Search Results (11,867)

This study examines why consumers intend to visit restaurants recommended by food influencers on social media. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and social influence mechanisms, we test an extended TPB model in which trust in the influencer is incorporated as an additional antecedent of intention and as a mediating mechanism linking influencer–follower identification to visit intention. To obtain information, a structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 474 Ecuadorian social media users who follow at least one gastronomic influencer. Hypotheses were assessed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and predictive assessment (PLSpredict). The results show that attitude toward recommendations and perceived control exert a significant effect on intention, while subjective norms have a more moderate influence. Trust is projected as an additional facilitator in the transition from evaluation to intention, indicating that parasocial affinity translates into intended behavior only when it is accompanied by perceived credibility. The study contributes to TPB and influencer marketing by clarifying how influencer-mediated digital recommendation contexts reshape the classic TPB mechanism and by specifying trust as the key bridge between identification and behavioral intention in a high-uncertainty gastronomic decision. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a critical metabolic dependency in many cancers. Targeting OXPHOS through Leucine-Rich PPR Motif-Containing Protein (LRPPRC) degrader-mediated OXPHOS Complex Biogenesis Inhibition (OCBI) has demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity. However, rational combination strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy remain undefined. This study aims to identify FDA-approved drugs that synergize with LRPPRC inhibition and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Methods: We conducted a high-throughput screen of 1376 FDA-approved compounds using LRPPRC isogenic cancer cell models to identify agents that synergize with LRPPRC degrader-based OCBI therapy. The synergistic effects of the candidate compound were validated in multiple cancer cell lines with either genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of LRPPRC. Mechanistic studies were performed to investigate the impact on OXPHOS gene expression from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Results: The clinically approved multi-kinase inhibitor Dasatinib was identified as a robust synergistic candidate, exhibiting heightened sensitivity in cancer cells with either LRPPRC knockout or pharmacological inhibition. Mechanistically, Dasatinib selectively suppressed nuclear-encoded OXPHOS genes, whereas LRPPRC inhibition preferentially impaired mitochondrial DNA-encoded OXPHOS genes, resulting in a coordinated dual-genome blockade of OXPHOS. Conclusions: This study uncovers a previously unrecognized synergistic anti-tumor effect between LRPPRC inhibition and Dasatinib, mediated by complementary suppression of nuclear- and mitochondrial genome-encoded OXPHOS pathways. These findings provide a strong mechanistic and translational rationale for combination therapies targeting LRPPRC-high tumors. Full article

Background: The visceral organs of sea cucumbers belonging to the family Stichopodidae, also known as Stichopodidae Viscus (SV), have been traditionally used for the management of gastrointestinal disorders. Experimental evidence has shown that the ethanol extract of SV (SVE) alleviates ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms in a mouse model. However, the chemical constituents of SVE and the potential molecular targets mediating its effects in UC remain unclear. Methods: In this study, SVE was prepared from Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka). A reliable and sensitive strategy integrating advanced analytical and informatics tools was employed to profile the chemical components of SVE. Analyses were performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry operating in high-definition MS^E (UPLC-IMS-Q-TOF-HDMS^E), with data processed using the UNIFI scientific information system. Constituent identification relied on retention time (RT), accurate mass (MS1), experimentally acquired HDMS^E (MS2) spectra, and collision cross-section (CCS). Metabolomics-based approaches were further applied to characterize the in vivo exposure profile of SVE components in mouse serum and colon tissue after oral administration. Subsequently, the putative bioactive constituents and their underlying mechanisms of action were investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Results: Based on the integrated identification strategy, a total of 78 compounds, including saponins, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and amino acids, were annotated in SVE, among which 6 compounds were verified using authentic reference standards to ensure unambiguous identification. Subsequently, 35 features in serum and 24 in the colon were found to be significantly altered following a single oral dose of SVE in mice, and were defined as SVE-related differential constituents. After network pharmacology analyses, 129 shared targets were identified between potential targets of SVE-related components in serum and UC-related targets, including PIK3CA, EGFR, and AKT1. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that SVE might exert its effects in UC through modulation of key nodes within the PI3K-Akt and EGFR signaling pathways, as well as lipid- and atherosclerosis-related pathways. Molecular docking results further indicated moderate binding affinities of representative SVE-related differential components toward PIK3CA, AKT1, and EGFR. Conclusions: This study clarifies the chemical basis and potential UC-related mechanisms of SVE, providing a scientific rationale for the development of SV-derived therapeutic candidates for UC. Full article

Climate change and tightening resource and environmental constraints are increasing the strategic importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance for firms’ long-term viability. This study examines whether ESG performance enhances organizational resilience in China and explores the roles of innovation capability and environmental uncertainty. Using an unbalanced panel of 1037 non-financial Chinese A-share listed firms from 2014 to 2022, we estimate panel models and conduct a series of robustness and endogeneity tests. The results show that ESG performance significantly improves organizational resilience. Innovation capability partially mediates this relationship, indicating that ESG enhances resilience in part by strengthening firms’ innovative capacity. Environmental uncertainty also positively moderates the effect of innovation capability on organizational resilience, although the evidence is modest. Further analysis shows that the positive ESG–resilience relationship is stronger among state-owned enterprises and small and medium-sized firms. Overall, the findings suggest that ESG functions not only as a sustainability signal, but also as an organizational capability that supports resilience under uncertainty. Full article

Rural revitalization has emerged as a core agenda in the global pursuit of sustainable development, with its success fundamentally hinging on enhancing the resilience of rural households to withstand shocks and restore their livelihoods. In contrast to mainstream research that primarily examines whether Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) reduces medical burden, this paper focuses on MFA as ex-post cash compensation and investigates whether and how it affects the sustainable livelihood recovery of low-income rural households following health shocks, thereby providing empirical evidence for understanding the foundational role of health security in rural revitalization. A quasi-natural experiment is constructed by leveraging the institutional feature that MFA eligibility is activated by exogenous health shocks. Using two-wave balanced panel data (2021–2022) from a nationally designated deep poverty-stricken county in Hebei Province, China, the Propensity Score Matching–Difference-in-Differences (PSM-DID) method and mediation models are employed for causal identification and mechanism testing. The findings indicate that (1) MFA significantly promotes household income recovery. It enables recipient households to recover per capita net income by an average of approximately 13.2% (p < 0.01), demonstrating a protective recovery effect, and simultaneously recovers per capita non-farm labor income by an average of approximately 13.8% (p < 0.05), revealing a developmental recovery effect. The latter is partially mediated by the non-farm labor participation rate (mediation ratio 51.7%, Sobel Z = 2.10). This finding validates the “time release effect,” demonstrating that MFA stimulates endogenous dynamics by restoring health capital and releasing labor previously constrained by family care responsibilities. It thereby extends the application of health capital theory from the individual to the household level. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that the protective recovery effect is fully mediated by the amount of MFA received (mediation ratio 326.7%, Sobel Z = 12.85), providing empirical evidence for precautionary saving theory in the context of targeted social assistance and revealing the potential productive attributes of the social safety net. (3) Heterogeneity analysis reveals clear group targeting and shock thresholds. The protective effect is concentrated among elderly households, while the developmental effect is primarily evident in middle-aged households. Both recovery effects manifest significantly only for households experiencing major disease shocks, confirming the theoretical expectation of “conditional effectiveness,” namely that policy effects are systematically moderated by household life-cycle characteristics and the severity of health shocks. This study demonstrates that MFA serves both as a safety net and an empowerment tool, but its effectiveness is highly contingent upon household characteristics and shock severity. By uncovering the foundational mechanisms through which health security contributes to rural household resilience, this study provides empirical evidence from China for building sustainable poverty prevention systems in the global process of rural revitalization. Full article

Active learning has increasingly been adopted as an evidence-aligned approach to improving learning quality in university physics—a domain characterized by high conceptual abstraction, persistent misconceptions, and substantial variability in student performance. Evidence from physics education research indicates that active-learning designs can outperform lecture-dominant instruction in conceptual learning and student engagement; however, reported effects vary substantially across instructional settings and implementation models. Here, empirical studies and review-level syntheses are integrated to delineate (i) the instructional components that most reliably underpin successful active learning, (ii) the mechanisms through which these components influence learning processes and outcomes, and (iii) the boundary conditions that moderate effectiveness across higher-education contexts. The synthesis is further situated within sustainability-oriented higher education by linking physics active-learning designs to competence development relevant to quality education, climate literacy, and collaborative problem solving. Evidence spanning flipped classroom implementations, peer instruction, collaborative problem solving, inquiry- and project-based approaches, and technology-enhanced formats is organized into a component–mechanism–outcome framework structured along cognitive, affective, and behavioral pathways. Two deliverables are advanced: an integrative mechanism model connecting instructional components to mediating processes, learning outcomes, and sustainability-aligned competencies, and an operational toolbox that translates the evidence into actionable design heuristics, measurement options, and scaling considerations. By redirecting attention from “which strategy works” to “which components work, how, and under what conditions,” the review aims to support instructors, departments, and institutions seeking scalable, evidence-aligned active learning in university physics. Full article

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a foodborne pathogen whose virulence depends on the coordinated action of multiple virulence factors. Although deletion of either LIPI-4 or inlB reduces the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes, it remains unknown whether these two factors are functionally or regulatory connected. Therefore, we constructed an inlB deletion mutant and its complemented strain in the Lm928 and ΔLIPI-4 backgrounds. We assessed bacterial growth, biofilm formation, motility, host cell interactions (adhesion, invasion, intracellular proliferation), plaque formation, mouse organ colonization. Growth curve analysis showed no significant differences among strains. qPCR revealed that LIPI-4 modulates inlB expression in a cell-type-specific manner: inlB was downregulated in ΔLIPI-4 under culture and HTR-8 infection, but upregulated during hCMEC/D3 infection—yet functional defects persisted in all cases. Biofilm assays showed that ΔLIPI-4 and the double mutant exhibited enhanced biofilm formation, with the double mutant exceeding ΔLIPI-4, demonstrating synergistic enhancement. Motility assays indicated that LIPI-4 dominates bacterial movement, with ΔLIPI-4 and the double mutant showing identical severe defects. Plaque formation analysis showed that LIPI-4 is essential for cell-to-cell spread, while inlB deletion unexpectedly enhanced plaque formation—an effect completely abolished in the absence of LIPI-4. Host cell assays across Caco-2, HTR-8, and hCMEC/D3 models revealed that LIPI-4 is the core determinant of adhesion, invasion, and intracellular proliferation, whereas inlB contributes in the context of LIPI-4 and its effects vary with the specific cellular process examined. In mice, LIPI-4 was essential for systemic colonization of the liver and spleen, with inlB acting as a co-factor, whereas inlB unexpectedly promoted higher bacterial burdens in the brain, suggesting that inlB modulates LIPI-4-mediated neuroinvasion. Overall, our results establish LIPI-4 as the central determinant of Lm virulence, with inlB acting as a context-dependent co-factor that modulates LIPI-4-mediated pathogenesis in a cell type- and tissue-specific manner. Full article

While breastfeeding is strongly recommended for infant health, uncertainty remains regarding its independent association with early childhood caries after accounting for sugar exposure. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the controlled direct effect of breastfeeding on dental caries. Methods: Data were drawn from two population-based birth cohort studies: the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study (Brazil) and the SMILE Study (Australia). The exposure was any breastfeeding at 3, 6, and 12 months, with sugar consumption at 12 and 24 months as the mediator. The outcome was dental caries at ages 4/5, assessed as early childhood caries (ECC), severe ECC, any disease experience, or any decayed teeth. Marginal Structural Models with inverse probability of treatment weight were used to estimate the controlled direct effect of breastfeeding on dental caries, accounting for sociodemographic confounders and sugar consumption. Results: A total of 751 Australian and 3545 Brazilian children were included in at least one sub-analysis. Findings indicate a contextual difference: in Australia, breastfeeding had no effect on dental caries after considering sugar consumption as mediator, whereas in Brazil, children not breastfed had a lower risk of dental caries. For instance, adjusted Brazilian estimates showed a reduced relative risk ranging from 0.63 (95% CI 0.55; 0.72) for ECC to 0.43 (95% CI 0.34; 0.55) for severe ECC. Conclusions: The association between breastfeeding and dental caries appears to vary across socio-environmental contexts. In settings with high caries burden, prolonged breastfeeding may increase caries risk independently of sugar consumption; however, breastfeeding remains strongly recommended given its substantial overall health benefits. These findings highlight the importance of integrating early oral health guidance such as oral health education into breastfeeding support programs. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a strategic resource for enhancing supply chain resilience in environments characterized by growing uncertainty and complexity. Building on the resource-based view (RBV) and organizational information processing theory (OIPT), this study examines how AI assimilation as a firm-level strategic capability improves supply–demand visibility and strengthens supply chain risk management (SCRM). Using survey data collected from 129 manufacturing firms in China, the proposed research framework is tested through structural equation modeling. The results show that AI assimilation significantly enhances both supply–demand visibility and SCRM, with visibility playing a partial mediating role in translating AI-enabled capabilities into more effective risk control. These findings indicate that AI contributes to resilience not merely through technological deployment but through its integration into organizational processes that support information processing and coordination. From a managerial perspective, the study suggests that firms should approach AI as an ongoing strategic capability development process rather than a one-time technological investment. By embedding AI into core supply chain functions such as production planning, inventory management, and demand forecasting, firms can improve visibility, anticipate disruptions, and shift toward more proactive and resilient risk management practices. This study advances the literature by integrating RBV and OIPT to explain the strategic mechanisms through which AI assimilation enhances visibility in SCRM, providing empirical evidence from a manufacturing context. Full article

User interfaces (UIs) have become prevalent and dominant to maximize overall user experience. In order to enhance UI design, the effects of their base properties must be mapped out. Therefore, we constructed a structural equation model, considering the direct effects of design properties and the mediating effects of user performance, with the specific goal of maximizing the UI for users. A total of thirty-six participants were surveyed with different random combinations of UIs while using an eye tracker and measuring their final perception. Significant direct, mediating, and moderating effects were found in this study. Design guidelines were made for maximizing user experience in this study. Full article

Background/Objective: GHRP-6 is a GH secretagogue hexapeptide with expanding and promising cardioprotective effects. Having determined 0.4 mg/kg as the minimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy based on echocardiographic parameters in healthy rats, we implemented a non-reperfusion myocardial infarct model, with its consequent left ventricle wall thinning and ballooning, via permanent left descending coronary artery ligation. Methods: Rats were assigned to three groups: sham-operated/normal rats, infarcted + saline-treated control rats, and infarcted + GHRP-6-administration rats. Treatments were initiated post-surgery and continued for 7 days. On day 7, the animals were echocardiographically and histologically evaluated. For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used. Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation. Results: Here, we show that GHRP-6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise, reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and integrally improved left ventricle physiology. The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. Conclusions: GHRP-6 is a potent cardioprotective candidate attenuating morphological and functional outcomes caused by late ischemia. Full article

Regulatory bodies have observed an increase in environmental issues due to firms’ interactions with the environment. Nonetheless, reconciliation actions are emerging, driven by the pursuit of sustainable development goals. This study investigated the impact of financial development and foreign direct investment on ecological footprints in sub-Saharan African nations, while examining the mediating role of regulatory quality and control for corruption. The research was motivated by the growing environmental degradation in the region amid growing capital inflows and financial market expansion. Using panel data of 18 sub-Saharan African countries between 1996 and 2023, sourced from the World Bank database and World Governance Indicators, we employed an Autoregressive Distributed Lag model to assess the short- and long-run relationships among ecological footprint, financial development, foreign direct investment, and key institutional factors. Results from the baseline model show that financial development significantly increases ecological footprints, while the effect of foreign direct investments is insignificant in the absence of institutional factors. However, when mediating variables are introduced, foreign direct investment significantly worsens ecological footprint, and regulatory quality and control for corruption show strong moderating effects, confirming the pollution haven hypothesis. Also, all control variables (trade openness, gross domestic product per capita, government expenditure, and population density) show significant outcomes with environmental sustainability. The findings underscore the importance of institutional factors in shaping sustainable foreign direct investment flows and financial systems. These research findings offer policy pathways for aligning investment strategies with sustainability goals in sub-Saharan Africa. Recommendations include strengthening the nation’s institutional framework, linking foreign direct investment to environmental compliance and promoting green finance policies across the region. Full article

Prior research on tour guides’ influence on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior has largely emphasized informational content (e.g., interpretation) and communication tactics (e.g., humor), while leaving the social-influence role of guides’ emotional displays underexamined, especially with respect to simultaneous affective and cognitive mechanisms. Drawing on Emotions-as-Social-Information (EASI) theory, we develop a dual-path model in which tour guides’ environmental passion affects tourists’ pro-environmental behavior via an affective-reaction pathway (positive emotions) and an inferential pathway (self-protection motivation), with tourists’ self-construal moderating the first-stage effects. Using a seven-day experience sampling (intensive longitudinal) survey (873 day-level observations nested within 159 tourists) and estimating a 1-1-1 multilevel structural equation model with Monte Carlo confidence intervals, we find that guides’ environmental passion predicts tourists’ pro-environmental behavior both directly and indirectly through the two mediators, and these indirect effects are stronger among tourists with a more interdependent self-construal. The study extends EASI theory to guide–tourist interactions and advances tourism sustainability research by clarifying how emotional displays operate as social information in shaping tourists’ daily pro-environmental responses. Full article

As primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, microalgae function not only as a natural source of nourishment for several economically important aquatic species but also as reservoirs of bioactive molecules. Microalgae can secrete exosome-like nanoparticles that transport functional biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, into the extracellular milieu, thereby mediating intercellular signaling and eliciting ecological or biomedical responses. Although plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles have attracted attention for their utility in drug delivery and dermatology, the functional properties of microalgae-derived nanoparticles—particularly from species extensively applied in aquaculture—remain inadequately characterized. In this study, exosome-like nanovesicles were isolated from Nannochloropsis oculata (N-ELNs), a microalgal species widely used in aquaculture, and their skin-whitening potential was evaluated using the B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell model. The highest N-ELN yield was observed during the adaptation, exponential, and stationary growth phases. Uptake analyses confirmed the efficient internalization of N-ELNs by B16-F10 cells. Cell counting kit-8 assays indicated that N-ELNs exhibited no cytotoxic effects on melanoma cells or normal human dermal fibroblasts (HFF-1). Scratch wound healing assays revealed that N-ELNs exerted no significant effect on cellular migration. In B16-F10 cells, N-ELNs suppressed tyrosinase activity by downregulating Mitf and its downstream genes Tyr and Tyrp1, resulting in a substantial reduction in melanin synthesis (p < 0.05). The inhibitory effects of N-ELNs on melanin production, tyrosinase activity, and gene expression of Tyr, Tyrp1, and Mitf were comparable to those of the positive control, arbutin. Collectively, these findings suggest that N. oculata exhibits promising skin-whitening properties, providing a novel perspective for clinical applications and supporting the high-value utilization of the microalgae aquaculture industry. Full article

Background: Contemporary models of parental burnout conceptualize it as an interplay between parental demands and insufficient resources. Though, research and current models remain sparse in their understanding of these demands and dynamics within the context of managing a child’s sleep wellness and related problems, which constitute a fundamental aspect in early parenting. The present work addresses this gap by examining this issue comprehensively. Methods: 2291 mother–child dyads were recruited from two sources: a random population sample (n = 1409) and a clinical sample (n = 882) of mothers seeking consultation for their child’s sleep issues (0–5 years old). Mothers completed an extensive panel of validated instruments and survey questions covering burnout and psychopathologies, sleep parameters, psychosocial, organizational, and demographic variables. Inferential analyses, regression modeling, cluster analysis, and mediation models were applied. Results: Two distinct profiles of parental burnout emerged: one associated with child sleep disturbances and the other with general parenting stress. The strongest-weighted risk factors pertained to maladaptive beliefs and perceptions (e.g., shame, “I am bad parent”, “My child cries because I do not meet his needs”), as well as additive stressors such as interparental tension and daytime child behavioral problems. The strongest protective factors involved resources that reduced parental demands or facilitated recovery including couple satisfaction, a consistent bedtime routine, greater capacity to take breaks (e.g., additional caregivers, father nighttime involvement, parental cohabitation, and child screen time). Conclusion: The identification of two distinct burnout profiles highlights the importance of incorporating, or placing more centrally, the management of young children’s insomnia in contemporary theoretical models of parental burnout. This research highlights the need for interventions on healthy self-beliefs and perceptions, effective daytime parenting strategies, positive couple dynamics, consistency in bedtime routines, and equitable distribution of caregiving responsibilities between parents to reduce the risk of parental burnout. Full article