While originally created as a way to help people stop smoking, a UBC Okanagan researcher is raising concerns about oral nicotine pouches being portrayed as trendy and pleasurable, especially among young people.

Dr. Laura Struik, Associate Professor in UBCO’s School of Nursing, recently published a study examining how the social media platform TikTok appears to promote nicotine pouches, particularly the brand Zyn, as a lifestyle rather than a way to quit smoking.

Many mobile apps claiming to support early reading skills in children fail to deliver actual educational benefit, with positive app store reviews seemingly driven by aesthetics and functionality, a new Flinders University analysis has found. The first-of-its-kind study had an expert panel of speech pathologists appraise 309 mobile apps claiming to support the development of phonics and phonological awareness skills; foundational skills critical to early reading development. Almost 1 in 5 apps were found to be of poor quality, with expert reviewers only recommending 85 of the 309 apps appraised, for their potential to support development of foundational reading skills.

A simple shift in business education, training MBA students to listen effectively, can significantly boost their humility and ability to lead with integrity, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

The new guideline outlines evidence-based recommendations on 11 high-priority topics to guide outpatient care for adults with TBI in the first six months after injury. Topics include assessment, education, referrals, and early treatment. Considerations for older adults, survivors of intimate partner violence, athletes, and military service members are also provided.

The Israel Observatory on Femicide, directed by Prof. Shalva Weil from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University, reports a troubling surge in femicide across Israel, with 32 women killed because they were women since January. The data point to rising firearm-related murders and distinct cultural dynamics influencing the patterns of violence. The Observatory calls on policymakers to act swiftly to prevent further loss of life.