Search Results (775)

Muscle oxygen nation impairment, defined as a mismatch between oxygen delivery, distribution, and oxidative utilization in active skeletal muscle, contributes to exercise intolerance and functional decline. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has emerged as the leading non-invasive tool for monitoring local muscle oxygenation, but its clinical translation and optimal exercise-based management remain incompletely defined. This scoping review aimed to (1) synthesize the pathophysiology of muscle oxygenation impairment across the oxygen transport cascade, (2) evaluate NIRS-based diagnostic protocols, and (3) review exercise-based interventions targeting muscle oxygenation. The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and was prospectively registered in OSF (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/QW8R3) and PROSPERO (CRD420261365040). PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, PEDro, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through to April 2026. Methodological quality was appraised using the PEDro scale, the Downs and Black checklist, and the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. A total of 61 studies (2003–2025) were included, with fair-to-good methodological quality (PEDro 3–8, mean 5.3; Downs and Black 15–24, mean 18.6; Newcastle–Ottawa 5–8, mean 6.5). Regarding pathophysiology, muscle oxygenation impairment is a cascade-level phenomenon with four mechanistically distinct phenotypes corresponding to the dominant site of impairment, each with characteristic NIRS signatures. Regarding diagnostic assessment, NIRS has shown value in selected contexts including a validated threshold for peripheral artery disease, but most studies report group-level correlations without deriving receiver operating characteristic curves at validated thresholds, which together with device and calibration heterogeneity limits clinical translation. Regarding exercise-based interventions, adaptations align with the underlying cascade lesion, sprint and high-intensity interval training enhance oxidative capacity, while walking-based and vascular-targeted programs preferentially improve microvascular function. These findings support a unifying framework in which the site of cascade impairment guides diagnostic protocol selection and exercise prescription. The proposed cascade lesion phenotyping schema is hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation. Full article

Loneliness and social isolation among older adults pose significant challenges for social sustainability. Intergenerational interaction is a key to promoting social well-being and fostering inclusive communities. Using binary logistic regression and structural equation modeling, this study investigates how neighborhood environments, transportation and recreational walking, and intergenerational interactions, defined as social engagement with children, differ among 871 older adults in intergenerational (n = 436) vs. age-targeted (n = 435) communities in central Texas. Results highlight that accessible “third places”, including streets and sidewalks, churches, and restaurants, were important for supporting intergenerational interactions, with substantially higher levels of such interactions in these places among older adults from intergenerational communities. Employment status moderated the relationship between community types and intergenerational interactions. Across both community types, recreational walking emerged as a significant, positive predictor for intergenerational interactions. Modifiable neighborhood features, particularly the presence of benches along sidewalks, were positively associated with recreational walking, which in turn predicted intergenerational interactions. While age-targeted communities may offer high neighborhood satisfaction and livability, they provide fewer opportunities for routine contact with younger generations. Findings underscore the importance of walkable, inclusive communities and intentional intergenerational programming in promoting intergenerational interaction among older adults, contributing to social sustainability and healthy aging in place. Full article

Urban plazas in hot-humid climates face severe heat exposure risks due to high sky view factors and limited shading, yet conventional thermal mitigation strategies predominantly rely on plaza-wide performance metrics that misalign with actual pedestrian exposure patterns. This study proposes a pedestrian-oriented microclimate optimization framework that integrates agent-based pedestrian movement simulation (PedSim) with coupled CFD microclimate modeling to enhance outdoor thermal comfort precisely where people walk and congregate. A representative urban plaza (32,300 m²) in a hot-humid climate was analyzed under extreme summer design conditions. Three scenarios were systematically compared: (1) baseline configuration, (2) plaza-wide greening optimization (uniform distribution), and (3) pedestrian-oriented optimization guided by exposure-weighted movement hotspots. Microclimatic variables were simulated using urbanMicroclimateFoam (OpenFOAM), incorporating coupled airflow, heat/moisture transport, radiation, and vegetation modules. Thermal comfort was quantified using Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at both plaza-wide and pedestrian hotspot scales. Winter simulations were further conducted to assess seasonal trade-offs. Results demonstrate that under identical green coverage ratio (6.6%), the pedestrian-oriented strategy achieves substantially greater thermal comfort improvements in high-use areas. Compared to the baseline, hotspot MRT and UTCI were reduced by up to 5.0 °C and 3.0 °C, respectively, whereas the plaza-wide scheme yielded only marginal improvements (ΔUTCI < 1 °C). Notably, the pedestrian-oriented layout outperformed plaza-wide optimization within hotspots by 0.8 °C UTCI reduction without compromising winter thermal comfort, maintaining 100% thermally comfortable area ratios in both scenarios. This research reveals that the spatial configuration of vegetation is equally critical as coverage quantity for pedestrian thermal exposure. By explicitly linking tree placement to movement patterns, the proposed framework offers a human-centered, resource-efficient pathway for climate-responsive urban design, providing actionable insights for mitigating heat stress in densely populated open spaces without increasing green infrastructure costs. Full article

In response to environmental degradation and social inequities exacerbated by automobile-dependent urban sprawl, this study proposes a framework for dynamic delineation and vitality assessment of 15-min walkable neighborhoods, using Baohe District, Hefei, China as a case study. Static service catchments were constructed using POI and road network data, then refined using one week’s mobile phone signaling trajectories calibrated to actual walking behavior, yielding 143 validated living circles (out of 156 initially delineated). These circles are classified into five typologies: commercial-residential, industrial-residential, educational-residential, predominantly residential, and public-service-oriented. A dual-index system—Facility Vitality Index (FVI) and Population Vitality Index (PVI)—is developed and synthesized into a Composite Vitality Index (VI) through normalization and weighting. Results show that only 27.3% of living circles achieve high vitality in both dimensions, indicating widespread service–demand misalignment. Conversely, 61.5% exhibit low or very low vitality, forming a “vitality depression” around the urban periphery—a pattern of service poverty with significant socioeconomic implications. High-vitality circles cluster along the Binhu New District corridor, while low-vitality circles concentrate in industrial parks (e.g., Feinan Industrial Park) and transport hubs (e.g., Hefei South Railway Station). The historic core lacks micro-infrastructures, whereas new districts—despite high-standard amenities—suffer from weak pedestrian activity. To address these deficiencies, we propose a differentiated zoning strategy: retrofitting micro-infrastructures in legacy neighborhoods, applying Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles in new urban extensions, and integrating community-serving functions within industrial peripheries. This framework provides actionable protocols for data-informed governance of 15-min living circles. Full article

Population growth and changing urban activity increase pressure on public transport to be efficient and equitable. This study examines how specific socioeconomic conditions around Athens Metro stations influence ridership patterns, with particular emphasis on employment structure, education levels, and household characteristics such as parking availability. Using 2021 census data and monthly station ridership for 2021, 10 min walking isochrone catchments are delineated for each station, and socioeconomic indicators are spatially aggregated to these zones. We screen variables through correlation analysis and estimate month-specific Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models to capture seasonal effects. The best-performing month is then analyzed to examine spatial non-stationarity, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reduces multicollinearity and highlights the most influential latent socioeconomic dimensions. The results indicate strong spatial disparities: central interchange stations show consistently high demand, whereas peripheral stations exhibit lower and more variable ridership. Localized relationships link ridership to employment structure, educational profiles, and indicators of car availability, such as household parking, suggesting uneven accessibility and mobility opportunities across the metropolitan area. The proposed GIS-spatial econometric workflow supports targeted, equity-oriented interventions and transit-oriented development and is transferable to other cities with comparable open ridership and census datasets. Full article

Material delivery plays a critical role in manufacturing efficiency, with manual retrieval introducing non-value-added (NVA) time and disrupting workflow continuity. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can improve performance by enabling overlap between material transport and productive work, but their effectiveness depends on how they are deployed. In this work, a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based autonomous dispatch framework was implemented and tested in a controlled experimental setting. This study utilized a representative aerospace assembly task to evaluate three material delivery approaches across 60 runs, including manual walking, manual AMR dispatch, and autonomous AMR deployment. System performance was assessed using total operation time, panel lead times, and non-value-added time. Results showed that manual AMR dispatch significantly increased total operation time and non-value-added time due to sequential task execution. Autonomous deployment reduced this inefficiency by enabling preemptive material transport and overlap with operator activity, but did not significantly outperform manual walking under the tested conditions. Operator variability also influenced non-value-added time under automated dispatch. These results indicate that AMR effectiveness depends strongly on deployment timing and workflow synchronization, with the greatest potential benefits expected in environments that allow greater overlap between transport and productive work. Full article

The microporous layer (MPL) is a key functional component in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), and clarifying the quantitative relationship between its microstructure and mass transport properties is essential for improving cell performance. In this study, a three-dimensional MPL model was developed using a stochastic reconstruction method, and, together with a random walk algorithm, was employed to systematically investigate the effects of porosity, carbon sphere radius, maximum overlap ratio, seed ratio, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content on permeability, effective diffusivity, and tortuosity. The results reveal that increasing porosity reduces tortuosity from 1.7 to 1.3, while permeability and effective diffusivity increase by factors of approximately 6.5 and 1.8, respectively. As the carbon sphere radius increases, tortuosity decreases from 1.55 to 1.35, accompanied by an increase in permeability from 2 × 10⁻¹⁶ m² to 20 × 10⁻¹⁶ m². Moreover, increasing the PTFE content raises permeability from 5 × 10⁻¹⁶ m² to 22.5 × 10⁻¹⁶ m², corresponding to an enhancement by a factor of approximately 4.5. The high-accuracy fitting equations obtained from the simulation results provide theoretical guidance for the microstructural design and optimization of MPLs, which can enhance oxygen transport and water management, reduce mass transport losses, and thereby benefit high-power-density operation and the overall efficiency of PEM fuel cells. Full article

In light of the accelerating process of global urbanization, the quality of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in urban parks has become a core metric for efforts to promote urban livability and sustainable cities. However, previous research has failed to consider the differential impacts of the external environment across various travel scenes. In this study, 32 parks in Chengdu serve as the empirical data, and public CES perception data are extracted from social media comments via text mining. Based on a unified 15 min time threshold, we delineate the service scope for four travel scenes and employ geographically weighted regression and piecewise regression models to analyze the spatial heterogeneity, driving mechanisms and threshold effects associated with the relationship between external environmental factors and park CES. The findings indicate that the external environment’s influence on CES exhibits a “scene-factor-scale” adaptation pattern. Walking scenes are influenced primarily by land-use and population factors; in contrast, cycling scenes rely on the availability of shared bicycle facilities, and public transport and driving scenes are driven by economic vitality and traffic-support factors, respectively. Five critical thresholds are identified, including a 40% impervious surface area. This research proposes scene-based optimization strategies and helps enhance the “external environment–travel behavior–spatial characteristics” coupling framework, thereby serving as a scientific reference for efforts to improve 15 min living circles. Full article

Under growing urbanization and environmental challenges, sustainable urban mobility has become a critical priority for cities worldwide. Public Transport (PT) systems play a central role in reducing car dependency, lowering emissions, increasing network capacity, and promoting more equitable and efficient access to urban spaces for all users. Hence, the present paper aims to investigate PT preferences in the city of Larissa, Greece. Larissa is a medium-sized city currently serviced only by buses, and is currently focusing on the potential introduction of a new tram system to operate in parallel with existing bus services. To this end, a SP survey was designed and implemented, resulting in 972 observations that were collected for further statistical analysis. Survey results show a slight preference for trams over buses, with 54.63% selecting the tram and 45.37% favoring the buses. Moreover, a context-based segmentation pipeline was established using PCA, DBSCAN and t-SNE algorithms, aiding the visualization of existing clusters for transport choice approaches. Afterwards, a series of mixed logit models was applied, and statistically significant variables influencing mode choice were determined. The study also examines Value of Time (VoT) metrics and finds that respondents assign lower VoTs to trams than to buses, especially in out-of-vehicle segments of the journey, such as waiting and walking, and therefore consider trams as more pleasant and less burdensome. The findings also indicate that passengers place a high value on the quality of infrastructure related to access and waiting times, underlining the need to improve the overall user experience beyond the vehicle itself. In summary, the present research offers valuable insights into how the introduction of a tram system could possibly reshape PT usage patterns when compared with the legacy existing bus services. Full article

Walkability has reemerged as a central interest within planning, public health, and built environment research, yet evidence demonstrates that new urban extensions or emerging New Towns across England continue to reproduce conditions of car dependency and limited active travel options. This paper examines the structural, spatial, and sociocultural factors shaping walkability through an in-depth analysis of five residential case studies. It draws on spatial analysis and assessment of resident behaviour using sociodemographic data. Findings indicate significant disparities in walkability outcomes, with some developments characterised by fragmented layouts, weak public transport integration, and environments that make walking impractical or undesirable. The paper argues that walkability must be understood as a multidimensional, relational property of place, rather than a static design feature. The current dominant planning practices continue to prioritise vehicular access and associated infrastructure, undermining national goals for decarbonisation, health equity, and sustainable mobility. Thus, this study identifies the spatial, governance, and policy conditions necessary to deliver genuinely walkable neighbourhoods and highlights the systemic barriers that continue to constrain progress. The findings offer critical insights for planners, policymakers, and developers seeking to create environments that support healthier, more equitable, and less car dependent futures. Full article

Rapid growth in urban population, vehicle ownership, and spatial expansion places increasing pressure on urban transportation networks, necessitating a shift toward sustainable mobility solutions. Accordingly, this study examines the determinants of university students’ mode choice preferences for home-to-campus commuting in a small-scale city. The analysis incorporates socio-demographic factors, mobility resources, and travel attributes as potential influencers of mode choice. For modeling preferences, a Multinomial Logit (MNL) model was initially used to estimate deterministic effects, followed by a Mixed Multinomial Logit (MMNL) model to capture unobserved heterogeneity at the individual level. The results demonstrate that gender, vehicle ownership, and travel distance play statistically significant roles in mode choice. Crucially, the MMNL analysis reveals that while students’ sensitivity to travel time is relatively homogeneous, their sensitivity to travel cost exhibits significant unobserved heterogeneity. Moreover, the study reveals the potential for a modal shift toward sustainable options such as walking, cycling, and public transport. These findings offer valuable insights for promoting sustainable urban mobility and developing data-driven transport policies, specifically in alignment with the “Sustainable Cities and Communities” goal of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

Non-motorized mobility networks increasingly serve as critical infrastructure for sustainable regional development that integrates recreational, environmental, and transportation functions across diverse geographical contexts. To enhance the spatial planning efficiency and support evidence-based policy development, this study develops a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based analytical framework to evaluate the connectivity and accessibility of Korea’s integrated non-motorized mobility system. The model systematically maps 606 walking courses, 60 cycling routes, and 66 water activity sites nationwide, and examines their spatial relationships with major transportation hubs, including Korea Train e-Xpress (KTX) stations and airports within 20–30 km buffer zones. Using proximity analysis, connectivity mapping, and origin–destination (OD) cost matrix modeling, the framework identifies intermodal distance structures and spatial integration patterns. The analysis reveals a hybrid network configuration characterized by localized multimodal clustering alongside regional accessibility gaps, with urban–coastal regions demonstrating stronger connectivity than inland–rural areas. This study proposes a data-driven Korean mobility network framework that integrates walking, cycling, and water routes with the existing transportation infrastructure. These findings demonstrate how GIS-based tools can support evidence-based sustainable mobility policies and regional tourism planning on a national scale. Full article

In this study, a three-dimensional simulation of a walking-beam reheating furnace was developed to improve the steel slab reheating process and reduce surface oxidation kinetics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Combustion, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and chemical reaction models were integrated into the numerical framework of this study. In addition, dynamic mesh remeshing was coupled through user-defined functions (UDFs), enabling the simultaneous simulation of slab movement and evolution of the involved transport phenomena. Turbulence was modeled with the realizable k-ε formulation, combustion with the Eddy Dissipation model, and radiation with the P-1 model coupled with WSGGM to include CO₂ and H₂O gas radiation. Scale formation was modeled using customized functions based on Arrhenius-type kinetics and Wagner’s oxidation model, evaluating its growth as a function of time, temperature, and furnace atmosphere. The predicted thermal evolution inside the furnace was validated using industrial data, yielding an average deviation of 5%. Furthermore, the proposed operating conditions led to an average slab temperature of 1289.77 °C at the exit of the homogenization zone, which was 16 °C higher than that under the current operation but still within the target range (1250 ± 50 °C). The reduction in combustion air decreased energy losses and improved product quality, lowering the molar oxygen content in the furnace atmosphere from 4.9 × 10² mol to 6.7 × 10¹ mol. Additionally, annual savings of 4,793,472 kg of natural gas and 13,884 tons of steel were estimated owing to reduced oxidation losses. The proposed air–fuel adjustment led to estimated annual energy savings (equivalent to 4,793,472 kg of natural gas) and a reduction in material loss due to oxidation from 4.5% to 3.75% (an absolute reduction of 0.75 percentage points; relative reduction ≈ 16.7%), which has a significant industrial impact on metal conservation and descaling cost reduction. Although there are CFD studies on plate overheating and scale growth separately, this work presents three main contributions: (1) the integration, within a single numerical framework, of combustion, radiation, species transport, oxidation kinetics, and actual plate movement using a dynamic mesh; (2) validation against continuous industrial records (16 thermocouples) and quantification of operational benefits such as fuel savings and reduced material loss; and (3) a comparative analysis between actual and optimized conditions, which standardize the air–methane ratio. Full article

Physical activity is today a major global problem, since it is associated with physical, psychological, and social health risks. Promoting active mobility by using walking and cycling as modes of transportation has been proposed as one of the strategies to promote physical activity in urban areas while also addressing several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This study aimed to examine whether the adoption of active mobility behavior contributes to individual well-being and further test which constraints individuals face when adopting it. The sample of the study consisted of 294 citizens from Enterprise and Innovation a metropolitan area in Greece. The factorial analysis of the constraints active mobility scale confirmed the five dimensions: environmental, psychological, individual, social, and interest. The results indicated that citizens who reported the use of active mobility were more likely to report higher levels. Furthermore, lack of interest was not the main reason for not using active mobility. Instead, most of the reported constraints were directly or indirectly related to the inadequate, unfriendly, and unsafe urban infrastructure, which creates concerns about individual safety. The implications of these results are discussed. Full article

Non-Hermitian systems under nonreciprocity-induced evolution present an exotic phenomenon, known as the non-Hermitian skin effect. Yet, the control mechanisms and the generalized Brillouin zone in disordered systems have not been fully understood. Here, using Floquet quantum-walk models with disorder, we demonstrate effective control of the direction of the non-Hermitian skin effect in both one- and two-dimensional systems. Once the disorder strength exceeds a critical threshold, the direction of the skin effect is reversed. We develop a modified generalized Brillouin zone theory that correctly predicts skin effect reversal. Furthermore, we also investigate how the direction of the non-Hermitian skin effect depends on the disorder strength in each subsystem of the two-dimensional quantum walk. Our work paves the way for the design of quantum transport devices in quantum simulation platforms. Full article