Search Results (550)

The high-value utilization of construction and demolition waste is critical for sustainable development in the building sector. However, in construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling supply chains, existing studies lack a systematic analysis of pricing mechanisms for such recycled CDW as substrate products, particularly regarding interest coordination and the quantification of green value. To reveal the bargaining mechanism between farmers as recyclers and processors and supermarkets as retailers under an asymmetric bargaining structure, this study applies Nash bargaining theory to construct a dynamic game model. The study revealed that (1) when the green degree of a product reaches a certain level, it can obtain a sustainable market premium and create a stable income space for both parties. (2) The relative strength of the bargaining power between the two sides significantly affects the impact of market base scale changes on profit distribution. When the bargaining power of the supermarket is lower than the threshold and the bargaining power of the farmers is higher than the threshold, the difference in profit between the farmers and the supermarket is negatively correlated with the market base scale of the CDW as a substrate. (3) The green sensitivity level of consumers affects the difference in profit of the main body with the government subsidy to farmers. This level is determined by the value of the green sensitivity coefficient of consumers and presents a differentiated adjustment effect in different value ranges, which in turn affects the transmission direction of government subsidies to profit distribution. (4) When the green sensitivity coefficient and the green communication intensity of farmers and the investment level are lower than the corresponding critical values, the difference in social welfare with or without subsidies is positively correlated with the amount of the subsidy. This study provides decision support for farmers and supermarkets in designing rational bargaining strategies and offers insights for improving coordination and sustainability in construction and demolition waste recycling supply chains. Full article

Background/Objectives: Parenting stress and life satisfaction are important indicators of family well-being and parent mental health in families of children with disabilities. However, limited empirical attention has been given to how these outcomes differ among parents whose children receive adapted physical activity (APA) services within South Korea’s Developmental Rehabilitation Service system. This cross-sectional study examined subgroup differences in parenting stress and life satisfaction according to sociodemographic, disability-related, and service-utilization characteristics among parents of children receiving APA services. Methods: Data were collected from 295 parents of school-aged children with disabilities enrolled in APA services at child development centers. Welch-type tests, Welch’s ANOVA or one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analyses, Benjamini–Hochberg FDR adjustment, and supplementary analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to examine group differences and the stability of selected associations after adjustment for prespecified covariates. Confirmatory factor analysis and gender-based measurement invariance testing were also conducted for the adapted parenting stress scale. Results: Parenting stress subdomains were positively correlated with one another (r = 0.19–0.53) and negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = −0.28 to −0.40). Female parents reported higher social and psychological stress than male parents. Household income showed the largest association with economic stress, and significant differences were also observed according to parental age, education level, disability severity, and selected service-utilization characteristics. Some associations remained after ANCOVA adjustment, whereas others were attenuated or emerged only after adjustment. Conclusions: The findings indicate subgroup differences in parenting stress and life satisfaction among parents of children receiving APA services. Because the study used a cross-sectional, self-reported design with convenience sampling and an adapted instrument, the results should be interpreted as preliminary associative evidence rather than evidence of causal or service-specific effects. Future longitudinal, comparative, and service-level research is needed to clarify how APA service contexts relate to caregiver well-being over time. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated widespread concerns regarding its long-term effects on children’s mental health. While numerous studies documented increased psychological distress among children during the pandemic, less is known about how children’s emotional and behavioral functioning have evolved in the post-pandemic period. Objective: This study examines patterns of children’s mental health using survey data collected in 2023 and 2025. Guided by the dual-factor model of mental health, the analysis considers both psychological difficulties and positive social functioning in order to provide a multidimensional understanding of children’s well-being. Method: Data were collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-25), a widely used behavioral screening instrument assessing emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior. These domains were analyzed across two time points to explore patterns of change in internalizing difficulties, externalizing difficulties, and social strengths among school-age children in the post-pandemic context (N = 1262 students in 2023 and N = 575 students in 2025). Results: The findings suggest that children’s mental health after the pandemic reflects both persistent vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Emotional symptoms and behavioral challenges remain present among a proportion of children, indicating that the psychological effects of pandemic-related disruptions may extend beyond the immediate crisis period. At the same time, many children demonstrate relatively stable levels of prosocial behavior, highlighting the continued importance of positive social functioning as a protective factor for psychological adjustment. Contributions: These results underscore the importance of adopting a comprehensive perspective on children’s mental health that recognizes both difficulties and strengths. The study highlights the role of schools and families in supporting children’s post-pandemic recovery through early mental health screening, social–emotional learning initiatives, and programs that promote empathy and peer support. Such approaches may contribute to strengthening children’s resilience and long-term well-being in the aftermath of large-scale social disruptions. Full article

Physical activity participation in young adulthood is typically explained by motivational and environmental determinants; however, regulatory models of daily behaviour suggest that transient fluctuations in sleep quality, circadian preference, and stimulant use may also be associated with how individuals appraise effort-related demands. Within this behavioural–temporal regulatory perspective, perceived barriers to physical activity may be related to variations in functional energy, alertness, and temporal alignment rather than solely stable contextual constraints. The present cross-sectional study examined whether insomnia symptoms (sleep initiation and awakening problems), chronotype, and daily caffeine intake were concurrently related to perceived personal, social, and environmental physical activity barriers in 788 university students (18–27 years). Standardized self-report measures were administered under controlled assessment conditions. Pearson correlations and theory-informed hierarchical regression models were applied. Sleep initiation problems demonstrated very weak positive correlations with total and domain-specific barriers (r = 0.12–0.17), whereas awakening problems showed very weak inverse correlations (r = −0.10 to −0.14, p ≤ 0.005). Chronotype was weakly associated only with personal barriers (β ≈ −0.09, p = 0.013). Daily caffeine intake showed a weak negative association with environmental barriers (β ≈ −0.15, p < 0.001). Across models, explained variance remained limited (adjusted R² = 0.040–0.053), indicating that these variables explained only a very small proportion of variance in perceived physical activity barriers. These findings suggest that sleep-related and chronobiological characteristics are not meaningful independent predictors of perceived physical activity barriers in this population and demonstrate only weak, domain-specific, and non-directionally consistent associations. Accordingly, the findings should be interpreted cautiously as exploratory rather than practically predictive. Given the cross-sectional design and low explained variance, the results primarily highlight the limited explanatory utility of these psychobiological factors relative to broader unmeasured contextual determinants. Longitudinal and time-sensitive designs incorporating objective behavioural assessments are required to clarify temporal ordering and potential regulatory mechanisms. Full article

Fathers are globally recognized as influential figures in children’s development, yet the specific mechanisms linking paternal beliefs to preschoolers’ social adjustment remain insufficiently explored. This study examined the sequential mediation effects of father involvement and the father–child relationship on the link between paternal progressive beliefs and children’s social adjustment (indexed by social competence and problem behaviors). A stratified random sample of 1862 Chinese mother–father dyads (3724 individual participants) was recruited. Structural equation modeling showed that the following: (1) Fathers’ progressive beliefs had a direct positive association with children’s social competence, and a small but significant direct positive link to children’s anger–aggression behaviors; (2) The associations between the fathers’ beliefs and children’s social adjustment were indirectly explained by a sequential mediation process: beliefs were associated with greater father involvement, which, in turn, connected to fostered closeness or increased father–child conflict, ultimately leading to more positive adjustments through closeness, or to more negative adjustments via conflict. This study also uncovered discrepancies between mothers’ and fathers’ perceptions of the fathering process. Notably, due to the lack of parallel measures of maternal constructs, these findings reflect paternal contributions within the family system rather than unique effects. These findings were discussed within the transitional context of culturally specific Chinese fathering. This study extends the traditional “parenting beliefs–practices–outcomes” framework to include the parent–child relationship, highlighting the importance of targeting fathers’ effective relationship-building practices in family programs. Full article

Neurodevelopment is a dynamic and multifactorial process, critical in the early stages of life, involving the formation of neural networks, the establishment of synapses, and the maturation of cognitive, social and emotional circuits. In this context, the gut microbiome emerges as an essential regulator of neurodevelopment, exerting influences through multiple biochemical and immunological mechanisms that define the “gut-brain axis”. The microbiota modulates neurodevelopment by regulating neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, GABA), the production of microbial metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, the modulation of inflammatory cytokines, and vagal signaling to the central nervous system. Recent evidence highlights the role of microbiota in modulating microglia, synaptogenesis, dendritic maturation, and neuronal plasticity, emphasizing how these processes are influenced by microbial activity rather than providing a comprehensive treatise on plasticity itself. Gut microbiota disturbances, or dysbiosis, have been associated with various neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, contributing to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dysfunctions. This article summarizes, in a narrative manner, the main dysbiosis patterns identified in these disorders and the biological mechanisms by which the microbiome influences neuronal development and function, including immune–neuronal interactions, metabolomic modulation, and neuroendocrine signaling. Finally, emerging directions of intervention aimed at adjusting the microbial profile, such as dietary adjustment, the use of probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, are presented with the aim of positively influencing neurodevelopment and preventing or ameliorating associated dysfunctions. This review emphasizes the need for longitudinal, rigorous, and controlled clinical trials to validate the efficacy of microbiota modulation strategies and to substantiate their integration into individualized pediatric management protocols. Full article

This study explains cryptocurrency investment decisions by integrating personality traits, influencer credibility, and social influence within the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework. Openness, extraversion, conscientiousness, influencer credibility, and social influence are positioned as stimuli; heuristic bias and herding behaviour as organism states; and cryptocurrency investment decision as the response, with risk tolerance acting as a serial mediating mechanism. Data were collected from 367 Indonesian retail cryptocurrency investors through an online survey and analysed using SEM-PLS. The measurement model demonstrates adequate reliability and convergent validity, while discriminant validity is supported by HTMT values below the recommended threshold. The results indicate that personality traits significantly influence heuristic bias, while influencer credibility and social influence increase herding behaviour. Heuristic bias and herding behaviour both positively affect risk tolerance and cryptocurrency investment decisions, with heuristic bias showing the stronger effect. Risk tolerance also positively influences investment decisions and mediates the effects of heuristic bias and herding behaviour. The model explains a substantial portion of the variance in cryptocurrency investment decisions (Adjusted R² = 0.623). These findings extend the SOR framework to cryptocurrency markets by highlighting how psychological traits and social cues shape risk tolerance and ultimately influence investment behaviour in volatile digital asset environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is increasingly performed worldwide and requires specific anesthetic management due to the complex physiological alterations associated with severe obesity. Although several international guidelines provide recommendations for perioperative care in bariatric patients, their implementation in routine clinical practice may vary. This study aimed to report anesthetic practices among Polish anesthesiologists providing anesthesia for bariatric procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in October 2025 among Polish anesthesiologists. The questionnaire consisted of 13 closed-ended questions addressing demographic characteristics, anesthetic management and blood pressure management, including preoperative thresholds for postponement of elective surgery and intraoperative thresholds for pharmacological treatment of hypotension. The survey was distributed via social media platforms. Participation was anonymous and voluntary. Results: A total of 71 anesthesiologists participated in the study. The most commonly used intubation device was the Macintosh laryngoscope (57.7%), while videolaryngoscopy was used by 42.2% of respondents. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was routinely applied by most respondents, with 63.4% adjusting its level according to patient body weight. Multimodal analgesia components were commonly used, with paracetamol (95.8%), dexamethasone (91.5%), metamizole (90.1%), and lignocaine (84.5%) being the most frequently administered drugs. Most anesthesiologists reported postponing elective surgery when blood pressure exceeded 180/110 mmHg. More experienced anesthesiologists more often considered lower thresholds for postponement of elective surgery (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Reported practices among surveyed anesthesiologists for MBS in Poland are generally consistent with international recommendations, particularly regarding the use of PEEP. However, variability remains in airway management strategies and the use of videolaryngoscopy, highlighting the need for continued education and broader implementation of evidence-based perioperative protocols. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period in terms of mental health, with the family environment being a key determinant. Parental resilience, the ability to adapt and recover from stress, is a parental psychological resource that may shape the family context of adolescent development but population-based evidence is scarce. This study examined if parental resilience is linked to adolescent mental well-being, mediated by perceived family support, and whether it varies by sex or developmental stage. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study analyzed data from 2004 adolescents aged 11–19 years from the COP-S Wave 4 survey in Italy. Parental resilience was assessed using a Brief Resilience Scale. Perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and mental well-being was assessed across five outcomes: health-related quality of life (KIDSCREEN-10), emotional difficulties (SDQ), depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), anxiety symptoms (SCARED), and psychosomatic complaints (HBSC-SCL). Regression models were used to examine associations, and mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro with bootstrap confidence intervals (5000 resamples). Results: Parental resilience was independently associated with better health-related quality of life, lower emotional and behavioral difficulties, fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms, and fewer psychosomatic complaints, after adjusting for adolescent social support and demographics. Parental resilience showed weak positive associations with the MSPSS subscales; the hypothesis of the strongest family support association was unsupported. The analyses did not support family support as a mediator and no moderation by sex or development was found. Conclusions: In this population-based sample, parental resilience was associated with multiple dimensions of adolescent mental well-being that were distinct from adolescents’ perceptions of social support. These findings suggest that strengthening parental resilience may promote adolescent mental health at the population level. Full article

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is shortened in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), but less data is available concerning pediatric cases. Multiple factors affect LTL, namely genes, epigenetics, environmental factors, oxidation, and psychological stress. Children with T1D and their families experience chronic stress. This study aimed to investigate LTL in children with T1D (n = 35) aged 6–13 years old, in comparison to age-matched healthy counterparts (n = 35), and assess any correlation of LTL with perceived stress. Relative LTL (rLTL) was assessed through real-time qPCR. Morning serum cortisol, high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. Children completed the validated questionnaires “Stress in Children” and “Pediatric Quality of Life”. Parents answered the “Perceived Stress Scale”. Children with T1D had a lower rLTL (p = 0.02) compared to age-matched healthy controls, higher hsCRP (p = 0.031), and a lower estimated quality of life (p = 0.01). RLTL was found to be lower in females with T1D (p < 0.001) and was positively related to the ‘gender–social support’ factor (p = 0.002) and diabetes duration (p = 0.045), adjusted for children’s age, parental age, and sociodemographic characteristics. These pilot findings indicate early emergence of shorter rLTL in T1D, pointing to a sexual dimorphism pattern. Insights into preventing LTL shortening in pediatric T1D can be gained from large-scale studies examining the impact of gender and social support. Full article

This study examines whether the association between parenting styles and adolescent adjustment reflects universal principles or culturally embedded processes, comparing adolescents from Germany (n = 395) and Spain (n = 331). Grounded in the bidimensional model of parental socialization (warmth × strictness), four styles were identified: authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian, and neglectful. Participants (Mage = 15.6 years) completed measures of parental socialization (ESPA29) and multidimensional self-concept (AF5); academic achievement was obtained from school records; and substance use was self-reported. A cross-sectional design was employed. Multivariate analyses of variance that revealed warmth was positively associated with all self-concept domains and negatively with substance use, whereas strictness showed weak or negative links. Significant Parenting Style × Country interactions emerged for academic self-concept, achievement, and substance use. In the Spanish sample, indulgent parenting exhibited a distinct pattern, particularly with respect to academic self-concept. Among German adolescents, both indulgent and authoritative styles yielded favorable outcomes, with authoritative parenting demonstrating protective effects against substance use. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of the authoritative style may not be uniform across contexts and underscore the importance of cultural factors in defining optimal parenting, supporting a contextualist model of adolescent socialization across European contexts. Full article

This study explores the environmental justice issues associated with landfill compensation policies in Bantargebang, Indonesia. Although compensation programs have been implemented for many years, communities living near landfills continue to experience ongoing environmental damage and significant health concerns. Using a qualitative descriptive method, this research explores systemic barriers through in-depth interviews, observations, and water quality analysis. The findings indicate that labeling the program as “Social Assistance” within the Local Government Information System (SIPD) redefines ecological compensation as a fixed form of charity, rather than as a mechanism for genuine environmental restitution. Laboratory data show severe bacteriological contamination, with Total Coliform levels reaching 95%, forcing residents to bear substantial “hidden costs” for clean water, perpetuating a cycle of financial dependence. The growing normalization of health hazards is evident in over 5000 annual cases of acute respiratory infections, and the deadly landslide in March 2026, in which claimed seven lives and injured six others. These incidents underscore the failure of existing remediation approaches to safeguard human dignity and well-being. To address these shortcomings, this study proposes the adoption of an Integrated Compensation Model based on Green Social Work. This model emphasizes structural investment, spatial risk-based indices using quantitative data, and budget coding adjustments within the SIPD. This approach highlights the urgent need to move beyond temporary charitable assistance and instead pursue meaningful environmental justice, while positioning social workers as “Social-Ecological Brokers” who help restore dignity and well-being in communities often treated as “sacrifice zones.” Full article

This study investigates how environmental consciousness motivations—grounded in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) theories (instrumental, political, integrative, and ethical)—influence environmental management performance (MP) and indirectly affect operational performance (OP). Specifically, the research examines these motivations under the intensifying pressure of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) within manufacturing firms in Türkiye. From a cost–benefit perspective, the study addresses whether dominant instrumental (cost-oriented) consciousness acts as a barrier to innovation-led gains predicted by the Porter Hypothesis. Analyzing data from 400 managers using the PLS-SEM method, findings reveal that while ethical and political consciousness positively enhance MP and OP, instrumental consciousness—driven by short-term cost-compliance pressures—exerts a significant negative impact. Furthermore, the statistical insignificance of integrative consciousness highlights a strategic integration gap for manufacturing enterprises in Türkiye. These results demonstrate that perceiving environmental regulations merely as a “cost burden” creates a structural barrier that breaks the strategic productivity cycle. The study concludes that to achieve a positive multiplier effect on competitiveness, firms must transition from instrumental compliance to integrated strategic commitment, guiding managers to distinguish between short-term instrumental efforts and long-term strategic commitments. Full article

Background: Osteoporosis has a rising global incidence and social burden. Serum uric acid’s dual roles in oxidative stress and inflammation may influence bone health, but findings are inconsistent and require further research. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SUA levels and osteoporosis in a multicenter cohort obtained from different regions of Türkiye. Methods: This multi-center retrospective study included 3280 individuals, postmenopausal women and men aged 45 and older, from 16 centers in Türkiye. Individuals were excluded if they recently consumed alcohol, had severe renal dysfunction, certain hormonal or mineral disorders, specific medications, or certain menopausal statuses. Bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip and lumbar spine was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and participants were classified as normal or having osteopenia or osteoporosis based on T-score thresholds. Results: Overall, 34.8% were male, and 65.2% were female. For the lumbar spine, 36.8% had osteopenia, and 13.5% had osteoporosis; similarly, for the total hip, 40.8% had osteopenia, and 7.9% had osteoporosis. ROC analysis identified a threshold of 3.9 mg/dL serum uric acid (SUA) (AUC 0.374; p < 0.001), which was positively associated with both lumbar and total hip BMD. Osteoporosis rates were higher in patients with SUA < 3.9 mg/dL compared to those with SUA ≥ 3.9 mg/dL at the lumbar spine (29.1% vs. 14.2%, p < 0.001) and total hip sites (23.6% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.003). After adjustment for potential confounders, SUA was a significant independent predictor of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine (OR 0.70; p < 0.001) and the hip (OR 0.80; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Serum uric acid levels are inversely linked to bone mineral density and osteoporosis risk, indicating a potential role in bone health. However, due to study limitations, causal relationships remain unproven, and further research is needed. Full article

As tourism businesses increasingly integrate anthropomorphic and AI-impowered technologies into service functions, a key managerial and theoretical challenge is adjusting high-tech performance with high-touch human involvement. Addressing this issue, this paper applied a PLS-SEM algorithmic modeling method to explore how anthropomorphic technological experiences shape guests’ experiential sharing intentions (ESIs) within hospitality service environments. Drawing on social response theory and service experience theory, this research developed and practically evaluated a moderated–mediated model describing how anthropomorphic technological experiences can impact experiential sharing intentions (ESIs). Specifically, the model tested the direct and indirect impacts of anthropomorphic experience on ESI through affective experience (AF_EX) and perceived service innovation (PSI), while evaluating the moderating roles of employee presence and technology identity. The results offered strong evidence to support the developed framework. Anthropomorphic experience can positively impact guests’ affective experience, PSI, and ESI with others. Both AF_EX and PSI can act as significant predictors of ESI and can operate as complementary mediating mechanisms, implying that emotional involvement and innovation-signaling technologies reinforce guests’ advocacy through dual experiential pathways. Notably, the findings revealed a critical boundary setting. Technology identity can amplify the influence of anthropomorphic experience on both AE and PSI, signaling that guests who view technology as part of their self-concept exhibited greater levels of experiential value from human-like operations. By applying PLS-SEM algorithmic modeling to integrate anthropomorphism, perceived innovation, and experiential value within a moderated mediation framework, this paper advanced the theoretical understanding of high-tech–high-touch hospitality experiences and provided practical insights for developing synergistic technology-enabled service contexts. Full article