Search Results (786)

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) are marked by progressive network dysfunction that challenges conventional, protocol-based neurorehabilitation. In parallel, neuromodulation, encompassing deep brain stimulation (DBS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and artificial intelligence (AI), has matured rapidly, offering complementary levers to tailor therapy in real time. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence at the intersection of AI and neuromodulation in neurorehabilitation, focusing on how data-driven models can personalize stimulation and improve functional outcomes. We conducted a targeted literature synthesis of peer-reviewed studies identified via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and reference chaining, prioritizing recent clinical and translational reports on adaptive/closed-loop systems, predictive modeling, and biomarker-guided protocols. Across indications, convergent findings show that AI can optimize device programming, enable state-dependent stimulation, and support clinician decision-making through multimodal biomarkers derived from neural, kinematic, and behavioral signals. Key barriers include data quality and interoperability, model interpretability and safety, and ethical and regulatory oversight. Here we argue that AI-enhanced neuromodulation reframes neurorehabilitation from static dosing to adaptive, patient-specific care. Advancing this paradigm will require rigorous external validation, standardized reporting of control policies and artifacts, clinician-in-the-loop governance, and privacy-preserving analytics. Full article

The general objective of this research was to investigate the attitudes of Bucharest students toward artificial intelligence (AI)—in particular, ChatGPT—in relation to their personality traits, coping strategies, and personal values to identify psychosocial approaches for students’ effective reporting toward this AI product. As there was no instrument validated and calibrated on Romanian students, the scale constructed by Acosta-Enriquez et al. in 2024 was adapted to students from Bucharest (N = 508). Following the item analysis, the adapted scale was reduced to 16 items, and, following the factor analysis (EFA–0.81 < α < 0.91), the structure with three factors (cognitive, affective, and behavioral components), explaining 53% of the variation in Bucharest students’ attitudes toward ChatGPT, was maintained considering the results of the confirmatory factor analysis—CFA (χ²(79) = 218.345, p < 0.001; CMIN/DF = 2.486; CFI = 0.911; TLI = 0.900; RMSEA = 0.058 (90% CI: 0.50–0.065). The present study showed that 85.53% of the research subjects used ChatGPT at least once, of which 24.11% have a positive/open attitude toward ChatGPT, and that there are correlations (p < 0.01; 0.23 < r² < 0.50) between students’ attitudes toward ChatGPT and several personality traits, coping strategies, and personal values. It also proves that the three components of the attitude toward ChatGPT (cognitive, affective, and behavioral) are correlated with a series of personality traits, coping strategies, and personal values of students. Although the general objective was achieved and the adapted scale has adequate psychometric qualities, the authors propose in future studies to expand the group of subjects so that the scale can be validated at the level of the Romanian population. In this research, at the end, several concrete approaches are proposed for the effective reporting of students toward this AI product, which, beyond the ethical challenges, also recognizes the benefits of technology in the evolution of education. Full article

This theoretical article explores the contrasting ontologies, axiologies, and political economies of transhumanism and posthumanism. Transhumanism envisions the human as an enhanced, autonomous agent shaped by neoliberal and Enlightenment ideals. Posthumanism challenges this by emphasizing relationality, ecological entanglement, and critiques of commodification. Both engage with technology’s role in reshaping humanity. Drawing on Braidotti’s posthumanism, Haraway’s cyborg figuration, Ahmed’s politics of emotion, Berlant’s cruel optimism, Massumi’s affective modulation, Seigworth and Gregg’s affective intensities, Zuboff’s surveillance capitalism, Fisher’s capitalist realism, Cooper’s surplus life, Sadowski’s digital capitalism, Lupton’s quantified self, Schafheitle et al.’s datafied subject, Pasquale’s black box society, Terranova’s network culture, Bratton’s platform sovereignty, Dean’s communicative capitalism, and Morozov’s technological solutionism, the article elucidates how subjectivity, data, and infrastructure are reorganized by corporate systems. Introducing technogensis as the co-creation of human and technological subjectivities, it links corporate-platform practices to future trajectories governed by Apple, Meta, and Google. These branded technologies function not only as enhancements but as infrastructures of governance that commodify subjectivity, regulate affect and behavior, and reproduce socio-economic stratification. A future is extrapolated where humans are not liberated by technology but incubated, intubated, and ventilated by techno-conglomerate governments. These attention-monopolizing, affective-capturing, behavior-modulating, and profit-extracting platforms do more than enhance; they brand subjectivity, rendering existence subscription-based under the guise of personal optimization and freedom. This reframes transhumanism as a cybernetic intensification of liberal subjectivity, offering tools to interrogate governance, equity, agency, and democratic participation, and resist techno-utopian narratives. Building on this, a posthumanist alternative emphasizes relational, multispecies subjectivities, collective agency, and ecological accountability, outlining pathways for ethical design and participatory governance to resist neoliberal commodification and foster emergent, open-ended techno-social futures. Full article

This study examines the relationship between attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) and AI dependency among Ecuadorian university students. A cross-sectional design was used, applying two validated instruments: the Artificial Intelligence Dependence Scale (DAI) and the General Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS), with a sample of 540 students. Structural equation modeling (SEM) assessed how both positive and negative attitudes predict dependency levels. Results indicate a moderate level of AI dependency and an ambivalent attitudinal profile. Both attitudinal dimensions significantly predicted dependency, suggesting dual-use behaviors shaped by perceived utility and ethical concerns. Urban students reported higher dependency and greater sensitivity to AI-related risks, highlighting digital inequalities. Although the SEM model showed adequate comparative fit (CFI = 0.976; TLI = 0.973), residual indicators (RMSEA = 0.075) suggest further refinement is needed. This study contributes to underexplored Latin American contexts and emphasizes the need for equity-driven digital literacy strategies in higher education. Findings support pedagogical frameworks promoting critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and responsible AI use. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), reinforcing the importance of inclusive, learner-centered approaches to AI integration. Full article

Objectives: To theorize the work-related dimension involved in the process of reconciling work and personal roles among nurses working in Intensive Care Units. Methods: Constructivist grounded theory was employed to conceptualize the phenomenon of interest from the perspectives of nurses, their families, and administrative staff. Data were derived from 202 h of non-participant observation in two high-complexity hospitals in Chile (one public and one private), 57 institutional documents, and 51 in-depth interviews. Data analysis followed the constant comparative method and multilevel coding. To ensure methodological rigor, the study adhered to the 13 criteria for constructivist grounded theory research proposed by Charmaz and Thornberg and was approved by a scientific ethics committee. Results: Work-related roles are defined as the set of behaviors associated with the professional context, which are shaped by nine sources of interaction: (1) Job content; (2) Workload and pace; (3) Work schedule; (4) Control; (5) Environment and equipment; (6) Organizational culture; (7) Interpersonal relationships; (8) Function within the organization; and (9) Career development. Conclusions: The study presents the theorization process of the work-related dimension involved in the reconciliation of work and personal roles among nurses in Intensive Care Units. Work-related roles are essential to understanding this reconciliation process. The findings provide evidence for the existence of nine sources of interaction, which are influenced by institutional strategic planning and, in turn, by national and international public policies. Full article

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and disabling psychiatric condition with limited treatment options for patients who are resistant to conventional pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions. Stem cell (SC)-based therapies have emerged as a promising experimental approach, offering multifaceted mechanisms of action including neurogenesis, immunomodulation, antioxidative protection, and neuromodulation. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence from preclinical studies and early-phase clinical trials on the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in alleviating depressive-like behaviors. Mechanistic insights include enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis, modulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–TrkB pathway, attenuation of neuroinflammation through microglial polarization, and restoration of serotonergic signaling via peripheral-to-central pathways such as via the vagus nerve. In addition, the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and intranasal administration as non-invasive delivery strategies is discussed. While animal and first preclinical studies suggest potential benefit, significant translational barriers remain, including issues of scalability, long-term safety, and ethical considerations. Further rigorous studies are needed to validate stem-cell-based therapies as viable treatments for MDD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cultural diversity in healthcare settings is rapidly increasing, posing complex ethical and communication challenges for nurses. Competence in navigating cultural differences, alongside ethical sensitivity, is essential to delivering patient-centered care. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses’ cultural competence—measured as transcultural self-efficacy—and their knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning healthcare ethics in primary care settings in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 492 nurses using validated Greek versions of the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool (TSET–Gr) and the Nurses’ Ethics Questionnaire (NEQ–Gr). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to assess correlations and predictive relationships between demographic variables, cultural self-efficacy subscales, and ethical constructs. Results: Nurses demonstrated moderate to high levels of cultural self-efficacy and ethical sensitivity. Affective self-efficacy was the highest-rated subscale and showed strong positive associations with ethical knowledge (r = 0.27, p < 0.001) and ethical attitudes (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that higher educational attainment significantly predicted both practical (b = 0.12, p = 0.045) and affective self-efficacy (b = 0.15, p = 0.002), as well as better ethical knowledge and attitudes. Notably, more years of experience were associated with lower self-perceived cultural competence. Nurses working in multicultural regions reported more favorable ethical orientations. Conclusions: Cultural competence, particularly emotional readiness to engage with cultural diversity, is a significant predictor of ethical awareness and behavior in nursing practice. Investment in continuous professional development, education, and supportive work environments is essential for cultivating both ethical sensitivity and culturally responsive care. Full article

Sierra Leone possesses distinct educational, economic, and social characteristics. Public universities in the country, funded by the government, are mandated to promote sustainable development, ethical conduct, and social welfare, aligning with national development strategies such as the Midterm National Development Plan and the Education Sector Plan, which emphasize leadership, diversity, and ethical standards to advance sustainable development practices. This study applies Transformational Leadership Theory to investigate the influence of transformational leadership on corporate social responsibility, exploring the mediating role of innovative work behavior and the moderating effect of organizational culture on this relationship. Using a stratified sampling technique, data were collected from 367 employees across six public universities in Sierra Leone and analyzed with SMART PLS software 4.1.1.2. The findings revealed that transformational leadership positively and significantly impacts corporate social responsibility and innovative work behavior, with innovative work behavior partially mediating the relationship between transformational leadership and corporate social responsibility, while organizational culture positively and significantly moderates this relationship. Based on these findings, the study recommends that public universities in Sierra Leone integrate transformational leadership principles into their institutional frameworks to improve organizational outcomes and leadership effectiveness. This can be achieved through leadership development programs emphasizing transformational attributes such as inspirational motivation, individualized consideration, and vision-sharing, alongside mentorship programs for leaders at all levels to strengthen leadership skills and foster an organizational culture aligned with institutional goals. Full article

Judging a person’s appearance as beautiful or ugly is not a factual description but an aesthetic act. Kant believed that the human figure is the ideal of beauty, and at the same time, beauty can positively symbolize morality. However, regarding the correlation between aesthetics and morality, the Chapter “De Chong Fu 德充符” in the Zhuangzi offers us a strikingly insightful perspective that is transcendent and religious. The characters depicted in “De Chong Fu 德充符” have incomplete physical forms and ugly appearances, which seemingly do not qualify as symbols of morality in Kant’s sense. Yet, their behavior and demeanor precisely reflect their detachment from external physical forms and their inner virtue being full. This inner virtue embodies a religious ethic that transcends individual and subjective perspectives. This paper posits that there is a deeper and more thought-provoking connection between virtue and physical form in Zhuangzi’s philosophy. The aim of this paper is to explore the issue of self-transcendence in Zhuangzi’s philosophy from the perspective of religious ethics, using the relationship between the body, beauty, and virtue in Lao–Zhuang philosophy as a guiding thread. This paper will be divided into three main parts: the first part introduces the topic through the symbolic relationship between beauty and morality in Kant; the second part discusses the transcendence of aesthetics and physical form in Daoist philosophy and provides a section-by-section analysis of Chapter “De Chong Fu 德充符” of the Zhuangzi; and the third part summarizes the relationship between virtue and form in “De Chong Fu 德充符”. The paper argues that the transcendence of the physical form by virtue, as reflected in Chapter “De Chong Fu 德充符”, is an embodiment of religious ethics. In Lao–Zhuang philosophy, due to their deep understanding of the nature of beauty and the nature of the body, there is no necessary positive connection between beauty and form. Virtue does not necessarily need to rely on beauty as a symbol to be realized, and there can still be a positive connection between a defective physical form and virtue. In conclusions, the paper proposes the modern inspiration of self-transcendence reflected in Zhuangzi’s “De Chong Fu 德充符”. Full article

This paper proposes a structured design framework and system architecture for a non-intrusive spatial system aimed at supporting child behavior in everyday domestic environments. Rooted in ethical considerations, our approach defines four core behavior-guided design strategies: routine recovery, emotion-responsive adjustment, behavioral transition induction, and external linkage. Each strategy is meticulously translated into a detailed system logic that outlines input conditions, trigger thresholds, and feedback outputs, designed for implementability with ambient sensing technologies. Through a comparative conceptual analysis of three sensing configurations—low-resolution LiDARs, mmWave radars, and environmental sensors—we evaluate their suitability based on technical feasibility, spatial integration, operationalized privacy metrics, and ethical alignment. Supported by preliminary technical observations from lab-based sensor tests, low-resolution LiDAR emerges as the most balanced option for its ability to offer sufficient behavioral insight while enabling edge-based local processing, robustly protecting privacy, and maintaining compatibility with compact residential settings. Based on this, we present a working three-layered system architecture emphasizing edge processing and minimal-intrusion feedback mechanisms. While this paper primarily focuses on the framework and design aspects, we also outline a concrete pilot implementation plan tailored for small-scale home environments, detailing future empirical validation steps for system effectiveness and user acceptance. This structured design logic and pilot framework lays a crucial foundation for future applications in diverse residential and care contexts, facilitating longitudinal observation of behavioral patterns and iterative refinement through lived feedback. Ultimately, this work contributes to the broader discourse on how technology can ethically and developmentally support children’s autonomy and well-being, moving beyond surveillance to enable subtle, ambient, and socially responsible spatial interactions attuned to children’s everyday lives. Full article

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a transformative technology in managing Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), offering novel solutions for early diagnosis, continuous patient monitoring, and assistive care. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of IoT-enabled systems tailored to AD care, focusing on wearable biosensors, cognitive monitoring tools, smart home automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytics. A systematic literature survey was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify, screen, and synthesize 236 relevant studies primarily published between 2020 and 2025 across IEEE Xplore, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria targeted peer-reviewed articles that proposed or evaluated IoT-based solutions for AD detection, progression monitoring, or patient assistance. Key findings highlight the effectiveness of the IoT in detecting behavioral and cognitive changes, enhancing safety through real-time alerts, and improving patient autonomy. The review also explores integration challenges such as data privacy, system interoperability, and clinical adoption. The study reveals critical gaps in real-world deployment, clinical validation, and ethical integration of IoT-based systems for Alzheimer’s care. This study aims to serve as a definitive reference for researchers, clinicians, and developers working at the intersection of the IoT and neurodegenerative healthcare. Full article

This study investigates the impact of minimalism on ethical consumption within the framework of the Value–Identity–Personal Norms (VIP) model. Data were collected from 340 Turkish consumers using a convenience sampling method and an online survey. Analyses were conducted with SmartPLS, employing the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach to examine the relationships among the constructs. The results reveal that minimalism, conceptualized as a value, significantly shapes environmentally responsible behavior by strengthening environmental identity and personal norms, which in turn drive ethical consumption choices. By extending the VIP model, the research positions minimalism not only as a lifestyle but also as a value-based orientation that aligns with biospheric values in encouraging pro-environmental actions. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of sustainability communication as a crucial mechanism for reinforcing the connection between minimalistic values and ethical consumer behavior. It also highlights the mediating role of environmental identity between values (both biospheric and minimalistic) and personal norms, supporting the view that values influence behavior indirectly through psychological constructs. Overall, the findings demonstrate that minimalism positively affects environmental identity and personal norms, thereby fostering ethical consumption in line with the theoretical perspectives of the Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) and pro-environmental behavior models. This research provides valuable insights into how minimalism can be integrated into sustainability communication strategies to promote sustainable consumption, particularly in emerging economies. Full article

Ethical leadership is crucial for cultivating a committed and engaged workforce, but the specific psychological processes behind this link are not fully understood. Drawing on social learning and relational identity theories, we propose a multi-stage model where ethical leadership boosts employee engagement by first increasing supervisor–employee value congruence and then strengthening organizational identification. Using data from 444 employees and 375 supervisors, we found that ethical leadership indirectly influences employee engagement through this sequential process. This study confirms that ethical leadership fosters shared values between supervisors and employees, which in turn enhances an employee’s sense of belonging to the organization. This value congruence was found to be a full mediator between ethical leadership and organizational identification. This research contributes to leadership theory by detailing the psychological path from ethical leadership to employee engagement. Our findings also offer practical insights for organizations, emphasizing the need to focus on value alignment and leadership development to create a highly engaged workforce. Full article

Introduction: Negative behaviors in nursing undermine well-being, erode team cohesion, and jeopardize patient safety. Rooted in systemic stressors—workload, emotional strain, and power imbalances—they have far-reaching effects on job satisfaction and care quality. Objective: To systematically map the scientific evidence on negative behaviors among nurses in healthcare organizations. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using five databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, and RCAAP (for grey literature). The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Two independent reviewers conducted data extraction and synthesis. Results: Eighteen studies published between 2017 and 2024 met inclusion criteria from an initial pool of 88 references. Eleven thematic domains emerged: (1) the cycle of violence; (2) victims profile; (3) perpetrator profile; (4) negative behaviors spectrum; (5) negative behaviors prevalence; (6) risk predictors; (7) protective predictors; (8) impact of negative behaviors on nurses; (9) impact of negative behaviors on patients; (10) impact of negative behaviors on healthcare organizations; (11) organizational strategies and the role of the nurse managers. Conclusions: The findings highlight the multidimensional nature of negative behaviors and the variability in how they are defined and assessed. This review highlights the need for conceptual clarity and standardized tools to address negative behaviors in nursing. Nurse managers, as key organizational agents, play a critical role in fostering psychological safety, promoting ethical leadership, and ensuring accountability. System-level strategies that align leadership with organizational values are essential to protect workforce well-being and safeguard patient care. Full article

This research examines the cognitive and psychological mechanisms underlying young adults’ reactions to ESG-labeled online advertisements, specifically resistance to persuasion and purchase intention. Based on dual-process theories of persuasion and digital literacy theory, we develop and test a structural equation model (SEM) of perceived greenwashing, online advertising literacy, source credibility, persuasion knowledge, and advertising skepticism as predictors of behavioral intention. Data were gathered from 690 Greek consumers between the ages of 18–35 years through an online survey. All the direct effects hypothesized were statistically significant, while advertising skepticism was the strongest direct predictor of purchase intention. Mediation tests indicated that persuasion knowledge and skepticism partially mediated perceptions of greenwashing, literacy, and credibility effects, in favor of a complementary dual-route process of ESG message evaluation. Multi-group comparisons revealed significant moderation effects across gender, age, education, ESG familiarity, influencer trust, and ad-avoidance behavior. Most strikingly, women evidenced stronger resistance effects via persuasion knowledge, whereas younger users and those with lower familiarity with ESG topics were more susceptible to skepticism and greenwashing. Education supported the processing of source credibility and digital literacy cues, underlining the contribution of informational capital to persuasion resilience. The results provide theoretical contributions to digital persuasion and resistance with practical implications for marketers, educators, and policymakers seeking to develop ethical ESG communication. Future research is invited to broaden cross-cultural understanding, investigate emotional mediators, and incorporate experimental approaches to foster consumer skepticism and trust knowledge in digital sustainability messages. Full article