Search Results (95)

This paper argues that Black women are represented in online political advertisements during South African election campaigns. Through the qualitative online research approach, this paper deploys a purposive sample of 30 online political advertisements of the African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA), and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from the national, provincial, and local government 2009 and 2024 elections cycles. This paper deploys an Africana Womanist Approach as both a theoretical and analytical framework to interrogate underlying visual rhetoric concerning how Black women are depicted in the sampled online political advertisements, particularly in the framework of post-apartheid South Africa. Findings revealed that Black women are consistently portrayed in the ANC, DA, and EFF advertisements as maternal figures, labourers, marginalised individuals, and iconic of anti-apartheid activists’ inequality since the 1994 transition. Nevertheless, it was also found that Black women continue to be seen as emblems of poverty and underdevelopment, despite the political promises of change. This paper advances understanding as to how perspectives on Africana women shape the visual framing of political messages in the South Africa online campaign environment, demonstrating how these representations can be aligned to produce cultural and political communication strategies. Full article

This study explores the interplay between environmental justice and energy democracy in the context of forest-based energy conflicts in Türkiye, focusing on the case of the Akbelen Forest. It draws on qualitative data from community-based actions and legal documents to examine how local communities engage in collective action against extractivist energy policies that threaten their ecological and social environments. The findings reveal a complex web of multilayered injustices, including procedural, distributional, and recognitional dimensions, experienced by the affected populations. In this regard, the Akbelen case demonstrates how these different dimensions intersect and constitute a framework of “multiple justice”. The central argument of this study, developed primarily through our visualised network graph, is that the Akbelen case demonstrates the limitations of current environmental governance frameworks in accommodating community-based ecological values and rights. This analysis demonstrates how energy democracy can function as both a normative and strategic instrument for rethinking participatory planning and forest governance. The present paper contributes to ongoing debates in the fields of political ecology and environmental governance by situating grassroots mobilisation within a broader discussion of just energy transitions. The study also emphasises the necessity of inclusive, multi-actor governance models that prioritise democratic participation, ecological integrity, and intergenerational equity. Full article

Human energy production and consumption have significantly contributed to the environmental crisis, impacting human health, wellbeing, and social justice. In this context, the concept of energy citizenship has emerged, referring to civic engagement in fostering sustainable and democratic energy systems and transitions. Under the Horizon Europe project EnergyPROSPECTS (PROactive Strategies and Policies for Energy Citizenship Transformation), we investigated the conditions and dynamics that promote or hinder energy citizenship and empower citizens to contribute to sustainable energy transformations. Through 44 in-depth interviews and four deliberative workshops in four European case study regions with individuals and organizations engaged in different forms of energy citizenship, we identified key psychological and organizational factors driving citizen empowerment. These findings informed the development of an interactive empowerment toolkit, a digital learning resource designed to enhance energy citizenship literacy and skills. This toolkit, although primarily targeting adults interested in energy citizenship, is adaptable for students and educators at various levels, offering two tracks: one for beginners with no prior involvement in the exercise of energy citizenship, and another for those with experience in energy activism. We highlight the scientific basis of the toolkit, detailing its components and demonstrating its application in fostering energy citizenship empowerment. The tool aims to equip users with the skills and knowledge necessary to actively participate in sustainable energy transitions. Full article

As Albania emerges not only as a transit country but increasingly as a destination for migrants, its migration policies are undergoing notable shifts. This article examines Albania’s evolving migration governance, focusing on the transition from a traditional, state-centered security approach to a human-centered security framework. Drawing on qualitative methods—interviews with stakeholders from state institutions, academia, and NGOs, alongside a thematic analysis of the key literature and policy documents—this study identifies the drivers of this shift, including democratic reforms, EU integration, and alignment with international standards. The findings reveal a growing emphasis on human security in policy discourse and design, yet also underscore persistent challenges in policy implementation. This article contributes to debates on migration policy by highlighting the tensions and interplay between state security imperatives and human security priorities within Albania’s EU integration trajectory. Full article

Forests play a vital role in the global carbon cycle; however, the carbon sink capacity of African forests is increasingly threatened by wildfires, rising temperatures, and ecological degradation. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest carbon fluxes across Africa from 2001 to 2023, based on multi-source remote sensing and climate datasets. The results show that wildfires have significantly disrupted Africa’s carbon balance over the past two decades. From 2001 to 2023, fire activity was most intense in the woodland–savanna transition zones of Central and Southern Africa. In countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, and Zambia, each recorded burned areas exceeding 500,000 km², along with high recurrence rates (e.g., up to 0.7584 fires per year in South Sudan). These fire-affected regions often exhibited high ecological sensitivity and carbon density, which led to pronounced disturbances in carbon fluxes. Nevertheless, the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintained an average annual net carbon sink of 74.2 MtC, indicating a high potential for ecological recovery. In contrast, Liberia and Eswatini exhibited net carbon emissions in fire-affected areas, suggesting weaker ecosystem resilience. These findings underscore the urgent need to incorporate wildfire disturbances into forest carbon management and climate mitigation strategies. In addition, climate variables such as temperature and soil moisture also influence carbon fluxes, although their effects display substantial spatial heterogeneity. On average, a 1 °C increase in temperature leads to an additional 0.347 (±1.243) Mt CO₂ in emissions, while a 1% increase in soil moisture enhances CO₂ removal by 1.417 (±8.789) Mt. However, compared to wildfires, the impacts of these climate drivers are slower and more spatially variable. Full article

A just and sustainable energy transition in historically coal-dependent regions like Kentucky requires more than the adoption of new technologies and market-based solutions. This study uses a stated preferences approach to evaluate public support for various attributes of energy transition programs, revealing broad backing for moving away from coal, as indicated by a negative willingness to pay (WTP) for the status quo (–USD 4.63). Key findings show strong bipartisan support for solar energy, with Democrats showing the highest WTP at USD 8.29, followed closely by Independents/Others at USD 8.22, and Republicans at USD 8.08. Wind energy also garnered support, particularly among Republicans (USD 4.04), who may view it as more industry-compatible and less ideologically polarizing. Job creation was a dominant priority across political affiliations, especially for Independents (USD 9.07), indicating a preference for tangible, near-term economic benefits. Similarly, preserving cultural values tied to coal received support among Independents/Others (USD 4.98), emphasizing the importance of place-based identity in shaping preferences. In contrast, social support programs (e.g., job retraining) and certain post-mining land uses (e.g., recreation and conservation) were less favored, possibly due to their abstract nature, delayed benefits, and political framing. Findings from Kentucky offer insights for other coal-reliant states like Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Ultimately, equitable transitions must integrate local voices, address cultural and economic realities, and ensure community-driven planning and investment. Full article

The Tunisian uprisings projected an elusive surrealistic scene that was an aberration in a part of the world where Islamic ideology had been considered the only rallying force and a midwife for regime change. However, this sense of exceptionalism was short-lived, as the religiously zealous Islamist expats and their militant executive wings infiltrated the power vacuum to resume their suspended Islamization project of the 1980s. Brandishing electoral “legitimacy”, they attempted to reframe the bourgeoning indigenous democratization project, rooted in an evolving Tunisian intellectual and cultural heritage, along the neocolonial ideological underpinnings of the “Arab Spring” metanarrative, which proffers the thesis that democracy can be promoted in the Muslim world through so-called “Moderate Muslims”. This paper challenges this dominant narrative by offering a counter-narrative about the political transition in Tunisia. It takes stock of the multidisciplinary conceptual and analytical frameworks elaborated upon in postcolonial theory, social movement theory, cognitive neuroscience theories, and digital communication theories. It draws heavily on socio-narrative translation theory. The corpus analyzed in this work consists of disparate yet corroborating narratives cutting across modes, genres, and cultural and linguistic boundaries, and is grounded in insider participant observation. This work opens an alternative inquiry into how the processes of cross-cultural knowledge production and the power dynamics they sustain have helped shape the course of the transition since 2011. Full article

Introduction: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is rising rapidly, particularly among the Hispanic/Latino (H/L) populations, who face disproportionately poor outcomes. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays a critical role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression by mediating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune evasion, and metastasis. However, integrative analyses linking TGF-β alterations to clinical features remain limited—particularly for diverse populations—hindering translational research and the development of precision therapies. To address this gap, we developed AI-HOPE-TGFbeta (Artificial Intelligence agent for High-Optimization and Precision Medicine focused on TGF-β), the first conversational artificial intelligence (AI) agent designed to explore TGF-β dysregulation in CRC by integrating harmonized clinical and genomic data via natural language queries. Methods: AI-HOPE-TGFbeta utilizes a large language model (LLM), Large Language Model Meta AI 3 (LLaMA 3), a natural language-to-code interpreter, and a bioinformatics backend to automate statistical workflows. Tailored for TGF-β pathway analysis, the platform enables real-time cohort stratification and hypothesis testing using harmonized datasets from the cBio Cancer Genomics Portal (cBioPortal). It supports mutation frequency comparisons, odds ratio testing, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and subgroup evaluations across race/ethnicity, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, tumor stage, treatment exposure, and age. The platform was validated by replicating findings on the SMAD4, TGFBR2, and BMPR1A mutations in EOCRC. Exploratory queries were conducted to examine novel associations with clinical outcomes in H/L populations. Results: AI-HOPE-TGFbeta successfully recapitulated established associations, including worse survival in SMAD4-mutant EOCRC patients treated with FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) (p = 0.0001) and better outcomes in early-stage TGFBR2-mutated CRC patients (p = 0.00001). It revealed potential population-specific enrichment of BMPR1A mutations in H/L patients (OR = 2.63; p = 0.052) and uncovered MSI-specific survival benefits among SMAD4-mutated patients (p = 0.00001). Exploratory analysis showed better outcomes in SMAD2-mutant primary tumors vs. metastatic cases (p = 0.0010) and confirmed the feasibility of disaggregated ethnicity-based queries for TGFBR1 mutations, despite small sample sizes. These findings underscore the platform’s capacity to detect both known and emerging clinical–genomic patterns in CRC. Conclusions: AI-HOPE-TGFbeta introduces a new paradigm in cancer bioinformatics by enabling natural language-driven, real-time integration of genomic and clinical data specific to TGF-β pathway alterations in CRC. The platform democratizes complex analyses, supports disparity-focused investigation, and reveals clinically actionable insights in underserved populations, such as H/L EOCRC patients. As a first-of-its-kind system studying TGF-β, AI-HOPE-TGFbeta holds strong promise for advancing equitable precision oncology and accelerating translational discovery in the CRC TGF-β pathway. Full article

The proliferation of CubeSats in Earth orbit has accelerated dramatically in recent years, with projections indicating continued growth in the coming decades. This review examines the evolution of CubeSat applications, from basic technology demonstrations to complex mission capabilities, including Earth observation, telecommunications, astronomical research, biological experimentation, and deep-space exploration. A notable shift has occurred over the past fifteen years, with CubeSats transitioning from standalone platforms to integrated nodes within larger constellations, particularly for Earth observation and telecommunications applications. We analyze the key enabling factors behind the CubeSat revolution, including decreased launch costs, miniaturized electronics, standardized components, and institutional support frameworks. Through the examination of significant past, current, and planned missions, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of CubeSat capabilities across diverse application domains. The review highlights how these miniaturized satellite platforms are democratizing access to space while enabling innovative scientific and commercial applications previously restricted to larger spacecraft. Full article

Introduction: Sub-Saharan Africa in general, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in particular, is undergoing an epidemiological transition characterized by a more rapid increase in the number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the level of readiness of the DRC’s healthcare facilities (HFs) to manage these diseases is unknown. Thus, our study aimed to assess these HFs’ level of readiness to manage cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Methodology: This cross-sectional study involved 1412 HFs in the DRC, selected by stratified random sampling. They are representative of the country’s 26 provinces. The World Health Organization (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Survey (SARA) was used. The “readiness” outcome was a composite measure of the capacity of HFs to manage CVD and diabetes. The readiness indicator comprised four domains, and a score of ≥70% indicated “readiness” to manage CVD and diabetes. Informed consent was obtained from the stakeholders, and the ethics committee held a positive opinion. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 17 software. Results: The average readiness scores of the DRC’s HFs to manage CVD and diabetes are less than 50%, being 38.3% (37.3–39.3) and 39.8% (38.7–40.9), respectively. These scores were less than 40% for CVD and diabetes in rural HFs. They were less than 30% for CVD and diabetes in primary-level HF. No province possesses over 50% of health facilities equipped to address cardiovascular illnesses, and only four provinces (Haut Uele, Kinshasa, Nord Kivu, and Sud Kivu) possess over 50% of health facilities equipped to address diabetes. The provinces with health facilities exhibiting the least preparedness in managing cardiovascular illnesses and diabetes are Nord Ubangi and Sankuru. Only 0.07% (0.01–0.5) of HFs obtained a score ≥ 70% for CVD management, and 5.9% (4.8–7.3) obtained this score for diabetes management. Conclusions: Significant deficiencies must be rectified to enhance service delivery in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Most primary-level and rural facilities demonstrated inadequate preparedness for CVD and diabetes screening and management, exhibiting low readiness scores and limited-service availability in the assessed domains. While secondary-level services are relatively accessible, critical gaps persist that must be addressed to improve readiness for CVD and diabetes care. Healthcare facilities should possess the capacity to deliver recommended services across various tiers, ensuring both service readiness and availability. Full article

Transitioning to sustainable systems often faces significant challenges. People from different backgrounds often have different views on sustainability, which may lead to group polarisation. To promote collective participation in the transition to sustainability, it is critical to understand the drivers of polarisation and promote inclusiveness in decision-making. We developed a Dialogue Tool based on the HUMAT framework to explore opinion dynamics such as polarisation in the community and find potential pathways to reconcile when division occurs. By simulating dissatisfaction, division, and reconciliation in the community, we studied how individual characteristics (such as openness to change and assertiveness) affect collective decisions. Furthermore, the Dialogue Tool can be used to test possible interventions to reduce polarisation and increase community satisfaction. Visual representations of community dynamics under different scenarios within the Dialogue Tool have the potential to foster meaningful dialogues among stakeholders, which may promote a deeper reflection on community collaboration. While limitations such as simplifications and lack of empirical calibration limit the predictive accuracy of the Dialogue Tool (although this is not its goal), it still shows strong potential for educational and policy applications. It offers insights into social influences, conformity, and polarisation in community settings, making it a promising tool for fostering inclusive, informed decision-making and strengthening community participation in sustainable development transitions. Full article

‘Transitional justice’ refers to the full range of efforts to deal with past human rights violations. Since its inception, the concept has undergone an immense expansion of interpretation as it has been applied to a wider range of scenarios in the field. This paper examines the dilemmas of transitional justice as a concept, showing how it has evolved over time and adapted to new contexts. After a brief conceptual history, the paper analyzes the two components of the concept, ‘justice’ and ‘transition’, followed by an examination of the contemporary challenges facing the concept. We argue that the evolving and multifaceted nature of transitional justice defies a singular definition, as neither the term ‘justice’ nor ‘transition’ fully encapsulates its scope. Although conceptual ambiguities persist and debates over its boundaries continue, the conclusion argues that the term remains analytically and normatively valuable and warrants further engagement rather than abandonment. Full article

Understanding the feedback relationships and evolutionary stages of water–socioecological systems (W-SESs) is crucial for achieving sustainable development in basins. This study focuses on the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in East Africa, where population growth, rapid urbanization, and developing industrialization have intensified water resource supply–demand conflicts, leading to socioecological issues such as water environmental degradation and ecological conflicts. The objective of this research is to develop a theoretical framework for the Lake Victoria Basin W-SESs (LVB-WSESs) based on the SES framework, identify the main drivers and critical nodes in the evolution of the LVB-WSESs, analyze the root causes of water–society–ecology conflicts, and explore the feedback relationships and evolutionary stages of the LVB-WSESs over the past century. To achieve this, we employed an integrated qualitative and quantitative analysis of historical data combined with tipping point detection to systematically assess the dynamics of the LVB-WSESs. Our findings show that, under the drivers of climate change (with a 1 °C increase in annual temperature since 1920s), population growth (a six-fold increase since 1920s), economic development, land-use change, urbanization, and species invasion, the basin’s demand for water resources, water environments, and aquatic ecosystems has continually increased, leading to the gradual degradation and imbalance of the basin’s ecological functions. The evolution of the LVB-WSESs can be divided into five stages against the historical backdrop of societal transitions from colonial to independent democratic systems: the stable resource utilization period, the slow environmental change period (1920s–1960s), the rapid environmental imbalance period (1960s–1990s), the transition period from environmental imbalance to protection (1990s–2015), and the reconstruction period of socioecological equilibrium. This study not only enhances understanding of the long-term dynamics of the LVB-WSESs but also provides practical implications for sustainable water management in similar basins globally. It enriches the local practice of global sustainable development theories, providing new theoretical perspectives and case references for future watershed sustainable management. By identifying critical drivers and evolutionary stages, our findings can inform policy decisions and interventions to mitigate socioecological conflicts and achieve basin-level sustainability. Full article

This study employs the social–ecological system (SES) framework to investigate the operational mechanisms of farmer apartment housing in Village L, demonstrating how such mechanisms ensure housing security for villagers in land-constrained contexts. Through a case analysis of Village L, we reveal that the effective implementation of farmer apartments relies on four interconnected elements: socio-political and economic conditions, homestead resource allocation within the resource system, institutional governance rules, and collaborative interactions among the government, village collectives, villagers, and enterprises. By integrating fragmented resources, optimizing participatory governance, and fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation, Village L has established a closed-loop operational model of “resource intensification–democratic decision-making–synergistic co-construction”. This model preserves villagers’ homestead entitlements and addresses housing demands through centralized construction, striking a balance between equity and efficiency in land-scarce areas. The findings underscore that farmer apartment housing represents a viable pathway for achieving “housing-for-all” in resource-limited areas, contingent upon institutionalizing village collectives’ self-governance capabilities and incentivizing broader societal participation (e.g., NGOs and enterprises) to form a diversified investment framework. Policy refinements should prioritize scaling context-specific governance innovations while safeguarding farmers’ land rights during urbanization transitions, offering replicable insights for regions facing similar land use challenges. Full article

This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration, examining its potential to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in government actions. The research develops a theoretical framework to assess the relationship among AI integration, governance improvements, and economic benefits, as measured by key components of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). Utilizing factor analysis and ordinary-least-squares (OLS) regression, this study provides empirical insights into how AI-driven applications contribute to public service delivery and economic growth. The findings highlight that AI has the potential to improve governance significantly. Still, the transition to AI-enhanced public administration is accompanied by challenges such as algorithmic bias, cybersecurity risks, workforce adaptation, and ethical issues. This study emphasizes the need for robust governance structures, comprehensive security measures, and active public involvement to address these challenges. By proposing a clear framework for managing AI integration, this research contributes to the literature on digital transformation in the public sector and offers actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. Future research should examine AI’s broader applications across diverse public sector contexts, ensuring that governance remains aligned with democratic values, public trust, and long-term sustainability. Full article