Unofficial Channels Research Articles

"Everything's a Challenge": An Interview Study of ADHD Individuals in the Midst of the Prescription Stimulant Shortage.

The shortage of prescription stimulants is an ongoing issue that is impacting the ability of individuals with ADHD to access their medication. Amidst concerns that this shortage may have a substantial impact on individuals' ability to manage their symptoms effectively, this research seeks to understand the experiences and consequences for those affected. In this study, we interviewed individuals with ADHD who have been directly impacted by the stimulant shortage. Thematic analysis focused on identifying common themes related to challenges with medication access and the resulting effects on daily living. The study uncovered significant difficulties in accessing ADHD medication due to current shortages, leading to disruptions in the management of ADHD symptoms and subsequent detriments to individuals' professional, educational, and personal lives. Systematic controls aimed at reducing non-medical use were found to exacerbate these access issues, inadvertently compounding the challenges faced by those using medication for legitimate medical needs. Individuals also described ways they coped with the shortage, with some seeking ADHD medication via unofficial channels. Our findings highlight the urgency of addressing stimulant shortages to safeguard the wellbeing of individuals with ADHD. This study also calls for a critical review of policy measures regulating stimulant medication access, and their effectiveness at reducing non-medical use given the unintended consequences these regulations appear to have on individuals prescribed these medications for therapeutic purposes.

Indonesian Migrant Women Workers in Türkiye and Media Representation at Home: Precarity Works and Mediating the State Protection

This qualitative study examines the portrayal of Indonesian migrant women workers in Türkiye by major Indonesian online media outlets from 2019 to 2023. Using content analysis, the research explores dominant media representations surrounding workers in Türkiye's care service and tourism sectors. Findings reveal patterns of precarious work, exploitation, and vulnerability to undocumented employment, particularly involving Syrian employers. The study highlights a significant shift in media coverage from sensationalist reporting to echoing government narratives on combating undocumented migration. This shift aligns with Indonesia's labour-export policy reforms under President Jokowi, which aim to promote labour migration to formal sectors and distance the country's image from domestic worker exports. The research demonstrates how media reflects and reinforces state migrant protection policies through "domesticated protection." However, this approach inadvertently perpetuates victimization and potentially exacerbates vulnerabilities by stigmatizing unofficial migration channels. While intended to safeguard workers, stringent regulations may if not already contribute to increased undocumented migration. By analyzing the nexus between media representation, state policies, and migrant precarities, this study contributes to understanding the complex dynamics of labour migration in an emerging corridor, calling for a more nuanced approach to media coverage, policy-making, and future studies that acknowledges both migrant agency and structural challenges.

Can retail investor activism inhibit corporate greenwashing behavior: Evidence from investor interactive platforms in China

Different from developed markets, China capital market is dominated by retail investors. In the digital age, retail investors are increasingly making their voice heard through online channels, which is a new form of shareholder activism in China. This paper examines the association between retail investor activism (RIA) and corporate greenwashing behavior (CGB) using the data of question raised by investors on official investor interactive platforms (IIPs) in China. We discover that the RIA on IIPs is negatively associated with CGB. The mechanism analysis shows that the RIA helps to curb CGB through promoting information transparency and improving internal corporate governance level. We also find that the association between RIA and CGB is strengthened in regions with weaker green finance and environmental regulation, and in industries with weaker product market competition. This indicates that the RIA, a type of private governance, can serve as a substitute to the governance effect of the government and the product market. Further studies show that RIA on unofficial channels such as stock forums or search engines can promote CGB, contrary to the conclusion about IIPs. Our research suggests that strengthening the rights of retail investors through official channels helps to reduce CGB and demonstrates the importance of official channels in the governance role of RIA in emerging markets.

Does whistleblowing always compromise bureaucratic reputation? Exploring the role of accountability institutions through bureaucratic reputation theory

ABSTRACT Organizational reputation is subject to losses when whistleblowing occurs. Based on ethics management and bureaucratic reputation theories, we examined whether the loss could vary depending on whistleblowing channels, such as official channels of accountability institutions (U.S. Office of Special Counsel and Office of Inspector General), and unofficial channels (media) and the existence of whistleblowing management from official channels. From survey experiments with U.S. citizens, we found reputational loss may occur after whistleblowing, but it could be mitigated when managed properly through accountability institutions. Our findings suggest the importance of governments showing efforts to resolve moral issues from citizens’ views.

Covid–19: Foreign Remittances and Migrants' Well-Being in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every sphere of life and livelihoods around the world. Many migrant workers from the Global South, such as Bangladesh, working in the Gulf countries were reported to be impacted by COVID-19, but the direct voices and views of migrant workers themselves and their households are largely unknown. This research adopts a mixed-method approach to assess the impact of the pandemic on foreign remittances to Bangladesh and the well-being of migrant households. The primary data collection involved fieldwork conducted in four migrant-dense villages, situated in Mymensingh and Meherpur districts of Bangladesh. A set of 221 household surveys was administered. In addition to the surveys, 52 semi-structured interviews were carried out, engaging with key individuals at community, district, and national levels such as heads of migrant households, returnee migrants, managers of migration financiers, owners of labor recruiting agencies, officials of the district manpower office etc. Results show that although a significant number of Bangladeshi migrant workers returned home since the COVID-19 pandemic and the outflow of Bangladeshi migrant workers shrank by 69 percent in 2020, remittance inflows at the national level witnessed a growth of 18.5 percent in 2020, which did not resonate with the negative prediction made by the World Bank. However, this research found a macro-micro mismatch, indicating a substantial decline in remittances at the household level. This might be due to the existence of a robust unofficial channel for remittance sending. Approximately 62% of migrant households in the case study sites experienced a 32% reduction in remittances during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. In response to the decline in remittance income, a majority of migrant households (77%) resorted to utilizing their accumulated savings. Additionally, approximately 20% of households sought financial support and borrowing from friends, relatives, and community members. At the community level, the local economy experienced a sharp downturn, leading to a ripple effect that affected everyone within the community. To address the unofficial remittance sending, the Government of Bangladesh should implement effective measures to curb unofficial remittance channels. Upskilling initiatives have the potential to alleviate the vulnerability of Bangladeshi migrant workers, fostering increased income stability. Policymakers should place greater emphasis on crafting savings instruments tailored to the specific needs of migrant households. It is also imperative to prioritize an income diversification policy at the community level to mitigate dependence on remittances.

Use of genocide by the Russian Federation in the conduct of hybrid activities and warfare in Ukraine

Both the Russian hybrid activities and warfare include the use of genocide to strengthen the Krem­lin’s position and overcome Ukrainians. It can be observed within many spheres, but mainly as the Russian Federation falsely accuses Ukraine of committing genocide against Russians and claims that the West supports it. Russians commit war crimes that fulfil all the requirements to be considered genocide. The Kremlin uses genocide as a part of cognitive warfare, trying to influence not only the way the Ukrainians are thinking but also how they are behaving. In unofficial channels, there is much content showing Russian violence to generate fear and diminish the resilience of Ukrainians. Bearing in mind how much Russia has already lost with respect to the hybrid war in Ukraine, it is more and more likely that the Kremlin will focus in the future on hybrid activities and will try to exploit the potential of the threats that have already materialised. Principally, the hybrid warfare potential of genocide has been explored by Russians to various extend. This work addresses chosen aspects of the use of genocide by the Russian Federation in the conduct of hy­brid activities and warfare in Ukraine from 2022, as well as the motivation behind it.

Legal and Ethical Protection in Drug Distribution: Examining Health Efforts and Drug Supervision in Indonesia

The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) has regulations regarding the Good Drug Distribution Method (CDOB), which is a guideline for distributing drugs properly. Community Health Centres (Puskesmas) are one of the legitimate institutions in distributing antibiotics. However, there is misuse of antibiotic distribution from community health centres to unofficial channels. This research uses normative juridical method by using secondary data from literature study and interviews with resource persons at the community health centre. The purpose of this study is to analyse the legal protection for drug users and consumers as well as the effectiveness of the legal responsibility of pharmaceutical facilities in overcoming pharmacist malpractice. The results show that legal protection for drug users is inadequate and the legal responsibility of pharmaceutical facilities is not yet effective in overcoming pharmacist malpractice, due to the lack of regulations governing pharmacist practices and firm handling of malpractice.

ГЕЙМИФИКАЦИЯ И ДРУГИ ПОДХОДИ ЗА ПОВИШАВАНЕ НА ИНТЕРЕСА НА ОБУЧАЕМИТЕ В ПРЕПОДАВАНЕТО НА PYTHON

This paper describes the challenges of teaching technological disciplines at high school and higher education levels. In particular four challenges are identified – participation motivation, motivation for cooperation, the need for feedback and the need for recognition. The strategies for answering these challenges are described as they were identified when teaching at university level, particularly taking into account the psychological peculiarities of the newer generation and using gamification techniques. A system for achievements and badges for unofficial channel feedback channel is described.

Too official to be effective: An empirical examination of unofficial information channel and continued use of retracted articles

Due to the inadequacy of official notices in disseminating retraction information, a significant proportion of retracted articles continue to be cited in the post-retraction period. There are adverse consequences of citing such questionable articles. This study extends the literature on official versus unofficial information channels by examining three key roles that unofficial information channels can play in disseminating retraction information (i.e., providing broader reach for information dissemination, packaging information from different sources, and creating new information) as well as the effects of these roles. An unofficial information channel affords a broader reach for information dissemination, which reduces post-retraction citations. Moreover, according to the information processing theory, different types of additional information (that comes from the ability of an unofficial information channel to package information from different sources or create new information) can moderate such effect. Leveraging on the launch of Retraction Watch (RW), an unofficial information channel for reporting retractions, this study designed a natural experiment and found that reporting retractions on RW significantly reduced post-retraction citations of non-swiftly retracted articles in biomedical sciences. Furthermore, additional author-related and retraction-related information provided on RW enhanced the main effect, whereas additional article-related information provided on RW weakened the main effect.

An assessment of the impact of formal and informal messages about COVID-19 on the knowledge and practices for prevention and control among rural and urban communities in Ecuador

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of formal and informal messages transmitted to urban and rural communities in Ecuador, on the knowledge of prevention and control of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Six focus groups were carried out with six to eight people per group through Zoom platform, from August 2020 to April 2021; NVivo 12 software was used for the thematic analysis of the data. Thirty-nine people, including male and female, participated in the study with mean age 39 years. Main outcomes included: use of alternative medicine for prevention and control of COVID-19; religious acceptance; impact of COVID-19 on mental health; lack of understanding and knowledge of the disease; and the mixed messages shared through official and unofficial channels about virus prevention and control. The study demonstrates the importance of using formal channels of communication to transmit accurate information, to reach people regardless of their geographical location.

Blog, bloger, blogging. O strategiach komunikacyjnych blogosfery po przełomie cyfrowym

In this article, the author made the characterization of the free market of ideas and information. He analyzes the phenomenon of blogosphere where contributors are at the same time the authors and the readers. The blogosphere has become an unofficial channel for the exchange of opinions that do not fall within the traditional media of television or books. The blogosphere offers an open space that is easily created; however, this open space also offers the possibilities of the rapid exchange of opinions, shared insights, and immediate interactions between different groups of authors and readers. In the blogosphere, these contributors produce new and previously unknown situations, which contribute to social behavioral changes and reading standards, especially among young people.

Preview as a Creolized Text: Features of Russian, British and American YouTube News Videos

The article presents a comparative study of verbal and non-verbal features of previews of Russian, British and American news and political videos as well as offers an analysis of the most widespread types of visual metaphors of this type of creolized text and their potential influence on the viewers. The current study is relevant due to the complex structure of video previews, which is including both verbal and non-verbal components. The aim of the current study was to, firstly, identify verbal and non-verbal peculiarities of news previews in the Russian and English segments of the internet, and, secondly, determine some similarities and differences. The methods used included comparative method of analysis, cognitive discourse analysis. The material of the study was the previews of videos of official and unofficial news video channels of YouTube and Yandex Zen from 2020 to 2022. Political affiliation was not taken into consideration. The authors note that the more official channels have a stricter form of visual representation of the material presented. As a result, some similarities were identified, such as colour choices, showing emotions, using gestures and including elements of popular culture. As for the differences, the authors note the typical composition choices (usage of opposing images in Russian and British videos, collages in British videos), the presence of tricks or clickbait (both verbal and non-verbal) when covering the information (most characteristic of Russian previews). In conclusion, the authors highlight that further study of video previews appears to be promising.

Shift change handovers between nurses in Critical Care Units

AimTo know the characteristics of the handover performed by nurses working in Critical Care Units in Spain. MethodsDescriptive and cross-sectional study, whose population was nurses working in Critical Care Units in Spain. An ad hoc questionnaire was used to explore the characteristics of the process, the training received, the information forgotten and the influence of this activity on patient care. The questionnaire was online and dissemination was done through social networks. The sample was selected by convenience. A descriptive analysis was performed according to the nature of the variables and comparison of groups through ANOVA with R software version 4.0.3 (R Project for Statistical Computing). ResultsThe sample was 420 nurses. Most of them answered that (79,5%) perform this activity in an individual way, from outgoing nurse to incoming nurse. Location varied according to the size of the unit (p<0,05). Interdisciplinary handover was rare (p<0.05). In the last month, with regard to the time of data collection, 29,5% had to contact the unit due to forgetting relevant information, using WhatsApp as the first channel to transmit this information. ConclusionsThere is a lack of standardization in the handoff between shifts, in terms of the physical space where it is done, tools to structure the information, participation of other professionals and the use of unofficial communication channels to contact for omitted information during the handover. Shift change was identified as a vital process to ensure continuity of care and patient safety, so further researchs are important for patients handoffs.

Fake-news-free evidence-based communication for proper vein-lymphatic disease management.

Published scientific evidence demonstrate the current spread of healthcare misinformation in the most popular social networks and unofficial communication channels. Up to 40% of the medical websites were identified reporting inappropriate information, moreover being shared more than 450,000 times in a 5-year-time frame. The phenomenon is particularly spread in infective diseases medicine, oncology and cardiovascular medicine. The present document is the result of a scientific and educational endeavor by a worldwide group of top experts who selected and analyzed the major issues and related evidence-based facts on vein and lymphatic management. A section of this work is entirely dedicated to the patients and therefore written in layman terms, with the aim of improving public vein-lymphatic awareness. The part dedicated to the medical professionals includes a revision of the current literature, summing up the statements that are fully evidence-based in venous and lymphatic disease management, and suggesting future lines of research to fulfill the still unmet needs. The document has been written following an intense digital interaction among dedicated working groups, leading to an institutional project presentation during the Universal Expo in Dubai, in the occasion of the v-WINter 2022 meeting.

ALIENATION, PALESTINIAN CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The study dealt with the phenomenon of alienation and its relationship to cultural identity, and the study aimed to shed light on social media and its impact on alienation and the Palestinian national and cultural identity. The researchers concluded that the Palestinian society, like other societies, is affected by everything new in the world through social networking sites, but it tries to preserve its national and cultural identity and contributes to spreading and supporting its cause despite the continuous Israeli occupation attempt to obliterate this identity with many tools such as fighting Palestinian content, removing tags and deleting accounts. Palestinians on social networking sites. The researchers recommend making official and unofficial efforts to preserve the national identity through national initiatives and official and unofficial media channels, and to promote the Palestinian identity with its main components such as language, heritage, religion and historical memory through the curricula in schools and universities

Visual Discussion as Part of Internal Organization Communication—Functions and Significance

Among an increasingly remote workforce due to COVID-19 pandemic, sharing photographs as part of internal communication has become something of a paradigm. In this article, exchanging primarily photographs and other quick visual artifacts, such as animated images and short videos, is considered a form of visual discussion among the work community. With a vast and diverse range of official and unofficial internal communication channels, this article focuses on three organizations, their internal communication channels and the visual discussions occurring therein. The semi-structured group interviews and qualitative thematic analysis we conducted shed light on the functions of photographs in different workplaces. The results demonstrate how visual discussions are heavily dependent on the context and nature of the work in question. In official channels, the most important functions of shared photographs are task-related and relevant to such issues as instructing, teaching, safety at work and emphasizing the message to be communicated. Photographs can also have a feeling-driven aspect that includes goals such as raising team spirit and employee commitment. Moreover, photographs are also shared in somewhat obscure unofficial channels with functions related to humour and concerning a common interest or hobby.

PARALLEL IMPORT: THEORETICAL ASPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF REGULATION

This article is devoted to consideration of parallel import of goods with intellectual property rights, focusing on theoretical aspects and problems of regulation of this phenomenon. The main purpose of the article is to study and generalize the key concepts and approaches related to parallel import, which includes trademarks, copyright and patents. The problems arising in connection with parallel import are considered, and the approaches to their regulation in the international and national legal environment are analyzed. The article emphasizes transparency and balance in the regulation of this phenomenon, as well as the impact on market dynamics and competitive relations. In particular, it considers how parallel imports can affect the quality and safety of products, which becomes especially important in the context of consumer rights and trust in goods on the market. The greatest attention is paid to the effectiveness of customs control, which becomes a key component in ensuring compliance with intellectual property rights and control over the circulation of goods through unofficial channels. Highlighting the importance of this article, it is important to emphasize that parallel import is becoming an important element of world trade in the conditions of globalization. Today's market is becoming increasingly integrated, where goods cross borders and are exchanged between countries, so understanding and regulating parallel imports becomes a necessity to ensure fair competition, protect the rights of intellectual property owners, and protect consumers. Modern international trade relations require adaptation to new realities, and this article contributes to the understanding of important aspects and the resolution of complex issues related to parallel imports. Therefore, this article is aimed at expanding the understanding of the essence and impact of parallel imports on market dynamics and the legal landscape. It emphasizes the need to find a balance between competition and the protection of the rights of intellectual property owners, and also encourages further research, discussion and development of relevant legislation to effectively regulate this phenomenon in the customs sphere.

The Ukrainian-Polish Cultural Dialogue of the 1960s in the Discourse of Postcolonial Studies (based on the Archives of the Polish Composers’ Union)

The research is based on the analysis of materials from the archive of the Polish Composers’ Union of the 1960s, which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. It is emphasized that the cultural representation of Ukraine at the official level has always been carried out under the control of the Union of Composers of the USSR and in coordination with the ideological sector of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which was one of the mechanisms of colonial cultural enslavement of Ukraine. Based on archival documents, it is proved that Ukrainian music in the 1960s was not performed by Polish artistic groups, published or recorded in Poland. The only official channel for disseminating information about Ukrainian musical culture at that time was Polish Radio. Numerous facts of unofficial private cultural initiatives by conductor Ihor Blazhkov, composer Leonid Hrabovskyi, and other young Ukrainian musicians, which went against the official discourse of the state authorities and beyond the party and ideological control of Soviet Ukraine, have been established. It is proved that alternative unofficial channels of communication between Ukrainian artists and the Polish Composers’ Union vividly illustrate their desire to “break through the Iron Curtain”, receive direct information about modern trends in music and novelties in the festival and concert life of Europe, become the part of European and world cultural processes.

The Impact, Response and Construction of Cultural Security in the Late Qing Dynasty

Since the Opium War, western cultural customs have had an impact on late Qing society, and traditional cultural customs have gradually been replaced by western cultural customs. The impact of Western culture is threatening China's cultural security. In this process, different voices in the late Qing Dynasty spoke out about how to maintain their own cultural security: diehards chose to stick to themselves and resist all foreign things; the Westernization School and the Reformists chose to absorb advanced western culture and customs to varying degrees. In terms of its own customs, the late Qing Dynasty spread traditional Chinese customs and culture through official and unofficial channels.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Artisanal Fisheries and Education in The Gambia

The Gambia is one of the least developed countries in sub-Sahara Africa. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Gambian government implemented a lockdown and various restrictions in 2020, but the impacts on Gambians’ livelihood remained unclear. With the gradual relaxation of the lockdown and restrictions, we were able to conduct the first questionnaire surveys to interview 140 fishermen, 140 fishmongers and 80 customers in the artisanal fisheries sector, and 150 students (grade 9-12) and 14 teachers in the education sector, to assess the impact of the pandemic on their socio-economic and personal well-being. Both fishermen and fishmongers experienced a drop in sales, whereas customers had to pay more during the pandemic. Illegal fishing, lack of policy and regulations and price hikes were among the main concerns for the artisanal fisheries sector, although the respondents did not feel a change in their personal well-being due to the pandemic. Students and teachers did not have the necessary training or resources to conduct remote learning during the pandemic, and both attendance and academic performance declined as a result. Access to the internet and learning materials was very limited, and 10% of the students ceased learning activities altogether. 19% of students and 50% of teachers experienced poor mental health during the pandemic. The majority of the students were concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their education, whereas most teachers were concerned about their finances and psychological conditions. Nearly a quarter of the students relied on unofficial channels to learn about the pandemic, making them susceptible to misinformation. To safeguard Gambian’s well-being against future pandemics or similar large-scale disruptions, we recommend better fishery monitoring and policy enforcement, more fish storage facilities, improving digital learning capacity, providing mental health care in schools, and devising effective communication campaigns about the pandemic.