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Abstract This study explored a Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) approach, developing two distinct models for prioritizing the seven indicators related to the “rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic” category within the context of both the specific category and the Global Health Security Index (GHS index). Utilizing data from the 2021 GHS index, the methodology involves rigorous preprocessing, the application of the augmented naive Bayes algorithm for structural learning, and k-fold cross-validation. Key findings show unique perspectives in both BBN models. In the mutual value of information analysis, “linking public health and security authorities” emerged as the key predictor for the “rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic” category, while “emergency preparedness and response planning” assumed precedence for the GHS index. Sensitivity analysis highlighted the critical role of “emergency preparedness and response planning” and “linking public health and security authorities” in extreme performance states, with “access to communications infrastructure” and “trade and travel restrictions” exhibiting varied significance. The BBN models exhibit high predictive accuracy, achieving 83.3% and 82.3% accuracy for extreme states in “rapid response to and mitigation of the spread of an epidemic” and the GHS index, respectively. This study contributes to the literature on GHS by modeling the dependencies among various indicators of the rapid response dimension of the GHS index and highlighting their relative importance based on the mutual value of information and sensitivity analyses.

The Planetary Boundaries (PBs) pioneering approach defines environmental sustainability in terms of a Safe Operating Space (SOS) for human’s society to develop and thrive. The approach has found fertile ground in combination with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - a standardised method for assessing the environmental impacts of product systems. In this article, we conduct a detailed review of existing approaches to embed PBs in LCA. We start by exploring the links between PBs control variables and LCA impact categories and then focus on reviewing three approaches (i) absolute environmental sustainability assessment (AESA), (ii) PBs-based normalisation and (iii) PBs-based weighting. We examine four key methodological aspects covering harmonisation of units (between PBs control variables and LCA indicators), definition and allocation of the SOS, regionalisation of boundaries and temporal aspects. We conclude the review with a discussion on applicability, limitations, policy implications and conclusions.

Regional budget assessments of methane (CH4) are critical for future climate and environmental management. CH4 emissions from rice cultivation (CH4-rice) constitute one of the most significant sources. However, previous studies mainly focus on historical emission estimates and lack consideration of future changes in CH4-rice under climate change or anthropogenic policy intervention, which hampers our understanding of long-term trends and the implementation of targeted emission reduction efforts. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of CH4-rice over the past two decades, using an integrated method to identify the major drivers and predict future emissions under climate change scenarios and policy perspectives. Results indicate that the CH4-rice emissions in China ranged between 6.21 and 6.57 Tg yr−1 over the past two decades, with a spatial distribution characterized by decreases in the south and increases in the north, associated with economic development, dietary shifts, technological advancements, and climate change. Factors such as the rate of straw added (RSA), fertilization, soil texture, temperature, and precipitation significantly influence CH4 emissions per unit rice production (CH4-urp), with RSA identified as the most significant tillage management factor, explaining 32 % of the variance. Lowering RSA to 8 % is beneficial for reducing CH4-urp. Scenario analysis indicates that under policies focusing on production or demand, CH4-rice is expected to increase by 0.3 % to 5.6 %, while adjusting RSA can reduce CH4-rice by 9.4 % to 10.0 %. Structural adjustments and regional cooperation serve as beneficial starting points for controlling and reducing CH4-rice in China, while optimizing industrial layouts contributes to regional development and CH4-rice control. Implementing policies related to maintaining field and crop yields can achieve a balance between rice supply and demand ahead of schedule. Dynamic adjustment of rice cultivation based on supply–demand balance can effectively reduce CH4-rice from excess rice production. By 2060, the reduction effect could reach 8.95 %–12.01 %. Introducing policy-driven tillage management measures as reference indicators facilitates the reduction of CH4-rice.

The research investigates the potential outcomes of e-invoicing on tax collection and its implications for the future of the Romanian tax system. Employing a comprehensive approach, the study combines theoretical frameworks with a comparative analysis of countries that have already applied e-invoice. Initially, it reviews significant research in the field, utilizing bibliometric analysis to identify key contributions. The bibliometric analysis was implemented based on the Web of Science database. Subsequently, it examines the evolution of e-invoicing globally, comparing tax revenues before and after its implementation in various countries to discern its impact. In this regard, the statistical data was extracted from The World Bank and Eurostat databases. Additionally, it provides an overview of electronic invoicing specifically within the context of Romania. The methodology involves a comparative analysis of tax revenue data and the progression of e-invoicing adoption which was represented according to data from the Romanian Ministry of Public Finance. This study aims to assess whether e-invoicing has a positive or negative effect on tax collection and to offer insights into its potential implications for the Romanian tax system.

AbstractDuring the past pandemic, digital business activities have developed enormously, and many businesses have undergone a significant transformation to participate in the digital revolution. However, for the digital transformation to take place successfully, Industry 4.0 comes from breakthroughs in many fields, including the digital wave of the manufacturing sector. Many countries have paid attention to and concretized priorities for developing a digital economy. Vietnam also faces challenges that the digital trend brings, including the risk of competition for small and medium enterprises, especially high-quality human resources in today’s businesses. This article analyzed the current situation and applied descriptive statistics to summarize and apply the structural equation model (SEM) from a set of data, a research sample in numbers, and visual charts that surveyed 850 enterprise managers. Human resource management is a multifaceted process that has wide-ranging effects. Presently, several variables are influencing the field of human resource management. These elements often undergo changes and can be categorized into fundamental influencing factors: The attributes of the external factors, including the economy, people, legislation, culture, rivals, science, and technology. The internal environment encompasses several variables: the working environment, labor recruitment and selection, training and development, remuneration, bonuses, and welfare. The article’s goal is to explore factors that influence human resource management. Based on the results, the article’s contributions had several policy recommendations for developing human resources at small and medium enterprises for Vietnam’s post-Covid-19 pandemic. The application of the research is to strengthen and build a cultural working environment and create conditions and opportunities for human resources to develop; business leaders must be exemplary in words and deeds. Human resource development strategies must be implemented in an environment of fairness, discipline, ethics, and respect for the law as standards; create a cultural environment, leading the development of human resources.

Public environmental concern (PEC) serves as a prominent representative of informal environmental regulation, which in turn propels the high-quality economic development. It’s important to understand how enterprise digital transformation (EDT) and PEC are connected, as this connection plays a crucial role in driving strong economic growth—it can be seen as a key pathway to achieving high-quality economic development. This research examines the influence and mechanism of PEC on EDT through the analysis of data obtained from publicly traded companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China along with city-level PEC data covering the period from 2010 to 2021. In addition, a heterogeneity analysis was performed to examine the variations among cities, industries, and enterprises, and we obtained a total of three conclusions as follows. (1) The results of our study reveal a statistically significant positive association, indicating that an increase in PEC has a substantial impact on the development of EDT. This association remains robust even after a series of robustness tests. (2) Mechanistic analyses further support our finding. PEC encourages companies to investments in research and development (R&D), attract skilled personnel, and commit to environmental responsibilities, thus promoting EDT. (3) From the municipal viewpoint, the influence of PEC on EDT is more significant in cities with advanced digital infrastructure, greater governmental subsidies, and those located in the central and western regions. From an industrial viewpoint, the effect of PEC on EDT is more pronounced in manufacturing firms and heavily polluting industries. At the enterprise level, the beneficial impact of PEC on EDT is more evident in companies with a stronger emphasis on environmental investment, in non-state-owned enterprises, and in those with higher levels of pollution. In conclusion, this research sheds light on the significant role of PEC in driving EDT and, consequently, economic growth. The research will offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to align economic progress with environmental awareness.

The low productivity of soybeans in Indonesia is one of the reasons why domestic production cannot meet market demand. In addition to suboptimal and contradictory government policies, they contribute to domestic soybean competitiveness against imported soybeans. The purpose of this study is to analyze the economic and financial profitability of farming, analyze the competitiveness status of soybeans, analyze the impact of government policies on soybean competitiveness, and analyze the sensitivity of domestic soybean competitiveness. This study applies the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM). The results of this analysis are used to observe two basic indicators to measure competitiveness and assess the role of government policies. This research uses a case study of soybean farmers in the Jember Regency area. The analysis results show that the soybean farming business in Jember Regency is capable of generating economic profits. Soybean farming in Jember is capable of producing comparative and competitive advantages. Furthermore, the policy analysis reveals that the impact of the soybean policy on farming in the region is not yet optimal. Therefore, new governance policies are needed. Parameter analysis in the PAM analysis indicates that price and productivity variables have a potential role in increasing production and domestic soybean competitiveness.

为了及时调整我国棕榈油贸易政策，引导我国木本油料油脂产业发展，利用2000、2005、2010、2015年和2020年全球棕榈油贸易数据，采用社会网络分析法，探究了2000—2020年全球棕榈油贸易网络演变特征及其对我国食用油对外贸易政策的启示。结果表明：全球棕榈油贸易伙伴国家之间直接交易路径在不断缩短，贸易核心国家的数量相对稳定，核心地位相对稳固；作为核心地位最突出的5个棕榈油贸易枢纽国，中国、印度、荷兰是重要的进口国，马来西亚、印度尼西亚是重要的出口国，国际棕榈油贸易受主要出口国政策影响较大；我国棕榈油进口量在短期内不会出现大幅度波动，但仍存在较高的贸易风险；基于棕榈油贸易格局的集中趋势，我国植物油贸易与产业面临着挑战与机遇并存的局面。因此,提出积极开展包括棕榈油在内的植物油双边及多边贸易合作、鼓励农业企业走出国门、大力发展我国木本油料油脂产业等建议。 In order to adjust China′s palm oil trade policy in a timely manner and guide the development of China′s woody oilseed and oil industry, the data of global palm oil trade in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 were used to explore the evolution characteristics of global palm oil trade network from 2000 to 2020 and its implications for China′s foreign trade policy of edible oil by social network analysis method. The results showed that the direct trade path between global palm oil trading partner countries was shortening, the number of global palm oil trade core countries was relatively stable, and the core position was relatively stable. As the world′s five most prominent palm oil trade hubs, China, India and the Netherlands were important importers, while Malaysia and Indonesia were important exporters. International palm oil trade was greatly affected by the policies of major exporters. China′s palm oil imports would not fluctuate greatly in the short term, but there were still high trade risks. Based on the centralized trend of palm oil trade pattern, China′s vegetable oil trade and industry were facing both challenges and opportunities. It is suggested that bilateral and multilateral trade cooperation in vegetable oil including palm oil should be actively carried out, agricultural enterprises should be encouraged to go abroad, and domestic woody oilseed and oil industry should be vigorously developed.

This systematic review aims to examine the causes and consequences of price hikes in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on their policy implications. Methods: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant studies for analysis. Results: The causes of price hikes in Bangladesh were found to encompass global oil prices, government policies, supply chain inefficiencies, and lack of competition. The consequences of price hikes included decreased purchasing power, reduced living standards, increased poverty, and adverse effects on investment and employment. Household welfare was negatively impacted, and businesses relying on imported raw materials or energy were affected. The author concludes that to address the issues stemming from price hikes, policymakers should consider implementing strategies to control inflation, promote competition, enhance supply chain efficiency, and manage government spending. By incorporating these policy implications, Bangladesh can mitigate the adverse effects of price hikes, leading to enhanced economic stability and well-being.

Introduction: This article aims to determine the effectiveness and extent of measures taken to decrease the severity of traffic crashes in Barcelona from 2013 to 2018. This will be achieved through an analysis of the traffic crash data. Method: Our approach involves the use of binary logistic regression models. We rely on the traffic crash dataset from 2010-2019 available in the Open Data Barcelona platform. Results: The outcomes obtained from the suggested models are contrasted with the strategies outlined in the Local Road Safety Plan 2013-2018 to minimize the severity of crashes. Effective preventive actions were identified, such as road safety educational programs, creating calm zones, enhancing pedestrian crossings, or expanding bicycle lanes. However, certain measures were found to be ineffective or their impact remained uncertain. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the measures implemented in Barcelona may have participated in and influenced the decrease in the severity of traffic incidents over the past decade. Notably, fatalities have decreased more than severe injuries. More attention should be given to less effective measures such as speed controls and drug/alcohol testing.

The review comprehensively examines hybrid renewable energy systems that combine solar and wind energy technologies, focusing on their current challenges, opportunities, and policy implications. Despite the individual merits of solar and wind energy systems, their intermittent nature and geographical limitations have spurred interest in hybrid solutions that maximize efficiency and reliability through integrated systems. A critical analysis of available literature indicates that hybrid systems significantly mitigate energy intermittency issues, enhance grid stability, and can be more cost-effective due to shared infrastructure. The review identifies key challenges, such as system optimization, energy storage, and seamless power management, and discusses technological innovations like machine learning algorithms and advanced inverters that hold the potential for overcoming these hurdles. Importantly, the review elucidates the role of policy in accelerating the adoption of these systems by highlighting successful case studies of government incentives, public-private partnerships, and regulatory frameworks that have fostered investments in hybrid renewable energy systems. The study concludes with the outcomes obtained that signify the potential for hybrid renewable energy systems to not only meet but exceed future energy demands sustainably, provided there is concerted effort in research, investment, and policy-making.

Land exhibits distinct carbon source/sink states under varying utilization conditions. Under the climate change environment, developing low-carbon land use optimization strategies has become an urgent problem. Thus, this study examines the characteristics of land use carbon emissions (LUCE) resulting from land use and land cover change (LUCC) in Chongqing under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). The results show: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the LUCE in Chongqing increased significantly and then decreased slightly. The improvement of energy technology can limit carbon emissions from expanding construction. (2) In 2030, Chongqing will have the highest LUCE in SSP5 scenario, followed by SSP4 scenario, and the lowest in SSP2 scenario. However, some districts and counties in Chongqing City have the opposite situation to the whole research area. (3) In the study area, LUCE exhibits a significant positive spatial correlation with Moran's indices of 0.48, 0.27, and 0.39 in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. Carbon emissions in Chongqing primarily concentrate in the main urban areas, with high-emission areas spreading outward from specific centers in the districts and counties. In 2030, spatial LUCE aggregation will decrease significantly, especially in the SSP3 scenario, with a Moran's index of 0.25. When adjusting the land use structure, policymakers need to implement differentiated land use management strategies, considering the characteristics of LUCE and their development directions. This study confirms that socioeconomic development has a direct impact on LUCE. The results of this study provide a reference for the government’s land-use assessment, achieving low-carbon development goals, and identifying regional development patterns.

Levying a water resources tax policy which is called ‘fee to tax’ is a regulation formulated by China to restrain and alleviate water poverty. To test the effect of the water resources ‘fee to tax’, this research employs a multistage dynamic difference-in-differences (DID) model to explore whether the implementation of the policy can help alleviate water poverty based on panel data from 2009 to 2019. The results indicate the water poverty in western China is significantly more serious than in other regions and the implementation of the water resources tax policy significantly alleviates water poverty (the sign of the policy is positive and significant at the 1% level) in China. Additionally, the mechanism effects suggest that the policy can effectively restrain water poverty by reducing groundwater exploitation and optimizing the water utilization structure. In terms of spatial heterogeneity, the effect of the water resources tax policy on alleviating water poverty is stronger in central and eastern regions than in western regions. The conclusions of this study may, to some degree, serve as a basis to scientifically guide the implementation of China's water resources ‘fee to tax’ policy and, thus, effectively improve the level of water resources management. HIGHLIGHTS There is temporal and spatial heterogeneity of ‘water poverty’ across China.; DID model is applied to test the effect of the policy on water poverty.; The ‘fee to tax’ policy has significantly restrained water poverty.; The ‘fee to tax’ policy effect is stronger in central and eastern regions than in western regions.; Policies towards water resources management and water poverty alleviation are proposed.;

Extensive retrofits and effective policy measures are needed to meet the ambitious climate goals, particularly in the UK, with the EU’s oldest residential building stock. Researchers must investigate the factors influencing retrofits to enable effective and targeted policy measures. To date, however, there is a lack of holistically large-scale quantitative studies accounting for such factors. At the same time, great potential is seen in data-driven solutions and the use of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). We address this research gap by combining supervised machine learning with XAI employing a three-stage approach: First, we consolidate datasets of Energy Performance Certificates from England and Wales from which we extract conducted retrofits, house prices, and socio-demographic information. Second, we apply an eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model that predicts whether a building has been retrofitted or not. Lastly, we use SHapley Additive exPlanations values (SHAP) as an XAI technique to identify the key factors and relationships that influence the implementation of retrofits. We succeed in substantiating results previously obtained in qualitative or small-scale studies and also find that retrofit-related policies already implemented in regional cases, such as the ”Better Homes for Yorkshire” initiative, can successfully achieve large-scale success through replication in other regions. Further, our results suggest the implementation of income-based CO2 taxes as a reasonable and easy-to-implement policy measure.

Abstract Purpose This paper investigates the status quo in the literature on sustainable foreign direct investment "FDI" in West and Central Africa. It is believed that utilizing the FDI Qualities Policy Toolkit developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development "OECD" will help identify which policies are acknowledged today and the ones that may need particular attention from academia and policymakers. Design/methodology/approach The paper utilizes a literature triangulation of FDI, sustainability, and economic development theories to extract the seed of a narrative helping to capture the current theoretical agenda and policy implications around the phenomenon of sustainable FDI in West and Central Africa. We selected and scrutinized (N = 53) articles published in various academic journals between January 2019 and March 2022 and investigating issues around sustainable FDI. The OECD framework later assisted in mapping today's theoretical agenda and policy inferences related to sustainable FDI in the region. Findings It is acknowledged that there is an ongoing theoretical discussion informing on policy implications around the subject of sustainable FDI in West and Central Africa. It seems to be a consensus about the role of FDI's quality in enhancing sustainable regional growth. However, the use of the taxonomy has shown a clear focus on macroeconomic and ecological determinants reinforced through the OECD-defined policy dimensions of technical and financial support and international agreements and standards. The review allowed the perception of a theoretical gap in sustainability outcomes around the subjects of social justice in general and gender diversity in particular. It is recommended that academia and policymakers emphasize FDI theories and policies around the OECD framework of governance and domestic regulations. Originality/value The paper informs through a literature-based review on determinants that academia and policymakers need to give particular attention to for better addressing all subjects around sustainable FDI in West and Central Africa. The paper proactively advises on specific phenomena that should be considered to avoid the fulfillment of the hypothesis of an "African sustainable growth tragedy."

The ongoing Russo–Ukrainian War has highly affected energy markets in the EU and worldwide, with different EU- and country-level emergency policy measures being advanced to tackle high energy prices. Despite the progress in green energy initiatives and the race toward climate neutrality by 2050, high energy prices are a matter of concern for all EU countries in the short-to-medium term. The current study investigates the energy price volatility in the aftermath of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, which is of high interest for designing effective government measures (such as monetary and energy policies) addressing the consequent changes occurring in employment, economic activity, commodity and food prices, and, ultimately, sustainable development. For the empirical analysis, we employed generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity models to capture the volatility of the following energy commodities: Brent crude oil, TTF natural gas, and UK natural gas. The empirical results reveal an elevated degree of persistence of the volatility, namely, that the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity term has a slow decay and pronounced fluctuations for all the energy products. The vulnerability of the EU’s energy policy to geopolitical factors is highlighted, especially for gas, which could be due to its dependence on Russian imports. Moreover, the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia, namely the sixth package of sanctions, have a minimal immediate effect on stabilizing energy returns. The study offers several policy recommendations to improve the resilience of the EU’s energy sector.

This study used an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to examine the influence of inpatient and outpatient service expenditures on total healthcare expenses from 2000 to 2021. The ARDL model, renowned for its capacity to handle variables with distinct levels of integration and identify cointegration connections, is employed to examine both the immediate and prolonged dynamics of healthcare expenditure. The research demonstrates that expenditures on hospital services have a substantial and beneficial impact on overall healthcare expenses, but the impacts of expenditures on outpatient services are more complex and varied. The results indicate that hospital expenses play a significant role in healthcare expenditure, which is essential information for policymakers who are concerned with controlling costs and allocating resources efficiently in the healthcare industry. The study presents a novel method for controlling outpatient spending that has the potential to reduce the increasing costs in the healthcare industry.

Comprehensively improving the efficiency of water resource utilization is not only an urgent need to resolve the prominent contradiction between water supply and water demand but also an inevitable requirement to promote the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The compulsory water resource tax is considered to be a powerful tool for resolving the worldwide water crisis and improving water resource utilization efficiency (WRUE). Based on a quasi-natural experiment of water resource tax policy in China, this study used panel data for 30 provinces (municipalities) from 2011 to 2019 to evaluate the impact of water resource tax policies on WRUE through a multistage difference-in-difference model. The results showed that the water resource policy can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of water resources by optimizing the allocation of resources. In addition, the analysis of the spatial heterogeneity showed that the policy of the water resource tax has a stronger lifting effect on improving water resource-use efficiency in eastern China than that in the central and western regions. This research provided insights into China's water policies that can be used to better manage natural resources. HIGHLIGHTS A multistage dynamic difference-in-difference (DID) model is applied to test the impact of water resource tax policy.; There is temporal variation and spatial heterogeneity of water resource-use efficiency across China.; The water resource tax policy has significantly improved water use efficiency.; The mechanisms of the policy effect have been explored.;

Despite the low local energy access rates, Africa is considered a key player in the global energy transition due to its large supply of fossil fuels and a large reserve of critical minerals essential for manufacturing renewable energy components in the energy sector and storage devices in the transportation and electronics sectors. But building a sustainable society at all levels across nations would only come when there exists a just and inclusive energy transition based on the idea of “leave no one behind”. While many African countries have embarked on ambitious and transformative transition strategies, and many energy projects classified as “clean” have economic, environmental, and social implications that jeopardize the wellbeing of those already vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This paper explores the policy implications of the just transition to ensure that efforts to steer Africa towards a lower carbon future are supported by fair, equity, and justice considerations. Our analyses provide valuable evidence for considering a just transition in Africa that will not exacerbate the current socio-economic challenges the region is facing but will support sustained poverty reduction and the achievement of faster economic growth. Our findings show that the African continent’s multiple challenges of energy security, economic growth, and affordable access must feature in its clean energy transition. We draw conclusions that an incremental transition emphasizing low-carbon development is the most feasible and pragmatic approach to transform the region’s economy and address climate change challenges.

Appraisals of the evidence on the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis are often biased by appraisers' pre-existing views on whether adult cannabis use should or should not be legal. This viewpoint gives examples of such policy-biased appraisals and suggests strategies for avoiding them.

Abstract Eucalypt reforestation has been a common feature of many countries, especially in the developing countries, such as Ethiopia. Farmers in Ethiopia plant large numbers of eucalypts on small areas of land and manage them to yield a variety of products, including leaves and small branches for fuelwood, and poles and posts for house building and other farm uses. Many people in Ethiopia are dependent on eucalypts as a source of fuel and house building material. The use of trees, especially eucalypts, as a living bank account, to be harvested when there is a need for cash, is widespread. This being the reality, the arguments for and against planting eucalypts in Ethiopia has been mounting from time to time, especially associated with water use, soil fertility, soil erosion, allelopathic effects, understory vegetation and plant diversity as well as wild animals. The paradox of reforestation using eucalypts results, mostly, from inappropriate species-site matching and poor management rather than the inherent biological characteristics of the species. Therefore, the debate on eucalypts under the pretext of concern for indigenous species and natural forests should shift to how both plantations established using eucalypts and indigenous species as well as natural forests can help in the enhancement of the socio-economic development and environmental conservation of countries, such as Ethiopia. Despite the claimed negative impacts of eucalypts, farmers in Ethiopia have utilized their traditional knowledge and experience in establishing and managing eucalypt stands. In addition, the available reports in Ethiopia are in favour of planting eucalypts since the authors acknowledge that: (i) the negative impacts can be minimized provided that the choice of species and site as well as the management of the stands are appropriate, (ii) the benefit derived can offset the losses that can occur from such plantations, (iii) no other species seems to replace them to bridge the ever-widening gap between demand and supply of wood and (iv) the profit derived from eucalypt plantations is considerably higher than cultivating crops. However, the choice of eucalypt species should be based on many criteria, for example maximum wood production, ecological sustainability, marketability of the planted species and usefulness of the species to the local populations. All these criteria involve not only a choice of species planted, but also a choice of plantation management methods from initial planting to final cutting of the trees. Careful selection of appropriate species and matching them with appropriate sites must be taken as prerequisite, and the right management practices should be employed.

Michael E Otim,1,2 Desmond Kabuya Demaya,2 Amina Al Marzouqi,1 Jean Mukasa3 1College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 2School of Graduate Studies and Research, Nexus International University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Fatima College of Health Science, Institute of Technology, Ajman, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Michael E OtimCollege of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesTel +971 6 505 7527Email motim@sharjah.ac.aePurpose: Antibiotic resistance is spreading at an alarming rate globally, mainly because of antibiotics misuse. The World Health Organization developed guidelines for the rational use of antibiotics to prevent antibiotic misuse and reduce the potential development of antibiotic resistance. Although many countries adhere to these guidelines and have contextualized them to their needs, data on antibiotics use are limited in African countries, particularly in South Sudan. This study explored prescription patterns and use of antibiotics at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH) to clarify the potential for antibiotic resistance in South Sudan.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of archived patient data from 2016 to determine the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotics use at JTH. We used methodology developed in a previous study to assess the appropriate use of antibiotics. The study sample comprised 384 files. After reviewing and cleaning the files, 316 files were included in our analyses. This study was approved by the South Sudan Ministry of Health Ethics Review Board (approval number: MoH/ERB 51/2018) and all procedures were consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki.Results: Antibiotics use was highest in the medical ward (75.4%). Most antibiotics prescriptions were for infectious diseases (23.7%), followed by ailments affecting the digestive system (19.9%). Commonly prescribed antibiotics were ceftriaxone (21.2%) and metronidazole (20.0%). The mean number of antibiotics prescribed per patient encounter was 2.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.98– 2.19). Most files (n=233, 70.57%) demonstrated incorrect use of antibiotics with 78.8% (n=249) of prescriptions being inappropriate (misuse).Conclusion: This study revealed a high level of inappropriate antibiotics use at JTH despite the existence of local guidelines, which suggested there was an increased risk for antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce antibiotic stewardship activity, along with continuous national surveillance. Enforcement of guidelines to reduce irrational antibiotics use may reduce the risk for antibiotic resistance.Keywords: antibiotics, low-income countries, clinical guidelines, policy implications, antimicrobial resistance, AMR, antibiotic use, antibiotic dispensing

This study investigates the impact of trade facilitation though costs, documents, and time to import and export—on agricultural sector performance (ASP) for a panel of 33 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2005 to 2019. The empirical analysis is based on a dynamic system of generalized method of moments. The following findings are established. First, higher import costs, documents, and time significantly improve ASP, while exports negatively impact ASP. Second, while import costs promote trade in agricultural products through substitution effects, export costs impede it. Third, among other factors, improvements in human capital, gross fixed capital formation, population growth, and trade openness significantly improve agricultural sector performance. Fourth, the results of the robustness check further emphasize the importance of TF on ASP from various dimensions. The study concludes that improving TF procedures by reducing costs, documents, and time in cross-border trade remains crucial to boosting agriculture sector performance in SSA.

The family, as the most important social institution in religious thought and system, has various cultural and educational functions. Functions that are influenced by the policies of the government and the state have a significant share in the organization of individual and social consumption. A semantic study of the meaning system of the Qur'an indicates the affiliation of wealth to society and the general sponsorship of property, their observance, attention to consistency, attention to religious rules and determining the level of family consumption relations based on custom. Explaining these propositions and discovering the differences between family consumption in lifestyle from the perspective of the Qur'an and the culture of modern consumption leads us to the point that in the intellectual system of the Qur'an man is a creature with different mental and physical dimensions to meet his needs. It does. Consumption itself is not condemned, but it is not the ultimate goal; it is the prelude to achieving the sublime goal of good growth and life.

Flourishing sales of new electric vehicles have led to a considerable surge in demand for the vital, upstream raw material, lithium (Li). As an essential energy metal and raw material for the production of batteries, lithium has become indispensable to the electric vehicle industry. It has been identified as a strategic, emerging industrial mineral in China. Based on a literature review and qualitative analysis of the imbalance between the supply and demand of lithium raw materials in China, this paper analyzes the current challenges of China’s lithium supply chain, especially mining, pricing and recycling, that are obstructing the realization of China’s carbon neutrality. On this basis, relevant policy suggestions are proposed from three perspectives: strengthening lithium resource development and reserve capacity, promoting international cooperation for lithium supply, and properly regulating the circular economy of domestic lithium resources.

Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic society hence the ethnic integration has been a hot topic for decades. By 2021, it has been 73 years after the independence from British empires, however, natives still struggle for the reconciliation among themselves. Often occurred ethnic clashes usually account for a huge social and economic cost. Various scholars have highlighted that youth is highly active in initiating ethnic clashes. And, it is quoted specifically for the ‘Educated youth’ in Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this study explores the perceptions of ‘multi-ethnic, educated youth’ in heightening ethnic integration in Sri Lanka. This study utilized quantitative research approach and survey method. Primary data was mainly used for the study and collected through an online questionnaire. 100 multi-ethnic youth who are studying in higher education institutions in Sri Lanka selected as the sample using random sampling technique. The readiness of respondents was basically measured through their perceptions with respect to the social integration model proposed by Awang et al (2019). Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing data. The results showed that the overall readiness of educated youth in promoting ethnic integration is high in Sri Lankan context. The respondents are almost ready for the social acceptance and cultural appreciation levels of the model. However, they have showed, relatively a slight attraction towards compromisation and adaptation levels for which a high degree of ethnic tolerance is required. Therefore, it can be concluded that the majority of educated youth are social extroverts and are aware the importance of integration. However, since they showed a little attraction towards the upper layers of integration pyramid, there is a need of re-evaluating existing social integration policies. So that, some policy recommendations are suggested to enhance more operational activities in reconciliation process to reach the upper levels of ethnic integration (compromization and adaptation) in Sri Lankan context.

This study is about fear of crime, which is one of the most important topics in the criminological research.The study tested an integrated model in structural equation modeling method by using both SPSS and AMOS. Those who perceive higher levels of incivility were found to be more fearful of crime. Policies to reduce fear of crime and implications for future research were discussed based on the findings.

Health problems that stem from poor diet increase the need of nutrition labelling on food packages as it conveys meaningful information to consumers at the point of purchase and enables them to fulfill their dietary requirements. Nutrition labelling is relatively new to Indian markets, thus, the aim of this paper is to analyze the nature and extent of disclosure of nutrition information on packaged foods in India, its adequacy, nutrition quality of marketed foods according to UK traffic light food labelling criteria and consumer use of nutrition information. Primary data collected from 230 food packages have been content analyzed which reveals that although nutrition labels are present on the majority of sampled foods, yet, disclosure of mandatory nutrients is not adequate. Also, the majority of packaged foods are found to be unhealthy. Further, from a sample of 600 consumers, information was collected about nutrition knowledge, use and the reasons for not using nutrition information on food labels. It was found that consumers possess knowledge about total fat, protein, vitamins and minerals. The present study adds to existing knowledge by providing an understanding level of disclosure of nutrition information, its effectiveness when used by consumers and health implications of these disclosures to gauge the extent to which the disclosures are adequate in promoting healthful choices amongst consumers. Policy implications have also been identified that will help regulatory authorities to draft measures required for promoting health of Indian consumers.

Remote Australian schools face complex contextual issues due to systemic and enduring disadvantage. The structures and systems put in place to support and provide advantage for Indigenous Australians continually fail to meet their mark due to colonial structures, policies and inability to understand remote contextual demands. In South Australia, the context of this paper, systemic disadvantage disproportionately affects Indigenous people. This article explores the contemporary colonial landscape of a remote school context, provides background on the colonial institutions which shape the interactions and services provided to people in remote Australian areas, and provides two empirical examples of the contemporary, structural, and harmful influence of policy and political figures in a remote school. By examining the politics of being a school leader, the policy background for remote Australian schools, and the unique challenges of position both in policy and physical terms, we show how contemporary racism structures and conditions the lives of young people in remote contexts today.

Abstract Background Over the years, family planning uptake in Nigeria has remained low and this is as a result of the various challenges and barriers faced by women. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies on family planning services undertaken in Nigeria in order to understand the challenges to uptake of the services and the policy implications. Methods A PubMed search was performed in June 2020 and studies that investigated challenges of family planning uptake in Nigeria published in English between 2006 and 2020 were sought. A combination of the search terms family planning, contraceptives, challenges, barriers, Nigeria was used. Review articles, case reports, and case studies were excluded. Studies that did not report barriers or challenges to family planning or contraceptives were excluded. Result Twenty seven studies carried out in Nigeria which provided sufficient information were identified and used for this review. The Uptake of family planning recorded in the reviewed studies ranges from 10.3 to 66.8%. Challenges that are client related include education, desire for more children, uncertainty about its need, partner disapproval, previous side effects, religious beliefs, culture disapproval, age, marital status, and wealth index, residence, ignorance, embarrassment, domestic violence and sexual factor. Health service related factors identified include cost, difficulty accessing services, and procurement difficulties. Recommendations for family planning propram and policy include targeting of health service delivery for improvement, focus on gender issues and male involvement, involvement of religious leaders, targeting of younger women for better education and counseling, and continuous awareness creation and counseling among others. Conclusion The review has shown that uptake of family planning remains low in Nigeria and challenges abound. We recommend that strategies that are multi-sectoral should be applied to address the multi-pronged challenges facing uptake of family planning services.

The complexity of development and social change and growing tensions between dominant results-based and emerging learning and improvement-based approaches to evaluating development interventions have created major challenges for the evaluation of communication for development (C4D). Drawing on our recent research, we identify significant tensions, challenges and issues in evaluating C4D. They include contextual and institutional challenges, problems with attribution and unrealistic timeframes, a lack of capacities in both evaluation and C4D, and a lack of appreciation, funding and support for approaches that are more appropriate for the evaluation of C4D.

Given that there has been ecological degradation for a long time in Shanxi Province, China. This research addresses this situation by analyzing the energy structure and environmental risk in the past and in the future. Consequently, this study uses two indicator systems, ecosystem interaction system and environmental risk representation, to illustrate the environmental risk in an energy intensive region of China. And we build a BP-SVM model applying a back-propagation (BP) neural network and support vector machine (SVM) arithmetic to predict the future ecology-economy-society system interactions in Shanxi Province. At last, we classify the risk rank by using environmental risk representation indicators. The main conclusions from this research are as follows: Firstly, two indicator systems have advantages in describing the ecological-economy-society interaction especially the human society's impact on the ecosystem over a single indicator system. Secondly, by the BP-SVM model, there is a relatively high ecological risk rank in next few years in Shanxi Province, although it fluctuates occasionally. Finally, this study not only offers recommendations for the government to develop policies to transform from a coal-energy based system to a clean, safe, and efficient modern energy system, but also points out the implications for government administrations in energy intensive areas of developing countries to guide the economic transformation.

Many countries of the world consider the well-being of citizens to be one of their most important goals. Nowadays there is a growing concern about the well-being of older people. Considering the aging population, there is a call for social policies aimed at strengthening the well-being of older people. Therefore, recommendations were prepared for policymakers on possible ways to strengthen the well-being of the older age Lithuanian population. The recommendations are based on data from the 7th wave of the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). There were 2014 persons aged 50 and older interviewed in Lithuania in the 7th wave of the SHARE survey. Data on various aspects of well-being, health, work and economic situation, childhood circumstances, experiences of discrimination were analyzed. Based on different aspects of well-being it was found, that respondents can be grouped into high, low, and medium well-being clusters, moreover the analysis showed that the Lithuanian population has relatively low well-being compared to other countries. Recommendations were formulated covering possible measures for chronic diseases, co-morbid mental health disorders, work, economic situation, childhood environment, and personal life history. The recommendations are addressed to health, social and employment, education, and science policymakers.

The decarbonization of electrical power generation systems is one of Singapore’s national political agendas to reduce national greenhouse emissions. LCA is applied to assess the trade-offs of national implementation of electricity generation from conventional fossil-fuel power plants, compared to low-carbon alternatives. The first aim of LCA is to quantify the emission inventory of national electrical generation within the geographical boundary of Singapore, and next to generate the potential environmental impacts of Global Warming Potential, Acidification, and Eutrophication. Various scenarios are tested for a projected diversity of fuel resource mixes considered for years 2030 and 2040 and a hypothetical scenario where 100% renewable energy is employed and imported as the nation transitions towards a low-carbon energy future. Further discussions on the additional LCA model indicators should be included for the potential of low-carbon hydrogen application.

One of the priority areas of the EU is infrastructure development. Over 2021–2027, it is planned to allocate more than 116 billion EUR of support from EU structural funds to transport and ICT infrastructure. For investments to promote the growth of lagging regions and reduce regional disparities, investments must be efficiently allocated. Considering limitations of previous studies, this study aims to provide recommendations for policymakers regarding infrastructure investment allocation after assessing the non-linear relationships between transport and ICT infrastructure development and convergence of EU MS NUTS2 regions. The general specification for estimations is based on the neoclassical conditional beta-convergence model. Additionally, a non-linear specification with interactions is developed to estimate the effect of infrastructure development on convergence. We used Generalized Methods of Movement estimator for the robustness check to reduce possible endogeneity bias. Estimations indicated that a non-linear relationship between infrastructure development and convergence is present. We have found strong evidence of the diminishing marginal effect of infrastructure development on convergence and have identified a tipping point after which infrastructure development slows down convergence, i.e., convergence is still present but at a slower rate. The study results made it possible to present several essential recommendations to policymakers that would increase the effectiveness of investments in infrastructure. Investments should be distributed according to smaller regional units, i.e., NUTS 2 level. The optimal level of infrastructure development that ensures convergence of regions for each type of infrastructure has to be established to ensure that the investments are not too intense and to generate the maximum potential outcomes.

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is considered a highly competitive technology supporting the transition towards a low-carbon energy system. However, increased shares of its deployment have caused a set of mainly regulatory and financial challenges which require solutions. This paper identifies key research challenges for the further development and deployment of Solar PV, aiming to bridge the gap between expressed market needs and scientific research inquiries. The findings revealed a heterogeneous landscape of Research Priorities and Research Needs focused around the issues of renewable energy sources’ variability, the impacts of curtailment, material (re-)use and module efficiency, synergies with the cooling/heating sector, quality criteria and standardisation, as well as new support schemes and business models. These findings can be taken up by academic institutions or technology associations to shape further directions for research. Finally, a list of implications to guide potential end-users involved in the field of policy and practice is provided.

Through recognition and mastery of the regional differences and influencing factors of China’s rural housing rental rates, we can better understand changes in the functional attributes of homesteads and deepen the reform of “separating rural land ownership rights, contract rights, and management rights” of homesteads. Accordingly, this paper uses village residence data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey to measure the degree of regional differences in rural housing rental rates at the province level and empirically analyze the influencing factors with villages (residences) as measuring unit. The study yields four main findings. First, rural housing rental behavior exists to varying degrees in the vast majority of provinces nationwide. Second, according to the spatial distribution pattern, rural housing rental rates are generally high in the eastern coastal region and low in the central, western, and northeastern regions, mainly reflecting unique characteristics of the eastern region. Third, although the level of economic development is important, it is not the only factor explaining regional differences in rural housing rental rates. Fourth, rural housing rental rates are mainly influenced by a combination of three types of factors: physiographic, socioeconomic, and village governance factors. Among them, factors such as proximity to suburban areas, the proportion of non-local permanent residents, annual per capita income, and village infrastructure conditions have significant positive effects, whereas factors such as distance from administrative centers, reliance on funding from the higher-level authority of the village committee, and the degree of harmony between villages and cadres have significant negative effects. By interpreting the policy implications of these findings, we hope to provide a reference for localized, categorical reform of the homestead system.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected the entire globe, and various mythologies argue about its diagnosis, cure, and prevention. Globally, as of September 18th, 2020, there have been 30.055 million confirmed cases, including 0.943 million deaths. The nationwide closures are impacting over 60% of the world’s student population. This study aimed to explore the social distancing policies and universities' reopening after COVID-19 in G20 countries (19 member countries and the European Union). Design and Methods: The study is based on documentary analysis. G20 members represent around 80% of the world’s economic output, two-thirds of the global population (including more than half of the world's poor), and 75% of international trade. Based on documentary analysis, the study revealed that there is a policy dilemma among G20 countries regarding school reopening and a variety of conflicting policies within each country. Results: Based on a sample of 838 universities in the USA, 66% of universities (552 of 838) plan for in-person instruction, while only 7% are planning for a completely online teaching mode in the fall 2020 semester. Conclusions: Interestingly, none of the private universities in this study are planning to implement an online teaching mode. Policymakers need an integrated set of policy guidelines for school reopening, considering the evaluation of current COVID-19 pandemic circumstances and social distancing capacity.

The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are complex existential threats, unpredictable in many ways and unprecedented in modern times. There are parallels between the scale and scope of their impacts and responses. Understanding shared drivers, coupled vulnerabilities, and criteria for effective responses will help societies worldwide prepare for the simultaneous threats of climate change and future pandemics. We summarize some shared characteristics of COVID-19 and climate change impacts and interventions and discuss key policy implications and recommendations.

Background: Globally, the street children phenomena have grown though disproportionately in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Studies have examined the factors that drive children to the streets, rehabilitation in the charitable children Institutions (CCI); however, little attention has been accorded to the journey from the streets to the CCIs. Objective: This study, sought to trace the pathways of street children into the CCIs and its policy implications. Specifically, the study sought to Map the pathways that the street children go through into the CCIs, Examine the process of identification of the needs of the street children during entry into the CCIs and explore the Policy implications of the journey into the CCIs. The study was guided by Lundy's Model of Participation. Participants and Setting: The study was conducted in Nakuru County, Kenya targeting institutionalized ex children of the streets, managers of the institutions, police, county officials in charge of children affairs and children who ran back to the streets from the CCIs. Methods: The data for the study was collected through questionnaires (205) in-depth interviews (16), Key informant Interviews (5) and 2 Focused Group Discussions (FGDs). The data was then analyzed both descriptively and thematically. Results: The street children are commonly arrested concocted as rounding up from the streets to the CCIs by the police, CCI staff and County Council Askaris (security agents) in total disregard to the right to participation. Secondly, majority (62.93%) of the institutionalized children individually identified their needs, 10.24% identified their needs with some help while 26.83% had their needs identified by CCI staff. This is not only a false beginning, but is also in violation of existing national children policy and legal frameworks. Conclusions: This study demonstrates lack of full implementation of existing policies and proposes development of targeted policy for children of the streets.

By mastering the spatial-temporal evolution of patterns of soybean production, a reference for optimizing a soybean production layout could be provided, ensuring food security. The variation coefficient method, and the comparative advantage and spatial autocorrelation models were used to analyze the spatial divergence regularities of soybean production, sown area and yield, spatial-temporal changes in the comparative advantages of soybean planting efficiency and soybean planting scale, and the spatial agglomeration characteristics in China from 1949 to 2019. The results indicate that (1) from 1949 to 2019, soybean production and yield changes in China remained constant with a fluctuating upwards trend, and soybean sown areas hardly changed, yet experienced a sharp fluctuation. (2) The Northeast China Plain (NECP) was the main soybean-producing area, and its main position was strengthened. In contrast, the main soybean production position of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP) has declined. The Northern arid and semiarid region (NASR), the Sichuan Basin and surrounding areas (SBSR), the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain (MLYP), and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP) became new soybean production growth poles. (3) The spatial distribution of soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages in China extended from northern China to the whole country, and the soybean planting scale-related comparative advantages proceeded through three stages: steady expansion, relative stability, contraction, and stabilization. (4) The spatial agglomeration of soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages has weakened, and the spatial agglomeration of the soybean planting scale-related comparative advantages exhibited a strengthening-weakening-strengthening-weakening process. Through our research analysis, we propose a policy resource to fully utilize the soybean planting efficiency-related comparative advantages in southern China (SC), promote grain-soybean rotation patterns in the HHHP and NECP, improve the soybean cultivation subsidy system, and build a soybean industry chain in the NECP.

Food is the core of urban daily life and socio-economic activities but is rarely the focus of urban planning. The spatial layout of food retail outlets is important for optimizing the urban food system, improving land resource allocation, and encouraging healthy food consumption. Based on food retail POI data, this study employed kernel density estimation, road network centrality, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and locational entropy to analyze the spatial characteristics of supermarkets, produce markets, and small stores in an urban center in Beijing, and explored street coupling and supply-demand matching. The results indicated that within the study area: (1) supermarkets had an obvious “core-periphery” distribution, produce markets had a polycentric distribution, and small stores had a relatively uniform distribution; (2) road network centrality indices revealed a differentiated multi-core-edge distribution; (3) streets with high locational entropy values for supermarkets and produce markets were mostly concentrated in the central area, whereas the matching distribution of small stores was relatively balanced. From the perspective of urban planning, policy implications are proposed based on spatial and social equity, urban-rural differences, population structure and distribution status, and a resilient supply chain. The study findings have practical significance for guiding the development of urban food systems in a healthy, just, and sustainable direction, as well as rational urban land planning.

As the largest emitter of carbon dioxide all over the world, China requires a rapid breakthrough and large-scale commercial application of carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS) technology to achieve the 2060 carbon neutrality target. However, the process of CCUS technology commercialization in China is quite slow. Firstly, an obstacle system with 15 factors is established based on a literature review and expert consultation, namely on economic, technical, political, market, and social obstacles. Secondly, taking into account the uncertainty and randomness inherent in subjective judgment, Vague set is introduced for the first time to improve the DEMATEL-ANP (DANP) method in order to analyze comprehensive importance and causal relationship of obstacles. According to the study, in advancing CCUS’s commercialization in China, economic obstacles are simply the tip of the iceberg, with the deeper reasons rooted in political obstacles. Specifically, seven critical obstacles are lack of standards and regulations, inadequate legal and regulatory framework, insufficient incentive policies, limited carbon dioxide conversion efficiency, high energy consumption, low rate of return on investments and low investment enthusiasm of enterprise. We conclude with a series of recommendations to address these obstacles, and these findings can be used as a guide for government regulation and business practice.

In the inland sandy areas along the central coast of Vietnam, there is a specific type of ecosystem that local people call a sand forest. Over time, despite many economic, political, and social upheavals, local people in some places still maintain these sand forests. In this study, we aimed to investigate the determinants and challenges of community sand forest management in coastal north central Vietnam. For this purpose, we explore insights regarding the changing roles of sand forests in community perception, community challenges, and the role of stakeholders in sand forest management. We then discuss policy implications for sustainable sand forest management. By applying focus group discussions, household surveys, and in-depth interviews, this study found that local people have used village conventions to manage the sand forest for hundreds of years because they have been aware of the role of the sand forest in daily life, especially the spiritual and environmental roles of the sand forest. However, sand forest management is confusing and inefficient due to the neglect of the role of traditional organizations. Along with this, local people face several challenges, such as conflicts over the use of sand forests, and a lack of recognition of the community’s legal rights to such forests. Based on these results, some policy implications are proposed, such as strengthening the participation of related stakeholders, and providing coordination between traditional organizations and local authorities in forest management and conflict management in forest use. It is necessary to promote the allocation of sand forests to local communities so that they have the legal rights to effectively manage and protect their forests and to obtain potential benefits in the future.

Urban green spaces have been researched extensively for their contribution toward livable, sustainable and resilient cities. Studies illustrate increasing awareness of the multi-functional roles such spaces can fulfill in addressing urbanization pressures and associated impacts such as increasing stress on global food systems, notably by accommodating practices of urban agriculture (UA). This paper investigates the potential for UA in South Africa as a citizen-led urban greening strategy, considering potential and limitations for the increased application of UA in spatial planning. The paper provides a review of core concepts and illustrates potential and certain limitations via UA cases studies in two leading South African provinces and a review of the national policy and legislative framework pertaining to UA. Findings highlight particular issues for consideration to augment the implementation of UA in South Africa, including opportunities to draw on existing citizen-led initiatives and increasing awareness of UA among communities, authorities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector; the potential to utilize skilled and knowledgeable rural migrants; and possibilities to capitalize on a growing market for UA related opportunities to stimulate economic growth and employment creation whilst addressing food security concerns. Limitations highlighted in the paper, include many current UA initiatives not being self-sustaining and fully citizen-driven, requiring constant support and resources from multiple stakeholders; a cultural stigma attached to UA activities, hampering more uptake, especially among the youth; limited national support as no dedicated national policy on UA exists to direct the spatial planning community; and lastly, that South African spatial planners exhibit limited knowledge of UA and green infrastructure in general. The paper concludes with broad recommendations for the international planning community to advance the implementation of UA as a citizen-led urban greening strategy, drawing on the South African experience.

This narrative inquiry aimed to explore a COVID-19 patient’s lived experience from contracting the disease to recovery and understand the implications of this unique patient experience on health policies and managerial practices. The personal narrative approach was used to chronicle the patient’s weekly journey in disease management. Best practices emerged from her and her family members’ engagement in managing COVID-19, and interactions with her primary care provider and COVID-19 Response Team. Her COVID-19 patient experience also provided a basis for implications on public health and healthcare policies and managerial practices. Three key dimensions were perceived to have positively impacted the COVID-19 patient’s experience and health outcomes: information seeking, communication, and self-awareness. Physical, mental and emotional support from family members were also perceived to have a positive impact on the patient’s experience and outcomes. Three key dimensions were perceived to have negatively impacted the COVID-19 patient’s experience and health outcomes: federal government’s lack of coordination in crisis management, CDC’s slow actions in disease control and prevention and primary care provider’s absence in care continuity. Patients must take active ownership and engage consistently in their disease management, which could help improve their own experiences and overall health outcomes. Proactive engagement in care and in making treatment decisions may improve disease outcomes even when coordinated responses to health crises were lacking in the country and care continuity by providers was absent. Interactions with care providers also present opportunities for patients to help providers improve their practices. Patients are integral members of care teams. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Infrastructure & Governance lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework. (http://bit.ly/ExperienceFramework) Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens.

Background Although preventable, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) continue to pose huge health and economic burdens on countries worldwide. Some studies have indicated the numerous causes of HAIs, but only a tiny literature exists on the multifaceted measures that can be used to address the problem. This paper presents stakeholders’ opinions on measures for controlling HAIs in Iran. Methods We used the qualitative research method in studying the phenomenon. Through a purposive sampling approach, we conducted 24 face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Participants were mainly key informants, including policy-makers, health professionals, and technical officers across the national and subnational levels, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), medical universities, and hospitals in Iran. We performed thematic framework analysis using the software MAXQDA10. Results Four main interdisciplinary themes emerged from our study of measures of controlling HAIs: strengthening governance and stewardship; strengthening human resources policies; appropriate prescription and usage of antibiotics; and environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. Conclusion According to our findings, elimination of HAIs demands multifactorial interventions. While the ultimate recommendation of policy-makers is to have HAIs among the priorities of the national agenda, financial commitment and the creation of an enabling work environment in which both patients and healthcare workers can practice personal hygiene could lead to a significant reduction in HAIs in Iran.

Lessons from other countries where digital technology is integrated into English classroom will shed lights to digital Thailand. This study, therefore, analyzed the best practices to extract and describe key success factors that could help increase national competitiveness. The conclusion of the study was drawn from an interpretive analysis and synthesis of the review of literature. Five purposefully selected best practices included Finland, Norway, the Netherlands and South Korea. This was a documentary study. The results revealed that key success that all these best practice countries share includes these ten issues: free, accessible, equalized education, ICT in English education, starting learning English in early age, professional development for teachers, stress on qualification of teachers, teacher compensations and welfares, small class size, assessment and testing reform and homework reform. Policy implications indicate that if the Thai government want to reach the educational efficiency of the best practice countries, it should take these issues into consideration. Future inquiry should include more countries to get a wider, more practical and more insightful holistic scope of the study.