Screen Time, Age and Sunshine Duration Rather Than Outdoor Activity Time Are Related to Nutritional Vitamin D Status in Children With ASD

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible association among vitamin D, screen time and other factors that might affect the concentration of vitamin D in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods: In total, 306 children with ASD were recruited, and data, including their age, sex, height, weight, screen time, time of outdoor activity, ASD symptoms [including Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule–Second Edition (ADOS-2)] and vitamin D concentrations, were collected. A multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the factors related to the vitamin D concentration.Results: A multiple linear regression analysis showed that screen time (β = −0.122, P = 0.032), age (β = −0.233, P < 0.001), and blood collection month (reflecting sunshine duration) (β = 0.177, P = 0.004) were statistically significant. The vitamin D concentration in the children with ASD was negatively correlated with screen time and age and positively correlated with sunshine duration.Conclusion: The vitamin D levels in children with ASD are related to electronic screen time, age and sunshine duration. Since age and season are uncontrollable, identifying the length of screen time in children with ASD could provide a basis for the clinical management of their vitamin D nutritional status.

Old trees are perceived as a valuable element of the municipal forest landscape

Urban trees are important to maintain biodiversity and, therefore, need public acceptance. Few studies, however, have addressed the topic of social acceptability of old trees. The aim of this research was to examine city residents’ perception of old trees, including hollow-bearing ones, mainly in the aspect of safety and aesthetics. A total of 448 Warsaw municipal forest’ users expressed their opinions by completing an online questionnaire. Several methods were used to analyse the results of the study: the Chi-square test of independence, the Kruskal–Wallis H test, the Mann–Whitney U test and the Quartimax method of factor rotation analysis. The results revealed a correlation between the frequency of forest visits and the level of sensitivity toward old trees, which translates to less radical notion of danger and less radical decisions about cutting such trees down. Age of the respondents (56+) was a factor contributing to higher willingness to protect and care for old trees. The results also indicated that outdoor activity in the urban forest may increase ancient trees acceptance by developing emotional connection with them, and eventually contribute to their protection.

Diet, Physical Activity, and UV Protection Comprehensively Influenced Vitamin D Status: A Cross-Section Study of Chinese College Students

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a major public health problem in China while there are seldom reports about vitamin D nutrition status in Chinese college students. The purpose of this study is to explore the vitamin D status of the college freshmen who came from different provinces of China and to comprehensive analyze the effects of diet, physical activity, and UV protection on serum vitamin D levels. Methods: Totally 1,667 freshmen who came from 26 provinces, autonomous districts or municipalities, were recruited into this study. An online questionnaire was used to collect the information including demographic status, diet habit, physical activity, and UV protection of the participants. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to explore the comprehensive influence of diet, physical activity, and UV protection on serum 25(OH)D3 levels. Results: The average age of the subjects was18.55±0.90 years, with 23.0% male and 77.0% female. The mean serum 25(OH)D3 was 18.06±6.34ng/mL and the proportion of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was 67.5% and 27.8%, respectively. Multivariate linear regression indicated that milk and yogurt intake≥200mL/d, calcium or vitamin D supplements and average time of outdoor activity ≥60 min/day were positively linked to higher serum vitamin D while sweets intake ≥10g/d and higher UV protection index were negatively influenced serum vitamin D after adjusted for age, gender, students’ original residence, latitudes and longitude. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is an important health problem in Chinese college students. Milk and yogurt intake and outdoor activity should be encouraged while sweets intake should be limited for preventing vitamin D deficiency. Public health policies should consider well-balanced guidelines on UV protection and vitamin D food fortification or supplementation.

Peningkatan Usaha Kreatif dan Pengelolaan Keuangan Berbasis Akuntansi Keluarga di Desa Pabelan Kabupaten Semarang dalam Rangka Peningkatan Ketahanan Ekonomi Keluarga

Di masa pandemi saat ini banyak keluarga yang mengalami penurunan penghasilan karena menurunnya aktivitas di luar rumah, bahkan beberapa keluarga mengalami kesulitan keuangan karena menjadi korban PHK. Diperlukan usaha-usaha kreatif serta pengelolan keuangan yang cerdas agar ketahanan ekonomi keluarga bisa tetap terjaga. Kelompok ibu-ibu PKK di Desa Pabelan, Kecamatan Pabelan, Kabupaten Semarang memiliki latar belakang, tingkat sosial, pendidikan dan ekonomi yang berbeda-beda. Sebagian merupakan pekerja, pedagang, wirausaha kecil menengah, buruh industri dan pegawai harian lepas, namun kebanyakan masih memiliki waktu luang dapat diberdayakan dalam kegiatan pengembangan usaha kreatif. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat yang dilaksanakan oleh Team dari Fakultas Ekonomi Unissula yang terdiri dari Indri Kartika, Sri Sulistyowati, Sri Dewi Wahyundaru dan Afri Aulia Rahman dilakukan guna meningkatkan penghasilan dari usaha kreatif melalui pemasaran digital sederhana serta pengelolaan keuangan berbasis akuntansi keluarga. Peserta pelatihan meliputi ibu-ibu kelompok PKK di Desa Pabelan Kecamatan Pabelan Kabupaten Semarang. Metode pengabdian masyarakat dilaksanakan dengan penyuluhan, tanya jawab dan diskusi, dilanjutkan dengan praktik. Dari pelaksanaan pengabdian masyarakat dapat disimpulkan bahwa masyarakat tertarik untuk memulai usaha kreatif dan menerapkan pengelolaan keuangan berbasis akuntansi keluarga. ��During pandemic condition, many families have experienced income loss due to outdoor activity limitation. Some families even experience financial difficulties for losing job. Creative activities and smart financial management are needed so that the economic resilience of the family can be maintained. PKK women's group in Pabelan Village, Pabelan District. Semarang Regency has different backgrounds, social, educational and economic levels. Some are workers, traders, small and medium entrepreneurs actors, industrial laborers and casual daily employees. However, most of them still have free time to be empowered in creative business development activities. This community service activity was performed by members of Economic Faculty of Unissula which are: Indri Kartika, Sri Dewi Wahyundaru, Sri Sulistyowati and Afri Aluia Rahman. The purpose of this activity is to increase participant�s business income during this pandemic situation through applying simple digital marketing and financial management based on family accounting in Pabelan Village so that it can increase the income and welfare of the Pabelan villagers. Community service methods are carried out with counseling, discussion, followed by practice. From the implementation of community service, it can be concluded that the community is interested in starting creative businesses and implementing family accounting-based financial management.�

Enabling Wilderness

<p>Internationally known for its picturesque landscapes, New Zealand encourages both locals and tourists to experience them first hand by walking one of the many tracks around the country, an activity locally known as tramping. The Department of Conservation has identified a small number of these tracks as showcasing particularly picturesque areas; naming them the ‘Great Walks’ of New Zealand. These allow fit individuals to traverse unique landscapes over multiple days, staying over night in rustic huts. The relationship between healthy wellbeing and outdoor experiences is well documented; however, not every fit individual is physically able to experience some of New Zealand’s most significant landscapes due to the difficulty of access. This thesis combines elements of landscape architecture with the existing practises of construction in a conservation area to propose a new ‘Great Walk’ for New Zealand that would allow athletes with a physical impairment to experience New Zealand’s unique landscapes. In doing so, it will provide the opportunity for physically impaired people to continue tramping, or discover a new outdoor activity that not only improves their physical and mental wellbeing; but also allows them to establish personal connections to the land they are from or visiting. Physically pulling/pushing and manoeuvring through ‘backcountry’ landscapes, this research-led-design encourages the physically impaired community to engage with difficult terrains in a multi-sensorial manner.</p>

Enabling Wilderness

<p>Internationally known for its picturesque landscapes, New Zealand encourages both locals and tourists to experience them first hand by walking one of the many tracks around the country, an activity locally known as tramping. The Department of Conservation has identified a small number of these tracks as showcasing particularly picturesque areas; naming them the ‘Great Walks’ of New Zealand. These allow fit individuals to traverse unique landscapes over multiple days, staying over night in rustic huts. The relationship between healthy wellbeing and outdoor experiences is well documented; however, not every fit individual is physically able to experience some of New Zealand’s most significant landscapes due to the difficulty of access. This thesis combines elements of landscape architecture with the existing practises of construction in a conservation area to propose a new ‘Great Walk’ for New Zealand that would allow athletes with a physical impairment to experience New Zealand’s unique landscapes. In doing so, it will provide the opportunity for physically impaired people to continue tramping, or discover a new outdoor activity that not only improves their physical and mental wellbeing; but also allows them to establish personal connections to the land they are from or visiting. Physically pulling/pushing and manoeuvring through ‘backcountry’ landscapes, this research-led-design encourages the physically impaired community to engage with difficult terrains in a multi-sensorial manner.</p>

Connection to Nature Boosts Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Growing evidence suggests that connection to nature may be linked to mental health and well-being. Behavioral changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively affect adolescents’ connection to nature, subsequently impacting health and well-being. We explored the relationship between connection to nature and well-being before and during the pandemic through a nationally representative survey of adolescents across the United States (n = 624) between April and June 2020. Survey items focused on connection to nature, mental well-being, and participation in outdoor activities before and during the pandemic. Paired-sample t-tests revealed declines in connection to nature, mental well-being, and participation in outdoor activities during the pandemic. Multiple linear regression analyses examining connection to nature’s mediating role between outdoor activity participation and mental well-being indicated that connection to nature fueled higher levels of mental well-being at both time intervals. Z scores comparing connection to nature’s mediating role between outdoor activity participation and mental well-being between time intervals indicate that during the pandemic, the direct effect of outdoor activities on mental well-being increased, generating a greater impact than before the pandemic. This study illustrates how the health and well-being benefits associated with adolescents’ outdoor activities are reinforced when those activities also foster a stronger connection to nature.

High Prevalence of Myopia and Low Hyperopia Reserve in 4411 Chinese Primary School Students and Associated Risk Factors

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of myopia in Chinese primary school students and their ocular biometrics including axial length (AL), corneal radius of curvature (CRC) and spherical equivalent refraction (SER). To analyze their association with potential myopia risk factors, such as body mass index (BMI), cram school, time of outdoor activity and electronic screen use. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 4500 primary school students from 5 schools, participants underwent refraction using non-cycloplegic autorefractor and visual acuity testing. Myopia was defined as SER ≤ -0.50 diopter (D) and uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) ＜ 0.00 logMAR (6/6). Logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with myopia.Results: After excluding 389 participants, the overall prevalence of myopia was 33.6%. The prevalence of high myopia was 0.6%. The prevalence of myopia in girls was significantly higher than that in boys（37.6% vs. 30.0%, p<0.001). The height, weight and BMI were significantly associated with AL (r=0.471, r=0.440, r=0.276, p <0.001, respectively). AL/CRC ratio was more highly correlated with SER than AL alone. Age (p < 0.001), parental myopia (p = 0.001) and lack of outdoor activity between classes (p = 0.049) were independently associated with higher prevalence rates of myopia.Conclusion: The prevalence of myopia among Chinese schoolchildren is alarming high. Consistent with previous cross-sectional data, AL/CRC could function as myopia detection indicator. The hyperopia reserve among children aged between 6 ~7 years was low. Healthcare providers need to raise parents’ awareness of the importance of regular eye examination and proper optical correction.

Assessing the Impact of Outdoor Activities on Mental Wellbe-ing; Focusing on the Walking Path in Urban Area

Background: Provided that COVID-19 pandemic has led to mental wellbeing disorders for city dwellers, and given that there is a significant association between outdoor activities and mental health, this paper investigated how the frequency of walking during the pandemic contributes to the immediate and subsequent ‘mood’. Methods: A longitudinal data collection method was adopted to verify the ‘mood’ of the participants before and after walking. The survey was conducted with 100 participants in a walking path in Shiraz, Iran, on Jan 2021. The quantitative analysis methods were performed in SPSS to examine the mental wellbeing outcomes of walking in the outdoor walking path when considering the psychological impacts of the pandemic and the quantity. Results: The result affirms the positive contribution of walking in the improvement of mental-wellbeing-mood during the pandemic; though, such a mood boost is in a direct relationship with the quantity of the activity within a week. Moreover, other factors can play a significant role, including the ‘mood before walking’, and the age of the participants. Conclusion: It is likely that encouraging people to consider walking as their routine activity can lead to several positive consequences on mental wellbeing since walking as a basic outdoor activity during the pandemic can contribute on the mood.