Search Results (915)

Currently, autism researchers have limited knowledge about stakeholders’ priorities for research. This raises concerns because the autism community has increasingly called for more involvement in research. The present study aimed to provide initial insight into caregiver’s priorities for research that specifically focuses on language and communication in autistic children. Seventy-three caregivers of autistic children completed an online survey with an option to participate in a follow-up feedback session (n = 14). Within the survey, caregivers ranked the importance of 15 communication research topics. Participants also answered questions about barriers and incentives to participating in research. Caregivers highly ranked research that focuses on learning new words, echolalia, and learning to read. Additionally, 87% indicated that they would participate in research that did not involve intervention for their child. The top barrier to participating in autism research was time, and the top incentive was if a study was virtual. Associations between priority rankings and child language skills were also explored. Word learning research was particularly important to caregivers of children who communicated using shorter utterances or through augmentative and alternative communication devices, and research that focused on abstract language was particularly important to parents of autistic children with more advanced language skills. Caregiver feedback sessions provided additional insight into the rankings of research priorities. Caregivers of autistic children value pediatric language and communication research. Many valued research topics aligned with clinical goals in therapy (e.g., learning new words) and skills that highlight less understood learning and communication processes (e.g., echolalia). We discuss how these data can guide researchers as they conduct future autism research. Full article

Despite the institutional establishment of Regional Adaptation Action Plans (RAAPs), no systematic cross-regional assessment has examined their structure and implementation dynamics. The objective of this research is to categorize various adaptation strategies identified at the regional level within the 13 RAAPs of Greece and evaluate the current implementation status by introducing a three-pillar RAAP assessment approach including (i) typological classification of all RAAP measures (soft, development and hard), (ii) functional classification of sectoral measures applied to two indicative pilot regions (Crete and the Ionian Islands) and (iii) stakeholder insights on the implementation of regional adaptation. Each measure is assigned to its corresponding adaptation sector to enable cross-regional comparison. The implementation level is assessed through interviews with regional officials exploring criteria guiding measure selection, existing funding mechanisms and social consequences. These findings reveal the characteristics of early stage regional adaptation planning in Greece, where monitoring priorities, institutional capacity and sectoral exposure strongly shape adaptation strategies. Beyond descriptive mapping, the study introduces a structured multi-level analytical framework that offers a replicable tool for the comparative assessment of regional adaptation governance and advances research from policy-inventory approaches toward governance-oriented evaluation at the sub-national scale. Full article

Disaster Risk Management (DRM) for cultural heritage is increasingly recognized as a global priority, yet methodological harmonization and conceptual inconsistencies continue to hinder its effective implementation. This study develops and tests an integrated framework for Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA) applied to the Arian Baptistery of Ravenna—part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna since 1996. By combining elements from the ICCROM ABC Method, the IPCC/UNDRR conceptual models, and the QuiskScan model associated with the Nara Grid for value assessment, the research identifies the essential data, definitions, and conditions required to prepare a coherent risk knowledge base. The workflow includes five main steps: context analysis, stakeholder mapping, value assessment, terminological alignment, and risk components systematization. Results demonstrate that effective DRA depends not only on technical assessment of hazards but also on the integration of social, institutional, and governance factors that shape vulnerability. The study also proposes a hybrid hazard framework combining ICCROM’s Ten Agents of Deterioration with the UNDRR 2025 List of Hazards, expanding the concept of “dissociation” to include governance failures and socio-political risks. The Arian Baptistery thus serves as both a case study and a methodological laboratory, offering a replicable model for organizing knowledge, harmonizing terminology, and bridging disciplinary divides in cultural heritage risk management. Full article

Background: At the end of each year, stakeholders of the Essential Immunization Programme (EPI) in the DR Congo meet to review progress made and lessons learned from the implementation of the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) and to set priorities for the following year. This paper presents a conference report that summarizes the main outcomes of the 2025 annual review meeting, which took place from 15 to 20 December 2025, and attracted 76 participants. Conference takeaways: While the 2024 WUENIC data show that the DR Congo is off-track for the 2030 Immunization agenda targets for all antigens, the administrative coverages were reported as optimal in 2025. EPI activities are planned based on administrative coverages, likely overestimated. In 2025, 47% of health zones in North-Kivu, South-Kivu and Ituri (49 out of 104) were fully or partially controlled by armed groups, leading to partial disruptions of immunization service delivery. In 2025, the DR Congo successfully launched the measles–rubella vaccine introduction preceded by a catch-up vaccination campaign in children aged from 6 months to 14 years old and continued to roll out malaria vaccines using a phased approach. Conclusions: Learning from the implementation of the 2025 AOP, the EPI stakeholders adopted a set of priority actions for the immunization programme in 2026. Full article

The UN General Assembly (2015) emphasizes sustainable pathways to enhance resilience for people and nature, with future development driven by data and evidence. Sustainable development frameworks (e.g., the UN 2030 Agenda and the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement) highlight the importance of data and evidence in assessment and decision-making that respects national policies and priorities. Global advances in Earth observation (EO) data provision and digital solutions that increase efficiencies, timeliness, and affordability are making major contributions. However, many existing platforms rely on externally hosted cloud infrastructures and generic global classifications of environments that may not align with domestic statutory definitions, limiting national control over data governance, methodological standards, and regulatory reporting. These constraints have raised growing concerns regarding data and technological sovereignty for countries seeking authoritative, policy-ready environmental information. Using Wales (United Kingdom; UK) as an exemplar, this study showcases the design and implementation of a flexible, sovereign National Digital Infrastructure (NDI) that uses the Open Data Cube (ODC) to apply Living Earth, a novel and customizable approach for EO-focused environmental monitoring. Outputs are time series of land cover and habitat maps and change products, including post-event (e.g., fire, flood) management, which address key policy requirements and support land and water resource management (from freshwater to marine environments), while ensuring public dissemination. Major advantages include the sharing of consistent datasets across governments and partner organizations, minimizing duplication of effort, improving transparency, traceability, and reproducibility, fostering collaboration between diverse stakeholders and communities, promoting inclusivity in environmental management decision-making, and supporting sustainable outcomes. Full article

The construction sector is responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, making the decarbonisation of the existing building stock a critical priority. In this context, Digital Building Logbooks (DBLs) are increasingly promoted as digital tools to support renovation planning, data continuity, and circular economy practices across the building lifecycle. Despite growing policy attention, the adoption of DBLs in renovation projects remains limited in practice. This study provides one of the first empirical rankings of perceived barriers, benefits, and drivers influencing DBL adoption in renovation projects across Europe. An exploratory quantitative survey was conducted with a purposively selected sample of stakeholders involved in renovation-related activities. Likert-scale responses were analysed using descriptive ranking statistics and reliability testing, while qualitative data from open-ended responses were analysed using directed content analysis. The results indicate that stakeholders strongly recognise the benefits of DBLs, particularly in terms of improved access to reliable building information, informed decision-making, and support for circular renovation practices. However, adoption is constrained by regulatory uncertainty, limited awareness, and unclear governance and operational frameworks. The most influential drivers identified relate to interoperability with existing digital tools, rising awareness of DBLs among stakeholders, regulatory support, and the availability of standardised and operationally clear frameworks for DBL implementation. Full article

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is increasingly discussed as a potential supplement to climate-change mitigation, yet public and stakeholder judgments remain sensitive to knowledge, framing, and perceived risks. We examined how a structured university classroom module on SRM reshaped student perceptions using a matched pre–post survey design. Participants were students enrolled in an English-taught global climate change course (N = 106); 103 students provided valid matched responses after applying pre-specified exclusion rules. Self-rated SRM knowledge increased substantially after the module (mean change +0.47 on a 1–3 scale; Wilcoxon signed-rank p (Holm-adjusted) < 1 × 10⁻⁷; Cohen’s dz = 0.67). Support for SRM research remained moderately positive but did not increase (pre mean 3.76 to post mean 3.54 on a 1–5 scale). In contrast, support for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) deployment declined (pre mean 3.42 to post mean 2.95; p (Holm-adjusted) = 0.0084; dz = −0.33), and preferences shifted away from prioritizing climate intervention toward low-carbon development (mean change −0.68 on a 1–5 priority scale; p (Holm-adjusted) = 0.0001; dz = −0.45). Post-lecture models indicated that perceived benefits versus risks was the most consistent correlate of support across outcomes. Open-ended responses most frequently emphasized feasibility, unintended consequences, governance, and moral hazard. Overall, students largely endorsed SRM research as valuable while becoming more cautious about deployment and political prioritization, suggesting that balanced, structured instruction can sharpen sensitivity to evidence, uncertainty, and potential trade-offs that students also weighed in the survey. Full article

The overall objective of the study was to propose the application of the IRA principles and the WWP model in the Tejemujeres Cooperative, with the aim of strengthening its production and management system without compromising its social identity. To this end, a mixed descriptive and explanatory methodology was used. Surveys were conducted among the organization’s 110 members, and focus groups were conducted with internal and external stakeholders, in addition to a review of documents and bibliographic sources. This revealed structural limitations in the production system, such as a shortage of raw materials, low innovation, marketing difficulties, and limited technical training. However, the perception of economic sustainability remained positive, thanks to the social and cultural cohesion of the cooperative. Likewise, most of the members expressed openness to incorporating IRA principles and the WWP model, highlighting training, active participation in decision-making, strengthening internal governance, and creating commercial networks as priorities. In conclusion, it was determined that Tejemujeres’ main strength lies in its community identity and human capital, rather than in traditional economic indicators. The proposed theoretical frameworks were found to be relevant and adaptable to the context of the organization. Finally, a hybrid strategy is proposed that combines the participatory flexibility of the WWP model with the methodological rigor of the IRA principles, which will enable the cooperative to consolidate an innovative, sustainable, and culturally legitimate production system. Full article

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs), mixing conventional and renewable power sources and occasionally storage units, have become the norm regarding electricity generation. Robust long-term planning of such systems requires stakeholders to test different layouts and system configurations, while their operational management relies on forecasting surpluses and deficits to achieve optimal decision making. However, both tasks, which in fact constitute a flow allocation problem across power networks, are subject to multiple peculiarities, arising from the nonlinear dynamics of the underlying processes, subject to numerous technical and operational constraints. Interestingly, a mutual problem emerges in water resource systems, also comprising network-type storage, abstraction and conveyance components. In this vein, triggered from well-established simulation approaches from the water domain, we introduce a generic (i.e., topology-free) and time-agnostic framework, the key methodological elements of which are: (a) the graph-based representation of the power fluxes; (b) the effective handling of energy uses and constraints through virtual nodes and edges; (c) the implementation of priorities via proper assignment of virtual costs across all graph components; and (d) the configuration of the overall problem as a network linear programming context, which allows the use of exceptionally fast solvers. Specific adjustments are required to address highly complex issues within HRESs, particularly the representation of conventional thermal and pumped-storage hydropower units, as well as the power losses across transmission lines. The modeling approach is stress-tested by means of configuring a hypothetical HRES in a non-interconnected Aegean island, i.e., Sifnos, Greece. Full article

Climate change adaptation has become a central policy priority, requiring coordinated and systematic action. Cities, as areas highly exposed to climate-related risks, increasingly assume responsibility for implementing effective adaptation measures. In this context, municipalities are required to incorporate Urban Greening and Rainwater Management Concepts into their Climate Adaptation Plans. This paper presents a structured methodology for developing these strategic concepts as components of a City Adaptation Plan, in accordance with recent legislative mandates in Poland. Through case studies conducted in two Polish cities, we demonstrate an integrated approach that combines geospatial analysis, climate projections, planning document review, and participatory stakeholder workshops to produce comprehensive Greening and Rainwater Management Concepts. The methodology enables the identification of vulnerable areas and priority interventions for climate adaptation, strengthens the integration of nature-based solutions into urban planning, and reframes rainwater as a resource within urban systems. The resulting documents provide municipal authorities with an evidence-based framework for resilience planning, supporting funding applications and guiding future green infrastructure and drainage investments. The approach contributes to enhanced urban ecosystem services, improved flood mitigation and thermal regulation, participatory planning processes, and a stronger foundation for long-term urban resilience. Full article

Nano- and microplastics (NMPs), which are ubiquitous environmental pollutants, are commonly found in single-use plastic water bottles. They originate primarily from the bottle material itself with the amount increasing through mechanical wear. This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on the occurrence, health risks, and regulatory considerations concerning NMPs in single-use plastic water bottles. The review revealed that concentrations vary widely, leading to potential human exposure risks. Ingested NMPs can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, disruption of gut microbiota and potential bioaccumulation. Current health risk assessments are challenged by inconsistent methods and lack of standardized reference materials. While regulatory frameworks addressing NMP contamination are developing globally, they lack consistency and legally enforceable limits. Standardized detection and monitoring are emerging priorities, but legally enforceable limits and comprehensive policies are underdeveloped. This review highlights an urgent need for consistent regulations, standardized analysis methods, and research that examines realistic human exposure and toxicological impacts. To safeguard consumer health amidst escalating plastic utilization, it is essential for policymakers, researchers, industry, and public health stakeholders to coordinate their efforts to mitigate NMP contamination in single-use plastic water bottles. Full article

Accelerating decarbonization in hot-climate buildings requires integrated retrofit strategies that address energy performance, environmental impact, thermal comfort, and economic feasibility within a unified decision framework. This study develops and validates a simulation-driven multi-criteria approach to evaluate retrofit packages across three representative ASHRAE hot sub-climates (1B, 2B, 2A). An academic building was modeled using DesignBuilder (Stroud, UK) and validated in accordance with ASHRAE Guidelines. The retrofit analysis integrates envelope enhancements (insulation and reflective coatings), glazing-integrated photovoltaics (GIPV), rooftop photovoltaics (RTPV), and a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS). The performance evaluation incorporates dynamically simulated energy consumption, operational CO₂ emissions, thermal comfort indicators (PMV and DCH), and techno-economic metrics (IRR, ROI, PBP). Weighting factors were derived from a structured stakeholder consultation to reflect context-sensitive sustainability priorities. The results indicate energy reductions of approximately 51–57% and carbon emission reductions of 40–53% across the examined zones, while discomfort hours decreased by roughly 42–46%. This demonstrates significant improvements in thermal comfort under integrated retrofit strategies, particularly with DOAS integration, highlighting the importance of ventilation-driven comfort enhancement. Economic feasibility was climate-dependent; envelope-focused solutions yielded high returns, while integrated strategies delivered balanced environmental and economic performance. The proposed framework enables systematic, climate-specific prioritization of retrofit alternatives and supports scalable, economically viable NZEB transitions in rapidly expanding hot-climate educational infrastructure. Full article

Transit Signal Priority (TSP) enhances transit reliability by minimizing delays at signalized intersections, but its broader implementation is often hindered by organizational and procedural challenges. Although many studies have examined the technical performance of TSP systems, fewer have explored the organizational, regulatory, and procedural factors that affect their successful implementation. This study investigates TSP business procedures across multiple U.S. states by conducting structured interviews with key stakeholders and performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis. The study identified recurring barriers, including unclear leadership, staffing shortages, inconsistent permitting processes, incompatible equipment, and outdated infrastructure. In contrast, successful programs relied on regular interagency coordination, assigned TSP staff, centralized management, and simplified funding processes. We propose strategies such as assigning a lead agency, streamlining permitting through blanket procedures, shifting to cloud-based control systems, and linking grant funding to performance data. Full article

Coastal societies face increasing health risks from climate change, such as weather-related extreme conditions, environmental destruction, and the occurrence of epidemics, posing significant challenges to sustainable development. There is a need to accurately measure the risks in place through integrating the climate variability with socio-economic exposure and health components to support long-term resilience and sustainable adaptation. This study conceptualized and validated a composite index-based method to assess climate–health risks across three Indonesian coastal cities: Banda Aceh, Mataram, and Ambon. This validation process was conducted by checking for face validity and consistency between sub-indices, as well as conformity to existing frameworks in the literature. Using satellite-derived climate data, national socio-economic statistics, and public health records, we identified the key parameters (hazard, sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity) and quantified the risk levels for 190 villages. The results show that over 92% of villages fall into the high or very high risk categories, with universal high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity (78.95%). This points towards structural inequalities that hinder sustainable development. Spatial and quadrant analyses revealed region-specific vulnerabilities where Ambon showed higher hazard exposure (56% high and 42% very high). The findings provide policymakers and stakeholders with priority areas for targeted interventions and actionable suggestions to support public health planning, equitable resource allocation, and long-term sustainable coastal development. Full article

A substantial body of evidence supports the role of exercise in mitigating many effects of cancer and its treatments. However, services for survivors remain scarce, highlighting a significant research-to-practice gap. To address this gap, it is essential to explore strategies that could enhance the dissemination of evidence, supporting the translation of exercise oncology trial findings into clinical practice. To this end, this qualitative study aimed to explore the viewpoints of stakeholders (patients/healthcare professionals (HCPs)/policy makers/researchers) on the dissemination of exercise oncology trials. Stakeholders were invited to take part in a one-to-one semi-structured interview exploring their experiences of and preferences for exercise oncology trial dissemination. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a thematic approach. Thirty stakeholders were recruited: patients with a history of cancer (n = 14), healthcare professionals (HCPs) (n = 3), researchers (n = 10), and policy makers/healthcare management (n = 3). Median interview length was 14 min and 10 s (range 8 min 16 s to 37 min and 23 s). Three main themes were identified: (i) the need for enhanced dissemination strategies, (ii) engaging stakeholders throughout the study lifespan as key to facilitating effective dissemination, and (iii) tools to support closing the research-to-practice gap. Results indicate that stakeholders want dissemination approaches tailored to the intended audience and presented in formats that are accessible both linguistically and practically, recognising the individuality of each stakeholder group. To support this, three main recommendations were generated: (i) engage all stakeholders throughout the entire research project, from planning to dissemination, to ensure that dissemination avenues are appropriately targeted; (ii) implement a multi-component dissemination strategy that incorporates multiple avenues, blending traditional and innovative approaches to address the priorities of specific stakeholder groups; (iii) adopt multiple communication approaches that extend beyond written format alone and use stakeholder-specific language which is understandable to target audience while maintaining credibility and rigour. Full article