We investigated longitudinal, bidirectional associations between objectively measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and emotional well-being (EWB) in individuals recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Participants were 972 adults. MVPA was assessed using accelerometry, HRQoL using the SF-12 (physical [PCS], mental [MCS]), and EWB using the WHO-5. A three-wave cross-lagged panel model tested associations, adjusting for age and sex. Baseline PCS predicted MVPA at 24months (β=0.124, p<0.001), and PCS at 24months predicted MVPA at 48months (β=0.146, p<0.001). Baseline MCS predicted MVPA at 24months (β=0.116, p=0.001), but not 48months (β=-0.016, p=0.653). Baseline EWB predicted MVPA at 24months (β=0.080, p=0.023), but not 48months (β=0.068, p=0.058). Baseline MVPA did not predict PCS at 24months (β=0.038, p=0.184), but MVPA at 24months predicted PCS at 48months (β=0.065, p=0.024). MVPA did not predict MCS or EWB. HRQoL and EWB predicted subsequent MVPA, whereas MVPA showed limited and inconsistent effects on later HRQoL or EWB.

The association among social participation, loneliness and depression in stroke survivors: A longitudinal cross-lagged panel analysis.

Ideological polarization is often theorized to erode trust in science and healthcare, thereby reducing compliance with health guidelines and vaccine uptake. In this study, we examined the longitudinal relationships between perceived ideological polarization, trust in science and healthcare, and COVID-19 vaccination intention, using a four-wave panel design. We analysed four waves of panel data from a sample of 488 Slovenians, representative by gender, age, and education. Pearson correlations and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) were used to assess both within- and between-person associations, and to test whether trust in science and healthcare mediated the relationship between perceived ideological polarization and vaccination intention over time. Baseline correlations showed a positive association between perceived ideological polarization, trust, and vaccination intention, though these associations weakened and became non-significant in later waves. RI-CLPM results revealed no evidence of causal, within-person effects of perceived ideological polarization on later trust or vaccination intention, and no longitudinal mediation pathways. However, between-person effects indicated that individuals with consistently higher trust in science and healthcare reported higher vaccination intentions across time. These findings challenge the assumption that ideological polarization undermines trust and vaccination intention, suggesting that cross-sectional associations observed in prior research may reflect stable between-person differences rather than dynamic causal processes. By distinguishing cross-sectional from longitudinal evidence, this study underscores institutional trust as the key predictor of vaccination intention and calls for comparative research across political and cultural contexts.

Population aging is widely regarded as a major fiscal risk for European welfare states and a central challenge to long-term fiscal sustainability. The article critically reexamines the deterministic assumption by assessing whether the fiscal implications of demographic aging in the European Union (EU) are mechanically driven or conditioned by policy context and institutional capacity. Using panel data for the EU-27 over the period 2014–2024, the study employs a two-way fixed-effects framework and interaction models to examine the relationship between demographic aging and key fiscal outcomes, including public pension expenditures, total social protection spending, and the general government balance. Furthermore, the analysis examines whether indicators associated with the silver economy, such as employment at older ages and digital inclusion, condition the fiscal effects of aging within countries over time. The results suggest that demographic aging does not exhibit a statistically significant association with pension or social protection expenditures once institutional heterogeneity and common shocks are controlled. In contrast to deterministic expectations, aging is positively associated with general government balance, suggesting the presence of policy-mediated fiscal adjustment dynamics rather than automatic fiscal deterioration. Interaction estimates further indicate that digital inclusion among older cohorts conditions the relationship between demographic aging and fiscal balance, while silver economy indicators do not display robust standalone fiscal effects. These findings should be interpreted as evidence of policy-mediated adjustment dynamics rather than as causal estimates of demographic effects. Building on these findings, the article advances a conceptual interpretation of the aging–fiscal nexus in which demographic pressures interact with institutional adaptation and policy capacity. Fiscal sustainability under demographic aging emerges as a policy-mediated outcome that may reflect broader institutional and governance contexts, rather than demographic structure alone. While governance quality is not directly estimated as an observable variable, the analysis interprets fiscal outcomes within a governance-conditioned institutional framework that emphasizes policy mediation rather than deterministic demographic effects. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on fiscal sustainability in aging societies by demonstrating that fiscal outcomes in the European Union are best understood as institutionally conditioned and policy-mediated rather than mechanically driven by demographic structure alone.

This paper examines the factors driving poverty dynamics in Indonesia for the period 2014-2023 across 34 provinces, using a balanced panel model. The outcomes reveal high levels of poverty perpetuation, and that past deprivation has a significant impact on present levels of poverty. An increase in population over a short period contributes to poverty when employment and human capital development are low. Improvements in education always decrease poverty, while increases in unemployment lead to poverty growth. With endogeneity controlled using valid instruments (lagged investment terms and a novel instrumental approach: interactions between industry-education and industry-electricity), economic growth was found to have a positive, significant impact. This implies that the recent capital-intensive growth, without structural transformation, has been neither inclusive nor sustainable; it exacerbates poverty by increasing inequality, displacing urban labor, and driving inflation. Government spending and private-sector investment both help reduce poverty, but this depends on fiscal restraint and sectoral allocation. Poverty reduction is linked to industrial development, and in this case, the importance of attracting industry is highlighted. The paper suggests coordinated policies that combine demographic management with specific fiscal reforms and structural change towards labor-intensive growth, with investments in education and effective public expenditure.

The main goal of this paper is to study the impact of digital competencies on economic growth measured by changes in the natural logarithm of GDP per capita. The study covers countries that are currently members of the European Union, and the data used to estimate the model spans the period from 2015 to 2019. To examine the relationship, a panel analysis was used. This method can isolate the impact of countries’ time-invariant characteristics (fixed effects) as well as crises, business cycles, and shocks (time effects) common to all countries. The main explanatory variable for GDP per capita growth was a synthetic digital competence index created for the purposes of this study (Digital_Index). The baseline specification incorporated a number of control variables, which were subsequently removed in alternative specifications to assess changes in the quality of estimation. Models with and without lagged variables were used. A number of models with competency sub-indices and individual Internet and computer skills were tested. For the sake of comparison, OLS models were also estimated. The article indicates that digital competencies alone are not a determinant of economic growth in the short term, but this topic requires further research, the directions of which are pointed out in the conclusions.

After substantial progress in malaria control, Ethiopia's Amhara Region experienced a marked resurgence since 2018. The relative contributions of climate variability, environmental context, intervention coverage, and unmeasured factors to this resurgence remain inadequately quantified. This study used a Bayesian spatiotemporal framework to estimate factor associations with malaria incidence, decompose spatial versus temporal climate effects, and identify persistent hotspots. We conducted an ecological district-level panel analysis of 13,944 district-month observations from 166 districts (January 2018-December 2024). Monthly confirmed malaria counts (total,Plasmodium falciparum,P. vivax) were modelled using Bayesian hierarchical negative binomial regression with BYM2 spatial and AR(1) temporal random effects, fitted with integrated nested Laplace approximation. Covariates included lagged rainfall, temperature, NDVI, elevation, and programmatic indicators (ITN ownership, IRS protection, and larval source management [LSM] intensity). Climate covariates were decomposed into between-district (spatial) means and within-district (temporal) deviations. Sensitivity analyses included alternative IRS protection windows and district fixed-effects models. A total of 5,746,571 confirmed cases were reported (64.3%P. falciparum, 35.7%P. vivax). Mean monthly incidence increased 5.5-fold from 1.19 per 1,000 (2018) to 6.53 per 1,000 (2024), while regional mean maximum temperature showed a small declining trend over the period. In fully adjusted models, higher lagged maximum temperature and rainfall were associated with higher incidence, and elevation was protective. IRS protection, higher ITN ownership, and higher LSM intensity were each associated with lower incidence; effect directions were consistent in within-district sensitivity analyses, although residual confounding and measurement error cannot be excluded. Climate-incidence associations were predominantly spatial (between-district) rather than temporal (within-district), suggesting that geographic ecological suitability explains much of the spatial patterning, rather than temporal warming trends explaining the resurgence. Districts with persistently elevated residual spatial risk (exceedance probability of residual RR > 1.25) clustered in low-elevation western border areas. Malaria resurgence in Amhara (2018-2024) occurred alongside strong spatial climatic and elevational gradients and was not consistent with a temporal warming-driven explanation at the regional scale. Remaining unexplained spatiotemporal variation highlights the likely importance of unmeasured drivers (e.g., conflict-related service disruption, vector/insecticide resistance dynamics, and population mobility). Climate-informed, spatially targeted intervention packages prioritizing districts with persistently high residual risk are warranted.

Abstract The article examines the long-term crime gap across Asia, a region experiencing rapid economic growth and fragile development institutions. The article distinguishes between time-invariant structural forces that call for cross-country variation and time-varying dynamic forces that change at the country level. Written with panel data from 38 Asian nations from 2012 and 2023, the article applies four econometric specifications—Pooled OLS, Fixed Effects, Multilevel Tobit, and System-GMM—to quantify the impacts of corruption, political stability, income inequality, and urban transformation on perceptions-based Crime Index. The evaluation concludes that structural causes, led by corruption, are principal reasons for cross-national crime gaps, especially in poor- and middle-income markets. However, income inequality and political instability have significant impacts on the time-series variation of crime in nations, primarily high-income nations. The findings suggest that crime-control efforts may not be applicable in all contexts. The study confirms the use of a dual-track methodology: institutional construction and anti-corruption in underdeveloped nations, and the reduction of socioeconomic inequality in high-income nations—the provision of a policy-determining framework aiding evidence-informed policymaking in Asia.

Global Value Chain Participation and Business Performance in the Manufacturing Sector: A Firm-Level Panel Analysis

This study investigates the effects of basic infrastructure, educational infrastructure, and the Human Development Index (HDI) on district and municipal economic growth in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The analysis encompasses road infrastructure, access to clean water, electricity, telecommunications, and educational participation from primary to senior secondary levels, with HDI serving as a proxy for human capital. Panel data covering 19 districts and municipalities over the period 2015–2024 are employed, obtained from Statistics Indonesia. To control for endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and growth dynamics, the model is estimated using the two-step dynamic panel System Generalized Method of Moments (System GMM). The findings reveal strong growth persistence, indicating that current regional economic performance is significantly shaped by past outcomes. Primary and senior secondary educational infrastructure, together with HDI, exert positive and statistically significant effects on economic growth. Conversely, water infrastructure shows a negative and significant association, while road infrastructure displays a negative but insignificant relationship. Electricity, telecommunications, and junior secondary education infrastructure present positive yet statistically insignificant effects. These results suggest that infrastructure expansion alone is insufficient to stimulate economic growth; its effectiveness critically depends on service quality, utilization efficiency, and complementarities with human capital. This study contributes empirical evidence on heterogeneous infrastructure effects in subnational dynamic panel settings and underscores the importance of integrating infrastructure quality improvements with human capital development to achieve sustainable and inclusive regional growth.

RIPK1-associated autoinflammatory diseases are monogenic autoinflammatory diseases with two distinct phenotypes: a severe immune deficiency form due to homozygous loss-of-function mutations, and a milder form, known as CRIA (Cleavage-Resistant RIPK1-Induced Autoinflammatory syndrome), due to heterozygous gain-of-function mutations within the caspase-8 cleavage site. Diagnosis can be challenging, particularly in cases with atypical presentations, leading to significant delays in providing appropriate care. We describe a patient with a novel heterozygous mutation within the RIPK1 kinase domain. She presented, since infancy, recurrent infections of the sinuses, bronchi, and lungs, along with hypogammaglobulinaemia and lymphopenia with relative effectiveness of subcutaneous immunoglobulin supplementation. As an adult, she developed severe autoimmune cytopenia and lymphoid hyperplasia. Next-generation sequencing by panel and whole-exome analysis revealed a novel heterozygous D24V RIPK1 pathogenic variant. Functional assays demonstrated low expression of Interleukin (IL)-2 and overexpression of IL-8 in patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells with LPS stimulation. A higher level of IL-6 in B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (B-LCL) suggested a role for B cells in the pathogenesis of this RIPK1-associated disease. Functionally, Rituximab induced a shift in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, specifically promoting a TH1 to TH2 switch. Unlike the immune deficiency forms and CRIA syndromes, the patient showed no impairment in the NF-ĸB pathway and a failure in cell death. This case highlights a new pattern of RIPKI-related disease characterized by combined immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and inflammation. It underscores the critical importance of early genetic diagnosis in pediatric patients with atypical presentations to avoid decades of morbidity and enable access to targeted, life-changing therapies.

The choice of cell source for generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is influenced by several factors, including accessibility, reprogramming efficiency, and the invasiveness of the cell collection procedure. Traditional sources such as skin fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells often require invasive sampling, which can pose logistical and ethical challenges, especially in large-scale or retrospective studies. In contrast, many biobanks have established collections of easily accessible lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). These LCL repositories constitute an underutilized yet invaluable resource for iPSC research, owing to their widespread availability and existing genetic and phenotypic annotations. Here, we present a robust and reproducible protocol utilizing Sendai virus vectors to reprogram LCLs into iPSCs. Although LCLs are known to exhibit reduced reprogramming efficiency compared to other somatic cell types, our approach optimizes conditions to improve yield and consistency, providing a reliable pathway for generating high-quality iPSCs from archived samples. This methodology enables the reproducible generation of high-quality iPSCs from archived LCLs, eliminating the need for new biospecimen collection. By providing a detailed and optimized protocol, this work lowers technical barriers and facilitates broader adoption of LCL-derived iPSCs across the research community. Ultimately, it expands access to iPSC technology for large-scale, retrospective, and collaborative studies in human development and disease. © 2026 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Reprogramming lymphoblastoid cell lines using Sendai virus Support Protocol 1: Pluripotency confirmation by spontaneous trilineage differentiation with TaqMan™ hPSC Scorecard™ panel analysis.

Temporal progression and bidirectional dynamics of frailty and ADL impairment in middle-aged and older Chinese: A nationwide longitudinal study.

Recycling gains and material losses: A panel analysis of household waste trends in a decade of disruption

Bidirectional relationship between social frailty and mild cognitive impairment in older patients with chronic heart failure: A two-wave longitudinal study.

Capital structure decisions play a critical role in shaping financial reporting behavior and the sustainability of firms in emerging capital markets. This study aims to examine the effect of capital structure, proxied by leverage measured using the debt ratio, on profit quality measured by discretionary accruals, while controlling for company size and sales growth. This study employs a quantitative approach using panel data from manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2015–2024. A dynamic panel data model is estimated using the GMM Arellano–Bond estimator to address potential endogeneity and to examine both short-run and long-run effects of capital structure on profit quality. The estimates indicate a decline in profit quality associated with growing debt under a leverage capital structure, as financial reporting quality deteriorates and contractual pressures and profit management conflicts escalate. In contrast, a positive relationship exists between profit quality and company size and sales growth, such that companies with larger operations and better sales performance are more likely to produce financial statements of higher quality. The results indicate a need to balance debt and equity financing to maintain the quality of reporting and the business’s viability in Indonesia’s capital markets.

This study aims to analyze the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure quality on banking risk. Data were collected from the 100 largest commercial banks in the Middle East and Africa over ten years and examined using econometric analysis to measure the influence of ESG disclosure quality on banking risks. The findings indicate that both social and environmental disclosures have high predictability, while governance disclosure shows lower predictability. A significant negative relationship exists between the ESG disclosure quality and risk. Governance disclosure, Tier 1 capital, has a strong influence, and capital adequacy has the least. Managerial and practical implications are based on bank compliance, coverage, and debt. Unlike previous studies, this study moves from ESG performance to its disclosure quality and combines the random forest method (machine learning) with dynamic panel analysis (econometrics), bringing innovation and contribution to knowledge (the stakeholder theory) and practice.

The contribution of waqf practice and development based on history is questionable. Meanwhile inequality is a real social problem and must be addressed. As earlier research did not review the empirical studies of Cash Waqf implementation, this paper utilises the sustainable development theoretical framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in three key domains: Poverty Alleviation; Good Health and Wellbeing; and QualityEducation - to evaluate the ethical and social performance of Cash Waqf Institutions with an empirical approach. This research analyses the determining factors of the disclosure performance using data panel analysis from the annual report of enlisted 16 Cash Waqf Institutions in Indonesia during 2011-2020. A content analysis technique is used to evaluate the ethical and social performance of the sample. The findings show ‘Quality Education’ as the main focus of the Cash Waqf fund for this sample group during period of investigation. Analysis established that within the ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’ SDG domain, its corresponding indicators lacked any substantial prioritisation from the Cash Waqf allocation fund. n Lessons learnt from this study could be directed towards Cash Waqf Institutions, Government bodies, trustee boards, and future research related to Cash Waqf in Indonesia.

PurposeTo explore the bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and cigarette smoking.DesignSecondary data analysis.SettingLarge U.S. cities.SampleMothers from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) Waves 3 and 4 (N = 2394) cohort.MeasuresFood insecurity (USDA 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module) and smoking (past-month cigarette use).AnalysisUnadjusted and adjusted cross-lagged panel analyses were conducted to examine bidirectional relationships between baseline (Wave 3) food insecurity and follow-up (Wave 4) smoking, and baseline smoking and follow-up food insecurity. Post-hoc exploratory models tested each covariate separately.ResultsThe unadjusted model showed significant bidirectional relationships between smoking and food insecurity (food insecurity to smoking: β = 0.045, p = .021; smoking to food insecurity: β = 0.073, p = .010). In the adjusted model, these relationships became non-significant. Exploratory models yielded mixed findings. When controlling for race alone, relationships remained significant (p = .012 and p = .008) but were non-significant when controlling for poverty or mental health.ConclusionFindings suggest complex interrelationships between food insecurity, smoking, poverty, and mental health. Bidirectional relationships between food insecurity and smoking may be explained by poverty and mental health, warranting consideration of contextual factors. Policies and interventions addressing food insecurity and smoking should integrate strategies that also address poverty and mental health.

Avatar-based communication in virtual worlds offers a crucial space for online social support. Such support can be facilitated through avatar customization. However, most platforms, designed primarily for entertainment and attracting numerous users, have not fully examined the relationship between avatar customization and social support. This study provides an integrated explanation of the interplay among avatar customization, avatar identification, and online social support and proposes a practical approach for enhancing user well-being. Drawing on data from a two-wave longitudinal survey with a 9-month interval, conducted among Japanese users of three major avatar communication services (Second Life, ZEPETO, and Pigg Party), we analyzed the longitudinal relationships between these factors. A cross-lagged panel analysis revealed a positive feedback loop wherein avatar identification and perceived online social support mutually and positively reinforce each other over time. More frequent avatar customization at Wave 1 predicted higher avatar identification at Wave 2, suggesting that customization can serve as an upstream starting point for this feedback loop. Avatar identification and perceived online social support were positively associated with subsequent user satisfaction on most metrics. In addition, mediation analyses indicated significant indirect effects of avatar customization on perceived online social support and user satisfaction via avatar identification. By demonstrating how these concepts work together, our findings provide a practical strategy for service providers. By encouraging avatar customization-a measure that aligns naturally with platform operations, such as item releases and events-companies can initiate a positive feedback loop between avatar identification and online social support. This can enhance user well-being by increasing social support while potentially supporting platform success via higher user satisfaction, creating a win-win scenario.