This study aims to identify the relationship among microclimate, thermal sensation and human behavior in a residential community in a cold region of China. Five typical residential open spaces in ...Xi'an, China were investigated using physical measurements, questionnaires and activity records to determine how thermal comfort relates to outdoor activities. Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was applied to quantitatively determine the outdoor thermal benchmarks in Xi'an, and variation in thermal benchmarks was compared with other climatic zones. Finally, a ‘research for design’ approach for climate‒responsiveness of residential open spaces was proposed based on thermal benchmarks. Results demonstrated that: 1) Except for air temperature and relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, globe temperature, mean radiative temperature and PET differed significantly among spaces. 2) Residents preferred activities in sunlit spaces in winter, tended to prefer activities in shaded spaces in summer, but activity time and space selections were inconspicuous in spring. 3) Residents can better endure “cold stress” in winter than “hot stress” in summer when conducting specific activities. 4) The neutral PET, neutral PET range and acceptable PET range were identified as 19.7 °C, 12.4–26.9 °C and 9.8–30.7 °C, respectively; adaptation to the Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PPD) relation for Xi'an was also adjusted. 5) Optimum design strategies for open spaces were proposed within implement of shelterbelts, shaded facilities and deciduous trees. These results should help urban designers better understand residents' thermal comfort and adaptive behaviors and provide design guidelines for residential open space in China's cold region.
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•Thermal comfort conditions of residential open spaces in Xi'an, China are investigated.•The neutral PET is defined as 19.7 °C with an acceptable PET range of 9.8–30.7 °C.•Thermal comfort benchmarks are compared and the PPD relationship adapted for Xi'an, China.•A ‘research for design’ approach is generated for climate‒responsive design of residential open spaces.•Thermal comfort can be improved with shelterbelts, shaded facilities and deciduous trees.
Abstract
When participating in the outdoor activities during the sunny and hot days in the regions with a hot summer, people are looking forward to staying in the “constant-holistic shadow” space ...which is always in shadow during the period of activities. It is necessary to set the targets of “constant-holistic shadow” space differently based on the different temporal-spatial feature requirements of varied types of activities. This paper has qualitatively compared the coupling degree of the three main factors of crowd outdoor activities in summer, analyzed the varied feature requirements of different activity types for the “constant-holistic shadow” space, and discussed the targets and setting methods of “constant-holistic shadow” space of the three typical activity requirements, so as to provide a basis for setting rational targets of the “constant-holistic shadow” space.
Purpose To determine the gait kinematic factors, from the pre-swing phase to the swing phase, that influence the ability of hemiplegic stroke patients to perform outdoor activities. Participants and ...Methods Using the Functional Ambulation Classification of the Hospital at Sagunto, thirty-five hemiplegic stroke patients were included in this study. They were divided into groups according to their ability to perform outdoor activities. A motion analysis device with an inertial sensor was used to measure 10-m walking at a comfortable speed. Kinematic factors were calculated from the pre-swing to the swing phase, and the groups were compared by analysis of covariance using walking speed as the covariate. Results The angle of knee flexion and peak angular velocity of ankle plantar flexion during toe-off of the outdoor group were significantly higher those of the indoor group. Conclusion The results suggest that push-off with plantar flexion of the ankle joint and the associated knee flexion angle are important for enabling hemiplegic stroke patients to engage in outdoor activities.
Aims/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse whether the changes in habits during the pandemic confinement have resulted in a significantly greater increase in the dioptres (D) of children ...and young people compared to those of another year prior to the pandemic Confinement (PC). Moreover, CUVAF, as an objective measure of time spent outdoors, was also investigated in this cohort.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out using three different cohorts of participants, one of children (9–17 years old), second one of young people (18–25 years old) and finally, adults (>25 years old) with some degree of myopia (<−0.75D). All of them with at least 3 annual graduation visits (two before March 2020 and one after June 2020). All participants underwent an automatic objective refraction, colour fundus photographs, and CUVAF area picture and measured the area with Fiji programme. All the participants filled out a questionnaire of life style and myopia history. For all statistical analyses, corrected p values <0.05 (two‐tailed) were considered statistically significant using Graphpad 8.0.1 Software.
Results: A total of 234 participants were recruited, 138 were children, 80 young people and 16 adults. The data showed that during the PC the 3 cohorts (children, youth and adults) decreased outdoor activities in similar high percentages (78%, 73% and 65% respectively) and similar indoor activities increased (80%, 83% and 75%). However, the children's graduation increased on average 0.51 D (SD ± 0.09) before PC and after PC increase 1.02 D (SD ± 0.11) with high significant increase (p < 0.0001). In the young, the increase was 0.33 D (SD 0.08) before PC and 0.61 (SD ± 0.09) after that (p > 0.01) and in adults it remained stable. There were no differences in the increase in D between children with and without CUVAF during PC, although those who had CUVAF started with lower gains (0.3 D) compared to those who did not (0.5 D) (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The change in habits during the confinement of COVID‐19, with a drastic decrease in outdoor activities and an increase in indoor activities, has led to a significant increase in dioptres in young people and children, being much more pronounced in children. The CUVAF is a valid biomarker to measure the risk of myopia associated with outdoor activities.
Background: Myopia is a public health problem, with estimations that 50% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Some environmental factors, such as time spent outdoors, doing near work, and ...using digital devices, influence the development of myopia in children. Home confinement in Spain has increased these risk factors, so this study aims to investigate the impact of home confinement during the COVID-19 outbreak in the vision of school-aged children; Methods: A cross-sectional study in children between 5 and 7 years old that completed a visual screening and a questionnaire about their lifestyles at opticians in Spain in September and October of 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis to compare lifestyles pre and post confinement, and vision in 2020 versus a similar cohort examined at the same opticians in 2019, was conducted; Results: Spanish children spent less time outdoors and more time doing near work in 2020 than in 2019 (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant decrease of the spherical equivalent (mean ± standard deviation; 0.66 ± 2.03 D in 2019 vs. 0.48 ± 1.81 D in 2020; p ≤ 0.001); Conclusions: Lifestyles of Spanish children changed during the home confinement at the beginning of 2020. Together with changes in their lifestyles, spherical equivalents have decreased, which implies higher figures of myopia for children aged between 5 and 7.
Purpose Life-space mobility refers to the spatial area in which a person moves in daily life, taking into account distance, frequency and assistance needed. The aim was to examine how changes in ...life-space mobility are associated with changes in quality of life (QOL) over a 2-year period. Methods Community-dwelling people aged 75-90 years (n = 848) were interviewed face-to-face in their homes and followed up annually for 2 years. QOL was assessed with the short version of the World Health Organization QOL assessment (range 0-130, higher scores indicate better QOL). Life-space mobility was assessed with the Life-Space Assessment (range 0-120, higher scores indicate better life-space mobility). Lower extremity performance was objectively measured with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Chronic conditions and years of education were self-reported. Data were analyzed with generalized estimation equation models. Results The mean life-space score at baseline was 63.9 ± SD 20.6 and mean QOL score 100.3 ± 11.8. Over the follow-up, the QOL score decreased to 95.0 ± 13.8 across the total study sample. The decrease in QOL score was somewhat higher among those whose life-space mobility score declined >10 points during the follow-up compared to those whose life-space remained stable or improved, even after adjustment for age, gender, number of chronic conditions, cognitive impairment, SPPB and education. Conclusions Decline in life-space mobility is associated with decline in QOL. The results highlight the importance of ensuring continuous possibilities for out-of-home mobility in maintaining QOL among older people.
To reassess the association between near work, outdoor exposure and myopia in children through an objective approach.
Eighty-six children (10.13±0.48 years) were asked to wear Clouclip, a newly ...developed wearable device that is able to measure working distance and eye-level illuminance, for a complete week to obtain information on near work and outdoor exposure. The mean daily Clouclip wearing time was 11.72±1.14 hour. The spherical equivalent refraction was determined by cycloplegic autorefraction.
The myopic children were found to be exposed to light intensities >3000 lux (0.68±0.50 hour vs 1.02±0.53 hour, p=0.012) and >5000 lux (0.42±0.35 hour vs 0.63±0.31 hour, p=0.004) for shorter durations on average each day than the non-myopic children. Additionally, the myopic children spent more time on average each day on activities at a distance of <20 cm than non-myopic children (1.89±0.61 hour vs 1.52±0.77 hour, p=0.019). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the time spent with a higher light intensity (>3000 lux (OR=0.27, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.72, p=0.009); >5000 lux (OR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.56, p=0.008)) and a working distance of <20 cm (in a circumstance of >3000 lux (OR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.86, p=0.038) or in that of >5000 lux (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.77, p=0.046)) were the independent protective factors and risk factors, respectively.
The current study provides novel evidence, based on objective data, to support the association between the intensity of near work, light intensity and myopia. However, the causality and the dose-effect relationship need to be investigated further.
Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation and home ...confinement. While these measures are imperative to abate the spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on health behaviours and lifestyles at home is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020, in seven languages, to elucidate the behavioural and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the results from the first thousand responders on physical activity (PA) and nutrition behaviours.
Following a structured review of the literature, the "Effects of home Confinement on multiple Lifestyle Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak (ECLB-COVID19)" Electronic survey was designed by a steering group of multidisciplinary scientists and academics. The survey was uploaded and shared on the Google online survey platform. Thirty-five research organisations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia and the Americas promoted the survey in English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Slovenian languages. Questions were presented in a differential format, with questions related to responses "before" and "during" confinement conditions.
1047 replies (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%) and other (3%) were included in the analysis. The COVID-19 home confinement had a negative effect on all PA intensity levels (vigorous, moderate, walking and overall). Additionally, daily sitting time increased from 5 to 8 h per day. Food consumption and meal patterns (the type of food, eating out of control, snacks between meals, number of main meals) were more unhealthy during confinement, with only alcohol binge drinking decreasing significantly.
While isolation is a necessary measure to protect public health, results indicate that it alters physical activity and eating behaviours in a health compromising direction. A more detailed analysis of survey data will allow for a segregation of these responses in different age groups, countries and other subgroups, which will help develop interventions to mitigate the negative lifestyle behaviours that have manifested during the COVID-19 confinement.
Outdoor education is an effort to increase children's learning capacity through learning outside of school. To support the achievement of learning outside the classroom, it is necessary to pay ...attention to the supporting infrastructure for these activities. The aim of this research is to find out how the Jenggala natural tourist attraction is used as infrastructure for learning activities outside the classroom. This research is quantitative descriptive. The research was carried out at the Jenggala natural tourist attraction, with a sample of 32 PJOK teachers in Baturaden sub-district. This research uses an instrument in the form of a questionnaire regarding the use of tourist objects as infrastructure for outdoor activities, with a reliability value of 0.919 as a data collection tool. Data analysis uses quantitative descriptive with the help of SPSS. The results of the research show that the use of Jenggala natural tourist attractions has been carried out well and fulfills the basis for structuring infrastructure for out-of-class activities. Security indicators obtained an average of 82.5% (excellent). The specification indicator for the out-of-class learning environment obtained an average of 80.5% (very good). The standard size indicator obtained an average of 80.7% (very good). The appropriate land contour indicator obtained an average of 75.8% (good). Based on the results of research data analysis, Jenggala natural tourist attractions have been used as infrastructure for out-of-class activities because Jenggala natural tourist attractions have foundations or indicators that support the achievement of out-of-class activities such as safety indicators, specifications for the out-of-class learning environment, standard sizes, and good land contours. in accordance.
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