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Placebo and nocebo in clinical practice: An online cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals from European countries on views, practices and training needs
No full textBackground: Placebo and nocebo effects significantly influence health outcomes, yet healthcare professionals receive limited training and guidance on their mechanisms and clinical application, creating a gap in education and practical understanding. Conducted within the European PANACEA Consortium, this study evaluated healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding placebo and nocebo effects, and assessed their needs in further education. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey among a European multi-country convenience sample of healthcare professionals collected data assessing participants’ knowledge, perceptions, and experiences regarding placebo and nocebo effects; their application and ethical considerations in clinical practice; and investigated educational needs and interest in further training. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis was applied to the free-text responses. Results: Amongst 807 participants, 71.7% reported taking advantage of placebo effects in their practice, and over half of participants (55.8%) observing nocebo effects. Participants reported feeling somewhat confident (53.3%) in harnessing placebo effects with 47.5% feeling confident in preventing nocebo effects. The majority of respondents had not received formal training on placebo and nocebo effects, with most expressing an interest in further training in areas such as healthcare education, emphasizing communication skills to enhance placebo effects, and knowledge to recognize and reduce nocebo effects. Conclusions: There is a significant need for more comprehensive training on placebo and nocebo effects, particularly in early health professional education. These findings informed the development of educational resources and best practice recommendations developed as part of the outcomes from the PANACEA Consortium, improving the understanding and application of these effects among healthcare professionals across Europe
Iterative optimization in quantum metrology and entanglement theory using semidefinite programming
No full textWe discuss efficient methods to optimize the metrological performance over local Hamiltonians in a bipartite quantum system. For a given quantum state, our methods find the best local Hamiltonian for which the state outperforms separable states the most from the point of view of quantum metrology. We show that this problem can be reduced to maximizing the quantum Fisher information over a certain set of Hamiltonians. We present the quantum Fisher information in a bilinear form and maximize it by an iterative see-saw method, in which each step is based on semidefinite programming. We also solve the problem with the method of moments that works very well for smaller systems. Our approach is one of the efficient methods that can be applied for an optimization of the unitary dynamics in quantum metrology, the other methods being, for example, machine learning, variational quantum circuits, or neural networks. The advantage of our method is the fast and robust convergence due to the simple mathematical structure of the approach. We also consider a number of other problems in quantum information theory that can be solved in a similar manner. For instance, we determine the bound entangled quantum states that maximally violate the computable cross norm-realignment criterion
Towards a habit-rupture model of intergroup contact in everyday settings
No full textAccording to intergroup contact theory, meaningful interactions between members of different social identity groups can lead to decreases in prejudice. However, the literature on intergroup contact has generally emphasized contact-based interventions that involve positive contact experiences in highly controlled environments like research laboratories or classrooms, or infrequent intimate intergroup contact experiences, like intergroup friendships. In this Perspective, we review the literature on how intergroup contact manifests in everyday settings, which challenges established views that contact is readily available, positive and leads to consistently positive within-person changes. We describe how variations in contact valence and environmental affordances for self-selection influence individual and macro-level segregation dynamics, which create conditions for stable trajectories of contact and intergroup bias, or contact habits. We then propose a habit–rupture model of contact, according to which changes in intergroup relations through lifespan and macro-level disruptions act as ruptures, leading to the development of new contact habits. Considering contact and its effects through a habit and rupture lens identifies realistic and ecologically valid opportunities to apply intergroup contact in the service of the social good
Navigating a highly competitive labor market: understanding job search experiences of white-collar workers in South Korea
No full textThe human resource management practices of South Korean companies are well documented in the literature. However, how these practices influence the experience of job searching in the South Korean labor market remains less explored. This chapter studies the job-seeking experience in South Korea through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with new graduates and seasoned white-collar jobseekers. It highlights the unique features of the job search process, shaped by South Korea's institutional and cultural context and organizations’ hiring practices. Furthermore, it contrasts these features with those documented in the extant job search literature, which predominantly focuses on Western contexts
Institutional and capability enablers of firm-level emissions abatement under the EU Emissions Trading System
No full textThis paper investigates why firms facing identical carbon-pricing incentives exhibit heterogeneous decarbonization trajectories. We address this question through a theoretical framework that conceptualizes national institutional quality and innovation-system capabilities as boundary conditions that shape firms’ adjustment capacity under emissions trading. Our analysis combines firm-level verified emissions from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for 31 European countries over the period 2005-2018 with country-level indicators from the IMD World Competitiveness Center and the World Economic Forum. We provide evidence that firms operating in environments characterized by stronger human capital capabilities, more advanced technological and digital infrastructure, and more supportive legal and scientific frameworks achieve greater emissions abatement. These effects are strongest during Phase III of the EU ETS, when the carbon-pricing constraint became more binding. Overall, our findings highlight how institutional and capability conditions mediate firms’ responses to a harmonized carbon price, offering new insights into the sources of heterogeneous abatement outcomes under a unified emissions trading system. From a policy perspective, our paper contributes to debates on the country level boundary conditions under which emissions trading can support more transformative decarbonization trajectories across heterogeneous national contexts
Latent Profile Analyses of Explanations About the Origins of SARS-CoV-2 Within and Across Countries
No full textResearch on belief endorsement typically estimates an average mean value to describe all individuals even though groups of individuals can have coexisting beliefs within the mind. This study employed a person-centered approach based on latent profile analysis (LPA) to investigate within- and between-population variation in the endorsement patterns of multiple explanations for the origin of SARS-CoV-2, including zoonotic, human-made, and supernatural explanations, across eleven countries. Results revealed seven latent profiles that varied in the number and type of explanations endorsed, as well as the degree of certainty associated with each. Among demographic characteristics, political orientation and religious affiliation predict whether particular types of explanations are endorsed or rejected. Latent profiles characterized by explanatory uncertainty and endorsement of conspiratorial explanations were less likely to wear masks and get vaccinated. We discuss the implications of person-centered analytical approaches for documenting variations in explanation endorsement and as predictors of behavioral health outcomes
A digital platform with activity tracking for energy management support in long COVID: a randomised controlled trial
No full textIn a 6-month pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT; ISRCTN16033549), we compared a just-in-time intervention to support energy management in adults with long COVID (LC) to standard care. Participants received either the ‘Pace Me’ app and a wearable activity tracker (intervention) or an app only with data entry screens (control). The intervention group received just-in-time messages on energy management when they reached 50%, 75%, and 100% of their daily ‘activity allowance’. The primary outcome was post-exertional malaise (PEM) measured by the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire-PEM (DSQ-PEM). Of 369 participants assessed for eligibility, 250 participants were randomised 1:1, and 77 controls and 84 intervention participants were included in the final per-protocol analysis. There was no time by group interaction for the DSQ-PEM. The intervention group value was 48 (95% CI 44-53) at baseline and 46 (95% CI 41-51) post-intervention (arbitrary units). The control group value was 47 (95% CI 42-52) at baseline and 44 (95% CI 39-49) at follow-up (interaction effect p = 0.614, η²p = 0.002; trivial). No individual question exhibited an interaction effect (p > 0.05). Although the intervention had minimal effect compared to control, the substantial recovery rates previously reported in LC, coupled with our wide inclusion criteria may have masked intervention effects. Therefore, future studies should consider this energy management framework in conditions without such recovery rates, such as CFS
Chirally locked and dynamic bis-perylene diimide macrocycles with multiple sources of chirality.
No full textChiral organic materials show great promise in optoelectronics, sensing and catalysis. Among those, macrocycles are of great interest due to their preorganisation and potential amplification of chiroptical properties. Understanding the effects of different sources of chirality on the resulting chiroptical properties of these molecules is key to unlocking tailored chiral materials. To this end, we have synthesised a family of bis-perylene diimide-based macrocycles containing multiple sources of chirality, specifically point chirality in the linker, helical chirality in the perylene diimide and supramolecular chirality in the macrocyclic dimer. We found a dominant effect from the helical chirality of the perylene diimide on the chiroptical properties, including the induction of chirality in an achiral guest molecule, which opens up new possibilities for hybrid chiroptical materials. [Abstract copyright: © 2026. The Author(s).
From hesitation to empowerment: exploring women’s engagement in stock market investing
No full textPurpose: This study investigates the persistent underrepresentation of women in equity investing by examining how socio‑cultural norms, religious beliefs, and digital environments shape their participation in the UK stock market. It addresses a key gap in existing research, which tends to isolate theoretical psychological factors such as risk aversion or confidence, by adopting an intersectional, roleperspective that integrates structural, cultural, and technological influences.Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative design was employed, using semi structured interviews. With twenty‑three experienced female investors in the UK. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling via LinkedIn. Thematic content analysis supported by NVivo was used to identify and interpret patterns in the data. Findings: The study reveals that women’s investment behaviours are shaped by a combination of financial literacy, confidence, and deeply embedded gendered expectations. Role conflict emerges as a central mechanism as women negotiate traditional family responsibilities, religious norms, and aspirations for financial autonomy. The findings also introduce the concept of digital ambivalence, showing that while fintech platforms expand access and reduce reliance on male gatekeepers, concerns about trust, privacy, and digital literacy constrain full engagement.Originality/value: This study advances the literature by extending role theory into the domain of financial behaviour and demonstrating how identity, social roles, and digital infrastructures interact to 38shape women’s investment decisions. It conceptualises the UK as a hybrid financial context where advanced market systems coexist with enduring cultural constraints, offering insights relevant to both developed and emerging economies.Practical implications: The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that go beyond generic financial literacy initiatives. Policymakers and educators should develop culturally sensitive financial education programmes, while fintech providers should prioritise trust‑building features, enhanced privacy controls, and user‑centred platform design to better support women’s diverse needs and constraints
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