Local Context Research Articles

Latinity and Modernity: Cultural Identities and Transnational Exchange in a Globalizing World

This article introduces the concept of Latinity as a central term in shaping debates about modernity, progress and cultural identities in Southern Europe and Latin America since the mid-nineteenth century. During this time, Latin countries struggled with their perceived decline in the face of rising global powers. In the midst of rapid globalization, technological advancements and shifting political dynamics, Latin intellectuals revisited their cultural identities and Latinity’s role in the modern world. This reflection, inherently transnational but adapted to local contexts, was often framed by a barbarism-civilization dichotomy rooted in ancient and premodern ideas of Hellenicity, Romanitas and Latinitas. These legacies evolved to shape pan-Latinism and various cultural, political and ideological projects. This introductory article provides a comprehensive overview of recent scholarship on Latinity and presents the key themes explored by the contributors throughout the remainder of this special issue.

Navigating Tradition and Modernity: The Impact of Transnational Islam in Gorontalo, Indonesia

This research investigated the entry of Transnational Islam in Gorontalo, Indonesia, focusing on Tablighi Jamaat and Wahdah Islamiyah (Salafi). Addressing gaps in previous studies, this work explores why Gorontalo Muslims, despite early rejection, have embraced these movements. The study examines how transnational Islam responds to local cultural Gorontalo influences that affect the authenticity of Islamic teachings. Using a qualitative ethnographic approach, the research highlights key factors contributing to this acceptance, such as the emphasis on returning to the Quran and Sunnah, reinforcing aqidah (creed), tauhid (monotheism), and the importance of faith and good deeds. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on transnational Islam by offering new insights into its adaptation within local contexts, particularly in response to globalization. The findings are structured around key themes, such as doctrinal purity, dawah efforts, and the rejection of political agendas, which resonate with Gorontalo’s Muslim population across social classes. The theoretical frameworks of modernity and religious authority inform the analysis, illustrating how transnational movements negotiate global and local dynamics while maintaining a commitment to return to Islamic teachings under the guidance of the Al-Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet.

Measuring international posture at an internationalised university in Barcelona: an exploration of gender, language, and educational and intercultural trajectories

ABSTRACT This study investigates local first-year undergraduates’ international posture (Yashima, 2002, 2009) when starting studies at an internationalised university in the multicultural and multilingual context of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). We aimed, first, to explore the configuration of the international posture measurement model (Yashima, 2009) in a European university and to contrast it with Yashima’s (2009) model developed in Japan. Second, we aimed to investigate what individual variables interact with students’ degree of international posture. Five hundred and two students answered two questionnaires covering their background profile and Yashima’s international posture scale. Factor analyses and descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Our analysis resulted in three sub-scales with a total of 14 items, in contrast to Yashima’s original 20 items structured into four sub-scales. Higher scores were reported for questionnaire items focused on intergroup relationships in local contexts rather than interactions abroad. Regarding individual variables, being a female and having intercultural friendships emerged as the most predictive factors. In contrast, individual plurilingualism, readiness to move within the country for university studies, and choosing a degree with a high proportion of English-medium instruction only partially predicted undergraduates’ high international posture in this European higher education context.

An Assessment of Agent-Based Modelling Tools for Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change

Human-induced climate change has highlighted the need for community-based adaptation (CBA) to build resilience in vulnerable communities. CBA empowers communities to leverage their resources and skills in shaping effective adaptation strategies. Agent-based modelling (ABM) is a suitable tool to develop tailored strategies that account for local capacities, priorities, and cultural contexts. This study assesses ABM tools for their suitability to model CBA, focusing on key criteria such as agent definition, sensitivity analysis, scalability, and experiment design. A comprehensive review of available ABM tools identifies NetLogo as the most fitting tool by its features, due to its flexibility in handling complex community–environment interactions. GAMA and Envision are nearly as suitable, offering robust support for modelling socio-economic and environmental dynamics. This article provides guidance for researchers and practitioners in choosing an appropriate ABM tool aligning with the specific needs of CBA, ensuring contextually relevant and sustainable adaptation solutions.

Disease Risk Score Derivation and Validation in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment is a key tool in primary prevention. The ADRS (Abu Dhabi Risk Study) is a retrospective cohort study aiming to develop 10-year risk prediction equations for coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and validate international risk equations. The 8699 participants were examined in the Abu Dhabi cardiovascular screening program from 2011 to 2013 with a subsequent average follow-up of 9.2 years. They were assessed in 2023 for new CAD, admissions for acute coronary syndrome, or stroke. The validation cohort, 2554 subjects, is from the 2016 to 2017 Abu Dhabi community screening program, with 6.67 years average follow-up. Of 8504 ASCVD-free subjects, 250 experienced new CAD events. ASCVD risk factors in this population were age, sex, smoking, high cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio, and diabetes diagnosis, in addition to low vitamin D level and low glomerular filtration rate. Three ADRS prediction models were derived using Cox regression. The ADRS-CAD had a C statistic of 0.899 (0.882-0.916) compared with 0.828 (0.803-0.852) for the Framingham Risk Score in the same sample. ADRS-stroke had a C statistic of 0.904 (0.865-0.944). The ADRS-ASCVD had a C statistic of 0.898 (0.883-0.913) compared with 0.891 (0.875-0.907) of pooled cohort equations and 0.825 (0.802-0.847) for Framingham Risk Score-cardiovascular disease. Applying our formulas to the validation cohort yielded C statistics of 0.825 (0.803-0.846), 0.799 (0.774-0.824), and 0.761 (0.71-0.813) for ASCVD, CAD, and stroke, respectively. The pooled cohort equations in this cohort had a C statistic for ASCVD of 0.824 (0.802-0.846). This study demonstrates the value of tailoring risk assessments to local populations and health care contexts.

Leveraging group model building to operationalize implementation strategies across implementation phases: an exemplar related to child maltreatment intervention selection

BackgroundImplementation strategies can help support the adoption and implementation of health interventions that are appropriate for a local context and acceptable to decision makers and community members. Implementation strategies should be designed to handle the complexity of the multi-level, dynamic contexts in which interventions are implemented. Systems science theories and methods explicitly attend to complexity and can be valuable for specifying implementation strategies. Group Model Building (GMB) combines research partner engagement strategies with systems science to support researchers’ and partners’ learning about complex problems and to identify solutions through consensus. This paper specifies how GMB can operationalize implementation strategies — methods for supporting evidence implementation in real-world practice — and describes how GMB can aid in selecting and tailoring both health interventions and implementation strategies. A case study in child maltreatment prevention planning is provided to illustrate how GMB was used to specify the “actions” — strategy activities — for three implementation strategies (conduct local consensus discussions; build a coalition; model and simulate change) during the earliest implementation phases, with the goal of supporting intervention selection decisions. Examples are provided of generalizable research products that can be produced concurrently through GMB, in addition to contextually-driven implementation support.MethodsParticipants (n = 8) were engaged over four sessions using tailored GMB activities. Participants generated a qualitative system dynamics model that described their theory of change for how to prevent child maltreatment in their communities. This theory of change reflected a dynamic understanding of the interconnected determinants of child maltreatment.ResultsGMB was acceptable to participants and resulted in products that could be used for implementation planning (e.g., to model and simulate change) and future research. GMB fostered trust and idea sharing between participants.ConclusionGMB can facilitate learning about which outcomes are (or are not) impacted by interventions, which resources and approaches are required for quality implementation (e.g., implementation strategies), and tradeoffs in outcomes and resources between interventions. GMB also provides a structured, effective process to generate a shared implementation vision amongst participants. Lessons learned include methods for developing trust with and between participants, and the need for researchers to tailor GMB actions for participant and project needs.

U-Match: Exploring Hierarchy-Aware Local Context for Two-View Correspondence Learning.

Rejecting outlier correspondences is one of the critical steps for successful feature-based two-view geometry estimation, and contingent heavily upon local context exploration. Recent advances focus on devising elaborate local context extractors whereas typically adopting explicit neighborhood relationship modeling at a specific scale, which is intrinsically flawed and inflexible, because 1) severe outliers often populated in putative correspondences and 2) the uncertainty in the distribution of inliers and outliers make the network incapable of capturing adequate and reliable local context from such neighborhoods, therefore resulting in the failure of pose estimation. This prospective study proposes a novel network called U-Match that has the flexibility to enable implicit local context awareness at multiple levels, naturally circumventing the aforementioned issues that plague most existing studies. Specifically, to aggregate multi-level local context implicitly, a hierarchy-aware graph representation module is designed to flexibly encode and decode hierarchical features. Moreover, considering that global context always works collaboratively with local context, an orthogonal local-and-global information fusion module is presented to integrate complementary local and global context in a redundancy-free manner, thus yielding compact feature representations to facilitate correspondence learning. Thorough experimentation across relative pose estimation, homography estimation, visual localization, and point cloud registration affirms U-Match's remarkable capabilities.

Coping Strategies Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Exploration

PurposeTo identify the patterns of stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents living in different cultural settings and to explore how adolescents cope with such stressors, particularly by type of stressor, site, and gender. MethodsThe study was based on focus group discussion data from 9 urban poor communities in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Blantyre (Malawi), Shanghai (China), Semarang and Denpasar (Indonesia), New Orleans (USA), Ghent (Belgium), São Paulo (Brazil), and Santiago (Chile). Translated transcripts from the focus group discussions were uploaded into ATLAS.ti (Version 9.1) and analyzed using an inductive thematic analytical approach to code and identify themes related to the primary objectives. ResultsAdolescents in Blantyre and Kinshasa reported stressors primarily related to economic constraints and hardships, whereas adolescents in other sites were more likely to report stressors related to school lockdowns. Patterns of coping strategies also loosely aligned with these differences, as adolescents in Blantyre and Kinshasa were also more likely to report using religious coping strategies compared to any other site. Still, the most common coping mechanism mentioned across sites was obtaining social support, with support from friends and family being the most dominant. DiscussionA comprehensive understanding of adolescent stressors and coping mechanisms is valuable for promoting internal resources and positive outcomes for adolescents. Given that adolescents’ stressors and types of coping strategies varied primarily by socioeconomic factors, interventions that aim to bolster positive coping among adolescents need to consider the local context and available resources.

Daily Light Integral Maps for Agriculture Lighting Design in Spain

The Daily Light Integral (DLI) is a key metric to optimise plant cultivation, influence photosynthesis, morphology, yield, and nutritional quality. Our study focuses on (i) the creation of the spatiotemporal DLI map for a representative Mediterranean country, Spain, (ii) the presentation of the improved semi-automatic DLI mapping workflow, (iii) the challenge of the comparability of different DLI value scalings in global (continent) and local context (country). DLI maps provide essential insights into the spatial and temporal distribution of natural and artificial light, critical for optimizing agricultural practices and enhancing crop yields. Spain's diverse topography and climate create significant regional and seasonal variations in DLI values. Using data from SunTracker Technologies and global weather stations, we developed detailed DLI maps at 30-meter resolution. These maps reveal high DLI values in coastal and southern regions, especially in summer, and lower values in northern and interior regions during winter. Our findings emphasize the importance of tailored lighting strategies in agriculture, suggesting higher scaling (from 5 to 2 mol·m−2·d−1) resolution for European contexts. This research underpins the development of smart agricultural systems that both quantitatively and qualitatively regulate lighting conditions (supplementary light and shading management) to maximize crop productivity and sustainability. Integrating DLI maps with IoT and AI technologies offers predictive insights for precision agriculture, highlighting the need for advanced training to leverage these tools effectively.

Bibliometric analysis of augmented reality research in educational sciences

The aim of this study is to determine the distribution of articles on augmented reality in the WOS database in the field of educational sciences by years, keywords and active concepts, active countries, active countries by total number of citations, active countries by citation averages, active authors, active authors by local citation rankings, active researches by global citation rankings, active journals by number of articles, active institutions, country-author-keyword network and popular topics by years. The study used bibliometric analysis, which is one of the quantitative approaches. The data set consisted of 1759 augmented reality articles in the field of educational sciences in the WOS database between 1999 and 1 September 2024. The "Biblioshiny" package program in the "R" programming language was used to analyse the data. The results of the research indicate that the annual growth rate for articles in the field of educational sciences utilizing augmented reality is 24%. The most common keywords are education, augmented reality, students, technology, system, design, science, challenges, performance and virtual reality. The countries with the highest levels of activity in this field are China, the USA, Spain, Turkey, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Serbia, Korea and Japan. China, the USA and Spain are in the first three places in the citation ranking of the countries. According to the citation averages, the ranking is as follows: It was determined that Hwang GJ is the most influential author, Chang HY is the most cited author in the local context, and Wu HK is the most cited author globally. The most influential journal is "Education and Information Technologies," and the most influential institution is National Taiwan Normal University. Popular research topics in augmented reality for 2024 include laboratory skills, virtual reality, and K-12 concepts.

Enhanced scene text recognition using deep learning based hybrid attention recognition network

<span lang="EN-US">The technique of automatically recognizing and transforming text that is present in pictures or scenes into machine-readable text is known as scene text recognition. It facilitates applications like content extraction, translation, and text analysis in real-world visual data by enabling computers to comprehend and extract textual information from images, videos, or documents. Scene text recognition is essential for many applications, such as language translation and content extraction from photographs. The hybrid attention recognition network (HARN), unique technology presented in this research, is intended to greatly improve efficiency and accuracy of text recognition in complicated scene situations. HARN makes use of cutting-edge elements including alignment-free sequence-to-sequence (AFS) module, creative attention mechanisms, and hybrid architecture that blends attention models with convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Thanks to its novel attention processes, HARN is capable of comprehending wide range of scene text components by capturing both local and global context information. Through faster network convergence, shorter training times, and better utilization of computing resources, the suggested technique raises bar for state-of-the-art. HARN’s versatility makes it a good choice for range of scene text recognition applications, including multilingual text analysis and data extraction. Extensive tests are conducted to assess the effectiveness of HARN approach and demonstrate it is ability to greatly influence real-world applications where accurate and efficient text recognition is essential.</span>

Assessment of knowledge, perception, and readiness for telepharmacy-assisted pharmaceutical services among young pharmacists in rural Indonesia

BackgroundThe implementation of telepharmacy technology has expanded significantly, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure continuous pharmaceutical care services. This practice is vital in rural and underserved areas where access to healthcare is limited. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the knowledge, perception, and readiness of young pharmacists in rural Indonesia towards telepharmacy-assisted pharmaceutical services. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2023 in rural areas of Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, Indonesia. A convenience sampling method was employed with the aim of recruiting 520 registered pharmacists under 35 years of age (23–34 years old). Data were collected using an online questionnaire adapted for the local context and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. ResultsThe study achieved an 86.67 % response rate. Most participants were female (73.1 %) and aged between 26 and 30 years (53.8 %). Nearly all pharmacists (97.1 %) held a Pharm.D degree. The knowledge assessment showed high awareness of telepharmacy's importance and its role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 96.15 % recognizing the need for a strong internet connection. Positive perception was noted, with 90.38 % agreeing that telepharmacy enhances medication access in rural areas. However, concerns about increased error rates and workload were highlighted. A substantial proportion of pharmacists expressed readiness for conducting drug counselling via video consultation (44.23 %) and showed a willingness to undergo relevant training (59.62 %). ConclusionYoung pharmacists in rural Indonesia demonstrate a good level of knowledge and generally positive perceptions about telepharmacy, with notable readiness among pharmacists with less than five years of experience. While there is notable willingness to engage in telepharmacy practices and training, addressing concerns about workload and data security through targeted support and training will be crucial for the successful implementation of telepharmacy, potentially enhancing healthcare access in rural areas.

Comparison of Education in New Zealand and Indonesia in Science Subjects in Primary School

In New Zealand, science education is also tailored to the local context and Maori culture, which provides an additional dimension to science learning in primary school. On the other hand, Indonesia has a different approach to science education in elementary schools. The purpose of this study is to understand the differences in science education approaches in New Zealand and Indonesia and their implications for student learning outcomes in elementary schools. This study uses a comparative descriptive approach to evaluate the differences in the approach to science education in primary schools between New Zealand and Indonesia. The results of this study show that there are significant differences in the approach of science education in primary schools between New Zealand and Indonesia, which has an impact on students' learning outcomes and scientific understanding. New Zealand implements an inquiry-based learning approach supported by adequate laboratory facilities and a more ideal teacher-student ratio. This allows students to engage directly in experiments and observations, which helps them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of science. In Indonesia, the science learning approach tends to focus on memorization and theory, with limited laboratory facilities and a large number of students per class, which limits the implementation of practice-based learning. As a result, Indonesian students have lower scientific comprehension scores, as seen in the PISA results. Differences in the quality of educational facilities, teaching methods, and time allocation for science learning in both countries are the main factors that affect student learning outcomes.

White Migration—From the Context of Migration in East Asia

ABSTRACTThis article discusses recent development in the emerging field of white migration studies and particularly focuses on the studies on Western or white migrants in Japan and China in the past decade. It is outlining the main contribution of these studies to critical whiteness studies and migration studies as well as it identifies some of the lacunas in the research and possible theoretical and conceptual directions in which the research in this field can develop further. The article argues that establishing the transnational movement of white bodies as white migrations—what have been rather associated with privilege and different categories of mobility—contributes to contesting of the racialized categories of migration and understanding of the position of whiteness and role of white privilege in the context of global migration. The article suggests that by using common frameworks and concepts with the mainstream migration research and further analysis of the local contexts, the white migration research can contribute to our understanding of whiteness in the context of global migration without reinstating it as a Eurocentric category of research even more.

Determinants of travel mode access for adolescents in developing countries: a literature review

ABSTRACT Mobility and accessibility challenges faced by adolescents aged 12 to 18 are increasingly recognised. However, research from developing countries often overlooks this demographic group. This literature review advances research by identifying the determinants of accessibility to transportation modes and adaptive strategies for adolescents who lack travel options. Our synthesis highlights the significant roles at individual, family, community, and structural levels in accessing and utilising travel modes. It emphasises the important role of parents in determining adolescents’ access to travel modes, noting that a safe environment is a primary concern leading to parental supervision, often through private vehicles. Our review also reveals adaptive strategies among certain adolescents, such as girls walking in groups to socialise and avoid unsafe situations, older adolescents accessing travel modes that offer independence and affordability, and persuasive efforts by younger adolescents leading parents to permit unauthorised private vehicle use. To address these dynamic issues within developing countries, we outline strategies from the literature to ensure a safe environment involving multiple stakeholders while considering variations based on local contexts, such as ideologies related to specific modes. We also highlight the need for further research to better understand adolescent preferences in transportation access across different activities impacting subjective well-being.

INCIDENCE OF PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM IN PATIENTS SUBJECTED TO COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY AND PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AT THE UNIVERSITY CLINICAL HOSPITAL MOSTAR

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism is a serious medical problem with high mortality if not recognized in time. CT pulmonary angiography is a key method for diagnosing pulmonary embolism in patients with nonspecific symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and elevated D-dimer values. Objective: To determine the incidence of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing CT pulmonary angiography at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar. Subjects and methods: A retrospective study included 300 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism who underwent CT pulmonary angiography. Technical imaging parameters included a low-dose protocol with intravenous iodine contrast. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics, with an assessment of the frequency of pulmonary embolism, thrombus localization and incidental findings. Results: Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 27% of patients, with the most frequent involvement of the lobar arteries (43%). Massive emboli were recorded in 33% of cases. The average age of the respondents was 64 years, with an almost equal gender distribution. Elevated D-dimers were not sufficient to confirm the diagnosis in most patients. Incidental findings included pleural effusions, pneumonia, and tumors. Conclusion: CT pulmonary angiography is necessary for accurate diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, especially in patients with nonspecific symptoms. The results highlight the need to combine clinical and imaging methods, as well as adapt diagnostic protocols to reduce radiation exposure and optimize treatment outcomes. In the local context, these guidelines can improve diagnosis and treatment.

Global Trends and Slovak Republic Focus on Environmental, Social and Governance Research

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research to identify global trends and specific focuses within the Slovak Republic. The analysis aims to explore the impact of ESG factors on corporate performance by examining 23,916 publications from 1990 to 2023. The study provides a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the relationship between ESG factors and corporate performance through a systematic analysis of academic publications. The integration of ESG factors into investment decisions and corporate strategies has gained increasing attention in recent decades due to the growing importance of sustainable and responsible business practices. This study identifies the overall trends in ESG research on a global scale and focuses on the developments within the Slovak Republic, offering valuable insights into the unique challenges and opportunities related to ESG factors in the Slovak business environment. The findings of this analysis can enhance policymakers' and corporate leaders' understanding of ESG factors' impact on corporate performance in both a global and local context, and aid researchers in investigating the most relevant and significant ESG research topics.

Analyzing the Diversity and Impacting Factors of Smoke-Free Legislation and Implementation in Mainland China: A Case Qualitative Research.

Since the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005, mainland China has experienced notable delays in implementing the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study aims to examine the legislation and implementation of smoke-free laws in different cities in mainland China, with a particular focus on identifying factors that contribute to these differences. Through a literature review and policy mapping, we gathered information on the variations in smoke-free laws' legislation and implementation across mainland China. To delve deeper into the local specifics of implementation and the factors contributing to these variations, qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 key stakeholders in two selected cities. This group included former policy makers, policy experts, enforcement officers, and public venue owners. Although the revision of Healthy Cities standards advocates for the enactment of smoking bans post-2021, less than half of these cities have implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws. This phenomenon can be partly attributed to the tobacco industry's significant influence in the legislative process and to policy makers' limited understanding of smoking rooms/areas being temporary measures without setting clear end dates for transition periods. We also identified inconsistent implementation across selected cities, attributed to inadequate coordination and workforce shortages. Our study reveals significant variations and delays in the adoption of smoke-free laws across different cities in mainland China. We identify key factors contributing to this disparity, underscoring the urgent need for targeted measures to address these challenges, such as setting up a coordinated department and promoting policy advocacy. This study reveals geographical disparities in the legislative progress and enforcement effectiveness of smoke-free laws in mainland China. Persistent interference from the tobacco industry has obstructed the establishment of comprehensive smoke-free laws. Additionally, policy makers' limited awareness of the harm caused by designated smoking areas, regional economic disparities, and inadequate interdepartmental coordination have impeded effective policy implementation. These findings underscore the urgent need to set enforcement goals aligned with local economic contexts and strengthen policy dialogue to empower policy makers and stakeholders to mitigate tobacco industry influence and achieve successful implementation.

Gains and losses: a phenomenographic study on adolescents’ understanding of isolation due to COVID-19

Purpose This study aims to explore the various ways Filipino adolescents understand their experiences of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on their perceptions of gains and losses during prolonged quarantine. Design/methodology/approach A phenomenographic approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with 17 adolescents aged 16–19 years from a private senior high school in the Philippines. Data were collected through online surveys and virtual interviews, analyzed to identify categories of understanding and construct an outcome space. Findings Adolescents perceive isolation in three primary ways: as a constraint, a necessity and an opportunity. These perceptions reveal a hierarchy of expanding awareness impacting their physical, emotional and social well-being. Isolation as a constraint highlighted limitations and losses, as a necessity emphasized safety and rational acceptance and as an opportunity focused on personal growth and strengthened relationships. Research limitations/implications The qualitative nature and specific demographic focus limit generalizability. The findings provide valuable insights for understanding adolescent experiences and can inform targeted interventions to support their emotional well-being during and post-isolation. Practical implications Programs and interventions designed based on these findings can help adolescents cope with negative emotions associated with isolation, promote their well-being and facilitate smoother transitions back to normalcy post-quarantine. Social implications Understanding adolescents’ perspectives on isolation can guide the development of supportive policies and community programs that address their mental health needs and foster resilience in similar future scenarios. Originality/value This study fills a gap in research by providing a detailed phenomenographic analysis of how Filipino adolescents perceive isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a nuanced understanding of their experiences that can inform both local and broader contexts.

Algorithm-Driven Hedonic Real Estate Pricing – An Explainable AI Approach

AbstractData-driven machine learning algorithms triggered a fundamental change in hedonic real estate pricing. However, their adaptive nonparametric structure makes inference and out-ofsample prediction challenging. This study introduces an explainable approach to interpreting machine learning predictions, which has not been done before in the local market context. Specifically, Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting models are developed for residential real estate price prediction in Warsaw in 2021 on 10,827 property transactions. Model-agnostic Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods are then used to investigate the black box decision making. The results show the practicability of applying XAI frameworks in the real estate market context to decode the rationale behind data-driven algorithms. Information about the relationships between input variables is extracted in greater detail. Accurate, reliable and transparent real estate valuation support tools can offer substantial advantages to participants in the real estate market, including banks, insurers, pension and sovereign wealth funds, as well public authorities and private individuals.