Search Results (1,094)

Age-related microaggressions are short, everyday comments, actions, or environmental cues that, whether intentional or not, send messages of hostility or exclusion. These remarks or behaviors often target people who do not fit dominant social norms. Although each incident may seem minor on its own, together they can cause serious harm to individuals and organizations. Using cross-sectional data from 1702 Italian in-office employees working for the public administration in the Emilia–Romagna region of Italy (Mage = 50.6, SD = 9.35), we explored the prevalence of age-related microaggressions across different public organizations’ employees in Italy and examined how perceptions differ among demographic groups. Findings reveal that younger employees (ages 23–39) reported significantly higher levels of perceived age-related microaggressions. The perception of age-inclusive HR practices was negatively correlated with microaggressions and positively correlated with job satisfaction, psychological safety, and intrinsic motivation. Additionally, the strength of this association was not uniform; it was strongest for the youngest and oldest employees. These results underscore the importance of attending to demographic differences in the strategic management of human resources. As demographic change transforms workforces globally, age-inclusive HR practices emerge as strategic tools that organizations can use to mitigate subtle discrimination and support employees of all ages. Full article

Fixed orthodontic appliances promote biofilm-mediated enamel demineralization and release metallic ions, motivating surface strategies that are intrinsic to the device rather than dependent on patient compliance. Chitosan, a biodegradable polycationic biopolymer, has been proposed as a multifunctional coating. This narrative review critically appraises the evidence for chitosan-based coatings on orthodontic appliances across three pillars—antimicrobial performance, ion-release/corrosion mitigation, and clinical translation—with explicit calibration of evidentiary strength. The evidence base is heterogeneous and of markedly uneven quality across the three pillars, and the conclusions below are weighted accordingly. Consistent with its narrative design, the literature was surveyed for critical synthesis rather than exhaustively, without formal eligibility screening, risk-of-bias appraisal, or quantitative pooling. Antimicrobial efficacy is the best-supported pillar, consistent in vitro and now extended by two short in vivo randomized trials, although all endpoints are microbiological surrogates rather than white spot lesion outcomes. Ion-release mitigation remains a plausible but insufficiently demonstrated effect: it is supported only indirectly, through electrochemical corrosion proxies on predominantly implant substrates, and no study quantifies ion-release reduction from a coated appliance. Coating durability under combined enzymatic and mechanical load—and its effect on friction—remains largely uncharacterized. Chitosan coatings are promising but translationally immature; durability, not antimicrobial potency, is the rate-limiting barrier. Defined clinical-endpoint and appliance-level ion-release studies are required. Full article

Property condition assessment is a critical step in residential real estate investment underwriting, motivating after-repair value (ARV) estimates and rehabilitation cost projections. Traditional approaches rely on in-person inspections or manual photo review by experienced investors—processes that are time-consuming, subjective, and do not scale. Prior computer vision work on building analysis has focused on structural defect detection using convolutional neural networks but has not addressed the holistic, room-level condition assessment needed for residential investment decision-making. This paper presents a per-room analysis framework that leverages multimodal large language models (MLLMs) to assess the condition of residential properties from photographs. The framework analyzes each photo independently at the room level—detecting the room type, condition category, condition score, material features, and visible issues. Condition output is intended to feed a separate downstream rehabilitation cost and ARV estimation model that is outside the scope of this paper; the present empirical evaluation is restricted to per-photo condition assessment and inter-rater agreement with human experts. I evaluate the framework on two complementary datasets: (i) a primary per-image condition evaluation on 57 photographs from 14 real off-market properties in the Memphis, TN MSA, spanning three condition tiers (Fixer, Outdated, Standard), with independent labels from two experienced real estate investors; (ii) a secondary room classification evaluation on the public REI Dataset (51 attempted, 39 successful, 12 HTTP-503 failures). The room classification accuracy was 76.5% intention-to-analyze on REI (100% per-protocol on the 39 successful calls; 23.5% API failure rate) and 82.5% on the concierge dataset. The inter-rater agreement on the concierge dataset, with 95% bootstrap CIs (5000 resamples) and Spearman’s $\rho$ as primary score statistic, was as follows: Cohen’s $\kappa =0.773$ ($95\%$ CI $[0.64,0.90]$) between Labeler A and the MLLM (weighted $\kappa =0.853$ $[0.76,0.94]$; $\rho =0.906$); and $\kappa =0.502$ $[0.35,0.66]$ between Labeler B and the MLLM ($\rho =0.858$); both bracket the human–human reliability of $\kappa =0.590$ $[0.42,0.74]$ ($\rho =0.807$). The MLLM’s $\kappa$ asymmetry across the two labelers is statistically significant ($\Delta \kappa =0.271$, $95\%$ bootstrap CI $[0.115,0.429]$, $p=0.0004$), which I attribute to plausible training distribution and labeling style differences. A blind re-labeling sensitivity analysis on a stratified 15-image subsample yields anchoring-corrected $\kappa$ estimates of approximately $0.65$ (Labeler A) and $0.35$ (Labeler B); the headline anchored values therefore sit at the upper bound of plausible blind-equivalent agreement. Failure modes concentrate at the Outdated tier and at the Outdated–Standard boundary, where humans themselves disagree most, indicating intrinsic taxonomy ambiguity rather than a model artifact. I make no claim to multi-market generalization and present multi-market extension as ongoing work. Full article

This qualitative phenomenological study examines how digital workplace surveillance embedded within remote and hybrid work systems shapes employee morale, organizational trust, and job satisfaction. Grounded in a socio-technical ergonomics framework, the research conceptualizes monitoring technologies not as neutral administrative tools but as structural design elements that recalibrate autonomy, accountability, and relational dynamics. The rapid normalization of telework during the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of algorithmic oversight systems, transforming managerial visibility and redefining performance metrics. Yet, limited empirical attention has been devoted to how these systems are subjectively experienced, particularly among younger workforce cohorts. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Generation Y and Generation Z employees working under digitally monitored telework conditions, the study explores how surveillance practices influence perceptions of autonomy, fairness, psychological safety, and engagement. The analysis identifies core themes reflecting tensions between efficiency and trust, transparency and intrusion, and compliance and intrinsic motivation. The findings contribute to socio-technical ergonomics scholarship by illuminating how oversight infrastructures can either support or destabilize sustainable and adaptive work environments. Full article

This quantitative study adapted the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) to the Financial Calculus context in higher education. It examined the preliminary psychometric properties of the resulting Financial Literacy Academic Motivation Scale (FLAMS). The 28 AMS items were translated, contextually adapted, and administered to 164 Portuguese undergraduate students enrolled in Financial Calculus during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic years. Exploratory analysis was used to inspect within-sample item patterns, while confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in the same pooled sample to compare theoretically plausible candidate structures. The refined five-factor, 21-item model, comprising amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and a general a relative improvement over the alternative models considered. Internal consistency was acceptable to high across the retained factors. However, the model did not meet conventional close-fit benchmarks, and the analyses did not provide independent cross-validation or evidence of measurement invariance across academic cohorts. The findings should therefore be interpreted as initial evidence for a context-specific candidate structure rather than as a definitive validation of FLAMS. Future research should replicate the model in larger independent samples, test measurement invariance across cohorts and institutional contexts, and examine associations with external criteria, including Financial Calculus grades, financial-literacy learning outcomes, engagement, and persistence. Full article

The growing global energy demand and increasing environmental concerns have created the need for the development of efficient, safe, and sustainable energy storage technologies. While lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have dominated the energy storage market due to their high energy density and long cycle life, concerns regarding lithium resource scarcity, high cost, and safety risks associated with flammable organic electrolytes have motivated research on alternative batteries. In this context, aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted significant attention as a promising next-generation energy storage system because of their inherent safety, resulting from the utilization of non-flammable aqueous electrolytes, and environmental friendliness, as well as natural abundance and low cost of zinc. Nevertheless, they face various challenges, which hinder their practical applications. Among them, the intrinsic limitations of the cathode materials, including their poor electronic conductivity, sluggish reaction kinetics and structural degradation during charge–discharge cycles, are considered particularly significant. Thus, the scientific community has explored various mitigation strategies, including the combination of cathode materials with carbon-based nanomaterials, such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with exceptional physicochemical properties. The present critical review discusses the most recent scientific work published in the literature during the last three years, referring to the combination of rGO with conventional cathode materials, such as manganese-based oxides, vanadium-based oxides, Prussian blue analogues, etc., for the development of next-generation AZIBs with superior electrochemical performance, long-term cycling durability, intrinsic safety, and enhanced sustainability. Full article

This study investigated the structural relationships among language learning strategies (LLSs), motivational beliefs (MBs), and English language achievement (ELA) among first-year Thai university students learning English as a foreign language (EFL). Grounded in self-regulated learning, social cognitive, and expectancy-value theories, the study examined how LLSs and MBs jointly contribute to ELA. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, with 913 participants from a public university in Thailand. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire measuring learners’ cognitive, metacognitive, and social strategies; intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy; and overall assessment of their perceived English learning achievement and self-rated English proficiency across the four language skills. Descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) were conducted. Results indicated moderate use of LLSs, with cognitive and metacognitive strategies used more frequently than social strategies. Students reported moderate-to-high motivational beliefs, with task value emerging as the strongest dimension. EFA and CFA supported the reliability and construct validity of the measurement model. SEM analysis demonstrated excellent model fit and revealed that intrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy significantly predicted strategy use and ELA. LLSs showed the strongest direct effect on achievement, whereas extrinsic motivation had no significant direct effect. In addition, LLSs partially mediated the effects of intrinsic motivation, task value, and self-efficacy on achievement. The SEM results indicated that ELA is shaped by the combined influence of adaptive motivation and effective strategic behaviour. Therefore, instructional interventions should synchronously enhance strategic language learning and increase learners’ motivational beliefs to promote English learning achievement. Full article

Cadmium sulfide has been widely used as a conventional n-type window/buffer layer or heterojunction partner in several p-type thin-film solar cells, including CdTe/CdSeTe-, chalcopyrite-, kesterite-, antimony chalcogenide-, tin sulfide- and iron pyrite-based devices. Its success is related to its ability to form suitable heterojunctions, partially passivate absorber surfaces and provide favorable electronic selectivity. However, the parasitic absorption associated with the relatively narrow band gap of CdS, the toxicity and waste-management issues related to cadmium-containing auxiliary layers and the need for improved band alignment have motivated extensive research on CdS-free window and buffer layers. This review summarizes the main efforts devoted to replacing CdS in thin-film solar cells based on absorbers such as CdTe/CdSeTe, CIS, CIGS, CZTS, CZTSe, CZTSSe, Sb₂S₃, Sb₂Se₃, Sb₂(S,Se)₃, SnS and FeS₂. The most investigated alternative materials, including Zn(O,S), ZnS, In₂S₃, ZnMgO, ZnSnO, TiO₂, SnO₂ and SnS₂, are discussed with emphasis on their optical properties, band alignment, interface quality, deposition methods and impact on device performance. The analysis highlights that CdS replacement cannot be treated as a universal material substitution problem. Instead, each absorber and device architecture requires a specific front-interface design, where chemical compatibility, conduction band offset, defect passivation, optical transparency and process-induced interfacial modifications play a decisive role. CdS-free approaches are relatively mature for CdTe/CdSeTe- and CIGS-based solar cells, whereas kesterite absorbers, antimony chalcogenides and SnS still require further interface engineering. In FeS₂, by contrast, buffer-layer substitution remains secondary to the control of intrinsic surface and bulk electronic defects. This review provides a concise comparison of the most relevant CdS-free front/window materials and identifies key challenges for the future design of sustainable thin-film solar cells. Full article

Background: Mental health nurses work in high-pressure environments where leadership styles strongly influence well-being and job performance. Toxic leadership, including abusive and authoritarian behaviors, can contribute to psychological distress, somatic symptoms, reduced job satisfaction, and lower organizational effectiveness. It may also decrease Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB), which reflects voluntary positive workplace behaviors. Intrinsic motivation may help buffer these negative effects by enhancing employees’ internal drive and resilience. Therefore, this study examines the associations between toxic leadership, psychological distress, somatic symptoms, and organizational citizenship behavior among mental health nurses while exploring the potential role of intrinsic motivation. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study, based on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), was conducted at the Psychiatric Inpatient Department of Mansoura University Hospital. A total of 117 mental health nurses were recruited through simple random samplings. Data were collected using four standardized tools: the Toxic Leadership Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI), and the Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) Scale, starting from the end of May and completed by the end of June 2024. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 22 and AMOS 22, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlations, independent t-tests, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: Toxic leadership was positively associated with psychological distress (β = 0.46, p < 0.001). Psychological distress was strongly associated with somatic symptoms (β = 0.99, p < 0.001). Intrinsic motivation was positively associated with organizational citizenship behavior (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). However, intrinsic motivation was not significantly associated with psychological distress or somatic symptoms, and no significant direct association was observed between toxic leadership and organizational citizenship behavior. Conclusions: Toxic leadership was significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress among mental health nurses, while psychological distress was strongly associated with somatic symptoms. Intrinsic motivation was positively associated with organizational citizenship behavior. However, the hypothesized mediating role of intrinsic motivation was not supported by the structural model. These findings highlight the importance of addressing toxic leadership and promoting supportive workplace environments to enhance nurses’ well-being and organizational outcomes. Relevance for Clinical Practice: Addressing toxic leadership is essential for enhancing nurses’ well-being and organizational outcomes. Interventions targeting leadership behaviors and promoting supportive workplace environments may help reduce psychological distress and its associated somatic symptoms among mental health nurses. In addition, creating workplace conditions that support intrinsic motivation may encourage organizational citizenship behavior and professional engagement, ultimately benefiting clinical practice and patient care quality. Full article

Early childhood education (ECE) in Vietnam remains a heavily feminized profession, deeply influenced by traditional gender stereotypes. This study employs an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, involving a survey of 256 male teachers and 12 in-depth interviews, to examine their career motivations and professional commitment. Regression analysis reveals that gender stereotypes (β = 0.585, p < 0.001) and professional experiences (β = 0.249, p < 0.001) are the primary predictors of commitment. Findings highlight a significant paradox: despite high intrinsic motivation and positive perceptions of institutional equity, long-term commitment remains low due to persistent societal prejudice and “hyper-visibility” pressure. The study concludes that while schools provide a supportive institutional environment, sustainable workforce diversification requires both institutional and societal efforts to address persistent gender stereotypes. The findings suggest that strengthening the recruitment and retention of male preschool teachers depends on promoting inclusive professional cultures, reducing gender-based stigma, and ensuring that professional recognition and career development opportunities are grounded in demonstrated competencies rather than gendered assumptions. These findings contribute to contemporary debates on gender, professional identity, and workforce diversity in early childhood education. Full article

As a form of economic incentive, tax incentives can theoretically have a profound impact on corporate ESG performance by reducing the costs associated with fulfilling corporate social responsibilities and stimulating firms’ intrinsic motivation for sustainable development. This study examines the impact of tax incentives on corporate ESG performance and its potential underlying mechanisms using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2023. The empirical results indicate that tax incentives significantly enhance corporate ESG performance—firms receiving higher levels of tax incentives exhibit better ESG performance. This conclusion remains robust after a series of robustness tests. Further analysis reveals that the positive effect of tax incentives is more pronounced in the environmental and governance dimensions of ESG. Additionally, we find substantial heterogeneity in the impact of tax incentives on ESG performance. Specifically, the beneficial effects of tax incentives are more significant for state-owned enterprises, firms with weaker financial performance, and older (more mature) firms. More importantly, our findings demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship between the level of tax incentives and their impact on ESG performance, with the optimal tax incentive level estimated at approximately 85%. Furthermore, we unveil the mechanisms through which tax incentives influence corporate ESG performance. The results suggest that tax incentives improve ESG performance through multiple channels, including promoting green innovation, strengthening internal controls, facilitating the adoption of financial technology, and enhancing the quality of environmental information disclosure. This study contributes to and expands upon recent research within the resource-based view, offering valuable insights for corporate tax practices in developing countries and tax authorities’ regulatory strategies. Full article

Switched reluctance motors (SRMs) are attractive for fault-tolerant drives because their rare-earth-free rotor and intrinsic phase isolation support continued operation after a converter fault. Realising this requires a post-fault control policy that preserves both torque tracking and per-phase thermal balance, with the latter being a safety-relevant design consideration motivated by—though not herein verified against—ISO 26262. This paper proposes and evaluates, by simulation, a three-layer fault-tolerant finite-control-set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) architecture for a four-phase 8/6 SRM under a single open-phase converter fault. The layers are (i) a vector-set reconfiguration from the eight healthy, active vectors to the twenty-six admissible post-fault vectors, which restores controllability of the reduced converter; (ii) soft commutation expressed as a position-dependent penalty inside the MPC cost; and (iii) asymmetry-aware balancing that evens out the accumulated thermal load across the three healthy phases. We additionally analyse an activated-on-demand max-penalty thermal limiter and show, both analytically and in simulation, that it shares its optimiser with the variance-based balancing term and therefore confers no measurable benefit over it; it is consequently retained only as an optional on-demand limiter rather than a separate layer. The architecture is benchmarked against a fault-blind baseline, a rule-based hard fault-tolerant reference (Hard-FT), and intermediate configurations through a deterministic ablation across three critical operating points, complemented by a robustness assessment under measurement noise and parameter mismatch. A six-criteria fault-tolerance scorecard is reported as a methodological observation on the transferability of healthy-mode SRM specifications to post-fault operation. Full article

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationships among physical activity, academic stress, and motivation in Physical Education, as well as to determine differences according to sex and grade level. Methods: A total of 310 secondary education students participated in the study. Data were collected using the PAQ-C, the Questionnaire on Academic Stress in Secondary Education, and the Motivation in Physical Education Questionnaire. Spearman’s correlation test and a MANOVA were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The findings revealed that physical activity was positively correlated with more self-determined forms of motivation and negatively correlated with amotivation. The dimensions of academic stress were positively associated with amotivation. Regarding sex differences, statistically significant differences were found in physical activity, with higher levels among males, and in academic overload, with higher values among females. According to grade level, differences were identified in academic overload, intrinsic motivation, and identified regulation. Furthermore, the sex × grade interaction was also statistically significant, showing that females reported higher levels of stress as they progressed through educational stages, whereas in males, levels of academic stress decreased and both physical activity and intrinsic motivation showed a differential increase in the final year of secondary education. Conclusions: In this regard, it is concluded that sex and grade level influence the variables analyzed. However, further research is needed to better understand these dimensions, their impact, and their interrelationships, considering the potential benefits of promoting self-determined motivation in Physical Education and encouraging regular physical activity practice, particularly in reducing and coping with academic stress, with the aim of comprehensively improving the physical and mental well-being of the adolescent population and contributing to their healthy and balanced development. Full article

Background and Aims: Insufficient dietary intake is common among hospitalized older (≥65 years) adults with or at risk of malnutrition. Identifying barriers and facilitators is essential for improving nutritional care in this population. This study aimed to identify the most frequently reported and observed barriers and facilitators linked to the achievement of estimated dietary requirements during a nutritional intervention. Methods: This descriptive, inductive qualitative content analysis used data from the intervention group (n = 65) of the OptiNAM trial (NCT03741283), a randomized controlled trial evaluating a multidisciplinary nutritional intervention among acutely admitted older adults at Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre. A total of 23 of the 65 participants were hospitalized for ≥24 h, allowing dietary intake to be assessed by a dietitian using validated 24 h dietary records, supplemented by dietitian-conducted 24 h recalls when records were unavailable. Individual energy and protein requirements were estimated, and intake was validated and recorded. Meaning units were derived from free-text data from patient interviews or observations during patient interviews that were linked to dietary intake and categorized as barriers or facilitators depending on whether dietary intake was below or above the estimated requirements. Results: In acutely admitted older adults with malnutrition or malnutrition risk receiving a nutritional intervention during hospitalization, poor appetite was the most frequently reported barrier to sufficient dietary intake (73.9%), followed by disliking the food (39.1%). In contrast, intrinsic motivation (69.6%), good appetite (34.8%), and support from relatives (30.4%) were the most commonly reported facilitators. Conclusions: Appetite, hospital meals, motivation, and support from relatives play central roles in achieving sufficient dietary intake among acutely admitted older adults with or at risk of malnutrition receiving a nutritional intervention. Full article

Entropy regularization is a recurring mechanism in reinforcement learning (RL), but its meaning changes across algorithmic settings. In classical online RL, entropy encourages exploration and smooths policy improvement; in inverse RL and imitation learning, maximum-entropy resolves ambiguity among expert-consistent behaviors; in offline RL, entropy must be balanced against data support; in generative policies, entropy becomes a tractability problem; and in reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards (RLVR) for large language models (LLMs), token entropy is tied to reasoning diversity, calibration, and collapse. This review organizes these developments into a unified taxonomy. We first summarize the mathematical foundations of maximum-entropy RL, soft Bellman equations, policy-gradient entropy dynamics, and Kullback–Leibler (KL)-constrained mirror descent. We then review entropy in imitation learning, offline RL, intrinsic motivation, diffusion and flow-based policy classes, and RLVR. Particular attention is given to recent work on entropy collapse in reasoning LLMs, entropy-based advantage shaping, covariance-based control, positive-advantage reweighting, and ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based flow-matching policies with tractable entropy. The review emphasizes that entropy is not universally beneficial: useful exploration, support preservation, multimodality, calibration, and reasoning diversity require different entropy objects and different control mechanisms. Full article