Search Results (719)

This study explores the role of sustainability-oriented education in supporting post-disaster recovery and resilience in Derna, Libya, following the catastrophic floods of September 2023. Using a qualitative descriptive design, twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with academic experts, public health professionals, policymakers, and community leaders. The findings reveal that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is perceived as both a critical resilience tool and a moral imperative in fragile, disaster-affected contexts. However, institutional fragility, limited resources, and weak policy integration hinder its implementation. The study highlights the need to embed ESD within both formal education systems and informal community networks, aligning recovery strategies with local environmental realities. It offers practical recommendations for leveraging schools, faith-based institutions, and grassroots initiatives to foster adaptive capacity. These insights contribute to global debates on localising sustainable development in post-conflict settings and underscore the potential of ESD to bridge immediate recovery and long-term sustainability. The study explicitly aligns with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). It demonstrates how sustainability-oriented learning can strengthen community resilience by connecting education with local recovery systems, environmental adaptation, and social rebuilding. Through this alignment, the research underscores the role of education as a mechanism for both immediate recovery and long-term sustainability within fragile and disaster-affected societies. Full article

Household waste systems are a frontline test of Australia’s circular economy transition, yet progress remains highly uneven and structurally constrained. Despite strong national targets for resource recovery and emissions reduction, local governments are expected to deliver circular outcomes without uniform access to infrastructure, funding, or technical capability. This study assesses the status, implementation, and progress of household waste management, energy recovery, and circular economy initiatives at the local government level in Australia. Using content analysis of data from 520 local government areas across six states, the study maps differences in service provision (e.g., general waste, mixed recycling, and food organics and garden organics [FOGO] collection), policy instruments, public-facing education, and participation in circular economy programs. The findings reveal that while a majority (92.5%) of councils provide general waste bins, 47% offer FOGO bins, and 78% supply mixed recyclable bins, only a small fraction (2.6%) offers a separate glass bin stream. Fewer than one in ten councils reference any form of energy recovery or waste-to-energy initiative, indicating that resource–energy integration remains emergent and geographically concentrated. Despite national policies such as the National Waste Policy Action Plan, significant regional disparities persist, particularly between metropolitan and rural councils. Guided by environmental governance theory and systems thinking, the study shows how policy fragmentation, funding limitations, and infrastructure inequities create systemic barriers to circularity. The study concludes by recommending targeted co-funding for rural councils, stronger policy support for organics and energy recovery infrastructure, and more coherent multi-level governance to achieve Australia’s 2030 waste and circular economy targets. This research contributes an evidence-based framework for understanding how governance structures and resource asymmetries shape local progress toward a circular economy. Full article

Addressing climate change necessitates a shift in everyday social practices, which are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. While social media platforms are crucial for the emergence and dissemination of such practices, their role in the Russian context remains underexplored. This study employs a big data analysis to identify and systematize climate-related social practices discussed within Russian environmental online communities on the VKontakte platform. Using BERTopic topic modeling on a corpus of nearly 190,000 posts from 103 communities, followed by expert evaluation, we identified 80 distinct social practices. These practices were systematized according to actors, objects, and types of activities, revealing a rich ecosystem of grassroots initiatives focusing on waste management, sustainable consumption, education, and digital mapping. The findings demonstrate that online communities compensate for the lack of institutionalized citizen participation in Russian climate policy by fostering shared meanings and practical knowledge. The study concludes that these bottom-up practices represent a significant resource for climate policy, offering ready-made algorithms for behavioral change. We propose that public authorities leverage these communities to enhance public support and effectively implement climate mitigation and adaptation measures. Full article

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), comprising two distinct types, HIV-1 and HIV-2, remains one of the most significant global health challenges, originating from multiple cross-species transmissions of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) in the early 20th century. This review traces the evolutionary trajectory of HIV from zoonotic spillover to its establishment as a global pandemic. HIV-1, the principal strain responsible for AIDS, emerged from SIVcpz in Central African chimpanzees, with phylogenetic evidence indicating initial human transmission between the 1920s and 1940s in present day Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus disseminated through colonial trade networks, reaching the Caribbean by the 1960s before establishing endemic transmission in North America and Europe. HIV’s extraordinary genetic diversity—driven by high mutation rates (~10⁻⁵ mutations per base per replication cycle) and frequent recombination events—has generated multiple groups, subtypes, and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) with distinct epidemiological patterns. HIV-1 Group M, comprising subtypes A through L, accounts for over 95% of global infections, with subtype C predominating in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, while subtype B dominates in Western Europe and North America. The extensive genetic heterogeneity of HIV significantly impacts diagnostic accuracy, antiretroviral therapy efficacy, and vaccine development, as subtypes exhibit differential biological properties, transmission efficiencies, and drug resistance profiles. Contemporary advances, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) for surveillance, broadly neutralizing antibodies for cross-subtype prevention and therapy, and long-acting antiretroviral formulations to improve adherence, have transformed HIV management and prevention strategies. NGS enables near real-time surveillance of drug resistance mutations and inference of transmission networks where it is available, although access and routine application remain uneven across regions. Broadly neutralizing antibodies demonstrate cross-subtype efficacy, while long-acting formulations have the potential to improve treatment adherence. This review synthesizes recent evidence and offers actionable recommendations to optimize clinical and public health responses—including the routine use of genotypic resistance testing where feasible, targeted use of phylogenetic analysis for outbreak investigation, and the development of region-specific diagnostic and treatment algorithms informed by local subtype prevalence. While the understanding of HIV’s evolutionary dynamics has substantially improved and remains essential, translating this knowledge into universally implemented intervention strategies remains a key challenge for achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sustainable nutrition is essential for human and planetary health. The Transtheoretical Model-based Sustainable Nutrition Behavior Scale (TTM-SNBS) was developed to assess sustainable nutrition behaviors and the dynamic processes of behavior change in adolescents. Methods: The item pool was generated through literature review and expert consultation using the Delphi technique (10 experts, three rounds). Construct validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Reliability was evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha and test–retest methods. External validity was examined through correlations with the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale (SHEBS), following COSMIN standards. The study included 512 adolescents aged 14–18 years (54% female) from public high schools in Ankara, Türkiye. Results: Initially, 75 items were developed through expert evaluation. After preliminary testing, two items with low and negative correlations were removed; 73 were retained for validation. Factor analyses and refinement produced a 45-item final validated scale comprising one stage of change item and five subscales: cognitive processes (14 items), behavioral processes (18 items), decisional balance—pros (4 items), decisional balance—cons (4 items), and self-efficacy (4 items). Items showed good discrimination (>0.27). Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.67 to 0.93, and fit indices were acceptable (χ²/df = 2.8–4.2; RMSEA = 0.045–0.065). External validity was supported by significant positive correlations with the SHEBS. Conclusions: The TTM-SNBS is the first psychometrically validated, theory-based instrument to assess sustainable nutrition behaviors in adolescents. It offers a reliable and valid instrument to support future research and interventions promoting sustainable dietary practices. Full article

As global urbanization accelerates, cities increasingly shape economic growth and environmental outcomes, making sustainable urban and transport planning critical. Sustainable city branding (SCB) is emerging as a strategic tool that not only enhances a city’s global competitiveness but actively drives urban sustainability by integrating environmental, social, and economic dimensions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the direct link between SCB and transport planning remains largely unexplored, limiting actionable policy. This study introduces a novel conceptual framework connecting SCB with transport planning, positioning public transportation as a key lever for sustainable urban development. It identifies core interactions between city branding and sustainable mobility, proposes methodologies to evaluate SCB effectiveness, and addresses potential risks, challenges, and research gaps. A policy roadmap for decision-makers based on the framework is outlined. This roadmap is structured into three phases spanning a five-year program. In Phase 1, cities should lay the foundation by integrating SCB into municipal transport and sustainability plans and establishing measurable indicators aligned with the SDGs. Phase 2 focuses on engagement and experimentation, encouraging the creation of participatory branding platforms and the implementation of pilot projects, such as green mobility corridors or climate-resilient transit hubs. Finally, Phase 3 emphasizes monitoring and scaling, utilizing digital technologies for real-time tracking, evaluating pilot outcomes, and expanding successful initiatives based on key performance indicators, including ridership growth, carbon reduction, and citizen engagement. By linking SCB explicitly to transport planning and providing a concrete roadmap, this study offers a unique contribution to both urban sustainability research and practical policy-making, enabling cities to simultaneously strengthen their brand, enhance mobility, and achieve measurable sustainability outcomes. Full article

This research examines the professional aspirations of teenage girls attending secondary school in a Brazilian state and how they perceive potential careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM remains a masculinised field, not only due to the predominance of men but also because of enduring cultural representations that associate it with exceptional academic performance and highly technical competencies. In response, various educational intervention initiatives have sought to challenge these assumptions and promote the inclusion of girls and women in STEM. This article discusses an intervention carried out in four public schools as part of a project led by the Centre for Informatics at the Federal University of Paraíba. The project collected quantitative and qualitative data on subject preferences, professional expectations and perceptions of STEM among teenage girls. A mixed-methods exploratory approach was adopted to analyse the data and therefore to contribute to understand better the specific challenges of implementing such interventions in socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts, which remain underrepresented within the Women in STEM scholarship. The findings illustrate how social and financial constraints shape these young women’s career aspirations, intensifying both the desire for economic stability and the pursuit of personal fulfilment. At the same time, many perceive the future as uncertain and regard STEM as difficult to access, frequently associated with anxiety surrounding core science subjects. This article contributes to ongoing debates on gender and STEM education, offering insights into the Brazilian context and outlining considerations for the development and refinement of future school-based interventions. Full article

The fast advancement of artificial intelligence presents ethical challenges that exceed the scope of traditional moral theories. This paper proposes a value-centered framework for AI ethics grounded in axiology, which distinguishes intrinsic values like dignity and fairness from instrumental ones such as accuracy and efficiency. This distinction supports ethical pluralism and contextual sensitivity. Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), the framework translates values into structured evaluations, enabling transparent trade-offs. A healthcare case study illustrates how ethical outcomes vary across physician, patient, and public health perspectives. The results highlight the limitations of single-theory approaches and emphasize the need for adaptable models that reflect diverse stakeholder values. By linking philosophical inquiry with governance initiatives like Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Humanism, the framework offers actionable design criteria for inclusive and context-aware AI development. Full article

There is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂). Currently, numerous research initiatives are underway to develop CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies aiming for net-zero emissions, especially in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize, such as fossil fuel power generation. Integrating solar thermal energy into CO₂ capture facilities (CCFs) for fossil fuel-based power plants offers a promising approach to reduce the high operational costs associated with CO₂ capture processes. However, a comprehensive systematic review focusing on the integration of solar thermal energy with CCFs in fossil fuel power generation is currently lacking. To address this gap, this study systematically evaluates the technological frameworks involved, including (a) various generation technologies such as coal-fired Rankine cycle plants, natural gas combined cycle plants, and cogeneration units; (b) concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies, including parabolic trough collectors, linear Fresnel reflectors, solar power towers, and Stirling dish systems; and (c) post-combustion CO₂ capture systems. Additionally, this research analyzes relevant projects, patents, and scholarly publications from the past 25 years that explore the coupling of CSP technologies with fossil fuel power plants and post-combustion CO₂ capture systems. This literature review encompasses diverse methodologies, such as innovative patents, conceptual models, evaluations of solar collector performances, thermal integration optimization, and various system configurations. It also investigates technical advancements aimed at improving efficiency, reliability, and flexibility of fossil fuel power plants while mitigating the inherent challenges of CO₂ capture. Beyond the energy-focused aspects, we explore complementary circular economy strategies—such as by-product valorization and material substitution in sectors like mining, cement, and steel manufacturing—that can reduce embodied emissions and enhance the overall system benefits of solar-assisted CO₂ capture. The review employs a bibliometric approach using digital tools including Publish or Perish, Mendeley, and VOSviewer to systematically analyze the scholarly landscape. Full article

A major challenge that will confront our society in the coming years is the socioecological transition. This involves a profound, systemic shift in how human societies interact with ecological systems. Beyond merely becoming “greener” or adding new technologies, it is about reorganising economies, lifestyles, institutions and cultural values to align with the planet’s ecological limits. The change also requires transforming the fundamental structure of societies to ensure their deep interconnection and compatibility with natural flows and ecological systems. To this end, it is valuable to explore the small, scattered practices which are currently leading to new organisational solutions or socioecological improvements. These initiatives are often regarded as forms of community resistance, adopting various approaches and strategies, which result in a disparate array of configurations. A comprehensive approach is thus needed to identify common patterns of development. A set of meaningful practices was analysed. The sample actions all took place in the urban context of Seville, a city located in Southwestern Europe and spanned various arenas driven by the transition to sustainability. Following the principles of qualitative research and a case study design, we adopted a qualitative method based on open-ended interviews, emphasising situated knowledge and collective construction of meaning. Moreover, a methodological approach based on interviews and further categorisation was followed to describe and organise ideas, motivations, risks, outcomes, as well as how the experiences evolved. The findings revealed that the core motivation driving the initiative in its initial phases is key. Outcomes nevertheless vary significantly depending on the initiative objectives. Generally, actions focused on specific elements—such as defending precise locations or activities—tend to be more successful and abundant. But the ones based on professional developments end up being somewhat stifled since they depend on the market to succeed. However, most rely somehow on public subsidies or support from public institutions, and their activities tend to diminish when such resources are reduced or withdrawn. The question is therefore how to make these initiatives more resilient in the future. The socioecological transition offers a path to strengthen social cohesion, empower collective action, and generate locally rooted and ecologically sustainable alternatives. Building community resilience—the capacity of local communities to adapt, recover and thrive amid these challenges—is, therefore, essential. Full article

Bike lending offers a service that enables individuals to borrow bicycles for short-term use (i.e., ranging from 2 hours to 36 months), typically from designated locations within cities, campuses, or communities. Unlike bikesharing systems that typically rely on automated kiosks and/or undocked and free-floating devices for public access, bike lending involves a managed program with staff, similar to a library model. These programs can be administered by community organizations, bike shops, public libraries, and other local entities. They are typically community- or membership-based, with many programs associated with non-profit organizations or publicly owned and operated. In this paper, we investigate bike lending in the United States and Canada as of Spring 2024, including a literature review, the identification and characterization of bike lending programs (n = 55), expert interviews (n = 24), a survey of bike lending operators (n = 31), and 2 focus groups with a total of 12 participants. Insights from expert interviews and operator surveys highlight the experiences of professionals involved in bike lending. The focus groups capture the experiences of bike lending users. This paper finds that North American bike lending is often tailored to the specific needs of communities, such as youth, low-income individuals, and the general population. More sustained funding could support program expansion and diversify bike offerings. Enhancing cycling infrastructure, such as adding dedicated bike lanes and paths, could improve overall cycling safety and increase participation in bike lending programs. This study’s findings could help strengthen existing bike lending programs, guide the development of new initiatives and supportive policies, and enhance safe bicycle use for participants. Full article

Overweight, including its severe form obesity, among children and adolescents has risen rapidly in Latin America. Schools play a critical role in addressing this growing public health challenge, as they offer a structured setting to implement preventive interventions targeting nutrition literacy, physical activity, and the food environment. The aim of this article is to describe the effectiveness of school-based interventions for preventing overweight in Latin America and whether existing policies, programs and other initiatives in the region align with the best available evidence. Among the 27 interventions included, most were conducted in Chile (41%), used a pre–post design (41%), adopted a preventive approach (85%), and reported positive effects (52%). Effective interventions included activities on nutrition literacy, physical activity, nutritious foods and diets, provision of free and safe drinking water (e.g., water that is free from microbial contamination and suitable for drinking), and healthy food environment. Experimental studies showed that the duration of effective interventions ranged from two months to two years and were primarily directed at primary school students including parents and teachers. Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay had multi-component policies and programs under a regulatory framework (e.g., laws or regulations passed by a government) based on the best available evidence to prevent overweight in school-aged children and adolescents. Only a limited number of countries have implemented these interventions. Ensuring program sustainability is critical to inform evidence-based childhood overweight prevention policies in the region. Policymakers should use the best scientific evidence to guide childhood overweight prevention strategies. Full article

Background: Incontinence is a widespread and socially taboo phenomenon worldwide. Incontinence, with its various manifestations, is one of the most common illnesses in outpatient medical care and represents a serious health problem for those affected of all ages. As part of the second update of the German expert standard published in 2024 on continence promotion, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify, appraise, and synthesize current evidence on nursing interventions to promote urinary and fecal continence. The expert standard does not provide a gradation of recommendations, but rather that the criteria depicted in the standard have the highest possible recommendation character in the sense of the best available knowledge. The aim of this article is to present the examination of available evidence within the context of the second update of the expert standard. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted between September and December 2022 with additional guideline research in December 2023 in Medline (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCO), and the Cochrane Library, using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Additional guideline databases and organizational websites were searched manually. The review process and reporting were guided by PRISMA 2020 reporting standards. Eligible studies included qualitative, quantitative, and guideline publications in English or German published since 2012. Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were conducted independently by two reviewers. Results: Of 2850 initial records, 60 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The majority were systematic reviews and evidence-based guidelines. The central literature-based results of the expert standard are presented based on the steps of the nursing process. The findings were thematically synthesized along the steps of the nursing process and informed key nursing interventions for continence promotion and compensation, including assessment, patient education, pelvic floor training, and selection of continence aids. Discussion: There are a variety of evidence-based interventions that can be used to deal with urinary and/or fecal incontinence and the tasks that professional nurses take on in promoting continence are complex. Patients and their relatives want information and advice on treatment options, reliable contacts and individual support offers to make informed decisions. Full article

This article explores how gender stereotypes and institutional practices influence the development and public image of women’s football in Romania, framing the case within debates on social sustainability (SDG 5), media representation, and sports governance. Using a mixed-methods approach, we triangulate (1) a qualitative content analysis of DigiSport online coverage (n = 57 articles; 2022–2025), (2) public testimonies collected at a national conference on gender and sport held in Timișoara in 2025 and (3) two in-depth, semi-structured interviews with one professional player whose multi-club career offers cross-organizational insights and one professional player who is still a student at the start of her career. The findings reveal systematic symbolic exclusion: in our sample, stories about women’s football make up approximately 2% of total football coverage and are mostly limited to results-only briefs, with little contextual information about athletes, resources, or structures. Historically, post-socialist policy changes have led to formal recognition but limited material support, resulting in symbolic compliance, such as UEFA/FRF mandates without corresponding investments. Current initiatives, like FRF’s Modele de Femeie campaign and UEFA-supported GOALSCORE, increase visibility but coexist with persistent gendered framings in media narratives and public discourse. The interviews support the media findings, highlighting recurring barriers—such as precarious funding, limited pathways, gendered disrespect in stadiums, and the psychological impact of marginalization—alongside stories of resilience and agency. We argue that achieving sustainable inclusion in women’s football requires more than regulatory measures; it calls for media parity, stable resources, and gender-competent leadership. Aligning policy with cultural change through equitable coverage standards, transparent funding, and accountability measures can transform football from a symbol of inequality into a space of social empowerment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although SARS-CoV-2 infection often follows a self-limiting course, its public health impact remains persistent. Older adults exhibit unique susceptibility to infection due to immunosenescence. Therefore, in order to offer recommendations for improving management options for older persons, this study intends to examine the immunological properties of NAb in the elderly population. Methods: Elderly patients aged 60 years and older infected during the prevalence of BF.7 and EG.5 variants were enrolled. The patterns of NAb responses in infected patients under both natural and vaccine-induced immunity were explored using bead-based proteomics techniques. The associations between NAb and IgG antibody levels, clinical characteristics, and traditional inflammatory indicators were evaluated using systematic analysis. Based on NAb levels, SARS-CoV-2 strains were immunologically classified. Results: There was a positive correlation between the severity of the disease and the strength of the NAb response. Because of more extensive immune activation, severe instances in elderly patients showed higher levels of NAb responses. When compared to the uninfected group, people who had received two doses of vaccination exhibited greater NAb levels. Additionally, there was a link between NAb and IgG levels, but as the virus evolved, this correlation progressively diminished. Three serotypes of SARS-CoV-2 were identified based on NAb response characteristics: pre-Omicron, Omicron, and XBB serotypes. Conclusions: The results show the features of NAb responses in older patients, which could help with the creation of future vaccines and public health initiatives. Full article