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This qualitative study explored how Cebuano-English-speaking youth navigate language use in digital environments to shape their online identities. Using a Descriptive Phenomenology approach, the research examined the complex relationship between language preferences and digital interactions among participants. Key findings highlight the preference for using Cebuano in casual digital interactions to maintain cultural identity and foster social connections. Additionally, the study reveals the adoption of 'conyo' language--a mix of Cebuano and English--for humor and social bonding purposes. Participants also indicated a strategic preference for English in contexts where credibility and professionalism are valued, reflecting broader societal perceptions. The study emphasizes implications for educators and policymakers to support linguistic diversity online and promote inclusive language practices that celebrate native languages like Cebuano. It also identifies a research gap concerning the influence of global digital trends on local language dynamics among youth. Future studies could further explore how digital environments shape language attitudes and identity formation, informing strategies to enhance digital literacy and intercultural understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parallel to the increase in media attention to trans issues over the last two decades, media delegitimization of trans rights and misrepresentation of trans people have decreased. Trans-friendly news coverage is crucial, as previous research suggests that the news media can influence the identification and social transition processes of trans youths. The present study aims to investigate the potential relationship between media coverage of trans issues and the social transitions of trans minors in the Basque Country (Spain). Various time series analyses were conducted for the period from May 2015 to December 2020 between different news media coverages and registrations to the Basque NGO of families with trans minors. The results indicate that news coverage focusing on trans issues, trans minors, and NGOs of trans families with trans minors can have an almost immediate impact on registrations to these NGOs and, by extension, on the social transitions of trans youths. Both national and local news media outlets are influential in forecasting registration numbers, along with progressive ones. However, conservative outlets do not show the same forecasting value. These findings highlight that news media has played a crucial role in the social transition of trans minors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people struggle with permanent online connection that is associated with their generation. This article looks at teenagers' affective relationship to connectivity and disconnectivity, and how it is socioculturally influenced by the media, family, and peers. It reports on an interview study with 36 teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age from Norway and Portugal. Our findings evidenced how disconnection may arise out of a latent feeling of "disaffect" generated in the experience of the ambience of connected and platform culture as well as the media; or of the unavailability created by how teenagers spend their leisure time, which is influenced by families' moral economies. Teenagers have to perform affective labor in managing the different, sometimes contradictory, forces that converge in the experience of connectivity. Managing digital disconnection appears as an individual—but socially produced—moral obligation to self-govern, to which teenagers have unequal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study employs a documentary review methodology to analyse the evolution of political discourse in postgraduate theses (master's and doctoral) defended in Peruvian universities. The review encompasses 24 theses. The study identifies trends and discursive representations related to the subjectivities, mediations, and manipulations of the involved actors. The results reveal a growing academic interest, concentrated in universities in the capital, and highlight the ideological complexity of the discourses, ranging from the defence of the economic model to the redefinition of the social contract. The investigative focus reveals the creation of imaginary realities to strengthen political figures and highlights the influence of the media on public perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown how terrorist attacks attract media attention and influence public opinion and decision-makers. However, we lack a comparative assessment of the extent to which extremist ideologies matter and how they matter. Therefore, this paper compares mass media debates over extreme right and Islamist terrorist attacks. Theoretically, it innovates by linking research on discursive critical junctures and issue-specific discursive opportunity structures, emphasising the systematic differences between the two ideologies. Empirically, the study is based on an original, large-scale content analysis of mass media debates on all seven fatal attacks in Germany since 2015 (N = 9047). It combines relational quantitative content analysis with frame and network analyses. The results show how ideologies behind terrorist attack shape political reactions and the framing of the key security threat. Notably, both types of attacks provide favourable conditions for the far right, and political elites play a central role in the diffusion of far-right frames. In contrast, victims and ethnic or religious minorities have little voice in public debates. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of terrorist attacks on Western democracies by emphasising the impact of ideology and distorted threat perceptions in public debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has become an indispensable component of everyday life and had a transformative impact on strategic communication. This study reflects on the influence of social media in scholarship and examines social media research to identify strengths, gaps, and assumptions in this body of literature. Using structural topic modeling and network analysis, this research models every word published in six leading journals studying public relations from 2012 to 2022 in two separate studies. First, a census of the 2,675 articles, totaling 15926,460 words, is analyzed to establish the percentage of scholarship related to social media, methodologies used to study social media, and how social media interacts with other topics within public relations. Second, a subset of 666 articles that heavily emphasize social media are examined in order to identify the key social media topics within public relations scholarship. This research finds that social media is a major connecting topic within public relations scholarship; however, few social-media specific topics are being studied in public relations scholarship. Even research focused on social media is more heavily emphasizing existing public relations theory than social media-specific topics. We conclude with three propositions that detail a path forward for scholarship regarding social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Summary: Lobbying allows firms to influence the government to potentially limit firms' costs during product recall crises. However, such lobbying can elicit scrutiny from the media if the lobbying gives the impression that firms wish to save costs at the expense of safety, thereby appearing hypocritical. We theorize that when faced with negative media coverage of product recalls or recall‐related lobbying, firms strategically eschew lobbying to limit further media scrutiny and its associated negative consequences. We test our hypotheses using the US auto industry's lobbying from 2008 to 2022. We provide further depth to our examination of strategic eschewal through 15 supplemental interviews of lobbyists about how the media influences firms' lobbying decisions. Managerial Summary: Companies may resort to lobbying in efforts to reduce costs related to product recall crises, but such controversial lobbying may also tarnish their image. When confronted with negative media coverage of product recalls, or recall‐related lobbying, companies are more likely to strategically refrain from lobbying to minimize additional, unwanted media spotlight and its associated negative repercussions. Managers should be mindful that even if lobbying may help limit the costs of recalls, it could also cause potential reputational harm. Thus, it is vitally important that managers pay attention to the reputational cues from the media, which can help them determine when lobbying may be problematic and allow them to preemptively refrain from such lobbying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine how emerging musicians use social media to achieve exposure of their music and entertainment events. The Parasocial Engagement Model and the multiple case research design guided the study. A sample of 20 emerging musicians was selected from Ibadan and Lagos in Nigeria through snowballing. An initial questionnaire schedule was used to collect data about the respondents' backgrounds while an interview guide was used to collect data about the role and use of social media. Contact between the researcher and the musicians was created using video call approaches. The musicians are motivated to use social media to express themselves, connect with other musicians, and expand their audiences. Social media platforms allow audiences to be more expressive because they do not involve face-to-face interactions, but rather the disclosure and organization of information. Viral social media challenges, remaking of popular and trending songs, and other video contents related to various fields of interest are ways emerging musicians use social media to form impressions and reduce ambiguity about their personalities. Collaboration with social media influencer accounts and social media magazines has also been identified as a social media usage strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media and climate change are some of the most controversial issues of the 21st century. Despite numerous studies, our understanding of current social media trends, popular hot topics, and future challenges related to climate change remains significantly limited. This research presents a systematic review of climate change and social media for the first time. Review the studies published between 2009 and 2022 in places like Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web-of-Science, Scopus, ResearchGate, and others. For this systematic review, we found 1,057 articles. Forty-five articles were the most relevant according to our goals and study design, which followed the PRISMA framework. The results of this review demonstrate that Twitter is the most popular platform. Every year, we identify rising trends in the number of publications. Past studies often focused on just one social media site, like Twitter (n = 26) or Facebook (n = 5). Although most studies focus on the United States, the study area is primarily "all over the world." This study offers a theoretical framework by examining the relationship between social media platforms and the discourse surrounding climate change. It looked into how social media trends influence public perception, raise awareness, and spur action on climate change. In practical terms, the study focuses on important and trending topics like nonbelievers and climate change. The contribution consists of synthesizing the body of research, providing insights into the state of the digital world, and suggesting future lines of inquiry for the field of social media and climate change studies. We highlighted the studies' quality assessment result of "moderate quality." This systematic review provides information about how climate change is now portrayed on social media and lays the groundwork for further study in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance has highlighted the need for antibacterial materials to prevent the development of infections. Different types of tests exist to certify the antibacterial properties of materials. Variations in results can occur due to the unique requirements of each test technique. The antibacterial test result may be influenced, in particular, by the distinct modes of action of leaching and non‐leaching compounds. Using antibacterial materials prepared by the dispersion of an amphiphilic cationic synthetic copolymer in a polyurethane matrix, the influence of the reaction medium and the contact time on the results obtained by two well‐established tests: ISO 22196 and CERTIKA is investigated. This shows that the kinetics of killing is bacteria dependent and depending on the test conditions (concentration of salt, time of contact, or media), contradictory results could be obtained. Moreover, the influence of the ionic strength (called salt effect) in both free solution and antibacterial surface is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study delves into the reluctance to adopt autonomous vehicles (AVs), treating AV aversion as a multifaceted psychological and behavioral phenomenon encompassing cognitive judgments, affective responses, and behavioral intentions. Leveraging the environment-product-human-behavior framework, an AV aversion model (AAM) is developed to explore human-AV interaction. Survey data from MTurk in the U.S. reveals significant differences in perception between fully autonomous vehicles (FAVs) and partially autonomous vehicles (PAVs). Findings show that negative media exposure influences perceived risk, anxiety, and negative word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. Perceived risk contributes to anxiety, while the combination of anxiety and negative media encourages negative WOM intention. The study elucidates a cascading effect from negative media to risk perception, then to AV anxiety, culminating in negative WOM. Multi-group analysis highlights a significant disparity between FAVs and PAVs in the link between negative media exposure and negative WOM intention. Understanding AV aversion offers valuable insights to address human-AV interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulation is an ancient and sophisticated decorative technique. The production of granules is a crucial part of this process but has rarely been studied. The present study employed three techniques—pouring method, heating method, and crucible method—to produce gold granules. The success ratio of granule formation, granule surface morphology, microstructure, and formation were analyzed to identify the techniques used in archaeological objects. The cooling medium significantly influenced small granule formation, microstructure, and grain size. Both heating and crucible methods could control the granule formation, but these methods produced distinct microstructures. Based on these experimental granules, the probable production methods of ancient gold balls were identified. The present study provided microscopic information for determining ancient gold granule production techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Researchers and practitioners alike are interested in understanding the specifics of electronic negotiations as more and more negotiations are conducted electronically. Intuitively, we would expect differences across negotiation media, but research provides diverging results as to the impact of the medium. This research contributes to this discourse and aims to uncover differences across media and investigates the impact of individual factors on e-negotiation behavior and outcomes. While we know from previous research that individual factors influence job performance and preference for negotiation media, the impact on behaviors and outcomes in different computer-mediated negotiation media is yet to be explored. This paper proposes the individual x medium fit hypothesis, which asserts that individual factors play a distinct role in different electronic negotiation media. Methods: We tested this hypothesis using an online, mixed-motive negotiation simulation in which participants (n = 187) negotiated either in a chat or in a video conference system. The impacts of individual factors on the outcome and mediator variables were estimated with a structural equation model. Results: We confirmed the hypothesis that individual factors have different impacts in a video and a chat negotiation: In the video negotiation, gender significantly predicted negotiation outcomes. Women used fewer words compared to men, which leads both to a lower individual profit and a better subjective value. In the chat negotiation, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion predicted negotiation outcomes. In addition, individual factors affected attitudes toward the negotiation and behaviors. Discussion: The results indicate that some individuals have an advantage in certain media. Overall, the impact of individual factors in e-negotiations seems to be limited even though such an impact is intuitively assumed by many negotiators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPrevious research evident that social media provides a platform to individuals social comparison, namely social comparison on social media (USC-SM). Drawing from social comparison theory, this study explores the creative consequences of such USC-SM, focusing on the underlying mechanism of emotional exhaustion. Additionally, the study examines how social media dependency influences these emotional experiences resulting from USC-SM. Results of data collected from 435 employees and their supervisors through a multi-source, two-wave survey reveal that employees who engage in USC-SM platforms tend to experience emotional exhaustion, thereby detrimentally impacting their creativity. Furthermore, this research found that the extent of an employee’s dependence on social media for work tasks serves as moderator which strengthens the underlying relationship. This study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on social media use and its effect on employee creativity. Theoretical contributions and practical guidelines are discussed in the subsequent sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of Instagram’s central role as an information source for Generation Z, this study investigates the influence of the social media platform on the image formation of the destination Cappadocia and the impact of this image on potential visit intention within this generation. Through a quasi-experimental research design, it was found that photo-based Instagram posts positively affect both the cognitive and affective destination image of Cappadocia. However, the perception in the affective dimension was significantly more positive than in the comparison group (text-based extracts from Wikivoyage). Although the study did not prove significant differences in visit intention between the groups, the results show significantly stronger correlations between a positive perception of the destination image on Instagram and the potential intention to visit Cappadocia. The findings emphasize the relevance of Instagram during the travel inspiration and information phase for Generation Z. Instagram serves as a significant external stimulus factor for image formation and subsequent destination decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Russia-Ukraine war impacted the inherent world political pattern and aroused the common concern of the people of all countries. In era of mass communication, information exposure through media influences individuals' attitudes towards international events. By controlling the texts and images in news reports, this study tests the effects of prior cognition (cultural proximity) and media information exposure related factors on individual attitudes towards Russia-Ukraine war. This study conducted a 2 (information authority: mainstream media information vs. we-media information) x 2 (information attention bias: positive/neutral information attention vs. passive information attention) x 2 (self-construal: independent self vs. interdependent self) web-based experiment on 539 Chinese citizens (Mage= 30, SD = 20.494) during July 2023. Based on mediating and moderating analyses, the results showed that the impact of source credibility on audience attitudes was minimal, while cultural proximity had a strong influence on individuals' attitudes towards Russia and Ukraine and their levels of support. Additionally, micro-narratives were found to be more effective in evoking anti-war sentiments compared to macro-narratives. As individuals are exposed to more media information, their attitudes become more distinct and less likely to change. This study investigates he applicability of the OSOR model and the ELM model in political communication field, providing insights for understanding the effects of media information exposure in shaping public's opinions on internationally events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of self-disclosure on different Social Media platforms are part of our everyday lives nowadays. Users tend to share detailed information about their personal lives willingly while often underestimating its negative consequences. Previous studies emphasize the complexity of the processes of online self-disclosure. Our aim with this current research is to examine how online self-disclosure is influenced by different psychological factors: the attitude towards the value of the users' own data, perceived control over personal information and perceived risks associated with sharing on Social Media, with a multimethod study. In Study 1, a qualitative approach was introduced (N = 37), in Study 2, we conducted an online survey on a representative sample (N = 1597). In Study 1, we found that participants often underestimate the value of their own personal data and its usability by others. This (incorrect) interpretation gives them an increased sense of confidence about the security of their personal data in online contexts and facilitates them to share personal information on Social Media. In line with this, in Study 2 we found that the more the participants engage in self-disclosure on Social Media, the less risky they perceive their online activity. This suggests, the importance of sharing may overwrite the risks of sharing. Our results also show that higher engagement in online self-disclosure comes with a higher sense of control, which in turn decreases risk perception on Social Media sites. In sum, processes of self-disclosure on Social Media are influenced by not just the users' sense of control and risk perception but their perceptions towards the value of their own personal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: International literature has documented significant underutilisation of mental health services among Indian immigrants. This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to mental health help-seeking among Indian immigrant youth in South Africa by evaluating their personal and lived experiences. Methods: A qualitative study with a phenomenological design was conducted to understand the lived experiences of Indian immigrant youth regarding mental health help-seeking. Nine participants were recruited through purposive sampling from Gauteng. Data collection was performed through online interviews exploring participants' lived experiences. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Five facilitator subthemes were identified: encouragement to seek help for mental health difficulties, social media and mass media influence, university and school environments, availability and awareness of resources, and open conversations about mental health. Four barrier subthemes emerged: individual perspectives on mental health, lack of access to resources, parental factors discouraging help-seeking, and community factors discouraging help-seeking. Discussion: An improved understanding of these barriers and facilitators may allow other Indian immigrant youth to better manage their help-seeking processes while increasing awareness about similar experiences within the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates identity and situational strength theories into a realistic accuracy model framework to develop and test hypotheses regarding how hiring managers perceive social media (SM) information, and how those perceptions translate into ratings. In Study 1, 310 h professionals rated which SM content they perceive as most useful in assessing applicants on various work‐related constructs. The provided a foundation for Study 2, where 151 h professionals participated in an experimental hiring simulation to understand whether these perceptions of SM information translate into rating behavior. Results indicate that manipulating SM content influenced HR professionals’ ratings of applicants. Non‐job‐related SM content influenced ratings of work‐related constructs more strongly than job‐related content. Professional SM was rated more favorably than personal SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary society, the rise of social media has dramatically transformed the sharing of information, bypassing traditional editorial and governmental controls. This shift has enabled rapid global information sharing but also raised concerns about the influence of social media platforms, even in democratic societies. Legislative responses, such as Germany's Network Enforcement Act of 2017, mandated swift removal of illegal content, influencing over twenty other nations to enact similar laws. These regulations often target hate speech but risk suppressing political opposition, particularly in authoritarian regimes. The European Union’s Digital Services Act came into force in 2024 and imposes stringent removal obligations on platforms. This enhanced platform regulation pushes companies towards the use of automated content moderation for purposes of meeting those obligations. A 2024 report found a substantial majority (87.5% to 99.7%) of deleted comments on Facebook and YouTube in France, Germany, and Sweden were legally permissible, suggesting that platforms, pages, or channels may be over-removing content to avoid regulatory penalties. Against the backdrop of this recent data, the paper examines the possible impact of stringent platform liability legislation on free speech in the ambit of hate speech, focusing on the delicate balance between regulation and freedom of expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, author analyses the vibration of protein microtubules and its interaction with the surrounding elastic medium and electromagnetic and gravitational forces. Protein microtubules are dynamic Nano fibers found inside the cell's cytoplasm, strengthening the cytoskeleton and gives shape to the cell. When the cell undergoes deformation microtubules vibrate. Understanding the vibration of these Nano fibers within the elastic medium and along with the body forces as electromagnetic and gravitational forces is crucial. The main purpose of this study is to explore the effects of surrounding elastic medium and electromagnetic and gravitational forces on the vibration of protein microtubules. The findings reveal that the effects of surrounding medium and the external influences on the vibration of these Nano fibers are significant. The study presents the numerical values in the form of table associated with microtubules in various conditions: free, embedded, and in the presence of electromagnetic and gravitational forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the socio-ecological model of social and behavior change communication, our review highlights current trends in understanding message design factors and media technologies promoting proenvironment and climate mitigative behaviors. We explain that much of this research has focused on the individual level, and relatively few studies have been conducted at the interpersonal and community levels. With respect to changing communication ecology, we note the potential for research on the use of social media platforms to influence positive behavior changes and, conversely, the challenges of misinformation and its impact on behavior shifts. This area requires further investigation as these communication platforms transform and become increasingly relevant. Additionally, we need to explicate the long-term shifts and impacts of behavior change interventions as well as track behaviors over time. Overall, our review underscores the continued need for research across different geographical, sociopolitical, and technological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of CO2 concentration on the stability and plugging performance of polymer-enhanced foam (PEF) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions representative of the steam front in heavy oil reservoirs. Bulk foam experiments were conducted to analyze the foam performance, interfacial properties, and rheological behavior of CHSB surfactant and Z364 polymer in different CO2 and N2 gas environments. Additionally, core flooding experiments were performed to investigate the plugging performance of PEF in porous media and the factors influencing it. The results indicate that a reduction in CO2 concentration in the foam, due to the lower solubility of N2 in water and the reduced permeability of the liquid film, enhances foam stability and flow resistance in porous media. The addition of polymers was found to significantly improve the stability of the liquid film and the flow viscosity of the foam, particularly under high-temperature conditions, effectively mitigating the foam strength degradation caused by CO2 dissolution. However, at 200 °C, a notable decrease in foam stability and a sharp reduction in the resistance factor were observed. Overall, the study elucidates the effects of gas type, temperature, and polymer concentration on the flow and plugging performance of PEF in porous media, providing reference for fluid mobility control at the steam front in heavy oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe paper analyses the discourses of teenagers from Barcelona around LGBTIQ+ rights and individuals, focusing on determining what influence the media have on these discourses. Short-term ethnographic research was carried out from March 2022 to May 2023 in three educational institutions from the Barcelona metropolitan area. The study involved 59 participants aged between 14 and 18 years old, encompassing diverse identities and backgrounds. The data gathered during the ethnographic research were coded and analyzed qualitatively. The results are presented in four main areas: (1) Over-information, dis-information, and confusion; (2) Media usage; (3) LGBTIQ+ phobia; and (4) LGBTIQ+ self-perception and responses. The paper contributes to LGBTIQ+ Media Studies by incorporating ethnographic methods into this field. In addition, it provides information for educators and practitioners that can be used in subjects that include aspects on gender and sexual diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applies ethnolinguistic vitality (EV) theory to analyse the diminishing proficiency and usage of the Miao language among its speakers in Guizhou, China. Forty-five Miao participated in the semi-structured interviews for this project. The study identified the language’s endangered status characterised by low vitality, Mandarin dominance, declining proficiency, and economic-cultural shifts. Media influence exacerbated these threats, while negative perceptions of Miao linguistic capital and inadequate educational resources further endanger the language. Integrating EV theory, this study informs targeted revitalisation efforts crucial for ensuring the sustainability of the Miao language amidst socio-economic pressures favouring Mandarin dominance in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of social media in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement by examining how social media news use impacts BLM protest action. Theoretically, we go beyond the frequently discussed relationship between social media and protest participation and examine how grievances, political efficacy, and racial identity conditionally impact the influence of social media on protest engagement. The findings suggest that social media news use amplifies, rather than reduces, the gaps between engaged and disengaged citizens regarding protest participation, particularly in the online sphere. These indicate that social media is not an equalizing tool for BLM participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive performance assays are crucial for the development and approval of nanomedicines and their bioequivalent successors. At present, there are no established compendial methods that provide a reliable standard for comparing and selecting these formulation prototypes, and our understanding of the in vivo release remains still incomplete. Consequently, extensive animal studies, with enhanced analytical resolution for both, released and encapsulated drug, are necessary to assess bioequivalence. This significantly raises the cost and duration of nanomedicine development. This work presents the development of a discriminatory and biopredictive release test method for liposomal prednisolone phosphate. Using model-informed deconvolution, we identified an in vivo target release. The experimental design employed a discrete L-optimal configuration to refine the analytical method and determine the impact of in vitro parameters on the dosage form. A three-point specification evaluated the key phases of in vivo release: early (T-5%), intermediate (T-20%), and late release behavior (T-40%), compared to the in vivo release profile of the reference product, NanoCort®. Various levels of shear responses and the influence of clinically relevant release media compositions were tested. This enabled an assessment of the effect of shear on the release, an essential aspect of their in vivo deformation and release behavior. The type and concentration of proteins in the medium influence liposome release. Fetal bovine serum strongly impacted the discriminatory performance at intermediate shear conditions. The method provided deep insights into the release response of liposomes and offers an interesting workflow for in vitro bioequivalence evaluation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms have been used by various actors to bypass traditional media gatekeepers to share messages, draw attention, and accumulate influence. We study how actors from peripheral groups gain influence on social media and how their social media behaviors evolve over time. Integrating online strategic performance and hybrid media literature, we hypothesize that peripheral groups perform group identities to spur social media audience reaction and news media amplification, to which they further adapt their performance. By analyzing 242 QAnon Twitter accounts using topic modeling and time series modeling, we find that their in-group solidarity and out-group animosity tweets boost retweets, but not followers; increased retweets and followers drive news media amplification largely undertaken by right-wing outlets and motivate future performance of group identity, particularly of out-group animosity. The implications of social media and news media for the growth of peripheral actors and ideologies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online social media platform such as Instagram has become a popular communication channel that millions of people are using today. However, this media also becomes an avenue where fake accounts are used to inflate the number of followers on a targeted account. Fake accounts tend to alter the concepts of popularity and influence on the Instagram media platform and significantly impact the economy, politics, and society, which is considered cybercrime. This paper proposes a framework to classify fake and real accounts on Instagram based on a deep learning approach called the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network. Experiments and comparisons with existing machine and deep learning frameworks demonstrate considerable improvement in the proposed framework. It achieved a detection accuracy of 97.42% and 94.21% on two publicly available Instagram datasets, with F-measure scores of 92.17% and 89.55%, respectively. Further experiments on the Twitter dataset reveal the effectiveness of the proposed framework by achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 99.42%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigments are chemical compounds that impart color through mechanisms such as absorption, reflection, and refraction. While traditional natural pigments are derived from plant and insect tissues, microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, algae, and filamentous fungi, have emerged as promising sources for pigment production. In this study, we focused on pigment production by 20 Streptomyces isolates from our in-house actinobacteria strain collection, sourced from the Guaviare and Arauca Rivers in Colombia. The isolates were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the bioactivities—including antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties—of their extracts obtained across four different culture media were assessed. Promising pigmented hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrating these bioactivities were further analyzed using LC-MS, leading to the annotation of a variety of pigment-related compounds. This study revealed that culture media significantly influenced both pigment production and bioactivity outcomes. Notably, anthraquinones, phenazines, and naphthoquinones were predominant pigment classes associated with cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities, while carotenoids were linked to antioxidant effects. For instance, S. murinus 4C171 produced various compounds exhibiting both cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. These findings highlighted a growth medium-dependent effect, as pigment production, coloration, and bioactivity outcomes were influenced by growth media. These results demonstrate the significant potential of Streptomyces isolates as sources of bioactive pigments for diverse applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to contribute to the existing literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) by examining the influence of national media environments on the economic consequences of CSR. Drawing on signaling theory, this study distinguishes between two country-level media environments − digital media accessibility and media freedom − of which the prior research has often implied their value in cultivating the stakeholders' awareness about the firms' socially responsible behavior, suggesting that they amplify the benefits of CSR actions. Design/methodology/approach: This study conducts multilevel analysis with a sample of 44,222 firm-year observations representing 6,726 companies from 57 countries over the period 2003–2019. Findings: This study finds supportive evidence that CSR is more positively related to financial gains in countries with greater digital media accessibility. This study concludes that digital media accessibility affects a firm's reputation and legitimacy benefits derived from CSR actions, resulting in better financial performance (FP). Originality/value: The findings of this paper contribute to the existing literature on the CSR–FP relationship by demonstrating the relevance of considering the media environment to better explain the link between CSR and FP. In doing so, this study enriches our understanding of the importance of the media at macro-level institutions by examining how and why these media environments cultivate a culture of CSR as a strategic tool for firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there are quite a few data on the ways silver nanoparticles get into the aquatic environment, on their subsequent dissolution in water, and on the release of toxic Ag+ ions. Differences in the experimental conditions hinder the determination of the basic regularities of this process. In this study, the stages of oxidative dissolution of AgNPs were studied, starting from the formation of silver hydrosol in deaerated solution, the reaction of silver with oxygen and with drinking and natural waters, the analysis of intermediate species of the oxidized colloidal particles, and the subsequent particle aggregation and precipitation, by optical spectroscopy, DLS, TEM, STEM, and EDX. In the presence of oxygen, silver nanoparticles undergo oxidative dissolution, which gives Ag+ ions and results in the subsequent aggregation of nanoparticles. The carbonate hydrosol loses stability when mixed with waters of various origin. This is due to the destruction of the electric double layer, which is caused by an increase in the solution's ionic strength and the neutralization of the charge of the metal core. The environmental hazard of the silver nanoparticle hydrosol would noticeably change and/or decrease when the nanoparticles get into natural waters because of their fast precipitation and because the major part of released Ag+ ions form poorly soluble salts with ions present in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of social media use on faculty job performance, exploring the mediating roles of internal communication and teamwork. Drawing on the Uses and Gratifications theory, we examine how faculty members utilize social media for three distinct purposes: social interaction (social use), enjoyment (hedonic use), and information seeking (cognitive use). We analyze how these three dimensions of social media use influence teachers' performance, encompassing both routine and innovative aspects. This analysis is based on data collected via an online survey completed by 456 faculty members at public state colleges in northern India in 2024. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The findings reveal that social, hedonic, and cognitive use of social media positively affects faculty innovative and routine job performance, with teamwork and internal communication acting as partial mediators in this relationship. This research offers valuable insights for faculty development professionals, educational administrators, and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of social media quality in mediating the effects of marketing mix strategies on international students' decisions regarding their study destinations, focusing on Jordanian universities. Integrating consumer behavior theories, the research aims to understand how marketing mix elements--product/program quality, price, location, and promotional activities--impact enrollment decisions. A survey of 2000 international students recently admitted to public and private universities in Jordan yielded a 61% response rate. Empirical analysis shows that marketing mix strategies significantly impact students' choices and elucidates the mediating role of social media strategies. Interactions on these platforms, such as reviews, ratings, and recommendations, are pivotal in forming perceptions and guiding choices, highlighting educational marketers' need to manage social media content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research focusing on China's media system has mainly discussed the influence of the Party on media's editorial sectors. This study directs its attention to the Party's impact on the non-editorial sectors of Chinese media. Econometric analysis of the panel data collected from 30 state-owned listed media companies (2016–2020) found that the Party's involvement in profit-making and image-managing activities of media companies improved the latter's financial and social performance; such effects differ significantly across regions with different marketization levels. It was found that the CPC is acting as a 'supporting hand' in non-editorial sectors, presenting the emergence of a new state-media-society relationship in China. Such findings demonstrate the analytical role of econometrics for scholars to theorize the impacts of party-media relationship in contemporary China as well as lay an empirical foundation for the prediction of the next steps of China's media reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a qualitative comparative analysis, we examine how Mexican and U.S. newspapers cover the massive arrival of Central Americans in 2014 and 2016. We find that the representation of these migrants in these two countries reflects the specific characteristics of each country's liberal media system model. In the U.S. coverage, characterized by a "Liberal" media system model that is relatively independent from government sources, the arrival of Central Americans is portrayed as a chaotic situation that overwhelmed border agencies and the immigration system. In doing so, it prevails a legacy discourse on the "illegality" of the phenomenon, highly characteristic of how U.S. media has historically depicted this population. In contrast, Mexican newspapers coverage is heavily influenced by official voices, depicting Central Americans as victims of human rights violations and as "in-transit" foreigners trying to reach the U.S. In this coverage, the government emerges as less accountable for the immigration crisis, reflecting its "Captured Liberal" media system model. By bringing together research in developed and developing nations, our comparative findings offer initial evidence about the influence of two media system models in shaping immigration news. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hybrid finite element‐peridynamic (FEM‐PD) models have been evidenced for their exceptional ability to address hydro‐mechanical coupled problems involving cracks. Nevertheless, the non‐local characteristics of the PD equations and the required inversion operations when solving fluid equations result in prohibitively high computational costs. In this paper, a fast explicit solution scheme for FEM‐PD models based on matrix operation is introduced, where the graphics processing units (GPUs) are used to accelerate the computation. An in‐house software is developed in MATLAB in both CPU and GPU versions. We first solve a problem related to pore pressure distribution in a single crack, demonstrating the accuracy of the proposed method by a comparison of FEM‐PD solutions with those of PD‐only models and analytical solutions. Subsequently, several examples are solved, including a one‐dimensional dynamic consolidation problem and the fluid‐driven hydraulic fracture propagation problems in both 2D and 3D cases, to comprehensively validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods in simulating deformation and fracture in saturated porous media under the influence of hydro‐mechanical coupling. In the presented numerical results, some typical strong dynamic phenomena, such as stepwise crack advancement, crack branching, and pressure oscillations, are observed. In addition, we compare the wall times of all the cases executed on both the GPU and CPU, highlighting the substantial acceleration performance of the GPU, particularly when tackling problems with a significant computational workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the global impact of COVID-19, businesses and supply chains worldwide have been disrupted, leading to challenges for manufacturing firms and customers. Social media usage (SMU) is a vital and valuable tool that builds customer-centric supply chains by effectively communicating large volumes of valuable data. This study examines the influence of social media usage on the development of dynamic capabilities, including supply chain sensing capabilities (SCSC), knowledge sharing capability (KSC), and social capital (SC), which are crucial for constructing agile and resilient supply chains that can effectively respond to dynamic and turbulent environments, ultimately enhancing sustainable business performance. To assess the proposed investigation model, data was gathered through a structured questionnaire administered to supply chain members currently engaged with manufacturing firms. The evaluation of the proposed hypotheses is carried out through the application of structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of this study offer empirical evidence supporting the proposition that SMU within manufacturing firms promotes the development of sensing capabilities, knowledge-sharing capability, and social capital. Furthermore, this study tests the moderation role of environmental dynamism in the relationship between social media use and sustainable business performance. This underscores the pivotal role played by SMU in facilitating the adaptation and responsiveness of the supply chain to dynamic and uncertain environments, thereby contributing to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to study the impact of the new media platform called TikTok impact on the formation of ideal beliefs. An online survey of 150 active TikTok users identifies their beliefs, opinions, and perspectives related to the content they watch on this platform. This study applies an experimental approach: it uses the questionnaire method to examine the influence of new media and the digital environment on the formation of ideal beliefs. The results of the study confirmed that TikTok and the digital environment significantly impact the formation of beliefs among users: 35% of participants noted a strong influence of viewed content on their beliefs, 25% admitted frequent influence, and 20% experienced a moderate influence. The practical significance of the article is that it emphasizes the need to understand how media and digital platforms impact the worldviews and beliefs of users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the cognitive mediation model (CMM), this study seeks to examine how attention to different media platforms influenced different knowledges via reflective integration, ultimately motivating individuals to perform corrective and restrictive actions against misinformation in the context of healthy eating misinformation. Using data collected from a national survey of 563 Chinese citizens, the findings of this study are threefold. First, attention to television and social media stimulated elaboration and interpersonal communication, while attention to websites only elicited elaboration. Second, only structural and subjective knowledge, not factual knowledge, were found to motivate individuals to perform corrective and restrictive actions. Third, a multigroup analysis demonstrated that the effects of (a) attention to TV news on elaboration, (b) attention to websites on elaboration, (c) interpersonal communication on factual knowledge, and (d) structural knowledge on restrictive actions differed among participants with different levels of altruism. Theoretically, whereas previous studies have focused on single dimension of knowledge, this study uncovered the multi-dimensional nature of knowledge by exploring factual knowledge, structural knowledge, and subjective knowledge in the CMM framework. Moreover, based on the O-S-R-O-R model, the CMM could be extended to behavioral outcomes, which have been overlooked by most CMM studies. In response, this study extends the CMM by integrating corrective and restrictive actions as behavioral outcomes. Lastly, rather than assuming individuals as homogenous in previous research, this study delves into exploring how individuals at the average age of 33.37 (SD = 8.46) with different levels of altruism engaged in different processes of cognitive mediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the 2020/21 CICADA (Coronavirus Intersectionalities: Chronic Conditions or Disabilities and Migrants and other Ethnic minorities) study, we explored full, partial or noncompliance with government COVID-19 infection-containment measures by people from minoritised ethnic groups with a disabling health condition or impairment. We used an assets-based intersectional approach and purposive sampling, included non-disabled and White British comparators, and trained community co-researchers to help us reach undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. We undertook 271 semi-structured qualitative interviews, followed by participatory workshops with interviewees to explore data and changes in experiences five and 10 months after the interviews. Perceiving their vulnerability to COVID-19, most participants quickly and often zealously adopted infection-containment behaviours, and continued this after restrictions were lifted. This could reduce mental wellbeing, especially in community-facing cultures, and could create family conflict. Various structural inequities impeded compliance. Many, especially undocumented migrants, felt imprisoned. The intersection of gender, citizenship, socioeconomic status and culture impacted disclosures of COVID-19 infection, support seeking and use. Many were unclear what was safe as well as unsafe. People complained that disability and cultural considerations were omitted from policymaking. Participants mostly had taken the COVID-19 vaccine by October 2022, but ethnic minority participants needed time to deliberate and trusted, community-embedded information whereas White British participants were mostly influenced by mass media. The intersection of health condition or impairment, poverty, and living alone led to more non-compliance with general rules, and more vaccine hesitancy than did misinformation spread through ethnic community channels. Many participants were reluctant to reintegrate in May 2022 because of continued perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 but by September 2022 = seemed more concerned about the economic crisis. We add two new 'types' to existing compliance typologies: deliberators (who eventually decide to follow the rules), and 'necessity-driven non-compliers' who are totally unable to comply because of their disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The pervasive use of social media among adolescents has been linked to various aspects of their development, encompassing both beneficial and detrimental effects. However, the precise mechanisms through which social media influences adolescent development remain underexplored. This study seeks to elucidate the associations between social media use and the flourishing of Chinese adolescents, employing a strength‐based perspective that integrates social comparison theory and identity theory. In this research, 786 Chinese adolescents aged 11–19 years participated by completing self‐report questionnaires. Findings suggest that (1) neither social comparisons of ability nor opinions on social media exhibit any significant correlation with the flourishing of Chinese adolescents; (2) a diffuse‐avoidant identity processing style is inversely related to adolescent flourishing, whereas normative and informational identity processing styles are predictive of Chinese adolescents' flourishing; and (3) informational identity processing style positively mediates the relationship between social comparisons of opinion on social media and the flourishing of Chinese adolescents. These results underscore the importance of factors such as social comparison tendencies and personal identity processing styles in influencing adolescent well‐being in the context of social media use. Furthermore, the discussion delves into the implications of these findings for fostering adolescent flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented studies were aimed at determining the interactions in model membranes (Langmuir monolayers) created of phospholipids (PL) isolated from Legionella gormanii bacteria cultured with (PL + choline) or without (PL − choline) choline and to describe the impact of an antimicrobial peptide, human cathelicidin LL-37, on PL's monolayer behavior. The addition of choline to the growth medium influenced the mutual proportions of phospholipids extracted from L. gormanii. Four classes of phospholipids—phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), cardiolipin (CL), and their mixtures—were used to register compression isotherms with or without the LL-37 peptide in the subphase. Based on them the excess area ( A e ), excess ( Δ G e ), and total ( Δ G m ) Gibbs energy of mixing were determined. The thermodynamic analyses revealed that the PL − choline monolayer showed greater repulsive forces between molecules in comparison to the ideal system, while the PL + choline monolayer was characterized by greater attraction. The LL-37 peptide affected the strength of interactions between phospholipids' molecules and reduced the monolayers stability. Accordingly, the changes in interactions in the model membranes allowed us to determine the difference in their susceptibility to the LL-37 peptide depending on the choline supplementation of bacterial culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are low-complexity biomimetic membranes, serving as popular experimental platforms to study membrane organization and lipid transfer, membrane uptake of nanoparticles and biomolecules, and many other processes. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring has been utilized to probe the influence of several parameters on the quality of SLBs formed on Au- and SiO2-coated sensors. The influence of the aqueous medium (i.e., buffer type) and the adsorption temperature, above and below the lipid melting point, is neatly explored for SLBs of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine formed by a solvent exchange. Below the lipid melting temperature, quality variations are observed upon the formation on Au and SiO2 surfaces, with the SLBs being more homogeneous for the latter. We further investigate how the buffer affects the detection of lipid melting in SLBs, a transition that necessitates high-sensitivity and time-consuming surface-sensitive techniques to be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In non-invasive blood glucose measurement, the sensitivity of glucose-induced optical signals within human tissue is a crucial reference point. This study evaluates the sensitivity of glucose-induced diffuse reflectance in the 1000–1700 nm range. A key factor in understanding this sensitivity is the rate at which the scattering coefficient changes due to glucose, as it is significantly higher than in non-living media and predominantly influences the diffuse light signal level when blood glucose levels change. The study measured and calculated the changes in the scattering coefficient at 1314 nm, a wavelength chosen for its minimal interference from glucose absorption and other bodily constituents. Based on the Mie scattering theory and the results at 1314 nm, the changes in the scattering coefficient within the 1000–1700 nm range were estimated. Subsequently, the sensitivity of the glucose signal across this range was determined through Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The findings from 25 human trials indicate that the measured sensitivities at five other typical wavelengths within this band generally align with the sensitivities calculated using the aforementioned method. This research can guide the identification of blood glucose signals and the selection of wavelengths for non-invasive blood glucose measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the influence of social media on patients regarding aesthetic dental treatments according to sex, type of treatment, and time since their last treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey. Participants were students over 18 years of age who were social media users and had undergone aesthetic dental treatment. 504 responses were included. Data evaluation was made using Pearson chi-square test. The level of significance was set at p <.05. 29.37% of the respondents indicated that social media influenced their decision to have their aesthetic treatment. Regarding the influence of social media, no differences were observed between males and females, nor by type of aesthetic treatment. Participants who had undergone an aesthetic dental treatment within the last year were more influenced by social media than those who had undergone it more than two years ago. Posts from dental clinics or dentists were the type of content that most influenced participants. Social media can influence some patients' decision to undergo aesthetic dental treatment, thus dental practices and dentists should consider the increasing importance of social media in their daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel strategy to fabricate porous calcium hex-aluminate (CA 6) ceramics using CaCl 2 -KCl as reactive medium. Effects of CaCl 2 -KCl content and sintering temperature on microstructure and properties of porous CA 6 ceramics are systematically studied. CaCl 2 -KCl serves as both a pore former and an additional source of CaO, eliminating the need for additional salt-washing treatment. By optimizing CaCl 2 -KCl content to 20 wt%, porous CA 6 ceramics with well cross-interlocking plate-like structures, possessing low thermal conductivity of 0.32 W·(m·K)−1 (1000°C), high apparent porosity of 68.28%, and desirable compressive strength of 6.76 MPa, are fabricated at 1300°C. This work not only validates the promising applicability of porous CA 6 materials for thermal insulation, but also introduces an auspicious fabrication methodology for thermal insulation materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental disorders significantly impact individuals and societies globally. Addressing societal stigma is crucial, as it affects help-seeking behaviors and the effectiveness of treatment for mental disorders. Objective: This study aims to explore the knowledge and perceptions of the Spanish population toward mental disorders and their treatment, assess changes in mental health stigma over time, and examine variations across sociodemographic variables by comparing current results with previous studies. Methods: A panel of three psychiatrists designed a questionnaire to collect public opinions about various aspects of mental illness in Spain, covering topics such as social perception, diagnostic reliability, causes, symptoms, treatment, suicide, and media influence. The survey, conducted from October to December 2022, involved 1,002 Spanish individuals aged 18-70. Results: Our results indicated an improved general knowledge of mental health, reduced stigma, and greater acceptance of those affected by these disorders, compared to past research. Almost 80% of the participants have accurate knowledge regarding the complex and multifactorial nature of mental illnesses. Around 90% of the participants share the belief that stigma affects those affected by mental disorders. Psychological and pharmacological treatment are considered to be effective and helpful by more than 70% of the sample. More than 60% of the participants highlighted that suicide needs to be addressed appropriately in the media. Conclusion: These findings suggest a significant shift in how Spanish society views mental disorders, marking progress over decades of discrimination. Reducing the stigma associated with mental health can encourage individuals to seek assistance without the fear of judgment or discrimination, thereby increasing the likelihood of early intervention and treatment. Open conversations about mental health within families, communities, and workplaces can create a supportive environment that enhances recovery. However, continued efforts and awareness campaigns targeted to broader audiences remain necessary. Responsible media portrayals of mental health, avoiding stigmatizing language or sensationalism, are also essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study synthesizes 34 effect sizes from 18 articles involving 9,271 participants to investigate how media multitasking influences enjoyment under different circumstances. The moderating effects of task combination, sample demographics, and methodological artifacts are examined. Study results indicate that task relevance boosts the positive relationship between media multitasking and enjoyment, with sample mean age and gender ratio being controlled. Sample demographics also moderate the relationship between media multitasking and enjoyment, with community samples and men reporting higher levels of enjoyment than student samples and women. Lab studies yield lower enjoyment than their non-lab counterparts; single-item measures of enjoyment generate more positive results than multi-item measures. Moreover, when studies using non-media tasks are excluded, surveys, older generations, and studies with social media interaction as the secondary task report higher multi-screening enjoyment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patient-derived organoids have emerged as a promising in vitro model for precision medicine, particularly in cancer, but also in noncancer-related diseases. However, the optimal culture medium for culturing patient-derived lung organoids has not yet been agreed upon. This study aimed to shed light on the optimal selection of a culture media for developing studies using patient-derived lung organoids. Methods: Tumor and normal paired tissue from 71 resected non-small cell lung cancer patients were processed for organoid culture. Lung cancer organoids (LCOs) were derived from tumor tissue and normal lung organoids (LNOs) from nonneoplastic lung tissue. Three different culture media were compared: permissive culture medium (PCM), limited culture medium (LCM), and minimum basal medium (MBM). We assessed their effectiveness in establishing organoid cultures, promoting organoid growth and viability, and compared their differential phenotypic characteristics. Results: While PCM was associated with the highest success rate and useful for long-term expansion, MBM was the best option to avoid normal organoid overgrowth in the organoid culture. The density, size, and viability of LNOs were reduced using LCM and severely affected with MBM. LNOs cultured in PCM tend to differentiate to bronchospheres, while alveolosphere differentiation can be observed in those cultured with LCM. The morphological phenotype of LCO was influenced by the culture media of election. Mesenchymal cell overgrowth was observed when LCM was used. Conclusion: This work highlights the importance of considering the research objectives when selecting the most suitable culture medium for growing patient-derived lung organoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]