Search Results (218)

This study examines the social, economic and cultural impacts that Latin American women face due to climate-induced displacement, considering these impacts as arenas of conflict and negotiation. Using an intersectional framework, the study analyses how climate disasters exacerbate structural inequalities rooted in patriarchal systems, thereby constraining women’s adaptive capacity while simultaneously catalysing resistance strategies. Through a comparative analysis of Bangladesh and the Dry Corridor in Central America using a Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI), the study reveals that displaced women navigate contested spaces, disputing access to resources, legal recognition and territorial belonging, while constructing transnational solidarity networks and cooperative economies. The emergence of women climate refugees challenges international legal frameworks, exposing critical gaps in protection regimes. The findings emphasise the need for gender-responsive policies that recognise women as transformative agents who negotiate power asymmetries in contexts of environmental crisis, not merely as vulnerable populations. This research contributes to our understanding of the nexus between climate change, gender and migration by foregrounding the dialectic of domination and agency in Latin American displacement processes. Full article

Understanding how inner development capacities are embodied at biological levels remains an underexplored dimension of planetary health research. The aim of this viewpoint is to provide transdisciplinary integration across neuroscience, cell biology, education, and social systems toward addressing planetary health challenges. Despite growing recognition of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework as complementary to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the biophysical dynamics underlying personal and collective transformation remain largely unexplored. This viewpoint presents key molecular pathways that may underpin the Embodied Neuroplastic Resilience Model (ENRM) via calcium signaling and hyaluronan (the CHA axis). This viewpoint explores educational and therapeutic implications while simultaneously illuminating how socioeconomic inequalities constrain access to neuroplasticity-supporting practices. Four key conclusions emerge: (1) The CHA axis provides a compelling mechanistic framework for understanding how bodily experiences can reshape neural circuits through calcium signaling and hyaluronic acid matrix dynamics; (2) Mapping molecular mechanisms to complex human inner development capacities remains provisional, requiring further interdisciplinary investigation; (3) Socioeconomic inequality creates structural barriers to neuroplasticity and inner development, necessitating an integrated approach that connects mechanistic understanding with equitable access to transformative practices; (4) Enhanced understanding of embodied neuroplasticity must serve compassion and systemic transformation, moving beyond individual optimization toward collective well-being. By bridging neuroscience and sustainability frameworks, this viewpoint calls for a nuanced understanding of inner development that transcends individual optimization and emphasizes collective transformation. 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

Visual cues in urban street environments shape residents’ perceived safety, and these perceptions often differ across social groups. Using Shanghai as a case study, this research focuses on two vulnerable populations: older adults and migrants. In the context of rapid urban transformation and increasingly fine-grained governance, perceived safety not only reflects environmental experience but also relates to whether different social groups can receive equitable perceptual support and access to opportunities for public-space use. We trained a deep learning model and rated perceived safety using over 160,000 street-level images, integrated with demographic census data at the neighborhood level, to systematically examine inequalities in visual environment perception and underlying group-specific mechanisms. However, existing studies have largely relied on small-sample surveys or average-effect analyses, and systematic evidence remains limited that can simultaneously characterize city-scale inequalities in perceived safety, disparities in group exposure, and group-specific mechanisms, while translating findings into actionable guidance for targeted governance. Firstly, we quantified spatial inequality in perceived safety using the Gini coefficient and the Theil T index. Decomposition results indicate that the remaining disparity is primarily associated with between-group differences linked to social structure. Nonparametric tests and multiple linear regression further identified significant interactions between demographic characteristics (the share of older adults and the migrant proportion) and visual environmental features, confirming group-differentiated responses to comparable streetscape conditions. In addition, we developed a priority governance index that combines perceived safety scores with vulnerability indicators to spatially identify neighborhoods requiring targeted interventions. Results suggest relatively low overall spatial inequality in perceived safety at the city scale, while decomposition analyses reveal clear group-structured disparities between central and peripheral areas and between local residents and migrants. Migrants are more frequently concentrated in neighborhoods with lower perceived safety. Priority intervention areas are primarily older-adult communities in central districts and migrant settlements in peripheral areas, characterized by lower perceived safety and higher demographic vulnerability. These findings underscore the need to shift urban renewal from uniform improvements toward differentiated strategies that account for perceptual equity and social identity. Our main contribution is not the development of a new network architecture but the alignment of image-based perception estimates with demographic vulnerability at the neighborhood scale. By combining inequality decomposition with tests of interaction mechanisms, we provide governance-relevant evidence for identifying priority intervention areas and advancing fine-grained renewal decisions oriented toward visual justice. Full article

Although scholarship has long called for attention to the intersection of race and gender in workplace harassment, the experiences of Black Americans remain insufficiently theorized. Existing frameworks often assume harassment to be gender-based in ways that center White women’s victimization, leaving limited conceptual space to understand how Black women and Black men are targeted. In this essay, we synthesize research on racialized sex-based harassment (RSBH) to illustrate how harassment directed at Black Americans is shaped by cultural narratives that simultaneously sexualize, criminalize, and devalue them. Specifically, we introduce sociohistorical archetypes (e.g., Jezebel, Mammy, Sapphire, Mandingo, Brute, Uncle Tom) as cultural mechanisms through which RSBH is enacted, rationalized, and normalized within organizational contexts. We argue that RSBH functions as a mechanism for enforcing racialized gender hierarchy: it draws on sociohistorical meanings attached to Black femininity and masculinity to mark certain identities as inherently available, threatening, or subordinate. We further review evidence linking RSBH to psychological distress, social identity threat, physiological strain, and career stagnation, as well as factors that shape vulnerability and adaptation. By conceptualizing RSBH as a patterned and predictable form of identity-based harm, grounded in the lasting impact of sociohistorical archetypes, rather than a variation of generalized sexual harassment, this work advances theories of harassment and race in organizations. We conclude by outlining implications for measurement, organizational policy, and intervention efforts aimed at disrupting the reproduction of racialized gender inequality at work. Full article

This paper investigates the robust fault-tolerant control (FTC) problem for interval type-2 fuzzy systems (IT2FS) with simultaneous time-varying input and state delays. In order to more comprehensively capture system uncertainties, an Interval Type-2 (IT2) fuzzy model is constructed, which, compared to the conventional Interval Type-1 model, better captures the uncertainty information of the system. A premise-mismatched fault-tolerant controller is designed to ensure system stability in the presence of actuator faults, while providing greater flexibility in the selection of membership functions. In the stability analysis, a novel Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is formulated, incorporating membership-dependent matrices and delay-product terms, leading to sufficient conditions for closed-loop stability based on linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A numerical simulation and a practical physical model are used, respectively, to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Comparative experiments further reveal the impact of input delays and actuator faults on closed-loop performance, verifying the effectiveness and robustness of the designed controller, as well as the superiority of interval type-2 over interval type-1. Full article

In this paper, we investigate contact skew CR-warped product submanifolds of locally conformal almost cosymplectic manifolds, a framework that simultaneously generalizes warped product pseudo-slant, semi-slant, and contact CR-submanifolds. We first establish a necessary and sufficient characterization theorem showing that a proper contact skew CR-submanifold with integrable slant distribution admits a local warped product structure if and only if certain shape operator conditions involving the slant angle and the warping function are satisfied. Subsequently, we derive sharp geometric inequalities for the squared norm of the second fundamental form in terms of the warping function, the slant angle, and the conformal factor of the ambient manifold. The equality cases are completely characterized and lead to strong rigidity results, namely that the base manifold is totally geodesic while the slant fiber is totally umbilical in the ambient space. Several applications are presented, showing that our results recover and extend a number of known inequalities and classification theorems for warped product submanifolds in cosymplectic, Kenmotsu, and Sasakian geometries as special cases. Full article

Newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) has been performed in the United States (US) for decades, significantly reducing infant morbidity and mortality. A landmark clinical trial demonstrated that early identification of SCD enabled timely and life-saving prophylactic penicillin; this led to recommendations for universal NBS across the US. Early use of hydroxyurea as a safe and effective treatment for SCD further improved clinical outcomes by preventing acute and chronic disease complications. These advances add to the importance of early diagnosis through NBS, providing an opportunity for early treatment intervention. In recent years, high-resource countries—including those in Europe, the UK, and Canada—have adopted NBS for SCD using diverse strategies. Simultaneously, pilot programs in lower-resource settings such as Africa, Brazil, and India have demonstrated local feasibility and impact through implementation efforts. An overarching equity gap for achieving global NBS for SCD is the variable access to simple, accurate, and affordable testing. Other challenges include timing of NBS testing, targeted populations, laboratory methods, and parental education with genetic counseling. Questions remain about the equitable enrollment of affected infants worldwide into comprehensive care to ensure early treatment. These challenges raise concerns about sustainability, underscore the need for long-term funding and a strategic plan, and highlight persistent inequities from the lack of global NBS standards. Full article

This paper introduces a novel multidimensional half-discrete Hardy–Hilbert-type inequality that simultaneously addresses several key extensions in the literature. The inequality incorporates a general parameterized kernel involving a scalar term and the $\beta$-norm of a vector, and replaces the traditional discrete coefficient with a partial sum. Under suitable parameter conditions, the resulting inequality is sharper and preserves the optimal constant factor. The proof employs a systematic combination of weight-function techniques, parameter introduction, real-analysis methods, and the Euler–Maclaurin summation formula. Equivalent characterizations of the best possible constant are provided, and several meaningful corollaries are deduced, thereby unifying and generalizing a series of earlier inequalities. Full article

The development of generative artificial intelligence tools, including large language models, opens new opportunities for adult education while simultaneously posing the risk of deepening inequalities resulting from differences in digital competences and individual dispositions. The aim of this article is to examine how digital skills (DS) and personal innovativeness (PI) shape differentiated and advanced use of ChatGPT (UC) among adult learners in Poland, with particular attention to the moderating role of gender. The study was conducted using the CAWI method on a nationwide sample of 757 adult ChatGPT users engaged in upgrading their qualifications. Validated scales of DS, PI, and UC were applied, along with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) using the WLSMV estimator, as well as multigroup SEM for women and men. The results confirm that both digital skills (β ≈ 0.46) and personal innovativeness (β ≈ 0.37) significantly and positively predict advanced use of ChatGPT, jointly explaining approximately 41% of the variance in UC, with stronger effects observed among men than women. Attention is therefore drawn to the need to incorporate a gender perspective in further research on the use of GenAI in adult education The findings point to a stratification of GenAI use in adult education and underscore the need to incorporate critical digital competences and AI literacy into sustainable education policies in order to limit the reproduction of existing inequalities. Full article

China’s National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone (NECPZ) policy serves as a comprehensive policy for ecological and environmental sustainability that simultaneously enhances residents’ income. Using a panel dataset of 1761 counties in China from 2010 to 2022 and a staggered difference–in–differences (DID) methodology, this paper examines whether and through which mechanisms the NECPZ policy affects rural residents’ income. Our findings reveal that the NECPZ policy significantly increases rural residents’ income. The mechanism analysis indicates that ecological fiscal support, eco–industries’ development, and non–agricultural employment are crucial channels through which benefits are achieved. Furthermore, the NECPZ policy exhibits stronger effects in counties where rural residents have a lower income, suggesting its potential to mitigate income inequality. The income–enhancing effects also vary with local development conditions. Counties with higher agricultural endowments, stronger fiscal self-sufficiency, and greater entrepreneurial dynamism experience more pronounced gains. The NECPZ policy significantly increases rural residents’ income in the central–western regions, while the policy shows no positive effects in the eastern regions. These findings provide evidence on how the NECPZ leads to the growth of rural residents’ income, contributing to the design and implementation of ecological and environmental sustainability policies. Full article

Seismic disasters pose major challenges to urban resilience, particularly in high-density cities where the concentration of people, buildings, and infrastructure amplifies disaster risk. This study establishes a GIS-based analytical framework to evaluate the spatial distribution and fairness of seismic emergency shelters in Seoul, using built-up neighborhoods (called dongs in Korean) as the basic analytical unit. Three dimensions are assessed: (1) 500 m walking accessibility based on the road network; (2) redundancy, representing the number of shelters simultaneously reachable; and (3) fairness analysis, integrating spatial and population-based dimensions to reveal disparities between shelter provision and population demand. The results indicate that overall accessibility in Seoul is relatively high, with more than 50% of dongs achieving coverage levels above 50%. However, distinct spatial disparities remain. Central and mountainous areas, such as Jung-gu, Jongno-gu, and southern Seocho-gu, show coverage rates below 20%, while districts in the southwest and northeast exhibit higher redundancy. Fairness analysis further reveals inequality in shelter capacity relative to population: excluding null values, the median coverage ratio is 0.92 and the mean is 1.29, with only 44.97% of dongs achieving sufficient or surplus capacity (coverage ≥ 1). Notably, 44 dongs fall into the Low–High category, representing areas with large populations but limited shelter access, mainly concentrated in Jungnang-gu, Gangbuk-gu, and Yangcheon-gu. These dongs should be prioritized in future planning. Policy implications highlight strengthening shelter provision in high-population but low-coverage zones, incorporating evacuation functions into urban redevelopment, promoting inter-district resource sharing, and improving public awareness. The proposed framework provides a transferable model for optimizing seismic shelter systems in other high-density urban contexts. Full article

Sustainable language education necessitates scalable, accessible learning environments that foster long-term learner autonomy and reduce educational inequality. While online courses have democratized access to language learning globally, persistent deficiencies in instructor-student interaction and learner engagement compromise their sustainability. The “face effect,” denoting the influence of instructor facial appearance on learning outcomes, remains underexplored as a resource-efficient mechanism for enhancing engagement in digital environments. Furthermore, effective measures linking psychological engagement to sustained learning experiences are notably absent. This study addresses three research questions within a sustainable education framework: (1) How does instructor identity, particularly facial appearance, affect second language learners’ outcomes and interactivity in scalable online environments? (2) How can digital human technology dynamically personalize instructor appearance to support diverse learner populations in resource-efficient ways? (3) How does instructor identity influence learners’ flow state, a critical indicator of intrinsic motivation and self-directed learning capacity? Two controlled experiments with Japanese language learners examined three instructor identity conditions: real teacher identity, learner self-identity, and idol-inspired identity. Results demonstrated that the self-identity condition significantly enhanced oral performance and flow state dimensions, particularly concentration and weakened self-awareness. These findings indicate that identity-adaptive digital human instructors cultivate intrinsic motivation and learner autonomy, which are essential competencies for lifelong learning. This research advances Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by demonstrating that adaptive educational technology can simultaneously improve learning outcomes and psychological engagement in scalable, cost-effective online environments. The personalization capabilities of digital human instructors provide a sustainable pathway to reduce educational disparities while maintaining high-quality, engaging instruction accessible to diverse global populations. Full article

In this work, the author studied the quantitative approximation to the unit operator of three kinds of overactivated and spiked convolution type-operators. These operators have as a kernel a cusp coming from a constructed S-shaped finite-length arc, serving as a new activation function of compact support. This is derived from the composition of two general sigmoid activation functions with domain all reals. Our operators are positive linear ones and are treated as such. Initially we establish the basic convergence, then we move on to simultaneous and iterated approximations, all via inequalities and involving the modulus of continuity of the approximated univariate function. Full article

Based on existing models, this paper incorporates some key ecological factors, thereby obtaining a class of eco-epidemiological models that can more objectively reflect natural phenomena. This model simultaneously integrates disease dynamics within the prey population and the Beddington–DeAngelis functional response, thus achieving an organic combination of ecological dynamics, epidemic transmission, and spatial movement under time-varying environmental conditions. The proposed framework significantly enhances ecological realism by simultaneously accounting for spatial dispersal, predator–prey interactions, disease transmission within prey species, and seasonal or temporal variations, providing a comprehensive mathematical tool for analyzing complex eco-epidemiological systems. The theoretical results obtained from this study can be summarized as follows: Firstly, the existence and uniqueness of globally positive solutions for any positive initial data are rigorously established, ensuring the well-posedness and biological feasibility of the model over extended temporal scales. Secondly, analytically tractable sufficient conditions for uniform population persistence are derived, which elucidate the mechanisms of species coexistence and biodiversity preservation even under sustained epidemiological pressure. Thirdly, by employing innovative applications of differential inequalities and fixed point theory, the existence and uniqueness of a positive spatially homogeneous periodic solution in the presence of time-periodic coefficients are conclusively demonstrated, capturing essential rhythmicities inherent in natural systems. Fourthly, through a sophisticated combination of the upper and lower solution method for parabolic partial differential equations and Lyapunov stability theory, the global asymptotic stability of this periodic solution is rigorously established, offering a powerful analytical guarantee for long-term predictive modeling. Beyond theoretical contributions, these research findings provide actionable insights and quantitative analytical tools to tackle pressing ecological and public health challenges. They facilitate the prediction of thresholds for maintaining ecosystem stability using real-world data, enable the analysis and assessment of disease persistence in spatially structured environments, and offer robust theoretical support for the planning and design of wildlife management and conservation strategies. The derived criteria support evidence-based decision-making in areas such as controlling zoonotic disease outbreaks, maintaining ecosystem stability, and mitigating anthropogenic impacts on ecological communities. A representative numerical case study has been integrated into the analysis to verify all of the theoretical findings. In doing so, it effectively highlights the model’s substantial theoretical value in informing policy-making and advancing sustainable ecosystem management practices. Full article