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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]

Copyright of Signos is the property of Universidad Santo Tomas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study examines the relationship between the corporate social responsibility (CSR) investments of a food firm, an activist's incentive to target the firm to uncover and deter fraudulent behavior, and the firm's incentive to commit food fraud. Specifically, we develop a game theoretic model to analyze the strategic interaction between a food firm that decides whether to provide a credence food attribute and whether to misrepresent the quality of its product, and an activist who decides whether to monitor the firm and launch a campaign to uncover and remove false/misleading quality claims. We further examine the effect of CSR and the activist's presence on the level of quality the firm provides. We derive the conditions under which an activist will find it optimal to monitor the firm to uncover fraudulent quality claims and the firm will find it optimal to misrepresent its product quality. Analytical results show that the greater the firm's CSR investments, the less likely it is that the activist will find it optimal to monitor the firm, and the more likely it is that the firm will find it optimal to misrepresent its product quality. Results also show that the firm is more likely to misrepresent its product quality when its effectiveness in contesting the activist's campaign is relatively high, and more likely to actually provide a high-quality product when the cost of the credence attribute is relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Territorial economic and social disparities remain a major problem for the European Union today, especially in Eastern Europe. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of the economic and social shocks of the 2000s (the economic and financial crisis of 2008-09 and the COVID-19 pandemic) on the economies of four Central Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary). The study presents county-level differences in gross value added with classical descriptive statistics, inequality indices, convergence analyses and spatial autocorrelation. The results show that the impact of the shocks of the 2000s varies across counties, which led to different paths of recovery. Spatial autocorrelation is significant, but patterns remain stable through the period of exogenous shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, has begun developing liquified natural gas (LNG) mega projects that can transport Canadian resources to foreign markets across the Pacific region. These projects have gained significant profile due to high-level debates over their environmental, social and economic impacts. While LNG projects are required to undergo environmental impact assessment procedures, there is growing recognition of the need to ensure that positive social, economic and environmental impacts are fairly distributed to local communities. Similar to other extractive industries, many corporations leading the development of these projects engage in negotiations over so-called "impact benefit agreements (IBAs)"—legal agreements between a corporation, a government and/or a community that details how projects can benefit the local community and on what timeline so as to build social license to operate and investor confidence. This contribution details the findings of a qualitative study highlighting the perspectives of First Nations, provincial and federal government, and industry leaders to examine what makes an IBA successful and from whose perspective. The paper provides an introduction to IBA structures and processes, a brief review of the legal context, a qualitative methodology co-developed between academic researchers and Indigenous community leaders, and describes key criteria to inform future successful IBA agreements that create equitable multi-party benefits in an era of Indigenous reconciliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cluster management organizations (CMOs) have emerged over the past few decades as intermediaries that support the competitiveness of place-based clusters of economic activity. Despite their economic origins, policymakers are now starting to experiment with a broader use for cluster policies that seeks to leverage CMOs to tackle societal challenges in approaches aligned with the concept of creating shared value (CSV). However, there remains a void in conceptual understanding around the specific roles that CMOs might play in overcoming the barriers faced by their members for CSV, which this paper aims to address. Bridging this gap presents an opportunity for cluster practitioners and policymakers in a context in which environmental and social sustainability are at the top of policy agendas. Design/methodology/approach: Based on analysis of literature around collaborative approaches to CSV for mitigating transaction costs, the authors define the contours of a new conceptual framework for the roles that CMOs can play in fostering collective CSV. The authors illustrate how the different components of the framework are reflected in emerging cluster practice in the context of a new wave of European cluster-based projects tackling CSV elements. Findings: The resulting framework reconciles the concepts of clusters and CSV by explicitly positioning CMOs as intermediaries for facilitating the CSV strategies of their members. CMOs embrace emergent strategy making that targets (tangible and intangible) collective CSV capabilities and addresses collective CSV challenges. Collective CSV can provide a theoretical anchor guiding future cluster policies to fully leverage the transformative potential of CMOs. This conceptual framework opens a promising empirical research agenda, particularly around evaluating the plurality of impacts of CMOs. Originality/value: By stressing the social impact of CMOs alongside their well-understood economic impacts, and by enabling a categorization of functions that can support the monitoring of CMO activities toward collective CSV strategies, the framework provides a novel basis for inspiring further empirical research into the evidencing of these roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The citrus industry is of great importance in Mexico, with an estimated production value of USD 2.4 billion and the potential to generate up to 28 million employees per year. Approximately 69,000 Mexican families depend on this sector. However, it is under serious threat from the disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB). The rapid spread of this disease has caused significant economic losses, impacted the livelihoods of citrus growers, and led to substantial job losses. Currently, HLB is not under control in Mexico, and as the management strategies applied have proven to be ineffective, yields have not been recovered to pre-HLB levels, and production costs have significantly increased. Therefore, it remains the most destructive citrus disease. This review paper describes the current situation of the disease, its economic and social impact, and the measures adopted for its management in Mexico. Future perspectives highlight advances in research based on new biotechnological tools as an eco-friendly management alternative. Practical suggestions to address HLB are also mentioned in our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in four women globally and is more commonly enacted by men than women. Rates of IPV in South Africa exceed the global average. Exploring the background and context regarding why men use violence can help future efforts to prevent IPV. Methods: We explored adult men's perspectives of IPV, livelihoods, alcohol use, gender beliefs, and childhood exposure to abuse through a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews that were conducted in South Africa. The setting was a peri-urban township characterized by high unemployment, immigration from rural areas, and low service provision. We utilized thematic qualitative analysis that was guided by the social ecological framework. Results: Of 30 participants, 20 were residents in the neighborhood, 7 were trained community members, and 3 were program staff. Men reported consumption of alcohol and lack of employment as being triggers for IPV and community violence in general. Multiple participants recounted childhood exposure to abuse. These themes, in addition to culturally prescribed gender norms and constructs of manhood, seemed to influence the use of violence. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at reducing IPV should consider the cultural and social impact on men's use of IPV in low-resource, high-IPV prevalence settings, such as peri-urban South Africa. This work highlights the persistent need for the implementation of effective primary prevention strategies that address contextual and economic factors in an effort to reduce IPV that is primarily utilized by men directed at women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past few years have been marked by significant economic, political, and health-related changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which has adversely affected Bulgaria's tourism sector, highlighting its crucial role in its economic development. Ensuring health and safety measures has become a top priority, forcing hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions to adapt to provide a safe environment for visitors. However, these measures have exposed the sector to serious economic challenges and have undermined its sustainability. This paper aims to present the current economic development of the Bulgarian tourism sector and answer the question, "Has the sector recovered from the disastrous economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic?". To achieve this goal information from the World Tourism Organization and official data from regional statistics in Bulgaria were analyzed. The results indicate that the pandemic resulted in a significant drop in the gross domestic product generated by tourism and a rising level of unemployment in the sector. However, there has been a recovery sign in the last two years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a comprehensive exploration of unemployment, spanning short-term, medium-term and long-term periods, highlighting the necessity for in-depth analysis and timely intervention. The primary goal is to develop machine learning models proficient in identifying the characteristics of individuals undergoing unemployment. Utilizing data from the European Social Survey, the research employs data processing techniques and diverse machine learning algorithms, including Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Ada Boost, LightGBM, and Gradient Boosting. The comparative analysis of unemployment across different durations reveals significant variations in predicting factors. Short-term unemployment is notably influenced by age. For those unemployed for twelve months or more, factors such as perceived equal opportunities and attachment to Europe become influential. In the context of unemployment lasting five years, variables related to happiness and marital status prove crucial, impacting motivation and potentially contributing to extended unemployment. This study marks the initiation of a comprehensive exploration into understanding the traits of unemployed individuals, extending beyond the individual level to incorporate macroeconomic considerations. The application of machine learning algorithms provides valuable insights into addressing this the societal challenge of unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lina Bashatah,1,* Safana Aseri,1,* Mahmood Basil A Al-Rawi2 1Early Childhood Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Lina Bashatah, Early Childhood department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Email lbashatah@KSU.EDU.SABackground: Quarantine has had a powerful effect on parents and children in Saudi Arabia in different aspects, namely, educational, mental, and social. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the mental, social, and educational impact of the COVID-19 Quarantine and its predictors among Saudi parents.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out over 6 months in 2020 using structured questionnaires with 42 items, detailing pre-quarantine assistance with childcare, followed by mental, educational, and social challenges answered using a 5-point Likert scale and the factors affecting their children’s learning at home during the COVID-19 quarantine. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.Results: A response rate of 79.5% (n=831) was obtained. Mental challenges were experienced the most, and 68.1% of the parents worried about their children being infected with COVID-19. This was followed by the educational challenges related to their children’s online learning, with 61.2% of the parents attributing it to their children’s low motivation towards online learning. The mean score for the education domain was 31.14(± 7.02). Similarly, the mean score for the mental impact and social impact was 33.13(± 7.82) and 12.81(± 2.98). The results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed participants’ gender was found significantly associated with the mean score of the educational domain (p = 0.010).Conclusion: Social challenges were experienced the least, and parents confirmed that quarantine had helped them strengthen their family relations. Most participants agreed that they had fun spending time with both their partners and children. It is recommended to implement online remote activities and services that assist students and professionals in addressing pandemic concerns, such as virtual group exercise, virtual movie nights, and virtual office hours.Keywords: quarantine, COVID-19, pandemic, economic impact, social impact, Saudi Arabia

The Sargassum have become a cyclical phenomenon that generates ecological, economic, and social problems in the Caribbean. The situation becomes more serious in a context of voluntary acceptance of the problem, which generates difficulties regarding the behaviors to control it. This research addresses the phenomenon from the perspective of risk perception concerning Sargassum invasions in the Dominican Republic, using a tool that includes perceptual and behavioral questions. The results show an underestimation of the risk of Sargassum blooms attributed to its interpretation as a natural and inevitable phenomenon, with an insignificant effect. This underestimation does not notably affect the health or standard of living of the population involved but has not been sufficiently addressed by scientific institutions and the Dominican government. The alert about some erroneous beliefs regarding the phenomenon, as shown by these perceptions, can contribute to designing successful policies for the control and management of massive influx of Sargassum. This transformation can turn them from an environmental problem into an opportunity for sustainable development. Based on the risk analysis, actions are suggested to guarantee the sustainable management of Sargassum blooms in the Dominican Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the engagement of national standards bodies and practitioners with the ISO 12913 series on soundscape. It reveals critical challenges in stakeholder engagement, communication, competence, and practical application. A strategic roadmap, aligned with the normalization process theory, is proposed, comprising meaningful stakeholder engagement, building workability and integration, and community building and reflective monitoring. Results underscore the influence of national priorities, communication gaps, limited resources, and the need for practical guidance. Future efforts should focus on promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and developing tools to quantify the societal and economic impact of soundscape interventions, addressing the multifaceted barriers identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Households’ over-indebtedness has various social and economic consequences. With an increasing number of over-indebted households and rising individual bankruptcies, especially in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era, the efficiency of the solutions available to target this issue is becoming questionable. The purpose of this study is to propose an innovative Shariah-compliant mechanism based on crowd-buying, aiming at alleviating households’ over-indebtedness. The present study adopts a qualitative research design based on an extensive review of the existing literature and a case study of the Real Estate Crowdbuying (REC) model. The study also presents a Shariah assessment of the REC model. The study found that the REC model has five contradictions with the guidelines of Shariah and proposes an enhanced version based on Shariah compliant contracts. As per the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that provides a Shariah assessment to the REC model and proposes an enhanced Shariah-compliant version. The main limitation of this research is the limited focus on the Shariah compliance of the model. Further studies might explore the regulatory challenges of the application of this model in Malaysia and other Muslim countries. The proposition made by this paper contributes to broadening the range of Shariah-compliant instruments aiming at alleviating households’ over-indebtedness and curbing individual bankrupt [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug distribution performed through hospital pharmacies facilitates public expenditure savings but incurs higher social costs for patients and caregivers. The widespread presence of community pharmacies could support patient access while also improving drug distribution. The implementation of prescriptive data analyses as constrained optimization to achieve specific objectives, could be also applied with good results in the healthcare context. Assuming the perspective of the Italian National Healthcare Service, the present study, built upon existing research in this field, proposes a decision support tool that is able to define which self-administered drugs for chronic diseases should be distributed by community pharmacies, answering to critical challenges in the case of future pandemics and healthcare emergencies, while also providing suggestions for the institutional decision-making process. Moreover, the tool aids in determining the optimal setup of the drug distribution network, comparing centralized (hospital pharmacies) and decentralized (community pharmacies) approaches, as well as their economic and social implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the determinants of energy poverty among the elderly is crucial for shaping energy policies with significant economic and social implications. This research provides valuable insights into the factors influencing energy poverty among the elderly in Greece. To achieve the study's objectives, household survey data from 3651 elderly individuals for the year 2022 were utilized. The empirical findings, based on statistical and econometric analysis, affirm the influence of socioeconomic factors on the ability of the elderly to meet their energy needs and address energy poverty challenges. The analysis suggests that both household size and work-related pensions positively impact their ability to address their heating requirements. Elderly individuals with a higher level of education are less likely to experience energy poverty. Additionally, it is found that as perceived health status declines, elderly individuals are more likely to encounter difficulties in covering utility payments. These results underscore the importance of tailoring strategies to promote the adoption of energy poverty measures that cater to diverse demographic and income groups. This information is vital for ensuring that the elderly can afford to maintain a comfortable living environment without sacrificing other essential needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound social and economic impact across the United States due to the lockdowns and consequent changes to everyday activities in social spaces. Methods: The COVID-19's Unequal Racial Burden (CURB) survey was a nationally representative, online survey of 5,500 American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Latino (English- and Spanish-speaking), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, White, and multiracial adults living in the U.S. For this analysis, we used data from the 1,931 participants who responded to the 6-month follow-up survey conducted between 8/16/2021-9/9/2021. As part of the follow-up survey, participants were asked "What was the worst thing about the pandemic that you experienced?" and "Was there anything positive in your life that resulted from the pandemic?" Verbatim responses were coded independently by two coders using open and axial coding techniques to identify salient themes, definitions of themes, and illustrative quotes, with reconciliation across coders. Chi-square tests were used to estimate the association between sociodemographics and salient themes. Results: Commonly reported negative themes among participants reflected disrupted lifestyle/routine (27.4%), not seeing family and friends (9.8%), and negative economic impacts (10.0%). Positive themes included improved relationships (16.9%), improved financial situation (10.1%), and positive employment changes (9.8%). Differences in themes were seen across race-ethnicity, gender, and age; for example, adults ≥ 65 years old, compared to adults 18–64, were more likely to report disrupted routine/lifestyle (37.6% vs. 24.2%, p < 0.001) as a negative aspect of the pandemic, and Spanish-speaking Latino adults were much more likely to report improved relationships compared to other racial-ethnic groups (31.1% vs. 14.8–18.6%, p = 0.03). Discussion: Positive and negative experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic varied widely and differed across race-ethnicity, gender, and age. Future public health interventions should work to mitigate negative social and economic impacts and facilitate posttraumatic growth associated with pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Muntaqa: New Perspectives on Arab Studies is the property of Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Landslides are widespread phenomena that occur in any terrestrial area with slopes, causing massive property damage and, in the worst-case scenario, loss of human life. This propensity to suffer losses is particularly high for developing countries due to their urban development, population growth and drastic land use changes. Social and economic consequences of landslides can be reduced through detailed planning and management strategies, which can be aided by risk analysis. In this study, we performed a detailed quantitative risk analysis for landslides in the whole of Central Asia (4 000 000 km2). Landslide-induced risk was computed, using a 200 m spatial resolution, in terms of exposed population and expected economic losses to buildings and linear infrastructures (roads and railways). The purpose of our study is to produce the first regional-scale landslide risk assessment for Central Asia in order to inform regional-scale risk mitigation strategies, and it represents an advanced step in the landslide risk analysis for extremely broad areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of failures from large-diameter water pipelines can be severe. Results can include significant property damage, adjacent damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges resulting in transportation delays or shutdowns, adjacent structural damage to buildings resulting in loss of business, service disruption to a significant number of customers, loss of water, costly emergency repairs, and even loss of life. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in the United States found that flooding was the greatest concern due to its potential duration, the potential for broad geographic impact, and its role in crater creation. Public safety, property damage, social and economic consequences, and loss of water service and for how long is also of paramount concern. The American Water Works Association's (AWWA) 2020 "State of the Water Industry" report states that the top issue facing the water industry since 2016 is aging infrastructure, with the second being financing for improvements. The industry needs to find novel ways of extending asset life and reducing maintenance expenditures. While there are many different assets that comprise the water/wastewater industry, pipelines are a major component and are often neglected because they are typically buried. Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a process used to determine the most effective maintenance strategy for an asset, with the ultimate goal being to establish the required function of the asset considering the required reliability and availability at the lowest cost. The RCM philosophy considers Preventive Maintenance, Predictive Maintenance, Condition Based Monitoring, Reactive Maintenance, and Proactive Maintenance techniques in an integrated manner to increase the probability an asset will perform its designed function throughout its design life with minimal maintenance. RCM requires maintenance decisions be based on maintenance requirements supported by sound technical and economic justification. However, one industry where principles of RCM are in its infancy is the water/wastewater industry. This paper provides a case example and numeric modeling for use in RCM analyses for developing maintenance strategies for large-diameter water pipelines, particularly prestressed concrete pipelines, and proposes an approach for determining the most effective and efficient maintenance activities for large-diameter prestressed concrete water pipelines. The case study discussed in this paper analyzed wire breaks over time to predict when certain thresholds would be reached. The intent of this study is to predict when a specified threshold will be reached. From the RCM, a threshold was set to begin planning, budgeting, and scheduling maintenance activities when 55% of the wires in a frame or two adjoining frames are distressed or when 65% of the wires in non-adjacent frames are distressed. The results from the numeric model predict the 55% threshold may be reached in August 2025 for the most distressed pipe segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical images have many important applications, and this importance increased when the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. These applications have been focused on computed tomography chest images and X-ray images. This research will focus on special X-ray medical image applications of coronavirus (COVID-19). Methods: Many methods are applied on medical images to achieve certain features. The designed approach is implemented through many steps starting from preprocessing up to classification step. The proposed approach focusing on generating efficient features using discrete wavelet transform (DWT) then applying convolutional neural network (CNN) to classify between normal and abnormal COVID-19. Results: The COVID-19 diagnosis approach is implemented to achieve high performance system. The obtained result of COVID-19 diagnosis applied CNN tool leading to validation accuracy of 92.31%. Conclusion: Hybridizing two technologies (DWT and CNN) is intended to reach the best results in the diagnostic process. In addition, X-ray chest image is an important tool for detection and diagnosis of COVID-19 diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is increasingly affecting vulnerable groups and resulting in dire social and economic consequences, especially for those in the Global South. Managing current and emerging climate-related risks will require increasing individual's and communities' resilience, including enhancing absorptive, adaptive, and transformative capacities. Policymakers are now considering the role that social protection policies and programmes can play in building climate resilience by contributing to these capacities. However, there is a limited understanding of the extent to which social protection instruments can influence these three resilience-related capacities. Lack of assessment tools or frameworks might contribute to limited evidence of social protection's ability to increase climate resilience. In particular, there appear to be no frameworks or tools that help assess the role of social cash transfers (SCT) in building adaptive capacity. Based on a multi-staged literature review, we develop an adaptive capacity outcomes framework (ACOF) that can help assess SCT's contribution to building adaptive capacity, and, consequently, resilience. The framework is then tested using impact evaluation and assessment reports from SCT programmes in Indonesia, Zambia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. The exercise finds that SCTs alone have a limited contribution to adaptive capacity outcomes, but interventions that combine cash transfers with other components such as nutrition or livelihood training show positive impacts. We find that the ACOF can support assessments of SCT's contribution towards adaptive capacity. It can help build evidence, evaluate impacts, and through further research, can facilitate learning on SCTs' role in increasing climate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rollout of the carbon peak and neutrality targets, conventional coal-fired power plants will gradually be phased down in China's power system in an orderly manner. The economic and social impact of the energy transition is a vital topic that requires scientific measurements and evaluation. In this paper, we establish a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of provincial coal power phase-down with 11 indicators covering dimensions of economy, society, and industry. An entropy-based Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach is adopted to calculate entropy weight, relative closeness, and other evaluation benchmark data. Then, the influence degree in 30 provinces is ranked based on the assessment. The results show that there is a significant regional imbalance in the process of coal power phase-down, among which Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and other coal base provinces are the most vulnerable regions bound by their huge raw coal production and coal industry employment. Although the coal power industry is less affected than the coal industry, it will face pressure from the optimization of coal power units, followed by the dual impact of taxation and employment issues. Finally, the potential impacts of coal power phase-down and policy implications are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has stressed the importance of universities in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) and their possible social and economic impacts on society. Concerning this commitment, social entrepreneurs (SEs) favor university actions that facilitate the improvement of their individual capital. However, research on this topic has received little attention. This study investigated how universities contribute to the advancement of EEs. It also examines the mechanisms that universities employ to support SEs. Two survey instruments were administered: one to 418 SEs, and the other to 494 people affiliated with universities. The results indicate that universities can be key actors in EEs because they can mobilize resources aligned with their institutional commitments, including training, facilities, and contact with several stakeholders. Additionally, SEs rely on training opportunities and connections with other stakeholders to implement entrepreneurial initiatives. Accordingly, our study highlights the critical role universities play in the development and survival of SEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egyptian fisheries including aquaculture, play a vital role in the national economy through its contribution to employment and income generation, foreign exchange earnings, and providing food and nutritional security to the people. All studies dealing with stock assessment and fisheries management in Egypt confirmed the over-exploitation situation for almost all commercial stocks which led to a serious decline in fish production from marine and inland fisheries resources. Egyptian lakes especially Delta lakes have been supporting rich and diversified fisheries and thus are critically important to the country for their food security and livelihood. Lake Manzalah, the largest Delta lake and the second in fish production after Burrulus Lake, is an important source of fish production in Egypt. In the last 50 years, the lake faced severe difficulties that retarded its environmental and fisheries development. The most serious one is the reduction of its area, pollution, overfishing, illegal and destructive fishing methods. This work will discuss the fisheries status of Lake Manzalah during the years 2006 to 2020 including the period of purification and development of the lake which started in mid-2017. The fishing gear, fish production, and the socioeconomic indicators for the development and purification processes will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent global pandemic had shocking impacts on societies and economies worldwide by bringing complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty for extended periods. UX researchers, faced with numerous challenges, were compelled to adapt to emergent conditions through remote research methods. Investigating how some members of the UX research community adapted to the emergency offers valuable insights into how they responded to uncertainty and showed resilience. Therefore, we studied the early practices of UX managers and researchers in Turkey during the first 6 months of the global pandemic under lockdown conditions. Our goal was to understand how UX research and design teams responded to uncertainty by customizing their methods. We focused on seven firms as different cases to conduct semi-structured interviews with seven managers and 13 UX researchers. The results demonstrate that the adaptable nature of UX research allowed them to quickly respond to these emerging conditions. In the early period of the pandemic, our study participants— UX managers, designers, and researchers—experienced the advantages and challenges of remote UX research necessitated by the lockdown. These included issues related to participant recruitment, work performance, readiness, and methodological concerns. Based on our findings, we make recommendations for UX researchers to conduct moderated and unmoderated remote research while maintaining inclusiveness and rigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Itaipu Binational dam is a giant hydroelectric project situated on the Parana River, which began its construction in 1973 and was completed in 1983. It was undertaken by Brazil and Paraguay, two countries with enormous geopolitical and economic differences. With 14,000 MWh of installed power, it is the second largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Both countries are partners in this project, but the socioeconomic results have not been as expected. In this regard, although Paraguay's GDP per capita, between 1983 and 2020, increased by 341%, Itaipu did not represent a true economic development engine for Paraguay. On the other hand, it had serious negative impacts especially on social, demographic, and environmental aspects. A structural equations model (SEM) was designed, in its Path Analysis modality, which includes 10 variables: 3 exogenous (Royalties from Itaipu, Electric power exports, and External debt) and 7 endogenous (GDP per capita, Proportion of agricultural sector in GDP, Proportion of service sector in GDP, Population with needs unsatisfied, Housing deficit, Changes of land use, and CO2 emissions). The model exposes an adequate simulation range, and the results show a high degree of goodness of fit, using different indices (CMIN, FMIN, CFI, and RMSEA). The corresponding tests upon the model validate the hypotheses raised. JEL Classification: O13, O54, H54, H60, F34, C18 Plain Language Summary: Itaipu Binational Dam: A Quantitative Analysis of the Economic and Social Impacts in Paraguay This article is a study that covers four decades (1980–2020), on the economic and social impact of a large hydroelectric dam, Itaipu Binational, built on the Parana River, by Paraguay and Brazil. The starting hypothesis is that Itaipu did not represent the engine of economic development expected for Paraguay. However, the conclusions mention that, in addition to testing the hypotheses, there are some macroeconomic indicators that have improved notably, such as the GDP per capita. The applied methodology was the Structural Equations Model (SEM) in its Path Analysis modality. Of the 15 original variables, 10 were finally selected, 3 exogenous and 7 endogenous. The results of the model are satisfactorily adjusted to the proposed hypotheses, which implies the contrasting of these. The main limitation of the study lies in the environmental impact generated by the dam in the ecosystem of the region. This analysis has been left pending, due, on one hand, to the fact that the objective of the article is the socioeconomic impact generated by Itaipu, and because it is considered that the environmental effects should be included in a subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research in the "theory of the firm" tradition has often characterized firms as subeconomies, in which economic exchange is shaped by a central authority. We propose an expanded view of firms as subsocieties, in which authority is also responsible for establishing principles that shape cooperation among members. We draw on insights from political theory, sociology, and, to a lesser degree, legal theory to discuss how employees become members of subsocieties by exchanging rights, such as formal control over their work, for the benefits of membership. With this rights exchange, subsociety members develop expectations that those in positions of authority will use their control to define and sustain principles of justice and common purpose consistent with members' moral sentiments. This view suggests expanded roles for authority and firm boundaries from what are incorporated into standard theories of the firm. These expanded roles have implications both for internal governance and for the boundary itself: When considering boundary changes, leaders must weigh both the economic and the social consequences of their decision. Funding: C. Gartenberg recognizes financial support from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. T. Zenger recognizes the financial support of the Eccles School at the University of Utah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of the online food services (collectively referred to as 'OFS') sector has been accelerating at high rates worldwide over the last few years. This sector is widely acknowledged, especially by urban consumers, for making life more convenient. During the strict lockdown following the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the OFS sector saw major growth, as many restaurants and grocery stores turned to the delivery format. Conversely, the sector has also been facing many challenges, which have lasting social, economic, and environmental impacts. Considering this situation, this study carried out a review of existing literature on the social, environmental, and economic impacts of OFS and explored the resilience gaps of this fast-growing food service business. To achieve this, relevant literature was collected through Elsevier's SCOPUS database and other sources. The authors have documented specific social, environmental, and economic impacts of OFS on consumers and providers. Furthermore, various changes in this sector following the pandemic have also been underlined in this study. A combination of policy actions at the national, local, private sector, and individual levels is crucial to mitigate the adverse impact of OFS; hence, greater resilience will be ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to explain the policies implemented by the European Union in transitioning to a green economy. It examines the period from the adoption of sustainable development within the Union to the present, focusing on the EU's strategies for sustainable development and the green economy. Main text: The study reveals that the European Union has long recognized environmental problems and the impacts of climate change, starting from the 1990s. In response to the global crisis in 2008, the EU embraced the opportunity to build a dynamic, low-carbon, resource-efficient, knowledge-based, and socially inclusive society. Green investments were included in the EU's rescue plan, initiating the green transformation. The study explains the concepts of sustainable development, the green economy, and green growth. It discusses how the European Union implemented its green transformation, particularly through the examination of the European Green Deal. Furthermore, it explores the developments related to climate change and the green economy within the framework of the European 2020 strategy. Conclusions: The findings highlight the European Union's commitment to addressing environmental challenges and transitioning to a green economy. Future research should focus on assessing the effectiveness of implemented policies and strategies in achieving sustainable development goals. The EU allocated a substantial portion of its budget to support green investments, including green incentives during the 2008 financial crisis, and significant budgets from member states like Germany and France. The EU has set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for at least a 40% reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. Future research should also explore the social and economic implications of the green transformation, including job creation and industry competitiveness, to provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers. This will contribute to enhancing the EU's green policies and advancing the transition to a sustainable and environmentally conscious economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, smart city construction has brought significant social and economic impacts to emerging economies, especially in narrowing the urban–rural gap. However, there is relatively little empirical research on this aspect. We take China as an example for research. This study uses a Spatial Multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach to investigate the relationship between smart city construction and urban–rural collaborative development in Chinese cities, taking digital infrastructure as the mechanism variable. Our findings reveal that smart city construction significantly promotes urban–rural collaborative development and exhibits positive spatial externalities. These results remain robust after parallel trend tests, placebo checks, and controlling for other policy interferences. Further analysis suggests that this effect operates largely through the reinforcement of digital infrastructure, whereby the smart city initiatives enhance connectivity and interaction between urban and rural areas, fostering collaborative development. Moreover, the efficacy of smart city policies is found to be particularly prominent in cities with strong economic development, weak levels of urban–rural collaborative development, and high degrees of digitization. By illuminating the role of smart city construction in propelling urban–rural collaborative development, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to water is a universal human right for every individual and a key instrument in meeting the United Nations' sustainable development goal SDG 6, namely, to ensure safe drinking water and sanitation for all by 2030. Water is also intrinsically linked to any society or country's social, economic and political development. Nevertheless, many communities and households, predominantly rural and underprivileged in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, continue to experience persistent water shortages. This means entrenched poverty, ill health, hunger, stress, and social and economic challenges for the population. Using data collection tools inspired by traditional methods of qualitative and quantitative approaches, this paper scrutinised the social and economic factors contributing to severe inequality in water access in the municipality. Our findings established that water shortage is portrayed as a stand-alone issue without linking it to social and economic challenges. Furthermore, both government and municipalities fail to contextualise a multidimensional problem-solving approach to the water provision challenges in the municipality. This paper, therefore, recommends a multidimensional approach to tackling the problem of accessibility, taking into consideration the social and economic needs of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy was the most affected European country at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the European Union was struggling to get its act together and provide assistance to an ally in need, Russia and China used the opportunity to promote their own agendas. The focus of this article is on the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italy, China's disinformation campaign, and the uncertain future of the relations between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Landslides are widespread phenomenon that occur in any terrestrial area with slopes, causing massive property damage and, in the worst-case scenario, human losses. This propension to suffer losses is particularly high for developing countries due to their urban development, population growth and drastic land use changes. Social and economic consequences of landslides can be reduced through detailed planning and management strategies, which can be aided by risk analysis. In this study, we performed a detailed quantitative risk analysis for landslides in the whole Central-Asia (4,000,000 km²). Landslide-induced risk was computed in terms of exposed population and expected economic losses to buildings and linear infrastructures (roads and railways) adopting a 200 m spatial resolution. The purpose of our study is to produce the first regional-scale landslide risk assessment for Central-Asia in order to inform regional-scale risk mitigation strategies and it represents an advance step in the landslide risk analysis for extremely broad areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional view of democracy is that people vote to signal what they want, thereby selecting the policymakers they believe are most appropriate. Political disenchantment and fits of socio-political anger, however, clash with this view. The paper deals with this inconsistency by discussing the relation between policy and the polity. It begins by contending that neoliberalism generated not only dramatic economic and social consequences but also a general lack of confidence in the polity. Drawing on insights from Adolph Lowe, it argues that neoliberal policies have not only structured economies in a "pro-market" fashion. They have also led people to internalize the rules of the neoliberal game on the grounds that "There Is No Alternative". Consequently, they created the consensus they needed to persist. On more theoretical grounds, policy is presented here not as a mere consequence of electoral conviction but as a means of persuasion. This suggests that policymakers are advantaged in shaping people's views of the economy and of society. Policymakers, however, include not only governments but also intermediate agencies: charities and other organizations. There is scope for these agencies to pursue alternative goals and advance views of the world that differ from the status quo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of earthquakes on the labor market. The authors try to estimate the impact of two major earthquakes (Izmir and Elazig) in Turkey. Design/methodology/approach: In order to analyze the effects of devastating earthquakes in the nearby regions of the province where the earthquake took place, on the labor market, monthly and annual data from the TUIK and ISKUR database will be used. For this purpose, the authors consider the earthquake a natural experiment and employ a Synthetic Control Method (SCM). In addition, the analysis will be carried out using seasonally adjusted data, taking into account the seasonal effects of the monthly data to be used in the study. Findings: The results show that the impact varies based on the labor market structure of the regions. While the earthquake positively affects the labor market of agriculture-oriented regions, it harms the labor market of nonagricultural-oriented regions. Research limitations/implications: A major limitation of the study is that we cannot fully separate the impact of Covid-19 from our estimate. The authors believe that Covid-19 overestimates the negative impact of earthquakes on the labor market. Social implications: Earthquakes have adverse effects on the labor market. The estimation of the earthquake-related costs may provide a useful guide on policy planning and government incentives. Originality/value: The originality of the study lies in the fact that this is the first study to evaluate how the dynamics of the labor market has changed as a result of the earthquakes that have taken place in Turkey, within the framework of causality. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-08-2022-0568 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Estudios Cooperativos is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The spatiotemporal variations in the water balance caused by environmental changes lead to unsteady-state conditions with long- and short-term implications for social and economic conditions. The aim of this study is to extend the current knowledge of the Budyko approach in unsteady-state conditions and the importance of model structural uncertainties. We used three Budyko-based models (Turc-Pike, Zhang, Fu) with and without the concept of effective precipitation scenarios. The effective precipitation and model parameters were determined together during the calibration processes. The effective precipitation-based approach improved the model performance in predicting the annual water balance in most of the River Vistula catchment. We also discuss the importance of considering structural uncertainties in water balance modelling. Climate change is the main driver for the changes in the water balance of the River Vistula. The estimation of water balance dynamics, considering environmental changes, is essential to understand the changes in hydrological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) is a nutritious food with high social and economic impacts in Portugal. The fungus Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi (syn. Gnomoniopsis castaneae) is the causal agent of chestnut brown rot, and is currently considered one of the major threats to the chestnut production chain worldwide. Considering the lack of knowledge on both the disease and the causal agent in Portugal, studies were conducted in an attempt to develop the necessary control strategies towards the mitigation of the disease in a timely way. Isolates of G. smithogilvyi were selected from three varieties of chestnut from the northeast of Portugal, and were characterized at the morphological, ecophysiological and molecular levels. Tests of pathogenicity and virulence were also developed. Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi was confirmed as the causal agent of brown rot disease in Portuguese chestnut varieties, which showed high susceptibility. The fungus showed high adaptability to chestnut substrates. The Portuguese isolates of G. smithogilvyi are morphologically and genetically similar to those from other countries, even though some physiological variability was observed among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion is defined as the degradation of materials as a consequence of electrochemical attack. In general, it could be understood as the general tendency of materials to search for its most stable form or the one with the least internal energy. The velocity of corrosion will depend on temperature, on the characteristics of the fluid in contact with and on the properties of the material. Nonmetallic materials also suffer corrosion by different mechanisms. In the present work, corrosion processes in metals, ceramic materials and polymers are characterized. Different types of corrosion, based in modern form of its classification, are explained and, in each case, the main ways of occurrence are updated. The acting forms for prevention are also explained, including information on cathode prevention. Finally, the economic and social consequences due to corrosion are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This article aims to study NATO's attitude towards climate change and its policies against the negative impact climate change poses. The article also aims to show how NATO's strategic objectives are affected by current ecological challenges. Methodology: Analysing the topicality with the help of index databases, primarily using data from ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. The authors analyse and evaluate the security challenges related to NATO's function, primarily based on security aspects of climate change, public extracts of NATO summits, materials of related action plans and world conferences, technical reports of decision- making and other bodies, as well as other publication. Findings: The security environment is undergoing a vigorous change. Despite of the fact that the global policies, migration and acts of terrorism are on the rise, economic and social consequences based on environmental damage are even more complex, armed conflicts and crises evolve - all that require NATO to respond. However, besides classic strategic objectives, NATO has to take the damaging effects of climate change, participating in the execution of sustainable development objectives, energy security, etc. into account. Thus, encouraging the military dialectics to study theoretical and practical issues of natural and social sciences, enforcing awareness-raising. It further enforces the tendency to study the adaptability and integrability of mainstream environment trends. Value: The analysing-evaluating work of the authors covers a wider spectrum of NATO's task system, thus including unusual or not-so-well-known and not-so-popular, yet necessary topics besides the classic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study explores coopetition opportunities between e-tailers and brick-and-mortar (BM) retailers and provides a conceptual framework. These opportunities may be triggered by events such as social distancing causing crises (SDCC). Design/methodology/approach: A grounded theory based approach was used wherein 119 news articles and 48 academic papers are the main sources of data to analyse the real-world responses. A typical qualitative methodology, including open and axial coding, was used. To further analyse the insights obtained, six in-depth interviews were conducted. Findings: Non-customer-interfacing-based coopetition, such as small BM stores serving as e-marketplace sellers and customer-interfacing-based coopetition, such as large BM stores serving as showrooms, are some potential coopetition opportunities. Research limitations/implications: The majority of the available studies dwell more on offline retailers developing online channels. This study investigates the opposite situation and conceptualises a new understanding of how e-tailers and BM retailers can work together more harmoniously. This study can be used as a springboard by academicians for future research on a larger scale. Five research propositions are offered that can guide hypothesis generation. Development of case studies and consulting services for the industry are the other research opportunities. Practical implications: Social distancing as a measure may vanish from the world with time; however, social distancing's implications are still pertinent given that new diseases, including new variants of pandemic potential, could continue to emerge. The study puts forward propositions based on theoretical dimensions and second-order themes derived from first-order categories. These propositions are about the drivers of coopetition and the opportunities with both large and small BM stores that e-tailers can leverage during a crisis, given that launching e-tailers' own BM stores demands large investments. This study has social and economic implications too. Originality/value: This study investigates coopetition, an important trend but lacking adequate research. Whilst only few studies examine coopetition from a crises' perspective, this study investigates develops a new understanding of coopetition opportunities between e-tailers and BM retailers. This study adds to the scarce literature how such opportunities may be triggered by events such as SDCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In research on the forced assimilation in communist Bulgaria, the attention is most frequently paid to the effects of this process in the context of violating fundamental human and civil rights. However, researchers often overlook the socio-economic consequences of the actions taken at that time. The forced assimilation of Bulgarian Muslims, who chose to leave Bulgaria, resulted in a huge economic loss. The unexpected staff shortage has caused problems for the Bulgarian economy on a massive scale. The change in the organization of work has created tensions in the inter-ethnic relations. The aim of this article is to answer the question - did the economic and social consequences of the so-called Revival Process in Bulgaria led to the collapse of Todor Zhivkov's regime in the late 1980s? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental concerns and sustainability topics are becoming more critical in the financial sector. This study examines the links between ecological, economic, and financial performance and bank efficiency variables in the post-global financial crisis era. We gathered data from the Refinitiv database on 30 Asian banks from 2007 to 2018. Our findings link emissions reductions to financial profitability. Operating and economic efficiency may conflict with goods caliber and organizational accountability standards. Furthermore, improving a bank's corporate governance framework has been shown to negatively impacts the capital structure. It has several conceptual consequences. As banks express concern about environmental sustainability and eco-friendly goods and processes, sector hypotheses and information views have been validated. However, the investor hypotheses forecasting a favorable association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial success were contradicted. Contrary to the organization hypothesis, listed companies' efficiency negatively influences financial efficiency and trade value. This might indicate that financial institutions do not appreciate a bank's social responsibility activities or support implementing the best measures that decrease portfolio risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The new approach to the environment in the current century and considering it as a part of the national capital of countries, the need to preserve it by using clean technologies such as biological technology has become the most important concern of mankind in the present century. In the third chapter of the country's comprehensive scientific map document, which is dedicated to the country's science and technology priorities, in its first priority in the technology sector, "environmental technologies" have been proposed and called for directing funds, guiding the educational system, and reforming and renewing structures and processes. It is for the rapid growth of this field. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to study the scientific, economic and social effects of the researches carried out in the field of environment in order to clearly reflect the current situation of the said field in Iran.Materials & Methods: The present research is of applied type and has been carried out using quantitative and scientific approach. The research community has been 10268 articles from the Scopus database in the field of environment during the years 2012 to 2021, which by using library methods for the purpose of theoretical foundations and retrospective bibliometric analysis, scientific researches in the field of environment in terms of the publication process of articles, It studies the status of patent citations and the status of readers in different social network platforms. Also, in order to check the amount of reflection of articles in social media, the data of Altmetrics database was used and the data obtained from that database was analyzed statistically in SPSS software. In the field of inferential data analysis, Spearman's correlation test has been used in this software.Results: The findings showed that the highest publication of scientific productions in 2021, the highest citation to scientific productions in the field of "environment" in 2018, and the highest impact of citation with normalized weight belong to the years 2021 and 2019. Also, the highest and lowest citation weight points are related to the years 2021 and 2014. In addition, the utilization of researches in order to create environmental products in 2012 has been much better than other years in the examined decade, and the number of patents granted in 2012 (the first year of the examined decade) to scientific and Iran's research in the field of biotechnology is also more than the other years under review, and this difference is due to the use of the mentioned scientific products by a large number of patents, which makes them visible. The highest level of reflection of the environment in social networks belonged to Mendeley software, Dimension citation, user tweets, news media and Facebook, respectively.Discution: In order to increase economic growth and support and protect patent rights in the field of environment, provision of necessary fields such as laws and regulations and other necessary infrastructures should be included in the country's economic policy agenda. From another point of view, the exact attribution of technological advances to studies and researches is also a difficult and complicated task. Global systems that are dedicated to monitoring scientific activities published at the international level have tried to follow the connections made between researches and patents and to some extent determine their impact and economic effectiveness. In any case, it is difficult and almost impossible to provide accurate and objective data about which of the researches in the field of environment has been economically successful.

The article focuses on the identification of the main preventive strategies employed in countering respiratory diseases with the risk of pandemic transmission (influenza and COVID-19). The research aimed to create a literature review focusing on preventive measures and strategies to minimize the occurrence and spread of respiratory diseases among employees in private businesses. These findings are intended to be employed to develop a preventive economic model for organizations in the Czech Republic against the spread of respiratory diseases. Data were obtained by systematically selecting studies from scientific databases (EBSCO host, Ovid, Scopus, Web of Science) and studying the hygienic recommendations of regional and government experts relevant to the objectives of this study. Based on a set of PICO questions and using a three-stage search, the authors analyzed a total of 1102 relevant scientific articles, and, subsequently, 15 relevant recommendations issued by the main experts of the Ministry of Health and other bodies of the Czech Republic between March 2020 and February 2022. The published studies point to a wide range of recommended preventive strategies against the occurrence and spread of respiratory diseases. The authors have proposed an organizational model that may strengthen preventive care in selected fields.