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Salt marshes are one of the three blue carbon ecosystems recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, coastal salt marshes in China are facing the risk of degradation. To reveal the status of the salt marsh wetland ecosystem in Liaohe Estuary, an Ecopath model composed of 14 functional groups was constructed based on the 2019 ecological survey data. A comprehensive analysis of the system’s food web structure, energy flow processes, and overall ecosystem characteristics was conducted. The results show that the energy flow in the Liaohe Estuary salt marsh wetland ecosystem is mainly distributed in three integrated trophic levels. The utilization rates of trophic levels II and III are low, easily causing blockages in the lower trophic levels of the ecosystem’s energy flow. The total system throughput of the Liaohe Estuary salt marsh wetland ecosystem is 49,099.039 t·km²·a−1 ;. The system connectivity index and the system omnivory index are 0.207 and 0.109, respectively. Compared with other wetland systems, the ecosystem has a larger scale, but the overall ecosystem characteristic index reveals lower stability and complexity of the Liaohe Estuary salt marsh wetland system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating sport persistence can make a significant contribution to a thorough examination and understanding of the factors underlying an athlete's activity, integrating physical activity, sports motivation and commitment. This systematic review aimed to detect the papers focusing on the factors influencing sport persistence following the levels of Bronfenbrenner's and Bauman's ecological models. Following the PRISMA guidelines, by the EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine, 512 records were detected, of which 21 met the criteria. Factors influencing sport persistence show a huge variety. Individual factors and micro-system level were overrepresented. Meso- and macro-level factors are underrepresented and measured only with other (individual or micro-system level) factors. Most factors detected at the individual (e.g. gender, age, career-related variables and positive psychological factors), micro- (e.g. family, peers and coaches), meso- (e.g. climate), and macro-level (cultural, societal, and institutional influences) were positively correlated with sport persistence, i.e. supporting the persistent behaviour of the athletes regarding participating in one's sporting activity. In conclusion, there is still room for further research concerning sport persistence. Including variables belonging to the meso- and macro-system and conducting longitudinal research should be considered which would allow us to better understand the nature of sport persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and MethodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONDisabled people are more likely than non-disabled people to be physically inactive, placing them at increased risk of ill-health. Many disabled people want to be more physically active yet feel there is inadequate support to do so. Evidence on the tangible actions that would support disabled people to be active is limited. The aim of this study was to explore the key actions that would best support disabled people’s participation in physical activity.Twenty-one disabled people (62% >45 years, 48% male) were purposively sampled to take part in online focus groups (2-6 participants per group). Six focus groups were undertaken using a semi-structured guide, with transcripts thematically analysed.Thirteen themes were identified across four levels of the ecological model - interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy. Priority actions include mandatory training on how to support disabled people, improvements to the accessibility of facilities and equipment, improved frequency of public transport to activity centres, and actions to improve societal attitudes towards disabled people.A systems-based approach is needed, combining actions across levels of the ecological model, to ensure equitable access to physical activity for disabled people.Physical activity is an effective rehabilitative method of improving symptoms and quality of life.Lack of accessible facilities, equipment, and social support can hinder disabled people’s participation in physical activity.Alongside improvements to facilities, better training for activity centre staff and instructors is required to increase the opportunities for disabled people to engage in physical activity.Physical activity is an effective rehabilitative method of improving symptoms and quality of life.Lack of accessible facilities, equipment, and social support can hinder disabled people’s participation in physical activity.Alongside improvements to facilities, better training for activity centre staff and instructors is required to increase the opportunities for disabled people to engage in physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women are important considerations within women’s holistic healthcare. Yet, few clinical resources exist to specifically support the development of professional counseling trainees. Moreover, the absence of counseling literature regarding the nuances present when perinatal women, that is women from the time of conception to 1 year post pregnancy, have substance abuse disorders highlights further opportunities for professional counselor development. This article explores the ecological nature of perinatal substance use disorder within the documentary Higher Love . Further, this article seeks to explore how film can be a useful pedagogical tool when training professional counselors on perinatal addiction. The article concludes with a module that operationalizes Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological model of human development to teach counseling students about perinatal addiction via film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper establishes a prey–predator model with a Holling type IV functional response and proportional harvesting in prey species and nonlinear harvesting in predator species. We provide a completely local and global bifurcation analysis of the model to characterize some meaningful results that may emerge from the interaction of biological resources. The proposed model exhibits various complex behaviors involving heteroclinic and homoclinic orbits, and we prove analytically that it also undergoes transcritical, Hopf, and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcations in the prey–predator plane. Moreover, the system is unfolded to compute the bifurcation curves, highlighting the critical dynamics by perturbing two bifurcation parameters near the cusp. Furthermore, from the economic point of view, the bionomic equilibrium of the system is studied, and optimal harvesting policy is derived using the Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Numerical simulations are presented to verify our analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents spend approximately one-third of their day at school. With the growing prevalence of adolescent asthma, 1 in every 10 adolescents copes with asthma throughout the day, including in the school environment. Yet, little is known about the school experiences of adolescent students with asthma. Guided by the social-ecological model, this study aimed to explore the links between asthma and school experiences in middle and high school as perceived by students with asthma. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 adolescents with asthma aged 12 to 17 who attended middle or high school around the mid-west area of Florida. Students shared insights on their school experiences and academic performance. Data were analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Four overarching and intertwined themes shaped the school experiences of students with asthma: 1. Asthma control and management; 2. Social support; 3. Asthma knowledge and awareness; and 4. Accommodation of health and academic needs. Study findings suggest addressing the school disparities of adolescent students with asthma through a comprehensive, multi-level approach. Schools should create asthma education opportunities, improve the school system and environmental accommodations, enhance asthma control, and increase continuous social support by peers and school personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Investigating sport persistence can make a significant contribution to a thorough examination and understanding of the factors underlying an athlete’s activity, integrating physical activity, sports motivation and commitment. This systematic review aimed to detect the papers focusing on the factors influencing sport persistence following the levels of Bronfenbrenner’s and Bauman’s ecological models. Following the PRISMA guidelines, by the EBSCO Discovery Service Search Engine, 512 records were detected, of which 21 met the criteria. Factors influencing sport persistence show a huge variety. Individual factors and micro-system level were overrepresented. Meso- and macro-level factors are underrepresented and measured only with other (individual or micro-system level) factors. Most factors detected at the individual (e.g. gender, age, career-related variables and positive psychological factors), micro- (e.g. family, peers and coaches), meso- (e.g. climate), and macro-level (cultural, societal, and institutional influences) were positively correlated with sport persistence, i.e. supporting the persistent behaviour of the athletes regarding participating in one’s sporting activity. In conclusion, there is still room for further research concerning sport persistence. Including variables belonging to the meso- and macro-system and conducting longitudinal research should be considered which would allow us to better understand the nature of sport persistence.

To guide school practitioners in the identification and intervention of youth with anxious school refusal, this systematic review used an ecological lens to examine the factors that differentiated children and adolescents with school refusal from those without. Based on the rigorous protocol from the Center for Reviews and Dissemination's (CRD) internationally recognized guidelines, 15 studies examining 67 different factors were identified. Results reveal 44 individual, social and contextual factors that differentiate youth with school refusal from peers without school refusal. Findings highlight the centrality of anxiety, or anxiety-related symptoms, and diverse learning needs as main points of contrast between youth with school refusal and those without. Implications of an ecological understanding of the factors associated with school refusal for selective and indicative prevention by school and mental health practitioners are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To facilitate the adoption of community-based practices for active ageing, it is important to design these practices together with a wide range of older adults from the community via an interdisciplinary perspective. Hackathons, originally developed by programmers, have been adapted by different disciplines and started to include a wide range of users and stakeholders. We aim to investigate how to conduct an intergenerational and interdisciplinary hackathon to support community-based co-design with older adults. In this case study, an intergenerational and interdisciplinary hackathon was organised together with a senior centre in the Netherlands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand the experiences of participants and how they think the hackathon could be improved. Participants’ positive experiences were categorised into five themes, and six areas for improvement were specified. The findings were discussed in relation to recent literature, and a list of future research directions was proposed to inspire future researchers interested in this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forest management is one of the warming issues in the present century. In this manuscript, we have employed the model of control theory to control the consequence of toxicity and illegal logging of mature trees in the ecosystem of Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. In this investigation, we have momentarily mentioned some of the fields in which these challenges are present. These fields especially consist of sustainable forestry management of ecosystem. We have reflected on the modified Leslie-Gower response function to set up as the alternative resource for industries when forestry resources are divested. The boundedness, persistence, equilibria and stability are examined.Our main aim is to investigate the spans and applications of control theory to control the effect of toxicity and illegal logging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active migration and globalization have led to increased opportunities for critical care nurses to care for patients from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. This study thus aimed to identify the individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors affecting cultural competence levels among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses based on an ecological model. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that included 135 NICU nurses in South Korea. A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using the proposed ecological model, and a regression model for each of the four subdomains of cultural competence was constructed and compared. NICU nurses' cultural competencies were influenced not only by the "necessity of multicultural education" and "ethnocultural empathy" at the individual level but by the "hospital's readiness and support for cultural competencies" at the organizational level. To promote the cultural competence of nurses in critical care settings, environmental and organizational support should be improved, along with developing strategies that focus on nurses' individual characteristics. It is also necessary to investigate the "intersectionality" of the effects of individual and environmental factors on cultural competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide issue. One of the latest developments in its theoretical framework deals with the concept of polyvictimisation – the simultaneous occurrence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. However, the literature lacks an overall measure of violence for surveys. The aim of this research is to study IPV within the framework of the ecological model. A model-based composite indicator that takes into account the relationship between domestic abuse and individual characteristics of respondents, family dynamics, and community and societal traits is built using survey data. The data are from the Demographic and Health Survey collected in eleven African countries on women aged 15–49. The employed structural equation model shows the importance of individual characteristics while community and societal factors are less relevant. The composite indicator is also used for classification and ranking purposes, allowing areas where socio-educational interventions are more urgent to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile salmonids migrate hundreds of kilometers from their natal streams to mature in the ocean. Throughout this migration, they respond to environmental cues such as local water velocities and other stimuli to direct and modulate their movements, often through heavily modified riverine and estuarine habitats. Management strategies in an uncertain future of climate change and altered land use regimes depend heavily on being able to reliably predict their ocean entry timings, route use, and survival rates through rivers and estuaries. We developed a spatially-explicit agent-based model of fish movement in response to hydrodynamic flows that uses movement dynamics gleaned from multi-dimensional tracking datasets of acoustically tagged juveniles moving through an urbanized, branched tidal estuary. We demonstrate how such models can be calibrated, and we apply it to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Central California. The quality of the out-of-sample validation of the model to predict juvenile salmon survival and route selection indicates that the model is versatile and flexible enough to be used in novel hydroclimatological conditions

Control of crop pests by shifting host plant availability and natural enemy activity at landscape scales has great potential to enhance the sustainability of agriculture. However, mainstreaming natural pest control requires improved understanding of how its benefits can be realized across a variety of agroecological contexts. Empirical studies suggest significant but highly variable responses of natural pest control to land-use change. Current ecological models are either too specific to provide insight across agroecosystems or too generic to guide management with actionable predictions. We suggest obtaining the full benefit of available empirical, theoretical, and methodological knowledge by combining trait-mediated understanding from correlative studies with the explicit representation of causal relationships achieved by mechanistic modeling. To link these frameworks, we adapt the concept of archetypes, or context-specific generalizations, from sustainability science. Similar responses of natural pest control to land-use gradients across cases that share key attributes, such as functional traits of focal organisms, indicate general processes that drive system behavior in a context-sensitive manner. Based on such observations of natural pest control, a systematic definition of archetypes can provide the basis for mechanistic models of intermediate generality that cover all major agroecosystems worldwide. Example applications demonstrate the potential for upscaling understanding and improving predictions of natural pest control, based on knowledge transfer and scientific synthesis. A broader application of this mechanistic archetype approach promises to enhance ecology's contribution to natural resource management across diverse regions and social-ecological contexts.

Machine learning (ML) has been widely used to predict suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents and adults. Nevertheless, studies of accurate and efficient models of SI prediction with preadolescent children are still needed because SI is surprisingly prevalent during the transition into adolescence. This study aimed to explore the potential of ML models to predict SI among preadolescent children. A total of 4691 Chinese children (54.89 % boys, M age = 10.92 at baseline) and their parents completed relevant measures at baseline and the children provided 6-month follow-up data for SI. The current study compared four ML models: Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), to predict SI and to identify variables with predictive value based on the best-performing model among Chinese preadolescent children. The RF model achieved the highest discriminant performance with an AUC of 0.92, accuracy of 0.93 (balanced accuracy = 0.88). The factors of internalizing problems, externalizing problems, neuroticism, childhood maltreatment, and subjective well-being in school demonstrated the highest values in predicting SI. The findings of this study suggested that ML models based on the observation and assessment of children's general characteristics and experiences in everyday life can serve as convenient screening and evaluation tools for suicide risk assessment among Chinese preadolescent children. The findings also provide insights for early intervention. • This study employed machine learning models for prediction of suicidal ideation among preadolescent children. • The random forest model achieved the highest discriminant performance with an AUC of 0.92, accuracy of 0.93. • Key predictors: internalizing/externalizing problems, neuroticism, childhood maltreatment, and subjective well-being in school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Youth experiencing socioeconomic deprivation may be exposed to disadvantage in multiple contexts (e.g., neighborhood, family, and school). To date, however, we know little about the underlying structure of socioeconomic disadvantage, including whether the 'active ingredients' driving its robust effects are specific to one context (e.g., neighborhood) or whether the various contexts increment one another as predictors of youth outcomes. Methods: The present study addressed this gap by examining the underlying structure of socioeconomic disadvantage across neighborhoods, families, and schools, as well as whether the various forms of disadvantage jointly predicted youth psychopathology and cognitive performance. Participants were 1,030 school-aged twin pairs from a subsample of the Michigan State University Twin Registry enriched for neighborhood disadvantage. Results: Two correlated factors underlay the indicators of disadvantage. Proximal disadvantage comprised familial indicators, whereas contextual disadvantage represented deprivation in the broader school and neighborhood contexts. Results from exhaustive modeling analyses indicated that proximal and contextual disadvantage incremented one another as predictors of childhood externalizing problems, disordered eating, and reading difficulties, but not internalizing symptoms. Conclusions: Disadvantage within the family and disadvantage in the broader context, respectively, appear to represent distinct constructs with additive influence, carrying unique implications for multiple behavioral outcomes during middle childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental processes in cities and suburbs are significantly impacted by climate change. The development of reliable ecological models may successfully direct agricultural activities. Numerous models have been put forth as of late; however, because to the complexity of environmental microorganisms, their use in complex systems is still restricted. For a better understanding of the ecological restoration of an urban lake system that had been disturbed by rainfall, an improved ecological dynamic model that took into account inundation plants, phytoplankton and microorganisms was proposed based on the field survey. Observed data from a shallow urban lake with a surface area of approximately 66 600 m2 in the heart of Shunde district, Foshan, in South China, was used to validate the model. In this model, five hypotheses—phytoplankton, microorganisms, NH3‐N, COD and TP in water—were selected as experimental variables. To assess the model's correctness and dependability, the correlation coefficients (R) and root mean square error‐observations standard deviation ratio (RSR) were computed. The results from the establish model (0.446 < R < 0.985, RSR < 0.7) are very similar to those of actual observations. In addition, four microbe species (Aquabacium, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Curvibacter and Cyanobacteria) multiplied when pollutant concentration dropped. Our model provides a useful tool for managing urban shallow water lakes by properly simulating the dynamic changes of aquatic species and microbes in urban shallow water lakes. Key Points: An improved ecological dynamic model was proposed based on the field survey.Observed data from a shallow urban lake were used to validate the model.Five hypotheses were selected as experimental variables.Both R and RSR were computed to assess the model's correctness and dependability.The results from the establish model are very similar to those of actual observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolves have returned to Germany since 2000. Numbers have grown to 209 territorial pairs in 2021. XGBoost machine learning, combined with SHAP analysis is applied to predict German wolf pair presence in 2022 for 10 × 10 km grid cells. Model input consisted of 38 variables from open sources, covering the period 2000 to 2021. The XGBoost model predicted well, with 0.91 as the AUC. SHAP analysis ranked the variables: distance to the closest neighboring wolf pair was the main driver for a grid cell to become occupied by a wolf pair. The clustering tendency of related wolves seems to be an important explanatory factor here. Second was the percentage of wooded area. The next eight variables related to wolf presence in the preceding year, except at fifth, eighth and tenth position in the total order: human density (square root) in the grid, percentage arable land and road density respectively. Other variables including the occurrence of wild prey were the weakest predictors. The SHAP analysis also provided crucial added value in identifying a variable that had threshold values where its contribution to the prediction changed from positive to negative or vice versa. For instance, low density of people increased the probability of wolf pair presence, whereas a high density decreased this probability. Cumulative lift techniques showed that the model performed almost four times better than random prediction. The combination of XGBoost, SHAP and cumulative lift techniques is new in wolf management and conservation, allowing for the focusing of educational and financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored how bilingual teachers of young Dual Language Leaners ages 0-3 integrated Reyes and Azuara's (2008) Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy in their classrooms to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and academic success. Dual Language Learners are the fastest-growing population of young children in the country that speak a language other than English. As so, the early childhood workforce must integrate the Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy for emergent biliteracy development and equitable emergent biliteracy teaching practices to support the natural biliteracy development of young Spanish-English Dual Language Learners. Qualitative data was collected through interviews and observations and were analyzed using the grounded theory stages of coding. The findings recommend immersing Dual Language Learners in equitable learning opportunities that incorporate their cultural knowledge, languages, experiences, and learning to support the precursors for emerging biliteracy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Odra estuary in the southern Baltic Sea comprises the Odra (Szczecin) Lagoon, the Pomeranian Bay and a number of other shallow water areas and channels. Known for its abundance of fish, eutrophication in the Odra Lagoon is a pressing issue for science and environmental management representing a global problem: What determines the seasonal variability of nitrogen and nitrogen turnover in shallow water areas, and how does seasonal variability change due to climatic changes such as warming and sea level rise? How do such changes affect nutrient exports to the regional ocean? This study employs a high-resolution unstructured model system to investigate physical-biogeochemical interactions, nitrogen turnover, and conditions leading to nitrogen export to the Baltic Sea within the Odra estuary. The research comprises hindcast and a climatic experiment with modified water level and temperature inputs. The model reproduces the thermohaline dynamics of brackish shallow water areas, phytoplankton blooms and the variability of inorganic nitrogen. The simulations identify the dynamic partitioning of the Odra Lagoon into the highly eutrophic, lake-like Small Lagoon and more frequently flushed, zooplankton-rich Great Lagoon. Although the two years of the hindcast simulation feature very different boundary conditions in terms of river forcing, comparable patterns of seasonal nitrogen export emerge. In a climate change experiment with increased sea levels and global temperatures, the system appears sensitive, but remains stable with regard to nutrient transport and is therefore predictable. The climate change experiment reveals enhanced primary producer biomass concentrations, suggesting heightened eutrophication. While in the shallow waters of Odra Lagoon oxygen concentration remains relatively stable, oxygen depletion intensifies as the lagoon outflows enter the Pomeranian Bay. This phenomenon is linked to increased denitrification within the stratified Odra plume. Deeper, meandering channels, such as Swina, demonstrate resilience to oxygen reduction, influenced by sea level rise and enhanced currents. Based on the temporal-spatial high-resolution coupled, validated simulations, it is possible to develop tailor-made management solutions without having to run expensive and complicated observation campaigns in the shallow waters with complex topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of interpersonal aggression has been carried out for the most part in separate spheres by experts from an array of academic disciplines. To advance a deeper understanding of these issues, however, requires a more conciliatory and interdisciplinary approach. The article offers just such an integrated approach, using a multi-level heuristic framework that has direct parallels with ecological modeling. In addition, the approach expands the analytic focus to reflect different aspects of complex human behavior, which include: 1) the behavioral investment framework, or the bio-psychological reality of the human animal; 2) the socialization framework, or the social psychological aspects of human learning and development; 3) the justification framework, or the language, knowledge, and meaning systems that one acquires to facilitate interpersonal communication and to justify one's actions; 4) the social location framework, or the social interactional dynamics of interpersonal relationships that animate one's daily life as a member of various groups and social networks; and 5) the societal context framework, or the broader institutional forms and sociocultural conditions within which individuals and groups are situated. The current approach bridges human neurophysiology and psychology with sociology in a developmental, ecological context that examines each dimension of human behavior. While the five dimensions can be separated analytically, in practice these overlap to exert multiple influences. Such a conciliatory framing permits a more comprehensive analysis of human social animals as situated within their natural environments. The paper outlines how each of the five levels contributes to expressions of interpersonal aggression by elaborating on key mechanisms that operate across the different levels of informational complexity. Several examples of empirical research are cited to illustrate the core principles that operate within and across the five complementary frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online hate speech (OHS) is a prevalent issue on social media with harmful consequences for individuals and society. Counteracting this issue requires a better understanding of the factors that drive behaviors such as posting hate speech or making hateful comments. The present study contributes to this need by investigating the personal, social, and digital determinants for OHS perpetration. By conducting a two‐round Delphi study, data was collected from an interdisciplinary sample of experts. Practitioners were included in this sample to bridge gaps between research and fieldwork on OHS. The first survey collected information through open‐ended questions, which was then organized in different themes and lists of determinants in a thematic analysis. These determinants were rated for relevance in a follow‐up survey. Data analysis of the second survey used nonparametric statistics. From a total list of 129 determinants, the participants reached a consensus on 27 determinants as most relevant (median > 4) for facilitating the production and dissemination of OHS. An ecological perspective was applied to interpret these findings. As a result, we propose an ecological model of personal, social, and digital determinants for online hate perpetration to illustrate their influence on individual behavior as well as their possible connections. The model provides a comprehensive overview of factors facilitating OHS perpetration, which can help to identify points for intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, an attempt has been made to measure agricultural capabilities with two ecological models, which measure agricultural capabilities only with natural criteria and a model based on land preparation, which has a more comprehensive view. In order to collect information, the library method and referring to different institutions were exerted; also, it is an applied and descriptive-analytical research in nature and method, respectively. The agricultural potential of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province based on Makhdoom model criteria, natural factors such as slope, direction, water level, rain, climate, depth, texture, fertility, and soil drainage using ecological power model have been evaluated, and the next stage is the agricultural capability of the province, based on the land use model, natural criteria include slope percentage, slope direction, soil (depth, texture, fertility, erosion, drainage), amount of water, rain, and weather, and human criteria include access roads, population, unemployment, poverty, and rural areas after evaluating the criteria by twenty experts in this field, the criteria were weighted after validation in the environment (SPSS) and averaging using AHP. The geographic information system environment is combined. By ARDES software and adapting the maps made taking into account the current situation, field observations, and Google Earth, the results indicate that the assessment of the agricultural capabilities of the province based on the land use model (which number is 87.62 according to the 400 points that have been identified obtained (leads to more realistic results than the ecological model) which is 73.58 according to the 400 specified points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A key area of research in ecological statistics involves combining data sources from multiple streams to improve population estimates. One such model attempts to integrate capture–recapture and presence–absence data to estimate the population size of Eurasian lynx in the Jura Mountains, eastern France. This model has been observed to underestimate population sizes. We conducted an extensive simulation study to evaluate the model's performance. We describe our methods for generation of simultaneous capture–recapture and presence–absence data and demonstrate that the model is flawed. Finally, we give an outline of our hypothesis on why the model underestimates population sizes.

Mental health is a fundamental axis for health, so it is considered a human right to be cared for and protected. Childhood mental disorders alter an individual's physical, psychological and social development, causing various individual and social problems. The Ecosocial and Ecological models allow the identification of the interactions of different protection and risk factors that influence the maintenance of mental health or the appearance of mental disorders. This work aimed to analyze the social determinants of mental health and mental disorders in childhood within the conceptual framework of the Ecosocial and Ecological models, as an initial strategy for developing public policies aimed at the protection of mental health. in the childhood.

Qiuyu Pan,1,2,&ast; Jun Hu,1,3,&ast; Yangzong,1 Xiuling Zhang,4 Zhaxidawa1 1Medical College of Tibet University, Lhasa, Tibet, 850000, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Public Health, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, 610037, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Management, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, People’s Republic of China; 4The Hospital of Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhaxidawa, Medical College of Tibet University, Lhasa, Tibet, 850000, People’s Republic of China, Email zhaxi0891@qq.comBackground: Aging and its consequences are receiving considerable global attention in developed and developing countries. The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of elderly individuals is crucial for public health and social welfare. Despite advances in understanding the health status of the elderly population in Tibet, a region located on China’s southwest border, a significant research gap remains regarding their HRQoL.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Tibet, China, in 2018, which thoroughly examined HRQoL and its determinants in individuals aged 60 and above. The EQ-5D-VAS instrument, consisting of two standardized scales (EQ-5D-3L and EQ-VAS), was utilized to measure HRQoL. We based the selection of potential determinants on a novel health ecological model encompassing various environmental and personal factors. We employed the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression to systematically pinpoint key predictive factors for dimensionality reduction. The Tobit regression analysis further elucidated the relationship between these factors and the EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-index scores.Results: Our study encompassed 1604 elderly participants. They presented varying severity levels across all five dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L. The most commonly observed issue was pain/discomfort, with a prevalence of 40.27%. The average EQ-VAS score was 56.15 (SD=21.15), and the mean EQ-5D-index score was 0.78 (SD=0.25). Our multivariate analysis revealed that determinants such as age, sex, number of chronic illnesses, vision problems, hearing problems, physical activity, employment status, social participation, place of residence, and insurance type were significantly associated with HRQoL.Conclusion: The HRQoL of Tibet’s elderly population presents significant concerns, especially given the region’s challenging natural conditions. This underscores the urgent need for focused policy interventions at the socio-economic strata to extend vital support and aid.Keywords: HRQoL, the elderly, ecological model, Tibet, high altitude

Abstract Social-ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing population physical activity participation is to reconstruct the “social climate” through changing social norms and beliefs about physical activity (PA). In this study, we assessed whether the PA social climate in Canada has changed over a five-year period after controlling for sociodemographic factors and PA levels. Replicating a survey administered in 2018, a sample of adults in Canada (n = 2,507) completed an online survey assessing social climate dimensions, including but not limited to descriptive and injunctive norms. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the associations of sociodemographic factors and year of the survey with social climate dimensions. Results suggest some social climate constructs are trending in a positive direction between 2018 and 2023. Physical inactivity was considered a serious public health concern by 49% of respondents, second to unhealthy diets (52%). Compared to those who participated in the 2018 survey, participants in 2023 were less likely to see others walking or wheeling in their neighbourhood (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.78), but more likely to see people exercising (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.92) and kids playing in their neighbourhood (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.85). No changes were reported between 2018 and 2023 in individuals’ perceptions of whether physical inactivity is due to individual versus external factors (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.13). The findings of this work indicate a modest positive shift in some measured components of the social climate surrounding PA although attributing causes for these changes remain speculative.

Mobile young white-collar workers not only have the characteristics of mobile young people, but also have the characteristics of general white-collar workers. Under the influence of both, their mental health may be suffering from "double disadvantage". So, based on an ecological model of the stress process, this paper tries to use the data of the questionnaire on the mental health of mobile young white-collar workers in Zhejiang Province to explore the influence of some factors in the middle workplace and residence place on the mental health of micro individuals. The results show that: (1) The working environment with high control and low freedom and the workplace discrimination against the mobile status will have a negative impact on the mental health of mobile young white-collar workers; (2) Financial anxiety in daily life will lead to a decline in the mental health level of mobile young white-collar workers; (3) Good organizational support and neighborhood social relations can significantly relieve life pressure, so as to effectively improve the mental health of mobile young white-collar workers. It can be seen that we also need to pay more attention to the mental health of mobile young white-collar workers in order to improve their situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic response of a single population to chemicals can be represented by a Weibull function. However, it is unclear whether the overall response can still be represented in this manner when scaled up to the community level. In this study, we investigated the responses of biological communities to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by using an ecological model of Baiyangdian Lake in northern China. The community dynamics process was divided into the following three stages. In the first stage, toxicity, played a dominant role and strong, medium, and weak species responses were observed according to the toxicity sensitivity. In the second stage, the dynamic process was dominated by the interaction strength with three alternative dynamic pathways comprising of direct response, no response, or inverse response. In the third stage, the toxicity was again dominant, and the biomasses of all species decreased to extinction. The toxicological dynamics were far more complex at the community level than those at the single species level and they were also influenced by the interaction strength as well as toxicity. The toxicological dynamic process in the community was constantly driven by the competing effects of these two forces. In addition to the total biomass, the interaction strength was identified as a suitable community-level signal because it exhibited good indicator properties regarding ecosystem steady-state transitions. However, we found that food web stability indicators were not suitable for use as community-level signals because they were not sensitive to changes in the ecosystem state. Some ecological management suggestions have been proposed, including medium to long-term monitoring, and reduction of external pollution loads and bioindicators. The results obtained in this study increase our understanding of how chemicals interfere with community dynamics, and the interaction strength and total biomass were identified as useful holistic indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing population physical activity participation is to reconstruct the "social climate" through changing social norms and beliefs about physical activity (PA). In this study, we assessed whether the PA social climate in Canada has changed over a five-year period after controlling for sociodemographic factors and PA levels. Replicating a survey administered in 2018, a sample of adults in Canada (n = 2,507) completed an online survey assessing social climate dimensions, including but not limited to descriptive and injunctive norms. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the associations of sociodemographic factors and year of the survey with social climate dimensions. Results suggest some social climate constructs are trending in a positive direction between 2018 and 2023. Physical inactivity was considered a serious public health concern by 49% of respondents, second to unhealthy diets (52%). Compared to those who participated in the 2018 survey, participants in 2023 were less likely to see others walking or wheeling in their neighbourhood (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.78), but more likely to see people exercising (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.92) and kids playing in their neighbourhood (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.85). No changes were reported between 2018 and 2023 in individuals' perceptions of whether physical inactivity is due to individual versus external factors (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.13). The findings of this work indicate a modest positive shift in some measured components of the social climate surrounding PA although attributing causes for these changes remain speculative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This embedded qualitative study explored the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of two multi-level RCT interventions among office workers, aiming at improving movement behaviour to enhance mental health and cognition. The interventions addressed the organizational, environmental, and individual level. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 38 stakeholders after completion of the interventions. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The interventions were well appreciated, and office workers attributed improvements in movement behaviour and wellbeing to the interventions. Especially the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based counselling and free gym access were appreciated, feasible and delivered as planned. Participants described existing workplace norms as barriers to more activity, particularly for reducing sitting. Support from managers and team support were considered crucial components. However, delivering these components was difficult. Conclusions: The findings support the design of the multi-level interventions for changing movement behaviour. Results highlight the potential of CBT for this target group and the importance of manager and team support. Desired effects of similar multi-level interventions, including CBT, might be achieved in future studies that carefully address the issues with feasibility and acceptability and the resulting low fidelity of some intervention components that were identified in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has become the world’s largest comparative assessment of academic achievement. While hundreds of studies have examined the factors predicting student achievement in PISA, a comprehensive overview of the main predictors has yet to be completed. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review of factors predicting mathematics performance in PISA. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development, we synthesized the findings of 156 peer reviewed articles. The analysis identified 135 factors that fall into five broad categories: individual student, household context, school community, education systems and macro society. The analysis uncovered seven factors that are consistently associated with math achievement in PISA. Student grade level and overall family SES (socio-economic status) are consistently positively associated with math achievement while five factors are consistently negatively associated with math achievement: student absenteeism and lack of punctuality, school repeating and dropout rate, school prevalence of students’ misbehavior, shortage of teachers and general staff, and student-centered instruction. Fourteen factors tend to be positively or negatively associated with math achievement. The explanatory power of many other factors, however, remain mixed. Explanations for this result include methodological differences, complex interactions across variables, and underlying patterns related to national-cultural context or other meso or macro-level variables. Implications for policy and research are discussed.

Purpose This embedded qualitative study explored the acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of two multi-level RCT interventions among office workers, aiming at improving movement behaviour to enhance mental health and cognition. The interventions addressed the organizational, environmental, and individual level. Methods Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 38 stakeholders after completion of the interventions. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The interventions were well appreciated, and office workers attributed improvements in movement behaviour and wellbeing to the interventions. Especially the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based counselling and free gym access were appreciated, feasible and delivered as planned. Participants described existing workplace norms as barriers to more activity, particularly for reducing sitting. Support from managers and team support were considered crucial components. However, delivering these components was difficult. Conclusions The findings support the design of the multi-level interventions for changing movement behaviour. Results highlight the potential of CBT for this target group and the importance of manager and team support. Desired effects of similar multi-level interventions, including CBT, might be achieved in future studies that carefully address the issues with feasibility and acceptability and the resulting low fidelity of some intervention components that were identified in this study.

To address the adjustment of the Chinese agricultural industry and to better promote the development of Chinese household biogas, this article summarizes and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of the type and number of biogas digesters, biogas production, biogas fermentation materials, and methods of fermentation residue utilization and ecological agriculture with household biogas by compiling a dataset covering 31 provincial administrative regions in China. The results show that hydraulic biogas digesters are distributed mainly in northwestern and northeastern China; in addition, continuously stirred biogas digesters and bottom-discharging biogas digesters are distributed mainly in southern and northern China, respectively. Because of temperature and population, the Sichuan and Henan Provinces have the highest number of biogas digesters and biogas production. The type of biogas fermentation materials depends on the local raw materials. Biogas slurry and residue are widely used as fertilizers; furthermore, biogas slurry is used for seed soaking in northeastern and southern China, and biogas residue is used as feed in central southern and northern China. The "Three-in-one" and "Four-in-one" biogas ecological models are used mostly in southern and northern China, respectively, and both are mainly affected by temperature. Finally, we propose various problems and countermeasures to enhance the development of the household biogas industry in China. Our findings are critical for China's policymakers to adopt effective measures for promoting the development of cleaner energy and the layout of the agricultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundChild sexual abuse is a major public health problem with adverse consequences for victims’ physical, mental, and reproductive health. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of child sexual abuse and its associated factors among 15- to 17-year-old adolescents in mainland China.MethodsFrom September 8, 2019 to January 17, 2020, a total of 48,660 participants were recruited by 58 colleges and universities across the whole country to complete the self-administered, structured, online questionnaire. This analysis was restricted to 3,215 adolescents aged between 15 and 17 years in mainland China. Chi-square tests and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify individual, relationship, and community factors associated with child sexual abuse.ResultsThe overall prevalence of child sexual abuse was 12.0%. More specifically, 13.0% of girls and 10.6% of boys reported that they were sexually abused prior to 18 years of age. At the individual level, being female, sexual minority identity, younger age, and higher levels of knowledge, skills and self-efficacy regarding condom use were significantly related to increased odds of reporting sexual abuse. At the relationship and community level, adolescents from disrupted families and those entering into a marriage, having casual sexual partners, and having first intercourse at a younger age were more likely to report sexual abuse. On the contrary, those who had never discussed sex-related topics with their family members at home and were offered school-based sexuality education later (vs. earlier) were less likely to report sexual abuse.ConclusionMultilevel prevention programs and strategies, including targeting adolescents with high-risk characteristics, educating young children and their parents about child sexual abuse prevention and optimizing the involvement of parents, school, community, society and government in comprehensive sexuality education, should be taken to reduce child sexual abuse among 15- to 17-year-old adolescents.

STEM higher education in the U.S. has long been an uninviting space for minoritized individuals, particularly women, persons of color, and international students and scholars. In recent years, the contemporary realities of a global pandemic, sociopolitical divides, and heightened racial tensions, along with elevated levels of mental illness and emotional distress among college students, have intensified the need for an undergraduate STEM education culture and climate that recognizes and values the humanity of our students. The purpose of this article is to advance a more humanized undergraduate STEM education and to provide a framework to guide efforts toward achieving that vision. We argue that humanizing approaches recognize and value the complexity of individuals and the cultural capital that they bring to their education, and that this is particularly important for empowering minoritized students who are subordinated in status in STEM higher education. A STEM education that centers students’ humanity gives rise to equity and promotes human well-being and flourishing alongside knowledge acquisition and skill development. We then offer a guiding framework for conceptualizing the broader ecosystem in which undergraduate STEM students are embedded, and use it to outline the individual and collective roles that different stakeholders in the ecosystem can play in humanizing STEM education.

Introduction: There is growing recognition that daily stressors, such as social and material deficiencies, can be highly detrimental to the mental health of refugees. These stressors are in addition to stressful life events, which have been widely studied in the context of migration and forced displacement. Despite increasing evidence for an ecological model, there is still no consensus regarding the conceptualization of these highly influential factors. In particular, the demarcation of daily stressors from stressful life events and the categorization of daily stressors require further examination in order to develop usable and accurate tools for researchers, design effective interventions for practitioners and assist politicians in designing meaningful policies. Methods: To address these challenges, we used data from a sample of 392 unaccompanied young refugees from diverse backgrounds and employed network analysis to examine the relationships between daily stressors, stressful life events, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Results: Our findings highlight the significant relationship between daily stressors and mental health, particularly depression. Meaningful clusters of daily stressors include material stressors, social stressors, and social exclusion stressors. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the importance of considering daily stressors in the mental health of refugees and suggest that using a network approach offers a viable way to study these complex interrelationships. These findings have implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in understanding and addressing the mental health needs of refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses in-depth, qualitative interviews to examine the facilitators/supports and barriers/challenges faced by parents reentering their communities after incarceration. Findings are framed within the context of Bronfenbrenner's ecological framework. Parents reentering their communities after incarceration often face a host of challenges related to their reentry experience (e.g. finding housing/employment) and their parenting experience (e.g. navigating familial relationships). Parenting scholars have urged communities to adopt holistic intervention methods at each level of the ecological model—including an individual's microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem to help families experiencing this trauma thrive. In order to examine which areas within the ecological system families are receiving support (and which areas are still lacking), this study uses qualitative data from 14 semi-structured interviews with parents who recently reentered their communities after incarceration and had a minor child at the time of reentry. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded based on a priori themes. Participants listed both barriers/challenges and facilitators/strengths at reentry that fell into three main categories including 1. Access to children or resources, 2. Social connections, 3. Personal introspection related to parenting. Barriers and supports are described within each level of the ecological model. Findings suggest interventions are needed to buffer, support, and help reentering parents gain parenting skills/knowledge, spend quality time with their children, and access reentry programs to help parents/children develop healthy attachment and promote smoother reintegration into their community. These interventions should be implemented at various levels within the ecological model. Highlights: We examine the experiences of parents during incarceration and reentry using Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. At the microsystem level, parent/child relationships were strained because of lack of connections, problematic behavior, and lack of social support. At the mesosystem level, parents experienced challenges with reentry programming, prison policies, and custody issues. At the exosystem level, parents discussed difficulty finding housing/employment that was sufficient for their families. At the macrosystem level, parents described how wide-spread policies (e.g., background checks, prison policies) impacted them on an individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street-based sexual harassment is a prevalent but understudied form of gender-based violence that restricts women's access to public spaces. Drawing on adaptations of the ecological model that identify the root causes of gender-based violence in patriarchy, in this study, we explore the causes of street harassment in informal areas of Greater Cairo. Our analysis is based on qualitative interviews and focus groups with male and female youth aged 13–29 years, parents of youth and community leaders in two informal areas. We supplement the qualitative data with descriptive analysis of a representative, 2016 survey of youth in informal areas of Cairo that measured experiences with and attitudes toward harassment. Harassment was prevalent in the study areas, and respondents tended to place the blame for harassment at the individual level of the ecological model, particularly women's behavior. However, there were also community- and societal-level factors that contributed to the prevalence of harassment. Patriarchal norms and stigmatization of women who are harassed reinforced victim-blaming, such that most young women were afraid to report experiences of harassment due to social censure. In this context, educational or awareness raising interventions are unlikely to be effective in combating harassment, which is widely acknowledged to be a problem. Rather, interventions are needed along the different levels of the ecological model to target peer group and community norms that encourage harassment, address harassment in schools and strengthen reporting mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with health and well-being later in life. Although prior studies have identified individual-level predictors of SPA, the role of neighborhood social context in SPA remains largely unexplored. A neighborhood social environment may act as a critical avenue for older adults to remain healthy and socially active, contributing to their evaluations of how they grow old. The present study aims to fill the previous research gap by examining the relationship between neighborhood social environment and SPA, and how age may moderate this relationship. This study is guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecology of Human Development theory and Lawton's Ecological Model of Aging, positing that an individual's aging experience is deeply rooted in their residential environment. Research Design and Methods Our sample includes 11,145 adults aged 50+ from the 2014 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. We included 4 social and economic aspects of neighborhoods: (1) neighborhood poverty; (2) percentage of older adults; (3) perceived social cohesion; and (4) perceived disorder. Results Multilevel linear regression models showed that respondents in neighborhoods with higher percentages of the older population and with perceptions of high neighborhood disorder reported more negative SPA. Those who perceived their neighborhoods as more socially cohesive reported more positive SPA. Controlling for individual socioeconomic and health status, only neighborhood social cohesion remained significant. We also found significant interaction effects between neighborhood social cohesion and age: The effects of neighborhood cohesion on SPA were stronger in middle age than in old age. Discussion and Implications Our findings provide insights into how neighborhood social context is associated with SPA, suggesting that a socially cohesive neighborhood may be important to promote more favorable perceptions of aging, particularly for middle-aged residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student behaviour is a perennial concern for educators, parents, and policy-makers alike. The present study involved an ecological analysis of teacher perceptions of, and responses to, student unproductive behaviour in primary school classrooms in the Republic of Ireland. Online survey data from 1035 primary school teachers revealed that the most frequent unproductive behaviours were non-disruptive or low-level disruptive behaviours, with perceived frequency being influenced by teaching experience, school disadvantage status, and teacher self-efficacy. Encouragingly, the most frequently used classroom management strategies were ecologically-informed, evidence-based preventative approaches, whereas the least frequently used were reactive, unplanned, punitive practices. However, relational practices, skills teaching and partnership with parents did not feature prominently. Giving due regard to the limitations of self-report data from a convenience sample, it is suggested that boosting teachers’ understanding and use of practices both to connect with students and parents and to enhance student social-emotional competence is a fundamental target for teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]