Search Results (4,065)

In contemporary debates on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, there is growing recognition that artificial intelligence (AI) may contribute meaningfully to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), particularly by enhancing the efficiency of food aid distribution and resource allocation. However, such optimism must be critically situated within the broader institutional and ethical contexts in which AI operates. This study argues that the effectiveness of AI in conflict-affected settings is contingent not only on technical capacity but also on governance structures, ethical safeguards, and institutional trust, dimensions closely aligned with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Using the Gaza Strip as a case study, this article demonstrates that AI-driven food assistance mechanisms may inadvertently reinforce structural vulnerabilities. Specifically, algorithmic targeting of aid risks deepening dependency, exacerbating digital exclusion, and weakening already fragile governance systems. The absence of robust data accountability frameworks further complicates these dynamics, raising concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and long-term sustainability. The findings caution against privileging technical efficiency at the expense of socio-political stability. Rather, they highlight that the sustainability of AI interventions in humanitarian contexts fundamentally depends on the credibility and legitimacy of institutions. Accordingly, this study proposes a conceptual model for AI in hunger relief and digital humanitarianism that integrates technical innovation with institutional accountability and social trust. This study presents a narrative review informed by structural searching that examines the influence of AI on food security interventions in fragile contexts. This analysis applies a combined ethical governance and sustainability lens to assess current applications and risks. This research advances a broader analytical framework that moves beyond purely technical interpretations of AI, emphasizing its role as a socio-political tool, through identifying five key pillars for sustainable AI governance: data sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, inclusive system design, community-led governance, and market integrity. Full article

Extreme weather events have raised the frequency of power outages, posing critical challenges to the sustainability and resilience of modern power systems. In such cases, distributed energy resources (DERs) can effectively support the re-establishment of sustainable power supply for critical loads within the distribution network and reduce power outage losses. In this paper, a sustainable fault recovery framework based on an intentional islanding scheme is proposed to partition the distribution system in order to optimize the priority restoration of critical loads, while taking the operational constraints of the system into consideration. In addition, a blockchain-based P2P insurance mechanism is applied to mitigate the outage losses of the network’s users with a higher degree of security and transparency. By linking technical restoration decisions with financial risk-sharing mechanisms, the proposed framework improves economic sustainability and social equity among network users. For this purpose, a multi-layer, multi-objective optimization algorithm is proposed for optimal partitioning of the distribution network, management of DERs, and demand side management of flexible loads in order to minimize the outage losses and the insurance premium, while maintaining satisfactory performance of the network. To validate the feasibility of the proposed algorithm, the 45-node distribution network of Alexandria, Egypt is used. The results show that a reduction in peak load, outage losses, and operational costs are achieved, with an overall saving of 17.34%, in addition to a premium reduction of 41.3%. These results highlight the effectiveness of the proposed framework in enhancing the environmental, economic, and operational sustainability of distribution systems under outage conditions. Full article

Globally, the effects of widowhood on the welfare, health, financial security and education of the widow’s children in many contexts have been the subject of much research. This paper aims to uncover the nexus among culture, gender and language on widowhood dignity and welfare among four chosen African ethnic groups in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The widowhood phenomenon is culture-bound and value-laden as it signposts the reality of existence in the linguistic and cultural contexts in which it is created and operationalised. Through Kimberlé Crenshaw’s 1989 intersectional theory, this paper provides an in-depth, inductive qualitative investigation of the implications of culture, gender, language, and especially the nomenclature that African communities ascribe to the widowed, which in turn stigmatises widowhood. Two (2) South African and two (2) Zimbabwean ethnic groups were purposefully chosen for the multiple case study approach. Grounded theory is the coding framework and analysis technique. The coding starts off with picking key words, phrases and sentences and axial coding which is a higher level in which related data are grouped into sub-themes, themes and global themes. The search revealed that widowhood language, culture and nomenclature denote gendered, culturally contested spaces in which the widowed women especially face dehumanising and dewomanising rituals. The results gathered fall into five broad categories, namely, sexualised widowhood mourning rituals, psychological and emotional widowhood torture rituals, ritualised widowhood dispossession, swearing, movement and space restriction widowhood rituals. The rituals affirm the ascribed socially depressed widowed status implied in the stigmatising nomenclature. The paper recommends redefining widowhood in terms of humanising and womanising language, cultural rituals and nomenclature in the context of equality before the law. Such a move prevents discrimination against the widowed that unintentionally violates their constitutionally espoused right to equality. Full article

Drawing on 964 field observations from typical community parks in Changsha, this study utilizes the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) alongside Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to quantitatively dissect the intrinsic associations between older adults’ outdoor activity patterns and micro-spatial characteristics. The findings reveal a pronounced demographic differentiation in spatial utilization. Specifically, female-dominated collective activities, such as square dancing, exhibit a profound reliance on central plazas with unobstructed sightlines to cultivate a sense of social security. Conversely, male users demonstrate a distinct preference for static social interactions, including playing chess or cards, within semi-enclosed and shaded spaces beneath a tree canopy. Beyond gender distinctions, age-related spatial anchoring is also evident. Intergenerational caregiving activities among the younger old cohort (aged 55 to 74) are exclusively concentrated around children’s playgrounds, whereas older old individuals and those with impaired mobility rely heavily on densely distributed micro-scale resting amenities. Driven by these empirical insights, this research contends that age-friendly park design must transcend generic accessibility standards, advocating instead for a “categorized spatial provision” strategy. By meticulously balancing open exhibition plazas, semi-private shaded units, and composite caregiving zones within a single park ecosystem, this approach can effectively accommodate the multifaceted health and social requirements of various older adult subgroups. Full article

In Norway, children are entitled to all individual and collective rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), while parents play an important role in facilitating access to these rights. However, conflicts may arise when a teenager’s right to freedom of association clashes with their parents’ religious beliefs and identity. This article studies the ontological (in)security challenge faced by Muslim parents in Norway when their teenage children choose to participate in confirmation rites. The article explores how Muslim parents navigate the tension between their responsibility to pass on religious beliefs and identity to their children and their children’s assertion of the right to freedom of association with peer groups. The study is based on a pilot survey of Muslim parents whose children participated in confirmation rites at the Norwegian Humanist Association (NHA). Full article

Background: Torture, as a fundamental violation of human rights, is unequivocally condemned by all international organizations. Sexual torture is one of the most severe forms of torture, encompassing forced nudity, various forms of humiliation, and physical abuse, including rape. Despite testimonial evidence indicating the incidental use of sexual torture by Israeli authorities, there is a lack of epidemiological research providing a comprehensive understanding of this issue. This study aims to analyze the prevalence and characteristics of ill treatment and sexual torture among Palestinian male detainees and the subsequent impacts. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed a database of 517 former male detainees. The interview protocol included items related to psychological and physical methods of sexual torture, medical impacts, subjective psychological impacts, clinical medical and psychological measures, and psychosocial and community impacts. Results: The findings indicate that the majority of detainees experienced some form of sexual torture, with humiliation being the most common type. The impact of sexual torture are severe, affecting both clinical and social domains. The impacts of sexual torture persist over time and, in some cases, worsen, particularly regarding physical health outcomes. Socially, the consequences extend to the detainees’ families and communities. Conclusions: The prevalence of such torture tactics calls for urgent responses from both the authorities and civil society. These findings highlight the need for proactive measures to address and mitigate the impacts of sexual torture, including independent investigations, robust monitoring, secure reporting mechanisms, the prosecution of perpetrators and comprehensive reparation for victims. Full article

Background: The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered the largest displacement crisis in Europe in recent decades. Displacement may affect both clinical outcomes and mental health among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Evidence comparing displaced PLHIV with host-country patients within the same healthcare system remains limited. This study aimed to compare epidemiological characteristics, clinical staging, and mental health outcomes between war-displaced Ukrainian PLHIV and Slovak PLHIV receiving care in the same clinical setting, with particular attention to sex-specific differences. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 137 PLHIV receiving care at the HIV/AIDS Centre, University Hospital Bratislava, Slovakia (69 from Ukraine and 68 from Slovakia). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales. Scores were categorized into three severity groups (0–4, 5–9, ≥10). Results: Age distribution was comparable between cohorts (p = 0.2438). Transmission patterns differed substantially: heterosexual transmission predominated among Ukrainian participants, whereas men who have sex with men (MSM) transmission predominated among Slovak men (p < 0.001). Ukrainian patients were more frequently classified in CDC stage C, while Slovak patients more often presented in stage A. The combined antiretroviral therapy coverage was 100% in both cohorts and viral suppression rates were high (HIV RNA < 200 copies/mL: 91.3% in Ukraine vs. 94.1% in Slovakia). Overall anxiety and depressive symptom severity did not differ significantly between cohorts (GAD-7 p = 0.4145; PHQ-9 p = 0.7661). However, within the Ukrainian cohort, women demonstrated higher depressive symptom severity compared with men (p = 0.0478). Conclusions: War-displaced Ukrainian PLHIV achieved comparable biomedical outcomes to host-country patients within a structured healthcare system. However, depressive vulnerability emerged at the intersection of gender and displacement. These findings highlight the importance of integrating gender-sensitive mental health screening and psychosocial support into routine HIV care for displaced populations. Full article

The transition from non-renewable to renewable energy sources has emerged as a pressing global issue, driven by concerns over climate change, resource depletion, and the need for sustainable development. This study compares Canada, an energy-rich nation, and Bangladesh, an energy-scarce country, to understand the structural, institutional, and market factors driving their respective renewable energy transitions. Using univariate time-series models (ARIMA, ETS, and Prophet) for energy demand forecasting and extensive literature-based policy evaluation, the paper examines trends in energy production, consumption, and trade from 1990 to 2024. Our analysis indicates that Canada’s vast reserves of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources, its diversified energy portfolio, and carbon-pricing framework support a stable decarbonization pathway, with renewables projected to account for more than 20% of total supply by 2030. However, regional disparities and political resistance from the established energy sector continue to delay transition outcomes. On the other hand, Bangladesh has limited renewable and non-renewable energy sources, with its primary energy resource being natural gas reserves. Consequently, its heavy reliance on imports (over 75% of primary energy) and institutional bottlenecks expose its energy system to commodity-price volatility, undermining energy security and slowing renewable investment. Despite these challenges, targeted solar programs and concessional financing have modestly increased the penetration of renewable energy. The analysis highlights that commodity market fluctuations, technological innovations (such as smart grids and energy storage), and market-based policy instruments critically shape each country’s transition trajectory. A coordinated policy linking market stabilization, innovation investment, and social inclusion is essential for achieving a just and secure low-carbon transition in both countries. Full article

As a critical link between regional economic development and ecological security, understanding the dynamics of water retention is essential for sustainable water resource management in the Huaihe River Economic Belt. This study explores the spatio-temporal evolution and spatial explanatory factors of water retention across five temporal snapshots (2003, 2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023). Based on the InVEST model, we assessed water retention capacity at both grid and spatial development levels, thereby obtaining the retention characteristics of different land-use types and their responses to land-use transitions. Furthermore, a parameter-optimized geographical detector was employed to quantify the relative contributions of climatic-environmental and social-economic factors to the spatial variance of the modeled water retention index. Results indicate that the total water retention capacity exhibited significant interannual fluctuations, with the net capacity in 2023 being lower than the initial level in 2003. Retention values displayed obvious spatial heterogeneity, with high levels concentrated in the southwest and north and low levels distributed in the central area, closely mirroring precipitation distribution. While forest land exhibited the strongest unit water retention capacity, cropland contributed the most to the total volume (50.49%) due to its predominant areal proportion (73.92%). Notably, the conversion of forest to cropland was spatially associated with the most substantial loss in the modeled retention capacity. Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and land-use type were identified as the dominant factors explaining the spatial variance of water retention. These findings underscore the methodological utility of coupling the InVEST model with a parameter-optimized geographical detector. For practical ecosystem management, the results suggest that spatial planning policies should strictly limit the conversion of ecological lands to agricultural use and prioritize targeted soil hydrological improvements in the central plains to secure long-term water resources. Full article

Energy hydrogen is emerging as a key driver for the deep decarbonization of energy systems in the Americas, particularly in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry, long-distance transportation, and seasonal energy storage. This article presents a comprehensive review of current prospects and long-term planning for hydrogen in North America, Central America, and South America, analyzing its role within energy transition strategies to long term. It examines technological advancements in green hydrogen production from renewable energy sources, projected costs, required infrastructure, and potential integration schemes with existing electricity systems. Furthermore, it assesses emerging regulatory frameworks, public policies, and national and regional initiatives that seek to position hydrogen as a pillar of energy security, economic competitiveness, and emissions reduction. The study identifies differentiated opportunities based on the availability of renewable resources, industrial capacities, and socioeconomic contexts, as well as common challenges related to investment, standardization, and social acceptance. Finally, implications for long-term energy planning are discussed, highlighting the potential of hydrogen to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the energy system in the Americas. Full article

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a key driver of women’s homelessness and financial insecurity. In Australia, Safe at Home (SAH) programs have emerged as an innovative, wrap-around service response that increases victim-survivors’ safety by implementing a range of strategies and tools that enables them to remain in their home or a home of their choice. SAH responses represent one strategy that effectively prevents homelessness and mitigates the financial, social, and emotional disruption associated with housing relocation after leaving a violent and abusive relationship. This paper examines the implementation of SAH responses in Australia through a critical synthesis of national policy documents and published literature. The paper outlines the four nationally endorsed pillars of SAH (maximising safety, integrated responses, homelessness prevention, and economic security) and examines how these pillars shape service design and outcomes. Evidence from evaluations and outcome studies indicate that SAH can enhance women’s sense of safety, support housing stability, and reduce the financial burden of leaving a violent partner. Access and effectiveness vary depending on the design of the response and location. Challenges include limited affordable housing supply, inconsistent perpetrator accountability, and structural barriers to long-term economic security. Sustained investment in SAH programs, robust data collection mechanisms, and stronger integration of housing and economic supports are ultimately needed to ensure SAH can fulfil its potential as a core component of Australia’s DFV service system. Full article

Subgraph isomorphism counting is a fundamental yet computationally challenging task in graph analysis, with broad applications in bioinformatics and social network mining. With the tightening of data privacy regulations and the emergence of data silos, traditional centralized Graph Neural Network (GNN) approaches face significant deployment hurdles. Existing federated subgraph counting methods are primarily designed for database federation scenarios, focusing on exact queries and the privacy and security concerns of databases. However, this rigid focus on exactness and heavy cryptographic security severely limits their scalability and generalizability to complex, arbitrary query patterns. To bridge this gap, we propose a general Federated Edge-Centric Framework for Subgraph Isomorphism Counting (FedCount), shifting the paradigm from exact querying on federated databases to neural approximate counting under federated architectures. Rather than relying on heavy cryptographic techniques, we exclusively leverage the inherent structural isolation of federated learning as a lightweight empirical privacy measure. While this framework does not theoretically defend against advanced gradient-based inference attacks, it successfully prevents the direct leakage of raw graph topology and node features, achieving high-precision approximate counting without the prohibitive cryptographic overheads. Specifically, we introduce two key technical innovations to enhance local counting capability: (1) we integrate a provable edge encoding scheme into the interaction-based GNN architecture, explicitly modeling edge-to-edge interactions to break the expressiveness bottleneck of standard message passing; (2) we design a Residual Edge-Centric Readout mechanism that mitigates the gradient vanishing problem, enabling the effective training of deeper networks to capture high-order topological dependencies. Extensive experiments on multiple benchmark datasets demonstrate that our framework significantly outperforms existing distributed enumeration baselines in terms of generalization and efficiency, approaching the performance of centralized state-of-the-art models. Full article

This study examines the influence of misinformation on vaccination decision-making and the perception of social security in Romania in the context of potential future pandemics. Using a survey-based design, data were collected through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of 1005 respondents. The analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including chi-square tests, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis tests, principal component analysis (PCA), K-means clustering, random forest models, and Spearman correlations. The results indicate statistically significant associations between belief in misinformation and vaccination attitudes (p < 0.001), with moderate effect sizes. Effect size estimates indicated small-to-moderate associations (e.g., Cramér’s V up to 0.371 for key demographic differences, and Kendall’s W = 0.273 for the increase in willingness across the three severity scenarios). Individuals with higher levels of education, urban residence, and younger age were more likely to report higher willingness to vaccinate, whereas respondents from rural areas and those with lower educational levels showed greater susceptibility to misinformation. In addition, risk perception was significantly associated with vaccination intention, which increased as the severity of hypothetical pandemic scenarios intensified. Predictive modeling identified specific misinformation beliefs—particularly those related to vaccine safety and natural immunity—as key factors associated with vaccination decisions. These findings suggest that misinformation is strongly associated with both individual vaccination behavior and broader perceptions of social security. Full article

Though the European Commission has repeatedly stated that the necessary energy transition in Europe should leave “no one behind”, this paper describes a building refurbishment case that has entailed economic hardships for the low-income families involved. The project is located in the area of P. D. Orcasitas in southern Madrid, led by a grassroots neighbours’ movement, comprising one hundred and seven housing blocks, containing more than 2000 dwellings. The main source of funding for the operation consists of subsidies granted by the Madrid City Council; however, Spanish legislation requires the state Agency of Tax Administration to classify these subsidies as capital gains derived from lucrative transfers. Based on the tax data of vulnerable beneficiaries, the conclusion is that the recipients have ended up returning part of the subsidies to the State through their Income Tax Return. In addition, the Spanish Social Security Institute requires the return of social benefits associated with non-contributory retirement pensions and the Minimum Living Income. Apart from tax accounting, regulations are revised to draw conclusions. Unlike most actuations of this kind, in this case the negative effects are obvious. Although intended to alleviate fuel poverty, the initiative has exacerbated vulnerability due to the impact of the imposed penalties on household income. In conclusion, unless preventive measures are implemented, the mandatory refurbishment of inefficient buildings may place an undue burden on vulnerable low-income occupants and hinder the effective implementation of energy-efficiency regulations. Full article

A vital region for China’s water resource storage and ecological balance maintenance, the Yangtze River Basin is strategically significant for maintaining regional water security and promoting long-term social and economic development. Precipitation is the main driver of the hydrological cycle. In order to address current problems with the basin’s ecological environment and water supplies, comprehensive analyses of multi-source precipitation data are necessary. They provide an essential scientific basis for evaluating the sustainability of water resources in the Yangtze River Basin in the context of climate change. Most existing precipitation fusion studies utilize only a limited number of datasets and do not fully consider the independence among different data sources, which leads to less-than-ideal fusion accuracy and assessment metrics. This paper employs the Triple Collocation (TC) method to evaluate and fuse multiple precipitation datasets over a 19-year period from 2003 to 2021, with the aim of enhancing precipitation accuracy in the Yangtze River Basin. The Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) precipitation data were found to have the highest accuracy among seven datasets, with a Correlation Coefficient (CC), Relative Bias (Rbias), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.907, −0.027, and 25.930 mm, respectively. The “MSWEP–PERSIANN–NOAH (MPN)” fusion was shown to be the best using the Multiplicative Triple Collocation (MTC) method in conjunction with cross-error analysis. Compared to MSWEP alone, it improved CC by 0.8% and decreased RMSE by 3.8%, with matching spatial-grid CC and RMSE improvements of 1.2% and 1.8%, respectively. Further spatiotemporal analysis of the fused data increase detection capabilities for short-term flood and waterlogging occurrences and provide better knowledge of basin water-resource status. Full article