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Goal 4 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) concerns inclusive, equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. Libraries excel at early-education offerings and lifelong or recreational learning. However, less prevalent is support for the "middle"—adults with higher education aspirations. An educated workforce supports an information-resilient society, yet individuals in rural communities experience informational barriers and underrepresent degree holders. This research examines the provision of college planning programs and information in central Appalachia through a content analysis of 89 public library websites. Though the region enjoys a close-knit connectedness that could place libraries at the forefront of degree attainment and information resilience, findings suggest there is much room for improvement if the libraries aim to support goal 4 as related to postsecondary education. This research is relevant to audiences worldwide as postsecondary education has been shown to impact economic development in international lower-income contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the refugee and migration crisis in Greece has intensified over the last decade, its gender dimensions are often overlooked. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Greece, however, have initiated efforts to address the rights and needs of refugee women. Despite being a prominent host nation for refugees, Greece faces challenges compounded by the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and its role as the primary EU entry point during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis. The 2020 Greek asylum law and subsequent revisions have reduced safeguards for asylum seekers, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups such as women. Due to the Greek government's limited resources and shifting policies, NGOs play an essential role in supporting refugees. By examining existing policies, this study analyses Greece's approach to supporting refugee women by focusing on the roles of government and non-governmental organisations. It identifies the challenges these women face and why NGOs play a central role in their aid. Drawing from recent field research in Athens and Lesbos Island, this study adopts a qualitative approach, primarily relying on interviews conducted with 30 refugees, experts on migration, and NGO members. Secondary data was gathered from articles, books, and official websites of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the European Commission, and the European Council on Refugees and Exiles. The findings reveal a lack of support structures for refugee women, which exposes them to a number of challenges including inadequate reception facilities, limited healthcare access, financial constraints, and integration hurdles. This study highlights the limited cooperation between the Greek government and NGOs, exacerbated by recent restrictions on NGO operations. Understanding these issues is crucial for collaborative efforts to address the specific needs and challenges faced by refugee women in Greece. Keywords: Greece, Gender issues, Government, Non-governmental organisations, Refugees, Refugee protection, Introduction The emergence of civil society, including NGOs, is among the major historical developments of our time as governments no longer have exclusive control over global governance. Non-state actors' increased [...]

A guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer was used to study the reactions of U+ with N2 and NO. Reaction cross sections were measured over a wide range of energy for both systems. In each reaction, UN+ is formed by an endothermic process, thereby enabling the direct measurement of the threshold energy and determination of the UN+ bond dissociation energy. For the reaction of U+ + N2, a threshold energy (E0) of 4.02 ± 0.11 eV was measured, leading to D0 (UN+) = 5.73 ± 0.11 eV. The reaction of U+ + NO yields UO+ through an exothermic, barrierless process that proceeds with 94 ± 23% efficiency at the lowest energy. Analysis of the endothermic UN+ cross section in this reaction provides E0 = 0.72 ± 0.11 eV and, therefore, D0 (UN+) = 5.78 ± 0.11 eV. Averaging the values obtained from both reactions, we report D0 (UN+) = 5.76 ± 0.13 eV as our best value (uncertainty of two standard deviations). Combined with precise literature values for the ionization energies of U and UN, we also derive D0 (UN) = 5.86 ± 0.13 eV. Both bond dissociation energies agree well with high-level theoretical treatments in the literature. The formation of UN+ in reaction of U+ with NO also exhibits a considerable increase in reaction probability above ∼3 eV. Theory suggests that this may be consistent with the formation of UN+ in excited quintet spin states, which we hypothesize are dynamically favored because the number of 5f electrons in reactants and products is conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations are used to predict the lattice and electronic contributions of thermophysical properties for UN, PuN, and mixed (U,Pu)N systems. The properties predicted include the lattice parameter, linear thermal expansion, enthalpy, and specific heat capacity, as a function of temperature. The simulation predictions for high temperature specific heat capacity are compared against experimental measurements to understand the behavior, and why differences in the experimental measurements are observed. The influence of adding U vacancies, N interstitials, and Pu to UN is also examined. For this, a new PuN potential parameter set is developed and used with the Kocevski UN potential, enabling the dynamics of mixed (U,Pu)N systems to be studied. How defects impact the thermophysical properties is important for understanding fuel behavior under different reactor conditions, and these mechanistic predictions can be used to support fuel performance codes where data is scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of incorporating climate education in business curricula and highlights the challenges faced by educators in doing so. It introduces En-ROADS, a computer simulation model developed by Climate Interactive, the MIT-Sloan Sustainability Initiative, and Ventana Systems, as a promising tool for experiential learning about climate change and the role of businesses in addressing it. The simulation allows participants to propose actions that can mitigate climate change and assess their impact on global temperatures and equity considerations. The article emphasizes the effectiveness of En-ROADS in increasing knowledge, engagement, and optimism towards climate action, and highlights its versatility and availability as open-source software. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries are one of the most important public health problems all over the world. Its number greatly varies from country to country over the years. Worldwide approximately 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP) is lost due to occupational injuries. It has also been estimated that daily, approximately 1 million workers get injured, and more than 5000 workers die due to their occupation. In this research work, using modern data analytics techniques, we have tried to explore the current situation and time trend of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries globally and in India. Materials and Methods: Using the open-source data available at the International Labour Organization (ILO) database and the Government of India open database, analysis was performed systematically using R and Python programming languages. Data have been accessed by December 31, 2022. To make a representative sample population for this article, four countries from Europe and Central Asia region (Russia, France, Germany, and United Kingdom), four countries from the Asia-Pacific region (India, Australia, Japan, and Republic of Korea), and two countries from Americas (United States and Argentina) are selected for a meaningful comparison purpose. Results: Since 2000, the time trend of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries has been increasing trend globally. The yearly average (± standard deviation) of fatal and non-fatal injuries per country per million population was 256 (±68) and 83380 (±41280). The number of fatal injuries in India has increased over the years, but the number of non-fatal injuries in India is decreasing trend. Discussion: According to the ILO database, it has been revealed in this article that, on average yearly, 83380 per million population total occupational injuries are reported worldwide. Among them, yearly, 256 per million population (0.3%) workers per country succumbed to injuries. According to Government of India database, there was an average of 271 deaths per year between 2000 and 2021. For evidence-based decision and policy making and subsequent program implementation, the availability of timely, good-quality data from every industrial sector of society is most important. It can only be achieved by implementing integrated occupational injury surveillance programs at national and global levels. Keywords: Asia, Europe, gross domestic product, ILO, India, occupational injuries, United States, Author(s): Arkaprabha Sau (corresponding author) [1,2]; Santanu Phadikar [2]; Ishita Bhakta [3]; Arindam Chatterjee [4] INTRODUCTION An occupational injury is defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as 'any personal [...]

INTRODUCTION Food is a basic requirement for survival and a national strategic and security resource [1]. Relatedly, the human right to adequate food is one of the most fundamental human [...], The human right to adequate food is one of the most fundamental human rights crucial for the sustenance of the planet, and the prosperity of all people. It is firmly established in international human rights instruments and is clarified in the United Nations' General Comment 12 (GC 12). However, deep vulnerabilities and deprivation of the right to adequate food in the form of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition have persisted in many parts of the world. The climate-induced disasters also continues to devastate many communities, thereby depriving them of their rights including adequate food. This commentary provides a broader perspective on the 25 years of the GC 12 to stimulate further debate and actions to entrench human rights, especially the right to adequate food, at the centre of the food systems transformation and overall sustainable development agenda. This year 2024, marks 25 years of the Global Compact 12 on the human right to adequate food. While it is an important opportunity to celebrate this great achievement of engraining this right into the wider sphere of global reference at the United Nations level, the domestication in countries into actions that concretely address the problem of hunger and malnutrition has been slow in many countries. The world is now faced with the grim realities of starving populations arising from unnecessary and unjust wars, and food continues to be used as a weapon of war against international law and human imagination. Worse still, in the current environment of climate change and its adverse effects on food systems, SDG2 (Zero hunger by 2030), seems unrealistic. Finally, it is no longer a question of providing carbohydrates, as the need to address quality, safety, nutrition and cultural acceptability is ever so pressing. Going forward, there is a need to accelerate advocacy efforts, research and policy formulation that fully operationalise GC 12 in country-level food systems and nutrition interventions. Realization of the right to adequate food benchmarks in GC 12 should certainly be the penultimate of such interventions as strategic food reserves, poverty and hunger reduction programmes, humanitarian disaster preparedness, contingency funding, social protection and child care among others.

Arguably, one of the most successful campaigns in Air Power history was Operation Allied Force (OAF). In its im mediate aftermath, on June 6, 1999, the preeminent military historian, John [...]

The 37th meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication (ITFDE) (1) was convened in a hybrid (virtual and in-person) format at the Carter Center in Atlanta (GA), USA, [...]

I. INTRODUCTION The growing number of encampments in cities across Canada is a glaring symptom of the deepening national housing crisis. (1) It is also a human rights crisis. Cities [...]

Organisations are having difficulty in determining and integrating Industry 4.0 technologies (I4.0T) to improve social dimensions of sustainable performance. We address this issue by showing how to identify the impact degree and path of I4.0T using the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). First, we identify the SDGs associated with I4.0 and establish an evaluation framework. Second, we introduce an evaluation method that integrates hesitant fuzzy sets, rough sets, decision-making, trial evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and interpretative structural modelling methods to identify the impact degree and path of I4.0T on SDGs. Third, we confirm the effectiveness of our framework and method using secondary case data from World Economic Forum reports. The case results show that I4.0T have varying direct and indirect influences on SDGs. Policy makers should consider that 'Big Data and Analytics' and 'Cloud Computing' are central I4.0T that link other technologies and SDGs. The prioritisation of I4.0T can lead to contributions to addressing 'Responsible consumption and production' and indirectly improve SDGs. The findings set an initial stage to help sequence investment in various technologies depending on SDGs. We identify sequential paths that can aid in planning for and investing in adopting I4.0T to better achieve SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEach year an estimated 2.3 million newborns die in the first 28 days of life. Most of these deaths are preventable, and high-quality neonatal care is fundamental for surviving and thriving. Service readiness is used to assess the capacity of hospitals to provide care, but current health facility assessment (HFA) tools do not fully evaluate inpatient small and sick newborn care (SSNC).MethodsHealth systems ingredients for SSNC were identified from international guidelines, notably World Health Organization (WHO), and other standards for SSNC. Existing global and national service readiness tools were identified and mapped against this ingredients list. A novel HFA tool was co-designed according to a priori considerations determined by policymakers from four African governments, including that the HFA be completed in one day and assess readiness across the health system. The tool was reviewed by > 150 global experts, and refined and operationalised in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania between September 2019 and March 2021.ResultsEight hundred and sixty-six key health systems ingredients for service readiness for inpatient SSNC were identified and mapped against four global and eight national tools measuring SSNC service readiness. Tools revealed major content gaps particularly for devices and consumables, care guidelines, and facility infrastructure, with a mean of 13.2% (n = 866, range 2.2-34.4%) of ingredients included. Two tools covered 32.7% and 34.4% (n = 866) of ingredients and were used as inputs for the new HFA tool, which included ten modules organised by adapted WHO health system building blocks, including: infrastructure, pharmacy and laboratory, medical devices and supplies, biomedical technician workshop, human resources, information systems, leadership and governance, family-centred care, and infection prevention and control. This HFA tool can be conducted at a hospital by seven assessors in one day and has been used in 64 hospitals in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania.ConclusionThis HFA tool is available open-access to adapt for use to comprehensively measure service readiness for level-2 SSNC, including respiratory support. The resulting facility-level data enable comparable tracking for Every Newborn Action Plan coverage target four within and between countries, identifying facility and national-level health systems gaps for action.

This policy review introduces the Policy Guidance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Children, produced by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This Policy Guidance is the first international‐level output to boost the development of child‐centred AI and relevant policies. A main contribution of this Policy Guidance is that it outlines the foundations, requirements and specific recommendations for developing child‐centred AI and surrounding policies. The shortcomings of this Policy Guidance are also introduced, especially the insufficient gender responsiveness and age sensitivity, plus relatively low representation of the developing world. Possible suggestions for future updates of the Policy Guidance and improving policies on child‐centred AI are provided in this review, such as the inclusion of a broader age range of children during the consultation process. The coexistence of contributions and limitations of this Policy Guidance reflects the situation of development of child‐centred AI and relevant policies, which is currently immature but promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) started in 2007 with the question "how many species live in our oceans?". Now, a little over 15 years later, WoRMS is able to answer several questions related to marine species discovery rates and provides a dynamic number of existing marine species, based on the information provided by hundreds of taxonomic experts worldwide, who have proven to be diverse and dynamic. We present basic statistics on marine species discovery rates based on the currently available content of WoRMS, as well as insights in the day-to-day activities and dynamics of our editorial board and the progress made so far on the content priorities as defined by the WoRMS Steering Committee. As for all dynamic systems, WoRMS is not complete and faces challenges. As an endorsed project of the UN Ocean Decade, WoRMS aims to tackle a number of these challenges and knowledge-gaps by 2030, including detailed documentation of authorships and original descriptions, and will provide continuous support to all marine initiatives, programs and projects that rely on WoRMS as an authoritative classification and catalogue of marine names. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the growing interest in the field, the literature overlooks how supply chains influence or interact with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To fill this gap, this study aims to assess the influences of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) on the implementation of the UN SDGs. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review of 97 publications was carried out by using the Web of Science database and the support of ATLAS.ti software. In addition, this research also explored how the top 20 Forbes companies are aligned with the SDGs by analysing their sustainability reports. Findings: The findings suggest that the literature and the analysed companies primarily concentrate on certain SDGs while neglecting others, revealing potential areas of interest for future research. Based on the findings, the study provides valuable insights into the connections between SSCM and the UN SDGs, highlighting the potential benefits of SSCM in reducing environmental, social and economic pressures and contributing to sustainable development. It also identifies areas where further research and policy development are needed to maximise the potential benefits of SSCM. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, no other studies have conducted a comprehensive exploration of the literature linking SSCM and the SDGs framework. Moreover, the study differs from others since it combines research data with practical information from company reports, to identify specific issues related to supply chain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Marine fisheries are crucial to the economy, livelihood, food security and culture of coastal nations and communities, significantly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A decade ago, T. J. Pitcher and W. W. L. Cheung highlighted the dichotomy in the perception of fisheries' status, concluding that long‐term sustainability and benefits to people were threatened by overexploitation, climate change, pollution, habitat change and other human stressors. They advocated for a fundamental shift towards ecosystem‐based management, better enforcement of existing regulations and more inclusive and equitable management practices. In this paper, we provide an updated review of the status of global fisheries, reflecting on policy actions, key assessments and research findings over the past decade. While there is a growing recognition of the need for sustainable fisheries management and ocean protection, the overall status of fisheries has not improved. Despite progress in international and national policies addressing direct and indirect drivers such as climate change and harmful practices, these trends have not been reversed. Many challenges identified by Pitcher and Cheung and others persist. Additionally, new and emerging issues such as deep‐sea mining, plastic pollution, unhealthy aquaculture development, increasing social inequity and the rapidly increasing push for the acceleration of the blue economy exacerbate the complexity of achieving fisheries and other ocean management goals. Debating whether there is more hope or despair in global fisheries has become irrelevant. Pathways to ‘bend the curve’ for fisheries are clear, and effective actions are now urgently needed to achieve desirable and sustainable fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHuman rights are under threat in both the physical and digital domains. The steady rise of authoritarianism and autocracies, and the increasing characterization of human rights as conditional and situational, is making their future uncertain. The rise of the Global South holds the key to their future, which is tied to ICT and AI. Both the West (US, EU, and allies) and the East (China, Russia, and allies) blocs are aligning with the development aspirations of the South to gain support for their respective agendas. This change is being played out in the midst of an ongoing process at the United Nations for a new policy of “inclusive multilateralism” and “sovereignty reimagined,” friendlier to the South. Human rights are up for grabs in this contest, especially in places where they have no natural heritage. Only if a sufficient number of these nations see that human rights values are enablers of national Well-being will they be adopted. If the West wants to advance its views of human rights, it must show that they go hand-in-hand with development and an improved quality of life. To increase the adoption of human-rights friendly policies will require collaboration by the West with the South. Human rights are caught in the midst of a global struggle for ideological dominance. To save them, this paper proposes implementation by the West of a “Global South + AI” human rights strategy focused on development and AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menstruation is a universal and normal phenomenon during the reproductive age of females; adolescence is an essential period where females are preparing and adjusting themselves to manage their menstrual bleeding safely and cleanly. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention among visually impaired adolescent girls (VIAGs). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of MHM and associated factors among VIAGs of selected institutions in Rwanda. Design: This study consisted of a cross-sectional study design using a quantitative approach. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in April and May 2021 on 92 VIAGs. They were recruited from educational institutions in two Provinces in Rwanda. Voluntary participation and confidentiality were assured. Socioeconomic and demographic data, menstruation, and menstrual hygiene questionnaires were used to obtain the required information. Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25 was used. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and logistic regressions were used for data analysis. Results: The study reached 92 respondents. The majority of the respondents, 67.4% had a poor level of menstruation and menstrual hygiene knowledge while only 32.6% had a good level of menstruation and menstrual hygiene knowledge. Also, it is confirmed that the majority of respondents, 52.1% had a good level of practice, while 47.8% had a poor level of menstrual hygiene practice. The multivariable analysis revealed that factors associated with the menstrual hygiene practice were as follows: the mother's education (odds ratio (OR): 5.979; 95% CI: [1.700–21.032]; p value: 0.005) and level of knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene (OR: 0.132; 95% CI: [0.028–0.622]; p value: 0.010). Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of MHM among VIAGs were poor. Recommendations included the need for mothers to assist their daughters in improving learning and practice of menstrual hygiene, as well as the integration of MHM into school curricula. Further research is suggested to better understand MHM among Rwandan adolescent girls, both visually impaired and non-blind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governance of biomedical research in the United States has been characterized by ethical individualism, a mode of reasoning that treats the individual person as the center of moral concern and analysis. However, genomics research raises ethics issues that uniquely affect certain genetically related communities as collectives, not merely as aggregates of individuals. This is especially true of identifiable populations—including Indigenous Peoples—that are often minoritized, socially marginalized, or geographically isolated. We propose an alternative, complementary framework based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (2007), which explicitly recognizes both individual and collective rights. We use the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance as a case study to show how this UNDRIP‐based framework can complement the individual‐focused national standard for research oversight represented by the Belmont principles, thereby better protecting Indigenous Peoples' rights and interests in genomic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: Of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, academic publishers and Higher Education institutions are focusing on Environmental Sustainability.Oxford University Press has made progress on carbon neutrality for its operations; protecting biodiversity; and minimizing waste. Its ambitions go further.Taylor & Francis has a goal of being a net zero carbon business by 2030, and has made progress in areas including reduction of book inventory and transport.The University of Edinburgh has set targets of achieving net zero by 2040 and zero waste by 2030. It is ambitious in its further action, aiming to lead by example.All contributors emphasize the collaborative effort required: within their organization, across their sector, and with relevant industry bodies. They usefully explore their own roles as agents of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: According to the UN, 15% of the world's working‐age population has a disability. This increases to 20% when neurodivergent individuals are also included. Therefore, disability inclusion is something every organization needs to consider if they want to get the best out of their employees.Inclusion involves a combination of highly personalized interactions and highly centralized, often standardized communications with a central team. For disability inclusion to work at organizations of any size, both elements must be in place. Each individual is different, so a flexible approach is needed with an emphasis on asking individuals what they need in order to help everyone to fulfil their potential.Role requirements, interview tasks and workplace environments should directly relate to the desired outcomes for the role. Consider whether the job you are advertising really needs a degree or whether an employee needs to work in the office, for example. Consider sharing interview questions in advance to allow everyone to prepare better. Behaviours that benefit people with disabilities also benefit everyone else.Clear communication channels are important—for accessibility accommodations processes to work, people need to know about them. A single point of contact for disability accommodations within an organization helps to simplify and clarify these processes.The language we use is essential to creating an inclusive environment. Use positive terms like 'share' and avoid outdated, derogatory terms like 'crippled'. Familiarize yourself with the social model of disability to better understand how to frame disability inclusively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to increasing calls for better consideration of social dimensions in Forest (and) Landscape Restoration (FLR), this systematic literature review identifies and synthesises relevant themes associated with critical social perspectives in FLR. Critical perspectives are methodologically diverse but generally share an intention to interrogate power and knowledge, challenge the ' status quo ' and 'taken-for-granted' assumptions, alongside promoting social justice. Critical perspectives therefore play a key role in illuminating complex social dimensions in global environmental governance. This review asks: What is the role of critical social perspectives within the academic discourse on FLR, and what key insights about FLR have these perspectives provided over the period 2000–2023? A total of 449 relevant academic papers were published during this period. An initial assessment of the abstracts, title and keywords found social dimensions were addressed in some way, even if only negligibly, in 211 of the 449 papers, and themes associated with critical social perspectives were evident in only 40 papers. These 40 papers were then read in full, and six key topic areas emerged: 1) Assumptions underpinning the links between FLR and human-wellbeing, particularly the tendency to measure human-wellbeing using simple economic indicators, were challenged as naïve and potentially misleading; 2) Tenure issues appear to be frequently under-appreciated, with serious consequences such as displacement of communities; 3) Top-down, technocratic models of governance are problematised for neglecting the socio-political contexts of FLR, which are laden with value and power asymmetries, as well as the implications of historical legacies (e.g., colonialism); 4) While there has been a proliferation of discursive intent to better 'engage local stakeholders', doing so remains opaque in principle and practice; 5) The heterogeneity of 'local stakeholders' emphasises the need to consider multiple intersections of social identities and diversity, and attend to gendered dimensions of FLR; 6) Accepting epistemological pluralism is considered fundamental to incorporating local and Indigenous Peoples' knowledges into more people-centred, locally-relevant FLR governance and practice. The review concludes that, if FLR is to genuinely pursue the imperative to enhance human-wellbeing alongside the goal of regaining ecological integrity, a recalibration of research priorities toward interdisciplinary social sciences, and better representation of locally-situated stakeholders, are required. This will involve deliberation between researchers, from both social and natural sciences, as well as practitioners; and making concerted efforts to steer away from simplistic framings of the issues, toward more nuanced understandings of and responses to the systemic complexities embedded in FLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raúl Prebisch and Celso Furtado were two important contributors to development economics and to the theories and policies defended by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC). In this article, we argue that understanding their ideas, and how industrialization became a key concern, requires paying closer attention to the geopolitical changes brought by World War II. We discuss how Argentina and Brazil, their home countries, navigated the troubled waters brought by the war and the international trade disruptions and turned state-led industrialization into a key development strategy. After the war, the United States became the new hegemonic power and adopted a universalist foreign policy, based on the newly created international agencies. At home, the internationalist businessmen promoted the partnership capitalism that became central to the foreign policy during the Truman administration and onward, making industrialization a key interest. Internationalism was also what Latin American countries used to counteract the US hegemony even before the war, which culminated in the creation of ECLAC after the war. The intellectual paths of Prebisch and Furtado toward industrialization policies were shaped by the changing international order and by local developments in their countries including the building of a more scientific statistical system that would better help the state to design development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional racism within Australia, grounded in the country's settler‐colonial structure, has sidelined Indigenous interests in public policymaking since federation. In an attempt to redress this, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was endorsed by the Australian government in 2009. UNDRIP is an authoritative international standard that could inform the ways that governments engage with Indigenous peoples and protect their rights. This paper introduces Indigenist Critical Policy Analysis (ICPA). While mainstream policy evaluation assesses whether policies and processes have met the governments stated objectives, ICPA assesses whether they uphold or violate Indigenous rights. ICPA involves reviewing policy documents against the key principles and specific Articles of UNDRIP. Presenting a worked example of ICPA, the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan 2022–2032 is assessed against the five phases: (1) Orientation; (2) Close examination; (3) Determination; (4) Strengthening practice; and (5) Indigenous final word. This analysis finds that the Strategic Plan is poorly aligned with UNDRIP. Specifically, there is little evidence that Indigenous values influenced or held any authority in the process. ICPA offers a practical approach to analysing policy for compatibility with Indigenous rights under international law that could be used by Indigenous organisations and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 21 May 2024, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered a ground-breaking and authoritative advisory opinion on States' obligations under Part XII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). After confirming its jurisdiction over the request, ITLOS ruled that greenhouse gas emissions cause 'deleterious effects on the marine environment' and therefore constitute pollution under the LOSC. ITLOS explained the relationship between obligations under the LOSC and climate law and clarified the due diligence nature of the LOSC obligations to prevent marine pollution and to protect the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matters concerning maritime pilotage have only been dealt with in a few individual points in international maritime law, as pilotage services generally are regulated in the respective territorial waters in accordance with national law. However, especially in view of the possible further expansion of use of deep-sea pilots, it seems worthwhile taking a closer look at the obligations and powers under international law to provide pilotage services. This applies in particular to the establishment of compulsory pilotage and its limitation by the freedom of navigation rights under international law in the various maritime zones. Considerable legal ambiguities become apparent in this context. Hence there are arguments in favour of explicitly regulating maritime pilotage by including it in the provisions on maritime services in Chapter V of the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Monitoring tobacco use during pregnancy is critical for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We examined changes between 2013 and 2019 in the relative differences in smoking prevalence rates between pregnant and nonpregnant women aged 18–49 years. Aims and Methods We used data from a nationally representative health survey conducted in Brazil in 2013 and 2019. A generalized linear model with binomial family and logarithmic link function was used to estimate, for each year of analysis, the crude and adjusted (by age group, educational attainment, place of residence, and status of protection from passive smoking at home) relative differences. Results In 2013, the proportion point estimate of tobacco use among pregnant women was lower than that observed among nonpregnant women (4.7% vs. 9.6%). However, in 2019 proportion point estimates were virtually the same (8.5% vs. 8.4%). After adjustment for selected variables, in 2013, smoking prevalence among pregnant women was 42% (p -value ≤ .05) lower than that observed among nonpregnant women. On the other hand, in 2019, maternal smoking prevalence was 13% (p -value > .05) higher than that found among nonpregnant women. Conclusions Ongoing tobacco industry interference and the marketing of tobacco products to vulnerable populations pose serious threats to public health and likely contribute to increasing maternal smoking prevalence. The fact that women smoke in such an important phase of their and their unborn children's lives reinforces the need to strengthen the implementation of concurrent tobacco control actions, including tobacco excise tax policy and prenatal tobacco prevention and cessation interventions as part of health professionals' routine consultation. Implications The decline in smoking prevalence among nonpregnant women between 2013 and 2019 was accompanied by an increase in maternal smoking prevalence. Monitoring tobacco use during pregnancy is critical for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Ongoing tobacco industry interference and the marketing of tobacco products to vulnerable populations in Brazil pose serious threats to public health. The fact that women smoke in such an important phase of their and their unborn children's lives reinforces the need to strengthen the implementation of concurrent tobacco control actions, including tobacco excise tax policy and primary healthcare professionals´ tobacco-related assistance during interaction with their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of coordination between driver and road geometry results in driver errors and crashes. Road geometric data constitute one of the primary requirements for safety analysis and improvement projects. A systematic literature review is presented here to identify existing methodologies for road geometric data extraction. Methodologies based on Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information system (GIS) maps, AutoCAD digital maps, satellite imagery, inertial measurement unit, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and vision technology were found employing manual, semi-automatic and automatic algorithms for extraction of horizontal alignment features of roads. A multi-criteria analysis in terms of device/software cost, data treatment cost and time acquisition was performed for the methodologies using an expert survey. Survey responses were analysed to rank the methodologies for minimum cost and time using an analytical hierarchical process. GPS- and GIS maps-based methodologies were the most economical, whereas the LiDAR-based methodology was the least economical. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into components of existing methodologies. These findings could benefit practitioners, policymakers, enforcement authorities, vehicle manufacturers and researchers in the judicious selection of an appropriate methodology. An inventory of road geometric data could also be established to develop an intelligent transportation system by combining vehicle, road and driver in effective communication through information technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycle infrastructure provides a means for everyday travel by a mode that is efficient, benign to the environment and confers health benefits on the user. The UK Department for Transport has a funding stream dedicated to providing grants to English highway authorities to construct cycle infrastructure in accordance with guidance in Local Transport Note 1/20 Cycle Infrastructure Design. This guidance was published in 2020 and is beginning to be widely used. The challenges of applying the guidance are investigated in this paper. For this study, 13 semi-structured interviews were undertaken with politicians, managers, engineers and cycle users. The interview results revealed that, although there is ambition to deliver appropriate schemes and there is an inspectorate (Active Travel England) to assist in ensuring schemes comply with the guidance, there are constraints. These include the limitations of short-term and medium-scale funding preventing larger-scale outcomes, a lack of understanding of the extent to which a designer can adopt relaxations from the guidance and skills shortages. It was, however, encouraging to find that the participants were aware of the fundamental need to separate cycle traffic from both motor traffic and pedestrians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) can contribute to reducing the carbon dioxide footprint of concrete. One of these SCMs is biomass fly ash (BFA), which is waste from wood production. Although different researchers have used BFA as SCM, it is fundamental to know the behaviour of concrete with local materials (including available BFAs) to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. In particular, the Biobío region produces 57% of Chilean wood, concentrated in Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus radiata production. This paper describes the behaviour of concrete mixtures with replacements of eucalyptus BFA (BFAE) or pine BFA (BFAP) at 0, 10 and 20% by weight of cement. Workability, compressive and flexural tests were performed, and the specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy as well. The results showed that BFAE reduced the slump of fresh concrete and BFAP increased it in all cases due to their morphology. An increase in resistance at later ages was evident due to an increase in pozzolanic activity and an improvement in BFA morphology. The results indicate that BFAE and BFAP are suitable for replacing at least 10% of cement, because those mixes present similar, and even higher, compressive and flexural strengths than the control mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a life-cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of driven shafts across 12 different siliceous sand sites, selected from a database of static load pile tests. Through parametric studies, this paper investigates the influence of soil properties, pile geometry and on-site activities on environmental impacts. For a single pile, the findings demonstrate that material production is the most impactful phase, contributing 88.4% of global warming potential (GWP) per unit capacity, while on-site operations contribute minimally at 1%. Sensitivity analyses show that variations in fuel consumption by ±25% and linear interpolations of blow counts result in negligible difference in GWP (less than 0.1 and 1%, respectively). On average, the total GWPs for steel and concrete piles are approximately 4.3 and 0.92 kg carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per kilonewton capacity, respectively. Although various factors influence pile design and installation, the results presented herein provide a foundational framework for geotechnical engineers to integrate environmental impacts into project planning, design and construction considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]