Search Results (184)

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) compost has the potential to be an effective soil improver, and agriculture is the industry with the largest potential market for its adoption, followed by landscaping and gardening hobbyist uses. Understanding which factors foster the intention to adopt OFMSW compost among users engaged in agricultural activities is, therefore, crucial for its diffusion. A paper-and-pencil questionnaire was administered to 119 visitors involved in farming activities at an exhibition focused on the green and circular economy. The PROCESS macro for SPSS model 8 was applied to test a moderated mediated model to investigate the relationship between being a professional or hobby farmer, perceived drivers and the intention to adopt compost, with the moderation of the frequency of exposure to different information sources. The results showed that hobbyists perceived more drivers for compost adoption. In turn, the perceived drivers had a positive impact on users’ intention to adopt. Moreover, with a low frequency of use of information sources, professionals perceived fewer advantages of compost adoption. The present study highlighted the need to enhance discussions about compost properties and benefits, especially for professional farmers. Full article

Background/Objectives: To compare the clinical outcomes following cataract surgery with implantation of a new partial depth of field (DOFi) intraocular lens (IOL) versus a monofocal IOL of identical material, platform, and haptic design. Methods: Single-center, non-randomized trial including 55 patients randomly assigned to be implanted either with the partial-DOFi IOL Tecnis PureSee (partial-DOFi group, 29 patients) or the Tecnis monofocal IOL DCB00/ZCU (both Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision) (monofocal group, 26 patients). Monocular visual acuity (VA), refractive, binocular defocus curve, and patient-reported outcomes (QoV and Catquest 9SF questionnaires) were evaluated during a 3-month follow-up. Results: No significant differences between monofocal and partial-DOFi groups were found in monocular postoperative uncorrected- (0.03 ± 0.08 vs. 0.05 ± 0.10, p = 0.419) and corrected-distance VA (−0.03 ± 0.04 vs. −0.03 ± 0.05, p = 0.642). Significantly better distance-corrected intermediate VA was found in the partial-DOFi group (0.29 ± 0.08 vs. 0.10 ± 0.06, p < 0.001). Similarly, postoperative monocular distance-corrected near VA was better in the partial-DOFi group (0.51 ± 0.10 vs. 0.31 ± 0.09, p < 0.001). In the defocus curve, significantly better distance-corrected VAs compared to monofocal were found for all defocus levels from −1.50 to −4.00 D. Minor reports of starbursts were found in both IOL groups. With the Catquest questionnaire, some significant differences were found between groups including reduced difficulty reading newspapers (p < 0.001), improved visibility of prices while shopping (p < 0.001) and enhanced performance of hobbies (p = 0.030) and needlework (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The partial-DOFi IOL evaluated demonstrates superior intermediate and near visual performance compared to a monofocal IOL, while maintaining equivalent distance vision and visual quality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may influence mental health outcomes, yet longitudinal evidence on its association with depression remains limited. This study aimed to examine whether oral health status and OHRQoL are associated with a change in self-reported depression status among adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed data from the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS), conducted in 2022 and 2023. A total of 15,068 participants aged ≥20 years without depression at baseline were included. Depression status was identified by self-reported measures between the two survey waves. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for change in self-reported depression status in relation to OHRQoL and oral health status, adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Results: During follow-up, 218 participants (1.45%) reported a change in self-reported depression status. Poorer OHRQoL was significantly associated with a change in self-reported depression status (OR: 1.018; 95% CI: 1.001–1.036; p = 0.039). Additional risk factors included younger age (OR: 0.974; 95% CI: 0.964–0.985), participation in hobbies and cultural activities (OR: 2.224; 95% CI: 1.498–3.302), habitual use of sleeping pills or anxiolytics (current use OR: 3.512; 95% CI: 2.267–5.442), increased loneliness (OR: 1.217; 95% CI: 1.140–1.299), lower life satisfaction (OR: 0.900; 95% CI: 0.836–0.969), and poor self-rated health (OR: 2.921; 95% CI: 1.810–4.715). Conclusions: Impaired OHRQoL was associated with a change in self-reported depression status, potentially through psychosocial mechanisms. These findings suggest that oral health and OHRQoL may be relevant factors to consider in integrated oral and mental health approaches in clinical practice. Full article

Employment promotion and employment realization are the core and fundamental problems in the resettlement of land-expropriated farmers transferred to citizens. To solve this problem, it is necessary to clarify the key factors and mechanisms that affect the employment behavior of “farmers to citizens” workers. Taking the labor force from land-expropriated “farmers to citizens” in the construction of Beijing city sub-center as the research object, this paper utilizes Logistic ISM to determine the key factors affecting the employment behavior of the labor force when changing from rural to urban, as well as the internal logical relationship and hierarchical structure among the influencing factors. The results show that only 40% of the migrant workers in the sample have achieved employment, while 69% of the unemployed population have a willingness to work but are limited by age, skills, and family factors. The logistic regression model identifies that the employment behavior of land-expropriated farmers is significantly affected by 10 factors, including gender, age, work experience, hobbies, employment demand, expenditure change, employment difficulty cognition, government training, policy satisfaction and social security. Among them, ISM further reveals that these factors form a three-level hierarchical mechanism of “structure–cognition–behavior”; gender, social security and policy satisfaction are the deep-root factors, and the intermediate factors, such as hobbies and government training, affect employment demand, employment difficulty cognition and other surface factors, and ultimately affect the employment behavior of land-expropriated “farmers to citizens”. Based on this, it is proposed to start from four aspects: differentiated employment guidance, policy transmission optimization, service efficiency improvement, and industrial driving, to systematically promote the realization of more comprehensive and stable employment for the rural-to-residential population, and provide institutional guarantees and practical paths for their sustainable livelihoods. Full article

Background: Falls are a major cause of injury, functional decline, and reduced quality of life among older adults, posing a significant public health challenge. Social prescribing is gaining relevance in gerontology, offering structured strategies to engage individuals in preventive activities, including fall prevention strategies, through engagement in community-based activities. Aim: To examine older adults’ perception of the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling) and compare sociodemographic, behavioural, and engagement profiles between those who agree and those who disagree with its relevance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 613 older adults aged 65–93 years. Data collection included sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioural/social engagement variables (including perceptions regarding the benefits of social prescribing and interest in community-based activities). For this analysis, participants were dichotomized based on their agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities (e.g., prevention against falling). Of the 569 participants included, 538 (94.5%) agreed with its relevance and 31 (5.5%) disagreed. Descriptive and exploratory analyses were conducted to compare the two groups across variables. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore independent predictors of agreement across sociodemographic, behavioural, social prescribing, and health-related variables. Results: Significant differences were observed between the groups in awareness of active ageing (p = 0.018), volunteering (p < 0.001), participation in social and community activities (p < 0.001), and hobbies like gardening, fishing, or cooking (p = 0.002). Those who agreed with the importance of personal protection and development activities were significantly more likely to value a range of initiatives, including social activities in recreational organizations, physical activity in the community (e.g., hiking), artistic and creative activities (e.g., visual arts, music), technical or technological activities (e.g., do-it-yourself, computers), and cultural enrichment activities (e.g., visiting museums), (p < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed no effects of sociodemographic or health-related factors, whereas behavioural and engagement-related variables—including volunteering, hobbies, and several social prescribing activities—significantly predicted agreement with the relevance of personal protection and development activities. Discussion: The findings suggest that older adults who perceive fall prevention as relevant are more actively engaged in diverse health-promoting activities, including volunteering, hobbies, and community-based programmes. This pattern may reflect higher health literacy, stronger social networks, and proactive attitudes towards ageing. Conclusions: Perceptions of fall prevention are closely linked to broader patterns of engagement in health-promoting activities among older adults. Recognizing and addressing differences in how these activities are valued can inform more inclusive and targeted gerontological interventions. Full article

Nowadays, everybody can hear about different drone technologies, as they continuously appear in everyday life. It is easy to see on the internet how many possibilities are available with a drone. The hobby use of aerial photography can be regarded as basic, but this photographic feature can also be used for professional purposes, such as at different festivals, weddings, and by the police. However, operating a drone is still not a toy-like activity. Especially for larger drones, but also for smaller ones, several steps are necessary to operate them safely. Sometimes it occurs, especially for older or slightly damaged drones, that testing and diagnostic are necessary to obtain information about the malfunctions. Educational purposes are also important in engineering education, and basic drone education should be extended with diagnostic viewpoints. This paper introduces different diagnostic techniques for drones, our own experiences, and their usability in education. Full article

Background: Cognitive decline is an escalating public health challenge with global population aging. Understanding the association between hobby engagement and cognitive function is crucial for developing effective interventions. Methods: Utilizing data from waves 2 to 9 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), this study included 6854 community-dwelling adults aged 50 years and older. To comprehensively capture this relationship, we employed a multi-method analytical approach, encompassing multiple linear regression, linear mixed-effects models, group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM), and a comparison of machine learning algorithms to assess both associations and predictive performance. Results: Cross-sectionally, hobby engagement was significantly associated with higher baseline global cognitive, memory, and executive function scores. Longitudinally, hobbies were associated with a slower rate of decline in orientation, but not in memory, executive function, or global cognition. Group-based trajectory modeling, which identifies distinct subgroups with heterogeneous cognitive pathways, revealed that hobby engagement was associated with a substantially lower risk of belonging to a “persistently low cognitive function” trajectory (OR = 0.46). Among predictive models, the Scikit-learn Gradient Boosting Regressor demonstrated superior performance (RMSE = 0.7517, R² = 0.3033), outperforming deep learning approaches. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that hobby engagement may have domain-specific protective effects on cognitive health in older adults, most notably by drastically reducing the risk of a severely adverse cognitive trajectory. Promoting hobby participation therefore emerges as a potential viable, low-cost, and impactful public health strategy for preserving cognitive health in aging populations. Full article

The present study provides a socio-economic characterization of an endangered turkey population in Europe for the first time, using the example of a southern Spanish population. To this end, 10 Andalusian turkey breeders were subjected to a 102-item survey, which included the following sections: personal and educational profile, the role of women in breeding, availability and conditions of facilities, welfare conditions, other equipment, maintenance and hygiene, farm access, feeding management, reproductive and replacement management, mortality, market value, and motivations for breeding. The results exhibited a wide variety in the breeder and rearing system attributes. However, the respondents agreed that rearing local breeds was a non-professionalized hobby. Farmers have generally old facilities and makeshift equipment for breeding the animals, which show strong ancestral instincts and a low requirement for breeding. The main purpose of their rearing is for self-consumption; however, there is an established sale demand for meat associated with Christmas. Breeders show a strong emotional motivation for the preservation of this ancestral population, which shares the rearing system with other endangered breeds. Three different profiles of breeders, traditional, neo-rural, and new-peasant, are responsible for maintaining the population selflessly and without administrative support. Full article

This study presents a loop-shaping methodology for the attitude control of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The proposed controller design focuses on achieving desired frequency–domain characteristics—such as specified phase and gain margins—to ensure stability and robustness. Unlike many existing approaches that rely on oversimplified plant models or involve mathematically intensive robust-control formulations, this work develops controllers directly from a high-fidelity six-degree-of-freedom UAV model that captures realistic aerodynamic and actuator dynamics. The loop-shaping procedure translates multi-objective requirements into a transparent, step-by-step workflow by progressively shaping the plant’s open-loop frequency response to match a target transfer function. This provides an intuitive, visual design process that reduces reliance on empirical PID tuning and makes the method accessible for both hobby-scale UAV applications and commercial platforms. The proposed loop-shaping procedure is demonstrated on the pitch inner rate loop of a fixed-wing UAV, with controllers discretized and validated in nonlinear simulations as well as real flight tests. Experimental results show that the method achieves the intended bandwidth and stability margins on the desired design target closely. Full article

Backyard poultry systems (BPS) are the most widespread form of animal production worldwide, contributing to household economies and improving food availability. However, limited biosecurity measures and close human–animal interactions raise concerns regarding zoonotic disease transmission. In recent years, consumer-driven motivations have given rise to non-traditional BPS with differential attributes (BPS-DA), yet there is limited knowledge about their food production practices. This study aimed to characterize and compare practices across 25 BPS and 25 BPS-DA in the Metropolitan Region using surveys, interviews, and direct observations of egg collections and poultry slaughters. Eggs were the main animal product in both systems, with women primarily responsible for care. Poultry slaughter was reported exclusively in BPS (60%), generally performed under inadequate hygienic conditions and without veterinary oversight. These practices, (poultry slaughter, food production and handling), may considerably increase the risk of human exposure to zoonotic pathogens, such as avian influenza viruses. In contrast, BPS-DA prioritized birds as companion animals (60%), free-range rearing (68%), and hobby-based production (80%). While both systems showed limited biosecurity, significant differences were found in the use of dedicated footwear (p = 0.01; V = 0.35), egg collection sites (p = 0.04; V = 0.29), and refrigeration (p = 0.004; V = 0.41). Veterinary access was limited in both (32% in BPS; 44% in BPS-DA). These findings highlight critical gaps in health management and underscore the need for context-specific educational and regulatory strategies for safer backyard poultry production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Sporadic ALS cases, which represent over 90% of the total, result from the interaction between genetic predisposition, aging, and environmental factors. Regarding natural environmental risk factors, the analysis of the role of exposure to heavy metals is of particular interest due to the well-known neurological effects of certain compounds. This study aims to compare the levels of heavy metals in urine samples in a cohort of patients with ALS who have not changed their living environment with the levels found in healthy controls (HCs). Methods: A cross-sectional case-control (14 patients with ALS vs. 28 HC) observational study was conducted in which urine samples were analyzed for five heavy metals (lead, manganese, selenium, copper, and zinc) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results: The patients with ALS showed significantly higher urine levels of lead (p < 0.001) and copper (p = 0.007) and a subtle increase in manganese concentrations (p = 0.043). Urine samples reflect recent exposures, so if the source of metals was related to the residential environment (the patients in the present study had not moved), dietary habits, or certain activities or hobbies that had not changed since diagnosis, it would be representative. Conclusions: In this pilot study, patients with ALS presented higher urinary levels of lead, manganese, and copper. Future larger studies are needed to elucidate the precise role of these heavy metals in ALS pathogenesis. Full article

In order to determine the impact of urbanization on raptors in the semi-desert conditions of southwestern Kazakhstan, an analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of raptors is presented for the first time based on the results of surveys of the avifauna of Kyzylorda. Eight species of raptors were recorded: field Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Marsh Harrier (C. aeroginosus), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Long-Legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), Eurasian Buzzard (B. buteo), Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), and Common Kestrel (F. tinnunculus). The probability of raptors being present was negatively associated with dense urban low-rise buildings with limited greenery in the bay and the new part of the city. At the same time, the dense urban development with little or no greenery in the old central part of the city provides adequate habitat (including a foraging base and nesting sites) for the Common Kestrel. Raptor presence was positively associated with the Syrdarya River floodplain and wasteland with small groups of trees and/or shrubs. The landfill site located on the north-eastern edge of the city serves as a feeding ground for the Long-Legged and Eurasian Buzzards, while the airport area is inhabited by the Eurasian Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, and Common Kestrel. Based on this study, we would recommend that enterprises (e.g., grain storage facilities, airports) and local executive bodies who are interested in the conservation of raptors and regulating the population of the pigeons around their territories should retain or plant more native vegetation and shrubs and preserve areas with green spaces. Full article

The aim of this paper was to evaluate health, psychological distress, and functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic among Danish adults with and without a history of mental illness. Data were drawn from three online surveys conducted in May 2020 (n = 3134), January 2021 (n = 1170), and January 2022 (n = 1174) as part of the Danish contribution to the Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT). The prevalence of mental and physical health issues, psychological distress (stress, sleep problems, loneliness, and boredom) and levels of functioning (self-care, interpersonal relationships, hobbies/leisure, and work/education) were evaluated at four different time points stratified by history of mental illness. Findings indicated that physical health was not differentially affected between people with and without prior mental illness. However, mental health declined significantly more among respondents with a history of mental illness. While levels of stress did not differ between the two groups, boredom was more pronounced in May 2020 among those with prior mental illness. Loneliness was significantly higher in this group in January 2021. Sleep disturbances were more pronounced for respondents with former mental illness during the whole period. A decline in functioning was observed in people both with and without a former mental illness. It seemed a little more pronounced for people with mental illness but seldom reached statistical significance. For all measures of health, distress, and functioning, 10–20% of respondents reported improvements in health, distress, and functioning during the pandemic, with stress showing the most improvement—one third of participants reported feeling less stressed. In most of the parameters measured, the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to decrease with time. However, the effects were not uniform, and more investigations are needed to understand the whole picture. Full article

Background: Burnout syndrome (BS) is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Although there are underlying causes associated with personal attributes, it is generally linked to external factors within the work environment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of lifestyle factors on BS and its dimensions, as well as on suicidal ideation among Spanish professionals dedicated to implant dentistry. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. An electronic survey based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey (MBI–HSS) was distributed to members of the Spanish Society of Implants. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: A total of 305 participants (20.9%) responded to the questionnaire. Notably, 10.8% of the professionals reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, a factor significantly associated with the presence of BS. The lifestyle factors associated with BS included the following: not engaging in aerobic exercise for at least 30 min per day (p < 0.05), not having hobbies that facilitate mental disconnection from work (p < 0.001), not following a balanced diet (p < 0.0001), having an insufficient social life (p < 0.0001), and experiencing suicidal ideation (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The surveyed dentists generally reported having healthy lifestyle habits. Nevertheless, one in ten professionals acknowledged having experienced suicidal ideation at some point, highlighting a concerning association with BS. Full article

Background: This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of burnout among medical students at “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galați, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy. Methods: Burnout was measured using the School Burnout Inventory-U 9 (SBI-U 9), and potential predictors, including social media addiction (Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale—BSMAS), procrastination, age, gender, year of study, admission grade, last annual grade, hobbies, achievements, close friends, and relationship status, were assessed using appropriate instruments. Correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses identified predictors of burnout. Mediation analysis tested procrastination as a mediator between BSMAS and burnout, while moderation analysis examined whether procrastination moderated this relationship. Results: Social media addiction was an independent predictor of burnout. While younger age was correlated with higher burnout, it was not a significant predictor in the multivariate model. Procrastination did not significantly mediate the link between social media addiction and burnout but significantly moderated it. The effect of social media addiction on burnout was stronger for students with lower levels of procrastination. Conclusions: The study shows increased susceptibility to burnout among younger students and identifies social media addiction as a key risk factor. Procrastination moderates this relationship, indicating the need for interventions targeting both digital habits and time management in medical education. Full article