Environmental Characteristics Research Articles

Risk Perception and Mitigation in Hand Tool Use: A Comparative Study of Industrial Safety Perspectives from Ecuador and Hungary

There is an increasing trend to develop innovative information technologies that empower industrial companies and tool suppliers to pioneer new production methods and technologies. This study aims to support innovation in industrial practices by using information technologies to enable companies and tool suppliers to adopt advanced production methods. By focusing on the usability of hand tools, the research seeks to establish essential parameters and focuses on analyzing the perception of risk and its associated benefits when using hand tools. To examine risk perception and risk benefits when using hand tools, the analysis data were collected from workers in two countries and included studies processed by Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT). As a result, it is identified as risk-seeking in the sphere of workers who are very confident in their ability and capacity to perform the determined tasks and carry out risk aversion with other external parameters related to hand tools and environmental characteristics. In addition, the risk perception and worker behavior to deal with it are delineated, giving parameters to help managers avoid workers’ injuries or illnesses, identifying the main risk domains for using hand tools use in specific industrial tasks.

Perceived urban environment elements associated with momentary and long-term well-being: An experience sampling method approach

Well-being (WB) extends beyond physical health, as defined by the World Health Organization and encompasses two aspects: (1) long-term WB (LWB), such as overall life satisfaction; and (2) momentary WB (MWB), such as immediate mood. While research has demonstrated a positive association between one’s environment and LWB, limited studies have explored the association between environmental characteristics and MWB. We applied the experience sampling method (ESM) to collect data on location, perceived environmental characteristics, MWB, and LWB of adult participants living in Kashiwa-no-ha area, Kashiwa City, Japan. Structural equation modeling was used to calculate the correlation coefficients between different environments and both MWB and LWB. LWB was positively associated with MWB (standardized coefficient=0.24) and urban elements—cafés/restaurants/bars (0.11), cultural/sports/education facilities (0.04), and public spaces (0.11). Meanwhile, relaxing/clean (0.56) and natural environments (0.14) were associated with higher MWB. Conversely, vibrant environments (−0.14) and being on the move (−0.11) were linked to lower MWB. LWB was positively associated with being at cultural/sports/educational facilities (0.06), and vibrant (0.15) and communicative (0.13) urban settings. MWB was associated with various built environments, emphasizing the need for places like parks and cafés that promote a positive mood, and well-designed transportation and roads. These elements are important for developing urban areas that meet the physical requirements of residents while supporting their emotional and psychological well-being.

Social participation challenges and facilitators among Chinese stroke survivors: a qualitative descriptive study

BackgroundA significant proportion of stroke survivors have participation restrictions. Attaining an in-depth understanding of participation challenges and facilitators is necessary to identify rehabilitation priorities. However, current evidence in the Chinese context is insufficient as cultural norms, expectations, and behaviors may differ across countries. This study aimed to explore experiences of social participation among Chinese stroke survivors and their perceived challenges and facilitators, particularly the cultural issues that impact their social participation.MethodsThis study used a qualitative descriptive approach. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 first-time or recurrent stroke survivors recruited from a rehabilitation unit and a community health centre in China. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. Reporting complies with the COREQ checklist.ResultsThree investigator-derived categories and 14 subcategories based on data-derived responses were identified. The categories included changes in social participation after stroke, challenges of social participation, and facilitators of social participation. While common factors such as physical limitations, environmental features, and social support emerged as influences on social participation, cultural values were also found to exert a significant impact on survivors’ participation behaviors. These values included family-oriented beliefs regarding responsibility towards their children, struggles with societal expectations, and perceptions of social participation being a burden on others.ConclusionsStroke survivors perceived varying degrees of changes in their social participation. Specifically, this study identifies the influence of prevalent cultural values on survivors’ participation behaviors, indicating that cultural beliefs and the associated effects on health outcomes should be taken into consideration when developing interventions to enhance social participation after stroke. Potential interventions to empower survivors could aim to improve their stroke-related knowledge, provide psychological encouragement, incorporate skills training to improve communication with family members, and organise peer support groups to augment social support networks.

A Machine Learning Algorithm‐Based Approach (MaxEnt) for Predicting Habitat Suitability of Formica rufa

ABSTRACTMachine learning techniques are quite effective for simulating species habitat appropriateness. Species distribution models are statistical algorithms founded on the ecological niche idea. These models estimate the association between existing species records and the environmental and spatial characteristics of the habitat. From 2022 to 2023, a field survey was conducted in the Kastamonu Forest Enterprise, resulting in the identification of 267 active Formica rufa nests. The habitat preferences of F.rufa were assessed based on factors such as stand characteristics, topography and climatic variables. MaxEnt, a prevalent machine learning technique for predicting species habitat suitability, was employed in the habitat suitability modelling of F. rufa. 30 distinct variables were employed in the modelling process. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis examined model accuracy. AUC was 0.941 for training data and 0.946 for test data. With 39.5% of the model, the development stage is the most important variable for F. rufa habitat selection. The development stage, productivity and temperature annual range (BIO7) variables make up 75.1% of the model. The habitat suitability map shows that 79% of F. rufa nests are in moderately and highly appropriate areas. The F. rufa group, widely prevalent in northern hemisphere forests, significantly impacts forest ecosystems and is recognised as the foremost bioindicator species within these environments. Determining the elements that affect habitat selection by these species is essential for their conservation and management.

Coastal environmental changes in Ninh Thuan Province, South-Central Vietnam.

Vietnam's coastal regions are highly vulnerable to natural hazards and human-induced changes, posing significant challenges to their ecological and socio-economic systems. The country's mangrove vegetation spans its entire coastline and has been depleted for decades in many regions. Notably, Vietnam's proactive stance on climate change mitigation received significant recognition during the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This study investigated five critical coastal environmental features (shoreline dynamics, drought conditions, soil salinity trends, mangrove deforestation, and reforestation, as well as spatiotemporal variations in aquaculture and salt farming areas) using satellite data and geospatial analysis. Findings revealed a 58% decline in mangrove areas between 1989 and 2023, with a sharp decline between 1989 and 2001, followed by a gradual recovery. Furthermore, soil salinity along the Ninh Thuan coast indicated a continuous increase, except during the strong La Niña period in 2001. Additionally, aquaculture and salt marshes have expanded significantly, changing land use patterns. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated coastal zone management to mitigate environmental degradation and enhance ecosystem resilience. Future studies should investigate the socio-economic implications of these changes and evaluate restoration strategies for sustainable coastal development.

Targetless Radar–Camera Extrinsic Parameter Calibration Using Track-to-Track Association

One of the challenges in calibrating millimeter-wave radar and camera lies in the sparse semantic information of the radar point cloud, making it hard to extract environment features corresponding to the images. To overcome this problem, we propose a track association algorithm for heterogeneous sensors, to achieve targetless calibration between the radar and camera. Our algorithm extracts corresponding points from millimeter-wave radar and image coordinate systems by considering the association of tracks from different sensors, without any explicit target or prior for the extrinsic parameter. Then, perspective-n-point (PnP) and nonlinear optimization algorithms are applied to obtain the extrinsic parameter. In an outdoor experiment, our algorithm achieved a track association accuracy of 96.43% and an average reprojection error of 2.6649 pixels. On the CARRADA dataset, our calibration method yielded a reprojection error of 3.1613 pixels, an average rotation error of 0.8141°, and an average translation error of 0.0754 m. Furthermore, robustness tests demonstrated the effectiveness of our calibration algorithm in the presence of noise.

Global dysregulation of circular RNAs in frontal cortex and whole blood from DM1 and DM2.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorders associated with expansions of microsatellites, respectively, in DMPK and CNBP. Their pathogenesis is linked to the global aberrant alternative splicing (AAS) of many genes and marks mostly muscular and neuronal tissues, while blood is the least affected. Recent data in DM1 skeletal muscles indicated that abnormalities in RNA metabolism also include global upregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs). CircRNAs are a heterogeneous group considered splicing errors and by-products of canonical splicing. To elucidate whether circRNA dysregulation is an inherent feature of the myotonic environment, we perform their analysis in the frontal cortex and whole blood of DM1 and DM2 patients. We find a global elevation of circRNAs in both tissues, and its magnitude is neither correlated with the differences in their parental gene expression nor is associated with AAS published earlier. Aberrantly spliced cassette exons of linear transcripts affected in DM1 and DM2 are not among the circularized exons, which unique genomic features prerequisite back-splicing. However, the blueprint of the AAS of linear RNAs is found in a variety of circRNA isoforms. The heterogeneity of circRNAs also originates from the utilization of exonic and intronic cryptic donors/acceptors in back splice junctions, and intron-containing circRNAs are more characteristic of the blood. Overall, this study reveals circRNA dysregulation in various tissues from DM1 and DM2; however, their levels do not correlate with the AAS in linear RNAs, suggesting a potential independent regulatory mechanism underlying circRNA upregulation in myotonic dystrophy.

Deep Learning Analysis of Google Street View to Assess Residential Built Environment and Cardiovascular Risk in a U.S. Midwestern Retrospective Cohort.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality. Environmental factors are increasingly recognized as influential determinants of cardiovascular health. Nevertheless, a finer-grained understanding of the effects of the built environment remains crucial for comprehending CVD. We sought to investigate the relationship between built environment features, including residential greenspace and sidewalks, and cardiovascular risk using street-level imagery and deep learning techniques. This study employed Google Street View (GSV) imagery and deep learning techniques to analyze built environment features around residences in relation to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk. Data from a Northeast Ohio cohort were utilized. Various covariates, including socioeconomic and environmental factors, were incorporated in Cox Proportional Hazards models. Of 49,887 individuals included, 2,083 experienced MACE over a median follow-up of 26.86 months. Higher tree-sky index and sidewalk presence were associated with reduced MACE risk (HR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91-0.99, and HR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.96, respectively), even after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and clinical factors. Visible vertical greenspace and sidewalks, as discerned from street-level images using deep learning, demonstrated potential associations with cardiovascular risk. This innovative approach highlights the potential of deep learning to analyze built environments at scale, offering new avenues for public health research. Future research is needed to validate these associations and better understand the underlying mechanisms.

Design, Development and Optimization of a Robotic Weed Control System for Greenhouses

This study presents the design and development of a robotic prototype specifically engineered for weed elimination within cucumber plants growing in greenhouse conditions. Given the limited research in automated weed control tailored to cucumber cultivation, this project fills a crucial gap in agricultural robotics. The cucumber plants are arranged in a single row, maintaining a spacing of approximately 40 cm between each plant, while the rows themselves are positioned about 1 meter apart. The greenhouse environment features sandy loam soil, which informs the robot's design and operational parameters. The robot employs three arrays of ultrasonic sensors strategically positioned to enhance weed detection capabilities. A PIC18 F4550-E/P microcontroller serves as the processing unit, enabling real-time feedback from the sensors that triggers the actuation of a robotic arm. This arm is engineered to maneuver between plant rows, utilizing rotating blades for efficient weed cutting. A comprehensive experimental procedure was conducted, comprising 54 trials within the greenhouse setting, to optimize the performance of the robotic arm. Key variables investigated included arm motor (AM) speed, blade rotation (BR) speed, and blade design. The research tested three BR speeds—3500, 2500, and 1500 RPM—determined based on prior literature concerning rotary movers. Furthermore, two AM speeds (10 and 30 RPM) paired with three distinct blade designs—S-shaped, triangular, and circular—were evaluated primarily for their cost-efficiency and performance based on initial testing outcomes. Results revealed a significant correlation between motor speed and weed cutting efficiency, showing that higher motor speeds correlated with a decreased percentage of cut weeds. Consequently, the 10 RPM motor speed was identified as the optimal setting for arm movement, balancing effective weed removal with operational efficiency.

Morphometric relationships as proxies for reproductive maturity in the clam Anomalocardia flexuosa (Linnaeus, 1767)

The objective of this study was to describe the morphometric relationships between different shell dimensions of the bivalve Anomalocardia flexuosa, to check the changes in the growth pattern, and to determine the adult and juvenile phases and the size of sexual maturity of the species using morphometric measurements. Considering the 52,873 specimens measured in the present study, all the allometric relationships established for A. flexuosa were significant, and both the relations between length × height and length × width showed positive allometry. The K means clustering separated the dataset between juveniles and adults and defined 13.20–14.60 mm shell as the interval of length for the transitional phase. The growth pattern was significantly different between juveniles and adults, in which juveniles presented isometric growth and adults had a negative allometric growth. The fit of the logistic model indicated that the shell length at sexual maturity was 13.80 mm. The A. flexuosa juvenile shell had a more rounded shape than the adult. Processes related to animal development and environmental characteristics may influence the shell shape. The maturity size found in the present study is according to the range of maturity proposed in the literature.

The food environment in favelas is associated with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes in socially vulnerable women.

To evaluate the relationship between the food environment in favelas and the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes among women in the context of social vulnerability. A cross-sectional and partially ecological population-based study was conducted in a Brazilian capital city. The healthiness and availability of ultra-processed foods in the food environment were assessed through retailer audits using the AUDITNOVA instrument. The presence of diabetes and arterial hypertension was evaluated based on self-reported prior medical diagnosis. Logistic regression models were applied using generalized estimating equations, adjusted for age, education, race/skin color, and poverty status. 1,882 adult women of reproductive age (20 to 44 years). It was found that 10.9% of women were hypertensive, and 3.2% had diabetes. The likelihood of having diabetes and arterial hypertension decreases with higher levels of healthiness in the food environment (Diabetes [OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.97]/Arterial hypertension [OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81]) and increases with greater availability of ultra-processed foods in their living area (Diabetes [OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.21]/Arterial hypertension [OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.47]). These results suggest that characteristics of the consumer food environment have a significant effect on the occurrence of chronic diseases among socially vulnerable women, adding to the existing evidence in the literature and highlighting the need for integrated health care.

Devaluing memories of reward: a case for dopamine

Midbrain dopamine cells encode differences in predictive and expected value to support learning through reward prediction error. Recent findings have questioned whether reward prediction error can fully account for dopamine function and suggest a more complex role for dopamine in encoding detailed features of the reward environment. In this series of studies, we describe a novel role for dopamine in devaluing sensory features of reward. Mesencephalic dopamine cells activated during a mediated devaluation phase were later chemogenetically reactivated. This retrieval of the devalued reward memory elicited a reduction in the hedonic evaluation of sucrose reward. Through optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulations, we confirm dopamine cells are both sufficient and necessary for mediated devaluation, and retrieval of these memories reflected dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Consistent with our computational modeling data, our findings indicate a critical role for dopamine in encoding predictive representations of the sensory features of reinforcement. Overall, we elucidate a novel role for dopamine function in mediated devaluation and illuminate a more elaborate framework through which dopamine encodes reinforcement signals.

First assessment of biofouling assemblages in the northern Red Sea, an important region for marine non-indigenous species transfer

IntroductionMaritime traffic and coastal urbanisation significantly contribute to the introduction and proliferation of non-indigenous species (NIS). However, the lack of information might prevent effective monitoring in data-limited regions, particularly in areas experiencing demographic growth, where monitoring biofouling communities could offer crucial insights into the dynamics of NIS invasions. This study represents a baseline characterization of the biofouling communities in the northern Saudi Arabian Red Sea (NEOM region) prior to extensive urban, industrial, and commercial development.MethodsSamples were collected in November 2023 and February 2024 from seven sites within the region. At each site and time, three settlement structures, each with a PVC panel attached to a brick and rope, were sampled after 3-months deployment. Panels were analysed with photo quadrat analysis (PhQd), examined to manually collect sessile macroinvertebrate specimens for taxonomic identification using morphological and DNA barcoding analysis, and scraped for bulk DNA analyses using DNA metabarcoding. Five water samples were also collected for environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. The environmental characteristics of each site were obtained by deploying temperature data loggers and through an environmental risk assessment.ResultsCommunity patterns observed from the PhQd and bulk DNA datasets revealed a clear separation of two sites within Sharma lagoon from the remaining sites. The eDNA analysis of seawater confirmed these spatial differences, also detecting a variation between sampling times that was not observed with the other approaches. A total of 20 NIS and 18 cryptogenic species were recorded, from which 12 were identified morphologically and the remaining detected with molecular methods only. The generally low NIS coverage confirms that the NEOM region is less affected by marine biological invasions compared to other anthropized habitats within the Red Sea. However, sites in the Sharma lagoon showed high human pressure levels and comparatively higher coverage of cryptogenic bryozoans on panels.DiscussionThis study provides the first detailed assessment of biofouling communities in NEOM, establishing a baseline and contributing to a regional species reference library for non-indigenous and cryptogenic species. As coastal development spreads, it presents both challenges and opportunities, highlighting the need for sustainable, ecosystem-based approaches to protect valuable natural areas. This baseline is essential for future monitoring of biofouling dynamics as the region develops.

Multi-scale comparison of the formation mechanisms in landscape genes of traditional villages

The relationship between traditional village landscape genes and the geographical environment is closely intertwined, exhibiting notable spatial differences and cultural characteristics during scale transformations. To effectively elucidate the formation mechanisms of these landscape genes, it is essential to construct a multi-scale analytical framework that integrates multiple dimensions. This paper address these challenges by expanding the sample selection range and combining both qualitative and quantitative analyses of landscape genes across various scales. Subjective judgments reveal that macro conditions influence microscopic responses, which, in turn impact outcomes at the micro level. Similarly, quantitative analyses underscore the significant role of geographic factors in shaping architectural patterns, illustrating the interplay of geographic, cultural, and economic factors across different dimensions. Convergence analysis challenges the simplistic correspondence between subjective judgment and quantitative findings, indicating that macro-level geographic environmental features may not exert as substantial an influence on micro-level architectural clusters as previously assumed. Instead, there are instances where the internal spatial structure of clusters may transcends geographic constraints. The research paradigm centered on landscape genes offers a valuable approach to identifying the factors contributing to spatial disparities in traditional villages and advancing our understanding of the processes and mechanisms governing landscape gene inheritance, expression, and variation.

Database models for storing big data

The issues related to the formation of large data collections are not fully resolved. The amount of information in the world is constantly increasing, which has resulted in the problem of its storage. The term "big data" created to define this data includes the following characteristics such as quantity, processing speed, variety, reliability, variability and value. This type of information includes environmental characteristics; the data determine the distribution of relevant indicators on the Earth and make it possible to make a forecast for the future regarding their changes in time and space, which is important for economic management and sustainable development of humanity. However, there is not enough information on the effective organisation of the storage and processing of such data, and further research is needed. Thus, the object of the study is the data obtained at environmental monitoring stations. The subject of the study is the storage of data obtained as a result of environmental monitoring. The purpose of the study is to develop criteria for evaluating and comparing different types of data repositories, taking into account specific requirements for their storage; to determine the types of information to be stored in the database; to create an ER-diagram of a particular database. The received data are classified according to the state of the environment, its location and pollution. As the data is obtained from an extended system of observations, it passes in stages from the place of its registration through the city, regional, state and global network to the place of its storage. Accordingly, the following criteria for the information received must be provided such as the ability to store data of various types, quick access and processing, and scalability. There are two main models of data bases such as relational and non-relational, each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, relational (SQL) data storage systems have rigid schemes that ensure the reliability of information storage, but are inefficient for processing a large number of queries and have no significant scalability. Non-relational (NoSQL) systems store data in an unstructured type, are easily scalable, and provide high speed of query processing. Conclusions. The research has shown that non-relational databases are more appropriate for storing data obtained from environmental monitoring stations. A scheme for processing the data was created. The groups of parameters that will be stored in the database are outlined. The main criteria for data storage were developed, allowing for more efficient data organisation. An ER diagram for the database was implemented.

Ecological Traits and Intraguild Competition Mediate Spatial and Temporal Overlaps Among Sympatric Mesocarnivores

In terrestrial mammalian carnivore guilds, interspecific competitions (interferences and resource competitions) among sympatric species induce their ecological and behavioral patterns and population dynamics, thereby shaping community structures. Competitive species must partition their ecological niches for sympatry, while the extent of niche overlaps is mediated by either the ecological traits (e.g., body size differences) or environmental features. We aimed to elucidate the patterns of spatial and temporal niche overlaps in mesocarnivore guilds, which are mediated by their ecological traits, regional environments, and anthropogenic disturbances. We investigated the spatial occurrence and diel activities of six mesocarnivore species and estimated their spatial and temporal overlap indices in various landscapes with different anthropogenic disturbances in central Bulgaria. Statistical modeling demonstrated that spatial overlap among mesocarnivores declined when mesocarnivore pairs were within the same family and when large carnivores (particularly wolves, Canis lupus) were present. Furthermore, we found that the extent of their temporal overlaps was associated with taxonomic and body size differences in mesocarnivore pairs as well as their trophic competitions. Our findings indicated that the intensity of interferences among mesocarnivore species was key for the decline of spatial or temporal niche overlap to relax antagonistic interactions.

Eye saccades align optic flow with retinal specializations during object pursuit in freely moving ferrets.

During prey pursuit, how eye rotations, such as saccades, enable continuous tracking of erratically moving targets while enabling an animal to navigate through the environment is unknown. To better understand this, we measured head and eye rotations in freely running ferrets during pursuit behavior. By also tracking the target and all environmental features, we reconstructed the animal's visual fields and their relationship to retinal structures. In the reconstructed visual fields, the target position clustered on and around the high-acuity retinal area location, the area centralis, and surprisingly, this cluster was not significantly shifted by digital removal of either eye saccades, exclusively elicited when the ferrets made turns, or head rotations that were tightly synchronized with the saccades. Here, we show that, while the saccades did not fixate the moving target with the area centralis, they instead aligned the area centralis with the intended direction of travel. This also aligned the area centralis with features of the optic flow pattern, such as flow direction and focus of expansion, used for navigation by many species. While saccades initially rotated the eyes in the same direction as the head turn, saccades were followed by eye rotations countering the ongoing head rotation, which reduced image blur and limited information loss across the visual field during head turns. As we measured the same head and eye rotational relationship in freely moving tree shrews, rats, and mice, we suggest that these saccades and counter-rotations are a generalized mechanism enabling mammals to navigate complex environments during pursuit.

The Association of the Child Opportunity Index with Emergency Department Presentations for Pediatric Poisonings: A Case-Control Study

To examine the relationship between the Child Opportunity Index (COI) and unintentional poisonings in a geographically diverse pediatric population. We conducted a retrospective, case-control study of children ≤ 6years of age who had emergency department encounters for poisonings from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021. Data were obtained from the Pediatric Health Information System database. Poisonings were categorized as related to prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, drugs of misuse, or nonmedicinal substances. We estimated multivariable conditional logistic regression models to examine the association of the COI with each poisoning type. Among 49 789 emergency department encounters for poisonings, the most common poisoning category was prescription medications (28.3%). Compared with patients with very low COI, patients with very high COI were more likely to present for prescription medication (aOR 1.15 [95% CI, 1.01-1.31]) or over-the-counter medication poisoning (aOR 1.37 [95% CI, 1.18-1.59]). Conversely, patients with very high COI were less likely to have poisonings secondary to drugs of misuse (aOR 0.82 [95% CI, 0.67-0.99]). Patients with high COI were also less likely to have poisonings due to a nonmedicinal substance compared with patients with very low COI (aOR 0.83 [95% CI, 0.73-0.93]). Different pediatric poisoning types were associated with a patient's COI, possibly reflecting socioeconomic characteristics of a child's environment. While poison prevention strategies should be employed uniformly to maximize impact, our findings highlight variation in poisoning risks related to a child's environment and support the use of the COI for future research into mechanisms to strengthen further poisoning prevention strategies.

Sport, concussion and student subcultures: the duty of care in neoliberal universities

ABSTRACT This article provides the first analysis of how the distinctive characteristics of the neoliberal university environment can shape students’ experiences of and rehabilitation from sport-related concussion. The research was stimulated by knowledge that concerns about the dangers of concussion among young people have led to the development of prescriptive precautionary guidelines, yet no university-specific policy or guidance currently exists in the UK. Concomitantly, these universities have expanded and promoted sport opportunities as part of the broader ‘student experience’ being offered. Based on interviews with 10 rugby playing student athletes, we sought to understand what happens when students are concussed during sport, how these experiences align with concussion management protocols, and how healthcare and student learning needs are enabled and/or constrained within the University context. We found that UK university students exhibit injury-related behaviours which are common to sporting populations but that cultural norms within university sport subcultures alongside nuances of identity management present distinct social dilemmas which disincentivize compliance with guidance for safer post-concussion behaviours. Uniquely, we highlight structural limitations in how concussed players are supported through both healthcare and academic study. The reliance on individual responsibility for healthcare following a concussion leads to sub-optimum rehabilitation, which leads us to argue that it is time for greater attention towards a duty of care within the UK university sector regarding the student-sport environment. This is a particularly pressing matter when concerning sporting activities known to involve a relatively high risk for concussive injuries such as contact sports.

The language environment as a means of developing foreign language communicative competence in middle preschool children

The article is devoted to revealing the content of the concept of the language environment as a means of forming foreign language communicative competence in middle preschool children. Existing interpretations of the term "environment" in scientific literature are provided. The terms used by specialists in relation to the environment as a means of forming communicative competence are defined, including: "language environment," "speech environment," and "communication environment." The semantic content of these terms is analyzed, and it is concluded that each corresponds to the thematic direction of the research within which it is proposed. It is substantiated that in the context of mastering a foreign language, the term "language environment" should be used concerning the environment as a means of forming foreign language communicative competence, as such an environment does not always imply communication or interaction. It is determined that the environment as a means of forming foreign language communicative competence is a set of conditions representing the features of real reality under which the formation of foreign language communicative competence occurs and which serve as a means of such formation. The set of conditions that constitute the language environment is grouped as follows: spatial conditions (micro- and macro-space, individual space), subjective conditions (the number and characteristics of individuals who are transmitters of the foreign language), conditions of the material world (features of the physical environment), speech-communicative conditions (features of input, output, and feedback), and motivational conditions (a set of external and internal factors that motivate the acquisition of foreign language communicative competence). The author proposes a definition of the language environment as a means of forming foreign language communicative competence in middle preschool children as a set of spatial, subjective, speech-communicative, motivational, and material world conditions, under which the formation of foreign language communicative competence occurs and which, in their totality and interaction, ensure and determine such formation.