Search Results (281)

Background and Objectives: The transition from pediatric to adult-oriented healthcare is challenging and data on parental involvement and perception regarding the transition of children with chronic digestive diseases are scarce. Materials and Methods: Legal guardians of adolescents with chronic digestive diseases receiving care at a North-Eastern Romanian tertiary center and private offices were administered a 30-item survey. Results: There were 124 responders; 73.4% lived in rural areas; 81.5% were patients’ mothers. Positive correlations were found between parents’ perception of the child’s readiness for health-related decisions and appreciation of the children’s preparedness for transition (0.544; p = 0.000), between parents encouraging their children to maintain healthcare records and their perception of the children’s knowledge about their disease (0.67; p = 0.000), between parents’ fear of therapeutic breaks during transition and their perception of the need for transition training (0.704; p = 0.000), between fears for children’s impropriate health-related choices, fears of therapeutic breaks (0.573; p = 0.00) and parental perception that the adult physicians would be more patient-oriented and less family-centered (0.453; p < 0.000) and between parents’ trust in their children’s self-management skills and encouraging them to make decisions on their own (0.673; p < 0.000). Conclusions: The results of our study highlight the importance of addressing parental fears during special parent–children counseling sessions and promoting a child’s independence, chronic disease knowledge, records and alone consultations. Full article

The transition to hybrid work has become a defining feature of the post-pandemic IT sector, yet organizations lack empirical benchmarks for balancing flexibility with performance and well-being. This study addresses this gap by identifying an optimal hybrid work structure and exposing systematic perception gaps between employees and managers. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and the Job Demands–Resources model, our research analyses survey data from 1003 employees and 252 managers across 46 countries. The findings identify a hybrid “sweet spot” of 6–10 office days per month. Employees in this window report significantly higher perceived efficiency (Odds Ratio (OR) ≈ 2.12) and marginally lower office-related stress. Critically, the study uncovers a significant perception gap: contrary to the initial hypothesis, managers are nearly twice as likely as employees to rate hybrid work as most efficient (OR ≈ 1.95) and consistently evaluate remote-work resources more favourably (OR ≈ 2.64). This “supervisor-optimism bias” suggests a disconnect between policy design and frontline experience. The study concludes that while a light-to-moderate hybrid model offers clear benefits, organizations must actively address this perceptual divide and remedy resource shortages to realize the potential of hybrid work fully. This research provides data-driven guidelines for creating sustainable, high-performance work environments in the IT sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tooth bleaching is a widely requested aesthetic procedure in modern dentistry. However, the structural effects of high-concentration peroxide-based bleaching agents on enamel remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of three in-office bleaching agents—Opalescence Boost (40% hydrogen peroxide [HP]), Opalescence Quick (45% carbamide peroxide [CP]), and BlancOne Ultra + (35% hydrogen peroxide [HP])—on enamel surface characteristics and color change using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and spectrophotometric analysis. Methods: Forty-two extracted human teeth were sectioned and divided into experimental and control halves. Each experimental specimen underwent bleaching according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Color measurements were conducted at baseline, immediately post-treatment, at 3 days, 7 days, and 6 months following treatment using the Vita Easyshade^® spectrophotometer. Color differences were calculated using the CIEDE2000 (ΔE₀₀) formula. Enamel surface morphology was assessed by CLSM. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests (p < 0.05), performed with SPSS v23. Results: All bleaching agents produced clinically perceptible color changes (ΔE₀₀ > 3.3). Opalescence Boost achieved the highest and most consistent whitening effect (mean ΔE₀₀ > 11), while Opalescence Quick showed moderate efficacy (ΔE₀₀ ~6–8), and BlancOne Ultra+ induced milder changes (ΔE₀₀ ~4–5). CLSM imaging revealed surface alterations in all bleached samples, with more pronounced changes observed in specimens treated with higher peroxide concentrations. Conclusions: All three bleaching systems were effective in improving enamel color, with Opalescence Boost delivering the most substantial and durable effect. CLSM analysis confirmed morphological changes in enamel without evidence of severe damage. These results underscore the importance of selecting bleaching protocols that balance efficacy with enamel safety. Further in vivo studies are recommended to validate long-term structural effects and support clinical decision-making. Full article

Chinese local governments mandate public buildings to maintain a cooling set point temperature (SPT ≥ 26 °C). To explore how thermal history and air conditioner use behavior under different cooling SPT modes influence health, an experimental study and field investigation was carried out in split air-conditioned office buildings in China’s cold climate regions. Two categories were established based on energy policy: the H group (SPT ≥ 26 °C) and the L group (SPT < 26 °C). The results showed that L group subjects experienced longer, colder, and higher CO₂/formaldehyde exceedance rate exposures in air-conditioned environments, demonstrating greater reliance on air conditioners, although indoor air quality satisfaction showed no significant difference between groups. Air quality perception demonstrates long-term adaptation to indoor air temperature and CO₂. Compared with the high SPT mode, the adverse influences and mechanisms of the low SPT mode on health are as follows: making people adapt to cold environments due to colder thermal history and inducing pathological adaptation cycles, thus promoting strong reliance on the air-conditioned environment. This leads to a substantial increase in air conditioner use time, thereby increasing the severity of sick building syndrome (SBS), indoor pollutants, formaldehyde carcinogenic risk, and desensitized air quality perception. China’s government should systematically enhance the enforcement of SPT-related policies. Full article

This study examined the effects of the reading circle method on the curiosity and discovery perceptions, creative reading skills and visual literacy competencies of Turkish teacher candidates. The study group of the study conducted for this purpose consists of 48 teacher candidates studying in the Turkish language teaching department of a university in the north of Türkiye. A sequential mixed design was used in this study, which was conducted with mixed methods. In the quantitative dimension of this study, a pre-test and post-test, control-group-free experimental design was used, while in the qualitative dimension, a case study design was used. The Life Skills Scale, Individual Innovation Scale and semi-structured interview form were used to collect the data in this study. To examine the effect of the experimental process in this study, the data obtained were analyzed with a t-test for dependent groups; the data obtained from the interviews were analyzed with content analysis. According to the results obtained from this study, the reading circle method significantly affected the curiosity and discovery perceptions of teacher candidates. It was determined that creative reading skills have a significant effect on the sum of the scales and all other subdimensions except for the dimension of interpreting the text and the dimension of giving importance to visuality and interpreting visuals using Office software in visual literacy competencies. Full article

Background: Networks for building and developing community systems to support early childhood rely on the volunteer efforts of organizations and the leadership of coordinators to unite relevant stakeholders. Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of network coordinators from 10 different communities participating in the All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks (AOK Networks) to identify the successes and barriers involved in implementing effective early childhood systems. Methods: We conducted two focus group interviews with 10 participants who worked as network coordinators in public health district offices. A semi-structured focus group interview guide was used to examine community coordinators’ perceptions related to lessons learned with community systems development efforts around early childhood outcomes. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic network analysis was used to analyze all focus group data. Results: Three salient themes were identified from interviews with network coordinators: (1) respective strengths of the AOK Networks system building efforts; (2) challenges for coordinators, such as burnout; and (3) the importance of the networks’ role within the community. Conclusions: This study contributes to the existing literature by identifying supportive and hindering factors that impact the implementation process to sustain long-term impact of early child community systems building. The findings can be useful for other ongoing government partnerships and community-based programs that use networks and system building strategies across the US. Full article

Introduction. Scientific societies emphasize the benefits of breastfeeding. The effectiveness of education, information, and support during pregnancy has been demonstrated. However, further research is needed on the prevention and treatment of nipple damage, which is a major cause of breastfeeding cessation. Objective. To determine whether the use in clinical practice of beeswax breast pads in combination with the WHO (World Health Organization) health education program improves continuation of breastfeeding among first-time mothers over a 6-month follow-up period compared with the use of the WHO health education program alone. Material and methods. A prospective randomized control study was conducted in 122 first-time mothers who were seen in the midwifery office between 2017 and 2021 in several health centers in Alicante and Valencia. Data were collected through a prepartum health questionnaire, in the first weeks postpartum, and at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Results. A higher percentage of mothers in the intervention group continued breastfeeding at 6 months compared to the control group (76.3% versus 57.1%). The continuity of breastfeeding is only significant in relation to the use of the breast areolas, with values, respectively, at 3 and 6 months OR (odds ratio) = 3.129 (95% CI; 1.249–7.839; p = 0.015) and OR = 2.282 (95% CI, 1.038–5.016; p = 0.040). The NNT (number needed to treat) at 3 months = 5 (95% CI 3–13; p = 0.004) and at 6 months = 5 (95% CI 3–26; p = 0.025) Conclusions. The use of organic beeswax breast pads in combination with the WHO health education program improves initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding among first-time mothers and the perception of their health status compared to the health education program alone. Full article

Victims of sexual harassment report facing barriers and retaliation for reporting their sexual harassment. The current study assessed one potential reason for these issues: perceptions of sexual harassment events. Participants (N = 427) read about different sexual harassment events and were told that the woman in the event worked with a masculine (e.g., EMT, school police officer, plumber) or feminine job (e.g., nurse, teacher, cleaning staff). Across three different sexual harassment claims (e.g., unwanted romantic attention, physical groping, being shown sexually explicit images), participants reported that women in masculine jobs were less prototypical women than women in feminine jobs. Furthermore, these perceptions of prototypicality impacted how participants viewed the victim’s sexual harassment event. The less a person views a victim as a typical woman, the less likely they are to label the victim’s experience as sexual harassment. The results suggest that perceptions of sexual harassment are directly impacted by how people view a victim. Implications around prototypes of women and sexual harassment claims are discussed. Full article

A person’s sense of comfort while sitting depends on numerous physical and psychological parameters. This study investigated the impact of different office chair seat and back designs on the user’s ability to assess differences in thermal comfort during office work tasks. Eighty-two healthy subjects assessed their thermal sensation, moisture perception, and thermal comfort on six chair models using questionnaire. The chairs varied in backrest design (mesh vs. PUR foam) and seat materials. Assessments were conducted in air-conditioned workplaces over three weeks. The results showed an overall neutral thermal sensation (mean rating of 4.12 on a seven-point scale), with warmth being more pronounced in the buttocks and thighs than in the back, alongside variations observed in seven of the fifteen indicators. The comfort of both the backrest and seat was crucial for overall thermal comfort, as was the perception of humidity among different chair models. The relationships between thermal sensation, humidity, and comfort differed by chair’s design. This study confirms the complexity of thermal comfort in seat and backrest design, highlighting the importance of localized thermal sensations in chairs, while demonstrating that application of subjective ratings can demonstrate differences between chairs. Future research should address methodological limitations, incorporate objective measurements, and explore seasonal variations and adaptive thermal comfort. Full article

Facial soft tissue reconstruction is an important tool in forensic investigations, especially when conventional identification methods are unsuccessful. This paper presents a digital workflow for facial reconstruction and identity verification using computer vision techniques applied to two forensic cases. The first case involves a cold case from 1993, in which a manual reconstruction by Prof. Helmer was conducted in 1994. We digitally reconstructed the same individual using CAD software (Blender), enabling a direct comparison between manual and digital techniques. To date, the deceased remains unidentified. The second case, from 2021, involved a digitally reconstructed face that was later matched to a missing person through DNA analysis. Here, comparison material was available, including an official photograph. A police officer involved in the case noted a “striking resemblance” between the reconstruction and the photograph. To evaluate this subjective impression, we performed quantitative analyses using three face recognition models (Dlib-based method, VGG-Face, and GhostFaceNet). The models did not indicate significant similarity, highlighting a gap between human perception and algorithmic assessment. These findings suggest that current face recognition algorithms may not yet be fully suited to evaluating reconstructions, which tend to deviate in subtle but critical facial features. To achieve better facial recognition results, further research is required to generate more anatomically accurate and detailed reconstructions that align more closely with the sensitivity of AI-based identification systems. Full article

Background: The United States has the highest number of immigrants in the world, with over 46 million foreign-born residents as of 2022. A growing number of migrants originate from Latin America, driven by factors such as economic instability, food insecurity, and crime. This study explores their experiences and perceptions regarding trust in the criminal justice system (CJS) in both their home countries and the United States. Methods: This study surveyed 500 migrants at a transitional institution in a U.S.–Mexico border city in the summer of 2023. The survey assessed confidence in law enforcement, immigration officers, courts, and government institutions using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Migrants reported significantly higher confidence in the U.S. CJS compared to that of their home countries. Multivariate analysis revealed that satisfaction with border officials, documentation status, English proficiency, and health were positively associated with confidence in the U.S. CJS, while employment status, traveling with family, and fear of crime correlated with lower confidence. Conclusions: This study highlights the stark contrast in migrants’ confidence levels between their home countries and the U.S. criminal justice system. While migrants view the U.S. system as more legitimate, challenges such as fear of crime and legal uncertainties persist. Full article

This study investigates the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) certifications on the performance of Class A office buildings within Madrid’s Central Business District (CBD). Employing a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodology, the research evaluates 21 office properties, analyzing the influence of ESG certifications on key performance indicators, including green building certifications, valuation, market perception, and financial outcomes. The findings reveal that ESG-certified buildings demonstrate superior performance, commanding higher valuations, mitigating brown discounts, and achieving increased rental rates, thereby enhancing their investment attractiveness. These results underscore the importance of ESG certifications in the Spanish office market and provide valuable insights for investors, developers, and policymakers navigating the integration of sustainability and commercial real estate. Full article

Personal Comfort Systems (PCS) have emerged as a flexible alternative to address the diversity of environmental perceptions in office environments. Unlike conventional HVAC systems, PCSs allow users to improve their satisfaction and comfort by exercising individualized control over their immediate environment without interfering with others around them. This study evaluated the use of machine learning models generated by H2O AutoML to predict the use of three PCSs in four office buildings with effective occupancy. These were a thermal wristband, a desk fan, and an adjustable lamp. Data collected through environmental sensors, perception surveys, and spatial and personal attributes were used. Synthetic data augmentation and automated variable selection were also used to optimize the models’ performance. The predictive models had a robust performance, with R² values in the test set of 0.86 for the wristband, 0.84 for the fan, and 0.52 for the lamp. The most influential variables included the BMI, CO₂ level, and thermal satisfaction, highlighting the importance of physiological and subjective factors. The results confirm that the models allow anticipating the use of PCS with high precision in most cases, laying the foundations for the future implementation of user-oriented adaptive systems. This preliminary approach contributes to the design of healthier, more personalized, and more energy-efficient work environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sedentary office workers (SOWs) often adopt prolonged sitting postures, which potentially disrupt the lumbar–pelvic rhythm (LPR) and contribute to lower back pain (LBP). This study aimed to clarify the group differences in LPR and related physical factors between SOWs with and without LBP. Methods: Sixty-three SOWs were divided into LBP (n = 30) and non-LBP (n = 33) groups. The lumbar flexion angle (LF) and lumbar–hip angle difference (LHD), which are indicators of LPR, were measured using inertial sensors during trunk flexion. Hip flexion muscle strength (HFMS) and hip-extension muscle strength (HEMS) were assessed using handheld dynamometry. Hip joint range of motion (ROM) was measured using a goniometer. Lumbar proprioception was evaluated via active joint repositioning, and pain and perception were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Fremantle Back Awareness Questionnaire. Results: Multiple regression analysis showed significantly greater LF (estimated regression coefficient [ERC]: −2.9, p < 0.05) and LHD (ERC: −5.5, p < 0.05) during early trunk flexion (ETF) in the LBP group. In the LBP group, LHD during ETF and late trunk flexion were positively correlated with HFMS, and HFMS was correlated with HEMS. Conclusions: HFMS may contribute to an altered LPR in SOWs with LBP. Full article

This study assesses local stakeholders’ perceptions regarding how a Mediterranean cereal-based cropping system could transition to a more sustainable production, focusing on the identification of the most suitable alternatives for their diversification. Fifty-four stakeholders from the Aragon region in Spain, including farmers, technical advisors, public agricultural officers, local researchers, and experts from environmental NGOs, were consulted. Their responses were analysed using multi-criteria decision-making techniques to order their preferences for different farming practices and diversification strategies. Stakeholders’ responses suggest a priority for balancing soil conservation with the economic viability and continuity of farms. This is evident not only in its consideration as a priority objective but also in their preferences for farming practices, where their implications for farm profitability, especially through the choice of less costly alternatives, are a main concern. This economic rationale also influences their choice of crop diversification alternatives, with a preference for short (two-year) rotations in rainfed cereals and double cropping in irrigated cereals, showing a consideration of the balance between environmental and economic sustainability, and for diversification crops that farmers are already familiar with, aiming both to reduce the uncertainties linked to new crops and to minimise the need for technical support. Full article