Search

Abstract Background The rate of torque development (RTD) has been associated with sports performance and can be improved during the biological maturation process of young soccer players. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of maturity status on the knee extensors’ RTD of soccer players after appropriate normalization. Methods Twenty-seven young male soccer players aged 13–18 years old were allocated into two groups: pubescent (PUB, n = 11) and postpubescent (POSP, n = 16). RTD was obtained by performing a maximum voluntary isometric contraction at six different knee joint angles (30º, 45º, 60º, 75º, 90º, and 105º). Anthropometric (height and body mass) and muscle architecture variables (muscle thickness, muscle volume, fascicle length, pennation angle, and cross-section area) were evaluated as body size descriptors and used to identify the best way for appropriate normalization of RTD data. Results Muscle architecture variables showed no correlations with RTD (p > 0.05), while body mass showed a positive correlation (0.405

The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (Società Italiana Unitaria di Colon-Proctologia, SIUCP) on the diagnosis and management of hemorrhoidal disease, with the goal of guiding physicians in the choice of the best treatment option. A panel of experts was charged by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key questions on the main topics related to the management of hemorrhoidal disease and to perform an accurate and comprehensive literature search on each topic, in order to provide evidence-based answers to the questions and to summarize them in statements. All the clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel in multiple rounds through the Delphi approach and, for each statement, a consensus among the experts was reached. The questions were created according to PICO (patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes) criteria, and the statements were developed adopting the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) methodology. In cases of grade 1 hemorrhoidal prolapse, outpatient procedures including hemorrhoidal laser procedure and sclerotherapy may be considered the preferred surgical options. For grade 2 prolapse, nonexcisional procedures including outpatient treatments, hemorrhoidal artery ligation and mucopexy, laser hemorrhoidoplasty, the Rafaelo procedure, and stapled hemorrhoidopexy may represent the first-line treatment options, whereas excisional surgery may be considered in selected cases. In cases of grades 3 and 4, stapled hemorrhoidopexy and hemorrhoidectomy may represent the most effective procedures, even if, in the expert panel opinion, stapled hemorrhoidopexy represents the gold-standard treatment for grade 3 hemorrhoidal prolapse.

Abstract Introduction Cefiderocol is a siderophore cephalosporin showing activity against various carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). No data currently exist about real-world use of cefiderocol in terms of types of therapy (e.g., empirical or targeted, monotherapy or combined regimens), indications, and patient characteristics. Methods In this multicenter, prospective study, we aimed at describing the use of cefiderocol in terms of types of therapy, indications, and patient characteristics. Results Cefiderocol was administered as empirical and targeted therapy in 27.5% (55/200) and 72.5% (145/200) of cases, respectively. Overall, it was administered as monotherapy in 101/200 cases (50.5%) and as part of a combined regimen for CR-GNB infections in the remaining 99/200 cases (49.5%). In multivariable analysis, previous isolation of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii odds ratio (OR) 2.56, with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.01–6.46, p = 0.047] and previous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (OR 8.73, 95% CI 1.05–72.54, p = 0.045) were associated with administration of cefiderocol as part of a combined regimen, whereas chronic kidney disease was associated with cefiderocol monotherapy (OR 0.38 for combined regimen, 95% CI 0.16–0.91, p = 0.029). Cumulative 30-day mortality was 19.8%, 45.0%, 20.7%, and 22.7% in patients receiving targeted cefiderocol for infections by Enterobacterales, A. baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and any metallo-β-lactamase producers, respectively. Conclusions Cefiderocol is mainly used for targeted treatment, although empirical therapies account for more than 25% of prescriptions, thus requiring dedicated standardization and guidance. The almost equal distribution of cefiderocol monotherapy and cefiderocol-based combination therapies underlines the need for further study to ascertain possible differences in efficacy between the two approaches.

Diligent application and implementation of biosecurity measures stand as the most effective measures to prevent disease transmission through direct or indirect interactions between poultry and free-ranging animals. Among these, free-ranging mammals can be hosts or disseminators of several pathogens relevant to poultry and of public health concern. Moreover, evidence of susceptibility to avian influenza virus infection in non-human mammals has raised questions about their potential role in the virus' epidemiology at the domestic animal-wildlife interface. Given this background, this study aimed to identify mammal species occurring near laying-hen houses and characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of these visits. Seven camera traps were deployed for a year-long period in three commercial poultry farms in a densely populated poultry area in Northern Italy. Various methods, including time series analysis and generalized linear models, were employed to analyze daily mammal visits. A total of 1,867 camera trap nights yielded 567 videos of seven species of wild mammals, and 1,866 videos showed domestic pet species (cats and dogs). Coypus (Myocastor coypus) and cats were the two mammals more frequently observed near poultry houses. For wild mammals, visits significantly increased at night, and slightly decreased during the spring season. Overall, the data hereby provided lay the groundwork for designing novel surveillance and intervention strategies to prevent cross-species disease transmission. Moreover, the utilization of visual evidence depicting free-ranging animals approaching poultry houses could assist health authorities in educating and raising awareness among stakeholders about potential risks of pathogen spillover.

In this paper, we propose a crucial supplement to the framework of plant cognition, namely extending cognition. We argue that plants and other organisms with an open-ended body plan actively extend their cognition when growing tissues or organs. Their cognition expands with their body expansion. After considering the defining features of extending cognition, we present a model where growth, along with aspects of plant physiology (e.g. biochemical exudates), as well as the “negative extension” of growing away from obstacles or stressful environments, are the building blocks for a more refined understanding of plant cognition. We conclude by outlining the general implications of the theory of extending cognition and indicating directions for future research.

El estudio de la Inquisición en las Islas Canarias del siglo XVI revela una compleja interacción entre colonizadores y población local. Se centra en mujeres, particularmente acusadas de brujería, evidenciando tensiones y resistencias culturales. La Inquisición enfrentó prácticas y creencias arraigadas en la población, en especial en mujeres africanas y canarias. Estas mujeres, al adaptar y preservar sus tradiciones, mostraron una resistencia activa, creando un sincretismo religioso que refleja la agencia de las comunidades colonizadas. El análisis poscolonial de estos procesos inquisitoriales en Canarias ofrece una perspectiva enriquecedora sobre las dinámicas de poder, identidad y cultura en el contexto del colonialismo atlántico.

Context: The quadriceps femoris is consistently ranked among the muscles most prone to sustain strain injuries in sports involving kicking and sprinting actions. Given the documented preventive effect of Nordic hamstring curl programs against hamstring strain injuries, incorporating exercises that induce eccentric overload on the quadriceps could potentially help mitigate strain injuries within this muscle group. The Reverse Nordic Curl (RNC) has emerged as a viable field-based exercise for eccentrically working the quadriceps. This study aimed to compare quadriceps muscle eccentric activation during the RNC with 3 bodyweight squat-based exercises: single-leg squat (SLS), Bulgarian squat, and forward lunge. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-three healthy volunteers (15 men) were monitored for rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis electromyographic signal, as well as knee range of motion, while performing 10 repetitions of each exercise. Electromyography data acquired during eccentric phases were normalized by maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the knee extensors. The exercises were compared based on the electromyography and knee range of motion values. Results: RNC generated a similar rectus femoris and vastus medialis eccentric activation compared with the squat-based exercises (P >.05 for all), and a lower vastus lateralis activation than SLS (P <.001). Among the bodyweight squat-based exercises, SLS generated greater eccentric activation than forward lunge and Bulgarian squat for the 3 muscles (P <.05 for all). RNC was performed with lower knee-flexion range of motion than bodyweight squat-based exercises (P <.001). Conclusions: RNC did not produce superior eccentric quadriceps activation compared to bodyweight squat-based exercises, even proving to be less demanding for the vastus lateralis compared to the SLS. These findings may assist practitioners in selecting exercises to elicit quadriceps eccentric stimulus, with a focus on preventing strain injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is important for children's health and well-being. Supportiveness for physical activity of home and neighborhood environments may affect children's PA, but most studies are cross-sectional. We examined environmental predictors of change in children's physical activity over two years. Data were from the longitudinal, observational cohort study, 'Neighborhood Impact on Kids'. Participants were children (initially aged 6-12 years) and their parent/caregiver (n = 727 dyads) living in neighborhoods throughout San Diego County, California and King County (Seattle area), Washington, USA. Children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured using accelerometers at T1 (Time 1 or baseline, 2007-2009) and T2, the two-year follow-up. At T1, parents survey-reported on physical activity (PA) equipment at home and demographics. Neighborhood environment was measured using spatial data in Geographic Information Systems (intersection density; park availability) and in-person audits (informal play space near home; park-based PA facilities; land use; support for walking/cycling). Generalized additive mixed models estimated total effects, then direct effects, of environmental attributes on MVPA at T1. Two-way moderating effects of child's sex and age were examined at T1. To examine associations of environmental exposures with changes in MVPA, we estimated interaction effects of environmental attributes on the association between time and MVPA. On average, children accumulated 146 min/day (standard deviation or SD = 53) of MVPA at T1, and 113 (SD = 58) min/day at T2. There were no significant total or direct effects of environmental attributes on MVPA at T1, and no significant two-way interaction effects of child's age and sex for T1 MVPA. Having informal play spaces proximal to home with more amenities was associated with less MVPA decline from T1 to T2. Higher residential density, higher land use mix, and higher number of PA facilities in nearby parks were unexpectedly associated with greater MVPA decline. Higher quality informal play spaces close to home may help offset declines in MVPA during middle childhood, as they may promote unstructured active play with opportunities for parental or neighbor surveillance. Unexpectedly, environmental factors consistent with higher walkability were associated with greater declines in children's MVPA. As physical activity differs across the lifespan, so may environmental factors that facilitate it.

The predominance of English and English-speaking research over the topics and findings in cognitive science is increasingly recognized as adversely affecting the field. One of the blind spots owing to this bias is a sweeping disinterest in the fungi world: A simple search of keywords in APA PsycInfo (on Jan 24, 2023) combining cognit* with each of the three major kingdoms of life returned the following number of hits: 44,257 for animals, 1,888 for plants, and 111 for fungi. And yet, fungi are the reason why we are here today, why we thrive, and why some of us lose ourselves in a different world altogether comes fall. Fungi have been critical for life on earth, for cultural achievements from baking and brewing to antibiotics, and as a source of food throughout human history. At the same time, they pose unique challenges to key cognitive processes involved in categorization as when distinguishing highly similar and variable species, in predictive processing during foraging, in causal reasoning and risk appraisal for diagnosing whether a species is poisonous, or in the acquisition and storing of information by way of learning, memorization, and teaching ...

Prevailing theories about animal foraging behaviours and the food webs they occupy offer divergent predictions about whether seasonally limited food availability promotes dietary diversification or specialization. Emphasis on how animals compete for food predominates in work on the foraging ecology of large mammalian herbivores, whereas emphasis on how the diversity of available foods generally constrains dietary opportunity predominates work on entire food webs. Reconciling predictions about what promotes dietary diversification is challenging because species’ different body sizes and mobilities modulate how they seek and compete for resources—the mechanistic bases of common predictions may not pertain to all species equally. We evaluated predictions about five large-herbivore species that differ in body size and mobility in Yellowstone National Park using GPS tracking and dietary DNA. The data illuminated remarkably strong and significant correlations between body size and five key indicators of diet seasonality (R 2 = 0.71–0.80). Compared to smaller species, bison and elk showed muted diet seasonality and maintained access to more unique foods when winter conditions constrained food availability. Evidence from GPS collars revealed size-based differences in species’ seasonal movements and habitat-use patterns, suggesting that better accounting for the allometry of foraging behaviours may help reconcile disparate ideas about the ecological drivers of seasonal diet switching.

ABSTRACT: Direct or indirect interactions between sympatric wildlife and poultry can lead to interspecies disease transmission. Particularly, avian influenza (AI) is a viral epidemic disease for which the poultry-wild bird interface shapes the risks of new viral introductions into poultry holdings. Given this background, the study hereby presented aimed to identify wild bird species in poultry house surroundings and characterize the spatiotemporal patterns of these visits. Eight camera traps were deployed for a year (January to December 2021) in 3 commercial chicken layer farms, including free-range and barn-type setups, located in a densely populated poultry area in Northern Italy at high risk for AI introduction via wild birds. Camera traps’ positions were chosen based on wildlife signs identified during preliminary visits to the establishments studied. Various methods, including time series analysis, correspondence analysis, and generalized linear models, were employed to analyze the daily wild bird visits. A total of 1,958 camera trap days yielded 5,978 videos of wild birds from 27 different species and 16 taxonomic families. The animals were predominantly engaged in foraging activities nearby poultry houses. Eurasian magpies (Pica pica), ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), and Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaocto) were the most frequent visitors. Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), an AI reservoir species, were observed only in a farm located next to a fishing sport lake. Time series analysis indicated that wild bird visits increased during spring and winter. Farm and camera trap location also influenced visit frequencies. Overall, the results highlighted specific species that could be prioritized for future AI epidemiological surveys. However, further research is required to assess their susceptibility and infectivity to currently circulating AI viruses, essential for identifying novel bridge hosts.

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the practices developed by nurses in primary care in southern Brazil. Method: Qualitative study, with data collection via online interviews, conducted between October 2020 and May 2021, and recorded. 174 nurses from 24 municipalities in southern Brazil participated. Data analysis used inductive thematic analysis. Results: The activity that stood out among nurses was the nurse consultation, for all age groups and health conditions, especially when dealing with chronic disease, prenatal care, attention to women and children, mental health, home visits, and the management of the nursing team and the health unit. Final considerations: This study demonstrated that an excess of responsibilities associated to care and management, added to a lack of balance in the activities common to the team make it difficult for nurses to develop clinical practices.

By-products generated in the winemaking industry contain compounds with health-promoting properties, which can be reintroduced into the food production chain. This study evaluated the use of a by-product from the industrial processing of grapes as an ingredient in the manufacture of Petit Suisse cheese, made with A2A2 milk and the addition of the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019. Two Petit Suisse formulations were made in three independent batches: a control formulation without the addition of the by-product (F0) and a formulation containing 10% of the by-product (F1). The proximate composition of the cheeses was characterized on the first day after manufacturing them. The addition of the by-product led to an increase in ash, lipids, and carbohydrates and a reduction in moisture and protein contents. The physicochemical characterization and the texture profile analysis showed no changes throughout the product’s shelf life. The probiotic counts remained abundant (~eight log CFU/g) in both formulations with no changes seen throughout the shelf life period. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the added bacteria had typical structures. No differences were observed in the fatty acid profiles of the formulations, and both exhibited a total of 18 fatty acids, including saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Additionally, the by-product conferred antioxidant activity to the F1 formulation. The addition of the by-product in fresh cheese may be an interesting approach in regards to the processing technology used, its microbiological safety, and its nutritional value. The use of A2A2 milk and a probiotic culture thus enhanced the Petit Suisse cheese, resulting in a healthier product.

RASopathies are a group of genetic syndromes caused by germline mutations in genes involved in the RAS/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling pathway, which regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Despite their involvement at different levels of this pathway, RASopathies share overlapping clinical phenotypes. Noonan syndrome is the most prevalent RASopathy, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 2500 live births, and it is typically inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, with 50% of cases involving gain-of-function mutations in the PTPN11 gene. De novo mutations are common, accounting for 60% of cases. The phenotype of Noonan syndrome includes characteristic facial and physical features, congenital cardiac defects, lymphatic and cerebrovascular anomalies, renal malformations, hematological abnormalities, developmental issues, and an increased risk of cancer. Severe congenital cardiac defects and lymphatic abnormalities significantly impact prognosis, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Recent therapeutic advancements have introduced trametinib, an MEK1/2 inhibitor, for treating Noonan syndrome patients with severe cardiac and lymphatic complications. To assess its efficacy, here, we present a case of a newborn with Noonan syndrome who exhibited refractory chylothorax, ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary stenosis who was treated with trametinib. The patient demonstrated significant improvement in chylothorax and left ventricular hypertrophy, though pulmonary stenosis persisted. This case further confirms trametinib’s potential as a therapeutic option for severe Noonan syndrome complications, emphasizing the need for further clinical trials to optimize treatment protocols and evaluate long-term outcomes.

Production efficiency is used to determine the best conditions for manufacturing goods at the lowest possible unit cost. When achieved, production efficiency leads to increased revenues for the manufacturer, enhanced employee safety, and a satisfied customer base. Production efficiency not only measures the amount of resources that are needed for production but also considers the productivity levels and the state of the production lines. In this context, online anomaly detection (AD) is an important tool for maintaining the reliability of the production ecosystem. With advancements in artificial intelligence and the growing significance of identifying and mitigating anomalies across different fields, approaches based on artificial neural networks facilitate the recognition of intricate types of anomalies by taking into account both temporal and contextual attributes. In this paper, a lightweight framework based on the Echo State Network (ESN) model running at the edge is introduced for online AD. Compared to other AD methods, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), it achieves superior precision, accuracy, and recall metrics while reducing training time, CO2 emissions, and the need for high computational resources. The preliminary evaluation of the proposed solution was conducted using a low-resource computing device at the edge of the real production machine through an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) smart meter module. The machine used to test the proposed solution was provided by the Italian company SIFIM Srl, which manufactures filter mats for industrial kitchens. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of developing an AD method that achieves high accuracy, with the ESN-based framework reaching 85% compared to 80.88% for the LSTM-based model. Furthermore, this method requires minimal hardware resources, with a training time of 9.5 s compared to 2.100 s for the other model.

This work aims at studying why azodicarbonamide (ADCA), a formally apolar compound with good hydrogen bond (HB) acceptors, is soluble only in polar aprotic solvents like dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) but not in water. Solubility measurements, as well as quantum mechanical and classical molecular dynamics simulations, were employed to tackle the problem. We found that in the liquid phase a polar conformer of ADCA (µ = 8.7 D), unreported to date, is favoured under the enthalpic drive provided by a highly polar solvent. At the same time, the very high hydrogen bond propensity of water with itself prevents this solvent from providing an effective hydrogen bond-mediated solvation. Solvents bearing good HB acceptors, while lacking strong HB donors, contribute to further stabilizing solute–solvent adducts through weak and fluxional HBs that involve the amide groups of ADCA. Implications for the solubility of ADCA down to µM concentrations were evaluated, also with the aid of classical simulations of solution nanodroplets.

Abstract Introduction The aim of these evidence-based guidelines is to present a consensus position from members of the Italian Unitary Society of Colon-Proctology (SIUCP: Società Italiana Unitaria di Colon-Proctologia) on the diagnosis and management of anal fissure, with the purpose to guide every physician in the choice of the best treatment option, according with the available literature. Methods A panel of experts was designed and charged by the Board of the SIUCP to develop key-questions on the main topics covering the management of anal fissure and to performe an accurate search on each topic in different databanks, in order to provide evidence-based answers to the questions and to summarize them in statements. All the clinical questions were discussed by the expert panel in different rounds through the Delphi approach and, for each statement, a consensus among the experts was reached. The questions were created according to the PICO criteria, and the statements developed adopting the GRADE methodology. Conclusions In patients with acute anal fissure the medical therapy with dietary and behavioral norms is indicated. In the chronic phase of disease, the conservative treatment with topical 0.3% nifedipine plus 1.5% lidocaine or nitrates may represent the first-line therapy, eventually associated with ointments with film-forming, anti-inflammatory and healing properties such as Propionibacterium extract gel. In case of first-line treatment failure, the surgical strategy (internal sphincterotomy or fissurectomy with flap), may be guided by the clinical findings, eventually supported by endoanal ultrasound and anal manometry.

Optimizing energy consumption is an important aspect of industrial competitiveness, as it directly impacts operational efficiency, cost reduction, and sustainability goals. In this context, anomaly detection (AD) becomes a valuable methodology, as it supports maintenance activities in the manufacturing sector, allowing for early intervention to prevent energy waste and maintain optimal performance. Here, an AD-based method is proposed and studied to support energy-saving predictive maintenance of production lines using time series acquired directly from the field. This paper proposes a deep echo state network (DeepESN)-based method for anomaly detection by analyzing energy consumption data sets from production lines. Compared with traditional prediction methods, such as recurrent neural networks with long short-term memory (LSTM), although both models show similar time series trends, the DeepESN-based method studied here appears to have some advantages, such as timelier error detection and higher prediction accuracy. In addition, the DeepESN-based method has been shown to be more accurate in predicting the occurrence of failure. The proposed solution has been extensively tested in a real-world pilot case consisting of an automated metal filter production line equipped with industrial smart meters to acquire energy data during production phases; the time series, composed of 88 variables associated with energy parameters, was then processed using the techniques introduced earlier. The results show that our method enables earlier error detection and achieves higher prediction accuracy when running on an edge device.

This study investigates the prevalence and patterns of transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs) and HIV-1 subtypes among antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve individuals in Veneto, Italy, from 2017 to 2024. This research aims to understand the dynamic landscape of TDRMs and HIV-1 genetic diversity to inform treatment strategies effectively. We included all adult ART-naïve people with HIV (PWH) from seven infectious disease units in Veneto, Italy. We collected the genotypic resistance testing conducted to predict drug susceptibility and subtype distribution using the Stanford HIVdb algorithm. We included 762 PWH, showing a slight but statistically significant decline in the B subtype among Italian PWH (p = 0.045) and an increase in non-B subtypes among foreigners, though it was not statistically significant (p = 0.333). The most frequent mutations were in Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), especially in non-B subtypes, with a notable rise from 10.7% in 2017–2019 to 15.5% in 2020–2024. Notably, TDRMs were consistently detected, highlighting an ongoing challenge despite the stable prevalence observed over the years. In addition, the data revealed a concerning rise in mutations against newer drug classes, such as integrase inhibitors. Conclusively, the study underscores the necessity of continuous surveillance of HIV subtypes and resistance patterns to adapt ART regimens optimally. Despite the stable levels of drug resistance, the emergence of resistance against newer drugs necessitates ongoing vigilance and possible adjustment in treatment protocols to enhance clinical outcomes and manage HIV drug resistance effectively.

We recently introduced calix[n]naphth[m]arenes as a novel class of deep-cavity hybrid macrocycles constituted by phenol (n) and naphthalene (m) units. In this study, we report the synthesis, conformational analysis, spectroscopic properties, and solid-state structures of calix[4]naphth[4]arene (C4N4) and its permethylated analog (C4N4-Me), thereby expanding the calix[n]naphth[m]arene family. C4N4 was synthesized through a 2 + 2 fragment coupling macrocyclization under acidic conditions, where the solvent played a crucial role in selectively forming the C4N4 derivative. The X-ray structure of C4N4 reveals a chair-like 1,2,3,4-alternate conformation characterized by two opposing 3/4-cone moieties stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the X-ray structure of C4N4-Me exhibits a 1,3,5,7-alternate conformation.

ObjectivesThe use of online imagery by non-local observers to conduct remote, centralized collection of streetscape audit data in international studies has the potential to enhance efficiency of collection and comparability of such data for research on built environments and health. The objectives of the study were to measure (1) the consistency in responses between local in-field observers and non-local remote online observers and (2) the reliability between in-country online observers and non-local remote online observers using the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes Global tool to characterize pedestrian-related features along streets in five countries.MethodsConsistency and inter-rater reliability were analyzed between local and non-local observers on a pooled database of 200 routes in five study regions (Melbourne, Australia; Ghent, Belgium; Curitiba, Brazil; Hong Kong, China; and Valencia, Spain) for microscale environmental feature subscales and item-level variables using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsA local in-field versus remote online comparison had an ICC of 0.75 (95 % CI: 0.68-0.80) for the grand total score. An ICC of 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.88-0.93) was found for the local online versus remote online comparison. Positive subscales yielded stronger results in comparison to negative subscales, except for the similarly poor-performing positive aesthetics/social characteristics.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated remote audits of microscale built environments using online imagery had good reliability with local in-field audits and excellent reliability with local online audits. Results generally supported remote online environmental audits as comparable to local online audits. This identification of low-cost and efficient data acquisition methods is important for expanding research on microscale built environments and physical activity globally.

BackgroundMicroscale environmental features are usually evaluated using direct on-street observations. This study assessed inter-rater reliability of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes, Global version (MAPS-Global), in an international context, comparing on-street with more efficient online observation methods in five countries with varying levels of walkability.MethodsData were collected along likely walking routes of study participants, from residential starting points toward commercial clusters in Melbourne (Australia), Ghent (Belgium), Curitiba (Brazil), Hong Kong (China), and Valencia (Spain). In-person on the street and online using Google Street View audits were carried out by two independent trained raters in each city. The final sample included 349 routes, 1228 street segments, 799 crossings, and 16 cul-de-sacs. Inter-rater reliability analyses were performed using Kappa statistics or Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC).ResultsOverall mean assessment times were the same for on-street and online evaluations (22 ± 12 min). Only a few subscales had Kappa or ICC values