Search Results (3,027)

Excessive use of short-form video platforms such as TikTok has raised growing concerns about digital addiction and its impact on young users’ emotional well-being. This study examines the relationship between continuous TikTok exposure and emotional engagement in young adults aged 20–23 through a multimodal experimental design. The purpose of this research is to determine whether emotional engagement increases, remains stable, or declines during prolonged exposure and to assess the degree of correspondence between facially inferred engagement and physiological arousal. To achieve this, multimodal biometric data were collected using the iMotions platform, integrating galvanic skin response (GSR) sensors and facial expression analysis via Affectiva’s AFFDEX SDK 5.1. Engagement levels were binarized using a logistic transformation, and a binomial test was conducted. GSR analysis, merged with a 50 ms tolerance, revealed no significant differences in skin conductance between engaged and non-engaged states. Findings indicate that although TikTok elicits strong initial emotional engagement, engagement levels significantly decline over time, suggesting habituation and emotional fatigue. The results refine our understanding of how algorithm-driven, short-form content affects users’ affective responses and highlight the limitations of facial metrics as sole indicators of physiological arousal. Implications for theory include advancing multimodal models of emotional engagement that account for divergences between expressivity and autonomic activation. Implications for practice emphasize the need for ethical platform design and improved digital well-being interventions. The originality and value of this study lie in its controlled experimental approach that synchronizes facial and physiological signals, offering objective evidence of the temporal decay of emotional engagement during continuous TikTok use and underscoring the complexity of measuring affect in highly stimulating digital environments. Full article

This article presents a case study from a Social and Health Care School in Denmark, where a rooftop garden was designed to promote student health and support nature-based teaching across subject areas. A novel aspect of the project is the formal integration of the garden into teaching, implying that its long-term impact may extend beyond the students to the end-users they will later encounter in nursing homes and hospitals nationwide. This study applies the Evidence-Based Health Design in Landscape Architecture (EBHDL) process model, encompassing evidence collection, programming, and concept design, with the University of Copenhagen acting in a consultancy role. A co-design process with students and teachers was included as a novel source of case-specific evidence. Methodologically, this is a participatory practice-based case study focusing on the full design and construction processes, combining continuous documentation with reflective analysis of ‘process insights,’ generating lessons learned from the application of the EBHDL process model. This study identifies two categories of lessons learned. First, general insights emerged concerning governance, stakeholder roles, and the critical importance of site selection, procurement, and continuity of design responsibility. Second, specific insights were gained regarding the application of the EBHDL model, including its alignment with Danish and international standardised construction phases. These insights are particularly relevant for project managers in nature-based initiatives. The results also show how the EBHDL model aligns with Danish and international standardised construction phases, offering a bridge between health design methods and established building practice. The case focuses on the EBHDL process rather than verified outcomes and demonstrates how evidence-based and participatory approaches can help structure complex design processes, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support decision-making in institutional projects. Full article

The present conceptual paper proposes a purpose-driven experiential marketing framework for film-induced destinations, integrating sustainability and emotional engagement into destination management. The model under discussion comprises five interconnected dimensions, namely integrated experience, branding, people, emotional touchpoints and processes. These are articulated through purpose-driven marketing principles and aligned with selected Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators. This approach positions sustainability as an inherent component of value creation rather than an external policy layer. The framework under discussion was developed through an interdisciplinary literature review and is illustrated through insights from an exploratory case study of Monsanto, a rural Portuguese village recently featured in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of local stakeholders, including tourists, residents, entrepreneurs and institutional representatives. These interviews were analysed thematically to provide indicative evidence of the framework’s relevance and potential applicability. The findings suggest that emotional engagement, co-creation and territorial authenticity play a central role in shaping memorable film-related tourism experiences that are consistent with destination purpose and stakeholder well-being. The study also emphasises the strategic importance of storytelling, audiovisual narratives and collaborative governance in the strengthening of place identity and the support of sustainable differentiation. Despite its exploratory nature, the framework provides practical guidance for destination management organisations (DMOs), cultural programmers and creative industry actors. The article concludes by identifying avenues for future research, including cross-regional application, digital experimentation and the quantitative assessment of experiential dimensions. Full article

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the most serious complications of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a systemic autoimmune disorder defined by thrombotic events and persistent antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA). PE occurs in 11–20% of patients and may constitute the initial clinical manifestation. Young and middle-aged women are most frequently affected, and triple-positive aPLA profiles markedly increase the risk of recurrence and long-term morbidity, including chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This review article summarizes current evidence on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and management of PE in APS. Key mechanisms include anti-β2-glycoprotein I-mediated endothelial and platelet activation, complement engagement, and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, resulting in immunothrombosis. Diagnostic pathways follow standard PE algorithms; however, chronically elevated D-dimer levels and lupus anticoagulant-related aPTT prolongation require careful interpretation and consideration. Long-term vitamin K antagonist therapy remains the standard of care, whereas direct oral anticoagulants are not recommended in high-risk APS. Future directions include improved risk stratification through detailed aPLA profiling and the use of emerging biomarkers, early screening for CTEPH, and the development of targeted therapies such as complement inhibition and anti-NETosis strategies. Full article

The Erasmus+ YOU4BLUE project represents an interdisciplinary educational initiative aimed at fostering a youth culture of sustainability through hands-on learning, scientific literacy, and critical thinking focused on the marine environment. The project aimed to encourage lasting behavioural change and empower young people to act. It engaged secondary school students aged 14 to 18 on three Mediterranean islands (Sardinia, Crete, and Mallorca) through a blended Place-Based Education (PBE) model that integrates online learning with local, experiential activities. Forty-nine students completed a pre-assessment questionnaire measuring baseline marine ecosystem knowledge, sustainability-related behaviours, and attitudes toward the sea. Following three international exchanges involving the learning activities, roughly the same cohort of students completed post-activity surveys assessing self-perceived knowledge gains and intercultural interaction. Qualitative data from emotional mapping, field observations, and group reflections complemented the quantitative analysis. The results indicate substantial self-perceived increases in students’ understanding of marine ecosystems (+1.0 to +1.7 points on a 5-point scale), enhanced collaboration with international peers, and strengthened environmental awareness. Across all three sites, students applied their learning by co-designing proposals addressing local coastal challenges, demonstrating emerging civic responsibility and the ability to integrate scientific observations into real-world problem solving. These findings suggest that combining place-based education, citizen science, and participatory methods can effectively support the development of sustainability competences among youth in coastal contexts. This study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on education for sustainable development and highlights the value of blended, experiential, and intercultural approaches in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour. Full article

This study investigates the factors influencing Chinese K-12 teachers’ adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for instructional purposes by extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with pedagogical beliefs, perceived intelligence, perceived ethical risks, GenAI anxiety, and demographic moderators. Drawing on a theory-driven framework, survey data were collected from 218 in-service teachers across K-12 schools in China. The respondents were predominantly from urban schools and most had prior GenAI use experience. Eight latent constructs and fourteen hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling and multi-group analysis. Results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are the strongest predictors of teachers’ intention to adopt GenAI. Constructivist pedagogical beliefs positively predict both perceived usefulness and intention, whereas transmissive beliefs negatively predict intention. Perceived intelligence exerts strong positive effects on perceived usefulness and ease of use but has no direct effect on intention. Perceived ethical risks significantly heighten GenAI anxiety, yet neither directly reduces adoption intention. Gender, teaching stage, and educational background further moderate key relationships, revealing heterogeneous adoption mechanisms across teacher subgroups. The study extends TAM for the GenAI era and highlights the need for professional development and policy initiatives that simultaneously strengthen perceived usefulness and ease of use, engage with pedagogical beliefs, and address ethical and emotional concerns in context-sensitive ways. Full article

Criminal justice system (CJS) involvement is common among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), yet limited research examines retention in medications for OUD (MOUD) within community settings. This study assessed whether CJS involvement predicted retention on buprenorphine/naloxone and explored related demographic and clinical factors. A retrospective cohort included adults (n = 367) enrolled in a low-barrier outpatient MOUD program in Texas (January 2022–April 2024). CJS involvement was identified from program records. Retention was measured as the number of continuous days with buprenorphine/naloxone prescriptions. Analyses used univariate tests, logistic regression, and nonparametric kernel regression. Nearly one-quarter (24.8%) were CJS-involved. Retention at 180 days was similar between CJS and non-CJS groups (38%). CJS participants initiated substance use earlier and reported higher heroin and injection drug use. Behavioral health sessions were associated with both CJS involvement (OR = 1.10, p ≤ 0.001) and longer retention (β = 10.81 days/session, p = 0.001). With comprehensive, low-barrier services, individuals involved with CJS achieved MOUD retention comparable to their peers. Early behavioral health engagement was a strong predictor of retention, suggesting a key intervention point to enhance outcomes and advance equity for justice-involved populations. Full article

Social sustainability has become a central concern in development-induced resettlement, yet little is known about how social integration and community relations are sustained over long time horizons. Drawing on a retrospective longitudinal ethnographic reconstruction spanning 21 years (2004–2025) of Three Gorges Dam resettlers relocated to rural Anhui, China, this paper examines the co-evolution of group boundaries, interaction strategies, and social networks between migrants and local residents. Using group boundary theory, we identify three sequential phases of interaction: initial boundary demarcation and social distancing, subsequent bridge-building through economic cooperation and relational ingratiation, and a later stage of pragmatic, transactional engagement. We show that the gradual erosion of migrant–local boundaries is driven by economic interdependence, cultural adaptation, individualization, and rural out-migration. Rather than resulting in deep social fusion, long-term integration stabilizes in a form of “thin integration,” characterized by low-density but sustainable social ties, institutionalized conflict resolution, and routine coexistence. This study conceptualizes social integration as a dynamic process of social sustainability, demonstrating how resettled communities maintain social order and functional cohesion amid structural change. The findings contribute to debates on sustainable rural development, forced migration, and the long-term governance of resettlement communities. Full article

This study explores the relationship between board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in explaining the financial performance of firms listed on the Lima Stock Exchange during 2022–2023, using 242 firm year observations for 121 firms. The research addresses a broader question on how gender representation in corporate governance and engagement in social and environmental policies influence firms’ profitability and liquidity in an emerging market context. Using a multiple linear regression model, financial performance was measured through return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), asset turnover (ATO), and the current liquidity ratio (LIQ). The results indicate that CSR is positively associated with profitability indicators (ROA, ROE, ATO), while board gender diversity shows a negative short term relationship with these variables. Both CSR and board gender diversity are negatively associated with liquidity, reflecting short term financial commitments arising from sustainability and inclusion initiatives. These findings suggest that the financial implications of diversity and CSR initiatives may vary across temporal horizons and institutional contexts. The study contributes empirical evidence from a Latin American emerging market and underscores the importance of evaluating corporate governance and sustainability practices by considering the short term financial trade-offs of diversity and CSR initiatives and their potential longer term implications. Full article

Food loss and waste (FLW) presents a major global challenge and is explicitly referenced in the several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably in Target 12.3. The growing literature on FLW addresses a number of strategies to mitigate the problem; however, much of this work prioritizes technical solutions while studies focused on institutional solutions are less prevalent. Our study offers a systematic review of the FLW solutions discussed in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) of the United Nations. We apply the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework pioneered by Nobel Laureate, Elinor Ostrom to our analysis of FLW solutions in the VNRs and VLRs to identify prevalent patterns as well as gaps evident in the reviews. We base our systematic review of FLW solutions on the VNRs and VLRs rather than on the peer-reviewed literature since government-reported FLW initiatives play a key role in guiding individual and collective actions toward achieving SDG 12.3. Using a systematic review approach, we identified 165 publicly available VNRs and 116 VLRs that report FLW activities and were published in English between 2016 and 2024. We then applied the IAD framework categories to the 281 identified Reports. Our findings suggest that nearly 60% of the Reports focused on technical solutions while 40% reported socially oriented solutions. The socially oriented solutions were primarily directed toward consumers and less frequently toward businesses and policymakers. These findings suggest that FLW solutions can be meaningfully advanced by placing more emphasis on the role of informal institutions in in advancing awareness and social engagement to address FLW. A stronger emphasis on social rather than technical solutions may also facilitate the development of local and regional partnerships that advance FLW objectives across all levels of governance, from local to global. Full article

This article adopts a comparative approach to two women-only landmark exhibitions in Portugal—Portuguese Women Artists (1977) and All I Want. Portuguese Women Artists from 1900 to 2020 (2021–2022)—to explore how curatorial strategies can function as tools of resistance to gender asymmetries in the art field. Spanning 45 years, these initiatives reflect distinct historical, institutional, and cultural contexts: the former emerged in a post-revolutionary country as a bold, politically charged intervention, foregrounding female creativity within an established institution and promoting international visibility, while the latter offered a thematically structured survey that, albeit belatedly, engaged with more complex and globally informed debates. Both exhibitions converge in celebrating Portuguese women’s creative production, exposing persistent structural challenges and adopting critical yet defensive curatorial frameworks that reveal an ambivalent feminist gesture and certain limitations. By analysing these case studies, this research further emphasises the ongoing need for initiatives that foster discussion, awareness, visibility, and equity. Full article

This study curates and structures knowledge concerning Buddhist learning resources for tourism, presenting it through a virtual tour of Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Ratchaworamahawihan in Nakhon Pathom Province. Employing a mixed-methods approach that integrates both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the research first establishes a structured knowledge base. This involves developing a comprehensive metadata schema for cataloging the temple’s diverse resources, including both sacred sites and artifacts, to enhance their searchability and accessibility. Subsequently, this knowledge is rendered into a virtual tour, which serves as an exemplary model of a Buddhist digital learning resource for tourism. The findings reveal the extensive diversity of resources within the temple. The developed virtual tour platform allows users an immersive exploration of the site via 360-degree panoramic views. This research presents significant implications for relevant agencies, offering a scalable model for the digital dissemination of cultural heritage. It is anticipated that this initiative will expand global access to and appreciation of the temple’s cultural value, thereby fostering international interest in visitation. Such engagement is poised to stimulate the local economy and bolster Thailand’s image as a premier cultural tourism destination. Full article

The electrification of transport is rapidly reshaping power distribution networks, introducing new technical, regulatory, and operational challenges for Distribution System Operators (DSOs). This article presents an international review of electromobility integration strategies, analyzing experiences from Europe, Canada, Australia, and Greece. It examines how DSOs address grid impacts through smart charging, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, and demand flexibility mechanisms, alongside evolving regulatory and market frameworks. European initiatives—such as Germany’s Energiewende and the UK’s Demand Flexibility Service—demonstrate how coordinated planning and interoperability standards can transform electric vehicles (EVs) into valuable distributed energy resources. Case studies from Canada and Greece highlight region-specific challenges, such as limited access in remote communities or island grid constraints, while Australia’s high PV penetration offers unique opportunities for PV–EV synergies. The findings emphasize that DSOs must evolve into active system operators supported by digitalization, flexible market design, and user engagement. The study concludes by outlining implementation barriers, policy implications, and a roadmap for DSOs. Full article

Interest in financial inclusion among academics has grown significantly over the past decade. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to create enabling policies to mobilize financial resources, highlight key factors in poverty reduction and inclusive economic growth, particularly financial inclusion. This study focuses on 15 selected Asian economies. This research examines the role of fintech in promoting financial inclusion in Asia, employing a mixed-methods research design. The literature review part employs critical analysis based on the SciVal bibliometric tool. Quantitatively, it applies the Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) technique to country-level panel data for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021. This study also uses a comparative analysis of digitalization indices provided by the World Bank (WB), specifically the Global Findex Database. The findings reveal that digital payments have the most substantial effect at higher quantiles (τ = 0.5 and 0.75), reflecting their role in deepening financial engagement. Mobile money exhibits significant influence at the lower quantile (τ = 0.25), indicating its role in facilitating initial access for underserved populations. Internet usage contributes positively, albeit moderately, while GDP per capita shows no strong direct effect. Qualitative insights highlight challenges such as regulatory gaps, cybersecurity risks, and digital inequality. Full article

Background/Objective: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have received widespread attention as effective obesity treatments. However, limited research has examined the perspectives of patients contemplating GLP-1RAs. This study explored perceptions, motivations, and barriers among individuals considering GLP-1RA therapy for obesity treatment, with the goal of informing patient-centered care and enhancing clinician engagement. Methods: Adults completed surveys and interviews between June and November 2025. In this pragmatic mixed-methods study, both survey and interview questions explored perceived benefits, barriers, and decision-making processes. Qualitative data, describing themes based on the Health Belief Model, were analyzed using Dedoose (version 9.0.107), and quantitative data were analyzed using SAS (version 9.4). Participant characteristics included marital status, income, educational attainment, employment status, insurance status, age, race/ethnicity, and sex. Anticipated length on GLP-1RA medication and selected self-reported health conditions (depression, anxiety, hypertension, heart disease, back pain, joint pain), reported physical activity level, and perceived weight loss competency were also recorded. Results: Among the 31 non-diabetic participants who were considering GLP-1RA medication for weight loss, cost emerged as the most significant barrier. Life course events, particularly (peri)menopause among women over 44, were commonly cited as contributors to weight gain. Participants expressed uncertainty about eligibility, long-term safety, and treatment expectations. Communication gaps were evident, as few participants initiated discussions and clinician outreach was rare, reflecting limited awareness and discomfort around the topic. Conclusions: Findings highlight that individuals considering GLP-1RA therapy face multifaceted emotional, financial, and informational barriers. Proactive, empathetic clinician engagement, through validation of prior efforts, clear communication of risks and benefits, and correction of misconceptions, can support informed decision-making and align treatment with patient goals. Full article