Search Results (244)

Based on a comprehensive review of the current research status of ecological compensation both domestically and internationally, combined with field survey data, this study delves into the issue of multi-stakeholder participation in the ecological compensation mechanisms of the Xin’an River Basin. This research reveals that the joint participation of multiple stakeholders is crucial to achieving the goals of ecological compensation in river basins. The government plays a significant role in macro-guidance, financial support, policy guarantees, supervision, and management. It promotes the comprehensive implementation of ecological environmental protection by formulating relevant laws and regulations, guiding the public to participate in ecological conservation, and supervising and punishing pollution behaviors. The public, serving as the main force, forms strong awareness and behavioral habits of ecological protection through active participation in environmental protection, monitoring, and feedback. As participants, enterprises contribute to industrial transformation and green development by improving resource utilization efficiency, reducing pollution emissions, promoting green industries, and participating in ecological restoration projects. Scientific research institutions, as technology enablers, have effectively enhanced governance efficiency through technological research and innovation, ecosystem value accounting to provide decision-making support, and public education. Social organizations, as facilitators, have injected vitality and innovation into watershed governance by extensively mobilizing social forces and building multi-party collaboration platforms. Communities, as supporters, have transformed ecological value into economic benefits by developing characteristic industries such as eco-agriculture and eco-tourism. Based on the above findings, further recommendations are proposed to mobilize the enthusiasm of upstream communities and encourage their participation in ecological compensation, promote the market-oriented operation of ecological compensation mechanisms, strengthen cross-regional cooperation to establish joint mechanisms, enhance supervision and evaluation, and establish a sound benefit-sharing mechanism. These recommendations provide theoretical support and practical references for ecological compensation worldwide. Full article

As augmented reality (AR) advertising becomes increasingly prevalent across digital platforms, understanding how its unique features influence consumer responses is critical for both theory and practice. Based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM), this study develops and validates a dual-dimension content–dual-route processing model to investigate how different features of AR advertising influence consumer engagement. Specifically, it examines how product-related attributes (attractiveness, informativeness) and technology-related attributes (interactivity, augmentation) shape attitudes toward the ad and purchase intentions through cognitive (information credibility) and affective (enjoyment) pathways. Using data from an online survey (N = 299), the study applies partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the proposed model. The results show that informativeness and augmentation significantly enhance information credibility, while attractiveness primarily influences emotional responses. Interactivity and augmentation positively influence cognitive and affective responses. Mediation analysis confirms the simultaneous activation of central and peripheral processing routes, with flow experience emerging as a significant moderator in selected pathways. By introducing a structured framework for AR advertising content, this study extends the applicability of the ELM in immersive media contexts. It underscores the combined impact of rational evaluation and emotional engagement in shaping consumer behavior and offers practical insights for designing effective AR advertising strategies. Full article

Background: Pain is a complex phenomenon characterized by unpleasant experiences with profound heterogeneity influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. According to the National Health Interview Survey, 50.2 million U.S. adults (20.5%) experience pain on most days, with the annual cost of prescription medication for pain reaching approximately USD 17.8 billion. Theranostic pain nanomedicine therefore emerges as an attractive analgesic strategy with the potential for increased efficacy, reduced side-effects, and treatment personalization. Theranostic nanomedicine combines drug delivery and diagnostic features, allowing for real-time monitoring of analgesic efficacy in vivo using molecular imaging. However, clinical translation of these nanomedicines are challenging due to complex manufacturing methodologies, lack of standardized quality control, and potentially high costs. Quality by Design (QbD) can navigate these challenges and lead to the development of an optimal pain nanomedicine. Our lab previously reported a macrophage-targeted perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion (PFC NE) that demonstrated analgesic efficacy across multiple rodent pain models in both sexes. Here, we report PFC-free, biphasic nanoemulsions formulated with a biocompatible and non-immunogenic plant-based coconut oil loaded with a COX-2 inhibitor and a clinical-grade, indocyanine green (ICG) near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye for parenteral theranostic analgesic nanomedicine. Methods: Critical process parameters and material attributes were identified through the FMECA (Failure, Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) method and optimized using a 3 × 2 full-factorial design of experiments. We investigated the impact of the oil-to-surfactant ratio (w/w) with three different surfactant systems on the colloidal properties of NE. Small-scale (100 mL) batches were manufactured using sonication and microfluidization, and the final formulation was scaled up to 500 mL with microfluidization. The colloidal stability of NE was assessed using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and drug quantification was conducted through reverse-phase HPLC. An in vitro drug release study was conducted using the dialysis bag method, accompanied by HPLC quantification. The formulation was further evaluated for cell viability, cellular uptake, and COX-2 inhibition in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Results: Nanoemulsion droplet size increased with a higher oil-to-surfactant ratio (w/w) but was no significant impact by the type of surfactant system used. Thermal cycling and serum stability studies confirmed NE colloidal stability upon exposure to high and low temperatures and biological fluids. We also demonstrated the necessity of a solubilizer for long-term fluorescence stability of ICG. The nanoemulsion showed no cellular toxicity and effectively inhibited PGE2 in activated macrophages. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a celecoxib-loaded theranostic platform developed using a plant-derived hydrocarbon oil, applying the QbD approach that demonstrated COX-2 inhibition. Full article

Background: Digital platforms and inclusive leadership are pivotal in modern healthcare, influencing organizational performance and patient outcomes. Despite the growing adoption of these factors, their combined impact on leadership effectiveness and patient care remains insufficiently understood. Prior research has primarily examined digital technology or leadership inclusivity separately, lacking integrative studies that address their joint effect on healthcare outcomes. There is a need to explore how these variables interact to improve leadership and patient-related metrics. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 250 participants, including healthcare leaders, professionals, and patients, using structured questionnaires. The data analysis involved multiple regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to examine the direct and hierarchical relationships among digital platform usage, leadership inclusivity, leadership effectiveness, and patient outcomes. Results: Leadership inclusivity showed a significant positive effect on leadership effectiveness (β = 0.16, p < 0.01) and patient satisfaction (β = 0.09, p < 0.05). Digital platform usage demonstrated a smaller but positive association with leadership effectiveness (β = 0.04) and patient satisfaction (β = 0.03). Leadership effectiveness was found to correlate moderately with patient safety (β = 0.23) and treatment efficacy (β = 0.25), with minimal organizational-level effects. Conclusions: This study uniquely integrates the adoption of digital technology with inclusive leadership, highlighting their synergistic influence on healthcare delivery. It advances the existing literature by providing quantitative evidence on how these elements interact to shape leadership and patient care outcomes. Full article

This paper introduces the concept of degenerative affordances to explain how social media can unintentionally destabilise family-run influencer businesses. While affordance theory typically highlights the enabling features of technology, the researchers shift the focus to its unintended, risk-laden consequences, particularly within family enterprises where professional and personal identities are deeply entangled. Drawing on platform capitalism, family business research, and intersectional feminist critiques, the researchers develop a theoretical model to examine how social media affordances contribute to role confusion, privacy breaches, and trust erosion. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers combine narrative interviews (n = 20) with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) on survey data (n = 320) from family-based influencers. This study’s findings reveal a high explanatory power (R² = 0.934) for how digital platforms mediate entrepreneurial legitimacy through interpersonal trust and role dynamics. Notably, trust emerges as a key mediating mechanism linking social media engagement to perceptions of business legitimacy. This paper advances three core contributions: (1) introducing degenerative affordance as a novel extension of affordance theory; (2) unpacking how digitally mediated role confusion and privacy breaches function as internal threats to legitimacy in family businesses; and (3) problematising the epistemic assumptions embedded in entrepreneurial legitimacy itself. This study’s results call for a rethinking of how digital platforms, family roles, and entrepreneurial identities co-constitute each other under the pressures of visibility, intimacy, and algorithmic governance. The paper concludes with implications for influencer labour regulation, platform accountability, and the ethics of digital family entrepreneurship. Full article

The exponential growth of video data across domains such as surveillance, transportation, and healthcare has raised critical challenges in scalability, real-time processing, and privacy preservation. While existing studies have addressed individual aspects of Video Big Data Analytics (VBDA), an integrated, up-to-date perspective remains limited. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of system architectures and enabling technologies in VBDA. It categorizes system architectures into four primary types as follows: centralized, cloud-based infrastructures, edge computing, and hybrid cloud–edge. It also analyzes key enabling technologies, including real-time streaming, scalable distributed processing, intelligent AI models, and advanced storage for managing large-scale multimodal video data. In addition, the study provides a functional taxonomy of core video processing tasks, including object detection, anomaly recognition, and semantic retrieval, and maps these tasks to real-world applications. Based on the survey findings, the paper proposes ViMindXAI, a hybrid AI-driven platform that combines edge and cloud orchestration, adaptive storage, and privacy-aware learning to support scalable and trustworthy video analytics. Our analysis in this survey highlights emerging trends such as the shift toward hybrid cloud–edge architectures, the growing importance of explainable AI and federated learning, and the urgent need for secure and efficient video data management. These findings highlight key directions for designing next-generation VBDA platforms that enhance real-time, data-driven decision-making in domains such as public safety, transportation, and healthcare. These platforms facilitate timely insights, rapid response, and regulatory alignment through scalable and explainable analytics. This work provides a robust conceptual foundation for future research on adaptive and efficient decision-support systems in video-intensive environments. Full article

This study investigates the impact of digital technology propagation, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and the TikTok application, on enhancing student entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial knowledge, business experience, and the performance of their ventures. This research employs a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative and quantitative elements, with the quantitative aspect analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM–PLS) and the qualitative aspect analyzed through in-depth interviews with student entrepreneurs. The survey included participation from 125 students, with three additional students serving as key informants. Research findings suggest that AI directly enhances entrepreneurial knowledge and business performance, whereas TikTok indirectly influences business success by affecting the acquisition of entrepreneurial learning. The utilization of AI has a substantial direct impact on entrepreneurial expertise and business performance. In contrast, the utilization of TikTok has a moderate influence on entrepreneurial knowledge, which in turn mediates its effect on entrepreneurial success. Offer practical implications for higher education institutions to integrate AI-driven analytics and social media marketing strategies into entrepreneurship curricula. Future research should investigate the regulatory framework, long-term implications, and the inclusion of other digital platforms to refine the digital transformation of entrepreneurship education further. Full article

Background and Objectives: Excessive social media use is repeatedly linked to negative body image outcomes, yet its association with muscle dysmorphia, especially in athletic youth, remains underexplored. We investigated how social media exposure, comparison behavior, and platform engagement relate to muscle dysmorphia symptomatology in young German athletes. Materials and Methods: An anonymous, web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted (July–October 2024) of 540 individuals (45% female; mean age = 24.6 ± 5.3 years; 79% ≥ 3 h sport/week) recruited via Instagram. The questionnaire comprised demographics, sport type, detailed social media usage metrics, and the validated German Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI-1, 15 items). Correlations (Spearman’s ρ, Kendall’s τ) were calculated; multivariate importance was probed with classification-and-regression trees and CatBoost gradient boosting, interpreted via SHAP values. Results: Median daily social media time was 76 min (IQR 55–110). Participants who spent ≥ 60 min per day on social media showed higher MDDI scores (mean 38 ± 7 vs. 35 ± 6; p = 0.010). The strongest bivariate link emerged between perceived social media-induced body dissatisfaction and felt pressure to attain a specific body composition (Spearman ρ = 0.748, Kendall τ = 0.672, p < 0.001). A CatBoost gradient-boosting model out-performed linear regression in predicting elevated MDDI. The three most influential features (via SHAP values) were daily social media time, frequency of comparison with fitness influencers, and frequency of “likes”-seeking behavior. Conclusions: Intensive social media exposure substantially heightens muscle dysmorphia risk in young German athletes. Machine-learning interpretation corroborates time on social media and influencer comparisons as primary drivers. Interventions should combine social media literacy training with sport-specific psychoeducation to mitigate maladaptive comparison cycles and prevent downstream eating disorder pathology. Longitudinal research is warranted to clarify causal pathways and to test targeted digital media interventions. Full article

Urban tourism has experienced significant growth driven by platforms such as Airbnb, yet the relationship between short-term rental (STR) location and guest mobility remains underexplored. In this study, a structured survey of STR guests in Madrid during 2024 was administered face-to-face through property managers and luggage-storage services to examine factors influencing public transport (PT) use. Responses on bus and metro usage were combined into a three-level ordinal variable and modeled using ordered logistic regression against tourist demographics, trip characteristics, and accommodation attributes, including geocoded location zones. The results indicate that first-time and international visitors are less likely to use PT at high levels, while tourists visiting more points of interest and those who rated PT importance highly when choosing accommodation are significantly more frequent users. Accommodation in the central almond or periphery correlates positively with higher PT use compared to the city center. Distances to transit stops were not significant predictors, reflecting overall network accessibility. These findings suggest that enhancing PT connectivity in peripheral areas could support the spatial dispersion of tourism benefits and improve sustainable mobility for STR guests. Full article

While accelerating globalization and technological transformation, traditional food products occupy a vulnerable yet strategically important position, straddling the line between cultural preservation and the need to remain economically viable. This study assesses both the sustainability and economic potential of traditional food items specific to Bihor County, Romania, with particular attention to their integration into contemporary value chains. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining structured surveys with 137 local consumers and semi-structured interviews with 20 regional producers. This research focused on consumer awareness, purchasing behavior, and producers’ readiness to engage with digital tools, within the broader framework of human-centered development and the Industry 5.0 paradigm. Findings reveal a modest but consistent link between familiarity and the willingness to pay a premium, although the frequency of consumption appeared to be unaffected. Sustainability emerged as a widely held value, commonly associated with seasonality, natural ingredients, and artisanal methods. On the supply side, producers showed a cautious openness to digital adoption, often tempered by a strong desire to preserve traditional practices. Based on these insights, this study outlines a territorially grounded framework for enhancing the resilience of traditional foods. Policy recommendations include support for user-friendly digital platforms, improved rural infrastructure, and initiatives that reinforce the regional gastronomic identity. Full article

Background/Objectives: The INTegRated InterveNtion of pSychogerIatric Care (INTRINSIC) network introduces an innovative model of psychogeriatric care, combining tertiary mental healthcare with primary care for older adults in low-resource settings in Greece via telemedicine. This study explores viewpoints of healthcare professionals on care delivery within the frames of old-age mental telehealth services in low-resource settings. Methods: All healthcare professionals, including 13 medical and 11 non-medical professionals from diverse healthcare units in urban, rural, and insular areas, participated in a semi-structured survey. Thematic analysis identified key insights. Results: Most participants (N = 19) highlighted the high usability of the INTRINSIC services and their high satisfaction for being members of the network (N = 17) was attributed to the collaborative delivery of integrated, specialized healthcare services in primary healthcare (N = 17). Further identified advantages of the services included the positive impact on timely care delivery (N = 6), cost effectiveness, and alleviation of hospital strain. Healthcare professionals valued the holistic approach of the INTRINSIC services to psychogeriatric care (N = 8) and their role in the improvement of it in communities in low-resource settings (N = 13). However, challenges were also reported, including the low openness and reluctance of service users (N = 7), difficulties in using the INTRINSIC digital platform (N = 5), and increased workload (N = 5). Conclusions: Despite these issues, the INTRINSIC services embody an innovative telehealth model for delivering high-quality, tertiary, mental, and cognitive healthcare services to older adults in underserved areas. Full article

Trade fairs are not only commercial platforms but also catalysts for urban development, city branding, and international engagement. This longitudinal study analyzes data from trade fair exhibitors from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Germany to examine how cultural differences influence their experiences, satisfaction, and destination loyalty within the urban landscape of Thessaloniki. By adopting Social Exchange Theory (S.E.T.) as a framework, this research applies a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and in-depth interviews conducted over multiple years (2017–2024) at the 82nd, 86th, and 88th Thessaloniki International Fair (T.I.F.). The empirical material consists of 226 survey responses (116 from China, 44 from the UAE, and 84 from Germany) and 52 semi-structured interviews, analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics, alongside thematic interpretation of qualitative data. Findings reveal distinct exhibitor expectations. These cultural distinctions shape their perceptions of Thessaloniki’s infrastructure, services, and overall urban experience, influencing their likelihood to revisit or recommend the city. This study underscores the long-term role of trade fairs in shaping urban economies and offers insights into how cities can leverage international exhibitions for sustainable urban growth. Policy recommendations highlight the need for tailored infrastructural improvements, strategic city branding initiatives, and cultural adaptations to enhance exhibitor engagement and maximize the economic impact of global events. Full article

Depression affects millions of people worldwide and remains a significant challenge in mental health care. Despite advances in pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, there is a critical need for accessible and engaging tools that help individuals manage their mental health in real time. This paper presents a novel gamified, AI-driven system embedded within Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled environments to address this gap. The proposed platform combines micro-games, adaptive surveys, sensor data, and AI analytics to support personalized and context-aware depression monitoring and self-regulation. Unlike traditional static models, this system continuously tracks behavioral, cognitive, and environmental patterns. This data is then used to deliver timely, tailored interventions. One of its key strengths is a research-ready design that enables real-time simulation, algorithm testing, and hypothesis exploration without relying on large-scale human trials. This makes it easier to study cognitive and emotional trends and improve AI models efficiently. The system is grounded in metacognitive principles. It promotes user engagement and self-awareness through interactive feedback and reflection. Gamification improves the user experience without compromising clinical relevance. We present a unified framework, robust evaluation methods, and insights into scalable mental health solutions. Combining AI, IoT, and gamification, this platform offers a promising new approach for smart, responsive, and data-driven mental health support in modern living environments. Full article

Under the influence of extreme climatic conditions, landslide disasters occur frequently in the Loess Plateau due to complex geological structures, loose soil, and frequent intense rainfall. These events are often concealed, posing significant challenges for disaster prevention. High-resolution optical remote sensing combined with field surveys can improve identification accuracy; however, concerns persist regarding issues such as omission and misidentification during hazard identification and monitoring processes. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated remote-sensing identification approach, focusing specifically on the central region of Tianshui, a typical landslide-prone area within the Loess Plateau. Utilizing Sentinel-1 and JL1LF01A remote-sensing imagery collected from 2022 to 2023, we conducted ground deformation monitoring through the Small Baseline Subset Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SBAS-InSAR) technique. By integrating deformation results with optical imagery features indicative of potential landslide sites, a comprehensive identification method was developed to precisely detect potential landslide hazards. Verification of the identified sites was subsequently performed using the Google Earth platform, resulting in the establishment of a final dataset of potential landslide hazards within the study area. This outcome clearly demonstrates the high applicability and accuracy of the integrated remote-sensing identification method in the context of landslide hazard assessment. Furthermore, this research provides a solid scientific foundation for geological hazard identification efforts and plays a critical guiding role in disaster prevention and mitigation in Tianshui City, thereby enhancing the region’s capacity to withstand disaster risks and effectively safeguarding local lives and property. Full article

Breastmilk is known to provide optimal nutrition for infant growth and development. A cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative US data from 2016 to 2021 revealed that >90% of lactating mothers reported using breast pumps to express milk. We conducted a survey of n = 1049 lactating or recently lactating individuals from a US nationally representative population to explore breastmilk storage practices among this group. The data revealed that 83% of respondents store breastmilk in their homes, with 68% using freezers to do so for >1 month. The lowest available temperature in most household freezers is −20 °C, a temperature that is inadequate to maintain human milk’s emulsified structure, leading to separation, degradation of fats, loss of key vitamins, and changes in palatability. We developed a first-of-its-kind high-throughput screening platform to identify food-derived compounds and combinations of compounds that, when added to human breastmilk, preserve fat content, retain antioxidant capacity, and reduce production of rancid-associated free fatty acids during extended freezer storage. Our screening identified pectin (0.5% w/v) and ascorbic acid (100 μg/mL) as optimal preservation agents. Compared to untreated controls, this formulation reduced glycerol production by approximately 60% and maintained antioxidant capacity after 6 months of storage at −20 °C. Lysozyme and protease activity were maintained at >75% of the levels in fresh breastmilk. This formulation represents a lead for the development of safe and affordable frozen breastmilk shelf-life extenders for at-home use to increase the longevity of stored breastmilk. Full article