Search Results (5,929)

Emerging adults who are students (EAS) face challenges balancing academic demands with early career development in a competitive labour market. Career and vocational interventions (CVIs) aim to support this transition by improving employability, academic outcomes, career self-efficacy, and mental health protective factors. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of CVIs compared with standard approaches in improving employment-related outcomes for EAS, following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. Multiple databases were searched for studies published between 2018 and May 2025. Three independent reviewers screened abstracts and full texts in duplicate. Eligible studies were primary research evaluating CVIs for students aged 12–25 yrs and reporting employment-related outcomes. Thirty-one moderate- to low-quality studies examining middle school, high school, and university students were included from an initial 5765 records. CVIs were typically multi-component, combining training, school- or work-based learning, and additional supports. Overall, CVIs were associated with improved career readiness, academic outcomes, employment, resilience, and career adaptability. However, some studies reported lower employment rates and income for women and students with disabilities compared with men and peers without disabilities. These findings suggest that CVIs can support school-to-work transitions but underscore the need for tailored, integrated approaches, and higher-quality longitudinal research to guide policy and practice. Full article

Diet affordability is a critical determinant of food security, health and wellbeing. However, the cost and affordability of diets have not been routinely measured in Queensland (Australia) in over a decade. This study assessed the cost and affordability of healthy (based on national healthy eating guidelines) and habitual (less healthy, based on national reported intake) diets across six Queensland regions. Data were collected in 35 communities, over two years (2023 and 2024), using the evidence-based Healthy Diets Australian Standardised Affordability and Pricing protocol. Data were analyzed relative to a six-person intergenerational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reference household. Results indicate that, across Queensland, healthy diet costs are above the threshold for food stress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households. On average, healthy diets were 30% cheaper than the habitual diet (which include alcohol and takeaway foods) but cost at least 26% of household income (above the 25% threshold for food stress). In 2023, healthy diets were on average 31% more expensive in remote communities compared to urban and regional centers. In 2024, the cost of a healthy diet in remote communities decreased significantly by 24%, narrowing diet cost differences between remote and non-remote regions. This shift could be associated with the implementation of a freight subsidy in remote Queensland, or other influences on remote food pricing. Findings highlight diet-related cost-of-living challenges for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and provide insight for policy interventions (such as targeted subsidies) to improve diet affordability and reduce nutrition-related health inequity. Full article

Background: Past workplace exposure to asbestos in combination with tobacco smoking has increased the risk of lung cancer for some residents in an area within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Northeast Italy. In light of studies showing that lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce mortality, local stakeholders and decision-makers decided to assess the potential benefits, harms and cost-effectiveness of a single round of LCS with LDCT versus standard care among people aged 55 to 80 who were formerly exposed to asbestos and with at least 10 pack-years of smoking. Methods: An economic model was developed using a decision tree connected to a Markov cohort model. The primary outcome was the incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Other outcomes included the number of life years saved, the number of deaths averted and overdiagnosis. Results: Per 10,000 people screened, the intervention led to 395 additional QALYs (95% credible interval: 129 to 831) and incremental total costs of EUR 1,086,345 (95% credible interval: −852,607 to 2,155,826). The incremental cost per QALY gained was EUR 2750. There was a probability of cost-effectiveness of 99.5% relative to a threshold of EUR 25,000. Conclusions: The model estimated that the intervention was cost-effective. The model’s simplifications and limitations should be considered when interpreting the findings in relation to policy-making decisions. Further research could include the costs and benefits of incidental findings and could assess the cost-effectiveness of repeated rounds of screening for the same population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Single-parent families represent a growing and particularly vulnerable family structure within community and primary health care contexts. These families often experience cumulative burdens related to caregiving overload, socioeconomic constraints, social isolation, and fragmented support networks, which directly affect health and well-being. This integrative review aimed to synthesize and critically analyse direct and conceptually transferable evidence relevant to Family Health Nursing interventions supporting single-parent families in community and primary health care contexts, identify existing knowledge gaps, and inform the development of a relational empowerment model. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed across three electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus) covering publications from 2020 to 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised peer-reviewed empirical studies and reviews addressing nursing or health interventions relevant to single-parent families in community or primary health care contexts. Data were extracted and synthesized thematically, with attention to theoretical frameworks, intervention characteristics, and reported outcomes. Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis revealed four main thematic domains: (1) caregiving burden and psychosocial vulnerability, (2) access to and coordination of community-based resources, (3) nurse–family relational processes, and (4) empowerment-oriented nursing interventions. Theoretical underpinnings frequently included family systems perspectives, the Calgary Family Assessment and Intervention Models, and empowerment-oriented frameworks. Conclusions: Nursing interventions for single-parent families in community health settings should prioritise relational empowerment approaches that acknowledge family diversity, contextual vulnerability, and dynamic caregiving demands. The proposed relational empowerment model offers a practice-informed framework to guide Family Health Nursing interventions, education, and policy development, supporting more responsive and equitable care for single-parent families. Full article

Energy efficiency improvement represents a central strategic objective of the European Union (EU), essential for mitigating climate change and facilitating the transition toward a sustainable energy system. In 2023, renewable energy sources generated approximately 46% of the electricity produced in the EU, becoming the dominant component of the regional energy mix. This progress has been supported by coherent public policies, dedicated investment programs, and regulatory mechanisms aimed at accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies. However, the existing literature highlights a research gap regarding the relationship between the dynamics of the European energy transition, the operational challenges generated by the rapid increase in the share of renewable energy sources, and the potential for energy savings in the residential sector through non-technological interventions. This paper analyzes the structural transformations of the European energy mix, the limitations of energy systems in the context of accelerated renewable energy integration, and the role of behavioral interventions in supporting the stability of the energy system. The study examines the dynamics of residential energy consumption, behavioral determinants of energy use, and the effectiveness of instruments such as information campaigns, real-time feedback, dynamic pricing, and demand response programs. The results indicate that these interventions can reduce peak loads, increase consumption flexibility, and alleviate pressure on energy networks under conditions of variable renewable energy generation. The integration of energy storage systems and the implementation of low-cost behavioral measures can act as complementary instruments for maintaining the dynamic stability of the energy system and for achieving the EU’s sustainability and climate neutrality objectives. Full article

Accelerated urbanization in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, has driven substantial changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), threatening sustainable urban ecosystems. This study investigates historical LULC dynamics (2000–2021) and simulates future expansion scenarios through 2050 using a hybrid Machine Learning (ML) and Cellular Automata-Artificial Neural Network (CA-ANN) approach. Multi-temporal classification was performed using Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms. Both classifiers demonstrated high and comparable accuracy; SVM achieved an average Kappa coefficient of 0.8939 while RF achieved 0.8917, a marginal difference that should be interpreted with caution. Change detection analysis revealed a continuous expansion of built-up areas at the expense of dense forest and grassland, a trend driven largely by accessibility factors. Future projections indicate that even as the rate of urbanization may slow, encroachment on green spaces will persist without policy intervention. This research presents a replicable methodological workflow for monitoring urban sprawl and provides evidence to inform sustainable land management and reforestation strategies in rapidly developing urban regions. Full article

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the distribution and driving factors influencing the disparity of health professionals (HPs) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in China and to provide a reference for regional health planning and rational allocation of public health resources. Methods: The Gini coefficient was used to measure the equity of HP distribution at CDC sites at the provincial level during 2012–2023 in China. Moran’s I was used to analyze the spatial agglomeration effect, and the geographic detector model was used to explore the factors driving the allocation of HPs at CDC sites in different provinces. Results: The number of HPs at the CDC showed an increasing trend from 2012 to 2023 in China. The average Gini coefficients at the population and geographical areas were 0.16 and 0.58, respectively. The global Moran’s I statistic indicated a notable decline in spatial clustering for the population dimension, decreasing from 0.503 to 0.238; in contrast, spatial clustering for the geographical dimension remained relatively stable, ranging between 0.13 and 0.16. The local Moran’s I statistic revealed that provinces such as Qinghai in the western China consistently exhibited a “low–low” spatial clustering pattern. Six factors were found to explain the variability in the CDC HP distribution based on the 2020 data. In the context of factor interactions, the synergistic effects between education level and health expenditure share (q = 0.9781), and between population aging and per capita GDP (q = 0.9699), substantially exceed the explanatory power attributable to any single factor alone. Conclusions: A significant regional disparity was observed in the distribution of HPs among 31 provinces, with the distribution based on service area being less equitable than that based on population. The shortage of healthcare professionals in the western region is characterized by notably inadequate geographical distribution. Future policy initiatives should prioritize targeted spatial interventions and integrated, multi-factor collaborative strategies. Full article

Despite advances in engineering, fire safety improvements have plateaued in developed nations, necessitating a reassessment of resource allocation. This study develops a comprehensive fire safety assessment model for the Polish context using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). A panel of ten experts—comprising fire safety inspectors, State Fire Service officers, and architects—evaluated safety through a two-dimensional framework: the Fire Hazard Index (FHI) and Fire Safety Index (FSI). The results reveal a critical asymmetry: human factors (0.228) and combustible materials dominate the hazard landscape, whereas intelligent AI/IoT systems (0.4133) and passive protection (0.2113) offer the highest potential for safety enhancement. A novel “convergence–divergence” phenomenon was identified: hazard-focused assessments produce convergent priorities across building types (span 0.116), implying universal mitigation needs (e.g., education), while protection-focused assessments yield divergent priorities (span 0.250), justifying targeted investment. Specifically, healthcare facilities (ZL II) require disproportionate protection investment (priority 0.310). The study concludes that sustainable fire safety strategies must combine universal hazard mitigation with targeted technological interventions, offering a data-driven framework for policy optimization in Poland. Full article

Equitable access to rehabilitation services is essential for individuals living with a disability, yet geographic disparities in outpatient rehabilitation care remain understudied. This study examined spatial accessibility to outpatient physical and occupational therapy services across Texas to identify regional inequities and inform workforce and policy planning. A descriptive cross-sectional geospatial analysis was conducted using outpatient clinic location data from the Texas Health and Human Services database (2022) and population data from the 2020 U.S. Census. Clinic addresses were verified and geocoded. Accessibility was measured using an origin–destination cost matrix to estimate the travel time to the nearest clinic, and the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method to calculate an accessibility index. Spatial clustering of access was assessed using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify hot and cold spots. The analysis included 2255 outpatient rehabilitation clinics across 6896 census tracts. Travel times varied substantially, with rural areas experiencing the longest travel burdens. The 2SFCA analysis revealed pronounced disparities, with low-accessibility clusters concentrated in rural and border regions and high-accessibility clusters in urban metropolitan areas. These findings demonstrate persistent geographic disparities in outpatient rehabilitation access across Texas, suggesting the need for targeted workforce placement, transportation investment, and policy interventions to improve equitable access. Full article

Against the backdrop of low-carbon transportation and urban logistics transformation, metro-based freight is regarded as an important pathway for emission reduction. This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving the government, logistics enterprises, and metro operators, and analyzes multi-agent strategy evolution and the influence of key parameters using replicator dynamics equations and numerical simulation. The results show that well-designed subsidies and penalties can effectively promote a stable state characterized by “active government intervention, active response from logistics enterprises, and low-carbon integrated passenger and freight transportation by metro operators”. Reducing the cost of transformation can improve evolutionary efficiency, while excessively high subsidies may weaken the government’s willingness to intervene. This study provides insights for optimizing low-carbon transportation policies and supporting the development of metro-based freight systems. Full article

This study examines how protective factors contribute to teacher resilience and sustainable wellbeing during remote teaching, focusing specifically on parent-teachers who are balancing professional responsibilities with childcare. Within the broader context of research on educator resilience and professional practice, it explores the associations between social and organizational support, work–family conflict (WFC), and parenting self-efficacy (SE) and satisfaction, factors linked to educators’ capacity to manage dual roles effectively. The hypotheses were that (1) WFC would negatively correlate with parenting SE and satisfaction; (2) support from friends and family and from the workplace would be associated with lower WFC and higher parenting SE and satisfaction; and (3) WFC would mediate the relationship between support and parenting outcomes. Using a mixed-methods design with quantitative scales combined with open questions, data were collected through retrospective self-report questionnaires in relation to the COVID-19 lockdowns. The sample included 474 teachers who teach in schools in Israel and have children aged 0–12. The predictive mediation model confirmed the first two hypotheses, with partial support for the third. Qualitative findings provide insight into parent-teachers’ experiences, including gender-based differences, and emphasize factors associated with their adjustment to remote instruction. These findings contribute to understanding how social and organizational support—forms of collaborative and resilience-promoting mechanisms—may have an important role in promoting educator wellbeing through their negative association with work–family conflict. The findings should be examined further in longitudinal or experimental research and in additional cultural and educational contexts to examine their generalizability, as well as causality. Nonetheless, the findings provide possible directions for policy and interventions aimed at fostering resilience and sustainable wellbeing among teachers, particularly those navigating dual roles in their personal and professional lives. Full article

The adoption of disruptive technologies has become increasingly critical for organizations, particularly following the global shifts prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the potential benefits, many organizations, including those in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, face significant hurdles in this transition. Consequently, this study aims to understand the primary challenges and enabling factors influencing the adoption of disruptive technologies for sustainable digital transformation within the South African FMCG sector. A quantitative methodology was employed, utilizing a questionnaire for data collection. Data from 102 respondents were analyzed using SPSS version 28, involving descriptive statistics (mean item score) to rank factors and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to identify underlying constructs, and a reliability test was carried out with a score of 0.7. Key challenges identified include high initial costs and poor collaboration. Prominent enabling factors include top management commitment and operational cost reduction. The EFA revealed significant underlying challenge dimensions such as “Infrastructural and Resources Constraints” and “Human Factors Constraints,” and enabling dimensions including “Organizational Commitment and Strategy” and “Leadership.” The study concludes with key implications for promoting successful adoption. The adoption of disruptive technologies has become a strategic imperative for sustainable digital transformation (SDT), particularly in emerging markets such as South Africa’s FMCG sector. This study investigates the key challenges and enabling factors shaping technology adoption within this context. A quantitative methodology was employed, using a structured questionnaire distributed to 102 professionals across FMCG organizations in Gauteng. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed latent dimensions within both challenges and enablers, which were then interpreted through the lens of Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. To enhance analytical clarity, a matrix model was developed linking factor dimensions to DOI attributes such as relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability, and observability. The study found that high initial costs, poor collaboration, and human capability gaps significantly impede adoption, while strong leadership, strategic alignment, and operational cost savings facilitate it. The findings underscore the need for systemic interventions that address not only technical readiness but also leadership, organizational culture, and structural alignment. Practical implications are outlined for both policy and management, particularly in leveraging DOI attributes to accelerate digital transformation, as well optimize innovation diffusion within resource-constrained environments. For the future, the study proposed a hybrid methodology incorporating qualitative interviews to enhance depth and suggests longitudinal tracking to capture temporal shifts in transformation maturity. Full article

Adolescent vaping has become a persistent health and behavioural challenge in schools, yet many institutions lack reliable tools to detect and respond to concealed e-cigarette use. This study addresses this problem by evaluating the real-world performance of a low-cost “Internet of Things” (IoT) vape detection system deployed across 37 high-risk restroom and change-room locations at a large Australian Independent school. The aim was to determine whether an IoT-based environmental monitoring platform could accurately identify vaping events, support timely staff intervention, and provide actionable insights into student behaviour patterns. A longitudinal case study design was used, collecting continuous particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) data at one-minute intervals over an 18-month period, where PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ refer to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 µm and ≤ 10 µm, respectively, reported in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³). Threshold-based alerting, cloud-based data processing, and school-led Closed-circuit television (CCTV) verification were combined to assess detection accuracy, temporal trends, and operational responses. The system recorded more than 300 vaping-related incidents, with clusters aligned to predictable times of day and higher prevalence among senior students. Operational detection performance was high, with alert events characterised by rapid, concurrent PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ excursions consistent with vaping-related aerosol profiles, although staff responsiveness declined over time due to alert fatigue and competing priorities. A major environmental smoke event demonstrated the need for context-aware logic to reduce false positives. The findings demonstrate that real-time aerosol monitoring is not only technically reliable but also highly effective in detecting vaping within school environments. These perspectives help explain why user engagement, alert fatigue, and institutional follow-through are as critical as sensor accuracy itself. Ultimately, the effectiveness of vape detection relies on strong organisational commitment, well-defined response workflows, and alignment with broader wellbeing and policy strategies. When these elements are in place, such systems can evolve from simple detection tools into intelligent, integrated components of school health governance. Full article

Rural water access in developing countries remains deeply unequal, even among communes with comparable infrastructure. This paradox motivates a shift from infrastructure-centered analysis toward a framework that explicitly accounts for governance and local conversion factors. We develop a Capability-Conversion Diagnostic Framework, grounded in Sen’s Capability Approach, that decomposes water access variance into three components: measurable infrastructure, provincial governance context, and commune-level unmeasured conversion factors. Applied to 1324 rural communes from Morocco’s 2024 General Census (RGPH 2024), the framework combines k-means capability segmentation ($k=3$, selected via a composite validation criterion), cross-validated infrastructure-to-water prediction using OLS with engineered features ($R_{\mathrm{CV}}^2=0.274$, out-of-fold), conversion residual extraction, and spatial decomposition. The central finding is a three-way variance partition: infrastructure explains 27.4%, provincial context 34.1%, and commune-level unmeasured factors 38.5%—the latter representing an upper bound that includes omitted variables and measurement noise alongside conversion factors. Theil decomposition confirms that 89.9% of water access inequality occurs within capability tiers, consistent with Sen’s emphasis on conversion factors. A six-archetype policy matrix classifies communes into differentiated intervention strategies: 19.9% require comprehensive multi-sector transformation, 10.0% need governance reform despite adequate infrastructure, and 20.0% need targeted bottleneck interventions. The framework offers planners a diagnostic tool that identifies not only where infrastructure is lacking, but where it fails to deliver outcomes and what complementary interventions are needed. Full article

Objective: To quantify the gap between oral cancer disease burden and public awareness in Germany, and to characterize research dissemination patterns across social media platforms. Methods: We conducted a multi-dimensional analysis integrating: (1) Robert Koch Institut cancer registry data for oral and maxillofacial malignancies (ICD-10: C00–C06) from 2015 to 2023; (2) Google Trends search interest for cancer-related German terms; (3) Altmetric data for 2581 PubMed-indexed oral cancer publications; and (4) sentiment analysis of 10,308 social media posts. Age-standardized incidence rates were calculated using the European Standard Population. Results: Over the study period, 65,757 oral cavity cancer cases were registered. Google Trends analysis revealed a 64% attention deficit for “Mundkrebs” (oral cancer; mean: 17) compared to “Brustkrebs” (breast cancer; mean: 47). Case numbers declined from 7577 (2019) to 6870 (2023; −9.3%), while age-standardized rates decreased by 15.5% (11.6 to 9.8 per 100,000), with males disproportionately affected (−17.7%). Research dissemination was dominated by X/Twitter (86.2%), with minimal policy document (0.3%) or clinical guideline (0.3%) citations. Sentiment analysis revealed 77% positive public reception. Regional analysis identified an East–West divide, with Eastern German states showing 22% higher search interest. Conclusions: A substantial public awareness deficit exists for oral cancer in Germany, paradoxically widening during a period of declining diagnoses potentially associated with COVID-19-related diagnostic delays. The positive public sentiment toward oral cancer research suggests a favorable environment for targeted awareness campaigns, particularly in Western German states where search interest is lowest. These findings have practical implications for designing regionally tailored awareness campaigns prioritizing anatomically specific terminology. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of such targeted interventions and assess whether post-pandemic diagnoses present at more advanced stages. Full article