What can feminist relational discourse analysis offer the field of drug policy?

This article presents an empirical analysis of the legislative output of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Santa Catarina (Alesc) in the years 2023 and 2024, focusing on the quantitative evolution of propositions, approval rates, normative typology, authorship and priority legislative themes. The data was obtained from statistical reports and institutional documents and analyzed using legislative effectiveness indicators. The results show a significant increase in the rate of approval of proposals, from 42% in 2023 to 66.38% in 2024, associated with a small increase in the total number of proposals presented, which suggests greater rationalization of the legislative process. There is a trend towards rationalization and a higher rate of legislative use. There was a predominance of ordinary billsand a centrality in parliamentary authorship. The legislative agenda has evolved from predominantly social issues in 2023 to social policies, health and education in 2024, demonstrating institutional responsiveness. The conclusion is that Alesc has been moving towards more effective and socially relevant normative production, although challenges related to impact assessment and normative implementation remain.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal biomarkers for detecting fentanyl analog abuse through machine learning.

Despite significant literature on access to, and utilisation of, health care, less attention has been given to the agency of rural service users to use, or not use, health services. This paper aims to understand the decisions of residents from two rural communities to use, or not use, health services. Participants were recruited from Neighbourhood Houses in two rural communities in northern Victoria, Australia, located relatively close to a regional centre. Twenty participants with significant socioeconomic needs were included. The study used a qualitative design and constructivist paradigm to undertake semi-structured interviews which were analysed thematically. Three types of decisions to access health services were identified. First, regular users prioritised their health, valued health care, and usually had a trusted healthcare navigator. Second, sometimes users identified barriers to accessing services, primarily not having a trusted GP and cost. Third, avoiders of health services suggested they did not prioritise their own health, it was easier to not attend, they did not believe health services led to better health outcomes, and poverty or other social issues prevented use. Some respondents moved between the three types, being regular users for children and when they had a trusted GP, and sometimes users for themselves or when barriers arose. This study identified the strong role of GPs and the relational aspects of accessing and utilising health care. It calls for stronger engagement with disadvantaged rural residents to build trust in health care among those avoiding health services.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has been widely discussed throughout the years in various research, discussing the suffering of individuals, social issues, as well as treatment methods. Unfortunately, due to the impact of the disorder itself and the distressful side effects of treatment, patients tend to drop out, subsequently even commit suicide. Recent literature shows that the difficulties faced by OCD patients might be due to some transdiagnostic variables. Fear of self, perfectionism, and rumination, which are highly common among OCD patients, might share cognitive and emotional mechanisms, such as heightened self-evaluative processes, maladaptive cognitive styles, and difficulties in emotion regulation, that contribute to the onset and maintenance of the disorder. Their interplay hinders engagement in gold-standard treatments like exposure and response prevention, as perfectionistic ideals and self-concealment foster avoidance, while rumination sustains hopelessness.This review aims to elaborate further on these variables (i.e., fear of self, perfectionism, and rumination), how common they are in OCD, how they impact the daily lives of patients with OCD, how they contribute to the disorder, and affect the treatment process.

ABSTRACT Endometriosis is a common but complex disease that predominantly affects women, with biological, psychological, and social impacts across multiple domains. For regional women, their geographical location can create a unique barrier to obtaining endometriosis healthcare. This systematic literature review sought to analyse literature on regional Australian women's experiences of endometriosis-related healthcare. Databases selected for this review were Scopus, Medline, PubMed and CINAHL. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method peer-reviewed studies were included in the search. Following assessment of inclusion and exclusion criteria and the assessment of quality, nine articles were included in the review. PRISMA standards inform reporting methods of this review. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the quality of studies reviewed. Thematic analysis revealed prominent themes of diagnosis, women as experts, treatment, and ongoing healthcare, which are consistent with general experiences of endometriosis healthcare across Australia. However, existing literature was found to overlook regional-specific endometriosis-related healthcare experiences in Australia. Findings suggest that regionally focused research is needed into endometriosis-related healthcare experiences, and that social work can act to address barriers to healthcare for endometriosis across practice and research settings. IMPLICATIONS Women’s experiences with endometriosis healthcare can be exacerbated by living in a regional area. Australian women seek complementary and alternative medicine approaches when taking agency over their endometriosis healthcare journey. Regional women’s endometriosis-related healthcare experiences are poorly represented in the literature, and further research is needed to ensure that lived experiences inform healthcare, practice and policy. Inequity in endometriosis healthcare is a social justice issue for regional women that needs increased social work attention.

Ethical, legal, and social issues of AI use in emergency healthcare: a scoping review.

The effect of horticultural activity program on internet addiction, social skills, and stress levels in children: A randomized controlled trial.

This paper analyzed the alignment of tourism development in Isabela Province with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Tourism development in Isabela Province is vital because of the need for environmentally sound tourism practices that support local communities. As Isabela Province has large quantities of natural resources and a significant cultural heritage, the potential for tourism to produce a significant positive economic impact on the province while resolving both the province's social and environmental issues is the two sides of the coin that must be examined. In recent years, there has been much more focus on the sustainability of local tourism policy. A primary emphasis of this analysis is the relationship between regional initiatives and the SDGs, and the progress the province has made in community welfare, conservation of natural resources, and the promotion of cultural heritage preservation. The analysis indicates progress in several areas; however, challenges persist in providing equal access to educational and health services. Putra et al (2024). Cooperation between local stakeholders, such as the government and community organizations, is critical for the effective implementation of these policies. This research advocates greater collaboration and coordinated efforts among these stakeholders to promote an environment where sustainable tourism can thrive. Specific tourism policies were discussed in more detail in this paper with respect to their contribution to the SDGs and the areas where additional investment and development are needed to achieve these objectives. The analysis will further clarify how the tourism industry can be a force for good in promoting sustainable economic growth and resiliency within a community.

Domestic Violence (DV) is a profound social issue with significant impacts on victims, who are often trapped in a cycle of repeated abuse. The police, as the frontline in law enforcement, play a crucial role in providing protection for victims and addressing DV through preventive measures. This study analyzes the preventive efforts made by the Tanjungpinang Police in combating DV, focusing on the implemented prevention policies and the challenges faced. The research method used is a normative juridical approach with case studies and interviews with police officers and related institutions. The findings show that the Tanjungpinang Police have implemented various programs such as legal awareness campaigns, security patrols, and collaboration with women and children’s protection agencies. However, significant challenges remain related to limited resources, low legal awareness in the community, and the patriarchal culture that hinders the effectiveness of preventive efforts. Recommendations include enhancing police capacity, strengthening collaboration with related institutions, and utilizing technology to facilitate DV reporting. This study contributes to the development of police policies for more effective DV prevention.

The phenomenon of fatherlessness has emerged as a significant global social issue, influ-encing children's psychological well-being, identity formation, and moral development. While existing scholarship has largely examined fatherlessness through psychological and sociological frameworks, Qur'anic narratives on father-child relationships are often treated primarily within theological discourse. Consequently, there remains limited explo-ration of how classical Qur'anic exegesis can contribute to contemporary discussions on parenting and family crises. Addressing this gap, this study investigates the concept of paternal parenting in the stories of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ya'qub through the in-terpretive lens of Tafsir al-Kashshāf by al-Zamakhsharī and examines its relevance to the modern phenomenon of fatherlessness. This research employs a qualitative library-based approach combined with thematic Qur'anic interpretation (tafsīr mawḍū'ī). The analysis focuses on key Qur'anic passages related to father-son interactions, particularly Q.S. al-Ṣāffāt:102 and Q.S. Yūsuf:4-5, interpreted through the linguistic-rational framework characteristic of Tafsir al-Kashshāf. Data are analyzed descriptively and interpretatively to identify the parenting principles embedded within the exegetical discourse. The find-ings demonstrate that Tafsir al-Kashshāf articulates a prophetic model of paternal parent-ing grounded in three interrelated principles: democratic companionship, dialogical com-munication, and secure emotional attachment. Prophet Ibrahim's interaction with Ismail il-lustrates participatory decision-making and consultative dialogue, while Prophet Ya'qub's relationship with Yusuf reflects emotional attentiveness and psychological protection that foster a secure relational environment. This study contributes to Qur'anic studies by highlighting the contemporary relevance of classical exegesis in addressing modern social challenges. Furthermore, it offers a conceptual framework for integrating Qur'anic parent-ing values into contemporary family discourse, emphasizing the father's emotional pres-ence, communicative engagement, and moral leadership as essential elements in mitigating the fatherlessness crisis in modern societies.

This is a thorough literature review analysis of the moral dilemmas surrounding sociovirtualization and striking a balance between social interaction and privacy in virtual environments. By providing digital identities, virtual societies, and virtual experiences, sociovirtual sites alter social relationships and raise difficult moral dilemmas. While social contact issues focus on authenticity, access, emotional well-being, and digital divisions, privacy issues involve data collection, informed permission, anonymity, and unequal powers. Case studies, ethical theories, and governance models are used to investigate conflicts between the preservation of privacy and the promotion of authentic social connection. Important conclusions include the interdependence of privacy and social connection, the necessity of transparency, user-centric design, and regulatory involvement. The article's conclusion highlights the need of interdisciplinary cooperation in creating sociovirtual environments that uphold individual rights and encourage inclusive, sincere social interaction. Future research should focus on developing policies, bridging digital divides, and emerging technology.

Academic stress among medical students is a growing concern due to its potential impact on mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being. This study explores the factors contributing to academic stress and the coping strategies medical students employ. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to analyse Academic Stress's research problem utilizing a standardized data collection tool. The study explores the stress from academic pressure, financial burdens, career uncertainty, and time management challenges among medical students. Social isolation, health issues, faculty-related difficulties, and effectiveness of coping strategies such as time management, social support, relaxation techniques, and institutional support services. This research contributes to the existing literature by offering insights into the challenges faced by medical students and the mechanisms they employ to manage stress. The study underscores the need for universities to implement structured support systems, including counselling services and stress management programs, to mitigate academic stress. Future research may focus on longitudinal studies to examine stress trends over time and the long-term effectiveness of various coping strategies.

This article examines the positioning of social issues within Russian public discourse during the First World War. By analyzing the public deliberation surrounding war-related social problems, the authors trace the impact of this discourse on the nascent configuration of Russia’s social welfare institutions. The study draws upon archival materials from the State Duma and State Council, sessions of the Supreme Council for the Relief of Mobilized Families, congresses and conferences of public organizations, as well as records from the Zemstvo Union and the Union of Cities. Methodologically, the research is grounded in deliberative democracy theory, which frames governance as the outcome of dialogue between state authorities and civil society. The analysis reveals that politically engaged segments of Russian society repeatedly addressed the issue of social support for war victims, advocating for modifications to the existing system of relief in order to expand social guarantees. Crucially, the public sphere witnessed the formation of a demand for the recognition of assistance to those affected by the war as a state obligation. The model that emerged envisioned direct relief efforts being administered by local self-governance bodies, supported by state funding. The authors conclude that the procedural formality of this dialogue, and the organizational involvement of state authorities in addressing social problems, indicate a discernible degree of democratization within the political sphere.

This study aims to analyze how the platformization of education has placed algorithmic governance at the center of the pedagogical, administrative, and evaluative management of schools. This has contributed to the control of narratives involving ethical, political, and social issues, through a business and neoconservative logic that reconfigures the structural way of teaching, learning, and managing education, and prioritizes the personalization of teaching based on financial-informational-digital capitalism. This scenario, often invisible to students, teachers, and administrators, has been observed in schools within the Paraná state public school system and poses challenges to public policies, which need to reconcile technological innovation, digital inclusion, and the protection of fundamental rights as ways to promote inclusion and plurality, rather than acting as mechanisms for controlling social narratives. The methodology is based on Historical Dialectical-Materialism, within the categories of “historical totality”, “contradiction”, and “hegemony”, with a qualitative nature of bibliographic typology and exploratory-documentary character, in order to analyze algorithmic governance in education in its technical, ethical, political, and social dimensions, highlighting data from the public school system of the state of Paraná. The results indicate the urgency of regulatory frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability, and social justice in the use of digital technologies applied to education.

This article uses archived records related to two major social issues drama series to examine efforts to produce episodes that acknowledged and discussed homosexuality during the early years of the “network system.” The Defenders (CBS, 1961–1965), the most acclaimed drama series of its era, proposed an episode about a homosexual defendant that was rejected by the network at the outline stage of pre-production in 1963. Sam Benedict (NBC, 1962–1963), a similar courtroom drama, aired an episode about homosexual defendants that same year without attracting network scrutiny. These two cases are explored as representative examples of dramatic television programming in a period characterized by a high degree of network oversight. Each series’ creative personnel encountered distinct challenges in their attempts to portray homosexuality on television, and their successes and failures offer significant insights into the forces that regulated prime-time content in this era.

Indian startups are becoming a force for good change and a tool for creating sustainable development in the current world where environmental change is increasing. This evaluation will examine how Indian start-ups are making an impact on sustainable development through green innovation in response to the increasing number of environmental challenges. The growth of the start-up ecosystem in India has been massive in recent years around both social and ecological issues; examples are provided by Ecozen solutions and Recykal which are amongst the top innovators globally for their ability to innovate in the areas of waste management and sustainable agriculture, respectively. The report identifies several elements that lead to successful sustainable innovation such as access to government policies, green finance, digital transformation, market demand/consumer awareness and an increasing amount of consumer demand for environmentally friendly products. In addition, it highlights obstacles to sustainable innovation; for example, such as insufficient funding, an exceedingly complex regulatory environment, and low levels of consumer awareness about eco-friendly products. The research also evaluates both the external and internal drivers of the organizations before analyzing how drivers influence green innovation and what their impact is on the economic and environmental performance of the company. The findings demonstrate that through the implementation of sustainable practices, organizations can increase the competitiveness, revenues and decrease their costs associated with sustainable entrepreneurship initiatives. Using successful case studies that show this connection between reducing negative environmental impacts, as well as creating economic resilience for the organization. The conclusion shows that the higher the level of emissions reduction, the better the environmental benefit that can be gained by the company through green innovation.

ABSTRACT Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is about the ongoing processes of managing the social issues associated with projects and other planned interventions. Although there have been significant advances in the SIA field, paradigm and discourse, several existential threats remain. Advances include greater attention to: human rights due diligence; Indigenous peoples rights, self-determination and the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC); psychosocial impacts; trauma-informed impact assessment; genuine and meaningful community engagement; benefit sharing; and livelihood impacts. Although SIA is about managing social issues across the project lifecycle, growing interest brings fragmentation and narrow task definition in social practice and social performance. SIA’s future potential is challenged by fast-tracking projects, often under the guise of national security or the energy transition. ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’ (ESG) is another threat for SIA. With the current global political climate, a weakening of international and national requirements for SIA may happen. Persistent biases inherent in proponent-driven processes are barriers to effective social practice. Adaptive social management is necessary, especially to address any unknown unknowns that may arise in the life of projects. To foster equitable and sustainable development, effectively steering the discursive shifts within SIA and strategically leveraging opportunities are vital.

Purpose: The study documents the works of two graffiti artists in Akropong Akuapem, Ghana, and how their artworks communicate. It explores how their creative practices reflect cultural identity, social commentary, and youth empowerment. Methodology: A qualitative case study design was used. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and photographic documentation. Thematic and visual analyses guided the interpretation of findings. Findings: Results show that the two artists come from different personal and educational backgrounds but share similar motivations. They use graffiti to preserve cultural heritage, promote youth development, and spark conversations on social and political issues. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Their works incorporate Akan symbols, traditional proverbs, and festival imagery. At the same time, they blend these with contemporary influences such as music culture, digital design, and Afro-futuristic aesthetics. The graffiti pieces function as cultural archives, educational tools, and platforms for dialogue. The study also reveals challenges. These include limited access to resources, lack of institutional support, high material costs, and persistent public misconceptions about graffiti. The study concluded that graffiti in Akropong is more than decoration. It has contributed to education, cultural preservation, and social transformation. Through the theory of symbolic interactionism, the study added a formal recognition of graffiti, provision of resources, mentorship for young artists, and community initiatives to strengthen its developmental and tourism value. Keywords: Art, Artists, Graffiti, Street Communication, Culture, Documentation, Akropong-Akuapem

Urban transport (traffic), for many reasons, is becoming a bigger and bigger problem in today's world. Although it is a type of problem that arises, transport solves many important social issues, such as economic problems, unemployment, and poverty, and it raises the general standard of modern living. It is in this paper that the pedestrian flows in the city of Bitola, at two of the busiest locations along the pedestrian street Shirok Sokak, will be considered. The behavior of pedestrians when crossing a pedestrian crossing, whether they cross legally or illegally, as well as a comparative analysis with two software packages, is the key objective of this paper. The use of software packages is of great importance for traffic engineers, as it allows for real-time simulation of traffic participants, perception of problems, and provision of suggested solutions.