, forming a compensation–complementarity pattern across urban space. These findings underscore the need for refined and differentiated governance in extracurricular activity facilities planning, integrating spatial planning, transport accessibility, and social equity to advance child-friendly urban development and equitable public service provision. Full article

Green space equity is increasingly recognized as a critical environmental condition for healthy aging, yet existing research often overlooks how different green space attributes—accessibility and diversity—are associated with distinct dimensions of older adults’ health. Limited attention has been paid to their nonlinear threshold effects or to the social pathways through which green spaces influence health outcomes. Using the United States county-level panel data from 2020 to 2023, this study integrates fixed-effects models, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and mediation analysis to examine the associations between green accessibility measured by the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method, and green diversity measured by the Shannon Index, on the general, physical, and mental health of older adults. Findings indicate that (1) higher green accessibility is associated with better general health, whereas green diversity shows a stronger association with physical health, reflecting its link to more heterogeneous ecosystem service environments. (2) Green accessibility demonstrates the threshold effect, in which the strength of association with health becomes steeper once accessibility approaches higher levels. (3) Green space equity is linked to health partly through social structures. Education clustering and marital stability mediate the associations with general health, while mental health appears to depend more on the social interaction opportunities embedded within green environments than on their physical attributes alone. The study proposes an integrated “physical environment–social structure–health outcome” framework and a threshold-oriented spatial intervention strategy, highlighting the need to prioritize improvements in green accessibility in underserved areas and prioritizing green diversity and age-friendly social functions where accessibility is already high. These findings offer evidence for designing inclusive, health-oriented urban environments for aging populations. Full article

The supply and demand levels of urban health resources directly impact residents’ quality of life and health. This study employs the Multi-Mode Three-Step Floating Catchment Area (MM3SFCA) method to assess the supply and demand levels of health resources in the main urban area of Harbin under different transportation modes. To address the gap in previous studies that did not consider the impact of the spatial distribution of health resources at varying distances on residents, K-means clustering analysis was applied. The results indicate a significant imbalance between supply and demand for health resources in Harbin’s main urban area. Specifically, approximately 86% of the population met the supply-and-demand standards for health care facilities. However, only 29% and 41% of the population met the supply and demand standards for physical activity facilities and leisure wellness facilities, respectively. From a transportation perspective, the findings reveal that in areas with balanced or abundant supply and demand, residents primarily rely on driving and public transportation. This suggests that health resources are still concentrated in areas far from residential zones, thereby affecting accessibility to resources for some residents. Full article

A well-designed layout for urban parks plays a crucial role in constructing livable cities and enhancing residents’ well-being. The provision of age-friendly park access is fundamental to building an elderly-friendly city. However, previous studies have lacked comprehensive analyses that integrate the distribution of the elderly population, park accessibility, park quality, environmental characteristics, and social equity within a unified framework. Specifically, the supply–demand imbalance mechanism underlying the spatial variations in accessibility has not been adequately addressed. This study employs an improved two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, combined with Lorenz curves and urban park-adapted Gini coefficients, to examine the supply–demand relationship and allocation differences between the elderly population and parks at the neighborhood and community levels. The analysis highlights issues related to equity and accessibility and explores their spatial disparity and influencing factors. The key findings are as follows: (1) The classic 2SFCA model exhibits significant biases in evaluating park supply–demand relationships, accessibility, and equity at a fine-grained scale, indicating the necessity of high-precision modeling. (2) Park accessibility in the Old City of Nanjing follows a dual-ring pattern of high accessibility, contrasted with clustered areas of low accessibility, while accessibility equity shows a central–peripheral gradient. Overall equity is relatively low, with good walking accessibility within only about one-third of communities. (3) Park supply levels, neighborhood construction year, and plot ratios are the primary factors influencing park accessibility for elderly residents. The comprehensive aging index is positively correlated with the equity in park layout, whereas housing prices and neighborhood size do not exhibit a simple linear relationship with park accessibility or equity for elderly residents. These findings provide a comprehensive and realistic perspective for understanding elderly park accessibility and equity, offering decision-making references for enhancing urban livability, managing an aging society, and formulating spatial equity policies in the future. Full article

In the context of China’s accelerated urbanization process, the increasing number of rural-to-urban migrants has become an integral part of urban economic development. Ensuring stable housing for the floating population is essential to facilitating their integration into urban society and promoting the realization of their health rights. Drawing on data from a large-scale survey of Chinese internal migrants, this study empirically analyzes how homeownership influences health services accessibility in rural-to-urban migrants. The findings indicated that homeowners exhibited approximately 18.4% higher odds ratio of accessing public health services compared to renters. This result remained robust after addressing potential reverse causality using instrumental variable approaches and correcting for self-selection bias through propensity score weighting methods. Meanwhile, the mediating effect decomposition showed that migrants’ perception of acculturation and community participation played parallel mediating roles in the relationship between homeownership and health services accessibility. Furthermore, the heterogeneity analysis revealed that the positive impact of homeownership on health services accessibility was more pronounced among individuals with lower household income and shorter migration duration. Our research underscores the importance of securing stable housing for rural-to-urban migrants as a key determinant in advancing the equitable development of urban health systems. Full article

This study reveals the distribution of floating macroalgae Sargassum in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea using HY-1C/D Coastal Zone Imager (CZI) data. A new inversion model, utilizing green and near-infrared bands, was developed for the 50 m resolution CZI data. This model effectively distinguishes Sargassum from Ulva prolifera and is effective in turbid coastal waters. Sargassum spatiotemporal distribution and drift patterns over five years were analyzed. Key findings demonstrate that (1) floating Sargassum exhibits distinct spatiotemporal distribution patterns. Sargassum initially emerges along Zhejiang’s eastern coast in February. During March and April, it concentrates east of Hangzhou Bay. While in May, Sargassum appears in the Yellow Sea, and is distributed near the Shandong Peninsula by June. Small patches of Sargassum are also found in the Yellow Sea from November to January. (2) Its distribution is influenced by various factors like nutrients, temperature, salinity, currents, and winds. Suitable nutrients, temperature, and salinity promote growth, while currents and winds, particularly in April–May, drive its northward drift from the East China Sea into the Yellow Sea. The Yellow Sea population originates from both drifting populations and local growth. (3) This research highlights the utility of HY-1C/D satellite data in coastal zone research, facilitating ecological monitoring and protection. Full article

Urban park accessibility is often planned with fixed service radii, that is, circular walking catchments around each park defined by a maximum walking distance of about 1500 m, roughly a 15–20 min walk in this study, yet real visitation is uneven and dynamic, leaving persistent gaps between normative coverage and where people actually originate. We propose an interpretable discovery-to-parameter workflow that converts behavior evidence into localized accessibility and actionable planning guidance. Monthly Origin–Destination (OD) and heatmap samples are fused to construct visitation intensity on a 200 m grid and derive empirical park service boundaries. Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) then quantifies spatial heterogeneity, and its local coefficients are embedded into the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) model as location-specific supply weights and distance-decay bandwidths. Compared with network isochrones and uncalibrated E2SFCA, the MGWR–E2SFCA achieves higher Jaccard overlap and lower population-weighted error, while maintaining balanced coverage–precision across districts and day types. A $\Delta$-surface lens decomposes gains into corridor correction and envelope contraction, revealing where conventional radii over- or under-serve residents. We further demonstrate an event-sensitivity switch, in which temporary adjustments of demand and decay parameters can accommodate short-term inflows during events such as festivals without contaminating the planning baseline. Together, the framework offers a transparent toolset for diagnosing mismatches between normative standards and observed use, prioritizing upgrades in under-served neighborhoods, and stress-testing park systems under recurring demand shocks. For land planning, it pinpoints where barriers to access should be reduced and where targeted connectivity improvements, public realm upgrades, and park capacity interventions can most effectively improve urban park accessibility. Full article

Increasing environmental variability and fishing pressure in the Danube raise concerns about the status of common carp populations. Between 2019 and 2024, we assessed the population structure, growth, and mortality of common carp in the Romanian sector of the Danube River to evaluate its status and support sustainable management. A total of 2646 specimens (8658.29 kg) were collected using fixed and floating gillnets from representative sites along the river, and morphometric data were recorded annually, including total length, weight, and sex. Length distributions showed stable recruitment in younger classes (35–44 cm) and dominance of medium-size classes (45–64 cm), with large individuals (>70 cm) peaking in 2021. Growth and mortality parameters (L∞ = 78.75–99.75 cm, K = 0.41–1.50 year⁻¹, Z = 1.11–2.43 year⁻¹) represent model-derived annual estimates, obtained through standard length–frequency methods, with ranges reflecting interannual variation. Sex ratios ranged from 0.77 to 0.94 (F/M), with significant male bias in 2019 and 2021, while other years were near-balanced. Comparison with Total Allowable Catch data revealed that reported catches were often below permitted limits, exceeding 50% only in 2021 and 2023. Overall, results may suggest a resilient and moderately exploited carp population in the Romanian Danube. Full article

Existing research has shown that individuals’ early-life experiences exert a sustained impact on their social life in adulthood. However, there remains a lack of understanding regarding how childhood migration experiences influence entrepreneurial behaviors. Using data from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey (CMDS), this paper examines the effects of childhood migration experiences on migrants’ entrepreneurial propensity. The findings indicate that childhood migration experiences increase the likelihood of migrants engaging in self-employment or entrepreneurship in China, and this result holds consistent across several robustness checks. The research further reveals that social capital and human capital mediate the relationship between childhood migration experiences and entrepreneurial choices. Additionally, for migrants aged over 35, and those who migrated alone during their first-time migration, the positive effects of childhood migration experiences are more significant. Also, among the three age cohorts of childhood migration, the entrepreneurial effects of migration at ages 7–12 and 13–18 are significantly stronger than those of migration before age 6. This research highlights the long-term impact of childhood migration experiences on shaping individuals’ entrepreneurial choices, which provides theoretical and practical evidence for government policies that promote entrepreneurship. Full article