Search Results (2,801)

Background: Early childhood nutrition is strongly associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly in socially vulnerable settings. Limited evidence is available describing the relationship between nutritional status, food security, and neurodevelopment among preschool children in low-income urban areas of Colombia. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status, household food insecurity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children attending early childhood centers in El Codito, Bogotá, and to explore the association between anthropometric indicators and neurodevelopmental performance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in children enrolled in community childcare centers. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric indicators according to World Health Organization growth standards, including weight for age, height for age, and body mass index for age. Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Escala Abreviada de Desarrollo (EAD). Household food insecurity was measured through a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were performed, and associations between variables were analyzed using correlation tests and group comparisons according to data distribution. Results: Most participants presented adequate nutritional status; however, a proportion of children showed risk of stunting or excess weight. Neurodevelopmental scores were generally within expected ranges, although variability was observed across developmental domains. Significant associations were identified between certain anthropometric indicators and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Moderate to severe household food insecurity was identified in 21.4% of participating households. Conclusions: Nutritional status and household food insecurity represent important contextual factors for child health in vulnerable urban populations. These findings highlight the importance of integrated nutritional and developmental monitoring strategies within early childhood programs. Further longitudinal studies are required to clarify causal pathways and to guide targeted public health interventions in similar contexts. Full article

Small-scale island communities whose livelihoods depend on aquaculture are increasingly vulnerable under interacting climatic and non-climatic stressors. Conventional indicator-based assessments are useful for describing the level of vulnerability, but many empirical assessments remain less able to explain how multiple stressors are mediated through local social–ecological structures and feedback processes to produce different vulnerability patterns. This study aims to explain how vulnerability is formed in island aquaculture communities by linking social–ecological system structures with vulnerability processes and by examining empirically informed feedback pathways. Drawing on evidence from three island aquaculture communities in southeastern China, household survey data were first used to classify community types through hierarchical clustering. Semi-structured interviews, field observations, and documentary materials were then qualitatively coded to develop empirically informed conceptual causal loop diagrams (CLDs) for each type. Key variables and recurring feedback pathways were identified through loop-based structural analysis and cross-case comparison. The analysis indicates that vulnerability formation in island aquaculture communities is associated with recurring reinforcing feedbacks within local social–ecological system structures, through which multiple climatic, ecological and socio-economic stressors are translated into differentiated vulnerability outcomes. Across the case communities, resource overexploitation and marine pollution reinforce an ecology–livelihood degradation loop, while labor outmigration erodes social capital, disrupts intergenerational knowledge transmission, and weakens collective action and adaptive capacity, exacerbating socio-ecological vulnerability. At the same time, dominant stressors, key drivers, and feedback configurations vary across community types, generating divergent vulnerability trajectories and highlighting the context-dependent nature of vulnerability dynamics. These results suggest that governance interventions targeting isolated stressors or relying on static vulnerability analyses are insufficient where reinforcing feedbacks dominate. Effective adaptation strategies should explicitly target critical feedback pathways and strengthen stabilizing processes. By integrating social–ecological systems thinking with vulnerability analysis, this study provides a feedback-oriented approach for diagnosing vulnerability formation and supports more feedback and context-sensitive governance in small-scale island aquaculture communities. Full article

This study examines the sustainability of underground water heritage through the case of Gaziantep’s kastels and livas in Türkiye, focusing on public perceptions, heritage awareness, perceived value, and participation-related support mechanisms. Although kastels and livas have previously been addressed in architectural, historical, and infrastructural terms, user-centered evidence on their social recognition and conservation-related evaluation remains limited. The study adopts a cross-sectional, survey-based design grounded in sustainable heritage management. The questionnaire was developed for this underground water heritage system and structured around four dimensions: heritage awareness, perceived value, conservation support/participation intention, and governance-, promotion-, and future-oriented perceptions. The instrument was refined through expert review and pilot testing, and the final dataset consisted of 406 valid questionnaires collected through both online and face-to-face administration. Analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, correlation analysis, and group comparisons. The findings indicate that participants attributed particularly high value to kastels and livas and expressed strong support for their conservation, while current promotion, information tools, and institutional collaboration were evaluated less favorably. Perceived value was strongly associated with conservation support/participation intention. The study offers an empirical basis for socially grounded strategies for the protection, interpretation, and sustainable management of Gaziantep’s kastels and livas. Full article

Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) are boreal finches whose winter ecology and social behavior remain only sporadically documented due to their remote distributions and irruptive dispersions. From 18 December 2023 to 6 March 2024, we conducted repeated daily observations of a flock of up to twelve P. enucleator occupying a temporary wintering range in an urban neighborhood in Oregon. During these observations, we documented a previously undescribed collective vocalization associated with feeding. Comparison with 2674 archived Pine Grosbeak recordings from major bioacoustic repositories revealed that no clear matches between our recording and archives could be established. The low amplitude and coordinated nature of these calls may suggest a collective vocal behavior. These observations highlight the value of sustained, close-range field observation in revealing context-dependent behaviors that may otherwise remain undocumented. Full article

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a grave mental health condition that can result in significant health and social consequences. The medications Naltrexone and Nalmefene are indicated for the treatment of AUD, with Naltrexone having received the most extensive research attention. Methods: The majority of papers assessing universal measures of alcohol consumption employed two primary metrics: total alcohol consumption (TAC) and the number of days per month where individuals engaged in heavy drinking (HDD). Indicators pertaining to the maintenance of complete abstinence were excluded due to the absence of sufficient data. The safety of both substances was also assessed, as were the frequency of side effects and independent patient dropout. The study also incorporated practical factors of the therapy, such as the route of administration, dosage regimen, and the drug’s patient convenience, which can have a significant impact on adherence to therapy. Results: Nalmefene, administered in an “as needed” regimen, demonstrated statistically significant activity in reducing HDD and total alcohol consumption (TAC) among patients with AUD, particularly those with elevated World Health Organization (WHO) DRL risk. Preliminary findings from the ESENSE1 (Efficacy of Nalmefene in Alcohol Dependence; the first phase III study), ESENSE 2 (Efficacy of Nalmefene in Alcohol Dependence, the second phase III study), and SENSE (the final phase III long term-safety and cost-effectiveness study) studies indicate a substantial decrease in HDD and TAC following the initial month of treatment. These effects persist throughout the subsequent follow-up period. Several Japanese studies have corroborated the effectiveness of Nalmefene, demonstrating its efficacy across both short-term and long-term applications. Furthermore, these studies have substantiated its safety profile, indicating that there is no inherent risk of addiction or the emergence of withdrawal symptoms. The mild nature of adverse events (most commonly nausea and dizziness) led to a relatively low discontinuation rate of Nalmefene treatment. A subsequent study, employing a recognized methodology, corroborated the efficacy of psychosocial support in enhancing treatment outcomes. Meta-analyses demonstrate that Naltrexone exhibits comparable efficacy in reducing the frequency and severity of alcohol consumption. In select populations, the injectable form (LAI) of this pharmaceutical agent facilitates less frequent dosing, which is advantageous for the treatment process. A comparison of Nalmefene and Naltrexone reveals that the latter does not demonstrate a significant impact on the likelihood of individuals returning to heavy alcohol consumption. Conclusions: In the treatment of AUD, both naltrexone and nalmefene have been shown to yield positive outcomes, particularly in terms of reducing the HDD and TAC. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, Nalmefene is indicated for individuals with a high risk of developing serious conditions. It has been demonstrated to produce rapid and sustained results while exhibiting a favorable safety profile, characterized by the absence of significant adverse effects. Naltrexone is a medication that has proven to be effective. LAI may have a positive impact on the efficacy of treatment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autistic traits are distributed dimensionally across psychiatric populations, yet their systematic assessment in mood and psychotic spectrum disorders remains limited. While elevated autistic traits have been documented in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, evidence in bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is scarce, and no studies have applied the clinician-rated PANSS Autism Severity Score (PAUSS) to mood disorder populations. This study aims to investigate the presence and severity of autistic traits across psychotic spectrum disorder (PSD), BD, and MDD in an outpatient sample using the PAUSS. Methods: In this cross-sectional naturalistic outpatient study, clinically stable adult patients with MDD, BD, or PSD, without autism spectrum disorder, were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and PAUSS. Group comparisons, adjusted models, correlation analyses, principal component analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were performed. Results: A total of 165 patients were included (MDD, n = 84, BD, n = 45, PSD, n = 36). Compared with the mood disorder groups, PSD patients were younger and showed higher BPRS scores. PSD was also characterized by significantly higher PAUSS total, social, and communication scores, whereas PAUSS RRB did not differ in univariate analyses. In the overall sample, BPRS severity correlated positively with all PAUSS dimensions, while age showed only weak or non-significant associations. Diagnosis-stratified analyses revealed that the association between psychopathology and autistic traits was present in MDD and BD, but not in PSD. PCA showed that autistic trait dimensions converged on a broad common profile and differed across diagnostic groups, with PSD showing the most distinct pattern. In multinomial logistic regression, higher BPRS, higher PAUSS social and communication scores, and younger age independently distinguished PSD from MDD and BD; PAUSS RRB showed an inverse association only in the multivariable model. Conclusions: This study supports a transdiagnostic perspective on autistic traits in adult psychiatric populations, highlighting disorder-specific differences across diagnostic categories. Social and communication impairments emerged as key dimensions distinguishing PSD from mood disorders. Assessing autistic traits in psychiatric settings may improve diagnostic precision and inform personalized, stratified treatment approaches. Full article

Background: The food environment plays a significant role in determining children’s nutritional status, especially in socially vulnerable settings, where the high availability of ultra-processed beverages can contribute to both overweight and nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association between the availability of fruits, vegetables, and ultra-processed beverages in the food environment and the occurrence of overweight and anemia in children living in socially vulnerable areas. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with an ecological component, conducted between 2020 and 2021, involving 665 children residing in 40 favelas and urban communities in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. Socioeconomic, anthropometric, and hematological data were collected, along with a characterization of the food environment in 624 establishments using the AUDITNOVA tool, focusing on the availability of fruits, vegetables, and ultra-processed beverages. The outcomes investigated were overweight (BMI-for-age z-score > +2) and anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL). Multilevel models were used to assess the associations between the food environment and the outcomes of interest. Results: The prevalence of overweight was 19.7%, while anemia affected 50.4% of the children assessed. Greater availability of fruits and vegetables was associated with a lower chance of being overweight (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.79–0.98). In contrast, high availability of ultra-processed beverages was associated with a higher chance of being overweight (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.07–1.84) and anemia (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.04–2.29). Conclusion: Food environments characterized by widespread availability of ultra-processed beverages were associated with a higher prevalence of overweight and anemia among children. In comparison, greater availability of fresh or minimally processed foods was associated with a lower prevalence of overweight. These findings highlight the importance of public policies that promote healthier food environments in socially vulnerable areas. Full article

The Easterlin paradox and recent distributional reassessments suggest that average effects obscure how subjective disadvantage is generated and reproduced over time. We propose the Social Comparison System (SCS), a framework that represents subjective well-being (SWB) as an internal state and relative income rank as an external conditioning variable within a feedback structure, with three structural properties: threshold activation, state-dependent gain, and rank-conditioned attractor displacement. The properties are recovered through a sample-isolated three-stage framework integrating tree-based machine learning, forest-based heterogeneity estimation, panel-data estimation, and hierarchical Bayesian Markov modeling on a balanced four-wave panel of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS; 8099 individuals; 32,396 person-wave observations). Stage 1 locates a discrete predictive discontinuity in relative income rank between rank 2 and rank 3 (SHAP jump = 0.383, permutation p < 0.001). Stage 2 carries this boundary into a disjoint validation panel and recovers a negative rank-by-prior-SWB interaction (β = −0.036) and a 2.30-fold larger conditional effect in low- than in high-prior-SWB strata. Stage 3 recovers a 22.6-percentage-point gap in the rank-conditioned occupancy of the lowest within-wave SWB quartile between low- and high-rank subsystems, which under a first-order Markov approximation corresponds to a long-run stationary gap, robust to alternative state-space discretizations. Throughout this paper, relative income rank is treated as a conditioning variable, and the rank-conditioned patterns are interpreted as associational; the long-run quantities are reported under a first-order dynamical approximation rather than as identified causal or fully validated long-run effects. Persistent subjective disadvantage is therefore characterized by unequal dynamics of activation, amplification, and escape, rather than by unequal resources alone. This reframing provides a methodological template for identifying rank-conditioned feedback structures in social-systems data. Full article

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed millions of individuals to traumatic experiences, displaced them under temporary protection, and caused psychological distress. This exploratory study examined resilience, emotional experiences, and psychosocial profiles among displaced and non-displaced Ukrainian women affected by the war. A total of 249 adult women participated, including 122 displaced women under temporary protection residing in Spain and 127 women living in Ukraine. Participants completed the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE). Group comparisons and cluster analyses were conducted to identify distinct psychosocial patterns. Displaced women showed slightly higher resilience scores than non-displaced women, although differences were not statistically significant. Non-displaced women reported significantly higher levels of both positive and negative emotional experiences, suggesting greater emotional intensity among those remaining in Ukraine. Cluster analyses identified three psychosocial profiles: an adaptive profile characterized by high positive affect, low negative affect, stronger social support, and higher resilience; a vulnerable profile marked by low social support, elevated negative affect, and lower resilience; and an intermediate profile showing high negative affect despite moderate-to-high social support. Although displaced women under temporary protection were more represented in the vulnerable profile, this association was not statistically significant. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of psychological adaptation during war and displacement and emphasize the protective role of resilience and social support. Full article

Given the moral barriers that hinder critical analysis of pornography, this study aims, through a qualitative approach with 15 participants, to examine its impacts on the construction of masculinity and the social relationships of men from the semi-arid region of Paraíba, Brazil. Data were collected via an online form, which included a sociodemographic questionnaire and open-ended questions on the topic. The data were analyzed using dialogical maps within the framework of discourse analysis. Results show that pornography is a constant and influential presence in the participants’ lives, often beginning at an early age and reinforced by social interaction. Its consumption goes beyond personal satisfaction, also serving as a tool for social comparison, shaping male subjectivity and relational dynamics. In sum, the study highlights the cultural impact of pornography in a context where critical discussions about sexuality remain limited due to the prevalence of traditional gender norms and male chauvinism. Full article

Digital isolation represents a contemporary paradox in which increased connectivity through social media and digital technologies does not necessarily translate into improved social integration or psychological well-being. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationship between digital environments and mental health, with a focus on mechanisms underlying loneliness, anxiety, depression, and related outcomes. The findings indicate that problematic and passive use of social media—particularly when associated with social comparison processes and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)—is consistently linked to increased levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced well-being. At the same time, the evidence highlights substantial heterogeneity, suggesting that the impact of digital technologies is moderated by user characteristics, age, patterns of engagement, and psychosocial context. Importantly, digital technologies may also serve compensatory and protective functions by facilitating social support, especially in conditions of objective isolation. Key mediating mechanisms include cyberbullying, social exclusion, emotional contagion, and internalization of body image standards. The concept of “digital loneliness” emerges as a useful framework for understanding the discrepancy between constant connectivity and perceived relational insufficiency. Practical implications emphasize the need for targeted interventions focusing on digital literacy, healthy usage patterns, and psychosocial support rather than simplistic reduction in screen time. Overall, digital isolation should be conceptualized as a qualitative dysfunction of mediated social interaction rather than a purely quantitative effect of technology exposure. Full article

High-density urban parks are essential spaces for residents in core urban areas for restorative experiences and routine leisure. Research on the impact of cross-density contexts on the motivational structure of park recreation remains limited. Empirical identification under a high-density Built Environment remains limited, and cross-density comparison is largely absent. This study examines five high-density parks using 583 valid questionnaires and the Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scale with exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify the motivational structure and motivational expression strength of park recreation. Standardized density assessment and cross-density comparison in existing studies generate exploratory hypotheses. Results identify eight motivational dimensions, explaining 62.36% of the variance. Physical well-being, nature enjoyment, relaxation and family bonding, and social connection are consistently recognized across density contexts, while escape, introspection and self-realization, learning and exploration, and autonomy and independence are more likely to emerge as independent dimensions in high-density contexts. Physical well-being and social connection appear at higher proportions in low-density contexts. This study provides direct empirical evidence on the motivational structure of urban park recreation in high-density Built Environments, exploratory evidence for understanding the potential associations between urban spatial contexts and psychological needs, and a foundation for future research in human-centered urban landscape planning and management. Full article

Cinematic representations of mental health operate at the intersection of science, culture and visual meaning, while medical academic discourse plays an important role in shaping how such representations are conceptualized. This study examines how the PubMed-indexed literature (2010–2025) engages with mental health in relation to narrative film and related screen media, combining bibliometric mapping with interpretive analysis. Through a structured PubMed query and VOSviewer co-occurrence analysis, this study identifies 5292 unique terms, of which 530 meet the minimum frequency threshold. Comparison between low- and high-frequency maps reveals a shift from lexical diversity to a consolidated biomedical core centered on classification, diagnosis and measurable affect. Six clusters are identified (neuro-affective, educational stigma, media–behavioral, neuropharmacological–technological, perceptual–emotional and pandemic-related), which together structure the field’s dominant semantic orientations. The findings indicate three main patterns: the predominance of standardized biomedical language, the limited visibility of intersectional categories (e.g., gender, race, identity) at the level of indexed metadata, and a gap between visual processes and narrative meaning. While individual studies often engage with cinematic complexity, this dimension is only partially reflected in the dominant lexical structure. Building on these results, a cluster-informed conceptual framework for film-based medical education is proposed, in which narrative film can support complementary forms of clinical, social and interpretive learning. This study contributes to the field of Medical Humanities by demonstrating that medical discourse not only reflects but also structures the visibility of mental health in relation to screen media, while highlighting the need for more integrated approaches that connect biomedical knowledge with narrative and cultural understanding. Full article

Longitudinal data, characterized by repeated measurements on the same subjects over time, are ubiquitous in biomedical sciences, economics, social sciences, and engineering. Analyzing such data presents unique statistical and computational challenges, including within-subject correlation, time-varying covariates, irregular observation times, informative dropout, and high dimensionality. While traditional statistical methods, such as linear mixed-effects models and generalized estimating equations, remain foundational, they often struggle with complex nonlinear dynamics, ultra-high-dimensional feature spaces, and very large sample sizes. Over the past two decades, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) methods have emerged as powerful complementary approaches to address these limitations. This review provides a comprehensive survey of mathematical and computational methods for longitudinal data analysis. We cover classical statistical models, penalized regression techniques, tree-based ensemble methods, kernel machines, Bayesian hierarchical models, and modern deep learning architectures, including recurrent neural networks, temporal convolutional networks, attention-based Transformers, neural ordinary differential equations, and generative models. We propose a unified taxonomy that organizes existing methods along two primary axes: the underlying mathematical framework and the analytical objective. For each category, we present detailed mathematical formulations, discuss key theoretical properties, examine computational considerations, and summarize representative reported applications drawn from the published literature. To increase the practical value of this review, we provide a cross-cutting comparison of method families against five key challenges (within-subject correlation, irregular sampling, missing data, high dimensionality, and scalability) and offer concrete guidance on method selection according to sample size, dimensionality, and analytical objective. Finally, we critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of these approaches, with particular emphasis on interpretability, scalability, handling of missing data, robustness to covariance misspecification, and uncertainty quantification. Full article

One difficult issue regarding adaptation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings is assessing the heritage significance of functional industrial-oriented heritage buildings, such as railway buildings, that have outlived their original purpose. There is a significant tension in developing strategies for the long-term viability of a sustainable, adaptive reuse of this type of heritage infrastructure. Complicating an assessment is that these buildings may be in constrained locations, or the location has changed beyond all recognition, such that the building inhabits a sterile space. Accepted practice for conserving heritage buildings is to discourage relocating these buildings, with a scholarly concern that presentation of relocated buildings for public engagement will undermine interpretive thinking. In all cases, functional heritage buildings complicate conservation decisions in comparison with mainstream heritage buildings. Existing conservation frameworks remain insufficiently equipped to evaluate industrial and utilitarian heritage buildings whose significance derives as much from operational function, social memory, and technological context as from architectural fabric or fixed location. In response, taxonomy surveying is advanced as a novel stakeholder-centred conservation methodology capable of reconciling tensions between authenticity, adaptive reuse, relocation, and public interpretation. The aim, using case study railway buildings in a museum of industrial heritage, is to test if this methodology is transferable to other functional building types. The findings suggest that taxonomy surveying, as tested on the case study buildings, offers a scalable and internationally transferable framework for evaluating complex industrial heritage assets across differing regulatory, cultural, and spatial contexts. Full article