Search Results (107,865)

Extractive regions are among the most visible frontlines of the Anthropocene as they are areas where the environmental and social consequences of intensive resource exploitation are concentrated. In Serbia, mining areas such as Bor and Majdanpek represent complex socio-spatial assemblages in which everyday life, work, and governance intersect under pressures of neoliberal development and ecological degradation. This study aims to identify the challenges and opportunities for citizen participation in mining regions, providing guidance on enhancing participatory processes in decision-making. To operationalise this aim, the study pursues three objectives: (1) to assess residents’ awareness, participation practices, access to information, and motivation to engage in planning; (2) to identify perceived barriers and opportunities for participation; and (3) to formulate recommendations for improving participatory and communication processes in extractive-region governance. Accordingly, the research is guided by the main question: How do residents of the Bor–Majdanpek mining region perceive opportunities and barriers to public participation in planning and decision-making processes? To address this question, a face-to-face field survey was conducted in the summer of 2024 with a random sample of residents (N = 300). In this mixed-methods exploratory study, primary survey data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. In contrast, open-ended questions were analysed qualitatively to capture respondents’ detailed perceptions and suggestions. Findings indicate limited awareness of planning procedures, low participation experience, and structural barriers related to information access, trust, and institutional responsiveness. At the same time, respondents show a strong interest in more transparent, accessible, and dialogic forms of engagement. This study demonstrates that citizen participation in extractive landscapes is not only a procedural requirement but a mechanism to strengthen democratic governance and rebuild trust. Insights from Bor–Majdanpek provide an evidence base for improving participatory practices in mining regions undergoing socio-environmental transformation. Full article

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an integral part of organizational operations, collaboration between humans and AI is transforming employees’ work experiences and behavioral patterns. This study examines the psychological challenges and coping responses associated with such collaboration. Drawing on Cognitive Appraisal Theory, we construct and test a theoretical framework that connects employee–AI collaboration to knowledge hiding via job insecurity, while considering AI trust as a moderating variable. Data were collected through a three-wave time-lagged survey of 348 employees working in knowledge-intensive enterprises in China. The empirical results demonstrate that (1) employee–AI collaboration elevates perceptions of job insecurity; (2) job insecurity fosters knowledge-hiding behavior; (3) job insecurity mediates the link between collaboration and knowledge hiding; and (4) AI trust buffers the positive effect of collaboration on job insecurity, thereby reducing its indirect impact on knowledge hiding. These findings reveal the paradoxical role of AI collaboration: although it enhances efficiency, it may also provoke defensive reactions that inhibit knowledge exchange. By highlighting the role of AI trust in shaping employees’ cognitive appraisals, this study advances understanding of how cognitive appraisals influence human adaptation to intelligent technologies. Practical insights are offered for managers aiming to cultivate trust-based and psychologically secure environments that promote effective human–AI collaboration and organizational innovation. Full article

Objective: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant clinical problem, with the biomechanical mechanisms of striking from different blunt instruments remaining unclear. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate TBI severity under blunt strikes and to assess the effects of strike velocity and blunt instrument size on biomechanical responses to provide a finite element approach for investigating injury mechanisms and informing clinical diagnosis. Methods: A head finite element model incorporating an outer cortical-cancellous-inner cortical bone structure was developed and verified against a previous cadaveric impact study. Strike velocities and blunt instrument parameters, obtained from experiments in which a long bat (LB) and a short bat (SB) were used to strike a dummy head, were applied as the loading conditions in the finite element simulation. Kinetic energy (KE), internal energy (IE), impact force, von Mises stress on skull, intracranial pressure (ICP), and Head_3ms acceleration were analyzed as indicators of injury severity. Results: Simulated force and ICP responses agreed with cadaveric experimental data within a 9.8% error. With increasing strike velocity (10–30 m/s), KE, IE, impact force, ICP, and Head_3ms all rose, while von Mises stress evolved from localized to dispersed distribution. Head_3ms reached an injury threshold of 80 g at a strike velocity of 10 m/s, and ICP peaks for LB and SB exceeded the brain injury threshold (235 kPa, ≈1760 mmHg) at 12 m/s and 14 m/s, respectively. At the same velocity, LB generated higher KE, IE, impact force, ICP and Head_3ms than SB. At 30 m/s, LB generated 390 J KE and 29.0 kN peak force, which were 50.0% and 11.1% higher than those of SB (260 J, 26.1 kN). Conclusion: This study reveals that increasing strike velocity and employing a larger blunt instrument elevate biomechanical responses, resulting in von Mises stress transitioning from localized concentration to multipolar dispersion. Specifically, when striking the head with the LB at velocities exceeding 12 m/s or with the SB exceeding 14 m/s, the impacts indicate a severely life-threatening level. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of blunt TBI. The constructed and validated finite element model can be repeatedly used for computer simulations of TBI under various blunt striking conditions, providing a scientific basis for clinical diagnosis and surgical planning. Full article

Accurate measurement of shoulder muscle strength is important for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring recovery. Hand-held dynamometers (HHDs) are widely used in clinical practice but are affected by operator strength, patient positioning, and device stabilization, particularly under high-load conditions. No previous study has directly compared HHD measurements with a reference load cell in a rigid serial configuration or evaluated the effect of different load cell signal processing strategies on the final strength value. The aim of this study was to compare HHD measurements with those obtained from a reference load cell in a rigid serial configuration and to assess how different signal processing strategies applied to load cell data influence the final outcomes. A custom 3D-printed support was developed to align a commercial HHD and a load cell in series, ensuring identical loading conditions. Measurements were performed under two conditions: (i) application of known weights (9.81–98.10 N) and (ii) standardized strength tasks in five healthy volunteers. Agreement between instruments was evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). In static validation (i.e., experiments applying know weights), the load cell demonstrated stable performance, with standard deviations below 1% of the applied load. HHD variability increased with load, with RMSE rising from 0.55 N at 9.81 N to 5.06 N at 98.10 N. In human testing, the HHD consistently underestimated muscle strength compared with the load cell, with mean differences ranging from −15 N to −19 N, over exerted force ranges of approximately 20–90 N. Overall, the load cell provided stable reference measurements, while the choice of signal processing strategy influenced the results: plateau-phase analysis tended to reduce systematic bias but did not consistently narrow the limits of agreement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Violence against older adults is a rising public health issue. Though older adults may not openly disclose such experiences, they are often willing to discuss them when given the opportunity. Healthcare providers in hospital settings can play a crucial role in the early identification and care. However, effective screening and response require comprehensive guidance. Methods: A pilot, multicentric feasibility study with a single-group intervention was implemented at three Belgian geriatric departments. The aim was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a new guide for identifying older adults (≥75 years), without major cognitive deficits, who have experienced violence, in order to subsequently provide them with adequate care. Admitted older adults were screened using the guidance, and healthcare providers who conducted the screenings completed questionnaires to evaluate their feasibility and acceptability. The Trial is registered in Clinicaltrials.gov [NCT06780540]. Results: A total of 104 admitted older adults (mean age: 83 years) were recruited across two Dutch-speaking and one French-speaking hospital in Belgium. One in five participants (20.2%) disclosed experiences of violence, either recent or throughout their lives. Healthcare providers (n = 12) positively evaluated the guidance, suggesting improvements in question formulation, protocol adaptability, and the need for further training. Conclusions: This guidance is feasible, acceptable, and holds potential for improving disclosure rates. To ensure the provision of appropriate and equitable care, it is essential to first equip healthcare providers with education and training on this topic. Future interventional research is required to implement the guide on a larger scale and to measure health-related outcomes. Full article

This study addresses the ecological impact of the internet’s energy consumption by examining the topic of sustainable web design from a consumer-centric perspective. Sustainable web design, encompassing data volume reduction, website element optimization and compression, and ecological hosting, offers the potential to mitigate ecological footprints while simultaneously improving the technical performance and user experience. A mixed-methods research approach was implemented, combining preliminary expert interviews to establish five foundational attributes used in the second part of the study, a discrete choice experiment. Robustness checks of the results employed a mixed logit estimation and tertiary covariates controlling for different sustainability personality types. Rapid loading times turned out to be particularly decisive in generating a positive brand image and enhancing purchase intentions. In addition, communication measures of sustainable web design practices in the form of sustainability seals, the disclosure of green hosting and the provision of transparent information about sustainability efforts also have a positive impact, enhancing the brand perception, quality assessment and users’ purchase decision. The findings, however, reveal no indication whether inherently visible aspects of websites as compared to implemented communication tools, like seals, labels, or information pages, are more effective measures in general. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education, yet limited empirical evidence exists on how students experience the emotional, cognitive, and ethical tensions associated with AI, particularly in Latin American contexts. This study addresses this gap by examining patterns of adoption, perceived usefulness, and the ambivalent experiences that arise when engaging with AI tools for academic learning. A questionnaire combining closed and open-ended questions was administered to 170 engineering students from a Chilean public university. A mixed-methods design was used to analyse the data: quantitative analyses identified adoption patterns and perceived usefulness, while qualitative thematic analysis captured emerging emotional, ethical, and motivational tensions. The results showed high adoption (73.5%), driven by the pragmatic usefulness of saving time, understanding concepts, and improving work. Although the overall perception was positive, a deep ambivalence was identified, with enthusiasm and confidence coexisting with ethical (plagiarism), cognitive (dependence), and technical (reliability) concerns. It is concluded that the effective integration of AI transcends technological access and requires an institutional strategy that promotes critical digital literacy, clear policies, and support programmes that address competency and gender gaps, ensuring ethical and equitable adoption that enhances learning without compromising the development of critical thinking. Full article

Peroxisomal biogenesis defects frequently trigger processes of remodeling, increased oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulations that cause cellular dysfunction. Despite extensive research into cardiomyocyte ultrastructure and metabolism, knowledge on peroxisomal function in these cells is scarce. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the impact of the purportedly asymptomatic (mild) deficiency of the peroxisomal biogenesis protein PEX11a on cardiomyocyte structure and cardiac function in mice. Langendorff-reperfusion experiments revealed diminished post-ischemic recovery following Pex11a knockout suggesting compromised cardiac response to ischemic stress. The suboptimal recovery might be attributable to increased ischemia-induced tissue deterioration consequent to morphological and metabolic abnormalities of the cardiomyocytes. Indeed, several alterations were observed in these cells in Pex11a knockout mice: (i) augmented size and number of peroxisomes and lipid droplets; (ii) increased sarcomere length; (iii) altered gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, organellar fission machinery proteins and cardiac markers; and (iv) a lipid composition shift. We hypothesized that peroxisomes contribute to the preservation of cardiomyocyte structure and functionality under conditions of ischemia–reperfusion. We further proposed that even “mild”, undiagnosed peroxisomal defects can significantly impact cardiac performance following ischemia. This poses novel challenges for the risk assessment of cardiac pathologies. Full article

Social health is increasingly recognized as a key domain in dementia research, yet interventions explicitly addressing it remain scarce. This study presents the co-creation of an empowering and meaningful social health intervention for people living with dementia. An evidence-based intervention scaffolding was enriched with the lived experiences of people living with dementia through a seven-step co-creation process, in which they held sole decision-making authority in selecting intervention topics using an adapted World Café method, shared responsibility for designing session content, and joint responsibility for implementation. Twenty-nine residents living with dementia in three long-term care facilities co-created and implemented twelve group sessions based on their “heart topics,” emphasizing personal strengths, reciprocity, and shared experiences. Each session integrated peer-led, co-creative, and sensory elements and was collaboratively prepared and implemented together with at least one peer host. The co-creation process effectively captured the lived experiences of people living with dementia and resulted in an intervention with the potential to foster and deepen social relationships in long-term care. This study calls on researchers and practitioners to take bolder steps toward empowering people living with dementia to assume active, visible, and meaningful roles in intervention development and implementation. Full article

Background: Rehabilitation technologies, including assistive devices, adaptive software, and robotic systems, are increasingly integral to contemporary rehabilitation practice. Yet, ensuring that training in their use is inclusive and accessible remains a critical challenge. Methods: This study reports findings from patient and public involvement (PPI) activities conducted by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) HealthTech Research Centre in Rehabilitation. Fifteen contributors participated, comprising rehabilitation professionals and educators, individuals with lived experience of serious illness, injury, or disability requiring rehabilitation, and technology innovators. The purpose of these activities was to identify the factors necessary to ensure that training in rehabilitation technologies is equitable for people with sensory, cognitive, and physical impairments. Findings: Contributors highlighted a series of priority domains that together capture the breadth of challenges and opportunities in this area. These included the need to address physical, sensory, and cognitive accessibility; to foster participation, motivation, and engagement; to strengthen instructional design and delivery; to ensure technological accessibility and integration; to enhance staff training and competence; and to embed participant-centred and policy approaches. Contributions in these domains were synthesised into thematic categories that provide a structured understanding of the training requirements of rehabilitation technology recipients. Evaluation: The PPI process was evaluated using the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2) Short Form, supplemented by an evaluation survey. This dual approach ensured that the contributions were systematically documented and critically appraised. Implications: Guided by implementation science, the principal output of this work was a co-created stakeholder engagement strategy, structured using the Implementation STakeholder Engagement Model (I-STEM). This plan will serve as a foundation for future research exploring the education and training needs of diverse stakeholder groups, thereby contributing to the development of more inclusive and effective rehabilitation technology training practices. Full article

Background/Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in unprecedented societal changes globally and negatively impacted the psychosocial health of pregnant women. This study aimed to explore how direct, indirect, and unrelated factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic influenced stress levels among pregnant women. Methods: This interpretivist qualitative study employed open-ended survey questions to capture the lived experiences of 313 pregnant women in the third trimester residing in Florida between January and March 2022, during the Omicron surge. Thematic analysis was conducted, guided by the Stress and Coping Theory and the Stress Buffering Theory. Results: Participants described a range of stressors directly and indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected pregnant women. Themes related to increased stress were (1) fear, worry, and anxiety related to COVID-19 infection, (2) fear, worry, and anxiety related to preparedness for birth/baby due to pandemic restrictions, (3) prevention concerns associated with COVID-19, (4) lack of social support, (5) return to normalcy, (6) health-related social needs, (7) physical health issues, and (8) navigating conflict and grief. Conversely, stress-reducing factors were (1) preventive measures during the pandemic, (2) coping strategies, (3) not having to work, and (4) social support. Conclusions: Pregnant women experienced heightened stress due to a complex interplay of factors related directly or indirectly to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that maternity care, mental health and health-related social needs screenings and referrals, and tailored interventions are integrated into public health crises preparedness plans to limit the stress that pregnant women experience and support their well-being. Full article

The hibiscus bud weevil (Anthonomus testaceosquamosus, HBW) is an economically important pest of tropical hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Although Jaliscoa hunteri parasitizes other Anthonomus species, its suitability as a biocontrol agent for HBW remains unknown. This study evaluated its potential under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In laboratory assays, a couple of parasitoids were exposed to HBW at different developmental stages. Parasitism was rarely observed, but host feeding was evident, and eggs, first instar larvae, and pupae showed high mortality in comparison to controls with no parasitoids. Cage experiments compared three release rates (one, two, or three parasitoid pairs) on infested flower buds. Mortality was lowest in controls, but increasing parasitoid numbers did not enhance pest suppression. In greenhouse trials, hibiscus plants were infested and exposed to the same release rates. Mortality was higher in the one-pair treatment than in controls, whereas higher release rates produced intermediate mortality, suggesting possible disruption of female reproductive activity or other unknown limiting factors. Overall, J. hunteri showed promising potential as a natural enemy of HBW, functioning like a predator rather than a parasitoid. Additional research on its reproductive biology, host interactions, and release strategies is needed to improve its effectiveness for biological control in hibiscus nurseries. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bias-based bullying is widely recognised as having a detrimental impact on child and adolescent health. One form of bias-based bullying that is directed at transgender and non-binary students more specifically is misnaming, whereby someone is referred to by their birth name rather than their chosen name. While there have been some studies exploring the experiences of young LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of bias-based bullying, and a number looking at misnaming more specifically, there has been very little research on the issue in the Swedish school context. The aim of this study is to address this lacuna in knowledge by focusing on LGBTQ+ students’ experiences of misnaming in Swedish schools. Methods: The findings are based on 21 semi-structured interviews with LGBTQ+ young people aged 15–25 from around Sweden. The interviews were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis and in relation to the concepts of orientations and affect. Results: The findings highlight how misnaming negatively impacts the health of those who are subjected to it through disorientation and by triggering negative emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, and hurt. The findings also illustrate how the affects of misnaming extend beyond individuals and accumulate as collective emotional experiences that negatively transform schools into sites of personal and social tension. Conclusions: The article demonstrates not only the importance of recognising misnaming as a pernicious form of bias-based bullying that negatively impacts the health of students, but also the need for schools to actively review their administrative systems to ensure that misnaming is not institutionalised and perpetuated within schools. Full article

Eye gaze plays an essential role in the organisation of human goal-directed behaviour. Stationary gaze entropy and gaze transition entropy are two informative measures of visual scanning in different tasks. In this work, we discuss the benefits of these eye gaze entropy measures in the context of driving behaviour. In our large-scale study, participants performed driving tasks in a simulator (N = 380, 44% female, age: 20–73 years old) and in on-road urban environments (N = 241, 44% female, age: 19–74 years old). We analysed measures of eye gaze entropy in relation to driving experience and compared their dynamics between the simulator and on-road driving. The results demonstrate that, in both driving conditions, gaze transition entropy is higher, whereas stationary gaze entropy is lower, in more experienced drivers of both genders. This suggests that gaining driving experience may be accompanied by a decrease in overall gaze dispersion and an increased unpredictability of visual scanning behaviour. These results are in line with previously reported trends on experience-related dynamics of eye gaze entropy measures. We discuss our findings in the framework of the system-evolutionary theory, which explains the organisation of behaviour through the history of individual development, corresponding to the growing complexity of individual–environment interactions. Experience-related dynamics of eye gaze complexity can be a useful factor in the development of practical applications, such as driver monitoring systems and other human–machine interfaces. Full article

The rapid growth of electric vehicles has increased the demand for lithium-ion batteries, highlighting the need for sustainable recycling of spent cathode materials. This study combines laboratory-scale leaching experiments and Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) to compare citric, tartaric, and succinic acids for recovering Ni, Co, Mn, and Li. Under optimized conditions, citric acid achieved leaching efficiencies of 81.66% (Li), 76.05% (Co), 91.46% (Ni), and 98.94% (Mn) at a cost of USD 6.50 per 10 g battery; tartaric acid reached 87.29% (Li), 80.52% (Co), 95.79% (Ni), and 99.65% (Mn) at USD 17.23 per 10 g battery; succinic acid yielded 87.05% (Li), 73.82% (Co), 86.27% (Ni), and 99.12% (Mn) at USD 4.11 per 10 g battery. MFCA shows acid consumption dominates costs, suggesting reagent optimization and recycling could reduce expenses. These results provide a cost-oriented laboratory-scale perspective for selecting organic acids, while industrial feasibility requires further evaluation of scale-up, reagent regeneration, and process optimization. Full article