Search Results (101)

Promoting social equity is a global issue, and common prosperity is an important goal for human society’s sustainable development. This study is the first to examine climate risks’ impacts on common prosperity from the perspective of corporate employees, providing micro-level evidence for the coordinated development of climate governance and social equity. Employing data from companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2016 to 2023, a fixed-effects model analysis was conducted, and the results showed the following: (1) Climate risks are positively associated with the common prosperity of corporate employees in a significant way, and this effect is mainly achieved through employee guarantees, rather than employee remuneration or employment. (2) Climate risk will increase corporate financing constraints, but it will also force companies to improve their ESG performance. (3) The mechanism tests show that climate risks indirectly promote improvements in employee rights and interests by forcing companies to improve the quality of internal controls and audits. (4) The results of the moderating effect analysis show that corporate size and performance have a positive moderating effect on the relationship between climate risk and the common prosperity of corporate employees. This finding may indicate the transmission path of “climate pressure—governance upgrade—social equity” and suggest that climate governance may be transformed into social value through institutional changes in enterprises. This study breaks through the limitations of traditional research on the financial perspective of the economic consequences of climate risks, incorporates employee welfare into the climate governance assessment framework for the first time, expands the micro research dimension of common prosperity, provides a new paradigm for cross-research on ESG and social equity, and offers recommendations and references for different stakeholders. Full article

Flash floods are natural disasters that have significant impacts on human life and economic damage. The detection of flash floods using remote-sensing techniques provides essential data for subsequent flood-risk assessment through the preparation of flood inventory samples. In this research, a new deep-learning approach for bi-temporal flash-flood detection in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is proposed. It combines a U-Net convolutional network with a Transformer model using a compact Convolutional Tokenizer (CCT) to improve the efficiency of long-range dependency learning. The hybrid model, namely CCT-U-ViT, naturally combines the spatial feature extraction of U-Net and the global context capability of Transformer. The model significantly reduces the number of basic blocks as it uses the CCT tokenizer instead of conventional Vision Transformer tokenization, which makes it the right fit for small flood detection datasets. This model improves flood boundary delineation by involving local spatial patterns and global contextual relations. However, the method is based on Sentinel-1 SAR images and focuses on Erbil, Iraq, which experienced an extreme flash flood in December 2021. The experimental comparison results show that the proposed CCT-U-ViT outperforms multiple baseline models, such as conventional CNNs, U-Net, and Vision Transformer, obtaining an impressive overall accuracy of 91.24%. Furthermore, the model obtains better precision and recall with an F1-score of 91.21% and mIoU of 83.83%. Qualitative results demonstrate that CCT-U-ViT can effectively preserve the flood boundaries with higher precision and less salt-and-pepper noise compared with the state-of-the-art approaches. This study underscores the significance of hybrid deep-learning models in enhancing the precision of flood detection with SAR data, providing valuable insights for the advancement of real-time flood monitoring and risk management systems. Full article

The emergence of generative AI presents complex challenges to existing copyright regimes, particularly concerning the large-scale use of copyrighted materials in model training. Legal disputes across jurisdictions highlight the urgent need for a balanced, principle-based framework that protects the rights of creators while fostering innovation. In China, a regulatory approach of “moderate leniency” has emerged—emphasizing control over downstream AI-generated content (AIGC) while adopting a more permissive stance toward upstream training. This model upholds the idea–expression dichotomy, rejecting theories such as “retained expression” or “retained style”, which improperly equate ideas with expressions. A critical legal distinction lies between real-time training, which is ephemeral and economically insignificant, and non-real-time training, which involves data retention and should be assessed under fair use test. A fair use exception specific to AI training is both timely and justified, provided it ensures equitable sharing of technological benefits and addresses AIGC’s potential substitutive impact on original works. Furthermore, technical processes like format conversion and machine translation do not infringe derivative rights, as they lack human creativity and expressive content. Even when training involves broader use, legitimacy may be established through the principle of technical necessity within the reproduction right framework. Full article

Background: The morphology of the occipital condyles (OCs) and foramen magnum (FM) is critical for neurosurgical planning and forensic identification. However, pooled reference values and the impact of study-level moderators on morphometric estimates remain underexplored. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate pooled morphometric values of the OCs and FM. Databases were searched for studies reporting relevant data in adult human subjects. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled means and mean differences (MDs) by sex and side (left vs. right). Risk of bias and study quality were assessed. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on study design (osteological vs. imaging) and geographical region. Meta-CART (classification and regression trees) was used to explore moderator interactions and identify data-driven subgroups contributing to heterogeneity. Results: A total of 61 studies comprising 8010 adult skulls met the inclusion criteria. Substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies; most were assessed as having low-to-moderate methodological quality and a high risk of bias. The pooled mean values were as follows: OC length (OCL): 21.51 mm, OC width (OCW): 11.23 mm, OC thickness (OCT): 9.11 mm, FM length (FML): 35.02 mm, and FM width (FMW): 28.94 mm. Morphometric values reported in imaging-based studies were consistently lower than those from osteological studies. Evident sexual dimorphism was identified, with males exhibiting larger dimensions than females. The most pronounced sex-based mean differences (MDs)—approximately 2 mm—were found in OCL, FML, and FMW. In contrast, differences in OCT and OCW were under 1 mm. No significant side-related asymmetries were observed overall. Subgroup analysis revealed that sex-related MDs were more prominent in imaging studies, particularly for the right OCL and OCW. Meta-CART analysis identified study design as the strongest moderator for OCL, OCW, and FML. Sexual dimorphism was more pronounced in imaging studies but statistically insignificant in osteological samples. Furthermore, sex emerged as a stronger predictor for OCL than OCW, while geographical region had a greater impact on OCW. For OCT, geographical region was the main influencing factor, whereas sex was the primary moderator for FMW. Conclusions: OC and FM morphometry exhibit substantial heterogeneity across studies. Imaging-based methods more effectively detect sex-related differences, underscoring their utility in forensic identification and neurosurgical planning. These findings emphasize the need for more standardized, high-quality morphometric research to support population-specific anatomical reference data. Full article

Nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous vasodilator, has been proposed as a biomarker for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in humans. NO is synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Alterations in NO/eNOS have not been studied in dogs with PH. We assessed alterations in NO and eNOS in the blood of dogs with PH (n = 17) and healthy dogs (n = 10) and analyzed their correlations with echocardiographic parameters. The results showed significantly higher plasma NO and serum eNOS levels in dogs with PH compared with healthy dogs. Dogs with PH and ascites (n = 11) had significantly lower plasma NO levels than those without ascites (n = 6) and presented a decreasing eNOS trend. In dogs with PH, plasma NO was positively correlated with left ventricular hemodynamics, right ventricular compliance, and pulmonary distensibility, but was negatively correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance and right cardiac remodeling. Serum eNOS was positively correlated with the main pulmonary artery diameter. Increments in NO/eNOS reflected compensatory responses to cardiovascular changes in PH. These compensations were downward in the advanced stages. Other factors may also impact NO/eNOS compensation. Although the role of NO/eNOS as biomarkers for PH in dogs remains equivocal, they may indicate compensatory consequences of cardiovascular alterations. Full article

The integration of human rights-based approaches (HRBAs) into water resource governance has gained significant momentum, particularly in regions facing complex water security challenges. It is now recognized that to address water security, we must address the human side of insecurity, and the HRBA endeavors to do this. Importantly, research projects are primary drivers of water management innovation. As research methodologies directly influence subsequent water management practices, the integration of HRBA in research becomes crucial for ensuring human rights considerations in future water governance. This study examines HRBA implementation in water research programs within the Mekong sub-region, where water insecurity significantly impacts local communities dependent on the Mekong River basin. Through an analysis of six research projects under the Sustainable Mekong Research Network, we assessed HRBA implementation using five dimensions: accountability, transparency, policy engagement, participation, and empowerment. Our mixed methods approach combined document analysis with semi-structured interviews. Projects revealed a spectrum of HRBA implementations from ‘thick’ to ‘thin’ applications, with political sensitivities and varying institutional capacities influencing implementation depth. This study introduces a novel framework for evaluating HRBA in water research, offering practical guidance for researchers and policymakers working in regions with complex socio-political dynamics. The resulting frameworks provide actionable tools that can be immediately applied in research design, stakeholder engagement processes, and policy development, enabling more equitable and effective water governance practices across diverse institutional contexts. Full article

Systematically synthesizing existing knowledge on ecological resettlements (ERs) is crucial for shaping future research and conservation strategies. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, analyzing 63 research articles in the review domain of ER. Most reviewed articles emphasize people’s welfare in ERs but adopt traditional review approaches, hindering the identification of specific research gaps. This review identifies and focuses on four cross-cutting themes: anthropocentric notions and social equity, parks–people relationships, political ecology and biodiversity conservation, and connecting nature with people for harmonious coexistence. Further, the review highlights key themes in ER and conservation, emphasizing social equity, political ecology, and human–nature relationships. It underscores the need for social justice, the recognition of displaced communities’ rights, and the promotion of participatory decision making. Conservation efforts should prioritize minimizing displacement and respecting local rights, with a focus on co-management models. Case studies, particularly from India and African countries, reveal the impacts of conservation-induced displacement on marginalized communities and ecosystems. Further, we identified 45 key areas across 15 thematic dimensions for future review and research gaps, which will inform decision making in the discipline. We call for long-term assessments of resettlement to address ecological and social consequences, bridging the gap between social scientists and biologists for balancing conservation and human welfare. Finally, we discuss our findings and propose future research directions to inform conservation policies for the harmonious coexistence of humans and non-human beings on a shared planet. Full article

In Mexico, pervasive violence, forced disappearances, and homicides have deeply impacted certain groups, particularly journalists, activists, and human rights defenders, who are at high risk of victimization. While these groups receive state support for physical and legal safety, mental health and sleep-focused interventions remain insufficient. Collaborating with a Mexico City-based institution supporting human rights defenders and journalists, we conducted a psychometric assessment of 47 individuals affected by violence. Results showed that 80% exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, 25.5% showed depression, and 57.4% displayed anxiety; 95.7% reported poor sleep quality based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In a second phase, neuropsychological tests and polysomnographic recordings identified cognitive impairments in attention, memory, and decision-making in some participants, along with sleep disorders such as insomnia, primary snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and bruxism. A third phase introduced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia, nightmares, and circadian rhythm issues. Results showed improvements in sleep quality, total sleep time, and a reduction in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. This approach suggests that treating sleep issues in high-risk populations can improve mental health. Full article

Background and Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a profound impact on the central nervous system (CNS), contributing to cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms even in individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This study aimed to investigate the associations between brain parenchymal volumes and neuropsychological outcomes, specifically focusing on cognitive function and depressive symptoms in HIV-positive males. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 male participants underwent cognitive assessment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), while depressive symptoms were evaluated in 35 participants using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Volumetric brain analysis was conducted through automated imaging software, volBrain (Version 1.0, published on 23 November 2021), ensuring high consistency and accuracy. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation to identify relationships between brain volumes and neuropsychological outcomes, emphasizing key regions like the basal forebrain and cingulate gyrus. Results: Significant trends were observed between basal forebrain volume and MMSE scores, emphasizing the role of this region in cognitive regulation. Additional correlations were found with the anterior and middle cingulate gyri, which are crucial for executive functioning and attentional control. Notably, smaller right basal forebrain volumes were associated with greater depressive symptom severity, suggesting the region’s specific involvement in mood regulation. These findings highlight the dual impact of HIV on cognitive and emotional health, with structural vulnerabilities in key brain regions playing a central role. Conclusions: This study underscores the selective vulnerability of certain brain regions, such as the basal forebrain and cingulate gyrus, to HIV-associated neurodegeneration. The results highlight the importance of integrating neuroimaging and neuropsychological assessments in routine clinical care for HIV-positive individuals. The study emphasizes the importance of early detection and targeted interventions to address neuropsychological challenges in this population, with a call for further research in larger and more diverse cohorts. Full article

The ethical theories considered in this commentary include Anthropocentrism, Dominionism, Utilitarianism, Reverence for Life, Animal Rights, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism and Care Ethics. It is apparent that Utilitarianism provides a motivating rationale for devising legal instruments to manage animal welfare in many countries. The emphasis of different laws spanning many decades paralleled the trajectory of changing attitudes to animals. Initial laws focussed on serious abuse, and were enacted to deal with relative indifference to animal suffering. Anticruelty laws followed; they dealt with a wider range of noxious acts that also cause suffering. Animal Protection laws accommodated a growing acceptance that much less severe, yet still very unpleasant experiences, are of significant welfare concern. These laws and their amendments, plus the associated instruments (e.g., Codes of Welfare/Practice), were increasingly couched using animal welfare terminology. Finally, contemporary laws that focus directly to animal welfare, increasingly refer to a ‘duty of care’ towards animals, entailing responsibilities to minimise negative experiences and to promote positive ones. Outlined here is an example of an ethically-based legal structure for providing guidance and outlining requirements for animal welfare management nationally. It has four interacting levels: Level 1—Law; Level 2—Codes of Welfare/Practice; Level 3—Regulations; and Level 4—Cooperation at a National Level. It is noted that although the framing of this legal structure is based on ethical principles, the expression of those principles is more implicit than explicit. However, expression of the ethical principles can be made much more explicit when putting into effect legal requirements to assess the acceptability of different practices in animal welfare terms. There are four interacting steps in this process: Step 1—the Primary Assumption: Animals have intrinsic value and an interest in having good lives. Step 2—Distribution of Responsibility: Humans usually control human-animal interactions and have an overarching responsibility to operate two principles: (1) If in doubt err on the side of the animal; (2) If there are justified concerns, a lack of evidence can never in itself justify a practice. Step 3—Assessment of Impact on the Animals: Use a structured framework to assess the impact of human-initiated activities. The Five Domains Model is suggested as a suitable device for this. Step 4—Rigorous Evaluation: the aim, to choose the least noxious intervention as required by the Principle of Proportionality which, once chosen, supports a justification to proceed. This commentary provides examples of how ethical reasoning, and its operational consequences, can be made visible at every stage of developing, introducing and operating infrastructures for managing animal welfare nationally. Full article

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is widely recognized for promoting environmental sustainability in the built environment, with a strong focus on energy efficiency, resource management, and ecological impact. However, as sustainability entails environmental and economic dimensions but also social dimensions, the current BREEAM New Construction standards do not fully address social sustainability targets. This article explores the potential for expanding BREEAM New Construction standards to more comprehensively incorporate social sustainability, ensuring that certified projects contribute to the well-being of their occupants and surrounding communities. Through a review of existing BREEAM categories, technical manuals, standards, and an analysis of gaps related to social sustainability, this paper identifies key areas for potential improvement, including user satisfaction, protecting workers’ and human rights, legacy planning, education and skills, and emergency response planning. These gaps are mapped against existing BREEAM categories and credits, with recommendations to introduce additional credits across the categories of management, materials, energy, waste, land use and ecology, health and well-being, and water. Additionally, this paper highlights the importance of transdisciplinary collaboration—bringing together architects, urban planners, social scientists, and public health experts—to effectively address the complexity of social sustainability in building design and certification. The proposed additions to BREEAM New Construction standards, alongside recommendations for industry and policymakers, offer guidelines for the evolution of green building certifications toward a more holistic approach to sustainability. This shift ensures that future certified buildings reduce environmental impact and promote social equity, health, and community well-being simultaneously. Full article

Background: Refugees face numerous challenges, including conflict, displacement, family separation, human rights violations, limited access to basic needs, and exposure to violence and torture. These experiences significantly impact their psychological well-being, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Syrian refugees in Jordan may experience higher levels of depression and anxiety than those in Spain due to harsher living conditions, limited economic opportunities, uncertain legal status, inadequate mental health services, and ongoing proximity to the Syrian conflict, whereas refugees in Spain benefit from better integration, stronger support systems, and greater stability. Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the psychological symptoms experienced by Syrian refugees in Jordan and Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed to evaluate the psychological impact on Syrian refugees in both developed (Spain) and developing (Jordan) country. A sample of 200 refugees from camps, residences, and refugee centers was recruited. Psychological symptoms were measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: The majority of participants had low income, secondary education, and were unemployed. Overall, 55.5% reported stress, 63.5% anxiety, and 68.5% depression. Higher levels of stress and depression were observed among females, unemployed individuals, and low-income groups. Age also played a critical role, with individuals aged 40–49 reporting elevated stress, anxiety, and depression compared with other age groups. Discrimination and living arrangements further influenced mental health, with low-social-connectivity communities and rural areas associated with higher anxiety and depression. Higher levels of stress and depression were observed among females in Spain and significant mental health disparities across age and income groups in Jordan. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing sociodemographic vulnerabilities to improve refugee mental health outcomes. Refugees in Jordan reported significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety compared with those in Spain. Conclusions: The findings highlight the profound psychological burden faced by Syrian refugees, particularly in Jordan, where living conditions and systemic challenges exacerbate mental health issues. Factors such as age, gender, marital status, low education, and low income were strongly associated with higher stress levels in both countries. These results underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions, improved access to psychological support, and policies that address the socioeconomic and legal challenges faced by refugees. Enhancing integration, reducing discrimination, and providing comprehensive mental health services are critical steps toward improving the well-being of this vulnerable population. Full article

The use of traffic simulation to analyze traffic safety and performance has become common in transportation engineering. Microsimulation methods are increasingly used to analyze driving performance for different road geometries and environmental elements. Drivers’ perception has an important impact on driving performance factors contributing to traffic safety on transportation facilities (highways, arterials, intersections, etc.). Impaired vision leads to failure in drivers’ perception and making right decisions. Various studies investigated the impact of environmental elements (fog, rain, snow, etc.) on driving performance. However, there is limited research examining the potentially detrimental effects on driving capabilities due to differing exposure to natural light brightness, in particular sun exposure. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) showed a significant impact enhancing traffic capacity and improving safety margins in car-following models. AVs may also enhance and/or complement human driving under deteriorated driving conditions such as sun glare. This study uses a calibrated traffic simulation and surrogate safety assessment model to improve traffic operations and safety performance under impaired visibility using different types of autonomous vehicles. A combination of visibility reduction, traffic flow characteristics, and autonomy levels of AVs was simulated and assessed in terms of the number of conflicts, severity level, and traffic operations. The simulation analysis results used to reveal the contribution of conflicts to the risk of crashes varied based on the influence of autonomy level on safe driving during sun glare exposure. The outcome of this study indicates the benefits of using different levels of AVs as a solution to driving under vision impairment situations that researchers, traffic engineers, and policy makers can use to enhance traffic operation and road safety in urban areas. Full article

The relationship and the interplay between the EU AI Act and the data protection law is a challenging issue. This paper focuses on exploring the interplay between legal provisions stemming from the AI Act and those stemming from the GDPR, with the ultimate goal of developing an integrated framework that simultaneously implements Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA) and Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) within the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, particularly focusing on systems that utilize personal data. This approach is designed to simplify the evaluation processes for stakeholders managing risks related to personal data protection, as well as to other fundamental rights in AI systems, enhancing both efficiency and accuracy in these assessments as well as facilitating compliance with the relevant legal provisions. The methodology adopted involves developing a holistic model that can be applied not only to specific case studies but more broadly across various sectors. Full article

This study aimed to assess the impact of radish sprouts on the gut microbiota of healthy individuals. Radish sprout additives, subjected to short-term storage and steam treatment, were used to intervene in an in vitro culture of human gut microbiota. The influence of radish sprouts on the gut microbiota was evaluated by monitoring short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content and proportion in the fermentation broth, and microbial diversity was assessed using 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that the gut microbiota produced a substantial amount of SCFA within 48 h of fermentation, with a right-skewed distribution across all groups. The addition of both digestates enhanced Firmicutes diversity, while Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria diversity remained stable between the control and fresh sprout groups. The 30 s steam treatment group showed an increase in Bacteroidetes and a decrease in Proteobacteria diversity. The abundance of Bacilli, Bacillaceae, and Bacillus was significantly higher in both the fresh and steam-treated groups compared to the control. Both fresh and steam-treated radish sprout digestates enriched gut microbiota diversity, with steam treatment showing superior effects. These findings suggest that radish sprout consumption may positively influence gut microbiota, with steam treatment potentially enhancing these benefits. Full article