Search Results (857)

Informal settlements are widely present and important urban spaces, providing valuable living spaces for many migrant populations, low-income groups, and indigenous peoples. However, urbanization faces a common challenge: the transformation of informal settlements often destroys social structures and belongingness. Despite its importance, few studies have examined how redevelopment is correlated with original residents’ belongingness. To address this gap, this study proposes a research framework of belongingness structured along the logical chain of “network–node–subject”. Social network analysis (SNA) is employed to identify the existing outdoor activity space network and its key nodes. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is then conducted to determine the key environmental features of outdoor activity spaces that influence original residents’ belongingness. Furthermore, K-means clustering is applied to explore the correlation mechanism between space and belongingness across different age groups. This study identifies differentiated and universal elements by analyzing the clustered conflict factors, in order to provide precise policy insights. The findings provide actionable insights for enhancing residents’ belongingness during the redevelopment of informal settlements in cities. Full article

Cell morphology and its mechanical properties are crucial factors in cancer development, affecting migration, invasiveness, and the potential risk of metastasis. However, most studies address these aspects separately, limiting the understanding of how morphological complexity relates to cellular mechanics. This work presents an integrated approach that simultaneously quantifies morphology and viscoelasticity in the human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63. Stress–relaxation experiments and optical imaging of the same cells were performed using a custom-built system that couples Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) with an inverted optical microscope. Morphometric parameters were extracted from cell contours, while viscoelastic properties were obtained by fitting AFM data to the Fractional Kelvin (FK) and Fractional Zener (FZ) models. Among the morphological descriptors, the Shape Complexity (SC) was proposed. It is derived from the Lobe Contribution Elliptical Fourier Analysis (LOCO-EFA), which captures fine-scale contour features overlooked by conventional metrics. Experimental results show that, in MG-63 cells, higher SC values are associated with greater stiffness, indicating a correlation between cell shape complexity and cell stiffness. Furthermore, loading-rate analysis shows that the FZ model captures strain-rate-dependent stiffening more effectively than the FK model. This methodology provides a first approach to jointly analyzing quantitative morphological parameters and mechanical properties, underlining the importance of combined studies to achieve a comprehensive understanding of cell behavior. Full article

Participation in running events has expanded worldwide, consolidating itself as a form of active leisure and a driver of social and tourism engagement. Although runners’ motivations have been extensively studied, perceived inclusivity, understood as motivation derived from the event’s promotion of equitable participation across gender, age and functional ability, has rarely been examined as a distinct motivational dimension within structural models. This study analyses the motivational structure of participants in the Elche Half Marathon (Spain) and assesses the incremental contribution of inclusivity to traditional motivational frameworks. Based on a sample of 1053 valid responses, a two-stage psychometric and segmentation approach was applied. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were conducted to compare a four-factor model (sport-related hedonism, competition, socialization and digital socialization) with an extended five-factor model incorporating inclusivity. Subsequently, cluster analyses were performed using factor scores derived from each model. The results show that the inclusion of inclusivity improves model fit and increases explained variance, while also generating a more differentiated segmentation structure. The extended model revealed six motivational profiles, some of which displayed continuity with the classical solution, while others were reconfigured when inclusivity was introduced. Overall, the findings indicate that inclusivity functions as a complementary and context-dependent motivational dimension that refines the understanding of participation heterogeneity in running events. Rather than replacing traditional motives, inclusivity contributes incremental explanatory value and enhances the identification of motivational profiles, offering relevant insights for the design and management of mass-participation sporting events. Full article

Using Machine Learning (ML) in educational management transforms higher education strategy. This study examines students’ views on machine learning (ML) technologies and how they might be used to plan, monitor, and predict student performance. The Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics surveyed 118 third-year undergraduates. It featured closed- and open-ended questions to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Descriptive statistics showed broad patterns, inferential tests (Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA) showed group differences, regression models predicted school outcomes, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and clustering found hidden attitudes and student profiles. A multi-method quantitative approach combining descriptive statistics, inferential tests, regression modeling, and exploratory techniques (EFA and clustering) was employed. The findings show that most students realize that ML may help them be more productive, adapt their study pathways, and learn about the future. Concerns remain regarding its accuracy, overreliance, and morality. The findings indicate that ML can both support and challenge educational management, depending on how responsibly it is implemented. Results show that institutions may utilize ML as a strategic tool to boost academic progress and make better judgments, provided they incorporate it responsibly and follow ethical rules and training. Full article

This study empirically examines how organizational learning influences problem-solving competency and organizational effectiveness in the context of online travel agencies (OTAs) and tests the moderating role of digital empowerment. Using agency lists registered under Korea’s Tourism Promotion Act, we employed stratified sampling by region and simple random sampling within strata. Data collection was commissioned by the Tourism/Leisure HRD Council. A survey was carried out from 2 to 19 June 2025; of the 210 questionnaires returned, 204 valid responses were analyzed. Measures were adapted from prior studies on a five-point Likert scale. Analyses conducted in SPSS 27.0 included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability testing (Cronbach’s α), correlation analysis, and simple and hierarchical regressions. The results indicate that (1) organizational learning has a significant positive effect on problem-solving competency (β = 0.541, p < 0.001, R² = 0.293); (2) organizational learning positively affects organizational effectiveness (β = 0.436, p < 0.001, R² = 0.190); and (3) problem-solving competency positively influences organizational effectiveness (β = 0.624, p < 0.001, R² = 0.389). Regarding moderation, digital empowerment did not significantly moderate the organizational learning → problem-solving link but did significantly moderate the organizational learning → organizational effectiveness relationship (p < 0.05), suggesting that digital empowerment enhances the conversion efficiency of learning into performance. Theoretically, this study substantiates the learning–problem-solving–performance mechanism in a service/tourism setting and identifies digital empowerment as a catalytic moderator that strengthens the translation of learning into organizational outcomes. Practically, the findings imply that OTAs can amplify organizational effectiveness by building digital empowerment structures—data-driven decision systems, process automation, and real-time customer-response capabilities—which enable learned knowledge to materialize into performance. Future research should incorporate digital maturity, leadership, customer orientation, and related variables into extended models. Full article

The growth of cultural tourism is one of the key areas supporting Indonesia’s policy direction for 2025–2030. This focus aligns with Pillar 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which promotes decent work and economic growth. Based on previous observations, the factors influencing cultural tourism marketing are inherently multivariate, making it feasible to construct a model based on multivariate analysis. Several multivariate analysis methods have been frequently employed in prior studies, including Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Logistic Regression, and Cluster Analysis, among others. Another significant factor influencing cultural tourism is the growing interconnectedness of information technology services, such as various web-based information system applications including Geographic Information System (GIS), which are often used as tools in cultural tourism marketing strategies. This systematic literature review formulates a hypothesis regarding the integration of multivariate analysis with GIS, suggesting that combining multivariate analysis models with GIS provides a more comprehensive spatial understanding of the distribution of tourist interests and enhances the planning of sustainable cultural tourism marketing strategies. Full article

Road running tourism events continue to grow worldwide and are increasingly leveraged by destinations seeking diversification and seasonality reduction. This study examines the motivational structure of participants in the 2025 Half Marathon Magaluf (Mallorca, Spain)—a mature Mediterranean resort undergoing tourism repositioning—and analyses how motivation-based segments relate to socio-demographic, sporting and tourism behaviours. Data were collected through a self-administered online survey (N = 306). An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), followed by a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), validated a five-factor motivational structure: sport-related hedonism, socialisation, personal challenge, inclusiveness and digital interaction. A k-means cluster analysis identified five distinct segments—Digital Enthusiasts, Inclusive Enjoyers, Socializers, Hedonic Achievers and Inclusivists—each exhibiting differentiated patterns in Experience-Use History (EUH), origin, gender, and running-club membership. Notably, Socializers recorded the longest stays, Inclusive Enjoyers were overrepresented among first-time visitors, and Digital Enthusiasts and Hedonic Achievers included a higher share of international runners. These findings expand traditional motivational models by incorporating inclusiveness and digital interaction as emerging drivers and offer actionable recommendations for event organisers and destination managers seeking to enhance overnight stays and support destination repositioning strategies. Full article

(1) Background: The present study aimed to develop and validate the Scale for the Identification of Emotional Resilience in Children (SIER-C), a psychometric instrument designed to assess key dimensions of emotional intelligence and resilience among children aged 6 to 12 years. (2) Methods: The sample comprised 367 participants (52.3% male, 47.7% female) drawn from both urban and rural educational settings across Romania, selected through stratified random sampling to ensure demographic representativeness. The SIER-C consists of 30 items distributed across six subscales: Recognition and Understanding of Emotions (RUE), Emotion Regulation (ER), Empathy (E), Attitude Toward Failure (ATF), Coping Strategies (CS), and Perseverance and Self-Motivation (PSM), with items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was initially conducted to examine the underlying factor structure, followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the model. (3) Results: The EFA suggested a six-factor structure consistent with the intended subscales, which was subsequently confirmed by CFA, demonstrating satisfactory model fit indices and confirming the scale’s construct validity. Internal consistency indices and composite reliability coefficients further indicated robust psychometric properties across subscales. (4) Conclusions: The findings underscore the relevance of SIER-C as a reliable and valid tool for identifying nuanced profiles of emotional intelligence and resilience in children. These profiles provide valuable insights for early detection of emotional and adaptive vulnerabilities and for the design of targeted interventions within educational and clinical frameworks. Future research should explore the longitudinal stability of these constructs and examine the integration of SIER-C within social–emotional learning programs to support the development of emotional competencies from a preventive and developmental perspective. Full article

Background: Rural healthcare providers encounter multifaceted barriers including geographic isolation, resource limitations, and provider shortages that impede optimal patient care delivery. The Barriers Experienced in Providing Healthcare Instrument (BTCPI) was designed to assess provider challenges; however, concerns regarding its psychometric properties necessitated comprehensive validation. The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the structural validity of the instrument using confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of Idaho healthcare professionals. Because the model failed to meet criteria, the study identified a more parsimonious model that then underwent multi-group invariance testing. Methods: A survey consisting of a modified Barriers to Providing Optimal Healthcare instrument and a demographic questionnaire was distributed to Idaho healthcare providers across 22 clinical sites in the state. The structural validity of the modified 41-item, 9-factor instrument was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM), and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Multi-group invariance testing was also conducted to assess measurement equivalence across provider profession, practice setting (rural vs. urban), and years of experience. Results: A total of 373 healthcare providers completed the survey and were used for analysis. The proposed BTCPI model did not meet model fit criteria. An ESEM analysis was conducted and identified a 9-factor, 14-item model. However, due to fit concerns, an exploratory factor analysis was subsequently conducted and identified the 4-factor, 12-item (BPOC-12) that also met invariance criteria across groups. A group mean and variance differences were found between nurses and primary care providers as well as between rural and urban practitioners on several barrier factors. Conclusions: The BTCPI did not meet model fit criteria. Subsequent model refinement resulted in the BPOC-12, which had preliminary psychometric validity. Although the refined model offered a more condensed and preliminarily valid psychometric framework, future research should be done to assess this model. Future research should also collect responses from different healthcare professions to enhance its applicability. Full article

(1) Background: Criminogenic cognitions can influence criminal behavior and recidivism. The validation of the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale (CCS) within the cultural and social context of Romanian offenders, along with an understanding of their profiles, is essential for the development of effective rehabilitation. (2) Methods: The CCS was administered to 460 inmates across eight Romanian prisons, with the respondents having a mean age of 39.23 (SD 10.36; range 21–71). Data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and the Kruskal–Wallis test. (3) Results: The Non-Acceptance of Responsibility (FAR) subscale had the highest internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.707), followed by Notions of Entitlement (NOE) (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.683). The Negative Attitudes Toward Authority (NATA) subscale was considered valid with caution (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.529). The highest FAR scores were observed among inmates convicted of sexual offenses, those who were widowed, and those with lower education levels. Higher scores were recorded on all scales for inmates who identified as drug users and those who perceived their punishment as unjust (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The CCS is valid in the Romanian context, and the variability of criminogenic cognitions based on education level, type of offense, and perception of punishment should be considered when implementing rehabilitative measures. Full article

Virulence factors in enterococci play an important role in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infection and colonization. The aim was to determine the prevalence of genes encoding virulence factors in VRE from clinical and intestinal samples. A total of 163 VRE (94 clinical and 69 intestinal) isolated from patients treated in the University Hospital were studied. Species identification was performed by Vitek 2. The genes for vancomycin resistance (vanABCDMN) and virulence factors (ace/acm, asa1, esp, efaA, cylA, gelE and hyl) were detected by multiplex PCR. The prevalence of virulence genes with respect to clinical and intestinal E. faecium was compared using Fisher’s exact test and p > 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Carriers of virulence factors were 107 VRE: 85 clinical and 14 intestinal E. faecium, 6 intestinal E. gallinarum and single E. durans and E. faecalis. The dominant virulence genes were acm and esp. Genes for virulence factors were not detected in the tested E. casseliflavus isolates. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of the genes encoding virulence determinants between the clinical and intestinal E. faecium. High diversity of virulence determinants was found in 107 VRE and a combination of two genes, mainly acm and esp, was detected in 94 of them. Full article

Background: This study aimed to validate the Ambivalence and Uncertainty Scale (AUS), developed to measure dispositional ambivalence, ambivalence intolerance, and decision-making difficulties, particularly among healthcare professionals during high-stress situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Cross-sectional data from 1240 German healthcare professionals were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to evaluate the scale’s dimensionality, while internal consistency and construct validity, including convergent and divergent validity, were assessed using correlations with relevant psychological constructs. Results: The EFA revealed a unidimensional structure explaining 64.33% of variance, indicating a single underlying trait. The AUS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.86) and strong convergent validity, evidenced by significant positive correlations with anxiety and depressive symptoms (r = 0.63) and burnout (r = 0.48), and a negative correlation with sense of coherence (r = −0.60). Divergent validity was supported through minimal correlation with unrelated constructs such as fatigue (r = −0.02) and a moderate correlation with work–family conflict (r = 0.31). The AUS effectively captures dispositional ambivalence and uncertainty tolerance, highlighting its relevance in psychological adaptation and resilience among professionals in stressful environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetes distress is a significant, often unaddressed, aspect of type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. The Type 1 Diabetes Distress Scale (T1-DDS) is a key assessment tool, but no validated Arabic version exists for Saudi Arabia’s large T1D population. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Arabic T1-DDS to enable accurate assessment of diabetes-specific distress in Saudi adults with T1D. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi adults with self-reported T1D. The T1-DDS underwent forward-backward translation, expert panel review, and cognitive debriefing. Participants completed an online survey containing the 28-item Arabic T1-DDS, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Psychometric evaluation included exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA, CFA), internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), and convergent validity. A multivariable generalized linear model identified predictors of distress. Results: The analysis included 837 participants (73.8% female, mean age 27.22 ± 7.8 years). The Arabic T1-DDS demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.934). EFA/CFA supported a robust four-factor structure, confirming model fit (χ²/df = 1.313, CFI = 1.000, RMSEA = 0.019). The mean overall distress score was 2.74 (SD = 1.05), with 72.4% reporting moderate-to-high distress. Distress correlated moderately with depression (r = 0.58) and anxiety (r = 0.52). Multivariable analysis identified higher PHQ-9 (RR = 1.178) and GAD-7 scores (RR = 1.063) as significant predictors of elevated distress, while insulin pump use was protective (RR = 0.938). Conclusions: The Arabic T1-DDS is a valid and reliable tool for Saudi adults with T1D. Its use revealed a high prevalence of diabetes distress, strongly linked to psychological symptoms and mitigated by insulin pump therapy. Integrating this scale into routine clinical care can facilitate timely psychosocial support, potentially improving patient outcomes. Full article

Introduction: This study focuses on the adaptation and validation of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire-Short (AEQ-S) to the Spanish sports context. Emotions play a crucial role in athletes’ decision making, making it essential to have reliable assessment tools tailored to this field. Method: The AEQ-S was administered to 998 professional athletes (mean age: 26.83 years). The adaptation followed the Hambleton method and involved the support of sports psychologists. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted, along with tests for reliability and criterion validity. Results: The analyses confirmed that the factor structure of the AEQ-S in sports aligns with the original version, identifying eight key emotions: enjoyment, hope, pride, anxiety, anger, shame, hopelessness, and boredom. Furthermore, positive emotions were positively associated with resilience, while negative emotions showed an inverse relationship. Conclusions: The adapted AEQ-S proved to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing emotions in athletes. Its applications extend to both research and professional practice in the sports domain. Full article

This study attempts to examine the interconnections between digital transformation, leadership, organizational culture, and organizational sustainability among Greek enterprises in the Industry 4.0 context. A quantitative research design was utilized to attain this objective, employing survey data gathered from 412 managerial-level participants across several industries. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed to validate the measurement model, followed by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine the proposed correlations among the constructs. The findings reveal that digital transformation, leadership, and organizational culture each have a substantial positive influence on organizational sustainability, with digital transformation exhibiting the most pronounced benefit. Furthermore, their alignment has a synergistic effect that amplifies the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability. These findings validate the multifaceted character of sustainability within the Industry 4.0 framework and underscore the interrelation of technological, human, and cultural competencies. The research contributes to the field of theory by offering a comprehensive framework for sustainable organizational transformation and practical implications for managers and policymakers who are in the process of developing strategies that are oriented towards sustainability, innovation, and resilience in digitally evolving environments. Full article