Search Results (11,141)

Purpose: This study investigated the attributes of confession pages on Facebook, their role within social networks, and their impact on society. It also explored their defining traits, the need for confession pages and the effects of anonymity. Methodology: The research methodology involved coding 1280 posts extracted from select pages, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 prominent followers. Findings: Anonymity was found to be important because it helps individuals avoid social repercussions. Prominent recurring themes included formal behavior, relationships, and sexuality, topics that frequently involve social sanctions and penalties. The study also underscored the sense of community fostered by interaction between writers posting on confession pages and readers of these posts. The current study suggests that confession pages reflect society-level value preferences that shape interaction on social media according to Hofstede’s framework. Moreover, different confession groups serve to satisfy different needs, aligning with the theory of uses and gratifications in communication media. Practical implications: Engagement was shown by readers who extended offers to help and provided suggestions to support authors facing different challenges. Social implications: The motivations of anonymity for contributors to communities fostered through writer–reader interactions on the platform. Value: An in-depth examination of confession within contemporary society, redefining the contemporary landscape of confession, shedding light on its various perspectives within the public internet sphere, and thus contributing to comprehension of the different needs for anonymous expression. Full article

The research investigated how science education through integrated sustainability practices helps primary school students develop environmental identity while studying sustainability practices in their daily schoolwork. The research investigated methods to incorporate sustainability principles into regular school operations, which would lead students toward environmentally responsible conduct. The research used qualitative methods to achieve its goals. The research team conducted 60 sessions of semi-structured interviews and school observations in private schools located in Riyadh and Al-Ahsa regions of Saudi Arabia. The Grounded Theory method enabled researchers to generate concepts that directly stem from the collected data. The research results demonstrated that schools need to implement sustainability practices to teach students about nature-human connections and develop environmental values and sustainable practices and improve daily environmental practices and establish sustainable practices as school examples. The study demonstrated that students developed stronger environmental identity through daily school activities that incorporated sustainability education. Furthermore, students’ environmental behaviors improved through participation in activities such as waste sorting and tree planting. Based on these findings, the study recommends strengthening the role of science education in promoting sustainability through practical activities, training teachers in integrative environmental education strategies, developing curricula that emphasize sustainable practices, and involving parents in raising environmental awareness within the school community. Full article

Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common and debilitating treatment-related adverse event that can profoundly impact quality of life and financial well-being. Although prospective surveillance and early intervention for BCRL have been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of this chronic condition, diagnostic accuracy of screening, programmatic utilization and efficacy vary widely. We describe the protocol for the BCRL Prospective Surveillance Model (PSM) and Early Intervention Program at the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center that aims to address these issues by augmenting arm measurements (standard of care) with use of patient-reported outcome metrics (PROMs). Methods: Women with newly diagnosed stage I-III breast cancer at high risk for developing BCRL based on tumor and treatment characteristics are eligible for inclusion in our PSM care pathway, which uses both the Breast Cancer and Lymphedema Symptom Experience Index PROMs and arm measurements for screening. Screening begins prior to the initiation of neoadjuvant therapy and continues at regular intervals postoperatively. A positive screen, defined as new patient-reported arm swelling/heaviness and/or relative volume change (RVC) ≥ 5% in the affected limb, triggers consideration for multidisciplinary early intervention. Analysis: The BCRL detection rate will be compared to years previous to protocol development. PSM feasibility will be determined according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Efficacy of the PSM will be gauged by comparing change in patient-reported outcomes of interest and arm volume measurement pre and post early intervention. Feasibility will be determined by calculating the percentage of PSM-eligible individuals who complete all PSM activities in a 1-year span. Characteristics of participants versus non-participants in the target population will be compared. Furthermore, 1:1 semi-structured interviews with enrolled patients will be performed to understand facilitators and barriers to implementation. Conclusions: The findings from this study will be used to develop a standardized approach to PSM and early intervention that can be adapted to both resource-modest and resource-abundant healthcare infrastructures. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early detection of undiagnosed prediabetes (PD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) could prevent or delay the onset of diabetes and its complications. The dental setting has been suggested as a location for expanding diabetes screening in primary care. This study aimed to investigate behavioural factors that influence an oral healthcare professional’s (OHP) participation in diabetes screening and their decision to refer individuals at a high risk of diabetes for medical follow-up and confirmatory diagnosis. These factors provide targets for future interventions to encourage screening implementation and increase referral guideline compliance. Methods: This qualitative study utilised OHPs who had participated in a diabetes screening trial in Victoria, Australia. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone or videoconferencing and transcribed and analysed thematically. The themes identified were deductively mapped onto the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Results: In total, eight interviews were conducted (seven dentists and one oral health therapist). Five COM-B domains were identified: reflective motivation, automatic motivation, social opportunity, physical opportunity, and psychological capability. Nine TDF domains were associated with issues related to knowledge, the environmental context and resources, memory, attention and decision processes, skills, social influences, beliefs about consequences, emotion, beliefs about capability, and social influence. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the factors influencing an OHP’s participation and decision making in diabetes screening and referral processes in the dental setting. The results demonstrate that OHPs need more education and training to screen for diabetes in dental clinics. This study represents the first step in developing interventions to target these factors and improve the effectiveness of diabetes screening in the dental setting. Full article

Encapsulation of lubricating agents has many advantages, as it helps to protect them from external factors, oxidation and degradation, can support their controlled and prolonged release, and also preserves the environment from accidental contamination with these substances. In our experiments various types of thermo-responsive, paraffin wax capsules capable of safely transporting liquid and semi-solid lubricants were designed, fabricated and tested. Lubricating oils were primarily encapsulated inside hemispherical wax shells closed with special caps, but also in wax spherocylinders and two-compartment structures. Greases were protected with wax coatings with the thickness ranging from 0.187 to 0.774 mm. The payload release from our core–shell capsules occurred not only due to the exerted mechanical force but also in a controlled manner upon prolonged contact with a heated surface. The wax shells of the capsules lying on the plate, whose temperature was increased at a rate of 0.025°C/s, began to melt gradually, starting from ≈55.5 °C. This temperature-triggered lubricant liberation can be useful when, for example, a machine element becomes excessively hot due to friction. The wax itself also has lubricating properties, so the crushed or melted coating cannot be treated as waste, but only as an additional factor supporting lubrication. The practical applications of our wax capsules were demonstrated with five examples. Full article

This paper presents a qualitative exploratory study based on the analysis of a representative sample of 35 projects carried out during the period 2020–2022 by six Spanish newspapers: elDiario.es, ABC, IDEAL, El Correo, ElConfidencial.com and El País. This study aims to detect and analyze the main elements of multimedia, crossmedia and transmedia content in the selected projects using an original analysis sheet designed for this research. In relation to the categories proposed in the categorization model, in this work we will focus on analyzing two in particular: authorship and information architecture. The projects were selected based on criteria of appropriateness, quality and innovation, as well as the results of semi-structured interviews with the heads and innovation managers (laboratories) of the media included in the framework of the projects ‘NEWSNET: News, Networks, and Users in the Hybrid Media System: Transformation of the Media Industry and the News in the Post-Industrial Era’ and ‘IAMEDIA: Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms on Online Media, Journalist and Audiences’. The aim of the qualitative analysis is to propose a list of aspects, characteristics, and fundamentals in the ideation, elaboration, and distribution of these types of products. We conclude that the results of applying the designed analysis sheet help us to understand these processes and also to propose alternatives and improvements in its design and implementation Full article

With 2.3 million people in the UK having experienced domestic abuse (DA) in the year ending March 2024, DA represents a severe public health issue. Public interest in DA remains high, with its importance and impact re-emphasised through recent legislative changes. Thus, educating the public about the predictors and consequences of DA and barriers to gaining support can both empower potential victims and enable them to recognise and support others. The CEASE Educational Programme is one such intervention, provided by UK-based DA charity RemediUK. This study employed semi-structured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore the experiences of staff (n = 6) who had facilitated the CEASE Educational Programme. Two overarching themes relating to barriers to delivery were highlighted: (1) understanding participants’ lack of engagement, and (2) a desire to fill the gaps. Our findings indicate a need to explore how DA education can best target those who would benefit from it the most, and in doing so, identify attitudes and beliefs endorsing DA, and how to best educate those with personal experiences of abuse. Full article

In this paper, the boundary value problem of wave diffraction on a semi-infinite circular pin is solved using the Wiener–Hopf method with compensation of eigenmodes. The solution to the problem is presented as an infinite series defined by a recurrence formula. The reliability and accuracy of the solution are verified numerically in terms of fulfillment of the law of energy conservation. Sufficiently reliable results are obtained at the first iteration. The method used for solving this problem can be applied to solving diffraction problems on axisymmetric volumetric structures. Full article

This article analyses journalistic decisions in the face of disinformation, focusing on the case of Vaza Jato in Brazil. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach—combining critical discourse analysis of online articles with semi-structured interviews with two editors—the study explores how two ideologically contrasting newspapers (Folha de S.Paulo and Gazeta do Povo) framed and justified their editorial positions regarding the publication of hacked content. The findings reveal distinct narrative strategies, degrees of epistemological openness, and levels of institutional trust in the judiciary and political actors. The results also show how editorial decisions are shaped by broader concerns about professional legitimacy, audience trust, and the ambiguous boundary between journalism and disinformation. This article contributes to research on disinformation, editorial ethics, and media trust, proposing an analytical framework applicable to other high-risk communication contexts. Full article

Digital transformation has fundamentally altered how individuals manage their finances. The expansion of financial technologies and the digitalization of banking services underscore the need for digital financial literacy, defined as the ability to safely use financial applications and make informed decisions within virtual environments. This study examined the perceptions of financial application use across age groups and their corresponding level of digital financial literacy. This exploratory study used a convenience sample of 41 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2025. The data were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings indicated that most participants prioritized digital apps over traditional channels and expressed confidence in their use, although concerns about data security remained. Participants identified key advantages, including convenience, efficiency, and centralized access, yet few used apps for financial planning. Most respondents demonstrated an intermediate level of digital knowledge, with limited proficiency in executing complex financial tasks. Perceptions revealed both optimism and apprehension: while participants valued the practicality of digital tools, they also recognized risks such as fraud, exclusion of vulnerable groups, and technological dependence. The limited and non-representative sample limits generalization, suggesting the need for broader surveys. Enhanced public policies promoting digital financial education in Brazil are recommended. Full article

Background/Objectives: Leisure participation is vital for children’s development and family inclusion, yet families of children with developmental delays and disabilities face significant barriers. Guided by a health literacy framework, this study examined how personal and organizational health literacy shape access to inclusive leisure opportunities. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 caregivers of young children (aged 2 to 6 years) with developmental delays and disabilities. A qualitative content analysis was applied to identify family and environmental factors shaping leisure participation. Results: Families with stronger personal health literacy engaged in diverse leisure activities, prioritizing children’s development through park visits and structured home routines. In contrast, weak organizational health literacy—reflected in limited inclusive facilities and support systems—restricted opportunities, increased caregiver stress, and forced adaptations such as traveling farther or rescheduling activities. These barriers underscored families’ vulnerability to exclusion while also highlighting their resilience in navigating daily life. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that health literacy functions at both personal and organizational levels to shape leisure participation. Beyond identifying barriers, it shows that leisure is intertwined with developmental needs and school readiness. By applying a health literacy lens, the study contributes to understanding family dynamics in inclusive leisure and underscores the need for responsive community services and inclusive policies. Full article

Twice-exceptional students, who are both gifted and present with characteristics of neurodiversity such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), possess distinctive academic and socio-emotional needs that necessitate individualized educational strategies. This qualitative case study explores the academic and socio-emotional experiences of Murat, an eighth-grade learner identified as gifted and diagnosed with ASD, from the perspectives of the student himself, his mother, and his teachers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that Murat achieved success in mathematics and science, particularly within enriched, strength-oriented environments that accommodated his sensory sensitivities. Despite challenges in social skills and group participation, he benefited considerably from teacher scaffolding and interactive pedagogies. His mother’s active engagement and strong family–school collaboration emerged as pivotal factors in his developmental progress. This study extends beyond individual challenges to highlight the potential strengths that arise from by the intersection of neurodiversity and giftedness. Additionally, it contributes to the limited body of literature exploring how the notion of twice-exceptionality manifests within underrepresented educational contexts. Future research could investigate diverse socio-cultural contexts and develop strategies to enhance teacher preparation and family engagement in supporting gifted learners with ASD. Full article

As an emerging technology, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) offers an efficient communication performance optimization solution for the complex and spatially constrained environment of coal mines by effectively controlling signal-propagation paths. This study investigates the channel attenuation characteristics of a semi-circular arch coal-mine tunnel with a dual RIS reflection link. By jointly optimizing the base-station beamforming matrix and the RIS phase-shift matrix, an improved Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3)-based algorithm with a Noise Fading (TD3-NF) propagation optimization scheme is proposed, effectively improving the sum rate of the coal-mine wireless communication system. Simulation results show that when the transmit power is 38 dBm, the average link rate of the system reaches 11.1 bps/Hz, representing a 29.07% improvement compared to Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG). The average sum rate of the 8 × 8 structure RIS is 3.3 bps/Hz higher than that of the 4 × 4 structure. The research findings provide new solutions for optimizing mine communication quality and applying artificial intelligence technology in complex environments. Full article

Road traffic fatalities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are continuing to rise, posing significant socio-economic and public health challenges. To prevent these road deaths and avoid the corresponding costs, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended implementing the vision zero approach to road safety. Vision Zero aims to eliminate road deaths and reduce serious injuries. It has been adopted by many developed countries, however LMICs have faced difficulties implementing this approach due to a lack of guidance. This study aims to develop a framework for implementing vision zero in LMICs by examining the processes in India and Sweden. A qualitative research approach with a multiple-case study design was utilized, selecting 16 participants through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the Grounded Theory method based on Strauss and Corbin’s approach. The study identified five core implementation steps such as agenda setting, approval, planning, monitoring and evaluation, and continuous improvement. Also, a set of influencing conditions such as preconditions, objectives, strategies, intervening factors and contextual conditions were identified. Furthermore, 38 implementation proposals were suggested in the framework to guide policymakers. The proposed framework provides a road map for LMICs that is intended to act as a guide for policymakers and road safety practitioners to enhance road safety performance in LMICs. Full article

Social workers and public health professionals are expected to collaborate in promoting health and social equity to address the complex challenges faced by societies now and in the future. This collaboration is particularly crucial in low-income countries, where social and health issues significantly affect people’s wellbeing. This study explored social workers’ perceptions of their role in society, their collaboration with public health professionals, and the importance of sustainable development in their professional practice. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted between March and June 2024, involving semi-structured interviews with twelve professional social workers from the three main geographic regions of Mozambique (north, central, and south). Content analysis was used to identify and synthesize the key categories that emerged from the data. Four main categories were identified: limited public understanding of the mission and practice of social work; a lack of collaboration with public health professionals; the integration of sustainable development goals into social work practice; and anticipated future challenges for Mozambique’s social and public health sectors. The findings highlight a perceived lack of societal awareness regarding the role of social workers and limited interprofessional collaboration, with barriers such as poor communication and a lack of mutual understanding between the two professions. Moreover, the participants recognized the need to contribute, through their daily work alongside public health professionals, to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article