This study investigates the impact of interpersonal patterns and sociocultural forces on marital relationships in Pakistan, employing the Interpersonal Patterns (IP) Scope framework to examine pathologizing, healing, and wellness patterns. It specifically analyses cultural values, gender-role dynamics, and economic dependency. A qualitative research design was adopted. Data were collected through interviews with seven heterosexual married couples in Pakistan between December 2023 and January 2025. Couples were aged 25-45 years to focus on contemporary marriages. Purposive sampling ensured diversity in economic status, family circumstances, and age. Thematic analysis using NVivo software was conducted to categorise data into pathologizing, healing, and wellness patterns, along with sociocultural influences. Marital distress stemmed from three pathologizing patterns: power dynamics, familial intervention, and emotional distress. Healing patterns-including mutual support, effective communication, and conflict management-enabled couples to reconnect. Wellness patterns of trust, mutual respect, and quality time fostered marital satisfaction. Sociocultural factors such as traditional gender roles, social media, and religious practices were found to both support and hinder marital relationships. The findings illustrate the complex interplay between interpersonal patterns and sociocultural forces in shaping marital quality in the Pakistani context. The IP Scope framework offers a valuable lens for understanding relational distress, healing, and wellness, with implications for culturally sensitive interventions to strengthen marriages.

This paper measures the effect of a radio jingle campaign promoting a family planning call center in Nigeria on the number of information requests received. Campaign effect is measured using comparative interrupted time series. Without the radio campaign, the number of calls from the intervention group is assumed to have been parallel to that observed in the control group. The campaign effect is estimated as the difference between the actual and projected number of calls received. Before the campaign, the monthly number of calls was stagnant, averaging below 500 calls per month. The campaign increased the monthly number of calls increased by about 360. However, this effect was temporary, which minimal gain after the campaign ended. Discussion: The comparative interrupted time series show that the radio campaigns substantially increased the demand for family planning information from the call center. However, there is no solid evidence that the radio jingle campaign had a longer-term effect on use of the call center after the radio broadcasts ended. Although short-term effects could be important if they benefited disadvantaged groups that cannot easily be reached through other means, we recommend that future campaigns be re-designed to facilitate permanent increases in call center use. Key lessons learned include that traditional mass media campaigns may not suffice to achieve widespread use of phone-based health services, that it is important to consider alternative strategies to promote the services, and that analyses of routine data (e.g., the monthly number of clients), can be invaluable for assessing their impact.

Estrogens are global regulators of cellular signaling pathways, impacting fundamental processes and phenotypes that are essential for tissue remodeling and homeostasis. Traditional cell culture media contains estrogen-mimetic compounds, including phenol red and endogenous estrogen in fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, the potential of these compounds to bias in vitro studies, particularly when considering sex as a biological variable, remains unclear. This gap in understanding critically impacts the culture of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs), whose basic functions and differentiation potential, central to cell therapy and tissue engineering, are sensitive to perturbations in the culture conditions. Despite this, the effect of estrogens from cell culture media on male and female hMSCs is not currently considered in cell processing for clinical trials. As such, a baseline understanding of these estrogen-mimetic media influences on hMSCs is critical for clinical efficacy and adequate study design in research. To this end, we investigated the effects of phenol red and fetal bovine serum on the proliferation, metabolism, senescence, and differentiation capacity of male and female hMSCs. Phenol red, FBS, donor sex, and 17β-estradiol (E2) supplementation all had significant impacts on hMSC health and differentiation potential in culture. Notably, dosing with estrogen at the levels found in FBS did not recover most of the hMSC metrics tested. The notable outcomes that were significantly impacted by sex for the overall analysis include proliferation, metabolism, senescence, osteogenic differentiation, adipogenic differentiation, and gene expression for Col1a1, ESR1, Col10a1, RUNX2, FABP4, and PPARγ. Donor variability was a main driver in all the outcomes tested, highlighting the need for personalized medicine in research investigating cellular response to hormone signaling. Overall, these findings reveal the sex-biased effects of estrogen and estrogen-mimetic compounds in traditional culture media, underscoring a current gap in considering sex as a biological variable in cell therapy and tissue engineering research and manufacturing.

PurposeTo examine the association between knowledge of smoking-related diseases, exposure to anti-smoking advertising, sociodemographic factors with smoking cessation intention among current smokers.DesignA quantitative cross-sectional design using secondary data from the 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Indonesia.SettingA nationally representative dataset covering Indonesian adults.SampleA total of 2874 adult current smokers aged 15years and above.MeasuresKey variables included respondents' knowledge of smoking-related diseases (lung cancer, heart attack, and stroke) and exposure to anti-smoking messages through five media channels: television, radio, newspapers, billboards, and the internet.AnalysisComplex sample logistic regression to identify predictors of cessation intention while adjusting for sociodemographic factors.Results42.7% of smokers expressed an intention to quit. Knowledge of smoking-related diseases-particularly lung cancer-and exposure to anti-smoking messages via the internet were significant predictors of quit intention. Traditional media exposure and general health knowledge showed comparatively weaker associations.ConclusionThese findings suggest that targeted tobacco control interventions should strengthen disease-specific health education and prioritize digital media strategies to enhance smoking cessation intention across diverse population groups.

Functional decline and high disease prevalence increases medication needs among older adults, making medication safety a pressing concern. Yet older adults often face limited access, uneven quality, and comprehension barriers. This study investigates medication information sources and associated factors among older adults in Nanjing, China, to guide improved dissemination and safety strategies. A questionnaire survey based on the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) was conducted among older adults in Nanjing, China. Descriptive statistics assessed use of seven medication information sources, and binary logistic regression identified factors associated with source selection. Among 165 participants, 90.3% used multiple sources in the past six months, averaging 4.7 per person. Doctors (86.7%), non-professional interpersonal networks (68.5%), and professional medical materials (66.1%) were most common, whereas internet use was lowest (32.1%). Higher perceived information-seeking ability significantly increased use of the internet (OR = 2.90), professional materials (OR = 2.68), doctors (OR = 4.46), pharmacists (2.21), nurses (OR = 2.40), and traditional media (OR = 2.37). Source characteristics also influenced choices: information quality affected doctors (OR = 19.33), pharmacists (OR = 2.39), and nurses (OR = 3.16); comprehensibility influenced pharmacists (OR = 2.67), nurses (OR = 3.16), traditional media (OR = 3.01), non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 4.75), and professional medical materials (OR = 5.40); accessibility was associated with traditional media (OR = 3.33) and non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 5.61); and credibility strongly predicted non-professional interpersonal networks use (OR = 19.69). Medication experience and perceived utility were additional predictors. Older adults in China rely on doctors, professional medical materials and heavily on non-professional interpersonal networks, with limited use of internet sources. Enhancing physician-family communication, improving source content, and strengthening health information literacy may improve medication information access and safety.

Cultivated meat production requires efficient differentiation of muscle progenitor cells into myotubes without relying on animal-derived serum, which poses ethical and scalability challenges. This study aimed to develop a chemically defined, serum-free medium optimized for bovine satellite cell differentiation. Using a data-driven design of experiments approach, we systematically screened 13 growth factors and supplements previously associated with myogenesis. Fusion index served as the primary metric for differentiation efficiency, complemented by additional morphological traits. Initial screening identified platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), cytosine arabinoside, and linoleic acid as key contributors, with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) included for its biological relevance. Subsequent optimization employed full factorial and central composite designs combined with response surface modeling to refine concentration ranges and evaluate interactions. The resulting formulation, termed MyoFusion, consists of DMEM supplemented with 4.5 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL TGF-β1, 4.66 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL PDGF-BB, 0.73 × 10⁻⁵ mg/mL cytosine arabinoside, and 2.07 × 10⁻⁴ mg/mL linoleic acid. Experimental validation demonstrated that MyoFusion achieved a fusion index of 65.08 ± 4.97, representing an improvement of up to 52.7% compared to serum-based controls (2% FBS). Correlation analyses confirmed strong associations between fusion index and other differentiation traits under serum-free conditions, indicating robust myotube formation. These findings establish MyoFusion as a promising serum-free alternative for cultivated meat applications, supporting ethical and scalable production while maintaining differentiation efficiency comparable to or exceeding traditional serum-containing media.

Exposure to food-related digital media has been recognized as a determinant of eating behavior, although this remains less known during adolescence, particularly among overweight and obese individuals. Our study aimed to analyze the influence of food-related digital media content on the eating behavior of overweight and obese adolescents by integrating dietary intake data, screen time, and adolescents' subjective narratives about advertising stimuli, while considering potential sex differences. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study included 35 adolescents aged 10-17 years with overweight or obesity from southern Brazil. Data collection comprised sociodemographic questionnaires, daily screen time assessment, three separate 24-hour dietary recalls classified according to the NOVA system, and anthropometric measurements via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Open-ended responses regarding food advertisements were analyzed using IRaMuTeQ® software through Descending Hierarchical Classification, word clouds, and similarity analysis. Adolescents exhibited high daily screen exposure (5.4-7.2h·day⁻¹), with no sex differences except for greater computer use among boys (p = 0.013). Dietary patterns showed predominant consumption of ultra-processed foods, without sex-specific differences. Qualitative analysis revealed that food desire was strongly associated with sensory and audiovisual stimuli, digital influencer presence, and brand recognition. Girls demonstrated heightened sensitivity to visual and aesthetic elements of advertisements, whereas boys showed stronger associations with traditional media formats and explicit brand advertising. Digital food-related content functions as a symbolic and emotional driver of eating behavior among overweight and obese adolescents, operating through sex-specific persuasive mechanisms that reinforce unhealthy dietary patterns. Strategies must address the qualitative dimensions of digital food environments as active determinants of adolescent eating behavior.

Cancer primary prevention (CPP), particularly through evidence-based recommendations like the 4th European Code Against Cancer (ECAC4), represents a cost-effective strategy to reduce cancer burden. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) of CPP strategies remain fragmented and inconsistent, and instruments to assess dissemination of CPP are lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess the public (i) perceptions of CPP message characteristics, and (ii) public perceptions of ECAC4. The validation of the ´Information on Cancer Primary Prevention` instrument was developed through a multi-stage process grounded in two D&I frameworks: McGuire's Communication-Persuasion Matrix and Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations. After literature review, items were generated for the two questions assessing message characteristics (channel preferences and source trustworthiness) and 25 items to assess ECAC4 five perceived attributes: advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Validation involved cognitive interviews for message characteristics, expert validation through a two-round Delphi panel for ECAC4 attributes, and pre-testing with 240 adults recruited through an online panel. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to assess structural validity, and Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate internal consistency. Refinements in terminology, response scales, and item wording were implemented after cognitive interviews for the two questions of message characteristics (channel preference and source trustworthiness). EFA revealed three factors for channel preferences (Traditional broadcast media, Digital media/online interactive platforms, and Print media and interpersonal; α = 0.703-0.775) and two factors for source trustworthiness (Official sources and Unofficial sources; α = 0.792-0.859). The five ECAC4 attributes were evaluated in a Delphi panel with two rounds - due to participant attrition the panel was discontinued before full consensus could be reached for all items; five items were adapted based on expert qualitative feedback and included in the pre-test. All five ECAC4 attributes subscales demonstrated unidimensionality with strong factor loadings (> 0.50) and good to excellent reliability (α = 0.714-0.831). This instrument exhibits initial evidence of content and exhibits satisfactory psychometric properties, offering preliminary evidence of structural validity, and internal consistency. By operationalizing key constructs from established dissemination and implementation frameworks, it addresses critical gaps in cancer prevention communication research.

This study investigated long-term development trends in ocean literacy (OL) and influencing factors among 6,061 senior high school students in Taiwan, using survey data from 2018, 2021, and 2024. Descriptive statistics revealed a clear shift toward digital knowledge sources, with the use of digitally mediated sources increasing over time, while traditional media and formal classroom instruction declined. Overall OL performance showed a marked decline in 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, and partially recovered by 2024. Students showed particular improvement in the knowledge of marine science and technology and marine resources and sustainability, which is consistent with increased policy attention to marine education in recent years. However, performance in marine recreation and culture decreased, suggesting a potential need for greater emphasis on cultural and lifestyle-related content in curricula. Multiple regression analysis identified gender and parental education level as key predictors of OL, while the effects of in-class instruction and informal learning resources were not significant. The study provides empirical data supporting Taiwan’s marine education policies in specific areas and highlights the need for adjustments to curriculum design, teacher training, and educational resources to ensure a more balanced and culturally rich learning experience. These insights may help support the development of future ocean citizens with greater capacity for informed action.

Media representations have long influenced public understandings of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), with traditional media frequently relying on moralized or sensational narratives that reinforce stigma and oversimplification. The rise of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped reproductive health communication, allowing patients to share lived experiences, build community, and access information outside clinical settings, while also increasing exposure to misinformation. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed research, clinical commentary, and digital media analyses to examine infertility narratives, online patient engagement, and AI-driven information dissemination. Findings indicate that social media has expanded patient agency and reduced isolation, but AI-generated content and influencer marketing contribute to the rapid spread of inaccurate or misleading fertility information. Despite these risks, digital platforms offer significant opportunities for evidence-based education and empathetic engagement. Clinicians who thoughtfully engage with social media and AI can counter misinformation, direct patients to trustworthy resources, and strengthen patient-physician relationships. When used responsibly, these tools can enhance communication and promote more informed, compassionate infertility care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly proposed for use in health and health care systems. Beyond technical performance, public perceptions and affective responses influence whether AI technologies are accepted and adopted in real-world contexts. Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) provide large-scale, real-time insight into public discourse surrounding emerging technologies, yet remain underused for examining how health AI is discussed, evaluated, and emotionally framed. This study aimed to develop and apply large language model (LLM)-based methods for exploratory social listening on health AI. This is the first study to map large-scale sentiment, emotional expressions, and confidence-related signals in online discussions of applications of AI to health. We collected 786,750 English-language posts from X (Twitter) published between January 1 and December 5, 2023, using health- and AI-related keywords. We benchmarked an LLM-based annotation framework by using OpenAI's GPT-3.5-Turbo and GPT-4, comparing model classifications with trained human researchers. Annotations included overall sentiment and 6 evaluative domains frequently referenced in the literature surrounding attitudes toward health AI-usefulness, safety, privacy, ethics, quality, and trust. After cleaning, GPT-3.5-Turbo used the best-performing prompts to label 388,009 posts. A subset (n=268,347) was further analyzed using Emollama-7b, an open-source model fine-tuned from Meta's LLaMA2-7B, for emotion detection, and latent Dirichlet allocation for thematic analysis. Comparisons were made across World Health Organization regions. Compared against human annotations, optimized prompts achieved weighted F1-scores above 0.60 across evaluative domains and sentiment classification. Global discourse about health AI was 65.26% (95% CI 65.11%-65.4%) positive and 83.62% (95% CI 83.48%-83.76%) emotionally optimistic, although substantial regional variation was observed in sentiment (P<.001). The Eastern Mediterranean and South-East Asia regions expressed significantly higher levels of positive sentiment and evaluative agreement in the studied features of health AI, alongside frequent discussion of the tech industry and commercial development. In comparison, the Western Pacific region expressed lower confidence and significantly more mentions of research topics (19.27%, 95% CI 18.5%-20.07%). Privacy was the most prominent global concern, with 33.31% (95% CI 32.98%-33.66%) of privacy-related posts expressing perceived risks. In the Region of the Americas, 18.19% (95% CI 17.92%-18.44%) of posts discussed algorithms and data governance, significantly higher than overall. This study offers the first systematic characterization of online health AI discourse at scale, mapping stances toward key features of AI, emotional tone, and discussion topics across regions. LLM-powered social listening is demonstrated as a feasible approach for identifying dominant narratives and regionally distinct concerns, capable of surfacing opinions absent from traditional media. This can extend to studying discourse on other evolving health technologies where public surveying is limited. While methodological refinement and multilingual expansion are needed, this framework can inform timely policy development, risk communication, and responsible health AI governance.

This article analyzes the operational and narrative transformations of media in Quevedo Canton, Ecuador, during the period 2013–2023, within the framework of digitization and the implementation of the Organic Law of Communication. Using the theoretical framework of Media Ecology and Carlos Scolari's Theory of Media Evolution, a mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating in-depth interviews with eight key actors in the local ecosystem and a perception survey of 141 citizens. The results reveal that convergence in Quevedo does not constitute a process of technological substitution, but rather an adaptive co-evolution where traditional media (radio and TV) hybridize with social networks (Facebook, TikTok and Instagram) to occupy niches for survival. The article concludes that territorial identity and journalistic rigor emerge as the most valuable assets in the face of disinformation and the crisis of conventional business models, consolidating an ecosystem where analog tradition and technical innovation coexist in a complex interdependence.

Introduction In recent years, widespread internet and mobile device use has reshaped adolescents’ reading, study, and information-evaluation practices. In Chile, this occurs in a context of high connectivity but persistent digital literacy gaps. This study aimed to identify adolescents’ study-related digital practices and preferences and to explore their beliefs about reliability and verification online. Methods This qualitative study, informed by grounded theory, involved six discussion groups with 16-year-old students from three schools serving different socioeconomic groups ( N = 60). Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed in NVivo 14 using open and axial coding, constant comparison, and researcher triangulation. Results Participants preferred general digital resources such as Google, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and, to a lesser extent, generative AI tools. They valued short, accessible, and entertaining materials that were useful for doing well on assessments, reported difficulty concentrating, and expressed an instrumental orientation toward learning. Although they claimed to verify information through source convergence, they also granted substantial credibility to personal audiovisual testimonies and distrusted traditional media. Differences also emerged in access to school and family resources. Discussion The findings highlight the need for more systematic school instruction in evaluating authority and evidence, engaging in lateral and deep reading, and developing attentional self-regulation, particularly in relation to educational inequality in Chile.

The rapid growth of social media has transformed traditional marketing practices, giving rise to influencer marketing as a powerful promotional strategy. This study examines the effect of influencer marketing on brand awareness from a consumer perspective. It explores how influencers, through their credibility, relatability, and online presence, shape consumer perceptions and enhance brand visibility. The research highlights the shift from conventional advertising to more personalized and interactive forms of communication, where consumers increasingly rely on recommendations from social media influencers rather than traditional media channels. The study also analyzes consumer behavior across various investment sectors, identifying how influencer-driven content impacts awareness, trust, and decision-making. Using a structured methodology, the research evaluates factors such as influencer authenticity, content quality, engagement levels, and platform effectiveness. The findings suggest that influencer marketing significantly contributes to increasing brand awareness and plays a crucial role in influencing consumer attitudes and preferences. Overall, the study concludes that influencer marketing is an effective tool for modern businesses to connect with target audiences, especially in digitally driven markets. It provides valuable insights for marketers to design impactful strategies and leverage influencer partnerships to enhance brand positioning and consumer engagement.

No study has yet examined the conjoint role of institutional trust and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs on compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviours among populations of African countries. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the relationship between institutional mistrust, conspiracy beliefs, and health-related behaviours in the context of an African country during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional research design was employed, and a paper-based survey using face-to-face interviews was conducted among the general adult population of Burkina Faso, collecting data on institutional mistrust, conspiracy beliefs, health-related behaviours (i.e., vaccination attitudes, agreement to sanitary measures, and containment-related behaviours), information-seeking behaviours (including traditional and digital sources of information), and negative sentiments. We defined a conceptual model according to the existing literature. A mediation analysis was employed to examine the direct effect of institutional mistrust on health-related behaviours and its indirect effect through conspiracy beliefs endorsement. Additionally, the effects of information-seeking behaviours and negative sentiments on mistrust and conspiracy beliefs were explored. We find that institutional mistrust had a direct negative effect on all health-related behaviours and an indirect effect through conspiracy beliefs which themselves had a direct negative effect on protective behaviours. The partial mediation accounted for 12% (agreement with sanitary measures) to 34% (vaccination attitudes) of the total effect of institutional mistrust on health-related behaviours. Information seeking on traditional media and negative sentiments had positive effects on conspiracy beliefs and institutional mistrust, respectively. Our findings underscore the need for medium-to long-term policies aimed at restoring and perpetuating trust in institutions and curbing conspiracy beliefs for fighting future pandemics. In short term, health promotion campaigns should be channelled through the sources of information in which individuals have the greatest confidence such as religious and traditional leaders.

Media use patterns and depressive symptoms in later life: the mediating effects of loneliness and cognitive function.

Evaluation of Mitis Salivarius Agar for fungal growth in comparison with three standard fungal media.

This study investigates the impact of advertising on consumer buying behaviour within the FMCG sector, with a specific focus on how different advertising mediums influence awareness, perception, and purchase intentions. The research is based on primary data collected from 120 respondents through a structured questionnaire, capturing their exposure to advertisements, preferences for media channels, and actual buying responses. The findings indicate that advertising plays a significant role in shaping consumer attitudes, particularly in highly competitive FMCG markets where product differentiation is limited. Digital advertising platforms—such as social media, online videos, and mobile applications—emerge as more influential than traditional media like television and print, especially among younger consumers. Emotional appeal, visual content, and repetition of advertisements are found to enhance brand recall and influence trial purchases. However, the study also reveals that while advertising can trigger initial interest and impulse buying, long-term consumer loyalty depends on product quality and satisfaction. The research highlights the growing importance of integrated marketing communication strategies that combine creativity with targeted outreach. These insights are valuable for marketers aiming to optimize advertising investments and effectively engage modern consumers in an increasingly digital environment.

Marketing has undergone a major transformation due to technological advancement, changing consumer behavior, and the rapid growth of internet-based communication channels. This chapter examines the comparative effectiveness of traditional and digital marketing by analyzing their reach, cost, trust, targeting capability, and influence on consumer purchase decisions. Traditional marketing, which includes television, radio, print advertisements, billboards, and direct mail, has historically played a central role in mass communication and brand-building. In contrast, digital marketing uses online platforms such as social media, search engines, email, and websites to enable targeted, measurable, and interactive consumer engagement. The study adopts a descriptive and primarily quantitative approach using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire distributed through Google Forms. The findings indicate that while traditional marketing continues to be associated with credibility and long-term brand recall, digital marketing is increasingly preferred for its personalization, wider day-to-day consumer exposure, lower cost, and measurable results. The study also highlights generational differences in marketing preference, with younger consumers showing stronger engagement with digital platforms. The chapter concludes that neither traditional nor digital marketing is universally superior; instead, an integrated strategy that combines the trust-building capacity of traditional media with the precision and adaptability of digital tools is most effective in the contemporary business environment.

Social media are digital platforms that enable people to create, share, and exchange information, ideas, professional interests, and multimedia content within online communities. These platforms rely on internet and mobile technologies to support interactive environments where users not only consume content but also actively participate in its creation, discussion, and modification. Through this participatory nature, social media has significantly transformed how individuals, organizations, and communities communicate and interact with one another. The impact of social media is central to the growing field of techno self-studies, which examines how technology influences human identity, behavior, and social relationships. Unlike traditional or industrial media, social media offers greater reach, faster communication, increased accessibility, and continuous interaction. It allows content to be shared instantly and remain available over time, enhancing both immediacy and permanence. Another key distinction lies in the communication model. Social media functions through a dialogic system, where multiple users simultaneously act as both content creators and receivers. This many-to-many interaction contrasts with traditional media, which typically follows a monologic model in which information flows from a single source to a large audience.