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Background: International and migrant students face specific challenges which may impact their mental health, well-being and academic outcomes, and these may be gendered experiences. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the literature on the challenges, coping responses and supportive interventions for international and migrant students in academic nursing programs in major host countries, with a gender lens. Methods: We searched 10 databases to identify literature reporting on the challenges, coping responses and/or supportive interventions for international and migrant nursing students in college or university programs in Canada, the United-States, Australia, New Zealand or a European country. We included peer-reviewed research (any design), discussion papers and literature reviews. English, French and Spanish publications were considered and no time restrictions were applied. Drawing from existing frameworks, we critically assessed each paper and extracted information with a gender lens. Results: One hundred fourteen publications were included. Overall the literature mostly focused on international students, and among migrants, migration history/status and length of time in country were not considered with regards to challenges, coping or interventions. Females and males, respectively, were included in 69 and 59% of studies with student participants, while those students who identify as other genders/sexual orientations were not named or identified in any of the research. Several papers suggest that foreign-born nursing students face challenges associated with different cultural roles, norms and expectations for men and women. Other challenges included perceived discrimination due to wearing a hijab and being a 'foreign-born male nurse', and in general nursing being viewed as a feminine, low-status profession. Only two strategies, accessing support from family and other student mothers, used by women to cope with challenges, were identified. Supportive interventions considering gender were limited; these included matching students with support services' personnel by sex, involving male family members in admission and orientation processes, and using patient simulation as a method to prepare students for care-provision of patients of the opposite-sex. Conclusion: Future work in nursing higher education, especially regarding supportive interventions, needs to address the intersections of gender, gender identity/sexual orientation and foreign-born status, and also consider the complexity of migrant students' contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns for the ongoing and increasing degradation of the natural environment worldwide have increased the impetus for action, and development of governance arrangements to support natural resource management. Despite this, several issues around governance still remain as challenges to the success of natural resource management. This study reports the findings of a systematic literature review of 240 papers to better understand how governance challenges manifest spatially, and how they change over time. Also the paper identifies key priority areas for strategic governance reform. This paper reveals that the capacity of natural resource management governance systems internationally is most limited by factors that limit connectivity and collaboration between stakeholders in decision-making processes, and the alignment of vision and objectives across institutions. The paper also reveals clear spatial disparities and temporal changes in the number of studies and governance challenges identified in natural resource management in developing and developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the ambitious goal of "carbon neutrality", countries around the world are striving to develop clean energy. Against this background, this paper takes China and Italy as representatives of developing and developed countries to summarize the energy structure composition and development overview of the two countries. The paper analyzes the serious challenges facing the future energy development of both countries and investigates the possibilities of energy cooperation between the two countries, taking into account their respective advantages in energy development. By comparing the policies issued by the two governments to encourage clean energy development, this paper analyzes the severe challenges faced by the two countries' energy development in the future and combines their respective energy development advantages to look forward to the possibility of energy cooperation between the two countries in the future. This lays the foundation for China and Italy to build an "Energy Road" after the "Silk Road". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive investments such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide an opportunity to invest in indexes, asset classes, and sectors with low maintenance costs and high transparency. Today ETFs dominate the world, with nearly 50% of the investment in the USA coming through ETFs. Numerous studies on specific aspects on ETFs have been done earlier; however, considering the scarcity of thorough summaries in the existing body of literature, this bibliometric and systematic review aims to adopt a methodical approach with the goal of delivering qualitative and quantitative understanding of ETFs, while highlighting general research trends. The authors analyzed 2058 articles associated with ETFs from the Scopus database during the last 50 years, i.e., from 1973 till date. The search was initially conducted using title, keyword, and abstract, yielding 2058 articles, which were narrowed to only include research papers and review papers, resulting in a final count of 958 items. The most important authors, highest cited articles, prominent journals, important themes, and associated countries have been identified using bibliometric research. The numerical and visual representations of the analysis show that ETFs are a widely studied research area, and the enormous rise in publications in 2020, 2021, and 2022 demonstrates that researchers are quite interested in the topic. According to affiliation statistics, most research is focused in the USA together with other developed nations, opening new options for the research on ETFs in relation to developing economies. The current analysis reconciles numerous exchange-traded fund studies associated with volatility, liquidity, risk-return trade-off, and tracking errors and identifies possible research gaps. Some of the emerging topics that evolved in passive investments include the use of machine learning, AI, and the emergence of ETFs associated with ESG and sustainability. This research will help lawmakers, scholars, and regulators understand the core principles of ETFs and identify areas that deserve additional investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inscription of properties on the World Heritage List often places restrictions on existing livelihoods. In these contexts, tourism is widely held to be a panacea for the economic and social wellbeing of local communities. Ecotourism, in particular, is regarded as addressing both environmental and social needs of communities. However, existing research demonstrates that tourism seldom delivers benefits to Indigenous peoples or local communities in developing countries. This paper suggests that such limitations are equally problematic for local communities in developed nations such as Australia. Through ethnographic research including participant observation and interviews, this paper describes the impacts of tourism on the local community of Strahan, a small logging, fishing, and mining town that transformed into a tourism village following the World Heritage listing of Southwest Tasmania. We suggest that contrary to the widely held view that tourism created employment and economic growth in the town, locals experience diminished quality of life, limited opportunities, and reduced amenity and services. This suggests that ecotourism overlooks its responsibilities for local communities in developed countries, with profound consequences for social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling or has been in vogue for the last two or three decades to save the environment and various organizations, communities and countries have embraced it as a priority. But, what is being done as 'recycling'? Are there efforts to do Repairs / Refurbish or Reuse / Repurpose before the materials are finally disposed as trash or sent to the landfill? Increasing quantities of waste in the landfill create environmental and health hazards apart from posing a challenge of managing its disposal. The 'Fix it' process is nothing new. This is how we started off during the industrial revolution, but over time, "use and throw" became the norm. Now, we have acute problems with environment and resource utilization, and focus on repairs and maintenance can be a very useful step in the circular economy chain. In the coming years, the 'Fix it' economy can be become substantially large, considering that many of the advanced countries did not give it the needed priority and moved to a product development strategy focusing on quicker obsolescence and near monopolistic facilities for repair or replacement. The developing nations continued with the repair and maintenance processes more easily because of their lack of affordability, purchasing power for high-cost products, and, to some extent, their culture and way of life. Activities involving Repairing / Refurbishing and Reusing / Re-purposing are all examples of projects. Timeline, risk or uncertainty of success and scoping are variable in individual cases and become candidates where project management can be gainfully deployed. There is also a need to incorporate a mindset of Preparing or Designing to 'Fixit' at the stage of product development itself. This activity would be a 'project' and product management will be required to consider the marketing and economic aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies have clearly demonstrated that people eating more whole grains have reduced risks of many chronic metabolic diseases compared to those eating less. In the past 20 years, the whole grain industry has developed so rapidly in major developed countries and regions. In recent years, whole grains have also attracted extensive attention in our country. The research and development efforts of the whole grain standards in China have been strengthened. This paper introduced the progress of the global definition consensus of whole grain and whole grain food, summarized the international development status of whole grain raw materials and whole grain food related standards in many countries and institutions, such as the Working Group of ISO Whole Grain, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Codex Alimentarius Commission, and so on. This paper also reviewed the present situation of definition of the whole grain and whole grain food related standards in China. More than 20 relevant raw materials, food related standards and production technical regulations and the publishment situation of other whole grain standards in China, including national standards and industry standards and local standards and group standards, were summarized, and some whole grain related standards under formulation were also introduced. Finally, the paper puts forward the development direction and suggestions for the construction of whole grain standard system in China, including fully combining with the actual production situation of China's whole grain food industry, integrating with international standards, and combining standard testing and certification. On the whole, the gradual improvement of the standard system of the whole grain food industry will help guide and regulate the high-quality and healthy development of the whole grain industry in China, and promote the creation of a diversified and healthy grain food ecology, and provide a technical basis for the development of the whole grain industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recruitment of internationally qualified nurses as a labour source is a long‐standing human resource strategy being implemented to address the current and increasing global nursing shortage. Internationally qualified nurses transitioning into the health workforce of developed countries following immigration often possess specialty skills. A lack of a clear pathway of specialty skill utilisation makes recognising and using these specialty skills complex for many nurses. The ability for nurses to transition between countries and maintain specialty practice demands immediate attention in the current atmosphere of the global pandemic and the predictions to recruit more specialist nurses from overseas. Aim: To identify and synthesise strategies taken by various developed countries in transitioning specialist internationally qualified nurses into practice. Methods: An integrative review was conducted to identify common themes, patterns, and best practices in order to inform policy development and improve the successful integration of internationally qualified nurses into the healthcare systems of developed countries. The study employed the Whittemore and Knafl five‐stage integrative review approach. To conduct a comprehensive search, four electronic databases, namely Medline, CINAHL Complete, ProQuest Health, and EMBASE, were systematically searched in October 2021. The search was updated in March 2022 to ensure the inclusion of the most recent literature. Additionally, Google Scholar was utilised to avoid overlooking any important articles. Prior to the full‐text review, three reviewers independently evaluated titles and abstracts. The included papers' quality was determined using the JBI critical appraisal tools. Results: This study included 10 papers, comprising three studies and seven reports. However, none of these documents provided information on how internationally qualified nurses could transfer their specialty skills acquired overseas to developed countries after immigrating. The guidelines and policies reviewed only offered generic advice on becoming a specialist nurse. Although some countries mentioned that post‐graduate qualifications were not mandatory for nurse specialists, the majority of documents in this review emphasised the need for a national framework of education at level eight or higher (equivalent to a post‐graduate level) to attain the status of a nurse specialist. Moreover, the included documents did not provide clear information on whether an international specialisation degree would be recognised during the registration process. As a result, confusion persists regarding the requirement of post‐graduate qualifications for nurses aiming to specialise and the recognition of international specialisation degrees during the registration process. Discussion: The lack of consistency in defining nurse specialty and the skill transferability among institutions and state borders were evident in this review. According to all the 10 documents analysed, developed countries appear to have minimum policies on the transfer of internationally qualified nurse's specialty skills. Recommendations for policymakers, employers, and aspirant migrants have been proposed. Limited research has been done on how developed countries used their internationally qualified nurses' overseas‐acquired specialist skills after immigration, indicating a lack of a distinct specialist skill transition pathway. Conclusions: This review presents data to support the need for greater research in this area to better utilise the abilities that internationally qualified nurses bring from their home country and put them to constructive use in the host country, especially in the context of a global pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how the encounter between the “First World American women” and “Third world Afghan women” is framed to inadvertently enact a form of representational violence in Liz Mermin’s documentary film, The Beauty Academy of Kabul. The paper shows that despite its ostensibly progressive stance of giving space to Afghan women’s voice, the film, serves to validate the new form the colonial self has taken in the globalized world - the humanitarian identity - and reaffirms the American imperial agenda. Employing Judith Butler’s insights in Frames of War, where she points out how the frame delimits the domain of representability and the confines of “reality” itself, the analysis explores how Mermin’s documentary frames the Afghan women as the first world audience is meant to recognize, grieve and intervene for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the vast literature on the various determinants of happiness, very little is known about how financial and trade openness may affect people's happiness in the current literature. In this paper we attempt to fill in this blank using a large survey data from China. We find that while income inequality indeed has a significantly negative effect on happiness, there also exists a notable happiness-enhancing effect of openness via the inequality channel. Further analysis reveals that even after taking into account the possible happiness loss associated with openness, the net effect of openness on happiness remains positive in most cases. The results of the paper extend the previous literature by highlighting the important effects of financial and trade openness in improving people's happiness and how these effects may interact with income inequality. From a policy perspective, the results of the paper suggest that increasing openness of the economy would be an important strategy that policymakers could use to improve people's happiness, especially in the context of rising inequality in most developing and developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article describes the main insights deriving from the papers collected in this special issue which jointly provide a 'room with a view' on some of the most relevant issues in climate policy such as: the role of uncertainty, the distributional implications of climate change, the drivers and applications of decarbonizing innovation, the role of emissions trading and its interactions with companion policies. While looking at different issues and from different angles, all papers share a similar attention to policy aspects and implications, especially in developing countries. This is particularly important to evaluate whether and to what extent the climate policies adopted thus far in developed countries can be replicated in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Money laundering is a global issue that significantly threatens the integrity of financial systems and economies worldwide. This paper presents a theoretical description of money laundering and outlines the structured activities involved in the process. Additionally, it explores the electronic methods employed in money laundering, highlighting the various functions carried out using electronic gadgets and the internet. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the characteristics, reasons, and negative impacts of money laundering on businesses and economies to gain a clear perspective on the issue. Money laundering is a criminal act in most countries, and economically developed nations have established strong barriers against it. However, the practice persists, and the paper examines how launderers circumvent these barriers and employ innovative, illegal methods to convert their illicit money into legitimate funds. The study found that money launderers employ various techniques to evade detection and prosecution, including layering, integration, and placement. Electronic money laundering is also a growing concern, with online platforms, digital currencies, and anonymous payment systems providing new avenues for launderers to conceal their activities. This paper provides an overview of money laundering and its detrimental effects on the global economy. It underscores the need for continued efforts by governments, financial institutions, and law enforcement agencies to combat this menace. Additionally, it highlights the importance of vigilance and developing innovative strategies to detect and prevent money laundering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: International business (IB) and strategy research in the context of emerging economies (EEs) has focused traditionally on the strategies of firms in and from those markets to seize opportunities arising from their economic growth. This paper aims to demonstrate that declining industries in EEs are an important but overlooked research context for critical IB scholarship and to illuminate special considerations for strategising under those conditions. Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides an overview of declining industries in EEs and includes an illustration of a sample of such industries in major EEs. This paper then critically reviews research on firms' strategies in declining industries and extends that critical discussion to the EE context. Findings: Firstly, this paper provides evidence relating to declines in industries in EEs. Secondly, this paper identifies three major strategies that firms use in response to an industry decline and critically discusses those strategies' manifestations and special considerations in the context of EEs. Social implications: Industry decline in EEs and the resultant responses of multi-national enterprises and local firms, such as business exit, market competition and firm diversification strategies, cause significant social challenges. This paper calls for further research on the phenomenon, especially regarding its distinctive ramifications compared with those in the context of developed countries. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the critical IB scholarship by questioning the assumptions around high economic growth in individual EE industries and by challenging a universalistic approach that applies findings grounded in declining industries in developed countries to the distinctive context of EEs. This paper also provides forward-looking expositions concerning industry decline in EEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Envisaging an adequate IT/IS solution that can mitigate the employability problems is imperative because nowadays there is a high rate of unemployed graduates. Thus, the main goal of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to explore the application of data-mining techniques in modeling employability and see how those techniques have been applied and which factors/ variables have been retained to be the most predictors or/and prescribers of employability. Data-mining techniques have shown the ability to serve as decision-support tools in predicting and even prescribing employability. The review determined and analyzed the machinelearning algorithms used in data mining to either predict or prescribe employability. This review used the PRISMA method to determine which studies from the existing literature to include as items for this SLR. Hence, we chose 20 relevant studies, 16 of which are predicting employability and 4 of which are prescribing employability. These studies were selected from reliable databases: ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley, IEEE Xplore, and Taylor and Francis. According to the results of this study, various data-mining techniques can be used to predict and/or to prescribe employability. Furthermore, the variables/factors that predict and prescribe employability vary by country and the type of prediction or prescription conducted research. Nevertheless, all previous studies have relied more on skill as the main factor that predicts and/or prescribes employability in developed countries, and no studies have been conducted in unstable developing countries. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research on predicting or prescribing employability in such countries by trying to use contextual factors beyond skill as features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest flow of scientific talent in the world is the migration of international students to universities in industrialized countries. We use the opening of China in 1978 to estimate this flow's causal effect on the productivity of their professors in the United States. Our identification relies on both the suddenness of China's opening and on a key feature of scientific production: intra-ethnic collaboration. The increased access that Chinese-American advisors had to a new talent pool led to an increase in their productivity, in both coauthorships and solo-authored papers. Comparable non-Chinese advisors mentored fewer non-Chinese students and published fewer papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financialisation in developing countries is the subject of an expanding literature but its characteristic features and its relationship to developed countries remain unclear. Reviewing the literature, this paper shows that financialisation in developing countries should be distinguished from financial liberalisation and financial globalisation. Furthermore, its character is partly derivative from financialisation in developed countries, as is confirmed by two theoretical approaches, related but different from each other, namely 'subordinate' and 'dependent' financialisation. By further reviewing the empirical literature, the paper also shows that financialisation in developing countries is highly variable and different from that in developed countries regarding the conduct of non-financial enterprises, banks, and households. Moreover, the literature addresses several sources of vulnerability for developing countries relating to financialisation. Finally, there are significant literature gaps, above all, the connection between financialisation and the globalisation of production as well as the role of the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any country's healthcare system is vital for its progress, quality of life, and long-term viability. During the pandemic, many developed countries encountered challenges of differing degrees in the administration of their healthcare systems. The overloading of healthcare services is common, leading to prolonged waiting times for medical services. Thus, the wastage of hospital resources must be taken seriously. In this paper, we examine the problem of no-shows and cancellations in outpatient clinics. By examining the literature and drawing from practical industry experience, we uncover the operational procedures of these clinics. We then suggest a robust optimization strategy for overbooking, incorporating both a conventional overbooking model and a resilient system approach. The proposed model seeks to address the substantial uncertainties in parameters encountered during the pandemic. Taking into account risk aversion, we develop an optimal overbooking policy that considers the associated costs. The primary contribution lies in introducing an alternative approach to manage the uncertainty of no-shows and cancellations through the utilization of an overbooking technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper answers calls for a better understanding of the importance of domestic collaboration networks for innovation in immigrant- and native-owned firms. With a specific focus on the domestic networks established with other firms, research institutions, and business associations, we question whether cultivating such social capital with diverse actors is linked to better innovation performances for immigrant-owned firms. We investigate this research question by exploiting a unique matched-pair sample of immigrant and native domestic entrepreneurs who are active in high-tech mainstream (non-ethnic) markets. Our results show that universities and research institutions, along with business associations, are more important for innovation in immigrant-owned firms. In addition, we discover that immigrant entrepreneurs' acculturation to the host country's culture acts as a substitute for interactions with business associations. These findings contribute to the academic and policy knowledge on the link between immigrant entrepreneurship and innovation in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of indications, such as the number of Nobel Prize winners, show Japan to be a scientifically advanced country. However, standard bibliometric indicators place Japan as a scientifically developing country. The present study is based on the conjecture that Japan is an extreme case of a general pattern in highly industrialized countries. In these countries, scientific publications come from two types of studies: some pursue the advancement of science and produce highly cited publications, while others pursue incremental progress and their publications have a very low probability of being highly cited. Although these two categories of papers cannot be easily identified and separated, the scientific level of Japan can be tested by studying the extreme upper tail of the citation distribution of all scientific articles. In contrast to standard bibliometric indicators, which are calculated from the total number of papers or from sets of papers in which the two categories of papers are mixed, in the extreme upper tail, only papers that are addressed to the advance of science will be present. Based on the extreme upper tail, Japan belongs to the group of scientifically advanced countries and is significantly different from countries with a low scientific level. The number of Clarivate Citation laureates also supports our hypothesis that some citation-based metrics do not reveal the high scientific level of Japan. Our findings suggest that Japan is an extreme case of inaccuracy of some citation metrics; the same drawback might affect other countries, although to a lesser degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a major growth in global health networks in recent decades to address health issues including tobacco use, alcohol abuse, and maternal mortality. Most conditions that incur high costs have provoked networks of advocates working to mitigate the impact, increase investment in research, and establish campaigns. Global health networks often work simultaneously across policy, knowledge creation, and advocacy. Until recently there has been limited activity in global health networks and advocacy addressing hearing loss and deafness which has contributed to its relatively low visibility with policymakers compared to other health conditions. This discussion paper reports on a global consultation that explored the views of advocacy groups and individuals on advocacy for the management of hearing loss, and cochlear implantation (CI). It focussed on stakeholders' views of current advocacy endeavours, opportunities and barriers, and the possible development of a global advocacy network to improve access to cochlear implantation and the supporting services. The subsequent development of a global health network, the Cochlear Implant International Community of Action (CIICA) is discussed and the conditions necessary for the successful development of health networks are explored. This paper will be of interest to those wishing to understand the factors influencing the development of health networks and advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Suicide rates in older adults are often the highest of any age group, particularly among high income countries. However, there is a limited understanding of the factors that could protect against suicidality in older age. This systematic review aimed to identify and evaluate the psychological factors that protect against suicidality in older age. Method: An a priori protocol was established and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022343694). EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus were searched. Papers were quality assessed using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies (QuADSs) tool. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Seventeen papers were included and narratively synthesised. Results: The initial searches identified 10,673 records, resulting in the screening of 5441 records after the removal of duplicates. The protective factors identified were (1) meaning/purpose in life, (2) reasons for living, (3) coping styles, (4) psychological wellbeing, (5) life satisfaction, (6) personality factors, (7) cognitive functioning, and (8) sense of belonging. The factors with the most empirical support were meaning in life, followed by psychological wellbeing and coping responses, such as primary control strategies, and personality traits, such as positive affect and agency. There was also evidence to suggest that the influence of some protective factors, for example meaning in life, may depend upon stage in older life and gender. Conclusion: This review identified several psychological factors that have been found to protect against suicidal ideation in older adults, representing potential treatment targets for reducing suicide in older adults. Recommendations for future research includes greater use of longitudinal and case–control designs, measuring outcomes across the continuum of suicidality and using samples that allow comparison between younger and older adults and within the spectrum of old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, voting in elections has become a major topic of debate. The legitimacy of election results is being questioned, whether it be elections on the government, municipality, university, or even department level. This led to a general distrust between the voting populations of developing countries and developed nations and electoral committees. Looking at election turnout rates, it becomes clear that an ever-widening rift between voters and trust in traditionally held elections has caused prominent voter apathy. The general population sees policymakers as not having taken serious strides in solving these problems. Electronic voting was seemingly introduced to alleviate some problems. Yet, the public has expressed concerns about election manipulation through hacking since electronic systems are notoriously vulnerable to those kinds of attacks and are hard to shield from. Introducing blockchain technology to this field is a logical step to evolving traditional e-voting systems. Traditional voting and, by extension, e-voting suffer from centralization, where a single entity oversees the election process. This creates a single point of failure. Thus, it becomes easy to tamper with voter data and election results. Blockchain technology offers a solution to decentralize and restore trust in the process; it embraces decentralization, the entire process becomes open to the public, and the need for a centralized managerial entity is reduced. In this paper, we introduce and implement a blockchain-based voting system that addresses the issues mentioned earlier in centralized voting. Moreover, our system proposes solutions to some of the problems and side-effects that are likely to happen when adopting blockchain-based voting systems, especially the anonymity of the voters and the confidentiality of the results until the time of the official announcement. We show that it is possible to have a voting system that accomplishes decentralization and trustworthiness for all the parties involved in the voting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing attention to climate change and biodiversity loss, conservation social science research on land management practices is burgeoning. Researchers have broadened their focus from protected areas to diverse types of land management to support conservation and climate mitigation. But, developing effective strategies for these issues requires an in‐depth understanding of both the socio‐psychological factors that guide landholders' decision‐making and global trends in land management practices and literature. To assess the trends and status of land management behavior research, we systematically reviewed research published between 2010 and 2020 in five seminal conservation journals. Of 11,607 articles reviewed, we identified 100 articles about land management behavior. We assessed theoretical groundings, measurement methodology, land‐use terminology and practices, ecosystem type, and geographic distribution. We identified strengths and significant gaps and weaknesses across land management research. For example, 52% of articles made no meaningful connection to theory, only 14% of papers used observed behavioral data, 86% of studies uses non‐experimental methods and researchers disproportionately measured land management behavior in developed nations (66%). We also find that language used to describe land management behavior is very heterogeneous, making it difficult to summarize land management research using traditional systematic review methods. Conducting a limited systematic review can help summarize research and also identify trends across disciplines that might otherwise missed. Results from our limited systematic review can guide future research and support the development of evidence‐based policies to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse how financial literacy (FL) is conceptualised and operationalised in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Thirty-six articles published between 2010 and 2020 were considered for analysis. The FL conceptualisation was examined based on knowledge, ability, skill, attitude and confidence elements. The FL operationalisation was analysed using the modified version of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 model for organising the domain for an assessment framework. Findings: The findings indicate that, despite offering operationalisation details of the FL, 13 out of 36 studies did not include a conceptual definition of FL. Of the 23 studies that mentioned a conceptual definition, 87% are primarily focused on the "knowledge" element and only 39% have combined knowledge, ability/skill and attitude elements in defining FL. As in the developed countries, the Indian studies also preferred investment/saving-related contents in their FL measures. The volume of content focusing on the financial landscape is meagre amongst the FL measures used in India and developed countries. The survey instruments of most studies have been designed in the individuals' context but have failed to measure the extent to which individuals apply the knowledge in performing their day-to-day financial transactions. Further, it was found that 20 out of 36 studies did not convert the FL level of their target groups into a single indicator or operational value. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the FL's assessment practices in India. Further, this study offers new insights by comparing the contents of FL measures used in Indian studies with those used in developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the quality and safety of exported agricultural products and improving export competitiveness is the key to establishing enhanced competitive advantages in agricultural products, developing a trade powerhouse and realising high-quality development of agriculture. This paper uses the data of Chinese listed companies and Chinese Customs from 2007 to 2016 to discuss the effect and mechanism of digital transformation of enterprises on the quality and safety level of export agricultural products by using the staggered differential method. The study shows that (1) Enterprise digital transformation effectively improves the quality and safety of exported agricultural products, and this result holds after endogeneity, placebo and multiple robustness tests; (2) Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the quality and safety effect of enterprise digital transformation is greater for exporting to developed countries' markets, non-state-owned enterprises and enterprises in the eastern region, in addition to bulk agricultural products and consumer-oriented agricultural products; (3) Mechanism analyses shows that enterprise digital transformation raises the quality and safety of exported agricultural products through technological innovation, product tracing, information sharing and quality assurance effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social discount rate (SDR) for infrastructure policies is applied in public projects' benefit/cost analysis and measures the rate at which a society is willing to pay for present consumption. The choice of the discount rate in such project evaluation may play a vital role in the relative weighting of cost and benefits. A high SDR will evaluate the benefits of certain projects at a lower present value. A low SDR will raise the present value of the project's economic benefits, and it will weigh the long-term environmental damages more heavily. The current paper has examined variations in social discount rate policies of various countries around the world. Developed countries have applied lower rates like 3–5% while developing countries apply 7.3–15%. Higher SDR numbers means intervention to future generation rights. Developing countries should review the appropriateness of their SDR levels according to changing domestic economic circumstances and international capital market conditions. Developed countries should give less-developed countries or developing countries a chance by transferring their technologies applied in abatement policies. The key that will open the door to a better future for our grandchildren is in the hand of developed communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia is a growing global health issue, particularly in developed countries with high and increasing life expectancies. Often, health care and social approaches problematise and see as defective people with dementia; they are viewed in terms of their deficiencies. The concept of personhood helps provide a theological framework of inherent worth, regardless of physical or cognitive capacity. This paper takes a case study approach and considers how the notion of personhood impacted the motivations and practice of two chaplains working in Aotearoa New Zealand residential dementia care settings. These chaplains offered a ministry of personal and sacramental presence. They provided simple ecumenical services, comprising elements that were familiar to the residents. They were motivated by and acted with love and compassion. The article concludes by noting implications for chaplaincy practice, including the importance of being personhood-affirming, acting out of love, and being expectant of and attentive to the discipleship and spiritual formation of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to compare the economic resilience of industries and regions along the last four decades, which include the three last major crises for the advanced countries (90s, Great Recession in 2007 and recent COVID-19 pandemic). Productive structure and sectoral specialization are introduced as explaining factor for the different regional behaviors. For this purpose, we estimate both resilience and specialization indices based on employment data. To analyze the relationship between specialization and resilience, a cross-sectional descriptive analysis is complemented by a panel data model that includes some controls. Finally, a regional shift-share analysis contributes to exert some other regional effects affecting economic resilience. The results of this research show some continuities and other significant changes in the regional impact of crises from one to the next. Although there are other effects to have played a role, results show economic specialization is found to have exerted influence on the recovery of certain regions during this period. Recovery periods differ from each crisis and the results might be affected for this dimensionality limitation. Due to the characteristics of the database, the study includes only six sectors. However, general results are generalizable to other regions as the response of employment growth to crises is similar in many advanced regions and specialization patterns does not significantly differ among regions. The paper carries a structural long-term comparison between the last major crises for Spanish regions, which clearly differentiates one from another in their causes and effects. We introduce specialization to explain the different regional resilience patterns. Methodologically, we estimate both sectoral and regional resilience indices for these three crises and relate this resilience to specialization and other explaining factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurship is associated with economic growth in developed countries. Education level, however, has different impacts on entrepreneurship. In some contexts, it has a negative impact due to educated individuals having greater job choice and awareness of risks and challenges in establishing a business. In other cases, low levels of education may drive the pursuit of entrepreneurship out of necessity. Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data from 2016, this research sought to determine the role of education and related factors in entrepreneurial motivation. The study focuses on the following Latin American countries: Panama, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize. Extending current research on entrepreneurship in the Latin American context, specifically related to opportunity and necessity motivations, the current study examines household income, education level, and work status. In this paper, findings indicate that education plays a role in entrepreneurial participation intent. Higher levels of education the intent leans toward opportunity motives and lower levels of education by necessity. We find that low-income households show greater evidence of nascent entrepreneurship. The study also looks at fully employed versus part-time employed entrepreneurs who show a propensity to not only see but act on entrepreneurship due to a perception or reality of a good opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scaling in health and social services (HSS) aims to increase the intended impact of proven effective interventions. Patient and public involvement (PPI) is critical for ensuring that scaling beneficiaries' interests are served. We aimed to identify PPI strategies and their characteristics in the science and practice of scaling in HSS. Methods: In this scoping review, we included any scaling initiative in HSS that used PPI strategies and reported PPI methods and outcomes. We searched electronic databases (e.g., Medline) from inception to 5 February 2024, and grey literature (e.g., Google). Paired reviewers independently selected and extracted eligible reports. A narrative synthesis was performed and we used the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews and the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2). Findings: We included 110 unique reports out of 24,579 records. In the past 5 years, the evidence on PPI in scaling has increased faster than in any previous period. We found 236 mutually nonexclusive PPI strategies among 120 scaling initiatives. Twenty‐four initiatives did not target a specific country; but most of those that did so (n = 96) occurred in higher‐income countries (n = 51). Community‐based primary health care was the most frequent level of care (n = 103). Mostly, patients and the public were involved throughout all scaling phases (n = 46) and throughout the continuum of collaboration (n = 45); the most frequently reported ethical lens regarding the rationale for PPI was consequentialist‐utilitarian (n = 96). Few papers reported PPI recruitment processes (n = 31) or incentives used (n = 18). PPI strategies occurred mostly in direct care (n = 88). Patient and public education was the PPI strategy most reported (n = 31), followed by population consultations (n = 30). Conclusions: PPI in scaling is increasing in HSS. Further investigation is needed to better document the PPI experience in scaling and ensure that it occurs in a meaningful and equitable way. Patient and Public Contribution: Two patients were involved in this review. They shared decisions on review questions, data collection instruments, protocol design, and findings dissemination. Review Registration: Open Science Framework on 19 August 2020 (https://osf.io/zqpx7/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the issue of women's position in research was studied both for developing and developed countries Women participation in research increased substantially in the past few decades. Globally, women make up 33.3% of researchers (in head counts), according to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics for 107 countries covering the years 2015-2018. Several countries are collecting and reporting sex-disaggregated data on researchers than 20 years ago. However, a large data gap remains. Further increase in the involvement of women in research is crucial both for the development of the research and for the empowerment of women by increasing their role in society. This recantation is devoted to the comparison of involvement in research between European developed and developing countries in recent years. Examples from larger context have also been provided. There is no straightforward correlation between a country's wealth and its success in achieving gender parity in the research. Therefore, the origins of the differences are more complex than it is usually expected, which requires quite attentive study of the issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to analyze the behavior of developed-country acquiring firms in dealing with Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions location choices at both national and sub-national levels with the impact of carbon risk and heterogeneous environmental regulations (Government, Civil, and Market Environmental regulations) and to explore their Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions performances under different situations. A sample of 874 intra-manufacturing Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions completed by developed-country acquirers and conducted in developed countries and China during 2002–2021 was analyzed using logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The results show that: (1) Acquirers with higher carbon risks tend to choose China rather developed country as the target location, while this relationship is not strengthened by the home country's high-level environmental regulations; (2) At the sub-national level, Chinese provinces' government environmental regulations cannot impede acquirers to enter; what's more, the civil environmental regulations even attract these acquirers, this is particularly the case if the acquirer has high carbon risk; (3) Acquirers with higher carbon risks can achieve more performance, no matter whether they choose China as the target country. Our findings add insight into the effect of carbon risks on companies' decisions and the unique characteristics of the heterogeneous environmental regulations in China. What's more, implications are provided for Chinese regulators and policymakers, e.g., listening to the public opinion, improving the governance quality, and attracting foreign investors to help domestic industry upgrading and maintain long-run economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a Stein-like combined estimator for large heterogeneous panel data models under common structural breaks. The model allows for cross-sectional dependence through a general multifactor error structure. By utilizing the common correlated effects (CCE) estimation technique, we propose a Stein-like combined estimator of the CCE full-sample estimator (i.e., estimation using both the pre-break and post-break observations) and the CCE post-break estimator (i.e., estimation using only the post-break sample observations). The proposed Stein-like combined estimator benefits from exploiting the pre-break sample observations. We derive the optimal combination weight by minimizing the asymptotic risk. We show the superiority of the CCE Stein-like combined estimator over the CCE post-break estimator in terms of the asymptotic risk. Further, we establish the asymptotic properties of the CCE mean group Stein-like combined estimator. The finite sample performance of our proposed estimator is investigated using Monte Carlo experiments and an empirical application of predicting the output growth of industrialized countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To execute the defense budget efficiently, the ROK military has emphasized effectiveness and efficiency in selecting defense capability improvement needs and promoting projects. Accordingly, the “Defense Acquisition Program Act” is continuously being revised. In addition, the ROK JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) is working to benchmark the development trends of advanced countries’ defense planning systems and apply the concept of “CBP (Capability-Based Planning)” to strengthen the JCS of ROK authority to make necessary decisions. However, these efforts have mainly focused on formal systems and procedures. The focus must shift to implementing concrete measures and detailed methodologies to implement formal systems and procedures. In this study, we proposed a plan to more actively accept the concept of CBP in the ROK military’s defense planning system, which currently has a strategic planning-requirements planning structure, and improve it to a structure of strategic planning-capability planning-requirements planning. In other words, by converting the perspective of defense planning limited to individual weapon systems to a capability unit, a high-level strategic concept encompassing the military’s overall operational area was reflected in individual weapon system requirements. In addition, this concept enables the ROK military’s bottomup defense planning method to be converted to top-down defense planning by strengthening necessary and insufficient capabilities from an operational capability perspective rather than a weapons system perspective. Additionally, this concept helps evaluate capabilities against threats that are difficult to define as a specific unit weapon system, such as cyber threats, which have recently emerged as a new threat. Accordingly, this paper presents the concept of “capability planning” under CBP. It presents the concept and analysis method of “functional analysis,” which classifies force by function to evaluate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perturbations that have occurred in recent history regarding critical infrastructure have highlighted two essential features. Firstly, critical infrastructure was exposed to unexpected incidents of a wide variety, mostly natural disasters, and secondly, the dysfunctionality and local damages due to the phenomenon of interaction and cross-border logics of functioning of the systems has created a domino effect in the security dimensions. On the other hand, the risks have evolved, extreme meteorological incidents have been observed, threats to health security, such as the pandemic have become widespread, cyber-attacks have appeared as a result of technological progress, the technical-technological and economic interdependence has been emphasized, as the evolution of the economic environment and the market have also affirmed that there is a need for international legal regulation. In the last twenty years, especially after the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001 in New York, the issue of critical infrastructure protection has caused particular attention in the majority of industrialized countries, with the USA, the EU, Australia, Japan, Russia in the forefront, but also in a number of countries aspiring to join the EU. The war in Ukraine demonstrated the strategic importance of critical infrastructure. Between October 2022 and April 2023, Russia carried out 1.200 attacks on Ukraine’s energy system. These attacks damaged 45% of the high-voltage grid and half of Ukraine’s power generation, leaving more than 12 million people without electricity. According to an estimate by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the damage to Ukraine’s electricity, gas, and heating infrastructure exceeds $ 10 billion. Furthermore, according to Marie Struthers, Director for Eastern Europe and Asia at Amnesty International, the morale of the civilian population is not a legitimate target; however, carrying out attacks on critical infrastructure to terrorize civilians is a war crime. That is why this paper makes a brief interpretation of the need for critical infrastructure protection at the EU level, including a brief analysis of the methodology of establishing critical infrastructure protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discuss the most relevant literature related to the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in the public sector in developed and developing countries, identifying the constraints and stimuli they represent in the implementation of the public accounting reform. It also presents future research proposals on the factors identified. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology is based on a systematic review of the literature described by Moher et al. (2009). The final sample includes 90 academic papers published from 2000 to 2022. Findings: The main findings indicate that there are differences between constraints and stimuli in the implementation of accounting standards between developed and developing countries. In terms of constraints, the main factor in developed countries is the lack of training, whereas in developing countries it is the limitation on financial resources. In addition, the results demonstrate that in developed countries the factors that most encourage the implementation of accounting standards are modernization and improvement of accounting, while in developing countries, encouragement comes mainly from external and internal pressure. Practical implications: This study helps countries and institutions to learn from experience and better prepare for the accounting reforms of public administration that they will undertake. Managers of public organizations may be willing to make decisions in the adoption of IPSAS if they take into account the factors established herein. Social implications: This study helps countries and institutions to learn from the experience, better prepare for the public administration accounting reforms that they will undertake and add greater transparency in the accountability of public accounts to citizens. Originality/value: In addition to previous studies, this study addresses a number of factors perceived by those involved in the implementation of IPSAS in developed and developing countries and provides a robust research agenda to pursue during the coming years, as there are several important unexplored questions that invite further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, we investigate the impact of household debt service burden on the economic growth of a sample of advanced countries over the short and medium run. Using data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on debt service ratios, we find that the debt service burden reduces economic growth over both the short and medium run. This finding is in contrast to the effect of household debt level, which boosts economic growth in the short run while reducing it in the medium run as in Mian et al. (2017). We further find the same protracted negative influence of debt service burden on unemployment and household consumption. Therefore, our paper identifies a new debt market transmission channel, i.e., the 'debt service channel', on economic growth and demonstrates that this channel is quantitatively much stronger than the household debt level channel. When faced with a rise in the debt service burden, households need to adjust other variables in order to act within their budget constraints. The present results indicate that they decrease their consumption levels significantly, with adverse effects on economic output and employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases account for millions of deaths each year. To reduce the number of infectious disease related deaths, diagnostic testing needs to be more accessible to patients in low-income countries as well as developed countries. Current diagnostic methods involve centralized laboratories, trained personnel, and are time-intensive, limiting translation to the point-of-care (POC). Microfluidic devices are a popular alternative for diagnostics due to reduced assay times, reduced sample volume, and lower cost. Microfluidic devices are small (<10 cm) and can perform complex assays. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) are a popular approach to help translate diagnostics to the POC but historically suffer from poor sensitivity when compared to established laboratory methods. Magnetically labeling analytes allows samples to be sorted resulting in improved sensitivity and specificity. Microfluidic magnetophoresis is the process of manipulating magnetic particles in a magnetic field and offers the ability to wash and concentrate a sample during flow. However, until recently, magnetophoresis has not been used in conjunction with µPADs because magnetophoresis requires complex and expensive instrumentation to control flow. Coupling magnetophoresis with µPADs enables pump-free flow control, simple operation, and low cost. Early magnetophoresis µPADs showed detection limits similar to traditional methods but higher than targets for clinical use. In this work, we demonstrate a novel, simple MagnEtophoretic Slider Assay (MeSA) that is free of any external instrumentation and offers a new platform for POC diagnostics. We demonstrate the assay's capability through biotin competitive assays and a sandwich immunoassay for E. coli detection. The calculated limit of detection for E. coli was 1.62 × 103 Colony Forming Units per mL (CFU/ml). The work described is a novel and simple microfluidic platform that has potential for a wide range of future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to identify the main factors responsible for the 2007–2008 crisis development and transmission across the 10 developed European Union (EU) countries. In order to achieve this objective, trade and financial linkages, crisis contagion from the United States and EU countries and countries' internal and external economic vulnerabilities are examined. The results of logistic regression model covering the period from 2002 to 2012 presented in this paper indicate that the transmission of the crisis occurred through contagion from the United States but also from other EU countries. Additionally, the empirical results confirm that high inflation, a decrease in the exchange rate, and a decrease in the US long‐term interest rates increased the probability of the 2007–2008 financial crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dominance of the 'After the Washington Consensus' for international development is based on mainstream-neoclassical economics that has been imposed by Washington upon debt-stranded developing and developed countries. Against this tide, the purpose of this paper is to develop an alternative scheme and recommendations for international development, pulling from the Marxist political economy practice. Considering, Marxist political economy as a living tradition, the paper contributes to offering a Marxist political economy perspective to international development in the form of a retort to the 'After the Washington Consensus'. 'After the Washington Consensus' represents an evolution from the Washington Consensus, due to the need for capital to adapt to new forms of exploitation. Students and scholars of international development would benefit from this worthwhile exercise that distinguishes in a succinctly and methodically manner between mainstream-neoclassical and Marxist political economy perspectives on international development. The paper concludes that in contradistinction, a Marxist political economy approach to international development that serves the interests of the working class does not have any commonalities with the 'After the Washington Consensus' that serves the interests of international capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimate partner violence (IPV) around the time of pregnancy is a recognized global health problem. Ethnic minorities and immigrant pregnant women experiencing IPV require culturally responsive health services. The aim of this scoping review was to identify aspects of cultural sensitivity in interventions to prevent or reduce IPV among ethnic minorities and immigrant pregnant women in high-income countries. Eight databases were searched in November 2019. Any type of scientific research, quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies regarding interventions against IPV among pregnant women were considered for inclusion. Resnicow et al.'s definition of cultural sensitivity was used to identify aspects of cultural sensitivity. Ten papers relating to nine interventions/studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies, which included randomized controlled trials, a mixed methods study, a program evaluation, and a longitudinal study, were conducted in Australia, Belgium, Norway, and the United States. Aspects of surface cultural sensitivity, including the translation of intervention content into the language of the target group(s) and the involvement of bilingual staff to recruit participants, were identified in eight studies. Deep structure aspects of cultural sensitivity were identified in one study, where the intervention content was pretested among the target group(s). Results that could be related to the culture-sensitive adaptions included successful recruitment of the target population. Three studies were planning to investigate women's experiences of interventions, but no publications were yet available. This scoping review provides evidence that culturally sensitive interventions to reduce or prevent IPV among immigrant pregnant women are limited in number and detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looked at the current global paradigms in cataloguing and the significance and difficulties for library adoption in developing countries like Nigeria. The paper employed a four-sturdy approach to explore the subject. The first approach to the paper put forward the concept of library in the 21st century. The second approach focused on the dimension of information and communication technology in cataloging and the latest modern cataloging practices. The third approach compared cataloging practices in advanced countries with Nigeria, while the last approach expatiated the significances, problems, and methods for libraries in Nigeria to espouse. The paper enumerated some problems and methods that libraries in Nigeria and other emerging countries in Africa can embrace for instance, sufficient funding, adequate staff training, adequate provisions and prompt maintenance of infrastructure, elimination of corrupt practices, and so on. Although a lot of literature has appeared on the problems of ICT diffusion to library operations and management in Nigeria, only a few significant doable and practical strategies have been identified for solving the problems. The writer proffered the utilization of the latest development to cataloguing initiatives and suggested the adoption of new and workable strategies for the effective application of ICT to cataloguing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviewing current literature on human mobility and border securitisation during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper contends that nation-states are likely to act unilaterally and disregard international law/norms under the pretext of territorial integrity and the need to protect their own. The pandemic highlighted why the securitisation theory is still relevant in explaining events in international relations. Borders became reinforced, and human mobility was restricted and characterised by increased surveillance. Leaders argued for the need to urgently react (to what was seen as an existential threat to society) and protect one's own as justification for implementing securitisation measures at the border. However, this paper argues that with harsh and inhumane lockdown regulations in their home countries and the hoarding of vaccines by developed nations, the increase in undocumented migration from developing countries was not surprising as the need to survive and access vaccines meant people were likely to do all they could to circumvent structures meant to hinder their mobility. This paper concludes that a cooperative global framework for addressing issues of common interests is critical to fostering cooperation in times of crisis rather than unilateral actions that compound the suffering of many. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the authors discuss the responsibility for material deficiencies of goods, with reference to the organic agriculture products, given the specific and highly demanding production system and the growing demand for organic products in developed countries and in Serbia. An integral part of everyday life is the risk that the goods purchased are more or less materially defective. Organic production methods involve the usage of natural processes and substances, and limit or completely eliminate the use of synthesized agents. Also, producers inevitably suffer from various external influences. The desire of consumers is to buy products which use natural ingredients that are obtained on the basis of natural procedures. Research in this paper has shown that in the creation of an organic product may occur material defects that more or less impair its essence. Therefore, this paper analyzes such shortcomings and also recommends how customers can act when they find themselves in this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores whether inequities in access to COVID‐19 vaccines can be attributed to governance deficits, particularly for developing and emerging countries where poor governance is widespread, but also for developed countries, where governments' performance fell short of expectations. These shared performance deficits beg questions about the impact of governance quality as well as the interplay of ethics in governance when life‐or‐death decisions must be made. It also explores the impact of COVID‐19 on development, especially in the areas of poverty and employment. The findings of the paper show that there is a positive correlation between vaccine equity and good governance, meaning that countries with higher scores in governance rankings have more access to vaccines and have vaccinated most of their populations. Similarly, countries with relatively lower scores in governance rankings have poor access to and distribution of vaccines and have only covered a limited number of their people. The paper further points to disastrous societal impacts of COVID‐19 vaccine inequity on poverty and employment, which have hindered global development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructure and methods for developed countries' economic statistics, largely established in the mid‐20th century, rest almost entirely on survey and administrative data. The increasing difficulty of obtaining survey responses threatens the sustainability of this model. Meanwhile, users of economic data are demanding ever more timely and granular information. "Big data" originally created for other purposes offer the promise of new approaches to the compilation of economic data. Drawing primarily on the U.S. experience, the paper considers the challenges to incorporating big data into the ongoing production of official economic statistics and provides examples of progress towards that goal to date. Beyond their value for the routine production of a standard set of official statistics, new sources of data create opportunities to respond more nimbly to emerging needs for information. The concluding section of the paper argues that national statistical offices should expand their mission to seize these opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality control methods have been used by construction civile industry and road for many years to control the compaction process carried out, either of the soil or of the asphalt mixtures. These control procedures are based upon experimental and/or statistical concepts and their goal are to be an instrument to assist the contractor to carry out the execution checks in insuring that impose degree compaction was achieved in accordance with technical project of the works. These concepts are built around the idea according to which it is possible to randomly select a small sample of a soil or asphalt mixture and then to predict from this sample an average value of compaction quality to be assigned to the entire area of the layer tested. For the most part, these aspects are valid in our country, but the technical regulations of developed countries provide for a variety of methods based on the in-situ measurement of specific compaction parameters in order to predict the quality of the area under control. The paper will describe the methods used in Romania (laboratory and in-situ tests) along with those implemented in the world and used with remarkable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]