Search Results (255)

In recent months, some media outlets have been launching artificial intelligence-based chatbots that serve as assistants to users in their search, selection and consumption of content. This research analyses two such examples: Vera, a conversational assistant launched by the Spanish newspaper El País, and the model used by the Colombian newspaper El Espectador, which operates on the WhatsApp platform. Both chatbots share the same approach: they are tools designed for users to interact with newspaper content. This interaction takes place through natural language conversations: the technology understands ‘users’ questions or requests and provides answers based on the content hosted in the newspapers. This changes the way media content is explored. We are moving from a paradigm centred on search engines and keywords to one in which conversation determines the discovery of content. The research analyses the results of these two pioneering experiences in the Spanish-language media. The aim is to understand the extent to which they are changing the relationship with content and how they are affecting the media. Full article

Background: COVID-19 can have adverse effects on individuals’ lung functions for up to 6 months or more after the episode. As a result, people may be reluctant to exercise, and this can have further adverse effects on their lung capacity and fitness. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a telemedicine program designed to increase the exercise participation of young adults after COVID-19 and evaluate the changes in lung function after exercise training. Methods: The quasi-experimental pre–post study recruited sixty university students who had suffered from COVID-19 within the past 12 months. Four pulmonary outcomes were compared: forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC. The telemedicine exercise (TE) group (n = 36) received an intervention to carry out regular stepping exercise (up to 10,000 steps) via online video instruction and frequent WhatsApp reminder messages. The control group (n = 24) only received an initial WhatsApp message to carry out regular stepping exercise, with no further follow-up. Results: The FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC ratio revealed significant overall improvement both within groups and between groups (p < 0.001), with moderate effect sizes. PEFR showed a significant improvement within groups (p = 0.007) but not between groups (p = 0.533). The TE group recorded a significant increase in daily step count (from 7165 to 9733, p < 0.001) after 4 weeks of training. The control group showed a significant reduction in step count (from 6975 to 6442, p = 0.049). Conclusions: The results confirmed the beneficial effects of the telemedicine exercise program in contributing to increased exercise participation and improved lung functions. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the function of the home, shifting it from a private residence to a multifunctional hub for work, education, and daily life. In Saudi Arabia, where homes are traditionally rooted in communal hospitality, this global event prompted an unprecedented inward focus, compelling users to adapt their living spaces. This study investigates how Saudi users perceived and adapted their homes during and after the pandemic, focusing on spatial and functional changes, particularly those that support remote work and multifunctionality. Data was collected from three surveys conducted in those three periods of time and statistically analyzed. These surveys were distributed through the researcher’s social media channels, such as WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and the X platform. It examines changes across the pre-COVID, mid-COVID, and post-COVID periods to determine whether there was a significant shift in the collective spatial priorities of the Saudi domestic landscape across three distinct socio-historical periods, such as remote work and guest spaces, or if they were abandoned as soon as the pandemic and its lockdown were over. Statistical analysis was conducted using JASP to generate chi-squared tests, ANOVA, and descriptive analysis. The outcome aims to better inform future housing design priorities in Saudi Arabia and align them with the housing goals of Vision 2030. The preliminary findings suggest minimal differences in functional space requirements between the pandemic and post-pandemic eras, indicating a lasting shift in users’ spatial needs. The results have practical implications for architects, planners, and policymakers seeking to design adaptable, resilient residential spaces for the post-pandemic era. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are increasingly common among patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty and are associated with higher risks of prosthetic joint infection, impaired wound healing, and prolonged hospitalisation. Dietary carbohydrate restriction has demonstrated benefits in glycemic control and weight reduction, but its feasibility and safety in the perioperative arthroplasty population remain underexplored. This pilot study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and short-term metabolic effects of a low-carbohydrate diet supported by WhatsApp-based meal photo-logging in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 43 patients enrolled in a carbohydrate-restricted dietary programme between 2021 and 2024. Patients submitted photographs of all meals via WhatsApp with a minimum contact frequency of four times daily, enabling real-time feedback and medication adjustment. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters, including weight, BMI, HbA1c, renal function, and lipid profile, were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Participants (mean age 69.12 ± 7.51 years) demonstrated significant improvement across several metabolic markers. Mean weight decreased by 5.74 kg (p < 0.001), BMI by 2.26 kg/m² (p < 0.001), and HbA1c by 0.72% (p < 0.001). No episodes of severe hypoglycaemia or perioperative discharge delays related to glycemic instability were observed. Renal function remained stable, with no significant change in eGFR (p = 0.442). Among patients with available lipid data (n = 14), LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol increased, while triglycerides showed a non-significant downward trend. Conclusions: A low-carbohydrate diet combined with high-frequency digital monitoring appears feasible and safe, achieving meaningful short-term improvements in weight and glycemic control without adverse renal or hypoglycemic events. The lipid changes observed, however, warrant cautious interpretation. These findings are hypothesis-generating, and larger prospective studies are needed to confirm the clinical impact of this approach and its relevance to perioperative optimisation. Full article

Background/Objective: Nursing students commonly use social networking sites during clinical practicums, and excessive use may interfere with their attention, performance, and training during clinical placements. However, the relationship between problematic social networking use, perceived stress, distraction, and self-management of activities during clinical practice among nursing students has not been explored in depth. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between problematic use of social networking sites, perceived stress, smartphone-related distraction, and self-management among nursing students during clinical practicums. Methods: A cross-sectional design was carried out. The sample consisted of 340 nursing students. Data were collected between September and November 2025 using a sociodemographic form, the WhatsApp Negative Impact Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Distraction Smartphone Use during Clinical Practice Scale, and Self-Control and Self-Management Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 28. Regression analysis was performed to define the factor of the problematic use of social networks and the relationship between the scales. The STROBE Checklist was used when preparing the manuscript. Results: A positive relationship was found between problematic social networks use and perceived stress (p < 0.001) and distraction (p < 0.001), and there was a negative relationship with self-management (p < 0.001). A negative relationship was found between perceived stress and self-management (p < 0.001). After regression analysis, more problematic social network use consisted of those who spent more time daily using the smartphone (p < 0.001), had more distraction associated with smartphone use during clinical practicum (p < 0.001), had more perceived stress (p < 0.001), those whose last place performing the practicum was the hospital (p = 0.006), and those whose sex was male (p = 0.026). Conclusions: The results obtained from this study indicated an association between problematic Social networksuse and increased perceived stress and distraction, as well as decreased self-management activities during clinical practicum. In line with these findings, perceived stress was negatively associated with self-management; nursing students reporting lower perceived stress also reported a greater capacity for self-management of clinical activities. Full article

Background: Electrical injuries occur when an electric current comes into contact with or passes through the body. Electrical injuries can result from contact with faulty electrical appliances and machinery or from contact with open household wiring or electrical power lines. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial difficulties experienced by individuals who suffered electrical burns due to work accidents, using a phenomenological approach. Study Design: This phenomenological study was conducted with semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 electrical burn survivors living in different regions of Turkey via the WhatsApp mobile application. The snowball sampling method was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological analysis method. The study was conducted and reported according to the COREQ checklist. Results: In the analysis of the data, two categories and five themes were identified: the effects of electrical burn at the time of occurrence and during the hospital process (psychological, social and physical), and adaptation to life after electrical burn treatment (emotions experienced, difficulties experienced and coping). Conclusions: This study revealed the life experiences, psychosocial difficulties and coping experiences of individuals with electrical burns. According to the results of the research, it is understood that individuals experienced negative emotions such as depression, helplessness and hopelessness as a result of electrical burns, could not cope with the psychosocial difficulties experienced and received psychological support. It was determined that social appearance anxiety due to deterioration in body image was very important in individuals. Full article

The improper disposal of domestic medical waste (DMW) constitutes a significant public health and environmental concern; however, limited studies exist concerning DMW disposal practices in South Africa. This study evaluated the knowledge and practices involving the disposal of domestic medical waste (DMW) in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The study investigated common disposal methods, levels of awareness of appropriate techniques, and associated health risks. Data were collected using structured questionnaires (Annexure A) with closed-ended questions, administered both physically at shopping complexes and electronically via LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and email to eligible participants. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 29 and Microsoft Excel, with results presented in graphical form. Findings revealed that 78.3% of residents disposed of DMW in general waste bins, while 85.8% reported discarding medicine bottles in the same manner, and only 5.2% returned unused medications to pharmacies. The findings highlight gaps in awareness, infrastructure, and policy, necessitating comprehensive education programs, improved waste management services, and policy revisions to include DMW. A proposed model emphasizes education, community involvement, infrastructure enhancement, and ongoing policy evaluation to address these challenges. These efforts aim to reduce health risks, mitigate environmental impacts, and promote safe DMW disposal practices, safeguarding public health and creating a sustainable environment. Full article

This ethnographic study examines the jety ata (seven generations) tradition in the Goyibi lineage of the Jookesek tribe, a Kyrgyz community from southern Kyrgyzstan now living in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley. Based on 18 months of fieldwork (2022–2024), we document how this diaspora-in-place community sustains genealogical knowledge despite displacement, minority status, and political pressures. The core finding is “layered transmission”: a preservation strategy combining formal oral recitation, digital documentation (e.g., WhatsApp family trees), and adapted narrative pedagogy by grandmothers. These overlapping methods create redundancy and resilience, enabling adaptation to modernization while maintaining spiritual (eskeruu and ata-baba ruhu) and identity functions. Younger members engage selectively through gamified stories but resist rigid memorization. The case highlights women’s underrecognized role in transmission, ongoing epistemological negotiations, and identity anchoring in diaspora contexts. Findings are specific to this community and contribute to understandings of cultural reproduction and indigenous knowledge adaptation in Central Asia. Full article

Background: Youth with disabilities remain among the most overlooked groups in global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) discourses, including in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, their SRHR needs are often ignored. This reflexive article aims to illuminate and recenter the experiences and perspectives of youth with disabilities living in Gulu City and Gulu District, Northern Uganda, exploring what matters to them regarding SRHR and their broader life aspirations. Methods: We adopted a qualitative, reflexive and participatory approach. Data were collected among six Ugandan young co-researchers with different disabilities (physical, visual, hearing, and albinism), who interacted with two Ugandan research assistants and a Canadian researcher involved in a larger SRHR research project. They engaged in in-person and virtual WhatsApp and Microsoft Teams exchanges over weeks, with the support of three Ugandan Sign Language interpreters. We thematically analyzed data, informed by the Intersectionality-based Policy Analysis and Structural Health Vulnerabilities and Agency frameworks. Results: Our analysis revealed four main findings: (1) the persistent feeling of social discrimination, stigma, and exclusion, including from parents, (2) inaccessible SRHR information and services, and knowledge gaps, (3) gender- and disability-based violence, and (4) youth with disabilities’ aspirations for SRHR and in life. Conclusions: The voices of youth with disabilities in Gulu underscore the value of disability equity-focused research. They reminded us that they are intelligent, capable, and thoughtful citizens with agency whose SRHR and broader well-being must be acknowledged and respected. Their perspectives carry critical implications for SRHR programming, policy, and research. Full article

Telegram, along with WhatsApp and Signal, has become very popular due to its hybrid capabilities, including both instant private and public messaging, making it an effective tool for quickly broadcasting content to a wide audience. This article presents TGEconomicDataset, a new dataset containing more than 2.9 million messages from the most popular Russian-language Telegram channels in the field of economics, as well as synthetically generated labeled mixtures of these channels. These mixtures are specifically designed to model authorship change scenarios for testing various methods for solving the problem of continuous authentication, which is of particular interest due to the need for organizations and companies to rely on data posted on social media. The presented dataset is enriched with quotes of important financial instruments such as gold futures, the USD/RUB currency pair, BRENT oil, the dollar index (DXY), and bitcoin (BTC), synchronized with the message timestamps. A detailed joint analysis of the collected data is provided. In addition to the presented dataset, we publish the scripts used to collect the data, integrate the financial indicators, and generate the synthetic mixtures for the continuous authentication task, ensuring full reproducibility of the research. Full article

Background: Recently introduced nicotine pouches (NPs) are smokeless nicotine products. They are held between the lips and gums for 30 min to absorb nicotine into the bloodstream through the oral mucosa. Attractiveness may increase nicotine use, especially among young people and teens. The objective of this study is to investigate the health issues and psychological effects associated with nicotine pouch use among individuals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey using Google Forms. It was conducted between 13 February and 4 November 2025, in the Riyadh province of Saudi Arabia, restricted to users of nicotine pouches willing to answer a questionnaire on the occasion of buying them (at regional tobacco stores/supermarkets) or online via WhatsApp or the Telegram platform. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 27, with a p < 0.05 indicating significance. Results: The current study included data of 489 participants, with a total of 395 participants using nicotine pouches. The most commonly reported symptoms were difficulty breathing and shortness of breath (both 40.5%), changes in taste or smell (36.7%), headache and stomach ulcers (33.4% each), and rapid or irregular heartbeat (28.4%). Most common psychological symptoms at any severity level (slightly to extremely) were appetite changes (78.7%), difficulty concentrating or focusing (75.4%), difficulty sleeping (74.9%), and increased anxiety or irritability (73.4%). Depression (72.2%), anger management (71.1%), and stress (70.4%) were also common. Regression analyses revealed that educational attainment was a significant predictor of both physical and psychological health outcomes. Conclusions: The findings show the most common physical symptoms were difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, followed by taste or smell changes, headaches, stomach ulcers, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Appetite changes, concentration issues, sleep disturbances, and anxiety or irritability were common across all severity levels. Depression, anger issues, and stress were common. Full article

Youth workers within non-profit organisations in South Africa play a vital role in supporting the government’s agenda to mainstream positive youth development through the delivery of youth services. This study aims to examine the motivations that drive youth workers to get involved in youth work practice and the challenges they experience while performing their roles in non-profit organisations in South Africa. This qualitative study purposively sampled 10 youth workers. Two methods of data collection were employed, which are the Qualitative Online Survey (QOS) and online interviews through WhatsApp telephonic conversations. Data collected were analysed through reflectivity thematic analysis. This study is informed by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which highlights the intrinsic and extrinsic motivational sources that drive individuals to act or pursue specific goals. The findings indicate that wanting to gain practical work experience as well as the desire to make a difference in young people’s lives is a major drive for youth workers’ involvement in youth work practice within the NPO sector. The study further found that youth workers experience a variety of challenges that affect their productivity and their work in general, including lack of funding, absence of training, orientation and workshops as part of professional development, as well as community resistance. To address some of these challenges and encourage youth workers’ involvement in youth work practice within the NPO sector, this study recommends an urgent need for structured and continuous professional development pathways to strengthen youth workers’ skills, enhance programme effectiveness and support the professionalisation of youth work in South Africa. Full article

Background: Social media use has grown rapidly and has been integrated into the lives of many adolescents and young adults worldwide. Research indicates that excessive social media engagement can negatively impact sleep quality through various mechanisms. Objective: This scoping review of reviews aims to explore the relationship between social media use and sleep quality among adolescents and young adults, synthesize existing evidence, identify research gaps, and highlight directions for future research. Methods: Arksey’s and O’Malley’s five-stage framework was used to conduct this scoping review. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, and Scopus for articles published between 2020 and 2025. The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews or meta-analyses focused on adolescents and young adults, examining social media use in relation to sleep quality, and peer-reviewed articles written in English. Ten articles met all eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Results: The findings indicate a small but consistent negative effect of social media use on sleep quality. Problematic social media use showed a stronger association with poorer sleep than general social media use. Specific platforms such as Facebook and Twitter contributed most to shorter sleep duration, later bedtimes, and poorer sleep quality, while Snapchat and Instagram showed moderate effects, and WhatsApp and WeChat showed smaller effects. Conclusions: Problematic social media use is strongly associated with poorer sleep quality, while general use may have smaller effects. Future research focusing on longitudinal studies would help deepen the understanding of the effects of social media on sleep and guide targeted interventions. Encouraging responsible or healthy social media use is vital in reducing the risks of problematic use while highlighting the benefits as well. Full article

Instant messaging (IM) applications are ubiquitous, and while end-to-end encryption protects message content, traffic metadata remains observable. This paper proposes a traffic correlation framework for IM call services under a passive ISP-level threat model to infer communication parties from encrypted traffic. The framework extracts and matches metadata from sustained, bidirectional call flows and jointly analyzes endpoint identifiability, shared server connectivity, symmetry in call duration and traffic volume, and service type indicators to derive correlation artifacts for matching. The framework is instantiated and evaluated on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Snapchat across diverse user behavior scenarios and commonly deployed network settings. Experimental results show that the method reliably links caller and callee flows, revealing edges in users’ social graphs without decrypting any packets. Under typical data retention regimes, these findings indicate that metadata-based correlation provides a practical basis for deanonymization and represents a persistent privacy risk for users of IM calling. Full article

Background: Healthcare communication often relies on complex digital infrastructures, yet clinicians increasingly adopt general-purpose Instant Messaging Apps (IMAs) such as WhatsApp^® to meet unmet needs. DonnaRosa, an Italian community of breast cancer specialists founded in 2017, is a Community of Practice (CoP), where experts exchange second opinions, guidelines, and trial opportunities. This paper examines its origins, practices, and implications. Methods: A mixed-methods design was applied: (1) qualitative analysis of chat logs to identify interaction patterns and rules; (2) a 2024 online survey of 54 members (92.5% response rate) exploring demographics, usage, and perceived value; (3) ongoing semi-structured interviews with founders and participants to reconstruct history, recruitment, and professional impact. Results: The group has grown through personal invitations, creating a friendly network of oncologists. Communication is concise, colloquial, and collegial. Activities focus on case discussions, reassurance, interpretation of guidelines, and exchange of research opportunities. This article presents data from an online survey conducted in 2024, showing that the group is widely used for second opinions, often consulted even on weekends and holidays, and perceived as a source of professional support and learning. Members report that participation frequently changes or refines their clinical judgement, especially when guidelines are incomplete or ambiguous. The community also promotes resilience, reduces professional isolation, supports informal collaboration in research projects, and encourages interaction on organisational and healthcare management issues. Conclusions:DonnaRosa illustrates how informal IMAs can evolve into robust infrastructures of care and professional solidarity, complementing formal systems. In the era of artificial intelligence, CoPs like DonnaRosa may become even more relevant: AI tools, especially large language models, can accelerate literature retrieval and data synthesis, while the CoP provides the critical, experience-based interpretation needed for safe and meaningful application. Such a dual infrastructure—technological and human—offers a promising path for oncology, where complexity requires both computational breadth and the depth of expert clinical judgement. Taken together, these findings and the evolving role of AI in clinical communication underscore the need for oncology societies to develop governance frameworks that ensure the safe, accountable, and clinically appropriate use of instant-messaging tools in professional practice. Full article