Search Results (23,715)

Excessive use of short-form video platforms such as TikTok has raised growing concerns about digital addiction and its impact on young users’ emotional well-being. This study examines the relationship between continuous TikTok exposure and emotional engagement in young adults aged 20–23 through a multimodal experimental design. The purpose of this research is to determine whether emotional engagement increases, remains stable, or declines during prolonged exposure and to assess the degree of correspondence between facially inferred engagement and physiological arousal. To achieve this, multimodal biometric data were collected using the iMotions platform, integrating galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors and facial expression analysis via Affectiva’s AFFDEX SDK 5.1. Engagement levels were binarized using a logistic transformation, and a binomial test was conducted. GSR analysis, merged with a 50 ms tolerance, revealed no significant differences in skin conductance between engaged and non-engaged states. Findings indicate that although TikTok elicits strong initial emotional engagement, engagement levels significantly decline over time, suggesting habituation and emotional fatigue. The results refine our understanding of how algorithm-driven, short-form content affects users’ affective responses and highlight the limitations of facial metrics as sole indicators of physiological arousal. Implications for theory include advancing multimodal models of emotional engagement that account for divergences between expressivity and autonomic activation. Implications for practice emphasize the need for ethical platform design and improved digital well-being interventions. The originality and value of this study lie in its controlled experimental approach that synchronizes facial and physiological signals, offering objective evidence of the temporal decay of emotional engagement during continuous TikTok use and underscoring the complexity of measuring affect in highly stimulating digital environments. Full article

The adoption of green pest control technologies (GPCTs) has emerged as a critical factor in the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in improving farm efficiency and mitigating environmental impacts. This study investigates the effect of GPCT adoption on the technical efficiency of apple farmers in Shandong Province, China, using survey data collected in 2022. Applying advanced econometric techniques, including stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to measure technical efficiency and endogenous switching regression model (ESR) to address endogeneity and selection bias, the findings indicate that GPCT adoption significantly enhances farmers’ technical efficiency. Specifically, under the counterfactual scenario of adoption, non-adopters’ technical efficiency would increase by 18.2% (from 0.669 to 0.851), whereas adopters would experience a 3.9% efficiency gain attributable to adoption (from the counterfactual 0.700 to the observed 0.739). The analysis further reveals that lower-income farmers benefit disproportionately from GPCT adoption, suggesting that the technology offers greater potential to enhance the productivity of resource-constrained farmers. These results underscore the importance of targeted policy interventions, such as subsidies and agricultural extension programs, to foster the widespread adoption of GPCTs, particularly among lower-income groups. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the dual benefits of GPCT adoption: improving farm efficiency while promoting environmental sustainability, with important implications for policy formulation in developing economies. Full article

As distributed energy resources and nonlinear loads are integrated into power grids on a large scale, power quality issues have grown increasingly prominent, triggering a substantial rise in distribution transformer losses. Traditional approaches struggle to accurately forecast transformer losses under complex power quality conditions and lack quantitative analysis of the influence of various power quality indicators on losses. This study presents a data-driven methodology for transformer loss prediction and sensitivity analysis in such environments. First, an experimental platform is designed and built to measure transformer losses under composite power quality conditions, enabling the collection of actual measurement data when multi-source disturbances exist. Second, a high-precision loss prediction model—dubbed Newton-Raphson-Based Optimizer-Transformer-Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (NRBO-Transformer-BiLSTM)—is developed on the basis of an enhanced deep neural network. Finally, global sensitivity analysis methods are utilized to quantitatively evaluate the impact of different power quality indicators on transformer losses. Experimental results reveal that the proposed prediction model achieves an average error rate of less than 0.18% and a similarity coefficient of over 0.9989. Among all power quality indicators, voltage deviation has the most significant impact on transformer losses (with a sensitivity of 0.3268), followed by three-phase unbalance (sensitivity: 0.0109) and third harmonics (sensitivity: 0.0075). This research offers a theoretical foundation and technical support for enhancing the energy efficiency of distribution transformers and implementing effective power quality management. Full article

Cannabis is one of the most common intoxicants used worldwide. Cannabis is widely consumed worldwide and can lead to visual alterations. However, most of the available information on its effects comes from studies conducted in developed countries, while data remain limited in developing regions such as Morocco, despite its significant role in cannabis cultivation. The aim of this study was to explore multiple visual parameters and self-perceived eyesight in cannabis users in Morocco. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2022 and April 2023 in Marrakesh, Morocco, in cannabis consumers. Data collection was performed in two phases. First a hetero-administrated questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographics, intoxicant consumption habit information, and eye health information. Then, several visual acuity tests were performed, including a preliminary examination, a visual function assessment, and an eye health assessment. Ninety-five cannabis users participated in this study. The majority were single (62.1%) males (87.4%). All lived in the Marrakesh-Safi region (100%), and most had daily activities such as having a job or being a student (77.9%). Most had vision conditions like astigmatism or myopia (83.4%). The majority had multiple addictions (66.5%), mainly to tobacco (43.7%). Hashish was the main cannabis type used (57.9%), and smoked cannabis was the principal mode of consumption (94.7%). Many had a family history of cannabis addiction (58.9%). Day light sensitivity (66.3%) and appearance of eye symptoms after cannabis use (90.5%) were declared by the majority. In most cases, no impact on far or near vision or vision impairment due to cannabis use were declared. Our results showed that using cannabis could have significant adverse effects on visual functions. Full article

Introduction: Patients with colorectal cancer who undergo ileostomy surgery confront multifaceted challenges that significantly impact their daily lives and cause symptoms of anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to explore the anxiety and depression experienced by colorectal cancer patients undergoing ileostomy with three assessments. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal study included 96 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer who underwent scheduled ileostomy surgery at two public hospitals in Attica. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) was used, which included patients’ characteristics. Measurements were collected at three distinct time points: preoperatively (Time 1), postoperatively between the 12th and 14th day (Time 2), and after stoma closure, approximately one year later (Time 3). Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 statistical package and the statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: The proportion of participants reporting moderate levels of anxiety (scores 8–10) was 15.6% at Time 1, which increased to 27.1% at Time 2, and had a slight increase to 28.1% at Time 3. The increase was statistically significant between Time 1 and Time 2 and at Time 1 and Time 3 (p < 0.001). Regarding high levels of anxiety (scores >11), the percentage of affected individuals increased from 13.5% at Time 1 to 17.7% at Time 2 and reached 15.6% at Time 3. The comparison between Time 1 and Time 2 revealed a statistically significant increase (p = 0.016), while the subsequent decrease between Time 2 and Time 3 was not statistically significant (p = 0.508). In terms of depression, at Time 1, 84.4% of patients had low depression, which decreased significantly to 56.3% at Time 2 and 39.6% at Time 3 (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The percentage of patients who were moderately depressed at Time 1 was 9.4%; this percentage increased significantly to 32.3% at Time 2 and remained high, reaching 29.2% at Time 3. Finally, the proportion of patients who had high levels of depression at Time 1 was 6.3%, a figure that rose to 11.5% and 31.3% for Time 2 and Time 3, respectively. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression experienced by colorectal cancer patients undergoing ileostomy surgery escalate postoperatively and remain at high levels after ileostomy closure. Understanding these mental health challenges is crucial for providing comprehensive patient care. Further research is needed on the early recognition and management of these emotional difficulties, which are key elements of holistic oncology care. Full article

As a pillar industry of the national economy for many countries, the construction sector has long faced challenges in workplace safety. Unsafe behaviors among construction workers are the core cause of safety incidents, and controlling these behaviors is key to enhancing safety management. Numerous studies confirm that unsafe behaviors are closely linked to cognitive biases and decision-making errors. However, existing research still has theoretical gaps in analyzing the multi-factor interaction mechanisms from a cognitive perspective. This study constructs a three-stage theoretical model to reveal the formation mechanism of unsafe behaviors, which is validated by structural equation modeling based on the data collected by a questionnaire from ongoing construction projects in Jiangxi Province, China. It is found that (1) Organizational environment (safety atmosphere, safety culture, and safety management) exerts a negative influence on unsafe behavior; (2) While safety atmosphere has no direct impact on safety motivation, the overall organizational environment positively affects individual cognition; (3) Individual cognitive factors exert a negative influence on unsafe behavior, with the following hierarchical order: safety motivation > safety competence > safety values. (4) While safety motivation does not mediate the relationship between safety atmosphere and unsafe behavior, individual cognitive factors overall mediate the relationship between organizational environment and unsafe behavior. This study theoretically enriches the knowledge system of safety behavior and provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing enterprise unsafe behavior management and formulating differentiated management policies. Full article

Effective nitrogen management in dairy cow diets is essential for optimising milk production and minimising environmental nitrogen emissions. This study develops a simplified model to estimate nitrogen excretion in dairy farms, distinguishing excretion by animal category (lactating cows, heifers, calves) and organic matrix (faeces, urine), with nitrogen intake as a key input. A comprehensive literature review guided the selection of equations for estimating nitrogen excretion based on dietary nitrogen content, dry matter intake and milk yield. The model was specifically calibrated for Holstein dairy herd in the Po Valley (Italy) context using data collected from ten Lombardy dairy farms over 30 months, focusing on diet composition and nitrogen excretion via faeces, urine, and milk. Validation against established the literature and the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) excretion factors demonstrated the model’s alignment in estimating nitrogen excretion. Within this context, the proposed framework may support nitrogen management at farm level by providing a practical, descriptive tool to explore nitrogen flows and to identify potential areas for improving nutrient efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. Full article

This study aimed to determine the presence of relevant infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) in managed honeybees from Central Italy and the Republic of Kosovo and Albania to assess the overall health status of local apiaries by determining the contamination levels and co-occurrence. Therefore, pathogens and parasites such as Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius, Vairimorpha apis, V. ceranae, the acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), deformed wing virus variants DWV-A and DWV-B, and the parasitoid flies Megaselia scalaris and Senotainia tricuspis were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and reverse transcriptase qPCR (RT-qPCR) in clinically healthy adult honeybees collected from 187 apiaries in the Abruzzo and Molise regions of Central Italy, 206 apiaries in the Republic of Kosovo in 2022 and 2023 and 18 apiaries in Albania in 2022. The percentages of positive samples and contamination for V. ceranae, P. larvae and DWV-B were significantly higher in the Republic of Kosovo and Albania, while the percentages of samples positive for M. plutonius, CBPV, DWV-A, and the parasitoid flies were higher in Central Italy. Additionally, P. larvae and some viruses showed significantly different occurrence rates between the two years in Italy and the Republic of Kosovo. The co-occurrence of IPAs also differed between the two geographic areas. Their varying distribution could depend on epidemiological dynamics, climatic factors, and management practices specific to each country, whose relative impact should be defined to guide targeted interventions to reduce honeybee mortality. Full article

This article presents a case study from a Social and Health Care School in Denmark, where a rooftop garden was designed to promote student health and support nature-based teaching across subject areas. A novel aspect of the project is the formal integration of the garden into teaching, implying that its long-term impact may extend beyond the students to the end-users they will later encounter in nursing homes and hospitals nationwide. This study applies the Evidence-Based Health Design in Landscape Architecture (EBHDL) process model, encompassing evidence collection, programming, and concept design, with the University of Copenhagen acting in a consultancy role. A co-design process with students and teachers was included as a novel source of case-specific evidence. Methodologically, this is a participatory practice-based case study focusing on the full design and construction processes, combining continuous documentation with reflective analysis of ‘process insights,’ generating lessons learned from the application of the EBHDL process model. This study identifies two categories of lessons learned. First, general insights emerged concerning governance, stakeholder roles, and the critical importance of site selection, procurement, and continuity of design responsibility. Second, specific insights were gained regarding the application of the EBHDL model, including its alignment with Danish and international standardised construction phases. These insights are particularly relevant for project managers in nature-based initiatives. The results also show how the EBHDL model aligns with Danish and international standardised construction phases, offering a bridge between health design methods and established building practice. The case focuses on the EBHDL process rather than verified outcomes and demonstrates how evidence-based and participatory approaches can help structure complex design processes, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support decision-making in institutional projects. Full article

Sustainable groundwater management is critical in semi-arid coastal regions, where municipal landfills pose a severe threat to aquifer integrity and long-term water security. However, there is still a lack of seasonally resolved hydrogeochemical monitoring around newly established landfills, particularly in rapidly urbanizing Mediterranean settings. This study assesses the hydrogeochemical impact of the newly operational Tangier Landfill and Recovery Center on local groundwater resources to inform sustainable remediation strategies. A combined approach was applied to samples collected in dry and wet seasons, using Piper and Stiff diagrams to trace facies evolution together with a dual-index assessment based on the Canadian (CCME-WQI) and Weighted Arithmetic (WAWQI) Water Quality Indices. Results show that upgradient waters remain of Good–Excellent quality and are dominated by Ca–HCO₃ facies, whereas downgradient wells display extreme mineralization, with EC up to 15,480 µS/cm and Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ exceeding 1834 and 2114 mg/L, respectively. At hotspot sites P4 and P8, As reaches 0.065 mg/L and Cd 0.006 mg/L, far above the WHO drinking-water guidelines. While the CCME-WQI captures the general salinity-driven degradation pattern, the WAWQI pinpoints these acute toxicity zones as Very poor–Unsuitable. The study demonstrates that rainfall intensifies toxicity through a seasonal “Piston Effect” that mobilizes stored contaminants rather than diluting them, underscoring the need for seasonally adaptive monitoring to ensure the environmental sustainability of landfill-adjacent aquifers. Full article

Melamine, a nitrogen-rich industrial chemical, has raised increasing concern as an emerging environmental contaminant with potential reproductive toxicity. While its nephrotoxic effects are well established, the direct impact of melamine on human sperm remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of melamine on human sperm, under both capacitating and non-capacitating conditions. Functional analyses revealed that the exposure to 0.8 mM melamine, the highest non-cytotoxic concentration in vitro, significantly compromised sperm motility and disrupted key capacitation processes, including tyrosine phosphorylation patterns, cholesterol efflux, and the acrosome reaction. Molecular assessments demonstrated melamine-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by COX4I1 downregulation, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and altered reactive oxygen species production. In parallel, gene expression analyses revealed the activation of apoptotic pathways, with the upregulation of BAX and downregulation of BCL2, changes that were more pronounced during capacitation. Furthermore, melamine exposure significantly increased sperm DNA fragmentation and denaturation, indicating genotoxic stress. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that even low, non-cytotoxic concentrations of melamine compromise sperm function by disrupting capacitation, mitochondrial activity, and genomic integrity. This study identifies capacitation as a critical window of vulnerability and underscores the need to consider melamine as a potential environmental risk factor for male reproductive health. Full article

Baseline plasma ACTH concentrations are frequently utilized as part of the diagnostic evaluation of equids when PPID is suspected. Baseline ACTH can be impacted by many factors including time of year, i.e., ACTH has generally been found to be elevated during late summer through early autumn in the northern hemisphere. An understanding of ACTH concentrations in healthy equids over the course of a year is useful for the proper interpretation of concentrations in PPID-suspect animals. Previous studies assessing ACTH concentrations in healthy donkeys (Equus asinus) and hybrids (E. asinus x E. caballus) are limited, often utilizing very small numbers, equids from specific and limited geographical regions, limited timeframes or unspecified donkey types (miniature, standard, or mammoth). We aimed to characterize the seasonal variation in baseline ACTH concentrations in healthy miniature donkeys, standard donkeys and hybrids in the United States (US) and to compare those concentrations across these groups. Following outlier removal, 19 standard donkeys (from California (CA), Massachusetts (MA), New York (NY)), 14 miniature donkeys (CA and NY), and 28 hybrids (Texas (TX) and NY) were utilized for analysis. Samples were collected from each equid twice per month from June to November 2019 and once per month from December 2019 through May 2020. The mean ACTH concentration of all equids was higher from mid-August through the end of October compared to the rest of the year (being the highest in the second half of September with the mean (standard deviation) values of 109.6 (52.6), 134.6 (67.4), and 100.8 (189.6) in standard donkeys, miniature donkeys, and hybrids, respectively). Additionally, ACTH concentrations in hybrids were 23% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4–38%) and 51% (95% CI: 36–63%) lower than in standard and miniature donkeys, respectively, from mid-August through October. During the rest of the year, hybrids similarly showed 31% (95% CI: 16–43%) and 30% (95% CI: 15–42%) lower ACTH concentrations compared with standard and miniature donkeys, respectively. Full article

As the largest exporter in the global solid tire market, Sri Lanka’s natural rubber supply chain plays a critical role in global production, yet its social dimension remains largely unaddressed. Our study aims to assess the social performance of a Sri Lankan natural rubber supply chain in solid tire manufacturing using social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) in a cradle-to-gate approach. Study adapts “More Good and Less Bad” method which captures both positive and negative social impacts, addressing traditional S-LCAs’ focus on negative impacts solely. It applies to updated methodological sheets to distinguish “good” and “bad” social conditions across subcategories based on baseline compliance. Social impacts were quantified using a Social Performance Index (SPI), calculated by multiplying social performance levels by working hours at the organizational level, comprising SPI_good for good social impacts and SPI_bad for bad social impacts. Data was collected through stakeholder interviews, with working hours calculated using a “working hour model”. Results showed mixed social performance across 39 subcategories, identifying six social hotspots: promoting social responsibility (27.67% less bad, 72.32% more good), wealth distribution (26.87% less bad, 73.13% more good), commitment to sustainability issues (100% less bad), social benefits (100% less bad), safe and healthy living conditions (100% less bad), and hours of work (88.74% less bad, 11.26% more good). Full article

Background/Objectives: Vending machines in hospitals offer convenient access to snacks and beverages for employees, visitors, and patients. However, their contents are typically energy-dense and nutritionally poor, which can potentially reinforce unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of introducing healthier vending machine options on purchasing behaviour and consumer perceptions in a hospital setting. Methods: An interventional study was conducted at a university clinical centre in Slovenia. Sales data were collected from a standard vending machine and a pilot machine stocked with healthier products over two 14-day periods. Additionally, a consumer survey assessed factors influencing purchasing decisions and opinions on the healthier offerings. Results: The proportion of healthy items purchased increased from 22% to 39% in the pilot vending machine, indicating a positive shift toward healthier choices. However, total sales declined by 18.81%, suggesting consumer hesitation toward the new product mix. Survey results identified price, ingredients, and visual appeal as the primary factors influencing purchase decisions. Conclusions: The introduction of healthier vending machine options can promote better food choices in hospital environments, though challenges remain regarding consumer acceptance and sales performance. Expanding the variety of healthy items and adopting more competitive pricing strategies may enhance uptake. Further long-term research is needed to assess the sustainability of such interventions and their broader impact on hospital food environments. Full article

The current debate on digital education is at a crossroads between the need for technological innovation and the growing concern about the impact of passive screen use. In this context, identifying sustainable pedagogical models that integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in a meaningful and inclusive way is an urgent need. This article presents a case study of the Amara Berri System (ABS), aiming to analyze how inclusive and sustainable digital innovation is operationalized within the system and whether teachers’ length of service is associated with the implementation and perceived impact of inclusive ICT practices. The investigation is based on a mixed-methods sequential design. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 292 teachers to collect data on their practices and perceptions. Subsequently, a focus group with eight teachers was conducted to further explore the meaning of their practices. Quantitative results show that the implementation and positive evaluation of inclusive ICT practices correlate significantly with teachers’ seniority within the system, which suggests that the model is formative in itself. Qualitative analysis shows that ICTs are not an end in themselves within the ABS, but an empowering tool for the students. The “Audiovisual Media Room”, managed by students, functions as a space for social and creative production that gives technology a pedagogical purpose. The study concludes that the sustainability of digital innovation requires coherence with the pedagogical project. Findings offer valuable implications for the design of teacher training contexts that foster the integration of technology within a framework of truly inclusive education. Full article