Search Results (414)

The rapid expansion of intelligent technologies and digital transformation has intensified global debates regarding sustainability, ethical governance, industrial resilience, and human well-being within contemporary industrial systems. Industry 5.0 has emerged as a human-centred and sustainability-oriented framework that seeks to balance technological innovation with broader societal and environmental objectives. This paper critically examines the relationship between Industry 5.0, intelligent technologies, and human-centric sustainability in the digital age. The study adopts a conceptual and integrative literature review methodology grounded in an interpretivist research philosophy. The findings reveal that intelligent technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, blockchain, collaborative robotics, and digital twins have substantial potential to improve sustainability, resource efficiency, industrial resilience, and workforce empowerment when responsibly governed. The paper develops a Human-Centric Sustainability Framework for Industry 5.0 and recommends strengthening ethical governance, inclusive innovation, workforce reskilling, and sustainability-oriented policies to support resilient and human-centred industrial transformation. Full article

Low-noise pavements (LNPs) are increasingly important under Green Public Procurement policies, yet public administrations still lack clear guidance on selecting pavement types based on noise-related externalities. Although traffic noise generates substantial societal costs—affecting health, education, and property values—these external burdens are often overlooked or excluded from traditional pavement appraisal and investment decisions, leading to systematically underestimated life cycle costs (LCC). This study develops an integrated framework to monetise traffic-noise impacts within an LCC perspective by combining health effects (Disability-Adjusted Life Years, DALYs), property-value capitalisation (willingness to pay, WTP), and noise-induced educational losses. The system limit is intentionally restricted to noise-related externalities during pavement operations, while agency, user, and vehicle operating costs are excluded. A comprehensive review of existing monetisation approaches is provided, and a new unified method is proposed. The framework is applied to a case study from the LIFE SNEAK project on Via La Marmora (Florence, Italy), comparing existing, acoustically non-optimised, and acoustically optimised surfaces. The results showed that the LIFE SNEAK pavement significantly alleviated the burden of noise on public health and education costs, which were 34% and 33% lower than in the baseline scenario, respectively, with a welfare surplus of +€2.38 million over the ten-year period. In particular, it was noted that the most important economic contribution of LNPs stems from the WTP approach. This study provides clear evidence that noise externalities play a considerable role in long-term pavement cost estimates, thereby supporting the systematic inclusion of these costs in LCC analyses. The proposed method puts forward a practical approach to support the selection of noise-sensitive, sustainable, and socially responsible road pavements. Full article

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience a disproportionate burden of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease, yet vaccination uptake remains uneven. With MSM as the key population of interest, this review synthesized evidence on uptake, willingness, multilevel barriers and opportunities, and vaccine-oriented outcomes among MSM and related sexual and gender minority populations when MSM-relevant findings could be extracted. Methods: Six databases were searched for original English- or Chinese-language studies published from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2025. Findings were synthesized narratively. Barriers and opportunities were mapped using a five-level socio-ecological model; study-level willingness–uptake patterns were explored using K-means clustering as an exploratory analysis among the nine studies reporting both outcomes; and genotype-specific and immunogenicity findings were summarized separately. Results: Fifty-three studies involving 169,241 participants were included; 87.2% of participants were MSM, and 79% of studies were cross-sectional. Barriers and opportunities occurred across individual, provider-related interpersonal, organizational/institutional, community, and policy/societal levels. Recurrent paired mechanisms involved knowledge and trust, provider recommendation and communication, service accessibility, community support, and eligibility and affordability. Nine studies contributed data to the exploratory clustering analysis; seven fell into low-uptake clusters, including three with high willingness but low uptake, which may indicate a possible study-level implementation gap. Two studies reporting genotype prevalence and antibody responses provided limited biological context supporting vaccination before exposure and suggesting potential benefit from catch-up vaccination. Discussion: Among MSM and related sexual and gender minority populations, HPV vaccination is shaped by interacting individual and structural conditions, with MSM remaining the principal focus of the evidence base. Improving uptake is likely to require complementary strategies: universal, gender-neutral routine vaccination in adolescence before their sexual debut, and targeted catch-up for MSM who missed routine vaccination, supported by trusted provider endorsement, convenient service delivery, community engagement, and inclusive, affordable policy. The thematic counts were study-level and unweighted, and the nine-study clustering analysis was exploratory rather than definitive. 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

Background/Objectives: Middle-income countries (MICs) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) face financial and health system barriers when introducing new vaccines. The Gavi MICs approach has supported the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate (PCV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and rotavirus (RV) vaccines; however, economic evidence from the region remains limited. This systematic review assessed the quantity, characteristics, and quality of economic evaluations of these vaccines in MENA MICs published between 2015 and 2025 and synthesised economic evidence to inform policy decisions in Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia. Methods: Relevant databases and registries were searched for cost–effectiveness, cost–utility, cost–benefit, and budget impact analyses of PCV, HPV, and RV vaccination strategies. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. Results: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria, including 12 on HPV, nine on RV, and five on PCV. Vaccine introduction was the most commonly evaluated intervention (n = 23), and most studies were cost–effectiveness or cost–utility analyses adopting payer, health system, societal, or mixed perspectives. PCV and RV introduction were consistently found to be cost-effective or cost-saving. HPV introduction showed mixed results, particularly in Iran, but was generally cost-effective in Tunisia and Morocco. Reporting of vaccine coverage, delivery costs, and programmatic constraints was limited, and overall methodological quality varied. Conclusions: Available evidence supports the economic value of PCV and RV introduction in MENA MICs, while HPV’s cost-effectiveness is context dependent. Future evaluations should incorporate dynamic modelling, implementation costs, and affordability considerations to better inform sustainable vaccine introduction. Full article

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of self-paid vaccination using Zoster Vaccine Live (ZVL) and Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV) in China, as well as their inclusion in China’s National Immunization Program (NIP), and to determine the most cost-effective initial vaccination age under this inclusion strategy. Methods: Based on the ZONA model, a Markov model was developed by incorporating pain severity levels for herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), allowing for dynamic transitions between health states. The model evaluated the cost-effectiveness of six vaccination strategies from a societal perspective. Economic evaluations were conducted using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR). The robustness of the results was verified through sensitivity analysis. Results: In the self-paid scenario, both RZV and ZVL were economically viable for preventing HZ. However, neither was cost-effective in preventing PHN. When included in the NIP, initiating RZV vaccination at age 50 demonstrated dominance (higher quality-adjusted life years and lower costs), with an ICER of −3826 CNY per HZ case prevented, −38,669 CNY per PHN case prevented, and an ICUR of −11,128 CNY per QALY gained. Subgroup analysis indicated that initiating RZV vaccination at age 50 offered the best cost-effectiveness, while age 70 was the most cost-saving option. Conclusions: Generally, RZV demonstrates greater cost-effectiveness compared to ZVL. Incorporating RZV into the NIP, starting at age 70, is the optimal strategy to reduce the burden of HZ and PHN and improve healthcare resource allocation in China. Full article

This qualitative study explores perceptions of gender equity and leadership in three higher education institutions in Eswatini. The research involved nine senior management members—deans, registrars, and bursars—and eighteen lecturers (nine women and nine men). Employing narrative inquiry, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, capturing rich individual stories and social dynamics. The study explores how gender influences access to leadership roles, the barriers faced, and potential strategies for fostering inclusive environments. Guided by social role theory, the analysis was deductive, examining how cultural norms and stereotypes shape perceptions of leadership and reinforce gender disparities. Women occupy only 22% of senior management roles, while among lecturers, women constitute 50% of the workforce but only 30% of leadership positions, illustrating persistent under-representation. Findings reveal that despite existing policies, cultural norms rooted in hegemonic masculinity continue to impede gender equity, with organisational biases and societal stereotypes maintaining male dominance in leadership. Participants emphasised that policies must be actively enforced, and cultural change initiatives are essential to challenge stereotypes and reshape societal narratives about gender roles. The study underscores the importance of institutional support, mentorship programmes, and visibility initiatives to empower women and promote gender-inclusive leadership. Engaging men as allies is also critical in transforming organisational culture. These findings contribute to advancing understanding of gender dynamics in Eswatini’s higher education sector and highlight the need for comprehensive, context-specific interventions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts involving policy enforcement, cultural transformation, capacity building, and ongoing evaluation to ensure sustainable progress toward gender equality in academic leadership. Full article

This article systematically reviews natural disasters that occur globally and highlights their impact and associated challenges on the sustainable development of society and the economy. The presence of extensive research on the detrimental impact of natural disasters on mental health and other diverse elements of societal or economic well-being is found in this review. The study suggests that adversities can be minimized by employing the right public and private policies that support a post-disaster state, leading to enhanced disaster management initiatives and rehabilitation efforts. The PRISMA model was employed for the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the studies. Natural disasters being a threat to sustainability and the community’s well-being, the findings showcase the urgency to consider their long-term impact. Various forms of natural disasters that are due to disturbances related to land, water, air, or fire are considered in this study. The research scope aims towards worldwide sustainable development by gathering multiple inputs that enable changing the dynamics of disaster management. This study concludes with limitations and recommendations for future disaster preparedness and management in various scenarios. Full article

This study aims to address the need to operationalize Industry 5.0 (I5.0) by developing a comprehensive Assessment Framework for the adoption of the Human Centricity, Environmental Sustainability, and Industrial Resilience pillars. While existing models largely focus on technological maturity, they fail to provide measurable tools for evaluating I5.0 adoption. To bridge this gap, the paper proposes an Assessment Framework based on a structured set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) developed within the EU-funded PROSPECTS 5.0 project. The methodology combines an extensive literature review, a workshop with relevant stakeholders, a Delphi survey with experts, and empirical refinement conducted through workshops involving 14 companies across multiple sectors and of varying sizes. The results highlight that organizations predominantly measure traditional indicators such as health and safety, energy consumption, and supply chain robustness, while underestimating emerging dimensions such as human empowerment, social inclusion, circularity, and advanced human–machine collaboration. The framework introduces a set of KPIs for each of the I5.0 pillars, supporting structured assessment across different industrial contexts while allowing sector-specific adaptation. The findings reveal a gap between the perceived importance of several sustainability and human-centric metrics and their actual implementation. This framework allows organizations to self-assess their practices, guide strategic decisions, and align technological growth with societal and environmental goals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer affects working-age women not only through treatment and survival but also through health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work capacity and informal caregiving needs. Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe remains limited. This study estimated the indirect societal burden of breast cancer among working-age women in Croatia and reported economic indirect costs separately from monetised HRQoL/welfare loss. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study conducted in 2024 included women aged 18–65 years receiving outpatient oncology care at two tertiary centres in Croatia. HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol five-dimension five-level instrument (EQ-5D-5L) and compared with Croatian general-population norms. Utility decrements were annualised and monetised using a national willingness-to-pay threshold of €17,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Work productivity impairment was measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: General Health (WPAI:GH) questionnaire and valued, together with informal care, using the human-capital approach. Deterministic sensitivity analyses and approximate 95% confidence intervals were used to show how the estimates changed under key assumptions. Results: A total of 271 women participated (mean age 51.3 years among age-eligible records). Mean EQ-5D-5L utility was 0.76 versus 0.91 in the general population, corresponding to an annual QALY loss of 0.15 and a monetised HRQoL/welfare loss of €2550 per patient-year (95% CI €2083–€3017). Among employed participants, mean overall work productivity loss was 43.9% (842.9 h/year), equivalent to €7333 annually (95% CI €6311–€8355). Informal caregiving was reported by 54.7% of participants, with mean annual costs of €1566 (95% CI €1269–€1863). Economic indirect costs were €8899 per patient-year (95% CI €7835–€9963). In an extended welfare-inclusive scenario, the estimated burden was €11,449 per patient-year (95% CI €10,287–€12,611), corresponding to an illustrative national estimate of €86 million (95% CI €77–€95 million; 0.11% of gross domestic product). Conclusions: Breast cancer in working-age women imposes a substantial societal burden in Croatia, driven by reduced HRQoL, productivity losses and informal caregiving needs. These findings support taking societal burden into account in public health planning, survivorship care and health policy decision-making. Full article

Geovisualizations based on open data are increasingly used as public-facing interfaces for communicating geospatial information, yet their evaluation often remains limited to isolated design, usability, or technical aspects. This study addresses that gap by developing and applying an integrative evaluation framework that combines four analytical dimensions: cartographic representation, interaction and engagement affordances, openness, and accessibility, while treating contextual characteristics as conditioning factors. The framework is operationalized through a mixed-methods content analysis of 26 publicly available geovisualizations based on open data. The results show that most cases are produced by public-sector actors, focus on environmental and transport themes, and rely on conventional cartographic techniques combined with medium levels of interactivity that support structured exploration rather than deeper analytical reasoning. Although many geovisualizations cite data sources and provide some form of data access, licensing remains inconsistent, particularly for the visualization artefacts themselves, limiting reuse potential. Accessibility is implemented even less consistently across geovisualizations, with recurring shortcomings in color contrast, keyboard navigation, screen-reader compatibility, and multilingual support. Overall, the findings suggest that the broader societal potential of geovisualizations based on open data may not be determined by individual features, but by balanced cross-dimensional configurations. Strengthening the integration of openness and accessibility alongside interaction and design may enhance the potential of geovisualizations to support reuse, inclusiveness, and public engagement. Full article

Student-initiated bullying against teachers has become an increasingly visible yet understudied issue in educational research, particularly in regions like Lebanon, where such dynamics remain largely unspoken. This mixed-methods pilot study explored the experiences of 53 educators working in Lebanese private schools, combining survey responses with in-depth interviews from a purposive subsample of 11 teachers across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and the Power Relations in Education framework, the study examined how intersecting layers of influence, from classroom interactions to institutional cultures and broader societal norms, and patterns of student-to-teacher aggression. The findings revealed frequent occurrences of verbal defiance, emotional manipulation, and cyberbullying. Many teachers reported feeling unsupported by school administrations and constrained by cultural attitudes that silenced discussions about teacher vulnerability. Educators described emotional exhaustion, professional frustration, and a growing sense of disempowerment in the face of persistent aggression. Their voices underscored the pressing need for structural reforms, including clear policies, sustained training, and a cultural shift that reinforces respect for educators. This research contributes to a broader understanding of the emotional and professional impact of student bullying on teachers and highlights the need for inclusive, context-sensitive strategies that prioritize educator well-being and authority in the school environment. Full article

Environmental science communication has become a core competence for addressing global challenges such as climate change, glacier recession, and hydrometeorological risks. Yet university curricula often prioritize technical knowledge over communicative skills, limiting students’ ability to engage with diverse audiences. This study proposes a structured three-level framework (i.e., micro-, meso-, and macro-communication) for teaching environmental science communication. The framework is explored across six applied case studies, including glaciological thematic trails, dual-training programs, a climate-education game, an international higher-education project, immersive 360° field experiences, and an AI-enhanced scientific exhibition. Drawing on qualitative and descriptive evidence, the cross-case analysis suggests that communication competencies may develop progressively from synthesis and clarity (micro-communication), to multimodal visualization and structured argumentation (meso-communication), to stakeholder-oriented and intercultural dialogue (macro-communication). The findings indicate that multimodal, immersive, and AI-supported approaches may support accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity, while authentic learning environments contribute to the development of transferable communication skills. This study provides an exploratory and practice-based framework that may inform curriculum design and pedagogical innovation, suggesting that communication could be more systematically embedded across environmental science programs in order to strengthen evidence-informed societal engagement and support sustainable environmental governance. Full article

This study examines how digital transformation in higher education institutions (HEIs) contributes to public value creation, moving beyond efficiency-oriented narratives toward broader societal outcomes. Using a PRISMA-ScR approach, the study systematically reviews 47 peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2025 across major academic databases. The review maps the evolution of scholarship and identifies the key mechanisms through which digital transformation influences public value. The findings reveal three interrelated dimensions shaping outcomes: digital competencies, institutional readiness, and governance alignment. Digital competencies enable the effective adoption and use of technologies, while institutional readiness—comprising digital infrastructure, leadership capacity, and organizational culture—acts as a mediating condition influencing implementation success. Governance alignment, including regulatory coherence, accountability mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement, plays a moderating role in determining whether digital transformation initiatives generate inclusive and socially beneficial outcomes. In addition to positive outcomes such as improved access, service quality, and transparency, the review identifies critical risks—including digital inequality, data governance challenges, and algorithmic bias—that may constrain public value creation, particularly in resource-constrained and Global South contexts. Building on these findings, the study develops the Global Digital Transformation—Public Value Creation (G-DTPVC) framework as an evidence-synthesized model derived from the reviewed literature. The framework specifies key constructs, causal relationships, and indicative measures to support future empirical research and policy application. By linking digital transformation processes in HEIs to broader public value outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 9, and 16), this study advances theoretical understanding and provides actionable, context-sensitive guidance for policymakers and institutional leaders seeking to foster inclusive, accountable, and resilient higher education systems. Full article

This study explores how concepts related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are represented in upper-primary school textbooks, with a focus on identifying patterns of inclusion, emphasis, and conceptual balance. Using a qualitative content evaluation approach, this study examines textbooks across Grades 4–6 to assess how sustainability is framed through environmental, social, and economic lenses. The analysis reveals that sustainability is predominantly presented through environmental themes such as natural resource conservation and ecological awareness, while social dimensions—particularly those related to inclusion, equity, and participation—are only partially addressed. Economic aspects, including financial literacy, responsible consumption, and entrepreneurship, appear marginal or implicit. The findings suggest that although sustainability is present in the curriculum, it is not consistently articulated as an integrated, multidimensional framework. Instead, it is conveyed as a set of fragmented themes, with stronger emphasis on environmental knowledge than on social responsibility or economic preparedness. This imbalance may shape students’ early understanding of sustainability in a limited way, emphasizing care for nature while underrepresenting its broader societal and economic implications. This study highlights the need for a more coherent and balanced integration of SDG concepts in primary education to support holistic sustainability literacy from an early stage. Full article