Search Results (3,455)

Subclinical bovine mastitis (SBM) is an inflammatory condition of the udder that remains a major concern for the dairy industry due to its high incidence and the direct and indirect associated costs. Antibiotics are widely used for prophylaxis and therapy in livestock, especially for SBM. However, overuse and misuse have contributed to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), enabling resistant bacteria to enter the food chain and potentially spread to humans. This study aimed to detect antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus and Streptococcus associated with SBM in dairy cows from Pioter, north-central Ecuador. For this, a commercial screening test, morphological and biochemical assays, standard culture techniques, mass spectrometry, and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) were applied. Among 99 isolates, 77 were Staphylococcus and 22 were Streptococcus. Among the identified Staphylococcus isolates, S. aureus was the predominant species (36.4%). Resistance in Staphylococcus exceeded 70% for fosfomycin and was under 30% for the other antibiotics tested. In Streptococcus, S. uberis predominated (54.5%), with resistance primarily to penicillin and tetracycline (>50%). PCR identified mecA, nuc, and lukSF-PV genes in 7.8%, 29.9%, and 6.5% of Staphylococcus isolates, respectively. In Streptococcus, the ermB and blaZ genes were found in 18.2% and 50% of isolates, respectively. These data provide a baseline on SBM-associated AMR in the study area and highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and improved milking practices to mitigate risks to the dairy sector and public health. Full article

Background/Objectives: Halitosis in geriatric patients is multifactorial, but the joint contribution of prosthetic rehabilitation type and polypharmacy after routine dental procedures has rarely been quantified. We investigated how prosthesis type, polypharmacy, and salivary function were associated with volatile sulfur compound (VSC) burden and self-perceived halitosis in elderly dental patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 88 patients aged ≥65 years, four weeks after completing routine dental procedures. Participants were stratified into three groups: complete denture wearers (n = 30), partial removable denture wearers (n = 28), and fixed prostheses/implants (n = 30). We measured unstimulated salivary flow rate (uSFR), tongue coating index (TCI), denture biofilm index, total VSCs (Halimeter^®), organoleptic score (0–5), and self-perceived halitosis. Polypharmacy, comorbidities, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were recorded. Analyses included one- and two-way ANOVA, Spearman correlations, theory-informed multivariable linear and logistic regression, exploratory mediation analysis, and ROC curves. Results: Forty-two participants (47.7%) reported halitosis. Mean VSC differed across groups (complete dentures 278.2 ± 38.6 ppb; partial 211.2 ± 46.3 ppb; fixed 164.4 ± 43.9 ppb; ANOVA p < 0.001). uSFR correlated inversely with VSC (ρ = −0.61, p < 0.001) and TCI correlated positively (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.001). A significant prosthesis × polypharmacy interaction was observed (F = 3.74, p = 0.029, η²_p = 0.082): polypharmacy was associated with higher VSC most clearly among partial and fixed prostheses wearers, whereas complete denture wearers showed high VSC levels regardless of polypharmacy status. Exploratory mediation findings were consistent with partial indirect association, with 45.9% of the polypharmacy–VSC association statistically explained by reduced uSFR; however, the cross-sectional design precludes causal or temporal interpretation. The full multivariable model showed apparent discrimination for self-perceived halitosis (AUC = 0.92), while the simplified four-item chairside composite model showed AUC = 0.89; neither estimate was optimism-corrected or externally validated. Conclusions: In elderly post-procedure patients, complete denture wearing, polypharmacy, and salivary hypofunction were independently and jointly associated with higher halitosis burden. Reduced salivary flow was consistent with a partial indirect statistical pathway in the polypharmacy–VSC association, supporting hydration counseling and meticulous prosthesis hygiene as low-cost geriatric interventions. Sensitivity analyses excluding implant-supported restorations, participants with MMSE scores of 24–26, and expanded mediation models including TCI and biofilm/plaque did not materially change the main inference. Full article

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) has emerged as a promising mechanism for climate mitigation; however, farmer participation in developing countries remains limited. This study combines the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Capability–Opportunity–Motivation–Behavior (COM-B) framework to investigate factors associated with Thai farmers’ intention and self-reported stage of participation in VCM. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 240 farmers across multiple crop systems in Thailand and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The model explained substantial variance in intention and behavior (R² = 0.610 and 0.555, respectively), although PLS-Predict indicated limited predictive performance. Perceived behavioral control (PBC) showed the strongest positive association with reported participation behavior (β = 0.493, p < 0.001), followed by intention (β = 0.343, p < 0.001). Access to extension and technical support (AES) was positively associated with intention (β = 0.624, p < 0.001) and PBC (β = 0.338, p < 0.001). Knowledge was positively associated with PBC (β = 0.324, p < 0.001) but negatively associated with intention (β = −0.106, p = 0.045). No significant association was observed between attitude and intention; however, subjective norms were negatively associated with intention (β = −0.336, p < 0.001). Indirect associations through intention and PBC were also observed. Overall, the findings suggest that capability-, opportunity-, and trust-related factors are associated with farmers’ reported participation in VCM and may inform the design of future policies and support programs. Although the model demonstrated useful explanatory capability, its predictive performance was limited, indicating that the findings should be interpreted primarily as explanatory rather than predictive. Full article

Background: Psychological distress (PD) has been associated with lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, sleep duration, and diet-related practices. Dietary self-efficacy may represent a self-regulatory correlate in these relationships; however, evidence from population studies remains limited, particularly in Peruvian adults. Objective: To examine whether dietary self-efficacy is statistically associated with the links between physical activity, sleep duration, vegetarian status, and PD in a sample of Peruvian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 684 Peruvian adults. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the proposed associations, adjusting for age, sex, educational level, marital status, residence, and BMI. Results: The SEM showed acceptable fit, with RMSEA and SRMR within recommended ranges and CFI/TLI slightly below 0.90 (CFI = 0.898, TLI = 0.886, RMSEA = 0.039, SRMR = 0.047). Lower dietary self-efficacy was associated with higher PD (β = 0.283, p < 0.001). Physical activity showed an indirect statistical association with lower PD via dietary self-efficacy (β = −0.043, p < 0.001) and a significant total association with PD (β = −0.085, p = 0.018). Sleep duration showed a curvilinear (U-shaped) association with PD (linear β = −0.122, p = 0.001; quadratic β = 0.124, p < 0.001), but not via dietary self-efficacy. Vegetarian status was not directly associated with PD (β = 0.002, p = 0.956), and its indirect statistical association via dietary self-efficacy did not reach conventional significance (β = 0.022, p = 0.070). The model explained 14.1% of the variance in dietary self-efficacy and 19.3% of the variance in PD. Conclusions: Lower dietary self-efficacy was associated with higher PD and captured a model-based indirect statistical association between physical activity and PD. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as correlational and warrant confirmation in longitudinal or experimental studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to verify a prediction model identifying the relationships and pathways among factors associated with Korean nursing students’ provision of person-centered care to patients with dementia. Methods: This was a covariance structure analysis study to establish a hypothetical model of 313 Korean nursing students located in a metropolitan area. IBM SPSS version 18.0 (Chicago, IL, USA) and AMOS version 5.0 (Chicago, IL, USA) were used to analyze the data. Structural equation modeling analysis was applied to verify convergent and discriminant validity using higher-order factor analysis in the final model analysis. Results: The model fit indices of the research model were as follows: χ²/df = 1.83 (p < 0.001), GFI = 0.91, AGFI = 0.88, NFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.90, RMR = 0.04, and RMSEA = 0.05. The factors affecting person-centered care, nursing professionalism (γ = 0.45, p = 0.024), and empathy (γ = 0.21, p = 0.036) showed significant associations, whereas clinical practice adaptation (γ = 0.21, p = 0.013) and nursing professionalism (γ = 0.08, p = 0.004) had indirect effects. These factors explained 40% of the variance in person-centered care. Conclusions: This study is significant because it provides basic data for developing an educational program that can improve the person-centered care capacity of domestic nursing students by confirming that clinical practice adaptation, nursing professionalism, and empathy are important factors related to person-centered care. Full article

The role of financial institutions in climate governance is increasingly being recognized, particularly in relation to Scope 3 emissions. While existing research has focused primarily on lending and investment activities, the potential influence of insurance operations on lifecycle emissions remains underexplored. This study examines electric vehicle (EV) insurance underwriting as a form of indirect climate governance, with particular attention being paid to claim-related decision processes that affect repair-, replacement-, and battery-related outcomes. A decision-analytical, scenario-based portfolio model is developed to analyze how underwriting and claims parameters may influence lifecycle emissions exposure. The model incorporates literature-informed and scenario-based parameter ranges derived from the lifecycle assessment literature and industry-relevant assumptions, while explicitly accounting for regulatory, technical, and behavioral constraints that limit insurer decision making. An exposure-based attribution framework is applied to link insurance-mediated outcomes to emissions associated with vehicle and battery manufacturing. The results suggest that claim-related parameters—particularly total-loss probability—are associated with variations in modeled emissions exposure within the analytical framework. Scenario analysis indicates that, under plausible parameter configurations, differences in claims decision structures may contribute to variation in lifecycle emissions at the portfolio level. Sensitivity analysis further indicates that these relationships appear stable across a range of parameter assumptions. The findings should be interpreted as scenario-based insights rather than empirical estimates, highlighting potential pathways through which insurance operations may influence emissions outcomes within existing constraints. The study contributes to the literature by extending Scope 3 governance analysis to insurance and by proposing an operational framework for interpreting insurance-associated emissions in lifecycle terms. Full article

Drawing on dynamic capability theory and upper echelons theory, this study develops a moderated mediation framework that treats green dynamic capabilities as a mediator and top management team (TMT) behavioral integration as a moderator. Empirical tests based on sample data reveal that the application of generative artificial intelligence is positively associated with corporate green innovation. This relationship is partially mediated by green dynamic capabilities. Moreover, TMT behavioral integration not only positively moderates the direct effect of generative AI on green innovation but also strengthens both stages of the indirect path, thereby reinforcing the overall mediated mechanism. The study uncovers a “capability transformation” process and “governance boundary” conditions through which generative AI may facilitate green innovation in agricultural enterprises, extends theoretical research at the nexus of digital technology and green innovation, and offers practical guidance for agri-businesses seeking coordinated digital and green development. Full article

In Argentina, a high incidence of EBV-associated lymphomas was demonstrated in young children. Natural killer (NK) cells, particularly, IFN-γ-producing CD56bright NK cells, have been reported to play a key role in asymptomatic EBV infection in children, restricting viral-mediated transformation. In order to analyze NK cell characteristics in children with primary and persistent EBV infection, along with EBV+ Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) from Argentina, a cohort of EBV-infected pediatric patients was analyzed. A scarcity of CD56+ cells, as an indirect marker of NK cells, across all tonsillar samples and pediatric classical Hodgkin lymphoma cases was observed, with no significant differences according to EBV status. In primary infection, CD56+ cells showed a positive correlation with IFNγ+ cells, suggesting a role in early antiviral responses. Flow cytometry revealed an increased proportion of CD56bright NK cells in EBV-infected children, particularly in cases expressing latency II/III antigens. A significantly higher IFN-γ production was observed in CD56bright cells in children with primary infection compared with healthy carriers, along with an inverse correlation between IFN-γ production and CD56bright cells in healthy carriers. These findings suggest that NK cells may contribute to immune control predominantly during primary infection, whereas their role appears limited in healthy carriers and in EBV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma. Full article

Leisure space configuration has been recognized as a spatial approach to reducing carbon emissions from recreational travel, but the role of perceptual factors in linking inter-facility distance to travel behavior is not fully clear. This paper adopts a “relative distance–perceived time cost (PTC)–carbon emissions” framework to explore their associations. Based on 20 recreational hotspots in Tianjin and 2372 valid questionnaires, we apply correlation analysis, mediation tests and regression tree segmentation for empirical exploration. Results indicate that the maximum distance between commercial and other leisure facilities (ShopMax) correlates significantly with PTC and shows a potential indirect association with carbon emissions. The indirect effect is significant for single-point trips (p = 0.006), while only directional trends exist for chained trips due to sample constraints. Optimal distance intervals present nonlinear differences across facility types: scenic facilities (ScenicMax) have overlapping perception- and emission-friendly intervals, whereas ShopMax shows divergent intervals for chained trips. The 200–300 m range is consistently found to be a high-carbon zone. This exploratory analysis suggests perceived time cost may connect spatial configuration to low-carbon travel. Differentiated layout strategies warrant further exploration for various facilities and travel contexts. Full article

Background: Digital transformation is viewed as a lever of supply chain resilience, yet the intermediate pathways through which digital maturity relates to resilience remain underspecified, particularly in emerging-market contexts. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and the Dynamic Capabilities Framework, this study examines whether four dynamic capabilities (visibility, flexibility, risk management, and collaboration) mediate the relationship between digital maturity and supply chain resilience. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey of 250 Moroccan firms and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), we estimate a multi-mediator model and decompose the total association using variance accounted for (VAF). Results: The findings indicate that digital maturity is positively associated with resilience both directly (β = 0.219, p < 0.01) and indirectly through the four mediators, with the four capabilities jointly accounting for 63.7% of the total association (R² = 0.523, SRMR = 0.027). Visibility (18.9%) and flexibility (15.9%) emerge as the strongest indirect channels. Conclusions: The study contributes by simultaneously testing four dynamic capabilities as mediators within a single specification, documenting evidence from an under-represented emerging-market context, and providing empirically grounded managerial recommendations and policy implications. Because the data are cross-sectional, all reported coefficients describe statistical associations. Full article

Stream sediment geochemistry is a widely used reconnaissance tool in early-stage mineral exploration, particularly in regions where direct evidence of mineralisation is limited. Because stream sediment anomalies provide indirect geochemical signatures and are typically constrained by limited ground-truth information, labelled datasets are often scarce and spatially biased. This limitation restricts the applicability of supervised learning approaches and highlights the need for robust unsupervised methods. In this study, six unsupervised techniques, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Non-negative Matrix Factorisation (NMF), Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), Autoencoder (AE), Deep Embedded Clustering (DEC), and an Averaged Ensemble Index (AVE), were evaluated for integrating multivariate stream sediment geochemical data and delineating gold prospectivity zones. Eight gold-related elements (Au, As, Ag, B, Hg, Mo, Sb, and W) were selected based on regional metallogenic characteristics and previously reported geochemical associations. To facilitate direct comparison, all model outputs were normalised to a fuzzy membership scale ranging from 0 to 1. Model performance was quantitatively assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic–Area Under the Curve (ROC–AUC) and Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) metrics based on independently verified mineralised and non-mineralised locations. The results indicated that DEC and AE consistently outperformed the other methods investigated, achieving the highest ROC–AUC and MCC values, whereas UMAP exhibited comparatively weaker performance. The findings demonstrated that unsupervised representation learning approaches, particularly DEC and AE, provided a more effective framework for integrating multivariate geochemical data and delineating gold-related anomalies in data-limited exploration environments than conventional dimensionality reduction and heuristic integration methods. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines is generally low in preschool children, and less is known about how proximal family support for children’s physical activity (family PA support) is associated with physical fitness and 24-h movement behaviors. This study aimed to describe guideline adherence and to examine the associations among family PA support, 24-h movement behaviors, and physical fitness in Chinese preschool children. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2386 Chinese preschool children (4.50 ± 0.86 years, 46.8% girls). Family PA support and 24-h movement behaviors were assessed using parent-reported questionnaires, and physical fitness was assessed using the Chinese National Physical Fitness Evaluation Standard for preschool children. Path analysis was used to examine the overall association pattern, including direct and indirect association estimates, among family PA support, movement behaviors, and physical fitness. Results: Only 12.7% of preschool children met all three 24-h movement recommendations. Compliance was 24.7% for physical activity, 82.7% for screen time, and 76.8% for sleep, indicating that insufficient physical activity was the main barrier to full guideline adherence. Family PA support was positively associated with physical fitness (β = 0.048, p = 0.021), and the combined indirect association estimate involving the three movement behaviors was also statistically significant (β = 0.024, p < 0.001). Among the three movement behaviors, family PA support was most strongly associated with higher MVPA (β = 0.150, p < 0.001), and MVPA showed the clearest positive association with physical fitness (β = 0.155, p < 0.001). Screen time was negatively associated with family PA support (β = −0.088, p < 0.001) but not significantly associated with physical fitness (p = 0.091), whereas sleep showed a small negative association with physical fitness (β = −0.056, p = 0.005). These findings suggest a comparatively stronger role for MVPA within the observed association pattern. Conclusion: Chinese preschool children showed low adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines, with insufficient physical activity appearing to be the main limiting factor. Family PA support may represent a potentially modifiable family-level correlate of preschool children’s physical fitness, with MVPA appearing to play a comparatively stronger role within the observed association pattern. Full article

In ecosystems of algorithmic visibility, Instagram bios operate as high salience microdiscourses of self-presentation and signaling. We examine whether observable bio attributes are associated with visibility and interaction among Brazilian sports journalists. We analyzed 151 public Instagram profiles (≥100,000 followers) and extracted bios and profile metadata via automated collection. Bio attributes (length, emojis, @mentions, hashtags, location, informational cues, and external links) were related to followers, average likes and comments, and engagement rate (primary outcome) using Spearman rank correlations under conservative interpretation. Emojis and mentions were near universal; links were common; hashtags and locations were rare. Associations were small and exploratory: personal information correlated negatively with followers; hashtags correlated positively with likes and comments but relied on five cases; and references to other platforms correlated negatively with engagement. Overall, bios appear to function mainly as signaling infrastructures, with any performance effects likely indirect and mediated by content practices and platform exposure within this ecosystem. Full article

Background: The increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents is a growing public health concern in Thailand, where they are prohibited but remain accessible. This study aimed to examine the psychosocial correlates of preventive behaviors regarding e-cigarettes among adolescents in central Thailand. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 383 secondary school students (Grades 7–12) selected through proportionate stratified random sampling from two government schools in Ongkharak District, Thailand. Data were collected using a validated self-administered online questionnaire assessing attitudes toward e-cigarettes, peer influence, family attachment, and preventive behaviors. Item analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and factor-score regression with bootstrapped indirect-association analysis (k = 5000) were performed to examine direct and indirect associations. Results: The four-factor measurement model demonstrated acceptable absolute fit (SRMR = 0.069) but weaker incremental fit (CFI = 0.70), expected given the large number of ordinal indicators estimated via maximum likelihood, with standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.621 to 0.926 (p < 0.001). The structural model explained 44.2% of the variance in preventive behaviors (R² = 0.442). Family attachment showed the strongest total association (β = 0.456), including both direct and indirect associations through attitudes (β = 0.116) and peer influence (β = 0.162), consistent with a pattern of statistically significant indirect associations. Conclusions: Family attachment was associated with self-reported e-cigarette preventive behavior, with statistically significant indirect associations through attitudes and peer influence. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as model-consistent associations rather than causal mediation, and may inform future family- and peer-oriented prevention research in comparable settings. Full article

This study examined the associations of self-reported emotional intelligence and self-regulation with children’s well-being among fourth-grade elementary school students in Mersin, Türkiye. The sample comprised 627 students, predominantly aged 9 to 10 years, from seven public elementary schools selected to reflect different district and school contexts. Data were collected in person after ethics committee approval, institutional permissions from the Turkish Ministry of National Education, and written parental consent. The Children’s Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Self-Regulation Scale, and the Stirling Children’s Well-Being Scale were administered. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, simple and multiple linear regressions, and a cross-sectional indirect association analysis using PROCESS Model 4 with 5000 bootstrap resamples were conducted. Emotional intelligence was positively associated with children’s well-being and self-regulation, while self-regulation showed a weaker positive association with well-being. Emotional intelligence explained 31.4% of the variance in well-being, self-regulation explained 8.6% when examined alone, and both variables jointly explained 31.9%, indicating only a marginal increase over emotional intelligence alone. Thus, most of the explained variance was accounted for by emotional intelligence, whereas self-regulation made a very small incremental contribution beyond it. The indirect association analysis indicated a small but statistically supported pattern of indirect association between emotional intelligence and well-being through self-regulation within this cross-sectional design; the association between emotional intelligence and well-being remained significant after self-regulation was included in the model. The findings suggest that emotional intelligence is the stronger socio-emotional correlate of children’s well-being in this sample, whereas self-regulation shows a limited complementary association. Given the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures, the findings should be interpreted as correlational associations rather than evidence of causal effects, temporal ordering, or developmental change. Future studies should use longitudinal, intervention-based, and multi-informant designs to further examine these associations. Full article