Search Results (169)

Complete neighbourhoods, places where residents can meet their daily needs on foot, have become a central component of healthy and sustainable urban planning. Yet most assessment frameworks are calibrated for dense metropolitan environments, leaving rural and peri-urban municipalities without operational tools suited to their territorial needs. This article presents MilieuxVie, an open-source, browser-based interactive mapping application developed for the Laurentides health region of Québec (76 municipalities, 11 land-based unorganised territories, 2 indigenous territories and 4 aquatic administrative units; 93 territorial units in total; ~680,000 inhabitants). The tool evaluates the spatial accessibility of 12 service categories drawn from the Vivre en Ville (2026) complete-neighbourhood framework and OpenStreetMap data, using 2026 residential parcels from the provincial property assessment roll as origin points and weighting results by number of dwelling units. Three adaptive radius tiers (dense, intermediate, rural), based on residential dwelling-unit density (dwellings per km² of residentially designated urban land), scale the distance standards to settlement density. Because thresholds are scaled to settlement density, scores express context-relative service proximity rather than a uniform pedestrian standard and should not be read as directly comparable absolute accessibility across rural, peri-urban, and urban settings. A dedicated urban perimeter mode further disaggregates analysis to sub-municipal built-up zones, aligning the tool with Québec’s provincial Government land-use planning guidelines (GLPG). Gap analysis outputs identify which service types fall below the 70% coverage target, helping elected officials and planners identify where to focus further analysis. Results illustrate the scope of accessibility deficits across the region and highlight the analytical limits of uniform distance thresholds when applied beyond metropolitan contexts. Scores differ significantly across different settings (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.006); the adaptive radius tiers narrow but do not close the structural gap, with rural municipalities scoring significantly lower than dense ones. The tool is freely available and requires no software installation, making it directly deployable by local planning offices. Full article

The evaluation of stents in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is still a major topic in cardiovascular imaging. Using Photon-Counting Detector CT (PCCT) may improve the assessment of coronary stents and make on-site CT-FFR analysis feasible for ruling out in-stent restenosis (ISR). In this study, patients with previous coronary stent implantation who underwent CCTA using PCCT and subsequent invasive catheter angiography (ICA) were included. Stent characteristics such as location and length were reported. CT-FFR measurements were taken 1.8 cm before and after the stent, with a value of ≤0.80 defined as hemodynamically significant under respecting the diagnostic accuracy drop in the gray zone between 0.76 and 0.80. Delta CT-FFR with a cut-off value of ≥0.06, indicating hemodynamic significance, was determined. Any ISR and interventional treatment during the following ICA was recorded. Diagnostic performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), were calculated for post-stent CT-FFR and Delta CT-FFR in detecting ISR. Patients were followed up to evaluate the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) 6 months after CCTA. A total of 19 patients (5 female, 14 male, median age 69 years) were enrolled in this study. In most cases, coronary stents were located in the proximal LAD with a median stent length of 70.2 mm. Pathological CT-FFR < 0.76 distal to the stent was detected in 6 cases (31.6%), while pathological Delta CT-FFR ≥ 0.06 occurred in 14 cases (73.7%). ICA was performed in three of these patients, with ISR confirmed in two cases. These findings yield sensitivity and NPV of 100% for both post-stent CT-FFR and Delta CT-FFR for excluding ISR with a superior specificity (76.5% vs. 29.4%) and overall diagnostic accuracy (78.9% vs. 36.8%) for post-stent CT-FFR. Two patients reported a myocardial infarction in follow-up; however, neither of them was located in the territory of the stented coronary artery. This study outlines the feasibility of on-site CT-FFR analysis using PCCT in excluding ISR in coronary stents with a high diagnostic accuracy. These findings highlight the need to extend the benefits of CT-FFR analysis for non-invasive assessment of possible ISR regarding personalized risk stratification and therapy planning. Full article

In recent decades, residential mobility has emerged as a fundamental interpretative key lens for understanding contemporary urban transformations, particularly in polycentric and fragmented urban contexts. Movements between different residential settings reflect economic, social and cultural changes, impacting the organisation of urban spaces, the demand for services and mobility systems. In territories characterised by dispersed settlement patterns and strong functional polarisation, these dynamics tend to promote the intensive use of private means, with consequent negative impacts on environmental sustainability, social equity and economic efficiency. In response to these critical issues, there is growing interest in sustainable mobility models based on proximity and on the integration between daily travel, access to services and the quality of public space. Within this perspective, greenways are configured as hybrid infrastructures, capable of reorganising mobility while contributing to the regeneration of urban spaces. In the Caserta area, in the Campania region, the disused route of the former Alifana railway represents a topic of great interest, both for research and planning. Its potential strategic conversion into a greenway opens a broader perspective than that so far considered at the regional level, which has mainly focused on the infrastructure dimension. The paper analyses the strengths and weaknesses of an approach limited to infrastructural mobility, proposing a comparative evaluation of project scenarios—including the non-intervention hypothesis—both through the application of the MACBETH approach and preliminary parametric estimation of construction costs, in order to emphasise the importance of integrating social and environmental benefits, as well as quality of life, into decision-making processes. Full article

Mapping wildfire patterns in Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) areas is a fundamental tool for fire management and prevention, particularly in regions where urban expansion occurs in close proximity to natural vegetation. This mapping approach makes it possible to identify critical zones and to support more effective interventions adapted to the specific conditions of each territory. This work analyzed wildfires in the state of Tocantins, Brazil, using detailed geospatial data and advanced analysis techniques and statistics to characterize the dynamics of burned areas. Data used for the project were retrieved from MapBiomas and the Geoprocessing Laboratory of the Public Ministry of Tocantins (LABGEO), applying logistic regression models to explore the relationship between the distance of WUIs and the frequency of wildfires. The methodology covered the spatial distribution of fires and the different dynamics observed by type and size of burned area, allowing for a more detailed analysis. The results indicated significant variations in the proportion of burned areas inside and outside the WUIs, suggesting that proximity to these interfaces plays a critical role in the occurrence pattern of fires. Notably, Palmas, the state capital, stood out as one of the municipalities with the highest concentration of impacts in WUI areas, highlighting the relevance of these zones in environmental risk management. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting regional approaches that consider local specificities in the management and prevention of wildfires. The integration of geospatial data with robust statistical methodologies can guide more effective management strategies, assisting in the planning of public policies adapted to the socio-environmental dynamics of Tocantins. Full article

Contemporary cities face environmental, social and economic challenges that highlight the vulnerabilities of urban structures, spatial connections, infrastructure and socio-economic systems. These critical issues have been amplified by the pandemic and the intensification of climate change, generating significant impacts on the territory. In this uncertain context, urban planning plays a crucial role in responding to the new needs of cities, promoting proximity and environmental sustainability, and encouraging adaptation and proactive responses to change. The research aims to promote strategic planning based on an integrated and multi-scale approach, capable of generating synergies between the various complex aspects that characterize urban environments. This approach allows spatial relationships and considerations to be articulated at different scales, from the territorial to the local level, translating urban challenges into multi-level actions and strategies. However, this requires a supporting structure on which to articulate multiple urban planning strategies, resulting from the overlap and interrelation of two complementary design urban backbones: the proximity one, aimed at connecting services and public spaces through wide slow mobility networks; the natural one, aimed at integrating green areas on different scales, with both ecological functions, to promote biodiversity, and social functions, to improve collective well-being and strengthen the resilience of the urban ecosystem. The complementarity of these two backbones was explored through the revision of the Territorial Government Plan of the City of Mantua, particularly within the Services Plan, as part of the research project entitled “Re-knowing Urban Complexity through New City Awareness: In Search of Urban Proximity Systems.” This research provided an opportunity to read and interpret the urban complexity of the city while guiding effective, sustainable, and resilient intervention strategies in response to its ongoing transformations. Full article

This study develops a GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis framework to assess the territorial suitability of onshore wind energy in Colombia. The proposed approach combines technical and socio-environmental suitability modelling with territorial interpretation based on conflict and governance, moving beyond conventional siting models focused mainly on wind resource availability and infrastructure proximity. The technical assessment included wind speed, wind power density, terrain slope, land cover, land use, and proximity to electrical grids, main roads, settlements, and water bodies. In addition, a National Conflict Index and a National Governance Index were constructed to represent broader territorial conditions that may affect project implementation. Quantitative variables, including wind speed, wind power density, terrain slope, and distance-based criteria, were transformed onto a common suitability scale using linear fuzzy membership functions, whereas qualitative variables, including land cover and land use, were incorporated through categorical reclassification. The National Conflict Index and National Governance Index were first constructed using CRITIC to obtain objective weights for their internal variables. Subsequently, the final onshore wind suitability criteria were weighted through the linear Best–Worst Method based on expert judgment. The standardized suitability layers and corresponding BWM-derived weights were integrated through weighted spatial overlay to generate a national suitability map, while the conflict and governance indices were used to interpret the territorial conditions associated with the resulting suitable areas. The results show a highly selective territorial pattern, with the most favorable areas concentrated mainly in La Guajira (1286.09 km²) and Cesar (574.45 km²), and more fragmented secondary opportunities in Nariño, Boyacá, Norte de Santander, Cundinamarca, Atlántico, and Magdalena. Three territorial intervention scenarios were identified: priority intervention, complementary or selective development, and low relative priority. The main contribution of the study is the articulation of a BWM-weighted technical and socio-environmental suitability model with CRITIC-based conflict and governance indices, offering a replicable framework to support strategic planning and public policy decisions for onshore wind deployment in Colombia. Full article

Children living in agricultural regions are exposed to pesticides through multiple environmental and occupational exposure processes; however, the relative contribution of these processes remains insufficiently characterised in many rural contexts of the Global South. This study assessed pesticide exposure among children residing in an agricultural community in western Mexico characterised by close spatial proximity between residential areas and intensively cultivated fields. Urine samples were collected from children at two points in the agricultural cycle (March and December 2018). Pesticide concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Paired longitudinal analyses were conducted to evaluate intra-individual changes in detection frequencies and urinary concentrations across sampling periods. Multiple pesticides were detected, including compounds with near-universal presence across both sampling periods. Significant increases in urinary concentrations were observed between March and December for several pesticides, consistent with seasonal agricultural dynamics, while no systematic differences were identified between children from agricultural and non-agricultural households. These findings indicate that pesticide exposure in this setting operates as a community-level exposure regime that is both structurally produced and territorially embedded. Exposure patterns reflect the convergence of agricultural practices, environmental dispersion processes, and spatial configurations that extend beyond occupational boundaries. The results highlight the limitations of risk models focused exclusively on individual or occupational exposure and underscore the need for public health strategies that address pesticide exposure as a structurally produced and territorially embedded condition. Full article

Understanding the relationship between the processes involved in hydrology and changesin land use becomes more urgent amid the accelerated development of urban areas. In this regard, this paper proposes the application of a spatio-temporal analysis of flood vulnerability through multi-criteria analysis (Analytical Hierarchy Process), integrated with GIS and modeling of multidimensional urban development processes within Cizre, Turkey. Important hydrological factors for the formation of flood risks, such as elevation, slope, land use/cover, rainfall, drainage density, and proximity to the river, were considered when preparing the flood susceptibility map. It was revealed that high- and very-high-risk zones are mainly located near the Tigris River and in urbanized areas, which occupy more than half of the territory under consideration. Multidimensional analysis showed that unplanned development increases flood risks in the area because of the increased area of impervious surfaces and the violation of natural water flows. As a way to overcome the limitations of traditional methods of static analysis of flood risks, the Flood Risk Transfer Index (FRTI) has been developed to describe the process of spatial redistribution of risks resulting from the impact of the increase in urbanization rates. The indicator of spatial redistribution of flood risk reached a value of 0.72, showing that flood pressures increased in existing cities instead of reducing them. Thus, this study provides a breakthrough in understanding flood risks through the introduction of a new methodology. Full article

Understanding how sustainable urban competitiveness evolves within megaregions has become a central concern in urban and regional studies, particularly under the pressures of carbon neutrality, spatial inequality, and network-driven urbanization. This study develops a multidimensional framework to assess the sustainable competitiveness of cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei “2 + 36” urban agglomeration and examines its spatio-temporal evolution and relational structure. Using a 30-indicator system grounded in factor foundations, economic performance, innovation capacity, openness, and environmental livability, we construct a composite competitiveness index through principal component analysis (PCA). Kernel density estimation reveals a pattern of overall improvement accompanied by widening disparities, characterized by selective agglomeration and the emergence of a pronounced high-value tail. Spatial autocorrelation consistently indicates significant spatial dependence, while LISA analysis identifies persistent low–low clusters and limited spillover absorption around core cities. A modified gravity model further uncovers a transition from a linear, corridor-based linkage structure to a more polycentric and networked competitiveness system, albeit with enduring peripheral weak nodes. The study contributes theoretically by conceptualizing sustainable urban competitiveness as a multidimensional nexus shaped jointly by territorial attributes and relational network structures. It demonstrates that competitiveness dynamics in megaregions emerge from the interplay of hierarchical consolidation, spatial divergence, and network reconfiguration—challenging the traditional assumption of simple core-to-periphery diffusion. The findings offer broader global implications, showing that the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei case mirrors worldwide megaregional patterns, where proximity alone is insufficient to ensure functional integration, and where coordinated governance, network embeddedness and sustainability transitions increasingly determine regional competitiveness. This research provides a comprehensive analytical foundation for understanding and governing megaregional competitiveness in the era of sustainable development. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest in proximity tourism as a driver for culturally sustainable local development. Against this backdrop, this study examines the Province of Latina, Italy, evaluating the potential of proximity tourism flows originating from the Metropolitan City of Rome to reduce the socioeconomic and infrastructural disparities that affect the provincial territory. Using a multi-stage quantitative framework, the research identifies key determinants of municipal attractiveness and assesses the structural relationships between tourism activities, economic development, and demographic trends. Results reveal a clear spatial polarization: while coastal municipalities successfully leverage natural and cultural assets for development, they increasingly face challenges related to overtourism and gentrification. Conversely, marginalized hilly and mountainous peripheries remain underdeveloped despite their high heritage value. Empirical evidence suggests that while proximity tourism does not directly drive demographic growth, it acts indirectly as a catalyst by stimulating economic development. The study concludes that proximity tourism can foster territorial cohesion and socioeconomic resilience only when coupled within integrated strategies that improve accessibility, valorize peripheral assets, and keep the added value of tourism embedded within host communities. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers aiming to transition toward more inclusive and culturally sustainable tourism models in the post-pandemic era. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Revascularization of the circumflex territory remains technically challenging because of its anatomical position and the frequent need for distal branch grafting. Case presentation: We report the case of a 76-year-old man in whom the proximal circumflex trunk was used as the target for an in situ right internal thoracic artery routed through the transverse sinus during combined coronary and ascending aortic surgery. This approach allowed antegrade perfusion of the circumflex territory while avoiding multiple distal anastomoses. In this selected anatomical setting, the technique proved feasible and was associated with excellent intraoperative flow and 1-year radiological patency. Conclusions: Direct grafting of the circumflex trunk is not a new concept, but this case revisits it using a contemporary total arterial revascularization strategy. This approach may represent a useful adjunctive option in carefully selected patients with favorable circumflex anatomy. Full article

This article advances a critical rethinking of digital transformation in craft-based and socially embedded production systems by examining ateliers of social integration as community-led solidarity spaces where sewing and embroidery practices intersect with relational, care-oriented, and collective dimensions. Existing debates on digitalisation remain largely centred on automation, scale, and efficiency, overlooking how technology operates within care-based and territorially embedded economies. To address this gap, the article develops an alternative analytical framework grounded in relational economies and the ethics of care. While the phenomenon is transnational, the empirical analysis focuses on the Italian context and draws on data from CreAbility, an ongoing action-research project aimed at building a digital community of micro and small fashion enterprises, associations, and designers characterized by social and cultural impact. Against dominant, scale-oriented models of innovation, the article conceptualises ateliers of social integration as relational ecosystems in which value is co-produced through social ties, inclusion practices, and localized knowledge. From this perspective, digital technologies serve as situated mediators that extend and amplify proximity-based relations. This reframing challenges linear and growth-centred accounts of digital innovation, instead proposing a non-linear, care-centred, and place-based model of digital transformation. Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data were collected between June and July 2025 through an online questionnaire distributed to a broader population of Italian ateliers of social integration and were complemented by participatory focus groups involving organisational representatives. The findings show that these ateliers operate as infrastructures of proximity in which production, care, and community are co-constitutive, and where digital practices support forms of extended embeddedness rather than substitution. In doing so, the article contributes to debates on digitalisation, social innovation, and the care economy by showing how alternative, relational, and non-scalable models of production can reshape the meaning and the trajectories of innovation. Full article

Housing industrialization and modularization have gained traction as responses to two pressing challenges in the construction sector: the chronic shortage of affordable housing and the substantial environmental footprint of conventional building methods. Yet prevailing modular housing models in Europe remain constrained by dependence on global supply chains, production concentrated in large industrial operators, and insufficient adaptation to local material and territorial conditions. This article presents a state-of-the-art review of modular timber housing in Europe, examining technological typologies, market structures, and national regulatory frameworks. The methodology integrates a systematic literature and market review, a comparative country analysis, and an embedded case study. Findings indicate that the viability of modular timber housing depends not only on material performance but on its embeddedness in coherent industrial systems, business strategies, and regulatory contexts. Against this backdrop, the VICHO project is introduced as a case study exploring an open, proximity-based industrialization model that valorizes local poplar timber in southern Europe, in alignment with circular bioeconomy principles and the New European Bauhaus. Full article

The dominant agri-food system’s well-documented failures—biodiversity loss, deepening rural inequalities, and the erosion of small-scale farming livelihoods—have elevated SSE initiatives and social innovation in the agri-food sector and bioeconomy from a niche policy concern to a structural priority. This paper examines how SSE arrangements drive meaningful transformation in agri-food chains while advancing sustainable development at local and regional scales. Through a narrative review of interdisciplinary peer-reviewed literature and key institutional sources, the paper synthesizes evidence that SSE initiatives generate transformation through three interconnected mechanisms: (a) the reconfiguration of governance structures; (b) the deepening of producer–consumer relationships through spatial proximity and relational transparency; and (c) the more equitable redistribution of value across agri-food territories. These findings suggest that place-based SSE models occupy a central—rather than peripheral—role in sustainability transitions and local development. The paper presents a structured analytical framework linking SSE practices to agri-food chain transformation and develops nine concrete policy implications for scaling and sustaining SSE innovations through coordinated collaboration among public, private, and social economy stakeholders. The findings contribute to a sharper understanding of the conditions under which SSE-driven models can foster sustainable, socially inclusive, and community-oriented agri-food systems and of why the solidarity dimension, rather than organisational form alone, is the decisive criterion for identifying genuinely transformative initiatives. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is a life-saving intervention for malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, but postoperative secondary injury mechanisms and functional outcome remain difficult to evaluate using intracranial pressure (ICP) alone. The pressure reactivity index (PRx), calculated as the moving correlation coefficient between ICP and mean arterial pressure (MAP), provides a measure of cerebral autoregulation. The utility of PRx monitoring in ischemic stroke, especially following DHC, remains uncertain. Case Presentation: We describe two patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke in the MCA territory who underwent DHC followed by postoperative ICP and PRx monitoring. Case 1 is a 40-year-old female with a left proximal MCA occlusion initially treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) who required emergent DHC due to re-occlusion. Postoperatively, ICPs remained controlled, and PRx values were favorable (<0.2), indicating preserved cerebral autoregulation. She later showed moderate neurological improvement. Case 2 was a 68-year-old female with a left proximal MCA occlusion treated with EVT who developed worsening cerebral edema and midline shift, necessitating emergent DHC. Despite adequate ICP control, PRx values remained markedly elevated (0.45 to 0.73), consistent with impaired cerebral autoregulation, and her neurologic state remained poor at discharge. Conclusions: These contrasting cases suggest that PRx may provide physiologic information not reflected by ICP metrics alone post-DHC. PRx monitoring may provide complementary physiologic insight into postoperative autoregulatory status following DHC. Further investigation is warranted to define its role in individualized post-DHC management and prognostication in malignant ischemic stroke. Full article