Search Results (260)

Behavioral epigenetics links experiences of adversity, stress, and care to molecular variation associated with health and behavior and can reshape understandings of embodiment across the life course. As such findings enter legal and policy debates, they raise pressing questions about how judges assess responsibility, weigh extralegal factors in sentencing, and govern the use of emerging scientific evidence. This article develops a framework of biological justice to guide the translation of epigenetic evidence into judicial decision-making without reintroducing biological determinism or naturalizing structural inequality. Integrating insights from epigenetics, sociology of science, bioethics, and criminal law, we clarify the inferential limits of current research and examine risks of biologizing inequality, predictive governance, and eugenic logics. We argue that epigenetic evidence should be restricted to contextual, defendant-protective, and rehabilitation-oriented uses in sentencing and post-conviction proceedings, while predictive and coercive applications should be explicitly excluded. Overall, this framework emphasizes structural framing, community oversight, and equity to prevent molecular accounts of adversity from reinforcing existing hierarchies. Full article

This article examined a conception of personal growth put forth in a multidimensional model of psychological well-being over 35 years ago. The model is widely used around the world. One key dimension of well-being is personal growth, which is examined in detail here. The conceptual underpinnings of this construct are reviewed, as well as its formal definition and empirical operationalization. Decades of scientific research about personal growth are selectively reviewed, focusing on factors that predict different levels of personal growth as well as how it is linked with other phenomena such as health, biological risk factors, and cognitive capacities. Future directions in the science and practice of personal growth are put forth, including the need to address obstacles to personal growth tied to widening inequality, the role of the arts and humanities in nurturing personal becoming, and the need to elevate virtue and ethics as core features of eudaimonia, with exemplars from human history provided. Full article

Using panel data from 40 counties in Jiangsu Province covering the period 2016–2023, this study proposes five testable propositions and develops econometric models to explore how digital financial inclusion influences high-quality economic development at the county level, as well as its associated spatial spillover effects—a topic that remains underexplored in the current literature. The main scientific contributions are threefold. First, digital inclusive finance is found to significantly enhance the quality of county-level economic development, although this positive effect is subject to diminishing marginal returns. Second, upgrading the industrial structure acts as a key mediating mechanism, whereas expanding income inequality between urban and rural areas weakens the beneficial impact. Third, the spatial econometric results point to a significantly positive spatial interdependence. Interestingly, while the direct local effect of digital inclusive finance is not statistically significant, it generates substantial positive spillovers to neighboring counties—a multiplier effect that adds new insights to the spatial economics literature. In terms of policy implications, these findings advocate not only for the establishment of inter-county cooperation mechanisms in digital finance but also for the adoption of regionally tailored development strategies and stronger integration between digital inclusive financial services and local specialized industries. It should be noted that these results are derived from the context of Jiangsu Province and are intended to serve as a reference for similar regional studies. Full article

This article examines gender inequalities in scientific research in the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on STEM disciplines. It draws on qualitative data from the STEP (STEM and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for Research Enhancement in Portugal) project, a European Commission-funded initiative aimed at embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles across partner institutions in Portugal, Italy, France, and Spain. Using semi-structured interviews with five scientific leaders and an inductive thematic analysis, the study explores early-stage mechanisms in the institutionalisation of EDI policies and women’s empowerment trajectories from an intersectional perspective. The analysis identifies emergent patterns suggesting: (i) a gradual strengthening of EDI mainstreaming in contexts with initially limited awareness; (ii) the role of transnational collaboration in enhancing visibility, mentoring, and peer learning; and (iii) the potential of time-bounded initiatives to catalyse participant-observed shifts and institutional routines in formation. Rather than measuring longitudinal impact, the article traces how legitimation, routinisation, and network diffusion may enable EDI principles to extend beyond project lifespans and become embedded in governance structures. These mechanism-focused insights offer a transferable framework for future European cooperation initiatives and contribute to ongoing debates on sustainable gender and EDI policy implementation in Mediterranean research contexts. Full article

This study explores how youth masculinities are constructed in Eswatini’s high schools. Using hegemonic masculinity theory as an analytical lens, data were coded to identify patterns of dominance, strength, and gender hierarchy, thereby highlighting the study’s original contribution to understanding the local manifestation of hegemonic masculinity and advancing theoretical knowledge in this context. Data were collected through a qualitative case study approach involving 36 adolescents aged 16 to 18, comprising equal numbers of 18 boys and 18 girls, from six coeducational high schools. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed that hegemonic masculinity shapes perceptions of gender roles, often promoting aggression in boys and marginalising girls. Sports, especially rugby, are key symbols of masculinity, emphasising strength, dominance, and competitiveness, while girls are excluded from these activities, reinforcing gender inequalities. Institutional practices like task allocation and disciplinary methods further sustain stereotypes, influencing youth identities within cultural and peer pressure contexts. The findings highlight persistent gendered power dynamics and stereotypes that perpetuate inequality. The study makes a significant contribution to the scientific literature by demonstrating how hegemonic masculinity manifests uniquely in Eswatini’s educational and cultural context, thus extending regional studies and providing insights for broader applications. It recommends gender-transformative curricula, increased girls’ participation in male-dominated sports, and gender-neutral disciplinary practices to foster more inclusive, equitable environments. Full article

The present study seeks to synthesize the scientific evidence from the last decade (2015–2025) regarding the transition from inequality in technological access toward social stratification mediated by automated decision-making systems. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and the SPIDER model, a corpus of 74 high-impact records from Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and PsycINFO was examined. The results reveal an exponential growth in scientific production since 2018, marking a shift from infrastructure-based inequality toward a systemic stratification mediated by algorithmic opacity. Three critical sectors of exclusion are categorized: the socio-health nexus, the labor market, and the educational ecosystem. Methodologically, quantitative algorithmic auditing predominates (58%), although mixed sociotechnical approaches have increased by 25% since 2021 to capture experiences of intersectional vulnerability. The study concludes that AI acts as an active agent of social reproduction, necessitating a transition toward “Algorithmic Justice” and “Human-Centric Governance.” Finally, a “Reinstating AI” framework is proposed to democratize technological development and mitigate systemic biases, offering a roadmap for researchers and policymakers in the pursuit of technological sovereignty. Full article

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a severe infection that remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients, particularly in non-HIV immunosuppressed populations. Despite its recognized clinical relevance and inclusion in the World Health Organization’s Fungal Priority Pathogens List, important gaps persist in its diagnosis, epidemiology, and therapeutic management. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scientific production on P. jirovecii using Scopus as the primary data source. Publications were evaluated for temporal trends, document types, authorship patterns, institutional productivity, collaboration networks, funding sources, thematic evolution, and journal distribution, with additional comparison against other major pneumonia-associated pathogens. A total of 27,396 articles published between 1916 and 2025 were identified. Over the last 50 years, scientific output increased from 10,382 publications in 1975–2000 to 16,496 in 2001–2025, representing an overall growth of 58.9%. Early research expansion was strongly shaped by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, whereas the post-2000 period reflected advances in molecular diagnostics, taxonomic clarification, and broader attention to non-HIV immunosuppressed populations. Although the field has become more diversified and clinically integrated, persistent structural inequities and underinvestment continue to limit progress, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. Full article

Background: Gender discrimination in sport remains a persistent global issue, reflected in women’s limited participation, leadership representation, media visibility, salary equity, and personal safety. These forms of discrimination also negatively affect athletes’ psychological well-being, mental health, and overall sports experience. Despite growing scholarly attention over the past three decades, a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of this research area has been lacking. Methodology: A bibliometric analysis of 397 peer-reviewed documents published between 1995 and 2026 was conducted using the Scopus database. Data were analysed through the Bibliometric R package 4.2.1 and Biblioshiny interface. Science-mapping techniques including keyword co-occurrence, thematic clustering, thematic evolution, and collaboration network analysis were combined with performance indicators such as annual publication output, leading sources, author productivity, and citation impact. Results: Scientific production increased markedly after the mid-2010s, involving 187 sources and 1106 authors, with rising collaboration and citation influence. Core research themes included gender inequality, leadership exclusion, media representation, harassment and abuse, and structural discrimination in sports systems. Importantly, many of these themes are directly linked to reduced athlete well-being, including increased stress, anxiety, and decreased participation. Recent thematic developments highlighted intersectionality, safeguarding, inclusion, governance, and athlete welfare. Conclusion: Research on discrimination against women in sport has evolved into a multidisciplinary, policy-relevant field. Addressing gender discrimination is essential not only to achieving equity but also to improving athletes’ subjective well-being and long-term participation in sport. However, significant gaps remain, particularly in Global South contexts and intervention-based studies, indicating the need for stronger evidence-driven strategies to advance gender equity, inclusion, and ethical governance in sport. Full article

Advances in antiretroviral therapy have transformed infection with HIV into a manageable chronic disease, increasing the survival of people living with HIV, who are also undergoing a demographic aging process marked by the emergence of non-communicable chronic diseases. This study aims to map and analyze how the scientific literature addresses the organization and integration of care in the HIV-NCD syndemic, identifying implications for nursing and for health systems. This is a Rapid Scoping Review, using the databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and LILACS. Data synthesis was conducted using Microsoft Excel. The research was structured using the PCC framework: Population—people living with HIV (≥18 years); Concept—organization and integration of care in the HIV-NCD syndemic, including care models, care coordination, service integration, and the role of nursing; and Context—health services and systems. Twenty-three studies were included, most of which used qualitative methodology, were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, and had predominantly female samples. This study demonstrated that the organization of care in the HIV-NCD syndemic remains predominantly characterized by fragmented models, which are insufficient to address the complexity of multimorbidity. Integrated care models emerge as a promising strategy; however, their effects remain limited in settings marked by health inequalities. Full article

Project SCORE (Student-Centered Outcomes Research Experiences) is a community-engaged after school science education program designed to address persistent inequities in health, education, and biomedical career access among Mississippi youth. Grounded in youth participatory action research and leveraging near-peer mentoring (NPM), the program engages teens in public health education, research skill development, and mentored inquiry led by undergraduate and graduate health sciences students. Program components include weekly workshops during the academic year and a one-week residential summer campus experience focused on health literacy, scientific thinking, research communication, and college-readiness. An evaluation assessed implementation and short-term outcomes. Pre/post survey data indicate increases in STEM self-efficacy, career interest in STEM careers, and public health communication skills. Students reported strong engagement, belonging, and program satisfaction, and summer participants described an enhanced interest in college and health science careers. The lessons learned highlight the importance of robust NPM support, flexible program adaptation, and strong community partnerships. Early findings demonstrate that Project SCORE is a feasible, acceptable, and replicable model for engaging historically excluded youth in STEM and public health through community-based, student-centered research experiences. Full article

A decade has elapsed since the first recognized cluster of congenital anomalies associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) was reported in Brazil in 2015, culminating in the formal delineation of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) as a specific pattern of birth defects. This narrative review examines the ten-year trajectory of CZS as a tropical infectious disease, from its initial emergence and public health emergency declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2016, through evolving epidemiological, clinical, and scientific understanding. CZS is characterized by a spectrum of severe neurological manifestations—including microcephaly, subcortical calcifications, malformations of cortical development, ventriculomegaly, and corpus callosum abnormalities—alongside ophthalmic, auditory, and musculoskeletal complications. Transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions, ZIKV disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, underscoring its nature as a quintessential tropical disease linked to poverty, inadequate vector control, and health inequity. Over ten years, substantial advances have been made in understanding ZIKV pathogenesis, neurodevelopmental outcomes, diagnostic criteria, and multidisciplinary clinical management of affected children. In the therapeutic and preventive domain, over 45 vaccine candidates have been identified, with 16 reaching Phase 1 or 2 clinical trials by late 2025, though no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral therapy yet exists. This review contextualizes CZS within the broader framework of neglected tropical diseases, evaluates its global and family-level burden, and critically appraises progress and remaining gaps in clinical care, vaccination, and vector control over the past ten years. Full article

Air pollution remains a critical environmental and public health threat, particularly in highly populated urban areas such as the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA). This study provides a refined and detailed assessment of the spatial distribution of air pollution and associated attributable mortality across the LMA. High-resolution (1 km²) annual mean concentrations of key pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and NO₂) for 2022 and 2023 were estimated by integrating outputs from the URBAIR dispersion model with ground-based monitoring observations using advanced geostatistical data-fusion techniques. Air pollutant concentrations were combined with gridded population data and age-stratified baseline mortality rates within a Geographic Information System framework to quantify spatial variations in health impacts. Using the World Health Organization AirQ+ framework and established concentration–response functions, we estimated a total of 3195 air-pollution-attributable deaths across the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) in 2022, increasing to 4010 deaths in 2023. Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) was identified as the dominant contributor, accounting for more than 40% of the total health burden. At a high spatial resolution (1 km² grid), estimated mortality exhibited substantial variability, ranging from 0 to 29 deaths per cell in 2022 and from 0 to 36 deaths per cell in 2023. These results highlight the importance of fine-scale spatial analysis, revealing intra-urban disparities that are not captured by aggregated estimates of total attributable mortality. The proposed methodological framework, integrating dispersion modelling, data fusion, and spatially explicit health impact assessment at fine spatial scales, provides a robust and transferable approach to support evidence-based air quality management and urban health policy development in European metropolitan contexts. This integrated approach enhances comparability, improves exposure assessment accuracy, and strengthens the scientific basis for designing targeted mitigation strategies that could prevent hundreds of premature deaths annually while addressing documented spatial inequalities in pollution exposure. Full article

One of the main focuses of social innovation is the fight for social inclusion for all. The prevalence of violence against women with disabilities shows how the lack of recognition of diversity hinders real equality for these individuals. This violence is a structural problem that is caused by a combination of gender and disability dynamics, the perpetuating inequalities and social exclusion. Researchers have analyzed specific vulnerabilities in the areas of work, education and health, and point out that only by addressing diversity can we overcome the consequences of such discrimination. Using a qualitative methodological approach, this study utilized critical documentary analysis and a thematic review of recent scientific, academic, and institutional literature, alongside empirical data, to identify the most prevalent forms of violence faced by women with disabilities: sexual (affecting up to 80% of women with disabilities), economic (with wage gaps exceeding 24%), and institutional (a lack of accessibility to basic services). The barriers hindering these women’s access to resources and services are also highlighted. The results point to the urgent need to develop innovative public policies and social strategies that value social diversity as a driver of change. This study concludes with specific recommendations for implementing inclusive approaches that promote equality, universal accessibility, and comprehensive protection in order to move toward more just, cohesive, and innovative societies. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant paradigm of methodology and epistemology in the social sciences. Machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), and generative models enable researchers to work with big, multimodal datasets, identify complex patterns, and recreate events in the social world in ways that previously were not feasible. At the same time, these innovations also lead to ethical challenges related to algorithmic bias, black boxes, data extractivism, and reinforced structural inequalities in welfare, government services, education, and criminal justice. The article critically questions the social sciences in the light of AI on three dimensions that are inextricably linked, namely: (1) the opportunities that AI provides to social-scientific inquiry; (2) the biases and constraints generated through data, models, and institutional application; and (3) ethical pathways that are necessary for the responsible governance of AI-facilitated research and decision support. The article is based on a scoping, critical thematic review of the recent literature, and its conceptualization of AI as a socio-technical infrastructure is that it produces knowledge and, at the same time, offers power. It explains the impact AI practices have on restructuring disciplines like sociology, psychology, political science, and policy analysis, and how it blindly predicts how data practices, design choices, and governance arrangements can either preserve or destroy existing hierarchies. The paper suggests an analytical framework synthesizing AI practices, social research practices, and governance structures in ethical frameworks. It argues that the emancipatory promise of AI in the social sciences is dependent on the attainment of something beyond principle-based claims of so-called ethical AI by operational governance mechanisms that make systems visible, debatable, and responsible in their respective situations. Full article

Education occupies an important place among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. It plays a role in the process of spreading awareness of the concept—its directions, meaning, and goals. According to the idea of the SDG, it is to be universally available to the world’s communities, with the aim of bridging social inequalities, as well as increasing the capacity for responsible functioning and development. The authors of this study believe that knowledge about sustainable development is crucial for shaping social attitudes that determine the uninterrupted development of the world’s economies towards sustainability. In their opinion, it is essential to pay particular attention to ensuring sustainable competences in the education process, which is aimed at preparing staff to perform professional roles in the socio-economic sphere and to be competent in the field of sustainable development. Hence, the aim of this study is to examine the level of awareness of students from selected higher education schools in Poland in this area. The study was conducted on the basis of a diagnostic survey, and the analysis of the results was carried out using qualitative methods, as well as quantitative methods in an in-depth study (logistic regression, supported by PQStat software version 1.8.4.164. The research results indicated that the surveyed students’ knowledge of sustainable development is good, as confirmed by 91% of responses. A key factor in strengthening this knowledge is the educational process implemented as part of their studies (64% of responses). Events supporting the teaching process, such as conferences or meetings with experts, are particularly important for shaping this knowledge. This indicates a high level of student motivation to explore this knowledge and apply it to a model of social behavior, which is rated as responsible by 94% of respondents. In-depth research confirms the above. The odds ratio of 12.994 with a confidence interval of −95% CI: 1.894–+95% CI: 3.238 for the factor of scientific events in the process of supporting green education demonstrates the significance of the findings. Strengthening green education with thematic scientific events is, therefore, an attractive and anticipated form of gaining knowledge on the SDGs by students, and undertaking these events is a recommendation resulting from the presented research. These results are important for modeling sustainable education in terms of the development potential of human resources. Full article