Search Results (82,899)

Background/Objectives: A plethora of articles report the effectiveness of many different interventions for managing cerebral palsy (CP), but there are few long-term follow-up studies of children after an intervention designed to improve function in children with CP. This observational mixed-methods study examined the functional gains observed more than one year after toddlers completed a 48-week investigation that included 5 days per week for 12 weeks of occupational and physical therapy using the Perception-Action Approach (P-AA). The aim was to observe whether the functional gains made by the children continued to improve, plateaued, or declined at long-term follow-up. Methods: The sample was 23 children with a mild-to-moderate level of CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I, II, or III) who completed the original study at least one year prior. The follow-up assessment included quantitative data using the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Functional Skills (PEDI-FS). Seventeen of 23 children were evaluated with both instruments. Qualitative data were collected from 14 of the 23 families who completed the PEDI-FS. Those families completed a survey with an open-ended questionnaire that assessed the caregivers’ perspectives about their children’s functioning and the impact of the intervention. Results: Findings from the quantitative data based on prognostic GMFM-66 developmental curves by age for children with CP: seven of the 17 children who had GMFM evaluations showed greater than expected improvement (all 5 with GMFCS II), four met the expected improvement, and six did not. Children with GMFCS II or III maintained their positions relative to the mean on the PEDI-FS mobility subset. Findings from the qualitative data revealed that some parents believed the intervention contributed to the changes in their children’s physical, mental, and social functioning. Many parents indicated that the study helped them overcome financial barriers related to accessing intensive therapies. Most parents reported that their child’s functioning was better than they expected when given the diagnosis of CP. Conclusions: Many months following an intense physical and occupational therapeutic intervention, based on predicted age-appropriate percentiles for motor function, roughly one-third of the children exceeded expectations, and one-third did not meet expectations. Despite the time invested in the intense protocol, caregivers felt the intervention was largely responsible for improvements in their children’s functioning. Full article

Farmers’ adoption of green grain production practices is essential for advancing China’s ecological civilization and achieving carbon neutrality. However, adoption remains uneven because farmers’ decisions are embedded in local social structures and shaped by short-term economic incentives and constraints. Drawing on an embeddedness framework, this study investigates how social mobilization influences farmers’ green grain production practices, while also examining the moderating role of household resource endowments and the mediating role of non-market value perceptions. Using multi-stage survey data collected in Heilongjiang Province between June and September 2023, the results show that grassroots cadres foster farmers’ green production adoption through four dimensions of social mobilization—technical, knowledge, cultural, and relational embeddedness. Moreover, household endowments positively moderate these effects, and non-market value perceptions partially mediate the relationship between social mobilization and green production practices. These findings are robust to alternative model specifications. This study provides micro-level evidence on how a cadre-led, governance-based social mobilization process is associated with farmers’ adoption of green production practices. Overall, this study advances understanding of the behavioral foundations of farmers’ green transitions and highlights actionable policy levers for grassroots governance, helping translate external policy directives into internalized and sustainable production practices. Full article

Switzerland does not have an established religion; however, the system of cantonal recognition is in many respects indistinguishable. In most countries the established religion receives state aid; similarly in Switzerland, the recognised denominations of Christianity receive extensive financial and other social capital benefits. Both the established religions of western liberal countries with such a system and the recognised religions in Switzerland are experiencing rapid declines in membership due to immigration, secularisation and individuation. Recognition, unlike establishment, is not a formal acknowledgement of a religion as part of state governance. Whereas establishment is still broadly accepted amongst those nations with an establishment regime, questioning of the legitimacy of the recognition system is rising quickly. The recognition system is theoretically more flexible than establishment, but it has not proven so in reality. This article draws upon interdisciplinary research and original research to investigate the challenges of adapting the recognition system to the changing landscape and examines the impact of attempts to overcome the constraints of the recognition rules. It suggests that a better understanding of the similarity between establishment and recognition coupled with greater awareness of the hegemony of Christianity in the political discourse and cultural symbolism of Switzerland might facilitate greater possibilities of adaptation. Full article

This article describes the basic principles of the functioning of living systems, which distinguish them from other systems. The concept of dividing living systems’ resources into matter and energy has been expanded by describing their contribution to systems’ entropy. Within social systems, human individuals serve as the functional equivalent of energy in ordinary living systems, acting as the driving and redistributive force with respect to matter. Furthermore, additional characteristics of system resources that impact the strategies of living systems regarding their resources have been introduced. Additionally, the maximum rate of development of living systems under ideal conditions has been demonstrated. Based on the above, this article presents the most natural sequence of changes of living systems in relation to their sources of matter and energy. Moreover, such a sequence of strategy changes is also considered for national food systems in which infrastructure elements and workers represent matter and energy. This article can provide a valuable initial insight into the degree of correspondence between the general structural organization of state food systems and the operational conditions under which they function. Full article

In recent years, the food processing industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has faced increasing pressures to improve operational efficiency while improving its environmental performance. This research examines whether Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies can be used as tools to incorporate sustainability into current operational processes at a date processing facility in Saudi Arabia. In addition to illustrating the ways in which production was improved, this research developed and preliminarily validated a Sustainability Integration Index (SII) framework to measure the contributions of improvement projects to sustainable practices in terms of their impact on the environment, society, and economy. Furthermore, this research examined the role of organizational culture as a moderator of the effectiveness of integrated LSS–sustainability approaches using a Cultural Readiness Assessment Model (CRAM). This research addressed production bottlenecks and aligned production with selected United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using the Define–Measure–Analyze–Improve–Control (DMAIC) methodology. Production bottlenecked in packaging operations resulted in schedule overruns and excessive overtime; therefore, the intervention focused on improving the production process in these areas. There were three distinct improvement streams: demand-based resource leveling, advanced production planning to allow for pull-based flow, and targeted maintenance to raise Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) from 48.2% to 74.6%. Results indicated a 23% increase in daily processing capacity, a 38 min decrease in the average length of time of production closures, and estimated annual cost savings of 940,000 SAR (approximately USD 250,000). The SII framework showed a 21.2% improvement in sustainability scores, with a total composite score improvement from 0.66 to 0.80. Social sustainability had the greatest relative increase (+24.2%). Exploratory correlation analysis found that improvements in cultural maturity and cross-functional collaboration are possible predictors of successful sustainability integration; however, the limitations of the single case study limit the ability to draw causal inferences. The results provide both empirical evidence and possible measurement tools to an under-explored area: the use of LSS in Middle Eastern food processing industries with specific sustainability goals. Validation of the frameworks across different industries will be necessary to establish generalizability. Full article

This study examines customers’ continuance intention in metaverse services by integrating technological, content, and social-relational dimensions and assessing the role of immersiveness. Six focal antecedents are considered, namely, technological sophistication, security, content creativity, content richness, social interaction, and social presence. Survey data from 231 metaverse users in China show that technological sophistication, content creativity, social interaction, and social presence are positively associated with immersiveness, whereas security and content richness are not. In addition, continuance intention is positively associated with technological sophistication, security, content richness, social interaction, and immersiveness. Despite the absence of clear indirect effects via immersiveness, the results suggest that continuance intention reflects not only immersive experience but also post-adoption evaluations of assurance and usefulness. As metaverse services move toward broader adoption and commercialization, these findings distinguish experience-building drivers from retention-relevant factors and offer implications for service development, content strategy, and community experience design. Full article

Citizen science is seen as a valuable tool for improving sustainable tourism governance. This is especially true in environmentally sensitive and socially complex areas that need inclusive knowledge. This research examines how citizen science can capture the views of local stakeholders regarding tourism impacts. It aims to create a community-based evidence base that supports better decision-making. The study takes place in a rapidly transitioning coastal tourism community in northwestern Mexico. Perceptions were collected using a basic participatory model from 150 actors, including local residents, school representatives, business community members, civil society organizations, and public agencies. The survey covered economic, social, and environmental dimensions, providing broad insights into how residents experience tourism expansion. Results indicate that tourism is widely perceived as an important economic driver: over 80% of respondents associate tourism with job creation and regional economic growth, and 100% recognize its role in supporting local crafts and production. At the same time, 84% of participants report rising living costs, and approximately 70% perceive restricted access to public spaces linked to tourism development. Environmental concerns are even more pronounced, with 87% of respondents associating tourism expansion with declining water and air quality, and 77% noting increased pressure on energy and water resources during peak seasons. The findings emphasize growing dissonance between national narratives on sustainability and the lived realities of communities. Stakeholders view tourism as a major driver of the local economy, crafts, and job creation. However, respondents also report rising living costs, displacement pressures, and restricted access to public spaces. Environmental concerns are even more apparent: respondents link tourism to declining air and water quality, habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, waste generation, and resource competition. The study suggests that even simple forms of citizen science can provide early, community-driven signals of social and environmental risks, offering valuable insights into more flexible and inclusive tourism governance in coastal areas. Full article

Background: Rickettsioses disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and are frequently misdiagnosed as other febrile illnesses in Yucatan, the Mexican state with the greatest diversity of Rickettsia spp. Although significant seroprevalence has been reported in rural communities, the last population-based study was conducted over two decades ago, despite environmental and social changes that have likely increased transmission risk. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group (TG) of Rickettsia in an endemic area of southeastern Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 390 participants. Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect IgG antibodies against SFG and TG of Rickettsia. Sociodemographic characteristics of participants, along with environmental and community-level variables from their regions of residence, were analyzed. Results: The overall seroprevalence of both Rickettsia groups was 31.2%. Higher maximum temperatures were associated with an increase in Rickettsia seroprevalence (PR = 4.18; 95% CI: 3.40–5.14), while higher population density was associated with a decrease in seroprevalence (PR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96–0.98). Conclusions: Rickettsia seroprevalence in Yucatan remains high and is shaped by both environmental and demographic factors. These findings highlight the need to strengthen surveillance and prevention strategies that integrate ecological and social determinants within a One Health framework. Full article

Early adolescent sport dropout is commonly explained through individual psychological factors such as declining motivation, burnout, or identity conflict. While valuable, these accounts often assume parental logistical and financial support as a stable background condition. This conceptual article introduces the Utilitarian Shift as a novel, family-level structural mechanism that helps explain why sport dropout peaks during early adolescence. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory, sociological perspectives on family investment, and developmental psychology, the framework conceptualizes dropout as emerging from a developmentally timed recalibration of parental investment. During childhood, parental support is largely sustained by custodial and broad developmental incentives; however, as adolescents gain functional independence and perceived developmental returns decline, continued investment becomes conditional rather than assumed. At the same time, sport system demands intensify through specialization pressures, rising costs, and selection mechanisms such as the Relative Age Effect. The convergence of declining perceived returns and escalating costs prompts rational parental withdrawal of logistical and financial support, thereby dismantling the material infrastructure required for sustained participation. Importantly, this withdrawal precedes and reshapes adolescents’ capacity to enact motivation, agency, and resilience, rather than merely responding to disengagement. The article situates early adolescent sport dropout as a relational and structurally mediated process, shifting analytic attention away from athlete-centered deficit models toward dynamic parental decision-making within marketized youth sport systems. Practically, the framework highlights the need for sport organizations and governing bodies to redesign participation pathways and value propositions that sustain parental engagement during early adolescence, even in the absence of elite performance trajectories. Full article

Background/Objectives: Understanding how motor and cognitive development may contribute to prosocial behavior is essential for supporting whole-child development in early learning settings. Early childhood education settings are well-positioned to address these concerns through integrated approaches that support the whole child. Research exploring the mechanisms that link developmental domains remains limited, especially regarding how motor development may influence social outcomes through cognitive processes such as inhibitory control. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether gains in motor skills were associated with prosocial behaviors indirectly through improvements in inhibitory control. Methods: Preschoolers (N = 238; M_age = 66.61, SD = 9.06 months; Girls = 45%) participated in a dual-component intervention supporting motor and social-emotional development. Results: For boys, growth in object-control skills predicted gains in inhibitory control, which in turn predicted both self-control and cooperation. For girls, object-control skills were not significantly related to inhibitory control, although inhibitory control was positively related to self-control. Conclusions: Findings highlight the interconnectedness of motor, cognitive, and social development in early childhood and the potential for interventions to yield cross-domain benefits, especially for boys. Engaging in motor skill activities, particularly object control, may foster both inhibitory control and prosocial behaviors. Programs should intentionally create inclusive environments that encourage girls’ engagement in object-control tasks and boys’ inhibitory control, thereby promoting equitable developmental opportunities across domains. Full article

Wireless sensor networks are expanding across nearly all aspects of social and economic activity. Their deployment now spans almost all available environments, including, in some cases, off-planet applications. Applications may range from near-ground, underground, undersea, indoor–outdoor, and on- and in-body, to name a few deployment environments. Each channel model exhibits its own physical representation and statistical distributions. In this work, we categorize and re-evaluate the various propagation models published in the open literature while, at the same time, we contribute critical updates needed due to the rapid expansion of the wireless sensor network discipline. Our work includes various results, based on simulation and/or analytical formulas, that advocate for and evaluate our classification and findings. Unlike prior reviews that treat environments in isolation, this article introduces a unified analytical and simulation framework for a cross-environment comparison, with updated parameterizations aligned with modern WSN deployments. The innovation lies in the consistent cross-environment evaluation of propagation mechanisms, updated parameterizations aligned with modern WSN deployments, and the identification of feasibility and trade-off boundaries across heterogeneous media. Full article

The transition towards circular economy models increasingly depends on entrepreneurial initiatives capable of integrating economic viability with social and environmental objectives. However, existing research provides limited explanation of how sustainable entrepreneurs mobilise shared knowledge and social innovation to navigate tensions between competing institutional logics in circular contexts. This study clarifies the role of shared knowledge and social innovation by explaining how circular sustainable value is created through circular business model development. This article develops an integrative framework based on a structured synthesis of the literature on sustainable entrepreneurship, social innovation, shared knowledge, institutional logic, and circular business models. The study does not rely on primary empirical data but focuses on theoretical integration across complementary research to advance conceptual understanding of circular value creation. The article proposes a three-stage framework explaining how shared knowledge is transformed into circular sustainable value through social innovation mechanisms. It illustrates how diverse knowledge inputs interact with institutional logics, how social innovation processes translate these inputs into collaborative practices, and how circular business models generate multidimensional value under conditions of institutional complexity. The framework offers guidance for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and ecosystem actors involved in circular economy transitions and helps clarify how collaborative knowledge practices and social innovation processes can support the design and implementation of circular business models. This article does not empirically test the proposed framework. The findings are limited to theoretical development. Future research is encouraged to examine the framework empirically through longitudinal case studies, comparative designs, or mixed-method approaches, and to operationalise its key constructs. Full article

Background: The relationship between selfie addiction and narcissism in students at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ, Autonomous University of Zacatecas), Mexico, was analysed. The aim of this study was to identify the narcissistic factors associated with students’ selfie taking addiction. Methods: To identify the relationship between narcissism and selfie addiction, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Adapted NPI-40) and the Psychometric Selfie Addiction Scale (PSAS) were used. A structural equation model (SEM) was employed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used for structural validation. EFA and CFA confirmed adequate fit and reliability indicators regarding the robust unidimensional structure of the PSAS. Results: The SEM results indicated significant associations between the latent dimensions of the narcissistic traits of superiority, authority, need for admiration, exhibitionism, and exploitation and selfie addiction. This research provides structural and psychometric evidence for the relationship between narcissism and selfie addiction in the Mexican student population, integrating Adapted NPI-40 and PSAS, as well as a parsimonious explanatory structural equation model that demonstrates the relationship between different narcissistic traits and social media practices. Conclusions: The results provide a basis for developing digital literacy interventions for young people and future cross-validations. Full article

With the collapse of the post-Cold War bipolar world order, religious institutions regained their public role in the socialist and people’s republic states of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Religion not only regained its social influence, but also once again became a decisive factor in shaping national identity. During the disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, religion did not merely attempt to fill the ideological void left by the crisis of the socialist value system; it also actively contributed to the reconfiguration of national values, culture, identity and political discourse. This study examines the religious factors that contributed to the sacralisation of national identity; the consolidation of the ‘Us’, ‘Them’, and ‘Us versus Them’ narratives; and the justification of wartime violence during the disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). In this context, ‘Us’ refers to the dominant religious/ethnic community of a given member republic, while ‘Them’ denotes the ethnic majority and their confessional affiliations living in other member republics. This mainly refers to the three largest religious/ethnic communities, Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims. The ‘Us versus Them’ confrontation escalated tensions and ultimately played a central role in the disintegration of the SFR of Yugoslavia. The study concludes that religion played a dual role: on the one hand, it supported the preservation of community identity and social cohesion; on the other hand, it fostered exclusion, the ethnicisation of loyalty, the political instrumentalisation of religion, and the legitimisation of war discourses on the other. Full article