Voices Unveiled: A Phenomenological Study on the Coming Out Experiences of Homosexuals to Their Families

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The research “Voices Unveiled: A Phenomenological Study on the Coming Out Experiences of Homosexuals to Their Families” aims to delve into the personal journey of those individuals who have already gone through the process of coming out, whether by actions or verbally. The researchers used Van Kaam’s phenomenological method, which was modified by Moustakas (1994). The age of our informants ranged from 19 to 42. The research identified the key themes that can be concluded after analyzing the data gathered; it includes early signs of identity, emotional endeavors, family perceptions ranging from rejection to acceptance, the role of support systems — friends, families, colleagues, and personal growth through self-expression, self-acceptance. The research revealed the underlying challenges and triumphs experienced before and after coming out, which highlighted the importance of empathy, understanding, self-reflection, societal norms, acceptance, and support from friends or families. This research serves as a voice to those Homosexual individuals who are not understood by society and are treated differently by some communities, and a calling to those closeted individuals who are pushed back by the societal judgment. This research promotes understanding, empathy, awareness, and inclusivity towards Homosexual individuals.

Prevalence and Determinants of Thromboembolic Events among Adult Rheumatic Heart Disease Patients with Atrial Fibrillation at Tikur Anbessa Hospital Addis Ababa Ethiopia

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Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) combined with atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly contributes to thromboembolic complications, including ischemic stroke. The coexistence of these conditions increases the risk of cardiovascular issues, underscoring the need for targeted management strategies.

Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and determinants of thromboembolic events among patients with RHD and AF at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital adult cardiac outpatient clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: An institution-based retrospective chart review of adult patients with RHD and AF was conducted. Data were gathered from electronic medical records using structured data extraction check list. Descriptive analysis using frequency with percentage and mean with standard deviation was conducted. Binary logistic regression was employed to analyze the relationship between predictor variables and thromboembolic events.

Results: A total of 182 participants were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 40.37 (SD± 13.01) and majority of participants were female participants (70.9%). The overall rate of cardioembolic events was 19.78% (95% CI: 14.3-6.3), with stroke occurring in 18.1% (33) of the participants. Disease duration (AOR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.13), left atrial size (AOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07–1.24), presence of left atrial thrombus (AOR: 9.83, 95% CI: 1.53–63.21), mitral stenosis (AOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.21–17.14), and Subtheraputic INR levels (<2) (AOR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.15–15.94) were significantly associated with cardioembolic events.

Conclusion and recommendation:  This study highlights the high prevalence of cardioembolic events in patients with RHD and AF, identifying both modifiable and non-modifiable factors that contribute to increased risk. Monitoring left atrial size and INR levels could help reduce the risk of thromboembolic complications. Further research is needed to develop preventive strategies and optimize management to improve patient outcomes.

Modeling the Drivers of Innovative Work Behavior: The Influence of Talent Management and Psychological Empowerment through Structural Equation Modeling

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In the context of rapidly evolving public health challenges, the capacity for innovative work behavior (IWB) among health sector employees is increasingly vital to ensure adaptive and responsive healthcare delivery. This study examines the influence of talent management and psychological empowerment on IWB among employees of the Garut City Health Service in Indonesia. Drawing upon resource-based theory and self-determination theory, the study conceptualizes talent management as a strategic approach encompassing talent acquisition, development, retention, and succession planning. Psychological empowerment, defined through meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact, is explored as a cognitive-motivational state that may mediate the relationship between talent management and innovative behavior. Data were collected from 221 civil servants using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that talent management significantly positively affects both psychological empowerment and IWB. Moreover, psychological empowerment partially mediates, indicating that employees’ perceptions of autonomy and competence are essential to translate talent initiatives into innovative outcomes. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of innovation in the public health sector by integrating HRM and organizational behavior perspectives. Practically, it highlights the importance of cultivating psychologically empowered environments to stimulate innovation within bureaucratic health institutions. The results provide evidence-based guidance for public sector leaders aiming to foster innovation through strategic investment in human capital. Implications for theory, policy, and future research are discussed, particularly in the context of decentralization and healthcare reform in developing countries.

Change Resistance and Acceptance in Digital Transformation of Manufacturing Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution requires manufacturing companies to implement digital transformation through effective change management. Employee resistance to change is one of the critical factors affecting change acceptance and digital transformation success. This study aims to examine change management strategies, driving and inhibiting factors with emphasis on resistance to change, and the impact of resistance on change acceptance in digital transformation of manufacturing companies. This research uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method with the PICO approach and PRISMA method on 25 selected articles published between 2021-2025 from Scopus, Web of Science, and other reputable databases. Research findings indicate that resistance to change significantly influences change acceptance, with main sources including fear of job loss, lack of digital skills, comfort with status quo, and inadequate communication. Effective change management strategies through strong leadership commitment, comprehensive training programs, participatory approaches, and effective communication can reduce resistance and increase change acceptance. However, organizational culture that is not adaptive, limited resources, and digital skills gap remain major obstacles. These research findings indicate the need for companies to proactively manage resistance through people-centric approaches so that digital transformation can run optimally.

Global Trends in Lateral Thinking: Bibliometric Study of Growth, Collaboration, and Applications

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Lateral thinking is a non-linear thinking approach that is increasingly recognized as a vital strategy for fostering creativity and problem-solving across various disciplines. This study aims to analyze global trends, author contributions, scientific collaborations, and thematic evolution within the lateral thinking literature during the period 2014–2024. The methodology employed is a bibliometric analysis based on data from Scopus, utilizing a quantitative approach and network visualization through VOSviewer to map keywords, thematic clusters, and interconceptual relationships. The findings reveal a significant increase in publications since 2018, with notable contributions from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Indonesia. Dominant keywords such as creativity, problem solving, and innovation form clusters that highlight the central role of lateral thinking in the development of innovative solutions in education, technology, health, and management. The study also uncovers strong associations between lateral thinking and AI-based as well as neurobiological approaches, expanding its applicability to advanced technologies and human cognitive understanding. These findings underscore the importance of lateral thinking as a strategic framework for addressing complex global challenges and open up opportunities for future multidisciplinary research.

A Comparative Study on the Buying Behaviour of Generation Z and Millennials

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This study explores generational differences in consumer behaviour by comparing Generation Z (Gen Z) and Millennials in the Indian context. Using a quantitative research design, data was collected from 60 respondents (25 Gen Z and 35 Millennials) through a structured questionnaire administrated via Google Forms. The study tested five hypotheses concentrating on brand loyalty, social media influence, price sensitivity, product preferences and demographic influences. Statistical analyses including independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and regression were performed using SPSS. Results revealed no statistically significant differences between the two generations across the examined factors, although descriptive statistics suggested marginal tendencies, such as Gen Z showing slightly higher price sensitivity and responsiveness to discounts. The findings suggest that while subtle variations exist, both generations demonstrate broadly similar buying behaviours in the digital marketplace. The study contributes to generational consumer research and offers practical insights for marketers to design inclusive strategies that address the shared preferences of these cohorts.

Influence of Medical-Themed Shows on Career Choice among Freshmen Nursing Students

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In this digital age, there is an emerging belief that another factor influences the way we choose our career — the realm of entertainment and media. This quantitative study examined how medical-themed shows influence freshmen nursing students’ career choice at St. Paul University Surigao. Using the Social Cognitive Career Theory of Lent, Brown, & Hackett (1994), based on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy and Social Cognitive Theories, this research aimed to assess how these shows impact students’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals related to the nursing profession. A researcher-made questionnaire was utilized, assessing 175 freshmen nursing students who had watched a medical-themed show before entering nursing. The findings revealed that medical-themed shows positively impacted students’ self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals, with each factor influencing the others and ultimately shaping their career aspirations in nursing. This study recommends that educational institutions address media literacy programs to help students critically evaluate media portrayals and align their career expectations with reality. This study also urges the film industry to present a more balanced and realistic view of the nursing profession. The implications extend to nursing educators, the nursing profession, and future researchers, emphasizing the need for accurate media representation in guiding students’ career choices and aspirations.

Tourism Development Strategy of Maros Regency Highlighting Local Uniqueness and Potential

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A study on tourism development strategies in a region is an essential aspect that cannot be separated from tourism development policies, and this is also the case for the tourism development strategy of Maros Regency. This study aims to identify the strategies planned by the Maros Regency Government in developing tourism in the area. The method used is descriptive-exploratory, relying on the 3A theory (Attraction, Accessibility, and Amenity) and the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) theory. The findings of this study indicate that in its tourism development plan, the Maros Regency Government has established several programs through the RIPPAR (Tourism Development Master Plan) of Maros Regency, along with the strategies for their implementation. The extent to which these strategies are carried out to realize Maros Regency as one of the tourism destinations is the main focus of this research. The implications of this discussion highlight several strategic steps for each planned program and, ultimately, aim to foster a sense of ownership of these programs among the local community.

Ethical Management in Tunisian Companies: Bridging the Gap between Awareness and Practice

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In response to environmental demands, companies are increasingly compelled to integrate ethics into all managerial practices to ensure their survival. This study explores the explicit and implicit factors that promote the development of ethical management. We conducted exploratory research based on semi-structured interviews with six managers and six subordinates from four Tunisian companies. Our empirical findings reveal that all respondents are convinced of and aware of the importance of ethics in the business world. However, explicit factors-such as ethical codes and ethics training-are absent, while implicit factors-such as fair compensation and ethical culture-are only partially present. The insights from this research can be valuable for business leaders aiming to establish a strong corporate culture centered on ethical values, thereby fostering the practical implementation of ethical management.

Epigenetics and Environmental Health: DNA Methylation Changes Induced by Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading global cause of mortality, driven by complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as ambient air pollution.1 Fine particulate matter (), nitrogen oxides (), and sulfur oxides () are established nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors, triggering both acute events and chronic atherogenesis.3 This systematic review investigates the role of DNA methylation (DNAm)—a primary epigenetic modification—as the molecular transducer linking air pollution exposure to CVD pathology. A systematic search of biomedical databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science) was conducted to synthesize human observational studies focused on exposure, DNAm changes, and cardiovascular outcomes. The synthesized evidence demonstrates that air pollution induces rapid and systemic epigenetic alterations. Acute exposure to traffic particles (Black Carbon, ) is associated with global hypomethylation of repetitive elements (e.g., LINE-1) within days, suggesting a generalized collapse in cellular methylation capacity.4 Furthermore, gene-specific alterations, such as the hypomethylation of  (Tissue Factor 3) and , drive prothrombotic states and increase the risk of myocardial infarction.5 Mechanistically, inhaled pollutants induce oxidative stress, which disrupts the S-adenosylmethionine () / Sadenosylhomocysteine () ratio, directly inhibiting DNA methyltransferases ().5 These alterations modulate key pathways of atherogenesis, including chronic systemic inflammation (NF- activation) and autonomic nervous system dysfunction (mtDNA D-loop hypomethylation).5 While methodological limitations—primarily heterogeneity in exposure assessment and reliance on peripheral blood cells—persist, the findings confirm that DNA methylation serves as a dynamic biomarker of individual susceptibility and provides compelling molecular targets for future intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the cardiovascular burden of environmental toxins.5