Ample research has been conducted investigating the built environment impacts on pedestrian movement (PM). A clear division is also evident in the literature on this topic: one group tends to use ...geographic measures (metric distance) of the environment to explain pedestrian behaviour; the other group uses syntactic measures (visual distance). Many review articles have been published on the former. However, relatively little is known about the effect size (ES), directions, and consistency of syntactic measures in explaining PM. This paper fills this gap through a meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies on this topic spanning over 1975-2016, and answers the following five research questions: (a) What are the different measures used in the space syntax literature to explain PM?; (b) What are the magnitudes and directions of associations between space syntax measures and PM?; (c) Which space syntax measure has a more consistent relationship with PM?; (d) To what extent do the explanatory powers of different measures vary between their derivation methods?; and (e) What are the likely causes of variations of the reported results in prior studies? This research examined four syntactic measures (integration, connectivity, choice, and control) in a random effect model with 95% confidence interval (CI). The choice and integration measures were further investigated based on their operational approaches (topological, angular and metric). Results show that integration (ES = 0.206, 95% CI = 0.173-0.238, p < 0.001), choice (ES = 0.481, 95% CI = 0.391-0.561, p < 0.001), and connectivity (ES = 0.305, 95% CI = -0.225-0.696, p = 0.257) measures positively influence PM with choice being the strongest predictor. Both connectivity and control (ES = -0.001, 95% CI = -0.117-0.115, p = 0.990) were found to have a statistically insignificant impact. The choice and integration measures show stronger effects when derived using the angular approach (ES = 0.493 for choice, and ES = 0.502 for integration) compared to topological approach (ES = 0.374 for choice, and ES = 0.124 for integration). However, the reported results of all measures are highly heterogeneous, perhaps due to the differences in research design. The significance, magnitude, and consistency of integration and choice measures justify their relevance in built environment interventions to promote PM.
Children's independent mobility (CIM) is considered as a determining criterion of child-friendly built environment (BE). Researchers have made a substantial effort to identify the characteristics of ...the BE that affect CIM and thereby to inform city policy to promote CIM. Although the findings from these studies are useful to inform context specific CIM policy, together they provide inconclusive results. This study made a first attempt to draw a generalised conclusion through a meta-analysis of existing knowledge base. The analysis was conducted using primary studies reporting 13 BE-CIM links and published between 1980 and 2016. Overall effect size (ES), directions, and consistency of each link were calculated, also stratified by contexts, using the reported results from the primary studies and based on a random effect model. The results show that four BE factors (dead-end street, % of residential land, % of commercial land, and residential location type) have a positive association with CIM; traffic volume has a neutral association; and the remaining eight factors (vehicular street width, road density, intersection density, major road proportion, land use mix, availability of recreational facilities, residential density, and distance to destination) have a negative association. Living in a dead end street was found to have the strongest positive ES (0.352), with moderate level of consistency across the primary studies. In contrast, land use mix has the strongest negative ES (−0.212) but with the highest level of inconsistency. Both ESs and consistencies, however, vary between developing and developed country contexts. Diversity in contexts, research design, and measurement instruments across the primary studies contributed to the heterogeneous results. The findings of this research serve as a guide for practitioners and researcher alike to make an informed decision about the BE factors that consistently foster or hinder CIM in different contexts.
•Presents a meta-analysis of the BE impact on children independent mobility (CIM)•Undertaken a systematic and quantitative review of 13 BE-CIM associations•Dead-end streets have the strongest positive association with CIM.•Land use mix has the strongest negative association with CIM.•BE-CIM relationships are highly heterogeneous across the reported studies.
The decline of children’s independent mobility (CIM) is now a global concern. This study aims to identify the determinants of the territorial range (TR) of CIM, i.e., the geographical distance ...between home and places where children are allowed to wander. TR for both discretionary and nondiscretionary trips is studied based on data collected through a questionnaire survey, travel diary, and mapping of travel routes. The study sample was comprised of 151 children 9-14 years of age from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Built environment (BE) data were collected/derived through walkability audits of children’s walking routes and spatial analyses. Children’s TR was regressed by BE, sociodemographics, and perceptual factors. Three multiple regression models were estimated: overall TR, discretionary TR, and nondiscretionary TR. Results showed that children had a longer TR for nondiscretionary trips (664.14 m) compared to discretionary trips (397.9 m). Discretionary TR was largely explained by angular step-depth, street connectivity and the condition of the walking environment of the taken routes. In contrast, angular step-depth, the presence of commercial and retail land uses and the condition of the walking environment were found to be significant predictors of nondiscretionary TR. Children’s perception of social and physical dangers and their satisfaction with tree coverage in the neighborhood also influenced their TR. The findings can inform measures to be taken to expand TR in the urban environment.
Plant seeds are the resources of many different bioactive components. The chemical composition of the different crude extracts from Benincasa hispida (White pumpkin) and Cucurbita moschata (Pumpkin) ...seeds with three different polarity-based solvents (n-hexane, n-hexane-chloroform (2:1), and methanol) was analyzed to identify the biologically active compounds. Each of the extracts was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Different extracts of targeted seeds showed different biologically active compounds that have different pharmacological potentialities. 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (ZZ) was the most potent bioactive compound present in three different extracts of both B. hispida and C. moschata. Another bioactive compound comparatively low percentage present in both plants was n-hexadecanoic acid. Other major pharmacologically active compounds present in both plants were 9- Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, and 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (E, E). Besides these compounds, a few more biologically active compounds were present in the two plants separately. The findings of this study support the use of these seeds in modern functional foods, nutraceuticals, and medicinal purposes, and the whole seeds would give better health benefits rather than use any extract. Although further pharmacological examinations should be carried out to conclude the medicinal application of the seeds of these two plants as well as to understand the mechanism of the potential health benefits.
Researchers broadly represented the built environment (BE) using geographic and topological indicators. Despite studies have shown that the geographic BE affects children independent mobility (CIM), ...little is known about the effects of topological BE on CIM. Less so, how the effects vary between discretionary and nondiscretionary CIM trips. The study addresses these gaps using self-reported two-day mobility data of 151 children aged 10–14 years from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Geographic BE data (e.g. land uses, street width, building height) were collected through a virtual BE audit following each route. Topological BE data (e.g. step-depth, integration, choice) were derived in Depthmap X. CIM was measured in a binary scale by checking whether the reported trips were taken independently or not. Three binary logistic regression models (an overall model, a discretionary trip model, and a nondiscretionary trip model) were estimated to determine the effects of geographic and topological BE on CIM, controlling for other confounding effects. The findings demonstrate that both geographic and topological BE affect CIM. However, they affect discretionary and non-discretionary CIM differently – e.g. step-depth, angular connectivity and presence of institutional land use affect only non-discretionary CIM, whereas integration, recreational land use and traffic composition affect only discretionary CIM. The findings highlight that geographical features need to be considered in tandem with topological features of the BE, stratified by destination types, to maximise CIM.
Herd health management is a planned program to optimize health, welfare, and production of dairy cows. A cross-sectional study focused on herd health management of dairy farms, was carried out to ...assess the biosecurity, health, and disease management practices with associated socio-demographic factors. A structured questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions was employed for farmers’ interviews to acquire information on dairy farms. Data were collected from randomly selected 205 dairy farms in five districts (Dhaka-Savar, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Rangpur, and Sirajganj) of Bangladesh. Overall, 1.5% farms had “good”, 17% had “moderate” and 81.5% had “poor” levels of biosecurity, health and disease management practices (BHDMP). Analysis of variance revealed that mean BHDMP scores were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in farms of Rangpur (27.6 ± 0.8) and Gazipur (26.7 ± 0.6) than those of the other three districts. Educational status had a significant effect on BHDMP scores. The farms owned by graduated farmers had the highest mean BHDMP score (30.4 ± 1.1) while the farms operated by illiterate farmers had the lowest BHDMP score (20.4 ± 0.4). Multiple linear regression analysis also revealed that educational status (secondary to post-graduation), training experience, area of study (Rangpur district), and herd size were significantly associated with BHDMP score of the farms. The findings lay a basis for improving dairy farms' biosecurity, health and disease management practices, which further envisage the adoption and implementation of herd health management programs.
•Good level of biosecurity, health and disease management practices (BHDMP) observed in 1.5% farms.•Farms owned by graduated farmers had the highest mean BHDMP score.•BHDMP score was significantly higher in large-sized herd than small-medium ones.
With the technological advancement, entertainment has become revolutionized and the High-definition (HD) video has become a common feature of our modern amusement devices. Moreover, the demand for ...wireless transmission of HD video is rising increasingly for its ubiquitous nature, easy installation and relocation. The high bandwidth requirement is the main concern for wireless transmission of high quality video streams. Research has been going on by the consumer electronics industry to provide different solutions of this issue, for the last few years.
In this research work, HD video transmission feasibility using the Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication channel is analyzed. The UWB channel is selected for its short-range, high-speed data transmission capability at low-cost, and low-power consumption. The maximum transmitting range of this technology is about 10 m at 100 Mbps data rate. Simulation is conducted by controlling key parameters, such as, in-loop deblocking filter, group of pictures, and quantization parameter of an H.264/AVC encoder. Here, standard HD video streams with different motion characteristics are used, and the impact of these parameters change on the reconstructed video quality and the broadcasting data rate are analyzed. Finally, a generalized parameters settings, and a video content dependent settings for an H.264/AVC encoder are proposed for different bandwidth requirements, as well as acceptable video quality. Performance evaluation of these parameters settings is performed, and the results are quite satisfactory as long as the symbol energy to noise power density ratio, Es/No, is above 15. With the proposed parameters settings, maximum 20 Mbps data rate is achieved with 33.5 dB Y-PSNR.
With the technological advancement, entertainment has become revolutionized and the High-definition (HD) video has become a common feature of our modern amusement devices. Moreover, the demand for ...wireless transmission of HD video is rising increasingly for its ubiquitous nature, easy installation and relocation. The high bandwidth requirement is the main concern for wireless transmission of high quality video streams. Research has been going on by the consumer electronics industry to provide different solutions of this issue, for the last few years.
In this research work, HD video transmission feasibility using the Ultra-wideband (UWB) communication channel is analyzed. The UWB channel is selected for its short-range, high-speed data transmission capability at low-cost, and low-power consumption. The maximum transmitting range of this technology is about 10 m at 100 Mbps data rate. Simulation is conducted by controlling key parameters, such as, in-loop deblocking filter, group of pictures, and quantization parameter of an H.264/AVC encoder. Here, standard HD video streams with different motion characteristics are used, and the impact of these parameters change on the reconstructed video quality and the broadcasting data rate are analyzed. Finally, a generalized parameters settings, and a video content dependent settings for an H.264/AVC encoder are proposed for different bandwidth requirements, as well as acceptable video quality. Performance evaluation of these parameters settings is performed, and the results are quite satisfactory as long as the symbol energy to noise power density ratio, Es/No, is above 15. With the proposed parameters settings, maximum 20 Mbps data rate is achieved with 33.5 dB Y-PSNR.
Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have gained popularity as an alternative to traditional tobacco smoking among people living with HIV (PLHIV). While e-cigarettes may offer harm ...reduction benefits, their impact on PLHIV is not fully understood. Aim: This study aims to synthesize current research on e-cigarette use among PLHIV, focusing on prevalence, health impacts, mental conditions, perceptions, and attitudes. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases was conducted. This search included studies from January 2003 to April 2024. We included observational and experimental studies that reported on e-cigarette use among adult PLHIV. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, with data extraction using a standardized form. Results: Out of 33 initially identified articles, 4 met the inclusion criteria. The studies, conducted in the USA between 2019 and 2023, included 15,617 adults, with approximately 29.29% smokers and 3.08% e-cigarette users. Findings indicated significant e-cigarette use among PLHIV, ranging from 4% to 11% for daily users. Demographic factors influencing e-cigarette use included younger age, male gender, non-Hispanic white ethnicity, and higher education levels. Dual use of e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes was common. Mental health issues, such as depression and panic disorder, were more prevalent among e-cigarette users. Health benefits included reduced cigarette consumption and improved respiratory symptoms. Implications: The findings highlight the complex interplay between e-cigarette use, HIV progression, mental health, and overall well-being in PLHIV. These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions and public health strategies to reduce smoking-related harm in this population. Conclusion: E-cigarette use among PLHIV is prevalent and associated with both benefits and risks. Continued research is essential to monitor long-term health impacts and inform evidence-based guidelines and interventions tailored to the needs of PLHIV.
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