E-Learning in vascular surgery in the POst-COvid-19 era: the EL-POCO international survey.

ABSTRACT Digital technologies offer new opportunities for citizen participation. Although scholarly interest in citizen participation in the digital era has been growing, citizens’ preferences for online versus onsite planning participation remain unclear. Drawing on survey data, this study examines public participation preferences and the factors influencing them across three phases of the planning process in China. Findings show a general preference for onsite participation, linked to more active, outcome-oriented engagement, whereas online participation is driven by convenience and expressive freedom. We propose a hybrid participation system that combines the strengths of both modes to promote more inclusive and effective collaborative planning.

Under the influence of new media and communication platforms, Chinese children's songs in the 21st century have undergone significant alienation. Adult-oriented, pop-music-like, and media-driven audiovisual performances have replaced traditional children's songs, becoming a popular online cultural phenomenon and social problem among teenagers. This divergence from traditional children's musical aesthetics is increasingly controlled by the algorithms and big data of information dissemination platforms in family, school, and social settings. This not only distorts children's nature but also turns teenagers into free entertainment laborers for the platform industry through various motivational online participation. The alienation of children's songs, the alienation of educational dissemination, and the alienation of children's roles must be taken seriously. The disappearance of children's songs is a warning of the disappearance of Chinese children's childhood, which is not only detrimental to the aesthetic education and mental and physical health of teenagers but also to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the realization of the Chinese Dream.

Background For the adolescent group who have grown up alongside the Internet, participating in digital life has become an important part of their daily practices. However, persistent negative online content exposure, interaction experiences and participation in online risky behaviors significant exacerbate adolescents’ developmental risks. This study examined how online content risks, interaction risks, and behavioral risks relate to adolescents’ developmental risks, and whether digital dependence mediates these effects and digital skills moderate them. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 among students from five schools in Y and H provinces, China, including one primary school, one junior high school, one senior high school, one junior college, and one university. 899 students (51.4% girls), aged 10–19 (M age = 14.66, standard deviation [SD] = 2.78), participated. Results Online content risks, interaction risks, and behavioral risks exert significant positive effects on the digital developmental risks of Chinese adolescents. Furthermore, digital dependence significantly mediated the effects of the three online risks on adolescents’ developmental risks related to alienation from reality. Finally, enhanced digital skills mitigated the positive effect of behavioral risks on digital developmental risks. In addition, the control variables of age, educational level, health status, and economic level were all significant predictors of digital developmental risks. Conclusion The results suggest that adolescents’ developmental risks are closely linked to their online experiences, digital dependence, and digital skills. Targeted efforts to reduce harmful online exposure, curb excessive Internet reliance, and strengthen digital competencies may effectively mitigate risks of alienation from reality. Additionally, targeted monitoring and intervention efforts should prioritize those who are older adolescents, have lower educational attainment, are in poorer physical health, or come from economically disadvantaged households.

This article examines digital inequalities in Italy through a sociological lens, arguing that the digital divide is not merely a technological issue but a manifestation of broader social stratification. Drawing on data from ISTAT (2023–2024), the analysis explores disparities in Internet access and computer use among families with minors and young people aged 6–24. While connectivity has reached near universality, significant territorial, educational, and social gaps persist, reflecting enduring inequalities in resources and opportunities. The study interprets these patterns through the framework of first-, second-, and third-level digital divides, linking them to theory of cultural capital and digital capital. Results indicate that inequalities extend beyond access, encompassing differences in digital skills, motivation, and the capacity to translate online participation into educational or social advantages. Gendered expectations further influence these dynamics, shaping distinct patterns of engagement with technology. The discussion highlights how digitalization acts as a mechanism of social reproduction, where access and competence are mediated by pre-existing disparities in education and culture. From a policy perspective, the paper calls for a shift from infrastructure-oriented strategies toward capability-based digital education that fosters critical, ethical, and future-oriented digital citizenship.

This study investigates sociotechnical imaginaries of autonomous vehicles (AVs) using a dual approach: in-lab and online eye-tracking experiments. We examine how cognitive engagement varies across hypothetical decision-making scenarios involving algorithmic failure of AVs. In comparison with non-AV scenarios. This article highlights the characteristics, advantages, and limitations of methods, emphasizing their complementary contributions to understanding how individuals perceive and engage with emerging technologies. The in-lab experiment revealed high-quality and precise data from a homogeneous sample, while the online experiment enabled us to scale the research and explore diverse sociotechnical imaginaries from a global sample through crowd-sourced platforms. Key findings show that both in-lab and online participants exhibited longer gaze durations at one point, predominantly longer in AV scenarios. However, a deeper analysis of overall cognitive engagement revealed that in-lab participants, with more concentrated sociotechnical imaginaries, were more focused on non-AV scenarios, indicating a stronger emphasis on human decision-making. In contrast, online participants, whose imaginaries may be shaped by global perspectives and diverse experiences with data and algorithms, displayed increased attention toward AV scenarios, with significant visual variations among participants, reflecting global interest or concern over high-stakes algorithmic decisions. These findings contribute to our understanding of how perception of AVs differs globally and offer insights into emerging concerns around algorithmic decision-making in everyday life.

This study investigates sociotechnical imaginaries of autonomous vehicles (AVs) using a dual approach: in-lab and online eye-tracking experiments. We examine how cognitive engagement varies across hypothetical decision-making scenarios involving algorithmic failure of AVs. In comparison with non-AV scenarios. This article highlights the characteristics, advantages, and limitations of methods, emphasizing their complementary contributions to understanding how individuals perceive and engage with emerging technologies. The in-lab experiment revealed high-quality and precise data from a homogeneous sample, while the online experiment enabled us to scale the research and explore diverse sociotechnical imaginaries from a global sample through crowd-sourced platforms. Key findings show that both in-lab and online participants exhibited longer gaze durations at one point, predominantly longer in AV scenarios. However, a deeper analysis of overall cognitive engagement revealed that in-lab participants, with more concentrated sociotechnical imaginaries, were more focused on non-AV scenarios, indicating a stronger emphasis on human decision-making. In contrast, online participants, whose imaginaries may be shaped by global perspectives and diverse experiences with data and algorithms, displayed increased attention toward AV scenarios, with significant visual variations among participants, reflecting global interest or concern over high-stakes algorithmic decisions. These findings contribute to our understanding of how perception of AVs differs globally and offer insights into emerging concerns around algorithmic decision-making in everyday life.

Abstract This study considers the utility of repeated confidence assessments for improving students’ calibration and investigates whether there are any associations between calibration and gender. Calibration measures how well a student’s beliefs about their mathematical performance align with their actual performance. Confidence assessments require students to express their confidence in their answers and are commonly used to assess and improve calibration through providing confidence-weighted scores. We analysed data from N = 117 online participants, who gave demographic information before answering nine mathematics questions, grouped into blocks of three, stating their confidence alongside each of their responses. After each block of three questions, automated feedback was provided on the participant’s accuracy, and they were given their confidence-weighted score. We found no improvement in calibration across repeated confidence assessments. However, we found strong correlations between calibration and gender, age, location of education, and field of study. Male calibration was on average 25 marks (out of 90) higher than female calibration. Females lost a mean of 13.3 marks through under-confidence in a correct answer, compared to a mean loss of 3.7 marks for males. This strong association between calibration and gender suggests that efforts to improve calibration may need to be adjusted.

Introduction: 38% of LGBTQIA+ individuals report negative experiences within healthcare in the United Kingdom [1], yet no mandatory LGBTQIA+ training exists for NHS staff post-qualification. Simulation-based training can provide a platform to promote culturally competent LGBTQIA+ care [2]. University Hospitals Dorset developed a livestream simulation to increase healthcare staff access to LGBTQIA+ education, with the aim of improving staff confidence in communicating with LGBTQIA+ people. Methods: The simulation was co-produced with LGBTQIA+ community members as knowledge experts with lived experience, including a Transgender woman contacted through the hospital’s Pride Network. The simulation was live streamed via Microsoft Teams from the simulation suite with 40 multiprofessional healthcare staff and students attending online, through voluntary self-selection. Two students participated in the simulation using a high-fidelity manikin voiced by a transgender woman. The scenario focused on pre-operative care, including pregnancy testing, sex assigned at birth, pronouns, and bed allocation in the context of single-sex bays. A facilitated debrief involved in-person participants, online participants through a monitored Teams chat and LGBTQIA+ contributors including a Transgender woman. Online pre- and immediate post-simulation questionnaires captured participant self-assessment and feedback for mixed-method evaluation focusing on accessibility and impact on staff. Results: Accessibility - 87.5% reported this as first time attending LGBTQIA+ training. Rated as easy to engage with, useful and recommendable. Participants included nurses, physicians, administrators, educators, students, OPDs and child health. 27 of 40 online participants actively communicated via Microsoft Teams chat. Confidence - Increased confidence communicating with LGBTQIA+ individuals’ post-session. Valued knowledge experts openly sharing feelings and lived experiences. Qualitative feedback indicated increased awareness of emotional impact of assumptions and importance of open, person-centred communication. Reported online participant disclosed transgender status to peers post-session. Discussion: This project addressed a training gap through accessible simulation that attracted multiprofessional attendees, demonstrating relevance across diverse roles, and increased staff confidence in communicating with LGBTQIA+ individuals. Participants valued the inclusion of diverse faculty and LGBTQIA+ experiences, highlighting the importance of co-production and collaborative facilitation from knowledge experts with lived experience. Feedback from 25% of participants provided valuable insights, and future efforts will focus on increasing response rates for online sessions. Faculty expressed concern about potential incivility in the online format, however none arose likely due to the voluntary session attracting people sensitive to the topic. Research into the process and impact of engaging healthcare staff who would not typically volunteer for such sessions would be valuable. Ethics Statement: As the submitting author, I can confirm that all relevant ethical standards of research and dissemination have been met. Additionally, I can confirm that the necessary ethical approval has been obtained, where applicable.

The 5th Aquaphotomics International Conference marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of Aquaphotomics. It was held from May 17 to May 20 this year at Kobe University under the theme “The Way of Water & Light, The Path of Life” and it was simultaneously streamed online. The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, with both inperson and online participation. On the first day, a public lecture for the general audience was held, followed by the Aquaphotomics School and the Aquaphotomics Workshop. From the second day onward, the program began with an overview session and expanded into a wide range of topics across ten thematic sessions, featuring 46 oral presentations and 15 poster presentations. The presentations covered diverse fields including the applications of Aquaphotomics in agriculture, medicine, and cosmetics, as well as technical themes such as spectroscopy, instrumentation, and chemometrics. Moreover, the conference included sessions on quantum electrodynamics, which drew significant attention. In particular, lectures by physicists specializing in quantum physics and the physical properties of water prompted meaningful discussions with spectroscopy researchers, marking an important step toward the development of a new interdisciplinary research framework. The conference attracted 257 participants from 21 countries, including Japan, and is expected to further promote international and interdisciplinary collaboration, contributing to the advancement of Aquaphotomics, near– infrared spectroscopy and related scientific research.

Alcohol home delivery increases alcohol availability and is associated with high-risk drinking and increased harms. However, little is known about the specific impacts home delivery has among people who consume alcohol at high-risk levels. The current study examined demographics, purchase patterns and alcohol-related harms among Australian adults classified as drinking at high-risk levels, by purchase modality (in-store vs. online for delivery). An online panel survey of 700 Australian adults who drink alcohol at high-risk levels measured demographics, usual purchasing behaviour, most recent alcohol purchase and alcohol-related harms. Participants were classified according to how they purchase alcohol: (i) only in-store (n = 202); (ii) occasionally online (n = 299); and (iii) frequently online (n = 199). Regression models controlling for demographics and clustering by location examined the association between purchase modality and purchasing behaviours and harms. Participants who purchased alcohol frequently online had significantly higher AUDIT-10 scores, were younger, less likely to be female, had higher levels of education, and were more likely to live in high socio-economic areas compared to those purchasing in-store or occasionally online. Participants purchasing frequently online were also significantly more likely to use buy-now-pay-later options than the occasionally online participant group. There were no clear differences in alcohol-related harms experienced by participant groups. The current study reaffirms the need for effective regulations targeting home delivery of alcohol, such as mandated delivery timeframes between sale and delivery and removal of buy-now-pay-later payment options from online alcohol stores.

Despite extensive research on platformization's impact on the media and creative industries, how platforms reshape literary practices and cultural texts, particularly in regions beyond the Global North, remains underexplored. Set in Vietnam's emerging market economy, this article examines how book authors navigate the platformization of literary production within the interplay of local publishing norms and global platform capitalism. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Vietnamese published authors and online participant observation, the article introduces the concept of a vortex of visibility , which illustrates how authors are “pulled” toward the platformization of their work, despite the risks entailed. Within this vortex, authors operate at different intensities: those on the periphery mainly observe online cultural trends; those in the boundary layer use platforms to connect with others in literary communities and build social and symbolic capital; while those at the core focus on cultivating fan bases and commodifying their work. Additionally, many authors articulate a belief in “the sacredness of creativity,” a realm of inner integrity where literary work resists platform logics and external pressures. By centering authors in a periphery region of the global creative economy, this article broadens understandings of creative work under platform capitalism, revealing how Global South creators develop hybrid practices that leverage platform affordances while negotiating to protect creative autonomy.

ABSTRACT This article considers what theatre-as-method can bring to research in Critical Military Studies (CMS). Drawing on examples from our participatory online theatre-based project with UK military spouses, we explore how the practice and process of theatre-making can help to harness the critical capacity of military and militarized subjects, and centre the fluidity and liveliness of military power. Participatory theatre-as-method can help to invoke a collective critical voice rooted in shared experience, animate in new ways the tensions between subjects and power, and recast research participants as artists with the capacity to shape their own conditions of visibility. Furthermore, as we show through our collaboratively written and produced play Magnolia Walls, theatre makes possible the practice of critique and even disruption in the very doing of the research itself. The paper concludes by arguing that creative methods more broadly can help us think anew about what it means to do CMS research, and in so doing contributes to the growing body of literature that looks to creativity as method and mode of analysis for understanding military phenomena. While the research at the heart of this article is about military spouses, we argue that the capacity of theatre-as-method to shed new light on military power and to do critique more effectively has applicability that spans across CMS, political geography, international politics, and beyond.

Digital platforms have fundamentally reshaped labor relations across various sectors, including courier services in Indonesia. This study examines how both formal (standard employment) and non-standard (informal employment) models contribute to what we term “super-exploitation.” On one hand, workers nominally classified as employees do not receive adequate protection despite their formal status (informalized formal work), while on the other hand, workers designated as “partners” or independent contractors face similarly precarious conditions (bogus partnership). By integrating a political economy perspective, this research reveals that the mere reclassification of labor from formal to informal conceals the reality that labels do not automatically translate into improved working conditions. Data were collected through a qualitative approach involving a survey of 270 couriers, 24 in-depth interviews, and online participant observation conducted between July 2022 and July 2023. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on precarious work by demonstrating that the conventional dichotomy of formal versus informal employment fails to capture the underlying ideological and political economic forces shaping Indonesia’s labor regime.

Hybrid hackathons, which combine in-person and online participation, present unique challenges for organizers and participants. Although now widely practiced, research on them remains fragmented, with limited integration between hackathon studies and hybrid collaboration theories. Existing strategies for in-person or online-only events often fail to address hybrid-specific issues, such as managing communication across physical and virtual spaces and ensuring balanced participation. Our work examines hybrid hackathons through the lens of hybrid collaboration theories, focusing on how organizers structure these events and how participants navigate associated challenges. We frame our analysis using established theories of hybrid collaboration, focusing on four key dimensions - synchronicity, physical distribution, dynamic transitions, and technological infrastructure - that shape collaboration in hybrid events. Using an exploratory case study of three hybrid hackathons, involving observations and interviews with organizers and participants, we investigate how these dimensions are implemented and how they shape participant experiences. Our findings show differing organizer approaches to the hybrid dimensions, leading to varied participant experiences in access to resources, communication, and coordination. Implementation styles, favoring in-person, online, or balanced participation, produced disparities in engagement. Organizers often relied on technology to bridge physical and virtual spaces, but overlooked critical aspects such as time-zone management, dynamic transitions, and targeted hybrid team support. Participants, in turn, adapted collaboration tactics in response to gaps in event scaffolding, sometimes enabling collaboration, but at other times creating new challenges, underscoring that considerations for the hybrid format are still not fully integrated into hackathon planning. Learning from our findings, we offer practical recommendations for both organizers and participants to improve planning, participation, and collaboration in hybrid hackathon events.

How does repression reshape the way online activists engage with target audiences? While prior research has primarily examined changes in overall online participation, it has paid less attention to how activists adjust their strategies in response to repression. Addressing this gap, this article argues that repression incentivizes online activists to broaden their support base by promoting inter-group engagement and signaling inclusivity. Focusing on the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement, the study analyzes Twitter interactions using network measures of assortativity and cross-group tie proportions. It applies permutation tests and ARIMA-based Interrupted Time Series (ITS) analysis to compare network patterns across key phases, delineated by the Brooklyn Bridge mass arrests on October 1 and the eviction threat of Zuccotti Park on October 13. The results show that repression triggers a significant decrease in assortativity, indicating increased inter-group engagement, while cross-group tie proportions remain stable, suggesting structural rather than isolated behavioral changes.

Inner speech models have been influential in explaining why some people hear voices in both general and clinical populations. To explore this, scholars developed a scale which linked inner speech to hallucination proneness in the general population. We predicted that we could replicate this finding across cultures, but that absorption would also be a significant predictor, with inner speech mediating absorption's effect on voice hearing-providing an alternative conception of the inner speech model. We investigated the relationship between inner speech, absorption, and voice hearing in two studies. In Study 1, surveys were administered to undergraduates across five countries (total N = 825, N = 217 completing both the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire and Tellegen Absorption scales). In Study 2, surveys were administered to online participants in the USA (N = 1000). We found that both inner speech and absorption predicted voice hearing in Studies 1 and 2. Study 2 suggested that absorption and inner speech have a complex relationship with one another, one best described by a model of moderated mediation. We argue that absorption, which we characterize as an attitude toward the mind, may be an important, causally antecedent factor to inner speech in generating voice-like experiences in the general population. We believe this better captures the expansive range of phenomenological experiences represented in voice hearing. Perhaps a voice is less like a misattributed thought and more like a very vivid thought which, because it is felt as vivid, is experienced as sensory.

The language used by attorneys at trial could influence case outcomes, impacting fairness and wrongful convictions. At trial, attorneys choose their words to manage impressions the jury forms of the defendant, thereby influencing case outcomes. This study examines whether the abstraction and emotional valence of attorneys' language at trial influence jurors' decision-making. In this 2 × 2 factorial experiment, 273 online participants read an attorney's closing statement regarding a civil case, with the emotional valence of the attorney's descriptions being either positive or negative, and the abstraction concrete or abstract (e.g., a negative-concrete description being "the cost of removing these cancer-causing chemicals is millions of dollars" vs. the corresponding abstract description, "the cost of removing these health-hazardous chemicals is enormous"). The results revealed that attorney language abstraction and emotional valence influenced jurors' perceptions of the case: Participants judged the defendant as more liable when exposed to negative-concrete language than positive-concrete language-a difference not present with abstract language. Findings suggest that attorneys might benefit from tailoring their language in closing arguments and that jurors' decisions can be influenced by how information is conveyed-highlighting implications for courtroom communication and legal outcomes.

ABSTRACT This study investigated drink spiking among undergraduate students (N = 168) and online participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 195). Drink spiking, the non-consensual administration of drugs, was examined in relation to sexual assault, motivations, and prevention. Data collected in September 2023 via self-report surveys revealed higher suspected rates than prior studies: 14% of students and 38% of online participants suspected victimization. Online participants were more likely than students to report sexual assault following spiking and less likely to employ precautionary strategies. Findings highlight the persistence of drink spiking and the need for targeted prevention and awareness efforts.

Social media provide unprecedented opportunities for public deliberation. However, a growing number of users perceive negativity in political debate taking place in those venues and are increasingly frustrated when discussing politics with those they disagree with. In this article, we test the proposition that perceiving online discussions as healthier (i.e. more polite and civil) than offline discussions invigorates online political participation. We rely on an online survey fielded in 17 European countries on more than 28,000 individuals. Our findings indicate that being embedded in healthier discussions on social media is more of an important predictor of online participation for those respondents reporting higher political discussion fatigue and less so for those perceiving online discussions as fun. Overall, our study offers cross-national evidence of why and for whom exposure to healthy political discussions online might be mobilizing.