Search Results (2,758)

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents one of the world’s most ambitious transnational infrastructure and investment programs, but its implementation faces considerable external risks. Specifically, these risks include geopolitical instability, regulatory disparities, socio-cultural conflicts, and economic volatility, which threaten project continuity, economic viability, and sustainability of the BRI framework. Consequently, effective risk recognition and prediction has become crucial for mitigating disruptions and supporting evidence-based policy formulation. What should be noticed is that existing risk management frameworks lack specialized, dynamically adaptive indicator systems capable of forecasting external risks specific to international engineering projects under the BRI. They tend to rely on static and traditional methods, which are ill-equipped to handle the dynamic and nonlinear nature of these transnational challenges. To address this gap, we have developed a machine learning-based early warning system. Drawing on a comprehensive dataset of 31 risk indicators across 155 BRI countries from 2013 to 2022, we constructed a stacked ensemble model optimized via Grid Search. The resulting ensemble model demonstrated exceptional predictive performance, achieving an R² value of 0.966 and outperforming all baseline methods significantly. By introducing a data-driven early-warning framework, our study contributes to more resilient infrastructure planning and improved risk governance mechanisms in the context of transnational cooperation initiatives. Full article

Introduction: Despite global improvements in immunization, major gaps persist. By 2024, an estimated 14.3 million infants, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), remained zero-dose (ZD), never having received even the first DTP vaccine. In 2022, 33 million children missed their measles vaccination (22 million missed the first dose, 11 million missed the second dose), highlighting entrenched structural, behavioral, and systemic barriers that continue to exclude marginalized populations. Addressing these inequities requires innovative, context-adapted approaches that strengthen primary health care (PHC) and extend services to the hardest-to-reach populations. Objectives: This study aims to document and synthesize implementation research (IR) projects on immunization programs in LMICs, identifying key enablers and effective strategies that reduce inequities, improve outcomes, and support efforts to reach ZD children. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multiple-case study of 36 IR projects across 13 LMICs, embedded within an evidence review framework and complemented by policy analysis. Data were drawn from systematic document reviews and validation discussions with project leads. A total of 326 strategies were extracted, coded using a structured codebook, and mapped to the WHO–UNICEF PHC Levers for Action. Descriptive analysis synthesized patterns across service delivery and policy outcomes, including coverage gains, improved microplanning, community engagement, and system integration. Results: Of the 326 immunization strategies identified, most (76.1%) aligned with operational PHC levers, particularly monitoring and evaluation (19.3%), workforce development (18.7%), and models of care (12%). Digital technologies (11.7%) were increasingly deployed for real-time tracking and oversight. Core strategic levers comprised 23.9% of strategies, with community engagement (8.9%) and governance frameworks (7.7%) emerging as critical enablers, though sustainable financing (4%) and private-sector engagement (0.9%) were rarely addressed. While the majority of projects focused on routine immunization (n = 32), only a few directly targeted ZD children (n = 3). Interventions yielded improvements in both service delivery and policy outcomes. Improvements in microplanning and data systems (23.5%) reflected the increased uptake of digital dashboards, GIS-enabled tools, and electronic registries. Community engagement (16.2%) emphasized the influence of local leaders and volunteers in building trust, while health system strengthening (15.7%) invested in cold chain, supervision, and workforce capacity. Coverage gains (10.6%) were achieved through delivery innovations, though sustainable financing remained a critical problem (3.4%). Conclusions: Reaching ZD children requires equity-driven strategies that combine digital innovations, community engagement, and resilient system planning. Sustained progress depends on strengthening governance, financing, and research. Embedding IR in immunization programs generates actionable evidence, supports context-specific strategies, and reduces equity gaps, offering practical insights that complement health system research and advance the Immunization Agenda 2030. Full article

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) programs hold significant social and economic relevance, as the technological innovation that sustains a country’s competitiveness depends on them. This article compares research on STEM programs in Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, specifically Brazil, Chile, Portugal, and Spain. More specifically, it aims to reflect on the social and economic relevance of STEM programs; vocational choices and the social stereotypes associated with these fields; the variables that influence academic success, retention, and graduation rates; and the measures implemented, either nationally or by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), to promote access and success in these programs. We conducted qualitative research, analyzing official documents and peer-reviewed articles that describe the higher education landscape in the selected countries. Results show that in all four countries studied, there is a growing demand for STEM graduates. However, concerns remain about high dropout and failure rates, as well as the lower participation of women and students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds or ethnic minorities. Some measures have been implemented by the governments of these countries to promote greater democratization of access and academic success for these students. Nevertheless, inequalities persist, suggesting the need to increase investment in practices and policies that encourage young people, especially those from more disadvantaged groups, to engage early in STEM domains. Full article

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping skill expectations across media, marketing, and journalism, however, university curricula are not evolving at a comparable speed. To quantify the resulting curriculum–skill gap in communication-related programs, two synchronous corpora were assembled for the period July 2024–June 2025: 66 course descriptions from six leading UK universities and 107 graduate-to-mid-level job advertisements in communications, digital media, advertising, and public relations. Alignment around AI, datafication, and platform governance was assessed through a three-stage natural-language-processing workflow: a dual-tier AI-keyword index, comparative TF–IDF salience, and latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling with bootstrap uncertainty. Curricula devoted 6.0% of their vocabulary to AI plus data/platform terms, whereas job ads allocated only 2.3% (χ² = 314.4, p < 0.001), indicating a conceptual-critical emphasis on ethics, power, and societal impact in the academy versus an operational focus on SEO, multichannel analytics, and campaign performance in recruitment discourse. Topic modeling corroborated this divergence: universities foregrounded themes labelled “Politics, Power & Governance”, while advertisers concentrated on “Campaign Execution & Performance”. Environmental and social externalities of AI—central to the Special Issue theme—were foregrounded in curricula but remained virtually absent from job advertisements. The findings are interpreted as an extension of technology-biased-skill-change theory to communication disciplines, and it is suggested that studio-based micro-credentials in automation workflows, dashboard visualization, and sustainable AI practice be embedded without relinquishing critical reflexivity, thereby narrowing the curriculum–skill gap and fostering environmentally, socially, and economically responsible media innovation. With respect to the novelty of this research, it constitutes the first large-scale, data-driven corpus analysis that empirically assessed the AI-related curriculum–skill gap in communication disciplines, thereby extending technology-biased-skill-change theory into this field. Full article

The aim of this paper is to highlight Tribes’ efforts to Indigenize their child welfare systems through the instrument of Tribal law. Since its founding, the United States has strategically focused on Native children in its efforts to assimilate Native Peoples. By the mid-twentieth century, federal and state governments removed nearly one in four Native children from their homes—and permanently placed most in non-Native care. In 1978, Congress recognized Tribes’ inherent authority to protect their children through the Indian Child Welfare Act. Tribal nations responded by creating their own child welfare laws and programs, but at least initially, most were not predicated on their respective Tribes’ cultures, values, and worldviews. This article considers the more recent shift among Tribal nations toward Indigenization of their child welfare systems and points to examples of this shift found in Tribal law. It reviews statements of purpose within the codes, which lay the groundwork for culturally infused child protection; statements about “best interests,” which communicate Tribal concepts about the foundations of children’s wellbeing; and definitions of “family,” which can vary greatly from western views. Reflection on these changes yields several lessons for U.S.-based Tribal nations in their ongoing efforts to promote their own visions of child wellbeing and, more generally, for other governments whose responsibilities include improving child welfare. Full article

This article examines the legal and practical dimensions of religious education (RE) in Austria with a particular focus on interreligious education as an emerging pedagogical and societal response to increasing religious and cultural diversity. It begins by situating the discussion within Austria’s historical and constitutional framework, in which RE is governed as a res mixta—a joint responsibility shared between the state and legally recognized churches and religious societies (CRSs). The analysis highlights how this model of power-sharing is enshrined in both constitutional and ordinary legislation, granting CRSs extensive autonomy in the organization, content, and supervision of denominational RE. Despite the absence of explicit legal provisions for interreligious education, the article demonstrates that interreligious teaching practices can be implemented through cooperative arrangements between CRSs, particularly when aligned with national educational goals and international commitments to tolerance, religious freedom, and other human rights. It further analyses curricular references to interreligiosity across various denominational RE programs and discusses the institutional potential for integrating interreligious competencies into teacher training and school practice. Drawing on the example of the project Integration through Interreligious Education at the University Graz, a cooperative initiative between the Catholic Church and the Islamic Religious Society in Austria (IGGÖ) from 2017 to 2023, the article outlines how interreligious education was legally contextualized and contractually formalized. The article concludes that interreligious education, though legally unregulated, is both feasible and desirable within Austria’s current legal and educational framework. It calls for greater normative clarity and policy support to ensure the sustainability and broader implementation of such models, which foster mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence in a pluralistic society. Full article

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes lifelong latency following primary infection, residing within myeloid progenitor cells and monocytes. To achieve this, the virus employs multiple immune evasion strategies. It suppresses innate immune signaling by inhibiting Toll-like receptor and cGAS-STING pathways. In addition, the virus suppresses major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-dependent antigen presentation to evade T cell recognition. As the downregulation of MHC molecules may trigger NK cell activation, the virus compensates for this by expressing proteins such as UL40 and IL-10, which engage inhibitory NK cell receptors and block activating signals, thereby suppressing NK cell immune surveillance. Viral proteins like UL36 and UL37 block host cell apoptosis and necroptosis, allowing HCMV to persist undetected and avoid clearance. In settings of profound immunosuppression, such as after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) or solid organ transplantation, slow immune reconstitution creates a window for viral reactivation. Likewise, immunosenescence and chronic low-grade inflammation during aging increases the risk of reactivation. Once reactivated, HCMV triggers programmed cell death, releasing viral PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns) and host-derived DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns). This release fuels a potent inflammatory response, promoting further viral reactivation and exacerbating tissue damage, creating a vicious cycle. This cycle of inflammation and reactivation contributes to both transplant-related complications and the decline of antiviral immunity in the elderly. Therefore, understanding the immune regulatory mechanisms that govern the switch from latency to reactivation is critical, especially within the unique immune landscapes of transplantation and aging. Elucidating these pathways is essential for developing strategies to prevent and treat HCMV-related disease in these high-risk populations. Full article

Modern military operations place significant physiological and cognitive demands on soldiers, necessitating innovative strategies to monitor and optimize health and performance. This narrative review examines the role of continuous physiological state monitoring and precision health strategies to enhance soldier resilience and operational readiness. Advanced wearable biosensors were analyzed for their ability to measure vital physiological parameters—such as heart-rate variability, core temperature, hydration status, and biochemical markers—in real-time operational scenarios. Emerging technological solutions, including AI-driven analytics and edge computing, facilitate rapid data interpretation and predictive health assessments. Results indicate that real-time physiological feedback significantly enhances early detection and prevention of conditions like exertional heat illness and musculoskeletal injuries, reducing medical attrition and improving combat effectiveness. However, ethical challenges related to data privacy, informed consent, and secure data management highlight the necessity for robust governance frameworks and stringent security protocols. Personalized training regimens and rehabilitation programs informed by monitoring data demonstrate potential for substantial performance optimization and sustained force readiness. In conclusion, integrating precision health strategies into military operations offers clear advantages in soldier health and operational effectiveness, contingent upon careful management of ethical considerations and data security. Full article

Water is the source of life and also the lifeline of cities. The reconstruction of secondary water supply systems is a key component of urban renewal reforms, and the collaborative governance of such projects has become a focal topic through academic research. In this article, we try to discover the path to successful “bottom-up” collaborative water governance with Collins’s theory of interaction ritual chains (IRC) through a case study of a secondary water supply reconstruction program in J Estate, Jinshan District, Shanghai. The case study involved a total of 104 households, and we employed convenience sampling for all households through door-to-door inquiries, which included semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations. A total of 15 households participated in our interview. This study demonstrates that repeated social interactive rituals, such as bodily co-presence, rhythmic synchronization, and shared signs, can stimulate the accumulation of residents’ emotional energy, which becomes the initial power to promote community water governance and, in return, becomes the driving force for sustained collective action and mutual trust. Drawing on Collins’s theory of IRC, this article fills a gap by explaining the symbolic mechanism driven by emotions and personal relationships that macro-level governance ignores. We also demonstrate the spillover effects of such social rituals and propose policy recommendations that governments should apply, using these rituals to mobilize and consolidate residents’ emotions to create a virtuous circle of collaborative governance. Full article

Background: Vision loss due to chronic eye diseases remains a significant public health challenge. Early detection through screening programs may reduce the burden of vision loss. This study aimed to assess the detection rate of eye diseases (glaucoma, AMD, and diabetic retinopathy), including those newly detected during opportunistic screening and ophthalmological consultations within the local government health policy program “Good Vision for Mazovians” in Mazovia, Poland. Material and methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of medical data from the registry of the Ophthalmology Department of the Międzylesie Specialist Hospital in Warsaw, which implemented the local government preventive program “Good Vision for Mazovians. Data from 1812 individuals (aged 18–92 years) participating in the “Good Vision for Mazovians” preventive program were analyzed. Results: Most participants were female (59.7%), aged over 60, and took medications regularly (62.7%). Excluding subjects with prior diagnosis of eye conditions, the detection rate was 38 suspected cases (3.8%) of glaucoma cases, 84 suspected cases of AMD (4.6%), and 21 suspected cases of diabetic retinopathy (1.2%). Most participants had not visited an ophthalmologist in the past two years (58.6%), reported low or average knowledge of eye health, had difficulty accessing ophthalmology services in their region (57%), and identified long waiting times for appointments as the main barrier to care (83.5%). Conclusions: Opportunistic screening for eye diseases in populations with limited access to eye care should be considered as a method for detecting common causes of irreversible visual impairment, particularly AMD. Older adults and individuals without higher education appear to face the greatest barriers to accessing ophthalmology services and may benefit the most from targeted opportunistic screening initiatives. Full article

Remote First Nations communities in Australia experience ongoing energy insecurity due to geographic isolation, reliance on diesel, and uneven consumer protections relative to grid-connected households. This paper analyses evidence on electricity access, infrastructure and practical experience along with initiatives for improving existing infrastructure; highlights government policies, funding frameworks and regulation; demonstrates the benefits of community-led projects; provides geographic and demographic insights; and relevels key challenges along with pathways for effective solutions. Drawing on existing program experience, case studies and recent reforms (including First Nations–focused strategies and off-grid consumer-protection initiatives), this paper demonstrates that community energy systems featuring solar-battery systems can significantly improve reliability and affordability by reducing reliance on diesel generators and delivering tangible household benefits. The analyses reveal that there is an ongoing gap in protecting off-grid consumers. Hence, this work proposes a practical agenda to improve electricity supply systems for First Nations community energy systems through advanced community microgrids (including long-duration storage), intelligent energy management and monitoring systems, rights-aligned consumer mechanisms for customers with prepaid metering systems, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative blended finance (e.g., Energy-as-a-Service and impact investment) and on-country workforce development. Overall, this paper contributes to a perspective for an integrated framework that couples technical performance with equity, cultural authority and energy sovereignty, offering a replicable pathway for reliable, affordable and clean electricity for remote First Nations communities. Full article

The National Cookstove Program has been launched by the Federal Government of Mexico, attempting to reach one million rural homes by the year 2030. Voluntary ISO emission standards for fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) relate emission rates from stoves to indoor air concentrations using a single zone box model (SZM) to derive performance tiers. Region-specific emission benchmarks for cookstove performance that are linked to estimated benefits in reduced indoor air concentrations and resultant health impacts will be important in product selection. Here we compare the SZM to measured indoor PM_2.5 and CO concentrations for five stove stacking combinations using controlled cooking tests of typical foods from the Purepecha region of Mexico to derive region-specific benchmarks. The results demonstrate that the SZM systematically overpredicted PM_2.5 emissions based on thermal plume effects and ventilation which can be adjusted based on strong relationships (Adjusted r² = 0.96, p < 0.001) with emission rates and air changes per hour. Adjustment of PM_2.5 ISO voluntary standards for systematic bias caused by plume buoyancy and ventilation is important in ensuring that the ISO benchmarks reflect the actual indoor concentrations measured in homes. The ISO benchmarks for CO should be revisited as the indoor concentrations from traditional stoves met the most stringent benchmarks but were in the range of concentrations associated with adverse health impacts in adults and psychosocial impacts in children. Full article

Rapid urbanization and aging population present global challenges for smart cities, especially for equitable pandemic response and age friendly urban transitions. This paper through a two-round Delphi study assessed Amman’s efficiency in pandemic response focusing on digital inclusion for older adults and critical barriers to age-friendly urbanism. The results indicate moderate satisfaction with Amman’s overall pandemic response alongside significant limitations, particularly in digital equity for older adults. Key systemic barriers included compromised air quality, inadequate public transportation, notably poor public Wi-Fi, and deficient digital infrastructure. Furthermore, political and financial obstacles, such as high living costs and low governance transparency, significantly hindered progress. Experts prioritized solutions emphasizing improved physical accessibility, expanded green spaces, and enhanced digital literacy. This study underscores the urgent need for integrated, multi-dimensional strategies, including participatory governance and targeted digital inclusion programs, to foster sustainable and equitable smart city development that enhances resilience and inclusiveness for aging populations in post pandemic urban planning contexts. Full article

Climate change poses significant risks to both natural and urban systems, and fostering climate literacy among younger generations is increasingly recognized as a key component of resilience strategies. This paper presents the outcomes of a transnational climate education project involving high school students from Cinisello Balsamo (Italy) and Edremit (Turkey), developed under the EU-funded Town Twinning program. The project combined scientific seminars, experiential learning, and digital tools (including carbon footprint calculators and immersive virtual glacier tours) to enhance climate knowledge and civic engagement. Youth Climate Councils were established to co-develop local sustainability proposals and engage with municipal authorities. Quantitative tests and qualitative evaluations confirmed significant learning gains and high satisfaction among participants. A comparative analysis with international initiatives highlights the project’s unique integration of scientific rigor, participatory methods, and cross-border cooperation. The proposed model offers a replicable framework for embedding place-based climate education into urban governance and youth policy. Full article

Efficient allocation of mineral nutrients and photoassimilates is essential for grain development in rice. However, the transcriptional programs governing nutrient transport at key reproductive stages remain largely unresolved. Here, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of rice (Oryza sativa L.) across spatial (nodes, roots, and five other tissues) and temporal (seven reproductive stages) dimensions to elucidate the molecular basis of nutrient transport and allocation. RNA-seq profiling of node I identified stage-specific gene expression patterns, with the grain filling stage marked by strong induction of transporters involved in mineral allocation (e.g., OsYSL2, OsZIP3, OsSULTR3;3, SPDT) and carbohydrate distribution (e.g., OsSWEET13, OsSWEET14, OsMST6). Comparative analysis with the neck-panicle node (NPN) and root revealed tissue-specific regulatory networks, including nitrate (OsNRT1.1A, OsNRT2.3) and phosphate (OsPHT1;4, OsPHO1;3) transporters enriched at the grain filling stage. Root expression of Cd/As-related transporters (OsNRAMP5, OsCd1, OsLsi1, OsLsi2, OsLsi3) during grain filling highlights the contribution of belowground uptake to grain metal accumulation. Together, our study establishes a spatiotemporal atlas of nutrient transporter gene activity during rice reproductive development and identifies candidate genes regulating upward and lateral nutrient allocation. These findings provide insights into improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing toxic metal accumulation in rice grains through targeted manipulation of nodal and root transport systems. Full article