Sustained Rates Research Articles

Research on the Application of Machine Learning Algorithms in Green Economy Indicator Modeling and Sustainable Development Evaluation

This study presents a comprehensive modeling and analysis framework for investigating the impact of green GDP on climate factors and its potential for promoting sustainable development. Our model utilizes the entropy weight method (EWM) and grey correlation analysis (GRA) to optimize and process data, while employing a BP neural network for model training. Results indicate that green GDP leads to smaller global climate damage compared to traditional GDP, indicating its potential to alleviate the global climate crisis and promote green development.Furthermore, we built a green GDP prediction model using LSTM to forecast future changes. From the perspective of economy and management, the results indicate that transitioning from GDP to green GDP initially leads to a decrease in the index, followed by an increase. This suggests that green GDP development has short-term drawbacks but long-term benefits, including reduced resource consumption, improved economic conditions, and contribution to sustainable development. Finally, we analyzed the learning rate, number of iterations, and thresholds of related parameters through Logistic binary classification. Results demonstrate that our model is relatively stable, highlighting how green GDP addresses ecological challenges while promoting economic prosperity. These findings underscore the urgency of adopting the concept of green GDP in the contemporary era for achieving sustainable development goals.Overall, this research provides critical insights on the potential benefits and feasibility of green GDP as a crucial tool for mitigating climate risks and enhancing global prosperity.

Sustainable Attributes of China’s Open-End Funds: Navigating to a Green Economy

China is in the midst of a critical transition to a carbon-neutral economy, with various policies and regulations being introduced to facilitate this shift. This study focuses on the open-end funds market in China, a significant component of the country’s capital market, to explore how it is adapting during this period of economic transformation. Specifically, we investigate the influence of carbon and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risks on the flow of open-end funds. Our findings indicate that sustainability factors are considered in the investment decision-making process by investors. Notably, there exists a negative relationship between sustainable risk factors and fund flows. This observation is particularly pronounced for funds that are designated as low carbon, have a high sustainability rating, or are primarily held by retail investors, underscoring the growing importance of sustainability considerations in the investment landscape of China’s capital market.

Combining mesocosms with models reveals effects of global warming and ocean acidification on a temperate marine ecosystem.

Ocean warming and species exploitation have already caused large-scale reorganization of biological communities across the world. Accurate projections of future biodiversity change require a comprehensive understanding of how entire communities respond to global change. We combined a time-dynamic integrated food web modeling approach (Ecosim) with previous data from community-level mesocosm experiments to determine the independent and combined effects of ocean warming, ocean acidification and fisheries exploitation on a well-managed temperate coastal ecosystem. The mesocosm parameters enabled important physiological and behavioral responses to climate stressors to be projected for trophic levels ranging from primary producers to top predators, including sharks. Through model simulations, we show that under sustainable rates of fisheries exploitation, near-future warming or ocean acidification in isolation could benefit species biomass at higher trophic levels (e.g., mammals, birds, and demersal finfish) in their current climate ranges, with the exception of small pelagic fishes. However, under warming and acidification combined, biomass increases at higher trophic levels will be lower or absent, while in the longer term reduced productivity of prey species is unlikely to support the increased biomass at the top of the food web. We also show that increases in exploitation will suppress any positive effects of human-driven climate change, causing individual species biomass to decrease at higher trophic levels. Nevertheless, total future potential biomass of some fisheries species in temperate areas might remain high, particularly under acidification, because unharvested opportunistic species will likely benefit from decreased competition and show an increase in biomass. Ecological indicators of species composition such as the Shannon diversity index decline under all climate change scenarios, suggesting a trade-off between biomass gain and functional diversity. By coupling parameters from multilevel mesocosm food web experiments with dynamic food web models, we were able to simulate the generative mechanisms that drive complex responses of temperate marine ecosystems to global change. This approach, which blends theory with experimental data, provides new prospects for forecasting climate-driven biodiversity change and its effects on ecosystem processes.

Protocol implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences from a randomized trial of stress ulcer prophylaxis

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, many intensive care units (ICUs) halted research to focus on COVID-19-specific studies.ObjectiveTo describe the conduct of an international randomized trial of stress ulcer prophylaxis (Re-Evaluating the Inhibition of Stress Erosions in the ICU [REVISE]) during the pandemic, addressing enrolment patterns, center engagement, informed consent processes, data collection, a COVID-specific substudy, patient transfers, and data monitoring.MethodsREVISE is a randomized trial among mechanically ventilated patients, comparing pantoprazole 40 mg IV to placebo on the primary efficacy outcome of clinically important upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the primary safety outcome of 90-day mortality. We documented protocol implementation status from March 11th 2020-August 30th 2022.ResultsThe Steering Committee did not change the scientific protocol. From the first enrolment on July 9th 2019 to March 10th 2020 (8 months preceding the pandemic), 267 patients were enrolled in 18 centers. From March 11th 2020-August 30th 2022 (30 months thereafter), 41 new centers joined; 59 were participating by August 30th 2022 which enrolled 2961 patients. During a total of 1235 enrolment-months in the pandemic phase, enrolment paused for 106 (8.6%) months in aggregate (median 3 months, interquartile range 2;6). Protocol implementation involved a shift from the a priori consent model pre-pandemic (188, 58.8%) to the consent to continue model (1615, 54.1%, p < 0.01). In one new center, an opt-out model was approved. The informed consent rate increased slightly (80.7% to 85.0%, p = 0.05). Telephone consent encounters increased (16.6% to 68.2%, p < 0.001). Surge capacity necessitated intra-institutional transfers; receiving centers continued protocol implementation whenever possible. We developed a nested COVID-19 substudy. The Methods Centers continued central statistical monitoring of trial metrics. Site monitoring was initially remote, then in-person when restrictions lifted.ConclusionProtocol implementation adaptations during the pandemic included a shift in the consent model, a sustained high consent rate, and launch of a COVID-19 substudy. Recruitment increased as new centers joined, patient transfers were optimized, and monitoring methods were adapted.

Hidden delta degradation due to fluvial sediment decline and intensified marine storms.

Deltas are threatened by erosion due to climate change and reduced sediment supply, but their response to these changes remains poorly quantified. We investigate the abandoned Yellow River delta that has transitioned from rapid growth to ongoing deterioration due to a river avulsion removing the sediment supply. Integrating bathymetric data, process observations, and sediment transport modeling, we find that while the subaerial delta was stabilized by engineering measures, the subaqueous delta continued to erode due to intensified storms, losing 39% of its mass deposited before the avulsion. Long-term observations show that winter storms initiate scouring of the subaqueous delta, contributing up to 70% of seabed erosion. We then analyze 108 global deltas to assess subaqueous delta erosion risks and identify 17 deltas facing similar situations of sediment decline and storm intensification during the past 40 years. Our findings suggest that subaqueous delta erosion must be integrated into delta sustainability evaluations.

EXPLORING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCRETE BRIDGES

After the construction boom of the past 30-40 years, United Arab Emirates has been left with many costly structures that may or may not fulfill modern sustainability requirements. With the on-going economic recession seen by most of the world and a higher awareness among the population regarding the environmental and societal impact of construction, engineers and designers are carrying out sustainability studies for all kinds of infrastructure. Although most of past research has focused on sustainability rating of buildings, recent advances in this area shows a heightened interest in sustainability assessment of bridges as well. Several of the key sustainability indicators for buildings are also applicable for bridge; quantitative (construction cost and assembly, transportation of materials, service life, environmental impact, etc.) and qualitative (aesthetics, safety features, etc.). This paper contributes to an ongoing research project aimed at developing a sustainability rating system for bridges in the UAE. It includes a comprehensive survey designed to evaluate the relevance of current sustainability indicators for bridge projects within the region. The findings and analysis of this survey are discussed, providing insights into the adaptation of these sustainability metrics for UAE bridges.

EXPLORING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCRETE BRIDGES

After the construction boom of the past 30-40 years, United Arab Emirates has been left with many costly structures that may or may not fulfill modern sustainability requirements. With the on-going economic recession seen by most of the world and a higher awareness among the population regarding the environmental and societal impact of construction, engineers and designers are carrying out sustainability studies for all kinds of infrastructure. Although most of past research has focused on sustainability rating of buildings, recent advances in this area shows a heightened interest in sustainability assessment of bridges as well. Several of the key sustainability indicators for buildings are also applicable for bridge; quantitative (construction cost and assembly, transportation of materials, service life, environmental impact, etc.) and qualitative (aesthetics, safety features, etc.). This paper contributes to an ongoing research project aimed at developing a sustainability rating system for bridges in the UAE. It includes a comprehensive survey designed to evaluate the relevance of current sustainability indicators for bridge projects within the region. The findings and analysis of this survey are discussed, providing insights into the adaptation of these sustainability metrics for UAE bridges.

Improving Pneumococcal Vaccination Rates in Immunosuppressed Pediatric Patients with Rheumatic Disease.

Patients with rheumatic diseases are at a high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease due to immunosuppression. We conducted a quality improvement project, and the first aim was to increase the percentage of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and mixed connective tissue disease that is up to date on pneumococcal vaccinations from 9.6% to 80% within one year. Subsequently, the second aim was to increase the percentage of patients on immunosuppression with systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, juvenile dermatomyositis and systemic vasculitis that is up to date on pneumococcal vaccinations from 62.6% to 80% within one year. Two process measures were up-to-date vaccination status on (1) 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV13) and (2) 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Our outcome measure was being fully up to date on both pneumococcal vaccinations. Interventions included an immunization algorithm, reporting of eligible patients, education, reminders, and pre-visit planning. There were shifts in the centerline for all quality measures in both phases of this project. The combined pneumococcal vaccination rate for Phase 1 increased from 9.6% to 91.1%, and this centerline was sustained. Pneumococcal vaccination rates also significantly increased for Phase 2: 68.8% to 93.4% for PCV13, 65.2% to 88.5% for PPSV23, and 62.6% to 86.5% for the combined pneumococcal vaccination rate. Quality improvement methodology significantly increased and sustained pneumococcal vaccination rates in our high-risk, immunosuppressed patients. We continue to prioritize this important initiative to mitigate the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease.

Emergency Department Initiative to Decrease High-flow Nasal Cannula Use for Admitted Patients with Bronchiolitis.

Despite limited evidence, a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is often used to treat mild to moderate (m/m) bronchiolitis. We aimed to decrease the rate of HFNC use in the pediatric emergency department (PED) for m/m bronchiolitis from a baseline of 37% to less than 18.5%. A multidisciplinary team created a bronchiolitis pathway and implemented it in December 2019. A respiratory score (RS) in the electronic medical record objectively classified bronchiolitis severity as mild, moderate, or severe. We tracked HFNC utilization in the PED among patients with m/m bronchiolitis as our primary outcome measure between December 2019 and December 2021. We monitored the percentage of patients with an RS as a process measure. Interventions through four plan-do-study-act cycles included updating the hospital oxygen therapy policy, applying the RS to all patients in respiratory distress, modifying the bronchiolitis order set, and developing a bronchiolitis-specific HFNC order. Three hundred twenty-five patients were admitted from the PED with m/m bronchiolitis during the 11-month baseline period and 600 patients during the 25-month intervention period. The mean rate of HFNC utilization decreased from 37% to 17%. Despite a decrease in bronchiolitis encounters after the pandemic, in the spring of 2021, when volumes returned, we had a sustained HFNC utilization rate of 17%. RS entry increased from 60% to 73% in the intervention period. A clinical pathway for bronchiolitis can lead to decreased use of HFNC for m/m bronchiolitis. Consistent RS, order set development with decision support, and education led to sustained improvement despite pandemic-related volumes.

Synergistic effects of hydrophilic function group and micropores on water evaporation in a novel carbon hydrogels for efficient solar steam generation

Solar steam generation (SSG) using hydrogels is emerging as a promising technology for clean water production. Herein, a novel oxygen-doped microporous carbon hydrogel (OPCH), rich in hydrophilic groups and micropores, has been synthesized from microalgae to optimize SSG. OPCH outperforms hydrogels with hydrophobic porous carbon or nonporous hydrophilic biochar, significantly reducing water's evaporation enthalpy from 2216.06 to 1107.88 J g−1 and activating 42.3 g of water per 100 g for evaporation, resulting in an impressive evaporation rate of 2.44 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun. A detailed investigation into the synergistic effects of hydrophilic groups and micropores on evaporation via a second derivative thermogravimetry method revealed two types of bonded water contributing to enthalpy reduction. Molecular dynamics simulations provided further insights, revealing that the hydrophilic micropores considerably decrease both the number and the lifetime of hydrogen bonds among water molecules. This dual effect not only reduces the energy barrier for evaporation but also enhances the kinetic energy needed for the phase transition, significantly boosting the water evaporation process. The sustained high evaporation rates of OPCH, observed across multiple cycles and under varying salinity conditions, underscore its potential as a highly efficient and sustainable solution for SSG applications.

Construction of urban low-carbon development and sustainable evaluation system based on the internet of things

Low-carbon (LC) cities are the cities that people long for today. LC environmental protection plays a very important role in people's health. The construction of a city in LC is a great cause that contributes to the present and benefits the future. In this study, we propose a development and sustainability evaluation system for building low-carbon cities based on the Internet of Things (IoT). The study is novel in that it considers key areas such as urban planning, environmental issues and solutions, and how the Internet of Things can optimize low-carbon logistics and smart grids, with the aim of promoting the formation of low-carbon city models. This comprehensive approach not only presents problems and solutions in low-carbon urban planning but also focuses on how the Internet of Things can be used as a key technology to promote low-carbon urban development. The urban development of LC was constructed with a sustainable evaluation system, so that people could experience the life of LC. Through the investigation of the degree of atmospheric pollution of LC cities using the Internet of Things, this article found that the highest degree of atmospheric pollution was 30. The highest degree of atmospheric pollution in cities in LC without IoT was 53. The severity of water pollution in cities in LC using IoT technology ranged from 10 to 25, while those without IoT ranged from 30 to 60. The degree of soil pollution in LC cities using IoT technology was concentrated in 10–30, while those without using IoT were concentrated in 30–50. Through these experimental data, it could be seen that IoT technology could reduce environmental pollution, thus achieving the effect of LC cities. This shows that the use of IoT technology in LC cities was highly feasible.

Telemedicine Quality Improvement during the Corona Virus 2019 Pandemic Increases Pediatric Weight Management Access.

The corona virus 2019 pandemic disrupted care for pediatric patients with chronic conditions, including those with childhood obesity. Lockdowns forced providers to create new ways of caring for this population. Telemedicine was a promising but previously unavailable solution. This quality improvement report details how the Healthy and Fit Children's Clinic transitioned and improved care via telemedicine. Between March 2020 and April 2021, the quality improvement project team incorporated the Model for Improvement to transition the clinic to telemedicine. The team tracked Healthy and Fit Children's Clinic appointments, no-shows, billing and reimbursement data, and noted unintended consequences or unanticipated barriers. Patients and their families were given a satisfaction survey at the end of each telemedicine encounter. Compared with pre-telemedicine implementation, there was a 120% increase in completed patient clinic visits per week and a sustained positive shift above the established baseline. Telemedicine no-show rates achieved <10%, with an average sustained rate of <20%, compared with unchanged in-person no-show rates of >50% pre- and post-telemedicine implementation. There was a 74% increase in monthly billing and a sustained positive shift above the pre-telemedicine baseline. On average, patients rated all six satisfaction questions ≥92 on the 100-point scale (compared with 83 pre-telemedicine). This transition to telemedicine was successful and could be translatable to other clinic sites. Patients attended their clinic visits more consistently and were highly satisfied with their care. In a population where continuity of care is paramount, telemedicine shows promise as a tool to treat childhood obesity.

Data Center Sustainability: Revisits and Outlooks

As energy-intensive entities, data centers are associated with significant environmental impacts, making their sustainability a subject of growing interest in recent years. In this article, we revisit data center sustainability and propose a forward-looking vision for improving data center sustainability. We argue that data center sustainability encompasses more than just energy efficiency and must be evaluated and optimized through a multi-faceted approach. To this end, we first present an overview of the sustainability metrics from five aspects. After that, we demonstrate the sustainability status of the latest data centers utilizing publicly available data center sustainability ratings. Furthermore, we examine the evolution of data center sustainability standards in Singapore to highlight several trending features. Based on the analysis, we identify several key elements of sustainable data centers. We then propose the Cognitive Digital Twin (CDT) architecture, which incorporates a digital twin engine for system-wide simulation and a decision engine for optimal control to improve data center sustainability. A case study is performed to optimize the chiller plant efficiency of a production data center in Singapore. The results demonstrate that the CDT can improve chiller plant energy efficiency by 5%, indicating around 140 metric tons of annual carbon emission savings.

Assessing Multilateral Development Bank ESG Safeguard Integration with International Sustainability Ratings

In an era where sustainability is paramount, this study critically assesses how multilateral development banks (MDBs) integrate internationally recognized sustainability indicators into their ESG safeguard policies. MDBs have historically incorporated policies to manage environmental and social risks in project financing; yet, protections against negative impacts in developing countries often remain insufficient. On the other hand, several infrastructure sustainability rating systems have been established around the world in recent decades due to economic growth and the importance of controlling environmental impacts associated with the construction sector. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether and how the indicators that these internationally recognized systems use to rate whether a project is sustainable are integrated into these safeguards by using several methodologies, including an analysis of existing documentation, a high-level matrix, and qualitative methods based on co-occurrences using specialized “atlas ti” software. The results show that MDBs’ coverage of financial, governance, and country risks lacks the sustainability focus found in these rating systems. Therefore, this study that concludes MDB safeguards must evolve, balancing comprehensive sustainability parameters and detailed management guidelines and addressing impacts beyond statutory frameworks to encourage stakeholder engagement for more sustainable infrastructure projects.

Improving Indigenous health equity within the emergency department: a global review of interventions

IntroductionIndigenous health equity interventions situated within emergency care settings remain underexplored, despite their potential to influence patient care satisfaction and empowerment. This study aimed to systematically review and identify Indigenous equity interventions and their outcomes within acute care settings, which can potentially be utilized to improve equity within Canadian healthcare for Indigenous patients.MethodsA database search was completed of Medline, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus and CINAHL from inception to April 2023. For inclusion in the review, articles were interventional and encompassed program descriptions, evaluations, or theoretical frameworks within acute care settings for Indigenous patients. We evaluated the methodological quality using both the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist and the Ways Tried and True framework.ResultsOur literature search generated 122 publications. 11 articles were selected for full-text review, with five included in the final analysis. Two focusing on Canadian First Nations populations and three on Aboriginal Australians. The main intervention strategies included cultural safety training, integration of Indigenous knowledge into care models, optimizing waiting-room environments, and emphasizing sustainable evaluation methodologies. The quality of the interventions was varied, with the most promising studies including Indigenous perspectives and partnerships with local Indigenous organizations.ConclusionsAcute care settings, serving as the primary point of access to health care for many Indigenous populations, are well-positioned to implement health equity interventions such as cultural safety training, Indigenous knowledge integration, and optimization of waiting room environments, combined with sustainable evaluation methods. Participatory discussions with Indigenous communities are needed to advance this area of research and determine which interventions are relevant and appropriate for their local context.

Data-driven sustainability evaluation and manufacturing system enhancement from economic, environmental, social, and sustainability perspectives.

Sustainable manufacturing is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality targets. However, research on the sustainability of manufacturing systems is limited, and high consumption, low efficiency, and high emissions have resulted in high resource consumption and rapid environmental degradation. Therefore, it is of great importance to establish an evaluation and improvement indicator system conducive to sustainable development. To this end, this study developed a data-driven methodology for evaluating and enhancing the sustainability of manufacturing systems. Manufacturing system production process data, with data dimensions unified via the emergy method, were used to construct a sustainable development evaluation model that includes four perspectives: economy, environment, society, and sustainability. The model was applied to a flange production workshop in China to analyze the interrelation mechanisms among energy consumption, resource consumption, and environmental pollution, and identify optimization schemes to improve sustainability. After implementing these optimization schemes, the emergy yield rate (EYR) of the flange increased by 23.40%, the environmental load rate (ELR) decreased by 19.03%, the per capita emergy (EPP) increased by 6.88%, and the emergy-based sustainability index (ESI) increased by 52.76%. The method presented herein offers a novel and effective tool to analyze and visualize sustainable development in manufacturing systems and identify the relationship between technology and management in the manufacturing industry; however, this method is based on historical data and rules, and lacks of flexible response to unknown situations. The results provide a reference for enterprises to achieve sustainable and lean manufacturing.

Phylogenomics and biogeographical diversification of Collabieae (Orchidaceae) and its implication in the reconstruction of the dynamic history of Asian evergreen broadleaved forests

The tribe Collabieae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) comprises approximately 500 species. Generic delimitation within Collabieae are confusing and phylogenetic interrelationships within the Collabieae have not been well resolved. Plastid genomes and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were used to estimate the phylogenetic relationships, ancestral ranges, and diversification rates of Collabieae. The results showed that Collabieae was subdivided into nine clades with high support. We proposed to combine Ancistrochilus and Pachystoma into Spathoglottis, merge Collabium and Chrysoglossum into Diglyphosa, and separate Pilophyllum and Hancockia as distinctive genera. The diversification of the nine clades of Collabieae might be associated with the uplift of the Himalayas during the Late Oligocene/Early Miocene. The enhanced East Asian summer monsoon in the Late Miocene may have promoted the rapid diversification of Collabieae at a sustained high diversification rate. The increased size of terrestrial pseudobulbs may be one of the drivers of Collabieae diversification. Our results suggest that the establishment and development of evergreen broadleaved forests facilitated the diversification of Collabieae.

Evaluation of landscape sustainability of protected areas and identification of its correlation factors: a case study of Beijing, China

ContextProtected areas (PAs) serve as robust safeguards for the ecological safety of urban areas, and positively affect their socioeconomic development. However, limited research that integrates both ecological and socioeconomic aspects to evaluate the role of PAs.ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to establish an evaluation framework for PAs that applies the concept of landscape sustainability and integrates ecological and socioeconomic functions to enhance understanding of the role of PAs. Additionally, we aimed to develop analytical framework for identifying the correlation elements of landscape sustainability of protected areas (PA-LS) and improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying PAs.MethodsThis study focused on 38 PAs in Beijing, China. We established the PA-LS evaluation framework to evaluate the role of PAs by analyzing changes in their overall landscape services from 2000 to 2019, and in ecological and socioeconomic functions. Subsequently, an analytical framework was established to identify the correlation factors of PA-LS, focusing on four aspects: the fundamental characteristics of PAs, landscape patterns of PAs, impact of urban areas on PAs, and human well-being within a 5 km buffer of PAs.ResultsThe landscape sustainability evaluation of Beijings’ PAs revealed that 30 PAs (78.95% of the total) were strongly sustainable, eight (21.05%) were weakly sustainable, and none unsustainable. The results revealed that there was a positive correlation between several factors and PA-LS, including the density of the road network within a 1 km buffer of the PAs and the economic income and employment rate within a 5 km buffer of the PAs. Conversely, there was a negative correlation between one factor and PA-LS, its the distance between PAs and the urban center. Other factors, such as the category, area, classification of PAs, SHDI (ecological land), ED, LPI (forest) of PAs, and population density and residents’ health within a 5 km buffer of the PAs, were unrelated to PA-LS.ConclusionsThis study established a PA-LS evaluation framework and its correlation factor analytical framework, which significantly contributes to enhancing the value cognition of PAs and enriching landscape-sustainability evaluation methods. Furthermore, the study provides valuable support and serves as a reference for the conservation and management of PAs in Beijing and similar metropolitan cities.

Towards a socially sustainable built environment: a comparative assessment of urban neighbourhoods in Istanbul

PurposeIntegrating and advancing social sustainability is foundational to achieving the urban sustainable development goals. Given the rapid transformation of cities in the Mediterranean region, this study sought to assess residents' evaluation of social sustainability in two socio-spatially diverse neighbourhoods of metropolitan Istanbul.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey, adapted from an empirically well-tested and robust social sustainability framework, was used to collect data from 197 residents from Balat and Rasimpasa neighbourhoods in Metropolitan Istanbul. The study then employed quantitative analytical techniques such as independent sample t-tests and Pearson correlation to analyse the sample data.FindingsIn both neighbourhoods, accessibility and participation were ranked the highest and lowest dimensions of social sustainability, respectively. However, the t-test analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the two neighbourhoods regarding social networking and interaction, safety and security and participation. The differences align with emerging studies on urban social sustainability in the Mediterranean and European cities that when considered from urban spatial contexts, significant differences emerge from a social network and safety perspective.Practical implicationsOur study invites urban planners and policy makers attention to and emphasise on lowly evaluated social sustainability dimensions such as participation in their efforts to promote sustainable urban development at the neighbourhood level. We reason that opening the decision-making process to include diverse voices and experiences of residents through participatory workshops might offer opportunities for context-specific, citizen-led urban planning and design strategies that are socially sustainable.Originality/valuePrevious studies have not fully accounted for how various socio-spatial contexts at the neighbourhood level shape differential evaluation of social sustainability. This paper extends the emerging work on urban social sustainability by situating residents’ evaluation of social sustainability indicators across two unique neighbourhoods with gridded and organic spatial characteristics in Istanbul. This paper is an important addition to ongoing work on how spatial organisation of neighbourhoods can influence experiences of social sustainability from an urban planning and design perspective.

Measuring critical force in sport climbers: a validation study of the 4 min all-out test on finger flexors

PurposeThe critical force (CF) concept, differentiating steady and non-steady state conditions, extends the critical power paradigm for sport climbing. This study aimed to validate CF for finger flexors derived from the 4 min all-out test as a boundary for the highest sustainable work intensity in sport climbers.MethodsTwelve participants underwent multiple laboratory visits. Initially, they performed the 4 min intermittent contraction all-out test for CF determination. Subsequent verification visits involved finger-flexor contractions at various intensities, including CF, CF −2 kg, CF −4 kg, and CF −6 kg, lasting for 720 s or until failure, while monitoring muscle-oxygen dynamics of forearm muscles.ResultsCF, determined from the mean force of last three contractions, was measured at 20.1 ± 5.7 kg, while the end-force at 16.8 ± 5.2 kg. In the verification trials, the mean time to failure at CF was 440 ± 140 s, with only one participant completing the 720 s task. When the load was continuously lowered (−2 kg, −4 kg, and −6 kg), a greater number of participants (38%, 69%, and 92%, respectively) successfully completed the 720 s task. Changes of muscle-oxygen dynamics showed a high variability and could not clearly distinguish between exhaustive and non-exhaustive trials.ConclusionsCF, based on the mean force of the last three contractions, failed to reliably predict the highest sustainable work rate. In contrast, determining CF as the end-force of the last three contractions exhibited a stronger link to sustainable work. Caution is advised in interpreting forearm muscle-oxygen dynamics, lacking sensitivity for nuanced metabolic responses during climbing-related tasks.