Search Results (239)

Family farming (FF) in Paraguay faces structural challenges related to institutional fragmentation, territorial inequalities, and limited coordination among stakeholders. In this context, the department of Itapúa provides a relevant case for analyzing how the relational structure of actors shapes territorial governance dynamics. This study examines how the network of actors involved in FF is configured and what this structure reveals about coordination processes, using a Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach. Based on 40 surveys conducted between April and May 2024, a directed and weighted network comprising 35 actors was constructed, including institutional, technical, productive, and market-related stakeholders. The analysis focuses on the intensity and structure of relationships shaping flows of information, resources, and territorial organization. The results reveal a relatively cohesive but functionally differentiated network. Technical actors and public institutions—particularly municipalities and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG)—occupy central and intermediary positions that facilitate coordination and information flows. In contrast, individual producers and market vendors remain in peripheral positions, limiting their influence within the network. The network structure combines elements of bonding and bridging social capital, although the limited presence of weak ties may constrain innovation and the incorporation of new actors. These findings point to a form of distributed territorial governance characterized by interdependence among actors, but also by structural asymmetries and coordination gaps between functional domains. Based on the results, the study highlights the need to strengthen coordination mechanisms, improve the integration of peripheral actors, and promote new connections between less articulated groups. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence on territorial governance in FF systems in Paraguay and demonstrates the value of SNA as a tool for analyzing coordination processes in rural contexts in Latin America. Full article

This article presents a case study of a program aimed at creating support networks among families of students with functional diversity (motor disability, ASD, DLD, intellectual disability, ADHD, CD) with the purpose of expanding their coping resources in the face of the chronic stress they experience, resilience and empowerment. The program was developed in a public school of infant and primary education in the Community of Madrid (Spain). The design of the program is based on the domains of quality of life. The development of the program followed a qualitative case study approach, framed within the critical participatory action research, and was structured in cycles of planning, action, observation and reflection. These cycles included face-to-face sessions with families, participant observation, collaborative dynamics to record what happened and what was expressed in the sessions, and the analysis of materials produced by the families themselves. In the case study, an inductive approach was used to analyze the collected content, guided by Schalock’s family-adapted quality of life model. The results show an increase in family involvement, a perceived improvement in emotional and practical support, and a greater involvement of families in decision-making and community awareness. It is concluded that placing the well-being of families at the center of educational action improves their stress coping skills, resilience and empowerment, strengths that have an impact on community cohesion and the sustainability of their children’s inclusion processes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Co-processed excipients (CPEs) are designed for direct compression through particle engineering, yet comprehensive powder rheological profiles systematically comparing advanced and traditional characterization methods remain limited. This study characterized fifteen lactose-based excipients using European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) methods and the complete Freeman FT4 Powder Rheometer measurement suite, establishing a correlation framework linking particle-level attributes to macroscopic flow behavior. Methods: Fifteen excipients were characterized for bulk and tapped density, compressibility index, flow time (Ph. Eur. 2.9.16), and angle of repose (Ph. Eur. 2.9.36). Particle size and shape were measured by dynamic image analysis. FT4 measurements comprised stability and variable flow rate testing, consolidation, aeration, compressibility, permeability, shear cell, and wall friction at three surface roughness. Pearson correlation matrices were computed across all 53 parameters. Results: Classical flow indices classified most CPE as good-to-satisfactory, failing to discriminate materials with fundamentally different dynamic flow profiles. FT4 testing revealed a fourfold range in Basic Flowability Energy (624–2107 mJ), a ninefold range in flow function coefficient (4.3–35.8), and wide aeration sensitivity differences (Aeration Ratio: 1.9–283.7). Strong correlations were identified between Specific Energy and compressibility index (r = 0.85), cohesion and Flow Rate Index (r = 0.79), and Normalized Aeration Sensitivity and pressure drop (r = 0.86). Within-family comparisons (Tablettose 70/80/100, FlowLac 90/100) revealed that particle size distribution breadth is a more critical flow determinant than median size alone. Conclusions: Combining FT4 rheometry with pharmacopoeial testing provides substantially greater discriminating power than either approach alone, enabling rational excipient selection for direct compression formulation. Full article

Disability is frequently theorized through a polarized medical-versus-social binary that can obscure the developmental, relational, and sociocultural processes through which bodily difference becomes psychologically meaningful. This study examines how adults with congenital or early-onset physical disabilities narrate and negotiate disability in everyday life, using psychoanalytic concepts as a complementary heuristic lens within an explicitly interdisciplinary framework that integrates developmental resilience and disability theory. Thirty-five in-depth life-story interviews were conducted with seven adults (25–40 years) across approximately five sessions per participant over two months. Data was analyzed using thematic qualitative content analysis, combining systematic coding of manifest content with interpretive attention to symbolic and relational meanings, while cross-checking psychoanalytic interpretations against developmental and social-disability perspectives. Four recurring compensatory patterns were identified: (1) symbolic resignification and verbal normalization (discursive reframing and minimizing disability); (2) achievement-oriented self-positioning (performance and perfectionistic striving); (3) compensatory role assumption (caregiving/protector roles and mastery enactments); and (4) silent family dynamics (familial denial and narrative). Within the specific context of this study, these patterns appeared to function as regulatory efforts to sustain self-cohesion, agency, and belonging. However, the narratives suggest that when these strategies manifest as rigid ideals of ‘overcoming’ and hyper-competence, they may carry a significant subjective cost for participants. Compensatory behaviors are best understood as ecologically embedded regulatory processes shaped by relational resources (experienced as containing/“holding”) and by sociocultural devaluation linked to ableist norms. An integrated model is proposed in which body, self, and environment co-constitute disability across development, clarifying when compensatory strategies support creative adaptation versus defensive rigidity. Full article

Background: The STAG1 gene has been related to a poorly known form of intellectual disability, known as Intellectual Developmental Disorder, Autosomal Dominant 47 (MRD47). Functionally, MRD47 is part of the Cohesinopathies, a small family of rare genetic disorders caused by defective cohesin complex, whose activity is essential for sister chromatid cohesion and therefore for chromatin organization. Chromatin state modulation is an entangled process finely modulated by a large number of actors that, if altered, give rise to the so-called Chromatinopathies. The clinical and biological overlap among these families of conditions on one hand poses significant challenges during diagnostic definition, and, on the other, may help delineate more accurate management guidelines. Methods: Starting from the report of a novel pathogenic variant in the STAG1 gene, we performed a retrospective clinical and molecular review of all previously reported patients affected by this rare disorder. Once clinical and photographic data of all published patients were collected, we used Face2Gene deep learning technology to analyze STAG1 facial phenotype, comparing it to both Chromatinopathy and Cohesinopathy profiles. Results: Our clinical and molecular re-evaluation of reported cases confirms MRD47 as a mainly neurodevelopmental disorder. Through artificial intelligence technology, we were able to first create the gestaltic profile of MRD47. Face2Gene analyses of this composite phenotype, although limited by the tool’s analysis modalities, demonstrates the strong overlap of STAG1 disorder with Chromatinopathies. Conclusions: The present literature review, together with gestaltic analyses of the STAG1-related phenotype, underscores the strong resemblance of MRD47 to epigenetic machinery disorders. The present case brings to light once more the biological and phenotypical entanglement of Cohesinopathies and Chromatinopathies, hinting at STAG1 as the joining chain. Full article

Objectives: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) may negatively affect both the quality of life of adolescents and the quality of life of their families (FQOL). Therefore, the analysis of objective and subjective determinants of FQOL in families of children and adolescents with AIS undergoing long-term conservative treatment becomes important and will allow for a better understanding of factors that may have a significant impact on the prognosis and clinical treatment outcomes. Methods: The analysis covered a total of 200 families of children and adolescents aged 7–18 from the Podkarpackie region (Poland). The medical history chart and the original physical examination card, as well as the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales (FACES III) and the Family Quality of Life Scale (FQOL), were used in this study. Results: Families of adolescents without AIS demonstrated significantly higher levels of family cohesion and adaptability compared with families of adolescents with AIS (p < 0.001). The mean overall FQOL score was significantly lower in the AIS group (75.33 ± 9.18) than in the control group (86.97 ± 7.91; p < 0.001, r_rb = 0.58). Multivariate analysis indicated that family adaptability was an independent predictor of FQOL in the AIS group, with higher adaptability associated with lower overall FQOL and reduced scores in parental functioning and emotional well-being domains. Conclusions: A long process of AIS treatment can cause crisis situations for patients and their families and influences both the physical and mental health of patients by changing their family’s quality of life (FQOL). Early identification of families characterized by diminished cohesion and adaptability enables the integration of psychopedagogical support and family consultations into standardized care. Such a multidimensional approach may enhance therapeutic prognosis and accelerate the rehabilitation process. Full article

Digital transformation has profoundly reshaped caregiving practices, yet its influence on family cohesion within disability contexts remains underexplored, particularly in Arab societies. This qualitative phenomenological study examines how digital technologies shape family cohesion among Jordanian caregivers of children with disabilities. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 primary caregivers, and data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings reveal a central tension of being “between connectivity and care,” articulated through four interrelated themes: (1) a digital double-bind in which online support networks function as a vital “virtual village” while simultaneously contributing to intra-familial fragmentation; (2) the reconfiguration of care labor, whereby digital management emerges as an invisible and gendered form of caregiving work, often positioning mothers as primary digital coordinators; (3) the translation of traditional social capital (wasta) into digital spaces to navigate systemic resource constraints, producing new moral and emotional burdens; and (4) the strategic use of digital platforms to preserve cultural, religious, and familial identity in the face of stigma, thereby reinforcing internal cohesion. These findings suggest that digital technologies do not merely facilitate connection but actively reconfigure family dynamics through ongoing negotiation between support and strain. The study underscores the need for family-centered digital inclusion policies and support interventions that mitigate digital burdens while harnessing technology’s potential to strengthen culturally grounded resilience among families of children with disabilities. Full article

Understanding how family functioning shapes social cohesion in South African communities offers insight into relational dynamics that sustain neighborhood well-being. This convergent parallel mixed-methods study examined associations between family functioning and neighborhood social cohesion in Cape Town. Quantitative data (N = 662) were collected using the Family Functioning Questionnaire and the Neighborhood Social Cohesion Questionnaire. Correlations showed positive associations between family cohesion and trust (r = 0.20), expressiveness and tolerance/respect (r = 0.20), and democratic family style and neighborhood attachment (r = 0.21). Family disengagement showed a small negative association with tolerance/respect (r = −0.11) and a small positive association with practical help (r = 0.17), an unexpected pattern interpreted cautiously. Qualitative interviews (n = 20) provided contextual depth, describing how open communication, shared caregiving, and supportive family networks enhance trust, belonging, reciprocity, and responsibility. Thematic analysis produced five themes spanning cohesion, expressiveness, conflict/disengagement, democratic family functioning, and authoritarian parenting as adaptation. Triangulation indicated that cohesive, expressive, and democratic family processes align with stronger neighborhood connectedness, while conflict and strictness were often described as forms of regulation rather than uniformly harmful. Findings support strengthening family-based interventions, parenting programs, and community policies that reinforce both family well-being and social connectedness. Full article

This work focuses on the study of traditional Andean therapeutic knowledge of spirituality, understood as current practices that articulate health, territory, and sacredness. In a setting invaded by modernity and conventional medicine, Pampapu survives as a healing ritual that expresses a symbolic and spiritual relationship with the Earth and Andean deities. The objective is to understand the religious, cultural, and symbolic meanings that the inhabitants attribute to this ritual. It was carried out using qualitative research methods with an ethnographic and interpretive approach, based on participant observation and in-depth interviews with traditional healers, older adults, and patients’ families. Thematic and hermeneutic analysis confirmed categories such as sacredness, illness of the Earth, generational transmission, and religious syncretism. The results show that the ritual fulfills therapeutic functions, identity, and social cohesion, and is transmitted through generations. It is concluded that this practice constitutes a living expression of the Andean religious worldview and an essential component of intangible cultural heritage. Full article

Syspastoxyelidae is an extinct basal hymenopteran lineage currently known only from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Here, we describe a new genus and species, Cilioxyela setosa gen. et sp. nov., based on a well-preserved female specimen from the Hukawng Valley, northern Myanmar. The new taxon is assigned to Syspastoxyelidae based on diagnostic characters, including strongly proximally condensed forewing venation, a composite first flagellomere formed by fused ancestral segments, tibiae bearing dense robust spines, and segmented cerci. Cilioxyela gen. nov. differs from all previously described genera by a unique character combination, most notably, a distal forewing veinless membrane lacking longitudinal corrugation and conspicuously elongated marginal setae, together with a narrowed forewing, elongate pterostigma and anal cell, and distinctive antennal segmentation. These features support the establishment of a new genus. Comparative analysis indicates that distal forewing morphology in Syspastoxyelidae is more variable than previously recognized. The presence or absence of longitudinal corrugation in the distal forewing membrane likely reflects genus-level differentiation rather than a stable family-level synapomorphy. The new genus also supports a tentative division of Syspastoxyelidae into at least two morphologically cohesive groups, pending testing through additional fossil discoveries and quantitative phylogenetic analyses. The discovery of Cilioxyela setosa expands the known morphological disparity of Syspastoxyelidae and highlights evolutionary plasticity in distal forewing architecture among early Hymenoptera, contributing to a better understanding of morphological diversification in mid-Cretaceous forest ecosystems. Full article

Public green spaces play a critical role in fostering social cohesion in rapidly industrializing cities. However, empirical research on how urban residents in non-Western contexts perceive, evaluate and use these spaces remains limited, particularly in Islamic industrial cities with distinct cultural practices and urban development patterns. This study examines determinants of visitor satisfaction in Coastal Park, Asaluyeh, a rapidly industrializing Persian Gulf city. The city’s industrial character, marked by acute green space scarcity and demographic imbalances due to workforce migration, provides a distinctive context for examining urban park dynamics in Iran’s petrochemical industrial zones. Using structured questionnaires and systematic field observations, we assess factors influencing park satisfaction and the role of the park in facilitating community bonds. Results reveal that vegetation quality shows the strongest association with visitor satisfaction (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), surpassing demographic characteristics in explanatory power. The park predominantly serves group-based activities, with family gatherings representing the dominant form of social interaction, reflecting cultural preferences for communal recreation. Significant disparities emerge across men and women in satisfaction levels and usage patterns. Temporal concentration during weekend evenings is driven by extreme daytime heat, while transportation barriers limit equitable access. Statistical analyses indicate weak correlations between demographic variables and satisfaction, underscoring the primacy of experiential factors in shaping visitor perceptions. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations for culturally sensitive park design in industrial Islamic cities, emphasizing the need for infrastructure, amenities, and improved public transport connectivity to ensure equitable access across diverse demographic groups. Full article

(1) Background: Prosocial behaviour serves as a crucial indicator of mental health development among preschool children. This study aimed to reveal the path through which family cohesion affects prosocial behaviour in Chinese preschoolers, while exploring the potential roles of parent–child relationships and parenting sense of competence in this relationship; (2) Methods: The questionnaire method was used, with 515 parents of preschool children from Southwest China participating in this survey (115 fathers, 400 mothers; Mage = 34.37, SD = 5.31). (3) Results: The key findings of the study are as follows: 1. Family cohesion exerted a direct and positive significant effect on the prosocial behaviour of preschoolers such that strong family cohesion effectively promoted children’s prosocial behaviour; 2. Parent–child relationships and a sense of competence in terms of parenting played a joint mediating role in the relationship between family cohesion and preschooler’s prosocial behaviour. Specifically, strong family cohesion enhanced the quality of parent–child relationships, which in turn improved parents’ parenting sense of competence, ultimately facilitating the development of prosocial behaviour in preschool children; 3. Further propensity score-matching analysis revealed that the influence of family cohesion on the prosocial behaviour of preschoolers varies by parent, with parenting sense of competence being significant among fathers and parent–child relationships being significant among mothers. (4) Conclusions: In educational practice, greater attention should be paid to the role of fathers in Chinese family education, especially regarding their parenting capabilities and experiences. Additionally, it is essential to encourage Chinese fathers to actively fulfil their parenting duties and responsibilities. Full article

The present study examines the behavioural trajectories and spatial utilisation of elderly caregivers within intergenerational families, set against the backdrop of China’s accelerating ageing population and the widespread prevalence of dual-income households. Existing studies predominantly rely on static data, which makes it difficult to capture the dynamic relationship between behaviour and space. The present study employs lagged sequence analysis in combination with non-participatory observation and video recording techniques to conduct a 14-day behavioural tracking and sequence analysis of two typical dual-income families in Beijing (totaling 2137 behavioural events), thereby establishing a research framework of “behavioural observation, sequence analysis, and design translation.” The identification of three typical behavioural sequence patterns was achieved through the implementation of behavioural coding, spatio-temporal trajectory modelling, and sequence correlation testing. The identified sequence patterns are as follows: a simple “cooking–eating” sequence, a complex “child-centred” sequence, and a cyclical “housework–rest–communication” sequence. These patterns exposed fundamental contradictions with prevailing spatial functions. The study proposes synergistic spatial and furniture design strategies to support elderly caregivers’ behavioural flow, alleviate caregiving burdens, and foster intergenerational integration. This research not only validates the methodological value of lag sequence analysis in behaviour-driven design but also provides theoretical and empirical foundations for sustainable residential environments that promote intergenerational cohesion and reduce caregiving stress. Full article

Cohesion among individuals reflects the quality of relationships and interpersonal interaction within a community. Elements such as social connections, trust, and a sense of belonging serve as key indicators of societal cohesion and are often rooted in acts of good neighborliness. Despite this, limited knowledge exists regarding perceptions and behaviors related to good neighborliness within South African society. The present study examines how perceptions and practices of good neighborliness contribute to the development of cohesive communities. Research was conducted in four South African communities: Philippolis, Lambert’s Bay, Caledon, and Grabouw. Utilizing an interpretivist approach, the study adopted a qualitative methodology involving interviews with 25 participants, including family members and community stakeholders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis facilitated the identification of recurring patterns and key themes. The principal themes identified were everyday mutual support and practical assistance, moral norms and values of care, social familiarity and community connectedness, trust and good neighborliness, and intergroup relations and cohesion across diversity. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of good neighborliness in advancing social cohesion. For communities and families to thrive, it is vital that members experience safety and cultivate trusting relationships, which often requires openness about their vulnerabilities and needs. Full article

Background: Spousal caregivers and adult-child caregivers are the main sources of informal care of patients with dementia. They are primarily responsible for providing daily assistance, emotional support, and long-term care within the family. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2024 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 410 family caregivers (154 spousal and 256 adult-child caregivers) participated. Perceived family cohesion was measured using the Family Adaptability Cohesion Scale, Second Edition, Chinese version (FACES II-CV). Caregiver-related characteristics included the following: caregivers’ self-reported physical health, social support, self-efficacy, and the number of family members assisting in caregiving. Results: (1) adult-child caregivers reported significantly higher perceived family cohesion than spousal caregivers (p < 0.001); (2) regression analyses revealed that caregiver role and caregiver-related characteristics were positively associated with perceived family cohesion (all p < 0.05); and (3) mediation analyses revealed that caregiver-related characteristics mediate the relationship between caregiver role and perceived family cohesion, with mediating effects of 0.109, 0.293, 0.087 and 0.174, respectively. Conclusions: Given that caregiver-related characteristics act as mediators of family cohesion, interventions should focus on strengthening caregivers’ physical health, social support, self-efficacy, and family involvement in caregiving to equalize the perception of family cohesion between spousal caregivers and adult-child caregivers. Full article