Search Results (355)

Sustainable urban development increasingly depends on understanding how digital activity is distributed across space and time, yet the spatiotemporal dynamics of the urban digital landscape remain poorly mapped by conventional data sources. This study uses Beijing as an empirical testbed, applying a multi-dimensional analytical framework to massive mobile network traffic data to decode the metabolic rhythms, distributional laws, and functional organization of the urban digital landscape. The results reveal three findings. First, the urban digital landscape exhibits a sleepless trapezoidal temporal rhythm characterized by continuous saturation without a midday trough and a quantifiable weekend activation lag, indicating that digital metabolism is structurally decoupled from physical mobility patterns. Second, digital traffic follows a skew-normal distribution consistent with a 20/70 rule of spatial polarization, in which the top 20% of super-connector nodes sustain approximately 70% of total urban digital flow, yielding a Gini coefficient of 0.68 as a measurable indicator of infrastructure inequality and systemic vulnerability. Third, four distinct functional prototypes are identified—ranging from continuously active metropolitan cores to inverse-tidal ecological peripheries—empirically validating Beijing’s polycentric transformation through the lens of digital flows. These findings demonstrate that large-scale mobile network traffic data offers a replicable and structurally distinct lens for sustainable urban digital governance, supporting resilient network planning, equitable allocation of digital resources, and evidence-based monitoring of urban functional transformation in rapidly growing megacities. Full article

Rapid urban densification has intensified the scarcity of urban green space and challenged residents’ health and well-being. Pocket parks, as micro-scale infill green spaces embedded in the urban fabric, are increasingly adopted to expand everyday access to nature. Using three representative pocket parks in Nanjing, China, this study draws on self-reported data from questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews to characterize spatiotemporal use patterns and examine their links to perceived psychological, physiological, and social benefits through quantitative statistical analysis and modeling. Results show that pocket park use is highly routinized. Temporal patterns were evident, with weekend and autumn visits associated with improvements in emotional well-being, pain relief, and parent–child interaction. Perceived benefits were generally positive across psychological, physiological, and social domains, with psychological benefits—especially emotional relief and reduced loneliness—reported most strongly. Benefit levels varied across parks and user groups. Mechanism analysis reveals that the park supply factor, reflecting accessibility and basic facility provision, showed the most consistent direct paths to perceived benefits, whereas facility use and length of stay had no significant direct effects. These findings suggest that pocket park planning should prioritize accessibility and adequate basic provision, while strengthening activity support in ways that align with local use rhythms to enhance health-oriented performance in high-density cities. Full article

Learning Management Systems (LMS) generate rich activity and interaction logs that can be exploited using machine learning techniques. This study models temporal engagement patterns, such as early, middle, late, weekend, and night activity, derived from Moodle logs in multiple undergraduate courses. It constructs temporal feature vectors per-student, applies k-means clustering to uncover behavioral patterns, and then uses ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis tests to assess whether patterns differ in final grades. Results show that the predictive value of temporal patterns is highly course-dependent; in some courses, structured early engagement aligns with higher achievement, whereas in others, heavy weekend and night usage is associated with the best outcomes. To complement the obtained quantitative analyses, a Large Language Model (LLM) (i.e., ChatGPT) is evaluated as a zero-shot classifier that receives only natural-language summaries of temporal behavior and predicts performance tiers. While accuracy is limited, the model produces a coherent approach, indicating value as an interpretable layer on top of statistical analysis. The work demonstrates a generalizable pipeline for temporal feature engineering, unsupervised profiling, and LLM-based reasoning over LMS data for early risk detection in digital learning environments. Full article

As urbanization accelerates in China, the protection and renewal of historical and cultural districts have become key issues. The Beiyuanmen Historical and Cultural District in Xi’an, with its long history and cultural significance, is a prime example. This study uses Beiyuanmen as a case study, employing Baidu heatmap data, Point of Interest (POI) data, and space syntax theory to examine the district’s spatial layout, crowd activity distribution, and functional structure. The purpose is to quantify its vitality and spatial characteristics, providing a basis for scientific planning. The methods involve analyzing spatiotemporal crowd activity intensity via heatmaps, assessing street network configuration through integration and choice values, and comparing POI data from 2014 and 2024 to track functional evolution. The research identifies the distinctive spatiotemporal patterns of crowd activity, revealing not only a southeast concentration correlated with urban functions but also distinct diurnal rhythms—a bimodal pattern on weekdays versus a sustained leisure-oriented pattern on weekends, underscoring a functional shift. It also explores the directed permeability of the spatial structure, identifying streets like Miaohou Street that form a highly integrated “cross-shaped backbone”. Analysis of POI data shows that commercial services dominate and have expanded outward, with the growth rate of POI density in the control area surpassing that of the core, indicating a trend of functional diffusion. Finally, the study highlights Miaohou Street, Beiguangji Street, Damai Market Street, Beiyuanmen, and Sajinqiao as key areas, and it concludes by proposing integrated planning recommendations that focus on four strategic aspects—spatial and crowd activity distribution management, functional zoning guidance, enhancement of public services and cultural displays, and alignment with broader urban policies—for prioritized landscape enhancement and tourism. Full article

Accurate short-term electric load forecasting is essential for the operation and management of energy-intensive manufacturing processes such as quicklime production, for which power demand is driven by stage-based operation, fixed schedules, and abrupt load transitions. This study presents a data-driven forecasting framework based on a Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT) model applied to real industrial measurements collected during 2024 from an operating quicklime production plant. The dataset comprises hourly average power demand records (kW) measured at a plant level, stage-dependent motor operation, and a fixed working schedule from 08:00 to 18:00 (Monday to Friday), with weekends and non-operational hours characterized by near-zero load. Coke consumption during the calcination stage is included as an additional contextual variable. The TFT model is trained for multi-horizon forecasting and provides probabilistic prediction intervals through quantile regression. Weekly evaluations demonstrate that the proposed approach accurately captures start–stop behavior, peak-load periods, and structured inactivity intervals. In addition to point-wise accuracy metrics, cumulative energy is evaluated by integrating hourly power over the forecasting horizon, allowing the assessment of energy preservation at the operational level. The resulting energy deviation reaches 4.78% for the full horizon and 5.25% when restricted to active production hours, confirming strong consistency between predicted and actual cumulative energy. A comparative analysis against LSTM, GRU, and N-BEATS models shows that recurrent architectures achieve lower MAE and RMSE values, while the TFT model delivers superior cumulative energy consistency, highlighting a trade-off between instantaneous accuracy and operational energy fidelity. Overall, the results demonstrate that the proposed TFT-based framework provides a robust and practically relevant solution for short-term industrial electric load forecasting and decision support in stage-driven manufacturing systems under real operating conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: The characterization of varying levels of parental engagement is important for increasing understanding of how to tailor and maximize the effectiveness of parent-based eHealth interventions. In this study, we aimed to determine if parental engagement in the WeChat group of a parent-based eHealth intervention affected preschoolers’ physical activity, diet, or sleep. Methods: We utilized baseline, post-test (12 weeks after baseline), and follow-up (12 weeks after post-test measurement) data from the intervention group in a parent-based eHealth intervention concerning children aged from three to six years, designed as a single-blinded randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms to explore the intervention’s influence on preschoolers’ physical activity, diet, and sleep. The parents in the intervention group were categorized into two groups: (1) The actively engaged group (53 parent–child dyads), defined as parents who actively posted and commented on modules at least once a week, either in the WeChat groups or through private messages with the researchers. (2) The lurker group (67 parent–child dyads), defined as parents who only responded to the weekly self-assessment messages and who, aside from this, showed no interaction within WeChat groups and did not privately message the researchers. Preschoolers’ physical activity was measured using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT, while their dietary behaviors and sleep were measured using parent-reported questionnaires. Generalized Estimating Equations using group and time as main effects and adjusted demographic information for covariates were computed to examine the effects of parental engagement in the eHealth intervention on preschoolers’ physical activity, diet, and sleep. Results: At post-test, higher levels of parental engagement were significantly associated with a marked increase in preschoolers’ moderate-to-vigorous and vigorous physical activity, alongside a notable reduction in weekend screen time. Furthermore, active parental engagement was linked to greater decreases in satiety responsiveness, desire to drink, and food fussiness compared to the ‘lurker’ group. However, no significant associations were observed between the level of parental engagement and preschoolers’ sleep-related outcomes. Conclusions: Further research with larger sample sizes and longer durations is needed to better investigate the potential of social media in parent-based interventions for promoting healthy lifestyles in children. Full article

Public green spaces play a critical role in fostering social cohesion in rapidly industrializing cities. However, empirical research on how urban residents in non-Western contexts perceive, evaluate and use these spaces remains limited, particularly in Islamic industrial cities with distinct cultural practices and urban development patterns. This study examines determinants of visitor satisfaction in Coastal Park, Asaluyeh, a rapidly industrializing Persian Gulf city. The city’s industrial character, marked by acute green space scarcity and demographic imbalances due to workforce migration, provides a distinctive context for examining urban park dynamics in Iran’s petrochemical industrial zones. Using structured questionnaires and systematic field observations, we assess factors influencing park satisfaction and the role of the park in facilitating community bonds. Results reveal that vegetation quality shows the strongest association with visitor satisfaction (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), surpassing demographic characteristics in explanatory power. The park predominantly serves group-based activities, with family gatherings representing the dominant form of social interaction, reflecting cultural preferences for communal recreation. Significant disparities emerge across men and women in satisfaction levels and usage patterns. Temporal concentration during weekend evenings is driven by extreme daytime heat, while transportation barriers limit equitable access. Statistical analyses indicate weak correlations between demographic variables and satisfaction, underscoring the primacy of experiential factors in shaping visitor perceptions. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for culturally sensitive park design in industrial Islamic cities, emphasizing the need for infrastructure, amenities, and improved public transport connectivity to ensure equitable access across diverse demographic groups. Full article

Background/Objectives: The potential of outdoor physical activity as an intervention strategy to promote height growth velocity via stimulating growth hormone secretion and vitamin D synthesis has been scarcely investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between outdoor physical activity duration and height growth velocity, and differences in gender, age, exposure time period (daily, school days vs. weekends), and body mass index (BMI) category. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the 2019–2020 Chinese National Survey on Students’ Constitution and Health. The analytic sample included 5029 adolescents aged 9–18 years. High or low height growth velocity was defined as sex- and age-specific percentiles. Associations of high height growth velocity with outdoor activity duration (≥1 h, ≥2 h) on school days and weekends were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. Analyses were stratified by sex, age group (9–12, 13–15, 16–18 years), and BMI category (normal weight, overweight, and obese). Results: Results from this cross-sectional analysis indicate that ≥1 h of daily outdoor physical activity is significantly associated with higher height growth velocity among normal-weight boys aged 9–15 years (OR range: 1.71–2.01) and girls aged 9–12 years (OR = 1.68). The positive association increased with ≥2 h (ORs up to 7.96). Consistently positive associations were found for activity during the school day compared to weekends. No significant associations were found in overweight and obese children. Conclusions: Ensuring adequate daily outdoor physical activity—especially on weekends—for at least two hours may be an important potential strategy to promote height growth in normal-weight children and adolescents. Interventions should consider differences in weight status and timing of activity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood cancer survivors face long-term cancer-related health risks, and daily behaviours, such as physical activity and recreational screen use, may influence their long-term overall wellbeing. Yet, little is known about survivors’ knowledge and understanding of recommended guidelines or their patterns of structured and unstructured activity. This study aimed to (i) assess survivors’ knowledge of physical activity and screen time guidelines, (ii) describe their self-reported (un)structured activity and screen use across weekdays and weekends, and (iii) examine associations with health-related quality of life. Methods: This secondary analysis used data from a feasibility pilot study of an intervention for survivors aged 8–13 years who had completed cancer treatment at least 12 months earlier. Participants self-reported physical activity, recreational screen use, knowledge of guidelines, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We used descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests to analyse behavioural patterns and associations. Results: Over one-third of survivors underestimated or overestimated the recommended physical activity and screen time (35%), whilst 23–50% reported ‘don’t know’. Participation in ‘Physical Education’ classes at school did not differ between summer and winter school terms, yet there was greater participation in structured physical activities in winter compared to summer school terms (median 270 vs. 170 min/week). For unstructured physical activities, 69% reported engaging in a median of 60 min/week at school on most days of the week in summer, whilst most survivors (96%) did not report any unstructured activity in winter. Only 19% met the recommended daily minimum of 60 min of physical activity year-round. Excessive screen use increased from school days (19%) to weekends (46%), notably handheld device screen time. We did not find any significant associations between meeting physical activity and screen time recommendations and HRQoL. Conclusions: Survivors frequently engage in irregular structured and unstructured physical activity levels and increased screen time. These findings emphasise the need for targeted, year-round interventions to improve physical activity, reduce recreational screen use, and support long-term survivorship health. Full article

Airborne particulate matter with a diameter of <10 μm (PM₁₀) can damage the corneal epithelium by inducing oxidative stress, disrupting the NRF2 antioxidant pathway, and triggering epithelial barrier dysfunction and inflammation. However, the role of mitochondria in mediating PM₁₀-induced damage remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact of PM₁₀ on mitochondrial homeostasis in both immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2) and the mouse corneal epithelium, as well as the protective effects of SKQ1. For in vivo assessment, female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to either control air or PM₁₀ (±SKQ1) in a whole-body exposure chamber for 2 weeks (3 h/day, 5 days/week, with weekends off). In vitro, HCE-2 cells were exposed to 100 μg/mL PM₁₀ (±SKQ1) for 24 h, and mitochondrial function and morphology were evaluated. In vitro, PM₁₀ significantly impaired mitochondrial function by reducing basal, maximal, and ATP-linked respiration; reserve capacity; and coupling efficiency compared to the control and SKQ1 groups. PM₁₀ also downregulated mitofusin1 (MFN1) and optic atrophy1 (OPA1) and upregulated dynamin-related protein1 (DRP1) and mitochondrial fission protein1 (FIS1) in HCE-2 cells. In addition, PM₁₀ exposure significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential; mitochondrial DNA copy number; and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 1 (COX4i1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) levels. SKQ1 pre-treatment significantly attenuated these effects. In vivo, PM₁₀ exposure significantly decreased the levels of MFN1, TFAM, COX4i1, and superoxide dismutase (SOD2), whereas SKQ1 treatment significantly reversed these effects. Overall, these findings demonstrate that PM₁₀ exposure induces mitochondrial fragmentation, disrupts mitochondrial biogenesis and quality control, and reduces mitochondrial respiration, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction. SKQ1 effectively reversed these changes, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic strategy to protect corneal epithelial cells from PM₁₀-induced mitochondrial damage. Full article

Observations of energy and carbon dioxide fluxes in the urban centres of rapidly developing countries remain limited. In this study, one year of eddy covariance measurements was conducted in the city centre of Hefei to investigate how underlying urban surfaces and human activities influence surface energy and carbon dioxide fluxes. A strong correlation was observed between net radiation and sensible heat flux, with both fluxes being significantly lower in winter. Abundant summer precipitation substantially enhanced latent heat flux. Anthropogenic heat flux and storage heat flux ranged from 30 to 350 W m⁻² and from −100 to 350 W m⁻², respectively. Improved energy balance closure was generally associated with more unstable atmospheric conditions, while increased urban surface heterogeneity was linked to poorer closure. Traffic was identified as a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, with annual emissions reaching 12.73 kg CO₂ m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the city centre. Carbon dioxide fluxes were significantly higher in winter and slightly lower on weekends compared to weekdays. In addition, the increasing adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) has contributed to a reduction in urban CO₂ fluxes. Overall, human activity in urban centres substantially enhances anthropogenic heat release and carbon dioxide emissions, thereby intensifying urban heat island effects and carbon emissions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Competitive karting places high physiological and cognitive demands on drivers. This field study investigated the acute effects of racing on heart rate variability (HRV), perceived fatigue and neuromuscular function, and cognitive-motor performance during an official event held under persistent rain. Methods: Longitudinal, repeated-measures design across two conditions: control (race video viewing) and competition (qualifying and race). Four drivers (Junior, X30 Senior, X30 Super Shifter) were assessed pre/post-control and post-qualifying/race on Day 1 (Saturday) and pre/post-race only on Day 2 (Sunday). Measures included continuous heart rate, pre/post HRV (HRV4Training; rMSSD, SDNN), perceived fatigue (ROF), bilateral handgrip strength, and visuomotor performance (reaction times and accuracy). Results: On Day 1, SDNN and rMSSD decreased significantly after qualifying versus pre- and post-control (p < 0.05), remaining globally lower post-race; no changes emerged in frequency-domain indexes. Perceived fatigue, handgrip strength, and mean/max reaction times did not change significantly; an improvement in minimum reaction time was observed post-race versus post-control (p = 0.033). rMSSD consistently decreased after racing on both days (p < 0.05) with no day × time interaction observed, and accuracy improved on Sunday, reflected by more correct attempts (hits) and fewer failed attempts (errors) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Racing was associated with lower time-domain HRV indices (rMSSD/SDNN), consistent with heightened autonomic activation without measurable decrements in handgrip-based neuromuscular function or cognitive-motor performance. The improved accuracy on Day 2 may be related to an increased level of physiological activation and readiness associated with race day. Routine HRV monitoring across race weekends is recommended to guide recovery decisions when subjective scales show limited immediate sensitivity. These findings are preliminary due to the small and heterogeneous sample and should be interpreted cautiously. Full article

The Venice lagoon is the largest in the Mediterranean Sea. The historic city of Venice, located on a cluster of islands in the centre of this lagoon, is an enchanting and iconic destination for national and international tourists. The historical centre of Venice and the other islands of the lagoon, such as Burano, Murano and Torcello, attract crowds of tourists every year. Transportation is provided by boats navigating the lagoon along a network of canals. The lagoon itself attracts visitors who enjoy various outdoor recreational activities in the open air, such as fishing and sunbathing. While statistics are available for the activities targeting the islands, no information is currently available on the spatio-temporal distribution of recreational activities across the lagoon waters. This study explores the feasibility of using Sentinel-2 satellite images to assess and map the spatio-temporal distribution of boats in the Venice Lagoon. Cloud-free Level-2A images have been selected to study seasonal (summer vs. winter) and weekly (weekends vs. weekdays) variabilities in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The RGB threshold filtering and the U-Net Semantic Segmentation were applied to the Sentinel-2 images to ensure reliable results. Two spatial indices were produced: (i) a Water Recreation Index (WRI), identifying standing boats in areas attractive for recreation; and (ii) a Water Transportation Index (WTI), mapping moving boats along the canals. Multi-temporal WRI maps allow areas with recurring recreational activities—that are significantly higher in the summer compared to winter, and on weekends compared to other weekdays—to be identified. The WTI identifies canal paths with higher traffic intensity with seasonal and weekly variations. The latter should be targeted by measures for traffic control to limit wave induced erosion, while the first could be subject to protection or development strategies. Full article

Against the global backdrop of urbanization and sustainable development, urban parks—key public spaces for carbon sequestration, heat island mitigation, and public health promotion—have made their service performance a critical metric for evaluating urban human settlement quality. However, traditional evaluations relying on static questionnaires and aggregate indicators often fail to capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of park usage and complex supply–demand relationships. To address this gap, this study developed a three-dimensional dynamic evaluation model (“Vitality Level, Demand Matching, Service Supply”) for 59 urban parks in Gongshu District, Hangzhou, integrating multi-source data (mobile phone signaling, POIs, park vectors, demographic statistics). The model includes nine indicators (e.g., Temporal Activity Difference, Vitality Stability Index) with weights determined via the entropy weight method. Empirical results show: (1) Gongshu’s park service performance presents a “core-periphery” spatial disparity, with high-performance parks concentrated in central areas (e.g., West Lake Culture Square) due to convenient transportation and diverse functions; (2) Performance levels vary significantly between weekdays and weekends, with higher stability on weekdays and more pronounced supply–demand mismatches on weekends; (3) Time-series cross-validation and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed the model’s robustness. This framework shifts park research from “static quantitative description” to “dynamic performance diagnosis,” providing a scientific basis for refined planning and efficient management of parks in high-density cities. Full article

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the level of physical activity (PA) and identify barriers to PA for adults with intellectual disabilities attending occupational therapy workshops (OTW). Method: Forty-three people participated in the study. PA level (step count) was evaluated using the Garmin Vivofit 4. Barriers were identified using the Barriers to Being Active Quiz. Results: The mean weekly steps were 10,581 ± 3981. Respondents were significantly more active on weekdays compared to weekends (p < 0.0002). During their stay at OTW, the participants took an average of 4257 steps, which was 40% of the mean step count on weekdays. Among the identified barriers to undertaking PA, lack of willpower and lack of skills were most frequently cited among the respondents. Conclusions: The level of PA was relatively high and showed great individual variation. The high level of activity during the participants’ stays in OTW indicates important role of these workshops in increasing PA in adults with intellectual disability. Full article