Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality (2136)

With the rapid increase of waste throughout the country, the government of Indonesia has enacted regulations targeting waste reduction using religious sentiment. This is employed in Malang City’s “Waste Bank of Malang” (WBM). This study aims to analyze the impact of waste banks on socio-economic progress, and to assess their efficacy in accomplishing this objective from the Maqasid al-Shariʻah perspective. The research employs a descriptive qualitative approach and uses both primary and secondary data sources. This study found that the operation of WBM contributes considerably to the community’s economic and social well-being. Likewise, the WBM has successfully managed waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling it as it is collected from customers. The customers receive financial incentives from the waste bank in return for providing recycled waste to a specialized firm under a profit-sharing (PLS) contract. As per the findings of the study, the rationale of the waste bank aligns with the Maqasid al-Shariʻah and the Islamic finance contract of PLS arrangements. Full article

Background: Violence against women and girls continues to be a widespread problem, and its elimination is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 toward achieving gender equality. One of the main causes of this violence is the structural sexism present in societies that continues to be perpetuated through pornography, especially among young people. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to analyze the consumption of pornography among young people, studying its effects and relationship with affective-sexual education. Methods: This study was carried out with a sample of 280 students in the north of Spain. The ages of the entire sample ranged from 18 to 37 years (M = 20.3, SD = 2.6). From the sample, 78.9% (n = 221) define their gender identity as women and 21.1% (n = 59) define their gender identity as men; no person within this research self-identify as non-binary. The instrument used was the Survey on Affective-sexual Education and Pornography (Ballester et al., 2019). The sample was recruited by snowball sampling. Results: The results of the present study show that the average age at which people start watching pornography is 10.4 years. The majority of young people consume it to satisfy their curiosity. In addition, with regard to gender, boys consume more pornography, especially for masturbation. Finally, 20.5% of the participants believe that the sexual education they have received has not been adequate, and most of them solve their sexual doubts by asking friends. Conclusions: The results indicate that it is necessary to improve the affective-sexual education provided in schools, since students consume pornography at a very early age, and young people have normalized its consumption to address their curiosity and satisfy their sexual needs. Finally, the impact of pornography consumption on SDG5 was reflected on. Full article

During the 1920s, the League of Nations carried out the first intercontinental investigation into the traffic in women. Although this work is virtually unknown in criminology, the investigators, William Snow and Bascom Johnson, formulated the conceptual language of “trafficking” used today. It was also during the 1920s that Frederick Thrasher and John Landesco published their pioneering works on “organized crime” drawing on research in Chicago. The advantages of the League’s model can be seen in the response to a 1924 report of a white slave traffic ring in Los Angeles by August Vollmer, the celebrated founder of professionalism in American policing. Vollmer’s language of a white slave traffic ring in Los Angeles recalls a nineteenth-century understanding of traffic in women but previews the illegal enterprise model that emerges from the industrial city. Drawing on their understanding of crime in port cities, Snow and Johnson situate the traffic in women within a social networks model. Vollmer looked for the spider, Snow and Johnson looked at the web. Full article

Nigeria is one of Africa’s most populous countries. Nigeria’s population is expected to exceed 400 million by 2050, putting it among the top five most populous countries in the world. High birth rates, limited contraception use, and early marriage are the main causes of this rapid increase. In Nigeria, adolescents play a substantial role in these issues, with 117 births per 1000 girls aged 15–19 years. Data for this article comes from the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). Our sample consisted of 1014 sexually active unmarried adolescents aged 15–19 years. Kaplan Meier’s curve, Log Rank Test, and Cox proportional hazards model were modeled to estimate the parameters at p > 0.05. Findings show that the average time to the first use of modern contraceptives after sexual initiation is two years. Initiating sex at age 15 or later, belonging to the richest household wealth quintile, and use of the internet is associated with the early initiation of modern contraceptive methods, while residing in the northwest region and being older are associated with a low incidence of modern contraceptive use. Results indicate a deferred initiation of modern contraceptives after first sexual encounter. It has become imperative for tailored interventions to improve the time of initiation of contraceptives, so as to reduce the associated burdens and consequences. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease will affect more people with increases in the elderly population, as the elderly population of countries everywhere generally rises significantly. However, other factors such as regional climates, environmental conditions and even eating and drinking habits may trigger Alzheimer’s disease or affect the life quality of individuals already suffering from this disease. Today, the subject of biomedical engineering is being studied intensively by many researchers considering that it has the potential to produce solutions to various diseases such as Alzheimer’s caused by problems in molecule or cell communication. In this study, firstly, a molecular communication model with the potential to be used in the treatment and/or diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease was proposed, and its results were analyzed with an artificial neural network model. Secondly, the ratio of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease to the total population, along with data of educational status, income inequality, poverty threshold, and the number of the poor in Turkey were subjected to detailed distribution analysis by using the random forest model statistically. As a result of the study, it was determined that a higher income level was causally associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Full article

Jane Austen’s final novel fragment Sanditon has inspired continuations of many kinds from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. The most recent literary afterlife it has generated is the 2019 British adaptation for ITV, created by Andrew Davies, and with a screenplay by Davies, Justin Young and Andrea Gibb. This eight-part adaptation attempts to recreate Austen’s Regency world but reimagines and develops Sanditon through the lens of twenty-first century sexual sensibilities. Most notably, depictions of male nudity and sex acts demonstrate the adaptation’s engagement with contemporary sexual politics. Scenes offering salacious views of naked men sea-bathing counter the historical tradition of the female nude offered up for male gaze; the female body, in contrast, remains fully clothed in response to the contemporary Me-Too context. Furthermore, the inclusion of sex scenes, a character with a backstory of sexual abuse, a relationship featuring coercive control, and an ending denying the heroine her man reflects the zeitgeist. However, the disappointing British viewing figures for Sanditon suggest that sex does not always sell, particularly when it comes to creating a successful twenty-first century Austen adaptation. Full article

The main drivers of gender mainstreaming in basic and clinical research appear to be funding agencies and scientific journals. Some funding agencies have already recognized the importance of their actions for the global development of ideas in science, but further targeted efforts are needed. The challenges for women scientists in fungal research appear to be similar to those in other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, although the gender gap in mycology publishing appears to be less pronounced; however, women are underrepresented as last (corresponding) authors. Two examples of best practices to bridge the gap have been promoted in the fungal community: “power hour” and a central resource database for women researchers of fungi and oomycetes. A more balanced ratio of women researchers among (plenary) session speakers, (plenary) session chairs, and committee members at the recent fungal genetics conference is an encouraging sign that the gender gap can be closed. The editorial policy of some journals follows the guidance “Sex and Gender Equality in Research,” and other journals should follow, and indicate the gender ratio among authors and reviewers. Full article

The question of women’s ordination to offices within churches, and in particular to the ministry of word and sacrament, gave rise to one of the major ecclesiological debates of the modern era. In common with other contested issues during this period, different approaches to biblical interpretation and the doing of theology were at stake, but while the precise chronology, arguments and outcomes differed in particular denominations and locations, comparison across a range of churches—certainly within Britain—indicates that these were related predominantly to wider social and cultural changes, more than to internal theological debates. In Scotland, extensive discursive attention was devoted to the place and role of women in the church for over a century before the Church of Scotland extended eligibility for ordination to women. Questions about the ministry and authority of women have particularly exercised ecclesiastical institutions during heightened periods of campaigning for reforms to women’s status and rights in society. The first wave of feminist activism culminated in their enfranchisement (1918 and 1928). Many Protestant churchwomen were deeply engaged in the struggle to become equal citizens. They believed that it was a profoundly Christian obligation to exercise their citizenship to build a better world. They also contended that women should not be prevented from exercising the ordained ministry of word and sacraments, as a matter of justice and as a gospel imperative. This article considers the progress of efforts to that end in some Scottish Protestant churches between 1918 and 1968, and their framing in the contemporary discourses of citizenship and equality, particularly during the interwar years. It discusses factors which impeded or facilitated that innovation, and the major societal changes from the 1950s which created a conducive context for the Church of Scotland decision. Full article

Rising income inequality is strongly linked to health disparities, particularly in regions where uneven distribution of wealth and income has long been a concern. Despite emerging evidence of COVID-19-related health inequalities for adults, limited evidence is available for children and their parents. This study aimed to explore subtypes of families of preschoolers living in the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Hong Kong based on patterns of family hardship and to compare their patterns of parenting behavior, lifestyle practices, and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 1338 preschoolers and their parents during March to June 2020. Latent class analysis was performed based on 11 socioeconomic and disease indicators. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine associations between identified classes and variables of interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four classes of family hardship were identified. Class 1 (45.7%) had the lowest disease and financial burden. Class 2 (14.0%) had the highest financial burden. Class 3 (5.9%) had the highest disease burden. Class 4 (34.5%) had low family income but did not receive government welfare assistance. Class 1 (low hardship) had lower risks of child maltreatment and adjustment problems than Class 2 (poverty) and Class 3 (poor health). However, children in Class 1 (low hardship) had higher odds of suffering psychological aggression and poorer physical wellbeing than those in Class 4 (low income), even after adjusting for child age and gender. The findings emphasize the need to adopt flexible intervention strategies in the time of large disease outbreak to address diverse problems and concerns among socially disadvantaged families. Full article

This study explores the association between childhood immunization and gender inequality at the national level. Data for the study include annual country-level estimates of immunization among children aged 12–23 months, indicators of gender inequality, and associated factors for up to 165 countries from 2010–2019. The study examined the association between gender inequality, as measured by the gender development index and the gender inequality index, and two key outcomes: prevalence of children who received no doses of the DTP vaccine (zero-dose children) and children who received the third dose of the DTP vaccine (DTP3 coverage). Unadjusted and adjusted fractional logit regression models were used to identify the association between immunization and gender inequality. Gender inequality, as measured by the Gender Development Index, was positively and significantly associated with the proportion of zero-dose children (high inequality AOR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.30). Consistently, full DTP3 immunization was negatively and significantly associated with gender inequality (high inequality AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46–0.86). These associations were robust to the use of an alternative gender inequality measure (the Gender Inequality Index) and were consistent across a range of model specifications controlling for demographic, economic, education, and health-related factors. Gender inequality at the national level is predictive of childhood immunization coverage, highlighting that addressing gender barriers is imperative to achieve universal coverage in immunization and to ensure that no child is left behind in routine vaccination. Full article

Perinatal depression is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and is associated with adverse maternal and child health consequences. Task-shared psychological and psychosocial interventions for perinatal depression have demonstrated clinical and cost-effectiveness when delivered on a large scale. However, task-sharing approaches, especially in LMICs, require an effective mechanism, whereby clients who are not likely to benefit from such interventions are identified from the outset so that they can benefit from higher intensity treatments. Such a stratified approach can ensure that limited resources are utilized appropriately and effectively. The use of standardized and easy-to-implement algorithmic devices (e.g., nomograms) could help with such targeted dissemination of interventions. The present investigation posits a prognostic model and a nomogram to predict the prognosis of perinatal depression among women in rural Pakistan. The nomogram was developed to deliver stratified model of care in primary care settings by identifying those women who respond well to a non-specialist delivered intervention and those requiring specialist care. This secondary analysis utilized data from 903 pregnant women with depression who participated in a cluster randomized, controlled trial that tested the effectiveness of the Thinking Healthy Program in rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The participants were recruited from 40 union councils in two sub-districts of Rawalpindi and randomly assigned to intervention and enhanced usual care. Sixteen sessions of the THP intervention were delivered by trained community health workers to women with depression over pregnancy and the postnatal period. A trained assessment team used the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV current major depressive episode module to diagnose major depressive disorder at baseline and post-intervention. The intervention received by the participants emerged as the most significant predictor in the prognostic model. Among clinical factors, baseline severity of core-emotional symptoms emerged as an essential predictor, followed by atypical symptoms and insomnia. Higher severity of these symptoms was associated with a poorer prognosis. Other important predictors of a favorable prognosis included support from one’s mother or mother-in-law, financial empowerment, higher socioeconomic class, and living in a joint family system. This prognostic model yielded acceptable discrimination (c-statistic = 0.75) and calibration to aid in personalized delivery of the intervention. Full article

(1) In recent years, with the continuous increase of the state’s investment in infrastructure, the construction of highways and bridges has developed rapidly, which has brought great convenience to people’s lives. At the same time, with the increase of bridge service time, the reliability of bridges declines. In order to meet the requirements of sustainable development, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the reliability of bridges. However, most of the existing evaluation methods have single-weighting and one-sidedness. There are problems such as strong subjectivity and overly simple evaluation procedures. Therefore, it is urgent to establish a new scientific bridge reliability evaluation system. (2) Methods. In this paper, a bridge superstructure is taken as the research object, and the “Technical Condition Assessment Standard for Highway Bridges” (JTG/T H21-2011) is used as the criterion to establish a bridge reliability evaluation index system. The subjective and objective weights of the evaluation indicators are based on minimum discriminant information. Each evaluation indicator is combined and weighted; then, the closeness of each evaluation object to the positive ideal solution is determined according to Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Finally, the reliability level of each evaluation object is determined. (3) Results. Reliability evaluation of the three-span superstructure of the bridge was carried out, and final reliability evaluation results of “Grade 2, Grade 2, Grade 2” were obtained, which are consistent with the actual working state of the bridge. (4) Conclusions. The evaluation results of this paper are consistent with the results obtained by the traditional AHP–Extenics method, but the evaluation model of this paper adopts combined weighting, which avoids the one-sidedness of the weighting of a single method—thus, the comprehensive weight obtained not only reflects the subjective intention of decision makers, but also reflects the objective properties of the data. Full article

This study extends the theory of planned behavior model and examines the humane factors (altruism, environmental knowledge, personal appearance concerns, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms) that shape attitudes and buyer behavior toward cruelty-free cosmetics and the consumer characteristics that reflect their behavior toward such products. Recent global occurrences have affected human behavioral patterns, namely, the COVID-19 pandemic, which we aim to study. Has behavior changed to become more ethical? A survey was carried out involving a sample of 425 Portuguese participants (a feminine culture), following a convenience- and snowball-sampling procedure. Significant correlations were found between environmental knowledge, subjective norms, and buyer behavior toward cruelty-free cosmetics with attitude and environmental knowledge and buyer behavior. Through structural equation modeling to evaluate the conceptual model, a good model fit was found, being that standardized values in the model are significant except for regressions from perceived behavior control and personal appearance concerns to buyer behavior toward cruelty-free cosmetics. Women present higher values than men on attitude, altruism, environmental knowledge, and buyer behavior, in line with what is expected in a traditional and conservative feminine culture such as that to be found in Portugal. Such a result points to the need to promote increased gender equality, for example, in senior leadership roles, as women are seen to have the desirable qualities required for a more sustainable, cruelty-free, and humane society. This is an alert for human-resource managers in the region. Full article

The objective of this study is two-fold. Firstly, to analyse and discover the ability of HE students to use the physical home context for e-learning via ICT during the new normal; and secondly, to ascertain the underlying patterns of the adequacy of such domestic spaces. The authors offer a multidisciplinary approach combining pedagogic, architectural backgrounds with considerable experience in didactics, organization management of education, and ICT applied to education. A qualitative, arts-based research methodology that analyses photographs was used. A total of 220 domestic work environment photographs sent by higher education students were analysed. Results and conclusions show that students are able to attend virtual classrooms in a domestic atmosphere. Bedrooms and studies are usually the most-used spaces. Laptops and smartphones are the most frequent central hubs of student learning sessions. Students use other training resources (desktop computers, tablets, etc.) to supplement the most common digital devices. An intense relationship is observed between Space (bedroom and other rooms) and the Sofa and Beds variables, while a moderate one is observed between Age and Care items. The relationship between other variables is weak or non-existent. Full article

Early in the development of ecofeminist literary criticism, white feminists borrowed shallowly and unethically from Indigenous cultures. Using that underinformed discourse to interpret Native American women’s literature resulted in idealizing and silencing Indigenous women’s voices and concerns. Native American feminist literary critics have also asserted that a well-informed, inclusive “tribal-feminism” or Indigenous-feminist critical approach can be appropriate and productive, in that it focuses on unique and shared imbalances created by white patriarchal colonization, thinking, and ways of being that affect Indigenous and non-Indigenous women and cultures and the environment. In her third novel, Gardens in the Dunes, Leslie Marmon Silko interweaves an ecological critique of white imperialist botanical exploitation of landscapes and Indigenous peoples globally with both a celebration of Native American relationships to the land and Indigenous women’s resourceful resistance and an ecofeminist reclamation of European pagan/Great Goddess iconography, sacred landscapes, and white feminist autonomy. Expanding on earlier Indigenous-feminist readings, this ecofeminist analysis looks at a key trope in Gardens, the Ghost Dance, an environmentally and ancestrally focused nineteenth-century sacred resistance and reclamation rite. Silko’s is a late-twentieth-century literary adaptation/enactment in what is the continuing r/evolution of the Ghost Dance, a dynamic figure in Native American literature and culture. Full article

Recently the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has become a promising research area in the field of the Internet of Things (IoT), which enables vehicles to communicate and exchange real-time information with each other, as well as with infrastructure, people, and other sensors and actuators through various communication interfaces. The realization of IoV networks faces various communication and networking challenges to meet stringent requirements of low latency, dynamic topology, high data-rate connectivity, resource allocation, multiple access, and QoS. Advances in information-centric networks (ICN), edge computing (EC), and artificial intelligence (AI) will transform and help to realize the Intelligent Internet of Vehicles (IIoV). Information-centric networks have emerged as a paradigm promising to cope with the limitations of the current host-based network architecture (TCP/IP-based networks) by providing mobility support, efficient content distribution, scalability and security based on content names, regardless of their location. Edge computing (EC), on the other hand, is a key paradigm to provide computation, storage and other cloud services in close proximity to where they are requested, thus enabling the support of real-time services. It is promising for computation-intensive applications, such as autonomous and cooperative driving, and to alleviate storage burdens (by caching). AI has recently emerged as a powerful tool to break through obstacles in various research areas including that of intelligent transport systems (ITS). ITS are smart enough to make decisions based on the status of a great variety of inputs. The convergence of ICN and EC with AI empowerment will bring new opportunities while also raising not-yet-explored obstacles to realize Intelligent IoV. In this paper, we discuss the applicability of AI techniques in solving challenging vehicular problems and enhancing the learning capacity of edge devices and ICN networks. A comprehensive review is provided of utilizing intelligence in EC and ICN to address current challenges in their application to IIoV. In particular, we focus on intelligent edge computing and networking, offloading, intelligent mobility-aware caching and forwarding and overall network performance. Furthermore, we discuss potential solutions to the presented issues. Finally, we highlight potential research directions which may illuminate efforts to develop new intelligent IoV applications. Full article

The integration processes taking place in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) are contributing to the sustainable development of this unique territory. Intensive cooperation financed from EU funds under the cohesion policy and the neighborhood policy have provided an opportunity for the development of ethnic and national minorities, who are important but still marginalized stakeholders. The theoretical aim of the article is to identify the attributes of national and ethnic minorities and to indicate key determinants of their sustainable development. The authors seek to answer whether territorial cooperation in the BSR contributes to the development of national and ethnic minorities, and if so, how. In the article, concepts and definitions related to the term “minority” are verified, classifications are developed and a model of sustainable development of ethnic and national minorities is built. Official statistical data are used to present the national and ethnic structure of the BSR countries. Then, 22 national minorities and 17 ethnic minorities are identified and described. Quantitative and qualitative research was carried out on 126 territorial cooperation projects supporting the development of national and ethnic minorities totaling EUR 85.25 million in value and implemented within 38 BSR programs in 2000–2020. The Sami minority were the greatest beneficiaries of the cooperation. Territorial cooperation projects have been shown to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of education, social support and political empowerment. Territorial cooperation is a powerful instrument of sustainable development. Unfortunately, it still contributes only moderately to the development of national and ethnic minorities. There is a need to strengthen this issue in future programs of the cohesion policy and the neighborhood policy and to develop systemic solutions enabling national and ethnic minorities to participate more actively in the implementation of territorial cooperation projects. Full article

The present narrative review aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable development goals (SDGS). This information would allow a better comprehension of the actual state of the SDGS and a more efficient programming in future interventions. To achieve the objective of the study, a consensual and critical review was carried out using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages and databases. The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, close the gender gap, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a plan to achieve the goals in 15 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has been a turning point in the achievement of these goals, due to all its consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural levels. This review can be used as a guide for future research and reviews in order to understand the status of each of the SDGs and what actions have been taken and proposed in the aftermath of the pandemic in recent years. Full article

In early February 2022, the Japanese government sent COVID-19 vaccine vouchers to children ages 5–11. Using keywords obtained from the voucher, the frequently asked questions section, and experts, we descriptively analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination for children and their parents through a web-based literature survey of media articles and government homepage statements in Japan. For children, vaccination helps prevent severe symptoms and may be particularly beneficial for children in low-income families by lowering the rate of suicide and at-home child abuse. For parents, not vaccinating their child allows them to fulfill a more traditional role as a parent (mothers in particular), reduces the gender gap for mothers, and provides greater peace of mind about their child’s future fertility. We also examined the governmental vaccination campaigns targeting children from public health perspectives. We argue that the letter accompanying the vaccine voucher should clearly emphasize that further transmission will be prevented, reducing domestic infection. In addition to the biological dimensions of COVID-19 in Japan, we emphasize cultural issues and hope that these can be useful for other countries as they create their own vaccination strategies. Public health in Japan could be promoted if all citizens, regardless of age, acquired fundamental knowledge and skills, the motivation to learn, and the ability to utilize knowledge and skills and think, judge, and express personal ideas. Full article

Much of the work surrounding the crisis of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has focused on how the abuse remained simultaneously widespread while being kept private, but not how the effects of the abuse impact the liturgy itself. Paying particular attention to PTSD, moral injury, and moral distress, this article examines how systemic clergy perpetuated sexual abuse (CPSA) has damaged liturgical efficacy for both abuse survivors and Roman Catholic laity. Focusing on PSTD, moral injury, and moral distress frames the issue in a way that illuminates the church’s ongoing role in preventing the healing of survivors and limiting the potential for grace in the sacraments. In light of the exploration, we suggest that in order for widespread healing we must move towards a relational ontology that realigns with the survivors and reject language and practices that blame survivors for their discomfort in the church, instead affirming the dignity in the options to seek grace and relationship with God outside of the Roman Catholic tradition. Full article

Gender-related barriers to immunization are key targets to improve immunization coverage and equity. We used individual-level demographic and health survey data from 52 low- and middle-income countries to examine the relationship between women’s social independence (measured by the Survey-based Women’s emPowERment (SWPER) Global Index) and childhood immunization. The primary outcome was receipt of three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP3) among children aged 12–35 months; we secondarily examined failure to receive any doses of DTP-containing vaccines. We summarized immunization coverage indicators by social independence tertile and estimated crude and adjusted summary measures of absolute and relative inequality. We conducted all analyses at the country level using individual data; median results across the 52 examined countries are also presented. In crude comparisons, median DTP3 coverage was 12.3 (95% CI 7.9; 16.3) percentage points higher among children of women with the highest social independence compared with children of women with the lowest. Thirty countries (58%) had a difference in coverage between those with the highest and lowest social independence of at least 10 percentage points. In adjusted models, the median coverage was 7.4 (95% CI 5.0; 9.1) percentage points higher among children of women with the highest social independence. Most countries (41, 79%) had statistically significant relative inequality in DTP3 coverage by social independence. The findings suggest that greater social independence for women was associated with better childhood immunization outcomes, adding evidence in support of gender-transformative strategies to reduce childhood immunization inequities. Full article

Kazakhstan has a relatively high level of overall gender development, as well as of female employment in its energy industries. Diverse views and backgrounds are necessary to address the challenges of curbing emissions in Kazakhstan, a major fossil fuel producer and exporter. However, our analysis of the Labor Force Survey indicates that female representation among energy sector managers and overall workforce has been falling over time. Moreover, we find that women in Kazakhstan’s coal mining, petroleum extraction, and power industries are concentrated in low-skilled and non-core occupations. Next, by analyzing data on labor compensation within energy occupations, we discover signs of persistent vertical discrimination, which may reduce incentives for women to upgrade their skills. Finally, we find that major shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may stall or reverse prior progress in increasing the energy sector’s gender diversity. Our findings contribute to raising gender awareness among the stakeholders in Kazakhstan’s energy sector in order to facilitate evidence-based gender mainstreaming. Full article

Empowerment scales for inpatients have been developed worldwide, but their validity and reliability have not been adequately tested and applied to the health promotion and care among older adults during hospitalization. In this study, the Patient Empowerment Scale developed by Faulkner was translated into Japanese, and Japanese patients were surveyed to test its clinical applicability. To test its applicability, 151 patients in rehabilitation wards were surveyed in four municipalities. After considering ceiling/floor effects and validating the structure, the Patient Empowerment Scale—Japanese comprised 37 items and six factors: subject–staff interaction, environmental adjustment through collaboration, necessary information gathering and problem awareness, proactive behavioral practices, self-disclosure, and self-management of activities. Criteria-related validity assessment confirmed the scale’s correlation with the Health Locus of Control Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale. Regarding internal consistency, the Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93 for all 37 items. The Cronbach’s alphas for the six factors were 0.93, 0.91, 0.92, 0.92, 0.91, and 0.75, respectively. In our test/re-test of reliability, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between the first and second total scores was ρ = 0.96, p < 0.01. These results confirm the scale’s validity and reliability, and its applicability to older hospitalized patients. Full article

The intentional homicide of female victims, which is most commonly perpetrated by intimate partners or family members, has been recognized in recent years as a matter of grave public concern that needs to be addressed from the cultural and judicial perspectives. To allow an in-depth criminological and psychopathological evaluation of female homicide in Italy in 2021 to be conducted, the authors performed a newspaper report analysis of the phenomenon. All female homicides that occurred in Italy in 2021 (n = 119) were included in the study. The analysis confirmed the low rate of female homicides in Italy when compared with other countries and also showed the phenomenon to be more complex than usually described. The highest rate of homicides was observed in elderly females when compared with other age groups, implying different criminological considerations and suggesting that gender-based violence may only explain some of the identified cases. The high incidence of suicide or attempted suicide among offenders, together with the high incidence of reported mental disorders in that population, suggests that a psychopathological perspective on the phenomenon of female homicide could help with the development and implementation of preventive strategies that focus on managing mental health at a territorial level and intervening in difficult domestic situations. Full article

As humanity’s moral failure leads to wild aquatic resources decline, habitat destruction and community tension, an ethically sound path towards good governance is increasingly needed globally. To epitomize sustainable paradigm shifts of grassroots practicalities in the fish sector, an ethical governance framework is initially conceptualized with a meta-governance infrastructure and a value-based decision-making mechanism. The ethical approach is then contextualized by using fish-specific evidence and outlining evolution of participatory fisheries and aquaculture management in rural China as a case study. The empirical investigation of socio-ecological justice manifested in social empowerment, ethical conduct and ecological resilience reveals that in China: fisheries and aquaculture governance models have been transforming from hierarchical governance to integrated governance combining hierarchy, market and community; participatory ethics are embedded in civil organizations upgraded from fishery association, offices, leagues to societies and cooperatives, indicating a multi-stakeholder governance mechanism steered by the government as meta-governor; villagers’ committees play a critical intermediary role in extending township governance and promoting autonomy of fishermen (farmers); local knowledge and traditional code of conduct regulates fish activities of fishermen (farmers) ready for community cooperation and mutual assistance; fish communities adopt socio-ecological measures to ensure property rights to fish (farm) and conserve aquatic resources. The current study aims to provide value reference in leveraging justified policy tools while promoting legitimacy of fish grassroots governance, in hope of contributing to a greener future of fisheries and aquaculture worldwide. Full article

Water and energy are essential resources for all people. However, despite the availability of sufficient water and energy resources, men and women continue to be subject to unequal rights to both water and energy in terms of access, allocation, gathering, and quality of resources. Socio-economic parameters, which include gender, income, and location, are determinant factors of water and cooking energy accessibility in this study. The research aims to assess the accessibility of water and cooking fuels across female-headed households, and evaluate particular vulnerabilities and challenges faced by women and children in rural areas of Katsina State in circumstances of water and energy insecurities. A study involving a questionnaire covering 550 rural households across 11 areas in Katsina State, north-western Nigeria, was conducted. A Pearson product correlation analysis was performed to measure the strength of association between the respondents educational level and income. A chi-square test of independence was carried out to measure the degree of dependence of the households’ resources accessibility. The authors assessed the disproportionate threats and health risks linked to fetching water and gathering of fuel resources. The research findings indicate that water and energy uncertainty among women in rural households is due to unequal responsibilities associated with water- and energy-related household duties that are potentially linked to disadvantages for females, including violence, security threats, diseases, and disempowerment. To address these challenges, water and energy interventions, and important pathways for beneficial change, are proposed for rural regions in sub-Saharan Africa. This should lead to more gender equity associated with water and energy. Full article

Background: We investigated, for the first time, whether there are any sex differences in retrospective self-reported childhood maltreatment (CM) in Italian adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD). Furthermore, the potential impacts of patients’ age on the CM self-report were investigated. Methods: This retrospective study used the data documented in the electronic medical records of patients who were hospitalized for a 4-week psychiatric rehabilitation program. CM was assessed using the 28-item Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which evaluates emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, as well as emotional and physical neglect. The linear and logistic regression models were used (α = 0.01). Results: Three hundred thirty-five patients with MDD (255 women and 80 men) and 168 with BD (97 women and 71 men) were included. In both samples, considerable CM rates were identified, but no statistically significant sex differences were detected in the variety of CTQ-based CM aspects. There was a significant association, with no sex differences, between increasing patients’ age and a decreasing burden of CM. Conclusion: Both women and men with MDD or BD experienced a similar and considerable CM burden. Our findings support routine CM assessment in psychiatric clinical practice. Full article

Literature reviews appear to indicate that Music Therapy (MT) may instil a sense of empowerment and generate feelings of renewed self-confidence, distracting subjects who follow this type of intervention from negative thoughts and, generally, helping patients suffering from Anorexia Nervosa (AN) to redevelop or rediscover their identity. The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to investigate whether MT proposed before an evening meal is capable of decreasing pre-meal anxiety in adolescents suffering from AN who follow the Day-hospital Treatment Programme at the San Bortolo Hospital of Vicenza (Italy). A total of 24 patients participated voluntarily in once-weekly sessions of group-based MT conducted by a qualified music therapist over a period of six months. Before evening meals on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, pre-meal anxiety was measured using a self-report scale, and the MT group session occurred every Wednesday before the evening meal was consumed. MT activities were both active and receptive. It has been found that with respect to Mondays and Tuesdays, pre-meal anxiety was significantly lower on Wednesdays following participation in the MT group. MT is evidently capable of reducing pre-meal anxiety and may be adopted as a supportive element in treatment plans relating to patients with AN in a day-hospital treatment programme. Full article

Through each era, the southeastern United States was and continues to be an epicenter for industrial companies to establish factories and plants. Though this development attracts economic gain for the companies and surrounding areas, low-income and predominantly Black communities bear the brunt of the environmental consequences while frequently remaining stagnant economically. This qualitative, community-based participatory research study grew out of a larger study designed to recruit lay community advisors from communities labeled as hard to reach in research. We focus on Holt, Alabama, an unincorporated community in the southeastern United States region. The primary goal of this research inquiry is to thematically analyze community interviews stemming from a topic of research, practice, and policy interest to community members: the effects of industrial pollution on Holt citizens’ daily lives. Content analysis of focus-group transcripts revealed four emergent themes, including: (1) how the pollution affects their water, soil, and air quality; (2) illness related to pollution; (3) community engagement and empowerment; and (4) suggestions regarding what government officials could do to address this area of need. Building upon the prior research regarding environmental justice, human flourishing, and the definition of nurturing environments, suggestions are made regarding the creation, implementation, and maintenance of project advisory councils focused on issues of environmental justice. Community advocacy and empowerment as well as community and scientific partnerships are imperative to alleviate problems associated with environmental justice. Full article

This study investigates whether investors react to disclosures of sustainable development. The study further examines if the legislative change has affected investors’ perception on sustainability disclosure via the corporate governance mechanism. With the recent legislative change in Korea, the gender quota may have negatively impacted corporate governance due to tokenism. In this study, we employ a natural experiment and event study with the 72 largest Korean firms listed in the stock market. Findings indicate that firms with female directors experience significant abnormal returns around event days, and that the firms meeting the minimal gender quota requirement indicate insignificant abnormal returns. This implies that firms with female directors provide better governance with diversity in the boardroom. However, the benefits from gender diversity become weak when tokenism is applied to them. The study makes several contributions to the governance and sustainability literature by providing additional evidence on tokenism. Findings have implications about the relationship between corporate governance and sustainable development for academia and practitioners. Full article

Background: Literature regarding ergonomic protocols for surgery is lacking, and there is a paucity of information on how this impacts on gender differences with regards to the barriers faced by women in surgery. Methods: This article reviews current literature addressing women in surgery and ergonomics through a systematic search including the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases. Results: Searches retrieved 425 items, and after a thorough evaluation for inclusion, 15 studies were examined—predominantly surveys (n = 9) and originating from the USA (n = 9). Identified ergonomic challenges included the general shorter height and smaller glove size of women. Furthermore, women experienced more musculoskeletal pain than men, potentially because the size and design of theatre tools are designed for male and tall individuals, highlighting an unconscious gender bias still pervading the surgical field. Conclusions: As more women enter medicine and pursue surgical careers, it is essential to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in theatre to develop more ergonomic environments. Full article

Introduction: Most victims of sexual abuse have symptoms that may lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to offer evidence-based psychological treatment to women who have been sexually abused earlier in life and currently have sequelae from that trauma. With this treatment, each of the women in the study will hopefully improve their overall quality of life and, more specifically, it is expected that post-traumatic stress symptoms will decrease, as found in recent studies, as well as strengthening their security, confidence, and coping with the situations they have experienced. Methods and analysis: The effect of two therapeutic approaches focused on the improvement of trauma will be evaluated in a sample of 30–50 women victims of childhood sexual abuse, with a randomized clinical trial comparing EMDR psychotherapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. According to the literature reviewed, both approaches will considerably improve self-esteem when the appropriate number of sessions are conducted, significantly reducing general psychiatric symptoms and depression. Furthermore, the effects are sustained over time. It should be noted that this study will be carried out comparing both therapies, analyzing both the differential benefit of each and the cumulative effect of receiving both treatments and in which order. It is also intended to demonstrate that implementing the protocols presented in this study will help improve the quality of life of the women who benefit from them, and after this study, it will be possible to replicate this program in other people with the same problems. Each of the therapeutic benefits of each of them will be analyzed, and clinical and logistical guidance will be provided to implement both, including a session-by-session protocol. Full article

The present article analyzes the connection between, on the one hand, gender equality and, on the other hand, loneliness and social isolation. It hypothesizes that modern relational institutions that support gender equality, such as no-fault divorce laws, reduce loneliness in close relationships. This hypothesis is put to the test through a multilevel analysis of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) 2017. The analysis reveals that the data agree, to a large extent, with the theoretical arguments. The prevalence of loneliness is higher in countries with higher levels of gender inequality (as measured by the Gender Inequality Index (GII)). This can be attributed to a moderation effect; at lower levels of gender inequality, partnerships provide better protection from loneliness. These results are robust to controls for demographic composition, level of health, educational attainment, income poverty, and interview mode. Last, the analyses show that the threat of emotional isolation is more widespread in countries with low gender inequality. These findings, however, are only significant before controlling for demographic composition, level of health, educational attainment, income poverty, and interview mode, and they require further analysis. The concluding section relates these findings to the popular tendency to argue that modern society has created a “loneliness epidemic” and discusses policy implications. Full article

The aim of this study was to ascertain what can be done by the informal finance sector to close the credit gap in order to improve access to finance by SMEs. SMEs are the backbone of many economies as a result of generating employment and improving GDP. Despite playing such a major role in African economies, SMEs have been excluded from the financial systems. The informal finance sector plays a vital role by providing finance to small businesses. The study employed a literature survey with a primary focus on empirical studies that have been conducted in the African context. The study found that, generally, there are two circumstances under which most small businesses depend on informal finance. Firstly, informal finance is used as a last resort by SMEs that fail to access credit from the formal finance sector, owing to, among other issues, information asymmetry, lack of collateral security and perceived high default rates. Further, low financial literacy and the absence of credit bureaus in developing countries also contribute to the failure to access finance from formal institutions. Secondly, some entrepreneurs opt for informal finance even if they are eligible for formal finance as a result of its flexibility, convenience and simple administrative procedures. Notwithstanding the above benefits of informal finance, informal lenders are regarded as exploiting the clients by charging high interest rates. In addition, this sector suffers from limited resources; hence, it fails to fully service SMEs that require larger funding and are not eligible for formal finance. Invariably, all the studies that have been carried out confirm that access to finance is a major obstacle to the growth and development of SMEs. The development and empowerment of SMEs cannot be ignored as an important driver of the developmental agenda of most economies globally. The main policy recommendations that flow from this study, based on the policy syndrome of improving access to finance (financial inclusion) by the SME sector, include (1) the establishment of a suitable regulatory framework which will nurture the informal finance sector while promoting consumer protection, and (2) linking the formal and informal sector. On the other hand, SMEs should improve their risk management practices and also embrace FinTech platforms in order to access credit. Full article

Child domestic work is a hidden form of child labour driven by poverty and social norms. However, little is known about the situations of child domestic workers. This study aims to describe and analyse gender-specific working conditions, health, and educational outcomes among hidden child domestic workers (CDWs) living in third-party homes relative to married children, biological children, and other children in kinship care. Data from the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) were analysed. Descriptive statistics and bivariable logistic regression were used to describe frequency and estimated prevalence. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) were used to identify exposures and inform the selection of covariates. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the effect of each exposure variable. The prevalence of CDWs was 1.5% and CDWs were mainly girls and living in much wealthier households with more educated household heads while married girls were living in much poorer households. When compared among girls themselves, being a CDW was significantly associated with having a functional disability, while married girls were more frequently engaged in hazardous working conditions. We provide the first intersectional analysis comparing work, violence, and health outcomes among CDWs, married children and other children. Child protection measures are needed to safeguard children in domestic work and marriages. Full article

Since the emergence of the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements, online tracts have been employed to publicly reveal experiences of sexual abuse and assault among women and men in religious institutions and to shame abusers, which tend to be examined as an issue of women’s rights or child protection from adult predators. Drawing on the use of digital reporting platforms to testify against peer offences within religious schools, this paper asks how do such testimonies reveal adolescent agency and provoke policy re/actions about the accountability of religious institutions? Digital revelations submitted anonymously to Everyone’s Invited are analysed alongside interviews conducted with educators, parents, and youths in Jewish schools in Britain. Findings indicate how adolescent digital revelations of peer sexual abuse call for accountability by implicating the faith schools in question, which in turn triggers pedagogical and policy debates from educators. Public responses reflect diverging denominational positions on how to balance the protection of young people and safeguard religious self-protectionism. The paper spotlights the agency of youth in shaming peer abusers as much as faith schools and structures of religious authority, and in turn, how online shaming reveals frictions over accountability. Full article

Engineering is traditionally considered a male domain with lower female participation despite various affirmative actions taken in recent decades. There is evidence of greater gender equality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and precautionary lockdown measures. With this in mind, this paper investigates whether women engineers in India were more adversely affected than their male counterparts by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an impact may be explained by ‘intersectional stigma’, expanded upon in the literature on discrimination. The impact of such stigma varies in different countries based on socio-cultural factors. Through the use of ethnographic and statistical research methods on secondary and primary data from a sample of 384 engineers, this paper shows that the impact of COVID-19 is not significantly different between genders in engineering education and employment. This may be due to the high demand for digital engineering skills, and strong family support in Indian society. Engineering branch may play a relatively more important role than gender in terms of impact. This finding has repercussions for continuing engineering education (CEE) programs and regulatory bodies in India in terms of enhancing course content and the results may be used in developing affirmative programs in other regions. Full article

We explore the role that a country’s economic and political uncertainty plays in shaping its environmental performance. We put emphasis on the role played by gender diversity in the board of firms, and we address two limitations characterizing the literature on the topic: (i) the use of static modelling that prevents identifying static and dynamic endogeneity and (ii) the assumption that the relationship is linear, which prevents accounting for the factors that affect the magnitude and the shape of this nexus. Using a System-GMM approach, we find evidence that gender diversity is associated positively with firms’ environmental results. Furthermore, the intensity of this relationship is increasing in gender diversity, and more importantly, the effect tends to be greater in less uncertain countries. These findings are of first importance in terms of the policy. Improving environmental quality can be achieved cost-effectively through the promotion of gender diversity, along with building/strengthening institutions to mitigate the effects of economic and political uncertainty. The benefits of these actions can support an effective implementation of the UN SDGs related to gender equality (Goal 5) and several environment-related SDGs (Goal 13 and Goal 15). Full article

(1) Background: This study introduces a novel computational approach to examine government capabilities in information intervention for risk management, influential agents in a global information network, and the socioeconomic factors of information-sharing behaviors of the public across regions during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Citation network analysis was employed to gauge the online visibility of governmental health institutions across regions. A bipartite exponential random graph modeling (ERGM) procedure was conducted to measure network dynamics. (3) Results: COVID-19 response agencies in Europe had the highest web impact, whereas health agencies in North America had the lowest. Various stakeholders, such as businesses, non-profit organizations, governments, and educational institutions played a key role in sharing the COVID-19 response by agencies’ information given on their websites. Income inequality and GDP per capita were associated with the high online visibility of governmental health agencies. Other factors, such as population size, an aging population, death rate, and case percentage, did not contribute to the agencies’ online visibility, suggesting that demographic characteristics and health status are not predictors of sharing government resources. (4) Conclusions: A combination of citation network analysis and ERGM helps reveal information flow dynamics and understand the socioeconomic consequences of sharing the government’s COVID-19 information during the pandemic. Full article

(1) Background: There is limited evidence on the impact of arts therapies as a tool for the prevention of mental health difficulties in childhood. This pilot randomised controlled study aimed to investigate the impact of arts therapies on children’s mental health and well-being; the qualitative and arts-based evidence is presented in this article. (2) Methods: Sixty-two children (aged 7–10) with mild emotional and behavioral difficulties were recruited across four primary schools and were randomly assigned to either art therapy, music therapy, dance movement therapy, or dramatherapy. All children were interviewed individually after their participation in arts therapies. (3) Results: Children verbally and artistically expressed that they experienced positive changes in their mental health and well-being, such as improved self-expression, safety, empowerment, hope, and optimism for the future. The arts were particularly important for expressing complex emotions and feelings that cannot be easily verbalised. Recommendations are provided to improve the quality of group arts therapies in future interventions, such as through smaller groups, longer sessions, and strategies to protect the therapeutic environment. (4) Conclusions: This study embraced all arts therapies as one research domain and set children’s verbal and non-verbal responses at the heart of outcome evaluation. This article highlights the importance of incorporating qualitative and arts-based methods to capture changes in children’s mental health well-being in future experimental studies. Full article

One means of reducing violence against people experiencing domestic abuse is to improve the pathway which they use to access help from the police and other services. In this paper we report and reflect on a project which contributes to violence reduction via a participatory approach to service improvement, focusing on this pathway. We describe the four phases of an innovative experience-based co-design (EBCD) project, which involved collaborating with domestic abuse survivors as well as members of the police and domestic abuse organizations. We report on indicators of the acceptability and feasibility of EBCD in this context. We also reflect upon the potential of the EBCD approach for involving communities in collaborating with services to reduce domestic abuse. We discuss the conceptual and methodological implications with regard to adopting participatory and inclusive approaches in contexts where power-sharing may be difficult. We argue that EBCD has considerable potential for use in this setting and we identify several areas where insights from this project could be used to improve the future viability of any such initiatives. Full article

This paper highlights the career of an exceptional woman virologist, Dr. Ilaria Capua. It recollects her major achievements, awards and noteworthy events that have shaped her scientific and political career. It retraces Dr. Capua’s major contributions to the study of viral zoonoses, in particular influenza virus, and her strong commitment to an open, more ethical science at the service of society in its broadest sense. It describes how she became the long-term champion of “Open Access” and “Data Sharing” for virus genetic sequences and introduces her new concept of “Circular Health”, where health becomes a circular system that represents a central and vital connection hub between humans and nature. This paper features Dr. Capua’s value as a role model for young women scientists and their empowerment. Full article

Using the same data set, a researcher can obtain very different reduced form estimates just by assuming different macroeconomic models. Reiterative Truncated Projected Least Squares (RTPLS) or Variable Slope Generalized Least Squares (VSGLS) can be used to estimate total derivatives that are not model dependent. These estimates can be used to pick between competing macro models, improve current models, or create new models. A selected survey of RTPLS estimates in the literature reveals several common patterns: (1) as income inequality has surged around the world, the effect of changes in government spending (G), exports (X), and money supply (M-1) on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have plummeted, (2) decreases in G, X, and M-1 cause GDP to fall more than equal increases in G, X, and M-1 cause GDP to rise, and (3) unusually large increases in G and M-1 cause their effect on GDP to plummet. These common patterns fit with a global glut of savings hypothesis, which predicts that an increase in savings will not cause an increase in production expanding investment. An appropriate model could be built around the idea that investors have a choice between investing to increase production or investing to earn rent or interest. Full article

Indigenous peoples globally are pursuing diverse strategies to foster mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness by reclaiming and restoring their relationships to land. For Anishinaabe communities, the land is the source of local knowledge systems that sustain identities and foster mino-bimaadiziwin, that is, living in a good and healthy way. In July 2019, the community of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg in Ontario, Canada hosted a week-long land camp to reclaim Mountain Lake and reconnect Elders, youth and band staff to the land, history, and relationships of this place. Framed theoretically by environmental repossession, we explore the perceptions of 15 participating community members and examine local and intergenerational meanings of the camp for mental wellness. The findings show that the Mountain Lake camp strengthened social relationships, supported the sharing and practice of Anishinaabe knowledge, and fostered community pride in ways that reinforced the community’s Anishinaabe identity. By exploring the links between land reclamation, identity, and community empowerment, we suggest environmental repossession as a useful concept for understanding how land reconnection and self-determination can support Indigenous mental wellness. Full article

Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and various forms of neglect of children have been encountered more frequently by healthcare providers, particularly physicians. However, mismanagement of child abuse and neglect (CAN) due to a lack of awareness of it can lead to substantial and serious consequences. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the awareness of CAN among medical students and compare it between preclinical and clinical males and females in Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a self-reported-based questionnaire was carried out to study child abuse and neglect awareness and compare preclinical and clinical male versus female medical students during the first semester in 2021/2022. The majority of the participants were aware of CAN (90.6%), agreed that CAN exists locally (96.6%), believed that CAN is important in the medical field (96.3%), and expressed the important role of physicians in participating in the management of CAN (84.3%). Some students did not know about the legislation of CAN in Saudi Arabia (15%). The results show a lack of exposure to real CAN cases (80.3%) and the need for more formal education (70.3%). In general, the students were comparable, but there were significant differences showing more awareness in female students compared to males and, similarly, more awareness in clinical-year students. Both clinical and preclinical medical students were aware of CAN, with some concerns regarding their competency in dealing with CAN. CAN should be given more weight in the medical school curriculum. Full article

Aims: To identify the factors conditioning the feasibility of an intervention to reduce social isolation and loneliness in noninstitutionalized older adults from the perspective of the intervention agents. Design: A Dimensional Grounded Theory study conducted from December 2019 to January 2020. Methods: Twelve participants were recruited from an experimental study developed in a health district of a southern Spanish city. Data were collected through focus group meetings, individual interviews, biograms, anecdote notebooks, and the field diaries of two participants not included in the other techniques. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Findings were divided into three themes: (a) the elderly between the walls of loneliness, economic difficulties, losses, and the past; (b) intervention agents/volunteers between the walls of inexperience in the management of psychological/emotional processes, lack of moral authority, and difficulty in planning results adapted to the (elderly) person; and (c) intervention between the walls of (interest in) company and assistance at home, lack of involvement (“waiting for you to save them”), and withdrawal/“abandonment”. Conclusion: A profile of the specialized intervention agent, professionalized (or at least a mentored agent), with both technical and relational competencies; a clear understanding of the purposes of the intervention (empowerment, as opposed to having company or being helped with household chores) and the commitment to active participation by the elder; or adequate management of the completion of the intervention (flexibility, attachment management) are some of the main factors contributing to the feasibility of these approaches. Impact: The findings have potential implications in the field of primary healthcare because primary and community healthcare services can implement corrections to the proposed intervention and ensure its effectiveness under feasible conditions. The nurse is shown as the most appropriate profile to conduct this intervention, although more research is needed to analyze the feasibility of this type of intervention in the daily practice of community nurses. Full article

From the 1980s onwards, many jurisdictions reformed their electricity sectors to create energy markets. To this end, they unbundled transmission from generation, raising the issue of whether and how to regulate transmission. This paper contributes to this literature by analyzing the 40-year Chilean experience. To do so, it describes the initial transmission regulation, the changes introduced, the causes that triggered them, and their results regarding grid access and expansion and their impact on the energy market. The Chilean Electricity Act, issued in 1982, established open access to transmission facilities but left access and expansion conditions unregulated. This situation caused generators’ grid access problems, harming energy market competition. In 2004, lawmakers amended the Act to require the regulator to develop annual expansion plans and regulate transmission remuneration and financing. Following these changes, transmission expanded adequately for about a decade. However, since 2016, renewable energy curtailments have been significant due to congestion on some transmission lines due to construction delays. The increasing empowerment of civil society in the decision-making processes of new investments is relevant in explaining the delays. The main lesson is that citizen consensus-building is crucial for grid expansion. Full article

With the vast number of comments posted daily on social media and other platforms, manually monitoring internet activity for possible national security risks or cyberbullying is an impossible task. However, with recent advances in machine learning (ML), the automatic monitoring of such posts for possible national security risks and cyberbullying becomes feasible. There is still the issue of privacy on the internet; however, in this study, only the technical aspects of designing an automated system that could monitor and detect hate speech in the Arabic language were targeted, which many companies, such as Facebook, Twitter, and others, could use to prevent hate speech and cyberbullying. For this task, a unique dataset consisting of 4203 comments classified into seven categories, including content against religion, racist content, content against gender equality, violent content, offensive content, insulting/bullying content, normal positive comments, and normal negative comments, was designed. The dataset was extensively preprocessed and labeled, and its features were extracted. In addition, the use of deep recurrent neural networks (RNNs) was proposed for the classification and detection of hate speech. The proposed RNN architecture, called DRNN-2, consisted of 10 layers with 32 batch sizes and 50 iterations for the classification task. Another model consisting of five hidden layers, called DRNN-1, was used only for binary classification. Using the proposed models, a recognition rate of 99.73% was achieved for binary classification, 95.38% for the three classes of Arabic comments, and 84.14% for the seven classes of Arabic comments. This accuracy was high for the classification of a complex language, such as Arabic, into seven different classes. The achieved accuracy was higher than that of similar methods reported in the recent literature, whether for binary classification, three-class classification, or seven-class classification, as discussed in the literature review section. Full article

Societies have proscribed bestiality, or sex between humans and nonhuman animals, since the earliest recorded legal codes. In the early American colonies, religious prohibitions against bestiality provided the grounds for punishing those who engaged in such acts. In the 1800′s, Henry Bergh imported the animal welfare approach to the United States, which modernized the legislative treatment of animals in the country. Until recently, however, many laws in the U.S. have been outdated and vague and have utilized moralistic terminology. Since the 1960′s, a growing body of literature has developed suggesting that individuals who harm animals may also interpersonally offend. This concept, known as the Link, has served as a major motivation for advocates to promote new legislation criminalizing bestiality, to modernize old state statutes, and to expand penalties for individuals convicted of having sex with animals. Unfortunately, data supporting the Link between bestiality and interpersonal violence are limited and of questionable generalizability to the broad public. The Link’s weaknesses can assist in guiding further research. This article summarizes the history of bestiality law, the current state of bestiality legislation in the United States, the body of Link-related literature on bestiality and interpersonal violence and other problematic sexual behaviors, and the empirical weaknesses and needs revealed by this legislation. Full article