Search Results (1,699)

Background: Clinical reasoning is a vital competency for safe nursing practice, yet no validated Arabic instrument exists to assess this skill among nursing students in Saudi Arabia. Aim: This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the Arabic version of the Clinical Reasoning Scale (CRS) and to investigate clinical reasoning among Saudi nursing students. Methods: This methodological instrument validation study with a cross-sectional survey component was conducted in Saudi Arabia between January 2024 and May 2025 among nursing students. The Arabic Clinical Reasoning Scale (CRS-A) was translated and culturally adapted in accordance with the WHOQOL Group guidelines for instrument translation. Content validity was assessed by 10 experts, and construct validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (n = 365). The response rate was 98.65%. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha (n = 365), and test–retest reliability (n = 30) was measured with the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) over a two-week period. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent sample t-tests were also performed. Results: The tool’s content validity (S-CVI = 0.98) was confirmed by a panel of experts. The CRS-A demonstrated excellent temporal stability (ICC = 0.95, p < 0.001) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.935). The exploratory factor analysis showed that the 16 items’ factor loadings ranged from 0.542 to 0.807, and three factors accounted for 64.33% of the total variance. Students self-reported agreement with clinical reasoning abilities (mean scores: 3.81–4.18). No significant differences in clinical reasoning were found by age (p = 0.102) or gender (p = 0.226), but significant differences were found by Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Arabic Clinical Reasoning Scale demonstrated preliminary psychometric performance for measuring clinical reasoning among Arabic-speaking student nurses. It provides educators with a valuable tool for identifying learning needs and evaluating educational interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Declining masticatory function affects dietary variety, nutritional status, cognitive function, and health. Although factors related to chewing ability have been reported, the causes of temporal changes in masticatory kinematics in older adults remain unclear because prospective longitudinal data remain limited. Objectives: This follow-up study investigated factors associated with changes in masticatory movement in older adults requiring long-term care. Methods: Participants were 42 older adults residing in long-term care facilities. Survey items included mandibular kinematic data during rice cracker chewing and variables related to chewing, and the same assessment was performed two years after baseline. Relationships between changes in masticatory movement and other variables were examined, and factors associated with masticatory movement were identified using a linear mixed model (LMM). Results: A change in the number of cycles was significantly associated with the rate of change in the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI). The rates of change in the number of linear motions and circular motion frequency were significantly associated with changes in the ABC Dementia Scale (ABC-DS). In the LMM results, cycle frequency remained associated with ASMI after adjustment for confounding factors, and both the number of circular motions and circular motion frequency were associated with ABC-DS. Conclusions: The findings suggest that masticatory movement in older adults requiring long-term care is influenced by skeletal muscle mass and cognitive function. In care facilities, interventions to maintain these factors are essential to help prevent dietary texture modifications among residents, while supporting nutrition, oral function, and health in this population. Full article

Plastic pollution is a problem for many municipalities, water authorities, and industries, including transportation, energy, agriculture, fisheries, real estate, tourism, hospitality, insurance, and healthcare. Efforts to understand and mitigate plastic pollution would benefit from a dedicated map satisfying basic criteria including traceability, scalability, spatio-temporal resolution, and data flexibility. This article details and demonstrates how several existing pollution maps satisfy these criteria and makes recommendations on their use for specific activities, including temporal monitoring, root-cause analysis (RCA), cleanups, and tourism guides. Advantages of using plastic density rather than piecewise logs as the primary data format are highlighted, in particular feasible memory requirements and access to cloud data. Environmental plastic mapping by passive optical sensors, which offer the potential of comprehensive qualified data, is also surveyed, including demonstration of an original shortwave infrared (SWIR) polarization imager, and dynamic plastic pollution monitoring is demonstrated through the application-programming interface (API) of the Google Maps platform utilizing both sensor and published survey data. Full article

Introduction: The tub gurnard (Trigla lyra) is a demersal species of commercial interest whose long-term distributional dynamics remain poorly understood. Understanding spatial and temporal changes is essential for fisheries management and for assessing biogeographic shifts. Objective: To characterise the spatio-temporal distribution and persistence of T. lyra across Galician and Cantabrian Sea waters over a 33-year period (1993–2025) and to identify environmental and fishing drivers associated with observed changes. Methodology: We analysed data from the DEMERSALES bottom trawl survey series (1993–2025), for which the sampling design remained consistent throughout. Species distribution was modelled using a delta–GAM framework (presence–absence and positive values), complemented by a presence-only GAM fitted to Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data; because these data were only available for 2009–2023, this model was restricted to that period for biological coherence. Environmental predictors included bathymetry, slope, sediment composition (organic matter, mud, fine and coarse sand), bottom temperature, and salinity. Spatial structure was assessed using aggregation curves, occupied area, centre of gravity, a Space Selectivity Index, and an Index of Persistence. Results: The occupied area increased from 45 to 963 km² (+2040%), accompanied by a sustained decline in the Space Selectivity Index and a westward shift of the distributional centroid (~20 km), indicating progressive range broadening. The frequency of occurrence rose from 4.5% in 1993 to 87.7% in 2025, reflecting a marked increase in spatial occupancy and encounter probability. Abundance increased sharply after 2015 (+47%), consistent with strong positive year effects in the GAM. Higher occurrence and densities were associated with muddy substrates, intermediate to high organic content, and depths of 100–300 m, matching the stable aggregation cores found along the shelf break. A reduction in trawling effort (−38% in mean intensity, −17% in swept area over 14 years) likely facilitated these trends. Conclusions: T. lyra expanded its distribution and shifted westward between 1993 and 2025, with persistent aggregation cores on the shelf break. No significant effect of temperature was found, suggesting that climate warming is not the primary driver; the expansion appears most plausibly to have been favoured by the decline in fishing pressure. Full article

Baseline information on terrestrial wildlife communities and their activity patterns is essential for protected-area management, but such information remains limited for Hunan Zhangjiajie Giant Salamander National Nature Reserve, where conservation attention has historically focused on the Chinese giant salamander and associated aquatic ecosystems. From March 2024 to August 2025, we conducted a camera-trap survey in broad-leaved and coniferous forest habitats of the reserve to document terrestrial mammals and ground-dwelling birds, evaluate taxonomic completeness, and describe diel and seasonal activity patterns. Across 43 camera-trap stations and 16,314 effective camera-trap days, we recorded 59 wildlife species, including 18 mammals and 41 ground-dwelling birds. The assemblage included nationally protected, threatened, and Chinese endemic species, indicating that the reserve’s forest habitats support important terrestrial biodiversity in addition to its aquatic conservation target. Taxonomic completeness curves suggested that the current survey captured most camera-detectable mammal and ground-dwelling bird taxa under the present sampling design, although the results should not be interpreted as a complete inventory of the reserve’s total vertebrate diversity. Annual diel activity analysis of 11 focal species showed clear temporal differentiation among ecological groups: small and medium-sized carnivores were mainly nocturnal, ground-dwelling birds, and red-hipped squirrel were primarily diurnal, and ungulates showed mixed or crepuscular-to-nocturnal tendencies. Seasonal analyses based on bioclimatic periods showed interspecific differences in activity-density distributions between the cool-dry and warm-wet seasons. However, peak-shift reliability analysis indicated that most focal species retained broadly similar main activity peaks across seasons; masked palm civet was the only species showing reliable seasonal displacement of its main activity peak. Pairwise temporal overlap analyses described temporal co-occurrence patterns among selected sympatric species but should not be interpreted as evidence of direct interaction or niche differentiation. Overall, this study provides baseline data on camera-detected terrestrial vertebrates in the reserve and supports long-term monitoring, forest habitat management, and disturbance control for terrestrial mammals and ground-dwelling birds. Full article

The Tua River is a tributary of the Douro River in the North of Portugal used as a spawning ground for potamodromous fish, namely the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei, Steindachner, 1864). Although access to this tributary became severely constrained after the construction of the Foz Tua Hydroelectric Facility (AHFT), fish continued to use the remaining accessible 1.1 km stretch of the Tua River below the dam, especially during their spawning season. Therefore, this study presents the monitoring of migratory fish influx downstream of the AHFT and associated mitigation measures. Fixed and mobile surveys, using an ARIS 1800 sonar, and focused on Iberian barbel were conducted between March and July, from 2023 to 2025. In 2023, fixed sonar monitoring recorded 100,289 individuals, showing a progressive increase over the sampling period, while mobile surveys confirmed high local concentrations (2083 individuals) and temporal fluctuations. In 2024, total counts rose substantially to 182,216 individuals (fixed surveys) and 2656 individuals (mobile surveys), with a peak in early May followed by a gradual reduction in these numbers. In 2025, the highest abundance was observed, with 196,935 individuals (fixed surveys) and 5441 individuals (mobile surveys), alongside higher variability between monitoring campaigns. Overall, these results suggest an intensifying pattern of fish accumulation downstream of the AHFT during the sampled periods, with recurring seasonal peaks. As a method to mitigate massive accumulation of fish downstream of this dam, in 2024 and 2025, a near real-time detection and mitigation protocol was implemented. This protocol identifies an initial “trigger” and a sequential methodology that recognizes possible massive accumulation scenarios, followed by the application of an adaptive operational management measure (e.g., ecological flow regulation) by the AHFT. The application of these measures effectively contributed to reducing fish accumulation during the critical periods. In conclusion, the results highlight a consistent increase in migratory fish accumulation, over the study period, downstream of the AHFT. The successful application of adaptive measures demonstrates that the implemented strategy seems to be effective so far and provides a strong basis for future management actions. Full article

Trust in embodied intelligence is dynamic, contextual, and interaction-dependent, but many existing computational approaches still model trust using static similarity structures. This study proposes and evaluates a compositional trust modeling approach based on quantum natural language processing (QNLP). Using open-ended survey responses about human trust in embodied agents, we compared classical NLP clustering and QNLP-based clustering in terms of dimension coverage, semantic coherence, contextual sensitivity, and robustness. The QNLP pipeline captured richer latent structure, producing ten clusters and identifying eight trust dimensions, including two emergent dimensions: calibrated trust and predictive reliability. Compared with classical approaches, QNLP clusters showed improved semantic separation and stronger context retention under preprocessing variation. These findings support a temporally structured view of trust in embodied AI and demonstrate that compositional quantum-inspired representations can reveal nuanced trust dynamics that are difficult to detect with conventional methods. This study contributes both a methodological framework for trust-sensitive text modeling and a theoretical account linking trust formation to retrospective calibration and prospective expectation in human–agent interaction. Full article

Spatially explicit water-quality information is critical for precision management in pond aquaculture but point sampling alone cannot capture pond-to-pond heterogeneity in multi-unit farms. This single-date, single-farm study re-evaluated the potential of UAV hyperspectral imagery for water-quality screening in inland aquaculture ponds in Shanghai, China, using site-matched extraction from a 138-band orthomosaic (450–998 nm, Cubert S185) acquired during a single UAV survey on 24 August 2023 and matched with 23 GPS-registered sampling sites. Eight water-quality parameters were analyzed: chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$ ), nitrite (${\mathrm{NO}}_2^{-}$), nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), chlorophyll-a (Chla), and total suspended solids (TSS). Raw single-band correlations were modest ($\left|\mathrm{r}\right|$= 0.236–0.417), but two-band difference spectral indices (DSI), normalized spectral indices (NSI), and ratio spectral indices (RSI) substantially improved sensitivity, with $\left|\mathrm{r}\right|$ reaching 0.558–0.928. Quadratic inversion models were calibrated on the full dataset and assessed using three validation layers: two-fold cross-validation, nested leave-one-pond-out (LOPO) validation with within-fold predictor reselection, and extraction-window sensitivity tests. Bootstrap 95% confidence intervals for calibration (Cal) R² characterize small-sample uncertainty (n = 23). Three parameters satisfied all three defensibility criteria (Cal R² > 0.5, CV R² > 0.2, and LOPO R² > 0.2): ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$ (Cal R² = 0.836 [0.61, 0.94]; LOPO R² = 0.420), COD (0.607 [0.34, 0.82]; 0.328), and NTU (0.862 [0.77, 0.96]; 0.204). TP, TN, ${\mathrm{NO}}_2^{-}$, TSS, and Chla showed overfit behavior under nested holdout and were demoted to exploratory products. A TreeSHAP analysis confirmed that band-to-band contrast carried more explanatory power than raw reflectance magnitude. Extraction-sensitivity tests further demonstrated that positional uncertainty (±2-pixel offset: ΔCV $R^2$= 0.23–0.41) exceeded averaging-window sensitivity (3 × 3→10 × 10: ΔCV $R^2$ ≤ 0.11), identifying geolocation control as the dominant robustness constraint. This single-date, single-farm reanalysis suggests that UAV hyperspectral imagery may support exploratory pond-scale screening of ${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}$, COD, and NTU. However, robust quantitative inversion and broader transferability remain unverified and will require denser sampling, improved geolocation control, pond-edge masking, multi-site observations, and multi-temporal calibration. Full article

Technological advances in hardware and software have enabled the development of novel in situ plankton imaging systems to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of plankton communities. State-of-the-art machine learning approaches have been applied for automated image classification, effectively handling the complex and highly variable morphology of plankton while maintaining high accuracy. Despite these advances, few instruments can acquire zooplankton images autonomously in a continuous underway mode, which is essential for large-scale oceanographic surveys conducted aboard research vessels or ships of opportunity. Here, we present SiMFlux, an underway shadowgraphic imaging system developed at the University of São Paulo, and report results from the Orient Expedition. Observations were conducted aboard an 80-foot sailing vessel navigating across the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. A total of 193 videos were analyzed from daily route segments, yielding over 1.2 million regions of interest (ROIs) containing organisms and detrital particles. Particles were automatically classified and subsequently validated by plankton experts. Full article

Background: Caregivers of long-term care (LTC) residents often face decisional conflict during unplanned hospitalization decisions. This study aimed to adapt and psychometrically validate a modified Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) for primary family caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 205 caregivers in 20 LTC facilities. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) were performed on randomly split subsamples, and structural equation modeling (SEM) examined associations among Decision Antecedents, Decision-Making Process, and Decisional Conflict. Bollen–Stine bootstrap procedures were applied to provide robust estimates under slight deviations from multivariate normality. Given the cross-sectional design and single-sample nature of this study, the SEM findings should be interpreted as theory-informed associations rather than causal effects. Longitudinal or intervention-based studies are needed to establish temporal ordering and determine whether improvements in caregiver readiness and decision-making processes lead to subsequent reductions in decisional conflict. Results: The modified DCS demonstrated strong internal consistency and a single-factor structure (α = 0.98, factor loadings 0.83–0.90). SEM indicated that Decision Antecedents and Decision-Making Process were significantly associated with Decisional Conflict (R² = 0.68). The mediation analysis suggested that the Decision-Making Process partially mediated the relationship between Decision Antecedents and Decisional Conflict. Conclusions: The modified DCS appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing decisional conflict among LTC caregivers. Findings highlight the importance of caregiver readiness, support, and communication in shaping decisional experiences. Given the cross-sectional design and single sample, results should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Future research should replicate these findings in larger, diverse samples and explore short-form versions of the scale. Full article

The Jabal Ali Marine Sanctuary, Dubai, is one of the most important marine protected areas (MPAs) in the UAE. The Arabian Gulf is characterised by extreme environmental conditions, including high temperatures and hypersaline waters. These conditions, combined with increasing anthropogenic pressures from coastal development projects such as desalination plants, energy plants and the Palm Jebel Ali development, may influence the pelagic ecosystems of MPAs. This study examined seasonal variability in phytoplankton communities and environmental conditions between summer (June 2017) and winter (December 2017), with particular emphasis on the interactions between temperature-driven stratification, hypersaline conditions, and phytoplankton community structure, abundance, and diversity. The AZTI (AZTI Tecnalia Marine Research Centre) Marine Biotic Index indicated predominantly “Good” to “High” ecological status of the pelagic ecosystem, indicating favourable environmental conditions. Potentially harmful algal bloom taxa, including Pseudo-nitzschia and Dinophysis, were detected at low abundances. Summer surveys recorded higher total species richness (44 vs. 34 species) and greater phytoplankton abundance (mean 68.6 vs. 49.8 cells/L) compared to those in winter. Diatoms dominated the assemblages in both seasons, accounting for 62–69% of the recorded species, while distinct spatial zonation patterns reflected habitat heterogeneity. The observed seasonal and spatial variability highlight the importance of incorporating temporal and spatial dimensions into management strategies. As the first pelagic phytoplankton assessment conducted in an MPA, this study provides important baseline data for understanding phytoplankton ecology in one of the world’s most environmentally extreme marine ecosystems. The findings contribute to evidence-based management under increasing climate change and anthropogenic pressures. However, because sampling was limited to the two principal climatic seasons, the study characterises inter-seasonal variability rather than a complete annual succession cycle. Additional surveys during spring and autumn are recommended to fully resolve seasonal succession dynamics. Overall, the findings support the continued protection of the sanctuary as an important biodiversity reservoir and a potential reference site for assessing marine ecosystem responses to environmental conditions. These findings are directly relevant to the environmental sustainability agenda of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which prioritises the protection and expansion of the emirate’s nature reserves and the safeguarding of marine and coastal biodiversity. By establishing the first pelagic phytoplankton baseline for the sanctuary, this study provides an evidence base for monitoring and managing marine protected areas in line with this long-term framework. Full article

Temperate broadleaved forests support diverse arthropod communities, but canopy-dwelling insects in European lime (Tilia cordata Mill.) stands are still poorly known. We surveyed light-attracted canopy insects in six T. cordata Genetic Conservation Units and related protected stands across Lithuania. One modified, solar-powered UV light trap was installed in the canopy (10–15 m) at each site and operated twice per month from June to August in 2023 and 2024. We used diversity metrics, similarity indices, multiple regression, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) together with PERMANOVA to examine the structure of insect communities and assess the influence of environmental factors. In total, 6031 individuals representing 295 insect species were recorded, with higher abundance, species richness and Shannon diversity in 2024 than in 2023. Across both years and all sites, Shannon H diversity index ranged from 3.21 to 3.92. Sørensen indices indicated moderate species similarity among sites and distinct species composition at the Ukmergė genetic reserve. The 20 most abundant taxa comprised over 60% of all individuals, and dominance structure changed markedly between years: Serica brunnea dominated in 2023 but was nearly absent in 2024. Regression revealed a significant positive effect of air temperature on insect abundance (about a 31% increase per 1 °C), while precipitation had no significant effect on insect abundance. NMDS and PERMANOVA showed strong spatial structuring, with sites explaining most of the variation, and weaker but significant temporal and site-by-year effects. Overall, insect diversity metrics showed non-significant correlations with T. cordata genetic diversity parameters. Results demonstrate that mature T. cordata forest stands are important reservoirs of canopy insect diversity and highlight pronounced spatial heterogeneity, interannual dynamics, and temperature sensitivity of canopy assemblages in Lithuanian forests. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study examined the association between active aging and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older Korean adults. Furthermore, it examined how socioeconomic factors were related to active aging and HRQoL. Methods: Data were analyzed using the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). This study used the Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with Eight Items (HINT-8), a Korean-specific HRQoL instrument. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations of overall active aging and its health, participation, and security domains with HRQoL. Results: The health domain showed the largest coefficient, and the security domain was also significantly associated with HRQoL. The participation domain showed a relatively limited and statistically non-significant association, which may partly reflect measurement constraints in the operationalization of participation. Older adults with lower educational levels and those residing in rural areas had lower levels of both active aging and HRQoL. Conclusions: Active aging was positively associated with HRQoL among older Korean adults. These findings highlight health as the domain most strongly associated with HRQoL and identify security as an additional relevant domain, while participation-related findings should be interpreted cautiously given the limited operationalization of participation and its statistically non-significant association. However, longitudinal or intervention studies are needed to examine temporal and causal relationships between active aging and HRQoL. Full article

Marine biological invasions are rapidly reshaping Mediterranean ecosystems, with growing consequences for biodiversity and fisheries. This study investigates recent changes in the composition of commercially important crustacean assemblages along the south-eastern coast of Sicily (central Mediterranean), focusing on penaeid shrimps (Penaeus aztecus and Penaeus kerathurus) and stomatopods (Erugosquilla massavensis and Squilla mantis). Field surveys were conducted during the fishing seasons of 2021 and 2025 at major landing sites and markets (Portopalo di Capo Passero, Syracuse and Catania), using standardized subsampling protocols applied to catches obtained by trammel nets and bottom trawls. Species composition was quantified through repeated sampling events, and temporal differences were analyzed using non-parametric tests and binomial generalized linear models, incorporating year and fishing gear as explanatory variables. Quantitative data were complemented by local ecological knowledge derived from structured interviews with professional fishers. Across the four-year interval, both taxonomic groups exhibited a pronounced shift in species dominance. The proportion of the invasive shrimp P. aztecus increased from approximately 20% in 2021 to over 80% in 2025, while the invasive stomatopod E. massavensis rose from about 2% to nearly 90% of total landings. These changes were statistically significant and independent of fishing gear. Fishers’ perceptions closely mirrored the quantitative trends, confirming the rapid replacement of native species by non-indigenous taxa and highlighting emerging socio-economic implications for local fisheries. Our findings document a rapid shift in the composition of commercial crustacean landings in Sicilian coastal waters, with invasive species becoming the dominant component of catches within a few years. This study underscores the need for adaptive fisheries management and integrated monitoring frameworks capable of responding to accelerating biological invasions in Mediterranean marine ecosystems. Full article

Introduction: Elasmobranchs are key components of marine ecosystems but are particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure due to their life-history traits, including slow growth, late maturity, and low fecundity. The Gulf of Cádiz supports a diverse assemblage of coastal and deep-water elasmobranch species, many of which are subject to incidental capture in demersal fisheries. Reliable fishery-independent information on their distribution, relative abundance, and biomass is essential to assess population status and to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management in the northeastern Atlantic. This study aims to provide an updated overview of the composition, relative abundance, biomass, and occurrence of elasmobranch species in the Gulf of Cádiz, contributing baseline information for monitoring and conservation purposes. Methodology: Data were obtained from the ARSA bottom trawl survey carried out in March 2026 using a stratified random sampling design by depth. A total of 45 valid hauls were performed. Results: A total of 29 elasmobranch species belonging to Rajiformes, Carcharhiniformes, Squaliformes, Myliobatiformes, Hexanchiformes, and Torpediniformes were identified. Small demersal sharks and skates dominated the assemblage. Scyliorhinus canicula was the most frequent and abundant species, occurring in 37 hauls and showing the highest mean abundance and biomass. Other recurrent taxa included Torpedo marmorata, Etmopterus spinax, Leucoraja naevus, and Raja clavata. Several species of conservation concern, such as Rostroraja alba, Centrophorus uyato, and Galeorhinus galeus, were recorded at low frequencies and abundances, highlighting their rarity in survey catches. The assemblage reflected a clear dominance of shelf and upper-slope species with occasional captures of deep-water taxa. Conclusions: The ARSA survey provides a valuable snapshot of the current elasmobranch community in the Gulf of Cádiz, confirming the prevalence of small-bodied, benthic species and the low occurrence of large or vulnerable taxa. These results underscore the importance of continued standardized surveys to detect temporal trends and support management strategies aimed at the conservation of elasmobranch diversity in the gulf. Full article