Data-Driven Approaches for Predicting Bridge Defectiveness: A Machine Learning-Based Assessment of Structural and Contextual Factors

Purpose: One of the inherent duties of the Cultural and Social Affairs Department of Farhangian University is to extend the governance of cultural and social spheres across all dimensions of the university. In this regard, numerous and diverse plans and activities have been implemented in recent years. The aim of this article is to analyze the cultural and social activities conducted at the university level and to provide an optimal model in this context. Methodology: The Three-Branch Model was used as a theoretical framework. The method employed was mixed, comprising both qualitative and quantitative sections. The qualitative sample population included 30 cultural experts selected through purposive sampling. The quantitative sample population consisted of 194 active members of student organizations, chosen through stratified random sampling. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews and questionnaires. Findings: The findings indicate that structural factors (0.195), behavioral factors (0.368), and contextual factors (0.312) play significant roles in the formation of issues and problems in cultural and social programs and activities. Additionally, the regression results show that 63% of the variance in the dependent variable is explained by these three variables: structural factors, contextual factors, and behavioral factors. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the structural, behavioral, and contextual factors play significant roles in shaping the outcomes of cultural programs and activities at Farhangian University. This section discusses the implications of these results, drawing on relevant literature to highlight the broader context and potential strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of cultural programs in higher education.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented disruptions to routine health care in the United States. Screening mammography, a cornerstone of breast cancer control and prevention, was completely halted in the spring of 2020, and screening programs have continued to face challenges with subsequent COVID-19 waves. Although screening mammography rates dropped for all women during the pandemic, a number of studies have now clearly documented that reductions in screening have been greater for some populations than others. Specifically, minoritized women have been screened at lower rates than White women across studies, although the specific patterns of disparity vary depending on the populations and communities studied. We posit that these disparities are likely due to a variety of structural and contextual factors, including the differential impact of COVID-19 on communities. We also outline key considerations for closing gaps in screening mammography. First, practices, health systems, and communities must measure screening mammography use to identify whether gaps exist, and which populations are most affected. Second, we propose that strategies to close disparities in breast cancer screening must be multifaceted, targeting the health system/practice, but also structural factors at the policy level. Health disparities arise from a complex set of conditions, and multimodal solutions that address the complex, multifactorial conditions that lead to disparities may be more likely to succeed and are necessary for promoting health equity.

A language is one of the signifi cant factors that determine the structural characteristics of ethnic territorial autonomies. At the same time it is the object of preferential language policy that conducted by both national and regional governments. The article focuses on the question about the interrelation between the strength of autonomy and the scope of language preferential policy institutionalization. Last one is manifested in the weight of linguistic territorial regime. As a result of correlation analysis (the sample includes 28 cases) and comparative-oriented case-study analysis of Wales and Scotland in UK, Basque Country in Spain and Vojvodina in Serbia the structural and contextual factors causing or violating links between the strength of autonomy and the scope of language preferential policy institutionalization were identifi ed. The features of the community’ ethnic structure and ethno-linguistic minority share are the structural factors. The size of minority share affects the strategy and resources of the political actors who able to manifest language requirements and to convert it into institutionalized language policy. These actors are political parties, ethnic councils and NGO. The historical background and political context of ethnic territorial autonomy formation and language preferential policy institutionalization constitute the second group of factors. The logic of interrelation of both groups of factors is explained.

Oral health is a multidimensional concept, shaped by biological, behavioral, social, and structural factors, and represents a fundamental element of overall health and wellbeing 1 . Even though dental caries remains one of the most prevalent oral diseases worldwide, it reflects only one aspect of broader inequalities in oral health. These are influenced by unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and health awareness 2 . Amongst these factors, parental education level and socioeconomic status stand out as key factors that significantly influence the course of oral health in children 3 . Families with low levels of education or limited socioeconomic resources often face cumulative obstacles, including low levels of oral health awareness, limited access to preventive dental services, and increased exposure to unhealthy environments 4,5 . These social factors not only shape oral hygiene behaviors and dietary habits, but also determine the family's ability to cope with health systems and adopt preventive practices, thus perpetuating intergenerational inequalities 2,6 .Despite strong evidence linking parental education, socioeconomic status and oral health outcomes, the mechanisms by which these factors operate are still not adequately covered in the global public health discourse 3 . The differences between countries highlight the structural nature of these inequalities, underscoring the need for comprehensive, system-wide strategies to promote health equity 7,8 . This editorial brings together emerging evidence from diverse settings to illustrate how parental education and socioeconomic status act as overarching determinants of children's oral health. Rather than summarizing individual contributions in isolation, the editorial critically analyzes common themes, identifies persistent knowledge gaps, and considers their implications for public health policy, preventive dentistry, and health equity initiatives.Across all the included studies, a consistent pattern emerges linking parental knowledge, social support structures, socioeconomic conditions, broader social determinants, and children's oral health outcomes. Taken together, the evidence reinforces the central role of families and contextual factors, as described in conceptual models of oral health inequalities, in shaping caries experience, hygiene behaviors, service utilization, and developmental conditions affecting teeth. health status and related behaviors. Higher health literacy and family socioeconomic status were strongly associated with better oral health outcomes, while gender-based differences reflected variations in societal expectations and health communication.These findings reinforce the influence of cultural and educational determinants on adolescent oral health and are consistent with global evidence highlighting the interaction between social context and health behaviors.The studies included in this research topic reveal several interconnected themes, reinforcing the interrelated nature of the determinants of children's oral health. First, parental education and health literacy consistently emerge as key factors influencing children's daily oral hygiene practices, dietary choices, and engagement with preventive dental services. Whether it is social support, knowledge of how to access services, or awareness of appropriate feeding and hygiene behaviors, parental capabilities strongly predict children's oral health outcomes. Second, socioeconomic disadvantage exacerbates barriers to preventive care and healthy behaviors. As low socioeconomic status is associated with higher prevalence of dental caries, suboptimal nutritional practices, reduced access to services, and increased risk of developmental conditions such as MIH. These patterns reflect global evidence showing that inequalities in oral health follow clear social gradients across different countries and health systems. Third, studies highlight the importance of integrated policies and public health interventions, particularly those delivered through schools and family centered programs.Interventions that combine oral health education, nutritional counseling, and structured parental support show promising effectiveness in mitigating inequalities when integrated within broader social and health frameworks.These findings collectively confirm that oral health is shaped by multi-level interactions involving individual behaviors, family dynamics, community resources, and national policy environments. They also underscore that improving children's oral health requires addressing both structural and behavioral factors simultaneously.The body of evidence underscores the need to align oral health promotion with parentcentered educational strategies, particularly during early childhood when health habits This research topic clearly demonstrates that improving children's oral health cannot be achieved through clinical services alone. Sustainable progress requires addressing the educational, behavioral, and socioeconomic foundations that shape oral health from a young age. By integrating parental education, addressing social inequalities, and incorporating preventive strategies into community and school systems, health professionals and policymakers can contribute to reducing disparities and promoting lifelong oral health.

Most institutional theoretical research has focussed on organisations strategically incorporating different elements of multiple, contested logics. Less attention has been paid to the historically contingent complexities that allow residues of past deinstitutionalised practices to persist over time. We trace changes in World Bank rural development finance policy and practices in Pakistan over four decades and demonstrate how they performed boundary work, introducing new practices, players, and social relations. Doing so, we advance institutional theory by providing a fine-grained, practice-centred account of agency, illuminating how institutional detritus resurfaces and mingles with new practices to stymie the efforts of powerful change agents like the World Bank to completely discard deinstitutionalised past practices and compel them to accommodate (by decoupling and dilution) and merge them with new ones. We identify structural factors such as WB’s organisational mission and contextual factors such as the underdeveloped rural financial markets as explanatory factors for why residues of deinstitutionalised practices persisted over time. We also argue that it was the enduring goals of the field – to achieve poverty alleviation and socioeconomic development in the developing countries – which remained the same across space and time and were supported or hindered by the structural and contextual factors, that necessitated the persistence of the remnants of deinstitutionalised ideas and practices.

Marginalized identities, discrimination burden, and mental health: Empirical exploration of an interpersonal-level approach to modeling intersectionality

PERFORMING MORAL OPPOSITION: MUSINGS ON THE STRATEGY AND IDENTITY IN THE GÜLEN MOVEMENT

The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted when, where, and how employees work. Drawing on a sample of 5452 Finnish employees, this study explores the factors associated with employees’ abrupt adjustment to remote work. Specifically, this study examines structural factors (i.e., work independence and the clarity of job criteria), relational factors (i.e., interpersonal trust and social isolation), contextual factors of work (i.e., change in work location and perceived disruption), and communication dynamics (i.e., organizational communication quality and communication technology use (CTU)) as mechanisms underlying adjustment to remote work. The findings demonstrate that structural and contextual factors are important predictors of adjustment and that these relationships are moderated by communication quality and CTU. Contrary to previous research, trust in peers and supervisors does not support adjustment to remote work. We discuss the implications of these findings for practice during and beyond times of crisis.

The present study examined the applicability of the Social Ecological Model for explaining condom use in a sample of female sex workers (FSWs) (N=435) participating in a behavioral intervention to increase condom use in Tijuana, Mexico. Using a multigroup path analysis, we compared women who work in bar settings (n=233) to those who worked on the street (n=202) with regard to an individual factor (self-efficacy), an interpersonal factor (client financial incentives), and a structural factor (condom access). Competing models showed differential impacts of these factors in the two venue-based groups. Having access to condoms was associated with greater self-efficacy and less unprotected sex in women who worked in bars. Among street-based FSWs, having clients offer monetary incentives for unprotected sex was related to greater unprotected sex, while having access to condoms was not. Understanding the contextual factors associated with condom use among subgroups of FSWs has important implications for the development of HIV prevention interventions.

This study aimed to identify the dimensions, components, and indicators of professional ethics for managers in small and medium-sized enterprises. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with experts in the field of ethics and organizational management. Purposeful sampling continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was performed using MAXQDA version 12, and the Delphi technique was employed in three rounds to validate the findings using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and one-sample t-tests with SPSS version 25. The results revealed that professional ethics for managers are categorized into five main factors: organizational, environmental, contextual, structural, and individual. Organizational factors included combating organizational self-centeredness and having a strong organizational culture. Environmental factors emphasized the importance of policies and a supportive work environment, while contextual factors highlighted the impact of social and political environments. Structural factors underscored the significance of management styles and trust-building, and individual factors focused on the role of psychological well-being and personal competencies. The Kendall coefficient in the third round of the Delphi technique was 0.712, indicating substantial agreement among experts. The findings suggest that improving professional ethics among managers in small and medium-sized enterprises requires a comprehensive focus on various organizational, environmental, contextual, structural, and individual factors. Implementing transparent policies, promoting participative management styles, and fostering a healthy work environment can enhance managers’ ethical behavior.

The world of business economics (and management) traditionally has been viewed as relatively linear. In such context, competitive dynamics depends on contingency between structural factors and contextual factors, as well as characteristics of a representative company. But, the context has been changed under the impact of Industry 4.0. By synthesizing the breakthroughs from cyber and physical (and/or biological) worlds, it gave rise to an almost endless stream of combinatorial innovations. There are two major consequences of the previous transition. First, universal connectivity as the new free good enables that the world of engineering reaches the levels of complexity and dynamism typical for non-linear systems. Second, emerging amalgams of cyber and physical breakthroughs trigger in business management transformation of linear value chain into exponential value chain (or platform), actually a non-linear system. Mentioned structural changes lead to convergence of the engineering and business management in conceptual terms. In this paper we explore the ways in which Industry 4.0 can offer a powerful and consistent platform for implementation of conventional business management tools. We have been inspired by two achievements. First, to map out the impact of Industry 4.0 on double paradigm change, both in macro and micro (or business) management. Second, to explore, with key details, the impact of the paradigm change in business management on effectiveness of conventional management tools. By doing this, we wish to promote the broader and systemic thinking, synthesizing micro and macro management perspectives into a single point of view that is actually based on the reversibility principle.

BackgroundThe burden of advanced cancer is rising in Africa. Cancer care involves complex conversations between providers, patients, and families. International guidelines recommend communication skills training for all cancer care providers, and patient-provider communication and training needs are strongly influenced by culture. As oncology and palliative care capacity expand in African settings such as Rwanda, participatory research is needed to culturally adapt communication skills training to best fit local contexts.MethodsGuided by the Cultural Adaptation Process model, this study aimed to set the stage for adaptation and implementation of serious illness communication skills training in the Rwandan context. We conducted focus group discussions with interdisciplinary cancer care providers at Butaro Hospital in Rwanda to understand their communication training priorities and describe pertinent contextual factors. The focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the framework method of thematic analysis.ResultsA total of 17 cancer care providers participated in one of three focus groups, including six physicians, seven nurses, two psychologists, and two social workers. Participants identified delivering bad news and responding to emotion as the most challenging aspects of clinical communication and the highest priorities for training. They expressed concerns about the psychological toll of difficult conversations on providers, advocating for future trainings to include burnout mitigation strategies. Participants described several key contextual factors that should inform adaptations of communication training for Rwandan cancer care. These include barriers common to low-resource settings as well as several local assets: interdisciplinary collaboration, dedicated clinical psychologists, group counseling sessions, peer support among patients, and strong community networks. Several findings will be directly applied to the design of an initial pilot communication training in Rwanda. Areas requiring further investigation and opportunities to broaden the scope of communication interventions beyond patient-provider encounters were identified.ConclusionsThis study sets the stage for adapted communication skills training in Rwanda that is guided by the priorities and recommendations of local cancer care providers. Several pertinent cultural and structural factors were identified that are common across diverse African settings. Therefore, our training adaptations, as well as the methodology used for adaptation, have the potential for widespread reach.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-025-01879-z.

This paper utilizes the technology of Futures Research to discuss issues that may confront the criminal justice system in the year 2000. Conceptually, the criminal justice agencies are viewed as a social system which is open to external influence both in terms of organizational design and operation. The specific model of criminal justice agencies is based on the work of Lyman Porter and recognizes three primary factors: 1) contextual factors; 2) structural factors; and 3) behavioral consequences. The specific administrative issues discussed are derived from a series of long term social trends identified by futurist Herman Kahn of the Hudson Institute.

Background. Accumulating evidence suggests responses to HIV that combine individual-level interventions with those that address structural or contextual factors that influence risks and health outcomes of infection. Housing is such a factor. Housing occupies a strategic position as an intermediate structural factor, linking “upstream” economic, social, and cultural determinants to the more immediate physical and social environments in which everyday life is lived. The importance of housing status for HIV prevention and care has been recognized, but much of this attention has focused on homeless individuals as a special risk group. Analyses have less often addressed community housing availability and conditions as factors influencing population health or unstable, inadequate, or unaffordable housing as a situation or temporary state. A focus on individual-level characteristics associated with literal homelessness glosses over social, economic, and policy drivers operating largely outside any specific individual’s control that affect housing and residential environments and the health resources or risk exposures such contexts provide. Objectives. We examined the available empirical evidence on the association between housing status (broadly defined), medical care, and health outcomes among people with HIV and analyzed results to inform future research, program development, and policy implementation. Search methods. We searched 8 electronic health and social science databases from January 1, 1996, through March 31, 2014, using search terms related to housing, dwelling, and living arrangements and HIV and AIDS. We contacted experts for additional literature. Selection criteria. We selected articles if they were quantitative analyses published in English, French, or Spanish that included at least 1 measure of housing status as an independent variable and at least 1 health status, health care, treatment adherence, or risk behavior outcome among people with HIV in high-income countries. We defined housing status to include consideration of material or social dimensions of housing adequacy, stability, and security of tenure. Data collection and analysis. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality appraisal. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials and a modified version of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Appraisal Tool for nonintervention studies. In our quality appraisal, we focused on issues of quality for observational studies: appropriate methods for determining exposure and measuring outcomes and methods to control confounding. Results. Searches yielded 5528 references from which we included 152 studies, representing 139 757 HIV-positive participants. Most studies were conducted in the United States and Canada. Studies examined access and utilization of HIV medical care, adherence to antiretroviral medications, HIV clinical outcomes, other health outcomes, emergency department and inpatient utilization, and sex and drug risk behaviors. With rare exceptions, across studies in all domains, worse housing status was independently associated with worse outcomes, controlling for a range of individual patient and care system characteristics. Conclusions. Lack of stable, secure, adequate housing is a significant barrier to consistent and appropriate HIV medical care, access and adherence to antiretroviral medications, sustained viral suppression, and risk of forward transmission. Studies that examined the history of homelessness or problematic housing years before outcome assessment were least likely to find negative outcomes, homelessness being a potentially modifiable contextual factor. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies indicate an independent effect of housing assistance on improved outcomes for formerly homeless or inadequately housed people with HIV. Housing challenges result from complex interactions between individual vulnerabilities and broader economic, political, and legal structural determinants of health. The broad structural processes sustaining social exclusion and inequality seem beyond the immediate reach of HIV interventions, but changing housing and residential environments is both possible and promising.

This study investigates the complex relationships between auditor mood, auditor independence, environmental uncertainty, and audit quality in a developing economy. Specifically, it examines the direct effects of auditor mood (AUMO) and auditor independence (AUIN) on audit quality (AUQA). Furthermore, the study explores the moderating influence of environmental uncertainty (ENUN), measured by sales volatility, on the relationships between AUMO and AUQA, and AUIN and AUQA. The research hypotheses were tested using panel data derived from Vietnamese listed companies. The sample comprises firm-year observations from 2020 to 2024, resulting in 835 firm-year observations. The Arellano-Bond two-step system generalized method of moments (S-GMM) regression technique was employed for the analysis. The results reveal novel insights specific to the Vietnamese context: (1) AUMO significantly contributes to enhancing AUQA; (2) AUIN was found to have an unexpected negative association with AUQA; (3) ENUN negatively moderates the positive link between AUMO and AUQA, while its moderation of the AUIN-AUQA relationship was found to be positive in the full model; (4) The impact of these psychological and structural factors on AUQA is a multidimensional phenomenon profoundly shaped by contextual factors and intricate interactions among these variables. Our findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers in considering psychological dimensions and context-specific factors when designing regulatory frameworks to foster AUQA in Vietnam. This research illuminates the complex, context-dependent nature of these interactions, providing a nuanced understanding of how specific psychological elements (AUMO), structural attributes (AUIN), and contextual pressures (ENUN) interplay to influence audit outcomes.