Search Results (1,581)

This study assessed whether COVID-19 pandemic experiences were associated with excessive alcohol use during the first year of the pandemic in Iowa, a heavy-drinking midwestern US state. We analyzed survey data from 4047 adult residents of Iowa collected in August 2020, focusing on three pandemic-related stressors (e.g., emotional reactions to the pandemic; disruption of daily activities; and financial hardship) and salient social support. Using multiple logistic regression, we tested correlates of increased drinking, heavy drinking, and binge drinking, controlling for demographic characteristics and health status. We found that nearly half (47.6%) of respondents did not change their drinking compared to before the pandemic; however, 12.4% of respondents reported increasing their drinking and 5.3% reported decreasing their drinking. Emotional reactions to the pandemic and disruption of daily activities were associated with higher odds of increased drinking, and rurality was associated with lower odds of increased drinking. No pandemic-related stressor was associated with heavy or binge drinking, but social support was associated with lower odds of binge drinking. Thus, we concluded that some pandemic-related stressors may explain increased drinking but not heavy or binge drinking. Understanding the nuances of alcohol use can inform preventive interventions, policy decisions, and preparations for future catastrophic events. Full article

Background: Access to safe and reliable water and sanitation remains a critical public health and development challenge, with rural and low-income communities being disproportionately affected by inadequate services and heightened exposure to waterborne diseases. Despite global efforts and infrastructure-based progress indicators, significant disparities persist, and these often overlook users’ perceptions of water quality, reliability, and safety. This study explores the determinants of household satisfaction with drinking water in rural areas, comparing subjective user feedback with official access data to reveal gaps in current monitoring approaches and support more equitable, user-centered water governance. Methods: This study was conducted in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Region, where 1361 residents from 86 rural villages participated in a structured survey assessing household access to drinking water and perceptions of its quality. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression to identify key predictors of user satisfaction, with results compared against official records to evaluate discrepancies between reported experiences and administrative data. Results: The field survey results revealed substantial discrepancies between official statistics and residents’ reports, with only 58.1% of respondents having in-house tap water access despite claims of universal coverage. Multinomial logistic regression analysis identified key predictors of user satisfaction, showing that uninterrupted supply and the absence of complaints about turbidity, odor, or taste significantly increased the likelihood of higher satisfaction levels with drinking water quality. Conclusions: This study underscores the critical need to align official water access statistics with household-level experiences, revealing that user satisfaction—strongly influenced by supply reliability and sensory water quality—is essential for achieving equitable and effective rural water governance. Full article

Rural regions face significant barriers to adopting IoT technologies, due to limited connectivity, energy constraints, and poor technical infrastructure. While urban environments benefit from advanced digital systems and cloud services, rural areas often lack the necessary conditions to deploy and evaluate secure and autonomous IoT solutions. To help overcome this gap, this paper presents the Smart Rural IoT Lab, a modular and reproducible testbed designed to replicate the deployment conditions in rural areas using open-source tools and affordable hardware. The laboratory integrates long-range and short-range communication technologies in six experimental scenarios, implementing protocols such as MQTT, HTTP, UDP, and CoAP. These scenarios simulate realistic rural use cases, including environmental monitoring, livestock tracking, infrastructure access control, and heritage site protection. Local data processing is achieved through containerized services like Node-RED, InfluxDB, MongoDB, and Grafana, ensuring complete autonomy, without dependence on cloud services. A key contribution of the laboratory is the generation of structured datasets from real network traffic captured with Tcpdump and preprocessed using Zeek. Unlike simulated datasets, the collected data reflect communication patterns generated from real devices. Although the current dataset only includes benign traffic, the platform is prepared for future incorporation of adversarial scenarios (spoofing, DoS) to support AI-based cybersecurity research. While experiments were conducted in an indoor controlled environment, the testbed architecture is portable and suitable for future outdoor deployment. The Smart Rural IoT Lab addresses a critical gap in current research infrastructure, providing a realistic and flexible foundation for developing secure, cloud-independent IoT solutions, contributing to the digital transformation of rural regions. Full article

Transportation is often cited as a significant barrier to healthcare access by Veterans, particularly those from minority groups, who have disabilities, or live in rural areas. Autonomous shuttles (AS) offer a potential solution, yet limited research has explored Veterans’ experiences with this technology. This study qualitatively investigated Veterans’ lived experiences with AS through focus groups, enrolling participants aged 18+ from Gainesville, The Villages, and Lake Nona, Florida. Via a directed content analysis, six key themes were identified: Perceived Benefits, Safety, Experience with Autonomous Vehicles (AV), AS Experience, AV Adoption, and Perception Change. Among 26 participants (aged 30–85; 77% men; 88% urban residents), prominent themes included Safety (n = 161), Perceived Benefits (n = 153), and AS Experience (n = 118), with predominantly positive counts in all themes except AS Experience. Participants acknowledged safety advantages and multitasking potential of AS over human-operated vehicles while recommending improvements to the shuttle’s slow speed, availability and convenience. While the AS ride was positively received overall, some participants noted issues with comfort and braking, emphasizing the need for further technological enhancements. Real-world exposure to AS appeared to influence acceptance positively, offering insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders aiming to optimize AS deployment for mobility-vulnerable Veterans. Full article

Under China’s “Rural Revitalisation” strategy, contract farming faces challenges including farmers’ limited access to advanced technologies and high operational risks for agricultural support enterprises. The collaborative involvement of scientific research institutions offers potential solutions but remains underexplored. This study employs Stackelberg game theory to model a contract farming supply chain under two agricultural assistance modes: enterprise-led (EL) and collaborative assistance with scientific research institutions (CI). We further propose two government subsidy mechanisms: subsidies to enterprises and subsidies to scientific research institutions. The models analyze optimal decisions, supply chain performance, and subsidy efficiency, validated through numerical experiments. Key findings reveal the following: (1) The CI mode enhances agricultural output and farmer revenue but may reduce enterprise profits, deterring collaboration. (2) Government subsidies incentivize enterprise–institution collaboration. Subsidizing scientific research institutions typically improves agricultural productivity and economic benefits more effectively than subsidizing enterprises. (3) Synergistic effects exist among the government subsidy coefficient, cost coefficient of technical assistance, consumer preferences for agricultural quality, and profit-sharing ratio. The latter three parameters significantly influence subsidy model selection. This research provides policy insights for enhancing agricultural assistance efficiency and sustainable contract farming development. Full article

This study explores digital inequality as a socio-spatial phenomenon within the context of smart inclusion, focusing on the Regional Unit of Xanthi, Greece—a region marked by ethno-cultural diversity and pronounced urban–rural contrasts. Using a mixed-methods design, this research integrates secondary quantitative data with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews, aiming to uncover how spatial, demographic, and cultural variables shape digital engagement. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools are employed to map disparities in internet access and ICT infrastructure, revealing significant gaps linked to geography, education, and economic status. The findings demonstrate that digital inequality is particularly acute in rural, minority, and economically marginalized communities, where limited infrastructure intersects with low digital literacy and socio-economic disadvantage. Interview data further illuminate how residents navigate exclusion, emphasizing generational divides, perceptions of technology, and place-based constraints. By bridging spatial analysis with lived experience, this study advances the conceptualization of digitally inclusive smart regions. It offers policy-relevant insights into how territorial inequality undermines the goals of smart development and proposes context-sensitive interventions to promote equitable digital participation. The case of Xanthi underscores the importance of integrating spatial justice into smart city and regional planning agendas. Full article

The consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods varies widely based on personal values and social context. This study investigates how cultural worldviews—measured through the Individualism–Communitarianism and Hierarchical–Egalitarianism dimensions—affect willingness to pay (WTP) for food labeling attributes related to GM content. We surveyed 932 U.S. primary grocery shoppers and conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) with poultry product options. Using a Mixed Logit model and supplemental cognitive data from Query Theory, we find that rural individualists are more accepting of GM-labeled products. At the same time, urban communitarians show a stronger preference for non-GM labels. These results offer insight into how values and thought patterns shape food technology perceptions, with implications for communication and policy. Full article

Background: Sports performance indicators are mainly based on male athletes, highlighting the importance of portraying the female reality, particularly in rural contexts. This study aims to characterize sports performance indicators (body composition and physical fitness) of young Portuguese female athletes. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 124 girls (13.66 ± 1.93 years) participating in federated team sports in a rural region of Portugal. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance, and physical fitness was evaluated through vertical jump tests (countermovement jump and squat jump), sprint (20 m), agility (T-test), handgrip strength, and cardiovascular endurance (Yo-Yo IR1). Results: Volleyball players are taller; football and basketball players are heavier; football and volleyball players have more fat-free mass than handball players (p < 0.05). Body mass index and % body fat did not differ between sports (p > 0.05). Volleyball players performed better in the countermovement jump (F = 4.146, p = 0.008) and squat jump (F = 7.686, p < 0.001) when compared to basketball, football, and handball players. No differences were observed in the speed or cardiorespiratory endurance tests (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The results revealed that, despite some specific differences between sports, most physical fitness indicators did not differ significantly between sports after controlling for age, menarche, and training experience. These findings suggest that shared contextual limitations in rural regions may take precedence over sport-specific adaptations in the early stages of sports participation. Full article

Differences exist between rural–urban migrants and urban–urban migrants in terms of human capital’s accumulation and pathways of social integration, yet few studies have systematically compared these distinctions. Based on the CMDS2017 survey data, this study constructed a comprehensive social integration index across four dimensions—economic integration, behavioral adaptation, identity recognition, and psychological assimilation—to analyze the influencing factors and decompose the disparities in social integration levels between the two groups from a human capital perspective. Using Oaxaca mean decomposition and Machado–Mata (MM) quantile decomposition, the results indicated that urban–urban migrants exhibited higher social integration levels than rural–urban migrants, with human capital significantly influencing integration outcomes. Better education, health status, longer migration duration, and more work experience positively enhanced migrants’ social integration. Human capital accounted for 38.35% of the social integration gap between the two groups, while coefficient differences were the primary driver of disparities. The returns to education diminish at higher integration levels, suggesting education played a stronger role for those with lower integration. The social integration gap between the two groups followed an inverted U-shaped trend, with smaller disparities at higher quantiles. As integration levels rose, characteristic differences declined continuously, indicating convergence toward homogeneity among high-integration migrants. These research findings indicated that the improvement in the social integration level of migrants still requires continuous investment in cultivating the human capital of migrants. Full article

In the past decade, agricultural biogas plants have become one of the key tools driving the energy transition in rural areas. Nevertheless, their development in Poland still lags behind that in Western European countries, suggesting the existence of barriers that go beyond technological or regulatory issues. This study aims to examine how Polish farmers perceive the risks and expected benefits associated with investing in biogas plants and which of these perceptions influence their willingness to invest. The research was conducted in the second quarter of 2025 among farmers planning to build micro biogas plants as well as owners of existing biogas facilities. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools were also used in selecting respondents and identifying potential investment sites, helping to pinpoint areas with favorable spatial and environmental conditions. The findings show that both current and prospective biogas plant operators view complex legal requirements, social risk, and financial uncertainty as the main obstacles. However, both groups are primarily motivated by the desire for on-farm energy self-sufficiency and the environmental benefits of improved agricultural waste management. Owners of operational installations—particularly small and medium-sized ones—tend to rate all categories of risk significantly lower than prospective investors, suggesting that practical experience and knowledge-sharing can effectively alleviate perceived risks related to renewable energy investments. Full article

This study focuses on the impact of China’s digital economy on sustainable modernization from 2011 to 2021, using provincial panel data for empirical analysis. By applying threshold and mediation models, we find that the digital economy promotes modernization through industrial upgrading (with a mediating effect of 38%) and trade openness (coefficient = 0.234). The research reveals “U-shaped” nonlinear threshold effects at specific levels of digital development (2.218), market efficiency (9.212), and technological progress (12.224). Eastern provinces benefit significantly (coefficient ranging from 0.12 to 0.15 ***), while western regions initially experience some inhibition (coefficient = −0.08 *). Industrial digitalization (coefficient = 0.13 ***) and innovation ecosystems (coefficient = 0.09 ***) play crucial roles in driving eco-efficiency and equity, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 13. Meanwhile, the impacts of infrastructure (coefficient = 0.07) and industrialization (coefficient = 0.085) are delayed. Economic modernization improves (coefficient = 0.37 ***), yet social modernization declines (coefficient = −0.12 *). This study not only enriches economic theory but also extends the environmental Kuznets curve to the digital economy domain. We propose tiered policy recommendations, including the construction of green digital infrastructure, carbon pricing, and rural digital transformation, which are applicable to China and offer valuable references for emerging economies aiming to achieve inclusive low-carbon growth in the digital era. Future research could further explore the differentiated mechanisms of various digital technologies in the modernization process across different regions and how to optimize policy combinations to better balance digital innovation with sustainable development goals. Full article

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients face a four-fold higher suicide risk than the general US population. This study explores psychosocial aspects of GI cancer patient experiences, assessing suicidal ideation and behavior, mental distress during treatment phases, and psychosocial factors on mental health. Methods: A two-phase mixed-methods approach involved a web-based survey and follow-up interviews. Quantitative data analysis validated mental health and suicidal ideation constructs, and correlation analyses were performed. The patient journey was charted from diagnosis to treatment. Results: Two hundred and two individuals participated, with 76 from the rural Appalachian region and 78 undergoing treatments. Quantitative analysis showed a higher prevalence of passive suicidal ideation than active planning. The post-treatment recovery period was the most emotionally challenging. Qualitative data emphasized emotional support and vulnerability to isolation. Care quality concerns included individualized treatment plans and better communication. Patients also needed clear, comprehensive information about treatment and side effects. The in-depth interview with four GI cancer patients revealed a healthcare system prioritizing expedient treatment over comprehensive care, lacking formal psychological support. AI emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing patient understanding and treatment options. Conclusions: Our research advocates for a patient-centric model of care, enhanced by technology and empathetic communication. Full article

The realization of agricultural modernization inevitably requires the improvement of agricultural land productivity. Rural public science and technology services is an important driving force to improve agricultural land productivity. However, can rural public science and technology services accelerate the process of agricultural modernization by improving land productivity? This paper innovatively constructs an evaluation index system and an mediating mechanism model, measures the comprehensive index of agricultural modernization and rural public science and technology services through the global entropy method, and empirically tests the mediating effect of the mechanism of “land productivity” with the help of measurement methods such as the Sobel–Goodman test and Bootstrap test. The research results find that rural public science and technology services can positively promote agricultural modernization and pass the 1% significance level test. There is a significant mediating effect of “increasing production” in the impact of rural public science and technology services on agricultural modernization, that is, rural public science and technology services can significantly promote agricultural modernization through the mechanism of “improving land productivity”. Government intervention and economic growth are significantly positive, which can significantly promote agricultural modernization. These findings have clear policy implications: Chinese government should accelerate the filling of gaps in rural public technology services between urban and rural areas in the southwest region, empower land productivity through science and technology, and promote the transformation of agricultural scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces. This research is helpful to provide policy reference and case experience for similar areas to speed up agricultural modernization by giving full play to the mechanism of “improving land productivity” of agricultural science and technology services. Full article

In alignment with global educational trends, Australia has adopted a pluralistic approach to initial teacher education (ITE), encompassing traditional university-based programs, employment-integrated models and vocational training routes. This diversification of pathways has emerged as a strategic response to persistent workforce challenges, including chronic shortages, uneven distribution of qualified educators, and limited demographic diversity within the profession. Rather than supplanting conventional ITE models, these alternative pathways serve as complementary options, broadening access and enhancing system responsiveness to evolving societal and educational needs. The rise in non-traditional routes represents a deliberate response to the well-documented global teacher shortage, frequently examined in comparative educational research. Central to their design is a restructuring of traditional program elements, particularly duration and delivery methods, to facilitate more flexible and context-sensitive forms of teacher preparation. Such approaches often create opportunities for individuals who may be excluded from conventional pathways due to socioeconomic constraints, geographic isolation, or non-linear career trajectories. Significantly, the diversity introduced by alternative entry candidates has the potential to enrich school learning environments. These educators often bring a wide range of prior experiences, disciplinary knowledge, and cultural perspectives, contributing to more inclusive and representative teaching practices. The implications for student learning are substantial, particularly in disadvantaged communities where culturally and professionally diverse teachers may enhance engagement and academic outcomes. From a policy perspective, the development of flexible, multifaceted teacher education pathways constitutes a critical component of a sustainable workforce strategy. As demand for qualified teachers intensifies, especially in STEM disciplines and in rural, regional and remote areas, the role of alternative pathways is likely to become increasingly pivotal in achieving broader goals of equity, quality and innovation in teacher preparation. Full article

Currently, exploring digital immersive experiences is a new trend in the innovation and development of cultural tourism. This study addresses the growing demand for digital immersion in cultural tourism by examining the integration of spatial narrative and digitally gamified architectural scenarios. This study synthesizes an optimized framework for narrative design in digitally gamified architectural scenarios, integrating spatial narrative theory and feedback-informed design. The proposed model comprises four key components: (1) developing spatial narrative design methods for such scenarios; (2) constructing a spatial language system for spatial narratives using linguistic principles to organize narrative expression; (3) building a preliminary digitally gamified scenario based on the “Wuhu Jiaoji Temple Renovation Project” after architectural and environmental enhancements; and (4) optimization through thermal feedback experiments—collecting visitor trajectory heatmaps, eye-tracking heatmaps, and oculometric data. The results show that the optimized design, validated in the original game Dreams of Jiaoji, effectively enhanced spatial narrative execution by refining both on-site and in-game architectural scenarios. Post-optimization visitor feedback confirmed the validity of the proposed optimization strategies and principles, providing theoretical and practical references for innovative digital cultural tourism models and architectural design advancements. In the context of site-specific architectural conservation, this approach achieves two key objectives: the generalized interpretation of architectural cultural resources and their visual representation through gamified interactions. This paradigm not only enhances public engagement through enabling a multidimensional understanding of historical building cultures but also accelerates the protective reuse of heritage sites, allowing heritage value to be maximized through contemporary reinterpretation. The interdisciplinary methodology promotes sustainable development in the digital transformation of cultural tourism, fostering user-centered experiences and contributing to rural revitalization. Ultimately, this study highlights the potential use of digitally gamified architectural scenarios as transformative tools for heritage preservation, cultural dissemination, and rural community revitalization. Full article