Search Results (845)

Traffic-related pollutants remain a challenging global issue, with significant policy implications. Within the European Union, Romania has the highest yearly societal cost per capita due to air pollution, which kills 29,000 Romanians every year, whereas the health and economic costs are also significant. In this context, municipal authorities in the country, particularly in high-density areas, should place a strong focus on mitigating air pollution. In particular, the capital city, Bucharest, ranks among the most congested cities in the world while registering the highest pollution index in Romania, with traffic pollution responsible for two-thirds of its air pollution. Consequently, studies that assess and model pollution trends are paramount to inform local policy-making processes and assist pollution-mitigation efforts. In this paper, a generalized additive modeling (GAM) framework is employed to model hourly concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), i.e., a relevant traffic-pollution proxy, at a busy urban traffic location in central Bucharest, Romania. All models are developed on a wide, fine-granularity dataset spanning January 2017–December 2022 and include extensive meteorological covariates. Model robustness is assured by switching between the generalized additive model (GAM) framework and the generalized additive mixed model (GAMM) framework when the residual autoregressive process needs to be specifically acknowledged. Results indicate that trend GAMs explain a large amount of the hourly variation in traffic pollution. Furthermore, meteorological factors contribute to increasing the models’ explanation power, with wind direction, relative humidity, and the interaction between wind speed and the atmospheric pressure emerging as important mitigators for NO₂ concentrations in Bucharest. The results of this study can be valuable in assisting local authorities to take proactive measures for traffic pollution control in the capital city of Romania. Full article

Background: Since the introduction of Pasteur’s rabies vaccine in 1885, rabies prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) have been widely administered globally under the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, 124 documented cases of PEP failure had been reported worldwide between 1980 and 2023. Additionally, sporadic media reports from China showed occasional PEP failures between 2017 and 2024. Rabies remains a serious public health problem in over 150 countries and regions. Methods: In this review, we summarize PEP procedures recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the WHO. We also analyze potential contributing factors to PEP failure, propose a concept of circulating antibodies, and discuss their roles in PEP. Furthermore, we summarize key guidelines for clinical trial design from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), as well as the latest developments in monoclonal antibody (cocktail) therapies. Results: Adherence to core PEP practices, such as wound cleansing, infiltration of wounds with immunoglobulin (mAbs), and administration of vaccines, and broader societal involvement are crucial for preventing rabies infection in most cases. For high-risk exposures or immunocompromised individuals, the provision of circulating antibodies through high-dose human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) or mAbs is of utmost importance for preventing PEP failure. Conclusions: Early, high-concentration circulating antibodies are important for preventing PEP failure. Addressing the global issue of rabies requires involvement of the entire society. Only through collective efforts can we tackle this neglected disease and achieve WHO’s goal of “zero by 30”. Full article

The 100-Day Mission, coordinated by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and endorsed by significant international stakeholders, aims to shorten the timeframe for developing and implementing vaccines to 100 days after the report of a new pathogen. This ambitious goal is outlined as an essential first step in improving pandemic preparedness worldwide. This review highlights the mission’s implementation potential and challenges by examining it through the lens of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which often face barriers to equitable vaccine access. This article explores the scientific, economic, political, and social aspects that could influence the mission’s success, relying on lessons learned from previous pandemics, such as the Spanish flu, H1N1, and COVID-19. We also examined important cornerstones like prototype vaccine libraries, accelerated clinical trial preparedness, early biomarkers identification, scalable manufacturing capabilities, and rapid pathogen characterization. The review also explores the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement and the significance of Phase 4 surveillance in ensuring vaccine safety. We additionally evaluate societal issues that disproportionately impact LMICs, like vaccine reluctance, health literacy gaps, and digital access limitations. Without intentional attempts to incorporate under-resourced regions into global preparedness frameworks, we argue that the 100-Day Mission carries the risk of exacerbating already-existing disparities. Ultimately, our analysis emphasizes that success will not only rely on a scientific innovation but also on sustained international collaboration, transparent governance, and equitable funding that prioritizes inclusion from the beginning. Full article

This position paper proposes a conceptual framework (CF-BIAI-SXT) for integrating blockchain with AI to enhance ethical governance, transparency, and privacy in high-risk AI applications that ensure societal resilience through the mitigation of sexual exploitation. Sextortion is a growing form of digital sexual exploitation, and the role of AI in its mitigation and the ethical issues that arise provide a good case for this paper. Through a combination of systematic and narrative literature reviews, the paper first explores the ethical shortcomings of existing AI systems in sextortion prevention and assesses the capacity of blockchain operations to mitigate these limitations. It then develops CF-BIAI-SXT, a framework operationalized through BPMN-modeled components and structured into a three-layer implementation strategy composed of technical enablement, governance alignment, and continuous oversight. The framework is then situated within real-world regulatory constraints, including GDPR and the EU AI Act. This position paper concludes that a resilient society needs ethical, privacy-first, and socially resilient digital infrastructures, and integrating two core technologies, such as AI and blockchain, creates a viable pathway towards this desideratum. Mitigating high-risk environments, such as sextortion, may be a fundamental first step in this pathway, with the potential expansion to other forms of online threats. Full article

This study explores the role of public theology in addressing contemporary societal challenges, emphasizing ethical dialogue in response to secularization, pluralism, technological transformation, and social and environmental issues. It situates pastoral theology in the Christian tradition as an active social practice aimed at promoting justice, equality, and the common good. The study highlights the emergence of public theology as a response to the participation of religious discourse in the public arena, considering communication and digital technology, and articulating theological reflection with real-world social issues. Additionally, it examines the profound significance of dialogue within religious discourse and stresses the importance of ethical reflection in technological advancements, particularly concerning AI (Artificial Intelligence). Moreover, Catholic social thought and the concept of integral ecology are analyzed in dialogue with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), underlining the potential of public theology to promote socio-environmental justice through a holistic approach. Full article

In recent years, significant changes in food consumption habits have emerged due to various factors, including climate change, population growth, urbanization, and the depletion of natural resources. These changes pose a threat to the stability of global food systems and raise serious concerns about food security. Although this process encourages innovative and sustainable food consumption, it also makes individuals more skeptical and concerned about new foods. In this context, understanding consumer intentions regarding behaviors such as purchasing genetically modified (GM) foods is critical for predicting consumer responses and promoting responsible consumption patterns within the scope of sustainability. This study examined the effects of food technology neophobia and perceived information on attitudes and purchase intentions toward genetically modified (GM) foods. Survey data were collected from 324 participants across Turkey and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings revealed that food technology neophobia reduces perceived benefits and increases perceived risks, whereas perceived information enhances perceived benefits and lowers perceived risks. Additionally, attitudes were found to influence the intention to purchase GM foods significantly. Global issues, such as climate change and the depletion of natural resources, highlight the importance of innovations in food technology for sustainable food production. Understanding consumer concerns and perceived knowledge levels regarding genetically modified (GM) foods is critical to ensuring that these products are accepted at the societal level in an informed and conscious way. This study contributes to the promotion of sustainable food technologies and responsible consumer behavior, in line with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Full article

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into manufacturing is transforming the industry by advancing predictive maintenance, quality control, and supply chain optimisation, while also driving the shift from Industry 4.0 towards a more human-centric and sustainable vision. This emerging paradigm, known as Industry 5.0, emphasises resilience, ethical innovation, and the symbiosis between humans and intelligent systems, with AI playing a central enabling role. However, challenges such as the “black box” nature of AI models, data biases, ethical concerns, and the lack of robust frameworks for trustworthiness hinder its widespread adoption. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of AI trustworthiness in the manufacturing industry, examining the evolution of industrial paradigms, identifying key barriers to AI adoption, and examining principles such as transparency, fairness, robustness, and accountability. It offers a detailed summary of existing toolkits and methodologies for explainability, bias mitigation, and robustness, which are essential for fostering trust in AI systems. Additionally, this paper examines challenges throughout the AI pipeline, from data collection to model deployment, and concludes with recommendations and research questions aimed at addressing these issues. By offering actionable insights, this study aims to guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing ethical and reliable AI systems that align with the principles of Industry 5.0, ensuring both technological advancement and societal value. Full article

The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks have posed significant challenges for digital financial organisations, particularly in quantifying their multidimensional impacts. These challenges are largely attributed to the lack of a standardised cyber impact taxonomy, limited data availability, and the evolving nature of technological threats. As a result, organisations often struggle with ineffective security investment prioritisation, reactive incident response planning, and the inability to implement robust, risk-based controls. Hence, an efficient and comprehensive approach is needed to quantify the diverse impacts of cyber attacks in digital financial services. This paper presents a systematic review and examination of the state of the art in cyber impact quantification, with a particular focus on digital financial organisations. Based on a structured search strategy, 44 articles (out of 637) were selected for in-depth analysis. The review investigates the terminologies used to describe cyber impacts, categorises current quantification techniques (pre-attack and post-attack), and identifies the most commonly utilised internal and external data sources. Furthermore, it explores the application of Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques in cyber security risk quantification. Our findings reveal a significant lack of standardised taxonomy for describing and quantifying the multidimensional impact of cyberattacks across physical, digital, economic, psychological, reputational, and societal dimensions. Lastly, open issues and future research directions are discussed. This work provides insights for researchers and professionals by consolidating and identifying quantification technique gaps in cyber security risk quantification. Full article

Urban pluvial flooding (UPF) is an increasingly critical issue due to rapid urbanization and intensified precipitation driven by climate change that yet remains understudied in the Caribbean. This study analyzes the effects of UPF resulting from the transformation of a natural karstic landscape into an urbanized area considering a sub-watershed in Chetumal, Southern Mexican Caribbean, as a case study. Hydrographic numerical modeling was conducted using the IBER 2.5.1 software and the SCS-CN method to estimate surface runoff for a critical UPF event across three stages: (i) 1928—natural condition; (ii) 1998—semi-urbanized (78% coverage); and (iii) 2015—urbanized (88% coverage). Urbanization led to the orthogonalization of the drainage network, an increase in the sub-watershed area (20%) and mainstream length (33%), flow velocities rising 10–100 times, a 52% reduction in surface roughness, and a 32% decrease in the potential maximum soil retention before runoff occurs. In urbanized scenarios, 53.5% of flooded areas exceeded 0.5 m in depth, compared to 16.8% in non-urbanized conditions. Community-based knowledge supported flood extent estimates with 44.5% of respondents reporting floodwater levels exceeding 0.50 m, primarily in streets. Only 43.1% recalled past flood levels, indicating a loss of societal memory, although risk perception remained high among directly affected residents. The reported UPF effects perceived in the area mainly related to housing damage (30.2%), mobility disruption (25.5%), or health issues (12.9%). Although UPF events are frequent, insufficient drainage infrastructure, altered runoff patterns, and limited access to public shelters and communication increased vulnerability. Full article

Ground subsidence is a significant geotechnical hazard in urban areas, leading to property damage, casualties, and broader societal issues. This study investigates the mechanisms of cavity formation and ground subsidence through laboratory model tests using Korean standard sand and marine clay under controlled conditions. A transparent soil box apparatus was fabricated to simulate sewer pipe damage, with model grounds prepared at various relative densities, groundwater levels, and fines contents. The progression of cavity formation and surface collapse was observed and quantitatively analyzed by measuring the time to cavity formation and ground subsidence, as well as the mass of discharged soil. Results indicate that lower relative density accelerates ground subsidence, whereas higher density increases cavity volume due to greater frictional resistance. Notably, as the fines content increased, a tendency was observed for ground subsidence to be increasingly suppressed, suggesting that cohesive clay particles can limit soil loss under seepage conditions. These findings provide valuable insights for selecting backfill materials and managing subsurface conditions to mitigate ground subsidence risks in urban infrastructure. Full article

This study explores the integration of digital media tools—specifically TikTok, online press news analysis, and digital portfolios—into pre-service chemistry teacher education to enhance student engagement, foster conceptual understanding, and highlight the relevance of chemistry in society. The educational intervention involved 138 pre-service teachers who analysed digital news articles to reflect on the societal and environmental implications of chemistry, promoting media literacy and awareness of socioscientific issues. Additionally, they created short-form TikTok videos, using social media to communicate scientific concepts creatively and interactively. All participants compiled their work into digital portfolios, which served as both a reflective and integrative tool. A post-course Likert-scale questionnaire (N = 77) revealed high overall satisfaction with the methodology, with 94.8% valuing the news analysis activity and 59.7% finding TikTok particularly engaging. Despite some limitations regarding access to technical infrastructure, the findings indicate that incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in this manner supports motivation, meaningful learning, and the development of key teaching competencies. This case study contributes practical insights into ICT use in science education. Full article

Objectives: We introduce the conceptual framework for the Adversarial Claim Robustness Diagnostics (ACRD) protocol, a novel tool for assessing how factual claims withstand ideological distortion. Methods: Based on semantics, adversarial collaboration, and the devil’s advocate approach, we develop a three-phase evaluation process combining baseline evaluations, adversarial speaker reframing, and dynamic AI calibration along with quantified robustness scoring. We introduce the Claim Robustness Index that constitutes our final validity scoring measure. Results: We model the evaluation of claims by ideologically opposed groups as a strategic game with a Bayesian-Nash equilibrium to infer the normative behavior of evaluators after the reframing phase. The ACRD addresses shortcomings in traditional fact-checking approaches and employs large language models to simulate counterfactual attributions while mitigating potential biases. Conclusions: The framework’s ability to identify boundary conditions of persuasive validity across polarized groups can be tested across important societal and political debates ranging from climate change issues to trade policy discourses. Full article

Background: The implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal interdisciplinary challenge, creating new opportunities for sharing information, driving innovation, and transforming societal interactions with technology. While AI offers numerous benefits, its rapid evolution raises critical concerns about its impact on inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and safety (IDEAS). Method: This pilot study aimed to explore these issues and identify ways to embed the IDEAS principles into AI design. A qualitative study was conducted with industrial and academic experts in the field. Semi-structured interviews gathered insights into the opportunities, challenges, and future implications of AI from diverse professional and cultural perspectives. Result: Findings highlight uncertainties in AI’s trajectory and its profound cross-sector influence. Key issues emerged, including bias, data privacy, transparency, and accessibility. Participants stressed the need for greater awareness and structured dialogue to integrate the IDEAS principles throughout the AI lifecycle. Conclusion: This study underscores the urgency of addressing AI’s ethical and societal impacts. Embedding the IDEAS principles into its development can help mitigate risks and foster more inclusive, equitable, and accessible technologies. Full article

Light pollution, most visible in large cities through the absence of star-filled night skies, has become a growing issue of concern across many disciplines. It is not just an esthetic or astronomical problem, but a complex phenomenon with widespread effects on various sectors. The scientific literature highlights several key areas impacted either directly or indirectly by light pollution: astronomy, ecology and biodiversity, the environment and climate change, human health and well-being, the ongoing energy crisis, economy, tourism, public safety and security, and finally politics. A survey was conducted to explore two main objectives. The first was to evaluate public awareness of light pollution, particularly how individuals perceive its impact across different societal sectors. The second objective was to consult lighting experts to obtain detailed insights into how severely each sector is affected by light pollution. The data collected from both the general public and lighting experts were analyzed and compared to provide a clearer picture of light pollution’s actual consequences. This dual-perspective approach aims to identify potential gaps between public perception and expert knowledge. Understanding these gaps is essential for shaping effective awareness campaigns and informing policy decisions. Ultimately, this research serves as a foundational step toward prioritizing mitigation strategies. By aligning scientific data with social understanding, stakeholders can develop targeted interventions that reduce light pollution’s negative effects while promoting sustainable lighting practices for the future. Full article

Introduction: The health emergency caused by the pandemic led to severe health issues in populations across many countries worldwide, including widespread morbidity and significant mortality. Nevertheless, several countries succeeded in keeping infection rates remarkably low before the approval of vaccines and the initiation of vaccinations in early 2021. We aim to identify the success factors of health policies in managing the impact of the health emergency across a selection of countries, focusing on how they protected their populations. Our study presents outcomes of sustainable health policy measures, along with health and social system challenges, and economic responses during the global health emergency. We sometimes found it difficult to define what counted as a success factor in some countries. Method: Our study draws upon a selection of reports and documents published by various ministries and economic, social, and health authorities, which we collected online. We structured our study into three phases to frame and contextualize the impact of health policy measures and countermeasures as follows: (i) observations and content analysis; (ii) empirical support through illustrative examples; and (iii) development of a health emergency toolkit of assessment. The documents were not always easy to compare because they differed in format and detail. Results: Our study outlines ten success factors for sustainable health policy measures and countermeasures: (i) preparedness; (ii) control; (iii) precaution; (iv) proactive decision-making; (v) synchronization; (vi) adequate legislation; (vii) goal fulfillment; (viii) digital health technology; (ix) empirical evidence; (x) ethical and moral virtues. Sometimes we struggled to separate what was ethical guidance from what was simply practical advice. Conclusion: We argue that the relevance of the health emergency toolkit of assessment outlined in our study demonstrates clearly that the success factors related to sustainable health policy measures and countermeasures can be applied and adapted to the societal conditions of individual countries. These factors may form a foundation for the development of a health emergency toolkit of assessment for future health emergencies. We also maintain that these factors may serve as a platform for establishing sustainable plans across health, social, and economic domains, with clear guidelines for implementation, management, and control. It is our hope that future health systems will make use of these findings before the next crisis emerges. Full article