Effective management of organic wastes continues to pose a major challenge in areas of high urbanization growth, especially in developing countries such as India, where the population and rate of consumption of resources are putting pressure on the existing waste management systems. Of the various alternatives available, composting has been identified as a promising and cost-effective method of transforming organic wastes into useful products. In this regard, rotary drum composting, which is an in-vessel composting method, has shown promising results, as it can hasten the degradation of wastes through aeration and mixing. In this review, a critical evaluation of the operational aspects of rotary drum composting systems is presented, especially regarding various physicochemical and biological factors. The importance of operational variables like moisture content, C/N ratio, aeration rate, and turning frequency is discussed. Additionally, the effect of different bulking agents, such as agricultural residues and invasive weeds, is presented. Moreover, the suitability of rotary drum composting in decentralized waste management systems for both developed and developing countries is discussed. The discussion reveals that rotary drum composting can reduce composting time significantly while maintaining a uniform and stable quality of final products. However, there are still challenges to be addressed in terms of energy consumption and optimization. Additionally, research gaps in the area of long-term performance, emissions, and techno-economic aspects of the process are identified. It is revealed that rotary drum composting is a potential solution for sustainable waste management with proper addressing of operational and policy-related challenges.

Enhalus acoroides is a well-known ecosystem engineer in the Indo-Pacific region. In this context, it plays a significant role in the protection of the coastline from coastal erosion and the maintenance of environmental conditions. This study investigates the physical characteristics of Enhalus acoroides and emphasizes their roles in shoreline stabilization and seawater filtration. A field survey was conducted in Prawean Beach, Jepara, Indonesia, using a transect quadrant to estimate the seagrass cover, supported by spatial analysis and a literature review. The results show considerable variation in leaf length, ranging from 30 to 114 cm, while leaf width remains relatively stable, ranging from 1.5 to 2 cm. Seagrass density ranges from 0 to 168 ind/m2, exhibiting strong spatial heterogeneity. The physical characteristics of Enhalus acoroides could reduce the wave energy by approximately 30% compared to smaller seagrass species. Additionally, the meadows play an important role in regulating sediment transport and facilitating the deposition of heavy metal within the substrate. Overall, these findings confirm that Enhalus acoroides functions as an effective natural coastal protector. Its integration into hybrid engineering approaches offers promising potential for coastal nourishment and sustainable shoreline management. Therefore, conserving seagrass habitat represents a crucial nature-based solution for enhancing coastal resilience and mitigating pollution.

Shallow semi-enclosed tropical bays are highly vulnerable to seasonal hypoxia due to the combined influence of monsoon-driven circulation, freshwater input, and water-column stratification. In Jakarta Bay, understanding how physical processes regulate oxygen dynamics is essential for effective water–environment management in a densely populated coastal setting. This study integrates field observations and three-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling to assess seasonal variations in circulation, stratification strength (quantified using potential energy anomaly, PEA), water-mass transport, and bottom dissolved oxygen across the Southeast Monsoon, inter-monsoon, and Northwest Monsoon periods. The results show that hypoxia is most extensive during the Inter-monsoon (151 km²), when elevated stratification coincides with reduced circulation and limited ventilation. In contrast, hypoxia becomes minimal during the Northwest Monsoon, despite substantial freshwater input and pronounced stratification signals, owing to intensified wind-driven circulation and enhanced water exchange that promote bottom-water oxygen renewal. The Southeast Monsoon represents an intermediate condition characterized by moderate stratification and partial ventilation. Quantitative estimates of volume transport (VT) across the bay mouth demonstrate a strong coupling between monsoonal wind stress and circulation strength, highlighting physical exchange as a primary control on oxygen variability. By emphasizing physically observable indicators—wind stress, stratification metrics, and water-mass transport—this study provides a practical framework to support hypoxia monitoring, early warning systems (EWS), and adaptive water–environment management in Jakarta Bay and other monsoon-influenced tropical coastal systems.

4-nitrophenol is one of the most common aromatic organic compounds widely used across various industrial sectors. Due to its high chemical stability and significant toxicity, the presence of this compound in industrial wastewater poses a threat to both the environment and human health. Recently, the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to the less toxic and pharmaceutically valuable product, 4-aminophenol, has gained considerable attention. In this study, magnetic Cu(0)-loaded CoFe₂O₄ (CFO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple precipitation–reduction method and then applied as recoverable catalysts for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The impact of different Cu(0) contents on catalytic activity was also investigated. The results demonstrate that these composite materials exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity compared to the reaction without catalyst. Among them, the CFO/Cu-5 sample exhibited the best performance, achieving complete conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol within just 1.5 min, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 2.527 min⁻¹. These materials also show ferromagnetic properties, which allow them to be easily recovered by an external magnet and reused for at least five cycles.

Rapid urbanization degrades natural landscapes, such as Urban Green Spaces (UGS) and increases air pollutants. The degraded UGS cannot effectively reduce air pollutants. In the major industrial cities of eastern India, the Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Durgapur Municipal Corporation (DMC), rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to the deterioration of UGS, resulting in poor air quality. Considering the fact, the study aims (i) to quantify the spatial patterns, such as the composition and configuration of UGS, (ii) to examine the impact of the landscape pattern of UGS on PM₁₀ levels, and (iii) to assess how UGS mitigate different aspects at the neighborhood scale in AMC and DMC. The study applied Landsat 8 OLI imagery and PM₁₀ data of 2021. Six landscape metrics of UGS are used: PLAND_V (Percentage of Landscape_UGS), LPI (Landscape Patching Index), Area_AM (Area Weighted Mean), PD (Patch Density), COHESION, and ED (Edge Density). Besides, one built-up area landscape metric, that is, PLAND_B (Percentage of Landscape_builtup) are used. These are calculated around seven monitoring stations within buffer zones of 500, 1000, and 1500 meters. Pearson's correlation coefficient and the Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression (SMLR) techniques are used to examine the effects on PM₁₀ levels. Subsequently, the study exhibited that COHESION and PLAND_V at 500-m Buffer, and PLAND_B at 1000-m Buffer in January are qualified for the final model, and the SMLR (R = 0.994) indicated that these three predictors have mostly influenced PM₁₀ levels. Moreover, the study also observed that the UGS is 14.97% in AMC and 23.26% in DMC. All UGS composition metrics, including PLAND_V, LPI, and Area_AM, show a significant negative correlation with PM₁₀ across nearly all seasons within the 500meter buffer. Moreover, UGS are most impactful within a 500meter buffer. Whereas, the relationships between UGS and PM₁₀ are more localized and variable at the 1000 and 1500meter buffers, with significant effects primarily during wet summer months. The research aims to guide urban planning and policy initiatives that focus on the landscape pattern of UGS to improve residents’ quality of life and promote healthier and sustainable cities.

Squatters in protected areas are an environmental issue that impacts the decline in the function of protected areas, socio-constructive vulnerability, and low quality of settlements. Temanggung Regency faces a problem of squatters in the Rowali Spring, which pollutes the water sources. Despite the relocation efforts, the community has not yet fully improved its quality of life or rebuilt its lives, resulting in some communities reverting to squatting. The study aims to examine the handling of squatters through a relocation approach based on a social-ecological system in the Rowali protected area of Temanggung Regency. Quantitative methods with a deductive approach are used with primary data collection through observation, distribution of questionnaires using saturated sampling techniques (21 relocated families), interviews, and secondary data through document review and literature review. The research findings indicate that the socio-ecological system can serve as a basis for considering relocation in line with existing characteristics in protected areas. As a novelty, the key to a social-ecology-based relocation is the proximity and legality of relocation to sustain community livelihoods and the continuity of social-ecological interactions. The relocation process should not only focus on eviction and displacement, but should also facilitate community-led housing initiatives. Further, to target sustainability, it should also consider community empowerment that utilizes natural resources for sustainable livelihoods and environmental preservation, fostering social-ecological interactions.

The involvement of societal interests in the making of (statutory) legislation and regulation is an essential part of democratic governance and regulatory development. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the topic has been explored from various angles across the academic landscape. This systematic literature review explores the analytical dimensions and explanatory factors of interest group involvement in policy- and rulemaking processes. Drawing on 48 studies identified through the PRISMA statement, it reveals a fragmented yet converging field. While the literature often presents itself as anchored in one conceptual tradition, many contributions implicitly engage with various scholarly traditions. This engagement, albeit implicit, points to a latent convergence in the field that is not always made explicit in conceptual approaches, theoretical framing, or methodological design. Therefore, this review not only identifies gaps and connections in the field; it also highlights the potential for closer dialogue and mutual learning.

The aim of this research was to examine the effects of a cooperative and deterrent style, portrayed through regulatory letters, on motivation and compliance. Study 1 examined a general sample (N = 492) in an online experiment, to assess motivation and compliance-intentions. Study 2 focused on non-compliant financial service providers (N = 2803), assessing objective compliance in a field experiment. Both studies tested the impact of letters written in three different styles (i.e., neutral, cooperative, or deterrent), which did or did not include a procedural justice paragraph (resulting in six different letters). As hypothesized, the cooperative style as well as the deterrent style increased compliance (intentions), but results pointed to different motivational processes driving this effect. Whereas the cooperative style evoked internalized types of motivation through perceptions of a cooperative regulator, the deterrent style evoked external motivation and amotivation through perceptions of a deterrent regulator. In this context, procedural justice did not influence motivation or compliance (intentions). Thus, regulators that aim to stimulate internal motivation to comply, are advised to adopt a cooperative style when writing to regulatees.

Mining waste water characteristically contains high concentrations of suspended solids, total metals, and nutrients. These can be treated with flocculants within settling ponds to speed up the clarification of water by settling out the suspended solids. Cationic flocculants can be very effective in water treatment but are also highly toxic to aquatic life, causing fish death by impairing gill function, therefore they are generally not used where discharge of treated water to fish bearing environments is required. Recently, it was demonstrated that toxicity of cationic flocculants can be effectively ameliorated by neutralizing products developed by the Clearflow Group. The current study uses a full-scale field-based approach to examine the effects of combined cationic flocculant and neutralizer treatment on nutrient and metal contaminant removal from effluent. These assessments were coupled with fish toxicity testing and invertebrate community analysis in the receiving environment. Results show that the full treatment sequence substantially reduced concentrations of many mine-water pollutants. Importantly, there was no acute toxicity to trout fingerlings from mine-water treated with both cationic flocculant and neutralizing agent. Invertebrate community structure was notably different at the effluent discharge site compared to the receiving river system. However, areas 50 and 100 m downstream had largely similar invertebrate diversity compared with upstream control sites.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060366

Authors: Joan Casas-Martí Paula Andrea Fernández-Dávila Lorena Valencia-Gálvez

This article examines experiences of loneliness among older adults from a life course perspective, fostering a dialogue grounded in Social Work. The aim is to understand how loneliness is constructed, expressed and reinterpreted as a subjective, relational and dynamic experience embedded in diverse life trajectories and shaped by structural factors. A qualitative, descriptive and interpretative approach was adopted, involving 30 individual interviews and 4 focus groups with 74 participants (older adults, social workers and other social-sector professionals) in Barcelona (Spain). The analysis was structured around the three core concepts of life course theory and its five key principles. The findings show that loneliness, understood as distinct from social isolation, is linked to biographical processes marked by expected and unexpected life changes. Its intensity and meaning vary according to timing, historical context, social position and life decisions. Employment, family, institutional, migratory, and sexual orientation and gender identity trajectories significantly shape experiences of loneliness. The study highlights the role of agency and underscores the importance of an intersectional approach to understanding accumulated inequalities. From a Social Work perspective, the article advocates a biographical, situated and relational approach to loneliness, promoting interventions that recognise individual trajectories and support meaningful social relationships.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060365

Authors: Linzi Williamson Randy C. Duncan Grace Rath Aliegha Dixon Christina Chandler Colleen Anne Dell

The lack of publicly available demographic and prevalence data on service dog (SDog) teams in Canada challenges our understanding of how and to what degree limited industry regulations, unharmonized standards, differing pathways to acquiring an SDog, and other variables can affect individuals with disabilities’ (i.e., handlers/consumers) ability to acquire, train with, or live with an SDog in Canada. The present study aims to develop empirical knowledge on SDog handler/consumer experiences with navigating the Canadian SDog industry. Current, former, and prospective Canadian SDog handlers/consumers (N = 263) were surveyed on personal demographics, SDog acquisition experiences, and experiences training/working with an SDog. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all quantitative data and open-ended responses were content analyzed. Participants reported diverse experiences and processes in acquiring an SDog. The typical respondent was a novice SDog handler, inexperienced in formally training with dogs, grew up with dogs and cats, had no negative experiences with dogs, needed an SDog to support a mental health disability/ies, trained their SDog on their own or with some professional support, did not join a wait list, completed basic obedience, public access, and/or task-specific training with their SDog 0 to 5 h daily using positive reinforcement or fear-free training approaches, spent on average $2567 to purchase their dog and $6695 for ongoing training costs, and had minimal but satisfactory experiences with Canadian SDog organizations. There are numerous gaps in our understanding of SDog team experiences in Canada, and future research is warranted.

Societies doi: 10.3390/soc16060180

Authors: Kuo-Yi Jade Chang Jennifer Smith-Merry Ancheng Koh Yao Yao Ying Li

Supported employment programs are widely implemented to improve vocational outcomes for people with severe mental illness, yet evaluations of these programs employ highly heterogeneous approaches to costing and outcome measurement. This methodological review examines how costs and outcomes have been identified, measured, and reported in randomized controlled trials of supported employment interventions conducted in high-income countries. Eligible trials were drawn from a recent rapid scoping review and analysed using narrative synthesis, with data extracted on analytical perspectives, outcome domains, costing methods, and data collection approaches. Thirty-two trials were included, of which seven incorporated an economic analysis. Vocational outcomes were consistently prioritised, while clinical, functioning, recovery-oriented, service use, and implementation outcomes were variably assessed. Economic analyses differed substantially in perspective, time horizons, cost identification and valuation, and transparency, limiting comparability and transferability. While methodological diversity reflected differing research questions and policy contexts rather than inconsistent intervention effectiveness, incomplete reporting constrained interpretation and evidence use. Based on these findings, the review outlines practical guidance for evaluators, emphasising alignment of study design with decision-making needs, transparent and perspective-consistent costing, theory-informed outcome selection, and explicit documentation of contextual and methodological choices to enhance the policy relevance and interpretability of supported employment evaluations.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060364

Authors: Ruben Karapetyan Karine Qocharyan Arman Andrikyan

Diaspora communities often develop institutional structures that shape patterns of social participation and integration within host societies. While immigrant integration is commonly assessed through individual socio-economic indicators, the organizational capacity of ethnic communities also plays an important role in sustaining collective engagement and leadership formation. This study examines patterns of community participation among Armenian diaspora populations in two major host contexts, Tehran and Los Angeles, which represent contrasting historical and institutional environments of diaspora development. The analysis draws on sociological survey data collected between 2018 and 2023 from 1600 respondents (N = 800 in each city), complemented by expert interviews with community leaders and organizational representatives. Community participation was categorized into three levels of engagement: organizers, active members, and non-participants. The results indicate that both communities demonstrate relatively high levels of organizational participation, yet their leadership structures differ significantly. In Tehran, leadership roles are distributed across diverse occupational groups within historically embedded institutional infrastructures. In contrast, leadership in Los Angeles is more concentrated among highly educated professionals, reflecting a more professionalized model of diaspora organization. These findings suggest that diaspora participation should be understood as a context-dependent form of institutional capacity that shapes patterns of collective engagement and immigrant integration.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060363

Authors: Elvis Williams Elvis Nshom

The relatively recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused the displacement of millions of Ukrainians. Studies have found that Ukrainians have seen a warmer welcome and embrace than other groups; they have also shown that there is generally a higher willingness to help Ukrainian refugees than other refugee populations. This study explores American’s attitudes towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin, and the extent to which these attitudes predict American’s willingness to help Ukrainian refugees. In a sample of 201 participants, results showed that, even though negative attitudes towards Russia and President Putin were both high, negative attitudes towards Putin were significantly higher than negative attitudes towards Russia. In addition, negative attitudes towards Putin significantly predicted Americans’ willingness to help Ukrainian refugees but not negative attitudes towards Russia. Implications and recommendations for future research are also discussed.

Environmental standards proliferate globally to drive corporate sustainability transformation, yet their effectiveness remains contested. This study examines whether standards implementation facilitates or impedes organisational capability to implement supply chain emissions reductions. Drawing on institutional theory and survey data from 248 German discrete manufacturing companies, this study finds that environmental standards implementation shows significant negative associations with managers’ perceptions of transformation capability (β = −0.334, p < 0.001). This counterintuitive pattern persists across multiple model specifications and intensifies with organisational scale. The findings suggest that measurement complexity, reporting demands, and institutional multiplicity may redirect resources and attention toward ceremonial compliance rather than substantive operational change, creating what this study terms “measurement without transformation.” The research challenges assumptions about the relationship between environmental governance and organisational change, with implications for policymakers, standard-setters, and corporate managers.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060362

Authors: Christian Dumba Maditobane Robert Lekganyane

Community home-based care is an essential component of health care. Although mainly dominated by females, men have also played a crucial role as caregivers. Given the role stereotypes prescribed by societal norms driven by patriarchy, it is important to understand the challenges of males who perform duties that are deemed female roles like caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). This study sought to explore the psychosocial challenges encountered by male community home-based caregivers caring for PLHA in a South African community. The study was conducted in Pretoria West, a community under the city of Tshwane Metro Municipality, South Africa. Designed with a phenomenological, explorative, and contextual research framework, this descriptive qualitative study involved ten male caregivers of PLHA who participated in semi-structured interviews that were thematically analysed. The study&amp;rsquo;s trustworthiness was upheld through credibility, confirmability, transferability and dependability. The results pointed to complex psychosocial issues experienced by male caregivers including the difficulties in managing caregiving responsibilities, struggling to balance caregiving and personal life, and the impact of caregiving on their wellbeing and lifestyle. Furthermore, caregivers were found to be uncertain and anxious. Male caregivers experience complex challenges that negatively affect their psychosocial wellbeing. It is essential to design wellness programmes that support this category of caregivers.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060361

Authors: Monica Ewomazino Akokuwebe Godswill Nwabuisi Osuafor Rasidi Akanji Okunola

Although apartheid ended in 1994, its legacy continues to shape South Africa&amp;rsquo;s higher education system, reinforcing disparities in access, funding, and representation. This study aims to critically examine how apartheid diplomacy has influenced higher education and asks: how do its strategies continue to shape academic practices, institutional relationships, and systemic inequalities in post-apartheid South Africa? It conceptualises apartheid diplomacy as the use of education to entrench racial hierarchies, reproduce class domination, and suppress indigenous knowledge. Grounded in Marxist and Weberian class theories and Crenshaw&amp;rsquo;s intersectionality framework, the analysis traces how apartheid-era policies institutionalised systemic inequalities and how these legacies persist within institutions. A scoping review was conducted using five databases (EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus) between January 2007 and April 2025, guided by PRISMA ScR and Arksey and O&amp;rsquo;Malley&amp;rsquo;s six-stage framework. Of 75 articles retrieved, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Findings reveal that apartheid diplomacy shaped academic governance, resource distribution, and knowledge production, leaving enduring inequities despite ongoing reforms. Transformation efforts, including financial aid schemes, equity policies, and curriculum debates, have achieved progress but remain constrained by structural, cultural, and intersectional barriers. The study underscores that achieving lasting equity requires continuous policy interventions, inclusive leadership, and curriculum decolonisation, alongside advocacy and interdisciplinary research. It reframes higher education as a diplomatic arena where equity and epistemic justice are negotiated, offering an original lens for understanding and dismantling apartheid&amp;rsquo;s enduring influence on South African academia.

The field of regulation and governance has strong roots in criminological research. Foundational ideas about regulatory enforcement styles, root causes of compliance, and nongovernmental approaches to regulation and its enforcement have originated in criminological research. Over the last decades, however, criminology has been less explicitly present in the study of regulatory governance. This article, as an introduction to a special issue on the topic, discusses key theories, findings, and developments in criminological work's relevance to regulatory studies. It discusses how the criminological theory of capable guardianship offers a vital opportunity approach to understand and address regulatory violations. It shows the importance of longitudinal research in regulatory studies, highlighting how offending changes along the regulated business life cycle. Furthermore, it showcases how criminological research offers a new perspective on the organizational analysis of offending behaviors and the vitality of meso-level analysis within a broader macro context. And finally, it provides new avenues for enforcement and compliance research, including the study of defensive compliance practices and a compliance management approach to tackle police abuse.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060360

Authors: Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho Iara Teixeira Constança Proença Nayara Martins Guilherme Wendt Martim Santos Henrique Pereira

Loneliness has emerged as a significant public health concern among vulnerable populations, particularly gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and is shaped by sociodemographic and sociocultural factors. This observational, cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of loneliness and examine its associations with sociodemographic and sociocultural factors among Brazilian MSM. A total of 1196 participants (mean age = 39.96 years, SD = 12.41) completed measures of loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), sociodemographic characteristics, economic vulnerability, social and community capital, religiosity, and clinical&amp;ndash;behavioral factors. More than half of the participants (52.7%) reported moderate or high levels of loneliness. A hierarchical multiple linear regression model was estimated and explained 23% of the variance in loneliness. Greater economic vulnerability and problematic substance use were linked to higher loneliness, whereas being in a romantic relationship, reporting a stronger sense of community belonging, and having social networks composed predominantly of LGBTQIA+ peers were linked to lower loneliness. The absence of formal religion was independently linked to higher loneliness, and HIV serostatus was not significantly related to loneliness after adjustment. These findings highlight the relevance of loneliness in this population and inform interventions targeting material vulnerability and community-based social support.

Societies doi: 10.3390/soc16060179

Authors: Alaa Ziyud Khaled Al-Thelaya Jens Schneider

In Arab societies, cultural norms, family expectations, and social visibility constraints shape how young people encounter and respond to gender-related content in online environments, yet these dynamics remain insufficiently understood. Building on prior survey research and co-design workshops that explored participatory approaches to digital intervention design, this study investigates how Arab youth in Qatar perceive and respond to issues of gender equality and social inclusion in social media contexts.The Qatari context is particularly significant due to its rapid digital transformation combined with strong cultural, religious, and regulatory influences shaping youth online expression. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty-two participants aged 18 to 24 residing in Qatar. The interviews explored social media activity, experiences of social inclusion, views on gender equality, and perceived challenges alongside culturally appropriate solutions. Interview transcripts were verified and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis revealed three interrelated thematic domains: determinants of attitudes rooted in cultural norms, values, and beliefs; attitudes toward gender equality and social inclusion ranging from supportive to resistant; and behavioral outcomes reflected in passive or active engagement as well as prosocial and antisocial digital behaviors. This study provides the first in-depth qualitative account of Arab youth&amp;rsquo;s perceptions of gender equality and social inclusion in digital spaces and offers culturally grounded insights to inform the design of inclusive and context-sensitive digital interventions.

Societies doi: 10.3390/soc16060178

Authors: Luis Fernando Garcés Giraldo Rafael Liza José Alexander Velásquez Ochoa Gelver Pérez Pulido Cesar Felipe Henao Villa José Albán Londoño Arias Jorge Hoyos Rentería

In a post-consensus institutional landscape&amp;mdash;where higher education systems face intensifying pressure to demonstrate strategic governance and measurable commitment to global sustainability mandates&amp;mdash;understanding how the scholarly field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has itself structurally evolved acquires both analytical urgency and policy relevance. This study maps the intellectual structure of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and institutional commitment in higher education through a PRISMA 2020-guided bibliometric analysis of 126 articles retrieved from Scopus for the period 2018&amp;ndash;2025. Annual output rose from a single article in 2018 to 32 in 2025, with 46.8% of the corpus concentrated in the 2024&amp;ndash;2025 biennium&amp;mdash;a pattern indicative of rapid field maturation. Keyword co-occurrence analysis reveals a dual thematic architecture comprising four clusters: a Curriculum Innovation and Pedagogical Transformation axis and a strategic governance and institutional commitment axis. A notable pattern is a reorientation in the relative weight of research themes, evidenced by the growing density of terms such as governance, strategic approach, and institutional commitment in the recent literature. This governance-oriented cluster, consolidated by a core of prolific authors, shows a higher recent growth rate in co-occurrence frequency than the traditional curriculum axis. An emerging tendency toward disciplinary specialization&amp;mdash;particularly in engineering education&amp;mdash;and toward impact assessment is consistent with a gradual thematic consolidation of the field. The observed co-occurrence patterns are consistent with theoretical frameworks that associate scalable pedagogical innovation with institutional-level commitment and systemic governance frameworks aligned with the SDGs, although bibliometric data alone cannot establish this dependency. These patterns may signal a reorientation in the scholarly framing of ESD toward institutional design and governance questions, although confirming whether this reflects substantive epistemic change or shifts in publishing incentives requires evidence beyond bibliometric indicators.

Societies doi: 10.3390/soc16060177

Authors: Souad El Mghari Anders Olof Larsson

Research on social media-based health communication has largely focused on non-credentialed influencers or single platforms, leaving limited empirical insight into how credentialed health professionals negotiate professional and personal identity across platform environments. Addressing this research gap, the present exploratory pilot study examines how health opinion leaders (HOLs)&amp;mdash;credentialed health professionals active on social media&amp;mdash;express professional and personal identities across Instagram and TikTok, and how these expressions vary by gender. Using a quantitative, multiple-case design, the study analyzes 1237 posts and Stories from four Instagram accounts and two TikTok accounts belonging to Norwegian HOLs. Drawing on theories of platform affordances and identity performativity, the analysis traces content-level patterns in how expertise, authenticity, and engagement are staged within specific platform environments. Rather than offering generalizable platform effects, this study identifies contrasting tendencies within a small set of cases: Instagram content more frequently blends professional and personal narratives&amp;mdash;especially among female HOLs&amp;mdash;while TikTok content is oriented toward more streamlined, expert-focused presentation. Engagement dynamics further differ across platforms, suggesting that visibility and interaction are shaped by distinct platform logics. This study contributes theoretically by demonstrating that professional identity expression in health communication is platform-conditioned and gendered, extending dramaturgical perspectives to contemporary platform infrastructures. More broadly, this study demonstrates how data-based analysis of digital trace content can illuminate shifting boundaries of expertise and identity within digital societies. Finally, given the emergence of HOLs as a socio-professional phenomenon, these findings serve as a stepping stone for larger-scale research and raise practical concerns about trust, professional boundaries, and the adequacy of existing guidelines in increasingly hybrid professional&amp;ndash;personal online practices.

In this present study, the Bismuth Oxychloride-Molybdenum Disulfide nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via the hydrothermal synthesis method. After hydrothermal synthesis, the obtained BiOCl-MoS₂ nanocomposite was washed, dried, and calcined at 500°C to remove residual impurities and enhance crystallinity and phase purity, and characterized by various confirmation techniques, which include Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy. The result of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs exhibits a well-dispersed and uniform spherical structure with a particle size range of 59.52 ± 1.73 nm. For X-ray Diffraction analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the BiOCl-MoS₂ nanocomposite by observing major diffraction peaks at 2θ angles 14.48°, 34.77°,39.14°, 48.20°, 58.89°, and 66.47°, which correspond to the (002), (100), (103, 105, 110), and (114) planes of Bismuth Oxychloride-Molybdenum Disulfide. As a result, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy verified the presence of both Bismuth Oxychloride-Molybdenum Disulfide phases (Bi-O and Bi-Cl stretching vibrations at 771 cm^{− 1} and 1129 cm^{− 1}, respectively, along with Mo-S and S-S vibrations at 523 cm^{− 1} and 493 cm^{− 1}.The Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy analysis observed the strong absorption shift towards longer wavelengths, which enhances the visible light utilization and the plotted bandgap of BiOCl was estimated at 3.0 eV, which is reduced to 1.84 eV in the BiOCl-MoS₂, confirming the efficient charge transfer between the two phases. The light absorption and charge carrier separation were enhanced by a narrowed bandgap, through this process, the photocatalytic efficiency was boosted. Degradation study of Brilliant Green and Indigo Carmine dye achieved 86.03% and 87.10% efficiency by the nanocomposite under UV light. These findings emphasize the novelty of the BiOCl-MoS₂ nanocomposite, which has shown high photocatalytic activity, an eco-friendly approach to synthesize it, and is potentially suited for wastewater treatment applications.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060359

Authors: María Dolores Muñoz de Dios Cristina Díaz Román Cristina Belén Sampedro-Palacios Trinidad Ortega Expósito

Community Social Services constitute the primary level of intervention within Social Services systems and play a key role in assessing needs, planning interventions, and coordinating support in situations of vulnerability. The growing incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into professional practice has generated increasing debate regarding its implications, benefits, and ethical challenges. This study aims to analyse current scientific evidence on the application of AI in Community Social Services. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examining high-impact academic publications that address AI implementation in Social Service contexts. The selected studies were analysed through thematic synthesis to identify recurring trends, tools, benefits, and challenges. The findings reveal a progressive integration of AI mainly as a decision-support tool, including predictive models, automation of administrative processes, and early risk detection systems. Reported benefits include improved efficiency, enhanced data systematisation, and reduced administrative burden. However, significant ethical concerns, such as algorithmic bias, data privacy risks, and potential dehumanisation of interventions, were also identified. Overall, AI is emerging as a complementary resource in Community Social Services, whose responsible and ethically grounded implementation is essential to ensure alignment with core Social Work values.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060358

Authors: Sipho Sibanda Robert Lekganyane Gontse Maubane

With the introduction of antiretroviral treatment, HIV has become more of a chronic disease, resulting in people living with HIV living longer. This progress has also been realised among children and adolescents living with HIV, whose primary caregivers have always been instrumental in supporting and caring for them. Despite the general progress in the fight against HIV and the crucial role of caregivers in supporting children living with HIV, the reality is that the struggle is not yet over. The existing literature demonstrates that there are some untold sufferings not only of those children who are living with HIV but also their families and primary caregivers. Drawing from the biopsychosocial theoretical framework, this exploratory qualitative study sought to explore the experiences, challenges and coping strategies of caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. A total of eight participants were recruited from Pretoria and Cape Town through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed through Braun and Clarke&amp;rsquo;s thematic model of qualitative data analysis. The findings revealed various experiences, including reluctance to disclose the child&amp;rsquo;s HIV-positive status, financial challenges, experiences involving support systems and the coping strategies for managing challenges. The study demonstrated the complexity of HIV as a condition involving the interaction of biological, psychological and social dynamics.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060357

Authors: Rachel M. Schmitz Israt Jahan Juie Ke Wang

This qualitative study examines how menstruation structures the lives and futures of married adolescent girls in the Centre for Girls&amp;rsquo; Education&amp;rsquo;s Married Adolescent Safe Spaces (MAS) program in rural northern Nigeria. It addresses a key gap by focusing on married adolescents and treating menstruation as a social process linked to early marriage, schooling, mobility, and sexual and reproductive health, rather than only a hygiene issue. Guided by an intersectional social ecological and menstrual health-and-rights framework, the study draws on three years of ethnographic fieldwork. Methods include participant observation in MAS clubs, in-depth interviews, informal group discussions, and Hausa field notes from multiple rural communities, analyzed through iterative thematic coding and collaborative memoing. Findings show that menstruation operates as a &amp;ldquo;catalyst of constraint.&amp;rdquo; Menarche signals sexual maturity, intensifying moral surveillance, prompting threats or realities of school withdrawal, and accelerating pressure toward marriage. Girls describe menstruation as a &amp;ldquo;joy killer&amp;rdquo; and becoming &amp;ldquo;a shadow of myself,&amp;rdquo; as stains, pain, and shaming by teachers and peers lead to absenteeism and, at times, permanent dropout. Silence and stigma mean that asking questions can be read as promiscuity, pushing girls away from parents, religious leaders, and male teachers and toward sisters, peers, and mentors for incomplete guidance. Structural deprivation further individualizes the burden of menstrual management. Poverty, lack of affordable pads and underwear, and inadequate WASH facilities compel girls to &amp;ldquo;make do&amp;rdquo; with cloths and other unsafe materials, restrict movement during bleeding, and engage in small income-generating activities or kin negotiations to obtain basic supplies. MAS safe spaces partially disrupt these patterns by offering rare venues to discuss menstruation openly, learn cycle tracking and hygiene, and build peer solidarity and self-advocacy. However, the analysis underscores that program benefits remain constrained when poverty, weak school infrastructure, and restrictive gender norms remain intact. The study highlights how equitable sexual and reproductive health interventions must integrate menstrual health centrally, combining safe-space programming with subsidized products, improved WASH infrastructure, protective school policies, and norm change efforts.

Stubble burning represents a critical global environmental issue, with pronounced impacts in intensive agricultural regions, including India and China. This review synthesizes evidence from 613 peer-reviewed articles (2000–2024), systematically analyzed via the PRISMA framework, to address four interconnected research themes: (i) the evolution of global research trends and scientific collaboration in stubble burning studies; (ii) the synergistic interactions of biomass-derived pollutants including nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter and their combined effects on air quality and ecosystem health; (iii) the identification and categorization of ecosystem disservices across provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural dimensions; and (iv) the evaluation of governance mechanisms, policy instruments, and international cooperation for mitigating socio-environmental impacts. Bibliometric analysis reveals a sharp increase in research output after 2015, with a strong thematic focus on emission quantification, pollution characterization, and mitigation technologies. Findings indicate that pollutant interactions significantly exacerbate air quality deterioration, contribute to transboundary haze, and impair soil and water systems. Ecosystem disservices include substantial nutrient loss, soil organic carbon depletion, biodiversity decline, and severe public health consequences. Although diverse policy responses exist, their effectiveness is frequently limited by enforcement gaps, financial constraints, and inadequate access to sustainable residue management alternatives. The study concludes that transformative mitigation requires integrated, multi-sectoral governance frameworks, farmer-centric economic incentives, and enhanced international collaboration, aligned strategically with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060356

Authors: Sheila Holz Denise Esteves

The European Union&amp;rsquo;s Farm-to-Fork (F2F) Strategy sets an ambitious agenda for a socio-ecological transition, positioning agriculture as a critical sector for achieving sustainable food systems. However, its implementation faces significant systemic barriers that hinder its transformative potential. This paper applies a diagnostic framework, derived from the H2020-funded PHOENIX project, that identifies six key challenges to democratic innovations in environmental governance: prolonged timeframes for tangible results, the complexity of environmental issues, the need for transcalar cooperation, the imperative to foster behavioural change, limited deliberative dialogue, and the need to build mutual trust. Through a review of public policies and scholarly literature, this analysis evaluates how these challenges manifest within the F2F Strategy, impacting farmers and the broader agri-food system. The findings demonstrate that barriers to F2F implementation are not solely technical or economic but are deeply linked to governance fragmentation, uneven knowledge flows, and deficits in trust relations. Crucially, the study reveals that Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) and associated Education and Training (ET) consistently emerge as pivotal enabling mechanisms to mitigate these constraints. The research generates actionable recommendations to reinforce F2F by redefining the roles of innovation, education, and multi-level collaboration in building resilient and sustainable EU agri-food systems.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060355

Authors: Paul Gavin Finley MacDonald Cody Normitta Porter Ada Toprak

The ageing prisoner population in England and Wales presents a significant and growing challenge for both criminal justice and social policy. Despite increasing recognition of the complex health and social care needs of this cohort, these needs have not been adequately addressed by successive governments. This conceptual paper critically analyses the broader structural, policy, and practice-based limitations associated with the provision of health and social care for older prisoners through a Sykesian (1958) pain model, as well as through Crewe&amp;rsquo;s (2011) analytical framework of weight, depth, tightness and breadth. It does this through consideration of three main pains of being an older prisoner&amp;mdash;those related to healthcare, social care and death.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060354

Authors: Isabel Ferreira Andreia Barbas Joana Santos

Aiming for a just transition towards climate neutrality requires urban regeneration strategies that address ecological and social vulnerabilities. This study examines the strategies and experiences of developing nature-based solutions (NBS) for the regeneration of public space in neighbourhoods of seven European cities participating in the URBiNAT project. The aim is to move beyond the discussions on material solutions and focus on the sociopolitical components that shape the impact of NBS towards adaptation of urban communities and public spaces to climate change. Drawing on a qualitative sociological approach, the research enquires into the drivers and impact of participatory processes in the ecological and social dimensions of urban regeneration. More specifically, the study addresses the following research questions: (1) What are the individual, collective and institutional motivations that instigate different typologies of actors to engage in these processes? (2) What is the relevance of balancing material and immaterial solutions? (3) What are the lessons learned from the multiple actors, considering their experiences, expectations, and priorities? Findings confirm that the aim to produce socially and ecologically robust climate solutions for urban regeneration can be achieved through collaborative governance strategies emerging from, and tailored to, the typology of actors&amp;rsquo; specific sensitivities, expectations, and priorities.

Which candidates benefit from corruption and favoritism in public procurement? While existing studies show that politically connected firms profit from corruption risks in public procurement, we know less about whether these risks also increase the prevalence of political candidates with ties to business. This study suggests that pre-election corruption risks increase the prevalence of candidates with business ties, but that this relationship is highly contextual. Candidates with business ties have greater opportunities to benefit from favoritism and corruption in public contracting and may use these advantages to bolster their electoral base. However, when corruption reaches systemic levels, increases in pre-election corruption are less likely to affect the prevalence of candidates with business ties, since such ties are already deeply entrenched and collusive arrangements between business and politics are well established. We develop a new indicator of candidates' involvement in local companies—the Business-Politics Involvement (BPI) index—and use it to show that increases in pre-election corruption risks in public procurement are associated with a higher prevalence of candidates with business ties in the 2018 Italian election. Yet we also show that this association is largely driven by provinces in Northern Italy, while there is no such relationship in Southern Italy, where business ties are more common and corruption is systemic. Our findings suggest that contextual nuance is needed when interpreting single-bid procurement as evidence of corruption—particularly in systemically corrupt settings where pre-bid collusion is widespread. They also indicate the need for further research to better understand the nexus between business ties and corruption.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060353

Authors: Petronela Nistor

This article explores the specificity of social assistance conducted by the Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC) compared to Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in the UK, USA, and France. The article is a secondary qualitative analysis of a circumscribed subset of the interview material assembled in a wider mixed-methods study on the professionalization of charity in the ROC, pursuing a different research question&amp;mdash;the configurational specificity of the Orthodox model&amp;mdash;than the parent study itself. Using Grounded Theory methodology on the corpus of nineteen interviews with clergy, social workers, and experts from Northeastern Romania, the analysis develops the category of the sacralization of social assistance&amp;mdash;a configuration of practices and meanings in which the spiritual dimension is structurally integrated, sacramentally obligatory, and clerically authorized. While each of these features has been documented individually in Protestant and Catholic faith-based organizations, their joint configuration in the Romanian Orthodox case differs in degree and arrangement from patterns reported in the Western literature. A theoretically informed contrast with that literature highlights six dimensions along which the ROC configuration, as articulated by providers, diverges from the patterns most frequently reported in that literature: (1) the spiritual dimension is structurally integrated in ROC versus optional in UK/USA or institutionally absent in France; (2) leadership remains predominantly clerical versus secularly professionalized in the West; (3) the beneficiary is conceptualized as a living icon of Christ versus a person with civil rights; (4) the purpose of interventions is soteriological versus immanent social reintegration; (5) professionalization generates anxiety about secularization versus comfortable normalization; (6) volunteerism remains informal-communitarian versus formalized-systematic. The research proposes a dual-axis typology that differentiates between the presence and the nature of the spiritual dimension.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060352

Authors: Blantina Ignatia Madutlela Daniel Lesiba Letsoalo

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical public health concern in South Africa, which ranks among the countries most severely affected worldwide. Women and girls are reported to bear the greatest burden, with men predominantly identified as perpetrators. GBV is particularly prevalent in densely populated areas such as informal settlements, where adverse socioeconomic conditions create fertile ground for its proliferation. Despite the scale of this problem, to the researchers&amp;rsquo; knowledge, few studies, especially qualitative ones, have been conducted in such contexts, even though informal settlements are widespread across the country. To generate nuanced insights into this phenomenon, the current study explored the lived experiences of women victims of GBV in Alexandra, one of South Africa&amp;rsquo;s largest informal settlements. The study was grounded in an interpretive paradigm, employed a qualitative approach, and adopted a single-case-study design. Participants were purposively selected from a population of women victims of GBV, and the sample size was determined through data saturation. Data were collected through individual, face-to-face semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) with Nvivo version 15 software and interpreted through the lens of feminist theory. The findings revealed that GBV has profound effects on women&amp;rsquo;s emotional, psychological and social wellbeing, extending beyond the immediate incidents to also affect their overall functioning, erode self-confidence, and limit opportunities for independence. The use of intimidation and coercion tactics by perpetrators trapped victims in a cycle of dysfunction which diminished agency, and fostered isolation. Interpreting these findings through a feminist lens highlights the systematic and recurrent nature of GBV, which cuts across personal, structural and relational dimensions. The findings underscore the urgent need for context-specific interventions that will help dismantle structures of abuse while supporting victims&amp;rsquo; and/or survivors&amp;rsquo; autonomy, recovery and, most importantly, capacity to rebuild identity and trust.

The widespread use of hydrocarbons-based plastics has caused severe environmental pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature, leading to contamination of aquatic environments and threats to marine life and human health. This study explored utilization of Ulva lactuca biomass for the production of bioplastic films as an alternative to conventional non-biodegradable plastics. Ulvan, the primary polysaccharide component of U. lactuca, was extracted using both acidic and alkaline methods, with acidic extraction yielding better preservation of functional groups. Bioplastic films were developed using different Ulvan concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%) and characterized for their mechanical, thermal, and biodegradability properties. The bioplastic films containing 3% Ulvan demonstrated optimal performance, exhibiting a tensile strength of 34.4 MPa and an elongation at break of 15%. Thermal analysis revealed a glass transition temperature of 58.3°C. Biodegradability tests indicated 76.55% degradation after 5 days of soil burial, confirming environmental compatibility of the developed films. These findings suggest that U. lactuca-based bioplastic films offer a promising alternative to conventional plastics, particularly for short-term packaging applications. This study contributes to the development of eco-friendly packaging materials and provides a foundation for further research and potential industrial applications in sustainable plastic alternatives.

Eichhornia crassipes, an invasive aquatic plant, disrupts ecosystems by promoting eutrophication and damaging waterbodies. In this study, E. crassipes biomass was utilized for the synthesis of nano-sized zerovalent iron (ZVI) biochar for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal from wastewater through a reduction–adsorption mechanism. The modified biochar (MB) was synthesized through a one-step carbothermal process by mixing biomass with FeCl₃ during pyrolysis. The ZVI-MB behaves as a strong reductant, donating electrons to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) under acidic conditions, with pH levels of 3.5 for MB and 2 for PB. Furthermore, the MB porous structure and functional groups facilitate Cr(III) adsorption through electrostatic attraction and complexation. Langmuir and Temkin isotherms better fit MB, indicating monolayer adsorption with chemical interactions, while PB followed the Freundlich isotherm, suggesting multilayer adsorption. Both showed pseudo-second-order kinetics, confirming chemisorption. This ZVI biochar using E. crassipes offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution, with its nanoscale structure and dual reduction–adsorption reduction-adsorption mechanism enabling efficient Cr (VI) reduction and removal.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci15060351

Authors: Kathy Karatasas Rebekah Grace Daryl J. Higgins

Children&amp;rsquo;s cultural care is not an ancillary practice concern but a central element of governance, safeguarding, and ethical responsibility within out-of-home care systems. Across child protection systems internationally, out-of-home care services are mandated to safeguard children while upholding statutory and international care obligations. Leadership sets direction, organisational structures embed accountability, and learning cultures sustain responsiveness, forming an architecture that protects children&amp;rsquo;s cultural identities as inseparable from their safety, wellbeing, and belonging. Cultural care thus signals organisational integrity and the translation of rights-based commitments into practice. Yet many out-of-home care organisations struggle to support children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to maintain connections with family, community, and culture. Responsibility is often delegated to individual caseworkers, limiting systemic impact. Whole-of-organisation approaches are needed to embed cultural connection as a core safeguarding priority, strengthen accountability, and develop practitioner capability. Interviews with representatives from service organisations across five countries examined the organisational drivers that enable effective cultural care and the factors shaping the implementation of practice tools. Findings highlight the interconnected roles of leadership, governance, workforce development, and practitioner teams in sustaining culturally responsive practice. This paper reinforces shared responsibility across organisational levels to act with intentionality and cultural curiosity in supporting children&amp;rsquo;s rights to identity and belonging and concludes with an A&amp;ndash;Z prompt tool offering reflective questions for leaders and practitioners to strengthen organisational approaches to cultural care.

Integrated inhibition-based kinetic modelling and bioreactor engineering demonstrate complete aerobic degradation of high-strength 4-CP (up to 600 mg/L) by Bacillus cereus K1 within 24 h

ABSTRACT

Aerobic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), a toxic and persistent environmental pollutant, was investigated using an isolated bacterial strain, Bacillus cereus K1, at initial concentrations up to 600 mg/L. The primary objective was to evaluate growth and degradation kinetics by systematically monitoring biomass formation and 4-CP removal over time in a controlled shake-flask batch reactor. These data provided the kinetic basis for bioreactor-scale treatment. The integrated Haldane model accurately described microbial growth behavior, yielding µ_m = 0.042/h, K_S = 29.35 mg/L, and K_i = 126.58 mg/L at 600 mg/L 4-CP. The average biomass yield coefficient (Y_X/S) was 0.00103 L/mg, further confirming substrate inhibition at elevated concentrations. To translate these kinetic insights into a scalable treatment strategy, a 5 L aerobic stirred-tank bioreactor was designed and operated under optimized physico-chemical conditions derived from both model predictions and experimental observations. Complete degradation of 4-CP within a 24-h retention time was achieved, demonstrating the practical applicability of the kinetic–engineering framework for toxic pharmaceutical wastewater. The novelty of this study lies in coupling detailed inhibition-based kinetic modelling of B. cereus K1 with a fully parameterized bioreactor design capable of achieving complete degradation of 4-CP at concentrations up to 600 mg/L—an upper range rarely addressed in previous investigations.

Societies doi: 10.3390/soc16060175

Authors: Lavinia Falese Samuele Di Palma Simone Digennaro Sebastian Merten

Background: This study examines the digital transformation of sport organizations, a process that has shifted organizational needs toward seamless, real-time digital services. Despite the growing economic scale of the sports market, digital governance within this sector remains underexplored. Methods: We performed a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines and a thematic analysis of 31 peer-reviewed articles in order to develop a structured conceptual framework. Results: The analysis identified eight recurring themes, namely, innovation and technology adoption, leadership and strategy, organizational change, digital tools and platforms, fan engagement, governance structures, barriers to transformation, and data management and privacy. The predominance of conceptual and exploratory studies indicates that the field remains in an early stage of development, underscoring the need for more systematic empirical investigations. The findings show that while larger organizations possess greater resources for innovation, smaller organizations face significant financial and technical barriers. Conclusions: The study concludes that digital transformation is a governance challenge that requires strategic alignment and leadership commitment rather than just technological upgrades. The framework provides a conceptual foundation for future empirical research and the development of maturity assessment tools to help sport organizations managing digital evolution.