Search Results (36)

Background: Balance and gait are critical for functional recovery and fall prevention following total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite improvements in pain and joint function, residual impairments often persist. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) objectively measure postoperative mobility and balance, while patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assess perceived function and well-being. This study longitudinally evaluates functional measurement and PROMs to explore their interrelationships and compare recovery trajectories in THA and TKA cohorts. Methods: In this prospective study, 22 THA and 21 TKA patients were assessed preoperatively and at 4–6 days, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months postoperatively using TUG, Tinetti, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and clinical scores (Harris Hip Score (HHS) for THA, Knee Society Score (KSS) for TKA). Pearson correlation assessed relationships between measures. Results: Both cohorts demonstrated significant immediate postoperative declines in balance and mobility, recovering to baseline by 6 weeks and surpassing it by 3 and 12 months (p < 0.001). PROMs showed earlier and sustained improvements. Objective balance and mobility measures showed minimal correlation with PROMs but were highly interrelated from 6 weeks onward. Conclusions: THA and TKA patients experience early postoperative balance impairments, suggesting heightened fall risk, with functional recovery lagging behind perceived well-being, highlighting the need for cautious rehabilitation strategies. Full article

With the growing demand for mobility fueled by global population expansion and rapid urbanization, the intricate interplay between public transport and land use, along with their economic, environmental, and social externalities, has emerged as a critical concern for policymakers and the public alike. This study assembles publicly available academic literature, including papers, reports, books, and news articles, to construct a comprehensive database. Using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 software, this study conducts a visualized analysis of 10,470 scholarly works on public transport and land use published since 1932, identifying and synthesizing the researcher, research stages, research theories, research models, and research hotspots. Findings reveal that since Mitchell and Rapkin first introduced the transport–land use relationship in 1954, research in this field has steadily gained traction, particularly after the 1973 oil embargo crisis. The Journal of Transport and Land Use and institutions such as the University of Minnesota’s Transportation Research Center have played pivotal roles, particularly with the establishment of the World Society for Transport and Land Use Research (WSTLUR). In recent years, China’s high-speed rail expansion has further revitalized interest in this field. Prominent scholars in this domain include Robert Cervero, Reid Ewing, Michael Duncan, and Peter Calthorpe. Major theoretical frameworks encompass utility theory, urban economic theory, and the human–land system theory. Key modeling approaches include the spatial interaction model, the stochastic utility model, and urban economic models. Current research hotspots center on safety and public health, equity and valuation, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as transit-oriented development (TOD) and accessibility. This systematic literature review offers valuable insights to inform land use planning, enhance spatial structure, guide transportation project decision making, and optimize transport infrastructure and service provision. Full article

This study investigates the factors that affect the adoption of mobile payment systems in Oman, focusing specifically on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the expanding FinTech landscape. By utilizing secondary sources of data from the Central Bank of Oman and global FinTech reports, this research identifies essential enablers, such as security features and ease of use, which are propelled by developments in FinTech solutions. It also addresses the obstacles, such as high transaction fees and issues with authentication, that impede SMEs from embracing these technologies. Through an examination of worldwide FinTech adoption patterns, this research offers perspectives on Oman’s progress toward becoming a cashless society. This study employs sophisticated statistical techniques, including histograms and correlation analysis, to reveal significant trends in the rates of mobile payment adoption. The results emphasize the necessity for cooperative efforts among regulators, financial entities, and FinTech developers to minimize costs, strengthen digital infrastructure, and enhance user experiences. These findings are consistent with Oman’s Vision 2040, which aims to foster financial inclusion and propel the country’s shift toward a robust, digitally oriented economy powered by FinTech innovation. Full article

With the growing trend of population mobility and the aging process in China, a significant number of accompanying elderly migrants have moved to major cities. However, in community public spaces, the behavioral differences between caregiver-oriented elderly migrants (CO-AEMs), family reunion-motivated elderly migrants (FR-AEMs), and local elderly residents hinder social interactions between these groups. This study aims to explore opportunities for cross-group social interaction within the community environment. By utilizing GPS data collection and activity log analysis, along with spatiotemporal behavioral research methods, this study reconstructs the spatiotemporal trajectories of three groups of elderly individuals. The study proposes a social interaction potential (SIP) model based on the “support-constraint” framework. Through qualitative analysis of spatiotemporal behavioral characteristics and quantitative measurement of the degree of spatiotemporal behavioral co-occurrence across four modes, this study reveals the differentiated impact mechanisms of spatial and behavioral factors on social interactions, ultimately assessing SIP in differentiated community spaces and activities. This research highlights differences across spatial, behavioral, and temporal dimensions that hinder social interactions between the groups. Spatial and behavioral differences are primarily attributable to the lifestyle habits and activity preferences of the elderly, while temporal discrepancies reflect varying degrees of family-related constraints across the different groups. Furthermore, informal community public spaces show higher SIP than formal facilities. Additionally, the similarity in behaviors across groups facilitates social interactions. FR-AEMs and local elderly residents show higher SIP in self-care behaviors, while CO-AEMs and local elderly residents demonstrate stronger SIP in behaviors related to their family and grandchildren. Based on the segmented assimilation theory, this study proposes hierarchical community governance and spatial optimization strategies for activities and spaces with different SIP. The aim is to cultivate opportunities for interaction while respecting the characteristics of accompanying elderly migrants and to foster the construction of an inclusive community environment. The findings provide theoretical support and practical pathways for community space planning and social governance in the context of an aging society. Full article

Existing research has often characterized religious rituals as formalized and predetermined actions involving collective participation, emphasizing their structured and communal nature. However, our empirical findings revealed that rituals, shaped by citizens’ healing needs, can also be individualized and intentionally constructed behaviors. These individualized rituals were not rooted in religious beliefs, but are closely connected to Chinese citizens’ strong healing needs, which have developed in a highly mobile and socially competitive (“involuted”) society. These rituals are characterized by their orientation toward life concerns, self-interested motives, and perceived connections to mystical power. These qualities enable rituals to fulfill a broader range of healing functions. Rituals not only had a direct impact on anxiety relief, especially health and class anxiety, but also had a beneficial effect on adjustment of individual goal or behavior and social inclusion. Full article

Optimising outcomes after shoulder interventions requires objective shoulder range of motion (ROM) assessments. This narrative review examines video-based pose technologies and markerless motion capture, focusing on their clinical application for shoulder ROM assessment. Camera pose-based methods offer objective ROM measurements, though the accuracy varies due to the differences in gold standards, anatomical definitions, and deep learning techniques. Despite some biases, the studies report a high consistency, emphasising that methods should not be used interchangeably if they do not agree with each other. Smartphone cameras perform well in capturing 2D planar movements but struggle with that of rotational movements and forward flexion, particularly when thoracic compensations are involved. Proper camera positioning, orientation, and distance are key, highlighting the importance of standardised protocols in mobile phone-based ROM evaluations. Although 3D motion capture, per the International Society of Biomechanics recommendations, remains the gold standard, advancements in LiDAR/depth sensing, smartphone cameras, and deep learning show promise for reliable ROM assessments in clinical settings. Full article

Background. As China has undergone tremendous socioeconomic and demographic changes during and after the pandemic, it is crucial to enhance youth well-being and facilitate their transition into the workforce. This study aims to explore the multi-dimensional features of well-being and examine their relationships with fairness and trust. Methods. Using the nationally representative data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study analyzes the well-being of 1726 young adults aged 18 to 34 years old living in 19 provinces in China. Results. The research findings generate five latent factors of well-being and reveal the multi-faceted nature of subjective well-being, including physical and mental health challenges, positive outlook, sense of purpose, personal growth, and self-fulfillment. Physical and mental health is the cornerstone for well-being and happiness. Young people with poor physical and mental health conditions are less likely to perceive that society is fair or that people are trustworthy. Additionally, a positive outlook and future orientation are strongly associated with high fairness and/or trust. Discussion and Conclusions. By investigating the differential domains of well-being, this study contributes to the literature with the new conceptualization of well-being sub-measures and their application to youth. Furthermore, this study identifies that well-being is not only an individual-level characteristic but also a group-level attribute that can contribute to fairness and trust at the societal level. As China continues to expand its infrastructure on education, health, and technology, it is expected that sustainable economic growth and development should boost young people’s career development and promote their upward mobility. Full article

Against the backdrop of urban–rural integration development in China, the government has further strengthened its support for rural migrant workers’ urban employment and entrepreneurship, as well as their urbanization. Nevertheless, influenced by the current urban–rural development environment and public policies, a portion of rural migrant workers have evolved into two distinct groups: those with clear intentions to settle in cities or return to their hometowns and those trapped in a “neither-nor” situation, who are unable to fully integrate into urban life or seamlessly return to the countryside. This study, based on field investigations conducted in 21 cities across seven major geographical regions in China, reveals a ternary differentiation in migration intentions among rural migrant workers: “Retain in the cities”, “Return flow”, and “Blind direction”. In advancing the urban–rural integration strategy, the “clearly-oriented” groups, choosing to stay or return, can serve as dynamic forces in reconciling resources between urban and rural areas, thereby fostering closer urban–rural ties. Conversely, the “aimless wandering” group, characterized by stagnation, confusion, frequent mobility, and recurrent unemployment, poses numerous negative impacts on urban–rural interaction and coordination, hindering the in-depth integration of urban and rural areas to some extent. Drawing upon the internationally recognized Push-Pull Theory and Social Integration Theory within the field of population migration, this study conducts an empirical analysis of large-scale sample data to explore the characteristic factors and formation mechanisms underlying the “staying”, “returning”, and “blind direction” intentions, with a particular focus on the internal dynamics shaping and evolving the “aimless wandering” group. Finally, grounded in the empirical findings, this study advocates a collaborative approach between the Chinese government and various sectors of society to address the issue by promoting employment guidance, enhancing security measures, and other initiatives that encourage rural migrant workers to either stay in cities or return to their hometowns. It aims to provide policy recommendations for a definitive resolution of the rural migrant worker issue during the crucial period of urban–rural integration development. Full article

The introduction of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has the potential to drastically change society, planning, design, and development strategies. This study uses the PRISMA protocol to carry out a systematic literature review, focusing on the backcasting method as an analytic tool. By examining. 21 studies published between 2003 and 2024, this paper highlights the phases of backcasting: visioning, policy packaging, and appraisal, and identifies critical factors necessary for the successful integration of AVs. Visioning for future driverless cities includes high-quality urban areas, active mobility, and innovative developments. Policies and Packaging suggested a focus on restricting vehicular access, transit-oriented development, and encouraging public transportation. Appraisal reveals skepticism about the positive impacts of AVs, urging policies that limit access to urban areas and promote sustainable modes of transportation. The main contribution of this study lies in its comprehensive application of backcasting to AV implementation, offering a structured approach to envisioning future urban scenarios, formulating supportive policies, and evaluating their impact. This analysis provides a solid foundation for future research, urging us to explore the intersection between AVs, citizen participation, and environmental sustainability to achieve more efficient and sustainable cities. Full article

The Eurasian Iron Age Scythians, in all their regional iterations, are known for their lavish burials found in various kinds of tumuli. These tumuli, of varying sizes, are located throughout the Eurasian steppe. Based, at least partially, on the amounts and types of grave goods found within these mounds, the Scythians are usually modeled as militant, patriarchal mobile pastoralists, with rigid social structures. Yet, such interpretations are also due to accounts of Scythian lifeways provided by “classical” societies from the Greeks to the Persians, who saw the Scythians largely as barbarians, much like their neighbors to the north of the Greeks, the “Celts”. Despite recent interrogations of the barbarian trope, and the opportunity to dissect the classic formula of large mounds = elevated status, I contend that many studies on Scythian mortuary practices remain monolithic and under-theorized, especially by Western scholars. Drawing upon different conceptual and methodological frameworks, I present alternative, multi-scalar understandings of Scythian mortuary landscapes. Utilizing a spacetime-oriented, dialogical approach supplemented with geographic information systems, I interrogate how and why various meanings and experiences may have intersected in these protean Scythian landscapes of the dead, rather than reducing them to monolithic symbolic proxies of ideological status. Full article

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has underscored the paramount importance of regional economies’ capacities to withstand and adapt to external shocks. Enhancing regional economic resilience and mitigating the adverse impacts on both the economy and society have emerged as critical imperatives for ensuring the sustainable development and transformation of the national economy. This paper employs an improved counterfactual method to measure the economic resilience index across 31 Chinese provinces and cities from 2001 to 2021, coupled with empirical analysis using a dynamic panel model to identify the influencing factors of regional economic resilience. Building upon this foundation, the study delves into the heterogeneous effects of various factors and different degrees of marketization on economic resilience across different regions. Research Findings: (1) There has been a significant improvement in the economic resilience levels of China’s 31 provinces, with differences in economic resilience between regions far exceeding those in economic development levels, indicating substantial internal regional disparities. (2) Factors such as the marketization index, industrial structure, level of informatization, labor force size, labor quality, innovation capacity, and degree of government intervention all impact regional economic resilience and exhibit regional heterogeneity. Policy Recommendations: (1) It is crucial to address regional disparities while formulating regional development strategies and enhancing regional economic resilience. (2) Regions should accelerate market-oriented reforms, promote rational labor mobility, strengthen investment in human capital, foster innovation, and adjust the degree of intervention. Full article

There is growing interest in the role of integrated mobility services in successfully transforming mobility systems by improving alternatives to individual motorised transport and thus contributing to a reduction in negative impacts on nature and society. This paper analyses the conditions for the successful implementation of local mobility services in Austria by adopting a mixed-methods approach combining grounded theory and critical realism. In total, 15 narrative, semi-structured interviews were conducted, sampled by applying thematic, practical, and criterion sampling and using an analytical procedure of open, axial, and selective coding. Particular attention was paid to the influence of governance structures and related processes, the integration of user needs, and the topic of technology and its role in local mobility services. The results showed that for the success of local mobility services, in addition to the availability of and long-term commitment to funding, the initial phase of a project (e.g., the selection of project partners) and the deployment of collaborative and local participatory target-setting processes are extremely important. Further, the findings showed that the motivation and interest of all stakeholders involved in the projects can be regarded as driving forces for enhanced cooperation, dedication, and resilience throughout the project. In addition, developing and communicating needs-oriented mobility services should be emphasised. Although the analysis showed the importance of the deployment and hence the selection of certain types of technological solutions, it also highlighted the difficulties of governance processes related to choosing and implementing adequate technological solutions regarding cooperation and networking between key stakeholders in the projects. Full article

Digitalisation provides access to an integrated network of information that can benefit society and businesses. However, the evidence of sustainability in business is less researched. In our paper, by building up the research approach, we address the relevant gap by investigating how sustainable development goals represent the interrelationship between digitalisation and sustainability. Such research is particularly important because understandings of digitalisation and sustainability determine how different actors, including business managers and policymakers, act in response to those imperatives to develop future employees skills starting from school age. Following a multi-method approach, we have combined our analysis into two steps examining the relationship between digitalisation and sustainability. Building digital networks, business managers and policy makers using digital means can create some unique opportunities to strategically address sustainable development challenges for the United Nations Targets (SDG) to ensure higher productivity, education, and an equality-oriented society. This point of view describes the potential of digitalisation for society and businesses of the future. The authors revise the links between digitalisation and sustainability in the European Union countries by using data available in Eurostat and UNECE public databases. The two-stage methodology for the identification of the relationship between ICT and sustainability is used in the paper and a linear regression model is applied. The results showed tiers with five SDGs, focusing on business, and all these tiers are fixed in the constructed equations for each SDG. The recommended solution is statistically valid and proves the novelty of this research. Among digitalisation indicators, only mobile-cellular subscriptions and fixed-broadband sub-basket prices in part do not affect researched sustainable development indicators. Full article

The ongoing transformation of mobility, including new services such as on-demand mobility, raises the question of how services need to be designed so that everyone can use them. The number of persons with mobility impairments is increasing as a result of demographic change, and with the current amendment of the law, it will be mandatory in Germany to take these person’s needs into due consideration. After all, a transport provider’s success relies on sufficient demand in society (including persons with and without disabilities). Due to changing mobility routines, increased comfort, and other individual personal requirements, vehicles smaller than conventional buses are necessary for passenger transportation. The following investigation is a research study, which is based on an intensive literature review and expert interview study. The goal of this work is to evaluate the current status quo of the German public transport system with respect to inclusive on-demand services and their satisfaction with user requirements. Therefore, guideline-oriented interviews with experts from the mobility sector were consulted and analyzed. For this purpose, the procedure of the qualitative analysis was used. Furthermore, user analysis and methodological processes were conducted in order to strategically establish necessary measures. On the one hand, the current initial situation is addressed and initial experience with these new services is reported. The current focus is on the automation and electrification of these vehicles. In order to make them accessible to all potential customers, ergonomic requirements should be considered from the beginning. The previous experiences with other vehicle classes as well as the legal framework conditions are to serve as a benchmark. On the other hand, existing challenges will be discussed, and necessary steps will be worked out. A result of this situational analysis shows that the currently available vehicle concepts do not fulfill all requirements. It is important to consider the vehicle and the barrier-free mobility chain (booking and paying for the journey or vehicle, as well as boarding, traveling, and alighting). Overall, the design of barrier-free mobility systems requires a process of both political and social rethinking in order to succeed. Full article

In recent decades, modern societies are experiencing an increasing adoption of interconnected smart devices. This revolution involves not only canonical devices such as smartphones and tablets, but also simple objects like light bulbs. Named the Internet of Things (IoT), this ever-growing scenario offers enormous opportunities in many areas of modern society, especially if joined by other emerging technologies such as, for example, the blockchain. Indeed, the latter allows users to certify transactions publicly, without relying on central authorities or intermediaries. This work aims to exploit the scenario above by proposing a novel blockchain-based distributed paradigm to secure localization services, here named the Internet of Entities (IoE). It represents a mechanism for the reliable localization of people and things, and it exploits the increasing number of existing wireless devices and blockchain-based distributed ledger technologies. Moreover, unlike most of the canonical localization approaches, it is strongly oriented towards the protection of the users’ privacy. Finally, its implementation requires minimal efforts since it employs the existing infrastructures and devices, thus giving life to a new and wide data environment, exploitable in many domains, such as e-health, smart cities, and smart mobility. Full article