Search Results (223)

Mexico’s rice sector has long been characterized by declining cultivated area and heavy dependence on imports, raising concerns about food security and vulnerability to external shocks. In 2019, the federal government reintroduced price support through the Guaranteed Price Program for Basic Staples (PPGPB) to stabilize producer incomes and stimulate domestic rice production. This study provides the first empirical ex post evaluation of the PPGPB for rice during 2019–2021. Results show that paddy rice production increased by 29% in 2020 relative to the preceding decadal average. This increase was driven primarily by a 17.6% expansion in cultivated area, while yields increased by nearly 10%, indicating a predominantly extensive supply response. Econometric estimates suggest that the observed response exceeded both simulation-based predictions and the range of short-run elasticities commonly reported in the international literature. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that program effectiveness depended not only on price incentives, but also on expanded incentive coverage and program redesign introduced in 2020. While guaranteed price policies may contribute to short-run recovery in structurally weakened staple-crop sectors, they are unlikely to be sufficient to achieve the production objectives established under Plan México 2025–2030. The findings underscore the need for complementary structural investments. Full article

Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent natural forest protection and comprehensive logging bans, forest-dependent regions confront structural constraints between ecological conservation and economic development, necessitating the exploration of alternative livelihood pathways and collaborative governance mechanisms. As a cross-regional institutional synergy arrangement, the “Poverty-Relief Enclave” model integrates factor resources and industrial platforms, thereby offering a new trajectory for income source transformation and industrial succession in forest areas. However, its operational process entails multi-agent interactions and complex incentive and constraint relationships, and the stability of cooperation still warrants systematic investigation. In light of this, this paper constructs a quadripartite evolutionary game model encompassing the host government, the home government, the forest region industrial alliance, and the village collective. Within a bounded rationality and dynamic evolutionary framework, it analyzes the multi-agent strategic evolution process and its stability conditions. The findings reveal that the “Poverty-Relief Enclave” model in forest regions does not spontaneously converge to a high-level cooperative state; rather, three types of stable equilibria may emerge under varying cost–benefit structures and institutional incentives. An ideal state of multi-agent synergy is attainable only under conditions of incentive compatibility. Coordinated supervision by both governments, incentives for high-quality production by industrial entities, and guaranteed participation of village collectives are identified as pivotal factors shaping cooperation stability. The cross-regional institutional arrangement facilitating the “outward shift of income sources” helps alleviate pressure on direct forest resource utilization and fortifies the institutional enforcement foundation through grassroots participation mechanisms. From the perspectives of forest governance and multi-agent collaboration, this study unveils the intrinsic operating mechanism of the “Poverty-Relief Enclave” model in forest regions, thereby furnishing a theoretical underpinning for sustainable transformation and institutional innovation in forest-dependent areas. Full article

This paper comprehensively considers the interest demands of three core stakeholders in V2G scenarios: electric vehicle (EV) users, the power grid, and electric vehicle aggregators (EVAs). EV users prioritize charging waiting time and queuing probability to improve travel experience; the power grid focuses on charging facility utilization and power supply reliability to maximize operational benefits; and the EVA concerns its own load level and charging/discharging pricing strategies to optimize operating income. A tripartite multi-objective optimization model for grid–EV–EVA-coordinated charging and discharging is constructed, and an improved multi-objective cuckoo search algorithm is proposed to solve the model. The algorithm integrates an iterative search process (initialization, Lévy flight search, nest abandonment and update) and a cooperative game process (iteration, convergence conditions, equilibrium implementation). Guided by the dominant strength law, the algorithm’s Pareto-optimal solution set is ranked. Finally, a V2G collaborative optimization strategy that balances the interests of all stakeholders is obtained, which can effectively reduce EV users’ charging waiting time, improve the utilization rate of grid charging facilities, and guarantee the static voltage stability of the distribution network. Full article

Background: The Canada Health Act (CHA), enacted in 1984, guarantees universal access to medically necessary care, yet inequities in hospital use persist. Acute length of stay (ALOS) is a key indicator of hospital efficiency, patient recovery, and healthcare system performance, with prolonged stays linked to higher costs, avoidable infections, and strain on acute care capacity. Understanding patterns in ALOS is critical not only for hospital management but also for public health, as extended stays can limit timely access to care and exacerbate population-level health inequities. Objective: This study examines social, geographic, and clinical gradients in ALOS and investigates whether the effects of admission urgency vary by sex, neighbourhood income, and rural–urban residence within a universal healthcare system. Methods: Using 2024–2025 hospital discharge data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, this study examined ALOS as a function of comorbidity, sex, socioeconomic status, rural–urban residence (geography), and admission type (urgent versus elective). Interaction effects between admission urgency and key social and geographic variables were evaluated to assess subgroup differences in ALOS. Results: Disparities in ALOS were evident. Older age, male sex, urgent admission, and greater comorbidity were associated with longer stays, whereas higher neighbourhood income and urban residence were linked to shorter stays. Interaction analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity: compared with elective rural admissions, urgent urban admissions had 30.4% longer ALOS. Urgent admissions also amplified socioeconomic and sex-based differences, with male patients experiencing 27.9% longer stays than females. Conclusions: From a public health perspective, these findings highlight how system capacity constraints and social inequities jointly shape hospital use. Reducing avoidable variation in ALOS will require policies that strengthen acute care surge capacity, improve coordination for urgent admissions, and address upstream socioeconomic and geographic barriers to care, thereby promoting more equitable and efficient hospital services. Full article

This research draws from participant interviews at baseline, midpoint, and conclusion of a two-year Basic Income program designed to lift 76 families, with at least one child under the age of six, above the California poverty line by supplying a guaranteed monthly cash stipend (average: $1289 per month). Theoretically, we bring the Family Stress Model into the conversation with the Theory of Change that underpins Guaranteed Income programming, namely that freedom and choice empower families to mitigate stress, manage funding, and better navigate the multifactorial aspects of living in poverty. Participants report that the Basic Income program offered a much-appreciated reprieve from poverty and reported using the funds to stabilize their housing and support the health and development of themselves and their children. Participants also highlighted how guaranteed cash programming can pair with traditional social service case management to better benefit recipients. Full article

The implementation of the new national electric bike (e-bike) standard has imposed stringent compliance requirements on equipment and e-bikes in the instant delivery sector, which directly affects the delivery efficiency and the work adaptability of food delivery riders. This study aims to investigate food delivery riders’ continued usage intention of e-bikes under China’s new e-bike regulation. Based on valid data collected from food delivery riders in Nanjing, this study employs ordered logit regression to examine the primary factors influencing their continued usage intention of e-bikes. The findings reveal that: (1) Male riders’ willingness to continue using e-bikes is comparatively lower, whereas older riders show a stronger intention. (2) Food delivery riders with higher incomes and those who need to replace their e-bikes show a stronger inclination to continue using them. (3) Limited e-bike options have a significant negative effect on riders’ continued usage intention, while speed limits exert no significant influence. Based on these empirical findings, corresponding policy recommendations are proposed to promote riders’ continued use of e-bikes, such as developing age-friendly delivery models, establishing an income guarantee mechanism for riders, and optimizing platform delivery time allocation. The findings could provide a theoretical basis and practical insights for policymakers and food delivery platforms to improve e-bike management policies. Full article

Background: Fixed-dose combination drugs (FDCs) are combinations of two or more active ingredients in a single dosage form. These formulations have proven effective in combating the development of resistance in diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. Despite the benefits observed in the aforementioned cases, fixed-dose antibiotics combinations (FDACs) are increasingly raising questions about their rationality. This is the case for several FDACs listed in the AWaRe classification as not recommended, which unfortunately remain available on the pharmaceutical market, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Objectives: To identify the essential medicines available in pharmacies open to the public in the city of Kinshasa and to assess their inclusion in the DRC’s National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines (LEM). The rationality of the FDACs circulating in the city of Kinshasa were also evaluated based on the 2023 AWaRe classification. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between February and October 2025 in Kinshasa. For this purpose, fifty registered pharmacies open to the public were selected by systematic random sampling as the research sample. Data collection consisted of completing a data collection form after we had provided the pharmacies’ owners with the necessary explanations regarding the importance of the study and guaranteed their anonymity. Results: The controlled FDACs encountered comprised 27 specialties across 15 different formulations. Out of 15 formulations, 12 (80%) were included on the WHO list of non-recommended antibiotics and were not included in the DRC’s NLEM nor in the WHO’s LEM. Some had been withdrawn from the market in their countries of manufacture. Of the 15 FDACs evaluated for their rationality and compliance, the injectable FDACs presented problems related to the relevance and completeness of information contained on their packaging. On their primary packaging, there was a significant difference in the expiration dates of the powder and sterile water for injection contained in the combination pack, ranging from 6 to 36 months. Furthermore, the secondary packaging lacked data related to the sterile water for injection contained in the combination pack. In addition, several medications contained the same therapeutic combination. For injectable FDAC, for example, the combination Ceftriaxone-Sulbactam was represented by eight medications. For oral FDACs, the combination Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim was represented by seven medications. Globally, 100% of these drug combinations originated from India. Conclusions: Fifteen varieties of FDACs were available in Kinshasa, most of which (80%) were unsuitable. It is important that public health authorities address this situation and develop stricter guidelines for granting marketing authorizations, particularly for FDACs. Full article

Although higher technical efficiency is theoretically expected to enhance farm sustainability, empirical evidence in livestock systems remains ambiguous. This study investigates the interplay between technical efficiency and sustainability using data from 72 farms in Tokat, Türkiye, selected via stratified random sampling. Technical efficiency was calculated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), while a multidimensional Sustainability Index was constructed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for weighting dimensions. Determinants of inefficiency were estimated using a Tobit model. Results revealed an average technical efficiency of 0.717 and a Composite Sustainability Index of 0.41, classifying the sector as “moderate” but fragile. Crucially, the Kruskal–Wallis test showed no statistically significant difference in sustainability scores across efficiency groups (p > 0.05). This finding confirms a “structural disconnect,” demonstrating that high technical efficiency does not guarantee sustainability because of systemic bottlenecks such as dysfunctional organizations and infrastructure deficits. Furthermore, Tobit results showed that non-farm income and internet access were positively associated with technical efficiency, whereas indebtedness was negatively associated. Consequently, achieving lasting sustainability requires a shift from simple productivity support to structural modernization policies, including the integration of sustainability-oriented criteria such as institutional strengthening, environmental management, and financial capacity into existing support schemes. Full article

In the context of plastic recycling, legislation is evolving and varies across regions, but it remains largely nonspecific. In the European context, producers of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled plastics must guarantee the same wholesomeness as virgin materials. However, they cannot maintain such strict control over incoming materials, because, since the secondary raw materials derived from separate waste collection, they are subjected to high variability in composition and heterogeneity over time. In this frame, a rapid, and easy-to-apply GC-MS method was developed. It employs a liquid–liquid extraction with acetone, followed by quantitative analysis with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A combination of total ion chromatograms (TICs) and extracted ion chromatograms (EICs) was used. Adequate sensitivity was demonstrated in the selected concentration ranges for most of the analytes, with limits of quantification (LOQs) lower than the legislative limit, when existing. The results showed that the method is sufficiently accurate with recoveries ever higher than 68.3% and relative standard deviations (RSDr) smaller than 4.2%. This method allows, for the first time, the simultaneous quantification of 40 molecules at levels of a few ng/g. It ensures the possibility of obtaining real-time data for the production control system about the safety of the input materials, allowing immediate corrective action in the event of anomalies. This method is focused on PE and PP recycled plastics and is to be considered a screening method that allows for highlighting batches of incoming materials that are too contaminated to control the output material. This method was successfully tested analyzing some batches of plastics both in input and post-recycling. Full article

This article examines the policy drift of the 1st Right, Portugal’s main housing program, originally designed to guarantee the right to adequate housing for families in situations of severe deprivation. This study aims to analyze how the program’s integration into the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) reconfigured its redistributive objectives. Taking the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA) as a critical case, this study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining systematic documentary and legislative analysis (2018–2025), discourse analysis of official communications, and empirical analysis of 18 municipal Local Housing Strategies, supplemented by financial execution data from RRP monitoring reports. The results reveal three interlinked forms of policy drift: (i) territorial deviation, driven by unequal municipal capacities and resource absorption; (ii) instrumental deviation, resulting from the prioritization of rehabilitation of pre-existent public housing stock over the provision of new housing; and (iii) social deviation, marked by the expansion of eligibility criteria that extend benefits to middle-income groups. Together, these dynamics demonstrate how a social-rights-based housing policy can be reshaped when integrated into a financial recovery framework, such as the RRP. This article contributes to international debates on housing governance by demonstrating how multilevel financing mechanisms can reinforce territorial inequalities, reorient policy instruments, and dilute redistributive objectives—even within ostensibly progressive recovery frameworks. It concludes by advocating for stronger social performance monitoring, differentiated instruments for distinct target groups, and improved temporal alignment between social policy objectives and EU funding cycles. Full article

The digitalization of finance has accelerated the diffusion of FinTech and raised new questions about how AI, data security and blockchain shape consumer behaviour. This article examines current FinTech users, focusing on mobile banking, security perceptions, AI-enabled personalisation and trust in blockchain. A structured online survey of 191 adult users was analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and three multiple linear regression models. Results show that adoption is overwhelmingly mobile centric: 84.8% primarily use mobile banking applications, accessed almost exclusively via smartphones (96.9%). Data security is the dominant decision criterion, rated “very important” by 83.3% of respondents. While 70.1% believe AI can substantially improve the FinTech experience, trust depends on transparent explanations of how algorithms operate and on guarantees of personal data protection. Regression models indicate that usage intensity is higher among younger, higher-income users and those who perceive simplified interfaces as encouraging, whereas positive views of AI are broadly shared and not segment-specific. Trust in blockchain is linked to a pro-technology mindset rather than to socio-demographic or urban–rural differences. The findings highlight “secure convenience” and explainable AI as central conditions for sustainable FinTech engagement. Full article

Background: Adapted exercise and adapted sport are proven, low-cost interventions for chronic disease prevention, management, and social inclusion. However, in Italy, neither is explicitly included in the Livelli Essenziali di Assistenza (LEA; nationally guaranteed essential healthcare services), creating unequal access, fragmented governance, and unstable funding. Provision remains largely dependent on regional schemes such as Palestre della Salute and Attività Fisica Adattata (AFA). Methods: We conducted a narrative review integrating evidence from international guidelines, systematic reviews, and key Italian legislative reforms (Legislative Decrees n. 36/2021, 163/2022, 120/2023). We also examined policy frameworks from Germany, Sweden, and Norway to identify transferable components that could support the development of a nationally guaranteed, rights-based system for adapted exercise and adapted sport. Results: Consistent evidence shows that adapted exercise improves functional capacity, quality of life, and clinical outcomes while reducing hospitalizations and healthcare expenditures. Adapted sport further enhances psychosocial well-being, inclusion, and participation among people with disabilities. Based on this evidence, we outline a legal-policy framework for LEA integration that places the chinesiologo at the center of multidisciplinary health teams, defines national standards for assessment, individualized programming, and monitoring, and introduces accreditation mechanisms for facilities and professionals. A blended financing approach is proposed, combining National Health Service (SSN) coverage with income-adjusted co-payments and targeted public–private partnerships. Conclusions: Explicit LEA inclusion of adapted exercise and adapted sport would translate scientific evidence into enforceable rights of health citizenship and ensure uniform national provision, in line with constitutional principles affirmed by the Italian Court. Such reform would strengthen prevention and chronic-disease management and institutionalize the role of the chinesiologo within the SSN through nationally standardized yet regionally adaptable delivery models. Full article

Background: Breast cancer is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally, with a particularly high incidence in low- and middle-income nations. In Brazil, disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment contribute to worse clinical outcomes, particularly in regions with a lower Human Development Index (HDI). This study evaluated the association between the delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation, and clinical outcomes of breast cancer across various Brazilian regions. Methods: This observational study utilized publicly available secondary data from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), collected between 2013 and 2023. Data included age group, treatment type (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), and delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation (≤30 days, 31–60 days, >60 days). Regional disparities were analyzed according to the HDI. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0.1, applying Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) and linear regression (R²) to assess associations between treatment delay and the number of cases or deaths. Results: Radiotherapy demonstrated the most significant negative correlation (r = −0.6624), and delays exceeding 60 days were consistently linked to poorer outcomes. In regions with lower Human Development Index (HDI), specifically the North and Northeast, longer treatment delays were observed, alongside a stronger correlation between delayed initiation of treatment and increased mortality. Conversely, shorter delays (30 days or less) demonstrated a weaker or absent correlation with improved outcomes. This suggests that other critical factors, such as the stage of cancer at diagnosis, the quality of care provided, and the consistency of treatment, are also significant determinants. Conclusions: Delays in treatment, particularly for radiotherapy and surgery, adversely affect breast cancer outcomes in Brazil. This impact is more pronounced in areas with lower Human Development Index (HDI), underscoring the critical need for targeted regional public policies. Such policies are essential to guarantee prompt diagnosis and treatment, thereby mitigating inequalities and enhancing survival rates. Full article

This paper examines how shifts in sustainable capital markets influence societal well-being through the lens of a “Jazz Economy”, highlighting improvisation and adaptability in financial systems while grounding the analysis in empirical modelling. A panel of EUROSTAT indicators for 27 EU member states (2019–2022) was analyzed, including green bond issuance, market capitalization, environmental taxation, social spending, life expectancy, and subjective life satisfaction. Hierarchical clustering grouped these indicators into coherent patterns of “financial swings”, which were then linked to a composite quality-of-life index through an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), with results benchmarked against linear regression and random forests. The inclusion of time lags between fiscal, financial, and social indicators strengthens the causal interpretation of the results, moving beyond simple correlations. Findings show that higher public environmental protection spending combined with a strong net international investment position consistently predicts greater life satisfaction, whereas income and longevity alone do not guarantee improvements in subjective well-being, reflecting nonlinear interactions among fiscal, financial, and social variables. Robustness checks, including the exclusion of pandemic years, confirm the stability of outcomes. The study concludes that cohesive fiscal–financial strategies, integrating environmental policy and macro-financial resilience, are essential for enhancing quality of life and that sustainable finance can deliver tangible social benefits beyond metaphorical framing. Full article

Market gardening plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and reducing poverty in Africa’s rapidly urbanizing regions. However, urban agricultural systems are increasingly threatened by climatic shocks such as floods, droughts, and heat waves. This study uses an integrated approach to analyze the multidimensional factors of climatic vulnerability among urban market gardeners in the Grand Nokoué region of Benin. Based on socio–economic, technico–agronomic, and perceptual data collected from 369 growers, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) coupled with ascending hierarchical analysis (AHA) was performed to identify vulnerability profiles. K–means partitioning was used to confirm the optimal number of groups, thereby guaranteeing the robustness and internal consistency of the typology. Three distinct vulnerability groups were identified, each characterized by specific socioeconomic, technical, and territorial characteristics, as well as varying exposure to the risks of flooding, drought, and dry spells. The results show that the most vulnerable farmers tend to be young women with low incomes, limited access to land, and a reliance on manual irrigation in flood–prone areas. These findings emphasize the uneven distribution of adaptive capacities and the pressing requirement for tailored public policies to enhance resilience, especially among small–scale, low–income, and land–insecure urban farmers, who are vulnerable to various climate–related risks. Full article