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This article investigates how strategic community partnerships form the bedrock of successful institutional community engagement activities. In this investigation, these engagements encourage institutional practitioners to consider how truly effective community economic development materializes when the university assumes a reactionary role by tailoring activity to respond to outcomes community defines for itself. Using the formation and development of York University's successful social procurement program as test case, the article explores how key community partnerships have led to successful program outcomes -- which, to date, have amounted to over $8 million spent on diverse suppliers and 63 apprenticeship opportunities created. To demonstrate this evidence, the article considers how to identify and align with community champions to create tangible outcomes as well as how those defined outcomes are translated into creating activities that are aligned with what the institution can reasonably deliver to achieve the community's stated outcomes. In this article, this will be considered as it explores York's Social Procurement Vendor Portal and how its formation and refinement was directly attributed to community need. Finally, the investigation considers the interplay between how institutions can design impactful reporting that responds to community need.

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected higher education and higher education students around the world, but few studies of college students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted in Latin America. This study describes the COVID-19-related experiences and perspectives of Peruvian college students. We surveyed 3,427 full-time college students (average age: 23 years) attending a multi-campus Peruvian university in fall 2020. Participants were recruited through the digital platform of the learning management system at their university, email, and social media. We asked participants how they were managing risks related to COVID-19; the continuity of social, educational, and work activities; and the psychological and economic impacts of the pandemic on their lives. Since March 2020, 73.0% of participants reported COVID-19-related symptoms, but only 33.9% were tested for COVID-19. During the national quarantine imposed by the Peruvian government (March 15-June 30, 2020), 64.3% of participants remained in their house. Furthermore, while 44.0% of participants were working in February 2020 (95% CI: [41.7%, 46.4%]), only 23.6% (95% CI: [21.7%, 25.7%]) were working immediately after the pandemic began (i.e., at the end of April 2020). Participants were more stressed about the health and educational implications of COVID-19 for Peruvian society and their families than about themselves. The public health, economic, and educational implications of COVID-19 on college students are continuing to unfold. This study informed Peruvian higher education institutions' continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the progressive return to postpandemic activities, as well as other future pandemics and other crises.

An i-voting system may promote electoral participation by reducing travel cost and time to polling places, especially among youth who are more accustomed to technological changes. We study the linkage between travel costs on election day and voter turnout by comparing past electoral participation with stated voting behavior in a hypothetical i-voting system. We believe that the link between transportation costs, i-voting, and voter-turnout emerges as an interesting opportunity to disentangle the mechanism behind the expected increase in political participation after diversifying voting channels. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that was disseminated among Chilean university students. Binary and bivariate probit estimates show that conventional turnout probability among university students is negatively affected by travel costs on election day. Interestingly, whereas political interest and democracy valuation still augment the probability of voter turnout with i-voting, travel-to-polling-station costs are not statistically relevant.

Mobile shopping (m-shopping) adoption has been significantly touted in the contemporary era; however, the adoption of m-shopping is still under shadow in many developing countries. The aim of this study is to discover the impact of device system quality on m-shopping adoption among university students with the support of UTAUT and UTAUT2 theories. The study employed PLS-SEM (symmetric) and fsQCA (asymmetric) analysis simultaneously using survey data from 530 respondents who are primarily university students. PLS-SEM results found positive significant relation between device system quality and m-shopping adoption. The study contributes with an extension of earlier studies that combine PLS-SEM (symmetric methods) and fsQCA (asymmetric methods). The study is limited among the university students that may affect the generalizability of the study. The casual recipes in this research aid policymakers to achieve their strategic objectives in implementing positive m-shopping behavior among the university students.

This paper comparatively examines residents' attitudes toward the tourism economy across eight rural counties at varying tourism development stages within the Monongahela National Forest region, West Virginia. Nine hypotheses related to attitudes toward sustainable tourism, perceptions of regional collaboration, and perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) are proposed and evaluated with the Social Exchange Theory (SET), Tourism Area Life Cycle model (TALC), and Doxey's Irritation Index as the theoretical foundations. While the nine hypotheses are not consistently supported with mixed findings, it seems that residents from counties at higher levels of development stages are more likely to support tourism development because of its positive economic benefits to communities while disfavoring tourism development for its negative social impacts on communities; to value the importance and benefits of regional collaboration, and to score higher on their communities' strengths in tourism development. Research implications, limitations, and future research needs are discussed.

The popular climbing destination of Lander, Wyoming receives nearly 37,000 climbing visits every year, with 78% of those visits coming from persons living outside of this area. Climbing tourism expenditures result in an estimated $4.5 million in visitor spending each year. Climber demographics indicate these visitors are well-educated with 98% choosing to stay overnight on their visits. The average visit also lasts nearly a week. Climbing tourism expenditures support $1.7 million in wages for local workers, highlighting an opportunity to increase regional tourism and its economic impact amid a rural, transitional economy.

This article looks at the meaning of solidarity as related to the Egyptian uprising of January 2011. Through participant interviews, field notes, and observations, the author examines the role of grassroots theatre in enabling the aspirations of the revolution to live on amongst its players, and despite more stringent state control over the arts and freedom of expression. The author examines how solidarity can take different forms through silence, witnessing, and embodied creative works.

Purpose: The primary aim of this paper is to illuminate the critical issue of the degree awarding gap in the UK, which significantly impacts students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and minority groups. By conducting a systematic review of existing literature following the PRISMA protocol, this study seeks to uncover the complex web of explanatory factors that mediate the relationship between contextual indicators, institutional culture, and degree awarding disparities. Addressing this gap is vital for promoting social justice, enhancing the economy, safeguarding the reputation of UK universities, and adhering to legal responsibilities. This paper endeavours to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causes of degree awarding gaps and offer evidence-based recommendations for the higher education sector to mitigate these disparities. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs a systematic review design, adhering to the PRISMA protocol, to meticulously analyse the existing body of literature concerning the degree awarding gap in UK higher education. By systematically gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant studies, the review aims to identify and understand the multifaceted factors mediating the link between contextual indicators, institutional culture, and the disparities observed in degree awarding. This methodological approach ensures a rigorous and transparent examination of the literature, enabling the identification of both the breadth and depth of research on the topic. Through this design, the paper aspires to uncover nuanced insights into the mechanisms driving degree awarding gaps. Findings: The review's findings reveal that degree awarding gaps in UK universities are influenced by a constellation of factors, highlighting the complexity of this issue. Key among these are unconscious bias, limited student engagement opportunities with academic staff, institutional racism, inadequate support systems, and a scarcity of social and cultural capital. These factors collectively contribute to significant disparities in degree outcomes, disproportionately disadvantaging students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and minority groups. The evidence suggests that institutional practices and culture play a pivotal role in either exacerbating or alleviating these disparities, indicating the need for targeted interventions to address the root causes of degree awarding gaps. Research limitations/implications: One strength of conducting a systematic review is its rigorous and meticulous nature, which ensures that the process is carefully planned and executed. This comprehensive approach allows for the elimination of biases, as the review systematically gathers and analyses existing literature on the topic. By adhering to a structured methodology, the systematic review enhances the validity and reliability of the findings, providing a robust and unbiased synthesis of the available evidence. This strength lends credibility to the research and reinforces the confidence in the conclusions drawn from the review. Practical implications: The practical implications arising from this information indicate that universities need to address the identified issues directly by implementing supportive strategies and interventions. By doing so, they can create a learning environment that is more inclusive and equitable, allowing all students to unlock their full potential. This may involve measures such as raising awareness about unconscious bias, promoting engagement between academic staff and students, implementing anti-racist policies, establishing comprehensive support systems, and actively fostering social and cultural capital. Such practical actions will contribute to reducing the degree awarding gaps and promoting equal opportunities for all students, ultimately leading to a more equitable and successful educational experience. Social implications: The social implications derived from this information are significant. By implementing supportive strategies and interventions to address the identified issues, universities can contribute to creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. This has the potential to have a transformative impact on society by providing equal opportunities for all students to unlock their full potential. By raising awareness about unconscious bias and implementing anti-racist policies, universities can foster a more diverse and inclusive community. Promoting engagement between academic staff and students and establishing comprehensive support systems can enhance social cohesion and create a sense of belonging. Ultimately, these efforts can lead to reduced degree awarding gaps and contribute to a more equitable and successful educational experience, positively influencing broader social equality and cohesion. Originality/value: This paper contributes significantly to the literature by offering a comprehensive, systematic review of the factors contributing to the degree awarding gap in UK higher education, highlighting its originality and value. By focusing on the interplay between contextual indicators, institutional culture, and degree awarding disparities, the study provides novel insights into how these dynamics contribute to educational inequities. Furthermore, the evidence-based recommendations for institutional interventions presented in this paper furnish the higher education sector with actionable strategies to foster a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. This work not only advances academic understanding of degree awarding gaps but also offers practical value to policymakers and educational institutions aiming to enhance social justice in higher education.

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of the Spanish-speaking Latino community during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders. A single remote focus group meeting was conducted with nine Spanish-speaking participants to explore how residents living amidst shelter-in-place orders made informed decisions about health, safety, and security during the early months of the pandemic. The focus group meeting lasted about 60-90 minutes, and this meeting was facilitated by bilingual/bicultural Latino research assistants trained in qualitative research methods. Study participants also completed the Household Pulse Survey developed by the U.S. Census Bureau, a 20-minute survey to understand the social, health, and economic impact of COVID-19. The mean age was 33 years [range 21-60, SD = 12.44], and most participants attended some or completed a college degree. The participants self-reported as heterosexual, and five self-reported as single or never married. At least four noted making less than $25,000 annually, and four reported that they were self-employed. Most of the participants resided in New Jersey (n = 6), whereas two were from Michigan and one was from New York. The themes that emerged from the focus group meeting were the following: (1) social media and televised news outlets propagated confusing and harmful public messages; (2) COVID-19 elicited negative feelings of uncertainty; and (3) participants had widespread concerns about the health of their family, others, and self. Public messages on COVID-19 were not only confusing but harmful, as Latino families were highly dependent on them when determining how to protect their families in the early days of the pandemic.

In March 2020, when public health stay home orders began in order to halt the spread of COVID-19, child care as an industry was drastically and abruptly impacted. This public health emergency highlighted the weaknesses in the child care system in the United States. This study investigated the changes in operations cost, child enrollment and attendance, and state and federal support that occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among both center-based and home-based child care programs. A total of 196 licensed centers and 283 home-based programs across Iowa participated in an online survey as a part of the 2020 Iowa Narrow Costs Analysis. This mixed method study utilizes qualitative analysis of response as well as descriptive statistics and pre- post comparison testing. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a marked impact on child care enrollment, the operational cost of child care, the availability of child care, and a variety of other areas including staff workload and mental health. In many instances, participants shared that state and federal COVID-19 relief funds were critical. Although state and federal COVID-19 relief funds were critical for child care providers in Iowa during the pandemic, results suggest similar financial support will be necessary beyond the pandemic to sustain the workforce. Policy suggestions are made for how to continue to support the child care workforce in the future.

Increasingly higher education institutions are expected to demonstrate their contribution to academia, society, and the economy. This is pertinent for business schools as a key purpose for them is to provide education that enhances management practice, with Doctorates in Business Administration (DBAs) being the highest-level qualification offered in pursuit of this goal. Yet there is scant research that captures the impact of DBAs beyond the individual and academia. This paper focuses on the important role of DBAs in generating and transferring knowledge from academia to practice and in creating wider impact in society and the economy. Based on 36 semi-structured interviews with DBA students and alumni, our research shows how DBA students are able to generate and exchange knowledge between academia and business, enabling a wide range of impacts to be achieved. We show how knowledge transfer is the outcome of a learning process in which DBA students and their supervisors learn to speak each other's language, enabling two-way communication. Facilitated by the power and associated credibility and legitimacy of the DBA students as practicing senior managers, the knowledge can then be transferred. Personal development in the form of analytical skills and increased confidence gained through the learning process results in a personal impact that acts as the precursor to other forms of impact, such as improved organisational performance and broader societal benefits. Research generated by DBAs is thus well-placed to offer opportunities for impact and contribute substantially to the research-practice conversation in higher education.

This study examined the impact of changes in tax codes on voluntary giving to universities and colleges. While higher education institutions have drawn attention to individual gifts and philanthropic donations as supplementary financial resources, the recent introduction of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 in the United States reduced tax incentives for charitable contributions, thus raising concerns regarding considerable declines in charitable giving. By using panel data from the Voluntary Support of Education Survey, this research revealed that changes in tax benefits on charitable giving as a consequence of the new tax policy are associated with an overall decrease in the sum of individual donations and the number of individual donors. This loss of voluntary contribution is notably observed in private colleges and universities with an emphasis on research activities.

This study used the provincial panel data on policy adoption rate of university-affiliated think tanks in China from 2005 to 2017 and built a fixed effects model to explore the impact of the policy adoption rate of university-affiliated think tanks on China's economic growth. The results indicated that China's university-affiliated think tanks developed rapidly and the quality of policy advice improved significantly, but obvious regional imbalance existed. The policy adoption rate of university-affiliated think tanks can significantly affect China's economic growth. The impact was significant in the eastern developed region and western underdeveloped region but not in the moderately developed region in central China. The impact was significant in both the southern developed region and northern underdeveloped region, while the impact in the south was more significant than this in the north. Besides, the policy adoption rate of university-affiliated think tanks had obvious time effect on China's economic growth. As time went by, the effect became stronger, which was significant in eastern and central China but not in the western region. The enhancement of effect was significant in both the southern and northern regions, while the enhancement in the south was higher than this in the north.

Over the past decade, the financial crisis has led to reduced government funding for academic libraries in Greece. Now more than ever, it is imperative for library managers to improve their knowledge and understanding of cost behavior, in order to effectively deliver high quality services at decreasing costs. To do so, they need to apply clearly-defined costing methods, such as Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC), that allow them to identify the various costs involved in the library processes. In our study, we applied the TDABC method at the medium-sized library of the University of Macedonia (UoM), in Thessaloniki, Greece, to evaluate the costs of the Inter-library Loans (ILL) services. Since the library managers did not adopt a cost allocation method, the cost estimation of the UoM ILL services was rather simplistic and rudimentary. Our research provides empirical evidence of the advantages of TDABC in an academic library setting. Namely, the TDABC method can help library administrators decide how to successfully allocate the available resources and improve the efficiency of the library processes.

This paper offers an in-depth examination of the ergonomics of human-centred assembly systems in Industry 4.0, where manual tasks remain essential. The use of advanced technologies such as motion capture (MOCAP) and virtual reality (VR) is analysed as ways to enhance system efficiency and improve worker well-being. The paper highlights the importance of optimising assembly system performance while considering both economic and human factors. Metrics to assess ergonomic risk and productivity are discussed based on human-centred technologies, and existing operational research models are explored to analyse how human factors could be considered in optimising system performance. Additionally, the paper explores potential future directions and how they could play a role in Industry 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the paradigmatic assumptions and ideologies that have shaped algorithmic management research. We identify two sets of assumptions: one about the "ontology of algorithms" (which holds that human resource management [HRM] algorithms are non‐human entities with material agency) and one about the "ontology of management" that HRM algorithms afford (which understands algorithmic management as a form of control for maximizing economic/shareholder value). We explain how these core assumptions underpin existing research of HRM algorithms, causing blind spots that hinder new ways of understanding and studying algorithmic management. After identifying and unpacking the assumptions and blind spots, we offer avenues to overcome these blind spots, allowing for future research based on new ideological assumption grounds that will help move algorithmic management scholarship further in significant ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of short campaigns by hedge funds has dramatically increased over the last two decades. Nearly 80% of campaigns are undertaken by activist hedge funds, particularly those that employ hostile tactics in their long campaigns. Short campaigns are associated with negative abnormal returns of –7%, with aggregate valuation effects similar in magnitude to the gains from long activism campaigns. In contrast to long campaigns, public communication is a critical component of short campaigns. We do not find evidence that such communication is manipulative. Overall, our analysis highlights the importance of short campaigns for understanding the economic impact of activist hedge funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickleball offers sociopsychological and physical activity benefits for older adults but lacks racial diversity. The purpose of this study was to identify constraints to pickleball participation with Black older adults (65+ years) as well as examine differences based on physical activity and sex. A Qualtrics panel included Black older adults (N = 292) who have heard of pickleball and are physically able to play but have not played. Results found Knowledge, Accessibility, Interpersonal, and Interest were the most salient constraints overall. Multivariate analysis of variance found that those who report low physical activity had significantly higher Interpersonal, Psychological, Costs, and Perceived Racism constraints. Additionally, females report significantly higher Knowledge, Psychological, and Cost constraints compared to males. The results further the theoretical application of constraints to physical activity research and provide insights into practitioner implications to grow the sport of pickleball for Black older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether capital account liberalization, a leading characteristic of globalization, is associated with firms' future innovation output. Employing a novel firm-level panel data set covering 41 countries over two decades, we show that capital account liberalization is significantly associated with higher corporate patenting activities, particularly for firms from innovation-intensive industries. Further analyses show that the effect is stronger among firms from economies in a better legal environment, signifying the important role of good institutional quality in facilitating the positive impact of liberalization. The effect is also stronger among firms with higher initial productivity, consistent with the "productivity" hypothesis, according to which bigger and more productive firms generate more innovation after liberalization. Our findings are robust to the use of various measurements, subsamples, and estimation models. This study provides global firm-level evidence of the real economic impact of financial globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Maintaining physical activity (PA) has significant implications for health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults aged 18–64 should engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate‐intensity aerobic PA per week. However, urban‐rural disparities and economic geography variations in PA levels have not received enough attention. This study aimed to examine these disparities in the likelihood of meeting PA recommendations by using data from the Study of Community Sports in China. Methods. This is a nationwide cross‐sectional community‐based study. A total of 5,000 participants were randomly selected using a multistage sampling strategy. They were asked to complete a survey including demographics data and PA levels. The data were analyzed using mixed‐effects logistic regression to evaluate the association between urban‐rural residency, economic geography regions, and the likelihood of meeting PA recommendations. Results. A total of 3,779 participants met the eligible criteria, and only 816 (21.6%) met the PA recommendation. The urban participants were more likely to meet the PA recommendation than their rural peers [OR (95% CI) of 1.72 (1.09, 2.71)]. The association remained significant among those aged ≥30 [OR = 2.53 (1.51, 4.24)] and those with the education of high school and below [OR = 1.88 (1.18, 1.77)], but not in their younger, and more‐educated peers (Pinteraction = 0.009 and 0.034, respectively). Compared with the east coastal residents, western ones had a greater chance of meeting the recommendation [OR = 2.68 (1.25, 5.74)]. The association was more prominent among the more‐educated [OR = 3.89 (1.58, 9.57)] than the less‐educated [1.90 (0.83, 4.35)](Pinteraction <0.001), but not modified by age. Conclusion. Urban and western residents were more active than their rural and east coastal counterparts. Studies should carefully consider the interactions between age and education level with urbanization and region while evaluating PA levels. Moreover, policymakers should develop policies and programs according to urban‐rural disparity and regional variations to shorten the gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly expanding field. Given the dynamic nature of AI research, staying up‐to‐date with this evolving landscape is imperative to guide the global race in this field. Using the world's largest bibliometric database (SciVal/Scopus), we analyzed the research output of the top 15 countries in AI research productivity between the years 1998 and 2022. Over the past 25 years, the global research output in AI has increased by 26 folds, with China leading the way in the overall number of AI publications (~281,650 articles). During this period, China and India had the highest fold growth (~240–250) and compound annual growth rate (CAGR) (~25). However, when normalized to population size and gross domestic product (GDP), Singapore (250 AI publications per million capita) and India (7.7 AI publications per billion GDP) were the best performers in 2022, respectively. When normalized to the number of researchers and gross expenditures on research and development (GERD), again, India was the best with 36.8 AI publications per thousand researchers and 0.77 AI publications per million GERD in 2020. When the overall quality of AI publications over the past decade was considered, Hong Kong and Singapore performed the best with respect to publications in higher percentile journals (the top 1%, 5%, and 10% journals), and Switzerland performed the best with respect to citations/publication and field‐weighted citation impact (FWCI). Finally, when the quality measures of publications were normalized to country or research metrics, the three best performers were Hong Kong, Singapore, and Switzerland (although India stood out for citations/GERD). These three countries (along with the United States) also had the highest economic impact as measured by the patent citations per scholarly output, which was aligned with the high FWCI values for these countries. Long‐term strategies to help leading countries gain an advantage in the AI frontier have been discussed at the end of the manuscript. These strategies include government initiatives and financial support, talent creation and networking, public awareness, and mindful considerations of rules, guidelines, and ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When managed effectively, oil wealth can drive economic development and improve wellbeing. Conversely, as has been the experience in Ogoniland in the Niger Delta, the presence of the oil industry can lead to environmental degradation and social and economic vulnerabilities with negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Few studies have explored the experiences and perceptions of these impacts among residents of host communities themselves. Methods: This qualitative study explored Ogoni residents' experiences and perceptions of oil-industry related economic exclusion and associated impacts on health and wellbeing. In-depth interviews with 22 participants from four Local Government Areas (LGAs) were analyzed with open (inductive) coding. Guided by constructivist philosophy, interpretation of emerging themes was informed by the concept of social exclusion which recognizes that multi-dimensional processes can deprive individuals or groups of resources, rights, goods, and services, thus limiting broader societal participation. Results: Findings highlight the exclusionary impacts of the oil industry at the intersection of i) damaged livelihoods and family income, that increased economic vulnerability and reduced participants' ability to meet basic needs including ability to pay for healthcare; ii) lack of progress on environmental remediation and non-transparent benefit sharing schemes that exacerbate economic displacement and contribute to ongoing exposures to air and water pollution; and iii) insufficient of investment in economic development and essential health services, limiting employment opportunities and ability to access adequate healthcare. Conclusion: Addressing these issues requires integrated policy interventions focusing on equitable resource distribution, environmental restoration, and inclusive economic development to promote sustainable community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, there is increasingly high prevalence of mental disorders across all age groups and social classes with more being projected by 2030, but without commensurate resources for mental health care delivery especially in developing countries. Purpose: This study examined the impacts of clinical psychiatric posting on career choice in psychiatry among nursing students in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. Methods: A prospective cohort research design was used and data were collected using attitude towards psychiatry (ATP), mental illness clinician attitude scale (MICA-4) and researcher developed questionnaires on career choice in pre and post clinical posting approach. This study was conducted between November, 2023 to May 2024. A sample size of 400 students (with data collected before posting and after posting) were involved in the study. Data were coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 26. McNemar Test was used to determine effects of clinical posting on career choices in psychiatry. Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze data on determinants of career choices in psychiatry. The hypotheses (Null and alternative hypotheses) were tested at p-value < 0.05. Results: Psychiatric and mental health nursing was one of the least preferred specialty, 21(6%) respondents showed interest before clinical posting and 25(7.1%) after the posting. Commonly preferred specialty was pediatric nursing (20.5%), community health nursing (17.1%) and midwifery (17.7%). McNemer test showed no statistically significant differences in choice of psychiatry before and after clinical posting. Key determinants of career choices were interest in psychiatry (AOR = 16.06(95% CI = 1.10, 14.96) P = 0.009), interest in community services (AOR = 4.01(95% CI = 1.32, 12.20)P = 0.014), family influence(AOR = 13.76(95% CI = 1.74, 108.57)p = 0.013) and job satisfaction(AOR = 0.10(95% CI = 0.03, 0.26)P < 0.001). Conclusion: The researcher therefore concluded that clinical psychiatric posting has no significant impacts on career choices in psychiatry among nursing students in Nigeria. Interest of the students, family influence and job satisfaction were significantly associated with career choices among the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa began implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 emphasizing on sustainable management and effective use of natural capital to spur economic growth (Goals 12, 14, and 15). This study using World Bank data sets from 46 African countries selected for the years 2000 to 2022, examined the nexus between natural resource endowments and economic growth in Africa. We used the system generalized method of moments (sys-GMM) and dynamic panel threshold regression (DPTR) to analyze the data. The findings of the two-step sys-GMM estimation using 'xtabond2' revealed that when the institutional quality variable is added and excluded from the model, natural resource dependence negatively impacts economic growth, but the impact is greater when the institution is excluded. In the estimation of the interaction variable of natural resource dependence and institutional variable included in the model, natural resource dependence positively impacts economic growth. The results of the DPTR using "xthenreg" showed that when the threshold value of natural resource dependence is ≤ 1.73% of gross domestic product, natural resource dependence has a positive impact on economic growth and a negative impact when the threshold value is above 1.73%. Similarly, when the institutional quality threshold is ≤ 0.277, natural resources dependence impacts economic growth negatively; above the threshold (0.277), the impact is positive. In conclusion, natural resource endowment is a curse with no or low-quality institutions and a blessing with high-quality institutions. Thus, building strong institutions and proper utilization of natural resources helps to minimize the adverse impact of resource endowments on economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningococcal vaccination in Chinese national immunization program (NIP) includes polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (MPV-A) and polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A and C(MPV-AC). This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of an alternative strategy using polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A,C,W,Y(MCV-ACWY) and polysaccharide vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A,C,W,Y(MPV-ACWY). From a societal perspective, we constructed a decision tree-Markov model to simulate the economic and health consequences of meningococcal disease in a 2023 birth cohort with the current meningococcal vaccination strategy and the alternative. Parameters of epidemiology, vaccine efficacy, cost, and utility were extracted from database and previous literatures. The sensitivity analysis was implemented to evaluate the robustness of the model. Compared to the current practice, the alternative strategy could avoid 513 meningococcal disease cases, 53 sequelae and 47 deaths. The ICER was estimated at $16899.81 /QALY, under the threshold of one time of the GDP per capita of Zhejiang province in 2023. The incidence of meningococcemia, the incidence of meningococcal meningitis, the case fatality of meningococcemia, the vaccine efficacy of MCV-ACWY and the price of MCV-ACWY would influence the cost-effectiveness of the meningococcal vaccination strategies. At the threshold, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 14.76% for the current strategy and 55.98% for the alternative strategy, respectively. The current meningococcal vaccination strategy had effectively prevented meningococcal disease at a low cost, but with limited serogroup coverage. Strategy using MCV-ACWY and MPV-ACWY could increase health benefits at a substantial cost at a cost-effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change presents a mounting challenge with profound impacts on ocean and marine ecosystems, leading to significant environmental, health, and economic consequences. Microfluidic technologies, with their unique capabilities, play a crucial role in understanding and addressing the marine aspects of the climate crisis. These technologies leverage quantitative, precise, and miniaturized formats that enhance the capabilities of sensing, imaging, and molecular tools. Such advancements are critical for monitoring marine systems under the stress of climate change and elucidating their response mechanisms. This review explores microfluidic technologies employed both in laboratory settings for testing and in the field for monitoring purposes. We delve into the application of miniaturized tools in evaluating ocean-based solutions to climate change, thus offering fresh perspectives from the solution-oriented end of the spectrum. We further aim to synthesize recent developments in technology around critical questions concerning the ocean environment and marine ecosystems, while discussing the potential for future innovations in microfluidic technology. The purpose of this review is to enhance understanding of current capabilities and assist researchers interested in mitigating the effects of climate change to identify new avenues for tackling the pressing issues posed by climate change in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and MethodsResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONDisability experts are often called upon to analyze the economic impact of an injury. Determining future economic loss in cases of disabilities is difficult, particularly when the disabilities are considered partial in nature, and the individuals have some capacity to mitigate their future income losses. This paper examines one possible approach for examining reduced future income capacity in cases of partial disabilities, the use of the Work Ability Index (WAI) and Work Ability Scale (WAS).Empirical data from one-hundred six cases is analyzed using a censored tobit regression to determine the relationship between scores on the WAI/WAS and verified long-term income losses for individuals who suffered disabling events.The study found a high correlation between the scores obtained on both the WAI and WAS measures, and future economic loss. The results suggest that these scales may be very useful in analyzing reduced future income capacity in situations involving partial disabilities.This study assists the rehabilitation and disability expert to better understand the implications of a moderate to severe disability on the future income capacity of an injured person. It also provides additional support for the validity of the WAI/WAS scales.The Workability Scale is a valid measure to examine the effectiveness of rehabilitation programsThe Workability Scale is a good proxy to determine the loss of earnings capacity in cases of moderate to severe partial disability casesThe Workability Scale can be used as a simple cross-check for more complex methods that vocational/occupational experts use for purposes of determining earnings capacity losses.The Workability Scale is a valid measure to examine the effectiveness of rehabilitation programsThe Workability Scale is a good proxy to determine the loss of earnings capacity in cases of moderate to severe partial disability casesThe Workability Scale can be used as a simple cross-check for more complex methods that vocational/occupational experts use for purposes of determining earnings capacity losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of COVID‐19‐related job loss on early retirement withdrawals, highlighting the roles of financial hardships, subjective well‐being, financial knowledge, and emergency savings. Drawing from 2929 respondents, the research identified that job loss increases early withdrawals, both directly and through financial hardships and well‐being perceptions. Notably, individuals with greater financial knowledge and at least 3 months of emergency savings experience less negative impact from job loss. Our findings emphasize the vital role of employers in offering workplace financial education and promoting emergency savings. This aligns with the SECURE 2.0 Act's strategies and underlines the significance of financial readiness in buffering against the economic fallout of unexpected events like the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges enable communications and transportation of goods nationally and internationally, underpinning economic and social activities, and thus they are pylons of our prosperity and mobility. Bridges worldwide are constantly subjected to physical wear, ageing, deterioration, hazards, environmental influences, and increased loading. Loss of performance and functionality of bridge structures would have a crucial impact on overall infrastructural resilience and would cause significant negative economic and social consequences. Monitoring their behaviour for different loading conditions relies on accurate estimations of the stress‐strain state of various critical components and remaining capacities. These activities are of high importance for better planning and lifespan prolongation, that is, the extension of their service life and prevention of unforeseen collapses, in line with sustainability principles of well‐informed maintenance. In many cases, access to the structure is limited or even impossible, which causes the need for the deployment of remote and contactless methods. One such innovative technique, which has recently attracted attention in scientific and practical applications, is the digital image correlation (DIC). DIC is a contactless approach applicable for obtaining the full field of strains and deformations of full‐scale real structures. Although the DIC approach has been widely used in world engineering practice for monitoring bridges and has proved to be a reliable and accurate method, there is a lack of systematic integral review on previous practical applications, revealing limitations and perspectives. This is the main motivation and novelty of this study, which will describe selected case studies in which DIC was used on real full‐scale bridge structures and propose improvements for the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: "The hidden costs of informal caregiving" is an interdisciplinary concept. While caregivers make a significant contribution to the process of caregiving, they sacrifice their leisure time, and incur risks of dropping out of the job, impaired mental and physical health, and decreased well-being within the context of caregiving. Those invisible sacrifices are often overlooked and described as hidden costs of informal caregiving. However, the conceptualisation of hidden costs of informal caregiving has not yet been clarified and scientifically assessed. The research aimed to clarify the concept of hidden costs of informal caregiving and develop an operational definition. Methods: Walker and Avant's concept analysis was conducted. Databases of CBM, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Econlit, CINAHL and ProQuest were searched with the term "hidden costs of informal caregiving". Information about the uses of the concept, defining attributes, model cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents of hidden costs of informal caregiving was extracted and synthesized. Results: A total of 25 articles were included. The six defining attributes of hidden costs of informal caregiving were identified as including "undertaken by informal caregivers", "the time costs of caregiving", "costs of career development" "physical well-being costs", "mental well-being costs" and "social relationship costs". Personal characteristics of the caregivers and care recipients, along with caregiving attributes, were among the antecedents. The consequences of hidden costs of informal caregiving resulted in negative influences which included poor quality of life, life-altering decisions, options for the type of care, some degree of economic hardship, decreased compliance with treatment plans and monetary value informal caregivers are willing to pay to be replaced. Conclusion: This concept analysis decisively illuminated the hitherto nebulous concept and expanded the contents of hidden costs of informal caregiving, which will foster a deeper appreciation of the invisible cost of caregivers. Moreover, it will provide a reference for the study of the hidden costs of informal caregiving in future, contribute to the development of assessment tools and theoretical models of hidden costs of informal caregiving, and create a basis for designing an evidence-based care program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has attracted attention for its extraordinary pace of economic development and is considered to be leading the way in China's transformation from a manufacturing to an innovation cluster. However, due to rapid economic expansion and rapid urbanization, the Great Bay Area still struggles with low energy efficiency and environmental degradation, which has slowed down the pace of development. Therefore, in order to alleviate energy pressure, promote the country's sustainable development and gain a competitive advantage in the global market, researching energy efficiency and improving energy utilization efficiency is crucial. In this study, macro-level energy efficiency indicators are constructed using energy consumption data from various cities in the Greater Bay Area for the period from 2000 to 2020, and the spatio-temporal evolution of energy efficiency is analysed. The results show that all cities in the Greater Bay Area experienced an increasing trend in energy efficiency from 2000 to 2019, with significant variation in growth rates and magnitudes between cities. Compared to the nine cities in Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao exhibited significantly superior energy efficiency, with Foshan recording the highest growth rate of 14%. In 2020, most cities experienced a decline in energy efficiency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Macao experiencing the greatest decrease at 57%. Hong Kong and Macao are both in the "low consumption and high efficiency" target region, while Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai are consistently in the "both high" region. Changes in the industrial upgrading index correspond significantly with changes in energy efficiency trajectories, with the transition from primary to secondary and tertiary industries playing a more substantial role. There is no significant association found between the strength of environmental regulation and changes in energy efficiency. The study's findings indicate that the most effective way to achieve economic transformation in the majority of China's regions is to combine adequate environmental legislation with industrial structural adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental characteristic of the iron ore mining industry is clearing land and changing the natural landscape so that it has the potential to have an impact on the environment, social and economic aspects of society. This research was conducted to determine the environmental, social and economic impacts on the people of Taliabu Island Village. This research uses a qualitative method with a case study method. The conclusion of this research is that the environmental impact caused by mining in the Taliabu Island Village area can still be overcome by the company by replanting trees in places where mining has been completed and the company even provides signs along roads and dangerous areas so that the community is protected from these environmental impacts. The company can also overcome the social impacts that arise by providing equal career development opportunities for local employees and migrant employees so that social jealousy does not occur and economic welfare increases for the people of Taliabu Island Village. The community's economy has improved with the opportunity to work as company employees and the emergence of many food stalls, daily necessities stalls and even entertainment venues where previously the community had a source of income from clove and head plantations. The company also establishes a family relationship between the village head and all members of the community so that the impact, no matter how small, can still be overcome because all levels of society have a sense of ownership of the company and the benefits of the company are greatly felt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does terrorism contribute to the growth of the shadow economy? While extensive literature has delved into the causes and consequences of terrorism, little has been studied on its impact on the shadow economy. Employing data on terrorism and the shadow economies of 116 countries from 1990 to 2017, we demonstrate that terrorism results in an increase in the size of the shadow economy and that the effect is larger in autocracies. We argue that the economic and social impacts of terrorism create environments that reinforce both exit and exclusion factors through the erosion of institutional trust and social capital, ultimately incentivizing or compelling actors to seek alternative methods of economic activities. Furthermore, a lack of free and horizontal information-sharing venues to address public fear and repressive counterterrorism measures in autocracies further hamper the economic pursuits of individuals, businesses, and foreign investors, facilitating their engagement in informal economic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study explores the efficacy and economic benefits of neurosurgical teleconsultations in managing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), focusing on reducing unnecessary patient transfers and associated costs. We conducted a cost-savings analysis at our institution of a previously published pilot study involving a cohort of patients with ICH who were potential candidates for airlift to our tertiary care center but instead received neurosurgical consultation via teleconsultation to avoid the transfer. Data on patient demographics, distances, and costs were collected and analyzed to assess the economic impact of teleconsultations. The cohort comprised 14 patients; we noted significant cost savings from avoiding interhospital transfers, ranging from $84,346.52 to $120,495.03 per patient. Teleconsultations facilitated immediate, collaborative decision-making between healthcare providers at community hospitals and a tertiary care center, reducing the need for expensive air transportation and unnecessary hospital transfers. Neurosurgical teleconsultations offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional patient transfer methods for ICH management, providing substantial economic benefits while maintaining high physician and patient-family satisfaction levels. This study underscores the potential of our teleneurosurgery program to significantly reduce costs by reducing unnecessary financial burdens on patients' families and healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present analysis has explored the effect of external shocks on the predictability of remittance outflows, by relying on an unbalanced panel of 24 developed countries over the period from 1996 to 2020. The indicator of predictability of remittance outflows for a given country in a given year is the deviation of the remittance outflows (as a share of gross domestic product) from its trend. Results are obtained by means of the within-fixed effects estimator, and indicate that external shocks reduce the predictability of remittance outflows, with a larger negative effect on the positive predictability of these capital outflows than on the negative predictability of these capital outflows. The negative effect of external shocks on the predictability of remittance outflows operates through the economic growth channel, with the magnitude of this negative effect being higher in countries with low economic growth rates. Finally, external shocks reduce the predictability of remittance outflows in countries that experience a decline in migrant inflows. This finding has implications for the economic and development prospects of migrants' countries of origin. JEL Classification: F24, F43, O11 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repercussions of internally induced armed conflict appear to vary for different groups of people. The physical and economic consequences of armed conflict have been investigated and documented by researchers. However, the psychosocial impact of IDPs on children has not yet been explored in detail. The main objective of this study was to investigate how internal displacement due to armed conflict affected the psychosocial well‐being of children in Southern Wollo, Ethiopia. A sample of 25 children was purposely selected and interviewed about their psychosocial experience following displacement because of armed conflict. Ten parents/caregivers were also selected purposely to describe the situation of internally displaced children. To explain the study, system and attachment theories were mainly employed. Using qualitative methods of analysis, each child's psychosocial experiences were documented, analyzed, and compared to capture the essence (theme) of the problem. From 35 transcripts and observation checklists, three emerging themes were developed and explained. The findings showed that there existed feelings of separation, lack of hope in schooling, psychological distress, loneliness, insecurity, and depression among children affected by displacement due to war. Children's exposure and witness of the horrifying situation during displacement traumatized and disturbed them a lot. Based on the results, it is possible to imply that government and nongovernment organizations that have a stake in children should design appropriate intervention mechanics to support children affected by internal displacement due to armed conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinic acid is recognized as a key component in the production of various commercially important chemical commodities. Technical‐economic analysis can provide valuable insights into the feasibility of large‐scale biochemical production of succinic acid. In this study, the effects of scale on the design of a biorefinery using sugarcane bagasse were evaluated using a detailed process modeling methodology. Four processes were simulated and compared, three based on patents from biosuccinic acid (bio‐SA) manufacturing companies and one based on a process economic program report (PEP). This methodology allowed for the analysis of scale benefits for each technological route. A comprehensive economic evaluation was conducted by comparing the biochemical processes in terms of investment and production costs, as well as the minimum selling price (MSP) of bio‐SA. Results show that the MSP of more promising process designs ranged from 3105 to 2095 $ t−1, which is compatible with the cost of petrochemical‐based succinic acid. Moreover, for capacities above 90 kt year−1, the MSP remains virtually constant, and every process evaluated revealed a breakdown in the project economy of scale. A sensitivity and risk analysis was carried out to evaluate the impacts of several process parameters on the project's technoeconomic analysis, resulting in bio‐SA selling price and investment costs as parameters with the highest impact on economic viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]