Search Results (8,976)

This study examined the place of care in early childhood education and the role of the state in the social organization of care in Chile. Official policy documents were reviewed, including the Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework, Teaching Standards Framework (Marco para la Buena Enseñanza), Law 20.379, and Law 21.805. Following a thematic analysis of these documents, semistructured interviews were conducted with four early childhood teachers to triangulate the findings. The results, presented across three thematic categories, reveal an ambiguity in the state’s positioning, oscillating between its role as a guarantor of rights and a provider of targeted services. Care is also incorporated into the educational sphere in a fragmented manner—as a learning objective and a condition for achieving educational outcomes—without being fully recognized as a constitutive dimension of teaching work. This situation contributes to the invisibilization of teachers as care workers and the reproduction of gender inequalities. The study contributes to the literature by approaching care from an educational perspective, highlighting underexplored tensions and emphasizing the need to incorporate a feminist and intersectional perspective into educational policies to advance the recognition of care as a right and a central component of the teaching profession. Full article

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a critical challenge to advancing recycling and circular economy approaches. This review provides a comprehensive overview of MSW management, encompassing sourcing, policy frameworks, characterization techniques, separation technologies, preprocessing strategies, and utilization pathways. First, generation patterns and sourcing mechanisms are discussed in both U.S. and global contexts, with emphasis on the influence of policy frameworks on waste reduction and diversion. Second, characterization techniques are evaluated, focusing on physical and chemical analysis for material recyclability. Third, sorting technologies are critically reviewed, covering conventional methods and emerging sensor-based approaches. Preprocessing techniques are then evaluated for their role in improving downstream conversion efficiency. Finally, valorization pathways such as waste-to-syngas, waste-to-biochar, and waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are assessed in terms of their role in climate mitigation and the circular economy. It is anticipated that this review will provide a foundational reference for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders aiming to strengthen the recyclability infrastructure and maximize the efficiency of MSW management systems in the framework of the circular economy. Full article

Male reproductive health has experienced an unprecedented decline over the past five decades, characterized by substantial reductions in sperm count and testosterone levels. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current evidence on the global decline in sperm count and testosterone levels, examining epidemiological trends, underlying mechanisms, environmental drivers, and clinical implications. Sperm concentration declined by 51.6% globally between 1973 and 2018, with an accelerating trajectory post-2000 (from 1.16% to 2.64% per year). Concurrently, multiple independent studies document an age-independent secular decline in testosterone, averaging 1–2% per year across diverse populations. The etiology is multifactorial, involving endocrine-disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, dioxins), lifestyle factors (obesity, sedentary behavior, smoking, heat exposure), and disruption of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. At the cellular level, mechanisms include Sertoli and Leydig cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, and sperm DNA fragmentation. Integrated clinical management combining lifestyle optimization, antioxidant therapy, and targeted endocrine interventions is essential. Prevention through environmental policy and public health initiatives represents the most promising long-term strategy. Full article

Introduction: Inequities in access to medicines persist for asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in Europe. For vaccines, access gaps not only exist for these groups in childhood routine immunization, but also for life-course and catch-up vaccinations. As part of a broader project examining access to medicines and vaccines for migrants across all stages of the migration cycle, this scoping review synthesizes evidence on the determinants of access to vaccines. Methods: We conducted a scoping review across PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and grey literature sources, covering the period 2000–2024. Sources were eligible if they addressed access to vaccines among migrants. We examined access to vaccines along the life course, and across phases of the migratory cycle, including departure, transit, reception and settlement, and return or deportation. Results: A total of 47 research studies and grey literature reports were included. Most studies focused on migrants in reception and settlement (destination) settings, with only twelve sources addressing other phases of the migratory cycle. Across European countries, migrants were frequently reported to have lower uptake of routine vaccines (e.g., measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), polio, diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis (DTP), and human papillomavirus (HPV)) and COVID-19 vaccines than host populations. The most frequently reported barriers were related to migrants’ legal status, administrative requirements, and lack of documentation, alongside poor affordability of vaccination, limited awareness of their rights, and mistrust in the health system. Conclusions: Health systems need to adopt innovative approaches to expand vaccine access for migrant populations. Further, protecting confidentiality is essential for building trust and reducing ethical and legal risks. Flexible and coordinated vaccination strategies are required to address migrants’ mobility across the different migration stages and settings. Our findings appeal for sustained improvements in access to vaccines among migrants in Europe, contingent on strong policy commitments to equity, data protection, and the adoption of life-course and catch-up vaccination strategies. Full article

Higher education policy on generative artificial intelligence has developed rapidly, yet much of this development remains stronger on governance, permission, disclosure, and assurance than on pedagogy. Universities increasingly move beyond blanket prohibition by distinguishing between restricted and permitted contexts, requiring acknowledgement of tool use, and introducing verification mechanisms to protect authorship and understanding. However, publicly visible institutional approaches appear less developed in providing structured, student-facing workflows that guide responsible AI engagement during assessment completion. This article, informed by a bounded qualitative document analysis, uses the term pedagogical middle layer to describe the process guidance needed between institutional permission settings and academic-integrity or misconduct procedures. Drawing on recent literature and a purposive scan of selected publicly available university policy and guidance documents, the paper argues that current public-facing models are often effective at defining boundaries but less explicit in guiding disciplined, transparent, and defensible forms of human–AI collaboration. In response, the paper presents the Structured AI-Guided Education Assessment Policy (SAGE-AP) as a theoretically grounded policy proposal for AI-assisted assessment, rather than as an empirically validated policy intervention. SAGE-AP frames assessment as a staged process in which students begin from their own understanding, engage with AI critically, document evaluative decisions, refine outputs responsibly, and defend the reasoning represented in the final submission. The paper contributes to institutional policy development by clarifying how permission settings may be complemented by pedagogical process guidance in the generative AI era. Full article

Morocco has developed one of the most comprehensive sustainability governance architectures among middle-income emerging economies, yet the relationship between its formal regulatory ambition and on-the-ground implementation effectiveness remains poorly understood. This narrative literature review provides an integrated, critically analytical account of Morocco’s sustainability governance system, organised around three interlocking dimensions: (i) a progressively strengthened legislative corpus anchored by the 2011 Constitution and Framework Law 99-12; (ii) a portfolio of national sustainability strategies aligning domestic policy with Paris Agreement commitments, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and (iii) corporate sustainability practices driven by regulatory obligations, international supply chain pressures, and ESG disclosure norms. Drawing on 124 sources, comprising 62 peer-reviewed articles, 38 legislative texts, and 24 institutional reports, and applying institutional isomorphism theory as an integrating analytical lens, the review advances three theoretical propositions concerning the conditions under which formal governance architectures translate into effective sustainability outcomes. It further proposes a validated conceptual framework and develops a comparative positioning of Morocco against peer economies (Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, and Turkey). Critical implementation gaps are identified in enforcement capacity, SME integration, sustainability data infrastructure, and green finance, contributing a balanced and evidence-grounded assessment of Morocco’s sustainability transition. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and business leaders operating in the Moroccan and broader African context. Full article

Cultural heritage is a critical pillar of identity, social cohesion and continuity within ethnocultural communities. However, the preservation of cultural heritage across Southern Africa is largely constrained by fragmented colonial policy implementation, and limited community engagement. This study critically examines the application of the Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (EBPP) model as a decolonizing framework for sustainable management of cultural heritage. The study conducts a structured scoping review of literature to explore the integration of EBPP with the principles of Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics (CARE), and the principles of Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) to support inclusive and ethical governance. The findings of the study reveal that sustainable management of cultural heritage is dependent upon community-led governance, alignment between research, policy, and practice, and strengthening of intellectual property protections. The study identifies persistent gaps in the operationalization of indigenous knowledge policies and highlighted the need for participatory approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage. The study argues that the integration of EBPP, alongside the principles of CARE and FAIR, significantly enhances accountability, fosters data sovereignty, and supports the decolonization of knowledge systems. Thus, the study makes a significant contribution to the growing global discourse on sustainable development by positioning cultural heritage as a dynamic resource for social transformation. Full article

Global population growth and the demand for sustainable food systems have pushed microalgae into the spotlight as promising novel food resources. They are rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioactive pigments including astaxanthin and phycocyanin. Unlike conventional farming, microalgae cultivation can be conducted on non-arable land and may reduce direct competition with conventional food crops for land resources, depending on the production system used. Regulatory progress in China, the European Union (EU), and the United States has resulted in the authorization or approval of several microalgal species and microalgae-derived ingredients for specific food and nutritional applications, including dietary supplements, infant nutrition products, and alternative protein ingredients. Despite these advances, broader commercial adoption remains constrained by several challenges, such as off-flavors and the dark green color, high production costs from closed photobioreactors and energy-intensive downstream purification, fragmented regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions and limited long-term data on bioavailability, allergenicity, safety, and dose–response relationships for some emerging strains. This review focuses on microalgae as novel food resources, covering regulatory approvals, strain selection, high-value utilization, and market translation, synthesizes evidence on nutritional evaluation, application scenarios, and global regulatory differences, analyzes key bottlenecks, and proposes pathways to bridge fundamental research with industrial practice. It also highlights unresolved knowledge gaps to guide future research and policy. Full article

Reproductive biology is fundamental for understanding fish population dynamics and for guiding fisheries management and aquaculture practices. Key reproductive and fishery-related variables such as catch size, age at maturity, spawning season, aggregation behavior, and the implementation of seasonal closures are critical to ensuring fish population sustainability. Snappers have been targeted for commercial aquaculture development due to their plasticity and ability to adapt to captive conditions. In Mexico, reproductive biology information on snappers remains fragmented and largely species-specific along both Pacific and Gulf coasts. This review reveals a lack of integrated perspective on snappers’ reproductive biology and identifies key knowledge gaps that may limit the development of effective conservation measures and aquaculture strategies. The absence of species-specific regulations for many snapper species along the Mexican Pacific coast reflects limited biological information and restricts the development of effective management policies. Increasing catch rates may indicate overexploitation, highlighting the need for targeted research to address existing information gaps and support effective conservation strategies for snapper populations. This review synthesizes available information on snapper reproductive biology and discusses how these traits can inform broodstock management, spawning control, and seed production in snappers from the Mexican coastal regions. Full article

Microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) represent a growing environmental concern that increasingly challenges environmental monitoring, governance, and evidence-based decision-making. This review critically examines how current scientific understanding of microplastic sources, classification, occurrence, and environmental behavior can support environmental governance. MPs are classified as primary and secondary particles; however, persistent inconsistencies in size definitions, shape descriptors, and polymer identification limit the comparability of monitoring data and constrain the development of coherent regulatory frameworks. Evidence on the occurrence of MPs in surface waters and sediments highlights widespread contamination and pronounced spatial variability, raising challenges for risk assessment and policy harmonization across regions. Key transport pathways, including atmospheric deposition, terrestrial runoff, and riverine fluxes, are analyzed to illustrate how local emissions translate into large-scale environmental impacts. Rivers emerge as key components linking sources to receptors, offering relevant points for policy intervention and management measures. The review evaluates current policy responses to microplastic pollution, identifying significant gaps in standardized monitoring, data integration, and risk assessment approaches. It emphasizes the need for stronger alignment between scientific outputs and policy requirements, including the co-production of knowledge involving scientists, regulators, and stakeholders. By outlining pathways through which scientific evidence can inform regulatory design and environmental management, this study provides actionable insights for improving policy effectiveness. Advancing harmonized methodologies and integrating science into decision-making processes are essential steps toward mitigating microplastic pollution and supporting sustainable environmental governance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Prostate biopsy is essential for diagnosing prostate cancer. Social determinants of health (SDOH), including socioeconomic status, race, occupation, education, and environment, affect access, outcomes, and quality of life. Recognizing disparities from technology access to complications is crucial for equitable care. A systematic review examined how SDOH impacts biopsy access, technology, and complications. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed to identify eligible studies published through February 2026. We included studies that evaluated the association between one or more SDOHs and prostate biopsy. Relevant outcomes included biopsy utilization, use of specific biopsy technologies (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided, transperineal), and post-procedural complications. Results: Nine observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed disparities across three key domains. First, access to advanced biopsy technology was uneven. Four studies showed that Black men were significantly less likely than White men to receive MRI-guided biopsies. Additionally, post-biopsy outcomes showed that Black and Hispanic men faced significantly higher rates of post-biopsy infection and hospitalization compared to White men. Lastly, patients in rural areas, those in public hospitals, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status demonstrated reduced access to modern techniques, including MRI-guided or transperineal biopsy. Conclusions: Social and economic factors influence who receives a prostate biopsy and who has access to advanced technologies. Minority and low-income patients face diagnosis barriers and higher complication rates, highlighting systemic inequities. The healthcare system often rewards access over need, and without bold policy changes, gaps in technology and resources will worsen, moving us further from truly equitable prostate cancer care. Full article

Eating behavior and eating habits are shaped from the earliest stages of life through interactions among biological, familial, social, and environmental factors. The aim of this narrative review is to integrate evidence on the early-life determinants of eating behavior and their influence on dietary intake from infancy to adolescence. A narrative review was conducted with a structured search approach prioritized on longitudinal studies, intervention trials, and policy evaluations when available, and using cross-sectional evidence mainly to describe patterns and sociodemographic factors. Synthesizing the current evidence, our framework proposes that breastfeeding, responsive complementary feeding, and self-regulatory parenting are associated with higher responsiveness to internal hunger, satiety cues, and preference for nutrient-dense foods. Conversely, coercive practices, early exposure to highly palatable foods, and the influence of food marketing are linked to dominant hedonic responses and impulsive consumption patterns. Furthermore, family environments characterized by stress or food insecurity, together with high access to low-nutrient foods, may increase vulnerability to poor eating habits and emotional eating during adolescence. Overall, the evidence highlights the need for preventive interventions that integrate parenting support, school food education, digital marketing regulation policies, and the promotion of healthy food environments across multiple sectors. Understanding the biological, psychological, and social factors linking early determinants to dietary intake and eating behaviors across development is essential for promoting a balanced relationship with food and preventing chronic diseases from an early age. Full article

Background: Cardiac telemetry monitoring represents an important aspect of in-hospital patient safety in both telemetry and critical care settings. Despite technological advancements, telemetry effectiveness may be diminished due to systemic failures including operational processes, instructional policies, and human factors. Alarm fatigue, recognized by the Joint Commission as a leading contributor to serious patient harm, lies at the forefront of these failures. Objective: This narrative review utilized and synthesized sources indexed through PubMed, PubMed Central, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Scopus to illustrate the factors involved in hospital related monitoring failures. We purport that alarm fatigue and telemetry monitoring failures are the result of complex systemic failures comprising technological and human failures. Through this narrative, we propose an evidence-based framework known as the Safer Telemetry Architecture (STA) to pinpoint redundancies and promote closed-loop communication regarding alarm management. Conclusions: Monitored in-hospital environments represent a key area of preventable morbidity and mortality due to systemic design flaws. Our STA framework addresses such flaws via improvements in nurse-driven protocols, alarm routing, mandatory coverage standards for backup, and increased performance auditing. Systemic improvements via such a framework may represent an important institutional strategy for hospitals with cardiac monitoring, but requires further prospective validation. Managing redundancies in alerts and sounds, improving backup and nursing telemetry protocols, and promoting closed or continuous loops targeting alarm response times and telemetry utilization are key to effectively improving patient safety. Full article

In 2025, tropical medicine was shaped by advances in diagnostic technology, expanding arboviral epidemics, rapid progress in filovirus vaccine development, evolving regulatory responses to newly licensed vaccines, and translational breakthroughs addressing neglected tropical diseases. This review discusses five select developments that significantly influenced clinical practice and global health policy over the past year, highlighting the implications of each for clinicians, researchers, and public health systems. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as persistent environmental contaminants due to their persistence, widespread distribution, and potential risks to the environment and human health. This review focuses on the sources of MPs, their potential environmental risks, and human impacts, as documented in the recent literature from 2020 to 2026. Recent studies focusing on pathways, environmental weathering, and toxicity were evaluated and synthesized into the analysis. Previous studies have demonstrated that microplastics are transported across and between environmental compartments. Environmental degradation, driven by ultraviolet radiation, mechanical fragmentation, and oxidation, can alter microplastics’ surface characteristics, which may affect microplastic mobility, reactivity, and the solid-state adsorption of contaminants. Human exposure occurs primarily through ingestion and inhalation, with dermal and occupational exposure also contributing under certain conditions. Emerging evidence from in vitro, animal, and human tissue studies suggests that smaller particles, particularly nanoplastics, may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular injury; however, important uncertainties remain regarding environmentally realistic exposure levels, long-term health outcomes, and the extrapolation of experimental findings to real-world human health risk. Overall, the current literature highlights the need for standardized methodologies, improved integration of environmental monitoring and exposure assessment, and stronger evidence to support risk assessment and policy development. Full article