Search Results (586)

Background: Open defecation (OD) has remained a threat to the attainment of SDG 6 (sanitation and hygiene). This study measured the level of exposure to the “Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet” campaign against open defecation, determined the level of public knowledge about open defecation-related harms and diseases, ascertained the public attitude towards open defecation, and established the prevailing defecation practices and the perceived barriers to toilet usage in Ebonyi state, the most prevalent OD state in Nigeria. Methods: The study employed a survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents from two randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. Analysis was conducted using 384 valid responses. Results: The results were presented in simple percentage frequency tables and interpreted through the descriptive method, while the Chi-Square test was used to analyse the formulated hypotheses, using the decision rule of p < 0.05. The findings show a high level of awareness of the campaign against open defecation, through the radio and community engagements by environmental activists/NGOs, even though regular access to such information was limited. The results also showed inadequate knowledge of the public health implications of open defecation, whereas good knowledge of environmental consequences was reported. The study found favourable attitudes toward OD practice and persistent open defecation, and major barriers to toilet usage include the high cost of toilet construction, lack of access to toilet facilities, poor sanitation and management of available toilets, and perceived risks of contracting infection from public toilets. However, the Chi-Square values showed that the SBCC campaign was significantly associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that localised, culturally relevant and socio-demographically targeted communication interventions, grassroot advocacy, community watch, and neighbourhood taskforce on open defecation, in addition to the provision of aids for the construction of modern toilets with water facilities, are required to combat open defecation in Ebonyi and related contexts in Nigeria. Full article

Wildlife is a common asset to which the local community has the right to consume. To achieve sustainable management of this resource, a community forest (CF) with a wildlife vocation has been set up as part of the “Sustainable management of wildlife and the bushmeat sector in Central Africa” project. Given the constraints faced by these community forests (CFs), we conducted a study to assess their governance in Gabon. Our objective was to examine whether their current mode of operation would allow them to survive in the long term, with a view to integrating sustainable hunting practices. To do this, we constructed a SWOT matrix (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to determine their strengths and weaknesses, from which we carried out a factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) to identify potentially viable CFs. This enabled us to understand that most of the difficulties encountered by these CFs stem from the low level of appropriation of this concept by local communities, which is due to the low level of intervention by the forestry administration in raising awareness of CF management. This study shows that local communities must first take ownership of how CFs work so that they can better apply their success factors. Full article

The rapid expansion of housing financialization (REF) has profoundly reshaped China’s subnational fiscal landscape, yet the dynamic nature of this relationship remains under-explored. This study investigates how the impact of REF on fiscal deficits (DB) evolves over time and identifies the specific transmission channels mediating this influence. First, we construct a multidimensional REF index by integrating enterprise, household, market, financial, and industry indicators via the fuzzy-TOPSIS method. A Markov Regime Switching model identifies three distinct volatility regimes, revealing that REF dynamics are highly sensitive to policy shifts and exhibit significant path dependency. Second, using a Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregression model, we find that REF initially functioned as a fiscal stabilizer providing short-term revenue relief; however, as financialization deepened, REF transformed into a procyclical driver of deficit expansion. Third, we further decompose this mechanism, demonstrating that land finance (LAND) and local government debt (UID) amplify systemic fiscal fragility as dynamic mediating channels. Finally, due to the unsustainability of the current “real estate-land-debt” model, we propose policy interventions including the institutionalization of fiscal-debt firewalls, the formation of counter-cyclical fiscal risk reserve funds, and an accelerated transition toward a stable, tax-oriented revenue structure to mitigate systemic risks. Full article

Against the backdrop of intensifying disaster risks, community disaster resilience (CDR) has drawn growing attention from scholars and policymakers. Existing CDR measurements, however, largely overlook risk, leaving most assessments unable to indicate whether resilience is sufficient relative to local risk conditions. To address this gap, this study proposes an integrated ratio-based “4R-3r” model for measuring CDR, in which the 4R represents the four typical attributes of resilience, and the 3r denotes the three dimensions of risk. We apply the “4R-3r” model to 1385 communities in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area alongside spatial analysis and validate it with regression-based tests. The results indicate that: (1) inherent resilience and inherent risk exhibit distinct spatial patterns, producing a fragmented and discontinuous CDR distribution; among low-CDR communities, approximately 87% belong to the Low 4R–High 3r type and warrant priority governance attention; (2) the CDR index demonstrates greater explanatory power for observed resilience performance compared with the 4R index; and (3) the “4R-3r” model enables dimension-specific diagnosis of resilience deficits and risk drivers at the community level. The findings provide a diagnostic basis for identifying communities where risk exceeds resilience capacity and for prioritizing targeted resilience interventions in similar urban contexts. Full article

Urban eco-efficiency (UEE) is fundamental to achieving China’s dual-carbon goals. However, the literature has overlooked green space carbon sequestration, and linear models fail to capture complex nonlinear relationships. This study exploratorily integrates green space carbon sinks into the evaluation framework as an initial proxy, employing the global super-efficiency EBM model to measure the UEE of 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2012 to 2023. It combines XGBoost-SHAP with Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) to examine UEE’s spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms. The findings reveal that (1) UEE in the YREB increased from 1.0760 in 2012 to 1.0990 in 2023, while spatial polarization became more pronounced. (2) Core driving factors exhibited significant nonlinear threshold and interactive effects. Specifically, fiscal decentralization’s environmental dividend is contingent on active government intervention to circumvent localized “race to the bottom” behaviors. Furthermore, population density transitions from yielding scale dividends to inducing “crowding effects” beyond optimal capacities—a degradation that advanced financial systems appear unable to mitigate. (3) A spatiotemporal misalignment was observed: fiscal decentralization unleashed green institutional dividends downstream (coefficients up to 0.0682) but was accompanied by a race to the bottom in the middle and upper reaches (extending to −0.6548); excessive population agglomeration in megacities induced a crowding effect, eroding early pollution control dividends. This study supports abandoning one-size-fits-all approaches and developing precise, spatiotemporally differentiated low-carbon policies. Full article

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries such as Sudan. Conflict-related health system disruption has further intensified inappropriate antibiotic use and weakened stewardship capacity. Objective: This narrative review synthesizes contemporary evidence on antibiotic prescribing practices in Sudan, with emphasis on ambulatory care, and examines their implications for AMR control in the context of ongoing conflict. Methods: A non-systematic, structured narrative review was conducted successfully. PubMed, Google Scholar, WHO/EMRO databases, and Sudan’s National Action Plan (NAP) materials were examined for literature published between January 2010 and December 2025. Peer-reviewed research, government guidelines, surveillance reports, and gray literature were among the eligible sources. A total of 78 studies were included after titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened. Two reviewers independently confirmed the data extraction, and the synthesis aligned with SANRA guidelines. Results: Antibiotic prescribing in Sudan is frequently inappropriate, particularly in ambulatory and community settings, where empirical treatment, polypharmacy, and extensive use of Watch antibiotics are common. Alignment with WHO AWaRe recommendations remains suboptimal. Recent clinical and molecular evidence demonstrates increasing multidrug resistance among Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, including ESBL production and emerging carbapenemase genes (e.g., NDM 1, IMP 1). Conflict-related disruptions—such as reduced laboratory capacity, supply chain breakdown, and unregulated community dispensing—have further accelerated AMR. Pilot stewardship interventions show promise but remain limited in scale. Conclusions: Inappropriate antibiotic use in Sudan is driven largely by ambulatory and community practices and has been exacerbated by conflict. Strengthening stewardship beyond hospitals, enforcing prescription-only regulations, operationalizing the AWaRe framework, and aligning empirical therapy with local resistance patterns are critical for mitigating AMR in Sudan and similar conflict-affected settings. Full article

Contemporary cities face environmental, social and economic challenges that highlight the vulnerabilities of urban structures, spatial connections, infrastructure and socio-economic systems. These critical issues have been amplified by the pandemic and the intensification of climate change, generating significant impacts on the territory. In this uncertain context, urban planning plays a crucial role in responding to the new needs of cities, promoting proximity and environmental sustainability, and encouraging adaptation and proactive responses to change. The research aims to promote strategic planning based on an integrated and multi-scale approach, capable of generating synergies between the various complex aspects that characterize urban environments. This approach allows spatial relationships and considerations to be articulated at different scales, from the territorial to the local level, translating urban challenges into multi-level actions and strategies. However, this requires a supporting structure on which to articulate multiple urban planning strategies, resulting from the overlap and interrelation of two complementary design urban backbones: the proximity one, aimed at connecting services and public spaces through wide slow mobility networks; the natural one, aimed at integrating green areas on different scales, with both ecological functions, to promote biodiversity, and social functions, to improve collective well-being and strengthen the resilience of the urban ecosystem. The complementarity of these two backbones was explored through the revision of the Territorial Government Plan of the City of Mantua, particularly within the Services Plan, as part of the research project entitled “Re-knowing Urban Complexity through New City Awareness: In Search of Urban Proximity Systems.” This research provided an opportunity to read and interpret the urban complexity of the city while guiding effective, sustainable, and resilient intervention strategies in response to its ongoing transformations. Full article

Urban regeneration processes are increasingly intertwined with participatory practices aimed at integrating local knowledge and civic engagement into design and planning decisions. However, public participation often fails to influence decision-making meaningfully or to anticipate the unintended consequences of proposed interventions. This paper presents a methodological framework developed during a participatory process for the restoration of Piazza Umberto I, a historic urban square in Bari, Southern Italy. The process was structured around seven online workshops held between March and May 2021, involving 45 registered participants and an average attendance of about 30 participants per session, including residents, civic associations, students, professionals, economic actors, and municipal representatives. Through a sequential funnel—problems, opportunities, visions, solutions, methodological principles, validation, and proposal—the process elicited and organized participants’ knowledge across five analytical domains and eight long-term vision categories: History, Nature, Education, Culture, Economy, Society, Experience, and Democracy. The validated workshop outputs were then translated into a fuzzy cognitive map and explored through cross-impact analysis to identify intended impacts, unintended effects, leverage points, and trade-offs among proposed solutions. Link weights were assigned through a semi-quantitative scale representing the direction and relative strength of influence, and a ±20% sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the robustness of the main ranking patterns. The results show that some proposals, such as ecological restoration, public art programming, and cultural or educational activation, operate as broad-spectrum leverage points, while others generate more selective effects or latent tensions, particularly between ecological preservation, economic activation, accessibility, and civic use. This paper does not propose a predictive or statistically inferential model; rather, it demonstrates how participatory knowledge can be operationalized into a transparent, exploratory, and semi-quantitative decision-support framework. By linking deliberation with systems-oriented reasoning, the study contributes to urban planning debates on participatory governance, anticipatory decision-making, and the management of unintended consequences in public-space regeneration. Full article

Frequent occurrences of inter-regional emergencies constitute critical impediments to global security and sustainable development, necessitating enhanced intergovernmental emergency collaboration. This study employs a network evolutionary game model (NEGM) to examine how vertical interventions shape diffusion mechanisms of cooperative strategies among local governments. The results show that (1) solely intensifying penalties or rewards yields diminishing marginal returns in incentivizing local governments to adopt a proactive cooperative strategy; (2) elevating the cost-sharing index significantly accelerates the diffusion rate of cooperative strategies, effectively mobilizing broader subnational engagement in public health emergency response; and (3) the tripartite integration of penalty-based enforcement, reward incentives, and cost-sharing mechanisms demonstrates synergistic superiority over alternative policy instruments—whether implemented individually or in pairwise combinations. Full article

This scoping review maps 224 empirical studies (205 from a structured Scopus search, 2020–2026, plus 19 from a targeted Central Asia supplement) across four digital technology domains for crop production: IoT and sensor-based systems, UAVs and remote sensing, machine learning and AI, and nanostructured agrochemicals. The review follows the PRISMA-ScR framework and pursues three research questions concerning documented effects and validation limitations (RQ1); cross-cutting barriers in human capital, data governance, and infrastructure (RQ2); and the state of empirical evidence from Central Asia and Kazakhstan relative to international findings (RQ3). Across all four domains, the strongest reported effects occur where the data-to-decision-to-action loop is closed and sustained over multiple seasons, yet most published metrics rest on single-season, single-site, or controlled-environment validation that overstates likely field portability. IoT and selected UAV and ML workflows are closest to operational readiness where maintenance, calibration, and advisory support are sustained. Nanostructured materials remain the least mature domain in agronomic terms. For Central Asia, foundational monitoring and salinity-oriented remote sensing are the most immediately transferable elements; intervention-grade ML and integrated digital systems require local calibration, extension infrastructure, and multi-season field validation that are largely still absent. The review identifies the digital skills gap, incomplete data governance, and underreported total cost of ownership as the principal institutional barriers to scaling. Policy priorities include shifting from technical pilots to multi-season agronomic proof, building intermediary service capacity, and establishing transparent data-governance frameworks before large-scale procurement. Full article

Implementation remains a central challenge in urban policy, yet the knowledge formats designed to bridge the gap between policy goals and on-the-ground delivery remain under-examined. This study treats 250 UN-Habitat Best Practice reports not as proof of effectiveness but as a standardized genre through which local interventions are narrated, compressed, and made portable for replication. We extract three focal sections, namely Results, Lessons Learned, and Transferability, apply systematic thematic coding with 906 open codes consolidated into axial categories, and compute co-occurrence networks using Jaccard similarity and Lift to detect thematic bundles, holes, and silos within and across sections. Three findings emerge. First, the reporting repertoire narrows progressively, as mean thematic richness declines by 28.2% from Results to Transfers while concentration increases 4.2 times, with substantive dimensions such as governance, equity, sustainability, and evidence losing prevalence to circulation-oriented themes. Second, formal bundle detection yields zero qualifying pairs across all six matrices, indicating a loosely coupled reporting grammar anchored by generic silos rather than integrated implementation packages. Third, structural holes concentrate at the pipeline’s end, where infrastructure transfer and sustainability as transferable value are the most systematically disconnected themes. These patterns reveal a portability paradox in which the reporting format achieves institutional legibility, making practices comparable within a shared vocabulary, but progressively filters out the physical, evidentiary, and context-sensitive content that operational reproduction would require. Full article

This narrative review summarizes evidence on the bovine β-casein (CSN2) A1/A2 polymorphism as a case study of how intensive dairy selection and global gene flow can reshape allele frequencies in ways that matter for consumers, processing and agroecological resilience. We draw together evidence from (i) population-genetic surveys of CSN2 in contrasting cattle populations, including a descriptive summary of published genotype-frequency studies; (ii) controlled human studies that separate A1-containing from A2-only dairy exposure; and (iii) dairy technology and the authenticity literature relevant to identity-preserved A2 value chains. Across intensively selected Holstein-Friesian populations, A1 was consistently present at substantial frequency (approximately one-third), whereas indigenous, beef and zebu-adjacent populations were typically A2-enriched, highlighting the role of historical breed formation and modern introgression in shaping apparent geographic and climatic patterns. Human intervention studies most consistently support improved short-term gastrointestinal tolerance with A2-only milk in susceptible individuals, while evidence for longer-horizon systemic outcomes remains mixed and insufficient for causal disease claims. Processing and analytical studies suggest that β-casein genotype can modestly affect coagulation and product behavior in a context-dependent manner and that validated proteoform quantification coupled with traceability is essential for credible A2 labeling at scale. We discuss implications for breeding programs, including staged A2 selection that avoids performance trade-offs, and emphasize governance of artificial insemination and supply-chain segregation as levers to limit inadvertent allele diffusion while supporting climate-relevant genetic resources in locally adapted breeds. Collectively, the reviewed evidence suggests that A1/A2 β-casein can be usefully interpreted within a One Health framework spanning animal genetics, dairy systems and human tolerance research. Full article

This paper draws on primary research conducted within the international project New Governance for New Spaces—NONA, implemented under the Interreg Danube Region Programme with EU co-funding. The principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative are fully aligned with the research framework and outcomes. The study aimed to test the applicability of the NEB model in urban regeneration at four selected pilot sites in four mid-sized cities in Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia) with a strong focus on participatory governance and co-creation involving stakeholders, local authorities, and citizens. It also examined appropriate financing and management models to support sustainable improvement and future development of these spaces. A central outcome of the research was the development of a comprehensive methodological framework outlining key steps and potential implementation scenarios, designed as a roadmap for medium-sized European cities. The methodology combined field research, surveys, the establishment of a Local Action Group (LAG), and the implementation of “soft interventions,” including creative competitions, site-based festivals, workshops, expert walks, and panel discussions and forums. These activities informed a set of beneficial practice recommendations, defined through clear requirements and expected outcomes. Full article

Non-built-up green areas are essential for preserving the ecological functions of cities and fostering sustainable growth. Focusing on Shanghai, we developed a comprehensive framework of driving forces that integrates socioeconomic, natural, policy, and financial indicators. To assess the spatial-temporal changes in regional green space configurations and their underlying mechanisms between 2000 and 2020, we utilized stepwise regression alongside Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) techniques. The results show that regional green space exhibited a clear stage-dependent evolution, with the total area decreasing from 580.56 km² in 2000 to 506.43 km² in 2005 and then increasing continuously to 905.70 km² in 2020. Forest land consistently expanded and became the dominant land type, while wetland showed a “decrease–increase” pattern and grassland experienced an early decline followed by partial recovery. The primary elements driving these changes underwent substantial transformations over the study period. During the initial phase, socioeconomic variables, particularly real estate investments (β = −0.296), demonstrated pronounced adverse impacts. Conversely, post-2005, financial allocations for landscaping and policy interventions emerged as the main favorable drivers (β = 0.598). Furthermore, environmental aspects like NDVI and waterway density provided a continuous positive influence on green space enlargement. Certain socioeconomic indicators, notably population density, transitioned from exerting adverse impacts to having beneficial effects during the latter periods. The primary drivers demonstrated considerable spatial variation; socioeconomic impacts were largely localized in regions undergoing urban growth, whereas environmental and policy variables exerted broader and more consistent influences. Overall, these outcomes highlight a shift from a socioeconomic-dominated evolutionary process to one governed by a synergy of multiple factors. This offers a theoretical foundation for refining urban ecological strategies and harmonizing city expansion with ecological conservation. Full article

Informal settlements are disproportionately exposed to climate risks due to inadequate infrastructure, insecure tenure, environmental exposure, and exclusion from formal planning. Climate-resilient infrastructure (CRI) is essential for urban adaptation, but evidence about its enablement, implementation, and sustainability in informal settlements remains fragmented. This study conducts a PRISMA-guided systematic integrative review of English-language, peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 19 March 2026. Database searches in Scopus and Web of Science identified 1962 records. Of these, 40 studies met the final inclusion criteria. These studies were synthesised across five strategic domains: governance and institutional; community and social; financial and economic; technical and design; and knowledge, data, and digital. A rapid MMAT-based appraisal found the evidence base to be moderate to strong, though the included study designs were diverse. Technical and design responses predominate; however, their long-term effectiveness depends on governance coordination and community participation. In contrast, financial and economic strategies, as well as knowledge, data, and digital strategies, remain underdeveloped, revealing weaknesses in the enabling systems required for long-term sustainability. The evidence base is geographically uneven, with strong concentration in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, the review shows that CRI in informal settlements is best understood as a comprehensive process shaped by institutions, participation, and local conditions rather than as a purely technical intervention. The findings are limited by the focus on English-language, peer-reviewed studies and uneven regional coverage. However, they indicate that advancing CRI requires integrated strategies combining infrastructure design, institutional capacity, community agency, and long-term enabling systems. Full article