Search Results (122)

Responding to the challenges of global climate change and domestic air pollution, Taiwan revised its energy policy in recent years, introducing an energy transition strategy focused on low-carbon and clean energy. However, if photovoltaic installations are not properly sited, they may have negative impacts on the local environment. Previous research on renewable energy has primarily focused on policy evaluation, with limited attention given to case studies that examine the suitability of site selection for PV system installations. Thus, this study incorporates the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to explore the criteria for evaluating site suitability for ground-mounted PV systems. This study considers existing sites with completed ground-mounted PV systems in Tainan City as case study subjects. The results indicate that the most important factor, as prioritized by experts, is the distance from Class I environmentally sensitive areas, followed by the duration of insolation, proximity to the electrical grid, and distance from residential areas. The evaluation model developed in this study provides a valuable reference for future site selection of ground-mounted PV systems. Establishing dedicated PV energy parks also may offer a viable solution to mitigate disputes related to the deployment of ground-mounted PV systems. Full article

Integrating Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations into buildings is becoming increasingly important due to the rapid growth of private EV ownership and prolonged parking durations in residential areas. This paper proposes robust, building-integrated charging solutions that combine mobile energy storage systems (ESSs), station linkage data, and traffic volume data. The proposed system promotes eco-friendly EV usage, flexible energy management, and carbon neutrality through a polyfunctional Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) architecture that integrates decentralized energy networks. Two core strategies are implemented: (1) configuring Virtual Power Plant (VPP)-based charging packages tailored to station types, and (2) utilizing EV batteries as distributed ESS units. K-means clustering based on spatial proximity and energy demand is followed by heuristic algorithms to improve the efficiency of mobile ESS operation. A three-layer framework is used to assess improvements in energy demand distribution, with demand-oriented VPPs deployed in high-demand zones to maximize ESS utilization. This approach enhances station stability, increases the load factor to 132.7%, and reduces emissions by 271.5 kgCO₂. Economically, the system yields an annual benefit of USD 47,860, a Benefit–Cost Ratio (BCR) of 6.67, and a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) of USD 37.78 per MWh. These results demonstrate the system’s economic viability and resilience, contributing to the development of a flexible and sustainable energy infrastructure for cities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of childhood blindness, particularly among preterm infants. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is commonly observed in neonates and may contribute to the development of ROP through increased oxygen delivery to the retina. However, the association between PDA and the severity of ROP remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between PDA and the development of treatment-requiring ROP in preterm infants. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on preterm infants born between 2014 and 2020 at Izmir Private Medical Park Hospital. Infants with a birth weight of less than 2000 g and a gestational age of ≤36 + 6 weeks were included. Data on demographics, prematurity-related complications, PDA status, ROP severity, and treatment requirements were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify predictors of ROP. Results: Of 516 infants, 328 did not have PDA, 117 had spontaneous PDA closure, and 71 required PDA treatment. Neonates requiring PDA treatment had significantly lower gestational age and birth weight, as well as longer respiratory support duration. PDA presence was associated with increased ROP incidence in univariate analysis (p < 0.001); however, it was not an independent predictor of treatment-requiring ROP in multivariate models. Significant predictors for treatment-requiring ROP included longer non-invasive ventilation duration (OR = 1.029) and total respiratory support (OR = 1.009). Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the central role of respiratory morbidity in ROP pathogenesis and suggest that optimal respiratory management may be more critical for ROP prevention than PDA treatment alone. Full article

In recent decades, extensive evidence has indicated that green spaces and physical activity (PA) are associated with mental health, while limited research has explored the combined effects of supervised PA in urban green spaces. To address the research gap, this study examines whether supervised PA within green spaces improves mental health among middle-aged adults (45–65 years) through a quasi-experimental longitudinal study developed as part of the “Moving Parks” project in Bologna, Italy. Using the Italian version of the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), mental health was measured at pre- and post-assessment. A total of 340 participants (258 intervention, 82 control) were included in the study. The effects of intervention, group assignment, and their interaction on mental health scores were analysed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. No significant differences in mental health improvements were observed between the intervention group and control group. The results indicated significant main effects of time on total WEMWBS scores and several subscales such as optimism, usefulness, energy, and cheerfulness, but these changes were not significantly influenced by group assignment. The only significant group-by-time interaction was found in perceived usefulness. These findings do not provide conclusive support for the hypothesised benefits of the supervised PA intervention. Possible explanations include seasonal variation, baseline or ceiling effects, and the potential limitations of the WEMWBS in detecting short-term psychological changes. Future research should consider extending intervention duration, improving group comparability, and employing more sensitive assessment tools to better evaluate the mental health impact of green space–based PA programmes. Full article

This paper examines the various functions of urban parks in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia). This study’s respondents were landscape architecture students, and the methodology employed was a survey, which was subsequently analyzed using multiple statistical tests. This paper explores the different roles that urban parks in Novi Sad play, such as aesthetic, ecological, recreational, psychological, economic, and educational functions. The analysis also includes an assessment of the correlation between the scores for each function and visitors’ habits and behaviors (e.g., frequency and duration of visits). Together, these findings provide detailed insight into the current state of urban park functions in Novi Sad and highlight how these functions relate to visitors’ experiences. The results obtained are valuable for enhancing both the quality of park visits and the overall functionality of urban parks. This paper also provides recommendations for future research, including potential methodologies to be applied and directions for a more detailed assessment of ecological functions. Full article

The proximity of ecologically valuable areas to industrial zones indicates a strong need for monitoring their condition. Soil assessment involves both molecular techniques for studying microbial biodiversity, such as PCR, sequencing, and metagenomics, as well as parameters of biochemical and enzymatic activity of soil microorganisms. The authors studied the activity of microorganisms responsible for the nitrogen cycle to compare the condition of soils under different uses (wastelands and arable fields) located in the ecologically valuable areas of the Polesie National Park (PNP, protected area) and its surroundings. Additionally, they assessed the suitability of gangue for reclamation and its effectiveness depending on treatment duration (2 and 10 years). In most of the activities analyzed, their levels were lower in the park. A higher intensity of ammonification and nitrification was observed in the soil sampled from the field in the park; however, a reduced N₂O emission was also recorded after incubation in the lab of soil samples collected in the autumn, which may indicate that nitrogen loss from the soil does not occur in this particular habitat, which requires further, long-term and cyclical field trials. These observations confirm the potential protective role of the park in relation to soils and atmosphere in the context of the nitrogen cycle. The activities under study in the reclaimed soils were in both cases lower than in soils from the fields. The current results prove that this method of reclamation is not entirely effective; however, long-term reclamation yielded better results. The present study provided valuable information on the effectiveness of the protective role of the PNP in relation to soils and air. Additionally, these results may be helpful in making decisions regarding the use of waste, such as gangue, for reclamation. Full article

Enhancing urban public spaces (UPS) is vital for the well-being of their users. This study investigates the use of co-located immersive virtual reality (IVR) in a co-design process with potential end-users, focusing on active design generation and collaboration. Eindhoven station square, poised for significant redevelopment, served as the case study. An immersive experiment setup, through an altered off-the-shelf IVR application, was used. Participants were tasked with collaboratively designing the area, considering attributes like trees, parking, benches, shelter, and a fountain. Each session involved two participants with distinct perspectives, one from a local authority and the other from an end-user. Twenty participants, divided into ten sessions, engaged in the study. Most had no prior co-design or IVR experience but found the process and the altered application suitable. Communication primarily focused on design generation rather than tool usability or unrelated social exchanges, indicating that the co-located IVR experience resulted in engaged task participation. Most participants were willing to attend a co-design session if IVR would be used. The co-located immersive experience enhanced their understanding and confidence in design choices, indicating effective collaboration. This study concludes that non-experts can successfully engage in UPS design when simultaneously immersed and collocated using IVR. Future experiments should limit session duration to 30 min to avoid fatigue and ensure communication. Full article

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to rise, the pressure on charging station resources has intensified, particularly under high-load conditions, where limited charging infrastructure struggles to meet the growing demand. Issues such as uneven resource allocation, prolonged charging wait times, fairness concerns among different user groups, and inefficient scheduling strategies have significantly impacted the overall operational efficiency of charging infrastructure and the user experience. Against this backdrop, the effective management of charging infrastructure has become increasingly critical, especially in balancing the diverse mobility needs and service expectations of users. Traditional charging scheduling methods often rely on static or rule-based strategies, which lack the flexibility to adapt to dynamic load environments. This rigidity hinders optimal resource allocation, leading to low charging pile utilization and reduced charging efficiency for users. To address this, we propose an Adaptive Charging Priority (ACP) strategy aimed at enhancing charging resource utilization and improving user experience. The key innovations include (1) dynamic adjustment of priority parameters for optimized resource allocation; (2) a dynamic charging station reservation algorithm based on load status and user arrival rates to prioritize high-priority users; (3) a scheduling strategy for low-priority vehicles to minimize waiting times for non-reserved vehicles; and (4) integration of real-time data with the DDPDQN algorithm for dynamic resource allocation and user matching. Simulation results indicate that the ACP strategy outperforms the FIFS and RFWDA strategies under high-load conditions (High-priority vehicle arrival rate: 22 EV/h, random vehicle arrival rate: 13 EV/h, maximum parking duration: 1200 s). Specifically, the ACP strategy reduces charging wait times by 96 s and 28 s, respectively, and charging journey times by 452 s and 73 s. Additionally, charging station utilization increases by 19.5% and 11.3%. For reserved vehicles, the ACP strategy reduces waiting times and journey times by 27 s and 188 s, respectively, while increasing the number of fully charged vehicles by 104. For non-reserved vehicles, waiting and journey times decrease by 213 s and 218 s, respectively, with a 75 s increase in fully charged vehicles. Overall, the ACP strategy outperforms traditional methods across several key metrics, demonstrating its advantages in resource optimization and scheduling. Full article

Vehicle-grid integration (VGI) is critical for the future of electric power systems, with decarbonization targets anticipating millions of electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. As EV adoption grows, charging demand—particularly during peak hours in cities—may place significant pressure on the electrical grid. Charging at high power, especially during the evening when most EVs are parked in residential areas, can lead to grid instability and increased costs. One promising solution is to leverage long-duration, low-power charging, which can align with typical user behavior and improve grid compatibility. This paper delves into how public slow charging stations (<7.4 kW) in metropolitan residential areas can alleviate grid pressures while fostering a host of additional benefits. We show that, with respect to a reference (22 kW infrastructure), such stations can increase EV user satisfaction by up to 20%, decrease grid costs by 40% owing to a peak load reduction of 10 to 55%, and provide six times the flexibility for energy markets. Cities can overcome the limitation of private garage scarcity with this charging approach, thus fostering the transition to EVs. Full article

Rapid urbanization has led to increasingly serious problems, such as the heat island effect and environmental pollution, which seriously endanger people’s health. Greenspace exposure behavior, that is, the way and characteristics of people’s contact with greenspace (including frequency and duration of stay), is the key to exerting the health benefits of greenspace. There is little research on the factors influencing greenspace exposure behavior, which cannot reveal the mechanism of maintaining people’s physical and mental health by promoting greenspace exposure behavior. Therefore, using typical urban parks in Fuzhou as a case study, indicators of greenspace availability, accessibility, and visibility were identified from objective park characteristics and subjective crowd evaluation. The factors influencing greenspace exposure behavior were analyzed using bivariate correlation tests and multivariate linear regression analysis. The results indicated that, among objective park characteristics, the per capita green park area negatively impacted greenspace exposure behavior, while the green view index positively influenced it (p < 0.05). Regarding subjective crowd evaluation, subjective indicators positively impacted greenspace exposure behavior except for the condition of activity areas. In addition, subjective factors, especially subjective visibility indicators, are more predictive of greenspace exposure behavior than objective factors. The theoretical contribution of this study lies in further refining the research framework for quantifying and evaluating park greenspace exposure, and enriching the theoretical connotation of research on park greenspace exposure behavior. The research results suggested park greening strategies for the relevant departments, enhanced the greenspace exposure behavior, and improved people’s physical and mental health. Full article

The assessment of mosquito diversity in remnants of the Atlantic Forest, which are considered biodiversity hotspots, is crucial for studying patterns of behavior and adaptation, performing environmental monitoring, and public health. These studies provide valuable insights into the ecology and biology of these insects, contributing to a better understanding of forest ecosystems and the interactions among the species that inhabit them. The present study aimed to assess the variation in faunistic parameters of abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness along an environmental gradient. This gradient extends from the edge toward the interior of the fragment. The research tested the hypothesis that edge effects influence the distribution of mosquito species in the Tijuca National Park. Sampling was carried out from May 2022 to December 2023, occurring monthly over two consecutive days within the park area. Three different sampling points within the conservation unit were selected: sampling point 1, forest edge; sampling point 2, 35 m from the edge; and sampling point 3, 500 m from the edge, representing different distance gradients. Mosquitoes were captured using CDC light traps with CO₂, Shannon traps, and human-protected attraction; the combination of these traps provided a representative sampling of the diversity of adult mosquitoes present in the study area. An active search for immatures was performed in larval habitats using pipettes and entomological scoops. During the sampling period, a total of 1004 specimens were collected, comprising 320 immatures and 684 adults, representing 27 species. Statistical analyses showed that abundance and richness along the established gradient were not uniform among the sampling points. The Kruskal–Wallis test identified two distinct sampling points: the forest edge (point 1) and a location 35 m from the edge (point 2). The sampling point at the forest edge exhibited the highest levels of species richness, diversity, and evenness. However, given the brief duration of this study, it is crucial to expand the sampling efforts by increasing both the number and frequency of traps and collections. Such enhancements are essential to achieve a more thorough understanding of the ecological patterns and processes at play. Full article

The pollution and congestion caused by the shortage of parking spaces are threatening the sustainable development of cities. Smart parking platforms are one of the major tools to solve the problem by providing the efficient usage of parking resources. However, current platforms can only realize limited functions, and shared parking is far from being implemented on a large scale. Since off-street parking provides the majority of potential shared parking spaces, this paper takes periodic off-street parking lots as the starting point for opening the shared parking market. Based on data from the Ningbo Yongcheng parking platform, power spectral density (PSD) and the autocorrelation function (ACF) are used to identify periodic parking lots. A Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN)-based method is applied to clustering the occupancy time series. Land use, user type, parking duration, and parking patterns are then analyzed to study shared parking supply characteristics. The results show that (1) 31.3% of off-street parking lots are periodic parking lots, and 90.3% of them have regular users exceeding 50%. (2) Periodic parking lots are classified into four types. Most parking lots show convex flat peak, double peak, or triple peak characteristics. (3) The shared parking spaces demonstrate spatial and temporal imbalances. But in a small area, even considering the concentration of land use and the peak period, there are still enough spaces available. The above research is of significance for the large-scale implementation of shared parking, which can promote the sustainable development of a city. Full article

Wildfires in the western U.S. have increased in severity and duration in recent decades. Severe wildfires can enhance the rates of nutrient mineralization, causing large exports of inorganic nitrogen and other ions from forests to streams. Measuring the degree to which streams respond to severe, stand-replacing wildfires is critical to estimate in ecosystems prone to disturbance. In 2003, two severe crown wildfires burned in Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA. We studied the extent to which these fires increased nitrogen (ammonium, nitrate and nitrite), sulfate, chloride, and total dissolved phosphorus concentrations and export in three watersheds prior to and during the first four years post-fire. We measured higher concentrations of most ions after wildfire, and nitrate and chloride concentrations increased the most, increasing > 1000 µg/L. Concentrations of nitrate (≤146 times pre-fire concentrations), total dissolved nitrogen (≤11 times), chloride (≤9 times), and total dissolved phosphorus (≤7 times) were higher four years post-fire than before the wildfires burned. Exports of nitrate (≤1392 times), sulfate (≤14 times), and chloride (≤37 times) were also higher after wildfire, while nitrite (≤2.9 times) and ammonium (≤6.4 times) increased to a lesser degree. Stream concentrations of most ions were higher in watersheds that had a larger percent of the area burned. Comparing ion concentrations in streams before and after severe wildfires provides critical information to managers as the climate warms and the frequency of fire-conductive weather increases. Full article

Many regions in Europe face increasing issues with flooding and droughts due to changing rainfall patterns caused by climate change. For example, higher rainfall intensities increase urban flooding. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are suggested as a key mitigation strategy for floods. This study aims to address and mitigate the challenges faced in Tivoli natural park in Ljubljana regarding high peak discharges and low-flow issues in the creek entering the sewer system. The study involves setting up, calibrating and validating a Hydrologic Engineering Centre–Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS) model using available data. This study analyses NbS, such as small ponds, green roofs and permeable paving, to reduce peak discharge. Runoff was reduced by an average of 32.4% with all NbS implemented and peak discharge by 20 L/s. Permeable parking performed best, with an average runoff reduction of 6.4%, compared to 4.8% for permeable streets and 5.9% for green roofs. The ponds reduced peak discharge, although their effectiveness varied between rainfall events. Rainfall events with higher volumes and durations tended to overwhelm the proposed solutions, reducing their effectiveness. The ability of HEC-HMS to model NbS is also discussed. The curve number (CN) parameter and impervious % alterations to simulate NbS provided quantitative data on changes in runoff and discharge. Full article

As an important part of ecological civilization construction and harmonious coexistence between man and nature, the importance of restorative environment construction in national forest parks is self-evident. In this paper, the national forest park in the Greater Khingan Mountains region covering a large area of primary forest is taken as the research object. Based on visual perception, PRS, skin conductance level, and eye tracking technology are used as evaluation indexes to conduct restoration experiments on individuals. Among 60 participants, the PRS total scores for lawn space, shady space, dense forest space, and hard space were 166.63, 164.63, 168.43, and 158.93, respectively, indicating good restorative benefits, with hard space scoring lower. SCR decreases for dense forest space (M = 0.52) were significantly greater than for hard space (M = 0.38), suggesting better stress reduction. Eye tracking data showed that dense forest space had the longest total fixation duration (M = 42.57) and hard space the highest fixation count (M = 42.73). The results show that the national forest park is beneficial to the recovery of individual psychology and physiology, and can reduce the pressure of people’s visual perception. The psychological and physiological restorative benefits of different spatial scene types are different. Moreover, there is correlation between the eye movement index, psychological evaluation index, and physiological evaluation index, which confirms the possibility of introducing the eye movement index into the study of restorative environments. Full article