Search

A systematic analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and factors influencing ecological land (EL) can support the optimization of EL protection policies and ensure the stability of regional ecosystems. Based on remote sensing data, using the gravity center shift model, the landscape pattern index, and the equivalent factor method, the characteristics of EL evolution in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region from 1980 to 2020 were analyzed. A fixed-effects model was used to quantitatively explore the factors influencing EL evolution and heterogeneity analysis. The results are as follows: (1) The EL area exhibited a trend of initial decrease followed by a subsequent increase during the study period. The most significant area transfer occurred between cropland and EL, but, after the 21st century, the proportion of area transfer between construction land and EL noticeably increased. (2) The compactness and fragmentation of EL showed a certain spatiotemporal stability, but the spatial distribution of compactness and fragmentation hot and cold spots exhibited significant differences. The fragmentation hot spots mainly displayed a strip distribution, while those of compactness showed a clustered distribution. (3) Although the ecosystem service value in the BTH region demonstrated dynamic "M"-shaped changes, the distribution of hot and cold spots still exhibited spatial stability. Regulating services consistently occupied a higher proportion of the sub-service functions, while cultural services still needed further enhancement. (4) Factors influencing the evolution of areas and values demonstrated similarities. The landscape was significantly influenced by construction land, showing a non-linear "U"-shaped relationship with fragmentation. Different economic development gradients and altitudes exhibited differentiated characteristics in terms of their influencing factors. This study provides scientific support for dynamically and precisely adjusting governmental EL management policies, contributing to the sustainable development of regional socio-economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased decentralization of renewable energy has increased curtailment rates in stagnating demand zones, increasing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The geographically dynamic nature of gravity energy storage (GES) is emerging in the field of mechanical energy storage, over pumped hydro. However, GES costs vary geospatially, specifically in decentralized suburban areas, due to the impact of urban socioeconomics. This study aims to find a mathematical approximation of a cost-optimized location for suburban Solar–GES hybrid systems in curtailment-prone areas. A multi-parameterization model mathematically programmed land, transmission, supply chain and excavation costs into geospatial matrix approximations for suburban areas of 2500 km2 in Fukuoka and Ibaraki in Japan. It was found that SPV-GES location-dependent costs were mainly affected by distance from the city's economic center and flat plains in suburbs, and supply chain and transmission costs optimized the location-dependent cost for GES at a specific point. It was also found that flat terrains were more economical than mountainous terrains due to high GES supply chain costs. With GES found to be cost-competitive compared to other storage technologies in Japan, this study reveals that GES introduction benefits the LCOE of suburban, decentralized SPV when curtailment is >50% irrespective of terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of improved quality of life standards has significantly influenced the contemporary mining model in the 21st century. This era is witnessing an unprecedented transformation driven by pressing concerns related to sustainability, climate change, the just energy transition, dynamic operating environments, and complex social challenges. Such transitions present both opportunities and obstacles. The aim of this study is to provide an extensive literature review on energy transition to identify the challenges and strategies associated with navigating transformations in energy systems. Understanding these transformations is particularly critical in the face of the severe consequences of global warming, where an accelerated energy transition is viewed as a universal remedy. Adopting a socio-technological systems perspective, specifically through the application of Actor Network Theory (ANT), this research provides a theoretical foundation while categorising challenges into five distinct domains and outlining strategies across these different dimensions. These insights are specifically tailored for emerging market countries to effectively navigate energy transition while fostering the development of resilient societies. Furthermore, our findings highlight that energy transition encompasses more than a mere technological shift; it entails fundamental changes in various systemic socio-economic imperatives. Through focusing on the role of social structures in transitions, this study makes a significant and innovative contribution to ANT, which has historically been criticised for its limited acknowledgement of social structures. Consequently, we propose an emerging market energy transition framework, which not only addresses technological aspects, but also integrates social considerations. This framework paves the way for future research and exploration of energy transition dynamics. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights to policymakers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in the mining industry, enabling them to comprehend the multifaceted challenges involved and providing practical strategies for effective resolution. Through incorporating the social dimension into the analysis, we enhance the understanding of the complex nature of energy system transformations, facilitating a more holistic approach towards achieving sustainable and resilient energy transitions in emerging markets and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed smallholder maize farmers' perceptions of climate change vulnerability and adaptation strategies in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The study used a cross-sectional quantitative approach, with smallholder farmers selected based on farm size (less than 10 hectares). Using simple random sampling techniques, 210 smallholder farmers in South Kivu Province was selected from October and November 2021. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-tests, Tobit regression model and structural equations modeling, which demonstrated that demographic and socioeconomic factors influenced smallholder farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change. The findings revealed that the level of education, size of the field, and activities of smallholder farmers had significant effects on climate change perception and adaptation strategies. Smallholder farmers' perceptions had a negative (p < 1%) influence on maize smallholder farmers' adaptation to climate change. Common efforts should be made to encourage smallholder farmers to feel committed enough to implement climate change adaptation measures that are effective in mitigating or preventing climate change risk. The results of this study would have implications for policies to support maize smallholder farmers in their efforts to mitigate and resilient to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Firstly, the promotion of climate literacy must be sufficient to provide farmers with information on climate and forecasting. Secondly, to empower smallholder farmers with means and resources to prevent and reduce the effects of climate change. Lastly, enhancing the current environment for the agriculture sector will advance community inclusivity and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 'agentic demand' of population health interventions (PHIs) refers to the capacity, resources and freedom to act that interventions demand of their recipients to benefit, which have a socio-economical pattern. Highly agentic interventions, e.g. information campaigns, rely on recipients noticing and responding to the intervention and thus might affect intervention effectiveness and equity. The absence of an adequate framework to classify agentic demands limits the fields' ability to systematically explore these associations. Methods: We systematically developed the Demands for Population Health Interventions (Depth) framework using an iterative approach: (1) developing the Depth framework by systematically identifying examples of PHIs aiming to promote healthier diets and physical activity, coding of intervention actors and actions and synthesising the data to develop the framework; (2) testing the Depth framework in online workshops with academic and policy experts and a quantitative reliability assessment. We applied the final framework in a proof-of-concept review, extracting studies from three existing equity-focused systematic reviews on framework category, overall effectiveness and differential socioeconomic effects and visualised the findings in harvest plots. Results: The Depth framework identifies three constructs influencing agentic demand: exposure — initial contact with intervention (two levels), mechanism of action — how the intervention enables or discourages behaviour (five levels) and engagement — recipient response (two levels). When combined, these constructs form a matrix of 20 possible classifications. In the proof-of-concept review, we classified all components of 31 interventions according to the Depth framework. Intervention components were concentrated in a small number of Depth classifications; Depth classification appeared to be related to intervention equity but not effectiveness. Conclusions: This framework holds potential for future research, policy and practice, facilitating the design, selection and evaluation of interventions and evidence synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Index spaces serve as valuable metric models for studying properties relevant to various applications, such as social science or economics. These properties are represented by real Lipschitz functions that describe the degree of association with each element within the underlying metric space. After determining the index value within a given sample subset, the classic McShane and Whitney formulas allow a Lipschitz regression procedure to be performed to extend the index values over the entire metric space. To improve the adaptability of the metric model to specific scenarios, this paper introduces the concept of a composition metric, which involves composing a metric with an increasing, positive and subadditive function ϕ. The results presented here extend well-established results for Lipschitz indices on metric spaces to composition metrics. In addition, we establish the corresponding approximation properties that facilitate the use of this functional structure. To illustrate the power and simplicity of this mathematical framework, we provide a concrete application involving the modeling of livability indices in North American cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an essential prerequisite to the genealogical study of Jews, some elements of Jewish demographic history are provided in a long-term transnational perspective. Data and estimates from a vast array of sources are combined to draw a profile of Jewish populations globally, noting changes in geographical distribution, vital processes (marriages, births and deaths), international migrations, and changes in Jewish identification. Jews often anticipated the transition from higher to lower levels of mortality and fertility, or else joined large-scale migration flows that reflected shifting constraints and opportunities locally and globally. Cultural drivers typical of the Jewish minority interacted with socioeconomic and political drivers coming from the encompassing majority. The main centers of Jewish presence globally repeatedly shifted, entailing the intake within Jewish communities of demographic patterns from significantly different environments. During the 20th century, two main events reshaped the demography of the Jews globally: the Shoah (destruction) of two thirds of all Jews in Europe during World War II, and the independence of the State of Israel in 1948. Mass immigration and significant convergence followed among Jews of different geographical origins. Israel's Jewish population grew to constitute a large share—and in the longer run—a potential majority of all Jews worldwide. Since the 19th century, and with increasing visibility during the 20th and the 21st, Jews also tended to assimilate in the respective Diaspora environments, leading to a blurring of identificational boundaries and sometimes to a numerical erosion of the Jewish population. This article concludes with some implications for Jewish genealogical studies, stressing the need for contextualization to enhance their value for personal memory and for analytic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This decade represents a critical period to profoundly rethink human–nature interactions in order to address the interwoven climate and biodiversity crises. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) demonstrate promise for increasing ecosystem resilience and reversing habitat and population declines, but outcomes vary considerably from context to context. Partially protected areas offer a compromise between ecological recovery and the social needs of local communities, but their success is contingent on an array of factors. This in-depth review summarizes 15 years of marine conservation research and impact in Lyme Bay (southwest UK), to serve as a model for the future adoption of partially protected MPAs. The findings from the UK's longest integrated socioecological monitoring MPA study are presented and supplemented by an evaluation of the whole-site management approach as a core element of Lyme Bay's achievements. The journey from research to improved monitoring and ambitious policy is illustrated within and interspersed with stories of novel discoveries, ongoing challenges, and method developments. What started as a dedicated group of community members has grown into an immense collaboration between fishers, scientists, NGOs, and regulators, and their combined efforts have sent ripple effects of positive change across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zimbabwe’s unending socioeconomic crisis has led to the flooding of informal street vendors in its urban areas, a development that has led to incessant clashes between the street vendors and the local authorities. Literature has shown that street vending is a global phenomenon and its problems could be addressed through best practices of inclusivity. This study examined the situation of informal street vendors in Harare in the light of social inclusion. It also made use of insights from Pope Francis regarding World Popular Movements. Data were collected through focus group discussions comprising six informal street vendors operating in Harare as its participants. Findings revealed that informal street vendors in Harare faced many structural challenges, one of which included operating in contested spaces characterised by violent evictions from vending sites, bribery and power struggles. Results also showed that street vendors lacked access to bank loans, information, and even the power to influence policies which directly affected them. Based on these findings, it was argued that the informal street vendors were socially excluded and needed to be integrated into the economic fabric of the urban society. This social inclusion process was considered as only possible if local authorities adopted an inclusive approach to policymaking. This would entail involving the street vendors when crafting policies that directly affect them. It was recommended that Harare City Council regularises street vending, aligns its by-laws to the National Constitution, and that it also formulates inclusive policies. Contribution: The article makes a contribution towards the promotion of an inclusive society whereby everyone has equal access to social and economic opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: This study argues that government schemes to serve petty traders in Tanzania remain unsustainable mostly due to poor consideration of the impact the socioeconomic linkage has on location determinants. Goal and Objectives: This research aimed to understand how the articulation of petty trading operations with larger traders, directly or indirectly, influences location decisions. Methodology: The core of this research was based on a case study approach that involved surveys of petty traders and interviews with large-scale traders at the Mwenge trading center, along with documents review. Results: Petty traders select locations that maximize functioning as an economic enterprise and moderate survival risks. That is, the location of the trade is selected based on social ties, but the petty traders' success depends on economic links established with larger traders, from whom they get their merchandise, and over which they have very little control. The implications of these findings are: the level of articulation that governs location decisions, drags down the sustainability of government schemes, and gives rise to serious damage to the urban fabric; and two, the analysis of backward linkages combined with other location determinants provides the background against which the petty trading spaces identification, planning and designing could be analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: To achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers is of global importance. For this, it is fundamental to understand the responses of native and nonnative species, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. To help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation, we investigate the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the Latin American city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigate whether bird response changes with bird origin (native vs. nonnative). We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community but had opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Wealthier neighborhoods supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds. In contrast, poorer neighborhoods had greater bird abundance but were mainly composed of nonnative birds. Our study evidence showed that affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Given that woody cover positively influenced native birds and negatively influenced nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover in neighborhoods where vulnerable people live will help support more native avifauna. Due to the massive increase of the urban population, a global target is to achieve sustainable cities that are sensitive to nature and environmentally just for urban dwellers. To accomplish this, it is important to understand the responses of native and nonnative birds, identify the environmental variables that promote native species and limit nonnative species, and understand how they vary among socioeconomic groups. Although many cities in the Global South exhibit strong social and environmental segregation, few studies have investigated the relationship between socioeconomics and biodiversity. Therefore, to help promote ecological justice and biodiversity conservation in the developing world, we investigated the influence of socioeconomic level and woody cover on bird species richness and abundance in the city of Santiago de Chile. We also investigated whether bird response changes with species provenance—it is important to understand the response of native birds separately from nonnative birds because they imply opposite management strategies (e.g., conservation vs. species control/eradication). Thus, we surveyed 120 sites located in residential areas of high, medium, and low socioeconomic levels across the city and fit generalized linear (mixed) models that described bird species richness and abundance for total, native, and nonnative birds according to socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover. We found that both socioeconomic level and woody vegetation cover influenced the bird community, but their effects changed with bird species origin, having opposite effects on native and nonnative birds. Residential areas where wealthier people live supported greater species richness and abundance of native birds than residential areas where people of lower socioeconomic status live. In contrast, residential areas where vulnerable people live had greater bird abundance that was mainly composed of nonnative birds. Therefore, affluent neighborhoods provide more opportunities to encounter native birds and experience nature close to home than poorer neighborhoods. Due to woody cover having positive effects on native birds and a negative influence on nonnative birds, increasing tree and shrub cover will contribute to supporting more native birds in residential areas deprived of woody vegetation, which are commonly low socioeconomic areas. Additional variables that can explain bird response among residential areas of different socioeconomic levels need to be investigated to better understand the factors influencing the distribution of birds in cities and promote a more biodiverse and environmentally just city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I identify a list of authors and publications that were edited in Ibero-America and that have contributed to the expansion of the ideas of the social economist Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929). Moreover, I have identified publications exploring Veblen´s ideas and Spanish translation on Veblen´s work since 1944. There, I observe that there is a consistent list of publications on Veblen, with a larger share after the decade 1990´s and whose more original contributions in the region is related on economic development and on the analysis of some socio cultural phenomena, as well as a significant cluster of researchers in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoclassical economics has established itself as the discipline of rational choice. Consequently, under methodological individualism and in the context of consumption, an agent's choice is based on the ordering of preferences determined exogenously, disregarding any emotional, biological influences, or factors from socio-economic dynamics. Therefore, this paper aims to present an alternative framework for the decision-making of economic individuals at a theoretical and formal-mathematical level, grounded in the principles of evolutionary economics and complex adaptive systems. It is argued that the process of making choices in consumption is inherent to social dynamics. From an individual-holistic perspective, the mechanism motivating action can be characterized as an evolutionary algorithm that integrates biological, historical, cultural, social class, and market competition influences as endogenous elements in determining choice and consumption behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se presenta un editorial que discute sobre la celebración de su edición número 50, destacando su pluralidad y contribución a la disciplina iberoamericana. Se destaca también eventos económicos y sociales relevantes, como la recesión de 2008 y la pandemia de COVID-19. También explora temas contemporáneos como cambio climático, corrupción y desafíos democráticos, así como hitos históricos como el bicentenario del Trienio Liberal en España.

While entrepreneurship has been extensively studied worldwide, scant empirical research evidence has been found in Vietnam. Building upon the institutional economics perspective, this study empirically investigates the tripartite relationship between formal institutions, entrepreneurial activity, and socio-economic outcomes. A fixed effects model is employed to test the proposed hypotheses using a 5-year strong balanced panel data. The findings indicate that provinces are heterogeneous along multiple dimensions of institutional quality, leading to different entrepreneurial rates. Concurrently, it highlights the vital role of entrepreneurial activity in explaining the differences in economic performance, unemployment rate, and living standards across Vietnam's regions. The results also confirm that the entrepreneurial rate exerts a mediating effect on the relationship between institutional quality and socio-economic outcomes. This study contributes to the entrepreneurial literature in Vietnam and provides practical implications for Vietnamese policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Orofacial clefts are one of the most common congenital anomalies involving the craniofacial region. An isolated cleft palate is the rarest (33% of all orofacial clefts) among individuals with female predominance. Individuals born with these clefts manifest craniofacial, functional, and psychological anomalies. Sometimes, patients cannot receive the required therapies due to a lack of awareness and lack of medical access or economic factors. Untreated clefts may adversely impact the patient's life both physically and psychologically. Case Description: This study presents a case report of a 45-year-old male with an untreated cleft palate since birth due to a low socioeconomic background, leading to several oro-dental anomalies, speech defects, and psychological and social challenges. Results: Extraoral examination revealed mild facial asymmetry, dry and incompetent lips, and underdeveloped philtrum. Intraorally, there was a cleft palate, macroglossia, soft and edematous gingiva with bleeding on probing, gingival recession, and periodontal pockets, along with various dental anomalies. Full mouth orthopantomogram showed discontinuity of the palatal line, collapsed maxillary arch, root stumps, and crowding. The final diagnosis of isolated cleft palate was made. The patient was advised for surgery regarding the cleft palate, dental treatment, speech therapy, and psychological counseling. However, the patient refused all treatments except a few dental aids due to economic difficulties. Conclusion: The present case report highlights the need for these patients to receive particular concerns. Patients must be motivated to get proper treatment at a suitable stage to prevent future complications. Cleft teams must be advised to initiate some encouraging steps in imparting treatment aids to such patients, especially in rehabilitation therapy, considering their surrounding environment, psychological makeup, socioeconomic status, and motivation. In addition, social groups should also treat these patients with a positive approach, helping them to live healthy and normal lives just like any other individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The russian military aggression and the related socio-economic and environmental consequences have significantly affected the climate and production of ecosystem services through damage to forests, ecosystems, landscape fires and emissions of gases into the atmosphere. The study aims to estimate carbon dioxide emissions due to landscape fires in Ukraine during the year 2022. The OroraTech wildfire monitoring technology was used to detect fires, while perimeters of burned areas were delineated with Sentinel 2 time series. The Copernicus Dynamic Land Cover map was used to extract burned land covers. Emissions were calculated based on the intensity of fires (dNBR) with the share of burned biomass in different types of land cover. Biomass models were selected considering the dominant tree species within a specific region and the species structure of the sown areas of croplands. The volume of biomass losses was estimated as a result of fires of different severities. It was estimated that during in 2022, landscape fires burned 749.5 thousand hectares thereof: croplands - 419.1 thousand hectares; other natural vegetation - 273.8 thousand hectares; conifer forests - 31.1 thousand hectares; other forests - 25.5 thousand hectares. The impact of the war on landscape fires is confirmed by the large proportion of fires in the 60-kilometre buffer zone along the frontline - 68.9% of the total area of fire. Among all fires, 42.5% of fires occurred in the occupied territory. Total CO2 emissions from all types of landscape fires reached 5.20 million tons and other greenhouse gases - 0.28 million tons. It is the first detailed mapping of landscape fires with an analysis of each polygon for the whole territory of Ukraine. The results provide important information for assessing the loss of ecosystem services and estimating carbon dioxide emissions as well as for confirming the impact of hostilities on landscape fires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding social-ecological systems (SESs) is an important part of ecosystem-based management (EBM). One of the main decision support frameworks to develop scientific advice for EBM is integrated ecosystem assessments (IEAs). Human dimensions in SESs are primarily captured through indicators derived from three social sciences: economics, anthropology, and sociology. The breadth of social sciences and humanities (SSH) research is much greater than those three fields, but they are generally underused in natural science-based decision support processes such as IEAs. Greater contributions of SSHs can enhance IEAs through various direct (e.g. to develop indicators) and indirect ways (e.g. to establish and maintain ethical practices). We examine a wider range of SSH disciplines and conclude that scientific advice processes that inform EBM can benefit from broader integration of SSH theories and methods through themes of contextualizing, facilitating, communicating, evaluating, and anticipating. We see this an opportunity to both widen the vocabulary used to describe social scientists and those who work in humanities in IEAs, and apply the underlying worldviews used to conduct SSH research to fundamentally enhance the IEA process and to further progress in EBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Political extremism is one of the main threats to democratic societies and it has been related to socioeconomic threats like COVID-19. We argue that socioeconomic threat perceptions increase Monopoly on Truth (MoT), a tendency to conceive personal values as undeniable truths that are worthy of being imposed. MoT will then prompt a rise in extremist intentions. Method: These hypotheses were tested in two experimental designs (N = 274 & 484). Study 1 manipulated socioeconomic threat, while Study 2 added a manipulation of the emotional appraisal of that threat. Results: In Study 1, MoT scores were significantly different and higher in the high-threat condition. In Study 2, threat levels did not cause statistically significant differences when emotional appraisal of the threat was manipulated, with anger causing MoT to increase. Study 2 also showed that MoT works as a precursor of extremist intentions. Conclusions: Socioeconomic threats and their emotional appraisals raise MoT and, indirectly, extremism. Beyond deepening our understanding of the causes of MoT, the current findings highlight the implications of different narratives framing socioeconomic crises that may become a facilitating factor of extremism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses various challenges for agriculture and water management practices in Central Asia (CA). Central to these challenges are cryosphere dynamics, fragile mountain ecosystems, and ongoing natural hazards that highlight the need for robust projections of regional climate change. For the first time, dynamic downscaling was conducted in Central Asia at a spatial resolution of 5 km. This produced a regional dataset that incorporated periods between 1980 and 2000 and 2076 to 2096. Results show that dynamic downscaling significantly improves the simulation of temperature and precipitation across CA compared to General Circulation Models (GCMs) and other Regional Climate Models (RCMs) due to better representation of topography and related meteorological fields. Our analysis shows that there will be a significant warming trend in Central Asia with a projected increase of 6°C under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenario SSP5-8.5 from 2076 to 2096. Pronounced warming is detected over mountainous areas of CA from autumn to spring, which can be explained by the snow-albedo feedback. Precipitation increases are projected from winter to spring and decreases are projected from summer to autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global health concern with varying levels and trends across countries and regions. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies. Methods: Using data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study, we examine IBD incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates in 198 countries from 1990 to 2019. To assess changes in the burden of IBD, estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated, and a Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the future 30-year trends of IBD. Results: In 2019, there were 405,000 new IBD cases globally (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 361,000 to 457,000), with 41,000 deaths (95% UI 35,000 to 45,000) and 1.62million DALYs (95% UI 1.36–1.92million). The global age-standardized incidence rate in 2019 was 4.97 per 100,000 person-years (95% UI 4.43 to 5.59), with a mortality rate of 0.54 (95% UI 0.46 to 0.59) and DALYs rate of 20.15 (95% UI 16.86 to 23.71). From 1990 to 2019, EAPC values for incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates were − 0.60 (95% UI − 0.73 to − 0.48), − 0.69 (95% UI − 0.81 to − 0.57), and − 1.04 (95% UI − 1.06 to − 1.01), respectively. Overall, the burden of IBD has shown a slow decline in recent years. In SDI stratification, regions with higher initial SDI (high-income North America and Central Europe) witnessed decreasing incidence and mortality rates with increasing SDI, while regions with lower initial SDI (South Asia, Oceania, and Latin America) experienced a rapid rise in incidence but a decrease in mortality with increasing SDI. Predictions using a Bayesian model showed lower new cases and deaths from 2020 to 2050 than reference values, while the slope of the predicted incidence-time curve closely paralleled that of the 2019 data. Conclusion: Increasing cases, deaths, and DALYs highlight the sustained burden of IBD on public health. Developed countries have stabilized or declining incidence rates but face high prevalence and societal burden. Emerging and developing countries experience rising incidence. Understanding these changes aids policymakers in effectively addressing IBD challenges in different regions and economic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy lifestyle and illness prevention depend on adequate nutrition, and homestead food production, including home gardening, is one way to increase access and lower the cost of healthy foods. This study was carried out in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State to assess the anthropometric indices and knowledge of home gardening of women. The sample size comprised of 170 respondents which were chosen using a multistage sampling technique. Data on sociodemographic, socioeconomic variables, and home gardening knowledge were obtained using an interviewer-administered, well-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were taken using standard procedures. The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. Version 20.0 of Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findings were presented as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p 0.05. The responders were 33.5 years old on average. The majority of respondents (85.3%) had at least a primary education. It was found that 94.7% of the adult women had good knowledge of home gardening, 4.7% had average knowledge, and 0.6% had low knowledge. The nutritional status of the respondents showed that 24.1 percent were overweight, 10.6 percent were underweight, and 10.6 percent were obese. The home garden knowledge score and the anthropometric measurement (BMI) were shown to be significantly associated. The result of this study is an indication that women who are knowledgeable about gardening at home are more likely to have higher nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is essential for normal human growth, including oxygen transport, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, DNA synthesis, mitochondrial function, and protection of cells from oxidative damage. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent hematologic disorder in school-going children. Therefore the aims were the study to assess the prevalence of anemia among school-going children of rural areas of Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total 600 samples were taken from those children of signs and symptoms of Iron deficiency Anemia cross-section survey. Thorough physical Examination, Lab investigations and Clinical examination. The current research work shows that 1 of 3rd of the school-going children who had signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia were effected with iron deficiency Anemia at the ages of 4 to 7 years 80(40%), 7 to 10 years 70(35%) and 10 to 13 years 50(25%) respectively. severe anemia were rare with 10%, moderate anemia 25% led by the mild type of anemia with a high percentage of 65% on the basis of Hb level. lower class families were more affected by iron deficiency anemia with 60%, children of middle class were less affected by anemia with 35% while children of upper class families were much less affected by anemia which may be due to the socioeconomic state of the family. Therefore it is recommended that iron supplementation and health and nutrition education programs should be conducted in the schools for the awareness of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2011, the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coasts have been receiving massive influxes of holopelagic sargasso algae composed of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans. This phenomenon has been causing several negative local impacts, such as ecological disturbances and socioeconomic and health concerns of communities in impacted areas. This work aimed to assess the status of scientific knowledge related to pelagic sargasso, including trends, emphases, and gaps. A literature review was conducted on publications and reports from 2011 to 2022, of which 251 articles were collected based on an inclusion–exclusion criteria. Aspects of each article were quantified, including location, description of sargasso, the type of study, and research theme. A region-wide research emphasis on ecology, remote sensing, and valorization was observed. Areas first affected by the inundations composed a higher percentage of sargasso studies than other locations, and the distribution of studies varied among subregions. Topics requiring further investigation include sargasso's growth and mortality rates and drivers, taxonomic and physiologic differences among morphotypes, and real-time forecasting resolution at local scales both on and offshore. This research emphasized efforts from the scientific community on research and mitigation initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing connectivity and urbanization of human population favor the reemergence and spread of dengue fever in subtropical and temperate regions, which poses onerous challenges to health systems. Analyzing the contribution of socioenvironmental conditions to the contagion risk is essential to design preventive strategies. In this retrospective analysis, we aim to assess the effects of social, demographic and environmental factors on the likelihood of becoming infected with dengue virus in Tucumán, the main subtropical city of Argentina. We implemented a case-control study to analyze the 2016 dengue outbreak. The control group included all persons reported with nonspecific febrile syndrome, and the cases were those confirmed with dengue virus after laboratory analyses. We recorded the age, sex and diagnostic date for every patient, and we georeferenced their house. This georeferentiation allowed us to estimate the distance to the nearest previous positive case (to control autocorrelation), population density, proportion of households with insufficient material constructive quality, overcrowding, educational level, NDVI, surface temperature and distance to nearest canal and cemetery. We constructed and compared logistic regression models to identify the combination of variables that best predicted dengue cases. Proximity to previous cases, cemeteries and canals, scarcity of surrounding vegetation, age and educational deficit were associated with an increased probability of being positive for dengue. In Argentina, socioeconomic differences are reflected in environmental inequalities, which reinforce the differential odds of suffering from dengue fever. Our results suggest that improving urban environmental quality may constitute an efficient way of preventing individual contagion of dengue and subsequent outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Arab Spring was primarily a revolution of young civilians against the old regimes, its influence on fertility patterns and natalist policies has not received sufficient attention. The first part of this article examines fertility in Arab countries on the eve of the uprisings, and the second looks into the patterns from the decade following the onset of the protests through the outbreak of Covid‐19. The third part analyzes the impact of the Arab Spring on the states' natalist policies, and the final section deals with the socioeconomic challenges imposed by the current demographic structures of these countries. The conclusion is that during the 2010s, the non‐oil Arab countries went through two fertility revolutions, with an increase in the first few years and a substantial decrease after. Will the Arab states achieve the targeted replacement‐level fertility rate, as was the case in many developing countries around the world over the past generation, including many non‐Arab Islamic countries? And what are the socioeconomic and political consequences of this fertility revolution in the Arab countries? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research intends to measure and characterize the level of rurality in the southwestern region of Bangladesh using an indexing approach from functional perspective. The findings of the study can be conducive for efficient decision making related to rural development policies and planning. Besides, operational delineation of administrative units, such as Unions and Wards, is essential for the formulation and effective implementation of evidence-based development initiatives. The study has utilized the latest available population census data published by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The results reveal that Satkhira district exhibits a higher degree of rurality (RI = 4.23) compared to Khulna (RI = 3.58) and Bagerhat (RI = 4.14) districts. This variation among the three districts is ascribed to existing rural–urban disparities. The study underscores the primary influence of socio-economic factors on the rural–urban disparities, with a secondary role for demographic and infrastructural aspects. However, education's impact was notably limited in this context. Insights on intra-district disparities infer that Khulna district exhibits significantly greater rural–urban disparities than the other two. The study also highlights the clustering of non-rural areas along major rivers. This research will assist rural planners and policy makers in understanding the specific rural dynamics of the study area, essential for tailoring fit-to-context development strategies. Moreover, the study provides a basis for classifying the region into clusters to streamline development priorities and resource allocation. Furthermore, the article presents a transferable methodology for evaluating rurality and delineating rural regions in different contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is a common disease with a major burden on morbidity, mortality, and productivity. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for roughly 90% of all diabetes cases in the USA and has a greater observed prevalence among those who identify as Black or Hispanic. Methods: This study aimed to assess T2D racial and ethnic disparities using the All of Us Research Program data and to measure associations between genetic ancestry (GA), socioeconomic deprivation, and T2D. We used the All of Us Researcher Workbench to analyze T2D prevalence and model its associations with GA, individual-level (iSDI), and zip code-based (zSDI) socioeconomic deprivation indices among participant self-identified race and ethnicity (SIRE) groups. Results: The study cohort of 86,488 participants from the four largest SIRE groups in All of Us: Asian (n = 2311), Black (n = 16,282), Hispanic (n = 16,966), and White (n = 50,292). SIRE groups show characteristic genetic ancestry patterns, consistent with their diverse origins, together with a continuum of ancestry fractions within and between groups. The Black and Hispanic groups show the highest levels of socioeconomic deprivation, followed by the Asian and White groups. Black participants show the highest age- and sex-adjusted T2D prevalence (21.9%), followed by the Hispanic (19.9%), Asian (15.1%), and White (14.8%) groups. Minority SIRE groups and socioeconomic deprivation, both iSDI and zSDI, are positively associated with T2D, when the entire cohort is analyzed together. However, SIRE and GA both show negative interaction effects with iSDI and zSDI on T2D. Higher levels of iSDI and zSDI are negatively associated with T2D in the Black and Hispanic groups, and higher levels of iSDI and zSDI are negatively associated with T2D at high levels of African and Native American ancestry. Conclusions: Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with a higher prevalence of T2D in Black and Hispanic minority groups, compared to the majority White group. Nonetheless, socioeconomic deprivation is associated with reduced T2D risk within the Black and Hispanic groups. These results are paradoxical and have not been reported elsewhere, with possible explanations related to the nature of the All of Us data along with SIRE group differences in access to healthcare, diet, and lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The problem of stunting is still a fundamental problem in Indonesia's human development. East Nusa Tenggara Province is an archipelago dryland area where in 2007–2021 it has contributed to the highest number of stunting children prevalence in Indonesia. This study aims to determine the relationship of variables in individual, household and district level with the prevalence of stunting. Methods: This type of research is observational study with a cross sectional design. This study used individual secondary data from the Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey in 2021 consisting of 7,835 toddlers and National Social Economics Survey 2021. Results: This research found that both specific & sensitive intervention programs had an influence in accelerating the decline in stunting prevalence (higher score on Z Score). Results also revealed the positive influence of the food access variable on nutritional intake. The results of the path analysis test showed that sensitive intervention program variables have a positive effect on food access variable and environmental variable (environmental sanitation) such as the habit of open defecation and healthcare. There was significant relationship on disease history, environment and intake to Height for Age (HAZ) score. Conclusions: In conclusion, direct and indirect factors have important roles to prevent stunting. Sensitive and specific intervention program, food access, macro determinants and environment are the indirect indicators which contribute significantly to the stunting. The risk of children under five years old experiencing malnourished nutritional status increases with a history of infectious disease (diarrhea, ARI, worms). The risk of children under five years experiencing malnourished nutritional status decreases with adequate nutritional intake. It is hoped that there will be a special model of stunting control interventions at the individual level and at the family, household and district level that are integrated and of high quality through multisectoral cooperation in the dryland areas of the islands of East Nusa Tenggara Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Favorable quality of life (QOL) has been associated with diets with better nutritional quality. Objective: To identify dietary patterns and estimate their association with QOL among university faculty. Method: Cross-sectional study with faculty members (n=112) from a university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Information on socioeconomic, work, health, lifestyle, QOL, and psychological distress characteristics were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis with principal component extraction and their association with QOL scores was estimated using multiple linear regression models. Results: 65% were women, 45% were ≥45 years old, and 43% were overweight. The mean general QOL score was 70.0. Four dietary patterns were identified: “snack”, “fast food”, “controlled”, and “basic”. The “controlled” pattern, including butter/margarine, bread, fruit juice, dairy, and caffeinated beverages, was directly associated with general QOL and “social relationships” and “psychological” domains, the latter was also directly associated with the “snack” pattern, composed by vegetables, meats, fruits, caffeinated beverages, and butter/margarine. Conclusions: The eating patterns that most explained faculty food consumption presented low nutritional quality, while the pattern with limited carbohydrate content was associated with better general QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small mining towns are often single-industry towns that turn to ghost towns or face negative socio-economic impacts upon mine closure. This study qualitatively explores the roles that mining companies and other key stakeholders (should) play in the development of local economies of the small mining communities to bring about economic sustainability, employing a constant comparative analysis. A small mining town in South Africa is the case study. Legislative and policy frameworks were scrutinized for their effectiveness in promoting economic sustainability. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders were carried out. Key factors limiting the effective implementation of developmental strategies were also explored. The study finds that weak community involvement, lack of trust, poor collaboration, poor municipal capacity, and legislation and policy flaws impact economic sustainability. Sustainable local economic development efforts are reported though. However, such efforts are insufficient because of the legislation and policy frameworks that are promoting short-term growth. Also, the town's overdependence on the mining company, local government not optimally fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, and minimal community members' participation on local economic development are other hindrances. However, the fact that the mining company and local municipality do acknowledge the shortcomings in their efforts towards promoting economic sustainability is a promise in minimizing the socio-economic effects of mine closures. Plain Language Summary: Stakeholder perspectives of economic sustainability of small mining towns The purpose of this study is to find ways to minimize the socio-economic effects that bedevil small mining towns when the extraction of the mineral becomes unviable. Often, small mining towns are single-industry towns and so they turn to ghost towns or face negative socio-economic impacts upon mine closure. The current study qualitatively explores the roles that mining companies and other key stakeholders (should) play in the development of local economies of the small mining communities to bring about economic sustainability. The study uses a small mining town in South Africa as the case study. Legislative and policy frameworks were scrutinized for their effectiveness in promoting economic sustainability. In-depth interviews with key stakeholders were carried out. Key factors limiting the effective implementation of developmental strategies were also explored. The study finds that weak community involvement, lack of trust, poor collaboration, poor municipal capacity, and legislation and policy flaws impact economic sustainability. Sustainable local economic development efforts are reported though. However, such efforts are insufficient because of the legislation and policy frameworks that are promoting short-term growth. Also, the town's overdependence on the mining company, local government not optimally fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, and minimal community members' participation on local economic development are other hindrances. However, the fact that the mining company and local municipality do acknowledge the shortcomings in their efforts toward promoting economic sustainability is a promise in minimizing the socio-economic effects of mine closures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) have gained attention as enablers of innovation and entrepreneurship. This paper explores entrepreneurial ecosystems in developed countries. Entrepreneurship is a globally important phenomenon for economic development and addressing socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Systematic literature review (SLR), with the aid of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach was used in the items selection process. A final sample of 28 primary articles was used. Additionally, bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software to determine publication patterns and citation trends. More relevant and recent articles were incorporated into the bibliometric analysis to improve the results. Isenberg's six domains of entrepreneurial ecosystems framework, supported by the Dynamic capabilities (DC) theory underpinned the study. Results show that though entrepreneurial ecosystems are prevalent, they face many challenges. However, opportunities are also available but may be difficult to access. Globally, scholars agree that entrepreneurial ecosystems enhance economic development, and they help to solve socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty. This paper recommends that entrepreneurial ecosystems should be fostered in all regions to promote economic development and provide solutions to solve socio-economic problems. Local and global leaders should invest in the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems to promote economic development. The original value is based on exploring the dynamic nature of entrepreneurial ecosystems in the global environment using a developed country perspective. The findings provide important insights to policymakers and other stakeholders for developing strategies and interventions for enhancing economic growth through entrepreneurship. Plain Language Summary: How businesses collaborate in developed countries The purpose of the paper is to explore entrepreneurial ecosystems in developed countries. Entrepreneurship is a globally important phenomenon for economic development and addressing socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis (using VOSviewer software) were used as research methods. Isenberg's six domains of entrepreneurial ecosystems framework, supported by the Dynamic capabilities (DC) theory underpinned the study. Results show that though entrepreneurial ecosystems are prevalent, they face many challenges, but opportunities are available. Entrepreneurial ecosystems should be fostered in all regions to promote economic development and provide solutions to solve socio-economic problems. The findings provide important insights to policymakers and other stakeholders for developing strategies and interventions for enhancing economic growth through entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether there are significant differences between reading achievements of 15-year-old students and starting age for preschool and socioeconomic factors according to the results from the PISA 2015 and 2018. The quantitative results show that there is a clear and statistically significant difference between reading test scores of Turkish students in PISA 2015 and in PISA 2018 according to the variables starting age for preschool education, highest parental educational attainment and the number of books at home. Our quantitative analysis shows that students who attended kindergartens from age four have higher average test scores in reading skills than students who cared for only in homes, either by their parents or by others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarises learning from Southern-led research designed to infuence the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The case studies are drawn primarily from the Covid-19 Responses for Equity (CORE) programme, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The article examines: (1) the characteristics of local research institutions' organisational readiness in times of crisis; (2) the form and function of knowledge that is ft for purpose in emergencies; and (3) knowledge processes and engagement strategies for rapid mobilisation. Organisational readiness hinged on the strength of research institutions' networks, access to key decision makers or afected communities, and resources and capabilities that allowed them to mobilise quickly. Hyper-local knowledge, combined with inclusive research methodologies, facilitates the positioning of research for use in emergencies. The pandemic has demonstrated that local and national research organisations are well placed to deliver impactful research, as both critical friends of government or outsiders advocating for change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine-scale mapping of residential land price (RLP) is essential to the understanding of residential land market dynamics and improving urban planning. However, cartographic resources and experimental studies to map RLP at fine-scale in Sub-Saharan African cities are limited as a result of dominance of informal land markets in shaping the growth and expansion of most of the cities in the region. Goal and Objectives: The study seeks to establish an optimized ensemble machine-learning method for mapping RLP at grid-level in Dar-es-Salaam City, Tanzania. Methodology: The study utilizes RLPs collected at the sub-ward level via the survey method and uses open data such as Nighttime Lights (NTL) and amenities coordinates points from OpenStreetMap. This paper explores the ability of two (2) ensemble machine learning methods, i.e. Random Forest Regression (RF-R) and XGBoost Regression, for mapping RLP at grid-level. Results: Results illustrate that RF-R was slightly superior to XGBoost Regression and thus it was used to map RLP at fine-scale. The relative importance of explanatory variables in the RF-R model demonstrated that NTL was by far the most important determinant for the RLP spatial distribution in Dar-es-Salaam. NTL it is commonly used as a proxy for socioeconomic factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population, hence describing typical characteristics of informal land markets. This is contrary to findings in the global-north with a dominance of formal urban land markets whereby factors such as commercial and educational amenities are found to be very important in estimating RLPs. The paper presents a cost-effective methodological approach for mapping land prices at fine-scale in Dar-es-Salaam city and other cities with similar characteristics in the region, hence improving urban decision and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the evolution of individual attitudes toward homosexuality in Chile during the period 1998–2018. Based on microdata from the International Social Survey Programme, it finds evidence of a significant rise in the share of people accepting homosexual relationships, from 5.4 percent to 38.5 percent of the population. Observable individual-level socioeconomic characteristics are responsible for only 3.6 percentage points of this shift. In particular, the increase in educational attainment and generational replacement help to explain this trend and account for an increase of 2.6 percentage points (roughly 45 percent of the initial level of acceptance). Nevertheless, the bulk of this shift is due to structural changes in Chilean society, which may have increased acceptance across all the demographic subgroups considered in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological capability refers to knowledge-intensive skills and resources to change existing technologies or to create new ones. The accumulation of such capability by companies and industries has been part of governments' and businesses' agendas as it is vital for countries' industrial development and increase of per capita income. However, the various public innovation policies implemented in Brazil over the last few decades and the different studies and debates on their limited outcomes failed to address the accumulation of technological capabilities by companies and industries as one of the primary sources for the increase in the rate of innovation and the sustained growth of the economy. This article presents an analytical framework to contribute to the effectiveness of a national innovation strategy centred on the accumulation of technological capability at the level of companies and industries. This analytical framework can contribute to assessing the return on public innovation policies regarding the accumulation of technological capability to develop significant innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the socioeconomic importance of erva-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) traditional agroforestry production for family agriculture in Southern Brazil, there has been no systematization of forest management best practices aiming at long-term sustainability. Here, I present an analysis of relevant forest characteristics that are combined with restoration and management best practices to maintain not only sustainable traditional erva-mate production but also a healthy forest environment. Additionally, I developed a framework that offers an easy tool to apply a focused analysis of general forest attributes to help determine best practices for forest restoration, species diversification, and overall sustainability and health of agroforestry systems. This study also demonstrates that the integration of knowledge and practices that small-scale farmers and traditional communities have been developing for generations should be leveraged for more inclusive research and extension, especially considering the threats family farming is facing due to the dominant paradigm of conventional, one-size-fits-all agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the concept of migration, and its causes and effects, with a focus on international migration. Various journal articles, reports, and policy documents are reviewed to address the controversies concerning the concept and key issues of migration. The paper indicates that migration is not only a contested concept, but migration research has resulted in different outcomes. It is mainly affected by personal, socio-economic, and political factors associated with the origin and host countries. Similarly, scholars have been asking the question, "who is a migrant?" for decades without a definite answer. It is also important to consider "what would happen after migrants obtain host country citizenship": would they continue to be migrants, the host countries' citizens, or both? This paper contributes to advancing our knowledge and broadening our understanding of the concept of migration and key issues associated with it. It also serves as a base for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last half decade, local climate action plans have regularly come to incorporate considerations of racial and socioeconomic equity, recognizing the ways in which low-income communities and communities of color experience earlier and worse consequences from global warming, and these communities are also at risk of being harmed by policies meant to address climate change. Until now, however, the discourse on equity in climate action planning has largely pertained to policy; it acknowledges the disproportionate harm that certain communities experience as a result of climate change and policies to address climate change, and suggests policy tools that can address these disparities. Missing is a discussion of why local governments are compelled or strongly encouraged by law to develop climate plans that aim to address racial and socioeconomic inequity alongside rising GHG emissions. This Article seeks to fill in the missing legal context for why equitable climate action planning is strongly encouraged by three aspects of federal law: the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and recent federal law developments like the Inflation Reduction Act and Justice40. While none of these mandate that local governments consider equity in their climate action planning, they do provide a compelling legal argument for local climate policy that is equitable and racially just. The Article explores all three areas of federal law and suggests ways in which they might interplay with equitable local climate action planning. In addition to delineating new applications for these areas of federal law, the research seeks to provide a legal rationale for local climate policy that is just and equitable that can support local government efforts when their climate action plans face political, fiscal, legal, and other forms of challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning to read and write requires a set of initial skills, such as lexical development, identification of letters and words, association between grapheme and phoneme, handling the spelling code. Children begin to internalize these skills, and knowledge, at an early age, in the interactions they have with others in their family context. The sociocultural characteristics, the availability of educational, and literacy resources in family, vary depending on the socioeconomic status of the family, and differentially model the acquisition of these skills (Andrés et al., 2010; Piacente et al., 2006; Rosemberg & Stein, 2009). In Argentina, it has been reported that children from marginalized contexts tend to be exposed to fewer words, and less diversity of words, in everyday interactions at home, which can affect language development and consequently, learning to read and write (Rosemberg & Stein, 2009). Child's cognitive development is another factor of interest. In recent decades, the predictive role of executive functions (EF) has gained relevance: a set of cognitive control capacities involved in cognitive, emotional and behavioral self-regulation. The literature documented interrelationships between developmental trajectories of executive functions, language development, and learning to read and write (Booth et al., 2014; De Franchis et al., 2017; Marder & Barreyro, 2019; Skibbe et al., 2019). In line with these postulates, this study set out to analyze the predictive value of EFs -attention, planning, inhibitory control, metacognition and cognitive flexibility-in initial reading and writing skills (IRWS, letter-word identification and dictation) in Argentine children, controlling for the effects of age and family socioeconomic status (SES). A causal-correlational transectional design was used. The intentional non-probabilistic sample was made up by 186 children (48 % girls), 6 to 10 years old, belonging to marginalized urban contexts (41 % low superior SES, 39 % low inferior SES, and 20 % marginal SES). The children were evaluated with Word Identification and Dictation of Woodcock-Muñoz Achievement Battery, and a set of neuropsychological tests of FE. The SES was estimated based on the educational level and occupation of the children's parents. The analysis of structural equations indicated that the proposed model presented an excellent fit to the data (χ2(23, 178) = 27.52, p = .234; GFI = .97; CFI = .99; RMSEA = .03) and explained the 66 % of the variance of the children's IRWS. EFs were the factor that most strongly modulated IRWS performance in children, presenting direct effects (β = .60), and mediating the impact of the variables age (β= .34) and SES (β= .16). In line with the literature (Booth et al., 2014; De Franchis et al., 2017; Marder y Barreyro, 2019; Skibbe et al., 2019), the results report that EFs are significant resources for learning to read and write in infancy, and make three contributions of interest. First, the implication of EFs in tasks of reading words, writing letters and handling the spelling code, was documented in children 6 to 10 years of age, which could indicate that the automation of IRWS would be achieved later in schoolchildren from marginalized contexts. Another finding of interest was to document that the evolutionary gains in the EFs drove the learning of the HILE, which indicates an overlap in the development trajectory, and an optimal moment, for its strengthening. Another contribution was to report that the EFs modulated the relationship between the family SES and the IRWS. Taken together, these findings make it possible to identify EF as an intervention target, while its strengthening may be a way to reduce the educational gap between the most and least favored children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global panorama of the 21st century, migration has emerged as a phenomenon of profound socioeconomic, political and humanitarian relevance. Within this context, Venezuelan migration has acquired outstanding visibility due to its magnitude, complexity and multiple implications. The massive exodus of Venezuelan citizens from their country of origin has had a significant impact on both Venezuela and the countries receiving this migration. In particular, Colombia has been one of the most prominent destinations for Venezuelan migrants, presenting a series of challenges and opportunities for both migrants and the receiving society. Venezuelan migration to Colombia has been characterized by its multifaceted nature and its cross-cutting consequences in various aspects of contemporary life. In the socioeconomic sphere, the arrival of large numbers of migrants has raised crucial questions about the labor market, economic inclusion and employment dynamics for both the migrants themselves and the local population. In addition, migration has impacted cultural perceptions and coexistence in receiving communities, generating reflections on diversity, interculturality and the construction of identities in contexts of human mobility. Although migration is a phenomenon that crosses current societies, research on the subject tends to ignore the relationships that the subject establishes with the environment and that affect his or her identity, social ties and even life project. The objective of the research was to learn about the process of attachment and identity to the place of Venezuelan migrants residing in the city of Medellin, Colombia. The research was qualitative, framed in the case study method. Environmental psychology was used as a conceptual reference to understand the relationships of the participants with the natural and built environment. The results showed that, although attachment and identity are similar categories, they should be analyzed independently; thus the trajectories followed by migrants, once they leave their country of origin, are often stressful because they place the subject at the margin or on the threshold of society. This is a state of social liminality or psychologically stressful transitional phase in the face of mobility from one country to another. Migrants may develop place attachment, i.e., an affective bond for the space, and wish to remain in it because they feel comfortable and safe. Personal and institutional support networks and the geographic and cultural similarities between the two countries are factors that strongly influence positive attachment to the environment. However, the identity to the place is complicated by the migrant condition that contributes to the subject feeling as a foreigner at all times and the xenophobic discrimination behaviors, by Colombians, hinder belonging to the new place of arrival. This suggests that, despite developing an attachment to place, migrants face social and psychological barriers that limit their ability to establish an identity rooted in their place of residence. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the migrant experience and may have important implications for the formulation of integration policies and programs in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid climate and socioeconomic changes are transforming Arctic human–earth systems. An integral part of these systems is mobility, which encompasses the transport of humans and goods into, out of, and between Arctic regions. Impacts of climate and socioeconomic drivers on Arctic mobility are heterogenous. Methodologies are needed to quantify these impacts in measures that can be linked with broader socioeconomic systems. This article reviews existing methods and organizes them into a conceptual framework to understand trends and gaps in the literature. We found methods quantifying impacts of a range of climate drivers on most transportation modes present in the Arctic, but few methods focused on socioeconomic drivers. In addition, underrepresented were methods explicitly considering adaptive capacity of transportation systems. We provide insight into the data and relationships relevant to understanding impacts of Arctic change on transportation systems, laying a foundation for future work that investigates how these impacts fit into broader human–arth systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing plays a key role in the configuration of human and organizational actions through the design, digitalization and communication of social and economic values. In a digital age, Marketing strategies are at the center of several controversies like the growth of consumeristic practices, environmental damage and public opinion manipulation among others. However, Marketing is a scientific discipline and practice that demonstrated its capacity to increase people's quality of life. The objective of this paper is to present a theoretical framework of Humanistic Marketing for the promotion of quality of life based on Human-to-Human Marketing, Strategic Orchestration and Social Marketing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the need to promote greater socioeconomic growth, innovation, employment generation, and quality of life in the Colombian rural sector, this article set out the objective of identifying the main limitations that rural communities have to create solidarity economy organizations, through a descriptive study under the participationaction methodology with 34 coffee-growing peasant communities in the departments of Risaralda, Quindío, Boyacá, and Cundinamarca. In that order, the greatest limitations for the creation of solidarity organizations were identified as the lack of sources of financing, the deterioration of natural resources, and the lack of technical-productive assistance, which represents a contribution in terms of generating new knowledge for the construction of better state strategies that support the socioeconomic development of the Colombian rural sector. Among the limitations of this research, it is recognized the need to expand the population under study to other regions and productive agricultural subsectors, in order to be able to validate the representativeness of the results at the level of other regions as well as in the country context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]