Search Results (4,306)

The sustainability of rural areas depends on effective wastewater management to reduce human impact on the environment, including the risk of pollution to surface water, groundwater, and soil from human waste. However, organized sanitation systems, which include pipeline networks and wastewater treatment plants in rural communities with low population densities, often have very low profitability and cost-efficiency, which greatly reduces their acceptance and residents’ willingness to pay. This study examines the economic profitability and cost-efficiency of selected on-site household sewage collection and treatment systems operating under real economic conditions in Poland. An evaluation was conducted on seven contemporary models of individual bioreactors, as well as a standard anaerobic septic tank equipped with drainage filters. Additionally, all options were tested on permeable and poorly permeable soils. For each variant, investment costs, as well as operation and maintenance expenses, were calculated. Financial evaluation utilized indicators of economic profitability and cost-efficiency, including the Payback Period, Net Present Value, Benefits–Cost Ratio, and Dynamic Generation Costs. The potential financial benefits included savings from avoiding the use of holding septic tanks and sewage transport by slurry wagons. All the studied designs of on-site sanitary sewage management showed significant economic feasibility and cost-efficiency. Full article

Over 292 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated annually in the United States, with more than half disposed of in landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLFs) are stationary sources of air pollution and potential health risks for nearby communities. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has completed over 300 public health assessments (PHAs) and related investigations at MSWLFs and open dumps since the 1980s. This paper reviews the ATSDR’s evaluations of air pathway concerns at 125 MSWLF sites assessed between 1988 and early 2025, with many being evaluated during the 1990s. Most sites were located in the Midwest and Northeast, and only 25% remained active. The ATSDR found no air-related public health hazard at 86% of sites. At sites where hazards were identified, common issues included elevated outdoor or indoor toxicants (e.g., hydrogen sulfide, benzene, trichloroethylene, and mercury) and unsafe methane accumulations. Contributing factors included older site designs, inadequate gas-collection, subsurface fires, and distance from nearby residences. Corrective actions effectively reduced exposures at the affected sites. Results suggest that well-located and maintained landfills minimize public health hazards, while aging or poorly managed sites pose risks. Continued monitoring and research are warranted as waste management shifts toward reducing, reusing, recycling, composting, and energy-recovery technologies to improve efficiency, advance technologies, and address systemic public health challenges. Full article

Utah typically experiences 18 days with high fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) levels exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards per year. In August of 2022, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall convened an Indoor Air Quality Summit, during which experts in healthcare, industrial hygiene, and atmospheric science, among others, expressed the need to prioritize indoor air quality interventions more within the state. We conducted a furnace filter exchange pilot project that involved 11 families in Salt Lake City’s Westside. These families completed a survey regarding air quality-related concerns while researchers took air quality measurements—both inside and outside the residence. The goals of this pilot study were to gather data about the participants’ indoor and outdoor air quality perceptions, how frequently they changed their home air filters, and any barriers they experienced. In addition, this study developed a proof of concept demonstrating collecting preliminary indoor and outdoor air quality data and furnace filter deposition information alongside the survey. The survey results were limited by a small sample size (11 participants); however, among those sampled we found that residents are acutely concerned about outdoor air quality but are less worried about indoor air quality. We measured substantially lower indoor PM_2.5 levels compared to ambient air and found a wide range of filter replacement times from those less than a month to over two years. Our research team learned not only about indoor air quality conditions and resident perceptions, but also about the needs of community members including access to filters, health education, and the need to allow more time to build trust between researchers and residents. Full article

This study investigates how urban park co-governance fosters a sense of belonging among residents and advances the Right to the City. It examines the role of parks in mitigating spatial fragmentation, inadequate living conditions, and relational disconnection in high-density urban environments. As essential green infrastructure, urban parks play a vital role in promoting spatial justice, community cohesion, and resident well-being. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s Right to the City framework, this study introduces the concept of the Right to Urban Park, conceptualised as a bundle of rights: freedom (appropriation), individualisation (socialisation), habitat and to inhabit (differentiation), and key point participation. Focusing on the governance and self-governance of parks in high-density cities, this research mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse a representative case in central Shanghai. The findings show that participation, collective action, and co-governance in urban parks effectively support the Right to the City. Integrating the Right to Urban Park framework into park planning and management enhances diversity, equality, and inclusion, thereby improving urban well-being. This framework plays an important role in fostering enfranchisement, individuation, and association processes that strengthen recognition, sense of belonging, and well-being. Full article

Currently, an active debate is underway among the academic community, urban planners, and policymakers regarding optimal models of urban development, given that the majority of the population now resides in cities. One concept under discussion is the 15 min city, which posits that all urban residents should be able to reach key, frequently used services within a 15 min walk or cycle. Although the literature suggests numerous potential benefits, debate persists about whether such cities would be optimal from the standpoint of sustainable development objectives and residents’ quality of life. The ongoing discussion also concerns the extent to which existing cities are capable of aligning with this concept. This is directly linked to the actual spatial distribution of individual services within the city. The literature indicates a research gap arising from a shortage of robust case studies that would enable a credible assessment of the practical implementation of this idea across diverse cities, countries, and regions. This issue pertains to Poland as well as to other countries. A desirable future scenario would involve comprehensive mapping of all cities, with respect to both the spatial distribution of specific services and related domains such as the quality and coherence of linear infrastructure. This article presents an analysis of the spatial accessibility of basic urban services in the context of implementing the 15 min city concept, using the city of Koszalin (Poland) as a case study. This city was selected due to its representative character as a medium-sized urban centre, both in terms of population and area, as well as its subregional functions within Poland’s settlement structure. Koszalin also exhibits a typical spatial and functional layout characteristic of many Polish cities. In light of growing challenges related to urbanisation, climate change, and the need to promote sustainable mobility, this study focuses on evaluating access to services such as education, healthcare, retail, public transport, and green spaces. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) tools enabled the identification of spatial variations in service accessibility across the city. The results indicate that only 11% of Koszalin’s area fully meets the assumptions of the 15 min city concept, providing pedestrians with convenient access to all key services. At the same time, 92% of the city’s area offers access to at least one essential service within a 15 min walk. Excluding forested areas not intended for development increases these values to 14% and 100%, respectively. This highlights the extent to which methodological choices in assessing pedestrian accessibility can shape analytical outcomes and the interpretations drawn from them. Moreover, given this article’s objective and the adopted analytical procedure, the assumed pedestrian walking speed is the key parameter. Accordingly, a sensitivity analysis was conducted, comparing the reference scenario (4 km/h) with alternative variants (3 and 5 km/h). This approach demonstrates the extent to which a change in a single parameter affects estimates of urban-area coverage by access to individual services reachable on foot within 15 min. The analysis reveals limited integration of urban functions at the local scale, highlighting areas in need of planning intervention. This article proposes directions for action to improve pedestrian accessibility within the city. Full article

This study presents an adaptive conservation framework for the Fujia Residence, a vernacular house located in the tropical region of Hainan, China. The primary aim of this study is to develop a symbiotic design approach that integrates GIS spatial analysis, modular design, and community participation to ensure the long-term sustainability, cultural preservation, and resilience of vernacular housing in tropical regions. The framework leverages GIS data, including elevation, temperature distribution, ecological features, and water systems, to inform the design, ensuring it is both disaster-resilient and environmentally adaptive. The modular design components, such as prefabricated structures and flexible spaces, offer a sustainable and adaptable solution to meet residents’ needs while preserving cultural heritage. The community participation model, incorporating a revenue-sharing mechanism and government subsidies, encourages the long-term involvement of local residents in the maintenance and protection of the residence. The outcome of this study demonstrates that the proposed framework provides a replicable model for cultural heritage preservation in tropical and economically underdeveloped regions, offering a scalable and adaptable solution to address the challenges of vernacular housing conservation in similar contexts. Full article

Objective: This study aimed to examine the associations between malnutrition and circulating blood markers in older adults. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on octogenarians residing in the mountain community of the Sirente geographic area in Central Italy. Data collection was conducted from December 2023 to September 2024. Malnutrition was defined based on the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. A panel of blood markers was examined, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify clusters of related molecules. Both unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression models were applied to investigate the associations between malnutrition and these molecular clusters. Results: Data from 196 older adults (mean age: 86.2 years) were analyzed. Malnutrition was positively associated with PC 2 (i.e., urea, c-terminal agrin fragment, and potassium) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.647, p-value: 0.039) and negatively associated with PC 3 (i.e., hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell count) (OR = 0.567, p-value: 0.022) and PC 4 (i.e., calcium, albumin, total protein levels, and HDL cholesterol) (OR = 0.607, p-value: 0.035). Conclusions: Findings of the present study suggest that different clusters of blood markers are associated with malnutrition in older adults. Specifically, malnutrition is associated with clusters related to kidney function, anemia, neuromuscular function, and nutrient availability. These associations likely reflect the underlying biological mechanisms contributing to the development of malnutrition in this population. Full article

This study examines the evolving relationship between the Port of Motril and the adjacent fishing community of El Varadero. The reduction in fishing quotas and the port’s transformation into a maritime transport hub have not only reshaped the connection between the area and the port but have also contributed to the gradual decline of the local community. Through a community survey conducted among residents of the fishing neighborhood and the urban center (n = 65), we assessed community assets, psychological sense of community, and collective self-efficacy in this coastal area in southern Granada. The survey findings were supplemented with interviews with key informants from the local fishing sector (n = 5). The results indicate that residents of the fishing neighborhood perceive a higher prevalence of social problems and report a diminished sense of belonging. The community’s historical ties to the port have progressively weakened, exposing residents to ongoing socio-economic decline. This study explores the potential of fishing cultural heritage as a resource for local development and highlights the need for integrated governance between the fishing sector and the local authorities. Full article

Background: Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, leading to lung fibrosis, respiratory symptoms, and impaired lung function. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of silicosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to identify factors associated with abnormal pulmonary function among residents living in dust-exposed areas in Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2024 to July 2024 among adults aged 18 years or older in Saraburi, Thailand. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, respiratory symptoms, risk of silicosis, chest radiographs, and spirometry (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR)). Silicosis was confirmed based on a history of significant silica exposure and characteristic chest radiographic findings. Results: Among 290 participants (55.9% female, mean age 47.6 ± 16.4 years), the prevalence of silicosis, asthma, and COPD was 0.3%, 4.5%, and 10.3%, respectively. Abnormal chest radiographs were observed in 8.3%, and abnormal lung function in 34.1%, including restrictive lung patterns (16.6%), airway obstruction (9.0%), mixed defects (2.8%), and small-airway disease (5.9%). BDR was observed in 4.8%. Logistic regression identified increasing age as a significant predictor of abnormal lung function. Conclusions: Silicosis prevalence was lower than that of asthma and COPD, but abnormal pulmonary function—especially restrictive defects—was common. Notably, the prevalence of asthma and COPD was higher than previously reported community-based diagnosis rates, suggesting potential underdiagnosis. Older age was associated with a higher likelihood abnormal lung function. These findings highlight the need for targeted surveillance, preventive measures, and public health interventions to mitigate the respiratory impacts of dust exposure in community settings Full article

While place branding strategies are increasingly implemented in rural tourism, they are criticised for issues of exclusion and homogenisation. In response, attempts have been made to rejuvenate place branding by integrating the ideology of place-shaping. To explore the conceptual distinctions between place branding and place-shaping, and the potential for integrating these two approaches, this paper examines the process of tourism programme and beyond in a peripheral rural community in Southwest China. This case study collected qualitative data from 2016 to 2023 to describe how the village was transformed by a top-down tourism initiative and how local stakeholders subsequently shaped these changes. Our empirical investigation reveals that sustainable rural tourism development requires integrating place branding strategies with the place-shaping process. While the administrative and financial support was required to promote the place branding, the exogenous approach led to a brand alien to the place. In contrast, residents and other stakeholders have shaped a living place beyond the programme. It entails an integration where elements from the place branding and place-shaping are recruited, reinterpreted, and reconfigured to support sustainable, place-based development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States (U.S.). Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina are among the U.S. states with extraordinarily high rates of lung cancer mortality, particularly among Black residents. The current lung cancer screening guidelines, revised in 2021, support screening for younger, non-Medicare age-eligible individuals who smoke. However, their health insurance, if any, may not cover their screening. This lack of access could create more disparities in lung cancer mortality rates. Methods: To address this concern, the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center secured a four-year Stand Up To Cancer^® (SU2C) grant titled “Southeastern Consortium for Lung Cancer Screening (SC3) Study” with a novel aim to test the effectiveness of a multimodal, multilevel, barrier-focused patient navigation intervention to promote lung cancer screening among Black patients from federally qualified health centers. Results: A total of 170/675 Black participants have been recruited to date. The majority of participants (n = 134; 78.82%) were aged 55–74 years. Most participants were unmarried (n = 100; 58.82%), more than half had a high school education/GED or less (n = 111; 65.29%), most currently smoked (n = 142; 83.53%), and more males than females participated (n = 107; 62.94% male). Their reported lung cancer screening barriers, addressed by the patient navigators, were cost concerns, insurance coverage issues, and recent medical history precluding screening. Conclusions with Relevance to Cancer Health Equity: This SC3 study includes a unique lung cancer screening cohort that is in direct contrast to the predominantly White cohort in the National Lung Screening Trial. The SU2C study has created a novel, community-engaged approach to lung cancer screening navigation that could become the gold standard in high-risk medically underserved populations. Full article

Rapid urbanization and limited land resources have intensified parking shortages in China’s core and old urban districts, highlighting the tension between parking supply and public space. This study investigates the staged impacts of shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) on private car ownership and parking demand within the context of urban renewal. Using a case study of Qintai Community in Wuhan, we combined resident surveys (135 valid samples), on-site parking facility assessments, and demand forecasting models to evaluate changes in parking requirements across different timeframes. Results indicate that SAVs can substantially reduce private car ownership and reshape parking demand structures, with short-term transitional pressures followed by long-term demand contractions. Furthermore, SAV adoption offers opportunities to reallocate parking land for multifunctional urban uses, alleviating land-use conflicts in high-density neighborhoods. The findings contribute to a dynamic framework for staged parking optimization, integrating technological innovation with community-level urban renewal strategies. This study underscores the importance of linking residents’ behavioral shifts with infrastructure adaptation, providing evidence-based guidance for sustainable urban transport and space management. Full article

This study introduces an energy-aware hybrid security framework that safeguards embedded systems against code theft, closing a critical gap. The approach integrates bitstream encryption, dynamic key generation, and Dynamic Function eXchange (DFX)-based memory obfuscation, yielding a layered hardware–software countermeasure to Read-Only Memory (ROM) scraping, side-channel attacks, and Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) intrusions by eavesdropping on communications on pins, cables, or Printed Circuit Board (PCB) routes. Prototyped on a Xilinx Zynq-7020 System-on-Chip (SoC) and applicable to MicroBlaze-based designs, it derives a fresh Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) key for each record via an Ascon-eXtendable-Output Function (XOF)–based Key Derivation Function (KDF) bound to a device identifier and a rotating slice from a secret pool, while relocating both the pool and selected Block RAM (BRAM)-resident code pages via Dynamic Function eXchange (DFX). This moving-target strategy frustrates ROM scraping, probing, and communication-line eavesdropping, while cryptographic confidentiality and integrity are provided by a lightweight AEAD (Ascon). Hardware evaluation reports cycles/byte, end-to-end latency, and per-packet energy under identical conditions across lightweight AEAD baselines; the framework’s key-derivation and DFX layers are orthogonal to the chosen AEAD. The threat model, field layouts (Nonce/AAD), receiver-side acceptance checks, and quantitative bounds are specified to enable reproducibility. By avoiding online key exchange and keeping long-lived secrets off Programmable Logic (PL)-based external memories while continuously relocating their physical locus, the framework provides a deployable, energy-aware defense in depth against code-theft vectors in FPGA-based systems. Overall, the work provides an original and deployable solution for strengthening the security of commercial products against code theft in embedded environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of depression among older adults in Busan—the first metropolitan city in South Korea to become a super-aged society—and identified the social environmental factors associated with depression. Methods: Using data from the 2023 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS), 5143 individuals aged 65 and older residing in Busan were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9, and social environmental factors—including unmet medical needs, satisfaction with the community environment, participation in social activities, and frequency of social contact—were derived from KCHS items. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed using SPSS, version 29.0. Results: Participants’ mean age was 73.50 ± 0.11 years, and 54.4% were female. The average depression score was 2.85 ± 0.06, with 3.7% having moderate, 1.2% moderately severe, and 0.4% severe depression. Logistic regression revealed that low healthcare accessibility was significantly associated with higher odds of moderate-to-severe depression (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.78–3.62). Conversely, higher satisfaction with community environment (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.73–0.87) and greater participation in social activities (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53–0.87) were associated with lower odds of depression. Conclusions: Depression in older adults is a multidimensional phenomenon shaped by the complex interplay of individual, health-related, and socio-environmental factors. Region-specific, community-based programs that enhance living environments, expand social participation, improve healthcare access, and promote positive health perceptions are essential. These findings can inform integrated nursing and policy interventions that support healthy aging and enhance older adults’ well-being. Full article

Countries encounter significant challenges in the context of the climate crisis, prompting the implementation of environmentally sustainable measures in vulnerable sectors such as tourism. Nevertheless, inadequate levels of public awareness often delay or—in certain cases—hinder the adoption of such measures. This study focuses on the tourism sector in Greece, which is particularly resource-intensive in terms of energy and water consumption, especially in regions frequently affected by extreme weather events. The study’s objective is to evaluate the level of environmental awareness and behavioral profiles of tourists. Firstly, our study provides a literature review addressing the tourism vulnerabilities related to climate change, the nexus between tourism and environmental pressures, the role of public awareness in shaping policy obstacles, and finally issues related to environmental social and individual responsibility and attitudes. Subsequently, a relevant survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to outline the profile and preferences of home domestic tourists in Greece. Our results indicate a generally moderate to low level of awareness: approximately 80% of respondents believe tourism has minimal or no impact on climate change, while only about 15% endorsed the need for stricter regulatory measures. Moreover, our findings underscore a significant knowledge gap regarding ongoing challenges related to water resource management. Notably, respondents with higher levels of awareness exhibited more positive attitudes towards sustainability-oriented measures. Overall, our study indicates that enhancing environmental awareness through targeted campaigns and effective communication strategies is crucial. In this respect, cultivating the notion of the “responsible tourist” emerges as a key prerequisite for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector in Greece, as a responsible tourist contributes to the long-term sustainability and the tourist profile of a destination for both visitors and residents. Full article