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Low-income people who receive economic support from the government hope to become self-reliant. However, their vulnerability to mental health problems and social isolation makes the process of becoming self-reliant difficult. Practitioners in the community can contact these people and help them become self-reliant. The self-reliance experiences of low-income people who receive government support is a unique psychological process that merits further attention. This study explored how low-income people who no longer receive government support in South Korea struggle to become self-reliant and return to an autonomous, ordinary citizenship by standing alone. An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was undertaken using in-depth interviews with 12 low-income people in South Korea who are currently self-reliant and no longer receive government assistance. Participants were found to be going through a four-stage process of struggling to become an ordinary citizen. These stages included: motivating, hardship, bearing, and returning. Based on these results, we suggest the substantive theory of "returning to an autonomous, ordinary citizenship by standing alone." This study provides a holistic understanding of the lived experiences of low-income people attempting to pursue self-reliance. It also explores future directions for interventions to help them maintain quality of life while retaining autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Residing in a disadvantaged neighborhood has been linked to increased mortality. However, the impact of residential segregation and social vulnerability on cause-specific mortality is understudied. Additionally, the circulating metabolic correlates of neighborhood sociodemographic environment remain unexplored. Therefore, we examined multiple neighborhood sociodemographic metrics, i.e., neighborhood deprivation index (NDI), residential segregation index (RSI), and social vulnerability index (SVI), with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer-specific mortality and circulating metabolites in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS). Methods: The SCCS is a prospective cohort of primarily low-income adults aged 40–79, enrolled from the southeastern United States during 2002–2009. This analysis included self-reported Black/African American or non-Hispanic White participants and excluded those who died or were lost to follow-up ≤ 1 year. Untargeted metabolite profiling was performed using baseline plasma samples in a subset of SCCS participants. Results: Among 79,631 participants, 23,356 deaths (7214 from CVD and 5394 from cancer) were documented over a median 15-year follow-up. Higher NDI, RSI, and SVI were associated with increased all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality, independent of standard clinical and sociodemographic risk factors and consistent between racial groups (standardized HRs among all participants were 1.07 to 1.20 in age/sex/race-adjusted model and 1.04 to 1.08 after comprehensive adjustment; all P < 0.05/3 except for cancer mortality after comprehensive adjustment). The standard risk factors explained < 40% of the variations in NDI/RSI/SVI and mediated < 70% of their associations with mortality. Among 1110 circulating metabolites measured in 1688 participants, 134 and 27 metabolites were associated with NDI and RSI (all FDR < 0.05) and mediated 61.7% and 21.2% of the NDI/RSI-mortality association, respectively. Adding those metabolites to standard risk factors increased the mediation proportion from 38.4 to 87.9% and 25.8 to 42.6% for the NDI/RSI-mortality association, respectively. Conclusions: Among low-income Black/African American adults and non-Hispanic White adults living in the southeastern United States, a disadvantaged neighborhood sociodemographic environment was associated with increased all-cause and CVD and cancer-specific mortality beyond standard risk factors. Circulating metabolites may unveil biological pathways underlying the health effect of neighborhood sociodemographic environment. More public health efforts should be devoted to reducing neighborhood environment-related health disparities, especially for low-income individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomacea canaliculata is one of the most notorious invasive aquatic snail, capable of influencing various aquatic organisms through their secretions. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Propsilocerus akamusi are the most prevalent and powerful bioturbators in aquatic ecosystems. However, the mechanism of P. canaliculata's secretions affecting bioturbators remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of P. canaliculata's secretion on L. hoffmeisteri and P. akamusi. L. hoffmeisteri and P. akamusi were treated for 24 h with P. canaliculata and the native species Bellamya aeruginosa secretions at different densities (1 or 20). The migration numbers and aggregation rate of L. hoffmeisteri indicated that P. canaliculata secretion caused L. hoffmeisteri to become alert and migrate away from the nucleus community, resulting in poor population identification, especially at high concentrations. Moreover, the antioxidant enzymatic activity, lipid peroxidation, intestinal microbial diversity, and composition of the two bioturbators were analyzed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were elevated following P. canaliculata secretion treatment, indicating oxidative damage. Furthermore, the composition and diversity of intestinal microbiota of L. hoffmeisteri and P. akamusi were changed. The abundance of functional microbiota decreased, and pathogenic bacteria such as Aeromonas became dominant in the intestines of both bioturbators. The current research evaluates the effects of P. canaliculata secretion on the behavior, oxidative stress, and intestinal microbial composition and diversity of two bioturbators, providing new insights into the assessment of post‐invaded ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived household water quality can affect decision-making about bottled water consumption, an issue of environmental justice. Residents who do not trust the quality of their tap water may drink bottled water as an alternative, but people also choose to drink bottled water for other reasons, such as taste or convenience. This study examines patterns of bottled water consumption and perceptions of tap water quality across neighborhoods of Greensboro, North Carolina, with differing income levels. Household surveys were used to investigate residents' consumption of bottled water and tap water and their stated reasons for consuming bottled water. Results indicate that respondents in low-income neighborhoods report drinking significantly (p=0.001) more bottled water than respondents in higher-income neighborhoods. Concerns about the safety of tap water were a significantly (p=0.00005) more important reason for respondents in low-income neighborhoods to choose bottled water compared to respondents in higher-income neighborhoods. The results of this study indicate that intra-urban differences in perceptions of household water quality are a major environmental justice issue in that concerns about safety drive low-income residents to spend their limited income on bottled water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land reforms have been implemented in many parts of the world because of both justice and the attractive developmental policy objectives of improving poor people's welfare – as the prime beneficiaries. Land reform also facilitates rural economic growth. In some parts of the world, like China and India, there is evidence that land reform has been effective in poverty reduction and in enabling economic growth. However, in other parts of the world, like South Africa, the impact of land reform has been very minimal mainly due to poor policy implementation, which entails inadequate support structures. Using an integrative literature review approach and key policy documents on South Africa's land reform, this article dissects this policy–practice gap in South Africa's land redistribution policy and proposes that land redistribution be implemented by a private independent entity to reduce state bureaucracy and inefficiencies and, in turn, improve execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of immigration in the United States, particularly in relation to the current presidential campaign. It highlights the challenges faced by the government in managing the influx of migrants and asylum-seekers, as well as the policy debates surrounding illegal entry. The article also presents historical perspectives on immigration, including objections to immigration and proposed remedies from over a century ago. It emphasizes the need for attention and decision-making on immigration, while acknowledging the complexity of the issue. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Whether variation in Medicaid reimbursement fees influenced the impacts of the Medicaid expansions is not well understood. Objective: We examine whether changes in health care access associated with Medicaid expansion are different in states with comparatively high Medicaid reimbursement rates compared against expanding in states with lower Medicaid reimbursement rates. Design: Using a difference-in-difference-in-difference (DDD or triple-difference) regression approach, we compare relative differences in Medicaid expansion effects between lower and higher reimbursement states. Participants: 512,744 low-income adults aged 20–64 in the 2011–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Main Measures: Health insurance coverage status, unmet medical needs due to cost, regular source for health care, and a regular/scheduled checkup within the past year. Key Results: Medicaid expansion has significant and positive impacts on health coverage and access in both high- and low-fee states. In states with fee levels above the median Medicare-to-Medicaid ratios, expanding Medicaid eligibility reduced uninsurance rate by 15.2 percentage point (ppt, p < 0.01), shrank the cost-associated unmet medical need by 10.3 ppt (p < 0.01), improved access to usual source of care by 1.9 ppt (p < 0.1), and increased regular checkup by 14.4 ppt (p < 0.01), while such effects in low-fee states were 11.7 ppt (p < 0.01), 8.3 ppt (p < 0.01), 3.1 ppt (p < 0.1), and 12.3 ppt (p < 0.01), respectively. Our results suggest that Medicaid expansion effect on unmet medical need due to cost in higher-reimbursing states was 2.98 ppt (p < 0.05) larger than in lower-reimbursing states. Evidence suggests modest increases in health care access were more strongly associated with expansions in higher-fee states. Conclusions: Medicaid's fee structure should be considered as a factor influencing large-scale coverage expansions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research, we examined the association between perceived economic grievances and both intentions to engage and actual engagement in antilockdown protests during the COVID-19 pandemic in high-income countries. We also investigated whether this direct association would be (a) mediated by social identification with the economically disadvantaged and (b) moderated by fatalistic beliefs about the pandemic. In Study 1, multilevel modelling based on online search data from the US (N = 505) indicated that weekly fluctuations in searches related to economic grievances predicted the occurrence of antilockdown protests over time. In Studies 2 (Germany; N = 404) and 3 (Italy; N = 1,857), we showed that the link between perceived economic grievances and intentions to engage in antilockdown collective action was significantly mediated by social identification with people who suffered economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. Study 3 replicated the findings of Study 2 and extended it by showing the role of high (vs. low) fatalistic beliefs about the pandemic in moderating the association between perceived economic grievances and antilockdown collective action intentions. We discuss the consequences of unaddressed economic grievances for democratic functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social risks are common among cancer survivors who have the fewest financial resources; however, little is known about how prevalence differs by age at diagnosis, despite younger survivors' relatively low incomes and wealth. Methods: The authors used data from 3703 participants in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort of Black cancer survivors. Participants self‐reported several forms of social risks, including food insecurity, housing instability, utility shut‐offs, not getting care because of cost or lack of transportation, and feeling unsafe in their home neighborhood. Modified Poisson models were used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of social risks by age at diagnosis, controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and cancer‐related factors. Results: Overall, 35% of participants reported at least one social risk, and 17% reported two or more risks. Social risk prevalence was highest among young adults aged 20–39 years (47%) followed by those aged 40–54 years (43%), 55–64 years (38%), and 65 years and older (24%; p for trend <.001). Compared with survivors who were aged 65 years and older at diagnosis, adjusted prevalence ratios for any social risk were 1.75 (95% CI, 1.42–2.16) for survivors aged 20–39 years, 1.76 (95% CI, 1.52–2.03) for survivors aged 40–54 years, and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.23–1.60) for survivors aged 55‐64 years at diagnosis. Similar associations were observed for individual social risks and experiencing two or more risks. Conclusions: In this population of Black cancer survivors, social risks were inversely associated with age at diagnosis. Diagnosis in young adulthood and middle age should be considered a risk factor for social risks and should be prioritized in work to reduce the financial effects of cancer on financially vulnerable cancer survivors. This report evaluates associations between age at diagnosis and the prevalence of social risks, such as food insecurity, housing instability, and forgoing care because of lack of transportation in a population‐based cohort of Black cancer survivors. Age at diagnosis was inversely associated with social risks, and young adult survivors reported the highest prevalence of any social risks, multiple social risks, and several individual social risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This obituary is a tribute to Roger H. Stuewer, a respected physicist and historian of science. Born in Shawano, Wisconsin, to German immigrant grandparents, Stuewer had a challenging upbringing marked by his father's strict discipline and his mother's health issues. Despite these difficulties, Stuewer excelled academically and pursued a career in physics and history of science. He made significant contributions to the field, including his work on the history of nuclear physics and his efforts to bridge the gap between historians and physicists. Stuewer was also known for his dedication to teaching and his love of travel and culture. He passed away in 2022, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the scientific community. [Extracted from the article]

Diverse actors, including foreign and national states, international agencies, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and private ventures, demand, fund, and implement anti-trafficking activities worldwide. Bissau-Guinean Quran schoolboys begging in Senegalese cities are defined as victims of child trafficking, and their teachers as traffickers. This article aims to explore the Quran teachers' understanding of begging and their response to being accused of child trafficking. It rests on data collected during anthropological fieldwork in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal since 2009, including interviews and participation in religious events. The Quran teachers, some of whom admit colleagues might exploit their students, highlight four aspects of begging: allowing poor populations economically to study the Quran; contributing to humbleness, humility, and empathy with underprivileged groups; redistributing resources across generations; and allowing the acquisition of knowledge, liberation, and power. They maintain that the NGOs are profiting from funds provided to "rescue" the students and act as real traffickers, and together with funders, they aim to eliminate Islam. Embedded in layers of coloniality, the Quran teachers keep their position as community leaders. Banning begging is bound to fail if the anti-trafficking NGOs ignore their understanding of meaningful suffering and begging, including the economic and religious aspects of alms-seeking and its reciprocal nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the type and timing of ultra‐processed foods (UPF) consumption and its association with dietary intake (DI) and physical activity (PA) in women with obesity living in poverty. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was employed. Obesity was defined by at least two criteria (body mass index, waist circumference or % fat mass). Poverty was defined as the three lowest classes of the Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion. PA was measured with triaxial accelerometers and DI was assessed with three 24‐h dietary recalls. Foods were categorised according to the NOVA classification, with UPF classified into five subgroups, as well as the timing of consumption into six meals. Results: In total, 56 adult women were included. Overall energy intake was 1653.21 (503.22) kcal/day. UPF intake was 21.62% (11.94%) kcal/day, being higher at breakfast (4.91% kcal/day), afternoon snack (5.39% kcal/day) and dinner (5.01% kcal/day). Only UPF subgroup 4 (sandwich biscuits, sweets, or treats) showed a positive association with energy intake (β = 54.40 [27.6, 81.10] kcal/day) and a negative association with protein intake (β = −0.31% [−0.48%, −0.14%] kcal/day). UPF consumption in morning (β = −0.41% [−0.79%, −0.02%] kcal/day) and afternoon (β = −0.18% [−0.33%, −0.04%] kcal/day) snacks was associated with lower protein intake. Furthermore, lunchtime UPF consumption was positively associated with walking time (β = 0.16% [0.02%; 0.30%]) and steps/hour (β = 8.72 [1.50; 15.94] steps/h). Conclusions: Women with obesity living in poverty consume more UPF during breakfast, afternoon snack and dinner. Physical activity is positively associated with UPF consumption at lunch. UPF, such as sandwich biscuits, sweets or treats, contribute to increasing energy intake and reducing protein intake. Key points: The distribution of ultra‐processed foods (UPF) consumption throughout the day was evaluated.UPF were more consumed during main meals compared to snacks.Only sandwich biscuits, sweets and treats were associated with increased energy intake and reduced protein intake.Physical activity measured by triaxial accelerometers was associated with UPF consumption at lunch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Qi Gong fitness in alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among underprivileged working youth with a follow-up study. Methods: Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to normal groups (NG) and treatment groups (TG), with 40 participants in each group. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and 24-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-24) were used to evaluate the effect of Qi Gong fitness on alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in underprivileged working youth. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic outcome indicators between NG and TG. The main analytic results showed significant differences (P < .05) in the intra- and inter-group comparisons of NG and TG in stress, anxiety, and depression before and after intervention. When compared with prior intervention, NG and TG after intervention showed more favorable scores in PSS, GAD-7, and HAMD-24, among which PSS (NG: 51.61 ± 4.32 vs. 29.80 ± 3.08; TG: 55.21 ± 5.41 vs. 15.85 ± 2.25; P < .01), GAD-7 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 12.23 ± 1.90 vs. 7.84 ± 1.57; P < .01), and HAMD-24 (NG: 10.83 ± 2.45 vs. 9.85 ± 2.52; TG: 25.63 ± 3.94 vs. 11.40 ± 3.82; P < .01); These results indicate that NG and TG have significant effects on alleviating occupational stress, anxiety, and depression in young underprivileged people. Conclusion: The study indicates that Qi Gong fitness had a positive effect on reducing and alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression among young underprivileged professionals. This highlights the potential benefits of incorporating Qi Gong fitness into treatment plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The upswing: How America came together and how we can do it again" is a book by Robert Putnam that examines trends in economic, political, social, and cultural aspects of American life over the past 125 years. Putnam argues that the United States experienced a period of progress and social cohesion during the Progressive movement, but has since declined in terms of inequality, political polarization, social dislocation, and cultural narcissism. The book explores the shift from a collective "we" orientation to a more individualistic mindset and offers insights into the role of religion, political polarization, and social justice movements in shaping American society. Putnam suggests that by learning from history and working collectively, America can regain a sense of unity and social progress. [Extracted from the article]

This document contains abstracts of papers presented at an academic conference. The papers cover a wide range of topics related to economics, history, and social development. Each paper presents empirical evidence and analysis to shed light on specific phenomena or historical events. The research is conducted using different methodologies and data sources, providing valuable insights into these complex subjects. The summaries provide a brief overview of each paper's main findings and contribute to the understanding of various social and economic phenomena. [Extracted from the article]

This review examines high-quality research evidence that synthesises the effects of extreme heat on human health in tropical Africa. Web of Science (WoS) was used to identify research articles on the effects extreme heat, humidity, Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), apparent temperature, wind, Heat Index, Humidex, Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), heatwave, high temperature and hot climate on human health, human comfort, heat stress, heat rashes, and heat-related morbidity and mortality. A total of 5, 735 articles were initially identified, which were reduced to 100 based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review discovered that temperatures up to 60°C have been recorded in the region and that extreme heat has many adverse effects on human health, such as worsening mental health in low-income adults, increasing the likelihood of miscarriage, and adverse effects on well-being and safety, psychological behaviour, efficiency, and social comfort of outdoor workers who spend long hours performing manual labour. Extreme heat raises the risk of death from heat-related disease, necessitating preventative measures such as adaptation methods to mitigate the adverse effects on vulnerable populations during hot weather. This study highlights the social inequalities in heat exposure and adverse health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia's conditional cash transfer program serves only the "objectively perceivable" poor—those who fit its parameters of eligibility and appear in the official poverty data. It creates two populations of poor people: the legible and eligible, or user poor, and the illegible and ineligible, or nonuser poor. In Surabaya the nonuser poor—who constitute half of all poor people—benefit from a de facto distribution of cash transfers that operates in the low-income neighborhoods (kampungs) through a figuration of people that is made up of cash transfer users, nonusers, providers, and brokers. It reveals actually existing welfare at work in the blind spots of objectively targeted welfare. Actually existing welfare cannot be understood as a set of official policies, roles, or technological interfaces but as a set of locally embedded relationships that bring welfare subjects into existence. Without understanding these relationships that form on the edge of welfare, it is not possible to understand the labor involved in producing the poor in targeted schemes like Indonesia's conditional cash transfer program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although peer support is documented as a predictor of adolescents' prosocial behavior, the influencing mechanism of peer support on prosocial behavior among adolescents from low-income families has not been fully researched. The current research conducted two studies to examine the influencing mechanism of peer support on prosocial behavior among adolescents from low-income families. Study 1 (N = 579) investigated the influencing mechanism of peer support on prosocial behavior with a longitudinal dataset. Study 2 (N = 228) investigated the effect of peer support priming on money donation with an experimental approach. The results of Study 1 and Study 2 consistently demonstrated that communal social goals mediated the association between peer support and prosocial behavior among adolescents from low-income families, and cumulative family risk moderated this indirect link. The positive effect of peer support on prosocial behavior through communal social goals might be weakened if adolescents experience more risk factors in the family context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rights NGOs contribute to the formation of norms and policies around penality, and inform social understandings of what constitutes acceptable punishment. This article turns to the symbolic group-making work of human rights workers as agents who work with prisoners, and who also construct the image of the prisoner for the rest of society. I zoom in on the case of prison NGO work in Russia, a non-democratic country, and answer two questions: first, how do prison NGOs construct the image of the prisoner, and articulate their relationship with their social base and their networks of civic engagement? Second, what organizational behaviors do these articulations encourage? Drawing on 18 semi-structured interviews and observation at prison NGOs based in Moscow, the study shows that Russian NGO workers often view themselves and act as members of a middle class social movement in Russia. While NGOs tend to focus on the most economically disadvantaged and socially isolated groups in their work, the prisoners they depict when addressing the public and the press tend to represent more educated groups with higher levels of symbolic capital (political prisoners, those convicted of economic crimes, and former state employees), reflecting a desire to put prison on the middle class agenda. At the same time, prison NGO employees employ a class lens in their work with prisoners, and determine how to help prisoners based on their assessment of how the socio-economic background of the prisoner intersects with ethnicity, religion, ability/disability, region where they are serving their sentence, and region where they are from. In other words, prison NGO workers view prisoners through the resources they can accumulate using the simultaneous, intersecting dimensions of their status and their relation to other groups both in prison and outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some scholars have argued that every year, huge amount of financial and human resources are being deployed by international development agencies, and NGOs to improve the living conditions of millions of poor people living in most African countries, yet most of these interventions are not achieving the objectives expected. This study seeks to know the validity of this postulation by exploring the intersection of participatory communication, role-players engagement, and project proposal in achieving far-reaching impact and success of development interventions in Africa. A systematic literature review method was used. The findings showed that 25% of the 48 development interventions evaluated were failed projects, 64.58% projects came midway, and 10.42% projects were successful. The findings support the postulation of Farreach perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on maximizing dental attendance among older patients, discussing reasons for their discontinuation of recall appointments, systemic health barriers, and strategies for improving communication and access to care, including teledentistry. It also discusses the complex socioeconomic and health-related challenges older adults face in maintaining oral health, highlighting the need for tailored interventions and enhanced health literacy to promote regular dental care.

"My Life in History" is a personal account of the author's journey into the field of history, inspired by their grandmother's stories of their family's past. Despite facing challenges in their education, the author obtained a Bachelor of Arts in social work and history from the University of Melbourne. They overcame gender biases and limited opportunities in academia to earn a PhD and have a successful career in teaching and research. The author's work focuses on topics such as single motherhood, institutional abuse, and welfare history in Australia. They emphasize their collaboration with service users and survivors, as well as their involvement in digital history and public spaces. The author expresses gratitude towards their mentors, colleagues, and the individuals whose stories they have documented. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of ABEI Journal: The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Estudos Irlandeses and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In improving the level of social welfare, quality, and survival of the poor, vulnerable, and underprivileged groups, there is a social assistance program in the form of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) And BPNT has proven its efficiency in improving food access which aims to meet the basic needs and rights of Beneficiary Families (KPM). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) program in meeting the basic needs of the poor and vulnerable. The research method used is qualitative descriptive research. Data collection is carried out using secondary sources through a review of various literature, then data analysis through three stages, namely data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The performance of the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT) in Indonesia shows positive results in helping to reduce the burden of spending on poor and vulnerable households by meeting food needs. This research has made a significant contribution in enriching the understanding of technology-based social assistance distribution models and BPNT has proven its efficiency in improving food access for the poor and vulnerable, contributing to financial inclusivity, and driving local economic growth through the involvement of local shops in distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joan C. Tronto is a prominent figure in care ethics and American political theory. Her work has had a significant impact on various fields, including public policy, democratic institutions, healthcare, and urban planning. Tronto argues that care should not be confined to the private sphere and should be a collective responsibility. The text discusses the concept of care and its implications in various fields, emphasizing the need for care to be integrated across different disciplines and frameworks. Tronto also explores the concept of "caring with" and its role in creating reliable and shared care relationships. She concludes by discussing her current work on understanding and improving bad care. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the media's coverage of poverty and inequality, highlighting the problematic ways in which these issues are framed and explained to the public. The authors argue that media representations of poverty and inequality are ideologically laden and often contain classed, gendered, and racist assumptions. They emphasize the need for critical media analysis and rigorous research methodologies to challenge these representations. The article also provides summaries of selected papers in this special issue, which examine topics such as housing inequality, economic inequality during the pandemic, and media coverage of poverty in the United States and United Kingdom. The authors hope that these articles will contribute to a larger project of questioning hegemonic assumptions about the social world. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to investigate the impact of various Social Safety Net Programs (SSNPs) including pension schemes on the lives of poor and vulnerable in Sylhet district. It is a qualitative study and it uses methods such as in-depth interview, focus group discussion and content analysis to understand the changes in the economic, social well-being of individuals living in poverty and vulnerability. Sylhet is one of the regions of Bangladesh with least poverty rates. However, due to natural disasters like floods affecting the area almost every year leaves thousands of lives on the brink of vulnerability and causes tremendous losses to the poor. The study therefore reveals both the improvement in the lives of disadvantaged population in the area as well as shed light on the factors influencing the programs' effectiveness such as floods, corruption etc. It also reveals people's attitudes towards the recently-introduced pension scheme and participants' expectations from the program. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of social safety net programs such as pension scheme, with factors causing hindrances to expected outcomes, offering valuable insights for policy makers working to improve the lives of poor and vulnerable living in the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of personalized law, which challenges the idea that everyone should be subject to the same rules. While personalized law could have benefits, such as in personalized medicine, there are concerns about misinformation, error, and the accuracy of data used in personalized law algorithms. The article also discusses the challenges of implementing personalized law, including biases, non-measurable inputs, and the complexity of communicating personalized commands. It suggests that personalized law algorithms may be better suited as advisors rather than decision-makers, allowing human judges to incorporate empathy and compassion. The article also discusses the issue of explainability in AI and its implications for personalized law, as well as the challenges of recognizing social patterns and detecting problematic policies. The authors acknowledge the critiques and consider the future of personalized law. [Extracted from the article]

A host of recent literature suggests benefits to Black children of being matched to same-race teachers. We extend this literature to explore whether being matched to a Black teacher is related to Black students' likelihood of being identified for two types of discretionary educational services in the following academic year: gifted education and special education. While we do not find that access to Black teachers affects students' likelihood of gifted identification, Black students matched to Black teachers are less likely to be identified for special education. The results are strongest for Black boys, particularly those who are also economically disadvantaged and are strongest for disabilities with more discretion in identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experts at a recent conference have highlighted the significant impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in treating type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. These medications have been shown to effectively lower glucose levels, promote weight loss, and carry a low risk of hypoglycemia. They have also demonstrated cardiovascular benefits and potential for managing weight-related comorbidities. However, barriers such as cost and availability hinder their widespread use. Limited data suggests that GLP-1s and SGLT2s can be beneficial for pregnant women with diabetes, helping to control HbA1C levels and prevent complications. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels during pregnancy can lead to increased risks for both the mother and the newborn, including miscarriage and preterm labor. The article also mentions the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to improve patient care and support medication titration. [Extracted from the article]

This article investigates the effect of sanitation on education at the municipal level in Brazilian cities. We measure the effect of the share of people living in households with access to piped water and a bathroom on educational indicators of the population aged 6–14. To take care of the well‐recognized endogeneity between sanitation and education, we estimate a panel‐data instrumental variable model. We use the municipalities that had their sanitation services privatized by other subnational instances as an instrumental variable. The results indicate that an increase of 1 percentage point in access to sanitation increases grade promotion rate by 0.334 pp., decreases age‐grade distortion rate by 0.464 pp., and decreases school dropout by 0.33 pp. We show evidence of complementarity between educational and sanitation policies, and the educational impacts of the latter can be used as leverage to convince politicians of the necessity to provide better water and sanitation conditions, especially to the poor population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty is one of the major deprivations that has direct effect on the well-being of a household at micro level. At macro level, it also has significant effect and hinders the sustainable development of a nation. The binary measurement, commonly used to identify the energy poor population, has major drawbacks as it only takes accessibility of the services into consideration, whereas, in the contemporary period more emphasis should be on the affordability, quality, reliability and legal implications of energy services. The present study, therefore, tries to estimate the energy poverty condition by following a multi-dimensional approach and also tries to identify the actual energy poor by analysing the spatial disparity prevalent in the state of Odisha. A multidimensional framework is used to capture different aspects of energy provisioning at household level and an energy poverty index is constructed by assigning equal weights for the parameters. Spatial disparity is measured by considering proxies for the social parameters and following Gini's coefficient of disparity measurement. The results indicated persistence of disparity in energy poverty at regional, inter and intra-district levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In consumer finance, certain experiences are recognized in international markets in the use of complementary and social currencies, due to their effects on social inclusion and the reduction of capital accumulation in a globalized economy. In this context, the article aims to review ten years of scientific production of social currency in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. In order to achieve the proposed objective, a systematic literature review was carried out, covering three stages: (1) planning the review, (2) conducting the review and (3) presentation of the final report. As a result of the content analysis of the textual corpus (n = 67), we now have an up-to-date overview of the literature, through (1) descriptive analysis, (2) bibliographic coupling analysis and (3) word analysis. In addition, as a main contribution, the following were identified: (1) a typology, formed by three classes, which capture contexts of the use of social currency; (2) a methodological framework; and (3) suggestions for the development of future research. In general, the results show that social currency can serve as a complementary currency to the solidarity economy, since the potential of this currency is not disconnected from objectives and normative standards. It is also known that social currency lends itself to emergency use, as it helps to minimize the anxieties of the excluded. However, for many markets, social currency remains a topic far removed from the reality of the underprivileged population. The findings also show the advances made in research focused on social currency, especially considering the contexts in which it is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As health care costs rise in Australia, the affordability of primary care and private health insurance (PHI) are critical concerns. Key questions include whether primary care should be free for all, and what role should PHI play alongside Medicare. The Government spends $6.7 billion on PHI rebates, yet these incentives have limited impact. The Government should reduce public support on PHI and improve primary and preventive care. Primary care should be free for all low‐income people and children regardless of where they live, and cheaper for other population. This can be achieved with the current budget and better policy design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty alleviation through relocation (PAR) is a milestone project in winning the battle against extreme poverty. Its aim is to relocate poor people from inhospitable areas and lift them out of poverty. Assessing the vulnerability to multidimensional poverty (VMP) of relocated households is of great significance for consolidating the achievements of targeted poverty alleviation and preventing a large-scale return to poverty. This study constructed a multidimensional poverty index (MPI) of relocated households and analyzed relocated households' VMP and its influencing factors using panel data of 1009 households in 16 counties across eight provinces in China. The results reveal that the mean VMP of the relocated households gradually decreased from 2016 to 2020. Moreover, the VMP of the relocated households that have moved into centralized resettlement communities is relatively low compared to those that have moved into decentralized resettlement communities. In addition, the impact of household endowment on VMP is the highest, followed by supporting policies, such as PAR, industrial development, and employment policy. Therefore, the assistance mechanism must be improved to prevent a return to poverty, enhance the sustainable development capacity of relocated households, and optimize follow-up policies for PAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Real Feel of Hard Time": Finding Zones of Freedom in the Creaturely Poethics of C.D. Wright's One Big Self" is an article that explores C.D. Wright's documentary poetry collection, One Big Self: An Investigation. The collection delves into the experiences of incarcerated individuals in Louisiana prisons and the racialized environments they inhabit. Wright's "creaturely poethics" examines the ongoing relationships that exist within the harsh conditions of incarceration, challenging the notion of imprisonment as natural and necessary. The article also discusses the historical connection between modern incarceration and chattel plantation slavery, highlighting the oppressive structures that persist in the prison system. It emphasizes the need to critically examine care practices within prisons and their role in sustaining unjust hierarchies. The book offers a glimpse of hope and possibility within the confines of the prison system through its exploration of creaturely entanglements and care practices. [Extracted from the article]

This article examines the politics of consumption and Indigenous veganism in Eden Robinson's The Trickster Trilogy. It argues that discussions on decolonization should include the consumption of nonhuman animals and explores the impact of colonialism on land and food relations in the Pacific Northwest. The article discusses different perspectives within Indigenous communities regarding the consumption of nonhuman animals, with some advocating for traditional hunting and fishing practices and others promoting Indigenous veganism as a form of decolonial resistance. It also emphasizes the importance of local food consumption in decolonization efforts and highlights the interconnectedness of violence against women and nonhuman animals. The article further explores the colonial politics of consumption, including the subjugation of Indigenous peoples and nonhuman animals, the role of animal agriculture in colonization, and the environmental and social injustices associated with the food system. It delves into the concept of food decolonization and the revitalization of traditional food practices, as well as Indigenous perspectives on the consumption of other-than-human animals. The article concludes by examining the interconnected nature of violence against women and nonhuman animals and the role of consumption habits in decolonial narratives. The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson explores the themes of consumption and food decolonization through the perspectives of Indigenous characters. The novels feature Indigenous vegan characters, challenging the notion that veganism is incompatible with Indigeneity. The characters' consumption choices reflect their decolonial ideologies and their desire to live in harmony with nonhuman animals. The novels also shed light [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: The causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people living in Sub-Saharan Africa await identification. Also, whether cardiovascular risk and disease extent differ among patients with different CKD etiologies is uncertain. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we examined the presumed causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their relationships with cardiovascular risk and disease in 743 consecutive patients from a sub-Saharan low-income population. Results: Hypertensive nephropathy (HNP) (60.2%), diabetic nephropathy (DNP) (24.4%), HIV associated CKD (20.0%) and glomerular disease (13.6%) comprised the major CKD etiologies upon enrolment at the hospital nephrology clinic. Pulse pressure was larger in patients with concurrent HNP and DNP than in those with HNP only (p< 0.001). Pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure were larger in HNP or/and DNP patients than those with HIV associated CKD and glomerular disease (p=0.04 to < 0.001). Cardiovascular disease was more prevalent in patients with HNP and concurrent HNP and DNP than those from other etiologic categories (p< 0.05). HNP and DNP were associated with pulsatile pressures (pulse pressure and systolic blood pressure) independent of one another (p 0.01). In adjusted product of coefficient mediation analysis, mean arterial or distending pressure accounted fully for the potential impact of HNP on pulsatile pressures (103.9– 115.7%) but not for that of DNP on the respective pressures (− 2.0%-(-)7.5%). Conclusion: HNP is by far the most prevalent presumed cause of CKD in this African population. Cardiovascular risk and disease differ markedly across CKD etiological categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]