Search Results (5,835)

This study examines how protective factors contribute to teacher resilience and sustainable wellbeing during remote teaching, focusing specifically on parent-teachers who are balancing professional responsibilities with childcare. Within the broader context of research on educator resilience and professional practice, it explores the associations between social and organizational support, work–family conflict (WFC), and parenting self-efficacy (SE) and satisfaction, factors linked to educators’ capacity to manage dual roles effectively. The hypotheses were that (1) WFC would negatively correlate with parenting SE and satisfaction; (2) support from friends and family and from the workplace would be associated with lower WFC and higher parenting SE and satisfaction; and (3) WFC would mediate the relationship between support and parenting outcomes. Using a mixed-methods design with quantitative scales combined with open questions, data were collected through retrospective self-report questionnaires in relation to the COVID-19 lockdowns. The sample included 474 teachers who teach in schools in Israel and have children aged 0–12. The predictive mediation model confirmed the first two hypotheses, with partial support for the third. Qualitative findings provide insight into parent-teachers’ experiences, including gender-based differences, and emphasize factors associated with their adjustment to remote instruction. These findings contribute to understanding how social and organizational support—forms of collaborative and resilience-promoting mechanisms—may have an important role in promoting educator wellbeing through their negative association with work–family conflict. The findings should be examined further in longitudinal or experimental research and in additional cultural and educational contexts to examine their generalizability, as well as causality. Nonetheless, the findings provide possible directions for policy and interventions aimed at fostering resilience and sustainable wellbeing among teachers, particularly those navigating dual roles in their personal and professional lives. Full article

Improved conservation efforts in China have contributed to the recovery and range expansion of the Asian elephant, increasing spatial overlap between humans and elephants and intensifying the pressure of human–elephant coexistence. Understanding human tolerance toward Asian elephants has therefore become an important pathway for promoting conservation and coexistence. Using survey data from 873 farm households collected in Xishuangbanna Prefecture and Pu’er City in Yunnan Province, this study measures tolerance toward Asian elephants across five dimensions: types of elephant-related damage, economic loss, population size, spatial distance, and activity frequency. Independent-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to examine differences in tolerance among different groups of farm households. The results show that: (1) the overall tolerance toward Asian elephants among farm households is relatively low (mean = 2.40); (2) within types of elephant-related damage, tolerance is lowest for crop loss and cash crop loss, followed by loss of working time and risk of human injury, while tolerance is relatively higher for damage to houses and property, loss of stored food, and damage to vehicles; (3) farm households showed low levels of tolerance across the dimensions of economic loss, population size, spatial distance, and activity frequency; (4) higher tolerance is observed among male respondents, Dai farm households, those engaged in wildlife protection-related occupations, and households located in Pu’er City, and tolerance increased as cultivated land area decreased, household income increased, and agricultural dependence declined. These findings provide empirical evidence for understanding farm households’ tolerance toward Asian elephants and offer policy insights for improving tolerance, optimizing human–elephant conflict (HEC) management, and promoting the social sustainability of human–elephant coexistence. The study also contributes China-based evidence to discussions on flagship species conservation and community coexistence under the SDG 15 and CBD frameworks. Full article

Introduction: Early warning systems reduce losses when risk knowledge, forecasting, communication, and response planning operate as an end-to-end chain, yet Gulf Coast warning practice often treats hazard dynamics, ecosystem change, and social vulnerability as separate domains. This study mapped operational early warning systems for climate-relevant hazards across Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and examined whether ecosystem protective functions and social vulnerability were integrated into warning thresholds, dissemination design, and preparedness planning. Methods: I conducted a scoping review using the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus for publications from 2020 through 18 January 2026 and targeted searches of NOAA/NWS/NHC, FEMA IPAWS, CDC/ATSDR SVI, IOOS/GCOOS, USGS, and state coastal agency portals between 15 September 2025 and 18 January 2026. Of 861 identified records, 440 duplicates were removed, 421 titles and abstracts were screened, 121 full texts were assessed, and 25 sources were included in the final charting and synthesis. Results: The review identified 11 operational systems and related platforms spanning the four early warning pillars, but routine socio-ecological integration remained limited. Louisiana showed the strongest documentation of ecosystem monitoring through CPRA and CRMS, while Florida and Texas showed more developed evacuation and dissemination interfaces. Mississippi and Alabama were represented by thinner monitoring and implementation records in the included sample. Across states, ecosystem loss and social vulnerability were used more often as planning context than as repeatable inputs to thresholds, message tailoring, or assistance triggers. Discussion: Gulf Coast practices can be strengthened through formal protocols that connect ecosystem condition and vulnerability indicators to impact-based briefings, multilingual and accessible alert workflows, and tract-sensitive preparedness actions. The findings indicate that implementation can advance by linking existing datasets to defined operational decisions and by evaluating warning performance through reach, accessibility, comprehension, and action feasibility, as well as technical accuracy. Full article

This study investigates microclimatic variation across four environmentally and socially vulnerable neighborhoods in Philadelphia, utilizing ground-based measurements to assess urban heat (UH) and heat stress (HS). HS metrics, specifically Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) and heat index (HI), were calculated from UH measurements, including dry bulb and globe temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The methodology incorporates statistical modeling to identify significant predictors of HS, with street orientation (north–south and east–west) emerging as a key determinant, while categorical shade conditions were not statistically significant. Notably, Kingsessing exhibited lower HS and a unique humidity profile, whereas temperatures in Point Breeze and Grays Ferry and Hunting Park were consistently elevated. The research demonstrates that neighborhood-scale measurements can reveal critical spatial differences in UH and HS that are helpful in customizing mitigation strategies to specific communities. The approach is adaptable for integration with public health and emergency response initiatives, supporting data-driven decision-making for local governments and community-based organizations. Although assessment of physiological metrics and sampling during peak heat periods were not possible, overall, the study provides a practical framework for addressing urban heat vulnerability and underscores the importance of context-specific, community-engaged solutions to protect at-risk populations from extreme heat impacts. Full article

This bibliometric study examines the role of ubiquitous computing and intelligent systems in the treatment of mental and neurological disorders. Ubiquitous computing integrates computational intelligence into everyday environments, enabling seamless monitoring and support of patients. Intelligent systems, including wearable devices, environmental sensors, and mobile health applications, collect real-time data on behavior, physiology, and environmental factors. These systems support early detection of symptom changes, adherence to treatment, and crisis prediction through context-aware analysis. Artificial intelligence (AI) processes the collected data to generate personalized therapeutic feedback and notify healthcare providers when intervention is needed. In mental health care, intelligent environments can monitor mood, sleep, and social interaction patterns, providing valuable objective information about mental health status. In the case of neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or epilepsy, intelligent systems facilitate movement tracking, seizure detection, and cognitive assessment outside of the clinical setting. Integration with electronic health records and telemedicine platforms ensures coordinated and responsive care. Ethical design, privacy protection, and patient consent remain key to successful implementation. In this way, ubiquitous computing is transforming care models by increasing autonomy, precision, and continuity in the treatment of complex neurodegenerative diseases, including those related to neurodegeneration in aging. Full article

In 2007, Ecuador ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and introduced a national social programme to improve access and quality of life for people with disabilities. This study assessed disability prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in three social protection outcomes: household visits, benefits received during visits, and official disability accreditation. A cross-sectional study analysed data from the 2014 national population-based survey, which showed a 3.84% disability prevalence. Overall, 37% of respondents reported at least one household visit among them, 77% received a benefit and 60% had official accreditation. Marked socioeconomic disparities expressed in absolute differences were observed. Visits were less frequent among individuals without formal education (AD: −30.41; 95% CI: −37.15, −14.09) and those in the poorest households (AD: −17.74; 95% CI: −23.01, −12.48). Participants with primary education were less likely to receive benefits (AD: −19.51; 95% CI: −32.83, −6.19), while Afro-Ecuadorian (AD: 20.07; 95% CI: 4.20, 35.95) and Indigenous individuals (AD: 19.61; 95% CI: 6.99, 32.24) were more likely to receive them. Conversely, those with basic education (AD: 21.38; 95% CI: 13.53, 29.23) were more often accredited than those with higher education. Although the programme has reached many individuals, access remains unequal. Full article

Regular social, economic and agricultural interactions occurred between the Horn of Africa and Southern Arabian Peninsula for millennia, raising questions about potential geo-culinary exchanges, including of the little-studied fermented flatbreads produced in these areas. A comparative analysis of Somali laxoox/canjeero, Ethiopian injera, Sudanese kisra and Yemeni/Saudi lahoh was conducted by combining a literature review and consultations with 17 local experts, then processing the data in a hierarchical cluster analysis to quantify “biocultural” diversity. In an interdisciplinary approach, technical aspects (bread appearance, ingredients, and production stages) and cultural characteristics (consumption patterns and social function) were considered to identify key descriptors of the breads. A dendrogram generated through cluster analysis of a binary (0/1) matrix, structured with the key descriptors, showed that each bread has a distinct biocultural identity, and enabled the quantification of their similarities. Somali laxoox/canjeero and Yemeni/Saudi lahoh had a 64% similarity to each other (Jaccard index); each had a 53% similarity to Ethiopian injera; while all of them were 41% similar to Sudanese kisra. Hierarchical cluster analysis, applied for the first time to flatbreads, contributes to their comprehensive characterization and comparison in this unique geographic region and lays the foundations for policies to protect their identity and quality. Full article

Against the backdrop of global sustainable development and ecological civilization construction, tourism ecological security at cultural landscape heritage sites faces both opportunities and challenges. This study constructs a cultural landscape heritage tourism ecological security (CLHTES) evaluation system based on the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework. It dynamically assesses CLHTES in the Yangtze River Delta Integrated Demonstration Zone (YRDIDZ) from 2014 to 2023 using the entropy-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and linear stretching transformation, identifies obstacle factors with the obstacle degree model, and predicts CLHTES trends for 2024–2030 using a radial basis function (RBF) neural network. Results show that: (1) The CLHTES index in the YRDIDZ presented a three-stage fluctuating upward trend during 2014–2023, with medium-clustered security levels and divergent evolution across the DPSIR criteria layers; (2) CLHTES obstacles feature a multi-level differentiated structure, with rising barriers in D and P layers, the R layer as the future core obstacle, and high-frequency barriers concentrated in cultural and social indicators; (3) Under the assumption of structural continuity in current trajectories, the conditional trend projection suggests that the CLHTES index of the YRDIDZ may sustain a general upward tendency during 2024–2030, with a possibility of approaching Level Ⅶ after 2028; however, these projections should be interpreted as exploratory and scenario-like rather than as robust forecasts, given the short annual series and the absence of exogenous disturbance variables. This study explores tourism-ecology interactions from a social-ecological complex system perspective, supporting synergistic tourism development and ecological protection of cultural landscape heritage. Full article

One of the main focuses of social innovation is the fight for social inclusion for all. The prevalence of violence against women with disabilities shows how the lack of recognition of diversity hinders real equality for these individuals. This violence is a structural problem that is caused by a combination of gender and disability dynamics, the perpetuating inequalities and social exclusion. Researchers have analyzed specific vulnerabilities in the areas of work, education and health, and point out that only by addressing diversity can we overcome the consequences of such discrimination. Using a qualitative methodological approach, this study utilized critical documentary analysis and a thematic review of recent scientific, academic, and institutional literature, alongside empirical data, to identify the most prevalent forms of violence faced by women with disabilities: sexual (affecting up to 80% of women with disabilities), economic (with wage gaps exceeding 24%), and institutional (a lack of accessibility to basic services). The barriers hindering these women’s access to resources and services are also highlighted. The results point to the urgent need to develop innovative public policies and social strategies that value social diversity as a driver of change. This study concludes with specific recommendations for implementing inclusive approaches that promote equality, universal accessibility, and comprehensive protection in order to move toward more just, cohesive, and innovative societies. Full article

Morocco’s recent legalization of industrial and medicinal cannabis has created a rapidly expanding seed-oil sector whose sustainability has yet to be fully assessed. This study applies an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) in accordance with ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006, complemented by a qualitative social responsibility assessment based on ISO 26000:2010, aiming to evaluate the life cycle sustainability of Moroccan cannabis seed oil. Three representative processing chains, traditional artisanal presses, producer cooperatives and regulated industrial plants are compared using a functional unit of 1 kg of cold-pressed oil packaged for local distribution. Inventory data were drawn from field measurements and interviews and were modeled in OpenLCA with background datasets from Ecoinvent 3.8 and Agribalyse v3.1. Impact assessment used the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method at the midpoint level across nine categories (climate change, fossil resource scarcity, water use, freshwater eutrophication, terrestrial acidification, land occupation, carcinogenic, non-carcinogenic human toxicity, and fine particulate matter formation). Sensitivity analyses varied seed yield, electricity mix and transport distances by ±20% to gauge uncertainty. Results show that the cooperative scenario achieves the lowest impacts across nearly all categories because of higher extraction yields (3 kg seed per kg oil), lower energy use (0.54 kWh kg⁻¹ oil) and more effective co-product recovery. In contrast, artisanal extraction requires approximately 1 kg of additional seed input per functional unit compared to optimized scenarios, significantly increasing upstream environmental burdens and causing upstream agricultural burdens to multiply. Industrial facilities perform comparably to cooperatives if powered by renewable electricity. Integrating a semi-quantitative social responsibility assessment reveals that legalization has markedly improved organizational governance, labor conditions, consumer protection and community involvement. Cooperatives display the most balanced social performance, whereas industrial plants excel in governance and quality control. A set of recommendations, including drip irrigation, cultivar improvement, co-product valorisation, renewable energy adoption, eco-designed packaging and cooperative governance, is proposed to enhance the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of Morocco’s emerging cannabis seed-oil industry. Full article

Background: Hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder, and its diagnosis can be complex. Various indices based on blood biomarkers have been proposed to improve diagnostic accuracy. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the diagnostic utility of different indices in primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods: A systematic review was performed with searches up to January 2026. Risk of bias was assessed, and a meta-analysis was conducted for indices with two or more studies, calculating sensitivity, specificity, and other accuracy measures. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE system. Results: Twelve studies were included. The calcium–phosphorus ratio demonstrated a sensitivity of 91.6%, specificity of 89.3%, and an area under the curve of 0.957. The parathyroid function index showed a sensitivity of 94.4% and specificity of 94.2%; however, this finding is based on only two studies and requires validation in larger cohorts. The Wisconsin index also showed good performance. Other indices, including the Ca × Cl/P ratio (evaluated in a single study), yielded promising results but with very limited evidence that precludes firm conclusions. All indices performed poorly in cases with normal calcium. Certainty assessment indicated moderate evidence for the main indices and low or very low evidence for the others. Conclusions: The calcium–phosphorus ratio and the parathyroid function index are valid and useful tools for the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism, with excellent performance. The calcium–phosphorus ratio is especially valuable due to its simplicity and accessibility for screening. No index should be used in isolation; integration with clinical evaluation remains essential. Full article

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is cardinal to natural resource management, and its resilience in protected areas (PAs) depends on its continued practice. The changing socio-ecological landscape has given rise to new PAs that emphasise community participation, like Simalaha Community Conservancy (SCC), versus state-owned, like Liuwa Plain National Park (LPNP). Resilience was assessed by comparing TEK awareness, utilisation, and perceived effectiveness between LPNP and SCC. Three categories of TEK (rules and regulations; myths and taboos; and customs and rituals) were analysed using a blended analytical framework drawing on the knowledge–practice–belief complex and a social–ecological systems perspective. A structured questionnaire was administered to 427 respondents, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. TEK awareness was high, but significantly higher in LPNP than in SCC. Age and length of residence were strongly associated with knowledge, confirming older and long-term residents as key knowledge-holders. Rules and regulations were widely recognised and utilised, while customs and rituals, and myths and taboos, were variable. LPNP showed higher utilisation and perceived effectiveness of TEK, particularly among younger cohorts. These findings highlight the influence of conservation governance and intergenerational knowledge transmission on TEK resilience, underscoring the need to strengthen its integration in emerging PAs. Full article

Demographic decline in many Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries is widely considered the principal source of hurling public pension disbursements, whilst trade unions are often blamed for staunch antagonism towards any transformations that might alleviate the fiscal encumbrance. If financialization is state-acquiesced, with the state being considered fundamental for market integration and social regulation of markets to protect against market failures, how then should inter-generational equity be addressed? This work tests the hypothesis that deindustrialization (measured as the declining proportion of employment in manufacturing) and lower trade-union density are quintessential channels through which demographic change translates into ascending pension outlays. Using OECD data from 1960 to 2013, we utilize longitudinal and panel quantile statistical methods to dissect these links across assorted pension system clusters (total, mandatory private, mandatory public, mandatory public & voluntary, and mandatory public & private). This study highlights the mediating role of labor market structure in pension financing. Full article

Background: Problematic Internet use (PIU) among adolescents has emerged as a significant public health concern, associated with the types of online activities and underlying psychological processes rather than screen time alone. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 750 adolescents (46.4% female) with a mean age of 15.39 years (SD = 1.76; range = 13–19) recruited from 7th and 8th grade primary school students and secondary school students in Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia). The study investigated the associations between specific online activities, psychological variables, and PIU using hierarchical regression and multiple mediation analyses. Results: Results revealed that time spent online remains the most strongly associated with PIU. While streaming and online shopping showed significant associations with problematic use, reading and browsing for information did not. Stress and loneliness were identified as variables associated with higher that significantly statistically mediate the relationships between online engagement and PIU, whereas emotional competence functioned as a protective factor, particularly in relation to social media use. These findings support theoretical models that conceptualize PIU as a maladaptive coping strategy for psychological distress. Conclusions: Based on these findings, prevention efforts should move beyond simple screen-time reduction and focus on strengthening adolescents’ emotional competence, stress management, and self-regulatory skills to promote healthier and more adaptive patterns of digital engagement. Full article

Our community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership convened an in-person, bilingual empowerment theory-based community forum to disseminate and translate findings from our trial of Nuestra Comunidad Saludable (Our Healthy Community), a multilevel intervention designed to improve uptake of COVID-19 testing and vaccination among Spanish-speaking Latine communities in North Carolina. The forum brought together community members, healthcare providers, organizational representatives, and academic researchers from across North Carolina. Drawing on findings from the intervention trial, participants engaged in facilitated, structured dialogue to identify community priorities and generate recommendations to advance health equity among Latine communities. Thirty-six participants identified eight priorities: (1) reducing health service gaps and inequities exposed by COVID-19; (2) expanding access to bilingual, culturally responsive mental health services; (3) improving understanding of HIV prevention and treatment; (4) strengthening services for children with disabilities; (5) protecting immigrant rights and ensuring safe access to services; (6) increasing political and social support for Latine health; (7) improving access to trusted, culturally responsive providers and community organizations; and (8) addressing social determinants of health, including employment, housing, and food security. The empowerment-based forum identified community priorities, challenges, and recommendations that can inform practice, intervention, policy, and research, and advance health equity for Spanish-speaking Latine communities. Full article