Search Results (203)

Urbanicity is a recognized determinant of mental health, yet conventional measures such as population density or the rural–urban divide often fail to capture the complex realities of informal settlements in low- and middle-income countries. This paper conceptualizes neighborhood effects through the lived experiences of young women in Kampala, Uganda, drawing on participatory research from the NIH-funded TOPOWA study. Using community mapping and Photovoice, participants identified neighborhood features that shape wellbeing, including sanitation facilities, drainage systems, alcohol outlets, health centers, schools, boda boda stages (motorcycle taxis), lodges, religious institutions, water sources, markets, and recreational spaces. These methods revealed both stressors—poor waste management, flooding, violence, gendered harassment, crime, and alcohol-related harms—and protective resources, including education, places of worship, health centers, social networks, identity, and sports activities. We argue that urbanicity in slum contexts should be understood as a multidimensional construct encompassing deprivation, fragmentation, exclusion, and resilience. This reconceptualization advances conceptual clarity, strengthens the validity of mental health research in low-resource settings, and informs interventions that simultaneously address structural risks and promote community assets. The case of Kampala demonstrates how participatory evidence can reshape the understanding of neighborhood effects with implications, for global mental health research and practice. Full article

How can the interaction between the seismological community and society contribute to the exploitation and usage of renewable energy resources? We try to provide an answer by describing the seismic experiment realized in March–April 2025 in the hydrothermal area close to Contursi Terme municipality (Southern Italy). We deployed a 29-station seismic array thanks to the availability of local citizens, civic administrations, schools, and accommodation facilities, which provided hosting and power for six-component seismological instruments over a one-month period. By computing the Probabilistic Power Spectral Densities (PPSD) and spectrograms, we assessed the noise level and the quality of the dataset. The seismic recordings were also used for studying the local seismic response of the area by the HVSR method and detecting small magnitude (1.4–4.2) local and regional earthquakes. We thus described some solutions to tackle the challenges of a possible geothermal exploitation project in the area: (a) to map the energy resource through a tomography on good-quality ambient-noise data; (b) to manage the seismic risk related to the resource exploitation by installing a proper local seismic network; (c) to increase the acceptance by the population through a citizen-science action for instituting a fruitful alliance between different actors of civil society. Full article

Objective: This study examines pathways for suicide ideation identification and suicidal behavior intervention among Chinese young adults. Methods: It used qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to analyze the cases of 47 Chinese young people (aged 18–28) with suicidal experiences. The outcome variables are suicide ideation identification and suicidal behavior intervention, and condition variables include psychological disorders, suicidal history, suicidal communication, suicidal time, suicidal location, suicidal methods, family support, peer support, and school support. Results: There are two successful identification pathways and five effective intervention pathways, contrasted with four failed identification pathways and one failed intervention pattern. These results reveal that continuous supervision of individuals with psychological disorders and multi-group participation in intervention are important to decrease the suicide risk of Chinese young people. Meanwhile, a lack of proactive identification of individuals without warning signals, insufficient attention from families and communities to young people with psychological disorders, and inadequate physical limitations on fatal suicidal behaviors are major risk factors. Conclusions: This study highlights the measures of strengthening continuous attention to suicide signals among high-risk youth groups, limiting lethal suicide methods, promoting network monitoring and suicide risk warning, increasing psychological services in the community, and improving the collaborative synergy of peers, families, and schools. Full article

Grassroots community governance has gained increasing attention for its vital role in resource integration and multi-actor collaboration. As an innovative governance model, the “Five-Sector Linkage” (FSL) mechanism enhances service efficiency by aligning the efforts of communities, social organizations, social workers, volunteers, and philanthropic actors. However, quantitative research on interaction dynamics within such mechanisms remains insufficient, particularly regarding the optimization of collaborative networks for improved governance outcomes. This study applies Social Network Analysis (SNA) to the “After-School Program” project in Community B, Chengdu, to examine the structural features and interrelations of multi-actor cooperation under the FSL framework. The collaboration network consists of 39 nodes and 1482 links, with a density of 0.370 and an average path length of 1.632, indicating efficient communication and moderate cohesion. Degree and betweenness centrality analyses identify social workers (C1–C3) as key hubs, with C2 holding the highest bridging role (B_C = 81.401). The overall network shows low centralization (4.19%) and limited heterogeneity (2.74%), reflecting a polycentric and resilient structure. Inter-sectoral analysis showed that all nodes interacted with at least one social worker, while community actors (A1, A2) engaged broadly across 18 nodes. Volunteers maintained extensive grassroots connections, while philanthropic resources formed selective but strategic links with 13 nodes. These findings provide empirical insights into the coordination logic of the FSL mechanism and offer guidance for building adaptive, decentralized community governance networks. Future research should explore longitudinal dynamics and cross-community comparisons to further enhance the applicability of the model. Full article

This study explores the role of sustainability-oriented education in supporting post-disaster recovery and resilience in Derna, Libya, following the catastrophic floods of September 2023. Using a qualitative descriptive design, twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with academic experts, public health professionals, policymakers, and community leaders. The findings reveal that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is perceived as both a critical resilience tool and a moral imperative in fragile, disaster-affected contexts. However, institutional fragility, limited resources, and weak policy integration hinder its implementation. The study highlights the need to embed ESD within both formal education systems and informal community networks, aligning recovery strategies with local environmental realities. It offers practical recommendations for leveraging schools, faith-based institutions, and grassroots initiatives to foster adaptive capacity. These insights contribute to global debates on localising sustainable development in post-conflict settings and underscore the potential of ESD to bridge immediate recovery and long-term sustainability. The study explicitly aligns with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). It demonstrates how sustainability-oriented learning can strengthen community resilience by connecting education with local recovery systems, environmental adaptation, and social rebuilding. Through this alignment, the research underscores the role of education as a mechanism for both immediate recovery and long-term sustainability within fragile and disaster-affected societies. Full article

Cooperative path planning is recognized as a critical technology for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) clusters to execute complex marine operations. Through multi-AUV cooperative decision-making, perception limitations of individual robots can be mitigated, thereby significantly enhancing the efficiency of tasks such as deep-sea resource exploration and submarine infrastructure maintenance. However, the underwater environment is characterized by severe disturbances and limited communication, making cooperative path planning for AUV clusters particularly challenging. Currently, this field is still in its early research stage, and there exists an urgent need for the integration of scattered technical achievements to provide theoretical references and directional guidance for relevant researchers. Based on representative studies published in recent years, this paper provides a review of the research progress in three major technical domains: heuristic optimization, reinforcement and deep learning, and graph neural networks integrated with distributed control. The advantages and limitations of different technical approaches are elucidated. In addition to cooperative path planning algorithms, the evolutionary logic and applicable scenarios of each technical school are analyzed. Furthermore, the lack of realism in algorithm training environments has been recognized as a major bottleneck in cooperative path planning for AUV clusters, which significantly limits the transferability of algorithms from simulation-based validation to real-sea applications. This paper aims to comprehensively outline the current research status and development context of the field of AUV cluster cooperative path planning and propose potential future research directions. Full article

Since the beginning of the 21st century, major epidemics and pandemics such as SARS, H1N1pdm09, Ebola, and COVID-19 have repeatedly challenged global systems of disease diagnostics and control. These crises exposed the weaknesses of traditional diagnostic models, including long turnaround times, uneven resource distribution, and supply chain bottlenecks. As a result, there is an urgent need for more advanced diagnostic technologies and integrated diagnostics strategies. Our review summarizes key lessons learned from four recent major outbreaks and highlights advances in diagnostic technologies. Among these, molecular techniques such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) have demonstrated significant advantages and are increasingly becoming core components of the detection framework. Antigen testing plays a critical role in rapid screening, particularly in settings such as schools, workplaces, and communities. Serological assays provide unique value for retrospective outbreak analysis and assessing population immunity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become a powerful tool for identifying novel pathogens and monitoring viral mutations. Furthermore, point-of-care testing (POCT), enhanced by miniaturization, biosensing, and artificial intelligence (AI), has extended diagnostic capacity to the front lines of epidemic control. In summary, the future of epidemic and pandemic response will not depend on a single technology, but rather on a multi-layered and complementary system. By combining laboratory diagnostics, distributed screening, and real-time monitoring, this system will form a global diagnostic network capable of rapid response, ensuring preparedness for the next global health crisis. Full article

Evaluation of an individual’s accessibility to urban services is crucial for urban planners and policymakers to assess various urban policies and scenarios. Most studies have emphasized accessibility in physical spaces, with limited attention to the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in providing virtual access and its implications for quality of life (QOL) and sustainability. This study addresses this gap by examining the substitutability of physical activities with digital alternatives and their potential contribution to decarbonization. Using data from an online questionnaire survey in Japan, we analyze how individuals access services across both transportation and ICT networks. We propose an integrated evaluation framework that measures QOL by considering accessibility in both physical and virtual spaces. The analysis highlights differences in substitutability across activities such as shopping, working, schooling, and entertainment, while revealing that services like healthcare and physical tourism remain less substitutable. The results disclose that accessibility strongly influences individuals’ adoption of digital alternatives, which in turn offer significant benefits in terms of convenience and environmental impact. The proposed methodology provides valuable insights seeking to balance physical and virtual service accessibility, supporting sustainable urban development in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals 10 and 11. Full article

Background/Objectives: Accumulating evidence suggests that cognitive training can induce functional reorganization of intrinsic connectivity networks involved in higher-order cognitive processes. However, few interventions have specifically targeted language, an essential domain tightly interwoven with memory, attention, and executive functions. Given their foundational role in communication, reasoning, and knowledge acquisition, enhancing language-related abilities may yield widespread cognitive benefits. This study investigated the neural impact of a new structured, language-based cognitive training program on neurotypical older adults. Methods: Twenty Brazilian Portuguese-speaking women (aged 63–77 years; schooling 9–20 years; low-to-medium socioeconomic status) participated in linguistic activities designed to engage language and general cognitive processing. Behavioral testing and resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) were conducted before and after the intervention. Results: Functional connectivity analyses revealed significant post-intervention increases in connectivity within the frontoparietal network, critical for language processing, and the ventral attentional network, associated with attentional control. Conclusions: The observed neural enhancements indicate substantial plasticity in cognitive networks among older adults, highlighting the effectiveness of linguistic interventions in modulating critical cognitive functions. These findings provide a foundation for future research on targeted cognitive interventions to promote healthy aging and sustain cognitive vitality. Full article

This article provides a compelling argument using qualitative analysis for the longitudinal impact of an all-girls’ summer camp that was recently canceled due to an Executive Order from the Federal government. This paper will discuss: (1) the history of the program, including its changing funding sources over time; (2) the support of the local community that sustained this program; and (3) the ways in which the program influenced girls long after they graduated from middle and high school. Since 2006, 611 girls have participated in the Girls in STEM (GIS) summer camp. Surveys to alumnae were sent in 2022 and 2024, and 81 GIS alumnae responded. Many of these women explained how the camp helped them to see STEM career options that they were not aware of; improved their confidence that they could pursue careers that were male-dominated; and provided them with peers and mentors who became part of their network. The article concludes with a discussion of the cancellation of the program and the potential consequences of that decision. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is no longer a standalone clinical condition—it has become a syndemic shaped by food insecurity, social inequality, and digital marginalization in emerging economies. This convergence calls for a reimagining of public health through intersectoral, digitally enabled, and culturally grounded approaches. This study explores how intersectoral strategies, supported by digital innovation and rooted in food sovereignty, can help prevent and manage T2D in emerging countries. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies published between 2014 and 2025 were included if they addressed T2D and food security in emerging contexts, focusing on intersectoral or multisectoral strategies. Studies on T1D, non-human subjects, and high-income settings were excluded from the study. Thirty-nine studies were critically synthesized. Results: Food insecurity acts as both a biological stressor and a sociopolitical condition that worsens poor glycemic control. Promising but underutilized intersectoral strategies include agroecological food systems, school-based nutrition programs, and community health worker networks. Digital tools, such as AI-driven diagnostics, blockchain food traceability, and mobile health platforms, offer scalable solutions but face challenges in infrastructure, digital literacy, and ethical governance. Conclusions: A digitally inclusive, ethically reflexive intersectoral paradigm is needed that recognizes food and digital access as human rights. Full article

Given that urban mobility arises from the interaction between social and environmental conditions, this study constructs a Bayesian network to represent these relationships in David, Panama, using 500 georeferenced household surveys that recorded variables related to demographics, travel behavior, infrastructure, mobility patterns and perceptions of risk, safety, and vulnerability. The Bayesian network was built and validated through a consensus-driven hybrid procedure combining structural learning and expert knowledge, resulting in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) with 127 nodes and 189 arcs; and conditional probability tables (CPTs) were learned from data. The topology of the network was analyzed with Louvain community detection, revealing eleven subsystems that group household economy and mode choice, hydrometeorological mobility barriers, congestion, public-transport quality, and safety in school travel. The inferences show gender-based differences in the risk of harassment on public transport, higher perceived vulnerability on longer trips, and elevated stress among middle-aged drivers. The model highlights potential priority interventions such as reinforcing public-transport safety, promoting self-contained trips, and encouraging short-distance active mobility, based on population perceptions. The resulting DAG functions as both an analytical and communication tool for urban management, is visually understandable to all stakeholders, and provides unprecedented evidence for Panama in a little-studied context. Full article

In the contexts of rapid urbanization and the Healthy China Strategy, understanding how the built environment affects residents’ health has become a pressing issue for the development of new rural communities. This study aims to investigate the associations between facility accessibility and residents’ health, and to provide evidence for health-oriented rural planning. Taking Pujiang County in Chengdu as the case study, we measured the accessibility of nine categories of facilities using GIS-based network analysis and evaluated residents’ health through the Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS). Gradient Boosting Decision Trees (GBDT) combined with SHAP interpretation were employed to examine and explain the influence of accessibility factors on health outcomes. The results indicate that the accessibility of road entrances, public toilets, garbage transfer points, schools, and community service centers is negatively associated with residents’ health, with variations across physical, mental, and social health dimensions. Moreover, social health is insufficiently explained by physical accessibility alone, implying the additional importance of social and cultural conditions. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing facility layout and spatial design in new rural communities and provide an empirical basis for promoting health-oriented rural planning in China and similar contexts. Full article

Professional development (PD) is crucial for teacher growth, yet research on EFL instructors in higher education remains scarce. In Indonesia, PD research focuses more on secondary and primary school teachers, and the research that emphasises EFL teachers’ professionalism is limited. However, EFL teachers’ PD plays an important role in preparing future teachers for better employment opportunities and international communication, so it is a critical component of higher education curricula. This study explores the impact of professional development programs on EFL instructors in Indonesian universities, focusing on types of professional development programs and personal initiatives. Ten EFL instructors from five different universities in Indonesia were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. Using a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis reveals that most professional development efforts are self-driven rather than institutionally supported. Key impacts of professional development programs and activities they have participated in on their professionalism include research collaboration, publication skills, ELT strategy improvements, networking, reflective teaching, and language proficiency gains. The findings underscore the need for customised professional development programs that address educators’ specific contexts, ensuring sustainable enhancements in teaching practices. This study highlights the critical role of independent professional development efforts in higher education and provides insights into structuring more impactful support systems for EFL instructors globally. Full article