Search Results (173)

Food policies that respond to shocks and support nutritious diets for vulnerable populations can enhance resilience, support social equity, and reduce environmental damage. Using a simulation model, we evaluated the effectiveness of two food redistribution policies—Nourish New York, a program providing funds to food rescue organizations to purchase food directly from farmers, and the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law (an organics “waste ban”)—in response to a shock such as the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed policy based on recovered food and life cycle carbon and water footprints over 10 years. Both policies improved produce donations during post-shock. The waste ban increased waste at feeding organizations; diverting unavoidable food waste to composting and anaerobic digestion mitigated its carbon footprint. Enhanced coordination and partnerships within the food redistribution network were crucial for ensuring that produce reached those in need, ultimately reducing long-term environmental impacts. Implementing multiple strategies that enhance recovery from farms and retail, while strengthening the organizational capacity of the food redistribution network, can simultaneously advance food security and environmental goals. Full article

Multimodal multiobjective optimization problems (MMOPs) are widely encountered in real-world applications. While numerous evolutionary algorithms have been developed to locate equivalent Pareto-optimal solutions, existing Multimodal Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms (MMOEAs) often struggle to handle large-scale decision variables and sparse Pareto sets due to the curse of dimensionality and unknown sparsity. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a novel approach named MASR-MMEA, which stands for Large-scale Sparse Multimodal Multiobjective Optimization via Multi-stage Search and Reinforcement Learning (RL)-assisted Environmental Selection. Specifically, to enhance search efficiency, a multi-stage framework is established incorporating three key innovations. First, a dual-strategy genetic operator based on improved hybrid encoding is designed, employing sparse-sensing dynamic redistribution for binary vectors and a sparse fuzzy decision framework for real vectors. Second, an affinity-based elite strategy utilizing Mahalanobis distance is introduced to pair real vectors with compatible binary vectors, increasing the probability of generating superior offspring. Finally, an adaptive sparse environmental selection strategy assisted by Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) reinforcement learning is developed. By utilizing the MLP-generated Guiding Vector (GDV) to direct the evolutionary search toward efficient regions and employing an iteration-based adaptive mechanism to regulate genetic operators, this strategy accelerates convergence. Furthermore, it dynamically quantifies population-level sparsity and adjusts selection pressure through a modified crowding distance mechanism to filter structural redundancy, thereby effectively balancing convergence and multimodal diversity. Comparative studies against six state-of-the-art methods demonstrate that MASR-MMEA significantly outperforms existing approaches in terms of both solution quality and convergence speed on large-scale sparse MMOPs. Full article

Background/Objective: Feminist theories and feminist economics have contributed to making visible the structural relevance of care work in sustaining capitalist societies and social reproduction, arguing that care must be addressed as a political phenomenon rather than a merely domestic issue. This perspective is particularly pertinent in contemporary healthcare, where chronic care represents one of the major public health challenges in a context of population ageing and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The aim is to contribute to a critical understanding that can support the development of public policies recognizing care as a fundamental pillar of socio-healthcare provision and as a matter of collective responsibility. Methods: A narrative literature review with a critical feminist approach was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: A total of 299 records were identified, of which 30 studies were included following screening and eligibility assessment. Care is an essential element for sustaining life, although it has historically been rendered invisible, feminized, and relegated to the private sphere. Chronicity requires simultaneous consideration of the material dimension of care (as work), the subjective dimension (including emotional bonds and moral responsibility), and the political dimension (shaped by power relations). Global care chains reveal persistent inequalities related to gender, class, and race. Conclusions: Care is a structural, political, and transnational category that sustains life and healthcare systems. In the field of chronic care, the recognition, redistribution, and socialization of care are essential for achieving social justice and for safeguarding the dignity of both caregivers—predominantly women—and care recipients. Full article

Medical deserts have become an increasingly prominent expression of unequal access to healthcare, yet the literature addressing this phenomenon remains fragmented, with heterogeneous definitions, indicators, and analytical approaches. This narrative review aims to systematize existing evidence by developing and applying a multidimensional typology based on four analytical axes: medical specialty, geography, population vulnerability to threats, and systemic barriers. A narrative review of English-language studies retrieved from Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted and interpreted through this framework. The analysis shows that medical deserts are described across a wide range of clinical fields and territorial contexts, with research concentrating primarily on specialty- and geography-based dimensions. In contrast, population vulnerability and systemic barriers are addressed less consistently and are often treated implicitly rather than as core analytical dimensions. Vulnerable groups and structural determinants of access, including organizational, regulatory, and digital factors, remain underexplored despite their growing relevance. By organizing fragmented evidence into a coherent multidimensional framework, this review clarifies how medical deserts emerge as systemic phenomena and highlights the need for integrated policy responses that move beyond workforce redistribution to address social vulnerability and health system design. Full article

Intensifying urbanisation in the Arctic, particularly in spatially constrained coastal and island cities, requires reliable information on long-term land-use/land-cover (LULC) change to assess environmental impacts and support urban planning. However, multi-decadal, high-resolution LULC datasets for Arctic cities remain limited. In this study, we quantify LULC change on Tromsøya (Tromsø, Norway) from 1984 to 2024 using a Random Forest classifier applied to multispectral satellite imagery from Landsat and PlanetScope, complemented by LiDAR-derived canopy height models (CHM) and building footprints. We mapped LULC change trajectories and examined how these shifts relate to district-level population redistribution using gridded population data. The integration of a LiDAR-derived CHM was found to substantially improve the accuracy of Landsat-based LULC mapping and to represent the dominant source of classification gains, particularly for spectrally similar urban classes such as residential areas, roads, and other paved surfaces. Landsat augmented with CHM was shown to achieve practical equivalence to PlanetScope when the latter was modelled using spectral features only, supporting the feasibility of scalable and cost-effective long-term monitoring of urbanisation in Arctic cities. Based on the best-performing Landsat configuration, the proportions of artificial and green surfaces were estimated, indicating that approximately 20% of green areas were transformed into artificial classes. Spatially, population growth was concentrated in a small number of districts and broadly coincided with hotspots of green-to-artificial conversion The workflow provides a reproducible basis for long-term, district-scale LULC monitoring in small Arctic cities where data constraints limit the consistent use of high-resolution image. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) readily accumulates cadmium (Cd), posing dietary exposure risks in populations dependent on rice-based diets. This study investigated how sulfur (S) redox processes regulate Cd mobility in S-deficient, Cd-contaminated paddy soil under waterlogged conditions. A pot experiment was conducted with two S treatments (−S and +S, 30 mg kg⁻¹) throughout the rice growing season. S addition markedly increased pore water S²⁻ concentrations during early growth (tillering) and mid-season (booting) and suppressed the diffusion of SO₄²⁻ from non-rhizosphere to rhizosphere at later stages (filling–maturity). Consequently, Cd in soil pore water was significantly lower in +S than −S treatments at all stages. Sulfur-amended soil showed a redistribution of Cd from labile fractions (exchangeable and carbonate-bound) to more stable fractions (Fe/Mn oxide-bound). Sulfur application also altered the rhizosphere microbiome: the relative abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) increased at the booting and filling stages, while sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) became more dominant at maturity. Additionally, +S enhanced Cd sequestration on rice root iron plaque by 32–67% during the grain-filling and maturity stages compared to −S. Throughout the rice growing period, redox-driven shifts in the S²⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio emerged as a key control on Cd behavior, with low pe + pH (strongly reducing conditions) promoting Cd sulfide precipitation and high pe + pH (more oxidizing conditions) causing Cd remobilization. Full article

This study investigates the demographic transformation of Spain’s settlement system from 2000 to the present, driven by intersecting forces of rural depopulation, metropolitan concentration, immigration, and welfare-state dynamics. Building on an integrated theoretical framework that combines Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, demographic accounting, territorial carrying capacity, and spatial centrality, the research aims to (1) identify the mechanisms governing population redistribution across Spanish municipalities, and (2) simulate future demographic trajectories under current policy regimes. Key findings reveal that all net population growth since 2000 stems exclusively from immigration and its demographic sequelae, while the native Spanish cohort has experienced a net decline of 5.5 million due to negative natural change. The analysis further uncovers a self-reinforcing “demographic trap,” wherein welfare eligibility tied to household size incentivizes higher fertility among economically vulnerable immigrant groups, even as native families delay childbearing due to economic precarity. These dynamics are accelerating a process of “territorial transmutation,” projected to culminate in a shift in de facto governance by 2045. The study concludes that immigration alone cannot reverse rural depopulation or ensure fiscal sustainability without structural reforms to welfare design, territorial incentives, and demographic foresight. Full article

Global optimization represents a fundamental challenge in computer science and engineering, as it aims to identify high-quality solutions to problems spanning from moderate to extremely high dimensionality. The Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is a population-based algorithm like Genetic Algorithms (GAs) and uses similar operators such as crossover, mutation and selection. The proposed method introduces a set of methodological enhancements designed to increase both the robustness and the computational efficiency of the classical DE framework. Specifically, an adaptive termination criterion is incorporated, enabling early stopping based on statistical measures of convergence and population stagnation. Furthermore, a population sampling strategy based on k-means clustering is employed to enhance exploration and improve the redistribution of individuals in high-dimensional search spaces. This mechanism enables structured population renewal and effectively mitigates premature convergence. The enhanced algorithm was evaluated on standard large-scale numerical optimization benchmarks and compared with established global optimization methods. The experimental results indicate substantial improvements in convergence speed, scalability and solution stability. Full article

Although many long-distance migratory birds choose stable wintering sites and staging posts, irruptive migrants may exhibit considerable interannual variability in their migratory patterns, often depending on food availability. The Franklin’s gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a common long-distance migrant along Chile’s coast during the austral summer. Using census data from three estuaries in central Chile (2006–2023), we analyzed variation in summer populations in relation to chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration along the migration route, used as a proxy for food availability. The best model predicting the number of gulls reaching Chile included a negative effect of chl-a concentration on the Peruvian coast (0–10° S) during winter (June–July). Considering the time lag associated with the transformation of phytoplankton into seagull food, this result suggests that primary productivity along the route may influence how far south these birds migrate in search of food. We also found a negative correlation between the summer abundance of Franklin’s gulls in Chile and an eBird index for the species in Peru during the same period, suggesting redistribution of individuals between the two countries in response to resource availability. Models such as ours provide a useful tool for understanding and managing populations of migratory waterbirds. Full article

Background/Objectives: Comprehensive knowledge of body composition and bone status across the lifespan is critical for clinical evaluation and public health initiatives. This study aimed to develop age- and sex-specific reference curves for body composition and bone status in a physically active Greek population aged 18–80 using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A secondary objective was to examine age- and sex-related trends in fat distribution, lean mass (LM), and bone status. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 637 participants (275 men and 362 women). Physical activity was assessed through structured interviews evaluating type, frequency, and intensity, categorized using established guidelines from organizations such as the American Heart Association and World Health Organization. Anthropometric data and DXA scans were utilized to measure parameters including fat mass (FM), LM, and BMD. Participants were stratified into age categories, and percentile curves were generated using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). Results: Among women, body mass increased by 20.9% and body fat percentage rose by 38.3% from the youngest to the oldest age group, accompanied by a 5.7% reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) and an 11.5% decline in bone mineral content (BMC). Men exhibited a 49.1% increase in body fat percentage, with LM remaining stable across age groups. In men, BMD decreased by 1.7%, while BMC showed minimal variation. Notable sex differences were observed in fat redistribution, with android fat (AF) increasing significantly in older individuals, particularly among women, highlighting distinct age-related patterns. Conclusions: This study provides essential reference data on body composition and bone status, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to address sex- and age-related changes, particularly in fat distribution and bone density, to support improved health outcomes in aging populations. Full article

Rebalancing shared bikes poses a significant challenge for dockless bike-sharing (DLBS) operators, as inevitable spatiotemporal mismatches between demand and supply lead to high redistribution costs. Despite its operational significance, empirical research on the spatiotemporal imbalance of DLBS usage and its underlying drivers remain limited. Utilizing one month’s extensive trajectories of shared bikes in Shanghai, China, this study quantifies DLBS net flows at fine-grained grid level by hour to capture demand–supply imbalances across both spatial and temporal dimensions. To uncover dominant patterns in DLBS imbalance, we employ non-negative matrix factorization, a matrix decomposition technique, to extract latent structure of DLBS net flows. Four distinct patterns are identified: self-sustained balance, morning peak outflow, morning peak inflow, and metro-driven imbalance. We further apply multinomial logit models (MNL) to examine how these patterns are associated with different built environment characteristics. The results show that higher population density, greater diversity of points of interest, and proximity to city centers promote more balanced DLBS flows, whereas high road network density and concentrations of subway stations, residential communities, and firms intensify imbalances. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing the operational efficiency of DLBS systems and supporting informed transportation management and urban planning practices. Full article

The combined effects of climate change and socio-economic development have intensified the risk of water supply–demand imbalance in China. To project future trends, this study develops a multi-scenario coupled prediction framework integrating climate, socio-economic, and human activity drivers, combining data-driven and physically based modeling approaches to assess terrestrial water storage imbalance in nine major river basins under six representative SSP–RCP scenarios through the end of the 21st century. Using ISIMIP multi-model runoff outputs along with GDP and population projections, agricultural, industrial, and domestic water demands were estimated. A Water Conflict Index was proposed by integrating the Water Supply–Demand Stress Index and the Standardized Hydrological Runoff Index to identify high-risk basins. Results show that under high-emission scenarios, the WCI in the Yellow River, Hai River, and Northwest Rivers remains high, peaking during 2040–2069, while low-emission scenarios significantly alleviate stress in most basins. Water allocation inequity is mainly driven by insufficient supply in arid northern regions and limited redistribution capacity in resource-rich southern basins. Targeted strategies are recommended for different risk types, including inter-basin water transfer, optimization of water use structure and pricing policies, and the development of resilient management systems, providing scenario-based quantitative support for future water security and policy-making in China. Full article

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is influenced by disturbances in lipoprotein composition and metabolism, including triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and elevated lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). While interactions between Lp(a) and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) have been studied in hypertriglyceridemic and CVD populations, data in normotriglyceridemic individuals without CV events are limited. Seventy normotriglyceridemic adults with triglycerides < 150 mg/dL and no CV events were enrolled and divided into two groups based on Lp(a) concentration: <30 mg/dL and ≥30 mg/dL. VLDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation, and concentrations of Lp(a), lipids (triglycerides, cholesterol), and apolipoproteins (apo B, apo C-II, apo C-III, apo E) were measured in serum and VLDL. Serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations did not differ between the groups. Individuals with Lp(a) ≥ 30 mg/dL had significantly higher VLDL concentrations of triglycerides (+71%), cholesterol (+54%), apo B (+28%), apo C-II (+36%), and apo C-III (+33%). Ratios of lipids and apolipoproteins to apo B indicated unchanged VLDL particle composition, suggesting that differences reflected increased particle number rather than altered composition. In normotriglyceridemic subjects with Lp(a) ≥ 30 mg/dL, VLDL particles are more abundant but compositionally unchanged. Redistribution of lipids and apolipoproteins toward VLDL may contribute to VLDL residual cardiovascular risk, underscoring the need for further studies on VLDL-Lp(a) interactions. Full article

Against the dual backdrop of rapid population aging and legacy neighborhood renewal, morphologically planning-locked legacy neighborhoods in high-density cities face persistent imbalances in outdoor activity spaces that undermine aging-in-place participation and health equity. This study advances a Spatial Pathology framework. Using nine representative communities in Longtan Subdistrict, Dongcheng District, Beijing, we develop a GIS-assisted spatial audit, a systematic behavioral observation protocol with temporal-intensity metrics, and a validated perception instrument. These tools form a closed evidentiary loop with explicit indicator definitions, formulas, and decision thresholds, alongside a reproducible analytic and visualization pipeline. Tri-dimensional baselines revealed substantial inter-community disparities: Spatial Quality Index (SQI) ranged from 43.3 to 77.0; activity intensity varied from 1.5 to 15.7 persons/100 m²·hour; and overall satisfaction scores spanned 3.88–4.49. It quantifies and identifies three core paradoxes in outdoor activity spaces within this context: (1) the Functional Failure Paradox with FFI exceeding +0.5 and ELR surpassing 60% in dormant communities; (2) the Value Misalignment Paradox where Facilities & Equipment showed the strongest satisfaction impact (β = 0.344) yet the largest unmet-need gap (VQGI > +8); (3) the Practice–Perception Decoupling Paradox evidenced by a negative correlation (r = −0.38) between usage intensity and satisfaction. These paradoxes reveal the spatial roots of planning-locked legacy neighborhoods—compound mechanisms of planning inertia, decision–demand information gaps, and elderly adaptability masking environmental deficits. We translate the diagnosis into typology-specific prescriptions—reactivating dormant spaces via “route–node–plane” continuity and proximal micro-spaces; decongesting peak periods through elastic zoning and equipment redistribution; and precision calibration of facilities and walking loops—implemented through co-creation and light-touch stewardship. This provides evidence-based, precision-targeted intervention pathways for micro-renewal of aging neighborhoods, supporting localized implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities; SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities). This methodological framework is transferable to other high-density aging cities, offering theoretical scaffolding and empirical reference for multi-source geographic data-driven urban spatial analysis and equity-oriented age-friendly retrofitting. Full article

It is now widely accepted among sustainability scholars that only a postgrowth future, involving a voluntary, democratically negotiated, equitable downscaling of societies’ physical throughput can succeed in addressing the environmental crisis. A significant challenge for proponents of such a change is the maintenance of human wellbeing in postgrowth Global North societies, where welfare systems are closely tied to economic growth. Policies, like Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Universal Basic Services (UBS) have been proposed using needs-based criteria to operationalize wellbeing but face political resistance due to financing concerns—their requirement for significant redistributive taxation reducing affluent groups’ consumption. This article explores a potential solution to this problem: a broadening of need conceptualizations beyond thin approaches, associated with Doyal and Gough’s work, to systematically incorporate thicker eudaimonic understandings. These highlight more fully non-material needs affecting a broader cross-section of the population. The article focuses on the world of paid and unpaid work to show that such an approach can successfully highlight non-material needs affecting a wide range of the population. However, using illustratively the popular postgrowth social policy option of working time reduction (WTR), it also shows that responding to such needs could generate significant trade-offs with other wellbeing goals and is likely to require a much broader postgrowth social policy agenda, if strongly entrenched growth and consumption norms are to be challenged. This would involve more detailed consideration of the wellbeing role of provisioning system elements other than the traditional welfare state. Full article