Although the association between depressive symptoms and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in older Chinese adults has been documented, whether this association varies by demographic characteristics and outdoor activity engagement remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association of depressive symptoms with IADL and investigate whether age, sex, and outdoor activity modify the association. This population-based cross-sectional study derived data from the 2017-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2017-2018 CLHLS). Depressive symptoms was measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10). The presence of depressive symptoms was defined using the CESD-10 cut-off score (≥ 10). Secondary analyses additionally categorized CESD-10 scores into quintiles to examine dose-response associations with IADL disability. IADL was assessed using eight items, including (1) visiting neighbors, (2) shopping, (3) cooking, (4) washing clothes, (5) walking one kilometer, (6) carrying five-kilogram weight, (7) crouching and standing three times, and (8) taking public transportation. Multivariate linear regression models were used to calculate β-coefficients and 95% CI to examine the association of depressive symptoms with IADL. Modification of the associations by age (65-79 years and ≥ 80 years), sex (male and female), and outdoor activity engagement (including socializing with friends, Tai Chi, and square dancing; yes and no) were performed using stratified analyses and interaction tests. Of the 12,261 participants (59.91% aged ≥ 80 years and 53.45% women), 26.65% had depressive symptoms. Participants with depressive symptoms (CESD-10 ≥ 10) had greater IADL disability than those without depressive symptoms (adjusted β = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71, 0.92). In secondary analyses, compared with participants in quintile 1 of depressive symptoms, those in quintile 5 had greater IADL disability (adjusted β = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.33). The association between depressive symptoms and IADL disability was significantly modified by age, sex, and outdoor activity engagement (all P for interaction < 0.05), stronger associations observed among participants aged ≥ 80 years, men, and those without outdoor activity engagement. In this cross-sectional study in China, exposure to depressive symptoms was associated with IADL disability. This association was modified by age, sex, and outdoor activity engagement. These findings indicate a need to prevent depressive symptoms and a need for an intervention strategy for mental health to reduce the potential risk of IADL disability. Moreover, emphasizing personalized interventions that target individuals with depressive symptoms exposure may minimize the burden of IADL disability in later life.
Exposure to wildfire smoke is a major public health issue, yet most studies focus on outdoor air, overlooking that people spend most of their time indoors. We estimated 2020 indoor wildfire-related fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations across 72,537 census tracts in the contiguous United States by combining outdoor concentrations with infiltration factors. Annual-average indoor wildfire PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 6.2 μg/m3 across census tracts, with a pronounced west-east gradient and a population-weighted national average of 0.241 μg/m3. Disparities were modest at the national level but became more pronounced across states. Populations living in disadvantaged communities (DACs) experienced higher outdoor exposures than those in non-DACs in 30 of 49 states and higher indoor exposures in 47 states. Racial-ethnic disparities followed a similar pattern: although Black populations experienced below-average exposure nationally, above-average exposure occurred in 18 states outdoors and 31 states indoors. Inequality analyses further showed that indoor infiltration amplified disparities across several social vulnerability dimensions, including income and disability. These findings demonstrate that indoor infiltration amplified wildfire PM2.5 inequities and highlight the need for indoor-focused and location-specific studies.
Background: Promoting physical activity in early childhood is essential for supporting motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional development. Outdoor environments rich in natural stimuli may further enhance these benefits. Recent approaches suggest that integrating movement with narrative contexts may provide additional developmental opportunities by engaging cognitive and affective processes. This study examined the associations between three outdoor motor activity approaches-Storytelling in Motion, Free Play, and Traditional Motor Instruction-and motor competence and inhibitory control in preschool children. Methods: Eighty-seven preschool children (M_age = 5.32 ± 0.60 years) participated in a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study conducted in outdoor educational settings in Northern Italy, including a natural environment, a structured playground, and a school courtyard. Participants were assigned at the class level to three groups of unequal size (Storytelling in Motion n = 36, Free Play n = 22, Traditional Motor Instruction n = 29). All groups completed ten weekly sessions lasting approximately 60 min. Motor competence was assessed using selected tasks derived from the Test of Motor Competence and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, while inhibitory control was evaluated using the Day/Night Test. Results: Significant Time × Group interactions were observed for several outcomes. The Storytelling in Motion group showed numerically greater improvements at a descriptive level in dynamic balance (Heel-to-Toe Walking: p < 0.001, η2p = 0.229) and fine motor control (Bicycle Trail: p < 0.001, η2p = 0.194) compared to the other groups. The Free Play group showed greater improvements in coordination-related tasks and upper-body strength. No significant differences between groups were observed for inhibitory control. These differences remained significant after adjustment but should be interpreted cautiously due to the non-randomized design. Accordingly, these findings should be considered preliminary and hypothesis-generating (ANCOVA, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Narrative-based outdoor motor activities may represent a potentially relevant approach; however, no firm conclusions can be drawn from the present design. Given the quasi-experimental nature of the study and the contextual differences between intervention settings, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Future research using randomized controlled designs and standardized environments is needed to clarify the independent and combined effects of instructional and environmental factors.
Hypertension affects 27.5% of Chinese adults, yet remains poorly controlled. Light at Night (LAN) is an emerging environmental factor potentially linked to hypertension, but evidence from developing countries is limited. This retrospective cohort study included 8308 hypertension-free adults from the Future Longitudinal Observational Research in Adults (FLORA) project (2012 baseline). Outdoor LAN exposure was assessed annually using VIIRS-DNB satellite data at 500m×500m range based on each participant's residential address, with time-varying exposure levels updated according to follow-up residence changes. Participants underwent annual physical examinations over 9.22 years (mean follow-up). Time-varying Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between outdoor LAN exposure and the risk of incident hypertension and hypertension subtype. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify vulnerable populations. Bootstrap models (1,000 resamplings) were performed to explore the extent to which body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and triglycerides (TG) could account for the LAN-hypertension association. Compared with the lowest LAN quintile (Q1), participants in Q2-Q5 had significantly increased hypertension and hypertension subtype. For hypertension, the hazard ratios (HRs) from Q2 to Q5 were 1.14 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.29), 1.16 (95%CI: 1.03, 1.35), 1.19 (95%CI: 1.05, 1.35), and 1.23 (95%CI: 1.09, 1.40), respectively. BMI, FBG, and TG partially explained the association between outdoor LAN exposure and hypertension in exploratory analyses, accounting for 10.32% (95%CI: 6.69%, 16.09%), 4.81% (95%CI: 2.15%, 7.80%), and 1.71% (95%CI: 0.57%, 2.97%) of the total effect, respectively. This cohort study provides longitudinal evidence that higher residential ambient light at night exposure is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in adults from a developing country. Abnormal metabolism represented by high BMI, FBG, and TG levels may partially serve as a potential explanation that needs further research.
Domestic cats are popular pets globally, with many individuals being allowed to roam outdoors. Free-ranging and feral cats cause environmental losses due to their predatory behavior and the transmission of diseases. The factors affecting the intentions of owners to release and abandon their cats are poorly studied and speculative. Therefore, we surveyed children who owned cats in the Czech Republic to determine awareness and compare the attitudes to abandon their cats (with no intention of letting them back in ever again), which can be reflected later in children's lives. Complete questionnaire responses were received from 2,923 pupils, including 976 cat owners. In children who could become adult owners of cats later in their lives, the origin of pet cats was significantly identified as an important internal factor, which may energize or direct the intentions to release outdoors or abandon unwanted and previously adopted stray cats. Since approximately 71% of respondents kept other pets, it is recommended to further study if the owner who is motivated to release an unwanted cat outdoors may also abandon other unwanted pet animals and the role of household practices and family norms regarding pet ownership. The presented findings should be of concern to wildlife managers, conservationists, teachers, decision-makers and other stakeholders to raise public awareness and political leverage to minimize the deliberate release of pet cats by their owners.
Physical inactivity and air pollution are significant global health concerns, yet limited evidence examines how residential air pollution is associated with physical activity behaviours among children. Existing research has mainly focused on adults, older adults, or self-reported activity outcomes. This study examined the association between residential carbon monoxide (CO) exposure, objectively measured physical activity, and children's reported preference for outdoor sports and games using data from the Millennium Cohort Study. This study used a cross-sectional secondary analysis of Sweep 4 Millennium Cohort Study data. Physical activity was measured using accelerometer-derived total steps over one week. Residential CO exposure was derived from linked MEDIx air pollution deciles and categorised into relatively lower and higher exposure groups. Linear regression was used to examine the association between CO exposure and total steps. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between CO exposure and preference for outdoor sports and games. Models were adjusted for sex, ethnicity, and socio-economic position, with survey and non-response weights applied. The analytic sample included 6,281 children. In the adjusted linear regression model, children living in areas with higher CO exposure recorded, on average, 356.26 more steps than those living in areas with lower CO exposure. In the adjusted logistic regression model, higher CO exposure was associated with slightly higher odds of reporting a preference for outdoor sports and games. However, the adjusted step-count model explained only a small proportion of variation in total steps. Higher residential CO exposure was modestly associated with higher total steps and greater reported preference for outdoor sports and games. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because the study was cross-sectional, explanatory power was low, and residual confounding by neighbourhood, household, school travel, and built-environment factors is likely. Future studies should examine multiple pollutants alongside more detailed contextual and environmental measures.
Lignocellulosic biomass, including corn stover, offers substantial potential for sustainable methane production through anaerobic digestion, yet its recalcitrant structure limits efficiency and contributes to environmental waste. This study investigated the optimization of outdoor freezing temperature NaOH-urea pretreatment to address gaps in outdoor application and resource efficiency. The objectives included evaluating the effects of storage period, NaOH-urea concentration, and solid-to-liquid ratios on substrate composition and digestion performance. The methods involved preparing NaOH-urea solutions, pretreating corn stover under outdoor conditions (-20 ± 5 °C for up to 90 days), conducting batch and continuous anaerobic digestion assays, and analyzing structural changes via fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed 64.9% lignin removal, an increase in cellulose crystallinity from 55.3% to 78.8%, and methane yields increasing from 151 mL/g VS in untreated samples to 252 mL/g VS in pretreated samples, with kinetic modeling indicating faster production rates. These outcomes demonstrate enhanced substrate biodegradability and process efficiency, support scalable bioenergy systems, reduce energy demands in cold regions, and contribute to renewable energy policies.
Metal-contaminated dredged sediments represent heterogeneous environmental matrices in which remediation responses are frequently constrained by elevated background metal loads and complex geochemical conditions. Within such systems, phytoremediation has been discussed as a nature-based management approach whose outcomes depend on plant biomass, internal metal allocation, and context-dependent interactions between plants and sediment. The present study evaluated whether bacterial and fungal plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) were associated with changes in plant metal uptake and internal allocation in Sorghum bicolor L. and Cannabis sativa L. grown in dredged sediment collected from the Bega Canal. An outdoor pot experiment was conducted under environmentally relevant conditions, including bacterial and fungal inoculation treatments alongside non-inoculated controls, with plant responses to Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb characterized using concentration- and mass-based uptake metrics, root-shoot partitioning, and sediment geochemical assessment based on pseudo-total concentrations and BCR sequential extraction fractions. Across treatments, plant responses were largely governed by intrinsic species traits and biomass production, while PGPM-associated effects remained modest and variable. Root-dominated metal retention and limited translocation were evident irrespective of species, consistent with a phytostabilization-type response rather than systematic extraction. Absolute metal uptake accounted for only a minor fraction of total sediment metal pools, underscoring the importance of interpreting concentration-based indices jointly with mass-based metrics when evaluating system-scale responses. Altogether, the findings indicate that under the investigated outdoor dredged sediment pot conditions, PGPM inoculation acts primarily as a context-specific modulator of plant responses rather than a driver of enhanced phytoremediation performance, reflecting the central role of intrinsic plant traits and stabilization-oriented processes in complex sediment systems.
As autonomous driving technology expands from structured urban roads to unstructured outdoor environments, precise understanding of complex terrain has become a critical requirement for ensuring safe vehicle navigation. However, outdoor environments are characterized by high dynamics, drastic illumination variations, ambiguous category boundaries, and prohibitive annotation costs, making traditional supervised learning methods that rely on large amounts of pixel-level annotations difficult to generalize. In this paper, we propose a novel dual-path bidirectional interactive encoder, termed LapDINO, that effectively combines the strong semantic generalization capability of the self-supervised foundation model DINOv3 with the multi-scale frequency analysis capacity of the Laplacian pyramid. Specifically, we leverage DINOv3 to extract global semantic features as a "semantic map", while simultaneously obtaining multi-scale high-frequency details through Laplacian pyramid decomposition as "structural contours". Building upon this, we design a bidirectional cross-attention fusion mechanism that enables dynamic interaction and mutual refinement between semantic information and geometric details. Furthermore, we introduce a multi-branch attention enhancement module that extracts pyramid features from three complementary perspectives. To address domain shift, we design lightweight visual adapters that enable efficient fine-tuning of the frozen DINOv3 backbone. Finally, we construct two off-road terrain segmentation datasets, VOTD and VOCD, to facilitate research in this domain. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance, striking an optimal balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, thereby providing a robust and efficient engineering solution for terrain perception in off-road environments.
Assessing the suitability of unconditioned buildings for adaptive reuse as archival storages, particularly with respect to their microclimate behaviour, remains a complex and evolving methodological challenge. This study proposes a data-driven method using indoor and outdoor climate data to assess whether unconditioned buildings can be adaptively reused for specific functions (e.g., archival), based on their microclimate behaviour. The multi-step approach includes quality check, stationarity analysis, temporal decomposition, and buffering capacity analysis. This is applied to 5 years (2020-2024) of air temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) data (approximately 14 600 observations) from 10 thermohygrometers in the "Library Section for Special Collections (LSSC)" within "Dora I" (Trondheim, Norway), where conservation conditions of paper-based objects are considered satisfactory. Results indicate a very stable indoor climate with no significant trends or abrupt changes, with a mean temperature (T) and mixing ratio (MR) values of 17 ± 2 °C and 6 ± 1 g/kg respectively, and very low short-term variability, suggesting consistent conservation conditions and reduced need for active climate control. Indoor T and MR show delayed responses to outdoor conditions (up to 70 and 50 days), and buffering factors of 0.2 and 0.4, respectively, reflecting thermal inertia and moisture buffering. The proposed method captures the limited impact of site management on indoor climate and reveals structure-specific dynamics often overlooked in commonly applied evaluations.
Bird feathers possess functions such as water resistance, thermal insulation, and air permeability, providing inspiration for the design of functional fabrics. Based on the functional differentiation of different feather regions and the structural constraints associated with these functions, this study selected down feathers, feather vanes, hooklets, and fluffy feather filament node structures as biomimetic prototypes. Four biomimetic knitted structures were designed for outdoor environments with significant temperature fluctuations and for the thermo-moisture comfort needs of older adults. Through macro- and micro-structural feature extraction, three-dimensional modeling, and experimental testing, a multi-parameter evaluation system covering water resistance, thermal resistance, thermal insulation rate, air permeability, moisture vapor transmission, and moisture management was established to systematically evaluate the thermo-moisture regulation performance of the fabrics. The results showed that each structure exhibited distinct performance advantages: Structure 1 demonstrated the best thermal insulation performance; Structure 2 showed relatively superior water resistance and outstanding air permeability; Structure 4 exhibited relatively superior moisture vapor transmission and moisture management performance; and Structure 3 achieved the highest gray relational optimality value, indicating a relatively balanced thermo-moisture regulation capability. Among all performance indicators, air permeability showed the highest correlation with the knitted structures. Based on these results, and considering regional differences in heat generation and sweating across different body parts of older adults, this study further explored zonal application strategies for elderly outdoor clothing to improve wearing comfort and functionality under environments with fluctuating thermal conditions.
Two yellow-pigmented bacterial strains, designated Y1Aᵀ and Y6, were isolated from an outdoor bioreactor cultivating Chlorella sp. HS2 with soy sauce wastewater as the nutrient source. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that Y1Aᵀ shared highest similarity with S. tabacisoli CGMCC 1.16275T (96.9%), followed by Sphingomonas changnyeongensis C33ᵀ (96.75%) and S. changbaiensis NBRC 104936T (96.38%). Genome sequencing revealed that strain Y1Aᵀ comprises 3.67 Mb with a DNA G + C content of 68.56% and 3,346 predicted genes, while strain Y6 exhibited a highly similar genome (3.67 Mb, 68.60%, 3,341 genes). ANI (99.97%) and dDDH (100%) values confirmed that Y1Aᵀ and Y6 belong to the same taxon. However, ANI (72.06-78.43%) and dDDH (19.2-22.1%) values with closest relatives were below species thresholds, supporting the recognition of a novel species. API ZYM revealed overlapping enzyme profiles between the two novel strains; however, both Y1Aᵀ and Y6 could be distinguished from most related taxa by the presence of α-galactosidase and the absence of α-chymotrypsin activities. Moreover, Y6 was uniquely positive for cystine arylamidase but lacked trypsin activity. Major fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c/ω6c). Polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, aminophospholipids, and unidentified aminolipids, and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. Based on phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and polyamine analyses, strains Y1Aᵀ and Y6 represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas chlorellae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y1Aᵀ (= KCTC 18312ᵀ =LMG 34185ᵀ).
This study aimed to assess the risks associated with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure among military outdoor workers at Lohatla Military Base, South Africa, and to inform targeted risk reduction strategies. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, using a questionnaire survey with 161 participants (81% completion rate; 58.39% male; the largest age group was 19-25 years) and five days of objective environmental monitoring. Environmental data confirmed the presence of elevated solar ultraviolet radiation conditions, with peak irradiance levels recorded between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, while temperature highs frequently exceeded 35 °C (peaking at 39 °C). Statistical analysis using Spearman's rank-order correlation revealed strong positive associations among sun protection behaviours, including wearing protective clothing, hat use, sunscreen use, and avoidance of peak sun exposure hours (ρ values up to 0.764, p < 0.001), indicating the clustered and interdependent nature of effective sun safety practices. Furthermore, engagement in protective behaviours was significantly associated with improved health outcomes, including a lower incidence of sunburn (ρ = 0.407, p < 0.001) and reduced hyperpigmentation (ρ = 0.438, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that combined protective strategies are associated with reduced self-reported dermatological outcomes. Despite the benefits of individual behaviours, military personnel remain exposed to high levels of environmental ultraviolet radiation, underscoring the need for institutional, evidence-based policy interventions to mitigate occupational exposure risks. The study concludes that military organisations should implement mandatory administrative controls (e.g., schedule adjustments), standardise high-ultraviolet-protection-factor protective gear, and enhance targeted health literacy training to mitigate long-term UV-related health risks and improve the operational effectiveness of their workers.
To investigate whether the Happy Healthy Active Children (HHAC) initiative increased children's time spent in different physical activity (PA) intensities in kindergartens located in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. A within-subject design, nested within the HHAC initiative, with children acting as their own controls. Seven kindergartens in the adjacent disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Tingbjerg and Husum located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Children aged 3-5 years attending participating kindergartens. A total of n=51 children provided valid accelerometer data from at least one HHAC activity day and one regular kindergarten day. HHAC is a partnership-based initiative promoting active outdoor living through co-created activities centred around play, nature and cooking. In the kindergarten setting, activities were implemented one day per week over 10 weeks from the second half of 2023 to the first half of 2024. PA was measured using thigh-worn Axivity AX3 accelerometers over two 10-day periods during the initiative. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), light PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) was compared between HHAC activity days and regular kindergarten days. Compared with regular days, children spent significantly more time in MVPA (8.6 min, p=0.002) and significantly less time in SB (9.2 min, p=0.007) on HHAC activity days. Play activity days showed the largest effects, with increased time spent in MVPA (13.2 min, p=0.002) and significantly less time spent in SB (19.2 min, p<0.001). No significant differences were observed for nature or cooking activities. The HHAC initiative, particularly its play-based activities, increased MVPA and reduced SB among children in kindergartens located in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
In 2021, Bristol, UK, implemented a city-wide policy restricting advertising of unhealthy commodities on council-owned sites. We aimed to describe advertising exposure before and after the implementation of the policy in Bristol. We collected data from bus shelters in Bristol (N = 283) and neighboring South Gloucestershire (SG, comparator, N = 65), using in-person and Google Street View audits, before (T0, 02/2022 - 07/2022) and after (T1, 04/2023 - 07/2023 and T2, 11/2023 - 02/2024) policy implementation. We captured unhealthy commodity adverts on display; high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) products (defined using the UK Nutrient Profiling Model), alcohol, gambling or payday loans; information on brands; whether they appealed to children or adolescents and split analyses by area deprivation and proximity to schools. At T0, unhealthy commodity advertising in both areas was relatively low, however the policy successfully reduced unhealthy commodity advertising in Bristol at T2 (11.3% to 0.8%), compared to an increase in SG (0.9% to 18.1%). Most restricted adverts in both areas displayed HFSS products (ranging 60-100%), especially fast food, with limited alcohol and gambling and no payday loan advertising observed. A few adverts displaying non-compliant products were maintained in Bristol but advertisers also switched to advertising alternative, compliant products. Minimal unhealthy commodity advertising appealed to children/adolescents (1.1-8.8%) or appeared within 100m of schools (N = 2 adverts), and no clear association with area deprivation was found. Findings suggest the need for formal monitoring processes to ensure policy adherence and assess unhealthy commodity advertising in the entire outdoor space to inform potential expansion of such policies.
Airborne anthropogenic microfibres (AMFs) are widespread contaminants originating from synthetic, semi-synthetic, and natural materials, often associated with hazardous substances. Lichen transplants have proven useful for biomonitoring air pollutants, yet their application to AMFs detection is still being refined. In this study, we optimised a biomonitoring method using transplants of Pseudevernia furfuracea across a gradient of anthropogenic impact (i.e., different land-use conditions) in Italy and Spain. We evaluated the effect of a pre-cleaning treatment by an air jet (to remove background contamination), different exposure conditions (indoor, unsheltered outdoor and sheltered outdoor), exposure durations (3, 6, and 9 weeks), and environmental variables (precipitation, wind, temperature) on AMFs accumulation. Our results show that pre-exposure cleaning significantly reduced background AMFs contamination (between 40% and 50%), and the land use type was the main factor determining AMFs accumulation, with urban and industrial environments consistently showing higher fibre numbers than semi-natural and agricultural ones. Fibre length followed a similar pattern, with longer and more variable AMFs in the more anthropised settings. In contrast, differences among exposure conditions were modest, indicating that outdoor unsheltered exposure appears sufficient to detect spatial trends, while meteorological variables showed no statistically significant effects under the present design, though directional trends were observed. Overall, our results support the use of pre-cleaned Pseudevernia furfuracea transplants exposed outdoors for six weeks, within the tested framework, represent a practical and promising option for assessing the spatial patterns of airborne AMFs pollution, providing a solid basis for the development of a standardised biomonitoring protocol.
Alternative vector control tools are needed to address rising malaria burden in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where outdoor transmission and reduced insecticidal efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) create persistent protection gaps. Volatile pyrethroid spatial emanators (SEs) release active ingredients that deter or kill mosquitoes, and 2 SE products have recently been WHO prequalified for malaria vector control. We evaluated the entomological efficacy of SumiOne™ SEs in 2 villages in PNG. Spatial emanators were installed indoors only or both indoors and outdoors in semi-enclosed peridomestic spaces, with 12 houses per intervention arm. Human landing catches and sentinel cage bioassays were conducted over 8 weeks and compared with a control arm. Human-vector contact was significantly reduced indoors, with a protective efficacy of 60%-80% in both intervention arms for 5-6 weeks, declining at approximately 6%-7% per week. No significant reduction in outdoor human-vector contact was detected. Indoor sentinel cage bioassays showed >80% 24-hour mortality for 7 weeks, and complete 60 minute knockdown and inhibition of probing for 8 weeks. SumiOne™ SEs substantially reduced indoor mosquito exposure and may complement ITNs for malaria control in PNG. Future research should prioritize increased longevity and stronger outdoor impact.
The escalating pace of urbanization has made chronic stress and attentional fatigue significant public health challenges. This study employed a randomized controlled trial ([Formula: see text]) to investigate the psychophysiological restorative effects of a standardized 30-minute walk in an urban forest environment (Outdoor Green) compared to a laboratory setting (Indoor Control). Cognitive function was assessed via the Digit Span Task, affective states were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and self-esteem measures, and physiological stress responses were objectively quantified through salivary cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV-RMSSD). Results indicated that the Outdoor Green group exhibited significantly greater improvements in directed attention ([Formula: see text]) and total mood disturbance ([Formula: see text]) compared to the Indoor Control group. Physiologically, the outdoor group showed a more pronounced reduction in salivary cortisol (interaction [Formula: see text]) and a greater increase in parasympathetic activity (HRV-RMSSD, interaction [Formula: see text]). Furthermore, mediation analysis revealed that the alleviation of negative affective states partially mediated the relationship between environmental exposure and cognitive restoration. These findings demonstrate that green exercise exerts synergistic benefits across cognitive, affective, and physiological domains, providing robust evidence for nature-based interventions as effective strategies for mental health promotion.
Poor housing has been linked to tuberculosis (TB), yet details of living conditions are less well studied. This community-based case-control study examined household and individual factors associated with active pulmonary TB among households with a prior TB patient in Padang City, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Confirmed TB cases (CS, 105), symptomatic confirmed non-TB controls (CN1, 104), and asymptomatic controls (CN2, 102) were recruited at primary health centres from August to December 2024. Inclusion criteria were informed consent and ability to communicate; controls with a history of active TB were excluded from analysis. Participants were interviewed regarding individual characteristics, and a home visit made to record household conditions (temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide content and wind speed of living room air, house dimensions and construction materials). Multivariable multinomial logistic regression identified associations (relative probability ratios) of individual and household variables between cases and each control group. Case status was associated with small bedroom volume (< 12m3), compared with CN2 (3.74 [1.25, 11.20]), and with gypsum/plaster ceilings compared with CN1 (11.24 [2.52, 50.10]. In both comparisons, case status was associated with outdoor occupation (10.13, [1.69, 60.61] and 18.60, [2.53, 137.0]), frequent coffee shop visits (10.17 [1.32, 78.55] and 24.06 [2.22, 261.0]), and time elapsed of > 1 year since the prior TB patient (21.64 [8.73, 53.64] and 13.91 [5.82, 33.24]). Compared with CN1, case status was associated with the prior patient being a sibling (8.72 [2.33, 32.57]), grandparent/parent (5.31 [1.51, 18.70]) or other relative (4.23 [1.16, 15.45]) rather than spouse. The relative probability of outdoor activity was lower among cases (0.25, [0.10, 0.62] compared with CN2), and that of being underweight higher (4.71 [1.77, 12.53] and 6.35 [2.35, 17.18]), possibly consequences of ill-health. Among this population, small bedroom volume, gypsum/plaster ceiling, frequent coffee shop visits, outdoor occupation, non-spousal relationship with the prior TB patient and elapsed time of > 1 year increased the relative probability of being a TB patient. These findings suggest interventions such as improving bedroom space and targeted screening in households with prior TB, especially after one year. Housing improvements, though long-term, may usefully complement behavioural interventions for sustainable TB control.
Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among older adults and significantly impair quality of life. Non-pharmacological interventions have increasingly gained attention as alternative or complementary therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of these interventions for depression and anxiety in adults aged ≥55 years using a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases were systematically searched from inception to March 2025. Eighty-three randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n = 6,646) were included, covering 11 non-pharmacological interventions such as dance, qigong, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internet-based CBT (ICBT), resistance training, and others. A random-effects NMA was conducted using Stata 15.1, with efficacy ranked using Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curve (SUCRA) values. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Publication bias was examined using comparison-adjusted funnel plots and Egger's regression tests (depression: intercept = 2.40, p = 0.029; anxiety: intercept = 1.00, p = 0.538). Eighty-three RCTs (n = 6,646) encompassing 11 interventions were included. For depression, dance ranked highest (SUCRA = 98.5%) and demonstrated statistically significant superiority over CBT, ICBT, waitlist, and usual care. Resistance training (SUCRA = 67.5%) and CBT (SUCRA = 65.6%) ranked next. For anxiety, music (SUCRA = 78.9%) and Tai Chi (SUCRA = 77.1%) ranked highest; however, only Tai Chi and CBT showed statistically significant advantages over waitlist. MBSR demonstrated limited efficacy across both outcomes, while outdoor walking ranked among the least effective interventions for depression. Dance and music/Tai Chi demonstrated the highest probabilities of efficacy for depression and anxiety, respectively, followed by resistance training and CBT/ICBT. MBSR and outdoor walking showed limited effectiveness. Given the heterogeneity across studies, SUCRA rankings should be interpreted cautiously, and a personalized, stepped-care approach is recommended. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/, identifier CRD420251007063.