Search Results (512)

Urban trees play a critical role in mitigating climate change by capturing atmospheric CO₂ and providing multiple co-benefits, including cooling urban environments, reducing building energy demand, and enhancing citizens’ physical and psychological well-being. This study presents the Co Carbon Trees Measurement project, a citizen science initiative implemented in the city of Viladecans, Spain, involving 658 students, local administration, and academia, three components of the EU mission’s quadruple helix governance model. Over one year, 1274 urban trees were measured for trunk diameter and height to quantify annual CO₂ sequestration using a direct measurement approach combining field data collection with a mobile application for a height assessment and a flexible measuring tape for diameter. Results indicate that carbon fixation increases with tree size, displaying a parabolic function with larger trees sequestering significantly more CO₂. A range between 10 and 20 kg of CO₂ is sequestered by the urban trees in the period 2024–2025. The study also highlights the broader benefits of urban trees, including shading, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, and positive impacts on mental health and social cohesion. While the total CO₂ captured in Viladecans (≈810 tons/year) is small relative to city emissions (≈170,000 tons/year), the methodology demonstrates a scalable, replicable approach for monitoring progress toward climate neutrality and integrating urban trees into planning and climate action strategies. This approach positions green infrastructure as a central component of sustainable and resilient urban development. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nigeria continues to face major challenges in achieving equitable immunisation coverage, with marked subnational disparities. This study aimed to assess trends in vaccine access and utilisation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones between 2018 and 2024, focusing on inequities in DTP coverage, dropout rates, and zero-dose prevalence. Methods: We conducted a comparative ecological analysis using secondary data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (2018, 2024) and the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/National Immunisation Coverage Survey. Geometric mean coverage for penta 1 (DTP1) and penta 3 (DTP3), DTP1–DTP3 dropout rates, and zero-dose prevalence were calculated for each of the six geopolitical zones and analysed using WHO’s Health Equity Assessment Toolkit Plus. Absolute (difference, D) and relative (ratio, R) summary measures of inequality were also assessed. Results: Findings revealed statistically significant differences in indicators across the various regions during the period of study. While the South-East maintained >90% DTP1 coverage, the North-West declined from 37.3% (2018) to 33.4% (2024). In the same period, the absolute inequality (D) in DTP1 coverage increased from 55.3 to 58.4 percentage points. Zero-dose inequities worsened sharply: prevalence in the North-West rose from 25.7% (2021) to 47.4% (2024) compared to ~4% in the South-East, with a relative inequality (R) of 11.29 in 2024. In contrast, service utilisation improved, as dropout rates in the North-West fell from 38.7% (2018) to 14.3% (2024), reducing absolute inequality to 11.0 pp. Conclusions: Despite progress in reducing dropout, access to vaccination services remains highly inequitable, particularly in northern Nigeria. Declines since 2021 suggest systemic fragility compounded by COVID-19-related disruptions. Strengthening sustainable routine immunisation systems and investing in demand generation, especially through social and behaviour change communication, are essential to achieving equity. Full article

Rural revitalization relies on both industrial upgrading and cultural reinvigoration. Tea-culture–tourism integration has been regarded as a potentially effective route for advancing rural revitalization, yet its interactive relationship and dynamic evolution remain insufficiently understood. Based on provincial-level panel data from 18 major tea-producing provinces in China between 2013 and 2022, this study constructs two comprehensive evaluation index systems for tea–culture–tourism integration and rural revitalization. It employs the entropy weight method, the coupling coordination degree model, the Dagum Gini coefficient decomposition, and spatial econometric models to measure their coupling coordination degree and analyze its spatiotemporal pattern, regional disparities, and driving factors. The main findings are as follows: (1) Both tea–culture–tourism integration and rural revitalization exhibited upward trends, with the latter being consistently higher. (2) The coupling coordination degree transitioned from dissonance to coordination, spatially forming a gradient progression pattern of “coastal-river-inland”. (3) Regional disparities were primarily dominated by transvariation density and inter-regional differences. (4) Results of spatial econometric models indicated that fiscal conditions exerted a significant positive direct effect, while urban–rural social development, employment structure, and human capital generated significant positive direct and indirect effects. Full article

Background/Objectives: The benefits of nature-based interventions to support well-being and mental health are increasingly well-documented in the literature; however, study of an occupational therapy gardening program for adolescents with exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is limited. Methods: This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel school gardening program for youth with a history of ACEs including the following: (1) recruitment; (2) data collection procedures and outcome measures; (3) acceptability and suitability of the intervention; and (4) evaluation of the response to a gardening intervention as measured by a visual analog scale of emotional state, a heartbeat counting task designed to capture changes in interoceptive awareness, and qualitative data from the teacher and researchers. This feasibility study was designed as an 8- to 10-week program (10 sessions minimum) to accommodate the school’s academic curriculum and support the participants’ academic progression. Three adolescents were recruited, ages 12–17, two of whom completed a shorter version of the program and one who dropped out. Results: Results indicated the gardening intervention recruitment and data collection procedures were feasible. Intervention was acceptable to participants. Outcome measures that produce both quantitative and qualitative changes are needed. Interoceptive measures show promise but require further refinement. Response to intervention seemed to be influenced by the participant’s psychosocial history but suggests possible changes in prosocial behavior. External factors such as absenteeism influenced aspects of participation, including frequency and duration of intervention. Conclusions: These findings suggest gardening interventions in occupational therapy are feasible and suitable for adolescents with a history of adversity. Potential exists for enhanced social connectedness, which supports mental health and well-being. Suggestions are offered for implementation and outcome measurements appropriate for this population. Full article

The circular economy represents one of the key pillars of European Union strategies aiming to decouple growth from resource utilization. The circular economy has emerged as a key flagship for European policies related to sustainable agri-food systems, potentially decreasing pressures on resources and the environment while ensuring economic competitiveness. In this context, this study proposed to measure the circularity performance of the Romanian agri-food system compared with average European Union performance, based on Eurostat data indicators for the years 2014 and 2022 and a normalized composite index composed of the economic, environmental, and social pillars. Indicator scores were categorized by higher-is-better or lower-is-better, constrained in the interval [0, 5] and then aggregated with equal weights. The composite index for Romania exhibited values ranging from 3.14 in 2014 to 3.45 in 2022, showing moderate progress. The results indicate a fragmentary transition where areas of strength for Romania were material resilience and trade. At the same time, areas of weakness were the economic integration of circularity practices. The study’s main limitations arise from the limited agri-food specificity of available indicators and the sensitivity of results to weighting choices. Overall, the findings highlight the need for stronger institutional mechanisms and targeted investments to accelerate Romania’s transition toward a circular agri-food economy. Full article

The Yangtze River fishing ban policy is a central measure in China’s watershed governance, and the adaptability of its policy tools and collaborative mechanisms directly influences the sustainability and effectiveness of basin management. This study systematically examines the evolution of policy themes, the characteristics of policy tool combinations, and their alignment with intergovernmental collaborative governance needs, drawing on 120 central government policy texts issued between 2002 and 2024. Using frequency analysis and policy tool coding, the findings reveal that (1) policy themes have shifted from fishery resource control to comprehensive ecological protection and, more recently, to integrated watershed management, thereby driving progressively higher demands for intergovernmental collaboration. (2) The policy tool structure has long been dominated by environmental tools, supplemented by supply-side tools, while demand-side tools remain underdeveloped. Imbalances persist, such as excessive emphasis on resource inputs over capacity building in supply-side tools, rigid constraints with limited flexibility in environmental tools, and a reliance on publicity while underutilizing market incentives in demand-side tools. (3) Tool combinations have adapted to changing collaboration needs, evolving from rigid constraints and fiscal subsidies to institutional frameworks and cross-regional cooperation, ultimately forming a governance model characterized by systemic guarantees and diversified collaboration. Based on these findings, this study recommends strengthening long-term governance mechanisms, improving cross-regional collaborative structures, authorizing local governments to design context-specific implementation details, enhancing fishermen’s livelihood security and social development, expanding public participation and oversight, and exploring market mechanisms for realizing ecological product value. These measures aim to advance collaborative governance in the Yangtze River Basin and foster a balanced integration of ecological protection and social development. Full article

Background: Frailty is a common syndrome amongst older individuals characterized by a progressive long-term loss of physical and or cognitive resilience. Given the high prevalence and chronic conditions and the lack of literature on frailty among rural older individuals in South Africa, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in older individuals residing in Limpopo province. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, comprising 546 participants (48.4% males and 51.6% females) using Africa Wits-INDEPTH Partnership for Genomic Research (AWI-Gen) phase 2 data. Convenient sampling was used to select the participants. Frailty was measured using the five criteria proposed by Fried. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 27. Results: The mean age (SD) of the participants was 66.78 ± 5.72. The proportion of individuals living with frailty was 26.4%. Individuals living with frailty were significantly older than both pre-frail and non-frail individuals. Current smokers significantly had higher proportion of frailty compared to both pre-frail and non-frail. The proportion of frailty reduced as the level of education increased. The present study found no association between biological sex and frailty. The likelihood of having frailty increased with age. On the unadjusted model, there was a significant association between frailty and 66 and above age group (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.00–2.60). On the fully adjusted model the same age group was 1.75 more likely to be frail with a p value of 0.001. The present study found no significant association between marital status, smoking, alcohol status, current smoker, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity with frailty. Centrally obese participants were 0.48 and 0.37 times less likely to have frailty on unadjusted and adjusted models, respectively. Participants with dyslipidemia indicated by high total cholesterol (TC) were 2.25 times more likely to be associated with frailty. Conclusions: The prevalence of frailty was 26.4% and it was associated with age, educational status and dyslipidemia. Based on the findings of the present study, the authors recommend implementation of screening programs, for frailty in healthcare settings, especially targeting older adults with comorbidities. Full article

Rural community development in China has made progress under the rapid implementation of the rural revitalization strategy; however, it has also revealed challenges such as an overemphasis on spatial construction, severe homogenization, and low sustainability. Existing research on rural community development lacks sufficient localized experience, and there is a limited understanding of how the development process is generated, maintained, and evolved. This study examines Xiongfan Village in Dawu County, Hubei Province, using an innovative methodological integration of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) and Social Network Analysis (SNA). This mixed-methods approach qualitatively traces the formation of networks involving both human and non-human actors, while quantitatively mapping the collaborative structure among human actors. Qualitative analysis of actor networks identifies both human actors (such as government departments, enterprises, social organizations, and villagers) and non-human actors (such as natural and cultural landscapes) as key participants. Through processes like recruitment, mobilization, and dispute resolution, various actors have formed interest alliances centered around the core issue of “revitalizing and sustainably developing rural community resources.” Quantitative social network analysis reveals a “core-periphery” structure, with government departments and social organizations occupying central roles, while business institutions and community villagers are positioned at the periphery. This distribution contrasts with the overarching goal of community development, which seeks to enhance villagers′ intrinsic motivation. The study suggests that rural community development in this area can be improved by diversifying co-construction forms, restructuring core groups, and empowering peripheral actors. These measures will facilitate a shift from single-space development to enhanced community capacity-building, ultimately promoting sustainable rural development. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event in contemporary history, with far-reaching repercussions for the global economy and society. This article examines the economic challenges and consequences of this pandemic for women. It further explores the pandemic effects on women’s health and well-being, exacerbated by the limited access to basic healthcare and mental health resources, and it points out the challenges facing women in frontline occupations (namely, healthcare). This article also highlights the alarming surge in domestic violence and abuse against women during the pandemic, aggravated by lockdown measures and isolation from support networks. In addition, this article discusses various social and political implications of this pandemic for women, and it reveals how women demonstrated significant resilience over the pandemic-related struggles. The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to persist in the post-pandemic era as they intersect with ongoing social and economic transformations and new events/crises. At this point, it remains to be determined to what extent this pandemic has decelerated (or even reversed) the progress that was made over the past few decades in terms of reducing gender inequality and enhancing women’s social status, and to what degree women’s resilience in the face of this pandemic has mitigated its adverse effects on their economic opportunities and social positions. Nevertheless, this article aims to provide a reference for governments, women’s organizations, and policymakers in assessing the implications of this pandemic for women and in designing sustained and targeted measures to support women vis-à-vis future crises. Full article

AI chatbots have the potential to facilitate students’ academic progress and enhance knowledge accessibility in higher education, yet learners’ attitudes toward these technologies vary amid AI-driven disruptions, with factors influencing acceptance remaining debated. The current study constructs an integrated model based on Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM3), an extension of the original TAM, incorporating factors including Self-Efficacy, Perceived Enjoyment, Anxiety, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Usefulness, Output Quality, Social Influence, and Behavioral Intention, to explore determinants and mechanisms influencing learners’ acceptance of AI chatbots. This addresses key challenges in AI-augmented learning, such as personalization benefits versus risks like information inaccuracy and ethical concerns. Results from the questionnaire survey analysis with 265 valid responses reveal significant relationships: (1) self-efficacy significantly predicts perceived ease of use; (2) both perceived enjoyment and perceived ease of use positively influence perceived usefulness; and (3) self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, and social influence collectively exert significant effects on behavioral intention. Measurement invariance tests further indicate significant differences in acceptance between undergraduate and graduate students, suggesting academic level moderates behavioral intentions. Findings offer principled guidance for designing inclusive AI tools that mitigate accessibility barriers and promote equitable adoption in educational environments. Full article

Background/objectives: Aging is associated with a decline in physiological and cognitive functions. Periodontitis, a disease affecting the periodontal tissues, increases in prevalence with age. Bacteria and inflammatory mediators resulting from periodontitis can trigger neuroinflammation and potentially accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the association between periodontal status, salivary flow rate, salivary cortisol levels, and cytokine levels with cognitive status in elderly Indonesian subjects. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 70 participants aged ≥ 60 years from several social institutions in Jakarta and the Dental Hospital, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia. All participants provided written informed consent before the examination. Periodontal parameters, including plaque score, calculus index, bleeding on probing, number of remaining teeth, and functional tooth units, were assessed. Unstimulated salivary flow was collected over five minutes, and salivary cortisol levels were measured. Gingival crevicular fluid samples from the deepest periodontal pockets were collected to measure cytokine levels (TNF-α and IL-1β). Both cortisol and cytokine levels were analyzed using ELISA. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test. Results: Plaque score, calculus index, and bleeding on probing were moderately associated with cognitive scores (p < 0.05). In contrast, the number of remaining teeth, functional tooth units, periodontitis severity, salivary flow rate, salivary cortisol, and cytokine levels were not significantly associated with cognitive scores (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that elderly individuals with cognitive impairment tend to have poorer periodontal health than those with normal cognitive function. Full article

Social media has dramatically impacted all sectors of society, including public communication and governmental relations. Most countries have increasingly incorporated it into their communication strategies. However, there is little research on this subject. This study tackled this gap by analyzing the existing literature and comprehending the objectives, determinant factors, and consequences of social media use by governments. It investigated the practice of such measures on Portuguese governmental communication to understand the low levels of engagement identified through the research. The governmental accounts were subjected to two types of analysis to achieve a practical means of classification. The exploratory analysis of the @govpt account data (18,071) tweets used various methods specific to user-generated content. Fourteen public agencies’ tweets (39,965) underwent the transparency, participation, collaboration, and comfort (TPCC) index computations, developing four factors to calculate the public sector’s digital communication success. The TPCC Index results revealed the lowest development rates, with participation and collaboration being the least developed factors. Only 107 mentions were found across 59,036 tweets, and explicit co-creation terms appeared 303 times. Furthermore, the analyzed accounts did not progress to the deeper stages of connection with governments’ possible exploration n. This research’s main achievements and contributions consist of contemplating the Portuguese case study while proposing and validating the TPCC Index metrics’ modifications for X data analysis. Full article

Bridges play an increasingly indispensable role in endorsing the economic and social development of societies by linking highways and facilitating the mobility of people and goods. Concurrently, they are susceptible to high traffic volumes and an intricate service environment over their lifespans, resulting in undergoing a progressive deterioration process. Hence, efficient measures of maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation planning are critical to boost the performance condition, safety, and structural integrity of bridges while evading less costly interventions. To this end, this research paper furnishes a mixed review method, comprising systematic literature and scientometric reviews, for the meticulous examination and analysis of the existing research work in relation with maintenance fund allocation models of bridges (BriMai_all). With that in mind, Scopus and Web of Science databases are harnessed collectively to retrieve peer-reviewed journal articles on the subject, culminating in 380 indexed journal articles over the study period (1990–2025). In this respect, VOSviewer and Bibliometrix R package are utilized to create a visualization network of the literature database, covering keyword co-occurrence analysis, country co-authorship analysis, institution co-authorship analysis, journal co-citation analysis, journal co-citation, core journal analysis, and temporal trends. Subsequently, a rigorous systematic literature review is rendered to synthesize the adopted tools and prominent trends of the relevant state of the art. Particularly, the conducted multi-dimensional review examines the six dominant methodical paradigms of bridge maintenance management: (1) multi-criteria decision making, (2) life cycle assessment, (3) digital twins, (4) inspection planning, (5) artificial intelligence, and (6) optimization. It can be argued that this research paper could assist asset managers with a practical guide and a protocol to plan maintenance expenditures and implement sustainable practices for bridges under deterioration. Full article

Ilha de Moçambique is an island off the northern coast of Mozambique, covering an area of 1.5 km². Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, the island is currently under threat due to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events caused by climate change. Cyclonic events and pluvial floods have led to the progressive degradation of buildings and are compromising the integrity of the site. Furthermore, the island’s economic and social vulnerability is also worsening. The article aims to critically review the strategic planning approaches adopted for climate adaptation on Ilha de Moçambique. The objective is to identify and assess the planning instruments implemented to protect coastal urban heritage in light of contemporary challenges. Methodologically, a literature review is conducted based on the analysis of a collection of plans dedicated to adapting to climate change and heritage preservation. The results reveal that current planning approaches remain fragmented and insufficient, reducing their practical impact. There is a notable absence of planning instruments specifically designed to integrate cultural heritage preservation with urban climate adaptation. In conclusion, although some initiatives are underway, significant gaps persist in the strategic planning framework, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive integrated and adaptive measures to safeguard the island’s urban heritage and community in the long term. Full article

This survey investigates the concept of transitive self-reflection as a fundamental criterion for detecting and measuring intelligence. We explore the manifestation of this ability in humans, consider its potential presence in other animals, and discuss the challenges and possibilities of replicating it in artificial intelligence systems. Transitive self-reflection is characterized by an awareness of oneself through complex cognitive abilities rooted in evolutionary mechanisms that are innate in humans. Although transitive self-reflection cannot be fully replicated in AI as an origin, its behavioral characteristics can be analyzed and, to some extent, imitated. The study delves into various forms of transitive self-reflection, including self-recognition, object-mediated self-reflection, and reflective social cognition, highlighting their philosophical roots and recent advancements in cognitive science. We also examine the multifaceted nature of intelligence, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. Despite significant progress, current AI systems lack true transitive self-reflection. Developing AI with this capability requires advances in knowledge representation, reasoning algorithms, and machine learning. Incorporating transitive self-reflection into AI systems holds transformative potential for creating socially adept and more human-like intelligence in machines. This research underscores the importance of transitive self-reflection in advancing our understanding of and the development of intelligent systems. Full article