Search Results (1,388)

This article examines authority impersonation as a structured mechanism of digital victimization through an in-depth qualitative case study of a Vietnamese transnational cyber fraud network. Drawing on a pseudonymized criminal judgment concerning the PVP network, the study reconstructs how offenders recruited Vietnamese workers, operated from Cambodia-based scam facilities, and targeted victims in Vietnam through a hierarchical D1-D2-D3 division of labour. The findings show that victimization was produced through a staged process of legitimation, criminal suspicion, simulated legal authority, and compliance-based extraction. Victims were not primarily deceived by technical hacking or promises of financial gain; rather, they were induced to comply through trust in state institutions, fear of criminal liability, secrecy instructions, and digitally mediated banking procedures. The case demonstrates how social engineering, organised cybercrime, and institutional impersonation converge to generate substantial financial and psychological harm. The article contributes to cybercrime and victimization scholarship by showing that authority-based fraud operates as a socio-technical process in which simulated legality transforms victim compliance into financial extraction. It also highlights the need for digital literacy programs that move beyond generic scam awareness toward procedural literacy, authority verification, and victim-centred support. Full article

Microbiome diversity varies significantly across countries and social groups due to geographic, ethnic, lifestyle, and dietary factors, with populations in traditional and rural settings tending to harbor more diverse microbial communities than those in industrialized urban environments. In Saudi Arabia, the influx of migrant workers from regions with distinct health and ecological backgrounds represents a public health concern. In particular, these workers may carry novel microbial species from their places of origin, thereby increasing the risk of infectious diseases spreading in the local population. This may also result in disruption of gut microbial homeostasis, thereby elevating risks related to infection, metabolic disorders, and disease susceptibility. Furthermore, the potential emergence of drug-resistant or locally uncommon microbial strains is particularly concerning. In this study, bacterial diversity was assessed in 28 fecal samples collected from migrant workers living in Saudi Arabia, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V3–V4 regions. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were clustered at 97% sequence similarity, and alpha diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, ACE) were calculated to evaluate microbial richness and evenness. The results revealed considerable inter-individual variability, with Segatella copri, Peptostreptococcus, and Lachnospiraceae identified as dominant taxa across multiple samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated distinct patterns of inter-individual variation, indicating compositional heterogeneity within the cohort. Functional predictions using PICRUSt2 suggested enrichment in metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate and amino acid processing. These findings offer a comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiome structure and predicted functionality in a population characterized by diverse geographic origins. Full article

This three-year case study integrated the results of annual soil-monitoring campaigns conducted in 2022–2024 at 17 predefined locations within and immediately surrounding the Morava Thermal Power Plant Complex, Serbia. We analyzed surface soil samples (0–30 cm) for physical and chemical properties, metals and metalloids, and selected organic pollutants. Contaminant concentrations were evaluated relative to national regulatory thresholds, while potential ecological risk and outdoor worker human health risk were assessed using the potential ecological risk index (RI), Hazard Index (HI), and total carcinogenic risk (TCR). Soil properties and total contaminant concentrations varied considerably among the monitored locations. Regulatory classification identified Ni and Cd as the most widespread concerns. Ni exceeded the applicable limit value at all 17 locations in each campaign, including three remediation-value exceedances in 2022 and one in 2024. Cd exceeded the limit value at 17, 11, and 16 locations in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, without exceeding the remediation value. RI ranged from 210.02 to 963.08, indicating moderate to very high potential ecological risk, and was driven primarily by Cd and Hg. Aggregate HI values ranged from 0.211 to 0.484 and remained below the screening threshold of 1 at all locations. In contrast, TCR ranged from 5.98 × 10⁻⁵ to 2.12 × 10⁻⁴ and exceeded the target benchmark of 1 × 10⁻⁶ at every location in all three campaigns. Arsenic accounted for more than 94% of TCR, while the conservative estimate obtained by applying Cr (VI) toxicity parameters to total Cr represented the principal secondary contribution. The different assessment approaches identified distinct contaminant priorities and therefore provided complementary rather than interchangeable information. The results support continued monitoring, targeted investigation of locations with elevated regulatory or risk indicators, direct chromium-speciation analysis, and integration of soil monitoring with groundwater, drainage-water, bioavailability, and effect-based assessments to support future reclamation and environmental management. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prolonged working shifts may adversely affect healthcare workers’ health, well-being, cognitive performance, and patient safety. Nevertheless, 24-h shifts remain commonly used in Latvian healthcare. This study aimed to examine healthcare workers’ experiences of 24-h shift work, their attitudes toward revising this work schedule, and the main reported reasons underlying their preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Latvia between October 2025 and February 2026. A structured 64-item questionnaire assessed sociodemographic and professional characteristics, workload, shift patterns, health and emotional well-being, perceived patient-safety concerns, professional motivation, and attitudes toward alternative work schedules. Of 1524 submitted questionnaires, 1318 were included in the analysis. Quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics, while open-ended responses were examined using qualitative content analysis. Results: Most respondents regularly worked extended shifts, and 40.5% worked at more than one institution. More than half reported health changes that they perceived as potentially related to extended shift work, with 61.1% reporting emotional exhaustion and 49.2% reporting persistent fatigue. Fatigue during extended shift work had contributed to a self-reported error or perceived decline in care quality among 34.9% of respondents. Despite these concerns, a substantial proportion of participants preferred to retain 24-h shifts. Frequently reported reasons included schedule convenience, consecutive days off, financial considerations, and the ability to combine employment across multiple workplaces. Open-ended responses further highlighted preferences for flexibility, employee choice, adequate staffing, opportunities for rest, and consideration of financial consequences when revising work schedules. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate a tension between healthcare workers’ perceived health and patient-safety concerns associated with extended shift work and the practical and financial advantages associated with retaining 24-h shifts. Full article

Pesticide contamination in fruits and vegetables remains a critical food safety concern in Northern Thailand, posing risks to environmental and human health. Improving knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) in food safety is essential for reducing pesticide exposure, particularly among migrant workers. This cross-sectional study evaluates food safety knowledge, attitude, behavior, and pesticide exposure among Myanmar migrant workers in Chiang Mai Province. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 137 participants between August and September 2025 in Mueang, Mae Rim, and San Sai districts. Mann–Whitney U test and linear regression were used to explore demographic differences and associated factors of knowledge, attitude, and safety behavior. Most participants demonstrated adequate knowledge (65.7%) and positive attitude (80.3); however, 78.1% reported only moderate safety behavior. Higher knowledge and more favorable attitudes were observed among non-Shan ethnic groups and participants with higher education (p < 0.001). Women and non-farming workers exhibited significantly safer behavior (p < 0.05). Knowledge and attitude were strongly correlated (ρ = 0.556, p < 0.01), but neither was associated with safety behavior. Most participants had cholinesterase activity within the normal reference range (73.0% cellular AChE; 81.0% plasma BChE). Low enzyme activity was observed in 13.9% and 6.6% of participants, respectively. Enzyme activity did not differ significantly by occupation, sex, or ethnicity and was not significantly associated with KAB scores. Linear regression analyses identified ethnicity as significantly associated with knowledge and attitude; whereas, sex and occupation were significantly associated with safety behavior. These findings suggest that individual-level knowledge and attitude may not be sufficient to drive protective behavior among migrant workers, though the cross-sectional study design limits causal inference and generalizability. Full article

Open workforce datasets can help to extend research on artificial intelligence (AI) only if they are sufficiently provenance-traceable, have good measurement quality, and have a relational structure suitable for behavioral inference. This study examines a benchmark dataset comprising 12,000 linked records across 15 industry categories and 47,206 AI tool-use records. Sampling, recruitment, questionnaire wording, respondent authentication, ethics procedures, and whether the records are real or synthetic are not documented, so the dataset is treated as a tabular source rather than verified workforce evidence. Analyses are limited to indicators that have been observed directly, including job satisfaction, work–life balance, career outlook, trust in AI, weekly learning hours, AI-use intensity, and employer-provided AI training. Assessment of behavioral interpretation of the data was conducted using Spearman correlations, HC3-robust regressions, false discovery rate adjustment, secondary industry interaction checks, and a relational-realism diagnostic. Concerns about AI replacing jobs were negligible and non-significant on a five-point scale, with an average of 2.745. Training also showed no robust association when evaluated against outcomes that did not contain training. The median absolute Spearman correlation across conceptually related observed variables was 0.0064, with the 95th percentile at 0.0180, which is very low. These estimates reflect the characteristics of the supplied documents rather than employee actions, and do not assess conservation of resources processes or tourism worker outcomes. Results from the analysis demonstrate the importance of checking open workforce data for construct validity, relational validity, sector fit and provenance before testing behavioral theories. Research for regenerative tourism requires reliable sector-specific samples, reliable multi-item measures, longitudinal design, and direct measures of social and destination outcomes. Full article

Background: HIV-related stigma and discrimination remain barriers to equitable HIV prevention, treatment, and well-being in Thailand despite their longstanding inclusion in the national HIV response. This study examined contemporary experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with HIV. Methods: The people living with HIV Stigma Index 2.0 was a community-led mixed-methods study conducted from August 2022 to January 2023. The quantitative survey enrolled 2508 people living with HIV from 24 provinces covering all 13 health regions, including general adults living with HIV, four key population groups, migrant workers, and young people. A nested qualitative study included 174 in-depth interviews across six population groups. Results: Sixteen percent of participants reported HIV-related discrimination in healthcare services in the previous 12 months, 4.7% reported community stigma in the past 12 months, 39.0% reported internalized stigma, and 2.7% experienced rights abuse in the past 12 months. Younger people living with HIV reported significantly higher levels of healthcare discrimination, community stigma, internalized stigma, and rights abuse than older participants and the general people living with HIV reference group. Compared with general people living with HIV, sex workers and people who use drugs reported significantly higher levels of community stigma; men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who use drugs, and migrant workers reported significantly higher internalized stigma; and transgender people and sex workers reported significantly higher levels of rights abuse. Qualitative findings highlighted anticipated and enacted stigma, confidentiality concerns, internalized stigma, intersecting identities, rights violations, and resilience. Conclusions: HIV-related stigma remains evident in healthcare, community, and personal domains. Younger people living with HIV and key populations were particularly vulnerable to HIV-related stigma, discrimination, and rights abuse. Responses should combine updated public communication, stigma-free and person-centered healthcare, protection of privacy and rights, support for internalized stigma and mental well-being, and sustained leadership of people living with HIV. Full article

Background: Technostress has emerged as a growing occupational health concern in increasingly digitalized workplaces. Although its psychological consequences have been extensively investigated, little is known about its potential association with metabolic health and insulin resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between technostress and insulin resistance risk using four validated surrogate markers in a large cohort of Spanish workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 104,175 Spanish workers who underwent routine occupational health assessments. Technostress was assessed using a 15-item questionnaire covering five technostress dimensions and was analyzed using four operational categories (low, moderate, high, and very high). Insulin resistance risk was assessed using the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, TyG-body mass index (TyG-BMI), the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), and the single-point insulin sensitivity estimator (SPISE). Sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical parameters were also recorded. Modified Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for increased insulin resistance risk according to technostress level. Firth penalized logistic regression was additionally performed as a sensitivity analysis to address sparse-data bias and separation. Results: Higher technostress levels were associated with progressively less favorable anthropometric and metabolic profiles. The prevalence of increased insulin resistance risk rose significantly across technostress categories for all markers evaluated (p < 0.001). For TyG, prevalence increased from 3.8% in the low technostress group to 54.3% in the very high technostress group. Corresponding increases were observed for TyG-BMI (0.2% to 78.2%), METS-IR (0.0% to 45.2%), and elevated SPISE-IR values (0.0% to 57.5%). After adjustment for age, sex, educational level, physical activity, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and smoking status, higher technostress remained associated with a higher prevalence of increased insulin resistance risk. A clear graded cross-sectional pattern was observed, with the strongest associations found among workers reporting very high technostress. Conclusions: Higher technostress was associated with a higher prevalence of increased insulin resistance risk according to TyG, the primary outcome, with a clear graded cross-sectional pattern across technostress categories. Associations were also observed for the secondary BMI-containing indices (TyG-BMI, METS-IR, and SPISE-IR), which should be interpreted as complementary rather than independent evidence. Given the cross-sectional design and the pronounced clustering of technostress with adiposity and lifestyle characteristics, residual confounding cannot be excluded and causal inference is not possible. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a relevant biological risk in some occupational settings and has long been discussed as an occupational health concern among municipal waste collection workers. Data on HAV seroprevalence and vaccination history in this occupational group remain limited in Italy. This study investigated HAV seroprevalence, self-reported vaccination history, and factors associated with HAV seropositivity among waste collection workers in Sardinia. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed HAV seroprevalence and self-reported vaccination history among 326 workers in Sardinia, Italy, using occupational health surveillance data (2017–2024). Recorded variables included age, sex, smoking habits, years of service, work setting, vaccination status, and serological results. Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests assessed group differences; logistic regression identified factors independently associated with HAV seropositivity. Results: HAV seroprevalence was 44.2%; only 0.9% of participants reported previous HAV vaccination. Multivariable analysis identified older age, but not years of service, as independently associated with HAV seropositivity once age was modeled as a continuous variable—a pattern more consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime HAV exposure than with cumulative occupational exposure. Worksite 7 showed a higher prevalence ratio of HAV seropositivity relative to the reference site, but this finding was based on a small subsample and should be considered exploratory; observed worksite-level differences may reflect organizational rather than geographic factors. Conclusions: Older age, rather than occupational tenure, was independently associated with HAV seropositivity among Sardinian waste workers, a pattern consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime exposure. The high seroprevalence and very low vaccination uptake highlight the need to strengthen prevention through improved vaccination access, awareness, and better integration of occupational and public health strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a significant occupational health concern among medical laboratory workers (MLWs) worldwide. However, in cross-sectional epidemiological assessments, these are more accurately characterized as self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs). Despite growing awareness of physical ergonomic risk factors, the multifactorial etiology of these symptoms, such as psychosocial factors, remains incompletely understood in research laboratory settings. Consequently, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of MSSs among MLWs in a Malaysian research institute, assess physical ergonomic risk in their daily tasks, and evaluate the empirical association between MSSs and psychosocial work engagement. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among MLWs at a Malaysian medical research institute. The 12-month prevalence of self-reported MSSs was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Physical ergonomic risk was evaluated utilizing the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Psychosocial work engagement was measured using the 17-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Results: A total of 115 MLWs participated, with 73 (63.5%) reporting MSSs. The neck had the highest complaints (n = 43, 37.4%), followed by the lower back (n = 35, 30.4%) and shoulders (n = 33, 28.7%). Multivariable modified Poisson Generalized Estimating Equations revealed that physical ergonomic risk (REBA) was significantly associated with symptoms in the shoulder, upper back, and lower back. Female sex was independently correlated with the overall prevalence of MSSs (aPR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.14–1.68), with marked associations observed for the neck and knees. Psychosocially, high “absorption” in work was significantly associated with upper back symptom prevalence (aPR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.15–2.14). Conclusions: Ergonomic strain demonstrates a strong association with axial and shoulder symptoms among MLWs, while demographic characteristics and cumulative tenure correlate with specific extremity symptoms. Paradoxically, high psychological absorption emerges as a distinct correlate of upper back symptoms, likely due to prolonged postural neglect during deep concentration. Occupational health programs may benefit from combining targeted ergonomic accommodations with strategies designed to mitigate the potential physical vulnerabilities of highly absorbed personnel. Full article

Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in working women. Workplace screening could contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment of this chronic condition. Fertile women who participated in a 2022 health food promotion campaign and had suspected eating disorders, overweight/obesity, metabolic abnormalities, sleep problems, or mental health concerns were interviewed about PMOS symptoms during their in-office medical examination. Twenty-eight of the 1170 women examined had symptoms of suspected PMOS. By 2023, 21 of these diagnoses had been confirmed by specialists. The prevalence of newly diagnosed PMOS among the women of childbearing age was 2.7% (CI95% 1.7; 4.2). The confirmation rate of the clinical suspicion of PMOS was 75% (CI95% 55.1; 89.3). Female workers with newly identified PMOS had a significantly higher frequency of eating disorders than their pre-menopausal colleagues and higher body mass index values, higher glycemia, and higher cholesterol values. PMOS patients also had higher depression symptom scores than other workers of childbearing age. In conclusion, with a short interview during mandatory medical examinations, the occupational physician can make a significant contribution to the diagnosis of PMOS, thereby hopefully improving the quality of life of women and reducing damage to their health. Full article

Newcomer youths (i.e., young immigrants, refugees, international students) represent a growing community across Canada, and their transition into school systems is critical to their wellbeing. School integration represents a novel vantage point by which to explore the immigration experiences of newcomer youth who are adjusting to student life. Service providers (e.g., administrative staff, guidance counsellors, settlement workers, etc.) are critical partakers in the school integration of newcomer youth. This qualitative study employed a social constructionist perspective and an integrated social justice lens. The central research questions guiding this inquiry included (1) How do participants understand newcomer youths’ experiences of school integration? And (2) What are the ways in which participants support newcomer students in high schools? In-depth, semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with six service providers in one designated high school. A thematic analysis led to the development of five salient themes: (1) supporting academic needs, (2) life outside of school, (3) mental health concerns, (4) connections in school, and (5) gaps in the education system. Results of this study highlight the larger systemic issues that continue to impede the experiences of newcomer youth in schools. Implications for service providers working with newcomer youth in schools are presented. Full article

Water and wastewater workers encounter complex occupational exposures, but evidence on related injuries and adverse health outcomes remains fragmented. We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and Embase on 23 April 2026 and synthesized evidence using a Population–Exposure–Outcome framework and PRISMA 2020. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Methodological quality was evaluated with design-specific Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and certainty for prevention measures was assessed using a GRADE-informed narrative approach. Seventy studies published from 1940 to 2025 were included; most were cross-sectional. The most reproducible findings concerned respiratory effects from bioaerosols, endotoxins, and hydrogen sulfide, musculoskeletal morbidity (12-month low-back-pain prevalence up to 72.8%), and severe acute hazards during chemical handling and confined-space entry. Infectious findings, including hepatitis A/E, Helicobacter pylori, and intestinal parasites, were heterogeneous and particularly vulnerable to confounding by community background prevalence. Employment duration, inadequate personal protective equipment, insufficient training, and unsafe facility design amplified risk. Meta-analysis was precluded by heterogeneity, and confidence was limited by cross-sectional designs and inconsistent adjustment. The review was not registered and received no external funding. Engineering controls, confined-space safeguards, and task-specific protective equipment are priority measures, although intervention-effectiveness evidence remains low or very low certainty. Full article

The extensive use of plastic-based materials in healthcare services has raised concerns about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in hospital environments, with potential implications for occupational health, environmental health, and public health nursing. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on occupational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in healthcare settings, identifying exposure sources, pathways, potential health implications, and knowledge gaps, with particular attention to healthcare workers and nursing professionals. It was conducted following JBI methodology and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, LILACS, and SciELO for original studies published between January 2015 and December 2025 in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. Of 759 records identified, six studies met the eligibility criteria. Evidence was derived mainly from high-complexity healthcare settings, including operating theatres, anaesthetic rooms, laboratories, emergency departments, physiotherapy units, intensive care units, blood banks, and clinical areas. Indoor air, settled dust, disposable medical devices, plastic packaging, personal protective equipment, and plasticised materials were identified as potential exposure sources. Inhalation was the most frequently reported/inferred pathway, followed by dermal contact and indirect ingestion. Current evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, with scarce direct biomonitoring of micro- and nanoplastic particles and limited epidemiological data. Hospital environments may represent under-recognised settings for occupational exposure to micro- and nanoplastics, requiring standardised exposure assessment, environmental surveillance, biomonitoring, and preventive strategies aligned with occupational and public health nursing. Full article

The rapid growth of organisational textual data has increased the value of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and semantic analytics for strategic decision support. However, many employees still lack the knowledge and skills needed to evaluate AI-generated information critically. This study develops an explainable Management Information Systems (MIS) framework that integrates NLP-based semantic analytics with PLS-SEM to examine the relationship between AI illiteracy and strategic decision quality. A convergent mixed-methods design with sequential analytical integration was used with a valid sample of 200 knowledge workers from public organisations in Saudi Arabia across six industries. The sample included employees from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Syria, India, and the Philippines. Quantitative data were analysed using PLS-SEM, while textual data were analysed using Sentence-BERT, BERTopic, semantic network analysis, and Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis. The results showed that higher AI illiteracy was negatively associated with strategic decision quality and positively associated with automation bias, uncritical trust in AI, and cognitive offloading. Digital proficiency and AI governance awareness weakened the negative association between AI illiteracy and decision quality, while functional-background differences were examined through multigroup analysis. The semantic analysis identified six themes: AI competency, decision trust, AI governance, decision support, organisational learning, and risk awareness. Sentiment analysis showed positive views of productivity and decision support, together with concerns about algorithmic bias, explainability, transparency, and AI governance. The study contributes an integrated human–AI decision vulnerability framework in which semantic evidence complements structural modelling and provides a clearer understanding of AI-related competency, reliance, governance, and decision-support issues. Full article