This study examines the influence of internal and external locus of control as mediators of financial literacy, financial attitudes, financial beliefs, and financial behavior of students in Timor-Leste. This study uses a quantitative approach with a survey method to collect sample data from students throughout Timor-Leste. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzes the relationship between financial literacy, financial attitudes, financial beliefs, internal and external locus of control, and financial behavior. The study’s results highlight the mediating role of internal and external locus of control in the relationship between financial literacy, financial attitudes, financial beliefs, and financial behavior of students in Timor-Leste. These findings can provide insight into the complex relationship between these factors in financial decision-making. Practical implications for educational institutions and policymakers in Timor-Leste, namely emphasizing the importance of considering internal and external locus control in financial literacy programs to improve students’ financial behavior. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap about student financial literacy by expanding the understanding of the relationship between these factors.

The proportion of elderly people is growing steadily in many countries, and this trend is expected to continue. As a result, ageism—negative discrimination often tied to perceptions of the elderly—becomes especially harmful. Ageism prevents older generations from being fully accepted by society and, in turn, hinders their ability to adapt to today's technological changes. In this article, we present the results of our survey mapping the extent of ageism among youth in Uzbekistan, known for its cultural tolerance in Central Asia, and in Hungary, a more individualistic society in Central Europe. To interpret the survey results accurately, we included specific questions to measure social desirability bias, enabling a realistic comparison of ageism levels between the two countries. Data was collected through a survey translated into multiple languages, with a final sample of nearly 400 respondents, each either currently pursuing or already holding a college-level diploma. Our methodological approach was twofold. First, we conducted simple chi-square tests to compare levels of negative and positive ageism between the two countries under study. Upon finding significant differences, we used multivariable OLS regression to explain the variance in types of ageism in Uzbekistan and Hungary, accounting for the possible effects of social desirability bias. Uzbek youth demonstrated higher levels of positive ageism and lower levels of negative ageism compared to Hungarian youth. This finding confirms that the cultural tolerance in Uzbek society remains strong and, in many ways, could serve as a model for Hungary. Additionally, our literature review highlights that adequate infrastructure is essential for a society to treat older adults equitably alongside other citizens.

Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) have long been a mainstay of the beverage business but changing consumer tastes and rising health awareness have necessitated a thorough study of the variables impacting consumer choices. This study intends to explore the complex web of customer preferences, purchasing behaviour, and perceptions related to carbonated soft drinks. This research analyses how numerous variables, including gender, affect these preferences and choices via careful examination. The purpose of thepresent research is to determine the perception of consumer influencing customer choice preferences for the consumption of carbonated soft drinks, influence of gender and the role of advertisement in finalizing the choice. It would be helpful to do further research to better understand how these highlighted variables affect purchasing choices, especially gender-based variances. The important influence of gender on consumer behaviour has been acknowledged. For this study, a structured questionnaire was distributed through online social media to individuals of 12–45 years of age from the period of April–May 2023. For analysis of the data collected, SPSS 22.0 was used. The study has confirmed that consumption of Coca-Cola is higher than any other soft drink in almost the entire country. The factors like youthfulness, tradition, status symbol and level of carbonation have different influences on the buying behavior of male and female consumers.

This study explores the influence of digital technologies, including media, on pre-service teachers’ interactions and engagement patterns. It underscores the significance of promoting digital competence to empower pre-service teachers to navigate the digital world responsibly, make informed decisions, and enhance their digital experiences. The objective is to identify key themes and categories in research studies related to pre-service teachers’ digital competence and skill preparations. Conducting a systematic literature review, we searched databases such as SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, and Taylor & Francis, including forty-three articles in the dataset. Applying qualitative content analysis, we identified four major themes: digital literacy, digital competencies, digital skills, and digital thinking. Within each theme, categories and their frequencies were examined. Preliminary findings reveal a growing prevalence of digital competence and literacy articles between 2019 and 2024. The paper concludes by offering recommendations for further research and implementations, with specific criteria used for article selection detailed in the paper. A digital literacy policy for teacher education preparedness is included.

Open-source software (OSS) has emerged as a transformative tool whose implementation has the potential to modernise many libraries around the world in the digital age. OSS is a type of software which permits its users to inspect, share, modify, and enhance through its freely accessed source code. The accessibility and openness of the source code permits users to manipulate, change, and improve the way in which a piece of software, program, or application works. OSS solutions therefore provide cost-effective alternatives that enable libraries to enhance their technological infrastructure without being constrained by proprietary systems. Hence, many countries have initiated and formulated policies and legislative frameworks to support the implementation and use of OSS library solutions such as DSpace, Alfresco, and Greenstone. The purpose of the study reported on was to investigate the leveraging of OSS to modernise public libraries in South Africa. Content analysis was adopted as the research methodology for this qualitative study, which was based on a literature review integrating insights from the researchers’ experiences with the use of OSS in libraries The findings of the study reveal that the use of OSS has the potential to modernise public libraries, especially those located outside cities or urban areas. These libraries are often less well equipped with the necessary technology infrastructure to meet the demands of the digital age, such as online books and open access materials. The study culminated in an OSS framework that may be implemented to modernise public libraries. This framework may help public libraries to integrate OSS solutions and further allow users access to digital services.

The future of Dutch healthcare is a challenge that focuses on four aims: the ‘Quadruple Aim’. These aims concern: improving the quality and accessibility of care, enhancing patient experience, reducing healthcare costs and increasing the job satisfaction of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals play a major role in the realization of the first three aims. The pressure on healthcare and the scarce capacity forces us to treat this human capital with care. Satisfied employees are partly decisive for the success of an organization. At the same time, an organization expects optimal performance from its employees. This requires an active and involved attitude from the HRM department. The individual employee plays an intermediary role between HRM activities and organizational performance. In order to increase knowledge and understanding about this position, attention to the individual in the context of the organization is essential. In this article, the relationship between HRM, performance and well-being of employees and underlying theoretical explanation models are discussed. Recommendations were made on the contribution that HRM can make to the balance between employee and organizational interests.