Search Results (1,365)

The recent rise in anti-globalization sentiment has renewed interest in how tariffs influence the location decisions of multinational enterprises (MNEs). However, these decisions have also been reshaped by ongoing geopolitical tensions-a factor that remains underexplored in the existing literature. In this study, we construct a panel dataset comprising 283,272 country-country-industry observations spanning the years 2009 to 2021. The data are drawn from the WITS, BvD, World Bank, and GDELT databases. Using fixed-effects regression, fixed-effects logit, and fixed-effects negative binomial models, we examine how MNEs respond to tariffs under varying levels of geopolitical risk. Our analysis yields three key insights. First, in contexts of low or no geopolitical risk, higher tariffs increase the likelihood of international investment by MNEs, consistent with the “tariff jumping” hypothesis. However, under high geopolitical risk, this effect disappears-regardless of tariff levels, MNEs are not more likely to invest abroad. Second, tariff increases can escalate low levels of geopolitical tension between home and host countries, further discouraging international investment. In contrast, high levels of geopolitical risk are not significantly correlated with tariff changes. Third, when low-level geopolitical tensions arise, MNEs may redirect investment to neighboring countries or major trading partners of the host country as a way to access its market indirectly. Full article

Objective. Limited evidence is available concerning the surgical outcomes of patients with congenital gastrointestinal malformations and perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study examines the scientific evidence on SARS-CoV-2 infection and congenital gastrointestinal malformations requiring surgery in children. Material and Methods. We performed a systematic review of studies reporting data on children with congenital gastrointestinal malformations and SARS-CoV-2 infection, published in international databases (PubMed and Embase) from pandemic inception up to August 2024. Studies not reporting data on the SARS-CoV-2 infection status on patients with congenital digestive malformation were excluded. We assessed the quality of the included studies according to the Joanna Institute (JBI) appraisal checklist, adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and registered the protocol with the PROSPERO database (CRD42024550744). Results. From the 902 titles retrieved, eight observational studies met the inclusion criteria comprising 29 patients from countries with different socioeconomic statuses. Most patients were neonates (75%) with a median age of 3 days at diagnosis and male to female ratio of 2:1. In total, 18 (62%) presented upper gastrointestinal tract anomalies, including esophageal atresia ± tracheoesophageal fistula (n = 10, 34.48%), duodenal atresia (n = 3, 10.3%), and congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (n = 5, 17.2%). Lower digestive tract malformations (11, 38%) included anorectal malformations (n = 6, 20.6%), intestinal atresia (n = 3, 10.3%), Hirschsprung disease (n = 1, 3.44%), and Meckel’s diverticulum (n = 1, 3.44%). Surgeries were primarily emergency or urgent procedures and only pyloromyotomy (5/5) was consistently operated minimally invasively. SARS-CoV-2 infection was identified mainly on routine screening (>95%). Of 29 patients, 85% were discharged home, and no postoperative surgical mortality and significant complications directly associated with COVID-19 were identified, although routine postoperative morbidity not linked to SARS-CoV-2 was observed. Conclusions. Pediatric patients with congenital gastrointestinal malformationsand perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection typically have mild illness and favorable surgical outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 positivity alone should not delay essential surgery when infection control measures are ensured. Standardized, multicenter studies are needed to clarify perioperative risks to and inform management of this high-risk group. Full article

The language use of Ukrainian war refugees has attracted the attention of researchers worldwide due to the unprecedented number of individuals displaced since the onset of the war in 2022. Earlier studies have documented a shift in language use and attitudes in Ukraine, marked by a diminished role for Russian and increased prominence of Ukrainian both within the country and among Ukrainian émigré communities abroad. However, the role of age in this process has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Moreover, research on the specific characteristics of language shift and social integration among Ukrainian refugees in Canada is still insufficient. This article reports the results of a study aimed at examining how home languages shift and the use of the official languages among Ukrainian refugees in Canada may vary by age. The vresearch employed a mixed-methods approach, based on a survey (65 participants). In this research, quantitative data were drawn from the closed-ended survey questions, and open-ended questions were employed to illustrate quantitative results for more depth and insight. The results indicate that there are no significant differences in L1 and L2 or L3 by age in this sample. The study confirms a language shift from Ukrainian-Russian bilingualism in Ukraine to Ukrainian dominance, which does not differ by age or age group. What does differ by age and generation is the proficiency in English, English use, and the perceived difficulty in learning English, whereby younger participants reported higher proficiency in English, its higher use in daily communication, and less difficulty acquiring it, as compared to their older peers. While the findings align with previous research on language use among immigrants—including the impact of age—they offer new insights into the experiences of refugees, highlighting how different age groups respond to social pressures in migration. A further contribution of this study lies in addressing the language shift from the perspectives of both younger and older refugees and establishing that the language shift in Ukraine swept across all ages. Full article

In the context of economic globalization, robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) serves as a critical source of legitimacy and competitive advantage for multinational enterprises (MNEs). However, institutional and competitive disparities between host and home countries frequently lead overseas subsidiaries of MNEs to deviate from parent company standards by substituting symbolic for substantive CSR practices and thereby creating potential threats to MNEs’ group-wide reputation. Although external stakeholder monitoring is widely recognized, most studies adopt static, dyadic perspectives and thus rarely examine the dynamic interplay between external monitoring and MNEs’ CSR governance. To address this gap, this study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving the parent company, overseas subsidiaries, and external stakeholders, systematically analyzes the evolutionary pathways and the stability of their strategic interactions and uses numerical simulations to identify the conditions for system equilibriums and the influence of key parameters. The findings demonstrate that moderate incentives and penalties from the parent company and active monitoring by external stakeholders significantly promote overseas subsidiaries’ adoption of substantive CSR. This equilibrium becomes more stable when the benefits of substantive CSR increase or its costs decrease for overseas subsidiaries. However, excessive incentive expenditures may weaken the parent company’s willingness to implement strict supervision. Furthermore, information synergies and collaborative governance between the parent company and external stakeholders reduce cross-border supervision and coordination costs, thereby increasing the likelihood of an equilibrium with strict supervision and substantive CSR. By moving beyond conventional static and binary analytical frameworks, this study proposes governance pathways, including optimizing incentive mechanisms, strengthening external stakeholder monitoring, and fostering information synergies, thereby offering new theoretical perspectives and managerial implications for understanding the evolution of CSR behavior in MNEs. Full article

Frailty among older adults heightens their risk of negative health outcomes, and medication use plays a major role in this increased vulnerability. Various aspects of medication use elevate the risk of poor outcomes in individuals with frailty. The current scoping review was designed to explore medication use in older adults with frailty in primary care, focusing on the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), polypharmacy, medication adherence, and their role in contributing to adverse drug events. This scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley, supplemented by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A search of the literature was conducted from inception to November 2023 in Ovid EMBASE, PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, EBSCOhost CINAHL, and Ovid International Pharmaceutical Abstracts. Studies which met the eligibility criteria included older adults with frailty (≥65 years) living at home, defined frailty criteria, and assessment of medication use. Out of the 4726 studies screened, 223 were included, conducted across 39 countries. Frailty prevalence varied widely from 0.9% to 89.2%. Polypharmacy (5–9 medications) and hyper-polypharmacy (≥10 medications) were notably more common among individuals with frailty, with polypharmacy rates ranging from 1.3% to 96.4%. Twelve studies reported PIM prevalence among individuals with varying levels of frailty, ranging from 2.4% to 95.9%. This scoping review highlights the challenges and complexities involved in understanding the relationship between medication use and frailty in older adults. Full article

Mixed-use development (MXD) is crucial for urban planning and travel. The COVID-19 outbreak had a significant impact on travel behaviour and MXD projects worldwide, particularly in high-income countries. However, limited studies have explored the predictors of MXD usage and travel patterns in low- and middle-income countries, including Malaysia, and how these events were affected by COVID-19. Using the Rowley and extended Hopenbrouwer and Louw models, this study investigates the travel patterns within MXD premises, their associated factors, and residents’ perspectives of internal and external trips before and during COVID-19 in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A mixed-method study was conducted by using a validated survey and performing a structured interview with MXD residents. A total of 134 and 52 respondents participated in the survey and qualitative interviews, respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, logistic regression models, and thematic analysis. A significantly higher proportion of MXD respondents engaged in external travel compared to internal travel before and during COVID-19. Before COVID-19, external travel was significantly higher among younger residents, government servants, higher-income earners, and those who owned a car and had recently moved to MXD areas. The odds of internal travel were significantly higher among private-sector employees, students, and low-income earners. During the pandemic, external travel frequency was significantly higher among male residents, older residents, government servants, high-income earners, and those with multiple vehicles. Residents with more parking lots tended to travel less internally compared to those with fewer parking lots allocated. Qualitative analyses revealed that cost-saving, convenience and comfort, social lifestyle, health and well-being, and green environment were the factors that shaped MXD residents’ perceived benefits of trip internalisation. Meanwhile, the barriers to internal trips included the lack of infrastructure, poor management, lifestyle activities/individual factors, and environmental factors. The recommended strategies to reduce external trips were to ensure diversified services and accessibility, inclusiveness in planning activities, promoting social interaction, and work-from-home policies. These findings reflect the strategies that can be incorporated to reduce external trips generated by MXD and enhance effective traffic management. Full article

The use of Norwegian numerals in the Sámi language is widespread among Sámi native speakers. Like the Sámi languages and the minority language Kven, Welsh is an endangered minority language in a Western European country with one school system. A study from Wales revealed that children who either spoke Welsh only at home or both at home and at school read and compared two-digit numbers more accurately than monolingual English children. Unlike the Norwegian and English languages, the Sámi, Kven, and Welsh languages have strictly regular counting systems. Analyses of the counting systems for the numerals 11–20 in eight Sámi languages and Kven and comparisons with the counting system in Standard Welsh have resulted in a categorization of the counting systems into three groups regarding transparency and possible support for children’s grouping of ten ‘ones’ into one ‘ten’. The analysis gives reason to believe that reversing the increased use of Sámi and Kven numerals may contribute to Sámi and Kven children’s grasping of the base-10 system because of the counting systems’ transparency. Understanding the base-10 system is fundamental for further learning in school mathematics. Based on the findings, we recommend that Sámi and Kven numerals be included in the mathematics curriculum. Full article

Background/Objectives: The growing prevalence of out-of-home eating is reflected in the contract catering sector, which worldwide generates billions of euros annually. Considering its large economic value and workforce, as well as the meals it offers in institutions, the sector may greatly impact human and planetary health. Thus, this scoping review aimed to analyze the availability of evidence on the nutritional quality (NQ) and environmental impact (EI) of institutional canteen menus/meals. Methods: The search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases and was limited to the period from 2013 to 2025. Quantitative articles that considered the NQ and/or EI of institutional canteen menus/meals were included. Results: Results revealed that most of the 107 articles included were conducted in high-income countries and in early-education centers. Additionally, most studies evaluated NQ in comparison to EI (n = 76 and n = 13, respectively), while only 18 studies evaluated both. It was also noted that interest in EI increased in recent years, with greenhouse gas emission being the most common indicator. Conclusions: This review contributes to identifying an imbalance in the available evidence, with substantially more data on the nutritional quality of institutional canteen menus and meals than on their environmental footprints, which are often assessed through greenhouse gas emissions while other environmental indicators remain largely overlooked. Moreover, the heterogeneity of study settings and the predominance of research conducted in developed countries limit the generalizability of current findings. Future studies should adopt a broader scope to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the nutritional and environmental sustainability of institutional catering systems. Full article

Children represent a large proportion of the world’s refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that as of 2020, there were about 27.1 million refugees worldwide, and roughly half of all refugees were under the age of 18 at any given time. The challenges that refugee children face prior to resettlement include interrupted education, repeated moves, exposure to violence, family separation, lengthy stays in camps, and poverty or deprivation. As a result of the experiences gained from an unexpected relocation, being the child of an adult refugee may be traumatic. But it is more damaging when laws enacted in the new host countries fail to take refugee children into account, which in turn could result in socioeconomic harm or gain for these children. In this policy analysis, the researcher intends to look at the socioeconomic outcomes of refugee children while trying to navigate their new home country. In essence, this analysis will use the multiple streams analysis framework to understand how refugee policies in the United States and Nigeria are enacted and their socioeconomic impact on refugee children. Full article

Computational thinking (CT) is recognized as a core competency for the 21st century, and its development is shaped by multiple factors, including students’ individual characteristics and their use of information and communication technology (ICT). Drawing on large-scale international data from the 2023 cycle of the International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS), this study analyzes a sample of 81,871 Grade 8 students from 23 countries and one regional education system who completed the CT assessment. This study is the first to apply a predictive modeling framework that integrates two machine learning techniques to systematically identify and explain the key variables that predict CT and their nonlinear effects. The results reveal that various student-level predictors—such as educational expectations and the number of books at home—as well as ICT usage across different contexts, demonstrate significant nonlinear patterns in the model, including U-shaped, inverted U-shaped, and monotonic trends. Compared with traditional linear models, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP)-based approach facilitates the interpretation of the complex nonlinear effects that shape CT development. Methodologically, this study expands the integration of educational data mining and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). Practically, it provides actionable insights for ICT-integrated instructional design and targeted educational interventions. Future research can incorporate longitudinal data to explore the developmental trajectories and causal mechanisms of students’ CT over time. Full article

Countries encounter significant challenges in the context of the climate crisis, prompting the implementation of environmentally sustainable measures in vulnerable sectors such as tourism. Nevertheless, inadequate levels of public awareness often delay or—in certain cases—hinder the adoption of such measures. This study focuses on the tourism sector in Greece, which is particularly resource-intensive in terms of energy and water consumption, especially in regions frequently affected by extreme weather events. The study’s objective is to evaluate the level of environmental awareness and behavioral profiles of tourists. Firstly, our study provides a literature review addressing the tourism vulnerabilities related to climate change, the nexus between tourism and environmental pressures, the role of public awareness in shaping policy obstacles, and finally issues related to environmental social and individual responsibility and attitudes. Subsequently, a relevant survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to outline the profile and preferences of home domestic tourists in Greece. Our results indicate a generally moderate to low level of awareness: approximately 80% of respondents believe tourism has minimal or no impact on climate change, while only about 15% endorsed the need for stricter regulatory measures. Moreover, our findings underscore a significant knowledge gap regarding ongoing challenges related to water resource management. Notably, respondents with higher levels of awareness exhibited more positive attitudes towards sustainability-oriented measures. Overall, our study indicates that enhancing environmental awareness through targeted campaigns and effective communication strategies is crucial. In this respect, cultivating the notion of the “responsible tourist” emerges as a key prerequisite for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector in Greece, as a responsible tourist contributes to the long-term sustainability and the tourist profile of a destination for both visitors and residents. Full article

Operation of vehicle–trailer combinations is currently popular throughout many countries. Connecting a trailer to a passenger car increases the car’s utility value because it is possible to transport more goods over shorter or longer distances. Trailers are also popular as caravans, which provide a home on wheels during holiday periods. As a trailer is connected to a towing vehicle by means of a spherical joint from the mechanics’ point of view, a vehicle–trailer combination has significantly different driving properties in comparison with a sole vehicle. These differences are manifested mainly while driving in a curve as lower stability of the vehicle. In this case, the lower stability is considered an uncontrolled sway motion. This study is focused on researching the driving stability of a vehicle–trailer combination regarding the sway motion problem. The research is fully performed by means of simulation computations in a commercial multibody simulation software. The investigated vehicle–trailer combination consists of an SUV passenger car and a single-axle goods trailer. Two model driving maneuvers are investigated, namely bypassing an obstacle in a lane and changing lanes on a road. Simulation computations are performed for chosen loads of the trailer and for a different position of the center of gravity of the load in the single-axle trailer. The performed research has proven that the applied simulation computations represent a robust tool to investigate real tasks related to vehicle safety without performing expensive and dangerous tests. Very important findings include identifying the proper position of the center of gravity of the load on the trailer to ensure safe driving properties for driving maneuvers that could pose potential danger during real operation. Full article

The Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) Fellowship Program, established in 2008, aims to develop future leaders in sustainable forest management (SFM) within the Asia-Pacific region. This study represents the first systematic evaluation of the APFNet Fellowship Program, focusing on its effectiveness in building capacity for forest conservation and management. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative pre- and post-program surveys with qualitative interviews and case studies of fellows. Quantitative analysis of survey data from 57 fellows revealed significant improvements in knowledge and skills related to forest conservation and sustainable development. Paired-sample t-tests showed statistically significant increases in the knowledge and abilities of participants, with an average improvement of 23% across key survey domains (t = 5.24, p < 0.05). The analysis also indicated that 95% of participants perceived the program to be highly relevant to their career goals and sustainable development objectives, with 87% reporting strong satisfaction with the quality of learning opportunities. Qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups revealed that while fellows appreciated the academic rigor and practical training, challenges such as financial limitations, language barriers, and institutional support issues were prevalent. Despite these challenges, fellows expressed strong commitment to applying their training to sustainable forestry practices in their home countries. This study highlights the critical role of the APFNet program in nurturing the next generation of forestry leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. The findings provide a foundation for future evaluations, highlighting the need for continued program refinement to address the identified challenges and maximize the long-term impact on forest conservation. Full article

The global construction industry faces significant environmental and social sustainability challenges that hinder its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study investigates the impact of country-level corruption and trade tariffs, and the moderating role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection, on construction firm SDG engagement. A quantitative analysis was conducted using an original dataset of 195 observations of construction firms across 31 countries collected from 2003 to 2022, with SDG engagement scores derived from public sources and country and institutional data from the World Bank and the Heritage Foundation. Ordinal logistic regression tested the direct and moderated effects of corruption, tariffs, and IPR on SDG engagement, controlling for other variables. The findings reveal that higher perceived home-country corruption and higher home-country tariffs are significantly and negatively associated with company SDG engagement scores. Stronger home-country IPR protection was found to weaken the negative impact of corruption and enhance the positive effects of lower tariffs on SDG engagement. Finally, the results highlight that institutional environments have a critical role in shaping firms’ sustainability actions, suggesting that effective governance, an open trade perspective, and intellectual property protection are key enablers of corporate SDG alignment. These findings contribute to the literature by providing evidence of how institutional quality can foster responsible business strategies in the construction industry and offer practical insights for policymakers seeking to reduce barriers to sustainable development. Full article

Background: Displaced individuals endure challenges, including conflict, forced migration, family separation, human rights violations, limited access to essential services, and increased exposure to violence and abuse. These hardships significantly impact their mental health, often leading to heightened trauma-related symptoms. Methods: We used a cross-sectional correlational design in refugee camps, homes, and centers across Jordan and Spain. 200 refugees with confirmed status in the past ten years were recruited. Demographic data were collected via a demographic form, the PTSD-8 Inventory assessed traumatic symptoms, and data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests. Results: Most participants had a secondary education, were unemployed, and had low incomes. PTSD symptoms were prevalent, with rates of recurrent thoughts (63.5%), re-experiencing events (57.5%), nightmares (50.5%), sudden reactions (56.5%), activity avoidance (53.5%), avoidance of specific thoughts or feelings (56.5%), jumpiness (53.5%), hypervigilance (53.5%), feeling on guard (41.5%), and general avoidance (43.5%) rated from rarely to most of the time. All symptoms were significantly more frequent among refugees in Jordan than in Spain. Conclusions and Recommendations: Intrusive thoughts were more frequent among females, urban residents, and unemployed individuals. Avoidance behaviors were higher in married and unemployed individuals. Hypervigilance was more prevalent among females, married individuals, and those with lower incomes. Regionally, females and married individuals in Jordan exhibited more intrusive thoughts and avoidance. In Spain, intrusive thoughts and hypervigilance were more common among females and the unemployed. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly in refugee camps like those in Jordan, where PTSD symptom rates were significantly higher. Programs should prioritize trauma-focused therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while adopting gender-sensitive approaches to address the heightened vulnerability of women and unemployed individuals. Given the strong link between unemployment and symptom severity, livelihood support and vocational training should be integrated into psychosocial care. Policymakers in host countries like Jordan could benefit from adopting integration strategies similar to Spain’s, which may contribute to lower PTSD prevalence. Additionally, community-based awareness initiatives could improve early symptom recognition and access to care. Future research should explore longitudinal outcomes to assess the long-term impact of displacement and resettlement conditions on mental health. Full article