Search Results (164)

Background/Objectives: Military Service Members (SMs) require optimal nutrition to support health, readiness, and job performance. However, they often fall short of meeting nutrition guidelines. This study aimed to determine the impact and feasibility of implementing the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) “Fueled to Fight^®” (F2F) nutrition program in non-appropriated fund (NAF) food venues. Objectives included evaluating changes in Military Nutrition Environment Assessment Tool (mNEAT) scores, feasibility of implementing and maintaining F2F strategies, and influence on customer purchasing patterns. Methods: Researchers conducted a pre-post interventional study from January to December 2024 at three NAF food venues across two USMC bases. F2F strategies, including identifying items using a stoplight color coding system (Green = healthy, Yellow = less healthy, Red = least healthy), menu revisions, food placement, promotion, and marketing, were implemented. Data included mNEAT assessments, sales reports, and stakeholder focus groups. Generalized Estimating Equations models were used to analyze sales data. Results: mNEAT scores increased across all venues post-intervention. Availability and sales of Green items increased, while sales of Red items decreased in some venues. Profit increased at all three food venues. Focus groups revealed feasibility and provided insights for future interventions. Conclusions: F2F interventions in NAF food venues are feasible and can positively impact the food environment and customer purchasing patterns without negatively affecting profit. This study highlights the importance of integrating nutrition programs into all military food venues, not just government-funded dining facilities, to support the nutritional fitness and readiness of SMs. Full article

Due to the effect of room acoustics on musical interpretation, a musician’s rehearsal may be greatly enhanced by leveraging virtual and augmented reality technology. This paper presents a preliminary study on a rehearsal tool designed for musicians, enabling practice in a virtual acoustic environment with audience-positioned playback. Fourteen participants, both professional and non-professional musicians, were recruited to practice with the rehearsal tool prior to performing in an unfamiliar venue. Throughout the rehearsal, the subjects either played in a virtual environment that matched the acoustics of the performance venue or one that was acoustically different. A control group rehearsed in an acoustically dry room with no virtual acoustic environment. The tool’s effectiveness was evaluated with two 16-item questionnaires that assessed quality, usefulness, satisfaction with the rehearsal, and aspects of the performance. Findings indicate that rehearsing in a virtual acoustic environment that matches the performance venue improves acoustic awareness during the performance and enhances ease and comfort on stage compared to practising in a different environment. These results support the integration of virtual acoustics in rehearsal tools to help musicians better adapt their performance to concert settings. Full article

With the growing popularity of ice sports, indoor ice sports venues are drawing an increasing number of spectators. Maintaining comfort in spectator zones presents a significant challenge for the operational scheduling of climate control systems, which integrate ventilation, heating, and dehumidification functions. To explore economic cost potential while ensuring user comfort, this study proposes a demand response-integrated optimization model for climate control systems. To enhance the model’s practicality and decision-making efficiency, a two-stage optimization method combining multi-objective optimization algorithms with the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is proposed. In terms of algorithm comparison, the performance of three typical multi-objective optimization algorithms—NSGA-II, standard MOEA/D, and Multi-Objective Brown Bear Optimization (MOBBO)—is systematically evaluated. The results show that NSGA-II demonstrates the best overall performance based on evaluation metrics including runtime, HV, and IGD. Simulations conducted in China’s cold regions show that, under comparable comfort levels, schedules incorporating dynamic tariffs are significantly more economically efficient than those that do not. They reduce operating costs by 25.3%, 24.4%, and 18.7% on typical summer, transitional, and winter days, respectively. Compared to single-objective optimization approaches that focus solely on either comfort enhancement or cost reduction, the proposed multi-objective model achieves a better balance between user comfort and economic performance. This study not only provides an efficient and sustainable solution for climate control scheduling in energy-intensive buildings such as ice sports venues but also offers a valuable methodological reference for energy management and optimization in similar settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: On 6 June 2023, two varicella cases were reported at a highly vaccinated elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. We investigated the outbreak to describe its transmission dynamics; quantify attack rates in school, household, and private-academy settings; and assess the impact of coordinated control measures. Methods: A case-series study included 89 teachers and students who had contact with suspected patients. Using case definitions, laboratory tests, questionnaires, and environmental assessments, we evaluated exposures and factors facilitating spread. Results: Varicella developed in 23 of 89 contacts (25.8%); laboratory confirmation was obtained in 2 (8.7% of cases). The mean incubation period was 13 days. Epidemic-curve and network analyses indicated that the outbreak began with a single index case and extended through household contacts and private educational facilities, ultimately involving multiple schools. Conclusions: Breakthrough transmission can occur even when single-dose coverage exceeds 95%, particularly as vaccine-induced immunity may wane over time. Poorly regulated extracurricular facilities, such as private academies, act as bridging hubs that amplify spread across grades and even between schools. For timely detection and control, these venues should be incorporated into routine varicella surveillance, and rapid, coordinated infection-control measures are required across all educational settings. Full article

In recent decades, university dormitories have gradually evolved from traditional residential spaces into educationally meaningful venues that support informal learning. However, limited research has explored how supportive environmental factors within dormitories influence students’ informal learning experiences. This study aims to evaluate key environmental factors that affect students’ satisfaction with informal learning in dormitory settings. Based on a comprehensive literature review, two types of informal learning behaviors—individual and collaborative—were defined, and a multi-dimensional evaluation framework comprising five categories and 26 environmental indicators was established. Field observations and structured questionnaires were employed to assess students’ satisfaction with each environmental factor and their overall informal learning experiences. Quantitative analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between environmental conditions and learning satisfaction. Results show that all five-factor categories—spatial designs, natural environments, physical settings, social aspects, and resources—positively influence informal learning, with resources being the most impactful. While environmental influences on individual and collaborative learning exhibit minor differences, the overall patterns are consistent. Compared to other informal learning spaces on campus, dormitory users place greater emphasis on spatial controllability. This study further demonstrates the cognitive and emotional value of dormitory environments and proposes targeted directions for optimizing them as informal learning spaces. Full article

As shared micromobility grows quickly in metropolitan settings, e-scooter safety issues have become more urgent. This paper uses a Bayesian hierarchical model applied to census block groups in several Texas metropolitan areas to construct a spatial risk assessment methodology for e-scooter crashes. Based on crash statistics from 2018 to 2024, we develop a severity-weighted crash risk index and combine it with variables related to land use, transportation, demographics, economics, and other factors. The model comprises a geographically structured random effect based on a Conditional Autoregressive (CAR) model, which accounts for residual spatial clustering after capture. It also includes fixed effects for covariates such as car ownership and nightlife density, as well as regional random intercepts to account for city-level heterogeneity. Markov Chain Monte Carlo is used for model fitting; evaluation reveals robust spatial calibration and predictive ability. The following key predictors are statistically significant: a higher share of working-age residents shows a positive association with crash frequency (incidence rate ratio (IRR): ≈1.55 per +10% population aged 18–64), as does a greater proportion of car-free households (IRR ≈ 1.20). In the built environment, entertainment-related employment density is strongly linked to elevated risk (IRR ≈ 1.37), and high intersection density similarly increases crash risk (IRR ≈ 1.32). In contrast, higher residential housing density has a protective effect (IRR ≈ 0.78), correlating with fewer crashes. Additionally, a sensitivity study reveals that the risk index is responsive to policy scenarios, including reducing car ownership or increasing employment density, and is sensitive to varying crash intensity weights. Results show notable collision hotspots near entertainment venues and central areas, as well as increased baseline risk in car-oriented urban environments. The results provide practical information for targeted initiatives to lower e-scooter collision risk and safety planning. Full article

This study aims to (1) analyze thermal comfort at outdoor sport events held outside of fixed venues or locations; (2) establish a method for evaluating environmental thermal comfort for large-scale, long-term outdoor activities; and (3) provide suggestions for the arrangement of shifts in routes and participants for heat warning and mitigation. Taiwan ReAnalysis Downscaling (TReAD) data, Sky View Factors (SVFs), GSV2SVF tool, and RayMan Pro were applied to analyze and evaluate thermal comfort at the 2021 Torch Relay Round the Island, Taiwan. In this study, modified Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (mPET), Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were estimated and selected as thermal indicators for the purpose of obtaining a more comprehensive perspective. We also define and present thermal performance with a simple traffic light symbol (green: comfortable/yellow: warm/red: hot) and try to go beyond the concept of heat and visualize it in an easy-to-understand way. Full article

Public spaces are fundamental spatial units within cities, serving as essential venues for residents’ daily activities and as resilient environments for responding to emergencies. They play a crucial role in enhancing urban resilience and promoting sustainable urban development. However, existing research predominantly focuses on objective spatial entities, often neglecting users’ behavioral and psychological perceptions. Studies that incorporate perceived resilience typically necessitate extensive, time-consuming, and costly fieldwork. To address these gaps, this study innovatively integrates space syntax into the Public Space Resilience (PSR) analytical framework, thereby bridging the subjective and objective dimensions of resilience in the evaluation process. A comprehensive resilience measurement framework is developed, linking ‘material entities’, ‘spatial perception (via space syntax)’, and ‘spatial resilience’. Using the Yuzhong Peninsula in Chongqing, China, as a case study, this research employs indicators such as integration, connectivity, and comprehensibility to quantitatively evaluate PSR. Based on the findings, this study also proposes strategies and recommendations to enhance PSR. The results contribute to both a practical measurement method and a theoretical framework for advancing PSR in urban planning and design. Full article

Plasma amino acid (PAA) concentration in horses vary according to the exercise type. This study evaluated the changes in PAA levels and the associated metabolites, urea and ammonia, following short-duration, high-intensity cross-country exercise in eventing horses. Twenty eventing horses participated in 55 rides at 14 international competitions (2* to 4* levels) across five venues in Germany and Poland. Blood samples were collected at four timepoints: before exercise (TP0), at 10 min (TP1), and at 30 min (TP2) post-exercise, as well as in the morning on the day after the competition (TP3). A total of 23 different PAAs and two metabolites (ammonia and urea) were analyzed. PAA concentration difference over time was assessed by a mixed ANOVA. Significant fluctuations were observed in 18/25 parameters. For 21/23 PAAs, levels increased at TP1 and/or TP2, while cysteine concentrations decreased. Concentrations returned to pre-competition levels for 21/23 PAAs by TP3. Proline levels remained elevated (p = 0.002), while those of glycine significantly decreased (p = 0.027) at TP3. Plasma ammonia and urea levels increased at TP1, TP2 and TP3. This study provides foundations for supplementation strategies and can inform future works exploring PAAs’ role in performance and training adaptation in eventing horses and their potential as performance-related biomarkers. Full article

In the wake of intensifying global Extreme Climate Incidents (ECIs), which have particularly noticeable effects on indigenous populations, integrating value-driven education has become a global imperative. While Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for SDG 13 climate action has been widely adopted in science and engineering curricula, language and culture programs remain underexplored as venues for transformative sustainability learning in Global Competence (GC). Learners in these fields often demonstrate critical literacy and global awareness, but lack the interdisciplinary tools and strategies to translate values into climate-conscious behavior. This study responds to this gap by incorporating virtual reality (VR) into a modified Global Competence Framework (GCF) in an experiment study within intercultural communication courses (N = 303, VR explorative group = 152, control group = 151). A mixed methodological approach was adopted by evaluating pretest–posttest quantitative data of ESD knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and qualitative data of critical online reflection. The results demonstrate increase localized ESD knowledge in terms of climate, attitudes, and ecological behaviors in both groups in the lived experience of GCF, yet the VR explorative group showed a greater improvement in knowledge and behavior because of their visualization of the 3D rotation of rarely acquired scientific knowledge in monsoonal movement and the local indigenous village reconstruction after destruction. By localizing the Typhoon Morakot tragedy that devastated Shiaolin Village, the intervention provided a culturally specific and interactive context for ESD concepts, enabling interdisciplinary learners to experience climate injustice firsthand with value-based strategies while critically reflecting on global responsibility and sustainable action. Full article

Rural public cultural spaces serve as vital venues for information exchange, interpersonal interaction, and cultural and leisure activities in rural communities. Since the Rural Revitalization Strategy was proposed in 2017, the planning and provision of rural public cultural spaces have attracted increasing attention in China. However, many such spaces remain underutilized, accompanied by low levels of user satisfaction among villagers. A key reason for this is the mismatch between standardized spatial configurations and villagers’ dynamic functional needs. Drawing on Hertzberger’s theory of spatial polyvalence, this study proposes a framework to evaluate spatial flexibility in rural public cultural spaces. The framework introduces quantitative indicators and computational methods across two dimensions: “competence”, referring to a space’s potential to accommodate multiple functions, and “performance”, reflecting the efficiency of functional transformation during actual use. Employing the proposed method, this study conducts a case analysis of the Xiangyang Village Neighborhood Center in Shanghai to evaluate its spatial characteristics and actual usage. The evaluation reveals two key issues at the overall level: (1) many residual spaces remain undesigned and lack strategies to support spontaneous use; (2) the spatial layout shows rigid public–private divisions, with little adaptability. At the room level, spaces such as the elevator, hairdressing room, party secretary’s office, and health center are functionally rigid and underutilized. Drawing on exemplary cases, this study proposes several key strategies such as (1) optimizing and innovatively activating residual spaces, (2) integrating multifunctional programs, and (3) improving spatial inclusiveness. Full article

Centralized daylight control has been extensively studied for its ability to optimize useful daylight while mitigating glare in targeted areas. However, this approach lacks a comprehensive visual comfort framework, as it does not simultaneously address spatial glare distribution, uniform high useful daylight levels across all sensor points, and overheating prevention through regulated annual solar exposure. Nevertheless, decentralized control facilitates autonomous operation of the individual façade components, addressing all the objectives. This study integrates a biomimetic functional approach with building performance simulations by computational design to evaluate different kinetic façade configurations. Through the implementation of parametric modeling and daylight analysis, we have identified an optimal angular configuration (60° for the focal region, 50° for the non-focal region) that significantly increases building performance. The optimized design demonstrates substantial improvements, reducing excessive sunlight exposure by 45–55% and glare incidence by 65–72% compared to other dynamic solutions. The recommended steeper angles achieve superior performance, maintaining high useful daylight illuminance (UDI > 91.5%) while dramatically improving visual comfort. Sensitivity analysis indicates that even minor angular adjustments (5–10°) can induce a 10–15% variation in glare performance, emphasizing the necessity of precise control mechanisms in both focal and non-focal regions of the façade. These findings establish a framework for creating responsive building façades that balance daylight provision with occupant comfort in real-time operation. Full article

Pedestrian panic behavior is a primary cause of overcrowding and stampede accidents in public micro-road network areas with high pedestrian density. However, reliably detecting such behaviors remains challenging due to their inherent complexity, variability, and stochastic nature. Current detection models often rely on single-modality features, which limits their effectiveness in complex and dynamic crowd scenarios. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a contour-driven multimodal framework that first employs a CNN (CDNet) to estimate density maps and, by analyzing steep contour gradients, automatically delineates a candidate panic zone. Within these potential panic zones, pedestrian trajectories are analyzed through LSTM networks to capture irregular movements, such as counterflow and nonlinear wandering behaviors. Concurrently, semantic recognition based on Transformer models is utilized to identify verbal distress cues extracted through Baidu AI’s real-time speech-to-text conversion. The three embeddings are fused through a lightweight attention-enhanced MLP, enabling end-to-end inference at 40 FPS on a single GPU. To evaluate branch robustness under streaming conditions, the UCF Crowd dataset (150 videos without panic labels) is processed frame-by-frame at 25 FPS solely for density assessment, whereas full panic detection is validated on 30 real Itaewon-Stampede videos and 160 SUMO/Unity simulated emergencies that include explicit panic annotations. The proposed system achieves 91.7% accuracy and 88.2% F1 on the Itaewon set, outperforming all single- or dual-modality baselines and offering a deployable solution for proactive crowd safety monitoring in transport hubs, festivals, and other high-risk venues. Full article

High-resolution temporal contact networks are useful ingredients for realistic epidemic simulations. Existing solutions typically rely either on empirical studies that capture fine-grained interactions via Bluetooth or wearable sensors in confined settings or on large-scale simulation frameworks that model entire populations using generalized assumptions. However, for most realistic modeling of epidemic spread and the evaluation of countermeasures, there is a critical need for highly resolved, temporal contact networks that encompass multiple venues without sacrificing the intricate dynamics of real-world contacts. This paper presents an integrated approach for generating such networks by coupling Bayesian-optimized human mobility models (HuMMs) with a state-of-the-art epidemic simulation framework. Our primary contributions are twofold: First, we embed empirically calibrated HuMMs into an epidemic simulation environment to create a parameterizable, adaptive engine for producing synthetic, high-resolution, population-wide temporal contact network data. Second, we demonstrate through empirical evaluations that our generated networks exhibit realistic interaction structures and infection dynamics. In particular, our experiments reveal that while variations in population size do not affect the underlying network properties—a crucial feature for scalability—altering location capacities naturally influences local connectivity and epidemic outcomes. Additionally, sub-graph analyses confirm that different venue types display distinct network characteristics consistent with their real-world contact patterns. Overall, this integrated framework provides a scalable and empirically grounded method for epidemic simulation, offering a powerful tool for generating and simulating contact networks. Full article

The environmental quality of conference and exhibition places in small- and medium-sized cities plays a crucial role in attracting exhibitors, fostering the growth of the conference and exhibition industry and enhancing the market competitiveness of these places. However, past decision makers have often adopted planning models from large cities, neglecting the interaction between conference and exhibition places in smaller cities and local lifestyles as well as urban environments. From an “environment-behavior” perspective, this study reveals the unique interaction mechanisms between exhibitors and the built environment within such venues. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional research that focused solely on physical indicators, we place particular emphasis on exhibitors’ behavioral adaptations and their overall exhibition experience in the convention environment. To address this gap, this study employs a mixed-method approach that integrates field surveys, interviews, and questionnaires to systematically collect data from 10 representative cases. First, a preliminary study was conducted to establish an evaluation index system for place environmental quality. Through regression analysis, six key indicators—such as promotional atmosphere, site accessibility, and surrounding urban development conditions—were identified as significant factors influencing place quality. Second, subjective evaluations were conducted based on users’ actual experiences and experts’ professional insights, leading to the development of an importance–performance analysis model to assess value expectations and place environmental performance. The results indicated that users had high expectations for elements such as parking availability, transportation facilities, and the surrounding commercial atmosphere. In contrast, experts emphasized the significance of proximity to urban transportation hubs, site accessibility, and the spatial orientation of public spaces in determining environmental quality. Moreover, differences in evaluations among experts from various fields revealed notable variations in focus and priority considerations. Finally, based on a statistical analysis of the survey results, this study proposes three design recommendations—“adaptation, attraction, and quality enhancement”—to optimize the environmental quality of conference and exhibition places in small- and medium-sized cities, offering both theoretical and practical guidance for future planning, design, and evaluation. Full article