Explore the vast range of titles available.

This study aimed to analyse the association between endogenous hair steroid hormones as reliable biological indicators of an individual’s stress level and the social environmental factors experienced during military training that are manifested at the beginning of compulsory military service. Hair steroid hormone concentrations—cortisol, cortisone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone—in a group of 185 conscripts were measured using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Six subjective social environmental factors in the military—attitude towards the military and military service, adaptation to the military environment, team, task, and norm cohesion, as well as psychological (un)safety in the group—were evaluated using military-specific research questionnaires. Weak but significant negative correlations were identified between cortisol and adaptation (r = −0.176, p < 0.05), attitude (r = −0.147, p < 0.05) as well as between testosterone and task cohesion (r = −0.230, p < 0.01) levels. Additionally, a multiple forward stepwise regression analysis highlighted that cortisone variation might be partially explained by task cohesion; the DHEA—determined by psychological (un)safety in the group, attitude towards the military and military service, and norm cohesion; and the testosterone—determined by task cohesion and adaptation to the new military environment. The results of this study suggest that subjective measures of social factors can be used to predict hair steroid hormone levels as objective measures of the chronic stress perceived by conscripts during their basic military training.

\"Do you really know what's for dinner? The Blue Plate is the perfect dinner companion for food lovers who also care about the planet. Ecologist Mark Easter offers a detailed picture of the impact the foods you love have on the earth. Organized by the ingredients of a typical dinner party, including seafood, salad, bread, chicken, steak, potatoes, and fruit pie with ice cream, each chapter examines the food through the lens of the climate crisis. Not a cookbook, but instead, gathered like guests around the table, you will find the stories of these foods: the soil that grew the lettuce, the farmers and ranchers and orchardists who steward the land, the dairy and farm workers and grocers who labor to bring it to the table. Each chapter reveals the causes and effects of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the social and environmental impact of out-of-season and far-from-home demand. What can you do to eat more sustainably? Food lovers everywhere will be happy to know that the answer is not necessarily a plant-based diet. For each food group, Easter offers not recipes but low-carbon, in-season alternatives that make your favorite foods not only more sustainable but also more delicious. The first step, however, is an understanding of how food is grown, produced, harvested, and shipped. In stories both personal and entertaining, the author offers a full understanding of what's for dinner.\"--Amazon.com.

Background With the increasing number of elderly migrants in China, ensuring their health and access to healthcare services have become a significant public health challenge. The social environment of elderly migrants is composed of multiple interconnected systems, each of which exerts a complex and multidimensional influence on their health. This study investigates how individual and social environmental factors affect the health of elderly migrants in China. Methods Data from 4,744 respondents were obtained from the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey. Guided by social-ecological systems theory, we explored the relationship between individual and social environmental factors and the health outcomes of elderly migrants using binary logistic regression models. Results Individual factors, such as gender, age, education level, and average monthly household income, were found to significantly affect the self-rated health of the respondents. Furthermore, social environmental factors, including types of social interactions, the establishment of health records, the amount of health knowledge acquired, and travel time to medical institutions, also had a notable influence on the health of elderly migrants. Conclusions This study suggests that individual and social environmental factors significantly influence the health of elderly migrants. To improve their health, targeted strategies should focus on fostering diverse social networks, enhancing comprehensive health education, optimizing public health services, and creating an equitable institutional framework.

Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in China. However, its relationship with social–environmental factors has not been revealed comprehensively. We are the first group to determine cold and hot spots associated with the incidence and mortality of lung cancer (IMLC) in both females and males and their spatiotemporal changes and to explore the social‒environmental burden of lung cancer in China between 2007 and 2016. Methods The explanatory powers of various social–environmental factors for the IMLC were evaluated through correlation analysis and the Geodetector tool. Spatial analysis models were applied to determine the relationships between the IMLC and social–environmental factors. Results The results are as follows: (1) The distribution of the IMLC exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity; the Global Moran’s index values for incidence ranged from 0.04–0.2 and 0.09–0.33 in males and females, respectively, and the values for mortality ranged from 0.01–0.12 and 0.11–0.32 in males and females, respectively. (2) The IMLC was spatially clustered with an overall positive autocorrelation. Male population-related hot spots were observed in the central–southern region of China, and cold spots were observed in western China. Female population-related hot spots were observed primarily in northeastern China. The cold spots occurred primarily in southern and some western regions of China. (3) The effects of social–environmental factors on the IMLC showed significant spatial and temporal variability: in males, the interaction between terrain undulation and road area exhibited the highest explanatory power for the incidence and mortality, with a value of 0.22 for both; in females, the interaction between O 3 and road area and the interaction between O 3 and the number of medical beds exhibited the highest explanatory powers for the incidence and mortality, reaching 0.27 and 0.34, respectively. (4) The optimal model capturing the relationships between the IMLC and social–environmental factors was the GTWR model, which relies on reclassified data. The best R 2 value is 0.456. Conclusions The influence of each social‒environmental factor on the IMLC showed significant spatiotemporal variability, providing a systematic basis for governments to implement better targeted control of lung cancer.

Purpose of review There are significant differences in the transmission rate and mortality rate of COVID-19 under environmental conditions such as seasons and climates. However, the impact of environmental factors on the role of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transmission mechanism of the SARS-CoV-2 is unclear. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of environmental factors on COVID-19 can provide innovative insights for global epidemic prevention and control policies and COVID-19 related research. This review summarizes the evidence of the impact of different natural and social environmental factors on the transmission of COVID-19 through a comprehensive analysis of epidemiology and mechanism research. This will provide innovative inspiration for global epidemic prevention and control policies and provide reference for similar infectious diseases that may emerge in the future. Recent findings Evidence reveals mechanisms by which natural environmental factors influence the transmission of COVID-19, including (i) virus survival and transport, (ii) immune system damage, (iii) inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death, and (iiii) increasing risk of complications. All of these measures appear to be effective in controlling the spread or mortality of COVID-19: (1) reducing air pollution levels, (2) rational use of ozone disinfection and medical ozone therapy, (3) rational exposure to sunlight, (4) scientific ventilation and maintenance of indoor temperature and humidity, (5) control of population density, and (6) control of population movement. Our review indicates that with the continuous mutation of SARS-CoV-2, high temperature, high humidity, low air pollution levels, and low population density more likely to slow down the spread of the virus.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health threats in the world. Thus, identifying the factors that influence NCDs is crucial to monitor and manage diseases. This study investigates the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs as well as the effects of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors using an integrated research model. This study used a dataset from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After filtering incomplete responses, 5462 valid responses remained. Items including one’s social-environmental factors (household income, education level, and region), behavioral factors (alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity), and NCDs histories were used for analyses. To develop a comprehensive index of each factor that allows comparison between different concepts, the researchers assigned scores to indicators of the factors and calculated a ratio of the scores. A series of path analyses were conducted to determine the extent of relationships among NCDs and risk factors. The results showed that social-environmental factors have notable effects on stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and gastric, liver, colon, lung, and thyroid cancers. The results indicate that the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs vary across the different types of diseases. The effects of social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors significantly affected NCDs. However, the effect of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors was not supported. Furthermore, social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors affect NCDs in a similar way. However, the effects of behavioral risk factors were smaller than those of social-environmental factors. The current research suggests taking a comprehensive view of risk factors to further understand the antecedents of NCDs in South Korea.

Background Depressive symptoms among adolescents are a serious health concern around the world. Altered DNA methylation in the FK506 binding protein 5 ( FKBP5 ) gene has been reported to regulate stress response, which has been reported to be closely associated with depressive symptoms. However, most of the contributing studies have been conducted among adults and relatively few studies have considered the effect of disparate social influences and sex differences on the DNA methylation of FKBP5 in persons with depressive symptoms. The present study aimed to test the associations of FKBP5 DNA methylation and depressive symptoms among adolescents and explore possible sex differences in the foregoing associations. Methods This study was conducted using a nested case-control design within a longitudinal cohort study from January 2019 to December 2019. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 years from 69 classes in 10 public high schools located in Guangdong province of China participated in this research. Students with persistent depressive symptoms that reported having depressive symptoms at both baseline and follow-up were treated as the case group, and those without depressive symptoms were randomly selected as the control group. Our study finally included 87 cases and 151 controls. Quantitative methylation analyses of the selected gene were carried out by MassARRAY platform System. Results The overall DNA methylation trend of FKBP5 CpG sites in the case group was lower in comparison to the control group. Compared to healthy controls, lower methylation percentage of FKBP5 -12 CpG 1 was observed in adolescents with persistent depressive symptoms after adjusting for covariates (case: 0.94 ± 2.00, control: 0.47 ± 0.92; F  = 5.41, P  = 0.021), although the statistical significance of the difference was lost after false discovery rate correction ( q > 0.05). In addition, the hypomethylation of FKBP5 -12 CpG 1 was approaching significance after adjustment for social-environmental factors (a OR  = 0.77; P  = 0.055), which indicated that no independent association was detected between hypomethylation of FKBP5 CpG sites and persistent depressive symptoms. Furthermore, in the present study, we were unable to identify sex differences in the association of FKBP5 gene methylation with depressive symptoms. Conclusion The decreased methylation level of FKBP5 was observed in adolescents with persistent depressive symptoms, albeit non-significant after correction for multiple testing. Our results presented here are preliminary and underscore the complex gene-environment interactions relevant to the risk for depressive symptoms.

This study investigates the role and impact of non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union. While large enterprises are the primary focus of directives such as the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), SMEs are increasingly affected due to supply chain dependencies and financial incentives. The research aims to assess SME awareness, challenges, and expected benefits related to NFR adoption. The study is based on an empirical survey of 151 SMEs in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland, utilizing statistical methods such as correlation analysis and regression modeling to evaluate attitudes toward compliance and perceived barriers. The findings reveal that while SMEs acknowledge the growing relevance of NFR, resource limitations and lack of expertise hinder effective implementation. Nevertheless, SMEs that have proactively adopted NFR practices report benefits, including enhanced stakeholder relationships and a competitive market advantage. The study highlights the necessity for targeted policy interventions, including financial support, simplified compliance frameworks, and dedicated training initiatives to facilitate SME adaptation to sustainability reporting standards. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion on sustainability reporting by focusing on SMEs, a sector often neglected in NFR policy discussions. The study also provides empirical insights into how regulatory developments shape SME behavior, offering recommendations for policymakers on supporting sustainability transitions in the SME sector. Celem artykułu jest analiza roli i wpływu regulacji dotyczących raportowania niefinansowego (NFR) na małe i średnie przedsiębiorstwa (MŚP) w Unii Europejskiej. Choć dyrektywy, takie jak Dyrektywa w sprawie raportowania informacji niefinansowych (NFRD) oraz Dyrektywa w sprawie sprawozdawczości przedsiębiorstw w zakresie zrównoważonego rozwoju (CSRD), koncentrują się głównie na dużych firmach, ich oddziaływanie obejmuje także MŚP. Wynika to zarówno z zależności w łańcuchach dostaw, jak i z bodźców finansowych. W artykule oceniono poziom świadomości MŚP, wyzwania oraz potencjalne korzyści związane z wdrażaniem raportowania niefinansowego. W przeprowadzonych badaniach wykorzystano jako narzędzie badawcze kwestionariusz ankietowy, który został skierowany do 151 MŚP z województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. W celu określenia podejścia przedsiębiorstw do zgodności z regulacjami oraz identyfikacji kluczowych barier zastosowano metody statystyczne, takie jak analiza korelacji i modelowanie regresyjne. Wyniki badań wskazują, że choć MŚP dostrzegają rosnące znaczenie raportowania niefinansowego, ograniczone zasoby oraz brak specjalistycznej wiedzy stanowią istotne bariery jego wdrażania. Jednocześnie firmy, które zdecydowały się na proaktywne wprowadzenie zasad NFR, dostrzegają wymierne korzyści, w tym poprawę relacji z interesariuszami oraz przewagę konkurencyjną. Wyniki badań wskazują na potrzebę wdrożenia dedykowanych działań wspierających MŚP w adaptacji do standardów raportowania zrównoważonego rozwoju. Kluczowe rekomendacje obejmują wsparcie finansowe, uproszczone mechanizmy zgodności oraz specjalistyczne programy szkoleniowe. Artykuł wnosi istotny wkład w debatę na temat raportowania zrównoważonego rozwoju, koncentrując się na sektorze MŚP, który często pozostaje na marginesie polityki NFR. Ponadto dostarcza empirycznych dowodów na wpływ regulacji na funkcjonowanie MŚP oraz wskazuje kluczowe obszary wymagające wsparcia ze strony decydentów w procesie transformacji ku zrównoważonemu rozwojowi.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and identify associations between suicidal ideation and indicators of psychosocial distress and social-environmental factors in Thai adolescents. Using data from the Thailand Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2008, we assessed the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associated factors among adolescents (N = 2,758). Overall the prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months was 8.8% (9.9% males and 7.7% females). Variables influenced the suicidal ideation in multivariable analysis were sadness (Odds Ratio = OR: 6.03; 95% Confidence Interval = CI (3.00–12.14), lack of parental attachment (OR = 2.26, CI = 1.09–4.67), current alcohol use (OR = 2.32, 1.21–4.44), and ever having had sexual intercourse (OR = 4.16, CI = 3.40–7.68). Psychosocial, health-risk behaviours and lack of protective factors appear to effect suicidal ideation in this youth population.