Search Results (416)

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education offers new opportunities for academic support while also raising complex ethical concerns. This study explores how university students ethically evaluate the use of GenAI in three academic contexts: improving essay writing, preparing for exams, and generating complete essays without personal input. Drawing on the Multidimensional Ethics Scale (MES), the research assesses five philosophical frameworks—moral equity, relativism, egoism, utilitarianism, and deontology—based on a survey conducted among undergraduate social sciences students in Spain. The findings reveal that students generally view GenAI use as ethically acceptable when used to improve or prepare content, but express stronger ethical concerns when authorship is replaced by automation. Gender and full-time employment status also influence ethical evaluations: women respond differently than men in utilitarian dimensions, while working students tend to adopt a more relativist stance and are more tolerant of full automation. These results highlight the importance of context, individual characteristics, and philosophical orientation in shaping ethical judgments about GenAI use in academia. Full article

Public opinion on public healthcare rationing regarding gender identity is crucial for democratic policymaking because of public concern regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE). Based on rationality theory, rationally equitable rationing depends on equity orientations and prioritizing public interest over self-interest. Specifically, equity orientations include those toward equality, need, personal contribution, and social contribution. To project public preference for public healthcare rationing, this study involved 744 Chinese people in a web survey. These participants indicated their preferences for public healthcare rationing and self-interest, public interest, and equity orientations, including those based on contribution, equality, and need. Regression analysis based on the rationality framework showed that public healthcare rationing that was equal across SOGIE identities was predominantly preferable, based on rational equity. In contrast, public healthcare rationing without considering SOGIE was less preferable, and rationing unequally across gender identities was not preferred. These results imply that affirmative and egalitarian rationing is the most rationally equitable approach. Full article

Background/Objectives: Frailty is a multifactorial clinical syndrome characterized by diminished physiological reserves and increased vulnerability to stressors. It is increasingly recognized as a predictor of poor outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation (CR). However, how frailty is defined, assessed, and addressed across outpatient CR programmes remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to map the extent, range, and nature of research examining frailty in the context of outpatient CR, including how frailty is measured, its impact on CR participation and outcomes, and whether sex and gender considerations or participation barriers are reported. Methods: Following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across six electronic databases (from inception to 15 May 2025). Eligible peer-reviewed studies included adult participants assessed for frailty using validated tools and enrolled in outpatient CR programmes. Two reviewers independently screened citations and extracted data. Results were synthesized descriptively and narratively across three domains: frailty assessment, sex and gender considerations, and barriers to CR participation. The protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework. Results: Thirty-nine studies met inclusion criteria, all conducted in the Americas, Western Pacific, or Europe. Frailty was assessed using 26 distinct tools, most commonly the Kihon Checklist, Fried’s Frailty Criteria, and Frailty Index. The median pre-CR frailty prevalence was 33.5%. Few studies (n = 15; 38.5%) re-assessed frailty post-CR. Sixteen studies reported sex or gender data, but none applied sex- or gender-based analysis (SGBA) frameworks. Only eight studies examined barriers to CR participation, identifying physical limitations, emotional distress, cognitive concerns, healthcare system-related factors, personal and social factors, and transportation as key barriers. Conclusions: The literature on frailty in CR remains fragmented, with heterogeneous assessment methods, limited global representation, and inconsistent attention to sex, gender, and participation barriers. Standardized frailty assessments and individualized CR programme adaptations are urgently needed to improve accessibility, adherence, and outcomes for frail individuals. Full article

Society’s adaptation to shared mobility services is a growing topic that requires detailed understanding of the local circumstances of potential and current users. This paper focuses on analyzing barriers to the adoption of urban bike-sharing systems in post-industrial cities, using a case study of the Silesian agglomeration in Poland. Methodologically, the article integrates quantitative survey methods with multivariate statistical analysis to analyze the demographic, socioeconomic, and motivational factors that underline the adoption of shared micromobility. The study highlights a detailed segmentation of users by income, age, professional status, and gender, as well as the observation of profound disparities in access and perceived usefulness. Of note is the study’s identification of a highly concentrated segment of young, low-income users (mostly students), which largely accounts for the general perception of economic and infrastructural barriers. These include the use of factor analysis and regression to plot the interaction patterns between individual user characteristics and certain system-level constraints, such as cost, infrastructure coverage, weather, and health. The study’s findings prioritize problem-specific interventions in urban mobility planning: bridging equity gaps between user groups. This research contributes to the current literature by providing detailed insights into the heterogeneity of user mobility behavior, offering evidence-based recommendations for inclusive and adaptive options for shared transportation infrastructure in a changing urban context. Full article

Stable isotope analysis has become a key tool in paleontology, providing insights into ancient diets, ecosystems, climates, and environmental shifts. Despite the growing importance of isotopic studies in South America, no comprehensive bibliometric review has been conducted until now. This study addresses that gap, analyzing the development of the field over the past thirty years. Our results show a rapidly expanding discipline, especially in the last five years, with increasing publication rates and participation from South American researchers, particularly in Brazil and Argentina. However, the analysis also reveals persistent biases: notably, a strong focus on the Quaternary period, which limits broader evolutionary interpretations. Keyword co-occurrence points to dominant themes such as paleodiet, paleoecology, and megafaunal extinction, while highlighting new trends like ecological niche modeling and nitrogen isotope applications. The co-authorship network reflects high levels of collaboration, particularly with Spain and the United States. A marked gender imbalance in authorship is also evident, calling attention to the need for greater inclusivity. This review emphasizes the importance of addressing taxonomic and temporal gaps, strengthening interdisciplinary and international networks, and promoting equity in order to ensure the continued growth and global relevance of isotopic paleontology in South America. Full article

Academic performance has become a consolidated indicator of a nation’s educational and social equity. Consequently, increasing attention has been paid to determining the factors associated with school performance, particularly in the case of students with extreme academic outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify and compare the factors related to the level of mathematical competence of Spanish students with low and high levels of achievement, based on data from the Spanish sample of PISA 2022 (n = 30,800). The results of the multilevel quantile regression analysis reveal that the social, economic, and cultural status of the students have a significant and positive effect on both groups. Other variables, such as gender, grade repetition, and length of pre-primary education, show differentiated effects depending on the level of competence. Moreover, school-related factors, such as school location and competition among centres, exhibit opposite effects. Finally, aspects such as school ownership, average class size, and the degree of curricular autonomy only have a significant impact on the mathematical competence of low-achieving students. These findings highlight the need for differentiated educational policies that address the specific needs of each group of students. Full article

Background and Objectives: Gender disparities in pain management persist, with women frequently receiving inadequate analgesia despite reporting similar or higher pain levels compared with men. This issue is particularly evident across various medical and gynecological procedures. Materials and Methods: This integrative literature review synthesizes recent empirical studies examining gender biases in pain perception and management, focusing specifically on procedural pain in women. It includes an analysis of clinical research, patient-reported outcomes, and healthcare provider behaviors. Results: The findings indicate that unconscious biases, a lack of gender-specific clinical protocols, and prevailing cultural stereotypes contribute to the undertreatment of pain in women during procedures such as intrauterine device insertion and diagnostic hysteroscopy. Additionally, communication gaps between patients and healthcare providers exacerbate these disparities. Conclusions: Addressing gender disparities in pain management necessitates systemic reforms, including the implementation of gender-sensitive clinical guidelines, enhanced provider education, and targeted policy changes. Personalized, gender-informed approaches are essential to improving equity and quality of care in pain treatment. Full article

Sustainability in the non-alcoholic beverage industry requires effective metrics to assess environmental, social, and economic performance. However, the lack of standardised indicators for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hinders the implementation of sustainable strategies. This study aims to select a set of sustainability indicators for small and medium-sized non-alcoholic beverage industries in Brazil. Seventy-four indicators were identified based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, which were subsequently evaluated and refined by industry experts for prioritisation. Statistical analysis led to the selection of 31 final indicators, distributed across environmental (10), social (12), and economic (9) dimensions. In the environmental dimension, priority indicators include water management, energy efficiency, carbon emissions, and waste recycling. The social dimension highlights working conditions, occupational safety, gender equity, and impacts on local communities. In the economic dimension, key indicators relate to supply chain efficiency, technological innovation, financial transparency, and anti-corruption practices. The results provide a robust framework to guide managers in adopting sustainable practices and support policymakers in improving the environmental, social, and economic performance of small and medium-sized non-alcoholic beverage industries. Full article

Gender inequality remains a persistent challenge in academia, shaping career trajectories and access to critical resources. Research funding plays a central role in academic advancement, yet studies of gender disparities often overlook how patterns vary across disciplines and stages of the grant process. This study analyzes gender differences in both the submission and allocation phases using administrative data from four national Israeli funding agencies, covering nearly 5000 applications submitted over two years (2017–2018). It examines two key dimensions within both stages—PI gender and grant amount—and disaggregates results across 12 academic fields. The findings indicate isolated, rather than systematic, gender inequalities, with disparities appearing more frequently in STEM fields but remaining limited overall. The results underscore the importance of field-specific analysis for understanding gender inequality and suggest that targeted interventions, rather than uniform policies, are needed to promote gender equity in research funding. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has evolved from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition. However, stigma persists, affecting the lives and sexuality of HIV-positive people, particularly in the gay population. Research on their sexuality is limited, highlighting the need for studies that address their experiences and needs. The aim of the study is to explore the individuals’ experiences of sexuality in serodiscordant gay couples. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using thematic content analysis. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews. Six gay men who have been and/or are in a serodiscordant relationship for at least one year participated in the research. Results: Five sub-themes were identified grouped into two main themes as follows: sexuality: a complex concept accentuated by HIV and the impact of serodiscordance on partners. Conclusions: It is essential to promote accurate information and health services tailored to the needs of people living with HIV while fostering gender equity and combating stigma related to HIV and the gay community. Experiencing sexuality in this context is not only possible but can be full and satisfying when adequate resources are available. Full article

Women’s decision-making autonomy is widely recognized as a critical determinant of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). However, prevailing measures often conflate genuine autonomy with decisions made within traditional gender roles, risking an overstatement of women’s empowerment. This study examines the extent to which reported female decision-making autonomy reflects authentic agency versus role-based compliance in a patriarchal context. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 male household heads in Kakamega County, Kenya, whose partners were pregnant or recently postpartum. Using multi-stage cluster sampling and structured interviews, men reported on household and MNCH decision-making and their rationales, categorized as gender-role conformity, belief in gender equality, or other reasons. Although 40.4% reported that their partners made decisions independently, only 11.4% attributed it to a belief in women’s equality; 28% framed it within traditional gender roles. Men were over four times more likely to perceive women’s decisions as role-based than autonomous (AOR = 4.40; 95% CI: 2.48–5.78). Younger men (18–34) were more likely to report female decision-making (AOR = 5.54; 95% CI: 5.08–7.27), without necessarily endorsing egalitarian norms. Findings highlight the urgent need for gender-transformative MNCH interventions that move beyond surface-level autonomy to address deeper structural inequities. Full article

This study examines how several gender-encoding strategies in Spanish and social factors influence gender perception, reinforcing or mitigating a sexist male bias. Using an experimental design, we tested four linguistic conditions in a job recruitment context: masculine forms (theoretically generic), gender-splits, epicenes, and non-binary neomorpheme “-e”. After reading a profile in one of these conditions, 837 participants (52% women) selected an image of a woman or man. Results show that masculine forms lead to the lowest selection of female candidates, manifesting a male bias. In contrast, gender-fair language (GFL) strategies, particularly the neomorpheme (les candidates), elicited the highest selection of female images. Importantly, not only did linguistic factors and participants’ gender identity influence results—with male participants selecting significantly more men in the masculine condition, but affinity with feminist movements and LGBTQIA+ communities or positive attitudes towards GFL also modulated responses—increasing female selections in GFL, but reinforcing male selections in the masculine. Additionally, no extra cognitive cost was found for GFL strategies compared to masculine expressions. These findings highlight the importance, not only of linguistic forms, but of social and attitudinal factors in shaping gender perception, with implications for reducing gender biases in language use and broader efforts toward social equity. Full article

Inclusion in play, physical education, outdoor life, organized sports, and other movement-based activities can promote resilience and support physical, emotional, and social well-being. These arenas are particularly important for reducing health disparities and preventing social marginalization across the lifespan. Yet, children and adolescents from vulnerable or disadvantaged backgrounds encounter persistent barriers to participation, rooted in broader inequalities related to their socioeconomic position, disability, gender, ethnicity, and access to supportive environments. This perspective outlines how inclusive movement contexts, when informed by developmental systems theory and resilience frameworks, can interrupt trajectories of marginalization and promote long-term equity in health, education, and work inclusion. We emphasize the need for interdisciplinary approaches, combining longitudinal and qualitative methods, to uncover how vulnerability and participation interact dynamically over time. By integrating insights from developmental science, education, public health, and spatial ecology, we identify strategic pathways for research and action. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts across sectors and stakeholders to co-create inclusive, context-sensitive interventions. Full article

Social media platforms facilitate the dissemination of science and access to it. However, gender inequalities in the participation and visibility of communicators persist. This study examined the differences in reach and audience response between YouTube and TikTok from a gender perspective. To do so, the ten most influential science accounts on YouTube and TikTok were selected, with the sample divided equally between men and women, to conduct a comparative study. A total of 4293 videos on TikTok and 4825 on YouTube were analyzed, along with 277,528 comments, considering metrics of views and interaction. The results show that on YouTube, men received more likes and views, while on TikTok, audience response was more balanced. The participation of women on both platforms also had a differential impact, as the number of women engaging with content on YouTube negatively correlated with interaction levels, whereas on TikTok, their impact was slightly positive. In conclusion, TikTok emerges as a more inclusive space for scientific communication, though structural challenges remain on both platforms, encouraging further research into strategies that promote gender equity in online science communication. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between CEO characteristics and firm performance across emerging and developed economies using both panel regression and machine learning techniques. Drawing on Upper Echelons Theory, we examine whether CEO age, tenure, gender, founder status, and appointment origin influence Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and market-to-book ratio. We apply the fixed and random effects models for inference and deploy random forest and XGBoost models to determine the feature importance of each CEO trait. Our findings show that CEO tenure consistently predicts improved ROE and ROA, while CEO age and founder status negatively affect firm performance. Female CEOs, though not consistently significant in the baseline models, positively influence market valuation in emerging markets according to interaction models. Firm-level characteristics such as size and leverage dominate CEO traits in explaining performance outcomes, especially in machine learning rankings. By integrating machine learning feature importance, this study contributes an original approach to CEO evaluation, enabling firms and policymakers to prioritise leadership traits that matter most. The findings have practical implications for succession planning, diversity policy, and performance-based executive appointments. Full article