With the increasing feasibility of space colonization, the issue of reproduction in space is becoming more relevant. As new settlements on the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies emerge, ensuring generational continuity will be essential for the survival and growth of these communities. The challenges of space living, such as extreme environmental conditions and limited resources, raise critical questions about the practicality and morality of reproduction in these contexts. This paper argues that in extraterrestrial space, human reproduction based on assisted reproductive technologies is morally preferable to sexual reproduction. We explore the benefits of technologies like embryo selection, genome editing, and artificial wombs, emphasizing their potential to mitigate the risks posed by space environments. There is no doubt that the idea of human reproduction based solely on technology is controversial and counterintuitive, even if it were to be applied only, at least initially, for the continued existence of the human population settled in space. Nevertheless, there are strong rationales for the fact that non-sexual reproduction is not only beneficial, but also has moral advantages. Finally, we also examine the social and political implications of a society that moves beyond sexual reproduction, including the reduction of gendered oppression and the redefinition of family structures. We suggest that these advancements could transform reproduction not only in space but also on Earth, potentially reducing injustices caused by human biology and reshaping societal norms and traditional view on family.

Truck vs high-speed rail express delivery: The social welfare and environmental implications

Graphene layers on metals: A disruptive approach to durable corrosion resistance.

Reproductive donation tourism is a complex phenomenon with profound ethical implications which also affects Iran. However, studies in this context are limited. This study explores the ethical challenges associated with donor-based reproductive tourism from the perspective of Iranian clinicians, focusing on how they interpret these challenges within Iran's legal, religious, and institutional context. A conventional content analysis study was used to explore the ethical concerns in donation-related reproductive tourism perceived by clinicians in Iran. Twenty-two experts who were actively involved in the field of infertility treatment, were recruited purposefully from ART centers in Tehran and the Ministry of Health of Iran in 2025. Data collection was done through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Analysis was carried out by MAXQDA.24 software and the Graneheim and Lundman approach. A conceptual model was also proposed to explain the interaction of challenges involved in this phenomenon. Data analysis resulted in four themes: (1) Legal and structural heterogeneity of countries; (2) Clinical uncertainty and physical and genetic concerns in reproductive donation; (3) Synergistic moral, psychological, identity, social, and cultural-religious implications and secrecy in reproductive donation; (4) Justice, commodification, exploitation and demand in fertility tourism. These challenges can raise concerns related to justice, exploitation, commodification, and the rights of donor-conceived children. This treatment method in Iran is surrounded by multidimensional and interwoven concerns that mutually reinforce each other. These findings indicate that reproductive donation tourism is not merely a legal and clinical issue but one that raises significant ethical concerns, requiring careful consideration of fundamental principles of medical ethics in both national and international policy-making. Therefore, developing and sharing integrated international legal and ethical frameworks to support ethically responsible and regulated reproductive care, is essential.

Therapeutic equivalence, different stigma: Pills and long-acting injectable antiretroviral treatment imaginaries among gay and bisexual men living with HIV in Colombia.

Multimodal metaphors in animated depression educational videos on Chinese social media: A critical multimodal discourse analysis.

Purpose This study examines how non-traditional undergraduate students in online higher education environments utilize generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a tool to enhance academic engagement, personalize learning and improve productivity. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational design, the study surveyed 491 non-traditional undergraduate students enrolled in online general education courses. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate how academic performance, skill confidence, technology proficiency and weekly time commitments relate to the frequency of GenAI use. Open-ended survey responses were also thematically analyzed to contextualize quantitative findings and explore student motivations, benefits and concerns. Findings Results indicate GenAI use is significantly associated with stronger academic performance and confidence in technology skills. Time constraints and lower academic confidence did not significantly predict use. High-performing and digitally proficient students were more likely to adopt GenAI to deepen understanding, generate ideas and streamline academic tasks. Qualitative responses described GenAI as a supportive thinking partner, while also highlighting ethical concerns around authorship, accuracy and academic integrity. Research limitations/implications This study examines GenAI use within a single large online university serving primarily adult, non-traditional learners in a flexible, asynchronous model. Findings should therefore be interpreted as contextually situated rather than broadly generalizable. The cross-sectional design captures adoption at an early stage and does not permit causal inference or analysis of long-term learning outcomes. Reliance on self-reported measures may introduce response bias. Future research should employ longitudinal, multi-institutional and mixed-method designs to examine how GenAI use evolves over time and how institutional context, discipline and learner demographics shape patterns of strategic AI integration. Practical implications Findings indicate GenAI adoption in online higher education is most strongly associated with digital confidence and academic motivation rather than remediation. Institutions serving adult and non-traditional learners should therefore embed structured GenAI literacy within curricula, emphasizing ethical use, critical evaluation and academic voice preservation. Faculty should design assignments that promote transparent, reflective engagement with AI tools instead of prohibition-based policies. Institutional leaders must develop coherent, context-sensitive AI frameworks and invest in digital skill development to prevent widening equity gaps as AI becomes normalized within asynchronous, autonomy-driven learning environments. Social implications As GenAI becomes integrated into online higher education, its social impact extends beyond productivity to issues of digital agency, equity and access. In adult-serving, asynchronous environments where learners self-manage academic decisions, disparities in digital fluency may amplify existing inequalities. Without intentional institutional support, students with lower technological confidence risk marginalization as AI-enhanced workflows become normative. Promoting inclusive, transparent and ethically guided GenAI integration can strengthen learner agency and participation, particularly among adult and non-traditional students balancing complex external responsibilities. Equitable AI adoption requires investment in digital empowerment alongside clear institutional standards. Originality/value This study offers contextually grounded empirical insight into how adult, non-traditional undergraduates in online higher education strategically integrate GenAI into their learning practices. By situating adoption within frameworks of technology acceptance, self-directed learning and digital agency, the findings challenge deficit-based narratives and demonstrate that GenAI use is associated with academic confidence and digital fluency rather than remediation. The study contributes student-centered evidence from an autonomy-driven, asynchronous learning environment and provides theoretically informed guidance for ethical AI integration, digital equity initiatives and future longitudinal research on AI-supported learning.

Purpose This study aims to examine how family control is associated with environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance in Chinese listed family firms (FFs) and whether institutional ownership moderates these associations. By disaggregating ESG, it clarifies where family-control logics align with, or diverge from, market-oriented ownership pressures in an emerging-market context. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on socioemotional wealth and institutional perspectives, the authors analyse panel data from 1,561 Chinese-listed FFs over 2009–2019. They estimate two-stage least squares (2SLS) models with firm and year fixed effects, using general manager family affiliation as a context-specific instrumental variable. Findings Family control is positively associated with environmental and governance performance, but not significantly associated with social performance. Institutional ownership weakens the positive associations between family control and environmental and governance outcomes, consistent with tensions between family-oriented long-term priorities and shorter-horizon market pressures. Results remain broadly consistent in the manufacturing subsample. Research limitations/implications The findings are based on listed Chinese FFs before COVID-19; future research could examine privately held firms and post-2019 ESG regulation. Practical implications The results suggest that family owners and institutional investors should use dimension-specific ESG governance rather than treating ESG as a uniform construct. Social implications Clearer social-performance standards may help reduce symbolic compliance and strengthen substantive ESG engagement in emerging economies. Originality/value The study demonstrates heterogeneous family-control associations across ESG dimensions and shows when institutional investors dampen family-driven environmental and governance engagement. It contributes by integrating socioemotional wealth and institutional perspectives and by using a context-grounded instrumental variable to address endogeneity concerns.

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) and building information modelling (BIM) have transformed the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry in developed countries, but their adoption in Ethiopia's road infrastructure management remains limited. Empirical evidence on adoption benefits, challenges and a context-specific strategic framework for developing countries is limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring the necessity of AI-BIM integration and identifying how it can be effectively implemented in Ethiopia. Specifically, it investigates: (1) professional perception on the benefits and challenges of AI-BIM adoption, (2) critical dimensions for adopting AI-BIM integration and (3) the development of a context-specific strategic framework to guide AI-BIM adoption. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a mixed-method exploratory design, combining a narrative literature review and structured questionnaire survey to investigate AI-BIM adoption in Ethiopian road infrastructure management. The literature review synthesises fragmented theoretical and empirical insights to identify six interrelated strategic dimensions, while the survey captures practitioner perceptions of adoption benefits and challenges. Data were collected from 33 professionals from the Ethiopian Road Administration (ERA) and the Addis Ababa City Road Authority (AACRA) using purposive and convenience sampling. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics to determine key patterns and priorities, and qualitative insights were thematically synthesised. The integration of findings follows a triangulation approach, enabling the development of a context-specific, empirically grounded, and practically applicable AI-BIM adoption framework. Findings Road infrastructure management practices in Ethiopia are conventional and fragmented. The findings highlighted the potential benefits and challenges of adopting AI-BIM integration. Six critical strategic dimensions were synthesised into a context-specific strategic framework tailored to Ethiopia's road sectors. Research limitations/implications This study provides timely, context-specific insights; however, it is limited by the sample size and focus on selected road sectors and technologies. The findings are primarily context-specific and may not be directly generalisable. Future research could expand the empirical scope, incorporate additional emerging technologies, and validate the framework in other sectors and geographical contexts. Practical implications The proposed framework offers structured and actionable guidance for policymakers and practitioners, emphasising phased implementation, capacity building and interdepartmental collaboration to enable successful AI-BIM adoption. Social implications The study promotes the adoption of AI-BIM integrations to support digital transformation, enhances transparency, improves service delivery, and contributes to sustainable road infrastructure development outcomes. Originality/value This study contributes evidence-based, context-specific insights and a strategic framework for AI-BIM adoption in Ethiopia, bridging the gap between global technological advancement and local implementation realities. It contributes practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners in developing countries rather than theoretical innovation.

ABSTRACT Strategies for sustainable intensification of livestock are critical for food system transformation. In dairying systems, herd health management is among such strategies. Although adoption patterns and productivity gains have been analysed in previous studies, the social implications are still not well understood. This paper provides insights into the relationship between herd health management and intrahousehold labour demand as well as women's empowerment. We test the hypotheses that the adoption of herd health management practices increases intrahousehold labour demand among male and female household members and, thereby, affects women's empowerment. We use primary data from smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya on time use, women's participation in decision‐making and livestock asset ownership, adoption status of important herd health management practices and household demographic characteristics. We apply censored regression and multinomial logit regression models to test our hypotheses. The results show that adopting herd health management practices is associated with more labour demand in dairy production for both men and women. The magnitude of the change differs across production systems but is always higher for men. Additionally, herd health management practices are negatively associated with different aspects of women's empowerment including women's livestock asset ownership and control over income from dairy. The study underscores the importance for gender sensitivity in the sustainable intensification of livestock production in the Global South.

Purpose This narrative entrepreneurship research examines how late-life entrepreneurs engage in identity work to demonstrate that they are legitimate entrepreneurs by mobilising and resisting master narratives of entrepreneurship and age. Design/methodology/approach The study draws on the narrative practice approach to identity work and carries out a positioning analysis based on interviews with a group of Finnish late-life entrepreneurs (N = 18). Findings Three key age-related counter-narratives to negative stereotypes of ageing were identified: sustained superiority, leaving a legacy, and productive ageing citizenship. In addition, the interviewees negotiated the potentially devalued identity of late-life entrepreneurship by providing justifying and excusing accounts. Research limitations/implications Further research is needed to explore how the type of entrepreneurship is connected to the identity work of late-life entrepreneurs as well as age discrimination in different contexts of late-life entrepreneurship. Social implications Understanding the identity work of late-life entrepreneurs may help develop more inclusive support systems and policies for this group and the ageing workforce more generally. The findings highlight the need for empowering narratives to strengthen late-life entrepreneurs’ identity and legitimacy and for greater awareness in national and local organisations and media of underlying age-based assumptions that may undermine such entrepreneurship. Originality/value The study contributes to narrative entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial identity research by enhancing understanding of how late-life entrepreneurs negotiate ascribed positions within the constraining discourses of cultural master narratives. It also contributes to research on the identity work of minority entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on discursive barriers to late-life entrepreneurship.

ABSTRACT Water delivery in the Global South is characterised by the intertwining and co-existence of diverse practices and materialities, which are commonly associated with ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ urbanism in academic debates. This includes piped networks, individual or communal boreholes, wells, water tanks, buckets, water trucks, and other kinds of material infrastructure, as well as different groups of actors involved in providing and consuming water. We argue that conceptualising water delivery as ‘hybrid’ allows us to focus on the particular, situated socio-material configurations of water delivery and their particular social implications. Drawing on dwelling and building perspective, our study employs semi-structured interviews with water delivery experts and households, and observations, in a low- and high-income neighbourhood in Sunyani, Ghana, to understand the different rationalities underpinning hybrid water delivery and their contributions to social inequalities.

Purpose This study aims to examine how individual technology readiness shapes employees’ perceptions of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a job resource and/or a job demand, and how these appraisals influence engagement, exhaustion and performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach Survey data were collected from 465 UK SME employees who regularly use GenAI. The study integrates the technology readiness index (TRI) with the job demands–resources (JD–R) framework and tests the model using covariance-based structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. Findings Optimism increases artificial intelligence (AI)-related job resources, while innovativeness, insecurity and discomfort primarily increase job demands. Resources enhance engagement, whereas demands increase exhaustion, which in turn reduces engagement. Engagement is the main predictor of employee performance. Effects are stronger in smaller firms. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design and self-reported data limit causal inference and generalizability. The study advances theory by showing that GenAI operates simultaneously as a job resource and a demand, with asymmetric effects shaped by technology readiness. Practical implications SMEs should actively reduce AI-related demands (e.g. cognitive load, validation effort) while strengthening resources such as training and workflow integration, prioritizing engagement to improve performance. Social implications The impact of GenAI depends on employee experience: it can enhance well-being when perceived as a resource but increase strain when experienced as a demand. Originality/value The study integrates TRI and JD–R to explain how individual technological predispositions shape AI-related work experiences and performance in SMEs.

Purpose To better understand the role power distance plays when embedding corporate sustainability in a large finance organisation, which impacts hundreds of thousands of customers. Design/methodology/approach Interpretive, qualitative, exploratory study where 24 participants from all hierarchical levels within one large Australian finance organisation (directors, managers, frontline staff) were interviewed (semi-structured). These interview transcripts were triangulated with the organisation's corporate reports and field notes. Findings While directors espoused corporate sustainability values where anyone could speak up in their ‘nice’ organisation, subordinates reported a high power distance; this behaviour stopped subordinates asking corporate sustainability questions. Subsequently, the organisation was media-shamed for engaging in greenwashing. Research limitations/implications This study's limitations highlight opportunities for further theoretical and practical contributions. As a single-case design, findings cannot be generalised; however, their depth offers fertile ground for comparative multi-case research across finance and other purported low power-distance contexts. Future studies could examine how normative niceness interacts with structural power in organisations that espouse egalitarian cultures. Conceptually, the study contributes by theorising niceness as a moralised form of normative control that sustains silence and protects dominant financial logic, offering a transferable lens for understanding institutional barriers that inhibit the embedding of corporate sustainability. Practical implications Practically, this study illuminates the organisational levers directors and senior leaders can adjust to dismantle high power-distance norms that undermine corporate sustainability. By showing how normative niceness suppresses speaking up, the findings emphasise the need for governance mechanisms that surface undiscussables, including independent sustainability oversight and structured contrarian briefings. The study also contributes practical guidance for redesigning incentive systems to reward authentic upward challenge rather than compliance. Additionally, it highlights the value of establishing cross-level forums that normalise voice, enabling psychologically safe dialogue. Collectively, these insights provide actionable pathways for embedding sustainability as a lived organisational practice. Social implications This study highlights significant social implications arising from high power distance and normative niceness within large finance organisations. When staff self-censor and uncomfortable issues remain undiscussable, risks tied to customers' financial wellbeing go unaddressed, contributing to erosion of public trust in the financial sector. Silencing subordinate voices also perpetuates inequity, as those closest to customers – often frontline staff – are least empowered to influence decisions that affect community outcomes. The persistent dominance of financial logic over corporate sustainability logic ultimately undermines societal efforts to address climate risk, ethical governance and long-term economic resilience, affecting millions who depend on responsible finance. Originality/value Australia prides itself as being egalitarian; however, this research found high power distance behaviours. Normative niceness played a role in masking high power distance, which enabled financial logic. As a consequence, corporate sustainability was stymied and subordinates were silenced from raising legitimate corporate sustainability suggestions and concerns.

Background The opioid crisis has generated widespread public attention and messaging. However, persistent messaging may contribute to message fatigue, i.e., feelings of exhaustion and boredom due to excessive and redundant exposure. This study investigates the prevalence of opioid message fatigue among American adults, its association with individual characteristics, and its connection with opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma and policy support for OUD treatment. Method A nationally representative cross-sectional sample of U.S. household adults aged 18+ (N = 1,022) were surveyed August 7–15, 2024. Multiple regression models examined individual characteristics associated with message fatigue, and the associations of opioid message fatigue with stigma about OUD and support for OUD-related public policies. Results On average, participants reported a moderate level of message fatigue (M = 2.75, SD = 0.85, range = 1–5). Fatigue varied significantly by gender, education, income, political identity, and life experience. Findings suggest higher message fatigue was associated with greater stigma about OUD (B = 0.09, p < 0.001) and lower support for OUD treatment policies (B = −0.32, p < 0.001). Conclusions Future research should continue to examine the social and policy implications of OUD message fatigue and improve public health communication by anticipating and mitigating message fatigue through strategic planning.

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered service apps are widely adopted but raise critical authenticity concerns, particularly as human-facing AI increasingly simulates social presence and care. This study aims to explore how customers discern authenticity through symbolic and natural stimuli, moving beyond technical perspectives. Design/methodology/approach A sequential mixed-method design combining in-depth interviews (n = 26) and text mining (N = 11,400 reviews) is conducted, focusing on health, beauty and lifestyle sectors. Interviews identified symbolic and natural stimuli, while topic modeling assessed their relative importance in comparison with physical and social stimuli. Findings We developed an integrated servicescape model incorporating physical, social stimuli with the new four symbolic stimuli (monetization strategy, situational/cultural fit, moral commitment, recommendation precision) and three natural stimuli (service realism, soothing interactions, safe disclosure environments). The findings reveal asymmetric effects on customer engagement valence, showing how different stimuli are associated with positive vs negative engagement. Practical implications The model guides app developers, service designers and marketers to strategically embed symbolic and natural stimuli that strengthen authenticity and foster sustained and positively valenced customer engagement. Social implications This study supports the creation of more transparent, trustworthy and inclusive AI service ecosystems. Originality/value Building on and extending the stimulus–organism–response framework and servicescape literature, this research identifies previously underexplored symbolic and natural stimuli beyond physical and social factors. It demonstrates how these stimuli shape customer engagement valence in AI-powered service apps, offering fresh insights into contemporary service authenticity.

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and sustainable finance (SF) and maps their influence on dynamic financial performance (DFP). It conceptualizes integration as a mechanism driving financial adaptability, corporate resilience and value creation. Design/methodology/approach A bibliometric analysis of 532 Scopus-indexed articles (2015–2024) was conducted using RStudio and Biblioshiny. The study identifies publication trends, key journals, citation patterns, thematic evolution and research clusters. A preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA)-style process ensured transparency and reproducibility. Findings Results show research linking IC, SF and financial performance after 2020, following initiatives, including COP26 and EU Taxonomy. Thematic mapping shows a shift from IC-focused studies to SF-driven themes emphasizing environmental, social and governance (ESG), innovation and resilience, with key clusters including intellectual capital and firm performance, sustainable finance and ESG integration, innovation and sustainability, corporate governance and dynamic capabilities. The synergy between IC and SF emerges as a crucial driver of DFP in dynamic business environments. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to Scopus and bibliometric indicators. Future research could use longitudinal designs to test causal links between IC, SF and DFP. Practical implications This study offers guidance for managers and policymakers leveraging IC to support SF, strengthen ESG governance and enhance financial adaptability, while informing sustainability reporting frameworks. Social implications This study integrates SF with IC to support equitable growth and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Originality/value This study provides one of the first comprehensive bibliometric mappings connecting IC and SF to DFP, identifying key thematic clusters and advancing a dynamic capabilities-based framework for achieving adaptive sustainable financial performance.

Personalised prediction of institutionalisation in Parkinson's: prognostic factor identification and model development and validation using IPD meta-analysis.

Purpose Urban areas worldwide face major sustainability challenges, particularly in transport, which significantly impact economic, environmental, social, and mental well-being. These issues are intensified by policies that overlook human behaviour. This study seeks to enhance public transport, an essential element of sustainable urban mobility, by examining behavioural influences and promoting effective public engagement. Design/methodology/approach Following a comprehensive literature review, a focus group discussion was conducted to validate and contextualize key variables influencing transport mode choices. A subsequent questionnaire survey assessed the relative importance of each variable and validated the applicability of the extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB), supported by expert interviews. Findings Public transport extends beyond physical infrastructure to encompass social and cultural dimensions. The study emphasizes addressing behavioural and cognitive patterns and provides a context-specific prioritization of key influencing factors to inform strategic development. Research limitations/implications This study is grounded in a tropical, lower-middle-income urban context. However, the extended TPB framework offers transferable insights for similar socio-economic settings. Practical implications The study provides practical insights for urban planners and policymakers to prioritize investments that align with human needs and behaviours. Social implications It promotes inclusive and sustainable urban mobility solutions that address diverse societal needs and enhance public well-being. Originality/value This study addresses an underexplored area by extending the TPB to six grounded variables, integrating both subjective and objective factors and providing an empirical prioritization to inform strategy and investment decisions.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the coevolution of supportive social ties and psychological distress within The Phoenix, a sober active community. It also aims to disentangle two concurrent processes: whether psychological distress influences the formation of social ties (social selection) or whether peer relationships influence individual distress levels (social influence) over time. Design/methodology/approach Longitudinal social network data were collected from members of The Phoenix in Denver and Wichita (n = 23) across two waves separated by one year. This study used the Simulation Investigation for Empirical Network Analysis (SIENA) framework to simultaneously model structural network dynamics and changes in psychological distress. Findings Network ties were characterized by reciprocity and clustering. A significant negative selection effect was identified (PE = −0.37, p < 0.05): members with lower psychological distress were more likely to be nominated as supportive partners, while those with higher distress were less likely to be selected. No evidence of peer influence on psychological distress was observed over the one-year period. Research limitations/implications Limitations include small network sizes and a two-wave design, which restricted model complexity. Future research should incorporate additional waves, larger networks and mixed-method approaches to capture nuanced changes in mental health and social integration. Practical implications Findings suggest that members with higher psychological distress are less likely to be selected as supportive ties, potentially isolating those most in need of connection. “Structured socialization” strategies, such as assigned mentorships or care circles, could be implemented to proactively integrate members with higher distress levels who might otherwise be filtered out by the community’s selection mechanisms. Social implications While recovery communities provide vital protection, they can also function as exclusionary structures. To ensure equitable access to recovery capital, communities must adopt intentional strategies that mitigate social stratification based on mental health status. Originality/value This study addresses a gap in recovery literature by using longitudinal network analysis to separate selection from influence. It provides empirical evidence that mental health status drives social connectivity in recovery settings, rather than connectedness simply improving mental health.